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Hadith
2543
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
I have loved the people of the tribe of Banee Tameem ever since I heard, three things, Allah's Messengerﷺ said about them. I heard him saying, ‘These people (of the tribe of Banee Tameem) would stand firm against Al-Dajjaal." When the Sadaqah (i.e., charity) from that tribe came, Allah's Messengerﷺ said, "These are the Sadaqaat (i.e., Zakaah and charity) of our folk." ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) had a slave-girl from that tribe, and the Prophet ﷺsaid to her, "Manumit her as she is a descendant of Prophet Ismaa‘eel (Ishmael).”
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Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ used to hold people in due regard and laud their good qualities to win their hearts and underline their qualities which merited praise.
In this hadeeth, It was narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he (may Allah be pleased with him) loved the Banee Tameem, an Arab tribe, since the moment he heard the Prophet ﷺ lauding three of their good qualities.
First, they would stand firm against Al-Dajjaal when he emerges. Linguistically, the Arabic word ‘Dajjaal’ denotes concealment and deception, because he is a liar who covers up the truth, conceals it, and reveals falsehood. He will be a human being whose emergence will be one of the major signs of the Last Hour. His emergence shall be a trial and test for people, for Allah, Exalted is He, will grant him some abilities that are exclusive to Him such as: the resurrection of the dead person whom he shall kill, the time of prosperity and affluence that he will usher in, his heaven and fire, and his two rivers. Moreover, the treasures of the land will follow him, and he will command the sky to rain and the plants to grow, and they will comply. All of that shall happen by the power and will of Allah, Exalted is He, as a Fitnah and trial for people.
Second, when their Zakaah and charity funds were brought to the Prophet ﷺ, he ﷺ said: “These are the Sadaqaat (i.e., Zakaah and charity) of our folk." He ﷺ attributed them to himself because their lineage intersects with the Prophet’s, as they both can be traced back to Ilyaas ibn Mudhar.
Third, he ﷺ attributed them to Prophet Ismaa‘eel (Ishmael). ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) had a slave-girl from that tribe, taken prisoner in one of the battles, and the Prophet ﷺsaid to her, "Manumit her as she is a descendant of Prophet Ismaa‘eel (Ishmael).”
It is inferred therefrom that it is allowable to take Arab captives as prisoners of war and retain ownership of them as is the case with non-Arab captives.
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2548
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah:
Allah's Messengerﷺ said, "A pious slave gets a double reward." Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) added: “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is but for Jihaad, Hajj, and my duty to serve my mother, I would have loved to die as a slave”.
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Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ keenly urged slaves to obey their masters, for Allah, Exalted is He, does not allow a doer’s good deed to go unrewarded. When a slave shoulders great burdens and duties and carries them out as due, aspiring to the reward of Allah, Exalted is He, He shall reward him handsomely.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that the Prophet ﷺsaid, "A pious slave gets a double reward,” meaning the slave who serves his master duly and fulfills his rights over him, and also honors the rights of Allah over him, i.e., worship, earns a double reward; one for his service to his master and aspiring to the rewards of Allah, Exalted is He, and the second is for his worship, like any obedient servant of Allah who fulfills the rights of his Lord over him. It was also said that such a slave earns a double reward if he serves his master with what constitutes obedience to Allah, Exalted is He, such as the service of the needy and weak people, when his master commands him to do so.
Afterward, Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, but for Jihaad, Hajj, and my duty to serve my mother, I would have loved to die as a slave.” He (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that had not it been for the (abundant rewards of) Jihaad, Hajj, and dutifulness towards one’s mother, observed by a free Muslim man, he (may Allah be pleased with him) would have loved and chosen to die as a slave to earn such great rewards. The reward of a good slave is after that of Jihaad, Hajj, and dutifulness towards one’s parents, because a slave is unable to perform such great acts of worship except with the permission of his master, who may hinder or prevent him from performing them.

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2551
Aboo Moosaa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "A Mamlook (i.e., slave) who worships his Lord in a perfect manner, and is dutiful, sincere and obedient to his Saiyyid (i.e., master), will get a double reward."
