| 2 Hadiths


Hadith
2069
Qataadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) delivered to the Prophet ﷺ barley bread with some rancid fat on it. The Prophet ﷺ had had pawned his armor with a Jew in Al-Madeenah for some barley for his family. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) heard him saying, "The household of Muhammad did not possess even a single Saa‘ of wheat or food grains for the evening meal,” although he ﷺ has nine wives to look after..

Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ led one of the most ascetic lives, and he ﷺ was content with his little share of Rizq (i.e., provision), and generously spent all the spoils of war conferred upon him by Allah, Exalted is He, on the poor and needy and in the Cause of Allah.
In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that the Prophet ﷺ was once invited over by a Jew - as recorded in Musnad Ahmad – for a meal of barley bread with some rancid fat on it. He ﷺ accepted his invitation and graciously ate that food.
He ﷺ once bought some barley from a Jew for a deferred price, and pawned him his armor that he ﷺ used as protection in war in return for that, because there was no food left in his house. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) heard the Prophet ﷺ say: "The household of Muhammad did not possess even a single Saa‘ of wheat or food grains for the evening meal." It means, ‘There had no wheat or barley left in their houses.’ It is noteworthy that he ﷺ did not say those words out of resentment, nor was he complaining, Allah forbid. Rather, he ﷺ said so as a justification for accepting the invitation over such humble food, and for pawning his armor with the Jew.
Then Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “He ﷺ had nine wives (to look after),” meaning: while he ﷺ had nine wives, who were in dire need of food, and this clarifies the reason for his purchase of barley on credit and pawning his armor.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is permissible to sell and buy food or other commodities on credit.
It is also inferred therefrom that a noble and knowledgeable man should buy his own needs, even if he has someone else to shoulder this task, because all the believers were keen on fulfilling the Prophet’s needs, seeking to win his pleasure and earn rewards for their Hereafter (yet he ﷺ undertook such tasks himself).
It is also deduced from it the permissibility of accepting an invitation for small (and humble) food.
The permissibility of engaging in sales transactions and pawning items of wealth with the People of the Book (i.e., the Christians and Jews) is also deduced from the hadeeth..

2070
‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
When Aboo Bakr Al-Siddeeq (may Allah be pleased with him) was chosen as the Caliph, he said, "My people know that my earnings from trade were adequate to provide for my family, and as I will be busy serving the Muslim nation; my family will eat from the Public Treasury, and I will practice the profession of serving Muslims (and governing their affairs).".

Commentary :
Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was the first rightly guided Caliph, the Minister of the Prophet ﷺ, and his Companion during the migration to Al-Madeenah. He (may Allah be pleased with him) was the first free man to embrace Islam and was endowed with the biggest share of faith and ascetism among all the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). He (may Allah be pleased with him) was one of the most beloved people to the Prophet ﷺ and was nicknamed ‘Al-Siddeeq’ because he strongly believed in the Prophet ﷺ.
In this hadeeth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) stated that when Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was chosen as the Caliph after the Prophet’s ﷺdeath, in 11 A.H., he (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Muslims knew that his earnings from trade before he became the Caliph, were adequate to provide for his family from his personal wealth.But after becoming Caliph and being preoccupied with serving Muslims and governing their affairs, he had no time to practice trade as a profession to provide for himself and his dependents (i.e., those for whom he was obliged to provide for as per the laws of Islam). He (may Allah be pleased with him) informed people that he would take an allowance from the Public Treasury to provide for his family and dependents, because he would be busy governing people’s affairs and he still needed to provide for himself and his family. He (may Allah be pleased with him) informed them that he would put his expertise (as a skilled trader) and profession to use in the service of Muslims, in return for which he would be given that allowance. He (may Allah be pleased with him) willingly committed himself to putting his expertise as a skillful trader to use in the service of Muslims by trading with the public funds to compensate Muslims for the allowance that was allocated for him, or more, to be paid from the generated profits. He (may Allah be pleased with him) voluntarily committed himself to do so and it was not one of his duties as the Caliph.
Ibn Sa‘d narrated in Al-Tabaqaat on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: “When Aboo Bakr fell  terminally ill, he said on his deathbed, ‘Take stock of my personal fortune that I have acquired since becoming the Caliph, and hand it over to the new Caliph.” ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) added: “When he (may Allah be pleased with him) died, we did as he commanded and took stock of a servant who used to carry his boys and a camel used to water his garden. We handed these assets over to ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in pursuance of Aboo Bakr’s will. On seeing that, ‘Umar, the new Caliph wept and said, ‘O Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), you have made the task of your successor most difficult.’"
The hadeeth highlights the virtues and merits of Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), indicating his asceticism and matchless mindfulness of Allah.
It also underlines the virtue of working and earning a living to meet one’s needs and those of his dependents.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is allowable to defend oneself against doubts and fend off (potential) accusations, even if they are false.
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2076
Narrated Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him):
Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "May Allah's mercy be on him who is lenient in his buying, selling, and in demanding back his money.".

Commentary :
The wise Laws of Islam is keen to foster good relations between Muslims in their interactions and transactions, reflecting the enjoined solidarity, interdependence, love, and cooperation.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ supplicated Allah, Exalted is He, to confer His mercy on those who display leniency, which denotes facilitation, (making) concession, overlooking, kindness, and lack of rigidity, in three contexts or situations. First, a seller should be lenient and should not be adamant at his price, but should rather be willing to give up some of his rights. Second, a buyer should be lenient and not undervalue the commodity and insist on buying it for a low price. Third, a creditor should be lenient when claiming his money. He should not make it difficult for poor debtors, but should rather gently and leniently claim his money and give respite to insolvent debtors (until they become able to repay).
The hadeeth urges Muslims to opt for forgiveness, good treatment, embodying noble morals, and avoiding dissention in financial transactions.
It also promotes relieving people of hardship when claiming one’s money and pardoning them (i.e., remitting their debts by way of charity).
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2079
Hakeem ibn Hizaam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "Both parties in a business transaction have a right to rescind it so long as they have not separated; and if they tell the truth and make everything clear to each other (i.e., a seller speaks the truth with regard to the defects of the purchased commodity, if any, and a buyer speaks the truth with regard to the money) they will be blessed in their transaction, but if they conceal anything and lie, the blessing on their transaction will be eliminated. ".

Commentary :
Since people tend to engage in sales transactions without deliberate thinking, and a seller or buyer may regret missing out on some of his goals, the wise Shareer‘ah granted both parties a period in which they could rescind the contract (and undo their transaction).
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ made mention of such a period when he said: “Both parties in a business transaction have a right to rescind it so long as they have not separated.” This means that both the buyer and the seller are given an inalienable right to repudiate the transaction or contract as long as they have not separated, meaning to physically leave the meeting place where they concluded the contract. The Prophet ﷺ underlined that if both parties tell the truth and make everything clear to each other, regarding the price, the description of the purchased commodity, and the like, and clarify any defect, they will be blessed in their transaction. This means that they would obtain greater benefits from such transactions and prices, and both parties would get to recieve the blessing of Allah; a seller would obtain such blessing in the price and the buyer in the purchased commodity. However, if they conceal anything and lie, their transaction will be void of blessings. An example of such concealment is when a seller conceals the defects of the commodity, and the buyer conceals the defect of the price and they lie to one another, regarding the description of the commodity on the part of the seller, and the payment of the price on the part of the buyer.Or the buyer claims to agree on buying the commodity for less than the agreed-upon price and deceives the seller until the time of concluding the sale should come. A buyer may also lie to the seller regarding the reason of the purchase to lower its price, contrary to the truth. Thus, both parties would conceal something from the other and each would be cheating the other from what he owed in the exchange. A common example of the buyer’s lies is when he tries to lower the price of a piece of land by claiming to buy it to build a mosque on it, and after concluding the sale, he would build himself a house instead, and had originally lied merely to lower the price. The Prophet ﷺ underlined that the blessing of such business transactions would be eliminated, meaning it would be devoid of increase and growth due to their mutual lying and deceit.
The hadeeth evidences the Khiyaar Al-Majlis (i.e., an option whereby the parties have right to unilaterally withdraw from a contract as long as the parties do not leave the session of contract) for both the buyer and seller, to repudiate or retain the concluded sale.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that the designated period for availing of this option (Khiyaar Al-Majlis) is after concluding the sale and until the two parties leave the contracting session.
It is also inferred therefrom that a sale becomes binding once the two contracting parties physically leave the contracting session.
The hadeeth also highlights the obligation of adhering to honesty and truthfulness in sales transactions.
 It is also deduced therefrom that (blessed) worldly gains can only be attained by good-doing, and that the ominousness of sins and acts of disobedience causes one to miss out on what is good in this worldly life and the Hereafter.
The hadeeth also underlines the virtue of truthfulness, and urges Muslims to adhere to it, and highlights that it is a reason for having one’s earnings blessed.
The hadeeth dispraises lying, urges Muslims to abandon it, and underlines that it is a reason for having one’s earnings deprived of blessing.
It also highlights that the performance of good deeds to attain reward in the Hereafter ensures attainment of what is good in this worldly life and the Hereafter as well.
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2080
Aboo Sa’eed(may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
We used to be given mixed dates (from the spoils of war) and used to sell (barter) two Saa‘s of those mixed dates for one Saa‘ (of good-quality dates). The Prophet ﷺ said (to us), "No (bartering of) two Saa‘s for one Saa‘ nor two Dirhams for one Dirham is permissible", (as it involves Ribaa). .

Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, has permitted selling, but deemed Ribaa (i.e., interest, usury) forbidden. In fact, the consumption of Ribaa is one of the major sins and destructive evil deeds and it was deemed forbidden in all the previous divine laws, given the evils and social and economic damages it incurs.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree(may Allah be pleased with him) stated that they were given mixed dates (from the spoils of war), which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to distribute to Muslims. Such dates were a mixture of various types of date fruits (of different qualities). They used to sell every two Saa‘s (the Saa‘ was a dry measure used for agricultural produce by the Arabs during the Prophet's ﷺlifetime) of such mixed dates, which were of poor quality, for one Saa‘ of good-quality dates. The Saa’ equaled four Mudds, and the Mudd equaled the measure of two open medium-sized handfuls. The Mudd approximately equals (509) grams in the lowest estimate, and (1072) grams in the highest estimate. The Saa’, on the other hand, is equivalent to between 2036 and 4288 grams.
The Prophet ﷺ forbade them from such a sale, and told them that it was not permissible to sell two Saa‘s of mixed dates for one Saa‘ of good-quality dates, despite the difference in quality, because the exchanged commodities in this barter would be the same; they were both dates. He ﷺ also forbade them from selling two Dirhams of old or poor-quality silver for one Dirham of good-quality silver because they are of the same kind (silver). This transaction was known as Ribaa Al-Fadhl, which involved an exchange or sale transaction in trade which effectively results in charging ‘interest’ through the exchange of the same commodity, but of a different quality or quantity, and this is prohibited as per the laws of Islam.
He ﷺ instructed them instead to sell any given type of date for a monetary value and then buy with that money whatever they wished. Thus, they would avoid taking excess in exchange of a given commodity in the event of a barter of two similar commodities, and the Ribaa involved in such a transaction.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that ignorance of a prohibition warrants pardon until one obtains knowledge of it.
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2081
Aboo Mas‘ood (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
A man from the Ansaar named Aboo Shu‘ayb, came and told his butcher-servant, "Prepare a meal sufficient for five persons, for I want to invite the Prophet ﷺ along with four other persons as I saw signs of hunger on his face." Aboo Shu‘ayb invited them and another person came along with them. The Prophet ﷺ said (to Aboo Shu‘ayb), “This man followed us, so if you allow him, he will join us, and if you want him to return, he will go back.” Aboo Shu‘ayb said, "No, I have allowed him (i.e. he, too, is welcomed to join you for the meal)..

Commentary :
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) loved the Messenger of Allah ﷺ dearly, and their love for him made themkeenly keep his company, and hastento please him and fulfill his needs.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Mas‘ood ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amr Al-Ansaaree(may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when Aboo Shu‘ayb Al-Ansaaree(may Allah be pleased with him) saw the signs of hunger on the Prophet’s face, he said to his servant (or a hired butcher as narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim), “Prepare some food that is sufficient for five persons; one of them is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” He (may Allah be pleased with him) prepared a meal for five people because he knew that some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would most likely come along with the Prophet ﷺ. It is also possible that he saw the Prophet ﷺ sitting with four people at that time and he (may Allah be pleased with him) invited them over for the meal, but a sixth man came along uninvited. The Prophet ﷺ asked the host, Aboo Shu‘ayb (may Allah be pleased with him), for his permission to clarify this sixth guest’s situation and spare him and the host any inconvenience,  because he came uninvited. Aboo Shu‘ayb (may Allah be pleased with him) gave his consent and welcomed the uninvited guest.
The Prophet ﷺ did not give permission to that guest except after obtaining the host’s consent first, contrary to the situation when he ﷺ invited many people over to join him for the meal prepared by Aboo Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him), without seeking Aboo Talhah’s permission, as recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim. This is because Aboo Shau‘ayb limited his invitation to five people as he said to his servant, ‘prepare a meal that is sufficient for five people.’ This serves as a thoughtfulgesture on the part of the Prophet ﷺ, teaching us that when a host invites over a specified number of guests, they should abide by that number, and must not bring others along without hispermission.
The hadeeth teaches us that an aspect of showing hospitality to a guest is to invite those in his company as well.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that whoever wishes to invite a group of people over for a meal should prepare for them enough food, and should not serve them a small amount of food (causing theminconvenience).
It is also inferred therefrom that it is allowable for someone to join a group of people and accompany them to the place of their destination; had it been prohibited, the Prophet ﷺ would have forbidden the man who followed him, and would have commanded him to go back. What is forbidden is to enter someone’s house and show up uninvited without the permission and consent of the host.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that when one of the invited guests seeks the host’s permission to bring someone else with him, the host should give his permission, like what Aboo Shu‘ayb (may Allah be pleased with him) did, and it is indicative of his refined moral character.
It is also inferred therefrom that it is forbidden to eat someone's food without his permission.
The hadeeth also highlights the lawfulness of working and making a living as a butcher.
It is also deduced that a ruler, a noble, or old person is urged to considerately accept the invitation of those of inferior status.
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2084
‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
When the last ayaat of Soorat Al-Baqarah (chapter no. 2) were revealed, the Prophet ﷺ recited them in the mosque and proclaimed the trade of Khamr (i.e., intoxicants) as unlawful..

Commentary :
Khamr (i.e., intoxicants) is the mother of all evils, and the Laws of Islamhas warned against drinking it and trading in it, because of the harm it incurs on the individual and society.
In this hadeeth, the Mother of Believers ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) stated that when the last ayaat of Al-Baqarah chapter were revealed, the Prophet ﷺ recited them for people in the (Prophet's) Mosque. The version of the hadeeth complied in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim has an addition reading, “about Ribaa.” This narration refers to the ayaat that read (what means): {Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity…[thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.} [Quran 2:275-279]. These ayaat included the prohibition of Ribaa (i.e., interest, usury). Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ deemed trading in Khamr prohibited as well, because it involves selling or buying what is unlawful and leads to falling into the sin of consuming Khamr.
The Arabic word Khamr linguistically denotes covering, because Khamr covers intellect, leading a person to commit other destructive sins.
It is known that the prohibition of Khamr was revealed in the ayaat that reads (what means): {O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone altars [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. * Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?* And obey Allah and obey the Messenger and beware. And if you turn away – then know that upon Our Messenger is only [the responsibility for] clear notification.} [Quran 5:90-92] These ayaat were revealed long before the ayah about the prohibition of Ribaa, which was either the last ayah to be revealed in the Quran or one of the last ones. It is possible that he ﷺ informed them of the prohibition of trading in Khamr when Khamr was deemed prohibited, then informed them of it again after the ayah on Ribaa was revealed, for the sake of laying emphasis on the prohibition in this regard and to ensure that it wasproclaimed more broadly. It is also possible that he ﷺ made mention of them both to indicate that Ribaa and Khamr are equally prohibited. Perhaps those who attended that assembly were absent during the previous one when he ﷺ proclaimed the prohibition of trading in Khamr.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that trading in Khamr is strictly prohibited, since Allah, Exalted is He, coupled it with Ribaa, about which stern warnings have been reported.
The hadeeth also highlights the emphasis laid by the Laws of Islam on the prohibition of Ribaa and Khamr, since the Prophet ﷺ keenly proclaimed such prohibitions in the mosque, emphasizing their gravity..

2086
‘Awn ibn Abee Juhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: My father bought a slave who practiced Hijaamah (i.e., wet cupping therapy). (My father broke the slave's equipment that he used for cupping). I asked my father why he had done so, and he replied, "The Prophet ﷺ forbade accepting the price of a dog or blood (i.e., fees of Hijaamah), and also forbade the profession of tattooing, getting tattooed and receiving or giving Ribaa, and cursed the image-makers.".

Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, decreed that which is good lawful to His servants, and decreed unlawful that which is evil to them, and this applies to food, beverages, earnings, trade, and others. The Islamic Laws of Islam also urges Muslims to be a gracious and lift themselves above trivial aspirations.
In this hadeeth, ‘Awn ibn Abee Juhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that his father Abee Juhayfah Wahab ibn ‘Abdullah Al-Suwaa’iy (may Allah be pleased with him)bought a slave who practiced Hijaamah (i.e., wet cupping therapy). He ordered him to break the equipment that he used for cupping, as stated in a narration recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree. His son asked him about the reason for breaking the equipment, and he told him that the Prophet ﷺ had forbidden the price of a dog, i.e., selling a dog, and deemed such earnings unlawful as per the Sheree‘ah, because it is prohibited to own and keep dogs. It has been said that guard and hunting dogs are excluded from this prohibition, because they are beneficial, as stated in the narration reported by Al-Daaraqutnee on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reading: “except for a hunting dog.” Another relevant narration reported by Al-Tirmithee reads: “Except for dogs meant for hunting.”
Likewise, the Prophet ﷺ forbade the price of blood, i.e., the fees of Hijaamah. Hijaamah is (a form of alternative medicine) used to remove bad blood from the body.  The Prophet ﷺ had Hijaamah performed on him and paid a fee to the Hijaamah therapist, as narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them). Had it been forbidden to pay fees to the Hijaamahtherapist, the Prophet ﷺ would not have had Hijaamah performed on him nor paid fees to thetherapist! Therefore, the hadeeths stating the prohibition of practicing Hijaamah and profiting from it, and declaring the earnings of this profession unlawful, are interpreted as to indicate that such earnings are deemed inferior and urge Muslims to earn their living byother loftier professions, seek superior ways of earning a living, and exhibit fine moral qualities. It is possible that the prohibition was prescribed in the early days of Islam and was later abrogated, when the Prophet ﷺ paid the Hijaamah therapist his fee. 
In the hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ also forbade the practice of tattooing and having tattoos. Tattooing means piercing injections into the skin layers, then filling that location with kohl or something else until it turns blue or green. A tattoo is a form of drawing shapes on the body in a different color to a person's skin tone, and people used to use it for beautification purposes. The tattooist is called (in Arabic) ’Waashimah’, and it refers the one who practices tattooing in return for fees or for free, and the one being tattooed is called ’Mawshoomah’. The Prophet ﷺ forbade tattooing because it was practiced by the dissolute and ignorant people and because it involved changing the creation of Allah, Exalted is He.
The Prophet ﷺ forbade dealing in Ribaa for both parties, the payer and recipient of the interest money. Ribaa linguistically means excess, and in Islamic terminology, it is (the measure of excess in one thing when two things are exchanged in some bargain; or), in the case of a loan, an increased amount of the loan at the time of its payment.
There are two kinds of Ribaa; Ribaa Al-Fadhl (i.e., the excess taken in exchange of specific homogenous commodities and encountered in their hand-to-hand purchase and sale or barter transaction), andRibaa Al-Nasee'ah (i.e., increasing the price of an item in return for deferred payment).
The prohibition incorporates both taking and paying Ribaa (interest) money, even if the recipient does not consume Ribaa, and the reference to consumption in this context is due to the fact that it was one of the main sources of income, and most of people’s earnings at the time when this prohibition was revealed were obtained by dealing in Ribaa.
The Prophet ﷺ also cursed the image-makers. The prohibition in this regard applies only to those who make images of animate objects. It was said that the image-makers here are the sculptors who make and carve statues that imitate the creation of Allah, Exalted is He. It was also said they are the ones who make idols for the purpose of worship.
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2087
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
I heard Allah's Messenger ﷺ saying, "Swearing oaths (by a seller) may persuade the buyer to purchase the goods but such sale will be deprived of Allah's blessing.".

