Narrated ‘Aaishah (raa): I was menstruating when I reached Makkah; thus, I neither performed Tawaaf round the Ka`bah nor the Tawaaf between al-Safaa and al-Marwah. I informed Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about it, and he replied, "Perform all the rites of Hajj like the other pilgrims, but do not perform Tawaaf round the Ka`bah till you get clean (from your menses)."
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Commentary : The Prophet ﷺexplained the rulings pertaining to Hajj and ‘Umrah in words and action. The Companions (ras) transmitted all that to us, including the rulings related to women like menses.
In this hadeeth, ‘Aaishah (raa), the Mother of the Believers, reports that she was menstruating during the Farewell Hajj, which occurred in the 10th year of Hijrah. For that reason, she refrained from performing Tawaaf round the Ka’bah and between al-Safaa and al-Marwah and did not perform ‘Umrah or Hajj just like the rest of people. She raised her issue to the Prophet ﷺwho ordered her to perform all the rites of Hajj like the other pilgrims, like standing on the mountain of ‘Arafaat, Muzdalifah and spending the night in Minaa) and to refrain from performing Tawaaf round the Ka`bah till she gets clean from your menses.
According to a narration in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, she (raa) said after completing Hajj, “O Messenger of Allah! All of you are returning with the Hajj and `Umrah, but I am returning after performing Hajj only." So, the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered `Abd al-Rahmaan bin Aboo Bakr (ra) to accompany her to Tan’eem and thus she performed the `Umrah after the Hajj.
From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning about how Islam eases the rulings of Hajj for menstruating women and allowing her to delay the Tawaaf until she becomes clean..

1651

Narrated Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah (ra): The Prophet (ﷺ) and his Companions assumed Ihraam for Hajj and none except the Prophet ﷺand Talhah had the Hady (sacrificial animal) with them. `Alee arrived from Yemen and had his Hady with him. `Alee said, "I have assumed Ihraam for what the Prophet (ﷺ) has done." The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered his Companions to perform the `Umrah with the lhraam which they had assumed, and after finishing Tawaaf (of Ka`bah, al-Safaa and al-Marwah) to cut short their hair, and to finish their lhraam except those who had Hady with them. They (the people) said, "How can we proceed to Minaa (for Hajj) after having sexual relations with our wives?" When that news reached the Prophet (ﷺ), he said, "If I had formerly known what I came to know lately, I would not have brought the Hady with me. Had there been no Hady with me, I would have finished the state of lhraam." `Aaishah (raa) got her menses, so she performed all the ceremonies of Hajj except Tawaaf of the Ka`bah, and when she got clean (from her menses), she performed Tawaaf of the Ka`bah. She said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! (All of you) are returning with the Hajj and `Umrah, but I am returning after performing Hajj only." So, the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered `Abd al-Rahmaan bin Aboo Bakr (ra) to accompany her to Tan`eem and thus she performed the `Umrah after the Hajj..

Commentary : There are three ways for performing Hajj: (1) Tamattu’: It is when the pilgrim enters the state of Ihraam with the intention to perform ‘Umrah during the months of Hajj, namely Shawwaal, Dhu al-Qa’dah, and Dhu al-Hijjah. And after completing the ‘Umrah, he exits his Ihraam and then enters the Ihraam again in the same year to perform Hajj. (2) Al-Qiraan: It is when the pilgrim enters the Ihraam with the intention to perform both ‘Umrah and Hajj together. (3) Al-Ifraad: It is when the pilgrim enters the Ihraam with the intention to perform Hajj only.
In this hadeeth, Jaabir ib ‘Abdullah (ra) reports that the Prophet ﷺand his Companions assumed Ihraam for Hajj in the Farewell Hajj, which was in the 10th year of Hijrah. None of them had Hady with him except the Prophet ﷺand Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydillah (ra). The Hady is the name of the animals that pilgrims bring along with them to slaughter in the Haram as sacrificial animals, which include camels, cows, sheep and goats.
At that time, ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib (ra) was in Yemen because the Prophet ﷺsent him to serve there as a judge and to collect the zakat. So, he travelled to Makkah to perform Hajj with the Prophet ﷺ, and he brought with him Hady. He (ra) assumed Ihraam on his way to Makkah so the Prophet ﷺasked him about the intention of his Ihraam. His answer was that he assumed Ihraam with an intention as that of the Prophet ﷺ. It happened that the Prophet ﷺwas one of the pilgrims who had Hady with them; thus, he entered the Ihraam with the intention to perform ‘Umrah and Hajj together. The Prophet ﷺordered those who did not bring along Hady with them to exit Ihraam after completing the ‘Umrah and enter a new Ihraam for Hajj on the 8th of Dhu al-Hijjah.
This made some of the Companions (ras) feel uneasy that they exit Ihraam while the Prophet ﷺkeep his Ihraam, and they wondered how it is possible to exit Ihraam and then assume Ihraam for Hajj on the Day of Tarwiyah! Upon knowing this, the Prophet ﷺsaid to them: “Had there been no Hady with me, I would have finished the state of lhraam” i.e., If I came to know about this from the beginning, I would have not brought with me the Hady so I could exit Ihraam after ‘Umrah and then enter a new Ihraam for Hajj. By this, the Prophet ﷺexplained to them that if he did not have the Hady, he would have done the same.
Upon entering Makkah, ‘Aaishah (raa) menstruated, and so she followed the instructions of the Prophet ﷺto perform the rites of Hajj except the Tawaaf round the Ka’bah. And after she became clean from menses, she performed Tawaaf round the Ka’bah. However, as the Muslims are preparing to depart Makkah, she said to the Prophet ﷺ: “(All of you) are returning with the Hajj and `Umrah, but I am returning after performing Hajj only” So, the Prophet ﷺordered her brother, `Abd al-Rahmaan bin Aboo Bakr (ra), to accompany her to Tan`eem, which is situated about 6 km from Makkah and the closest point to enter Ihraam for those who are in Makkah – although people may enter Ihraam from any of the designated places.
This hadeeth highlights the permissibility of performing ‘Umrah in the months of Hajj.
From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning about how Islam eases the rulings of Hajj for menstruating women and allowing her to delay the Tawaaf until she becomes clean. And it shows the mercy and compassion of the Prophet ﷺtowards women and his kind treatment with them.
The hadeeth shows that if a person is in Makkah and wants to enter Ihraam, he should go to the point of Ihraam outside Makkah and enter Ihraam for ‘Umrah from there.
It also shows that a woman may not travel except with one of her Mahram men..

1652

Narrated Hafsah: 'We used to forbid the ‘Awaatiq (young women) to go out for the two `Eid prayers. A woman came and stayed at the palace of Banee Khalaf, and she narrated about her sister whose husband took part in twelve battles along with the Prophet (ﷺ) and her sister was with her husband in six (out of these twelve). She (the woman's sister) said, "We used to treat the wounded, look after the patients and once I asked the Prophet (ﷺ), 'Is there any harm for any of us to stay at home if she does not have a veil?' He said, 'She should cover herself with the veil of her female companion and should participate in the good deeds and in the religious gathering of the Muslims.' When Umm `Atiyyah (raa) came, I asked her whether she had heard it from the Prophet (ﷺ). She replied, "Yes. May my father be sacrificed for him (the Prophet)! (Whenever she mentioned the Prophet (ﷺ) she used to say, 'May my father be sacrificed for him) I have heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, 'The ‘Awaatiq and the girls who stay often screened or the ‘Awaatiq who often stay screened and the menstruating women should come out and participate in the good deeds as well as the religious gathering of the believers but the menstruating women should keep away from the Musallaa (praying place).' " Hafsah (raa) asked Umm `Atiyyah surprisingly, "Do you say the menstruating women?" She replied, "Does not a menstruating woman attend `Arafaat (Hajj) and such and such (other deeds)?".

Commentary : Islam has honoured women and made them a natural partner to men. It has defined their rights and responsibilities, and the rulings pertaining to them like menses, post-partum blooding, seclusion with the opposite gender, attending public gatherings, and so on.
In this hadeeth, Hafsah bintSeereen mentions that they used to forbid young women from attending the two ‘Eid prayers. The Arabic word used in the narration to describe the young women is ‘Awaatiq (lit. freed). It means females who have just reached puberty but are not yet married and still live at their family’s house. The relevance of the name to their condition is that at such age she can depend on herself, and her parent no longer needs to serve her and fulfil her needs outside the house. Another possible meaning is that it refers to the young girl that is so loved by her parents. Hafsah further says that a woman came to al-Basrah and stayed at the palace of Banee Khalaf, the grandfather of Talhah al-Talhaat, and she narrated about her sister (i.e., Umm Atiyyah) whose husband took part in twelve battles along with the Prophet (ﷺ), and her sister was with her husband in six out of these twelve. Then she mentioned that her sister said that they used to treat the wounded, look after the patients. And one time, she asked the Prophet ﷺif it is sinful for a woman to stay at home, and does not attend these gatherings, because she does not have a veil to wear when she goes out. The Prophet ﷺtold her that in this case, she should borrow a veil from her friend to cover herself and participate in the good deeds and in the religious gathering of the Muslims like the ‘Eid prayer.
Hafsah then mentioned that people inquired from Umm ‘Atiyyah (raa) about the hadeeth she related so she confirmed that she heard it directly from the Prophet ﷺand said: “May my father be sacrificed for him” and added that he ﷺstated that let out the ‘Awaatiq (plural of ‘Aatiq) which is the young girl who reached puberty or is about to reach puberty or in an age suitable for marriage or the one who is highly valued by her parents or who is freed from fulfilling the needs of the family outside the house. It appears that they used to forbid these young girls from leaving the house because of the corruption that was present at their time. The Companions (ras) however held the view that the ruling that was practised during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺshould not change despite all that.
The Prophet ﷺordered that even unmarried virgin girls who stay in the house far from the eyes of people should go out to attend the ‘Eid prayer. The order to attend the religious gatherings of Muslims included menstruating women, but they have to keep away from the place where the ‘Eid prayer is established. Upon hearing this, Umm ‘Atiyyah was surprised that menstruating women should attend too! The Prophet ﷺexplained to her that she can and reminded that menstruating women attend ‘Arafaat and the other rites of Hajj.
From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning that menstruating women can attend all the rites of Hajj except Tawaaf.
The hadeeth shows that woman can treat the wounded, look after the patients in times of war.
It shows us that the Companions (ras) used to correct the misconceptions and mistakes of the Taab’ieen..