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Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ keenly urged slaves to obey their masters, for Allah, Exalted is He, does not allow a doer’s good deed to go unrewarded. When a slave shoulders great burdens and duties and carries them out as due, aspiring to the reward of Allah, Exalted is He, He shall reward him handsomely.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ underlined that a slave who worships and obeys Allah, Exalted is He, as due, fulfills the rights of his master, and displays sincerity and obedience to him, within what is permissible as per the laws of Islam, earns a double reward; one for his service of his master and aspiration to the rewards of Allah, Exalted is He, and also the reward of worship, like any obedient servant of Allah who fulfills the rights of his Lord over him.
The hadeeth urges slaves to perfect their adherence to and performance of the worshipful acts and be sincere in this regard.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that obedience to Allah, Exalted is He, is more imperative and takes precedence over the obedience to any created being, as it was given priority in the hadeeth.
It also underlines the vast and all-inclusive nature of the divine mercy and grace bestowed by Allah, Exalted is He, on His servants, and the multiplication of their rewards.
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2552
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
The Prophet ﷺ said, "You should not say, 'Feed your lord (Rabbaka), help your lord in performing ablution, or give water to your lord, but should say, 'my master (e.g., Feed your master instead of lord etc.) (Saiyyidee), or my guardian (Mawlaaiy), and one should not say, my slave (‘Abdee), or my girl-slave (Amatee), but should say, my lad (Fatayaa), my lass (Fataatee), and 'my boy (Ghulaamee).
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Commentary :
In this Hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ underlined some guidelines for the Islamic etiquette of speech that instillshumility within Muslims’ hearts. He ﷺ highlighted the proper titles that should be used when masters and slaves address one another. He ﷺ forbade slave-owners to address their slaves or those owned by others using the title ‘lord’ in reference to a master or slave-owner, saying, ‘Feed your lord (Rabbaka), help your lord in performing ablution, or give water to your lord,’ and instructed them to rather use the title master (Saiyyid) or guardian (Mawlaa).
Moreover, he ﷺ forbade slave-owners to address their slaves saying, “my slave (‘Abdee), or my girl-slave (Amatee),” because absolute servitude is exclusive to Allah, Exalted is He, “but should say, my lad (Fatayaa), my lass (Fataatee), and my boy (Ghulaamee).”
The wisdom behind the prohibition is this regard is that human beings are required to devote their worship exclusively to Allah, Exalted is He, their One and Only Lord, and to refrain from associating any partners with Him, and therefore it is disliked to address someone as ‘lord’, lest one should fall into Shirk (i.e., associating partners with Allah). There is no difference in the relevant ruling when the addressee is a slave or a free man. As for what is not taken as an object of worship, such as animals and inanimate objects, it is not disliked to refer to their owner as ‘Rabb,’ which literally means lord, like saying the lord of the house for instance.
As for the fact that the title Rabb was used in His Saying (which means): {"Mention me before your Rabb (lit., lord)."} [Quran 12:42], and His Saying {Return to your Rabb (lit., lord).} [Quran 12:50], it was used to indicate the permissibility of using the title, and the prohibition in this hadeeth aims to urge Muslims to adhere to the becoming Islamic etiquette of speech and (graciously refrain from using it since), being a non-prohibitively disliked act rather than forbidden. It could also mean that a Muslim is forbidden from the excessive and habitual use of such titles, but it does not indicate deeming it strictly forbidden when used occasionally.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that a Muslim is required to abide by the Islamic etiquette of speech even if the wording does not involve any violation of the Laws of Islam..

2557
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
The Prophet ﷺ said, "When your servant brings your meals to you then if he does not let him sit and share the meals, then he should at least give him a mouthful or two mouthfuls of that meal or bits of the food, as he has prepared it."
