| Hadiths

Bukhari Hadiths 1356
Muslim Hadiths 558

Hadith

2104

‘AbdullahNarrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ sent to ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) once a silken two-piece garment, and when he ﷺ saw ‘Umar wearing it, he ﷺ said to him, "I have not sent it to you to wear. It (silk) is worn by him who has no share in the Hereafter, and I have sent it to you so that you could avail yourself of it (i.e., sell it).”.

Commentary :
Islam has delineated the topics of beautification and theIslamic dress code in the Book of Allah, Exalted is He, and the Sunnah of his Prophet ﷺ. The Laws of Islamhas laid down general rules that should be taken into account pertaining to the Islamic dress code for men and women, one of which is the prohibition of wearing silk for men.
In this hadeeth, ‘AbdullahIbn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that the Prophet ﷺ once gifted ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) a ‘Hullah,’ a suit of two Yemeni garments (woven with red and black stripes, or red and green stripes). This one was made of pure silk or mixed with silk. He ﷺ may have sent him Hullah Siraa’, which was a Burdah (i.e., a striped cloak) that had strips of yellow or made of pure silk.
‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wore it and when the Prophet ﷺ saw him wearing it, he ﷺ forbade him and clarified that he ﷺhad not given it to him to wear it, but rather to avail himself of it (i.e., its price). He ﷺ underlined that the men who wear silk in the worldly life will not have any “share in the Hereafter”, as stated in the version complied in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reading: “Whoever wears silk in this worldly life will not wear it in the Hereafter.” This means that men who wear pure silk in the worldly life for no (Laws of Islam-approved) excuse, will be denied wearing it in the Hereafter, either by denying them access to Paradise if they had believed wearing it to be lawful, or by being admitted to Paradise, but denied wearing it therein. This places further emphasis on the prohibition of wearing silk for men. It is noteworthy that it is allowable for women to wear silk, as indicated by the authentic narrations in this regard.
Then, the Prophet ﷺ informed ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he ﷺ had sent him that garment to avail himself of it by selling it or giving it to one of his womenfolk or wives, as stated in the version recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, which also included a narration stating that ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) gave the garment to a polytheist brother of his in Makkah..

2105

‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the Mother of the Believers, said:
I bought a cushion with images on it. When Allah's Messenger ﷺ saw it, he kept standing at the door and did not enter the house. I noticed the signs of abhorrence written all over his face, so I said, "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! I repent to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. (Please let me know) What sin have I committed?" Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "What about this cushion?" I replied, "I bought it for you to sit and recline on." Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "The makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them, 'Put life in what you have created.'" The Prophet ﷺ added, "The angels do not enter a house where there are such images.".

Commentary :
Making images of animate beings is one of the serious prohibitions that must be forbidden and eliminated, and these image-makers imperil themselves to a severe punishment from Allah, Exalted is He.
In this hadeeth, the Mother of the Believers, ‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she once bought a cushion, a small pillow, with images on it. It seems that she (may Allah be pleased with her) put it in a prominent place in the house. When the Prophet ﷺ saw it as he was about to enter the house, he ﷺ stopped and did not enter, as he ﷺ disliked what he saw. Seeing the signs of his disapproval, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her) realized that he ﷺ disliked the new cushion. She (may Allah be pleased with her) hastened to proclaim her repentance before she even understood what sin she had committed, saying, “I repent to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. (Please let me know what sin have I committed?)” She (may Allah be pleased with her) inquired about her act and the reason why he ﷺ got angry. The Prophet ﷺ asked her about the cushion, and she (may Allah be pleased with her) replied that she had bought it for him to sit and recline on. He ﷺ informed her that the makers of such images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. The reference to images here means those featuring animate beings in particular rather than the images of inanimate objects or plants for example. On the Day of Judgment, Allah, Exalted is He, shall command such image-makers to bring back to life those animate beings in their images and statues that they had made in the worldly life, and such a command aims to mock their sinful act and expose their inability to do so. Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ made mention of another punishment, namely that the angels do not enter a house where there are such images (of animate beings). The reference to the angels here means those other than the ones who record people’s deeds. It goes without saying that the recording angels are constant companions of human beings (throughout their earthly life).
This means that the house where there are images of animate beings are denied the blessings of having other angels enter it.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that a Muslim should not enter a place to which he is invited if there are prohibitions and what is deemed forbidden by Allah, Exalted is He, and His Messenger ﷺ.
It is also inferred therefrom that the prohibition of image-making incorporates all images (of animate beings): three-dimensional, painted, engraved, carved, woven images, or otherwise.
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2115

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
We were accompanying the Prophet ﷺ on a journey and I was riding an unmanageable camel belonging to ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), and I could not bring it under my control. So, it used to go ahead of the group and ‘Umar would check it and force it to retreat, and again it went ahead and again ‘Umar forced it to retreat. The Prophet ﷺ asked ‘Umar to sell that camel to him. ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "It is for you, O Allah's Messenger ﷺ!" Allah's Messenger ﷺ commanded ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) to sell him that camel (not to give it as gift). So, ‘Umar sold it to Allah's Messenger ﷺ. Then the Prophet ﷺ said to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar "This camel is for you, O ‘Abdullah (as a gift) and you could do with it whatever you like.".

Commentary :
Among the distinct moral qualities of the Prophet ﷺ were his consideration and thoughtful regard for the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them)and his keenness to bring joy to their hearts.
In this hadeeth, ‘AbdullahNarrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that they were once with the Prophet ﷺ on a journey, and ‘Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with him) was riding an unmanageable camel that belonged to his father ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). It was unmanageable because it was young and untamed, and therefore, ‘Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with him) could not control it. It used to go ahead of the group, and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would check it and force it to retreat it and so on. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ asked ‘Umar to sell him that camel. ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "It is for you (as a gift), O Allah's Messenger ﷺ!" However, Allah's Messenger ﷺ repeated his request, to indicate his wish to buy the camel rather than take it as a gift. ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) complied and sold him the camel. Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ gifted the camel to ‘Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: "This camel is for you O ‘Abdullah (as a gift) and you can do with it whatever you like." It means, ‘You are entitled to dispose of it as you wish,’ by selling or gifting it. The Prophet ﷺ said so lest Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) mistakenly assume that he must not dispose of a gift given to him by the Prophet ﷺ by sale, and it was an unmanageable camel and therefore retaining its ownership would have been inconvenient for him.
The Prophet ﷺ gifted it to ‘AbdullahIbn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) immediately upon buying it from ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) before they left the contracting session, although it was narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Both parties in a sales transaction have a right to annul it so long as they have not separated.” [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]. To reconcile between the two hadeeths, it was said that if a seller does not object to the buyer’s disposal of the purchased commodity upon concluding the purchase before leaving the contracting session, this disentitles him to exercise his right to Khiyaar Al-Majlis (i.e., an option whereby the parties have right to unilaterally withdraw from a contract so long as the parties do not leave the session of contract). This is because his lack of objection to such a disposal serves as a tacit approval, and is held as equal to a verbal approval, as if he had said: “I hereby finalize this transaction.”
It was also said that the Prophet’s disposal of the purchased camel here indicates that the meaning of ‘separation’ or ‘leaving the contracting session,’ may mean physically leaving the contracting session or verbally finalizing the sales transaction.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to venerate the Prophet ﷺ by refraining from going ahead of him while walking or riding along with him.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that ownership is established by virtue of Hibah agreement (i.e., gift contract).
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2117

‘AbdullahNarrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
A person came to the Prophet ﷺ and told him that he was always cheated in sale transactions. The Prophet ﷺ told him to say at the time of the purchase, "There should be no cheating.".

