| Hadiths

Bukhari Hadiths 1356
Muslim Hadiths 558

Hadith

It was narrated that ‘Umar said: I and an Ansari neighbour of mine in [the neighbourhood of] Banu Umayyah ibn Zayd in ‘Awali al-Madinah used to take turns to go down to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). He would go down one day, and I would go down one day; if I went down, I would bring the news of the day, revelation and other events, and if he went down he would do the same. My Ansari friend went down one day when it was his turn, then he knocked loudly at my door and said: Is he there? I was startled and came out to him, and he said: Something serious has happened! I went to Hafsah and found her weeping. I said: Has the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) divorced you? She said: I do not know. Then I went to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and said, whilst standing there: Have you divorced your wives? He said: “No.” So I said: Allahu akbar..

Commentary : The Sahabah were keenly interested in hearing what the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, and were very eager to listen to him at all times. But sometimes they had to go and attend to their affairs and their livelihood. So they would take turns to go to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), but there were others who stayed close to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) for several years.
In this hadith, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he and an Ansari neighbour of his – whose name was ‘Itban ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) – lived in the neighbourhood of the tribe of Banu Umayyah ibn Zayd, whose houses were located in ‘Awali al-Madinah (the heights of Madinah); this refers to villages near the city of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), on higher ground to the east of Madinah. The closest part of al-‘Awali to Madinah was two or three miles away from the city, and the furthest part was eight miles away. They used to take turns to go down to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him); ‘Umar would go down one day, and ‘Itban would go down another day. That was due to their work circumstances, as it was not possible for each of them to go down to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and learn from him on a daily basis.
Then ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that his friend went down to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) one day, and when he came back from Madinah, he knocked loudly on ‘Umar’s door, which was not something that he usually did, and he asked whether ‘Umar was in the house or not. When ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) heard that, he was startled and was afraid that something bad had happened. So he came out, and his friend said to him: Something serious has happened; the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) has divorced his wives. So ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) went down to Madinah, to his daughter Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). He found her weeping, so he asked her: Has the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) divorced you? She said: I do not know. Then he went to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and asked him, as he was standing and had not sat down: Have you divorced your wives? He said: No, so ‘Umar said takbir – “Allahu akbar.” Thus his mind was put at rest; he was overwhelmed with joy and happiness, so he said takbir out of great joy.
This hadith highlights the interest of the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) in hearing news of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in particular, and of the Muslims in general, especially news of divine revelation and what it brought of teachings and rulings.
It indicates that it is encouraged to seek knowledge and be keen to attend gatherings of knowledge, no matter what the circumstances.
It indicates that the wise person does not hasten to ask about an issue until he understands what the issue is.
It also indicates that the seeker of knowledge may pay attention to his livelihood and that which will enable him to continue seeking knowledge..

It was narrated that Abu Mas‘ud al-Ansari said: A man said: O Messenger of Allah, I can hardly keep up with the prayers, because So-and-so makes them too lengthy for us.
I had never seen the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) more angry in giving exhortation that he was on that day. He said: “O people, you are putting others off. Whoever leads the people in prayer, let him make it brief, for among them are the sick, the physically weak, and those with needs.”.

Commentary : Prayer is an act of worship which requires presence of mind and ease of movement. Hence the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained the rulings on prayer and the related rulings on leading prayer and making it brief and easy for the people.
In this hadith, Abu Mas‘ud al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man complained to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that he was not able to keep up with the prayer, because the imam made it so lengthy. There is a difference of scholarly opinion concerning what was meant by the man’s words, “I can hardly keep up with the prayers, because So-and-so makes them too lengthy for us.” It was said that the wording may indicate that he was a man who was sick or physically weak, so if the imam made the standing too long, then as soon as he reached the positions of bowing or prostrating, he would feel too weak to keep up with him, so he would hardly be able to bow or prostrate with him. Or it was said: rather it is explained by what al-Bukhari narrated, [that the man said]: I join the prayer late. In that case the meaning would be: I can hardly catch up with the prayer in congregation, and sometimes I come late, because he makes it so lengthy, so I do not catch up with the congregation, even though he makes it too long.
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) got very angry, and the reason why he showed such anger was that he wanted his Companions to pay attention to what he was going to tell them, so that the one who did that would not repeat it. Therefore he exhorted them when he was very angry, telling them that those who made the prayer too long were putting people off, and making people dislike praying. The reason why he addressed everyone, and did not mention by name the one who was making the prayer lengthy, was out of kindness and gentleness, as was his usual approach. He did not address any rebuke or discipline specifically to the one who deserved it, so that that one would not be embarrassed and feel ashamed in front of people.
Then he instructed the one who led people in prayer to make the prayer shorter, because among the congregation were those who were sick, physically weak and had needs. He mentioned these three types, because they include all types of reasons why the prayer should be made brief, for the reasons which dictate making the prayer brief include either physical well-being or other matters. So in the first case, it is either because of something inherent, namely physical weakness, or something temporary, namely sickness.
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) wanted to show kindness and make things easy for his ummah. He did not prohibit making prayers lengthy because doing so is not permissible; rather the one who wants to offer supererogatory prayers by himself may make the prayer lengthy.
This hadith is a rebuke to those who make the prayers lengthy if those praying behind him are not happy with that.
It highlights the kindness of the Lawgiver and how he made things easy for his ummah.
It also indicates that one may show anger when seeing something that is not appropriate with regard to matters of religion..

It was narrated from Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani that a man asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about lost property, and he said: “Learn what kind of string it is tied with, or what kind of vessel it is in, or what kind of leather bag it is in. Then announce that to the people for a year, and after that make use of it. Then if its owner comes, give it to him.” He asked: What about a stray camel? He got so angry that his cheeks turned red, or his face turned red, and said: “What has it to do with you? It has its water and its feet, and it is able to find water and graze from the trees. Let it be until its owner finds it.” He said: What about a lost sheep? He said: “It is for you, or for your brother, or for the wolf.”.

Commentary : One of the greatest objectives of sharia is preservation of people’s wealth and protecting it from plunder, theft and loss, or anyone hoping to keep it when it is lost.
In this hadith, Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani narrates that a man asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about lost property, which is property that has been lost in the street and its owner is not known. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) advised the one who finds a lost item to learn all its distinguishing characteristics, such as the shape and colour of the vessel and string. The “leather bag” referred to here is something that was used to keep money in; it may be made of leather, cloth or other material. The string is something that was used to tie vessels with. All of this is by way of learning its characteristics. Then he should announce to the people that he has this lost item, and continue to announce it for a whole year, in an attempt to return it to its owner, then after one year he may make use of it. If he does find its owner during that year, then he should give it to him. If the owner comes after a year has passed, and describes its distinguishing characteristics, such as its shape, colour, type of vessel, and so on, and he still has it, then he should give it to him; if he has disposed of it, he is liable for it, and he should give its owner its value and price.
Then the man asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about the ruling on a stray camel, and he responded by saying that it is not to be taken, because it has all that it needs to survive, namely strong and solid feet to walk on, and the ability to store and keep water, in its belly and hump. Moreover, it can find vegetation and water around it, even after a number of days, and it can store the water in its belly and remain hydrated.
It was said that the only reason the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) got angry when he was asked about a stray camel is the lack of knowledge and poor understanding on the part of the questioner, as he failed to understand the matter being discussed, and he did not pay attention to it. Thus he made an incorrect analogy, because lost property refers to items that may be dropped by the owner, so he does not know where they went, whereas a stray camel is not like that, because it may graze for several days, then go back to the place that it knows, or its owner may come and take it.
Then the man asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about the ruling on lost sheep, and he answered by saying that the one who finds it may take it. The words “It is for you or your brother” mean: either you will take it, or someone else will do so, otherwise it will be food for the wolf, if it is left.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) enjoined the announcing of lost property for one year, whereas in the hadith of Ubayy that was narrated by al-Bukhari, it says: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) enjoined announcing it for three years. We may reconcile these two reports by interpreting the hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka‘b as referring to being more careful and prudent, not disposing of lost property, and exercising a high level of restraint in not making use of it, whilst this hadith and similar reports may be interpreted as referring to the minimum that is required, or cases where the one who finds something needs it, whereas Ubayy had no need of the lost property that he found.
This hadith also highlights how Islam pays attention to all aspects of life that may concern a person and be part of his life, whether by his choice or otherwise..