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Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ taught us the Islamic etiquette of dealing with servants and the less fortunate, and urged Muslims to treat them well and honor them.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ instructed Muslims to abide by refined Islamic etiquette when interacting with one’s servants and slaves. He ﷺ enjoined a master or slave-owner to invite the servant, who serves him food, to join him for the meal that he has prepared and cooked. If he cannot invite him to join him for the meal for a valid excuse, like having a small quantity of food, involuntarily disliking it and fearing to force himself into it lest he should fall into a Laws of Islam violation, or for any other reason like his wish to enjoy a delicious meal on his own, or that a servant dislikes it out of bashfulness or politeness, he should feed the servant from the food he has prepared. He ﷺ instructed that he should offer the servant a mouthful or two mouthfuls of that meal. It was also said that he ﷺ said, “bits of the food.” To reconcile between the two wordings, it can be fairly said that the meaning of the two wordings is close; it is possible that the narrator doubted as whether the Prophet ﷺ had said ‘mouthful’ or ‘bits of food’, and narrated them both using the particle of conjunction “Aww” (or) to indicate his doubt and be honest in narrating the hadeeth. It is also possible the Prophet ﷺ used the particle of conjunction “Aww” (or) to couple two synonyms.
The Prophet ﷺ justified the command to feed the servant from the meal he has prepared by saying that he is the one who endured the heat and smoke when cooking the food, went to the trouble of preparing the meal for him, smelled the aroma of delicious food, and craved to taste it. Moreover, eating with one’s servant is a manifestation of humbleness and modesty, and it distances one from arrogance, and this is part of the becoming etiquette of the believers and the good manners of the Messengers of Allah..

2559
It was narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺsaid, "If somebody fights (or beats somebody), let him avoid striking the face."
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Commentary :
Man is the creation of Allah, Exalted is He; He created, honored, and favored him over many other created beings. He enjoins us to honor and respect human sanctity, and specifically commanded us to respect the face, being the loftiest body part that is associated with human dignity and honor.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ commands Muslims to avoid striking the face, if they have to hit someone in a quarrel, fight, and the like. The prohibition in this regard also applies to all (prescribed) disciplinary measures towards one’s servant, wife, and children. It is prohibited to strike someone’s face, because it is special; its parts are invaluable and crucial for most human cognitive processes; striking the face may cause serious damage to a person’s cognitive abilities. It might also deform the face, which is a substantial damage because the face is the most prominent body part that is hard to cover, and striking it often causes some sort of damage.
The version of the hadeeth recorded in Saheeh Muslim further clarified the rationale behind the prohibition in this regard. The Prophet ﷺ said: “When any of you fights another person, let him avoid striking the face, for Allah, Exalted is He, created Adam in His own image.” This means that Allah, Exalted is He, created Man in His own image, but this does not mean that He is like His creation. Rather, Allah, Exalted is He, is nothing like His creation, for His Attributes befit His Majesty and Grandeur, and human beings’ attributes suit them as well. The attributes of human beings are subject to non-existence and imperfection, whereas the Attributes of Allah are perfect and ever-lasting. Therefore, Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.} [Quran 42:11]. He also Says (what means): {Nor is there to Him any equivalent.} [Quran 112:4].
This hadeeth underlines one of the Attributes of Allah, Exalted is He, in which we are enjoined to believe without Tahreef (i.e., distortion) or Ta‘teel (i.e., denial), Takyeef (i.e., trying to describe "how" an Attribute is, e.g., to say: How Allah's Face is), or Tashbeeh and Tamtheel (i.e., likening Allah to His creation).
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2566
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
The Prophet ﷺ said, “O Muslim women! None of you should look down upon the gift sent by her female neighbor even if it were the trotters of sheep (i.e., fleshless part of sheep’s legs).”
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Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, shall reward Muslims for all good deeds and acts of kindness, no matter how small they may seem. He Says (what means): {So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it.} [Quran 99: 7].
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ enjoined women not to belittle any gift they may offer to their neighbors, even it was sheep’s trotters (i.e., fleshless part of sheep’s legs)! It was said that the meaning of the Prophet’s ﷺstatement is that a woman must not look down on any gift, as insignificant as it may seem, that she offered to her neighbors, meaning that she should not refrain from offering charity and gifts to her neighbors because she believes such gifts and charity are insignificant. Rather, they are enjoined to spend in charity and offer gifts from whatever they have available, regardless of its worth, even if it was a sheep’s trotter or a goat’s hoof; it is better than nothing. If people generously spend in charity and exchange gifts from small provisions, it will add up, and such acts foster mutual love and affection, and expel grudges and hatred. Moreover, small gifts are more indicative of affection, and are also easier and more convenient for the gift giver, being more affordable. The Prophet ﷺ made mention of women in particular because they often belittle such small things, boast about abundance, and the like.