Commentary :
Islam has regulated the contracts when conducting business transactions between people, to preserve their wealth and their interests and spare them potential Gharar (i.e., risk and uncertainty in transactions) and deceit that may be exercised by some people.
In this hadeeth, ‘AbdullahIbn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)said that a man told the Prophet ﷺ that he was not very good in sales transactionsand was cheated often because of his weak-mindedness. This man was named Hibbaan ibn Munqidh ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him), as narrated in Al-Mustadrak by Al-Haakim, or his father Munqidh, as narrated in Sunan Ibn Maahjah, and he had a serious head injury that impaired his mental abilities and speech, but his mental faculties werestill fully eligible to exercise his legal rights as per the laws of Islam. It was narrated by Aboo Daawood on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that his family had asked the Prophet ﷺ to declare him legally incompetent to conduct sales and business transactions, and the Prophet ﷺ forbade him from conducting sales, but he (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I cannot refrain from conducting (my own) sales transactions!’ The Prophet ﷺ allowed him to conduct sales, but wanted to protect him from potential deception. Therefore, he ﷺ ordered him to say at the time of the purchase, "There should be no cheating”, to the other party of the business transaction, to remind him of the enjoined truthfulness, honesty, and sincerity. It means, ‘Do not cheat me; Islam forbids cheating, and it is unbecoming of a Muslim cheat others. The Prophet ﷺ established his right to annul sales after three days, as recorded in Sunan Ibn Maajah.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is prohibited to cheat others in sales transactions or do whatever may harm the interests of Muslims..

2118

‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "An army will invade the Ka‘bah and when the invaders reach a Baidaa’ (i.e., a desert), all the ground will sink and swallow the whole army." I said, "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! How will they sink into the ground while amongst them would be their marketplaces (i.e., people who worked in business) and those who had nothing to do with them?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "All of those people will sink but they will be resurrected and judged according to their intentions.".

Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, assigned to Makkah and Al-Madeenah a superior status to other places and lands, and hastened the punishment for those who wish ill and seek to harm their people.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ stated that at the end of time, a great army shall march towards Makkah with the aim of demolishing the Ka‘bah. As they reach a Baydaa’, which is an empty open land with a smooth surface, meaning a desert between Makkah and Al-Madeenah, Allah, Exalted is He, will command the ground to sink and swallow the whole army. The version complied in Saheeh Muslim reads: “… until there is no one left of them except a fugitive who will tell of what happened to them.” ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) wondered how such a punishment would be afflicted on all people in Makkah, while there shall be people who would have nothing to do with those invaders and would be trading in their marketplaces but happened to be there at the time when such punishment befell. Such people would have no intention to invade Makkah nor demolish the Ka‘bah. She (may Allah be pleased with her) could not understand how the punishment should befall those who would not be involved in such fighting, and the Prophet ﷺ clarified to her that the earth will swallow them all, and then Allah, Exalted is He, shall resurrect them on the Day of Judgment, and each will be held accountable according to his intention. If they intended good, they will reap the fruits of such good intentions, otherwise they shall face the consequences of their actions.
The hadeeth highlights the importance of the intention and its impact on (the fate of) a servant of Allah.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that Allah, Exalted is He, protects the Sacred House.
It is also inferred therefrom that whoever joins a people, shall be subjected to the same Laws of Islam rulings that apply to them as far as the outward worldly punishments are concerned.
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2119

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "A congregational prayer performed by anyone amongst you is more than twenty (five or twenty-seven) times in reward than his prayer (performed individually) in the marketplace or in his house, for if he performs ablution perfectly and then goes to the mosque with the sole intention of performing the prayer, and nothing urges him to go to the mosque except the prayer, then, on every step which he takes towards the mosque, he will be raised one degree or one of his sins will be forgiven. The angels will keep on asking Allah's forgiveness and blessings for every one of you so long as he keeps sitting at his praying place. The angels will say, 'O Allah, bless him! O Allah, be merciful to him,' as long as he does not do Hadath (i.e., state of ritual impurity, invalidating his ablution by passing urine, stool, or wind) or gives trouble to others." The Prophet ﷺ further said, "One is regarded in prayer so long as one is waiting for it.".

Commentary : The congregational prayer is one of the best acts of worship by which a servant of Allah draws closer to his Lord, who multiplies its reward many times.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ informed us of the virtue of congregational prayer, and that it is better and more rewardable than praying individually at work or home, by twenty-few times. The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is (Bidh‘) which means a number between three to nine. The version recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim reads: “… twenty-seven times,” and another version reads: “… two and fifty times.” The difference in the numbers used in these narrations is due to the different situations of the worshippers; some may be awarded twenty-five times the reward and others would be awarded twenty-seven times, according to the perfection of their prayers, observing its acts and obligations, adhering to Khushoo‘ (i.e., state of the heart when it stands before its Lord in full submission, humbleness, and absolute concentration), the number of the worshippers in the congregational prayer, their virtues, and the sacredness of the place where the prayer is being performed. Then the Prophet ﷺ explained the reason for the superiority of the congregational prayer, as he ﷺ said: “… for if he performs ablution perfectly and then goes to the mosque with the sole intention of performing the prayer, and nothing urges him to go to the mosque except the prayer,” and this serves as an emphasis on his sole intention to go to the mosque to perform the prayer and not for any other purpose. Whoever does so, will earn the designated reward: “… on every step which he takes towards the mosque,” Allah, Exalted is He, will raise him “one degree or one of his sins will be forgiven,” by Allah, Exalted is He.
Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ stated that the angels shall continue to seek Allah’s forgiveness for him and supplicate in his favor during his stay in the place where he performs the prayer at the mosque, meaning, as long as he stays in the mosque waiting for the prayer. The angels shall say: “O Allah, bless him! O Allah, be merciful to him.’ The meaning of the Arabic word ‘Salaah’ with respect to Allah, Exalted is He, is to praise His servant in the assembly of the angels, and it has also been said that it means to bestow His mercy and forgiveness on His servant, or that it means both. The angels continue to do so, “as long as he does not do Hadath,” meaning as long as he does not invalidate his ablution and becomes in a state of ritual impurity, and it was also said to mean as long as he does not commit a sin such as gossip or backbiting, “or give trouble to others,” meaningas long as he does not do what harms other people or angels.
Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ underlined that a worshiper continues to receive the reward of prayer as long as he is in his mosque waiting for the prayer.
The hadeeth highlights the great virtues and merits of congregational prayer and its abundant reward.
It also underlines the virtues and merits of ablution at home before going to the mosque..

