Narrated Umm ‘Attiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her): A sheep was sent to me (in charity) and I sent some of it to `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). The Prophetﷺ asked `Aishah for something to eat. `Aisha replied that there was nothing except what Nusaybah Al-Ansaariyyah had sent of that sheep. The Prophet ﷺ said to her, "Bring it as it has reached its place.".

Commentary : One of the special characteristics that the Prophet ﷺand his noble family had was that they would eat from food that was offered as a gift, and not from what was given as alms.
In this hadeeth, Umm ʿAṭṭiyyah al-Ansaariyyah- whose name is Nusaybah - reports that a sheep was sent as a form of charity to her. The sender was the Prophet ﷺ as mentioned in a narration reported in Saheeh Muslim, where said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me a sheep from the alms. I sent some of it to A’ishah”, meaning: as a gift to her, and not as alms. So, when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and asked her about the food, she said: ‘No, it was nothing except what Nusaybah had sent from this sheep.’ To which, he ﷺresponded, ‘Bring it here; for it has reached its proper place.’ Then, he ﷺ explained that when it was charity, it was permissible for her to dispose of it to the poor by way of sale or gift; for the validity of it being in his possession [could be established.] So, when Nusaybah (may Allah be pleased with her) gifted it to ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) some of the sheep - it was judged for her with the ruling of a gift. Thus, It shifted from the meaning of charity from being in the possession of the giver, and transferred to the meaning of a lawful gift for the Prophet ﷺ.
He ﷺ would only eat what came as a gift, and not what was offered as charity, as a form of honour and etiquette because gifts bring hearts closer and make people love each other, and it is permissible to be rewarded the sender of the gift with something similar or better than it so that no one has favour over the other and no one feels humiliated. All this is not possible with charity, because it is the filth of the people in which they purge the wealth of its impurity.
One benefit that we can conclude from this hadeeth is it shows that things that are forbidden for known reasons become lawfulif those reasons are removed..

1448

Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to me what Allah had instructed His Messenger ﷺ to do regarding the one who had to pay one Bint Makhaad (i.e., one year-old she-camel) as Zakat, and he did not have it but had gotten a Bint Laboon (two-year-old she-camel). He wrote that it could be accepted from him as Zakat, and the collector of Zakat would return him 20 Dirhams or two sheep; and if the Zakat payer had not a Bint Makhaad, but he had Ibn Laboon (a two-year-old he-camel) then it could be accepted as his Zakat, but he would not be paid anything .

1450

Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote for him, zakat regulations which Allah's Messenger ﷺ had made compulsory, and wrote that one should neither collect various portions (of the livestock) nor divide the livestock into various portions in order to avoid paying zakat..

1451

Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to me what Allah's Messenger ﷺ has made compulsory regarding zakat. It reads: If the property of two persons is mixed, but they are not partners, its zakat is to be paid as a whole, and then they can settle the differences. .

1452

Narrated Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him): A Nomad asked Allah's Messenger ﷺ about the emigration. The Prophet ﷺ said, "May Allah have mercy on you! The matter of emigration is very hard. Have you got camels? Do you pay their Zakat?" The Arab nomad said, "Yes, I have camels and I pay their Zakat." The Prophet ﷺ said, Work beyond the villages and towns, and Allah will not decrease (waste) any of your good deeds.".

Commentary : At the beginning of Islam, it was obligatory upon Muslims to emigrate to al-Madeenah to flee the lands of disbelief, protect their religion, and support the Prophet ﷺ and spread the message of Islam. The best of believers were those who emigrated to him ﷺ and fulfilled the rights of emigration. However, there were some Muslims who could not emigrate due to valid excuses; therefore, Allah facilitated for them another path for good deeds.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that a nomad, which is the term used to refer to Arabs who lived in deserts, asked the Prophet ﷺ to give him the pledge to emigrate to al-Madeenah i.e., to leave his family and homeland and relocate to al-Madeenah to be in the company of the Prophet ﷺ. However, the Prophet ﷺ feared that he would not manage or be able to fulfill its rights; thus, gives it up. For this reason, he ﷺ said to him: “Wayhak” (lit. woe to you), an Arabic phrase used to show compassion and concern for the addressee and explained to him that fulfilling the rights of emigration is too difficult and only a few can fulfill them. It seems the Prophet ﷺ could notice the inability of the man to handle it; thus, he declined his request. Then, he ﷺ asked him if he had any camels that he pays its zakat. The man’s answer was positive and upon which the Prophet ﷺ guided him to do good deeds in his homeland for wherever he would be, his good deeds would benefit him and his reward would not be decreased. It is as if the Prophet ﷺ wanted to say to him: It does not matter where you reside so long as you are fulfilling the obligation that Allah imposed upon you and your family. Allah will not decrease the reward of your good deeds, regardless of your residence.
It has been said that this incident occurred after the conquest of Makkah on which he ﷺ said: “there is no emigration after the conquest [of Makkah].” It was said that emigration was only obligatory upon the Muslims who lived in Makkah. As for the Muslims living in other areas, it was only recommended and liked. It was said: Emigration was obligatory upon the Muslims who lived in rural areas and not upon the people of the desert. It was said that emigration was only obligatory if some of the residents of the town entered Islam while the rest remained on their disbelief. This is so that the Muslims would not be subject to the rulings pertaining to disbelievers. If everyone in the town entered Islam, then emigration is no longer obligatory.
This hadeeth highlights the merit of emigration and emigrants, and shows the virtue of paying zakat on camels and the hastening to do good deeds..

1454

Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): When Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) sent me to (collect the Zakat from) al-Bahrayn, he wrote to me the following: “By the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. These are the orders for compulsory alms (Zakat) which Allah's Messenger ﷺ had made obligatory for every Muslim, and which Allah had ordered His Messenger to observe: Whoever amongst the Muslims is asked to pay Zakat accordingly, he should pay it (to the Zakat collector) and whoever is asked more than that (what is specified in this order) he should not pay it; for twenty-four camels or less, one ewe is to be paid as Zakat; for every five camels, one sheep is to be paid, and if there are between twenty-five to thirty-five camels, a one year old she-camel (Bint Makhaad) is to be paid; and if they are between thirty-six to forty-five (camels), one two-years old she-camel (Bint Laboon) is to be paid; and if they are between forty-six to sixty (camels), one three years old she-camel (Hiqqah) is to be paid; and if the number is between sixty-one to seventy-five (camels), one four-years old she-camel (Jadha’ah) is to be paid; and if the number is between seventy-six to ninety (camels), two she-camels aged 2 years (Bint Laboons) are to be paid; and if they are from ninety-one to one-hundred and twenty (camels), two three years old she-camel (Hiqqahs) are to be paid; and if they are over one-hundred and-twenty (camels), for every forty (over one-hundred-and-twenty) one two years she-came (Bint Laboon) is to be paid, and for every fifty camels (over one-hundred-and-twenty) one three years she-camel (Hiqqah) is to be paid; and whoever has got only four camels, has to pay nothing as Zakat, but if the owner of these four camels wants to give something, he can. If the number of camels increases to five, the owner has to pay one sheep as Zakat. As regards the Zakat for the (flock) of sheep; if they are between forty and one-hundred-and-twenty sheep, one sheep is to be paid; and if they are between one-hundred-and-twenty to two hundred (sheep), two sheep are to be paid; and if they are between two-hundred to three-hundred (sheep), three sheep are to be paid; and for over three-hundred sheep, for every extra hundred sheep, one sheep is to be paid as Zakat. And if somebody has got less than forty sheep, no Zakat is required, but if he wants to give, he can. For silver, the Zakat is one-fortieth of the lot (i.e. 2.5%), and if it is less than one-hundred Dirhams, Zakat is not required, but if the owner wants to pay, he can.'..

Commentary : Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam that Allah has dictated upon those whose savings exceed the specified threshold. It is taken from the wealthy and given to the poor (i.e., all those who are eligible to receive it according to the Quran). Allah and His Messenger explained all the rulings and details pertaining to this obligatory act of worship to protect the wealthy ones from injustice and protect the rights of those who are in need.
In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote him a letter in which he explained the due zakat on livestock that Allah’s Messenger made compulsory upon Muslims. This letter was penned after Abu Bakr appointed Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) to collect the zakat from the people in al-Bahrayn, which is a region that includes, today, the kingdom of Bahrain as well as Al-Ihsaa and al-Qateef in the eastern parts of Saudi Arabia. The reason Aboo Bakr penned this letter to Anas (may Allah be pleased with them) is to use it as reference and consult to calculate the zakat [on livestock] and identify those who are obliged to pay it.
He started the letter with the Basmalah and then explained that the obligatory alms (zakat) are that which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made obligatory for Muslims and which Allah has ordered His Messenger to collect from the Muslims whose savings exceed a set threshold. This prelude was necessary to clarify that the calculations mentioned afterwards in the letter are not of Aboo Bakr. He explained to Anas from whom he should take zakat and that if the zakat demanded, he should pay it, and whoever is demanded to pay more than the required zakat, then they are not obliged to pay that which is above the zakat, and they may decline the request. The calculation of zakat, according to this letter, is as follows:
Camels:(i) From 5 to 24, one ewe on every five camels;(ii) from 25 to 35, one she-camel that completed one year in age, or in its absence one, one she-camel that completed two years in age and has not yet completed three years in age and in this case the zakat collector should pay the zakat payer 20 dirhams or two sheep to compensate him for the difference. In the event where the zakat payer has no she-camel that completed two years in age and has not yet completed three years but has instead a male-camel who completed 2 years in age and did not complete 3 years in age as yet, the zakat collector should take it without taking anything else from the zakat payer, according to the report recorded in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree; (iii) from 36 to 45, the zakat is one she-camel that completed the age of two years i.e., this she-camel is called in Arabic Bint Laboon (lit. daughter of a milky camel) and the reason it is called as such is that its mother gave birth to more than one thus it started to have milk. As for the male-camel, he is referred to as Ibn Laboon;(iv) from 46 to 60, one she-camel that completed the age of three years and it is called in Arabic Hiqqah because by this age it can be mounted, carry luggage, and is capable of mating; (v) from 61 to 75, one she-camel that completed four years in age and it is called in Arabic Jadh’ah because of the falling of her milk teeth, (vi) from 76 to 90, two she-camels that completed the age of two years, (vii) from 91 to 120: two she-camels that completed the age of threeyears (viii) and over 120, the zakat is one she-camel that completed the age of three years on every forty camels and one three-year-old on every fifty camels i.e., for 121 to 129, three she-camels aged two years, and for 130 to 139, one she-camel aged three years and two she-camels aged two years, for 140 to 149, two she-camels aged three years and one she-camel aged two years, for 150-159, three she-camels aged three years, for 160 to 169, four she-camels aged two years, for 170 to 179, three she-camels aged two years and one she-camel aged three years, for 180-189, two she-camels aged two years and two she-camels aged three years, for 190-199, three she-camels aged three years and one she-camel aged two years, for 200 to 209, four she-camels aged three years or five she-camels aged two years, and so forth. The same calculation is used for whatever is more than 209, so as the zakat on each fifty camels will be one she-camel aged three years, and on each forty camels will be one she-camel aged two years.
The letter specifies the zakat due on camels if they are less than 24. If the number is less than five, there is no zakat due, and if the number is five, the zakat is only one sheep, and so forth until the number reaches 24 as explained above.
Sheep: Below 40 sheep, there is no zakat. From 40 to 120, one ewe, from 121 to 200, two ewes, from 200 to 300, three ewes and over 300, one ewe on every hundred sheep.