It was narrated that Abu Musa said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was asked about things he disliked, and when he was asked too many such questions, he got angry, then he said to the people: “Ask me whatever you want.” A man said: Who is my father? He said: “Your father is Hudhafah.” Another man stood up and said: Who is my father, O Messenger of Allah? He said: “Your father is Salim, the freed slave of Shaybah.” When ‘Umar saw the expression on his face, he said: O Messenger of Allah, we repent to Allah (may He be glorified and exalted)..

Commentary : Islam enjoins doing whatever one is able to do, and completely avoiding that which is forbidden according to Islamic teachings. It enjoins us to stop at what Allah and His Messenger have enjoined upon us, and not to go beyond that or ask too many questions about matters the knowledge of which is of no benefit.
In this hadith, Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) tells us that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was asked about things that he did not like to be asked about, because they were of no benefit in either religious or worldly terms, or because the answer could be harmful to the questioner or to someone else. When the people asked too many such questions, he said to them: “Ask me whatever you want.” Then he was asked by two men who wanted to confirm whether their attribution to their fathers was correct, and he replied that that was indeed the case. When ‘Umar saw anger on the Prophet’s face, he realized that these questions should not be asked, so he turned to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), seeking to assuage his anger, and said: O Messenger of Allah, we repent to Allah from asking these questions which have upset you. That was because these questions were something that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not like, and because too many of these questions could be a cause of something being made haram or obligatory, or something being made too strict. And that is proven in the revelation, as Allah (may He be exalted) says: {O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you} [al-Ma’idah 5:101]. This does not mean that one should not ask about things that one needs to know of religious matters; rather it is advice to be content with the commands and prohibitions of Allah, and not to concern oneself with questions for which there is no need.
This hadith indicates that it is the right of the knowledgeable person to express anger with the questioner if he asks a question that could lead to negative consequences, or that is not appropriate to the topic under discussion.
It also indicates that it is not allowed to ask too many questions or to persist in asking questions, and that nothing should be asked except what is needed.
And it highlights the virtue of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and how alert he was..

It was narrated from Anas, from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that when he gave the greeting of salaam, he gave it three times, and when he said something he would repeat it three times..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was very keen to teach and educate his ummah, and he used various educational methods to communicate information soundly. In this hadith, he teaches us the etiquette of speaking and greeting. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) greeted someone with salaam, he would greet him three times, and perhaps this refers to his practice when greeting a large number of people who would not all hear a greeting given once, or it was his practice to make sure that they heard the second and third greetings if he thought that the first one had not been heard, or he would repeat the salaam because he wanted to seek permission to enter, if the first salaam was not heard or responded to. But if he passed by a gathering and greeted everyone present, or he came to a house and gave the greeting of salaam and they responded, then there was no point in repeating it. It may be that when he came to some people, he would give the greeting of salaam by way of seeking permission to enter, then when he entered the house, he would greet them with salaam, then when he got up to leave the gathering he would say salaam to bid farewell, which is like a supplication (dua).
If he uttered a sentence, he would repeat it three times, so that those who were present would understand it and comprehend its meaning, because repetition was most effective in helping people to remember and making the pronunciation clear, so that there would be no room for misinterpretation, especially if there was the fear that his words might not be understood or heard, or if he wanted to convey the message when he was teaching, rebuking or exhorting. This is one of the basic principles of teaching in Islam, because repeating something three times is sufficient to make the meaning clear and leave no excuse for anybody. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to always do that in his actions too, so that his ummah could emulate him and so as to be an example for others..

It was narrated from Anas from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that when he said something, he would repeat it three times so that it could be understood, and when he came to some people, he would greet them with salaam three times..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was as Allah described him: {There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful} [at-Tawbah 9:128]. One example of that is his keenness to teach them and make sure they understood the matters of their religion. In this hadith, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to repeat his words three times when he wanted to exhort them, so that those who were present would understand it and comprehend its meaning, because repetition was most effective in helping people to remember and making the pronunciation clear, so that there would be no room for misinterpretation, especially if there was the fear that his words might not be understood or heard, or if he wanted to convey the message when he was teaching, rebuking or exhorting. This is one of the basic principles of teaching in Islam, because repeating something three times is sufficient to make the meaning clear and leave no excuse for anybody.
When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came to people, he would greet them with salaam three times, and perhaps this refers to his practice when greeting a large number of people who would not all hear a greeting given once, or it was his practice to make sure that they heard the second and third greeting if he thought that the first one had not been heard, or he would repeat the salaam because he wanted to seek permission to enter, if the first salaam was not heard or responded to. But if he passed by a gathering and greeted everyone present, or he came to a house and gave the greeting of salaam and they responded, then there was no point in repeating it. It may be that when he came to some people, he would give the greeting of salaam by way of seeking permission to enter, then when he entered the house, he would greet them with salaam, then when he got up to leave the gathering he would say salaam to bid farewell, which is like a supplication (dua). .

It was narrated that Abu Musa said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “There are three who will have a double reward: a man from among the People of the Book who believed in his Prophet and believed in Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him); a slave who does his duty to Allah and to his master; and a man who has a slave woman whom he disciplines and disciplines well, and he teaches her and teaches her well, then he manumits her and marries her. He will have a double reward.” Then ‘Amir said: We are giving this report to you without you making any great effort. People used to travel to Madinah to seek a report less important than this..