The hadeeth urges Muslims to offer gifts to their neighbors.

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2567
 ‘Urwah narrated:
‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said to me, "O my nephew! We used to see the crescent, and then the crescent and then the crescent in this way we saw three crescents in two months and no fire (for cooking) used to be made in the houses of Allah's Messenger ﷺ. I said, "O my aunt! Then what did you eat to sustain yourselves?" ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, "The two black foodstuff: dates and water; our neighbors from Ansaar had some milch she-camels and they used to present Allah's Messenger ﷺ some of their milk and he ﷺ used to offer it to us to drink it.".

Commentary :
This hadeeth highlights the Prophet’s asceticism and renouncement of this worldly life. He ﷺ was content with a small share of worldly provisions and pleasures and endured it. He ﷺ was content with having his basic needs and necessities of life, and gave preference to the Hereafter over the worldly life. The Mother of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah bint Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them) said to her nephew ‘Urwah ibn Al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him), the son of her sister Asmaa’ bint Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them), that they used to wait three crescents in a row, i.e., 60 days or three consecutive months, and no fire (for cooking) would be used in the houses of Allah's Messenger ﷺ! ‘Urwah exclaimed: “O my aunt! Then what did you eat to sustain yourselves?” ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, "The two black foodstuffs: dates and water;” Arabs used one word to refer to both dates and water (since dates and water are usually consumed together), Al-Aswadaan (i.e., the two black things) even though only the dates are black (which is known in Arabic language as Taghleeb), giving preference to the color of dates.
She (may Allah be pleased with her) added: “… our neighbors from the Ansaar,” and it was said that they were Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubaadah, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Haraam, Aboo Ayyoob Khaalid ibn Zayd, Sa‘d ibn Zuraarah, and others (may Allah be pleased with them), “… had some milch she-camels and they used to present Allah's Messenger ﷺ some of their milk and he ﷺ used to offer it to us to drink it. It was also said that the Arabic word Manaa’ih referred to milch she-camels or sheep that are gifted to someone else to avail himself of their milk, and then return them to their owners. It could also mean that such she-camels or sheep are offered as life-long gifts to others to keep and avail themselves of their milk and other benefits. These men from the Ansaar used to gift such milk to the Prophet ﷺ, who offered it to his household members as sustenance.
The hadeeth underlines the merits of the Ansaar (may Allah be pleased with them) and the virtues of exchanging gifts and presents, as small and insignificant as they may seem.
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2568
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
The Prophet ﷺ said, "I shall accept the invitation even if I were invited to a meal of a sheep's arm or trotter, and I shall accept the gift even if it were a sheep's arm or trotter."
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Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ used to accept invitations and gifts, regardless of their worth, out of his refined moral character and graciousness.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ instructed his Ummah, saying: “I shall accept the invitation even if I were invited to a meal of a sheep's arm or trotter, and I shall accept the gift even if it were a sheep's arm or trotter.” The most beloved part to the Prophet ﷺ from a slaughtered animal was its arm, because this meat can be cooked easily, and is more delicious than the other parts of the animal. A sheep’strotter means the fleshless part of the legs below the knees. He ﷺ stated that if he was invited for a meal of a sheep’s arm or trotter, or it was gifted to him, he ﷺ would graciously accept it. He ﷺ made mention of a sheep’s arm or trotter to indicate his keenness to accept invitations and gifts, regardless of their worth. This reflects his humbleness, kindness, and consideration of the host’s or gift-giver’s feelings, lest he may be hurt or harmed if he ﷺ turned down his invitation or gift.
The hadeeth urges Muslims to accept gifts and invitations, and graciously eat from any food served to them, even if it was a small humble meal.