Commentary :
Islam laid down etiquette and provisions governing business transactions. Both the buyer and seller are required to acquaint themselves with these provisions and etiquettes, to preserve their religious and worldly interests.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ warns against excessive oaths and swearing too much when selling with the aim to promote one’s commodities. Making an oath, if the person is truthful, may help a seller promote his commodity and conclude the sale, but such sale would bedeprived from Allah’s blessing in the future. Allah, Exalted is He, may cause it to be destroyed by means of theft, burning, drowning, usurpation, plunder, or any other form of destruction by the will of Allah, Exalted is He. Thus, such a seller would be exerting such efforts to earn money and it would be all in vain, and this would be his due punishment from Allah, Exalted is He, for his excessive oaths. In the narration recorded by Muslim on the authority of Aboo Qatadaah Al-Ansaaree(may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet ﷺ said: “Beware of excessive swearing (and making oaths) in sale, because it may promote trade, but this practice will eliminate the earnings’ blessing.” The hadeeth may also mean ‘false oaths’, as clarified in the narration reported by Imaam Ahmad reading: “Taking false oaths may help you conclude a sale transaction, but it takes (blessing) away from the earnings.”
The Arabic words used in the hadeeth are ‘Munaffiqah’ meaning inducive to the promotion of the commodity, and ‘Mumhiqah’, meaning eliminating the blessings. Other variations used in different narrations of the hadeeth are ‘Manfaqah’ derived from the word ‘Al-Nafaaq’, meaning saleability, and ‘Mumhaqah’ meaning deprivation of blessing and a reason for it.
The hadeeth lays emphasis on the gravity of excessive swearing (oaths) by the name of Allah, Exalted is He, and underlines that it must only be done for a need.
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2088
‘Abdullah ibn Abee Awfaa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
A man displayed some goods in the market and swore by Allah that he had been offered so much for that, that which was not offered, and he said so, so as to cheat a Muslim. On that occasion, the following ayah was revealed (which means): {Indeed, those who exchange the covenant of Allah and their [own] oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter…} [Quran 3:77] .

Commentary :
Swearing oaths is a serious matter, and Islam has laid emphasis on its gravity, especially making false oaths by means of which a person unlawfully takes the money of his fellow Muslim brother.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn Abee Awfaa (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that a man offered his commodity for sale in the market and falsely swore by Allah, Exalted is He, that he had bought it for such-and-such a price, merely to persuade his fellow Muslim to buy it. On that occasion, the following ayah was revealed. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (that which means): {Indeed, those who exchange the covenant of Allah and their [own] oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter…} [Quran 3:77]. The ayah reads {Those who exchange} because the two parties of a sale transaction exchange the commodity for money,{the covenant of Allah},meaningthe covenant they made to believe in the Prophet ﷺ and fulfill the trusts, {and their [own] oaths for a small price}  meaning their false oaths that they take to affirm the desired statements or actions. The intended meaning is that they trade their covenants with Allah and their oaths, with fleeting worldly gains and desires such as money, benefits, and other worldly gains. The price is described here as being small, to indicate its insignificance, for it was traded for breaching the covenant with Allah and taking a false oath. This makes it fundamentally insignificant, no matter how significantit seemed from a worldly perspective, compared to winning the pleasure of Allah, Exalted is He, and fulfilling the covenants made with Him. Then Allah, Exalted is He, stated the punishment designated for the one who commits such a major sin. He Says (that which means): {…will have no share in the Hereafter, and Allah will not speak to them or look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them; and they will have a painful punishment.} [Quran 3:77]. It means, ‘They shall have no share in the bliss tasted by the believers in the Hereafter, and Allah, Exalted is He, will not speak to them about what would please them, but would rather say to them that which will cause distress and disappointment to them.’ The ayah goes on, {or look at them on the Day of Resurrection} meaning that He will not mercifully look at them, {nor will He purify them}, from sins and misdeeds by conferring upon them His forgiveness, nor shall He commend them like He would commend His righteous servants. Rather, He shall be angry with them and will punish them for breaching their covenant with Him, {and they will have a painful punishment}, because of what they committed. This is a stern warning about making false oaths, because such a sin combines many corrupt evil deeds, including: lyingin the name of Allah, deceiving a purchaser into buying his commodity, making up lies for the sake of promoting it, and unlawfully taking the money of the purchaser, described here as a ‘small price’with which he shall not be availed for long in this worldly life.
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2094
Aboo Haazim narrated:
Some men came to Sahl ibn Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) to ask him about the (Prophet’s) pulpit. He replied, "Allah's Messenger ﷺ sent for a woman (Sahl named her) this message: ‘Command your servant-carpenter to make pieces of wood (i.e., a pulpit) for me so that I may sit on it while addressing the people.’ So, she ordered him to make it from the tamarisk (tree) in the forest. He brought it to her and she sent it to Allah's Messenger ﷺ, and he ordered it to be placed in the mosque: so, it was put and he ﷺ sat on it..

Commentary :
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to deliver his speeches to his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) while standing or leaning on a palm-tree trunk.When the number of worshippers in the mosque increased, the Prophet ﷺ thought about taking a wooden pulpit to stand and sit on while delivering his speeches to the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
This hadeeth relates the story of the Prophet’sﷺ pulpit. The Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions) Aboo Haazim Salamah ibn Dinaar stated that some men came to the great Companion Sahl ibn Sa‘d Al-Saa‘dee (may Allah be pleased with him) asking him about the Prophet’s ﷺpulpit and he (may Allah be pleased with him) told them that the Prophet ﷺ sent a message to a woman. Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned her name, but reporters differed regarding it; some said that it was ‘Aa’ishah and others said it was Minaas. She was from the Ansaar, according to the narration cited in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, or the emigrants according to another narration also recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, and she had a servant-carpenter. The Prophet ﷺ commanded her to order her servant to make the Prophet ﷺ a pulpit to sit on it when delivering his speeches.
It has also been narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree on the authority of Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with them) that a woman from the Ansaar said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I have a servant-carpenter; he may make you something to sit on (i.e., pulpit), if you wish.” To reconcile between these narrations, it is possible that she asked the Prophet ﷺ first, and then he ﷺ sent her the reported message, indicating his acceptance of her offer, and commanding her to (order her servant to) make the pulpit for him.
The woman complied with the Prophet’s command and instructed her servant to make the Prophet ﷺ a pulpit from a desert tree called ‘Tarafah’, and the forest was located in Al-‘Awaalee on the route from Al-Madeenah to Al-Shaam, about 14 miles from Al-Madeenah. When the servant finished it, and the woman sent it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he ordered it to be placed in its place in the Prophet’s Mosque, and he ﷺ sat on it.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is allowable to seek the help of professionals and skilled workers (in various fields) for whatever may bring benefit to Muslims..

2095
Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with them) narrated:
A woman from the Ansaar said to Allah's Messenger ﷺ, "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! Shall I make something for you to sit on, as I have a servant who is a carpenter?" He ﷺ replied, "If you wish." So, she (may Allah be pleased with him) had a pulpit made for him. When it was Friday the Prophet ﷺ sat on that pulpit. The date-palm trunk near which the Prophet ﷺ used to deliver his speeches cried so much so that it was about to burst. The Prophet ﷺ came down from the pulpit towards the trunk and embraced it and it started groaning like a crying child and then stopped crying. The Prophet ﷺ said, "It has cried because of (missing) what it was used to hearing Dhikr (i.e., remembrance of Allah) being recited!".

Commentary :
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to deliver his speeches to his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) while standing or leaning on a palm-tree trunk.When the number of worshippers in the mosque increased, the Prophet ﷺconsidered taking a wooden pulpit to stand and sit on while delivering his speeches to the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
This hadeeth relates the story of the Prophet’spulpit and indicates theyearning and longing of the palm-tree trunk for the Prophet ﷺ when he left it and ascended the new pulpit.
In this hadeeth, Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them) stated that a woman from the Ansaar came to the Prophet ﷺ and offered to make him something to sit on while delivering his speeches, for she had a servant who was also a skilled carpenter. The Prophet ﷺ agreed and said to her, ‘If you wish!’
It was narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ sent a message to a woman from the Ansaar, ‘Command your servant-carpenter to make pieces of wood (i.e., a pulpit) for me so that I may sit on it while addressing the people.’ She may have asked the Prophet ﷺ first, and then he ﷺ sent her that message, indicating his acceptance of her offer, and commanding her to (order her servant to) make it for him.
The woman complied with the Prophet’s ﷺcommand and instructed her servant to make the Prophet ﷺ a pulpit. When the servant finished it, the woman sent it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he ordered it to be placed in its place in the mosque. On Friday, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ started to use the pulpit instead of the palm-tree trunk on which he ﷺ used to lean during his speeches, and sat on the new pulpit instead. The deserted trunk wept so much so that it was about to burst. It produced a loud groaning sound,indicating its yearning and longing for the Prophet ﷺ. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ came down from the pulpit, went to the trunk and embraced it to comfort it. Itstoppedcryinglittle by little like achild does. The Prophet ﷺ clarified the reason for its crying and said, “It has cried because of (missing) what it was used to hearing of Dhikr (i.e., remembrance of Allah) being recited!" It means that the trunk longed for listening to the remembrance of Allah by the Prophet ﷺ when he ﷺ delivered his speeches while standing or leaning on it.
The hadeeth highlights a sign of Prophethood and a miracle with which he ﷺ was aided, having an inanimate object yearn for him and sense his presence and absence.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is allowable to stand on an elevated platform while delivering the Khutbah (i.e., Friday speech), and install pulpits in mosques.
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2099
‘Amr said:
Here (i.e., in Makkah) there was a man called Nawwaas and he had camels suffering from a disease causing their thirst to become excessive and unquenchable. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) went to the partner of Nawwaas and bought those camels. The man returned to Nawwaas and told him that he had sold those camels. Nawwaas asked him, "To whom have you sold them?" He replied, "To so-and-so Shaykh (, describing to him how he looked)." Nawwaas said, " Woe to you! By Allah, that Shaykh was Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)." Nawwaas then went to Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him, "My partner sold you camels suffering from a disease causing their thirst to become unquenchable and he had not recognized you!" Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) told him to take them back (i.e., annul the sale and return the camels). When Nawwaas went to take them, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him, "Leave them there; I am happy with the judgment of Allah's Messenger ﷺ that there is no ‘Adwaa (i.e., contagion and transmission of infectious disease without the permission of Allah). ".