1653

Narrated ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Rufay’: I asked Anas ibn Maalik (ra), "Tell me what you remember from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (regarding these questions): Where did he offer the Thuhr and `Asr prayers on the day of Tarwiyah (8th day of Dhoo al- Hijjah)?" He replied: "He (ﷺ) offered these prayers at Minaa." I asked, "Where did he offer the `Asr prayer on the day of Nafr (i.e., departure from Mina on the 12th or 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah)?" He replied, "At Al- Abtah," and then added, "You should do as your chiefs do.".

Commentary : Hajj is an act of worship that cannot be sanctioned except on the basis of textual evidence from the Quran or the Sunnah to that effect. The Prophet ﷺclarified the rulings pertaining to Hajj and explained that which is allowed and that which is not, and which actions can be delayed or in advance, and what can be open and flexible. The Companions (ras) transmitted all that to the next generation who in their turn transmitted to the people after them and so on. They even offered advice to people about what to do when some rulers make changes to the time and place of certain actions, which are considered flexible in such sense.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Rufay’ reports that he asked Anas ibn Maalik (ra) to narrate to him from the Prophet ﷺsomething he understood and comprehended. He asked him about the place where the Prophet ﷺprayed Thuhr and ‘Asr on the 8th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, a.k.a. the Day of Tarwiyah which is named as such because pilgrims drink and take their water supplied on that day preparing for standing at ‘Arafah. Anas ibn Maalik (ra) replied that he ﷺoffered the prayers in Minaa, which is a valley surrounded by mountains, located in the east of Makkah between Makkah and ‘Arafah and is about 6 km from the Sacred Mosque. It is the place where the rite of throwing the stones in Hajj.
Then, he asked about the place where the Prophet ﷺprayed in the Day of Nafr, which is the day on which pilgrims return from Minaa to Makkah, which happens on the 3rd day of Tashreed. Anas ibn Maalik (ra) replied that he prayed in al-Abtah, alias al-Muhassib, a place that is known for its small pebbles, and is originally the valley of Makkah, in the south of the Haram, in front of the mountain of Thawr, which is a part of Minaa.
Then, Anas ibn Maalik (ra) ordered him to do like his rulers do and pray where they pray, which indicates that the rulers at that time did not pray Thuhr at a particular place and that it is an open matter so people can pray where they like and leave whenever they want. This also indicates that what he (ra) reported from the Prophet ﷺis not considered one of the rites of Hajj that pilgrims are obliged to do, and it is said that it is one of the rites.
The reason he (ra) ordered him not to oppose the rulers in order to avoid division and possible corruption..

1654

Narrated ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Rufay’: I went to Minaa on the Day of Tarwiyah, so I met Anas ibn Maalik (ra) mounting his donkey. I asked him about the place where the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed Thuhr on this day. He said, look where your rulers pray and pray there for it is better..

Commentary : The Hajj is an act of worship that cannot be sanctioned except on the basis of textual evidence from the Quran or the Sunnah to that effect. The Prophet ﷺclarified the rulings pertaining to Hajj and explained that which is allowed and that which is not, and which actions can be delayed or in advance, and what can be open and flexible. The Companions (ras) transmitted all that to the next generation who in their turn transmitted to the people after them and so on. They even offered advice to people about what to do when some rulers make changes to the time and place of certain actions, which are considered flexible in such sense.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Rufay’ reports that he went to Minaa on the Day of Tarwiyah, which is the 8th of Thoo al-Hijjah. On his way to Minaa, he met Anas ibn Maalik (ra) riding his donkey and heading also to Minaa. He asked him about the place where the Prophet ﷺprayed on the 8th of Thoo al-Hijjah, so he answered him that he should pray where his rulers pray. His statement was to show that it is permissible to pray it anywhere and that it is an open matter so people can pray in any place that is more convenient to them. While it is better and more recommended to pray where the Prophet ﷺoffered the Thuhr and ‘Asr prayers, but he (ra) wanted to show that it is not obligatory..

1655

Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (ra): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered a two-units prayer at Minaa. Abu Bakr, `Umar, and `Uthmaan (ras), (during the early years of his caliphate) followed the same practice..

1656

Narrated Haaritha ibn Wahb al-Khuzaa’ee (ra): The Prophet (ﷺ) led us in a two-units prayer at Minaa, although our number was more than ever and we were in better security than ever..

1657

Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (ra): I offered two units’ prayer with the Prophet ﷺ (at Minaa), and similarly with Aboo Bakr and with `Umar (ras), and then you differed in opinions. I wish that I would be lucky enough to have two of the four units accepted (by Allah)..

Commentary : The Hajj has its own rulings and some of which are so unique that it gives pilgrims concessions in certain acts of worship like shortening the prayer, and it lifts hardship by allowing certain rites to be shifted to perform them before other rites, and so on.
‘Abdullah bin Mas’ood (ra) reports that he was with the Prophet ﷺin the Farewell Hajj and that he prayed behind him in Minaa the four-units prayers, namely Thuhr, ‘Asr, and ‘Ishaa. He (ra) adds that he ﷺshortened them and offered each one of them as a two units prayer. Minaa is a valley surrounded by mountains, located in the east of Makkah on the road between Makkah and Mount of ‘Arafah, about 6 km away from the Sacred Mosque, and it is the site where the rite of throwing stones is performed. He continued to explain that he prayed behind Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (ras) and they did the same i.e., they shortened the four-units prayers.
His statement: "Then you differed in opinions" refers to what ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Afaan (ra) did in the second half of his ruling, when he stopped shortening the four-units prayers in Minaa.
It is said that ‘Uthmaan (ra) opted for offering the four-units prayers without shortening them because he decided to live in the Taaif. By this, he considered him a resident hence cannot benefit from the concession of shortening prayers as he held the view that the concession of shortening prayers in Minaa is only for the travelling pilgrims. It is also said that he did not take the concession and insisted on offering the four units prayers without shortening them for the public good i.e., at that time he noticed that the number of Muslims had dramatically increased after the large groups of people entering Islam and many of the pilgrims were new Muslims who did not know well the rulings and laws of Islam. He feared that the ignorant ones among them would think that the four units prayers consist of two units.
As for the statement of Ibn Mas’ood (ra) said: "Wish that I would be lucky enough to have two of the four units accepted (by Allah)", it is intended to mean that ‘Uthmaan (ra) should have shortened the prayer and followed the way of Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar (ras) because it agrees with the practice of the Prophet ﷺ. While Ibn Mas’ood, (ra) held the view that it is better to shorten the prayer, he held the view that it is permissible not offer the four units prayer without shortening it in Minaa. This is evident because he prayed behind ‘Uthmaan (ras) and if he held the view that shortening the prayer is obligatory, he would have refused to offer the four units prayer behind ‘Uthaman without shortening it.
From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning about the eagerness and insistence of the Companions (ras) to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
This hadeeth shows that little work that corresponds to the Sunnah is more likely to be accepted. .

1684

Narrated 'Amr ibn Maymoon: I saw `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) offering the Fajr prayer at Jam'; then he got up and said, "The polytheists did not use to depart (from Jam') till the sun had risen, and they used to say, 'Let the sun to shine on Thabeer (a mountain).' However, the Prophet ﷺ contradicted them and departed from Jam' before sunrise."
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Commentary : Opposing the polytheists is a religious requirement, which the Prophet ﷺused to emphasize and encourage. All the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) followed his guidance concerning that.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi'ee, 'Amr ibn Maymoon, reports that he witnessed 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was in Hajj offering the Fajr prayer at al-Muzdalifah. Al-Muzdalifah is the name for a place where the pilgrims encamp for the night after departing from 'Arafaat and spend the night of the tenth of Thoo al-Hijjah there. The site contains the al-Mash'ar al-Haraam, and it is about 12 km away from 'Arafah and is next to the monument of Minaa. Al-Muzdalifah is also known as Jam' (combining) because two prayers, Maghrib and 'Ishaa, are combined therein. It is said that it has been given that name due to the action of its [temporary] residents because they congregate therein and they "Yazdalifoon" (get closer) to their Lord; meaning, they draw closer to Him by remaining therein [for His sake]. It was also said that the reason to name it as thus was something else.
Then, 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) clarified to the people that the polytheists did not use to march out of al-Muzalifah to Minaa until the sunrise and they would utter, "Brighten up, Thabeer!" Thabeer is a mountain in al-Muzdalifah toward the left of the path going to Minaa and towards the right path going to 'Arafaat. The meaning of this utterance: Let the sun rise upon you, O Thabeer! So that we can pour out from Muzdalifah to Minaa. Thus, the Prophet ﷺopposed them concerning this practice and he departed from 'Arafaat when the morning had tuned golden and the daylight had appeared, however, before the sunrise.
This hadeeth denotes the time to move out of Muzdalifah and march on to Minaa which is during the golden hour of the morning [before the sunrise]..

1685

Narrated Ibn' Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ made Al-Fadl ride behind him, and Al-Fadl informed that he ﷺ kept on reciting Talbiyah till he did the rite of throwing of the pebbles.
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Commentary : Reciting the 'Talbiyah' is among the manifested rites of Hajj, which should be pronounced loudly as a demonstration of such a significant rite. It contains the announcement of Tawheed being reserved for Allah Only, the Mighty and Majestic. And when a Muslim recites it, then the plants and unanimated objects would recite it along with him.
In this hadeeth, 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet ﷺmade al-Fadl ibn al-‘Abbaas ride behind him on the same animal. This happened after he had offered the Fajr prayer at Muzdalifah on the morning of the Day of Sacrifice (The Day of Nahr), the tenth day of Thoo al-Hijjah. He remained there until the morning turned golden, before the sunrise, then he mounted his ride heading towards Minaa. Al-Fadl ibn al-‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) informed him that the Messenger ﷺkept on reciting Labbayka until he performed the stoning rite of Jamarah al-‘Aqabah, this is a big stone pillar in the western side of Minaa adjacent to Makkah. The wording of the Talbiyah is: Labbayka, Allahumma Labbayka. Labbayka Laa Shareeka Laka Labbayka. Innal Hamda wan Ni’matah Laka wal Mulk. Laa Shareek Lak. [At Your service, O Allah, I am at Your service. I am at Your service, You have no partner, I am at Your service. Verily, all praises and bounties belong to You and also the dominion, You have no partner]. The pronouncement of the Talbiyah starts from the time of adorning [and making intention of] the Ihraam.
This hadeeth demonstrates the humbleness of the Prophet ﷺ and shows that it is permissible for two people to mount an animal at the same time if it is able to take that load..