2122

Aboo Hurayrah Al-Dawasee (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Once the Prophet ﷺ went out during the day. Neither of us talked to the other till he ﷺ reached the marketplace of Banee Qaynuqaa‘ and then he ﷺ sat in the courtyard of Faatimah's house and asked about the small boy (i.e., his grandson Al-Hasan), but Faatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) kept the boy in for a while. I thought she was either putting a necklace on him or giving him a bath. After a while the boy came out running and the Prophet ﷺ embraced and kissed him and then said, 'O Allah! Love him, and love whoever loves him.'.

Commentary :
It is incumbent on every Muslim to show love, affection, reverence, and respect for the family of the Prophet ﷺ.
This hadeeth highlights the virtues of the Prophet’s grandson, Al-Hasan ibn ‘Alee (may Allah be pleased with them), as narrated by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. It was narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he once went with the Prophet ﷺ sometime during the day, and they did not speak during their walk, perhaps because the Prophet ﷺ was thinking about something regarding the divine revelation or otherwise, and Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) did not speak out of respect for the Prophet ﷺ. This was the practice of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them); they used to leave the Prophet ﷺ unbothered whenever they found himpreoccupied.
When the Prophet ﷺreached the marketplace of Banee Qaynuqaa‘, i.e., a Jewish tribe in Al-Madeenah that inhabited it prior to the Prophet’s migration and built a marketplace inside their fortress named after them. Then he ﷺ left, as recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, and went to the courtyard of his daughter Faatimah's house and sat there.
He ﷺ then called upon them saying, “Is the little chap (i.e., Al-Hasan) there? Is the little one here?” (i.e., Is there anyone home?) The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is Luka‘, and one of its meanings is a very young child, referring to Al-Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him).
Afterward, Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that Faatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) kept his grandson Al-Hasan in for a while. He (may Allah be pleased with him) thought that she was either putting a necklace on him or giving him a bath. The Arabic word for necklace that was used in the hadeeth is Sikhaab, which was a necklace made of cloves, musk, oud and the like of pleasant perfumes, made in the shape of a rosary necklace for young boys and servants, or it was a string of beads called Sikhaabaa because it produced a sound when its beads moved, and the name Sikhaab linguistically denotes mixed sounds.
After a while the boy came out running, upon hearing the Prophet ﷺcalling for him. The Prophet ﷺaffectionately embraced and kissed him, mirroring the mutual love between him and his grandchildren. He ﷺ then supplicated Allah, Exalted is He, in his favor saying, 'O Allah! Love him, and love whoever loves him.' This means that the reward for loving the Prophet’s family will be earning the love of Allah, Exalted is He.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that young boys should be cleaned and dressed properly, especially when meeting adults.
The hadeeth also urges adults to play with young children and treat them kindly to foster mutual love and affection.
The hadeeth also underlines the virtues and merits of Al-Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him).
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2123

Naafi‘ narrated: Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) told us that people used to buy foodstuff from the trading caravans during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, and he used to forbid them to resell the purchased goods at the very place where they had purchased them (but they were rather required to wait) till they carried the purchased goods to the marketplace where foodstuff was customarily sold. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, 'The Prophet ﷺ also forbade the reselling of foodstuff by somebody who had just bought it unless he had received it with exact full measure.'.

Commentary :
The Laws of Islam regulates people’s dealings and interactions when conducting sales and business transactions. It has laid down rules and principles clarifying the essential matters to avoid disputes among people and help them conduct lawful and smooth business transactions that are free of disputes and Laws of Islam violations.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with them) related that they used to buy foodstuff from the trading caravans, meaning the traveling traders who used to carry and sell their goods in different towns, during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ used to send someone to forbid them from reselling the purchased foodstuff in the place where they had bought them from the trading caravans until they had carriedit first to the marketplace where people customarily bought foodstuff. This is because Taqaabudh (i.e., immediate and reciprocal exchange and taking possession of the purchased commodity and its monetary equivalent by the buyer and seller respectively in the contracting session) is a condition for the validity of the sale, and this condition is met by carrying the purchased goods to the marketplace.
Another version of the hadeeth reads: “The Prophet ﷺ forbade reselling the purchased foodstuff except after taking possession of it first,” meaning, they must not dispose of the purchased foodstuff by means of sale except after taking it into their possession, and then they may resell it as they wish.
The Prophet ﷺ explained the reason behind the prohibition of reselling the purchased foodstuff from the trading caravans before taking possession of it, as being more convenient and beneficial for people. Therefore, it was reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim that it was prohibited to go out to meet the trading caravans before they arrived at the marketplaces, because this involves harming others. Therefore, he ﷺ commanded the buyers to transfer the purchased foodstuff to the marketplaces (before reselling their purchased goods) to avoid inconvenience for other traders, and to protect them from selling their goods before knowing their values and prices at the marketplaces.
The hadeeth highlights the Prophet’s keenness to preserve the worldly interests of people.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that it is prohibited to use any method of sale and purchase that may lead to monopolies and price spikes..

2125

‘Ataa’ ibn Yasaar narrated:
I met ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas (may Allah be pleased with them) and asked him, "Tell me about the description of the Prophet ﷺ that was mentioned in Torah (i.e., Old Testament.") He (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, 'Yes. By Allah, he ﷺ was described in Torah with some of the qualities attributed to him in the Quran as follows: (Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner,} [Quran 33:45] and a protection for the unlettered. You are My servant and Messenger. I have called you Al-Mutawakkil" (i.e., the one who duly relies upon Allah). You are neither discourteous, harsh, nor noisemaker in the marketplaces. You do not do evil to those who do evil to you, but you rather deal with them with forgiveness and kindness. Allah, Exalted is He, will not cause him to die until He has made the crooked community straight so that they should proclaim, "None is worthy of worship save Allah,” and by it they will open blind eyes, deaf ears, and enveloped hearts.'".