Commentary :
A Muslim is enjoined to be honest and truthful in all situations, including buying and selling. Sales transactions should be based on clarity and honesty about the merits and flaws of the commodity, to eliminate all chances of cheating, which sows hatred and discord among people.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions) ‘Amr ibn Dinaar stated that ‘AbdullahIbn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) bought camels from a man named Nawwaas and that these camels were infected with a disease known as Hiyaam, making their thirst excessive and unquenchable. It may also refer to a disease that resulted in scabies. It was also said that Al-Heem are thescabby camels painted with tar, and which therefore become thirsty due to the higher body temperature caused by it. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) bought these camels from a partner of Nawaaas, and this partner went to Nawwaas and informed him of the sale.He asked him: “To whom have you sold them?” The partner described the buyer to him, and Nawwaas knew that he was Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).He said to him: “Woe to you! By Allah, that Shaykh was Ibn ‘Umar.” The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Wayhaka,’ which literally means ‘woe to you,’ indicating rebuke, and it is said in reference to someone who has made a serious mistake. Nawwaas went to Ibn ‘Umar and informed him that his partner had sold him some sick camels without informing him of their flaws prior to the sale. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him to take them back, given the circumstances. When Nawwaas went to take them, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him, “Leave them there; I am happy with the judgment of Allah's Messenger ﷺ that there is no ‘Adwa (i.e., contagion and transmission of infectious disease without the permission of Allah),” meaning that he (may Allah be pleased with him) did so in compliance with the Prophet’s statement, ‘There is no ‘Adwaa.’ The Arabic word used in the hadeeth (‘Adwaa) means contagion and transmission of infectious disease from one patient to another. The Prophet’s statement means that diseases cannot cause infection by themselves without the permission and decree of Allah, Exalted is He.People of the pre-Islamic era believed that diseases could spread from one person to another without the permission of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ negated that false belief and clarified to them that diseases are mere causes that may only have effects by the decree and permission of Allah, who causes illness (and that contagion is a means through which Allah effects His decrees).
The hadeeth highlights the virtues of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and his (remarkable) compliance with the Prophet’s guidance and judgments, even if it seemed to be harmful.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that a sale of a defective commodity is valid as long as the buyer is informed of its flaws and gives his consent.
It is also inferred therefrom that a buyer may return a defective commodity (and annul the transaction) if its defect was concealed by the seller.
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2101
Aboo Moosaa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "The example of a good Companion (who sits with you) in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith's bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn your clothes or your house, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof.".

Commentary :
Keeping the company of righteous people and attending their gatherings is one of the qualities of goodness, and a way to attain happiness in both the worldly life and the Hereafter. Likewise, keeping the company of wicked and evil people isa sign of wickedness and the path to loss and ruin.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ gave a good similitude of the two categories of people: a good (righteous) companion and a bad (evil) one, to help us better understand the intended meanings, and urge us to adhere to what is good and avoid what is evil. The first category in the hadeeth is the righteous companion, a pious person who directs his companions to Allah, Exalted is He, and guides them to the sayings and deeds that bring them closer to Him. The Prophet ﷺ likened such a good companion to the musk seller. Keeping his company yields benefits in all cases; you either buy musk and perfume from him or simply enjoy the pleasant smell.  Likewise, a good companion may bring you some tangible benefits or you may simplyfind comfort and joy in his company.
The second category is the bad companion, who drives those in his company away from Allah, Exalted is He, and all sayings and acts that draw them closer to Him. In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ likened a bad companion to blacksmith's bellows (or furnace), meaning to a blacksmith. The Arabic word used in the hadeeth ‘Keer’ means a bag-like device made of thick leather (with handles) that is used to blow air onto a fire to keep the flame burning. Such a blacksmith (who blows air onto a fire) will either burn your body or clothes with the sparks, or make you smell an unpleasant odor, causing you distress and inconvenience. Likewise, a bad companion either causes you direct harm by committing sins with him, and accordingly suffering their burning flames, or by witnessing firsthand his ugly and evil deeds and therefore being dispraised for keeping the company of such a wicked person.
The hadeeth urges Muslims to keep the company of righteous and obedient people, and keep away from wicked and ill-mannered ones.
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2103
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him):
Once the Prophet ﷺ got Hijaamah performed on him and paid that Hijaamah therapist who performed it fees. Had it been unlawful, the Prophet ﷺ would not have paid him..

Commentary :
A Hijaamah therapist is the one who performs Hijaamah (i.e., wet cupping therapy), which is (a form of alternative medicine) used to remove bad blood from the body by making superficial incisions on the skin using surgical scalpels, and removing the bad blood using a funnel-like device or special cups on the skin to create suction.It is used to treat different types of pain.
In this hadeeth, Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) inferred the permissibility of (undertaking) Hijaamah therapy and the lawfulness of its fees from the action of the Prophet ﷺ, because he ﷺ had Hijaamah performed on him and paid thetherapist a fee. Had paying the Hijaamah therapist been impermissible, the Prophet ﷺ would not have had it performed on him nor paid the fee.
The hadeeths about the unlawfulness of the earnings obtained through performing Hijaamah that described such earnings as ‘unlawful’, and indicate their inferiority and urge Muslims to embody noble manners and seek other loftier means of earning a living. It is also possible that the prohibition was prescribed in the early days of Islam and was later abrogated when the Prophet ﷺ paid the Hijjamah therapist the fee.
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763
Ibn ‘Abbās reported: I spent the night in the house of my maternal aunt Maymūnah and observed how the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prayed. He said: He got up and relieved himself. He then washed his face and hands and then went to sleep. Then, he got up and went near the water-skin and loosened its strap and then poured some water in a bowl and inclined it with his hand. He then performed a good ablution between the two extremes and then stood up to pray. I came and stood by his left side. He said: He took hold of me and made me stand on his right side. The prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was completed with thirteen Rak‘ahs. He then slept till he began to snore, and we would know that he was asleep by his snoring. Then, he went out for the prayer and prayed, and he kept saying during his prayer - or his prostration: "O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light on my right, light on my left, light in front of me, light behind me, light above me, light below me, and make light for me," or he said: "Make me light." [In a version]: I met Kurayb, and he said: Ibn ‘Abbās reported: I was in the house of my maternal aunt Maymūnah, and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came there... then he narrated the rest of the Hadīth as narrated by Ghundar and said these words: "Make me light," and he was not doubtful..

Commentary : Our Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the best among people in terms of worshiping his Lord and standing before Him, Exalted be He. And the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to learn from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and take his Sunnah, apply it, and convey it to those who came after them. ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) was keen on that since he was young.
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that he spent the night in the house of his maternal aunt Maymūnah bint al-Hārith, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was spending the night in her house, in her allocated night. He said: "and I observed how the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prayed" i.e., he wanted to watch how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would pray in the night. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came into his house after the ‘Ishā’ prayer and talked with his wife for a while and then went to sleep, as related in versions of the Two Sahīh Collections. Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up and relieved himself and then washed his face and hands. Then, he went to sleep. Then, he got up from sleep once again and headed to the skin, a vessel made of tanned and stitched leather for holding fluids and water - and loosened its strap. Then, he poured water from it in a bowl, which is a spacious and big vessel. So, he placed the water that was in the skin on this bowl so that it would be easier for him to use it. Then, he performed a good ablution between the two extremes, i.e., between what is light and quick and what is deliberate and perfect. It is more probable that he minimized the use of water while washing the body parts of ablution thrice. This is because he described it as good, and so it would not be less than thrice. It is reported in the version of the Two Sahīh Collections that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) entered his house after the ‘Ishā’ prayer and went to sleep. Then, he got up and used the Siwāk - a small stick made from the Arak tree - and brushed his teeth and cleansed his mouth, and then he made ablution as he recited the verses that read: {Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth and the alternation of the night and day are signs for people of understanding, those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect upon the creation of the heavens and earth [saying]: "Our Lord, you have not created all this in vain. Glory be to You. Protect us from the punishment of the Fire. Our Lord, whoever You cause to enter the Fire, You have surely disgraced him, and the wrongdoers will have no helpers. Our Lord, we have heard the caller to faith calling, ‘Believe in your Lord,’ so we believed. Our Lord, forgive us our sins, expiate our misdeeds, and cause us to die among the righteous. Our Lord, give us what You have promised us through Your messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection, for You never break Your promise."} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 190-194] It is reported in a version by Muslim that he recited to the end of the Sūrah.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) began to pray. Shortly thereafter, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) came and stood beside the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) after making ablution like that of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), as reported in the Two Sahīh Collections. He stood on the Prophet's left side. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) held him by the hand, turned him around from behind his back, and made him stand on his right side. This points out and emphasizes how the Imām and the one who is led in prayer should stand when the congregational prayer includes two persons only, even if it is supererogatory.
Then, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered thirteen Rak‘ahs as Qiyām al-Layl, praying two Rak‘ahs each and then observing Witr with one Rak‘ah, thus completing thirteen Rak‘ahs.
In a version by Muslim: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) "offered two Rak‘ahs and prolonged the standing, bowing, and prostration therein and then left" after he finished the two Rak‘ahs. "He then slept till he began to snore" i.e., he breathed with a sound. This is an indication of deep sleep. "Then he did that three times," i.e., he got up from sleep and offered two Rak‘ahs and then slept, until he offered in that night "six Rak‘ahs. Meanwhile, he used the Siwāk, performed ablution, recited those verses, and then observed Witr with three Rak'ahs," i.e., he concluded his prayer with Witr consisting of three Rak‘ahs. It was said: This version opposes the other versions of this same Hadīth regarding the sleep between the Rak‘ahs, the repetition of ablution, and the number of Rak‘ahs. He did not mention in other versions the sleep between the Rak‘ahs and the number of Rak‘ahs as thirteen. He probably did not include in this prayer the first two light Rak‘ahs with which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to commence prayer in the night, as explicitly mentioned by Hadīths in the Sahīh Muslim Collection and others. Therefore, he said: "He offered two Rak‘ahs and prolonged therein" indicates that they came after the two light Rak‘ahs. So, the two light Rak‘ahs were followed by the two long Rak‘ahs, and then the six mentioned Rak‘ahs, and then the three Rak‘ahs after them, as mentioned by him; the total became thirteen Rak‘ahs.
After the prayer, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) slept so deeply that a sound coming out with his breathing was heard. Then, his Muezzin Bilāl (may Allah be pleased with him) came to tell and notify him of the Fajr prayer, as demonstrated by the versions in the Two Sahīh Collections. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came out for the Fajr prayer. The versions in the Two Sahīh Collections point out that he did not renew his ablution after waking up. This is particularly reserved for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), for his eyes would sleep but his heart would not, and so his ablution would not be broken.
Then, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) kept supplicating in his prayer or in his prostration. And it is reported in a version by Muslim that he made this supplication while going out for the prayer, saying: "O Allah, place light in my heart" i.e., to enlighten it, grant it the ability to distinguish between the truth and falsehood, protect it from corrupt beliefs, and keep it away from spite, envy, and the like. "Light in my hearing," is to hear what exhorts obedience to You, not disobedience. "Light in my sight," is to keep it away from everything that Allah ordered us to lower our gaze from. In a version by Muslim: "light in my tongue," i.e., so that it becomes keen to mention You and speak the truth and all the good deeds to be performed by the tongue. "Light on my right, light on my left," i.e., on my sides, or in my body parts. "Light in front of me, light behind me, light above me, light below me, and make light for me," i.e., an overall summary of these detailed items. Or he said: "Make me light." By it, he meant a huge light comprising all lights; those that he mentioned here and those he did not mention. So, the light would encompass him and surround him with what preserves him from making mistakes. The intended meaning: clarifying the truth and its light and guiding to it, and that He places in every organ of these organs and in every direction of these directions a light by which he would be guided in following the truth and acting upon it, and it would guide those who want to follow the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the true path; and so that the devil would not have a possibility of influence.
It was said: The light for which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked is the one that would preserve him in this world from sins and draw him closer to the performance of good deeds. It was also said: Rather, it is a light that Allah will grant him on the Day of Judgment. And it was said: It probably combines both, i.e., by the worldly light, he obtains knowledge and guidance, and by the afterlife light, he obtains illumination for the darkness on the Day of Judgment.
In the Hadīth: Mentioning some of the Prophet's peculiar characteristics.
And in it: Resorting to Allah with sincere supplication
And in it: A boy may pass the night in the house of one of his mahrams (non-marriageable female relatives) in the presence of her husband.
And in it: Offering a supererogatory prayer in congregation.