1688

Narrated Aboo Jamrah: I asked Ibn `Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) about Hajj-at-Tamattu`. He ordered me to perform it. I asked him about the Hady (sacrificial animal of pilgrims). He said, "You have to slaughter a camel, a cow or a sheep, or you may share the Hady with the others." It seemed that some people disliked it (Hajj-at-Tamattu`). I slept and dreamt as if a person was announcing: "Hajj Mabroor and accepted Mut'ah (Hajj-at-Tamattu`)." I went to Ibn `Abbaas and narrated it to him. He said, "Allah is Greater. (That was) the tradition of Aboo Al-Qaasim (i.e.the Prophetﷺ).
According to another narration the call in the dream was. "An accepted `Umrah and Hajj-Mabroor."
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1689

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger ﷺ saw a man driving his Badanah (sacrificial camel). He said, "Ride on it." The man said, "It is a Badanah." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Ride on it." He (the man) said, "It is a Badanah." The Prophet said, "Ride on it." Furthermore, on the second or the third time he (the Prophet ﷺ ) added, "Woe to you."
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Commentary : Allah Almighty sent His Prophet, Muhammad ﷺas a mercy for the world and made adherence to his commands and refraining from all that which he prohibited a means of salvation in this world and the hereafter. His method was to make the acts of worship and people's lives easy to handle.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺsaw a man walking on his feet and he was driving a "badanah" which he took to the Sacred House in order to sacrifice and get closer thereby to Allah. A Badanah is an animal, especially from the camels. It was said: "Budun" [plural of badanah] can be used for both the camels and cows. The Messenger of Allah ﷺordered him to ride it so he can rest from the tiredness he got from the hardship of walking. The man informed him that the animal was a badanah that he had driven to the Ka'bah and to express that he should not ride it. However, the Prophet ﷺtold him the second or the third time, "Ride on it, woe unto you! The real meaning of the Arabic word Wayl (lit. Woe] severe punishment; however, that is not what is meant here. The Prophet ﷺintended to be verbally harsh on him so that he rides it.
This hadeeth shows that it is permissible to ride the Hady, and it encourages us to hasten to uphold the commandments of Allah and His Messenger, and it contains a reprimand and rebuke against the one who does not hasten towards adhering them..

1691

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): During the last Hajj of Allah's Messenger ﷺ, he performed `Umrah and Hajj together in one Ihraam [Hajj al-Tamattu']. He ﷺdrove his Hady along with him from Thoo al-Hulayfah. Allah's Messenger ﷺ started by assuming Ihraam for `Umrah and then for Hajj. And the people, too, performed the `Umrah and then Hajj along with the Prophet ﷺ. Some of them brought the Hady and drove it along with them, while the others did not. So, when the Prophet ﷺ arrived at Makkah, he said to the people, "Whoever among you has driven the Hady, should not finish his Ihraam till he completes his Hajj. And whoever among you has not (driven) the Hady with him, should perform Tawaaf of the Ka'bah and the Tawaaf between Al-Safaa and Al-Marwah, then cut short his hair and finish his Ihraam. And he should later assume Ihraam for Hajj, but he must offer a Hady (sacrifice); if anyone cannot afford a Hady, he should fast for three days during the Hajj and seven days when he returns home. The Prophet ﷺ performed Tawaaf of the Ka'bah on his arrival (at Makkah); he touched the (Black Stone) corner first of all, and then walked with a high pace during the first three rounds of Tawaaf around the Ka'bah, and during the last four rounds, he walked with normal pace. After finishing Tawaaf around the Ka'bah, he offered a two units prayer at the Maqaam of Ibraaheem, and after finishing the prayer he went to Al-Safaa and Al-Marwah and walked seven rounds between them and did not do any deed forbidden because of Ihraam, till he finished all the ceremonies of his Hajj and sacrificed his Hady on the Day of Nahr (10th day of Thoo al-Hijjah). He then hastened onwards (to Makkah) and performed Tawaaf of the Ka'bah and then everything that was forbidden because of Ihraam became permissible. Those who took and drove the Hady with them did the same as Allah's Messenger ﷺ.
Narrated 'Urwah: 'Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) told him that the Prophet ﷺ did Hajj al-Tamattu' and so did the people who were with him too, just like the narration that Saalim reported from Ibn' Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet ﷺ.
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Commentary : The Hajj is the fifth pillar among the pillars of Islam, and the Prophet ﷺhas explained all the rites and rituals of Hajj both verbally and practically. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) transmitted them to us as they learned them from the Prophet ﷺ.
In this hadeeth, 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) relates a part of the guidance of the Prophet ﷺin the Farewell Hajj, which happened in the tenth year of the Hijrah. He explains that the Messenger of Allah ﷺperformed Hajj al-Tamattu' during the Farewell Hajj by incorporating the 'Umrah into the Hajj, while it is well known that the Messenger of Allah ﷺperformed Hajj al-Qiraan, that is, that he combined the Hajj and 'Umrah within one Ihraam. Thus, based on that, the word Tamattu' used here is the linguistic meaning of Tamattu'. The meaning of it is that the Prophet ﷺinitially entered the Ihraam for Hajj only but afterwards, he intended to perform 'Umrah too; thus, he ﷺbecame the performer of the Qiraan-type of Hajj. The Qiraan in this case entails the linguistic meaning of Tamattu' (i.e. enjoying benefit) and the technical meaning in religion because he is incorporating 'Umrah into the actions of Hajj in the sense that he enjoyed the unison of the Meeqaat [the boundary from which the Ihraam is adorned for pilgrimage], Ihraam and rituals. This explicitly indicates that the Prophet ﷺwas a Qaarin and that the meaning of Tamattu' in this context is Qiraan. The proof on this is his statement: "Anyone among you who has driven the sacrificial animal, then he is not allowed to do anything that has been prohibited for him [due to being in the state of Ihraam] until he completes his Hajj,". He ﷺsaid it while he ﷺwas among those who had driven the sacrificial animals to the Haram of Makkah.
Ibn' Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that the Prophet ﷺdrove with him the Hady – a name given to the animal that is presented and sacrificed at the Haram of Makkah among the camels, cows, sheep and goats – from Thoo al-Hulayfah. Altogether, there were sixty-four sacrificial animals. Thoo al-Hulayfah is the boundary [Meeqaat] of the people of Al-Madeenah and also those outsiders who are in transit therefrom. Now, the place is known as Aabaar' Alee, a well-known location right at the onset of the road of Al-Madeenah that takes one to Makkah. The distance between it and Al-Madeenah is about 13 km and between it and Makkah is approximately 408 km, and it is the farthest of all the boundaries from Makkah.
The statement of Ibn' Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), "Allah’s Messenger ﷺ started by assuming Ihraam for `Umrah and then for Hajj” is understood to mean reciting Talbiyah during the Ihraam. It is reported on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “Labbayka for the ‘Umrah and Hajj.” [Saheeh Muslim]. This however does not mean that he assumed the Ihraam for ‘Umrah first, then he entered the Ihraam for ‘Umrah later.
His statement, “And the people, too, performed the `Umrah and then Hajj along with the Prophet ﷺ” means, later on, many or most of them had assumed the state of Ihraam for Hajj only at first, then they changed that intention by intending the ‘Umrah instead and then assumed Ihraam separately for Hajj. These people were the pilgrims who did not drive Hady along with them.
Hence, when the Prophet ﷺentered Makkah, he ﷺproclaimed to the people that whoever among them has driven the sacrificial animal with him, then he cannot enjoy any part of what is prohibited for him among the sanctions of Ihraam, thus, he remains in his full Ihraam until he completes his Hajj. That is due to the Statement of Allah, {Do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal reaches its destination of slaughter.} [Al-Baqarah, 2:196]. As for those who have not driven the sacrificial animal, they need to perform Tawaaf as part of the rites of the ‘Umrah and perform the ritual walking between the Safaa and al-Marwah and then cut their hair short to exit from the Ihraam thereby. Thereupon, it will be permissible for them to do whatever was previously prohibited in the state of Ihraam, such as using fragrances, wearing normal clothes [for men], intimately approaching wives, hunting and so on. The Prophet ﷺordered them to shorten their hair rather than to shave it all off, whereas, shaving the head is better, so that some hair is left to shave it all off when exiting their Ihraam for the Hajj.
The Prophet’s statement, “and should later assume Ihraam for Hajj” means that they should assume Ihraam for Hajj on the Day of Quenching Thirst on the eighth day of Thoo al-Hijjah. It does not mean that they should assume Ihraam for Hajj straight after exiting the Ihraam of ‘Umrah.
As for the one who does not find a sacrificial animal, or its value or its value has increased above the value of the similar animal or that its owner does not want to sell it, then in that instance, let him fast for three days in the Hajj after assuming its Ihraam and for seven days after returning to his family in his city or to the place where he resides.
Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that the Messenger of Allah ﷺperformed the Tawaaf when he came to Makkah, known as the Circumambulation of Arrival (Tawaaf al-Qudoom) and performed the Istilaam of the Rukn right in the beginning, that is, the Black Stone. Istilaam means to touch the stone and kiss it. That happened straight as he arrived before doing anything else. Then, he ﷺwalked fast and hastened in the first three rounds and walked normally in the last four rounds of Tawaaf. After completing the Tawaaf, he ﷺoffered a two-units prayer at the standing place (Maqaam) of Ibraaheem (peace be upon him). After completing the prayer, he moved from his place and headed to perform the ritual walking between the Safaa and al-Marwah seven times, starting his first circuit from the Safaa and finishing at the Marwah. The second circuit is the opposite of the first one, which goes from the Marwah to the Safaa. The third circuit is like the first one, and thus until the circuit is complete during the seventh circuit.
The Prophet ﷺremained in the state of Ihraam until he completed his Hajj. He sacrificed the animal on the day of ‘Eid, and he performed the Tawaaf of Ifaadah, that is because he drove the sacrificial animal with him; otherwise, he ﷺwould have exited from the Ihraam of ‘Umrah just as he ordered his Companions to do. Everyone who drove their sacrificial animals did exactly as the Prophet ﷺdid, i.e. they did not temporarily cancel their Ihraam of Hajj by completing the ‘Umrah and then wait to Hajj time. As a result, the Prophet ﷺalongside some other people performed Qiraan, while the other group performed Tamattu’ instead.
One of the benefits of this hadeeth as well is that it reveals the legality of performing Hajj in the forms of either Qiraan or Tamattu’ and intending Tamattu’ for the one who has performed Hajj in the Qiraan form or Ifraad form.
It also reveals the legality of walking fast in the three first circuits of the Tawaaf aaround the Ka’bah..

