Narrated al-Saa'ib ibn Yazeed:I was in the company of Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullah, Sa`d, Al-Miqdaad ibn Al-Aswad and `Abd al-Rahmaan ibn `Awf (may Allah be pleased with them)and I heard none of them narrating anything from Allah's Messengerﷺ,but Talhah was talking about the day (of the battle) of Uhud.
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Commentary : Transmitting the narrations of the Prophet ﷺ is a matter of extreme seriousness that made the Companions deal with it carefully. Some of them would avoid narrating hadeeths as much as possible, out of their fear that they may unintentionally omit or add a word to the hadeeth. Others, who trusted their memory and ability to transmit that which he had observed or heard, would narrate all that they knew, because they feared that not doing so may make them fall into the sin of keeping knowledge away from people.

In this hadeeth, al-Saa’ib ibn Yazeed ibn Sa’eed (may Allah be pleased with him) – who was one of the young Companions – reports that he was in the company of Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullah, Sa’d ibn Abee Waqqaas, al-Miqdaad ibn al-Aswad, and ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with them), and that he heard none of them narrating any hadeeths from the Prophet ﷺ. This is because they feared that they may miss a word that he ﷺ said or add a word that he ﷺ did not say, which would make them fall into the sin of lying against the Prophet ﷺ. It is reported in anauthentic hadeeth that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever tells a lie on me intentionally, will surely take his place in the Hell Fire.” However, he remarked that he heard Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydiulah talking about his experience in the battle of Uhud and how he remained firm and fought bravely and so on. He only disclosed such information with the intention of encouraging others to follow his lead.

The battle of Uhud took place in the month of Shawwaal in the 3rd year of Hijrah, and it was a battle between the Muslims andQuraysh. The mountain of Uhud is one of the mountains of al-Madeenah that is located in the north of the city.

From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning that it is permissible for one to talk about his efforts in serving the religion to raise the word of Allah, and the good deeds he did so others can follow his example..

2826

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messengerﷺsaid, "Allah laughs because oftwo men; one of whom kills the other and both of them enter Paradise. One fights in Allah's Cause and gets killed. Afterwards, Allah forgives the 'killer who also get martyred (In Allah's Cause)."
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2827

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him): I went to Allah's Messengerﷺwhile he was at Khaybar after it had fallen in the Muslims' hands. I said, "O Allah's Messengerﷺ! Give me a share (from the land of Khaybar)."
One of the sons of Sa'eed ibn Al-'Aas said, "O Allah's Messengerﷺ! Do not give him a share." I said, "This is the murderer of Ibn Qawqal." The son of Sa’eed ibn Al-‘Aas said, "I wonder at a Wabr!He has come down to us from the grazing place of sheep blames me for killing a Muslim man whom Allah has given honour through me, and Allah did not disgrace me at his hands." (The sub-narrator said "I do not know whether the Prophetﷺgave him a share or not.”
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Commentary : The mercy of Allah, Exalted is He, is infinite, He accepts the repentance of people regardless of their sins, forgives those who disobeyed Him regardless of their disobedience, and rewards those who believe in Him and do good abundantly.