Commentary : Allah’s bounty to His slaves is immense, which includes His generosity in multiplying the rewards for deeds. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to urge the people to do acts of worship and all kinds of righteous deeds by highlighting the rewards for righteous deeds and mentioning different types thereof.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) states that three types of people will have a double reward. The first is a man of the People of the Book, a Jew or Christian, who believed in his Prophet who was sent to him previously, namely Musa or ‘Isa (peace be upon them), and he believed in Muhammad when his call reached him. He will have two rewards: a reward for believing in Musa or ‘Isa, and a reward for believing in Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). If he enters Islam and becomes a good Muslim, then every good deed that he did before that will be recorded for him. This is proven in the verses in which Allah (may He be exalted) says: {Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it - they are believers in it, And when it is recited to them, they say, “We have believed in it; indeed, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed we were, [even] before it, Muslims [submitting to Allah].” Those will be given their reward twice} [al-Qasas 28:52-54].
The second is a slave who does his duty to Allah, so he worships Allah (may He be exalted), and he does what is obligatory upon him of prayer, fasting and so on. And he also does what his master requires him to do, in the best manner. He will also have two rewards: a reward for worshipping Allah (may He be exalted) and a reward for obeying his master, showing forbearance for the pain of enslavement, and submitting and accepting his duties as a slave.
The third is a man who has a slave woman with whom he has intercourse because he owns her, and he disciplines her without violence or beating; rather he does so with kindness and gentleness, and he educates her and takes good care of her, teaching her the pillars and rulings of Islam, then he manumits her and marries her, giving her the rights of a free woman. He will have two rewards: a reward for teaching her and manumitting her, and a reward for marrying her. Whoever does that is far removed from arrogance, and is very humble, keeping away from showing off by marrying a woman of noble lineage and high status.
The words “We are giving this report to you without you making any great effort. People used to travel to Madinah to seek a report less important than this” are addressed to a man from Khorasan who asked ‘Amir al-Sha‘bi about a man who manumits his slave woman then marries her, and he responded by narrating this hadith.
This hadith highlights the great bounty and generosity of Allah to those who obey Him.
It indicates that whoever does well in two aspects of any act of righteousness will have a double reward, for Allah multiplies the reward for whomever He wills.
It highlights the virtue of teaching a slave woman and treating her kindly.
It highlights the fact that the early generations used to travel to distant lands to seek a single hadith or to learn about a single issue of knowledge..

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: I bear witness that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him – or ‘Ata’ said: I bear witness that Ibn ‘Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) – went out, accompanied by Bilal, because he thought that he had not been heard [by the women], and he exhorted them and instructed them to give charity. So the women began to give their earrings and rings, and Bilal collected them in the edge of his garment..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to seek appropriate occasions to exhort his companions from time to time, at times when they had energy and it was thought that they would listen and understand, and on Islamic occasions and Eids. He would address the women in particular, as in this hadith, in which ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) went out, accompanied by Bilal, and exhorted his companions. Then it occurred to him that his voice might not have reached the women, because they were sitting behind the men in the prayer-place on Eid al-Fitr. So he went through the rows of men until he came to the women, then he exhorted them, reminded them about Paradise and Hell, and instructed them to give charity. The women responded to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and gave their earrings and rings in charity, and Bilal collected them in the edge of his garment. He collected this jewellery and charitable gifts so that they could be given and distributed among the poor and needy who were entitled to them, and be spent on other causes as prescribed in Islamic teachings.
What is meant by the words “or ‘Ata’ said: I bear witness that Ibn ‘Abbas said” is that the narrator was not sure whether the phrase “I bear witness” reflected the words of Ibn ‘Abbaas testifying about the action of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), or the words of ‘Ata’ testifying about the words of Ibn ‘Abbas. Rather he said “I bear witness” to emphasize and confirm that the incident definitely took place.
This hadith indicates that one should be keen to teach all people, men and women.
It highlights the virtue of the women among the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) and how quickly they responded to the exhortation and command of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). .

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that he said: It was said: O Messenger of Allah, who will be most blessed with your intercession on the Day of Resurrection? The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “I thought, O Abu Hurayrah, that no one would ask me about this hadith before you, because of what I have seen of your keenness to learn hadith. Those who will be most blessed with my intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be those who say La ilaha illa Allah with sincerity, from the heart.”.

Commentary : The Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) were always keen to ask the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about the most important actions that would benefit them the most and save them in the hereafter. One aspect of that was their keenness to attain his intercession, as we see in this hadith, in which Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was asked who would be most blessed with his intercession on the Day of Resurrection. The one who asked this question was Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) responded that those who would be most blessed with his intercession on the Day of Resurrection would be those who said La ilaha illa Allah, believing in the meaning of this phrase, acting in accordance with it, showing sincerity in faith by keeping away from shirk and showing sincerity in obedience by not showing off. The fact that the sincere believer will be more blessed with the Prophet’s intercession than others is due to the fact that superiority in this regard depends on the level of sincerity that one attains. So he [the one who attains a higher level of sincerity] will be more blessed than the one who does not attain this high and perfect level of sincerity. Many people will attain the blessing of the Prophet’s intercession, but the sincere believer will attain a greater blessing in that regard. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) will intercede for people to be given relief from the terror of standing [on the Day of Resurrection], and he will intercede for some of the disbelievers to have their punishment reduced, as is soundly narrated concerning Abu Talib, the maternal uncle of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). He will also intercede for some of the believers to be brought forth from the Fire after having entered it; for some of them not to enter it even though they deserve to do so; for some of them to enter Paradise without being brought to account; and for some of them to be raised in status therein. So they will have in common the fact that they are all blessed with his intercession, but the one who will be most blessed with it is the sincere believer.
The Prophet’s words to Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), “I thought, O Abu Hurayrah, that no one would ask me about this hadith before you, because of what I have seen of your keenness to learn hadith”, affirms the status and mature thinking of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), and that his questions were the type of question that is desirable and will benefit the questioner and others with regard to both religious and worldly matters; they were not the type of question that is forbidden.
This hadith indicates that it is encouraged to be keen to acquire knowledge and goodness, for such keenness will prompt a person to research issues that are not clear and to learn about subtle matters, and that will bring benefit and reward, and a reward like those who act upon such knowledge, until the Day of Resurrection.
It also shows that a scholar should be able to analyze and understand the character of the one who is learning from him, and he should point out his good qualities to him, so that it will motivate him to strive harder.
It indicates that it is appropriate for a scholar to keep quiet about some issues of knowledge if he is not asked about them, until he is asked, and that is not to be regarded as concealing or withholding knowledge, because the seeker of knowledge should initiate questions, unless it becomes essential for the scholar to explain some issues, in which case he should not keep quiet.
This hadith affirms that our Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) will intercede for people.
It also highlights the virtue of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) and his keenness to seek knowledge. .

100

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) saying: “Allah will not take knowledge away by snatching it from people; rather He will take knowledge away through the death of the scholars until, when no knowledgeable people are left, the people will follow ignorant leaders who will be asked questions and will issue fatwas without knowledge; thus they will go astray and lead others astray.”.

Commentary : Allah has made knowledge a beacon that guides to His path, and without knowledge the people will lose their way. True knowledge prevents one from falling into error.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us that Allah will not take knowledge away from people by removing it from the hearts of the scholars and erasing it; rather He will take knowledge away through the death of the scholars. Thus knowledge will be lost, and there will be no one among those who are left to take the place of the scholars who have passed away. Every time a scholar passes away, the knowledge that he had will be lost, until Allah will have left no knowledgeable person, as all the people of true knowledge will have died, then ignorant people will reach academic positions for which they are not qualified, such as teaching, issuing fatwas, and so on. But the people will regard them as scholars and ask them questions, so they will issue fatwas without knowledge, because of their ignorance. They will regard as permissible that which is forbidden, and regard as forbidden that which is permissible. They themselves will go astray from the truth, and they will lead astray those of the common folk who follow them and accept their fatwas. Books and essays are not sufficient without scholars, because they cannot be understood in a proper manner without them.
In this hadith, we are urged to seek knowledge and memorize it, for it will not be taken away except when the scholars die.
It is also a warning against appointing ignorant people to positions of leadership, and it warns those in authority not to appoint ignorant people to positions of religious authority.
It also highlights the fact that the position of issuing fatwas is a true position of leadership, and criticizes those who issue fatwas without knowledge. .