1694

Narrated al-Maysoor ibn Makhramah and Marwaan: The Prophet ﷺ set out from Al-Madeenah with over one thousand of his Companions (at the time of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah) and when they reached Thoo al-Hulayfah, the Prophet ﷺ garlanded his Hady and marked it and assumed Ihraam for `Umrah.
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Commentary : The Prophet ﷺexplained the rulings pertaining to Hajj and ‘Umrah and their recommended acts and etiquettes both verbally and practically. And the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) transmitted all that they heard and witnessed from him ﷺconcerning this.
In this hadeeth, al-Miswar ibn Makhramah (may Allah be pleased with him) and the Taabi’ee, Marwaan ibn al-Hakam report that the Prophet ﷺleft Al-Madeenah during the year of al-Hudaibiyyah – the sixth year of the Hijrah – intending to perform ‘Umrah and not to fight. He ﷺwas accompanied by over ten hundred [, i.e. over a thousand] of his Companions. The Arabic word Bid’ used in the hadeeth to indicate their number encompasses the number from three to nine. [Hence, here, the word Bid’ (over) could mean anywhere between thirteen hundred to nineteen hundred]. Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him)mentioned that they were a thousand and three hundred (thirteen hundred) in number; and the other time, he stated that they were fourteen hundred; and again, the third time, he stated that they were fifteen hundred [Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]. When they reached Thoo al-Hulayfah - now, it is known as Aabaar ‘Alee, a well-known location right at the onset of the road of Al-Madeenah that takes one to Makkah. The distance between it and Al-Madeenah is about 13 km and between it and Makkah is approximately 408 km, it is the farthest of all the boundaries from Makkah. It is the boundary [Meeqaat] of the people of Al-Madeenah and those who go for Hajj or ‘Umrah and pass by Al-Madeenah. The Prophet ﷺgarlanded the sacrificial animal and marked it [for identification]. The Arabic root word Taqleed [used in the hadeeth]: means to place garlands on the necks of the sacrificial animals so they are identified from others. Those garlands could be made from [a strip of] leather or socks and so on. The Arabic word Ish’aar [also used in the hadeeth]: means that the hump [or the back] of the big animal is slightly stabbed with a knife or any other [sharp] object until its blood flows. The benefit of performing Ish’aar: is to notify that it has now become a sacrificial animal, thus the poor who need it [its meat] may follow it and if it is intermixed with other animals, it can be distinguished or if it is lost, it can be located and besides this. It also indicates the veneration of the religious rites and encouragement to others to adopt them.
On this occasion, the Prophet ﷺhad assumed the Ihraam for ‘Umrah, however, the polytheists prevented him from performing it. Then, the treaty of al-Hudaybiyyah took place and the Prophet ﷺsettled this ‘Umrah of his in the following year (the seventh year of the Hijrah), hence, it was named as ‘Umrah al-Qadaa’. In Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that “The Prophet ﷺwas blockaded [from advancing further], hence he shaved his head, had sexual intercourse with his wives, sacrificed the sacrificial animals, and then he performed the ‘Umrah in the following year.”
This hadeeth highlights the legality of garlanding the sacrificial animals and marking them, for the purpose of identification.
It shows that it is permissible to assume Ihraam for the ‘Umrah alone..

1700

Narrated `Amrah bint `Abd al-Rahmaan had told him, “Ziaad ibn Aboo Sufyaan wrote to `’Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that `Abdullah ibn `Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) had stated, ‘Whoever drives Hady (to the Ka’bah), all the things which are illegal for a (pilgrim) become illegal for that person till he slaughters it (i.e. till the 10th of Thoo al-Hijjah).’ “`Amrah added, `’Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) commented, ‘It is not like what Ibn `Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) had said: I twisted the garlands of the Hady of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ with my own hands. Then Allah’s Messenger ﷺ put them around their necks with his own hands, sending them with my father; yet nothing permitted by Allah was considered illegal for Allah’s Messenger till he slaughtered the Hady.’“
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Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were very keen to follow the guidance of the Prophet ﷺin all his statements and actions. Some of them would correct others concerning that.
In this hadeeth, ‘Amrah bint ‘Abdur al-Rahmaan reports that Ziyaad ibn Abee Sufyaan, a.k.a. Ziyaad ibn Abeeh wrote to ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) advocates that if a person drives the sacrificial animal, be it from the camels, cows, sheep and goats, to the Sacred house, in order for them to be sacrificed in the Hajj, without him assuming the Ihraam for Hajj and travelling for such purpose; then, all that is prohibited for the pilgrim will be prohibited for him too. With that said, such a person should not wear perfume, have intercourse with his wives, or do other things among the prohibited things of Ihraam. He must remain in that state until his sacrificial animal is slaughtered. However, when the Mother of the Believers, ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) heard of the view of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him), she responded to this fatwa stating that it contravened what the Messenger of Allah ﷺdid. She explained that she used to make the garlands – collars – which were placed aaround the necks of the sacrificial animals of the Prophet ﷺwhich he would send forth, while he was not intending Hajj or assuming the Ihraam for Hajj. The Prophet ﷺwould place the garlands on the sacrificial animals with his noble hands, and then send them with Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to the Hajj in the year nine of the Hijrah when the latter performed the Hajj with the people. On the other hand, the Prophet ﷺremained at home and did not commit to the obligations that are imposed upon the person who is in the state of Ihraam and enjoyed all that which is allowed for other besides the one who enters into the state of Ihraam either for the Hajj or ‘Umrah.
This hadeeth shows the legality of sending the sacrificial animals to the Sacred Mosque by the person who has not gone there to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah.
It shows that a high-status person should serve himself by himself, even if there are others who will take care of his needs.
It illustrates the reality of some scholars correcting and responding to other scholars [with proofs]..

739

Abu Is'hāq reported: I asked Al-Aswad ibn Yazīd about what ‘Ā’ishah narrated to him regarding the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). She said: He would sleep in the earlier part of the night and stay awake in the latter part. Then, when he needed intercourse with his wife, he would fulfill his need and then sleep. When the first call was pronounced, she said: He jumped - and no by Allah, she did not say: He stood up - and poured water over himself - and no by Allah, she did not say: He took a bath, and I know what she meant - and if he was not sexually impure, he would perform ablution like a man's ablution for prayer and then offer two Rak‘ahs..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would offer Qiyām al-Layl in his house as much as Allah willed him to pray. The Companions - and the Tābi‘is after them - were keen on knowing the details of his worship and would inquire about the acts of worship that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would perform at home which they could not see.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Abu Is'hāq as-Sabī‘i informs that he asked the Tābi‘i Al-Aswad ibn Yazīd about what ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) had told him with regard to the voluntary prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) during the night. He told him that she had said: "He would sleep at the earlier part of the night" after the ‘Ishā’ prayer, in order to give his body its share of rest. And he would get up at the latter part of the night to fill it with prayer, Tahajjud, and Witr. This is the time in which Allah Almighty descends to the worldly heaven, as related in a Hadīth by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim, in which Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Our Lord, Glorified and Exalted, descends every night to the worldly heaven when the last third of the night remains and says: ‘Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me so that I may give him? Who seeks forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?'"
Then, when he finished his prayer in the night, he would fulfill his need for his wives, in case he had a need for them. In the version by An-Nasā’i: "he would go to his wife", which indirectly refers to copulation; and then he would then sleep. Thereafter, when the time of Fajr came and he heard the Adhān - the first call - he would 'jump' i.e., he would get up in a quick and active manner, and he would pour water over himself, taking a ritual bath if he was sexually impure from the copulation with his wives. In case he was not sexually impure, he would only make ablution and then offer two Rak‘ahs as the Sunnah of Fajr.
By his words: "No by Allah, she did not say: He stood up" and "No by Allah, she did not say: He took a bath, and I know what she meant", the narrator means that he conveyed the very words said by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), which are: "and he poured water over himself"; and she did not say: "He took a bath". And he knows that by "he poured water", she meant: He took a bath. This shows his care and meticulousness in conveying what he heard as he heard it, not by its meaning.
The Hadīth indicates that a sexually impure person may sleep without performing ablution.
It shows the interest in worship and the active engagement in it, as denoted by the words "he jumped"..

740

‘Ā’ishah reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray at night until his last prayer would be the Witr..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer Qiyām al-Layl in his house as much as Allah willed him to pray. The Companions were keen on knowing the details of his worship and would inquire about the acts of worship that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would perform at home which they could not see.
In this Hadīth, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) informs that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer Qiyām al-Layl for part of the night and would pray two Rak‘ahs at a time, and the last prayer he would perform was the Witr, whose time ends with the rise of dawn. When the dawn rose, there would be no Witr, even between the Adhān of Fajr and its Iqāmah.
There are various forms and ways of the Prophet's performance of Witr, as well as the number of its Rak‘ahs. Based on all of them, it becomes apparent that Witr can be three, five, seven, nine, or eleven Rak‘ahs. If he observed Witr as three Rak‘ahs, this would have two legitimate ways: First: He would offer the three Rak‘ahs consecutively with one Tashahhud. Second: He would make Taslīm after two Rak‘ahs and then offer one Rak‘ah as Witr. But when he observed Witr as five or seven Rak‘ahs, he would offer them all together, with only one Tashahhud and Taslīm at the end. And when he observed Witr as nine Rak‘ahs, he would offer them all together and sit for Tashahhud at the eighth Rak‘ah and then stand up without Taslīm, and he would say Tashahhud in the ninth Rak‘ah and make Taslīm. When he observed Witr as eleven Rak‘ahs, he would make Taslīm after every two Rak‘ahs and then conclude them with one Rak‘ah. The minimum of what is valid and sufficient in terms of Witr is to perform two Rak‘ahs and make Taslīm and then perform one Rak‘ah and make Taslīm; and it is permissible to make one Taslīm, but with one Tashahhud, not two.
The Hadīth indicates that the last prayer at night should be Witr..