Commentary :
The name and description of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were mentioned in the heavenly books revealed to the previous nations, the Torah and the Gospel.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions) ‘Ataa’ ibn Yasaar stated that he met ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas (may Allah be pleased with them) and asked him about the description of the Prophet ﷺ in the Torah, because ‘Abdullah was quite familiar with it. He (may Allah be pleased with him) told him that the Prophet ﷺ was described in Torah with some of the qualities attributed to him in the Quran. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner,} [Quran 33:45] meaning as a witness for your believing nation, testifying to their belief in you, your prophethood, and the implications of the divine message with which you were sent, and a witness for the disbelievers as well, testifying to their disbelief. It could also mean a witness for the previous Messengers of Allah, testifying that they had communicated the divine message to their people. Another quality was ‘a bearer of glad tidings,’ meaning that he ﷺdelivered good news to the believers, and ‘a warner’ for the disbelievers, communicating to them the warnings of a feared fate, urging them to avoid it and take proper precautions. It could also mean that the Prophet ﷺ was a bearer of glad tidings for the believers that they shall enter Paradise, and a warner for the disbelievers that they shall be thrown into Hellfire. He ﷺ was also described as ‘a protection for the unlettered,’ meaning Arabs. They shielded themselves with him against Satan or the dominion and power of non-Arabs. It is noteworthy that Arabs were described as ‘unlettered’ because most of them did not read or write. The description goes on, “You are My servant and Messenger. I have called you Al-Mutawakkil,” because he ﷺ duly relied on Allah, Exalted is He, and was content with his little share of worldly Rizq (i.e., provision), aspired to none but Allah for victory, adhered to patience while waiting for His relief, embodied noble morals, and fully trusted the promise of Allah, Exalted is He. He ﷺ was “neither discourteous,” meaning ill-mannered and rude, “harsh,” meaning coldhearted, “nor noisemaker in the marketplaces,” meaning that he ﷺ did not raise his voice in the marketplace as indicative of having a bad moral character, and he ﷺdid not shout at others. Rather, he ﷺ was lenient and kind towards people. The description goes on, “You do not do evil to those who do evil to you, but you rather deal with them with forgiveness and kindness,” unless the ordinances of Allah are violated. Allah, Exalted is He, will not cause him to die until He has made the crooked community straight”, the crooked community here is a reference to the disbelievers, and making them straight means guiding them to Islam. It was also said that the hadeeth refers to the divine religion revealed to Prophet Ibraaheem (Abraham) and people who lived during the Fatrah (i.e., a period of time when no Messenger was sent to people), who went astray and therefore either added or omitted parts of the religion, and then Islam was revealed to put things in order and lead people back to the straight path by proclaiming that "None is worthy of worship save Allah.” It can be fairly said that the advent of Islam marks the divine command to such people to give up Shirk (i.e., polytheism) and usher people back to Tawheed (i.e., Islamic monotheism). By means of Islam, Allah, Exalted is He, “will open blind eyes,” to see the truth, “deaf ears,” to hear the call to goodness, “and enveloped hearts,” that have been veiled by the darkness of Shirk. The Prophet ﷺ was a reason for people’s guidance to Islam and edifying them on the religion of Allah, Exalted is He.
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2127

Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Haraam died owing debts to others. I asked the Prophet ﷺ to intercede with his creditors for some reduction of the debts (i.e., to be able to afford repayment). The Prophet ﷺasked them (to reduce the debts) but they refused. The Prophet ﷺ said to me, "Go and put your dates (in heaps) according to their different kinds. The ‘Ajwah dates on one side, the cluster of Ibn Zayd on another side, etc., and then call me." I did that and called the Prophet ﷺ came and sat at the head or in the middle of the heaps and ordered me to measure (the dates) for the people (i.e., creditors). I measured for them till I repaid all the debts. My dates remained as they were; as if nothing had been taken from them!
Another narration reads, "He (i.e., ‘Abdullah) continued measuring for them till he repaid all the debts." The Prophet ﷺ said (to ‘Abdullah), "Cut (clusters) for him (i.e., one of the creditors) and measure for him fully.".

Commentary :
A Muslim is a brother of his fellow Muslim, and it is becoming of a Muslim to strive to fulfill the needs of his Muslim brothers, especially those who explicitly ask for his help. He should (hasten to their help and) stand by them until their need is fulfilled.
In this hadeeth, Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that his father, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Haraam (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away owing a debt to someone. He (may Allah be pleased with him) had been martyred during the Battle of Uhud. He asked the Prophet ﷺ to help him convince the creditors to reduce their debts so that he would be able to repay them. The Prophet ﷺ interceded for him with the creditors, who were Jews, but they refused. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ asked Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) to go back to his orchard and arrange his dates in heaps according to their different kinds. The ‘Ajwah dates, which were the finest kind of dates in Al-Madeenah, on one side, the cluster of Ibn Zayd, which were low-quality dates, on another side, and so on. Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) did as he ﷺ commanded and then notified him. The Prophet ﷺ came and sat at the head or in the middle of the heaps and ordered Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) to measure the dates for the creditors to repay his late father’s debts. He ﷺ said: "Cut for him,” meaning ‘cut the clusters of dates for one of the creditors, “and measure for him fully,” meaning to repay the debt in full. He (may Allah be pleased with him) measured for them till he repaid all the debts, and his dates remained as they were; as if nothing had been taken from them, by the blessing of the Prophet ﷺ.
The hadeeth highlights a miracle exercised by the Prophet ﷺ and a sign indicating his prophethood.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is permissible to seek debt relief or remittance ofpart of it, if the debtor is unable to repay it in full; but the creditor has the choice either to accept or refuse such request..

2128

Al-Miqdaam ibn Ma‘dee Karib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Measure your foodstuff and you will be blessed.".

Commentary :
The divine blessing is one of the bounties bestowed by Allah, Exalted is He, to increase what is little, preserve it, and prevent its loss. The Prophet ﷺ guided us to a number of means to receive the blessing of Allah, Exalted is He.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ underlined one of such means, namely, the use of measures for foodstuff, including: wheat, barley, dates, raisins, and others, when buying or selling, or when paying their due Zakaah. The Prophet ﷺ said: “…you will be blessed,” meaning that Allah, Exalted is He, will enable you to better avail yourselves of its blessing, good, and great benefits, and both the sellers and buyers get to taste such benefits. It is also possible that the hadeeth refers to what a person spends on his dependents, and thus it would mean, “When you allocate foodstuff for your family and dependents, use measures to estimatethe exact amount that would suffice you for a specified period of time.” They did not use measures and therefore would eat to excess.
It is noteworthy that this hadeeth does not contradict the one narrated on the authority of the Mother of the Believers, ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim reading: “…I hada small quantity of barley I had on a shelf and from which I kept eating for a long time. Then when I measured what was left of it, it soon finished.” To reconcile between the two hadeeths, scholars underlined that it is recommended to use measures when conducting sales transactions because it preserves the rights of the contracting parties. However, it is disliked to use measures for foodstuff given in charity, because it is motivated by miserliness.
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2129

‘Abdullah ibn Zayd narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Prophet Ibraaheem declared Makkah a (sacred) sanctuary, and asked for Allah's blessing to be bestowed upon it. Likewise, I declared Al-Madeenah a (sacred) sanctuary as Ibraaheem declared Makkah a (sacred) sanctuary and I asked for Allah's Blessing to be bestowed upon its measures the Mudd and the Saa‘ as Ibraaheem did for Makkah.”.

Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, assigned to Makkah and Al-Madeenah a superior status to other places and lands.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ stated that Prophet Ibraaheem declared Makkah a sanctuary and supplicated Allah, Exalted is He, in its favor, as stated in the ayah that reads (what means): {And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits - whoever of them believes in Allah and the Last Day."} [Quran 2:126]. Likewise, the Prophet ﷺ declared Al-Madeenah a sanctuary, as Prophet Ibraaheem declared Makkah one, and he ﷺ supplicated Allah, Exalted is He, to bless its measures as Prophet Ibraaheem supplicated Him to bless Makkah.
The Saa‘ and Mudd were dry measures used for agricultural produce by the Arabs, and their exact measures differed according to the different towns and lands where they were used. The Saa‘ was the larger measure, and it equals four Mudds.
The sacredness of Al-Madeenah is manifested in the fact that whatever lies within its boundaries is declared inviolable (as per the laws of Islam). No animal may be hunted, and no tree may not be cut down, except those planted by people; it is permissible to cut down and eat from such trees only. Moreover, no religious innovation, offence, act of injustice, or violation of the Laws of Islam warranting the application of Hadd (i.e., a corporal punishment prescribed by the Laws of Islam for certain crimes) may be committed therein. The Prophet ﷺ underlined that in his statement after the conquest of Makkah, narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them), and recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, reading: “Makkah was declared sacred by Allah, Exalted is He, the day He created the heavens and the Earth. Fighting therein was not permitted for any one before me or after me, rather it was permitted for me for a short part of a day. At this moment it is a sanctuary that is sacred by the decree of Allah until the Day of Resurrection. Its green grass may not be uprooted or cut, its trees may not be cut down, and its animals may not be chased (or hunted)… . It is not permissible to pick up its lost property (Luqtah) except by one who will announce it publicly (i.e., toreturn it to the owner).”
Furthermore, it was recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺsaid, “Al-Madeenah is a sanctuary from such-and-such place to such-and-such place. Its trees may not be cut down and no religious innovation nor sin may be committed therein, and whoever introduces a religious innovation or commits sins (and evil deeds) therein, will incur the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people.”
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2134

It was narrated on the authority of ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "A barter of gold for gold is Ribaa (i.e., interest), except if they are exchanged hand to hand (i.e., on the spot) and are equal in amount, and wheat grain for wheat grain is Ribaa except if they are exchanged hand to hand and are equal in amount, and dates for dates is Ribaa except if they are exchanged hand to hand and are equal in amount, and barley for barley is Ribaa except if they are exchanged hand to hand and are equal in amount.".

Commentary :
Dealing with Ribaa (i.e., interest, usury) is one of the major sins, and Allah, Exalted is He, threatened those who deal with it of a war [against them] from Him and His Messenger ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺclarified the rules and principles governing business transactions in Islam, and underlined the different forms of Ribaa so that the Muslims should not fall into it, and he ﷺ also clarified the different forms of lawful sale transactions.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ explained how barters of two similar commodities should be conducted. He ﷺ said: “A barter of gold for gold is Ribaa, except if they are exchanged hand to hand (i.e., on the spot) and are equal in amount,” and the meaning is that the two commodities must be exchanged hand to hand before leaving the contracting session. Selling gold for gold is an unlawful transaction that involves Ribaa in all cases, except when the two commodities are exchanged on the spot, fulfilling the Taqaabudh requirement (i.e., immediate exchange and reciprocal taking possession of the purchased commodity and its monetary equivalent by the buyer and seller respectively in the contracting session). The reference to the Taqaabudh requirement in the hadeeth was given by the words ‘exchanged hand to hand.’ Likewise, the ruling applies to wheat and barley. If the seller and buyer want to conclude such transactions, the commodities must be exchanged hand to hand on the spot, before leaving the contracting session.
A second requirement for the validity of a barter of similar commodities is that the exchanged commodities must be of equal amounts.
It was narrated on the authority of Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudhri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said, stating the requirement of being of the same amount: “Do not sell gold for gold or silver for silver unless both are of equal weight.” [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].
The version recorded in Saheeh Muslim reads: “Gold is to be paid for by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, salt by salt, like by like, provided that payments are made hand to hand (i.e., immediate exchange on the spot). He who made an excess, or asked for an excess, in fact dealt with Ribaa. The receiver and the giver are equally guilty.”
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2135

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet ﷺ forbade the selling of foodstuff before receiving it (i.e., taking possession of it). I believe that all sale transactions should be done in the same way..

2136

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet ﷺ said, "A buyer of foodstuff may not resell it before it has been measured for him." Ismsa‘eel narrated instead, "He may not resell it before receiving it.".

715

Jābir reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that a man should come to his wife by night doubting her fidelity or trying to find her lapses. [In another version]: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have disliked that a man should come to his wife by night; however, he did not mention doubting her fidelity or trying to find her lapses..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) set the most remarkable example of good manners and kind treatment between a man and his wife. He taught husbands how to treat their wives and build their marital relationship upon mutual trust and avoidance of lethal jealousy or mistrust that ruins their life.
In this Hadīth, Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that a man returning from a journey should come to his wife by night. He then clarified the reason for the prohibition, saying: "doubting her fidelity or trying to find her lapses," i.e., thinking she is unfaithful or exposing her secret as to whether she has committed infidelity or not. So, it is disliked for a man who has been on a long journey to unexpectedly return to his wife by night. Yet, if he is on a short journey and his wife expects his return by night, there is nothing wrong with that.
In [the Two Sahīh Collections]: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would not come to his family by night. He used to come to them in the early morning or in the evening. He would not come to his family if he returned from travel by night. Rather, he would come to them in the early morning, which extends from the Fajr prayer to the sunrise, or in the evening, which extends from noon - the time of the Zhuhr prayer - to sunset. This is because when a man comes to his wife by night, he takes her by surprise and she may not be ready to receive her husband, who has been away from her for a period of time. So, it is appropriate for him not to come to her unexpectedly at night.
In the Hadīth: Forbidding that a man should spy on his wife or come to her unexpectedly by night after return from travel
And in it: Urging pursuit of the means that bring cordiality and love between the two spouses
And in it: Exhorting the avoidance of such things that entail mistrust of the Muslim.

717

‘Abdullāh ibn Shaqīq reported: I said to ‘Ā'ishah: "Did the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to perform the Duha (forenoon) prayer?" She said: "No, unless he came back from his absence.".

Commentary : Prayer is a tawqīfi (determined) act of worship that must be taken from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He taught the Ummah the obligatory prayers as well as the regular and non-regular supererogatory prayers. He also taught the Ummah various kinds of prayers at certain times. One of these is the Duha (forenoon) prayer.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i ‘Abdullāh ibn Shaqīq says that he asked the Mother of the Believers, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): Was it a habit of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to perform the Duha prayer? The Duha prayer, also called the Duha Subha, is to be performed after the sun rises and goes as high as the length of a spear - that is nearly 15 minutes after sunshine - and its time ends shortly before noon. In reply, she said that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not use to offer the Duha prayer, except when he came from his absence, i.e., from travel. This is because he forbade that a man should come to his wife by night after returning from travel. So, he would come in the early morning and go first to the mosque, where he would pray at the time of Duha (forenoon).
In a version by Muslim, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer the Duha prayer as four Rak‘ahs and add as many Rak‘ahs as he willed. The negation is probably intended as the negation of her knowledge of the matter, and the affirmation is made for a reason, namely the return from travel. So, there is no contradiction between the two Hadīths.
The minimum of the Duha prayer is two Rak‘ahs. In the Two Sahīh Collections, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "My close friend (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) advised me to do three things: fast three days of every month, perform the two Rak‘ahs of Duha (forenoon), and perform the Witr prayer before I go to sleep." And he would add as many Rak‘ahs as he willed, as mentioned above..