In this hadeeth, Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that he emigrated from Yemen to the Prophet ﷺ after he conquered Khaybar, a town which waspopulated by Jews and located about 135 km from al-Madeenah on the route to the Levant. The conquest of Khaybar happened in the 7th year of Hijrah. Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) met the Prophet ﷺ before his return to al-Madeenah and he asked him for a share from the spoils the Muslims had seized from Khaybar. However, one of the sons of Sa’eed ibn al-‘Aas – Abaan ibn Sa’eed (may Allah be pleased with him) – asked the Prophet ﷺ not to give him a share. In response, Aboo Hurayrah said that Abaan was the killer of Ibn Qawqal. He was referring to the incident that happened before Abaan embraced Islam,whenhe killed a Muslim man by the name of al-Nu’maan ibn Tha’labah, a.k.a. Ibn Qawqal (may Allah be pleased with him). Upon hearing this, Abaan insulted Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them) and said: “I wonder at a Wabr,” i.e., he likened Aboo Hurayrah to a small animal that looks like a cat. It is said that it is a word used to describe a person of no significance,since Aboo Hurayrah had no tribe to defend him. He further added that Aboo Hurayrahwas just a man who came to al-Madeenahalong with those who came from the land of Daws, which is the homeland of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him). Lastly, he said: “He blames me for killing a Muslim man whomAllah has given honourthrough me, and Allah did not disgrace me at his hands,” i.e., he blames for killing a Muslim man that Allah, Exalted is He, has blessed with martyrdom at my hand, while Allah did not disgrace me (as I wasn’t killed) at his hand at that time when I was a disbeliever, so I did not enter Hellfire. Abaan embraced Islam before Khaybar and after Hudaybiyyah. One of the sub-narrators of the hadeeth remarked that he did not know if the Prophet ﷺ gave Aboo Hurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him) a share or not.

This hadeeth shows that Islam wipes out all the sins one committed before Islam..

2828

Narrated Anas ibn Maalik(may Allah be pleased with him):Aboo Talhah(may Allah be pleased with him)used not to fast because of Jihad in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ. However, after the passing of the Prophetﷺ, I never saw him without fasting except on ‘Eid al-Fit and ‘Eid al-Adha.”
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Commentary : Fighting in the way of Allah is the greatest of all deeds and the best good deed to draw close to Allah, Exalted is He. Allah has ordered us to prepare for it, which includes disciplining the self, preserving its strength, and accustoming it to endure hardships and difficulties.

In this hadeeh, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that Aboo Talhah, Zayd ibn Sahl al-Ansaaree (may Allah be pleased with him) would not fast any voluntary fasting in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, so as to preserve his strength whenever fighting in the way of Allah was required. However, after the passing of the Prophet ﷺ, and when Islam had prevailed and Muslims had overpowered their enemies, he started to offer voluntary fasting to attain the reward of two acts of worship.He (may Allah be pleased with him) was so keen on offering voluntary fasting so much that he would only break his fast on the first day of the two ‘Eids, because it is forbidden to fast on these days. The day of ‘Eid al-Fitr is the first day of the month of Shawwaal, and the first day of ‘Eid al-Adha is the 10th of the month of Thoo al-Hijjah.

As for the hadeeths wherein the Prophet ﷺ forbids perpetual fast, as recorded in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, it is said that the reason it is prohibited is because fasting the whole year causes fatigue and makes the person so weak that he would not be able to partake in fighting in the way of Allah or fulfil due rights. It is further said that if a person does not become weak or fatigued because of fasting the whole year, then he is permitted to do it.

From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning about the virtue of Aboo Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him), and his great understanding of religion and awareness of the different ranks of good deeds..

2830

Narrated Anas ibn Maalik(may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺsaid, "Plague is the cause of martyrdom of every Muslim (who dies because of it).
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Commentary : The mercy and favours of Allah are manifestupon Muslims in many ways. Of these, He has made martyrdom of different kinds and did not limit it to dying in His way on the battlefield.

In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ informs us about one kind of martyr,i.e., one who dies because of plague, which is wounds that appear in different parts of the body, like armpits, elbows, hands and so on, andit comes with swelling and severe pain. It is said that plague is a term used to describe any type of epidemic. This kind of disease is called in Arabic Ta’oon (plague) because of its quick fatal impact. With that said, whoever dies because of plague is considered a martyr in the sense that he receives the reward of martyrdom in the Hereafter, but he is not treated as such in this life i.e., the rulings pertaining to martyrs who die on the battlefield are inapplicable to them, likethe rulings that martyrs should not be washed or shrouded, and that they should be buriedin the same clothes in which they were killed.