746

Zurārah reported: Sa‘d ibn Hishām ibn ‘Āmir wanted to fight for the sake of Allah. So, he came to Madīnah and wanted to sell some real estate that belonged to him there, allocate it for arms and horses, and conduct Jihad against the Romans until he dies. When he came to Madīnah, he met a group of people from Madīnah, who forbade him from doing so. They informed him that a group of six people wanted to do that during the lifetime of the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), yet the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade them. He said: Is there not a role model for you in me?! When they narrated that to him, he took back his wife, whom he had divorced, and he brought witnesses to her return. He came to Ibn ‘Abbās and asked him about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Ibn ‘Abbās said: Shall I direct you to the most knowledgeable one among the people of the world about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)? He said: Who? He said: ‘Ā’ishah. Go to her and ask her and then come to me and tell me about her response to you. So, I headed to her. I met Hakīm ibn Aflah and asked him to take me to her. He said: I would not come close to her, for I forbade her from saying anything about these two groups, but she refused and decided to engage in that. He said: I adjured him by Allah. As a result, he came, and we headed to ‘Ā’ishah. We asked her for permission to enter. She gave us permission, and we entered her place. She said: Are you Hakīm? She recognized him. He said: Yes. She said: Who is with you? He said: Sa‘d ibn Hishām. She said: Who is Hishām? He said: Ibn ‘Āmir. She invoked Allah's mercy upon him and spoke well of him. Qatādah said: He was wounded during the battle of ’Uhud. I said: O Mother of the Believers, tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). She said: Do you not recite the Qur’an? I said: Yes. She said: Indeed, the character of the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the Qur’an. He said: I resolved to get up and not ask anyone about anything till I die; then a thought came to me, and I said: Tell me about the Qiyām (late-night prayer) of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). She said: Do you not recite: {O you the enwrapped one}? I said: Yes. She said: Indeed, Allah Almighty prescribed Qiyām al-Layl at the start of this Surah. So, the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions performed Qiyām for one year. And Allah held back its concluding portion for twelve months in heaven, till Allah sent down alleviation at the concluding verses of this Surah. Consequently, Qiyām al-Layl became optional after being obligatory. He said: I said: O Mother of the Believers, tell me about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). She said: We used to prepare for him his tooth stick and water for his ablution, and Allah would resurrect him to the extent He wished during the night. He would use the tooth stick, perform ablution, and offer nine Rak‘ahs, without sitting in them except in the eighth one; he would remember Allah, praise Him, and supplicate Him, and then get up without making Taslīm and offer the ninth Rak‘ah. Then, he would sit, remember Allah, praise Him, supplicate Him, and then make Taslīm loud enough for us to hear. Then, he would offer two Rak‘ahs after Taslīm while he was sitting. These are eleven Rak‘ahs, O young son. When the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) grew old and put on weight, he would observe Witr with seven and do in the two Rak‘ahs as he had done formerly. These are nine, O young son. When the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered a prayer, he liked to offer it on a persistent basis. But if he missed Qiyām al-Layl due to sleep or illness, he would perform twelve Rak‘ahs during the daytime. I am not aware that the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) recited the whole Qur’an in a night, prayed for a night till the morning, or fasted a whole month other than Ramadan. He said: Then I headed to Ibn ‘Abbās and told him her Hadīth. He said: She spoke the truth. If I could come close to her or visit her, I would certainly go to her so that she would verbally narrate it to me. He said: I said: If I had known you would not enter her place, I would not have narrated her Hadīth to you. [And in a version]: He divorced his wife and then headed to Madīnah to sell his real estate, and he related a similar Hadīth..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer Qiyām al-Layl in his house as much as Allah willed him to pray. The Companions - and the Tābi‘is after them - were keen on knowing the details of his worship and would inquire about the acts of worship that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would perform at home which they could not see.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Zurārah ibn Awfa al-Harashi al-Basri relates that the Tābi‘i Sa‘d ibn Hishām ibn ’Umayyah al-Ansāri wanted to completely devote himself to the campaign and Jihad in the cause of Allah. So, he divorced his wife and came to Madīnah, and he was then in Basrah, residing there along with his father, the Companion Hishām ibn ‘Āmir (may Allah be pleased with him). He wanted to sell some real estate - and real estate is an immovable object, like a piece of land or a house. It may also refer to possessions - and purshase with their proceeds weapons, like a sword, spear, and bow, and horses, to engage in Jihad against the Romans till he would die in that state. Apparently, he sought celibacy and asceticism from worldly life.
When he came to Madīnah, he met a group from among the people of Madīnah. Having known what he intended to do, they forbade him from it, and told him that a group of six people had wanted to do the same as he intended - to divorce their wives and sell their possessions to engage in the campaign during the Prophet's lifetime - yet the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade them and said: "Is there not a role model for you in me?!" i.e., a good example for you to follow?! Sa‘d ibn Hishām acted upon the advice given to him by those people. So, he took back his wife. A man can take back his wife if he divorced her for the first or second time and her waiting period is yet to end. He brought witnesses to her return as a wife to him, which he did in compliance with the verse that reads: {Then when they have approached the end of their waiting period, either retain them honorably or part with them honorably. Call two just men from among yourselves as witnesses.} [Surat at-Talāq: 2]
Thereafter, Sa‘d went to ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked him about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Witr is the last prayer a Muslim observes after performing the supererogatory Qiyām al-Layl, the best voluntary act of worship to be performed by a Muslim. Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "Shall I direct you to the most knowledgeable one among the people of the world about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)?" Meaning, that the best one to tell you about it from among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and who is more knowledgeable about it than others, though Witr is a famous act that is known to the knowledgeable and others. However, since Sa‘d particularly linked his question to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), it was more appropriate that specialists should provide the answer, as long as they were present. So, Sa‘d asked him about that person. Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: ‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her). And he instructed him to go and pose his question to her and then return and tell him about her response and answer. Indeed, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was more knowledgeable about that because Witr is a night prayer that is performed at home. So, the Mothers of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with them) had more knowledge about it, and the foremost among them was ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), given her great keenness to memorize the traditions of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
So, Sa‘d dashed off and went to her, as he was ordered by Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him). On his way, he passed by the Tābi‘i Hakīm ibn Aflah. He asked him to accompany him and go with him to ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her). Ibn Aflah said: "I would not come close to her" i.e., I do not want to be near her and will not go with you to her. "for I forbade her from saying anything about these two groups" i.e., the two factions, which refers to the group of ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and the group of Az-Zubayr ibn al-‘ِAwwām and Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullāh (may Allah be pleased with both of them). The meaning: I forbade her from getting in this occurring war; but she refused and did not comply, and she insisted on going ahead with what she wanted. She sided with the opponents of ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) in the battle of the Camel.
Sa‘d informed that he adjured him by Allah and appealed to him to go to ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her). Hakīm agreed, and they went together to ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her). They asked her for permission to enter. ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) gave them permission to enter. She asked the one who entered: Are you Hakīm? She recognized him, probably by his voice when he greeted her. In response, Hakīm said: Yes. She asked him about the one accompanying him. Hakīm told her that he was Sa‘d ibn Hishām. She asked about who Hishām was. Hakīm informed her that he was Hishām ibn ‘Āmir ibn ’Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with him). Thereupon, she invoked Allah's mercy upon ‘Āmir and spoke well of him. In another version in the Sahīh Muslim Collection: "What an excellent man ‘Āmir was." ‘Āmir (may Allah be pleased with him) was one of those who were martyred and killed in the battle of ’Uhud, in the third Hijri year.
Sa‘d asked her: O Mother of the Believers, tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). She said to Sa‘d: "Do you not recite the Qur’an?" This is an affirmative question, for she knew he was one of those who recited the Qu’an. He replied: Yes. i.e., he was one of those who recited the Qur’an. So, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said to him: "She said: Indeed, the character of the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the Qur’an," i.e., he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) assumed all the noble manners enjoined in the Qur’an and abided by them, and he avoided all that is prohibited therein. So, his character was to act upon it, stop at its limits, adopt its ethics, and take lessons from its examples and stories.
Then, Sa‘d informed that he thought to himself that he would leave her place and depart and never ask anyone about anything of the Prophet's character till he died, for she comprehensively described to him the Prophet's noble manners and good morals. She referred him to the noble Qur’an which comprises all excellent attributes. So, he could explore the Prophet's character from it, generally and specifically. Thus, nothing of his manners would remain for him to need to ask about.
After he resolved to leave the place of ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), he entertained the idea of asking her about the Qiyām al-Layl of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his supererogatory worship during the night. As he asked her to tell him about that, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked him: "Do you not recite: {O you the enwrapped one}?" i.e., the whole Surah. He replied that he recited it. She said: "Indeed, Allah Almighty prescribed" i.e., He ordained the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions to perform "Qiyām al-Layl in the start of this Surah." This occurs in the verse that reads: {Stand up in prayer at night except a little.} [Surat al-Muzzammil: 2] As a result, the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions prayed during the night for a whole year. In the version by Abu Dāwūd: "till their feet became swollen." And Allah Almighty held back with Him the concluding portion of this Surah - which contains alleviation and facilitation by prescribing the recitation of as much of the Qur’an as is easy - for twelve months in the heaven, till Allah sent down alleviation at the end of this Surah, in the verse that reads: {Indeed, your Lord knows that you [O Prophet] stand up in prayer for nearly two-thirds of the night, or half of it, or one-third of it, as do others among your companions. Allah determines the night and the day; He knows that you [Muslims] cannot keep an accurate count of it, so He pardoned you. Recite then as much of the Qur’an as is easy for you [in the night prayers]. He knows that there are some among you who will be ill, and others traveling in the land, seeking the grace of Allah, and others fighting in Allah’s way. So recite as much of it as is easy for you; establish prayer and give Zakah; and lend to Allah a goodly loan. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will find it with Allah, much better in condition and much greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah, for indeed Allah is All-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.} [Surat al-Muzzammil: 20] Consequently, Qiyām al-Layl became optional after being obligatory.
She (may Allah be pleased with her) was disputed over the period between the revelation of the beginning of the verse and the revelation of its end. It is said: After ten years, which is apparently correct view, for the Surah is a Makkan one, and it was one of the first verses of the Qur’an to be revealed, except for the two concluding verses of it, which were revealed in Madīnah.
Then, Sa‘d ibn Hishām asked her about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), the manner of its performance, and the number of its Rak‘ahs. She (may Allah be pleased with her) told him that they used to prepare for him (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) his tooth stick and the water for his ablution, so that he would perform ablution after getting up from sleep. This is because he used to sleep after the ‘Ishā’ prayer and then "Allah would resurrect him". She used the word 'resurrect' because sleep is similar to death. In other words, He would awaken him from sleep. So, he would use the tooth stick, make ablution, and offer nine connected Rak‘ahs without sitting or making Taslīm therein except in the eighth Rak‘ah, after which he would sit for Tashahhud, and "he would remember Allah" i.e., he would say Tashahhud, and praise Allah, ascribing to Him the attributes of perfection that befit Him, and supplicate Him and ask Him for the fulfillment of his needs. Then, he would rise from the eighth Rak‘ah, without making Taslīm thereafter, and offer the ninth Rak‘ah. Then, he would sit for Tashahhud and remember Allah and praise and supplicate Him in his Tashahhud. Then, he would make Taslīm after the ninth Rak‘ah in a way loud enough for them to hear. Then, he would offer two Rak‘ahs while sitting, before dawn. In Hadīths in the Two Sahīh Collections and numerous other well-known Hadīths, it is enjoined to make Witr the last prayer at night. 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 dawn, this was to demonstrate the permissibility of praying after the Witr, and they were not offered on a constant basis. Indeed, what he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did persistently was to observe the Witr.
Then, she (may Allah be pleased with her) informed Sa‘d that these mentioned Rak‘ahs, the nine and the two, amount to a total of eleven Rak‘ahs. She addressed him by "O young son" by way of compassion and gentleness. She also told him that when the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) grew old and put on weight more than he had in most of his life, he would observe Witr with seven Rak‘ahs and would do in the two Rak‘ahs as he had formerly done, i.e., he would offer them after making Taslīm from the seven Rak‘ahs while sitting. These seven Rak‘ahs along with the two Rak‘ahs are nine.
Then, she informed him that when the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered a prayer, he would like to offer it on a persistent basis. And if he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was prevented by sleep or illness from Qiyām al-Layl, he would perform twelve Rak‘ahs during the daytime, in return for the Qiyām al-Layl he missed during the night. This points out that he used to perform it on a regular and persistent basis. The Hadīth does not explicitly indicate that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) missed the Witr; rather, he apparently did not miss it. He missed Qiyām al-Layl only, apart from the Witr. It also apparently indicates that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to observe the Witr by way of precaution if he thought that he would be unable to get up for the supererogatory prayer.
Thereafter, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) informed that she was not aware that the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) recited the whole Qur’an in a night, prayed for a night till the morning, or fasted a whole month other than Ramadan. This all shows the Prophet's approach of facilitation and that he used to perform worship in accordance with his capacity and ability, by way of teaching his Ummah.
Sa‘d ibn Hishām said that he returned to Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) and narrated to him the Hadīth of ‘Ā’ishah. Thereupon, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) "spoke the truth" in what she narrated to you. He also informed him that if he could visit her and talk to her, he would certainly go to her so that she would narrate this Hadīth to him, directly. Sa‘d said to Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him): "If I had known that you would not visit her, I would not have narrated her Hadīth to you." He said that to rebuke him for refraining from visiting her and to recompense him for that by depriving him of the benefit, which would force him to visit her. The abandonment of talk with her was probably because of the dispute that took place between both of them over ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with them), or because of something else.
The Hadīth indicates that it was part of the Prophet's guidance to use the tooth stick upon getting up from sleep.
It points out the merit of ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and her knowledge of the Prophet's conditions.
It includes doing justice and acknowledging the merit of those who are meritorious, as well as modesty.
A Muslim may be honored by mentioning the merits of his father and invoking Allah's mercy upon him.
A person should be gentle with himself and engage in worship moderately and refrain from deep engrossment in it.
The Hadīth shows the Prophet's care about the Witr prayer.
When a knowledgeable person is asked about something and he knows that someone else has more knowledge about it, he is recommended to direct the questioner to him, for indeed religion is sincere advice..