Zakat on livestock is only limited to animals that gaze for the most part of the year. As for the livestock that are foddered are not eligible for the zakat mentioned in the above calculations. They are subject to zakat according to the calculations made for property and merchandises. There is no zakat on sheep if they are less than forty heads except their owner wishes to pay zakat on them voluntarily.
Silver: Zakat is obligatory on silver, and it is given by paying 2.5 %, i.e., a quarter of a tenth, if it reaches the set threshold, which is about 295 grams [and one lunar year has passed over possessing it]. The threshold of silver is mentioned in the part of the letter where it reads: “For silver, the Zakat is one-fortieth of the lot (i.e., 2.5%), and if its value is less than two-hundred Dirhams, Zakat is not required, but if the owner wants to pay, he can.” The part where it says, “if it is less than one-hundred Dirhams, Zakat is not required,” may give the impression that if it is above 190 and less than 200 Dirhams, zakat is required. However, this is a wrong assumption, because 190 is specifically mentioned since the number is counted in tens, and 200 is the following count; thus, it was mentioned to indicate that no zakat is required if it is less than 200 Dirhams. This is supported by the hadeeth recorded in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim on the authority of Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no zakat to pay on less than five awaaq (plural of Uwqiyyah) of silver, but the owner wants to pay, he can.” And it is known that one Uwqiyyah equals forty Dirhams.
The intended meaning of the part “but the owner wants to pay, he can” is that the owner can voluntarily give away part of it as he is not required to do so, and in this case, it will be accepted and taken from him. This indicates that if the owner wants willingly and happily to give more and better than what he is required to pay, it will be accepted and taken from him.
From the benefits of this hadeeth are learning the zakat payable on camels, sheep, and silver, and that zakat on tangible property to be paid to the Imaam (i.e. ruler of Muslims).
The hadeeth shows that Islam is a religion that is well-structured and systemised in its rulings and obligations. It does not oppress or does injustice to anyone and does not transgress the rights of others.
It highlights the significance of zakat in Islam and the keen interest of the Prophet ﷺ to give a detailed account of its rulings, and it shows that zakat is not waived on the number of livestock that falls between each two thresholds..

1455

Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to me what Allah's Messenger ﷺ has made compulsory regarding zakat. It reads: Neither an old nor a one-eyed animal, nor a ram may be taken as Zakat except if the Zakat collector wishes (to take it)..

Commentary : Zakat is one of the obligations that Allah has imposed upon those whose savings exceed the specified threshold. It is taken from the wealthy and given to the poor (i.e., all those who are eligible to receive it according to the Quran). Allah and His Messenger ﷺexplained all the rulings and details pertaining to this obligatory act of worship to protect the wealthy ones from injustice and protect the rights of those who are in need.
In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote him a letter in which he explained the due zakat on livestock that Allah’s Messenger made compulsory upon Muslims. This letter was penned after Abu Bakr delegated Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with them) to collect the zakat from the people in al-Bahrayn, which is a region that includes, today, the kingdom of Bahrain as well as Al-Ihsaa and al-Qateef in the eastern parts of Saudi Arabia.
According to this letter - as it is mentioned in this hadeeth – the following type of sheep cannot be accepted as zakat: (i) old sheep whose teeth has fallen, (ii) sheep whose one of its eyes is blind, (iii) sheep that have health problems and defects that would disqualify it as a sacrificial animal (i.e., Udhiyyah) such as limping, fatigue or sick sheep, (iv) rams (i.e., male-sheep and male-goats) except of the zakat collector agrees to take it because of it has much meat or fat.
This hadeeth states that it is impermissible to take out defected or undesired property as zakat, and that the zakat collector has the authority to accept or decline zakat that does not meet the criteria that religion has specified. .

1456

Narrated Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "By Allah! If they (pay me the Zakat and) withhold even a young (female) goat which they used to pay during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger ﷺ, I will fight with them for it." `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "It was nothing but Allah Who opened Abu Bakr's heart towards the decision to fight, and I came to know that his decision was right.".

Commentary : The Imaam (ruler) and Caliph is the one responsible for managing the affairs of the Muslim nation, including the collection of zakat. Not only has he the authority to force people to pay their zakat, but also to fight with those who refuse to pay it.
This hadeeth is a part of a long story that is mentioned in another hadeeth wherein Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that after the passing of the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) assuming the position of the Caliph of Muslims, some Arabs apostatized and others refused to pay the zakat. Following those events, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) decided to dispatch military campaigns to fight with them and force them to pay the zakat. However, ‘Umar ibn al-Khataab (may Allah be pleased with him) felt uneasy about it and could not entertain the idea of fighting and shedding the blood of people who testify that there is no god worthy of worship. So, he said to Abu Bakr: 'O Abu Bakr, how can you fight the people when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: I have been commanded to fight the people until they say (there is none worthy of worship except Allah). Whoever says it, his life and his property are safe from me, except for its right, and their reckoning will be with Allah?' However, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) informed him that they have to pay the zakat and that it is as obligatory as the [five daily] prayers. He explained to ‘Umar that they have to fulfill the obligation of zakat and denying it is akin to denying the five daily prayers. He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I will surely fight those who separate prayer and zakat, for zakat is what is due on wealth.” Then, he swore by Allah that if anyone withholds from him a small-she-goat that they used to give to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ he will fight them. In a different version of the hadeeth, it reads a robe instead of a she-goat, which he said it to signify the seriousness of the matter. He wanted to make it clear that he would fight whoever withholds anything, regardless how trivial it is, they used to pay to the Prophet ﷺ. This is because the obligation of zakat is from what is known from Islam by necessity, and whoever denies or rejects something known from Islam by necessity will be fought. Zakat is a right due on wealth and refusing to pay it means denying one of the fundamental rights of Islam. If a person refuses to pay it, he should be fought just like how a person who denies the five daily prayers should be fought. Upon hearing the justification of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), ‘Umar became convinced and supported his decision of fighting them, and that it is the correct ruling that is established in the Quran and the Sunnah.
This hadeeth highlights the sound judgment and understanding of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and his courage and firmness in the truth, and the objectivity of ‘Umar (may Alah be pleased with him) and his aptness to accept the truth once he knows it..

1460

Narrated Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him): I went to the Prophet ﷺ and he said: “By Allah in Whose Hands my life is (or probably said, 'By Allah, except Whom none has the right to be worshipped) If any man has camels, cattle, or sheep on which he does not pay what is due, they will be produced as large and fat as can be on the Day of Resurrection and will trample him with their hoofs and gore him with their horns. As often as the last of them pass him the first of them will be brought back to him until judgment is pronounced among mankind.”.

Commentary : Zakat is one of the obligations that Allah has imposed upon those whose savings exceed the specified threshold. It is taken from the wealthy and given to the poor (i.e., all those who are eligible to receive it according to the Quran). Whoever thanks Allah, Exalted be He, by fulfilling this obligation and paying his zakat to those who deserve it will be given a reward that is complete; and whoever fails to fulfill this obligation will earn nothing but loss and failure in this life and the Hereafter.
In this hadeeth, Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that he visited the Prophet ﷺ one day, and he heard him ﷺ swears by Allah, Exalted be He, the One in His Hand all souls, or, 'by Allah, except Whom none has the right to be worshipped’ that whoever does not pay zakat on livestock (such as camels, cows, and sheep), they will be produced as large and fat as can be on the Day of Resurrection, because the condition of cattle varies i.e., they could be fat, fatigue, small or large, and then those with hoofs (i.e., camels) will trample him and those with horns will gore him to cause his as much pain as possible. They will be subject to this punishment while the creation is standing in the land of resurrection, and it will continue until the reckoning of the people is over.
From the benefits of this hadeeth is that not thanking Allah’s blessings and failing to fulfill His right in them will make us subject to punishment and hardship on the Day of Judgment.
The hadeeth indicates that Allah, Exalted be He, will resurrect the camels, cows and sheep whose zakat was withheld to punish their owners with them.
It shows the great punishment that is made for those who withhold zakat, and that some sinners will be subject to a special punishment on the Day of Judgment before the reckoning of the people is over..

1461

Narrated Anas in Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him): "Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) had more property of date-palm trees gardens than any other amongst the Ansaar in al-Madeenah and the most beloved of them to him was Bayruhaa’ garden, which was in front of the Mosque of the Prophet ﷺ. Allah's Messenger ﷺ used to go there and used to drink from its fresh water." Anas added, "When these ayaat were revealed: --{By no means shall you attain righteousness unless You spend (in charity) of that which you love.} (Quran 3.92) Abu Talhah said to Allah's Messenger: 'O Allah's Messenger! Allah, the Blessed, the Superior says: {By no means shall you attain righteousness, unless you spend (in charity) of that which you love.} And no doubt, Bayruhaa’ garden is the most beloved of all my property to me. I want to give it in charity in Allah's Cause and I expect its reward from Allah. So, spend it wherever Allah makes you think it better.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Well done! This is a profitable property. This is a profitable property. O Abu Talhah! I have heard what you have said, and I think it would be proper if you spend it on your Kith and kin.' Abu Talhah said, I will do so, O Allah's Messenger.' Then Abu Talhah distributed that garden amongst his relatives and his cousins." [According to the report from the route of] Yahya ibn Yahya and Isma’eel narrated from Maalik, it reads: property that brings about reward and benefits to its owner“..