It is saidthat the reason dying because of plague, drowning, stomach disease, falling masonry, and that which has been mentioned in hadeeths, is considered martyrdom is due to the severity of pain resulting from them, which leads to a terrible death. For this reason, Allah rewards them, out of His mercy and generosity, by giving them the reward of martyrs. .

2834

Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messengerﷺwent towards the Trench and saw the Emigrants and the Ansaar digging in a very cold morning as they did not have slaves to do that for them. When he noticed their fatigue and hunger he said, "O Allah! The real life is that of the Hereafter, so forgive the Ansaar and the Emigrants." In its reply, the Emigrants and the Ansaar said, "We are those who have given a pledge of allegiance to Muhammad that we will carry on Jihaad as long as we live."
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Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) spared no effort or pain in serving the religion to raise the word of Allah and spread His religion, and they set the best example of sacrifice and sincerity.

In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports some of the sacrifices that occurred during the battle of the trench, which happened in the 5th year of Hijrah. The reason it was called the battle of the trench was because the Prophet ﷺ ordered the Muslims to dig a trench around al-Madeenah to protect it from the attacks of the disbelieving confederateswho rallied to attack the Muslims.The trench was a long, steep-sided ditch dug as a fortification, having a parapet of the excavated earth, and the Prophet ﷺ joined the Muslims from the Emigrants and Ansaar, in digging the trench on the northern side of al-Madeenah.

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) mentions that the Prophet ﷺ went out one cold morning to check on the Emigrants and Ansaar who were helping in digging the trench. He ﷺ noticed that they were exhausted because they had to dig and lift the rocks by themselves,because they had no slaves or servants to take care of the work. The Prophet ﷺ wished to lift their spirits and support them emotionally to keep them motivated andencouraged them by reminding them of the immense reward made for them in the Hereafter for their hard work. He ﷺ said: “The real life is that of the Hereafter, so forgive the Ansaar and the Emigrants,” i.e., the true life that one will live is in the Hereafter where one basks in Allah’s mercy and pleasures; and then he ﷺ asked Allah to forgive the Emigrants who left their homeland and property only for the sake of Allah and His pleasure, and to forgive the Ansaar who hosted and supported the Prophet ﷺ and the Emigrants, and shared with them their property and houses. In reply to his words, they all said: “We are those who have given a pledge of allegiance to Muhammad that we will carry on Jihaad as long as we live,” i.e., the literal meaning of the word ‘pledge’ entails compensation and exchange of property, and it is thus used in this context to indicate that it was a kind of a transaction where the Prophet ﷺ promised them reward in exchange for their endeavours and fighting in the way of Allah. They pledged to fight in the way of Allah so long there was a breath left in their bodies; and they indeed honored their pledge of allegiance. We ask Allah to forgive the Emigrants and Ansaar and to write us among their group with the Prophet ﷺ.

From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning about the extreme state of fear and hardship that the Muslims experienced while digging the trench.

The hadeeth highlights the compassion of the Prophet ﷺ, and his endeavours to lift the spirits of people in dark moments and hardships. This is the trait of one who calls people to the good and does not turn them away.

The supplication of the Prophet ﷺ forthe Emigrants and Ansaar highlights their virtue and status.

Another benefit is learning that it is permissible to recite poetry while working and fighting and use it to keep spirits high.
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2840

Narrated Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him): I heard the Prophetﷺsaying, "Anyone who fasts for one day in the way of Allah, Allah will keep his face away from the Hell fire for seventy autumns.
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Commentary : Allah, Exalted is He, orders us to fast, and He made immense reward for whoever fasts, whether it is obligatory or voluntary fasting.