719

Mu‘ādhah reported: that she asked ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): "How many Rak‘ahs did the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to perform in the Duha prayer?" She said: "Four Rak‘ahs, and he would add as many Rak‘ahs as he willed. [In a version]: He would add as many Rak‘ahs as Allah willed..

Commentary : Prayer is a tawqīfi (determined) act of worship that must be taken from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He taught the Ummah the obligatory prayers as well as the regular and non-regular supererogatory prayers. He also taught the Ummah various kinds of prayers at certain times. One of these is the Duha prayer.
In this Hadīth, Mu‘ādhah bint ‘Abdullāh al-‘Adawiyyah relates that she asked the Mother of the Believers, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): "How many Rak‘ahs did the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to perform in the Duha prayer?" The Duha prayer, also called the Duha Subha, is one of the supererogatory prayers to be performed during daytime, and it is to be prayed after the sun rises and goes as high as the length of a spear - that is nearly 15 minutes after sunshine - and its time ends shortly before the noon. Answering her question, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the Duha prayer as four Rak‘ahs, i.e., he was persistent in offering it as four Rak‘ahs: in two Rak‘ahs, as it is well known with regard to the supererogatory prayers. "And he would add as many Rak‘ahs as Allah willed," i.e., without limit.
In another version by Muslim in his Sahīh Collection, ‘Ā’ishah reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not use to perform the Duha prayer, unless he came back from his absence, i.e., from travel. The negation is probably intended as the negation of her knowledge of the matter, and the affirmation is made for a reason, namely the return from travel. So, there is no contradiction between the two Hadīths.
The minimum of the Duha prayer is two Rak‘ahs. In the Two Sahīh Collections, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "My close friend (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) advised me to do three things: to fast three days each month, perform the two Rak‘ahs of Duha, and perform the Witr prayer before I sleep.".

720

Abu Dharr reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Every morning charity is due for every joint bone in the body of every one of you. Every Tasbīh (glorification of Allah) is an act of charity; every Tahmīd (praise of Allah) is an act of charity; every Tahlīl (proclamation of Allah's oneness) is an act of charity; and every Takbīr is an act of charity; and enjoining Ma‘rūf (what is good) is an act of charity and forbidding Munkar (what is evil) is an act of charity; and two Rak‘ahs which one offers in the forenoon will suffice for all that.".

Commentary : Allah rendered all the types of goodness a person does to himself as an act of worship and to others of kindness - as part of the charities of the body and its good health and well-being.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "Every morning charity is due for every joint bone" i.e., for all the organs and joints of the body. Sulāma, in Arabic, originally refers to the bones of fingers, hands, and legs, and then it was later used to refer to all the body parts. So, every morning, a person is required to give charity for every organ of his body, in gratitude to Allah Almighty for His great favors. Indeed, the structure of bones and their joints is one of the great favors Allah has bestowed upon His servants. Hence, each bone requires a charity to be given by the person for it, as gratitude for this blessing. Charity here is intended as something recommended and encouraged, not obligatory or binding, for it is sufficient as gratitude for these favors to perform the obligations and shun the prohibitions. Then, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) guides to some acts of piety which a person may perform as charity for his joints. "Every Tasbīh" (glorification of Allah) - saying: Subhān Allah (glory be to Allah) - "is an act of charity"; "every Tahmīd" (praise of Allah) - saying: Al-Hamdulillāh (praise be to Allah) - "is an act of charity"; "every Tahlīl" (proclamation of Allah's oneness) - saying: Lā Ilāha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah) - "is an act of charity"; "and every Takbīr" - saying: Allāhu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) - "is an act of charity"; "and enjoining Ma‘rūf (what is good) is an act of charity and forbidding Munkar (what is evil) is an act of charity." Likewise, all other forms of Dhikr and worship are charities for oneself. Ma‘rūf: It is a term that comprises all what is known to be a form of obedience to Allah Almighty and benevolence to people. Munkar: It refers to all offensive deeds and words that lead to disobedience to Allah Almighty; and it is a term that comprises all forms of evil. So, if anyone performs the mentioned acts of goodness and the like, it should be equal in number to the 360 joints.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that "two Rak‘ahs which one offers in the forenoon" are sufficient in place of all that, for prayer is an act that is done by all the body parts and it includes all the mentioned charities and others. This demonstrates the great merit of the Duha prayer. The time of the Duha prayer starts 15 minutes after sunrise and extends to also 15 minutes before soon. The minimum in the Duha prayer is two Rak‘ahs, and the maximum is eight Rak‘ahs, as related in a Hadīth in the Two Sahīh Collections, in which ’Umm Hāni’ (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: "that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) took a bath in her house on the day of the Conquest of Makkah and prayed eight Rak‘ahs." It is said: There is no limit to its maximum, as indicated by a Hadīth by Muslim, in which ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: "The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer the Duha prayer as four Rak‘ahs and pray as much more as he wished.".

724

‘Ā’ishah reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would not observe any of the supererogatory prayers more regularly than the two Rak‘ahs before Fajr..

Commentary : Islam encouraged and urged the performance of supererogatory prayers and made them greatly rewardable. One of these supererogatory prayers, whose performance was urged by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), is the two-Rak‘ah Sunnah of the Fajr prayer.
In this Hadīth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) says that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was not more persistent in observing any supererogatory prayer than he was in performing two Rak‘ahs before Fajr. In other words, he was not persistent and keen to perform any of the supererogatory prayers and regular Sunnah prayers as he was in offering two Rak‘ahs before the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr, which is the Sunnah before the Fajr prayer. They are counted among the regular supererogatory prayers associated with the obligatory prayers. The Prophet's keenness on them indicates the significance of their status and reward..

725

‘Ā’ishah reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The two Rak‘ahs of Fajr are better than the world and what is in it.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach his Ummah the virtuous deeds and demonstrate their rewards to encourage the people to perform them.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "The two Rak‘ahs of Fajr" - which refer to the Sunnah of Fajr, the two Rak‘ahs to be performed between the Adhan and the iqāmah - "are better than the world and what is in it," i.e., the reward to be obtained because of this prayer in the Hereafter is greater and better than all the blessings in this world. They are counted among the regular supererogatory prayers associated with the obligatory prayers, and the Prophet's keenness on them indicates the significance of their status and reward and urges Muslims to be keen on observing them.
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform these two Rak‘ahs in a brief manner. In the Two Sahīh Collections, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would perform the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr and make them brief to the extent that I would say: "Did he recite the Mother of the Qur'an in them?" In a Hadīth by Muslim, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) recited Surat al-Kāfirūn and Surat al-Ikhlās in the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr.
In the Hadīth: The merit of the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr..