Commentary : Giving away in charity money that is precious to the heart only for the pleasure of Allah is evidence on the sincerity of the person, the truthfulness of his faith, and a means to attain the good in this life and the Hereafter.
In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that Abu Talhah – whose name is Zayd ibn Sahl al-Ansaaree – (may Allah be pleased with him) was the wealthiest man amongst the Ansaar and he had plenty of date-palm trees. The most precious and beloved property to him was the Bayruhaa’ garden in al-Madeenah, opposite to the Mosque of the Prophet. The garden had a fresh water source that the Prophet ﷺ used to attend to drink from. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) adds that after the ayah {By no means shall you attain righteousness unless You spend (in charity) of that which you love} was revealed, Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) went to the Prophet ﷺ and recited the ayah to him. Then, he explained that the most beloved property to his heart was the garden of Bayruhaa’ and that he is giving it away in charity for the sake of Allah while hoping for its reward and good outcome from Allah, Exalted be He, and that he is leaving the decision of where and how to spend it to the Prophet ﷺ so, he can do with it what Allah orders him. The Prophet ﷺ rejoiced and exclaimed his awe of the good initiative of Aboo Talhah, and informed him that this is indeed a profitable property [in terms of Allah’s reward]. In another version, it reads: property that brings about reward and benefits to its owner. It has been said, it means, property that gives its owner reward day and night.
The Prophet ﷺ instructed him to spend it on his relative so he divided it between them. The reason the Prophet ﷺ advised him to do so is that giving charity to relatives gives the person the reward of charity and the reward of joining kinship.
The meaning of the ayah: {By no means shall you attain righteousness unless You spend (in charity) of that which you love} is that you will not attain all the good or attain Allah’s mercy, pleasure, and Paradise until you spend from the money that you favour and love. This includes intangible forms of wealth such as using one’s social status to help people and exerting efforts to do good deeds and putting the life at the service of Allah.
This hadeeth directs us to consult the people of virtue and merit on how to give charity and do good deeds. It shows that a pious person may be described as wealthy or acknowledge his wealth without that being a defect in his piety.
It shows that when the value of charity is high the giver ought to be praised and highlights the merit of Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him).
It shows that giving charity to close relatives who are in need is more rewarding and takes priority. .

1462

Narrated Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him): On `Eid al Fitr or `Eid al-Adha, Allah's Messenger ﷺ went out to the Musalla. After finishing the prayer, he ﷺ delivered the sermon and ordered the people to give alms. He said, "O people! Give alms." Then he ﷺ went towards the women and said: "O women! Give alms, for I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-Fire were you (women)." The women asked, "O Allah's Messenger! What is the reason for it?" He ﷺ replied, "O women! You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion who can make a cautious wise man irrational than you." Then he ﷺ left. When he ﷺ reached his house, Zaynab, the wife of Ibn Mas`ood, came and asked permission to enter. The Prophet ﷺ was informed of her visit so it was said, "O Allah's Messenger! It is Zaynab." He ﷺ asked, 'Which Zaynab?" The reply was that she was the wife of Ibn Mas'ood. He said, "Yes, allow her to enter." And she was admitted. Then she said, "O Prophet of Allah! Today you ordered people to give alms and I had an ornament and intended to give it as alms, but Ibn Mas`ood said that he and his children deserved it more than anybody else." The Prophet ﷺreplied, "Ibn Mas`ood had spoken the truth. Your husband and your children have more right to it than anybody else.".

Commentary : Zakat, which Allah has made obligatory, charity, which Allah has encouraged and made optional, are two great deeds that can help us attain safety in this life and the Hereafter. He who has indulged in sins and disobedience should give charity to purify himself from his sins, hoping from Allah, Exalted be He, His blessings and goodness. The Prophet ﷺ would encourage people so often to give charity and explain its virtue and who are most deserving of it.
In this hadeeth, Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ went to the Musalla to offer the Eid prayer on ‘Eid al-Fitr or ‘Eid al-Adhah. The Musalla is a spacious outdoor area, and the location of the Musalla of the Prophet ﷺ was in a known area in al-Madeenah, that is 1000 arms away from the gate of his Mosque. After he ﷺ finished the ‘Eid prayer, he ﷺ addressed the attendees and preached to them about what would benefit them in their worldly life and the Hereafter. The preaching sermon should be short and not lengthy. He ﷺ exhorted to give in charity and then walked to the Musalla of women to exhort and preach them since they were segregated from men and may not have heard his first preach. Or, it is possible that he went to them to give them a special reminder. He reminded them of Paradise and Hellfire and addressed all of them in his speech by saying: O women! Then, he ﷺ ordered them to give away in charity, and explained that he saw during the ascending journey - or in other events – that most of the dwellers of Hellfire were from women. This makes the reason he ordered them to give away in charity is that giving charity increases the scale of good deeds and extinguishes the Lord’s anger. In other words, he ﷺ directed them to a good deed that would save them from Hellfire, hoping that Allah will have mercy on them because of their charity. The women asked the Prophet ﷺ about the reason that made them most of the people in Hellfire. He clarified that it is because of their excessive verbal abuse and cursing or invoking against others to be expelled from Allah’s mercy. The other reason he ﷺ offered was that women are often ungrateful to their husbands i.e., a woman would deny that her husband was ever kind to her whenever she is upset with him or sees from him something not of her liking even if it was a trivial matter. This part of the hadeeth sends women a strong warning against verbal abuse and cursing and warns them against denying the favors and kind treatment of their husbands. Then, he ﷺ described them of being deficient in intelligence and religion and that their influence is so strong such that it can even lure a resolve and sensible man. The latter is used in the form of exaggeration to highlight their strong influence over men to show that if they are determined to do something they would keep argue with men until they do it, regardless of it being right or wrong.
Their deficiency in intellect and religion is explained in the authentic hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, which reads:”They asked, “What is the deficiency of our religion and our intelligence, messenger of God?” He replied, “Is not the testimony of a woman equivalent to half the testimony of a man?” They said, “Yes.” Remarking that that pertained to the deficiency of her intelligence, he asked, “Is it not the case that when she menstruates, she neither prays nor fasts?” When they replied, “Yes,” he said, “That pertains to the deficiency of her religion.” The mention of their deficiency of religion and intellect is not to blame them, it is intended to warn men from falling for their temptations, and not as a derogatory remark or to blame them, because it is beyond their power and a part of their innate nature that Allah has created.
After, the Prophet ﷺ left to his house. Zaynab, the wife of ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood followed him to his house and asked his permission to enter. The one who informed the Prophet ﷺ of her visit and request to enter upon him was Bilaal ibn Rabaah (may Allah be pleased with him). He ﷺ allowed her to enter after he learned who she was. She informed him ﷺ that her husband, ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him), objected when she wanted to giveaway in charity some of her jewelry, and explained that he and their children are more deserving of her charity. The Prophet ﷺ supported the view of Ibn Mas’ood and confirmed that her poor husband and children are more deserving of her charity. He ﷺ, according to the hadeeth recorded in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, further added: “She will have two rewards, the reward for charity and the reward for upholding ties of kinship.”
From the benefits that we could learn from this hadeeth is knowing that cursing and ungratefulness between spouses are admonished.
It shows that the word “kufr” (translation: denying and ungratefulness) can be used to refer to sins that do not take people outside the fold of Islam to highlight its seriousness.
It teaches us that giving a harsh advice could be a way to rid of a quality that is condemned, and encourages us to give charity, particularly to poor and needy relatives, and that charity keeps us away from Allah’s punishment.
It shows that a student can discuss the opinion of his teacher about aspects that he does not understand.
It depicts to us the great character of the Prophet ﷺ, his tolerance, compassion, and kindness. .

1463

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "The Muslim does not have to pay zakat on his horse or slave.".

1465

Narrated ‘Ataa’ ibn Yasaar: I heard Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) say: “Once the Prophet ﷺ sat on a pulpit, and we sat around him. Then he ﷺ said, "The things I am afraid of most for your sake (concerning what will befall you after me) is the pleasures and flowers of the world and its beauties which will be made available to you." Somebody said, "O Allah's Messenger! Can the good bring forth evil?" The Prophet ﷺremained silent for a while. It was said to that person, "What is wrong with you? You are talking to the Prophet ﷺ while he is not talking to you." Then we noticed that he ﷺ was receiving revelation. Then the Prophet ﷺ wiped off his sweat and said, "Where is the questioner?" It seemed as if the Prophet ﷺ liked his question. Then he ﷺ said, "Good never brings forth evil. Indeed, it is like what grows in spring which either kills or makes the animals sick, except if an animal eats its full from the fresh vegetation and then faces the sun, and then defecates and urinates, and grazes again. No doubt this wealth is sweet and green. Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from which he gives to the poor, the orphans and to needy travelers. (Or the Prophet said something similar to it) No doubt, whoever takes it illegally will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied, and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection.".