In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ highlights the abundant reward of voluntary fasting. In Islam, fasting means to abstain from food, drinks, intercourse, and all that which breaks the fast, from the beginning of Fajr to sunset, while intending it for the sake of Allah. It is said that his statement “in the way of Allah” means fasting while fighting in the way of Allah. This is recommended unless he fears fasting will weaken him when encountering the enemy; hence, breaking the fast is more recommended so he can preserve and save his strength. It is also said that it means to fast sincerely for the pleasure of Allah even if it is not during fighting in the way of Allah. The Prophet ﷺfurther explainsthat the rewardof this will be keeping his face away from the Hell fire for a distance covered by a journey of seventy autumns, i.e., seventy years, to show that the one fighting in the way of Allah while fasting, or the one who fasts only for the pleasure of Allah will be so far away from Hellfire.

This hadeeth encourages us to offer voluntary fasting. .

2842

Narrated Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messengerﷺascended the pulpit and said, "Nothing worries me as to what will happen to you after me, except the temptation of worldly blessings which will be conferred on you." Then he mentioned the flowers of this worldly life(i.e., pleasures). He started with the one and took up the other (i.e., the pleasures). A man got up saying, "O Allah's Messengerﷺ! Can the good bring about evil?" The Prophetﷺremained silent, and we thought that he was receiving revelation, so all the people kept silent with awe. Then the Prophetﷺwiped the sweat off his face and asked, "Where is the present questioner?" "Do you think wealth is good?" he repeated thrice, adding, "No doubt, good produces nothing but good. Indeed, it is like what grows in spring which either kills or nearly kills the grazing animals because of gluttony except the vegetation-eating animal which eats till both its flanks are full (i.e., till it gets satisfied) and then stands in the sun and defecates and urinates and again starts grazing. This worldly property is sweet vegetation. How excellent the wealth of the Muslim is, if it is collected through legal means and is spent in Allah's Cause and on orphans, poor people and travelers. But he who does not take it legally is like an eater who is never satisfied, and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection."
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Commentary : Allah has predestined with His infinite wisdom this worldly life to be a place of tests and trials. On one hand, there are those who fall prey to its adornment and compete in acquiring its pleasures, while on the other thereareothers who are aware of its true colours. The latter thus detach themselves from its mortal pleasures and offerings,keeping their focus on the Hereafter, hoping for that which Allah has prepared for His believing servants. They utilise this worldly life and all its pleasures tohelp them attain the eternal pleasures of the Hereafter.

In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ warns his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) of the temptations and desires of this worldly life. In this regard, Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺascended the pulpit and addressed his Companions by saying: "Nothing worries me as to what will happen to you after me, except the temptation of worldly blessings which will be conferred on you,” i.e., he ﷺ feared that when they had access to the pleasures of this worldly life, they may distract them from Allah and take them away from His path. Then, he ﷺ mentioned a number of the pleasures and blessings of the earth like money, property, and so on. The Prophet ﷺ likened the worldly pleasures to a flower to indicate that as the flower has a short lifespan and changes from one condition to another quickly, such is this worldly life. Then, one man got up and asked the Prophet ﷺ whether the good can bring about evil as he could not understand how the blessings and pleasures of this life could turn into a curse and evil that leads to Allah’s punishment. The Prophet ﷺremained silent, and the people understood that he was receiving revelation, thus, all of them kept silent with awe. After the revelation ended, the Prophetﷺwiped the sweat off his face, because every time he received revelation, he would sweat a lot, even if it was a very cold day. The Prophet looked for the man who had posed the question, which indicates that he approved his question and found it a good question. He ﷺ then asked him "Do you think wealth is good?" He repeated the question three times. The purpose of the question,however, was only to indirectly object to the presumption that wealth per se is good. Then, he ﷺ added: "No doubt, good produces nothing but good,” i.e., that which is truly good in itself, like Islam, can only produce good, but there are other types of good that may lead to evil, like wealth. It is true that wealth is good, but it may bring forth evil to its owner if it is earned unlawfully or spent wrongly. The statement of the Prophet ﷺexplains to us that the pleasures of this life and the treasures of this earth are not truly good in the ultimate sense because, oftentimes, they are a cause of temptation, and distract people from completely focusing on attaining Allah’s reward and pleasure. After, the Prophet ﷺ gave a parable to illustrate how the blessings and pleasures of this life can be harmful. He likened them to an animaleating what grows in spring – and it is said that the word spring here means the banks of a stream- which either kills or nearly kills the grazing animals because of gluttony. This is an example of that which is not purely good and becomes harmful when a person does not deal with it wisely.

