| Hadiths

Bukhari Hadiths 1356
Muslim Hadiths 558

Hadith

2237

Aboo Mas‘ood Al-Ansaaree(may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Allah's Messengerﷺ forbade availing oneself of the price of a dog, money earned by prostitution, and the earnings of a soothsayer.
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Commentary : Allah, Exalted is He, deemed lawful that which is good and ritually pure, and deemed unlawful that which is evil and ritually impure, with regards to food, beverages, earnings, trade, and so on. The Laws of Islam also urges Muslims to be gracious and deem themselves far above trivial and inferior aspirations.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Mas‘ood Al-Ansaaree(may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ forbade three things. First, the sale of dogs and availing oneself of the price. In fact, such earnings are declared unlawful, because it is prohibited to own and keep dogs, except those used for guarding livestock or crops. It was said that this is a general Laws of Islam ruling whether such a dogis trained for hunting or not, and whether or not it is allowable to keep such dog as per the laws of Islam. It was also 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.” This means that he ﷺ forbade the price of dogs except for the ones the keeping of which are deemed allowable as per the laws of Islam given their benefit. It is also possible that the prohibition of taking and availing oneself of the dog’s price was prescribed in the early days of Islam and was later abrogated, and it was deemed allowable to use dogs for hunting animals and sell dogs just like other hunting animals.
The second is the money earned by a prostitute in return for engaging in illicit sexual intercourse with non-Mahram men. The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Mahr’ because such money is paid in a similar context of the dower in the case of lawful marriage.
In the pre-Islamic era, people used to force their slave-girls into prostitution to earn money, but Islam renounced this practice. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, Allah is [to them], after their compulsion, Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 24:33].
The third category is the earnings of a soothsayer in return for their prediction of the unseen.
A soothsayer refers to the one who claims to know the unseen, and informs people of his claims about unseen beings and future events. The reference here incorporates all those who claim such knowledge (to foresee the future), including astrologers, soothsayers who throw stones, and the like. The Arabic word used for the fees paid to a soothsayer is ‘Hulwaan’ literally denoting something sweet, because such money is taken for no real service rendered..

2239

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: Allah's Messengerﷺ came to Al-Madeenah and people used to pay in advance the price of fruits to be delivered within one or two years. (The sub-narrator doubted whether it was one to two years or two to three years.) The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever pays money in advance for dates (to be delivered later) should pay it for known specified weight and measure (of dates)”.
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Commentary : Al-Salaf or Salam transaction (i.e., a sale of payment in advance) refers to a sale transaction whereby a buyer purchases a clearly defined item to be delivered in a fixed future date and pays its price in advance, in the contracting session.
In this hadeeth, ‘AbdullahIbn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them)stated that when the Prophet ﷺ migrated to Al-Madeenah, he ﷺ found the Ansaar conducting Salaf transactions - also called Salam, because it stipulates immediate payment of the specified price in the contracting session. They used to sell crops to be delivered within one, two, or three years, for an immediate payment paid in the contracting session. The Prophet ﷺ approved such transactions, yet set certain conditions for their validity. He ﷺ said that when someone buys crops: dates, wheat, or barley for example, to be delivered after one or two years for an immediate payment made in the contracting session, the purchased commodity must be clearly defined and specified. This means that the commodity must be of a specified weight and measure, and the delivery date must be fixed, e.g., a year or two, rather than an unspecified future time, to avoid potential Gharar (i.e., risk and uncertainty) and ambiguity that could occur in such sale transactions, and to eliminate potential disputes and conflicts.
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2244

Muhammad ibn Al-Mijaalid narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn Shaddad and Aboo Burdah sent me to ‘Abdullah ibn Abee Awfaa (may Allah be pleased with them) and told me to ask ‘Abdullah whether the people in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ used to pay in advance for wheat (to be delivered in a future time). ‘Abdullah replied, "We used to pay in advance to the peasants of Shaam for wheat, barley and olive oil of a known specified measure to be delivered in a specified future time." I asked (him), "Was the price paid (in advance) to those who had the sold items to be delivered later?" ‘Abdullah ibn Awfaa replied, "We did not use to ask them about that." Then they sent me to ‘Abdul- Rahmaan ibn Abzaa and I asked him. He replied, "The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) of the Prophet ﷺ used to conduct Salam transactions during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ; and we did not ask them whether or not they had standing crops."
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Commentary : Al-Salaf or Salam transaction (i.e., a sale of payment in advance) refers to a sale transaction whereby a buyer purchases a clearly defined item to be delivered later,on a fixed future date, and pays its price in advance, in the contracting session.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions)Muhammad ibn Al-Mijaalid narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn Shaddad ibn Al-Haad and Aboo Burdah ibn Abee Moosaa Al-Ash‘ari differed about whether or not the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to pay in advance for wheat to be delivered at a future time during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, as narrated in the version complied in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree. They sent him to ‘Abdullah ibn Abee Awfaa (may Allah be pleased with them) to ask him about it, and he (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “We used to pay in advance to the peasants of Shaam for wheat, barley and olive oil of a known specified measure to be delivered at a specified future time.” The version of the hadeeth recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree reads, “… some Nabateans from those of Syria used to come to us.” The Nabateans were Arabs who mixed with non-Arabs and Romans, and this corrupted their language and lineage. Those of them who mixed with the non-Arabs settled in Al-Bataa’ih between Basrah and Kufa, and those who mixed with the Romans settled in the valleys of Shaam (Greater Syria or Levant) and were called: Al-Nabat, Al-Nabeet, and the Nabataeans. They were given these names because they were known for groundwater extraction as they worked in agriculture. They used to buy from them wheat, barley, oil - and in another version of the hadeeth: ‘and raisins’ - of known specified measures to be delivered at a specified future time. This means that they would buy these crops for an immediate payment, and specify their measure and future delivery date. Ibn Abee Al-Milaaid asked him: “Was the price paid (in advance) to those who had the sold items to be delivered later?” He asked him whether or not the Salam transaction is valid if the seller does not grow wheat or grapes to begin with, and ‘Abdullah ibn Awfaa replied, “We did not use to ask them about that.”
Then ‘Abdullah ibn Shaddad and Aboo Burdah (may Allah be pleased with them) sent Ibn Abee Al-Milaaid to ‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn Abzaa (may Allah be pleased with him) and he asked him about it, and he replied, "The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) of the Prophet ﷺ used to conduct Salam transactions during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ; and we did not use to ask them whether they had standing crops or not." This means that they did not ask them whether or not they grew such crops. This fosters ease and facilitation (preached by the Laws of Islam), and to opt for leniency regarding the matters that were pardoned as per the laws of Islam.
The hadeeth also highlights that Muslims are urged to consult the people of knowledge about disagreements and disputes (regarding religious matters).
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2246