746

‘Ā’ishah reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did some act, he would do it persistently, and when he slept at night or fell sick, he would offer twelve Rak‘ahs during the daytime. She said: I did not see the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pray a whole night till the morning, nor did he observe fast for a whole month consecutively except that of Ramadan..

Commentary : The Mother of the Believers ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) used to observe the Prophet's conditions day and night, as an observer and questioner. So, she became well aware of his guidance and Sunnah and taught it to those who came after her and those who asked her about his conditions (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
In this Hadīth, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) informs that when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) "did some act, he would do it persistently" i.e., he would perfect it and do it regularly. "and when he slept at night or fell sick", and there was a reason preventing him from performing Qiyām al-Layl, "he would offer twelve Rak‘ahs during the daytime", i.e., he would make up for Qiyām al-Layl during the daytime, in return for the prayer he missed during the night. This points out that he used to perform it on a regular and persistent basis. She did not mention the Witr because he did not make up for it; it seems that he did not miss it. Perhaps if something arose and would prompt him to miss Qiyām al-Layl, he would hasten to observe Witr, performing it at the earlier part of the night, and delay the other prayer and make up for it during the daytime.
Then, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) informed that it was not part of the Prophet's guidance to perform Qiyām al-Layl for the whole night; rather, he would sleep for part of the night and pray for some part of it; and that he did not fast a whole month other than the month of Ramadan, and this is because it is the month of obligatory fasting. Mentioning it is intended to negate other months, meaning that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would not fast a whole month on a voluntary basis; rather, he used to fast some days every month of the year and would not fast a whole month except for Ramadan; lest such a fast might be thought to be obligatory. This all shows the Prophet's approach of facilitation and that he used to perform worship in accordance with his capacity and ability, by way of teaching his Ummah.
The Hadīth indicates that one may make up for Qiyām al-Layl during the daytime.
It also mentions that Qiyām al-Layl performed during the daytime is Shaf‘ (even-numbered)..

747

‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever sleeps and fails to recite his hizb (usual portion of the Qur'an, dhikr, or prayer), or part of it, and then recites it between the Fajr prayer and the Zhuhr prayer, it will be recorded for him as if he recited it during the night.".

Commentary : Out of Allah's grace towards His believing servants, He prescribed for them dispensations with which they can make up for the missed acts of worship - obligatory and voluntary.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) points out that "Whoever sleeps and fails to recite his hizb or part of it" at night, as established in another version narrated by An-Nasā’i: "Whoever sleeps and fails to recite his hizb at night" i.e., he is overcome by sleep or gets prevented from it by a valid reason, yet he had the intention to do it. Hizb: The portion to which a person commits himself as a habit that he engages in voluntarily, like recitation of the Qur'an, dhikr, and prayer. Allah, out of His grace, gives him plenty of time. So, if he "recites it between the Fajr prayer and the Zhuhr prayer" i.e., he makes up for it during this time, because this is a good length of time during which a person can compensate for what he has missed in the night. Also, this is probably intended to encourage him to do it, for this is a time connected to the latter part of the night without separation between them save for the Fajr prayer. As recompense, the full reward will be added to his record of deeds as if he has done it at its usual time. Here is a slight manifestation of Allah's gentleness towards His servant, who perpetuates a certain condition of goodness. If anything arises from him that changes this condition, Allah bestows His favor upon him and does not detract from his reward, as if he has done it by virtue of his good and sincere intention.
In the Hadīth: Urging people to make up for the missed supererogatory worship, lest they may get used to abandoning any of the act of worship altogether if they miss it
And in it: The legitimacy of adopting a regular portion of worship at night
And in it: The legitimacy of making up for the regular portion of worship at night if it is missed due to sleep or some other excuse.

748

Al-Qāsim ash-Shaybāni related that Zayd ibn Arqam reported that he saw some people pray in the forenoon and he said: "They definitely knew that praying at other than this hour is better, for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: The prayer of the oft-returning to Allah is when weaned camels are bitten by excessive heat.'".

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and the Tābi‘is (may Allah have mercy upon them) were the keenest among people seeking the Prophet's guidance. This was for them to learn his guidance and Sunnah and then teach it to those who came after them and to those who asked them about the Prophet's circumstances concerning his prayer, Qiyām al-Layl, voluntary worship, and so on.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Al-Qāsim ibn ‘Awf ash-Shaybāni relates that the Companion Zayd ibn Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) saw some people praying in the forenoon. - And in a version by Ahmad: "He saw some people praying in the Qubā’ Mosque in the forenoon" [Duha prayer] - and they were praying it at the time of sunrise, as related in another version by Ahmad. So, Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "They definitely knew that praying at an hour other than this one is better." In other words, their performance of the Duha prayer at this time is not preferred, for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The prayer of the oft-returning to Allah," i.e., those who obey Allah, glorify Him, and often turn to Him in repentance and sincerity in worship. Their prayer "is when weaned camels are bitten by excessive heat" i.e., when the hooves of weaned camels burn due to the extreme heat of sand caused by exposure to the sun. Weaned camels are young camels, and he singled them out because their hooves burn before the end of extreme heat, given the tenderness of the skin of their hooves. They separate from their mothers at the beginning of extreme heat, and they let them go. This happens at the latter time. So, prayer at this time is better, for people's souls are inclined to rest and comfort during this time, and this is one of the prayers whose performance is recommended to be delayed.
In the Hadīth: The merit of performing the Duha prayer at the latter time.
And in it: Indicating to seize the opportunity to perform worship and engage in acts of obedience to Allah during the times of comfort, calm, and rest..

753

Abu Mijlaz reported: I asked Ibn ‘Abbās about Witr, and he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "One Rak‘ah at the end of the night.".

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and the Tābi‘is (may Allah have mercy upon them) were the keenest among people on seeking the Prophet's guidance. This was for them to learn his guidance and Sunnah and then teach it to those who came after them and to those who asked them about the Prophet's circumstances concerning his prayer, Qiyām al-Layl, voluntary worship, and so on.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Abu Mijlaz Lāhiq ibn Humayd informs that he asked Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) about the Witr prayer, the number of its Rak‘ahs, and the best time for performing it. In response to him, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "One Rak‘ah at the end of the night", i.e., its minimum is one Rak‘ah at the end of the night. This one Rak‘ah which a person offers at the end turns all the prayers he has performed during the night into Witr (odd-numbered), after they were Shaf‘ (even-numbered). The last part of the night is the last time to pray Witr, which is shortly before dawn. It is related in another version by Muslim: "Indeed, prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels)"; as the angels of mercy witness it. This prayer occurs at the time of Sahar (shortly before dawn), when Allah descends to the worldly heaven in a way that befits His majesty; and that is better.
There are various forms and ways of the Prophet's performance of Witr, as well as the number of its Rak‘ahs. Based on all of them, it becomes apparent that Witr can be one, three, five, seven, nine, or eleven Rak‘ahs.
The Hadīth mentions that the minimum of Witr is one Rak‘ah.
It indicates that the last time for praying Witr is the latter part of the night.
It also demonstrates the facilitation with regard to this prayer, as it is sufficient to observe it as one Rak‘ah..

754

Abu Sa‘īd reported: They asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about the Witr (odd) prayer, and he said: "Perform the Witr prayer before the morning.".

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were the most keen among people to seek the Prophet's guidance and observe his circumstances, by watching and asking, so as to learn his guidance and Sunnah, including his prayer, Qiyām al-Layl, voluntary worship, and so on. And the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach them the obligatory and supererogatory prayers and their etiquettes and the best times for performing them. Also, he would guide them to the highest level of worship and the minimum amount of what is sufficient in it.
In this Hadīth, Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said that some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about the Witr prayer and its time, so he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Perform the Witr prayer before the morning." In other words, perform the Witr prayer before the coming of the time of the obligatory prayer of the morning. Morning here refers to the true dawn. This indicates that the Witr prayer is to be performed at the end of the night prayer, and its time extends until the rise of dawn. When the dawn rises, no Witr can be performed, even between the Adhān and iqāmah of the Fajr prayer.
In the Hadīth: The time for the Witr prayer ends before the Fajr prayer.
And in it: Indication that delaying the Witr prayer is better..