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2571
Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
Once Allah's Messengerﷺvisited us in this house of ours and asked for something to drink. We milked one of our sheep and mixed it with water from this well of ours and gave it to him. Aboo Bakr was sitting on his left side and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) in front of him and a Bedouin on his right side. When Allah's Messengerﷺfinished, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Allah's Messenger ﷺ, “Here is Aboo Bakr!" But Allah's Messengerﷺ gave the remaining milk to the Bedouin and said twice, "The (persons on the) right side! Start from the right side." Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) added, "It is an act of Sunnah," and repeated it thrice.
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Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ was keen to instill goodness and adherence to true guidance within Muslims, an example of which is teaching Muslims to start with the right side in every act where it is optional; the right side is blessed since the people of the right hand (i.e., those whose books of records will be placed in their right hands) are the people of Paradise.
In this hadeeth, Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺvisited their house and asked for something to drink. They milked one of their sheep, and Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) mixed it with water from the well inside their house and gave it to the Prophet ﷺ. Aboo Bakr was sitting on his left side, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) in front of him, and a Bedouin on his right side. When Allah's Messengerﷺfinished drinking, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him, “Here is Aboo Bakr!" He (may Allah be pleased with him) meant to ask the Prophet ﷺ to give him the milk, but heﷺ gave the remaining milk to the Bedouin and said twice, "The (persons on the) right side! Start from the right side,” meaning that those on one’s righthand side should be given precedence, and repeatedly emphasized it by the following command to start with the right side. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) added, "It is an act of Sunnah," and repeated it thrice, to further stress its importance, and the Prophet’s command in this regard.
In the same vein, it was narrated on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa‘d Al-Saa‘idee (may Allah be pleased with him), and recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, that the Prophet ﷺ was oncewas offered something to drink. He ﷺ drank of it while on his right was a boy, i.e., Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them), and on his left were some elderly people. He ﷺ said to the boy, "May I give these (elderly) people first?" The boy said, "By Allah, O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! I will not give up my share from you to somebody else." On that, Allah's Messenger ﷺ placed the cup in the hand of that boy. In this incident, he ﷺ sought permission from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) because he was on his right side and worthier of the turn, and did not seek the Bedouin’s permission in the other hadeeth to give the milk to Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) out of consideration of his feelings, being a new revert and lest he should assume that the Prophet ﷺ was disgusted by him, and that he ﷺ was offending him, acting upon the Arabs’ prejudice against Bedouins in the pre-Islamic era, in light of the Bedouins’ reputation for being harsh and discourteous. Moreover, he ﷺ sought the permission of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) to offer the beverage to the elderly and elite of his people, as he ﷺ was confident that he (may Allah be pleased with him) would not mind being asked to do so, and out of courtesy and consideration for the elderly people, and also to edify those who did not know on the relevant ruling, and that he ﷺ could not deny the one on his right hand his turn except with his permission.
As for the fact that other Laws of Islam texts have been reported regarding giving precedence to elderly people, there is no contradiction between their indication and the command to start with one’s right hand; giving precedence to the elderly people should be done when all the concerned people are of equal statuses (as far as all other qualities are concerned). In this case, the older person should be given precedence. The same goes for the case when a group of people do not sit in order, i.e., ranked by age; in this case the older ones should be given precedence. However, if they sat down in order, the one sitting on the right side should be given precedence and he is more deserving of it than the elder.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that the act of Sunnah is to give the beverage to the one on the right side, even if the one on the left side is more virtuous.

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2572
Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
Once Allah's Messengerﷺvisited us in this house of ours and asked for something to drink. We milked one of our sheep and mixed it with water from this well of ours and gave it to him. Aboo Bakr was sitting on his left side and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) in front of him and a Bedouin on his right side. When Allah's Messengerﷺfinished, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Allah's Messenger ﷺ, “Here is Aboo Bakr!" But Allah's Messengerﷺ gave the remaining milk to the Bedouin and said twice, "The (persons on the) right side! Start from the right side." Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) added, "It is an act of Sunnah," and repeated it thrice.
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Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ was keen to instill goodness and adherence to true guidance within Muslims, an example of which is teaching Muslims to start with the right side in every act where it is optional; the right side is blessed since the people of the right hand (i.e., those whose books of records will be placed in their right hands) are the people of Paradise.