101

It was narrated that Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri said: The women said to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): The men are taking all your time, so allocate a day for us. So he allocated a day for them, when he met with them, exhorted them and instructed them. Among the things that he said to them was: “There is no woman among you who sends ahead three of her children, but they will be a shield for her against the Fire.” A woman said: Or two [of her children]? He said: “Or two.”.

Commentary : Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has promised an immense reward to those who bear with patience the calamities that befall them.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) gives glad tidings to women who are faced with the loss of a child of the immense reward that results from this calamity. They had asked him to set aside a day for them on which he could exhort them and speak to them, and they said to him: The men are taking all your time, meaning: they prevent us from being able to sit with you and listen to you. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) set aside a day for them, when he exhorted them and reminded them of the reward for bearing calamity with patience. He told them that there is no woman, three of whose children die during her lifetime, but this calamity will be a shield for her, a barrier that will protect her from the Fire. A woman said: What about one who loses two of her children; will she have the same reward as one who loses three? And the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “Or two.” So if two of a woman’s children die during her lifetime, that calamity will be a shield for her that will protect her from entering the Fire.
The report of Abu Hurayrah that was narrated by al-Bukhaari explains that what is meant here is three children who do not reach puberty; that reward is on condition that they did not reach the age of accountability at which sins begin to be recorded. The ruling here stipulates that the reward comes only in the case where the children did not reach puberty, because parents’ hearts are more compassionate and more attached to a small child, in a way that is not applicable in the case of a child who has reached adulthood, because in the case of a child who has reached adulthood, in most cases he has invariably gone against his parents.
And it was said that the ruling stipulated the condition of three children at first, because three comes under the heading of many. A believer may be afflicted with the loss of one child, but his faith is strong enough to enable him to bear the calamity with patience, but he may not be able to bear it if it happens again. Hence the one who goes through repeated calamities and bears them with patience is more deserving of great reward. A child is one of the greatest joys that a person may have in life, to the extent that he would willingly sacrifice himself for his child. This is what is usually the case with people, and even with animals, hence the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) referred to the worst type of calamity, and urged people to bear it with patience and perseverance.
This hadith was addressed to the women, but it is applicable to all Muslims, as al-Bukhaari narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “No Muslim who loses three of his children in death will ever enter the Fire, except in fulfilment of the oath.” This includes both men and women.
This hadith is indicative of a great reward for the one who loses his children, if he bears it with patience and does not say anything reprehensible.
It indicates that women may ask about religious matters.
It also indicates that the children of the Muslims [who died before reaching puberty] are in Paradise, because if Allah (may He be glorified) has mercy on their parents and admits them to Paradise because of their mercy and compassion towards their children, then it is more appropriate that the children will also receive His mercy..

102

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: Three who have not reached puberty..

Commentary : Children are a blessing from Allah (may He be glorified), and parents feel great love for them, to the extent that they may be a trial for their parents. But death is something that is decreed for all people, and Allah has ordained an immense reward for parents who bear with patience the loss of their children.
This hadith, which was narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), is part of – and completes – the report of Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) which was narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari. In it, it says that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) exhorted the women and said to them: “There is no woman among you who sends ahead three of her children, but they will be a shield for her against the Fire.” A woman said: Or two [of her children]? He said: “Or two.” Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with her) added: “Three who have not reached the age of puberty.” Thus he narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to the women: Whoever loses three of her children in childhood, before they reach the age of accountability, when no sins have been recorded against them, this calamity will be a shield for her, a barrier that will protect her from the Fire. A woman said: What about one who loses two of her children; will she have the same reward as one who loses three? And the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “Or two.” So if two of a woman’s children die during her lifetime, that calamity will be a shield for her that will protect her from entering the Fire. This ruling applies only to children who have not reached the age of puberty, because parents’ hearts are more compassionate and more attached to a small child, in a way that is not applicable in the case of a child who has reached adulthood, because in the case of a child who has reached adulthood, in most cases he has invariably gone against his parents.
And it was said that the ruling stipulated the condition of three children at first, because three comes under the heading of many. A believer may be afflicted with the loss of one child, but his faith is strong enough to enable him to bear the calamity with patience, but he may not be able to bear it if it happens again. Hence the one who goes through repeated calamities and bears them with patience is more deserving of great reward. A child is one of the greatest joys that a person may have in life, to the extent that he would willingly sacrifice himself for his child. This is what is usually the case with people, and even with animals, hence the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) referred to the worst type of calamity, and urged people to bear it with patience and perseverance.
This hadith was addressed to the women; however, al-Bukhaari narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “No Muslim who loses three of his children in death will ever enter the Fire, except in fulfilment of the oath.” This includes both men and women..

103

It was narrated from Ibn Abi Mulaykah that if ‘A’ishah, the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), heard something that she was not aware of, she would ask questions about it until she understood it. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever is brought to account will be punished.” ‘A’ishah said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, but doesn’t Allah say, {He will be judged with an easy account} [al-Inshiqaq 84:8]? He said: “That refers to the presentation of accounts, but whoever is subjected to a detailed review of his account will be doomed.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was the ultimate reference for clarifying anything that was not clear in people’s minds regarding their religion, and the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to refer to him with regard to any issues they faced and did not understand.
In this hadith, ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Mulaikah narrated that ‘A’ishah, the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not hear anything that she did not understand but she would ask the one who said it for clarification, or she would ask the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about it, so that she could verify it and determine how correct or otherwise it was. This was a sign of her intelligence and smartness, that she would not believe everything she heard when she could check everything with the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
Then ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever is brought to account will be punished.” So ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with him) compared what the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said with the words of Allah (may He be exalted): {He will be judged with an easy account} [al-Inshiqaq 84:8]. The wording of the hadith is general in meaning, and indicates that anyone who is brought to account will be punished, whereas the wording of the verse indicates that some people will not be punished. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) responded to her by saying: “That refers to the presentation of accounts, but whoever is subjected to a detailed review of his account will be doomed.” The Prophet’s response explained the true meaning of the verse, that the easy reckoning is something else, namely the presentation of accounts, which refers to showing deeds or making them known, in which Allah will remind a person of what sins he committed, then He will pardon them, so that he will realize how gracious Allah was to him when He concealed his sins in the previous world and pardoned him for them in the hereafter. On the other hand, whoever is subjected to a detailed review of his account will be doomed, and what is meant is that falling short is something that most people do, so whoever is subjected to a detailed discussion of his account and is not pardoned will be doomed and will enter Hell.
The reckoning on the Day of Resurrection is of two types: the presentation of accounts and rebuke, which is an easy reckoning in which there is no punishment, and a detailed review of the account, which is a difficult and hard reckoning, which will not be without punishment, because it will involve examining the individual’s sins in detail, covering all of his sins, and no sin will be left without being pointed out and discussed.
This hadith highlights the virtue of ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and her eagerness to learn and verify facts.
It is also an affirmation of the reckoning, presentation of accounts, and punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and that the reckoning will vary from one person to another.
It indicates that it is permissible to debate and compare what the Sunnah says and what the Qur’an says.
It indicates that the seeker of knowledge has the right to ask about what he does not understand, and to raise the issue with his teacher.
It indicates that scholars or knowledgeable people should welcome any questions that are referred to them, and answer the questions of one who is seeking to understand, as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did..