765
Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhani said: I will definitely watch the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) tonight. He offered two short Rak‘ahs, and then he offered two long, long, long Rak‘ahs. Then, he offered two Rak‘ahs, which were shorter than the two preceding ones. Then, he offered two Rak‘ahs, which were shorter than the two preceding ones. Then, he offered two Rak‘ahs, which were shorter than the two preceding ones. Then, he offered two Rak‘ahs, which were shorter than the two preceding ones. Then, he performed Witr. That was thirteen Rak‘ahs..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to know the Prophet's Sunnahs and guidance in all matters and to follow and comply with him in terms of his worship (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Hence, they used to ask about things hidden from them, including his guidance on Qiyām al-Layl.
In this Hadīth, the Companion Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that he wanted to know how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prayed during the night. So, he said to himself: "I will definitely watch" i.e., I will look and observe carefully. This is an affirmation from him that he would adhere to the manner of the Prophet's performance of prayer, i.e., his prayer during the night. He would observe the number of its Rak‘ahs and how long he would stand therein. In the version by Abu Dāwūd: "I rested my head on his threshold, or Fustāt (tent)" i.e., he treated it as a pillow. "Fustāt": a large tent made of hair. The word 'tent' indicates that he was on a journey, for the Prophet's houses were not tents. So, Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered two short Rak‘ahs, in which he did not stand or recite for long. With such two Rak‘ahs, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to commence Qiyām al-Layl, as their shortness activates the body. Then, "he offered two long, long, long Rak‘ahs," He said it three times to point to their great length. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered eight Rak‘ahs, with every two Rak‘ahs being shorter than the two Rak‘ahs that preceded them. Then, he concluded his prayer with one Rak‘ah. It is reported from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) that Witr can be one, three, or five Rak‘ahs and so on. The number of Rak‘ahs performed by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) at that time was thirteen, which is the maximum reported about the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). The minimum reported about him (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is seven Rak‘ahs.
Prayer in the night starts after the ‘Ishā’ prayer and extends to shortly before dawn. One is not required to sleep before performing it.
The Hadīth demonstrates the Prophet's diligence in worship and prayer, and how this teaches the Ummah to engage in worship diligently and not to neglect it..

766
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh reported: I was with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) on a journey and we reached a Mashra‘ah (water passage from the river). He said: "O Jābir, will you not engage in Ishrā‘ (drinking water)?" I said: 'Yes.' He said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) then got down and I drank. He said: Then, he went away to relieve himself, and I placed for him water for ablution. He said: Then, he came back and performed ablution, and then stood and prayed in one garment, having its ends tied from the opposite sides. I stood behind him and he caught hold of my ear and made me stand to his right side..

Commentary : This Hadīth demonstrates some of the Prophet's actions during travel, including his clemency towards travelers and riding animals, and points out how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) performed prayer on some of his journeys. Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "I was with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) on a journey and we reached a Mashra‘ah" i.e., a path for crossing the water from the bank of a river, sea, or the like. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Jābir, will you not engage in Ishrā‘?" Ishrā‘ is to drink with the mouth directly or by taking a handful of water without the use of any tool, like a cup. Taking water with the mouth mostly happens in the case of animals, and people may also drink in this way or take water in their hands. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urges him to come to the Mashra‘ah and take what he needs of water, drink from it, and water his animals. This shows the Prophet's leniency towards people and animals during travel, so that they can rest, drink, and water their mounts. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got off his mount, and Jābir drank and watered his mount. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went to a remote place to answer the call of nature, urinating and defecating. Meanwhile, Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) prepared water for him for purification and ablution. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) relieved himself, he came and performed ablution. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood up and prayed in one garment, "having its ends tied from the opposite sides" i.e., he took the end of the garment which he dropped over his right shoulder from underneath his left hand, and its end which he dropped over his left shoulder from underneath his right hand. Then, he tied them over his chest so as to hold the garment and prevent it from falling.
Then, Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) came and stood for prayer behind the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) held Jābir from the tip of his ear, dragged him, and made him stand to his right side. This is how the Imām and the one praying with him should stand when only two persons engage in a congregational prayer, be it obligatory or supererogatory.
The Hadīth mentions praying in one garment.
It demonstrates how the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to serve the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)..

767
‘Ā’ishah reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up in the night to pray, he would commence his prayer with two light Rak‘ahs..

Commentary : Qiyām al-Layl is the source of honor for the believer. So, a Muslim should be keen to pray in the night, following the Prophet's example. The Prophet's prayer at night was constant, and he would engage in prayer until his feet would swell, in gratitude towards Allah and praise for His blessings.
In this Hadīth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) relates that when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up at night to pray, he would start his prayer with two light Rak‘ahs, in preparation for the prolonged prayer, whose Rak‘ahs were described by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) in these words: "and do not ask about their beauty and length," as reported in the Two Sahīh Collections. In his Sahīh Collection, Al-Bukhāri narrated that Masrūq ibn al-Ajda‘ reported: I asked ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the night, and she said: "Seven, nine, and eleven Rak‘ahs apart from the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr." Prayer in the night starts after the ‘Ishā’ prayer and extends to shortly before dawn. One is not required to sleep before performing it..

768
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When any of you gets up at night to perform Qiyām al-Layl, let him start his prayer with two short Rak‘ahs.".

Commentary : Qiyām al-Layl is the source of honor for the believer, and its merit is great. It is the best prayer after the obligatory prayers. The pure Shariah encourages its performance and demonstrates its great reward and virtue.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) demonstrates part of the understanding related to Qiyām al-Layl. He informs that when someone wants to perform Qiyām al-Layl, he should commence his prayer with two short Rak‘ahs. This is to break the desire for sleep, and their shortness is more suitable for repelling it, given the successive movements involved therein. Moreover, if he offers long Rak‘ahs at the beginning, this will be heavy for his body, and he will probably reduce his Rak‘ahs of Qiyām al-Layl, due to the heaviness he feels. But if he is gradual in prolonging the prayer, he may become more active and desire to increase the prayer and make it longer, after this gradation. This is because he has prepared his body and activated it with these two Rak‘ahs. It is said: Starting Qiyām al-Layl with two short Rak‘ahs serves to initiate loosening the knots that the devil ties on a person's head after he sleeps, and these knots are completely loosened when the prayer is completed..