In this hadeeth, Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺvisited their house and asked for something to drink. They milked one of their sheep, and Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) mixed it with water from the well inside their house and gave it to the Prophet ﷺ. Aboo Bakr was sitting on his left side, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) in front of him, and a Bedouin on his right side. When Allah's Messengerﷺfinished drinking, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him, “Here is Aboo Bakr!" He (may Allah be pleased with him) meant to ask the Prophet ﷺ to give him the milk, but heﷺ gave the remaining milk to the Bedouin and said twice, "The (persons on the) right side! Start from the right side,” meaning that those on one’s righthand side should be given precedence, and repeatedly emphasized it by the following command to start with the right side. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) added, "It is an act of Sunnah," and repeated it thrice, to further stress its importance and the Prophet’s ﷺcommand in this regard.
In the same vein, it was narrated on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa‘d Al-Saa‘idee (may Allah be pleased with him), and recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, that the Prophet ﷺ was oncewas offered something to drink. He ﷺ drank of it while on his right was a boy, i.e., Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them), and on his left were some elderly people. He ﷺsaid to the boy, "May I give these (elderly) people first?" The boy said, "By Allah, O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! I will not give up my share from you to somebody else." On that, Allah's Messenger ﷺ placed the cup in the hand of that boy. In this incident, he ﷺ sought permission from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) because he was on his right side and worthier of the turn, and did not seek the Bedouin’s permission in the other hadeeth to give the milk to Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), out of consideration of his feelings, being a new revert and lest he should assume that the Prophet ﷺ was disgusted by him, and that he ﷺ was offending him, acting upon the Arabs’ prejudice against Bedouins in the pre-Islamic era, in light of the Bedouins’ reputation for being harsh and discourteous. Moreover, he ﷺ sought the permission of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) to offer the beverage to the elderly and elite of his people, as he ﷺ was confident that he (may Allah be pleased with him) would not mind being asked to do so, and out of courtesy and consideration for the elderly people, and also to edify those who did not know on the relevant ruling and that he ﷺ could not deny the one on his right hand his turn except with his permission.
As for the fact that other Laws of Islam texts have been reported regarding giving precedence to elderly people, there is no contradiction between their indication and the command to start with one’s right hand; giving precedence to the elderly people should be done when all the concerned people are of equal statuses (as far as all other qualities are concerned). In this case, the older person should be given precedence. The same goes for the case when a group of people do not sit in order, i.e., ranked by age; in this case the older ones should be given precedence. However, if they sat down in order, the one sitting on the right side should be given precedence, and he is more deserving of it than the elder.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that the act of Sunnah is to give the beverage to the one on the right side, even if the one on the left side is more virtuous.

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2576
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
We chased a rabbit at Marr Al-Thahraan and people ran after it but were exhausted. I overpowered and caught it, and gave it to Aboo Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) who slaughtered it and sent its hip or two thighs to Allah's Messenger ﷺ. (The narrator confirms that he sent two thighs). The Prophet ﷺ accepted his gift. (The sub-narrator asked Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), "Did the Prophet ﷺ eat from it?" Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "He ﷺ ate from it.")
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Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ was the humblest of all people, and a manifestation of his (exemplary) humility was that he ﷺaccepted gifts from his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), regardless of their worth.
In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) stated: “We chased a rabbit at Marr Al-Thahraan, meaning that they forced it out of its hole and chased it at Marr Al-Thahraan, a valley five miles (8 kilometers) from Makkah in the direction of Al-Madeenah. People ran after it but were exhausted. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) overpowered and caught it.He said: “I gave it to Aboo Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) who slaughtered it,” for Aboo Talhah Al-Ansaaree was his stepfather, who married his mother Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with them). Aboo Talhah sent Anas (may Allah be pleased with them) with its hip or two thighs to Allah's Messenger ﷺ, as a gift. Shu‘bah ibn Al-Hajjaaj, a sub-narrator of the hadeeth, confirmed that he sent two thighs. Shu‘bah doubted at the beginning as to whether he (may Allah be pleased with him) had gifted the rabbit’s hips or thighs to the Prophet ﷺ but then learnt with certainty that he (may Allah be pleased with him) sent him the thighs; the hips are part of the thighs. The Prophet ﷺ accepted the gift. Shu‘bah also doubted as to whether the Prophet ﷺ ate from it or not, but merely narrated that he ﷺaccepted it. When Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about it, he (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "He ﷺ ate from it." Shu‘bah was certain that he ﷺ accepted the gift but doubted as to whether he ﷺ ate it or not. Anyway, whether he ﷺ ate it or merely accepted it, this hadeeth evidences that it is allowable to eat rabbit meat.