104

It was narrated from Abu Shurayh that he said to ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id – when he was sending the expeditions to Makkah – Give me permission, O governor, to tell you about something that I heard from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in a speech on the morning of the day of the conquest [of Makkah]. My ears heard it, my heart understood it and my eyes saw him when he said it. He praised and glorified Allah, then he said: “It is Allah Who made Makkah sacred; people did not make it sacred. It is not permissible for anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day to shed blood in it, or to cut down trees in it. If anyone uses as an excuse the fact that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) fought in it, then say: Allah gave permission to His Messenger but He did not give permission to you. Rather I was only given permission [to fight] in it for part of a day, then its sanctity is restored today as it was yesterday. Let those who are present convey to those who are absent.” It was said to Abu Shurayh: What did ‘Amr say to you? He said: I have more knowledge of that than you, O Abu Shurayh. The Haram does not offer protection to a sinner, or to a fugitive who killed someone, or a fugitive who committed theft..

Commentary : Conveying Islamic knowledge is something required of the scholars and knowledgeable people, and it is more obligatory at times of tribulation and hardship, so that they may explain to the people what is true and what is false, and explain to them the path of guidance.
In this hadith, Abu Shurayh al-Khuza‘i (may Allah be pleased with him) – the well-known Sahabi who was one of the wise men of Madinah – narrates that he asked ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id, the governor of Madinah appointed by Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah at that time, to give him permission to tell him something that he had heard from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id was sending troops to Makkah to fight ‘Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) for having refused to swear allegiance to Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah and having fortified himself in the Haram. Abu Shurayh (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him to let him narrate to him a hadith that he had heard from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), affirming that he had heard it with his own ears, understood it and memorized it, indicating that it was still as fresh in his mind as when he had heard it from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), without any intermediary, and he had not forgotten it. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had spoken this hadith on the morning of the conquest of Makkah in 8 AH. When he referred to a speech that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had given, he was referring to words that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) addressed to the people, in which he explained that it was Allah (may He be exalted) Himself who had made Makkah sacred in His Book, where He said: {Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) which We have made (open) to (all) men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there (as regards its sanctity and pilgrimage (Hajj and Umrah))} [al-Hajj 22:25] and {[Say, O Muhammad], “I have only been commanded to worship the Lord of this city, who made it sacred”} [al-Naml 27:91]. So it is not permissible for anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day to shed blood in it, by fighting or otherwise, or to cut down its trees. If anyone regards it as permissible to fight in Makkah, quoting as evidence for that the fact that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) fought therein on the day of the conquest, the response to that is that Allah gave permission to His Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to fight in it on that day for a brief part of the day. What is meant is that it was a limited time, a certain part of the day of the conquest, and He did not give permission to you and it is not permissible for you to ever fight in it. Then its sanctity was restored as it had been.
Then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) instructed his companions who were listening to this speech of his to convey it to those who came after them, whether at the time of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or afterwards, so that they would be careful and would not have the audacity to transgress against that which Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) had made sacred, especially for one who wanted to shed blood and prepared himself for that, as in the case of ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id. This is what prompted Abu Shurayh (may Allah be pleased with him) to narrate this hadith to him, as instructed by the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
Abu Shurayh was asked: How did ‘Amr respond to you? And he replied: He said to me: I know better than you, O Abu Shurayh, that the sanctuary of Makkah does not protect a sinner from the hadd punishment being carried out on him, and it does not protect a fugitive who has committed murder and seeks sanctuary in Makkah so that he will not be punished. The phrase “committed theft” means that there is no protection for a fugitive who committed theft; a variant reading suggests that there is no protection for one who spread heretical ideas. ‘Amr’s response consists of words that appear sound, but were aimed at justifying his wrong actions, because the Sahabi was denouncing him for waging war on Makkah, but he responded that Makkah did not prevent the carrying out of retaliatory punishments (qisas). Ibn az-Zubayr had not committed any sin that deserved such punishment, so this was not a valid response to the words of Abu Shurayh, because he did not differ with him with regard to the issue of someone who committed a sin that incurred a hadd punishment outside the Haram zone then sought refuge in the Haram zone and whether it was permissible to carry out the hadd punishment on him within the Haram zone or not. Rather what Abu Shurayh objected to was the sending of troops to Makkah, violating its sanctity and waging war on it. He presented his argument well, but ‘Amr’s response was not straightforward; rather he gave a response that had nothing to do with the question, because in his answer he referred to a man who had committed an action that incurred a hadd punishment outside the Haram zone, and whether entering the Haram zone would protect him or not. This may be regarded as going off topic and showing stubbornness when debating, because he was a governor who had instructions from the caliph, so he tried hard to find a justification for his actions by presenting any argument he could.
This hadith indicates that one should transmit knowledge and spread the Sunnah and Islamic rulings.
It indicates that one should be gentle when objecting, especially when speaking to those in authority and discussing issues that are contrary to their aims, because that makes it more likely that they will accept one’s argument.
It indicates that one should offer sincere advice to those in authority, and not be dishonest or harsh with them, if one feels confident that that will not lead to trouble.
It indicates that what is halal and haram is determined by Allah (may He be exalted), and it has nothing to do with people. In all matters, whether they pertain to this world or the hereafter, reference should be made to the religious texts, and that can only be known from the actions, words and approval of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
It highlights the great and honourable status of Makkah, may Allah increase it in honour and greatness.
It indicates that it is prescribed to make analogies with the actions of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), except in matters which were specifically and exclusively for him.
It indicates that there are some matters which apply exclusively to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and not to anyone else.
It also highlights the virtue of Abu Shurayh, because he followed the command of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to convey teachings from him..

105

It was narrated from Abu Bakrah that it was mentioned that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “… for your blood and your wealth” – Muhammad [ibn Sirin] said: And I think he said – “and your honour are sacred to you, as sacred as this day of yours, in this month of yours. O people, let those of you who are present convey to those who are absent.” – Muhammad [ibn Sirin] used to say: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) spoke the truth, and that is what indeed happened. – “O people, have I conveyed the message?” [He said that] twice..

Commentary : 1536.

413

Jaber narrated, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was ill so we prayed behind him while he was sitting and Abu Bakr was conveying his takbir to people. When he turned and saw us standing, he gestured for us to sit down so we prayed sitting behind him. After uttering salutation, he said, 'You just like did what Persians and Romans did. They used to stand before their sitting kings. Do not do it but follow your prayer leaders. If they pray standing, then pray standing and if they pray sitting, then pray sitting.'".