Commentary : Allah has willed and predestined with His divine wisdom that this life be a place of tests and trials. Some people fall into its temptation and compete to attain its pleasures, while others realize its reality; thus, they endeavor to attain that which Allah has made for His believing servants in the Hereafter and never be misguided by worldly temptation.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ sat on the pulpit of his Mosque one day and his Companions gathered around him. He ﷺ then expressed his concern about his nation after this worldly life presents its pleasures and flower to them. The intended meaning of pleasures and beauty here is money and wealth, and he ﷺlikened wealth to flowers because flowers wilt and wither quickly to say that worldly pleasures change and wither quickly too.
One man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ how could that which is good brings forth or causes evil! The Prophet ﷺ remained silent for a while and his Companions realised that his silence was because of receiving revelation. After receiving the divine revelation, he ﷺ wiped the sweat of his face because whenever he received revelation, sweat would drop from his forehead. Then, he ﷺ asked about the questioner. It was as if he ﷺ approved the question and commended him for asking such a question. The Prophet ﷺ explained that the good do not bring forth evil – that is to say, when wealth is acquired from lawful sources and is managed and used as Allah orders, it will be considered from the kind of good that only bring forth nothing but goodness. The example of this is Islam; it is all good and brings forth nothing but good. However, there are other kinds of goodness that are not entirely good which could bring forth evil such as money. It is considered good, but it may bring forth evil if earned from unlawful sources or spent unwisely, etc. The same applies to all lawful work that is considered good but becomes evil when it is sought through forbidden means, or the money earned from it is unlawful.
Then, the Prophet ﷺ gave two examples to explain his statement and help his Companions understand how wealth is good, but it can bring forth evil as much as it can bring forth good. The first example was about the plants that grow in spring to explain how the good can turn into evil, and it has been said that spring here refers to the banks of a water-stream. He ﷺ said that what grows in spring or on the banks of a water-stream is good, but some of it still can cause great harm to the livestock that graze it, such as when a sheep consumes a large quantity of grains such that it causes its sickness. The meaning of this example is that it is harmful for a person to focus on acquiring as much wealth as possible to the extent it becomes all he cares about and then spends it in his own pleasure. It is the same as food and drinks; when one eats and drinks more than his need, it will make him feel unwell and comfortless. This example is addressing those who are keen on acquiring wealth and collecting money who withhold the rights of others his wealth (i.e., he does not pay zakat on it or use it to in lawful means). The reason of mentioning spring is that good plants and grass grow in it, which the livestock enjoy so much that they overeat and thus fall sick or causes their death.
The exception made in the example is about the livestock that only eat green plants moderately without exaggeration thus do not become sick because of it. This example is given to demonstrate the case of that which is good and only brings forth that which is good when dealt with appropriately. In this example, the Prophet ﷺ describes the case where livestock consume only good and fresh vegetations and that after they are full, they would roam around under the sunlight to benefit from the warmth. As a result, they would defecate easily, keeping the beneficial elements of the food and defecating that which is harmful. This example is given to describe the person who is moderate in his endeavours to collect and earn lawful money and use it for lawful causes.
Then, the Prophet ﷺ explains that money is desired and loved so much such that people are naturally keen on collecting it just like how we desire and like fruits and fresh vegetables that look nice and taste delicious. If a person pays zakat on his wealth, which he earns from lawful sources, and spends [some of] it on those who are poor and needy, orphans and wayfarers who do not have enough money during his journey, then his wealth will testify in his favour on the Day of Judgment. As for those who earned their wealth unlawfully, Allah will take away the barakah from it and deprive its owner from contentment so that he never feels he has enough even if he is given all the treasures of this world. He will be like a person who eats without ever being satiated, no matter how much food he consumes. On the Day of Judgment, the wealth of this kind of person will testify against him and expose his extravagance, unlawful spending, and strong keen on collecting it.
From the benefits of this hadeeth is learning that the Imaam sits on the pulpit while people sit around him listening to his preaching.
This hadeeth teaches us that we should give examples to clarify meanings so people can easily understand the intended message.
It shows that earning money from unlawful sources are devoid of Allah’s blessings and barakah, and the scholar should warn who listen to him about the temptation of money and similar temptations and explain to them how people may fall into such temptation.
It encourages us to be moderate in spending and collecting money, give away in charity, and avoid withholding our money from good causes.
It highlights that the Sunnah is a divinely inspired, and that one can object or blame someone for asking a question when feared that the question is inappropriate,.

1466

Narrated Zaynab, the wife of `Abdullah ibn Mas’ood, said, "I was in the Mosque and saw the Prophet ﷺ saying, 'O women! Give alms even from your ornaments.'" Zaynab used to provide for `Abdullah and those orphans who were under her protection. So, she said to `Abdullah, "Will you ask Allah's Messenger ﷺ whether it will be sufficient for me to spend part of the Zakat on you and the orphans who are under my protection?" He replied "Will you yourself ask Allah's Messenger ﷺ? Zaynab added: So, I went to the Prophet ﷺ and I saw there a woman from the Ansaar who was standing at the door (of the Prophet ﷺ with a similar problem as mine. Bilaal passed by us, and we asked him, 'Ask the Prophet ﷺ whether it is permissible for me to spend (the Zakat) on my husband and the orphans under my protection.' And we requested Bilaal not to inform the Prophet ﷺ about us. So, Bilaal went inside and asked the Prophet ﷺ regarding our problem. The Prophet ﷺ asked, "Who are those two?" Bilaal replied that she was Zaynab. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Which Zaynab?" Bilal said, "The wife of `Abdullah (ibn Mas`ood)." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Yes, (it is sufficient for her) and she will receive a double reward (for that): One for helping relatives, and the other for giving Zakat.".

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ encouraged giving away in charity, explaining that the most rewarding type of charity is that which we give to our poor and needy relatives. This is because it reinforces solidarity and help those who are in need, let alone it fulfills the joining of kinship.
In this hadeeth, Zaynab the daughter of Mu’aawiyyah – or the daughter of Abee Mu’aawiyyah – the wife of ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reports that she saw the Prophet ﷺ in the Mosque and heard him saying to the women: “give alms even from your ornaments” i.e., give away in charity if it was from the ornaments that you beautify yourselves with. At that time, Zaynab was spending on her husband, ‘Abdullah ibn Ma’sood and the orphans who were under her care. It was said the orphans were her nephews i.e., the children of her brother and sister. She asked her husband, Abudllah ibn Mas’ood, to ask Allah’s Messenger ﷺ whether her spending on him, who was a poor man, and her relative orphans would suffice as a charity. However, ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) excused himself from this and asked her to ask the Prophet ﷺ directly. The reason he did not like to do it was because of his reverence to the Prophet ﷺ and it was said that asking such a question would make him look like as if he greedy, given the circumstances (i.e., she was spending on him) at that time.
So, she headed to the house of the Prophet ﷺ where she found a woman from the Ansaar waiting outside. The woman had the same inquiry about the charity given to relatives. It has been said that this woman was Zaynab, the wife of ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amr al-Ansaaree, alias Aboo Mas’ood. She added that while they were outside, Bilaal passed by, so we asked him to pass her question to the Prophet ﷺ about whether spending on her husband and the orphans who were under her care is sufficient and accepted. It has been said that this spending refers to the obligatory spending while others said it refers to the optional spending. If it is the former, then it is understood to refer to that which is not binding upon the giver to give to his relatives. Then, she and the other woman asked not to disclose our names to the Prophet ﷺ i.e., do not say that so and so is asking such and such but rather say there are two women asking such and such. Or it is to say, do not disclose our names if he ﷺ inquired about them, which is not really intended literally since it is obligatory to answer the Prophet ﷺ if he ﷺ inquired about their identity. They only wanted to ensure they would avoid showing off or liked to exercise the best option. After, Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) entered upon the Prophet ﷺ and presented their question to him ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ asked Bilaal about the name of both women and to which Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) said, they are named Zaynab. Thereupon, he ﷺ asked about their identity so Bilaal said that it was Zaynab, the wife of ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him). He only mentioned one of them as he sufficed by mentioning the one who is older and more virtuous. According to the report mentioned in Sunan al-Nasaa’iee, the name of the other Zaynab was also mentioned, as it reads: Zaynab al-Ansaariyyah. Obviously, Bilaal clarified who they were because it is obligatory to answer the question of the Prophet ﷺ immediately. To which, the Prophet ﷺ explained that it is sufficient and that the wife may give charity to her husband and children, and as a result she will receive two rewards, one for joining kinship and one for charity.
From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is that spending on relatives and kinship is encouraged and gives us two rewards. It shows that it is permissible for the wife to give away in charity whatever she likes from her own property without the permission of her husband since women gave away in charity their earrings and jewellery.
It establishes the permissibility for the Imaam to preach to women and men speaking with foreign women when there is a valid need, and no temptation is anticipated. This is given based on the act that Bilaal conversed with the two Zaynabs while the Prophet ﷺ was aware of it and he ﷺ did not object..

1467

Narrated Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her): I asked: "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! Shall I receive a reward if I spend for the sustenance of Aboo Salamah's offspring, and in fact they are also my sons?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "Spend on them and you will get a reward for what you spend on them.".

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ encouraged giving away in charity, explaining that the most rewarding charity is that which we give to our poor and needy relatives. This is because it reinforces solidarity and help those who are in need, let alone it fulfills the joining of kinship.
In this hadeeth, the Mother of the Believers, Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her), whose name is Hind bint Abee Umayyah, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, asked the Prophet ﷺ whether she will be rewarded for spending on her children from Aboo Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Asad who was her [first] husband and then died, and afterwards the Prophet ﷺ married her. Her children were, ‘Umar, Muhammad, Zaynab and Durrah; they were orphans without any source of income. She wanted to say that they are my children and I take care of their financial needs out of my compassion and feeling of responsibility towards them as their mother, not to mention they have more right in my charity than anyone else i.e., because they are orphans and needy, let alone her own children. She was concerned that she would not be rewarded for this good deed since it is driven by her feelings of motherhood. However, the Prophet ﷺ informed her that she will be rewarded for everything she would spend on them.
From the benefits of this hadeeth is that we are rewarded for spending on own children and others, even if this is what our innate nature necessitates. .

656

‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi ‘Amrah reported: ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān entered the mosque after the Maghrib prayer and sat alone. I sat in front of him, and he said: "O son of my brother, I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: Whoever performs the ‘Ishā’ prayer in congregation, it is as if he has prayed for half the night, and whoever performs the Fajr prayer in congregation, it is as if he has prayed for the whole night.'".