770
Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf reported: I asked ‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her): "With what did the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to commence his prayer when he got up at night. She said: "When he got up at night, he would commence his prayer with: "Allahumma rabba jibrā’īl wa mikā’īl wa isrāfīl, fātira as-samawāt wa al-ard, ‘ālim al-ghayb wa ash-shahādah, anta tahkumu bayna ‘ibādaka fima kānū fihi yakhtalifūn, ihdini lima ikhtulifa fīhi min al-haqq bi eznik, innaka tahdi man tashā’ ila sirātin mustaqīm" (O Allah, Lord of Gabriel (Jibrīl), Michael (Mikā'īl), and Israfil (Isrāfīl), Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You judge between Your slaves concerning that over which they used to differ. Guide me, by Your permission, to the truth about which people differed. Verily, You guide whom You will to the straight path)..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray at night as much as Allah willed him to pray, and he adopted certain Sunnahs and ethics in his house. The Tābi‘is were keen to know his worship in detail and would ask about the acts of worship the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform at home so that they could follow his guidance and adhere to his Sunnah.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf asked ‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers: With what words or deeds did the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to commence his prayer when he got up at night? In other words, how would he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commence the prayer? In response, she told him that when he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up at night, he would commence his prayer with this supplication: "O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, Michael, and Israfil," i.e., I supplicate to You, my Lord, and the Lord of all that is great, such as those great angels, and You are Greater than them and than all Your creation. It befits You to answer supplications. Those particular angels are singled out due to their great status. Gabriel is the angel entrusted with revelation, and Michael is the angel in charge of rains, plants, and provisions, and he occupies a great status and high rank and is honorable in the sight of Allah Almighty. He has assistants who apply what he commands them with the order of his Almighty Lord. And Isrāfīl is the angel entrusted with blowing the Trumpet at the command of his Lord, the blow of panic and swooning, and the blow for standing before the Lord of the worlds.
If a person knows the status of the angels, those great and noble creatures, and knows their traits, he will know the greatness of their Creator, Exalted be He, and His great power and dominion. Indeed, the greatness of a created being stems from the greatness of the Creator. He will also give thanks to Him for His care about His servants, as He entrusted some of those angels with preserving them, supplicating for Allah's forgiveness for them, and recording their deeds. Also, he who knows the angels and genuinely believes in them and will love them for what they do, as they worship Allah Almighty and obey Him in the perfect manner, and they ask for Allah's forgiveness for the believers, supporting them, and so on.
"Originator of the heavens and the earth," i.e., their Creator and Maker. "Knower of the unseen and the seen," i.e., I supplicate to You, O Knower of the unseen and the seen, for You know what is hidden from Your servants and what is apparent and visible to them. "You judge," i.e., You judge with reward and punishment. "on the Day of Judgment between Your slaves concerning that over which they used to differ" regarding the matter of religion in this worldly life. You punish the sinners, if You will, and reward the obedient ones. People differed after they had been following the Fitrah of Islam (natural disposition), and then the prophets and messengers came to guide them. They differed over the path of guidance and the straight path with which they came, and that is the truth from their Lord.
"Guide me, by Your permission, to the truth about which people differed," i.e., make me steadfast and increase me in guidance to the straight path which the prophets and messengers called to, by Your help and facilitation. "Verily, You guide whom You will to the straight path," which is the path of the truth that has no crookedness in it. This is the religion of Islam with which Allah sent Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and it was called 'path' because it leads to the destination just as a real path does. This phrase serves as a reason for asking Him for guidance, i.e., because You guide whomever You will. This supplication represents complete humbleness before Allah Almighty.
In the Hadīth: Clarifying the dhikr with which Qiyām al-Layl is commenced
And in it: Pointing out that a person should ask Allah Almighty to guide him to the true path
And in it: Clarifying that guidance lies in the Hand of Allah Almighty; none can grant it except Him, Exalted be He.

771
‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) got up to pray, he would say: "I have turned my face to the One Who created the heavens and the earth, in exclusive devotion, and I am not one of the polytheists. Verily, my prayer, my Nusuk (worship, sacrifice), my life, and my death are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds; there is no partner with Him, and this is what I have been commanded (to profess and believe), and I am of the Muslims. O Allah, You are the Sovereign, there is no god but You. You are my Lord, and I am Your slave. I have wronged myself and I have admitted my sin; so, forgive all my sins, for no one can forgive sins but You. Guide me to the best of morals, for no one can guide to them but You, and turn away from me the worst of morals, for no one can deliver me from them but You. Here I am, in answer to Your call, in support of Your command. All goodness lies in Your Hands and evil does not stem from You. I exist by You and I turn to You. Blessed and Exalted are You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You." When he bowed, he would say: "O Allah, it is for You that I bowed, it is in You that I believed, and it is to You that I submitted. Humbled to You are my hearing, my eyesight, my brain, my bones, and my sinew." When he rose from bowing, he would say: "O Allah, our Lord, praise is due to You, (praise) that fills the heavens and the earth, that fills what exists between them, and that fills anything You wish afterward." When he prostrated, he would say: “O Allah, it is to You that I prostrated myself, it is in You that I believed, and it is to You that I submitted. My face has prostrated to the One Who created it, shaped it, and split open its faculties of hearing and seeing. Blessed is Allah, the best of Creators." Then, one of the last things he would say between the Tashahhud and Taslīm is: "O Allah, forgive my past and future sins, my hidden and apparent sins, my transgression, and the sins that You know of more than I do. You are the One Who puts forward and the One Who holds back. There is no god but You.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) loved prayer and used to offer a lot of voluntary and supererogatory prayers during the day and night, and he adopted certain Sunnahs and etiquettes related to prayer. The Prophet's Companions were keen to know his worship in detail, so that they could follow his guidance and adhere to his Sunnah.
In this Hadīth, ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that when the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up to offer the obligatory or supererogatory prayer, he would supplicate to Allah Almighty with what is known as the opening supplication, which lies between the Takbīr of Ihrām (Takbīr at the start of prayer) and the recitation of Surat al-Fātihah. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to say in his supplication: "I have turned my face," i.e., I sincerely devoted my worship to Allah Who "created the heavens and the earth," i.e., He originated their creation without a precedent example. In all this, I am Hanīf (upright, exclusively devoted), turning away from Shirk (polytheism) towards Tawhīd (monotheism). Among the Arabs, a Hanīf person would refer to one who followed the religion of Abraham (Ibrāhīm) (peace be upon him), and this is Islam. Then, he further demonstrated and clarified the meaning of Hanīf, saying: "and I am not one of the polytheists." I do not associate anything as a partner with Allah, and I am not one of those described as polytheists. The word polytheist is used to refer to every disbeliever, including idol worshipers, Jews, Christians, Magians, and others.
Then, he supplicated, saying: "Verily, my prayer" which I perform. Prayer is a comprehensive term that refers to Takbīr, recitation, bowing, prostration, Tashahhud, and others. "my Nusuk", which is worship. Nasīkah is everything that brings closeness to Allah Almighty, and it is used to refer to sacrifice by which one draws close to Allah Almighty. A Nāsik is one who sincerely devotes his worship to Allah Almighty. Also, "my life and my death are for Allah," for He is the One Who created and predestined them, or He is the Possessor and Disposer of them. No one else has any control over them. And it was said: The righteous acts in life and the good things that follow death, like a will or managing affairs, or the worship I perform during my life and the condition in which I die, are sincerely devoted to the Countenance of Allah. "the Lord of the worlds," for He is the One Who possesses them, raises them, and reforms and manages their affairs. There is no partner with Him in His dominion. And I have been commanded regarding all of this - to embrace complete Tawhīd (monotheism) that comprises sincerity in words and beliefs. And I am one of the Muslims who submit to Allah's command, yield to Him in obedience, and acknowledge all these attributes of Allah Almighty. This is an affirmation of the meanings of Tawhīd and acceptance of the religion of Allah Almighty.
Then, he praised Allah Almighty, acknowledged his own sin, and asked Him for forgiveness, saying: "O Allah, You are the Sovereign," i.e., the real Owner of all creatures. "and I am Your slave," acknowledging that You are my Owner and the Disposer of my affairs, and Your judgment regarding me is surely executed. "I have wronged myself and I have admitted my sin," i.e., I have wronged myself by falling short in fulfilling Your rights, and I have admitted this shortcoming. "so, forgive all my sins," i.e., O Lord, pardon my shortcomings. "for no one forgives sins but You." This is an admission and acknowledgment of the attribute of forgiveness for Allah alone. In this, he acknowledged his shortcomings and mentioned that before asking for forgiveness, out of politeness, as Adam and Eve (peace be upon both of them) said: {Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves; if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.} [Surat al-A‘rāf: 23]
Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Guide me to the best of morals," i.e., direct me to the most perfect and most excellent morals, enable me to adopt them, and make me steadfast upon them. "for none can guide to them but You." Guidance lies in Your Hand alone. The hearts of people are between two of the Fingers of the Most Compassionate, and He overturns them as He wishes. "and turn away from me the worst of morals," i.e., keep me away from ugly and reprehensible manners. "for none can deliver me from them but You." This is an acknowledgment that Allah Almighty alone is the One Who can repel the Divine Decree and keep the worst of them from His servants.
Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Here I am, in answer to Your call," i.e., I persist in obedience to You and compliance with Your command in a repeated manner. "in support of Your command," i.e., supporting Your command one time after another and following Your religion one time after another. "All goodness lies in Your Hands". This is an acknowledgment that all goodness that reaches the servants or hoped to reach them does actually lie in the Hands of Allah, Exalted be He. "and evil does not stem from You". Evil is not attributed to You. Or evil is not committed to attain closeness to You. Or evil does not ascend to You. Rather, it is good speech that ascends. Then, he said: "I exist by You and I turn to You," i.e., my success is through You, and I take refuge in You and belong to You; or I exist by You creating me and my return is to You; or upon You I rely, and to You I turn for refuge.
"Blessed and Exalted are You." This is praise for Allah Almighty involving two things: The first is 'Blessed'; this is because Allah Almighty is the Most Worthy of blessing. The word 'blessed' means: Your favors are plentiful, overwhelming, and reachable to all creation. Indeed, the blessing is plentiful and enduring favors and goodness. The second is 'Exalted'; it comes from exaltedness in essence and attributes. Indeed, Allah Almighty is Exalted by His essence and by His attributes. He is Exalted by His essence above all creation, and His exaltedness is an innate, timeless, and eternal attribute. Then, he said: "I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You," i.e., I ask You to forgive me and eliminate my sins. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to open his prayer with this great supplication.
And when he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) bowed, he would say in his Rukū‘: "O Allah, it is for You that I bowed." You alone, and I do not bow to any human being or any of Your creation. "it is in You that I believed" in Your sacred essence, excellent names, and sublime attributes. "and it is to You that I submitted," i.e., I humbled myself and surrendered, or I turned my face to You in sincere devotion. "Humbled," i.e., obedient and surrendered to You "are my hearing, my eyesight." He singled them out from among all senses because most evils are committed by them. When we humble ourselves, the insinuations decrease. Also, humbled to You are "my brain, my bones, and my sinew." Sinew: it connects and ties the joints with the bones. They are more delicate than bones.
When he rose from bowing and said, "Allah hears whoever praises Him," he would say thereafter: "O Allah, our Lord, praise is due to You, (praise) that fills the heavens and the earth, that fills what exists between them, and that fills anything You desire afterward." It means: I turn to You, O Allah, with complete praise that befits Your blessings and favors, as many as You will. This is meant for the quantity of numbers. If praise were material objects, then due to You is praise that fills the heavens and the earth, that fills what exists between them. It was said: This refers to the scrolls in which praises are recorded. "and that fills anything You desire afterward," i.e., that fills what is beyond the heavens and the earth, as You will, which is not known to the people. This is intended for teaching the Prophet's Ummah, for Allah Almighty already forgave his past and future sins.
Then, when he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated himself, he would say during his prostration: "O Allah, it is to You that I prostrated myself, it is in You that I believed, and it is to You that I submitted. My face has prostrated to the One Who created it," i.e., it yielded, humbled itself, and submitted to Allah Almighty. He singled out the face from among all the body parts used in prostration because it is the noblest among them, as Allah Almighty is the One Who shaped it and split open its faculties of hearing and seeing. So, the One Who created this face, put in it features by which it is identified, and split open in it eyes and ears and gave them discernment through seeing and hearing is the One worthy of worship, prostration, and submission. "Blessed is Allah": Extolled, Glorified, and Exalted far above, for He is the Creator Who alone brought everything out of nothing into existence and gave His creation the best shape, and He, Exalted be He, is "the best of all creators," who fashion and give due proportions.
"Then", after he finished bowing and prostration," one of the last things he would say between the Tashahhud and Taslīm is: "O Allah, forgive my past" sins, "and my future" deeds. It was said: What I did before the Prophethood and what I did thereafter. It was also said: The future things in Your knowledge which You predestined for me. And it was said: It means: If a sin is committed by me in the future, make it connected to Your forgiveness. Indeed, the pursuit of forgiveness before the commission of sins aims at forgiving a sin if it is committed. "my hidden and apparent sins," i.e., forgive all my sins, for they are: either past or future, and hidden or apparent; and forgive me. "my transgression" when I exceed the bounds. "and the sins that You know of more than I do": My sins which I do not know, in terms of their number and rulings. "You are the One Who puts forward and the One Who holds back": No one can put forward what You hold back or hold back what You put forward. "There is no god but You": No one is truly worthy of worship except You, Exalted be You. We are not capable of enumerating the praise of You. You are as You have praised Yourself. So, he concluded with this praise of Allah Almighty, which is the word of Tawhīd and the word of sincere devotion.
This is a Hadīth that comprises a lot of ath-kaar that are to be said in some positions in prayer, namely the commencement, bowing, and prostration.
In the Hadīth: It was part of the Prophet's guidance to say the opening supplication.
And in it: The dhikr to be said during bowing, prostration, and after rising from bowing, and the supplication before Taslīm.
And in it: teaching politeness in extending praise to Allah Almighty, that we should ascribe to Him only the good things, not the bad ones, out of politeness..