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ taught us the rules and etiquette of congregational prayer, including following and listening to the prayer leader's recitation while maintaining humility and regular rows. In this hadith, Jabir ibn Abdullah related that when the Prophet ﷺ was ill, he led them in prayer while sitting. At the same time, Abu Bakr was conveying his takbir (saying, 'Allahu Akbar) to people so they could follow his moves in prayer, due to the Prophet's weak voice during illness. While praying, he noticed that they were praying standing behind him. He gestured for them to sit and they did. After finishing, he showed them that it was the Persians and Romans' habit with their kings. They used to stand before their sitting kings. His statement indicated that it was similar to the acts of the polytheists and the People of the Book. The Prophet ﷺ prohibited them from doing so and instead guided them to follow their imam's case whether they were praying standing or sitting. This hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It confirms the necessity of acting, unlike the non-Muslims' acts in all cases, (2) The Prophet ﷺ experienced what other people did such as illnesses, the issue that did not decrease his status. On the contrary, this increased his dignity and status, and (3) The imam can pray sitting when being unable to stand, and the people should follow his case and pray behind him while sitting as well..

426

Anas narrated, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ one day led us in prayer. Upon completing the prayer, he turned his face towards us and said, ‘O People, I am your prayer leader, so neither precede me in bowing and prostration nor in standing and leaving, for I see you in front and behind me.’ Then, he said, ‘By Him in Whose hand is the life of Muhammad, if you had seen what I saw, you would have laughed little and wept much.’ They said, ‘What did you see, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ?’ He replied, ‘I saw Paradise and Hell.’”.

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ commanded Muslims to follow the prayer leader (imam) in all of his moves and prohibited them from preceding him. In this hadith, Anas ibn Malek narrated that one day the Prophet ﷺ guided them - after ending the congregational prayer - to avoid preceding him in bowing and prostration nor standing and leaving and showed that he saw them in front and behind him. He may have meant that Allah granted him this exceptional privilege or that Allah revealed to him their moves in prayer, for vision may have expressed knowledge. Then, he swore by Allah that if his companions had seen what I saw, they would have laughed little and wept much for the horrible matters Allah revealed to him. When they asked him about the reason, he answered them that he had seen Paradise and Hell. He wanted to tell them that if they had seen what he saw of Paradise’s bliss for the obedient ones and Hell’s torment for the disobedient ones, they would have been overwhelmed by worry and distress, for they would have hoped to get Paradise’s bliss and avoid Hell’s torment. They would have laughed a little and wept much, for none could know his fate. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It encourages Muslims to be submissive in prayer and complete its pillars, (2) The imam should teach people the conditions of prayer, especially if he sees something contradicts them, and (3) It clarifies the Prophet’s miracle that he can see in front and behind him alike..

429

Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, "People should avoid raising their gaze to the sky while supplicating in prayer. Otherwise, their sight will be taken away.".

Commentary : Prayer can be only learned from the Islamic texts whether it is obligatory or supererogatory. All Muslims have to perfectly perform its aspects, including humility, looking at the place of prostration, and avoiding turning around. In this hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) says, "People should avoid raising their gaze to the sky while supplicating in prayer..." This is an explicit prohibition of raising one's gaze to the sky when supplicating in prayer. It is the same if one does that at the beginning of a prayer or after standing up from bowing, for it means turning away from the prayer direction, neglecting the form of prayer, and having bad etiquette with Allah. All of these attributes contradict tranquility and humility in prayer. If one's heart is modest, his limbs will be tranquil. His saying, "Otherwise, their sight will be taken away," is the terrible result that Allah will suddenly and quickly take their sight. Finally, this hadith has the following benefits: (1) It is forbidden to intentionally raise one's gaze to the sky while supplicating in prayer, and (2) One of advice's etiquette in public is to not mean or direct it to a specific person, for this definitely will lead to be refused due to provocation..

430

Jaber ibn Samura narrated, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us and said, ‘Why I see you lifting your hands like the tails of headstrong horses? Be calm in prayer.’ He again came and saw us (sitting) in circles so he said, ‘Why I see you (setting) in separate groups?’ The, he again came to us and said, ‘Why do not you pray in rows as the angels stand in the presence of their God?’ We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, how do the angels stand in rows in the presence of their God?’ He answered, ‘They complete the first rows and keep close together in the row.’”.

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ was the best teacher and educator for his companions. He used to observe their situations and guided them to what was best for them. In this hadith, Jaber narrated that one day the Prophet ﷺ observed that his companions were raising their hands when ending the prayer, so he prohibited them from lifting their hands like the tails of headstrong horses in prayer, for the horses sometimes move their tails and legs out of unrest. This is not commensurate with prayer’s prestige and the praying one’s solemnity, so he commanded them to be tranquil in prayer. In another narration of Imam Muslim, he said, “When the praying one wants to end his prayer, he should only turn his face towards his companion without gesturing with his hand.” He means that the praying one turns his face to his right and his left saying, “May Allah’s peace and mercy be upon you” without gesturing with his hand, which is prohibited. In another situation, the Prophet ﷺ saw his companions sitting in circles, so he guided them to gather and avoid sitting in separate circles. In another situation, he taught them to pray in rows as the angels stand in Allah’s presence. He showed that the angel stood in rows completing one by one. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It shows how the Prophet ﷺ was keen to teach and guide his companions, which is the issue that Muslim scholars should follow, (2) A Muslim should be submissive in prayer without imitating animals, (3) Muslims should gather and avoid disunity in assemblies, and (4) It commands Muslims to complete and straighten prayer’s rows..

432

Abdullah ibn Masoud said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'Let people of understanding and reason be near to me in prayer, then those after them (thrice) and beware of the commotion of markets.”.

Commentary : Congregational prayer in mosques is of great importance and great reward. Thus, Islamic law cares about regulating its rows behind the imam so that people can feel psychological and physical discipline. In this hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) commanded people of understanding and reason to directly stand behind him in prayer for the following reasons: (1) They have the priority to pray behind him, (2) They are the best people to convey his acts of prayer to others, (3) Their ability to remind him of something he may forget regarding Quranic verses or prayer moves, or (4) They are the best people to represent him if something happens to him during prayer. The rest of the people pray next to and behind this type of people. Then, women pray behind men's rows. As for the imams (leaders in prayer), this is the order: (1) Those who are best in the Quran memorization and have more knowledge, (2) Those who are best in Quran memorization, know the prayer's rules, and the adults, (3) Those who are less in knowledge. This does not mean confining the front rows to them, but this Prophetic command is to urge them to hasten to perform congregation prayer, directly learn how he prays, and convey his guidance to those behind them. Then, the Prophet (ﷺ) warned, "Beware of the commotion of markets.” He meant loud voices, noise, disputes, and trials in markets. As a result, we have to avoid these behaviors in prayers and mosques, as happens in markets..

434

Anas said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, 'Complete the rows, for I can see you behind my back.'".