726

Abu Hurayrah reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) recited Surat al-Kāfirūn and Surat al-Ikhlās in the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr..

727

Ibn ‘Abbās reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite in the first of the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr: {Say [O believers]: "We believe in Allah and what has been sent down to us"} [Surat al-Baqarah: 136] the verse that is in Surat al-Baqarah, and in the second Rak‘ah: {We believe in Allah; so bear witness that we are Muslims.} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 52].

Commentary : The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to prolong the Qur'an's recitation in supererogatory prayers and would sometimes make it brief depending on circumstances and occasions.
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes recite after Surat al-Fātihah in the first Rak‘ah of the regular two-Rak‘ah Sunnah of the Fajr prayer the verse that reads: {Say [O believers]: "We believe in Allah and what has been sent down to us; and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the descendants [of Jacob]; and what was given to Moses and Jesus; and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted."} [Surat al-Baqarah: 136] The verse that occurs in Surat al-Baqarah, which means: Say, O the believers, to the advocates of this false call, the Jews and Christians: We believe in Allah and in the Qur'an that has been sent down to us, and we believe in what was sent down to Abraham (Ibrāhīm) and his children, and we believe in what was sent down to the prophets among the children of Jacob (Ya‘qūb), and we believe in the Torah that Allah gave to Moses (Mūsa) and the Gospel that Allah gave to Jesus (‘Īsa), and we believe in the scriptures that Allah gave to all the prophets; we make no distinction between any of them, by believing in some and denying others; rather, we believe in all of them, and we are submissive and obedient to Him alone.
And in the second Rak‘ah, after Surat al-Fātihah, the verse that reads: {When Jesus sensed disbelief from them, he said: "Who are my helpers in the cause of Allah?" The disciples said: "We are helpers of Allah. We believe in Allah; so, bear witness that we are Muslims."} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 52] And it means: When Jesus (peace be upon him) became aware of their persistence in disbelief, he addressed the Children of Israel, saying: Who will support me in the call to Allah? The best among his followers said: We are the supporters of the religion of Allah. We believe in Allah and follow you, and bear witness, O Jesus, that we submit to Allah by believing in His Oneness and obeying Him.
In light of the meanings in these two verses, it becomes clear that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite them for what they contain, of belief in Allah Almighty and submission to Him, and because they are two light verses that suited his brief performance of these two Rak‘ahs, as it was the Prophet's habit to lighten these two Rak‘ahs, as narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections.
In the Hadīth: The recitation in the Sunnah of the Fajr prayer after Surat al-Fātihah.

728

’Um Habībah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Whoever prays twelve prostrations during a day on a voluntary basis, a house will be built for him in Paradise.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach his Ummah the virtuous deeds and clarify their rewards to encourage the people to perform them.
In this Hadīth, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "Whoever prays twelve prostrations during a day on a voluntary basis," i.e., other than the obligatory prayers, or they are the regular supererogatory prayers, namely: four Rak‘ahs before the Zhuhr prayer and two Rak‘ahs after it, two Rak‘ahs after the Maghrib prayer, two Rak‘ahs after the ‘Ishā’ prayer, and two Rak‘ahs before the Fajr prayer, as related in Sunan At-Tirmidhi. Whoever does so persistently, his reward will be that Allah will build a house for him in Paradise.
In the Hadīth: Urging the performance of supererogatory prayers
And in it: Demonstrating the merit of the regular supererogatory prayers.

730

‘Abdullāh ibn Shaqīq reported: I asked ‘Ā’ishah about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), concerning his voluntary prayers, and she said: He used to offer four Rak‘ahs in my house before the Zhuhr prayer. Then, he would go out and lead the people in prayer. Then, he would come in and offer two Rak‘ahs. He would lead the people in the Maghrib prayer and then come in and offer two Rak‘ahs, and he would lead the people in the ‘Ishā’ prayer and enter my house and offer two Rak‘ahs. And he would offer nine Rak‘ahs during the night, including the Witr. And he would pray for a long night while standing and for a long night while sitting. When he recited while standing, he would bow and prostrate while standing, and when he recited while sitting, he would bow and prostrate while sitting. And when the dawn came, he would offer two Rak‘ahs..

Commentary : Our Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the best among people in worshiping his Lord and standing before Him, Exalted be He. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to learn from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and take his Sunnah, act upon it, and convey it to those after them.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i ‘Abdullāh ibn Shaqīq relates that he asked the Mother of the Believers, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), about how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer supererogatory prayers. She informed him that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer four Rak‘ahs as Sunnah before the Zhuhr prayer in his house. Then, he would go out to the mosque and lead the people in the Zhuhr prayer. Then, he would enter his house after finishing the Zhuhr prayer and offer two Rak‘ahs. She did not mention the ‘Asr prayer, probably because she was demonstrating the confirmed Sunnahs of the obligatory prayers, whether before or after them.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to lead the people in the Maghrib prayer without offering a supererogatory prayer before it. Then, when he finished the Maghrib prayer, he would return to his house and offer two Rak‘ahs as Sunnah of the Maghrib prayer. And he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the ‘Ishā’ prayer without offering a supererogatory prayer before it. Then, he would enter his house after finishing the ‘Ishā’ prayer and offer two Rak‘ahs as Sunnah of the ‘Ishā’ prayer.
He would offer Qiyām al-Layl (late-night voluntary prayer) with nine Rak‘ahs, including the Witr, which is the last prayer a Muslim performs after the voluntary prayer in the night prayer. It is authentically reported that he used to pray eleven Rak‘ahs, and it is also authentically reported that he used to pray thirteen Rak‘ahs.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes offer his late-night prayer while standing and sometimes sitting. Her words "for a long night" mean: for a long time during the night.
Another trait of the Prophet's prayer is that if he commenced his prayer at night with recitation while standing, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would bow and prostrate in the well-known manner: going down for rukū‘ and then returning to the standing position and going down for prostration and then returning to the standing position, and so on. And if he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commenced his prayer at night with recitation while sitting, he would engage in rukū‘ and prostration without standing for them, neither before nor after observing them.
And when the time of the Fajr prayer came, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would offer two Rak‘ahs as Sunnah of Fajr. In the version by Abu Dāwūd: "Then, he would go out and lead the people in the Fajr prayer."
In the Hadīth: Offering supererogatory prayers while sitting without an excuse
And in it: Offering the supererogatory prayers at home.