It is also inferred from the hadeeth that accepting a hunted gift and the like is allowable.
It is also deduced therefrom that hunting is permissible as long it does not lead to missing the prayers or other religious and worldly interests.
It is also inferred that a hunted animal belongs to the one who catches and takes it, and none of the chasers has the right to any share of it..

2581
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
Whenever a meal was brought to Allah's Messengerﷺ,he would ask whether it was a gift or Sadaqah (i.e., charity). If he ﷺ was told that it was Sadaqah, he ﷺ would tell his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to eat it, but if it was a gift, he ﷺ would hasten to share it with them.
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Commentary :
It was forbidden for the Prophet ﷺ to eat or avail himself of what is given in charity, because it may be paid by some people as means to purify their wealth from unlawful earnings or as atonement for their sins.
In this hadeeth, It was narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that whenever a meal was brought to Allah's Messengerﷺ,he would ask whether it was a gift or Sadaqah (i.e., charity). If he ﷺ was told that it was Sadaqah, he ﷺ would tell his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to eat it, but if it was a gift, he ﷺ would hasten to share it with them. This is because it was deemed unlawful for the Prophet ﷺ to eat from what was given in charity. He ﷺ used to eat from a meal offered as a gift rather than the one give in charity, because the exchange of gifts fosters love and affection, and it was possible that he ﷺ would reward the gift-giver with a similar or better gift so that none should do a favor to the Prophet ﷺ (that would go unrewarded), but this was not the same for charity, and this was the wisdom behind the different rulings.
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2582
‘Azrah ibn Thaabit Al-Ansaaree narrated:When I went to Thumaamah ibn ‘Abdullah, he gave me some perfume and said that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)would not reject the gifts of perfume and said that the Prophet ﷺwould not reject any perfume gifted to him.
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Commentary :
Perfume was one of the most beloved things to the Prophet ﷺ, as he used to love (cleanliness and) good scent and disliked that his body odor should not be pleasant, which was not possible, because he ﷺ always had a good smell, and wore the best perfume, so much that people used to use his sweat as perfume.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi‘ee ‘Azrah ibn Thaabit Al-Ansaaree narrated that he visited Thumaamah ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Anas ibn Maalik, who gave him some perfume and told him that his grandfather Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) never turned down perfume gifted to him, following the example of the Prophet ﷺ who did not turn down perfume that was gifted to him.
The prohibition of turning down gifts of perfume was reported along with the wisdom behind it in the hadeeth narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), and recorded by Aboo Daawood, reading: “Whoever is offered perfume (as a gift), let him not refuse it, for it is easy to carry, and smells good.” 
The hadeeth urges Muslims to considerately accept people’s gifts.
It is also inferred therefrom that Muslims are urged to wear fragrance and use aromatic perfumes..

2585
 ‘Aai’shah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
Allah's Messengerﷺused to accept gifts and used to give something in return.
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Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ was the humblest of all people, and a manifestation of such (exemplary) humility was that he ﷺ would accept gifts from his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), regardless of their worth.
In this hadeeth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) stated that the Prophet ﷺ used to accept gifts from people and never turned down any gift given to him, regardless of its value. In this vein, the Prophet ﷺ said: “I shall accept the gift even if it were an arm or a trotter of a sheep.” [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].
This reflected his graciousness and noble moral character as he ﷺ was keen to win people’s hearts. He ﷺ used to accept people’s gifts, no matter how insignificant they may seem, and reward the gift givers with similar or better gifts, acting upon the Islamic etiquette of rewarding acts of kindness in kind, with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner] and so that none should do a favor to the Prophet ﷺ that goes unrewarded.
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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..

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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..