The Prophet ﷺ added that only the vegetation-eating animal which eats till both its flanks are full will survive. This is because cattle eat green grass slowly and gradually until they become full. And then, they stand in the sun to bask in its warmth, and roam around,then defecate and urinate with ease and comfort to keep inside that which nurtures them.Later, when they are hungry, they start grazing again. This example is given about those who are moderate in their efforts to earn money from lawful sources and spend it in lawful ways. After, the Prophet ﷺexplained that wealth is desired and wanted, and human nature is inclined to love it and collect it just like it is naturally inclined to sweet fresh fruits.

He who is given wealth and pays its zakat to those who are entitled to it, like the poor and needy, and spends it on orphans and wayfarerswho do not have enough money to travel back to their homeland, is the best possessor of wealth,and his wealth will testify to his goodness. And whoever earns his wealth unlawfully, Allah will devoid it of His blessings and he will be in pursuit of more wealth as he never feels satisfied, regardless of how much wealth he possesses; thus, he always belittles his wealth and aspires to earn more. He is like a glutton who never feels satiated; the more he consumes, the more food he craves. The wealth of such a person will testify against him on the Day of Judgment and expose his unlawful earning, spending and collection of wealth.

From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning that the Imaam can sit on his pulpit while people are sitting around him listening to his sermon.

The hadeeth shows that parables are useful to help people understand the intended message and meaning, and that one can blame others when asking and objection is disliked or not called for.
It shows that wealth earned through unlawful sources is devoid of Allah’s blessings; and that the scholar may warn whoever sits with him of the temptation of money and worldly pleasures and bring their attention to the aspects of temptation.

This hadeeth encourages us to give away in charity and refrain from withholding money from good causes, and that we should be moderate with wealth..

2843

Narrated Zayd ibn Khaalid (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messengerﷺsaid, " He who prepares a fighter going in Allah's Cause is given a reward equal to that of a fighter; and he who looks after properly the dependents of a fighter going in Allah's Cause is (given a reward equal to that of) fighter."
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Commentary : Allah has facilitated for His servants the means to earn good deeds and reward; thus, He warrants that each person helping a believer to do a good deed will receive the same reward of the one who did the good deed.

In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ informs us that whoeverhelps a person who is going to fight in the way of Allah, financially so he can partake in the expedition,it will beas if he himself participated in the expedition, andhe will be given a reward equal to that of a fighter without affecting the reward of the fighter. All that because had he not covered the financial aspects, the fighter would not have been able to partake in the expedition. The reward of him who funds expeditions personally is more than one who just helps them without spending from his own money. Likewise, he who looks after the dependents of a fighter going in Allah's Cause is given a reward equal to that of the fighter. This is because without him looking after the household, the fighter would not have been able to travel and join the expedition.

This hadeeth encourages us to collaborate in good deeds..

2844

Narrated Anas(may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺused not to enter any house in Al-Madeenah except the house of Umm Sulaym(may Allah be pleased with her) besides those of his wives when he was asked why, he said, "I take pity on her as her brother was killed in my company. "
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Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ was the most loyal person to his Companions due to his noble character and good conduct, as he ﷺ always appreciated their sacrifice and efforts to support the religion of Allah, Exalted is He.