772
Hudhayfah reported: I prayed with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) once at night and he started reciting Surat al-Baqarah. I thought that he would bow in Rukū‘ at the end of one hundred verses, but he continued. I thought that he would probably recite it (the Surah) in one Rak‘ah, but he continued. I thought he would perhaps bow in Rukū‘ on completing (this Surah). He then started reciting Surat an-Nisā’ and read it all, and then he started reciting Surat Āl ‘Imrān and read it all. He was reciting slowly; when he came across a verse containing Tasbīh (glorifying Allah), he would glorify, and when he came across asking, he would ask, and when he came across seeking refuge, he would seek refuge. Then, he bowed in Rukū‘ and said: "Subhān rabbiya al-‘azhīm" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Majestic). His bowing lasted nearly the same length of time as his standing. Upon rising from Rukū‘, he said: "Sami‘a Allahu liman hamidah" (Allah hears whoever praises Him). He then remained standing nearly the same length of time as he had spent bowing. He then prostrated and said: "Subhān rabbiya al-a‘la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High), and his prostration lasted nearly the same length of time as his standing. Another version adds: "Sami‘a Allahu liman hamidah; rabbana laka al-hamd" (Allah listens to he who praises Him; praise be to You, Our Lord)..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) liked standing before his Lord, and so he used to prolong the prayer and perfect it by long recitation, bowing, prostration, and supplication. His prayer was also marked by humility, submissiveness, and subservience before Allah Almighty.
In this Hadīth, Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān (may Allah be pleased with him) says that he performed Qiyām al-Layl one night with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He said that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) started his recitation after Surat al-Fātihah with Surat al-Baqarah. Hudhayfah thought that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would bow after reciting one hundred verses, but he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went past one hundred verses. So, Hudhayfah thought that he would probably recite Surat al-Baqarah in one Rak‘ah, but he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) continued the recitation after finishing Surat al-Baqarah and started reciting Surat an-Nisā’ and read it all. Then, he started reciting Surat Āl ‘Imrān and read it all. This stems from his prolongation of the prayer and the excellence of recitation in Qiyām al-Layl. This prolongation and this manner in this prayer was probably done by him at a time that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) happened to particularly enjoy what he was up to and was so engrossed therein away from anything else. This accords with his statement in the agreed-upon Hadīth: "If any of you leads the people in prayer, let him shorten it, because among them are the weak, the sick, and the elderly people. And if any of you prays alone, let him prolong as much as he wishes."
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was "reciting slowly," i.e., unhurriedly, and deliberately. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would glorify Allah, by saying "Suhān Allah", when he came across a verse containing Tasbīh. And when he came across a verse that urges the asking of Allah Almighty, he would ask of Him. In a version by Abu Dāwūd: "And he did not come across a verse of mercy except that he would pause at it and make supplication." "and when he came across [a verse] seeking refuge," as the verse mentions Hellfire or contains a threat, "he would seek refuge" with Allah and resort to Him for salvation from His punishment. This all adds to the length of the prayer.
After all that, he bowed in Rukū‘. "and he said: 'Subhān rabbiya al-‘azhīm' (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Majestic)." He adopted this wording in Tasbīh, and it means: We glorify Allah Almighty and praise Him for His greatness. This is an exaltation of Allah Who possesses this attribute. "His bowing lasted about the same length of time as his standing," i.e., the duration of bowing. He stayed therein for nearly the same length of time he had spent standing. Then, he rose from bowing and said: "Sami‘a Allahu liman hamidah" (Allah hears whoever praises Him). This is an informative sentence in the sense of a supplication. In other words: O Allah, answer the supplication of he who praises You. Another version adds: "Rabbana laka al-hamd" (praise be to You, Our Lord). This is one of the best supplications and forms of gratitude to Allah Almighty.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) remained standing nearly the same length of time as he had spent in bowing - before descending to prostrate. "He then prostrated and said: 'Subhān rabbiya al-a‘la' (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High)." He reserved this dhikr and praise for prostration, and it means: Glorifying the Almighty Sovereign and exalting Him above any imperfection. This is the exaltation of Allah Who possesses the attribute of exaltedness.
In the Hadīth: Demonstrating how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) performed Qiyām al-Layl in terms of the length of the prayer and recitation and the prolongation of bowing, prostration, and standing.
And in it: Considering the meanings of the verses and pausing to make supplications in accordance with their content, during the prayer..

778
Jābir reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you performs the prayer in his mosque, he should leave a portion of his prayer for his house, for indeed Allah puts goodness in his house on account of his prayer.".

Commentary : Prayer is of great significance in the life of a Muslim. So, he should regularly perform it and fulfill its Sunnahs and pillars in the required manner, and he should perform a lot of voluntary prayers, for they compensate for any shortcomings in the obligatory ones. He should also keep a portion of goodness for his house by offering supererogatory prayers therein.
This Hadīth contains Prophetic guidance and education, as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) instructed us: When a Muslim performs the obligatory prayer in the mosque, "he should leave a portion of his prayer for his house," i.e., he should offer some of them in his house. This refers to supererogatory prayers. This is because prayer at home is more hidden and farther away from show-off, and so that the house may be blessed on account of that, and mercy and angels descend in it, and the devil runs away from it. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that Allah puts goodness in the house of this performer of supererogatory prayers on account of his prayers; this goodness encompasses his wife and children and brings blessing to their sustenance and life spans and an increase in their guidance and piety, and the house is filled with dhikr and worship, and the angels descend to supplicate for the inhabitants of the house and ask for Allah's forgiveness for them..

779
Abu Mūsa reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The house in which Allah is mentioned and the house in which Allah is not mentioned are like the living and the dead.".

Commentary : In the mentioning of Allah lies the life and vigor of people's souls, and in its abandonment lies slackness, idleness, and lethargy. The houses of Muslims should be protected against the devil, be filled with light, and blessing. This can be achieved by performing acts of worship therein, like dhikr, prayer, supplication, and so on.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) holds a comparison between two types of houses, to make the matter easier to understand. One type is a house where Allah is mentioned, and the other is a house where Allah is not mentioned. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) points out that the house where Allah is mentioned is "like the living," i.e., a sound and healthy person, as his inner being shines with Imān (faith) and his outward appearance is adorned with the light of worship. People love him, and they seek support and benefit from him. On the other hand, the house where Allah is not mentioned is like the dead, i.e., like a corpse. No one approaches it, and there is no good in it or use of it. Its inside is false, and its outside is defective.
The meaning of this Hadīth can be an example for houses and those who live therein. The houses where Allah is mentioned abound with a life of Imān, blessing, and goodness for their inhabitants. By contrast, the houses where Allah is not mentioned are desolate like graves, and their inhabitants only go to them for sleep, which is a minor death. They are devoid of goodness and blessing, even if what appears to people is contrary to that.
Also, the meaning may appropriately apply to the inhabitants of houses, namely human beings. Whoever mentions Allah, his heart becomes alive and the impact of that manifests in him. Thus, he becomes useful in this world and the Hereafter. As for a person who does not mention Allah, his heart is lifeless and devoid of Imān and the effects of an Imān-oriented life. He is like a dead person whose deeds come to a halt and cannot obtain any good from his worldly life. This is supported by the version by Al-Bukhāri: "The one who mentions Allah and the one who does not mention Allah are like the living and the dead."
In the Hadīth: Urging remembrance of Allah Almighty at home, and that our houses should not be devoid of it.

780
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not turn your houses into graves. Indeed, Satan runs away from the house in which Surat al-Baqarah is recited.".