755

Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If anyone fears that he will not wake up at the end of the night, let him offer the Witr prayer at its beginning, and if anyone expects to wake up at its end, let him offer the Witr prayer at the end of the night. Indeed, prayer at the end of the night is witnessed, and that is better." Abu Mu‘āwiyah said: "In a version: attended.".

Commentary : In this Hadīth, Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reports: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If anyone fears that he will not wake up at the end of the night, let him offer the Witr prayer at its beginning," i.e., whoever fears that he may not wake up at the latter part of the night to perform the Witr prayer should perform it before he sleeps." And if anyone expects to wake up at its end, let him offer the Witr prayer at the end of the night," i.e., whoever knows from his condition that he will be able to get up at the latter part of the night should perform the Witr at the end of the night. "Indeed, prayer at the end of the night is witnessed," i.e., prayer at the end of the night is witnessed by the angels of mercy, as this prayer is offered at the latter part of the night before dawn at the time when Allah descends in a way that befits His majesty and that is better," i.e., the time at the end of the night is better for him than its beginning. Abu Mu‘āwiyah - one of the narrators - said: 'attended' i.e., attended by the angels of the night and the day.
In the Hadīth: The preferability of Witr at the end of the night
And in it: Some times are more meritorious than others.
And in it: Prayer at the end of the night is attended and witnessed by the angels of mercy.

756

Jābir reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best prayer is the prolonged qunūt (standing in prayer).".

Commentary : Prayer is the mainstay of religion, and it is the main pillar of Islam that every Muslim must fulfill without any excuse. The Prophet's comfort was provided through prayer. Therefore, he used to perform a lot of supererogatory prayers, to the extent that he would offer Qiyām al-Layl until his feet would swell due to his prolonged standing before Allah Almighty, reciting, supplicating, showing humility, and imploring Allah.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs us that the best thing regarding prayer, in general, is the long qunūt, which refers to the prolonged standing in prayer for recitation. It is explicitly mentioned in a Hadīth narrated by Abu Dāwūd, in which ‘Abdullāh ibn Habashi al-Khath‘ami (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked: "Which deed is the best?" He said: "The prolonged standing." Qunūt may also refer to supplication, humility, and subservience before Allah Almighty. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to do that, especially during supererogatory prayers and Qiyām al-Layl. He would pause at every verse and would not go past any verse containing a supplication without supplication with it, or a punishment without seeking the refuge of Allah Almighty from it, and so on.
An obligatory prayer - even if it does not include prolonged standing, recitation, and supplication - is better than a supererogatory prayer that contains such prolongation. This is because Allah Almighty ordained the obligatory prayer and fixed a certain time and a number of Rak‘ahs for it, and He punishes those who abandon it. It is also because it was commanded that the obligatory prayer be offered in congregation and in a brief manner, in consideration of those who are sick, those who are in need, and so on. As for the supererogatory and voluntary prayer, a person can prolong it as much as he is able to. Thus, every prayer retains its advantage and merit.
In the Hadīth: The merit of prolonged qunūt and standing for recitation in prayer, along with humility and supplication.

757

Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "There is an hour at night during which no Muslim man happens to be asking Allah for the goodness of this world or the Hereafter except that He will give it to him, and this occurs every night.".

Commentary : There are times in the night during which people's souls become peaceful, worship becomes more pleasant, and supplications are answered. Allah Almighty distinguished these times by bestowing greater bounty upon His servants during them and giving abundant goodness to those who ask for it.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says that "there is an hour at night", which is a specific time. The use of the indefinite article before it denotes its significance, that it should be looked out for, and that the opportunity should be seized to catch it. It is an obscure hour like the hour on Friday. It was said: It is most likely to occur at the last third of the night, in which Allah Almighty descends to the heaven of the world, in a way that befits His majesty and does not resemble the descent of the created beings, and says, as narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections: "Who supplicates to Me so that I may respond to him?" And it was said: The wisdom behind concealing it is to urge people to strive exceedingly to fulfill the objective all night long, not to limit the worship to a certain time to the exclusion of others, and not to lose hope for missing the advantage.
During this hour, no Muslim man happens to be - and the word 'man' includes males and females - supplicating to Allah and asking for the goodness of this world and the Hereafter except that He will respond to him and grant his request. Goodness refers to all that is beneficial, on a prompt or delayed basis and in terms of religious or worldly affairs, and for which a person will not be blamed in the Hereafter.
The existence of this hour is constant every night, all the time. This does not particularly apply to some nights. Rather, it exists in all of them—out of Allah's great bounty and abundant giving.
In the Hadīth: Urging supplication during the night, the pursuit of this hour therein, and working diligently in it.
And in it: Establishing the existence of the hour of answered supplications every night..

759

Abu Hurayrah reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to encourage the performance of Qiyām in Ramadan, without vehemently enjoining them to do so. He would say: "Whoever performs Qiyām during Ramadan, out of faith and in pursuit of reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven." The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) passed away while this was the case, and then it remained like that during the caliphate of Abu Bakr and the earlier part of the caliphate of ‘Umar..

Commentary : Ramadan is the best month, and performing Qiyām during its nights is a sublime act. So, whoever performs Qiyām during the entire Ramadan and stays awake in its nights for worship, out of desire for reward from Allah Almighty, without regarding it as burdensome or boring, will have his sins forgiven.
In this Hadīth, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to urge his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to perform Qiyām during the nights of Ramadan. Yet, he did not enjoin them to do so by way of obliging, and he did not impose it upon them. Vehemently: denotes resolve to make something happen. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to say: "Whoever performs Qiyām during Ramadan, out of faith and in pursuit of reward from Allah" i.e., out of belief in the merit of these nights and the virtue of the good deeds performed therein, and in pursuit of Allah's pleasure and out of desire for being rewarded by Him, Exalted be He. Whoever does that, it is hoped that Allah will forgive his past sins. The recompense is expressed in the past tense in Arabic, even though the forgiveness will happen in the future, to denote certainty and assurance about its occurrence, as a favor from Allah Almighty upon His servants. Thus, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged his Ummah to do good and righteous deeds, which lead to the expiation of sins and the increase of their rewards.
Then, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) passed away "while this was the case" i.e., the people refrained from praying behind one Imām in the Tarāwīh prayer. Rather, they would pray individually and separately; some would pray in the early part of the night, while others would pray in the latter part; and some would pray at home, while others would pray in the mosque, either because they were observing i‘tikāf (retirement in the mosque) or they belonged to the people of As-Suffah, or due to some other reason. This continued to be the case throughout the caliphate of Abu Bakr and during the early phase of the caliphate of ‘Umar. Then, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) gathered them behind one Imām and appointed ’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) as their Imām, and he led them in congregational prayer. It continued to be performed congregationally.
‘Umar's action follows the Prophet's action when he led people in this prayer once; yet he did not repeat that for fear that it might be made obligatory for them. Then, when this reason ceased to exist with the death of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and the revelation stopped, ‘Umar held that it was more appropriate for them to offer it in a congregation as they had done during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
This falls under the legitimate Ijtihād (independent reasoning), for it has a basis in the religion upon which it relies and from which it stems. As for the illegitimate Bid‘ah (religious innovation), it has no basis in the religion or proof upon which it relies.
The Hadīth urges the performance of Qiyām during Ramadan and demonstrates its merit.
It shows the good understanding and judgment of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding the religious interests of Muslims, as he also displayed good judgment regarding their worldly interests..

762

Zirr ibn Hubaysh reported: I asked ’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b, saying: "Your brother ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd says: 'Whoever performs Qiyām all the year long will reach Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree).' He said: "May Allah have mercy upon him. He wanted the people not to be passively reliant. Indeed, he knew that it occurs in Ramadan, that it occurs in the last ten days, and that it is the twenty-seventh night." Then, he swore - without exception - that it is the twenty-seventh night. I said: "Based on what do you say that, O Abu al-Mundhir?" He said: "On the sign - or the mark - which the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed us about that it (the sun) rises on that day with no rays.".

Commentary : Laylat al-Qadr occupies great status and significance. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) held it in high regard and commanded us to seek it and perform Qiyām al-Layl therein out of faith and in pursuit of reward from Allah. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) determined that it occurs on the odd-numbered nights within the last ten days of Ramadan and mentioned certain signs that point to it.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Zirr ibn Hubaysh relates that he asked ’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) about the statement by ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) to the effect that whoever performs Qiyām all year long will certainly reach Laylat al-Qadr on one of its nights. He did not specify this night for them. It is understood from this statement that he thought it to be an obscure night that moves throughout the year and is not limited to Ramadan.
When 'Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) heard that, he supplicated so that Allah shows mercy to Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him), and that was the supplication of someone who knew the intent of the statement made by Ibn Mas‘ūd, and by way of presenting an excuse for him. Then, he explained that Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him), by his statement, intended to deter people from abandoning Qiyām al-Layl and instead waiting for Laylat al-Qadr; so, they would perform Qiyām al-Layl only on this night or neglect to perform Qiyām on the other nights of the year; and thus the wisdom behind obscurity, for which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was made to forget it, would be missed. So, he wanted to prompt the people to diligently seek this night by performing Qiyām al-Layl a lot.
Then, 'Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) was aware that it occurs in Ramadan, that it occurs within the last ten days, and that it is the twenty-seventh night. Then, ’Ubayy (may Allah be pleased with him) took a solemn oath, without saying thereafter: if Allah wills, "that it is the twenty-seventh night". ’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) assured that Laylat al-Qadr is the twenty-seventh night of Ramadan and swore emphatically about that.
Thereupon, Zirr ibn Hubaysh: What is your proof for that, O Abu al-Mundhir? This is the surname of ’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him). ’Ubayy (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: The sign - or the mark - which the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed us about, namely that the sun rises in the next morning of this night with no rays. Rather, it is pure and no extended rays are seen for it. So, its light spreads without rays, as the moon gives light without rays. The rays of the sun are what you see in sunlight that resembles ropes and rods coming towards you, when you look at it.
There is a difference of opinion over specifying Laylat al-Qadr. According to the opinion more likely to be correct, it occurs on the odd-numbered nights during the last ten days, as demonstrated by the pure Sunnah. Out of His wisdom, Allah Almighty kept it hidden from the people so that they diligently seek it within these nights, and engage in a lot of worship that brings them benefit.
The Hadīth points out that some of the Companions would adopt the approach of resolve to reach their objectives.
It informs that one of the signs of Laylat al-Qadr is that the sun rises in the next morning of this night with no rays..