In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ would not frequently enter a house in al-Madeenah - other than his own houses - except the house of Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her), the mother of Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) – the narrator of this hadeeth. Her name was Sahlah, and it was also said that her name was Rumaylah or al-Ghumaysaa’. The Prophet ﷺ would not visit a house of a woman other than his wives except hers. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked the Prophet ﷺ about the reason that he would often visit Umm Sulaym in particular, so he ﷺ replied that he sympathized with her and took pity on her because her brother, Haraam ib Milhaan (may Allah be pleased with him), was killed in the expedition of the well of Ma’oonah. The Prophet ﷺ mentioned “in my company” to mean that he was killed while being one of his soldiers, who was on a mission that he ﷺ commissioned, because the Prophet ﷺ did not witness the battle.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺendeavoured to look out for her after the passing of her brother who attained martyrdom. Indeed, offering consolationand solaceis a good deed, and it is even more effective when it comes from the Prophet ﷺ, the best of mankind.

It is noteworthy to mention that Umm Sulaym and her sister, Umm Haraam bint Milhaan (may Allah be pleased with them) were the maternal aunts of the Prophet ﷺ through breastfeeding or blood; thus, it was allowed for him to be alone with them..

2845

Narrated Ibn `Awn:Once Moosa ibn Anas while describing the battle of Yamaamah, said, "Anas ibn Maalik(may Allah be pleased with him) went to Thaabit ibn Qays, who had lifted his clothes from his thighs and was applying perfume to his body. Anas asked, 'O Uncle! What is holding you back (from the battle)?' He replied, 'O my nephew! I am coming just now,' and went on perfuming himself, then he came and sat (in the row). Anas then mentioned that the people fled from the battlefield. On that Thaabit said, 'Clear the way for me to fight the enemy. We would never do so (i.e., flee) in the company of Allah's Messengerﷺ. How bad the habits you have accustomed your enemies!"
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Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with him) were known for their bravery and heroismon the battlefield; they fought in the way of Allah,and death was more beloved to them than life as they only wanted the pleasure of Allah and His reward in the Hereafter.

In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) mentions an incident that occurred between him and Thaabit ibn Qays (may Allah be pleased with him) - one of thebrave men who was well trained in arms and chivalry. He reports that he entered upon him and found him applying perfume to his body while his thigh is uncovered. Anas addressed him by the title “uncle” out of respect because he was older than him in age and both were from the same tribe of al-Khazraj. He asked him about what was holding him back from joining the Muslim army that was heading to fight Musaylamah the Falsifier and his followers, may Allah curse them. This battle occurredat al-Yamaamah during the rule of Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and it is known by the name of the Battle of al-Yamaamah, which is an area lying in the Najd region of modern-day Saudi Arabia. Thaabit ibn Qays (may Allah be pleased with him) assured Anas that he was definitely joining the fight, so he finished applying the perfume to his body and headed to join the Muslim army. Then, Anas mentioned that at some point in the battle the Muslims were overpowered, and it appeared as if the Muslims were about to be defeated; thus, some Muslims retreated from their positions. Thereupon, Thaabit stepped forward and addressed those who had retreated to give him room to enable him to fight the enemy, while admonishing them for retreating, saying that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) never left their positions or retreated while fighting along with the Prophet ﷺ. Then he said: “How bad are the habits to which you have accustomed your enemies,” i.e., your enemy is used to you fleeing from the battle such that they have become confident that they will overpower you. Thaabit (may Allah be pleased with him) fought courageously and dauntlessly in the battle until he was martyred on the battlefield.

This hadeeth highlights the sincerity, courage, and heroism of Thaabit ibn Qays (may Allah be pleased with him) and admonishes those who flee the battle.

It shows the courage and firmness of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) in times of war.
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2846

Narrated Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺsaid, "Who will bring me the information about the enemy on the day (of the battle) of Al-Ahzaab (i.e., Clans)?" Al-Zubayr said, "I will." The Prophetﷺsaid again, "Who will bring me the information about the enemy?" Al-Zubayr said again, "I will." The Prophetﷺsaid, "Every Prophet had a disciple, and my disciple is Al-Zubayr. "
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Commentary : The Battle of the Trench was one of the toughest battles that the Muslims ever experienced, after Quraysh and other disbelieving Arab tribes along with the Jews from Banoo Quraythah allied to fight the Muslims.