732

‘Ā’ishah reported: that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not die until most of his prayers were performed while sitting..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the best among people in worshiping his Lord and standing before Him, Exalted be He. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to learn from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), take his Sunnah, act upon it, and convey it to those who came after them.
In this Hadīth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) informs that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not die until he performed many of his prayers while sitting. This refers to the supererogatory prayers, not the obligatory ones. That was one or two years before his death, as related in Sahīh Muslim Collection from Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her), given that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was too weak to stand for long. In a version by Muslim: "When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) put on weight and became heavy" i.e., his body weakened due to his old age, "he would mostly pray while sitting."
The Hadīth mentions the performance of supererogatory prayers while sitting..

732

‘Abdullāh ibn Shaqīq reported: I said to ‘Ā’ishah: "Did the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to pray while sitting?" She said: "Yes, after the people wore him out.".

733

Hafsah reported: I did not see the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offer his Subhah (supererogatory prayer) in a sitting position till one year before his death, as he used to offer his Subhah while sitting, and he would recite a Surah in a way that is so measured that it became longer than longer Surahs. In a version: One or two years before his death..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the best among people in worshiping his Lord and standing before Him, Exalted be He. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to learn from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), take his Sunnah, act upon it, and convey it to those who came after them.
In this Hadīth, the Mother of the Believers Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her) informs that she did not see the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offer his Subhah - i.e., his supererogatory prayer - while sitting, as he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform supererogatory prayers while standing. Then, one year before his death - and in another version: one or two years - he would pray while sitting, that is because he put on weight and his body weakened due to old age, according to a Hadīth narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections and reported by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her).
She informed that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite a Surah of the Qur'an during his prayer, and he would recite in a so measured and deliberate manner "that it became longer than longer Surahs" i.e., due to his measured way of reciting, the duration of reciting a Surah would become longer than the duration of reciting another bigger Surah in terms of the length and the number of verses.
The Hadīth mentions the recitation of the Qur'an in a measured and deliberate manner.
It also includes the performance of supererogatory prayers while sitting..

735

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr reported: It was narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The prayer of a man while sitting is half a prayer." He said: I came to him and found him praying while sitting. I placed my hand on his head. He said: "What is the matter with you, O ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr?" I said: "It was narrated to me - O Messenger of Allah - that you said: 'The prayer of a man while sitting is half a prayer'; and you pray while sitting." He said: "Yes, but I am not like any of you.".

Commentary : Prayer is the mainstay of religion, and its performance is obligatory for every Muslim. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) demonstrated the manner of performing prayer and taught it to the Ummah.
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that it was narrated to him that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stated that the prayer of a man while sitting is "half a prayer" i.e., it brings half of the reward of someone who performs it while standing. So, this makes it valid and detracts from its reward. This Hadīth is taken to refer to performing a supererogatory prayer while sitting despite being able to stand. However, if a person performs a supererogatory prayer while sitting because he is unable to stand, his reward does not decrease; rather, his reward is like praying while standing. As for the obligatory prayer, it is invalid to perform it while sitting despite being able to stand. Yet, if a person is unable to stand, then his sitting is tantamount to his standing.
Then, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that he came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) one day and found him praying while sitting. He placed his hand on the Prophet's head, wondering at his prayer while sitting and wanting the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to look towards him. This was after he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had finished the prayer, for it is not thought that ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) would put his hand before that. This behavior is not deemed impolite among some Arabs, as they tend to behave naturally. Moreover, this shows the Prophet's modesty and good character, and that he used to deal and associate with his close Companions like being one of them and not exalting himself above them. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sensed the hand of ‘Abdullāh, he asked him: "What is the matter with you?" i.e., what is wrong with you?! So, he told him about the aforementioned Hadīth, by way of inquiry, not as an objection or disapproval. His words "and you pray while sitting" affirmed the point that was confusing and unclear to him, and how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would be content with half a reward for himself. In response, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) confirmed the Hadīth he cited and then said: "but I am not like any of you" i.e., what you have mentioned that the prayer of a man while sitting is half of his prayer while standing is a ruling that applies to people other than me in this Ummah and it pertains to them; as for me, I am not subject to this ruling, and my Lord accepts from me my prayer while sitting for a reward like that of my prayer while standing. This is one of the peculiar merits of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), as his performance of a supererogatory prayer while sitting, though he was able to stand, was made equivalent to his performance of it while standing, as an honor for him.
The Hadīth urges the performance of prayer in its complete form for those who are able to. So, if a person is able to stand, he should pray while standing, in both obligatory and supererogatory prayers.
It points out how Allah Almighty favors His Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and distinguishes him from all the Ummah..

738

Abu Salamah reported: I asked ‘Ā’ishah about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and she said: "He used to offer thirteen Rak‘ahs; he would perform eight Rak‘ahs and then observe the Witr and then perform two Rak‘ahs while sitting; when he wanted to bow, he would stand up and bow. Then, he would offer two Rak‘ahs between the Adhān and iqāmah of the Fajr prayer..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray as much Qiyām al-Layl in his house as Allah willed him to pray. The Companions and the Tābi‘is after them were keen on knowing about his acts of worship in detail and ask about what they could not see of his worship at home.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān says that he asked the Mother of the Believers, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), about the Qiyām al-Layl of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and the number of its Rak‘ahs and the manner of its performance. She informed him that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform thirteen Rak‘ahs; he would perform eight Rak‘ahs, two Rak‘ahs each, as narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections, and he would then pray the Witr, i.e., with the ninth Rak‘ah. As narrated in a version by Muslim: "Nine Rak‘ahs while standing and he would perform one of them as the Witr," i.e., he would make the last Rak‘ah among them the Witr of his prayer. In another version by Muslim: "He would observe five Rak‘ahs of which was the Witr, not sitting except at the last of them," i.e., he used to offer four Rak‘ahs, two Rak‘ahs each, and then perform the fifth Rak‘ah as the Witr, not sitting for tashahhud except in the last Rak‘ah. In another version by Muslim: "The prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the night consisted of ten Rak‘ahs, and then he would observe the Witr with one Rak‘ah and offer the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr; those are thirteen Rak‘ahs." This denotes the diversity of the Prophet's Qiyām al-Layl in terms of duration and the number of Rak‘ahs, depending on his condition and energy.
Also, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform two Rak‘ahs while sitting. Apparently, these two Rak‘ahs were after the Witr and before the time of Fajr. When he wanted to perform rukū‘ while in this state of sitting, he would stand up and then bow down in the well-known manner. Then, when the time of Fajr came, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would offer the two-Rak‘ah Sunnah of Fajr, after the Adhān and before the iqāmah of the Fajr prayer.
There are numerous other well-known Hadīths, in the Two Sahīh Collections and elsewhere, that enjoin making the last prayer in Qiyām al-Layl the Witr. An example is a Hadīth in which ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Make the last of your prayer at night the Witr." As for these two Rak‘ahs which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered after the Witr and before Fajr, this is to demonstrate the permissibility of praying after the Witr, and they were not performed on a persistent basis, for what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did persistently was to conclude with the Witr, as mentioned above.
In the Hadīth: Praying at night while sitting.

Book of Hadith