763

Ibn ‘Abbās reported: I spent one night in the house of my maternal aunt Maymūnah bint al-Hārith. I said to her: "Awaken me when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stands up." The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood up, and I stood on his left side. He took hold of my hand and made me stand on his right side, and whenever I dozed off, he would take hold of my earlobe. He said: He offered eleven Rak‘ahs. Then, he sat with his legs drawn and wrapped in his garment and slept so that I could hear his breathing while asleep. And when the dawn became apparent to him, he offered two short Rak‘ahs..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to know the Prophet's worship in detail and used to ask about the acts of worship the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would perform at home which they could not see. Some of them would seek to learn about that by virtue of their bond and kinship with the noble Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him); one of those was ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās, the cousin of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and the nephew of his wife Maymūnah (may Allah be pleased with them).
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that he spent one night in the house of his maternal aunt, the Mother of the Believers Maymūnah bint al-Hārith (may Allah be pleased with her). This night was her turn with the noble Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He said to his maternal aunt (may Allah be pleased with her): "Awaken me when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stands up" for prayer at night; out of his keenness to follow the Prophet's condition in Qiyām al-Layl. After a part of the night had passed, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood up for prayer. Thereupon, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and performed ablution like that of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), as related in the Two Sahīh Collections. Then, he stood on the left side of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) took hold of his hands from behind his back and made him stand on his right side. This demonstrates how the Imām and the one led in prayer should stand in a congregational prayer offered by two persons. Whenever Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) dozed off during the prayer, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would rub his earlobe to alert and awaken him in the prayer.
Then, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered eleven Rak‘ahs that night, two Rak‘ahs at a time, and then observed the Witr. "Then, he sat with his legs drawn and wrapped in his garment." This is when a person sits on his buttocks and keeps his legs upright and drags his legs towards his abdomen with a garment and gathers them with his back, and he pulls the garment over it while in this state, or he pulls it over his legs with his hand. His words "so that I could hear his breathing while asleep" mean that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sat for a little while in that state and then lay down, according to the versions in the Two Sahīh Collections, till Ibn ‘Abbās could hear the sound of the Prophet's breathing, which indicates deep sleep. When the time of dawn came, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood up and offered two short Rak‘ahs as the Sunnah of the Fajr prayer, without performing ablution, for the Prophet's eyes sleep but his heart does not; hence, his ablution was not invalidated, given the attentiveness of his heart. Then, he went out to the mosque and led the people in prayer, as related in the Two Sahīh Collections.
This version narrated by Muslim is the version of Ad-Dahhāk ibn ‘Uthmān, and it contradicts the version by most prolific Hadīth narrators. He said: "Then, he offered eleven Rak‘ahs." And it is reported in the version by most Hadīth narrators that he offered thirteen Rak‘ahs, and their version is the memorized one, for he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would first offer two short Rak‘ahs, then two long Rak‘ahs, then six Rak‘ahs, and then three Rak‘ahs thereafter. These amount to a total of thirteen Rak‘ahs.
The Hadīth indicates the permissibility of alerting a heedless person during the prayer by pulling his ear and the like.
It also indicates that a supererogatory prayer may be offered in the congregation.
The Hadīth points out that a boy may pass the night in the house of one of his mahrams (non-marriageable female relatives) in the presence of her husband..

763

Ibn ‘Abbās reported: that he spent a night in the house of his maternal aunt Maymūnah. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up at night and performed a short ablution from a water-skin hanging there. He said: He described his ablution. He kept it short and quick. Ibn ‘Abbās said: I got up and did the same as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had done. Then, I came and stood on his left side. He made me go around and stand on his right side. He offered prayer and then went to sleep till he began to snore. Thereafter, Bilāl came to him and notified him of the prayer. He went out and performed the Fajr prayer without performing ablution. Sufyān said: This is for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in particular, as it has been conveyed to us that the eyes of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sleep, but his heart does not sleep..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to know the Prophet's worship in detail and used to ask about the acts of worship the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would perform at home and they could not see. Some of them would seek to learn about that by virtue of their bond and kinship with the noble Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him); one of them was ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās, the cousin of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and the nephew of his wife Maymūnah (may Allah be pleased with them).
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that he spent one night in the house of his maternal aunt Maymūnah, the wife of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). This was her night in which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would stay with her. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up after he had slept a part of the night. He performed ablution from a leather container that had water in it. The Prophet's ablution this time was a short one.
The words "He described his ablution. He kept it short and quick" were said by Sufyān ibn ‘Uyaynah, as narrated in Sahīh Al-Bukhāri Collection. He informs that his Shaykh ‘Amr ibn Dinār described the Prophet's ablution as short and quick. The meaning: By keeping it short, he refers to the complete washing of the body parts (without washing them more than once), which is the minimum valid ablution for prayer. In the Two Sahīh Collections: "Then, he performed a good ablution between the two ablutions" i.e., the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) performed ablution between the short ablution and the complete one. It is more likely that he reduced the use of water while doing the washing three times. This is because he described it as good, and thus it would not be less than three times.
‘Abdullāh got up and did the same as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had done, performing a short ablution and getting prepared for prayer. Then, he came and joined the prayer with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and stood on his left side. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) held him by the hand from behind his back and made him stand on his right side in prayer. This demonstrates and affirms how the Imām and the one being led in prayer should stand in a congregational prayer offered by two persons, even if it is supererogatory.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prayed as much as Allah willed him to pray. It is narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered thirteen Rak‘ahs. "then he went to sleep till he began to snore" i.e., he plunged into sleep till the sound of his breathing could be heard, which indicates deep sleep. Thereafter, Bilāl ibn Rabāh (may Allah be pleased with him) - the Prophet's Muezzin - came and notified him that the time of Fajr was due. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up from sleep and went out for the Fajr prayer and performed it without renewing his ablution.
Clarifying the reason for this act by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), Sufyān said: "This is for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in particular, as it has been conveyed to us that the eyes of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sleep, but his heart does not sleep" i.e., this is a merit for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) which none among his Ummah shares with him: that his ablution does not get invalidated when he sleeps, for his heart does not sleep.
The Hadīth mentions some of the Prophet's peculiar characteristics.
It indicates that a boy may pass the night in the house of one of his Mahrams (female relatives who he is not allowed to marry) in the presence of her husband.
It also mentions that the Muezzin may come to the Imām so that he may go out for the prayer.
The Hadīth points out a supererogatory prayer may be offered in the congregation..

Book of Hadith

| Hadiths

Narrated ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Rufay’: I went to Minaa on the Day of Tarwiyah, so I met Anas ibn Maalik (ra) mounting his donkey. I asked him about the place where the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed Thuhr on this day. He said, look where your rulers pray and pray there for it is better..

Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (ra): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered a two-units prayer at Minaa. Abu Bakr, `Umar, and `Uthmaan (ras), (during the early years of his caliphate) followed the same practice..

Narrated Haaritha ibn Wahb al-Khuzaa’ee (ra): The Prophet (ﷺ) led us in a two-units prayer at Minaa, although our number was more than ever and we were in better security than ever..

Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (ra): I offered two units’ prayer with the Prophet ﷺ (at Minaa), and similarly with Aboo Bakr and with `Umar (ras), and then you differed in opinions. I wish that I would be lucky enough to have two of the four units accepted (by Allah)..

Narrated Ibn' Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ made Al-Fadl ride behind him, and Al-Fadl informed that he ﷺ kept on reciting Talbiyah till he did the rite of throwing of the pebbles.
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Narrated al-Maysoor ibn Makhramah and Marwaan: The Prophet ﷺ set out from Al-Madeenah with over one thousand of his Companions (at the time of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah) and when they reached Thoo al-Hulayfah, the Prophet ﷺ garlanded his Hady and marked it and assumed Ihraam for `Umrah.
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‘Ā’ishah reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray at night until his last prayer would be the Witr..

Abu Mijlaz reported: I asked Ibn ‘Abbās about Witr, and he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "One Rak‘ah at the end of the night.".

Abu Sa‘īd reported: They asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about the Witr (odd) prayer, and he said: "Perform the Witr prayer before the morning.".

Jābir reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best prayer is the prolonged qunūt (standing in prayer).".

Book of Hadith

| Hadiths

Narrated ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Rufay’: I went to Minaa on the Day of Tarwiyah, so I met Anas ibn Maalik (ra) mounting his donkey. I asked him about the place where the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed Thuhr on this day. He said, look where your rulers pray and pray there for it is better..

Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (ra): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered a two-units prayer at Minaa. Abu Bakr, `Umar, and `Uthmaan (ras), (during the early years of his caliphate) followed the same practice..

Narrated Haaritha ibn Wahb al-Khuzaa’ee (ra): The Prophet (ﷺ) led us in a two-units prayer at Minaa, although our number was more than ever and we were in better security than ever..

Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (ra): I offered two units’ prayer with the Prophet ﷺ (at Minaa), and similarly with Aboo Bakr and with `Umar (ras), and then you differed in opinions. I wish that I would be lucky enough to have two of the four units accepted (by Allah)..

Narrated Ibn' Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ made Al-Fadl ride behind him, and Al-Fadl informed that he ﷺ kept on reciting Talbiyah till he did the rite of throwing of the pebbles. .

Narrated al-Maysoor ibn Makhramah and Marwaan: The Prophet ﷺ set out from Al-Madeenah with over one thousand of his Companions (at the time of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah) and when they reached Thoo al-Hulayfah, the Prophet ﷺ garlanded his Hady and marked it and assumed Ihraam for `Umrah. .

‘Ā’ishah reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray at night until his last prayer would be the Witr..

Abu Mijlaz reported: I asked Ibn ‘Abbās about Witr, and he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "One Rak‘ah at the end of the night.".

Abu Sa‘īd reported: They asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about the Witr (odd) prayer, and he said: "Perform the Witr prayer before the morning.".

Jābir reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best prayer is the prolonged qunūt (standing in prayer).".

Narrated Ibn' Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ made Al-Fadl ride behind him, and Al-Fadl informed that he ﷺ kept on reciting Talbiyah till he did the rite of throwing of the pebbles.
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Narrated al-Maysoor ibn Makhramah and Marwaan: The Prophet ﷺ set out from Al-Madeenah with over one thousand of his Companions (at the time of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah) and when they reached Thoo al-Hulayfah, the Prophet ﷺ garlanded his Hady and marked it and assumed Ihraam for `Umrah.
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