In this hadeeth, Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports one of the incidents that highlights the extreme courage of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). The Battle of the Trench was different from other battles because it was the Muslims against all the disbelieving tribes of Arabia (supported by the Jews of Banoo Quraythah after they betrayed the Muslims). So, the Prophet ﷺ asked who was willing to secretly collect information about Banoo Quraythah, as reported in Musnad Ahmad. The person who actually went out to secretly obtain information about Quraysh and its allies was Huthayfah ibn al-Yamaan (may Allah be pleased with him), as reported in Saheeh Muslim. Upon hearing the Prophet ﷺ, al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) stepped forward and expressed his interest in the mission. The Prophet ﷺ repeated his request and again al-Zubayr stepped forward to take the mission. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ remarked:“Every prophet had a disciple, and my disciple is Al-Zubayr.” The intended meaning of disciple (Hawaary) is a supporter just like the disciples of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). It is said that they were given that name because they used to wash clothes and whiten them – and the word Hawaary is derived from such a meaning.

This hadeeth highlights the virtue of al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwaam (may Allah be pleased with him) and shows that Muslims should send secret agents to collect information about the enemy.
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2852

Narrated `Urwahibn al-Ja’d (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺsaid, "Goodnessremains in the foreheads of horses till the Day of Resurrection, for they bring about either a reward or booty.”
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Commentary : Fighting in the way of Allah is the noblest of deeds and is indeed the pinnacle of Islam for which life and wealth are sacrificed. Allah has made horses a symbol of power and strength in battles and wars, and whoever prepares them well for such purposes will surely attain abundant goodness in this life and the Hereafter.

In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ explains that goodness is permanently connectedto horses, just like forelockis attached to their foreheads. The reward mentioned in the hadeeth refers to the reward of Allah in the Hereafter, and the booty refers to the booty of wars in this worldly life. The horses mentioned in the hadeeth refer to the horses allocated by their owners for use in war.

This hadeeth shows that fighting in the way of Allah will never cease to exist, and it encourages us in using horses for Jihaad..

2853

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ said, "If somebody keeps a horse in Allah's Cause motivated by his faith in Allah and his belief in His Promise, then he will be rewarded on the Day of Resurrection for what the horse has eaten or drunk and for its dung and urine.".

Commentary : Fighting in the way of Allah is the noblest of deeds and is indeed the pinnacle of Islam for which life and wealth are sacrificed. Allah has made horses a symbol of power and strength in battles and wars, and whoever prepares them well for such purposes will surely attain abundant goodness in this life and the Hereafter.

In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ clarifies the immense reward made for whoever dedicates something to be used for fighting in the way of Allah (Jihaad) i.e., if a person dedicates a horse that the Muslims can use to defend Muslims and fight their enemies while believing in Allah and being certain of Allah’s reward for this good deed, then he will be rewarded in the Hereafter for all the actions of the horse, including the water and food it eats, and its urination and defecating.

This hadeeth shows the immense favors of Allah upon His servants, and it encourages us to fight in the way of Allah and hope for its reward.

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2855

Narrated Sahl ibn Sa’d al-Saa’idee (may Allah be pleased with him): In our garden there was a horse belonging to the Prophetﷺcalled Al-Luhayf.
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Commentary : Fighting in the way of Allah is the noblest of deeds and is indeed the pinnacle of Islam for which life and wealth are sacrificed. Allah has made horses a symbol of power and strength in battles and wars, and whoever prepares them well for such purposes will surely attain abundant goodness in this life and the Hereafter.