Commentary : Allah Almighty multiplied the reward for the congregation prayer until it surpassed the prayer offered individually by twenty-seven degrees, and its merit increases if it is offered during the night, given its closeness to sincerity to Allah Almighty. Indeed, it is one of the greatest acts aimed at getting close to Allah.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i (the generation after the Companions) ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi ‘Amrah relates that ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him) entered the mosque after the Maghrib prayer and sat alone waiting for the time of ‘Ishā’ prayer to come so that he would offer it in congregation. ‘Abdur-Rahmān said: "I sat in front of him." It is as if he sat to learn from him and ask him about the reason for his sitting and waiting. So, ‘Uthmān (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "O son of my brother." He meant the brotherhood of Islam, not that of blood. "I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: Whoever performs the ‘Ishā’ prayer in congregation, it is as if he has prayed for half the night." In other words, he will obtain a reward like one who engages in worship from the early part of the night to its middle and spends this time in prayer and dhikr (remembrance of Allah). "And whoever performs the Fajr prayer in congregation, it is as if he has prayed for the whole night." He will obtain a reward like one who engages in worship all night long and spends this time in prayer and dhikr. So, the reward for offering the Fajr prayer in congregation is double the reward for offering the ‘Ishā’ prayer in congregation, which indicates that getting up for the Fajr prayer is more meritorious than getting up for the ‘Ishā’ prayer. This is because the Fajr prayer is harder and more difficult for the performer and more tough for the devil. Indeed, he who goes to sleep and then gets up finds it harder than one who wants to sleep. Or it means that each of them equals half of the night, and together they amount to one night. So, whoever offers the ‘Ishā’ and Fajr prayers in congregation, it is as if he has prayed for all the night, as related in a version by Abu Dāwūd and At-Tirmidhi: "Whoever attends the ‘Ishā’ prayer in congregation obtains the reward of praying for half the night, and whoever offers the ‘Ishā’ and Fajr prayers in congregation obtains the reward of praying for one night." In any case, this urges and encourages the regular observance of the Fajr and ‘Ishā’ prayers in congregation. This particular merit afforded to them may be because of the hardship involved in attending the mosques to pray them, like the darkness and the fact that in those times people usually take rest, most likely sleep, or spend private time with their families.
The Hadīth indicates that some prayers are characterized by a certain merit not shared with other prayers..

657

Jundub ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever performs the Fajr prayer is under the protection of Allah; so, let Allah not call you to account regarding anything of His protection; and so, He will seize him and throw him upon his face in Hellfire.".

Commentary : One of the best signs of faith is the strict observance of the obligatory prayers. Allah Almighty affords great merit to those who persistently observe these prayers.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says that whoever performs the Fajr prayer in congregation - as reported in the version by Abu Nu‘aym in Al-Mustakhraj - "is under the protection of Allah," i.e., under His safety and guarantee. He singled out the Fajr prayer from all the other prayers due to the hardship involved in its performance and because only those with sincere faith can perform it persistently; they, therefore, deserve to be under the protection, safety, and guarantee of Allah Almighty.
Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "So let Allah not call you to account regarding anything of His protection, or else He will seize him and throw him upon his face in Hellfire." The prohibition here pertains to what entails accountability for violating Allah's guarantee and protection. The Prophet's words here have one of two possible meanings: First: Whoever performs the Fajr prayer obtains a guarantee from Allah. So, no one should harm or oppress him. Whoever oppresses or harms him, Allah will call him to account regarding His protection. Second: Do not abandon the Fajr prayer, lest the guarantee between you and your Lord will be violated, and so He will call you to account regarding it. Whoever does so, Allah will seize him and throw him upon his face in Hellfire.
In the Hadīth: Urging the performance of the Fajr prayer
And in it: Demonstrating the great bounty of Allah and His vast mercy towards this Ummah, as He prescribed an immense reward for the Fajr prayer
And in it: Clarifying Allah's revenge against those who harm His pious servants
And in it: Demonstrating that nothing on the earth or in heaven escapes the power of Allah, and if He wants to exact revenge upon anyone, he cannot escape Him.

660

Anas reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) visited us, and there was no one other than me, my mother, and my maternal aunt ’Umm Harām. He said: "Stand up so that I will lead you in prayer." It was not a time of prayer, he proceeded to lead us in prayer. A man said to Thābit: "Where did he make Anas stand with him?" He said: "He made him stand to his right." Then, he supplicated for us, the members of the household, with all goodness in this world and the Hereafter. My mother said: "O Messenger of Allah, here is your little servant; supplicate Allah for him." He said: He supplicated for me with all goodness, and the last of his supplication for me was: "O Allah, increase his wealth and children and bless them for him.".

Commentary : One of the things urged and encouraged by Islam is to accept invitations, for this displays brotherliness and cordiality among the Muslims. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) built a good relationship with his Companions, and he used to visit them in their houses so as to teach them and supplicate for them.
In this Hadīth, Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) paid a visit to them in their house, and there was none but he and his mother - ’Umm Sulaym - and his maternal aunt ’Umm Harām. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: "Stand up so that I will lead you in prayer." This was not a time for an obligatory prayer. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would like the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to pray for them in their houses, in pursuit of blessing. So, he led them in a two-Rak‘ah voluntary prayer. Thereupon, a man asked Thābit al-Bunāni, who narrated from Anas: Where did Anas stand while he was praying with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and on which side did he make him stand? He told him that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) made him stand on his right side, for when one person prays behind an Imām, he should stand to his right; whereas the women stand in a row behind both of them.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated for the family of Anas with all goodness in this world and the Hereafter. The mother of Anas said: "O Messenger of Allah, here is your little servant" i.e., your boy who serves you. She said "your little servant" by way of gentleness and appeasement, not belittlement. Hence, she said to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): "supplicate Allah for him." She probably made this request so that his supplication for him would be compensation for him in return for his kindness to you by extending service for a long time. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) granted her request and supplicated for him with all goodness, and the last supplication he made was: "O Allah, increase his wealth and children and bless them for him." Anas found the blessing of the Prophet's supplication in his wealth and children. He was the wealthiest person among the Ansār, and he saw lots of children descending from him. In a Hadīth narrated by Al-Bukhāri, he said: "Indeed, I am one of the richest among the Ansār and my daughter ’Umaynah told me that when Al-Hajjāj came to Basra, more than 120 of my offspring had been buried." In a version by Muslim: "and my children and grandchildren are more than one hundred today."
The Hadīth contains supplication for the increase of wealth and children.
It comprises supplication for goodness in this world and the Hereafter, for all this lies in the Hand of Allah Almighty.
And it includes preferring one's child over oneself; and making requests in a gentle manner..

663

’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b reported: There was a man from the Ansār whose house was the farthest house in Madīnah, and he would not miss the prayer with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He said: We felt bad for him, and I said to him: "O so and so, if you buy a donkey, it will shield you from the heat of the scorching sand and shield you from the vermin of the earth." He said: "By Allah, I do not like that my house be close to the house of Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)." He said: I was troubled by that and came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and told him. He said: He sent for him, and he said the same to him and mentioned that he hoped for a reward for his steps. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "You will have what you hoped for.".

Commentary : The Companions of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) were the most keen among people on doing good, and they would constantly look for deeds that increased their rewards with Allah Almighty.
In this Hadīth, ’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that there was a man from the Prophet's Companions from the Ansār - the people of Madīnah - and it is mentioned in Musnad that he was the cousin of ’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with both of them), whose house was the farthest house from the Prophet's Mosque. Despite the remoteness of his house, he would not miss the prayer in the mosque with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) felt pity for him for the hardship and tiredness he would go through while coming and going back. So, they said to him: If you buy a donkey, it will shield you from the heat of the scorching sand; and it will shield you from the vermin of the earth. Vermin is a term that refers to creatures with lethal poison, like serpents, and it may also refer to creatures that are not to be killed, such as insects.
He swore by Allah to them that he would not like his house to be adjacent to the Prophet's house; rather, he liked that it be far away from it, so that his reward would increase with the increase of steps he would take from his house to the mosque. He did not intend to negate his love for being close to the house of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) out of hatred for him, but in the hope of a greater reward with the increase of those steps. ’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) assumed by his statement that he meant hatred for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). So, ’Ubayy (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I was troubled by that" i.e., I found that to be grave and was distressed by it, given the repugnance and horridness of what he said and its evil connotation, namely that he hated the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). In a version by Ahmed, he said: "I have not heard a statement about him more hateful to me than it." ’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) interpreted his statement wrongly and thought ill of it because Madīnah abounded with hypocrites at the time, and they were keen to live away from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Then, ’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b came to the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him about what this man said. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent for him, and he said the same to him as he said to ’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b, and he mentioned to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) that what made him say so was that he hoped for and pursued reward and recompense from Allah for his walking. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "You will have what you hoped for", i.e., Allah Almighty will give you the reward for your steps which you took for the sake of Allah, Exalted be He, and kept in store with Him. Hoping for reward means that one performs a deed for the sake of Allah and thereby seeks recompense and reward from Allah.
The Hadīth points out the merit of walking to the mosques..

664

Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh reported: Our houses were situated far away from the mosque. So, we wanted to sell our houses and move near the mosque. But the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) forbade us, saying: "With every step there is a degree for you.".

Commentary : Taking many steps to the mosque is one of the greatest means of reward. The more distant the mosque and the more steps are taken to it, the greater the reward.
In this Hadīth, Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that their houses were situated far from the mosque, as they lived on the outskirts of Madīnah. These are the dwellings of Banu Salamah, a group of the Ansār. They wanted to sell these dwellings, given their remoteness, and buy dwellings close to the mosque, seeking to be the neighbors of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). But, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade them from that and explained to them the reward of which they didn't know. He said to them: "With every step there is a degree for you." When your house is more distant from the mosque, every step you take brings a high rank in Paradise, and the more steps you take, the greater the reward. Thus, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urged them to stay in their houses and not leave them. As related in a Hadīth reported by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) and narrated by Al-Bukhāri: "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) disliked that Madīnah be vacated", i.e., that parts of Madīnah become empty of people and houses. So, by staying in their places, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) wanted the areas of Madīnah to be inhabited, so that the Muslims would seem large in number in the eyes of the hypocrites and polytheists, frightening them and showing toughness towards them. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not explicitly say it to them; he only mentioned to them the clear benefit, which would encourage them to agree and prompt them to stay at their houses.
The Hadīth shows the Prophet's concern about his Ummah and his keenness to direct them to what is good and to make the best use of it..

665

Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh reported: The area around the mosque became empty. So, Banu Salimah wanted to move near the mosque. News of this reached the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he said to them: "I was told that you want to move near the mosque." They said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah, we want to." Thereupon, he said: "O Banu Salimah, your houses, your footsteps are recorded; your houses, your footsteps are recorded.".