Commentary : The houses of Muslims should be protected against the devil, filled with light, and blessing. This can be achieved by performing acts of worship therein, like dhikr, prayer, supplication, recitation of the Qur'an, and so on. Recitation of the Qur'an brings goodness and blessing to the place where it takes place, for the Qur'an is the extended rope of Allah, which contains tranquility of the soul and expels the devils from the houses where it is recited, particularly Surat al-Baqarah.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "Do not turn your houses into graves," i.e., do not make them similar to the graves, devoid of dhikr and worship, and allocate for them a share of the recitation of the Qur'an and prayer. It is narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Perform some of your prayers in your houses, and do not turn them into graves."
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that the devil flees and runs away from the house where Surat al-Baqarah is recited, because he despairs of alluring the inhabitants of that house due to the blessing of this Surah, or because he sees their seriousness and diligence regarding religion and worship. When the Qur'an in general is recited in a house, it becomes spacious for its inhabitants, its blessings increase, it gets frequented by the angels, and the devils are expelled from it. On the other hand, when the Qur'an is not recited in a house, it becomes straitened for its inhabitants, its blessings decrease, the angels run away from it, and the devils visit it.
The Hadīth indicates the merit of Surat al-Baqarah and its superiority to other Surahs, and it is indeed superior, for it combines Shar‘i rulings more than any other Surah of the Qur'an. It contains the characteristics of the believers, the traits of the hypocrites, an explanation of the stories of the Children of Israel, the forbiddance of sorcery and usury, and mentions of the Qiblah, prayer, fasting, Hajj, ‘Umrah, divorce, waiting periods, debts, conditions, mortgage, and legal retribution, as well as other rulings.
In the Hadīth: Urging recitation of the Qur'an and a lot of dhikr in the houses
And in it: Informing people that the Qur'an and dhikr make houses and hearts alive and populated..

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Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you gets up to pray at night and the Qur'an becomes difficult for his tongue, and he is unaware of what he is reciting, he should lie down.".

Commentary : Qiyām al-Layl is the source of honor for the believer, and it has great merit. Hence, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urged its regular observance and that a person should engage in it while in a state of activeness and vigor, for this is more beneficial and appropriate.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentions that when a Muslim gets up to perform a supererogatory prayer or recite the Qur'an during the night, "and the Qur'an becomes difficult for his tongue," i.e., it becomes hard for his tongue, and he cannot recite it in a correct manner that accurately conveys its words and meanings, due to heavy sleepiness, to the extent that he is not aware of what he is reciting from the Qur'an, and he will probably fall into some distortion or error. If this happens, he should go to sleep and not pray or recite the Qur'an while in this condition. He should take a rest until his vigor is restored to him.
So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urged his Ummah to perform acts of worship that do not put them in hardship, while acceptance of their worship lies with Allah. This comes from Allah's mercy towards the Muslim Ummah, as He removed undue restrictions and difficulties from them in their worship, and He wanted ease for them, not hardship. Allah Almighty says: {Allah wants ease for you and does not want hardship for you.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 185] Allah Almighty also says: {Allah does not burden any soul greater than it can bear.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 286]
In the Hadīth: Urging us to come to prayer while in a state of humility, focus, and activeness.

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Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Would any one of you, when he returns to his family, like to find three large, fat, and pregnant she-camels?" We said: 'Yes.' He said: "Three verses that one of you recites in his prayer are better for him than three large, fat, and pregnant she-camels.".

Commentary : Recitation of the Qur'an brings goodness and blessing, for it is the extended rope of Allah, and it affords tranquility of the soul and abundance of rewards, and it leads to salvation on the Day of Judgment. If the recitation is in prayer, the merit becomes greater and the reward more abundant.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked his Companions: "Would any one of you like, when he returns to his family," i.e., when he returns home, where his wife and children are, to find in their place or house "three pregnant she-camels?" A "khalifah" is a pregnant she-camel. It used to be one of the most precious properties among the Arabs. and 'large' and 'fat'. If a she-camel is also large and fat, it becomes even dearer. They replied to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the affirmative, by the necessity of nature and looking forward to the reward. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed them that reciting three verses in prayer is better than the three pregnant she-camels. The reward for the recitation of three verses in prayer is better and more meritorious than the reward for possessing those she-camels. This is because the recitation of three verses belongs to the enduring good things that are beneficial in the Hereafter, whereas the she-camels are among the supplementary and transient things in the world. He mentioned three verses because this is the minimum number to form a plural number. Yet, this matter is not limited to reciting three verses only. Rather, the more verses a worshiper recites in his prayer, the greater the reward he will get in proportion to their number.
In the Hadīth: Urging recitation of the Qur'an in prayer.

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‘Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came out while we were in As-Suffah and asked: "Which of you would like to go out every morning to But'hān or Al-‘Aqīq and bring two large-humped she-camels without being guilty of sin or severing ties of kinship?" We replied: "O Messenger of Allah, we would like that." He said: "Does not one of you go out in the morning to the mosque and learn or recite two verses of the Book of Allah Almighty? That is better for him than two she-camels, and three verses are better for him than three she-camels, and four verses are better for him than four she-camels, and so on.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach his Companions the merit of the noble Qur'an and demonstrate the reward for learning, teaching, and reciting it.
In this Hadīth, ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came to them while they were sitting in As-Suffah, a shaded area in the Prophet's Mosque, where the poor Muhājirūn (Immigrants) used to take refuge. He asked them: "Which of you would like to go out every morning to But'hān", a place near Madīnah that stretches from its south to its west, "or to Al-‘Aqīq", a valley in Madīnah whose water gathers from Al-‘Aqīq area, which is located more than 100km to the south of Madīnah and it stretches to its outskirts. He mentioned But'hān and Al-‘Aqīq in particular because they were the closest places to Madīnah where camel markets were held. "and bring two large-humped she-camels"; he mentioned such camels as an example because they are among the most precious property to the Arabs; and that he will gain the two she-camels without being guilty of sin such as stealing or severing kinship ties with them? The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) replied that they would like and love that. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to those who want to obtain this goodness: "Does not any of you go out in the morning to the mosque", going there early, "and learn or recite two verses of the Book of Allah Almighty? That is better for him than two she-camels" i.e., the goodness that stems from learning two verses or reciting them is better in the sight of Allah than obtaining two she-camels and the benefit to be gained through them. Likewise, three verses are better than three she-camels, and four verses are better than four she-camels. His words "and so on" mean that if he learns or recites more verses, he will get what is better than the same number of she-camels. This indicates that learning the Qur'an is better than the pursuit of wealth, as a general rule; and this is more so when a person has a lot of free time.
The Hadīth points out the merit of seeking knowledge and the merit of learning the Qur'an.
It demonstrates how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to preach to his Companions and guide them. Leaders should learn from this and follow the Prophet's example in dealing with their subjects..

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Abu ’Umāmah al-Bāhili reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Recite the Qur'an, for it will come as an intercessor on the Day of Judgment for its reciters. Recite the two illuminating ones: Surat al-Baqarah and Surat Āl ‘Imrān, for they will come as if they were two clouds, two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks defending their reciters. Recite Surat al-Baqarah, for reading it is a blessing; abandoning it is a cause of regret, and the Batalah (sorcerers) cannot handle it." Mu‘āwiyah said: It has been conveyed to me that the Batalah are sorcerers. [In a version]: But he said, "As if they were" regarding both of them, and did not mention the statement of Mu'wiyah: "It has been conveyed to me.".

Commentary : Recitation of the Qur'an brings goodness and blessing for those who recite it and comply with it, for it is the extended rope of Allah. And it affords tranquility of the soul and abundance of rewards, leads to salvation on the Day of Judgment, and provides protection against magicians in the worldly life, particularly Surat al-Baqarah and Surat Āl ‘Imrān.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urges the recitation of the Qur'an and commands doing so persistently. And he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says that the Qur'an will be embodied in a form seen by the people on the Day of Judgment, as Allah will give people's deeds a form and weight so that they will be placed on the scale. The Qur'an will intercede for those who recite and act upon it and plead for them before Allah Almighty, seeking forgiveness for them and that they be saved from Hellfire and admitted into Paradise, or that their ranks in Paradise be elevated.
He repeated the word 'recite' to urge the recitation of certain Surahs and to emphasize their special merit regarding intercession. His words are: "the two illuminating ones" refer to Surat al-Baqarah and Surat Āl ‘Imrān which were called as such because they are two lights, or because of the abundance of the lights of the Shar‘i rulings and the excellent names therein. Undoubtedly, the light of the speech of Allah is greater and brighter, and each Surah in the Qur'an is an illuminating one, given the rulings and admonitions contained in it and because it provides healing for the chests, illumination for the hearts, and multiplication of the rewards for its reciters. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) singled out the recitation of Surat al-Baqarah and Surat Āl ‘Imrān to demonstrate their high status and affirm their special merit regarding intercession for those who persistently recite them and act upon what they contain. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that they will be embodied and take a specific form and appear as if they were "two clouds" that will shade their companion from the heat of this situation of standing. Clouds are given this name because they cloud and conceal the sky. "or two shades." A "ghayāyah" or shade is anything that provides a person with a cover above his head, like a cloud and so on. "or two flocks," i.e., two groups or parties, "of birds in ranks." This is a flock of birds extending their wings and being linked to one another. The intended meaning is that they will protect their receiver from the heat of this situation of standing and the distress of the Day of Judgment. Also, they will push against Hellfire and its keepers, or plead for intercession for him, or when he is questioned, when his tongue does not speak, his lips are sealed, and his arguments are lost.
His words: "Reciting Surat al-Baqarah" constitutes a specification in addition to the previous specification. He first mentioned the Qur'an as a whole, and then singled out the two illuminating Surahs, and then singled out Surat al-Baqarah from both of them. This indicates its high status and great merit. He said: "for taking it" - by persistently reciting it, pondering its meanings, and acting upon what it contains - "is a blessing," i.e., increase, growth, and a great benefit for its reciter. "abandoning it is regret," i.e., deploring and feeling sorrowful over the missed reward. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that "the Batalah," i.e., the sorcerers, cannot overcome it. This means that they cannot recite it because of their deviation from the truth and engrossment in falsehood; or that they cannot repel it and penetrate its protection for he who recites and memorizes it, as it shields its reciter and memorizer from magic. It was said: The "Batalah" refers to idle and lethargic people, for they cannot memorize or recite it due to its length, whereas they are prone to laziness. Another version uses 'and' not 'or': "and as if they were two shades, and as if they were two flocks of birds in ranks." Reconciling the two versions, the 'or' in the first version is not used for doubt, giving choices in likening the two Surahs, or hesitation. Rather, it is for diversification and division of the reciters, for a group of them will see the two Surahs as two clouds, another group will see them as two shades, and another group as two flocks of birds stretching out their wings.
In the Hadīth: Urging the recitation of the Qur'an, the merit of Surat al-Baqarah and Surat Āl ‘Imrān, and the significance of Surat al-Baqarah in particular..