In this hadeeth, Sahl ibn Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ had a horse that he kept in their garden. The horse was known by the name al-Luhayf due to its long tail. The horse in Arabic is called Faras, which is derived from the word Furoosiyyah,meaningequestrian.

This hadeeth indicates that one should give a name to animals (like horses) or objects (like swords) that are intended for a particular purpose..

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

| Hadiths

Narrated Anas ibn Maalik(may Allah be pleased with him):Aboo Talhah(may Allah be pleased with him)used not to fast because of Jihad in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ. However, after the passing of the Prophetﷺ, I never saw him without fasting except on ‘Eid al-Fit and ‘Eid al-Adha.”
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Narrated Anas ibn Maalik(may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺsaid, "Plague is the cause of martyrdom of every Muslim (who dies because of it).
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Narrated Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him): I heard the Prophetﷺsaying, "Anyone who fasts for one day in the way of Allah, Allah will keep his face away from the Hell fire for seventy autumns.
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Narrated Anas(may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺused not to enter any house in Al-Madeenah except the house of Umm Sulaym(may Allah be pleased with her) besides those of his wives when he was asked why, he said, "I take pity on her as her brother was killed in my company. "
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Narrated `Urwahibn al-Ja’d (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺsaid, "Goodnessremains in the foreheads of horses till the Day of Resurrection, for they bring about either a reward or booty.”
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Narrated Sahl ibn Sa’d al-Saa’idee (may Allah be pleased with him): In our garden there was a horse belonging to the Prophetﷺcalled Al-Luhayf.
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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.".

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.".

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.".

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..

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..

Book of Hadith

| Hadiths

Narrated Anas ibn Maalik(may Allah be pleased with him):Aboo Talhah(may Allah be pleased with him)used not to fast because of Jihad in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ. However, after the passing of the Prophetﷺ, I never saw him without fasting except on ‘Eid al-Fit and ‘Eid al-Adha.” .

Narrated Anas ibn Maalik(may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺsaid, "Plague is the cause of martyrdom of every Muslim (who dies because of it). .

Narrated Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him): I heard the Prophetﷺsaying, "Anyone who fasts for one day in the way of Allah, Allah will keep his face away from the Hell fire for seventy autumns. .

Narrated Anas(may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺused not to enter any house in Al-Madeenah except the house of Umm Sulaym(may Allah be pleased with her) besides those of his wives when he was asked why, he said, "I take pity on her as her brother was killed in my company. " .

Narrated `Urwahibn al-Ja’d (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺsaid, "Goodnessremains in the foreheads of horses till the Day of Resurrection, for they bring about either a reward or booty.” .

Narrated Sahl ibn Sa’d al-Saa’idee (may Allah be pleased with him): In our garden there was a horse belonging to the Prophetﷺcalled Al-Luhayf. .

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.".

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.".

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.".

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..

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..

Narrated Anas ibn Maalik(may Allah be pleased with him):Aboo Talhah(may Allah be pleased with him)used not to fast because of Jihad in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ. However, after the passing of the Prophetﷺ, I never saw him without fasting except on ‘Eid al-Fit and ‘Eid al-Adha.”
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Narrated Anas ibn Maalik(may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺsaid, "Plague is the cause of martyrdom of every Muslim (who dies because of it).
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Narrated Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him): I heard the Prophetﷺsaying, "Anyone who fasts for one day in the way of Allah, Allah will keep his face away from the Hell fire for seventy autumns.
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Narrated Anas(may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺused not to enter any house in Al-Madeenah except the house of Umm Sulaym(may Allah be pleased with her) besides those of his wives when he was asked why, he said, "I take pity on her as her brother was killed in my company. "
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Narrated `Urwahibn al-Ja’d (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺsaid, "Goodnessremains in the foreheads of horses till the Day of Resurrection, for they bring about either a reward or booty.”
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Narrated Sahl ibn Sa’d al-Saa’idee (may Allah be pleased with him): In our garden there was a horse belonging to the Prophetﷺcalled Al-Luhayf.
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