Commentary : Taking many steps to the mosque is one of the greatest means of reward. The more distant the mosque and the more steps are taken to it, the greater the reward.
In this Hadīth, Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that the area around the Prophet's Mosque became empty; "so, Banu Salimah wanted" [some of it]. Banu Salimah was a group of the Ansār, and their houses were far away from the Prophet's Mosque, located behind Mount Sal’, west of Madīnah. They wanted to move and stay close to the Prophet's Mosque, thus becoming neighbors to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was told about that. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: "I was told." In other words, your news reached me "that you want" and desire "to move near the mosque." They replied: Yes, we desire to do that, O Messenger of Allah. "We want to." So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: "O Banu Salimah, your houses." That is: Stay at your houses and remain therein and do not move from there. "Your footsteps are recorded." That is: Your steps to the mosque are recorded. You gain a reward for the steps you take to the mosque. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) repeated his statement once again: "Your houses, your footsteps are recorded." This was to urge and encourage them to obey his command and stay in their houses and not leave them. As related in another Hadīth reported by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) and narrated by Al-Bukhāri: "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) disliked that Madīnah be vacated." In other words, parts of Madīnah become vacated. So, by staying in their places, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) wanted the areas of Madīnah to be inhabited, so that the Muslims would seem large in number in the eyes of the hypocrites and polytheists, thus frightening them and showing toughness towards them. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not explicitly say it to them; he only mentioned to them the clear benefit, which would encourage them to agree and prompt them to stay at their houses.
The Hadīth highlights the merit of walking to the mosques..

671

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The places that are dearest to Allah are the mosques, and the places that are most hateful to Allah are the markets.".

Commentary : Places vary in terms of goodness and evilness. The mosques are places where Allah's mercy and grace descend. By contrast, markets are the places of the devil's acts of greed and heedlessness.
In this Hadīth, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentions that the mosques are the dearest places to Allah Almighty, for they are houses of worship and dhikr and are founded on fear from Allah Almighty. In them, the Qur’an is recited, knowledge is disseminated, the believers get together, the rituals of the religion are displayed, and the angels attend. Also, Allah attributed them to Himself, by way of honor and extolment, saying: {The mosques are for Allah alone.} [Surat al-Jinn: 18]
He also said that the markets are the most hateful places to Allah Almighty, for they witness a lot of false swearing, cheating and deception, heedlessness from the remembrance of Allah Almighty, breaking promises, and impolite treatment, as well as other similar things. Love for the mosques means love for the pious acts that take place therein and hate for the markets means hate for the sins and misdeeds committed therein.
Love and hate are two of Allah's attributes that are established for Him by the Qur’an and the Sunnah in their apparent meanings and in the way that befits the majesty of Allah Almighty, as He established them for Himself without comparison or denial.
The Hadīth urges us to go to the mosques and frequent them in pursuit of Allah's love and pleasure, and to go to the markets less frequently and only when it is needed, so that we can keep away from Allah's dislike and avoid the means leading to His hatred and punishment..

672

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If there are three persons, let one of them be their Imām, and the worthiest among them for being Imām is their best reciter.".

Commentary : Prayer is a Tawqīfi act of worship, which we must perform as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught it to us. He clarified to us its obligations, Sunnahs, and its etiquette, including the one who is more worthy of leading the prayer.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) tells us that if there are three or more people, they should choose one of them to lead the prayer. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) enjoined that so that no difference, conflict, or dispute should happen among them. Imām here refers to the leader in prayer, as demonstrated by the last part of the Hadīth, as he said: "and the most entitled among them to be the Imām is their best reciter" who is most among them in memorizing the Qur'an and the best in understanding it. In another version by Muslim: "The one who should lead the people in prayer is the best reciter of them in the Book of Allah." So, if there are a group of people qualified to lead the prayer, the best reciter of the Qur'an among them is the worthiest of being the Imām, by virtue of this merit in him. Hence, if they memorize the entire Qur'an, the one of them who recites it in the most perfect, accurate, and measured manner should be given precedence, for he is the best reciter compared to them. And it is preferred that he should be the best reciter of the Book of Allah among them and the most knowledgeable about the Sunnah and its rulings.
It may be understood from the apparent meaning of the Hadīth that the group concerning the prayer should not be less than three persons. But, what is indicated by the Sunnah is that the group can also consist of two persons, with one of them being the Imām for the other.
The Hadīth shows the merit of he who is the best in reciting the Qur'an, for he is the worthiest of leading the prayer..

673

Abu Mas‘ūd al-Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one who should lead the people in prayer is the best reciter of the Book of Allah among them. If they are equal in terms of the recitation, then the one most knowledgeable about the Sunnah among them; if they are equal regarding the Sunnah, then the earliest one among them to have emigrated; if they are equal in terms of emigration, then the earliest one among them to have embraced Islam. No man should lead another man in prayer where the latter has authority or sit in his special place in his house without his permission.” [In another version] "age" is reported in place of "embracing Islam"..

Commentary : Congregational prayer in mosques occupies a high status and brings a great reward. The Shariah regulated this prayer and arranged the rows behind the Imām (prayer leader), so that the worshipers can be in orderliness and mental and physical discipline during the prayer.
In this Hadīth, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) directs the Muslims on how to choose a prayer leader if they are a group of people, stating that the one who should lead the people in prayer is the best reciter of the Book of Allah among them. There is a difference of opinion regarding the meaning intended by "the best reciter". It was said: It means the best of them in recitation and the most knowledgeable about its rulings, even if he is the least among them in terms of memorization. Another view says: It means the best memorizer of the Qur’an among them, for he regarded recitation as the basis for leading people in prayer and gave it precedence over all the other characteristics mentioned along with it. And another view says: It means the most knowledgeable, for if you consider the conditions of the Companions, you will find that the most knowledgeable among them is the best reciter among them. Thus, the Prophet's words, "the best reciter of the Book of Allah among them," mean: the most knowledgeable among them.
If they are equal in terms of the acceptable level of recitation, memorization, and mastery, then it's the most knowledgeable of the Sunnah among them; that is: the one who possesses the best understanding of it and the most knowledgeable about the rulings related to the prayer and the Prophet's Sunnah concerning it. If the Imām is ignorant of the prayer's rulings and what may arise during its performance, like forgetfulness and addition or omission, he will spoil it.
If they are equal in all the foregoing, the earliest one to have emigrated should be given precedence. Emigration means leaving the land of disbelief to the land of Islam. Thus, the one who moves from the land of disbelief to the land of Islam earlier is worthier in leading the prayer than the one who does so later. It was said: He is given precedence either because being earlier in emigration is an honor that entails precedence, or because he who emigrates earlier is usually more knowledgeable than the one who emigrates later. It was said: The emigration associated with the precedence in prayer leadership is not intended to particularly refer to the Hijrah during the Prophet's lifetime, but it is the emigration that does not cease until the Day of Judgment, which is mentioned in a Hadīth narrated by An-Nasā’i: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Hijrah will not cease so long as the disbelievers are being fought." That is, it is enduring until the Day of Judgment.
If they are equal in terms of emigration, then the earliest one among them to have embraced Islam takes precedence. In another version, "age" is reported in place of "accepting Islam". In other words, if they are equal in all the foregoing - in knowledge, recitation, and emigration - and one of them excels the others by virtue of embracing Islam earlier or being older in age, he is given precedence because this is a merit that affords precedence.
Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No man should lead another man in prayer where the latter has authority." This is his place where he alone assumes authority, a place he owns, or a place where he gives judgment. So, the owner of a place is worthier. He can step forward, if he wills, or choose someone else to lead, if he wills. This is his dominion, and he can dispose as he wishes in it. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that a man should sit in another man's house in his special place - which is reserved for him and intended to honor him, like a mat and so on - unless he is granted permission. This prohibition pertains to sitting in the special place of a man in his house. This is because the place where the head of a household sits is usually the location for certain things not liked to be seen by others, or that it overlooks his entire house or the parts he wants to see; thus, he can follow the conditions of the members of his household and tell them whatever he wants. So, if he gives permission to someone to sit in that place, this indicates that the place is free in terms of all these aspects.
The Hadīth demonstrates the order to be observed in stepping forward to lead people in prayer.
It also indicates that prayer leadership is one of the important things in the religion. Hence, the lawgiver enjoined that it should be undertaken by the most proficient person.
It also states that the head of a household is worthier than others in leading the prayer therein.
It also states that no one should sit in the place reserved for the head of the house without his permission.
It also highlights the superiority of immigrants over others..

679

Khufāf ibn Īmā’ reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) bowed in Rukū‘ and then raised his head and said: "May Allah forgive Ghifār; may Allah make Aslam peaceful; ‘Usayyah disobeyed Allah and His Messenger; O Allah, curse Banu Lihyān and curse Ri‘l and Dhakwān." Then, he fell prostrating. Khufāf said: Invoking a curse upon the disbelievers was permitted because of that..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to draw close to Allah by supplication under every condition. This includes the supplication of Qunūt which he would make during the prayer.
In this Hadīth, Khufāf ibn Īmā’ (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) bowed in Rukū‘ during his prayer, and when he raised his head from Rukū‘ in the last Rak‘ah - as related in the version by Ahmad - and before he went down for prostration, he stood for supplication. Part of what he said in his supplication was to supplicate for the tribe of Ghifār and the tribe of Aslam, two of the Arab tribes. He said about Ghifār: "may Allah forgive Ghifār". He supplicated so that Allah forgives Ghifār for their heinous acts during Jāhiliyyah. About Aslam, he said: "may Allah make Aslam peaceful". He supplicated so that Allah Almighty makes peace with Aslam and does not command war be waged against them. This may also be information that Allah Almighty forgave the tribe of Ghifār and made peace with Aslam and prevented war against them.
About the tribe of ‘Usayyah, he said that they "disobeyed Allah and His Messenger", as they entered a treaty with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). This gives the sense of complaining about them and it entails supplication against them to be disgraced for their disobedience, not supplication for them to disobey.
Then, he supplicated against some neighborhoods in the tribe of Banu Sulaym, saying: "O Allah, curse Banu Lihyān and curse Ri‘l and Dhakwān." This is because they disobeyed Allah Almighty and His Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and acted treacherously towards his noble Companions, killing the reciters whom the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent to them to teach them their religion. Then, when he finished his supplication, he fell prostrating.
Thereafter, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stopped supplicating against them when Allah Almighty revealed the verse that reads: {It is not for you [O Prophet] to decide} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 128] as related in the Two Sahīh Collections. This noble verse was a sign to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) that Allah Almighty might guide those people to Islam.
It was not the habit of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to supplicate against the polytheists in every situation. Rather, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was most merciful and compassionate towards them. But, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes supplicate against them when their violence and harm increased and grew and at other times he would supplicate for them when no trouble was feared from them and it was hoped they could win their hearts and embrace Islam.
Khufāf (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Invoking curse upon the disbelievers was permitted because of that," i.e., supplication against the disbelievers was adopted and became legitimate because of this act by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his invocation of a curse upon those disbelieving tribes. So, if they attack the Muslims, they should be supplicated against, in line with the Prophet's example.
The Hadīth demonstrates a merit and good characteristic for both Aslam and Ghifār..