Commentary : Submissiveness is the spirit of prayer, through which a Muslim gets tranquility in prayer to be closer to Allah, the Almighty. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach Muslims prayer etiquette so they could perform it as it should be. In this hadith, he commanded his companions to complete prayer rows. This is done by making it even without leaving any space in between. He added, "..., for I can see you behind my back." His seeing them from behind is either: (1) A miracle that Allah granted to him which was one of his characteristics, which neither a reason nor legislation may negate. As a result, a Muslim should believe in it, or (2) Due to Allah's revelation to him of his companions’ actions during prayer. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It urges Muslims to stick to submissiveness and complete the prayer pillars, (2) The prayer leader has to alert and correct people’s mistakes in prayer, and (3) It shows the Prophetic miracle that he can see his companions from behind..

438

Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ perceived a tendency among his companions to go to the back (in lines of prayer). He said to them, "Come forward and follow me in prayer. Let those coming after you follow you in prayer. People will continue to keep back till Allah will put them at the back." In another narration, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw people at the back in his mosque ...".

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) was the best teacher and educator, so he used to precisely observe his companions’ conditions to guide them in worship, dealings, etc. In this hadith, he taught them and the entire nation to be keen on supreme issues and avoid causes of laziness. This hadith clarified that he perceived that some of his companions were not keen to early go to the mosque or some did not care for completing lines to the extent that some prayed in rear lines. As a result, he said to them, "Come forward and follow me in prayer. Let those coming after you follow you in prayer." This is because those praying behind the first line may not see how he is praying. Afterward, he warned, "People will continue to keep back till Allah will put them at the back." He may mean that people continue praying in the rear lines until Allah keeps them back in the rear ranks of Paradise, or they continue leaving the first line in prayer until Allah deprives them of his great bounties. Finally, this hadith reminds that continuous negligence in acts of worship leads to staying away from Allah and getting His wrath..

440

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best of the men's rows (in prayer) is the first row and the worst is the last. And the best of the women's row is the last and the worst is the first.".

Commentary : Islam calls its followers, men and women, to stick to virtues, avoid shortcomings, and hasten to acts of worship, based on the Islamic rules. Whoever performs righteous deeds based on their rules is better than whoever performs them without adhering to those rules although he can stick to them. This hadith clarifies that women have their special rules during attending prayers in mosques. These rules as staying away from men and cases of suspicion. The Prophet ﷺ shows that the best of the men's rows in prayer are the first rows behind the prayer leader (imam), for they are the farthest rows from the women. He adds, “The worst is the last,” for they do not hasten to the acts of worship and are close to women’s rows. On the contrary, Allah commands women to wear veils and stay away from men. As a result, the Prophet ﷺ confirms that the best of the women's rows are the last ones, for they are far from men’s rows and temptation. He adds, “And the worst is the first,” for they are close to men’s rows and temptation. This rule is applied when both genders attend the prayer in the mosque, but if it is a prayer that is only attended by women, the original rule of the virtue of the first rows is applied as in the case of men. The Prophetic word, “the worst” means the least rewarded and virtuous and the farthest from the Islamic rules. His word, “the best” means the opposite of the above-mentioned meaning. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) The perfection of the acts of worship is linked to performing them based on the Islamic rules, (2) Islam urges men to hasten to the acts of worship and the first virtuous rows in prayers, (3) Islam urges women to pray in the rare virtuous rows away from men, (4) It explains the order of prayer rows in terms of virtue and reward, (5) It clarifies how Islam is keen to urge people to stay away from cases of temptation. It commands women to stay away from men to avoid any possibility of committing forbidden acts, (6) It shows the superiority of men over women, for they have priority in important matters like rows of prayer, fighting, etc..

443

Zainab Ath-Thaqafeyya used to narrate that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "If any one of you (women) wants to attend Isha prayer, she should not perfume herself that night.".

Commentary : Islam established ground rules on women's going out to attend congregational prayers in mosques. These rules related to clothes, manners, decency, adornment, and staying away from places of suspicion. Performing righteous acts while sticking to Islamic rules is better than doing these acts while neglecting those rules in spite of one's ability to abide by them. In this hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) instructed Muslim women to abide by Islamic rules when they wanted to attend Isha (evening) prayer in the mosque. He confirmed that a woman was allowed to take care of her cleanliness, but not allowed to wear perfume before going out to prayer. Wearing perfume is a means to evoke men's whims and draw their attention. This prohibition is applied to all prayers and the Prophet (ﷺ) may have referred to Isha prayer for the following reasons: (1) Women may be subject to harassment at night more, or (2) Women used to put on perfume for their husbands at night. Muslim scholars mentioned some similar cases that may go under this prohibition such as: (1) Adorned clothes, (2) Wearing jewelry, and (3) All means that may arouse men’s whims. Thus, Islamic law placed restrictions that guarantee the safety and security of both women and societies while preserving her right to go to mosques to pray. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) The perfection of worship is linked to performing it in accordance with Islamic rules, and (2) It is forbidden for women to wear perfume when going out to pray..

450

Aamer narrated, "I asked Alqama, 'Was Ibn Masoud present the night of the Jinn with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?' Alqama answered, 'I asked Ibn Masoud, 'Were anyone of you present the night of the Jinn with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?' Ibn Masoud answered, 'No, we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ but we could not find him so we were searching for him in valleys and hills and said, 'He is either taken away (by Jinn) or secretly killed.' We spent the worst night that people could ever spend. In the morning, he came from the side of Hira' so we said to him, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we missed you so were searching for you but could not find you. We spent the worst night that people could ever spend.' The Prophet ﷺ answered, 'An inviter on behalf of the Jinn came to me so I went with him to recite the Quran to them.' The Prophet ﷺ went with us to show us the traces of them and their embers. The Jinn asked him about their provision so he said, 'Every bone on which the name of Allah is mentioned is yours. Once it falls in your hand, it will be thickly covered with flesh. Every dung (of the camels) is fodder for your animals.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to us, 'So do not use any of them in removing your impurities, for they are the food of your brothers (the Jinn).'".

Commentary : Jinn is a creation of Allah, the Almighty. They are commanded to worship Him alone so they will be held accountable as mankind. Some believe in Allah while others disbelieve. In this hadith, Aamer Al-Sha’by asked Alqamah ibn Qais An-Nakh’i, one of the most famous students of Ibn Masoud, if Ibn Masoud was present the night of the Jinn with the Prophet ﷺ. Alqama told him that he asked Ibn Masoud the same question. Ibn Masoud said, "No" In the narration of Muslim, Ibn Masoud said, "I wished I had been with him" to see the miracles that the Prophet ﷺ told them about. Ibn Masoud narrated that they one day were with the Prophet ﷺ who stood to go somewhere but he did not come back. They were searching for him in valleys and hills. All our efforts were in vain. They thought he was taken by Jinn or secretly killed. It was the worst night they ever spent, out of sadness and sorrow. In the morning, the Prophet ﷺ came from the direction of Hira Cave, five kilometers away from the Sacred Mosque, where the Prophet ﷺ used to worship Allah before his mission. Upon informing him about what happened to them, he related to them his story with the Jinn. One of them asked him to come to recite the Quran to them. The Prophet ﷺ went with his companions to show them the Jinn's tracks and their fire's traces. The Jinn asked the Prophet ﷺ to specify foods for them, so he allowed them to eat every bone on which Allah’s name was mentioned. He promised them that once they held it, it would be thickly covered with meat. Moreover, he specified dung as fodders for their animals. Thus, he prohibited his companions from using bones for removing impurities like urine or feces, for they were the food of their brothers of Jinn, out of respect. This hadith contains the following benefits: (1) The Prophet ﷺ was sent to both the Jinn and mankind, (2) It shows Allah’s mercy to mankind in choosing their foods, and (3) It clarifies the companions’ deep friendship with the Prophet ﷺ..

