The Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi
On the authority of Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both,
that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
"I have been commanded to fight the people
until they bear witness that there is no god but Allah
and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
and establish prayer and pay the zakat.
If they do that, their blood and wealth are protected from me,
except by the right of Islam,
and their reckoning is with Allah the Exalted."
Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
This hadith clarifies
that the sanctity of people's blood and wealth
is established by their entry into Islam
and the manifestation of its great rites,
such as establishing prayer and paying the zakat.
It also clarifies that Islam
is a religion of order and justice
that preserves rights and establishes society
upon the foundation of monotheism and obedience to Allah the Exalted.
The hadith emphasizes that the true reckoning
regarding hearts and intentions is with Allah, glory be to Him,
whereas legal rulings in this world
are based upon outward appearances.