680

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We stopped for rest along with the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and did not awake till the sun rose. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Each man should take hold of his mount's head, for this is a place where the devil has visited us." He said: We did accordingly. Then, he asked for water and performed ablution and then offered two prostrations - [In a version] Then, he prayed two prostrations - Then, the Iqāmah for prayer was pronounced and he performed the morning prayer..

Commentary : Prayer is the greatest among the practical pillars of Islam, and it enjoys particular significance in the Shariah. Allah Almighty appointed specific times for its performance, and whoever misses the appointed time should make up for the missed prayer and not leave it.
In this Hadīth, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that they were on a journey with the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and they stopped at a place in the latter part of the night for rest and sleep and did not wake up till the rise of the sun, whose heat awakened them; as in a Hadīth reported by ‘Imrān ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) and narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim. Consequently, they missed the Fajr prayer. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) woke up, he said to his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them): "Each man should take hold of his mount's head" i.e., hold the bridle of his mount and get out of this place; "for this is a place where the devil has visited us." And he caused them to be heedless of the time of prayer in this place, and it is as if he was still around them with this heedlessness. So, by their departure from this place, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) wanted to turn away from the devil. They complied with the Prophet's command and got out of their place, and then they proceeded on the way for a while. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked for water, performed ablution, "and then offered two prostrations". And in a version: "Then, he prayed two prostrations" i.e., he performed two Rak‘ahs, in return for the Sunnah of the Fajr prayer. Then, the Iqāmah was pronounced for the obligatory prayer. "and he performed the morning prayer", which is the Fajr prayer.
The Hadīth mentions making up for the regular supererogatory prayer.
It indicates that the Fajr prayer is also known as the morning prayer.
It also urges avoidance of the places where the devil is present..

681

Abu Qatādah reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) addressed us and said: "You will proceed with your journey in the evening and night. Then, you will come to a place of water, Allah Willing, tomorrow." So, the people proceeded without paying any heed to one another. Abu Qatādah said: "As the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) traveled until it was midnight, and I was by his side, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) dozed off and leaned (to one side) of his camel. I went to him and lent him support without waking him up until he sat upright on his riding mount. He went on traveling until a major part of the night was over and he leaned (to one side) of his camel. I supported him without waking him up until he sat upright on his mount. Then, he traveled until it was near dawn. Then, he leaned, but far more than the two earlier leanings, and he was about to fall. So, I went to him and supported him, and he lifted his head and said: 'Who is this?' I said: 'It is Abu Qātadah.' He said: 'How long have you been traveling along with me like this?' I said: 'I have been traveling in this very state since the night.' He said: 'May Allah guard you as you have guarded His Prophet.' Then, he said: 'Do you see that we are out of the sight of the people?' Then, he said: 'Do you see anyone?' I said: 'Here is a rider.' I again said: 'Here is another rider, until we gathered together, and we were seven riders.' The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stepped aside off the road and placed his head and then said: 'Guard our prayers for us.' The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the first to wake up, and the rays of the sun were falling on his back. We got up startled. He said: 'Ride on.' So, we rode on until the sun had risen. He then dismounted and called for a jug of water which I had with me. There was a little water in it. He performed ablution which was less thorough than his usual ablutions, and some water was left. Then, he said to Abu Qatādah: 'Keep for us your jug of water; it will have a word.' Thereafter, Bilāl made the Adhān (call for prayer), and then the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) observed two Rak‘ahs and then observed the Fajr prayer as he did every day. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) rode on and we rode along with him, and some of us whispered to the others saying: 'What is the expiation for the negligence we committed in our prayers?' Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Is there not in me a role model for you? There is no negligence in sleeping. Negligence is not observing the prayer until the time of the next prayer comes. So, whoever does this should observe the prayer when he becomes aware of it, and on the next day, he should observe the prayer at its prescribed time.' Then, he said: 'What do you think the people would do (at this hour) when they would not find their Prophet with them in the morning. Abu Bakr and ‘Umar said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is behind you, and he does not leave you behind.’ Other people said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is ahead of you.’ So, if they obey Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, they will follow the right path.' We proceeded on until we came up to the people (from whom we had lagged behind), and the sun had considerably risen, and everything became hot, and they said: 'O Messenger of Allah, we are dying, we are thirsty.' Whereupon, he said: 'You will not die (of thirst).' And he then said: 'Bring that small cup of mine.' Then, he asked for the jug of water to be brought to him. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) poured water, and Abu Qatādah gave them water to drink. When the people saw that there was water in the jug, they gathered in crowds around it. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Behave well in your gathering; you will drink to your fill.' They complied. So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would fill (the cup), and I would serve them until no one was left except me and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He then filled (the cup) with water and said to me: 'Drink it.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I will not drink until you drink.' He said: 'The server of the people is the last among them to drink.' So, I drank, and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) also drank, and the people came to the place of water quite happy and satiated." ‘Abdullāh ibn Rabāh said: "As I was narrating this Hadīth in the grand mosque, ‘Imrān ibn Husayn said: 'Consider, O young man, how you narrate, for I was one of the riders in that night.' I said: 'So, you must know this Hadīth well.' He said: 'Who are you?' I said: 'I am one of the Ansār.' Thereupon, he said: 'You narrate, for you know your Hadīths better.' I, therefore, narrated it to the people. Then, ‘Imrān said: 'I was also present that night, but I do not know anyone who memorized it the way I memorized it.'".