452

Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to recite 30 verses in each of the first two rak'as of the noon prayer. In the last two ones, he used to recite 15 verses (or he said, "... half of the first two ones). He used to recite 15 verses in each of the first two rak'as of afternoon prayer. In the last two ones, he used to recite half of these verses.”.

Commentary : Prayer is the pillar of Islam. The Prophet (ﷺ) taught it to his companions verbally and practically. His Companions used to closely observe his deeds to follow and convey his guidance to people, especially regarding the acts of worship. In this hadith, Abu Saeed Al-Khudry showed how they observed his recitation in the silent prayers. As for his recitation in the noon prayer, he showed that he used to recite Surat al-Fatihah and about thirty verses in each of the first two rak'as. He used to recite half of these verses in each of the last two ones. As for the afternoon prayer, he used to recite Surat Al-Fatihah and fifteen verses in each of the first two rak'as. He used to recite half of these verses in each of the last two ones, i.e. seven or eight verses. In a hadith narrated by An-Nasa'i and others, he used to recite surats like At-Taraq, Al-Burouj, and alike in each of the first two rak'as in the noon and afternoon prayers. Some scholars conclude that the wisdom in lengthening the noon prayer is that it is the time to take a nap, so it is suitable to lengthen it to enable people to get it. Thus, this hadith shows the number of verses a Muslim should recite in silent prayers..

452

Abu Saeed Al-Khudry said, “We used to estimate how long the Messenger ﷺ stood at the noon and the afternoon prayers. At the noon prayer, we estimated that he stood in each of the first two rak'as as if he recited "Alef Lam Meem. Tanzil," i.e. Surat As-Sajda and stood half of that time in the last two ones. As for the afternoon prayer, we estimated that he stood in each of the first two rak'as as he did in the last two ones of noon prayer and stood half of that time in the last two ones.”.

Commentary : Prayer is the pillar of Islam. The Prophet (ﷺ) taught it to his companions verbally and practically. His Companions used to closely observe his deeds to follow and convey his guidance to people, especially regarding the acts of worship. In this hadith, Abu Saeed Al-Khudry showed that they used to estimate how long he stood at the noon and the afternoon prayers. As for the noon prayer, he stood in the first two rak'as as if he recited Surat As-Sajda (thirty verses) and stood half of that time in the last two ones, i.e. fifteen verses. As for the afternoon prayer, they estimated that he stood in the first two rak'as as he did in the last two rak'as of the noon prayer (fifteen verses) and stood half of that time in the last two ones (seven or eight verses). Some scholars conclude that the wisdom in lengthening the noon prayer is that it is the time to take a nap, so it is suitable to lengthen it to enable people to get it. Finally, this hadith recommends lengthening the first and second rak'as and shortening the third and fourth ones in both noon and afternoon prayers..

454

Qaz’a ibn Yahya narrated, “I came to Abu Saeed Al-Khudry while he was surrounded by people. When the people left him, I said, ‘I do not want to ask you what these people asked you. I want to ask you about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’ Abu Saeed said, ‘There is no good for you in this.’” Qaz'a repeated his question. Abu Saeed said, “When the noon prayer started, one of us went to Baqi' to relieve himself, came to his home to perform ablution, and then went to the mosque to find the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the first rak'a.”.

Commentary : The companions’ students were keen to know everything about the Prophet ﷺ from his companions so they used to ask them about his deeds, especially his prayer. In this hadith, Qaza’a ibn Yahya narrated that he came to Abu Saeed Al-Khudry while the latter was being surrounded by people. When they left him, Qaza’a told him that he wanted to ask him about the Prophet’s prayer. Abu Saeed told him that knowing his prayer would benefit him none due to its length and perfection, for it would be difficult for him to imitate the Prophet’s prayer. Qaza’a repeated his request so Abu Saeed told him that when the Prophet ﷺ began the noon prayer, a person could go to Baqi' - cemeteries in Medina to the east of the Prophet’s Mosque where people used to relieve themselves in nearby places -, came to his home to perform ablution, and found the Prophet ﷺ in the first rak'a. This indicated the Prophet ﷺ used to lengthen the first rak’a of the noon prayer. One may say that there are some hadiths that the Prophet ﷺ used to shorten his prayer. To answer this opinion, it should be clarified that the Prophet ﷺ lengthened and shortened his prayers according to the people’s circumstances behind him. He sometimes wanted to lengthen the prayer then decided to shorten it after having a reasonable issue such as hearing a kid’s crying during the congregational prayer. Some scholars said that he sometimes lengthened it, which is the least, to clarify the permissibility, and sometimes shortened it, which is the most, to confirm its privilege..

455

Abd Allah ibn As-Sa'eb narrated, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in Fajr (Dawn) prayer at Mecca. He began to recite Surat Al-Mu'minun. When he recited the verses about Prophets Moses and Aaron - or Prophet Jesus -, the prophet started to cough then bowed and Abd Allah ibn As-Sa'eb was present." In another narration, "He cut (his recitation) then bowed.".

Commentary : The Prophet's Companions used to closely observe his deeds to follow and convey his guidance to people, especially regarding the acts of worship. In this hadith, Abdullah ibn As-Sa'eb narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) led his companions in Fajr (Dawn) prayer in the eighth year after Hijra (the year of conquering Mecca). He was reciting Surat Al-Mu’minoun until he recited the verse (no. 45) that mentioned Prophets Musa and Haroun in which Allah said, "Then, We sent Musa (Moses) and his brother Haroun (Aaron), with Our proofs and manifest authority," or the verse (no. 50) that mentioned Prophet Jesus in which Allah says, "And We made the son of Maryam (Mary) and his mother as a sign, and We gave them refuge on high ground, a place of rest, security and flowing streams." This doubt is from Muhammad ibn Abbad or others of this hadith narrators. At that time, the Prophet (ﷺ) was coughing and then bowed without completing the surah. In another narration, the Prophet (ﷺ) "stopped reciting then bowed." Finally, this hadith confirms that a Muslim would bow without completing his recitation in prayer if something happened to him while reciting the Quran..

456

Amr ibn Huraith narrated that he heard the Prophet ﷺ reciting at Fajr (Dawn) prayer, “And by the night as it closes in." (At-Takwir: 17).

Commentary : The Prophet's companions used to observe and learn from all of his acts to follow his guidance, especially in the acts of worship. They also used to transmit all of his details to all people. In this hadith, Amr ibn Huraith said that the Prophet once recited short Quranic suras in Fajr prayer (Dawn prayer). Amr reported that he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) recite Surah At-Takwir during Fajr prayer. It is the sura that contains this verse, “And by the night as it closes in.” (Al-Takwir: 17) This was explained by An-Nasa’i’s narration in which Amr reported, “I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) recite in Fajr prayer, "When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]." All of the hadiths that clarified the Prophet's recitation in Fajr prayer showed that he may have recited long, short, or medium suras..

Book of Hadith