Commentary : Prayer is the greatest among the practical pillars of Islam, and it enjoys particular significance in Shariah. Allah Almighty appointed specific times for its performance, and whoever misses the appointed time should make up for the missed prayer and not leave it.
In this Hadīth, Abu Qatādah al-Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) addressed the army which he led, saying: "You will proceed with your journey in the evening." This extends from midday to sunset, the latter part of the daytime, (and night), which means: You will go out on the path of your journey in the evening and proceed with your journey throughout the night. "Then, you will come to a place of water, Allah Willing, tomorrow," i.e., they would reach the water in the morning. His words, Allah Willing, point to the Prophet's compliance with this command of Allah Almighty: {And never say about anything: "I will surely do this tomorrow," without adding: "if Allah wills."} [Surat al-Kahf: 23-24] So, he would say "Allah Willing" in any future matter. When the people heard his words, they proceeded fast with their travel without paying any heed to one another. In other words, they did not pay attention or turn toward one another. Rather, each person was walking alone and not paying heed to the company, caring for himself in pursuing and reaching the water. "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) traveled until it was midnight," i.e., it was the middle of the night and darkness accumulated; or a major part of the night did pass and one-third of it was remaining. Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) was by his side. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) started dozing off
- the beginning of sleep - as he moved. He began to lean and almost fell off his mount. Meanwhile, Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) would support him to help him sit upright and not fall. He did all that without awakening the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did that a number of times, and this happened when a major part of the night was over. Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) kept supporting him so that he would not fall off his riding animal." The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went on traveling, and when it was near dawn, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) leaned so heavily that he almost fell. So, Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) came to him and lent him support, like a bolster under him. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up from his sleep, raised his head, and asked: Who is this one who is helping me? Abu Qatādah replied that it was him. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked him: Since when? Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) replied that he kept guarding and supporting him from the first time he slept during that night. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated that may Allah guard him as he guarded His Messenger. Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked him: "Do you see that we are out of the sight of the people?" In other words, have we delayed and lagged behind them? This is because the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), due to his drowsiness, was not aware of how much he lagged behind the army. This also indicates that no one was with him except Abu Qatādah. It was the Prophet's habit to travel at the rear of the army to show leniency towards the army, carry the weak, and prod those who lag behind. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked him: "Do you see anyone?" Based on that, he wanted to determine whether to move faster with his mount or at the same pace. Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: Here is a rider, and here is another rider. This means that they were catching up with the army personnel, one after another. They gathered together until they became seven in number. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) turned away from the road - lest they may be harmed by any vermin moving therein - and headed, along with those with him, for sleep, and he placed his head. The version narrated by Al-Bukhāri pointed out that the Prophet's (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stepping aside was at the request of some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: "I fear you may oversleep and fail to perform the prayer." Bilāl said: "I will wake you all up. So, lie down."
Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Guard our prayers for us," i.e., its time. This refers to the Fajr prayer. Do not fail to perform it due to sleep. They felt sleepy and lay down. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) fell into a deep sleep, and they did not wake up for the Fajr prayer. "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the first to wake up, while the rays of the sun were falling on his back." This indirectly indicates that it was the heat of the sun that awakened him. Abu Qatādah said: "We got up startled." They were startled because they missed the Fajr prayer due to sleep. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered them to ride their mounts before making up for the Fajr prayer. He mentioned in a version narrated by Muslim and reported by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the reason behind their departure from the place before praying is that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This is a place where the devil visited us." They proceeded until they went out of that place and kept moving until the sun had risen. In another version narrated by Muslim and reported by ‘Imrān ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him): "until the sun shone brightly", i.e., it went high, and its yellowness or redness disappeared. The intended meaning: The extent to which the sun goes high with which prayer after sunrise ceases to be disliked. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) dismounted and called for a jug of water, which was with Abu Qatādah and contained a little water. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used its water for performing ablution which was less thorough than his usual ablutions, i.e., a moderate ablution, given the shortage of water. He did not perform ablution thoroughly as usual. Or that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) adopted the one-time approach in its performance and did not pour a lot of water, for he wanted to keep some of it so that his blessing and his miraculous act would appear therein. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to Abu Qatādah: "Keep for us your jug of water" and the water it contains. "It will have a word." i.e., momentous news or a miracle in the future - the blessing that would come to the people.
Then, Bilāl (may Allah be pleased with him) made the Adhān for the missed prayer. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) first performed the two-Rak‘ah Sunnah of the Fajr prayer and then the obligatory Fajr prayer as a missed prayer. His prayer was the same as the prayers he would perform every day at their appointed times, with no difference between his performance of prayer at the appointed time and his performance of it as a missed prayer. After the prayer was over, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) rode his mount, and so did the people, and they went out traveling on their way. But they began to whisper to one another in a low voice, saying: "What is the expiation for our negligence towards our prayers?" They feared the sin and the penalty for that. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) heard their words, seeking to comfort them amid their grief over missing the Fajr prayer, he said: "Is there not in me a role model for you?" In other words, an example to imitate and follow. This seems to indicate that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) wanted them to understand that their performance of the prayer as a missed prayer is an expiation for missing it. Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There is no negligence in sleeping," and no neglect in missing the prayer because a sleeping person has no choice. Rather, neglect and sin are upon a wakeful person who fails to perform a prayer - intentionally and out of neglect and lethargy - until the time of the next prayer comes. "So, whoever does this" - i.e., he oversleeps and fails to perform a prayer until its time elapses - "should observe the prayer when he becomes aware of it" - i.e., after he wakes up - "and in the next day, he should observe the prayer at its prescribed time." In other words, he should not delay the prayer beyond its usual time. This does not mean that he should perform the missed prayer twice, one time at that moment and another time the next day.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked those present with him: "'What do you think the people have done?" He meant the front part of the army and those who went ahead of them. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was inquiring about their condition since the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) unusually lagged behind them. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) answered his question and informed those with him that Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) are saying to the people: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is behind you;" i.e., he is after you and lagging behind you and has not come yet, for he would not "leave you behind, i.e., he would not go ahead of you and leave you behind. They meant to ask the people to wait for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) until he could catch up with them. Some others said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went ahead of us. Thus, they were asking the people to proceed. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "So, if they obey Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, they will follow the right path" because they are right and correct, as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was in the state Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) talked about.
Thereafter, Abu Qatādah informed that they reached the front of the army in which Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) were, as "the sun had considerably risen" - i.e., the sun went high - "and everything became hot;" i.e., the heat became severe. Everyone was suffering from exhaustion and hardship, saying: "O Messenger of Allah, we are dying" - i.e., from the hot weather - "and thirsty" due to the lack of water. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reassured them that they will not die. Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Bring that small cup of mine," i.e., untie my luggage, take my small cup out of it, and bring it to me. And he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked for the jug of water which was with Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) began to pour water into the jug, while Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) was giving them water to drink. When the people saw that a lot of water was coming out of the jug, they gathered in crowds around it to drink and store water from it. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Behave well;" that is, be good in manners and dealing with one another as you drink. He gave them good news that they would all quench their thirst and drink from that water. So, do not act badly by jostling and pushing. They complied with the Prophet's command. So, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) continued to pour water and Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) was giving them the water to drink. This continued until none remained but Abu Qatādah and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) poured water and said to Abu Qatādah: 'Drink.' Out of politeness, Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Messenger of Allah, I will not drink until you drink." So, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one who serves water to people is the last of them to drink." So, Abu Qatādah drank, and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the last to drink among the people. This is one of the etiquettes to be observed in drinking water. After that, the people reached the place of water which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told them about when he addressed them on the first day - "quite happy", i.e., restful and in good condition, and "satiated", i.e., having drunk water to their fill.
The Tābi‘i ‘Abdullāh ibn Rabāh mentioned that he was narrating this Hadīth in the grand mosque, i.e. in Basra. So, ‘Imrān ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "Consider, O young man, how you narrate;" i.e., what Hadīth you are narrating; or about what condition you are narrating, "for I was one of the riders in that night." In other words, pay attention, O young man, and narrate in an accurate way, for I am one of those who witnessed this incident, and I will check what you narrate against what I witnessed. He replied to him: "So, you must know this Hadīth better," since you were one of the riders and witnessed this incident. ‘Imrān ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "Who are you?" He replied: "I am one of the Ansār," the dwellers of Madīnah. Thereupon, ‘Imrān (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him to narrate, as he praised the Ansār, saying: "You know your Hadīths better." When ‘Abdullāh narrated the Hadīth and finished its narration and it was consistent with ‘Imrān's account, ‘Imrān (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "I was present that night, but I do not know anyone who has committed it to memory as good as I have done." Thus, he praised him for memorizing the Hadīth so accurately and was amazed at how well he memorized it, even though he did not witness the incident.
In the Hadīth: The one who serves water to people is the last among them to drink.
And in it: Whoever oversleeps and fails to perform a prayer has to make up for the missed prayer.
And in it: The Prophet's miracle in foretelling things of the Unseen, which Allah revealed to him, and in the blessing and increase of the little water.
And in it: Serving virtuous people, especially during travel.
And in it: Demonstrating some of the etiquettes related to taking rest during travel, namely, to avoid the road.
And in it: Supplicating for the one who offers good service, as a reward for his doing good.
And in it: Feeling sad and regretful over missed virtuous deeds, even if no negligence is involved.
And in it: Making up for the missed supererogatory prayer.
And in it: Urging the improvement of manners among people, particularly in situations involving crowdedness and annoyance..

683

Abu Qatādah reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) alighted at night during a journey, he would lie down on his right side, and when he alighted before dawn, he would erect his forearm and place his head on his palm..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to devote attention to the Prophet's guidance in his deeds, words, and approvals, to follow his example and learn from him. In this Hadīth, Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went on a journey, he would alight in the first part of the night for sleep and rest, sleep on his right side, and place his head on a pillow or the like, thus giving himself the due share of sleep. And when he wanted to sleep at the latter part of the night, shortly before dawn, he would erect his right 'forearm' and "place his head on his palm," fearing he might be overtaken by sleep and thus fail to perform the Fajr prayer at its earliest time. The right side is favored regarding sleep given the honor of tayāmun (using the right side or starting with it) and its general merit in everything. It was the Prophet's habit to favor the right side, except in repulsive things, in which he would use the left side.
This also indicates that a person should give himself the due share of rest and not forget the worship of his Lord. In the first part of the night, he can get sufficient sleep before dawn and then get up. Yet in the latter part of the night, he should sleep lightly, rather than deeply, lest he may miss the Fajr prayer.
In the Hadīth: Alighting for rest during travel in case of tiredness, while being cautious not to miss the prayer
And in it: Using alarms and the like to alert one to the times of prayers.

686

Ya‘la ibn Umayyah reported: I said to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb: "{There is no blame on you to shorten the prayer, if you fear that the disbelievers may harm you} [Surat an-Nisā’: 101]. And people have become secure!" He said: "I wondered about the same thing you wondered about, and I asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about that, and he said: 'It is a charity that Allah has given you; so accept His charity.'".

Commentary : Travel is a piece of torment, and it is most likely to involve tiredness and hardship. Hence, Allah Almighty alleviates things for travelers and facilitates the Shar‘i rulings for them, especially those related to prayer and fasting.
In this Hadīth, Ya‘la ibn Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that he asked ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) about the verse that reads: {When you are traveling through the land, there is no blame on you to shorten the prayer, if you fear that the disbelievers may harm you.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 101] It means: If you travel in the land, there is no sin on you in shortening the four-Rak‘ah prayers (the Zhuhr, ‘Asr, and ‘Ishā’ prayers) to two Rak‘ahs - if you fear harm from the disbelievers.
"And people have become secure" now, and their fear, which was the reason behind prescribing the shortening of prayer, is no longer there. So, why do they shorten the prayer? Or what is the objective of shortening if its reason is no longer there? In response, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) informed him that he had the same thought as Ya‘la ibn Umayyah and so he asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about shortening the prayer in the absence of its reason - namely the fear from the enemy - and the existence of security, and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told him that shortening the prayer is a favor from Allah Almighty which He bestowed upon the Muslim Ummah and honored them with; it is a charity Allah has given them, by way of facilitation and mercy. "So, accept His charity," i.e., whether there is fear or not; shortening the prayer is established in case of security as well. Allah's words: That the disbelievers may harm you} refers to what is most likely, for most of the journeys of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions were not fear-free, given the multitude of fighting enemies at the time.
This indicates that the shortening of prayer during travel was prescribed to make things lenient and easy for people, and it does not have the sense of order or obligation for the traveler. Indeed, the Ummah unanimously agreed that a person to whom charity is offered is not obligated to accept it.
In the Hadīth: Shortening the prayer during travel with or without fear
And in it: Demonstrating the mercy of Allah Almighty and His complete favor upon His servants, as He prescribed for Muslims to shorten the prayer during travel given the hardship they suffer..

687

Ibn ‘Abbās reported: "Allah has prescribed the prayer by the tongue of your Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as four Rak‘ahs when resident, two when traveling, and one in case of fear..

Commentary : Making things easy and light is one of the merits of the tolerant Islamic Shariah. Allah Almighty laid down dispensations for the Muslims therein so that they will not suffer hardship that causes them harm or burdens them with unbearable things. These dispensations include shortening the prayer during travel and at the time of war.
In this Hadīth, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "Allah has prescribed the prayer by the tongue of your Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)" by revelation from Allah Almighty. So, it is "four Rak‘ahs when resident," i.e., the four-Rak‘ah prayers: Zhuhr, ‘Asr, and ‘Ishā’- "two when traveling;" the four-Rak‘ah prayer is shortened to two Rak‘ahs only during travel. And He prescribed "one in case of fear." The prayer of fear is when the time for obligatory prayer becomes due while Muslims are fighting an enemy, guarding borders, and the like. The Hadīth apparently indicates that the prayer of fear consists of one Rak‘ah in case of severe fear and war. It was said: What is meant by one Rak‘ah is that he offers one Rak‘ah with the Imām and one Rak‘ah alone. This is because most reports about the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) state that the prayer of fear consists of two Rak‘ahs, to be performed in different ways depending on the condition of the enemy in terms of nearness and remoteness. There is no effect for the severe fear, but they should perform two Rak‘ahs, according to their ability, in whatever direction they turn to, while walking and riding, nodding with their heads..

Book of Hadith

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