Aboo Al-Bakhtaree At-Taa’ee said: I asked Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) about the Salam transaction for (the fruits of) date-palms. He (may Allah be pleased with him) replied "The Prophet ﷺ forbade the sale of unpicked dates till they became (ripe and) ready for consumption and could be weighed." A man asked what to be weighed (as the dates were still on the trees). Another man sitting beside Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) replied, "Till they are cut and stored." Aboo Al-Bakhtari said: I heard Ibn ‘Abbaas (saying) that the Prophet ﷺforbade ... etc. as above.
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Commentary : Any sale in which the sold item cannot be delivered, or its measure or weight is unspecified, is invalid as per the laws of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ forbade some forms of sales that fit this profile, including the one mentioned in this hadeeth.
The Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions)Aboo Al-Bakhtari At-Taa’ee narrated that he asked ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) about the Salam transaction for dates. Salam transaction (i.e., a sale of payment in advance) refers to a sales transaction whereby a buyer purchases a clearly defined item to be delivered at a fixed future date, and pays its price in advance, in the contracting session. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) replied "The Prophet ﷺ forbade the sale of unpicked dates till they became (ripe and) ready for consumption,” meaning that dates may not be sold except after they become ripe and edible, “and could be weighed.” A man asked what was to be weighed (as the dates were still on the trees). It is not possible to know the measure of unpicked dates! Another man sitting beside Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) replied, “(It rather means) Till they are cut and stored.” Another version of the hadeeth reads: “… after their measure/weight is estimated,” meaning without plucking them. This helps with regard to knowing the amount of the due Zakaah payable to the poor before the owner disposes of the dates, and knowing the quantity that will be sold, so that there should be no ambiguity of the sold item, nor Gharra (i.e., risk and uncertainty) regarding its value. The one who estimates the measure/weight of the fruits on the trees is called Khaaris (estimator).
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2258

‘Amr ibn Al-Shareed said:
While I was standing with Sa‘d ibn Abee Waqqaas, Al-Miswaar ibn Makhramah (may Allah be pleased with them) came and put his hand on my shoulder. Meanwhile Aboo Raafi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him), the freed slave of the Prophet ﷺ came and asked Sa‘d to buy from him the (two) dwellings which were in his house. Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "By Allah I will not buy them." Al-Miswaar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "By Allah, you shall buy them." Sa‘d replied, "By Allah, I will not pay more than four thousand (Dirhams) in installment!" Aboo Raafi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I have been offered five hundred Dinars (for it) and had I not heard the Prophet ﷺ saying, 'The neighbor has more right (i.e., preemption) than anyone else because of his nearness,’ I would not have sold them to you for four-thousand (Dirhams) while I am offered five-hundred Dinars (i.e., one Dinar equals ten Dirhams) for them.” So, he sold it to Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him)..

Commentary : The Laws of Islam delineated the provisions regulating sales transactions in general, and of those involving one’s neighbors in particular. It clarified the provisions regarding the right of pre-emption (when selling property) to one’s neighbors because they have more right to buy neighboring property.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions) ‘Amr ibn Al-Shareed stated that he stood with Sa‘d ibn Abee Waqqaas once when Al-Miswaar ibn Makhramah (may Allah be pleased with them) came and put his hand on his shoulder, indicating their mutual affection and love. Meanwhile Aboo Raafi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him), the freed slave of the Prophet ﷺ, came and asked Sa‘d to buy from him the (two) dwellings which were in his house, because Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) had the right of Shuf‘ah (pre-emption), but he said, "By Allah I will not buy them." He (may Allah be pleased with him) swore not to buy them, but Al-Miswaar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “By Allah, you shall buy them.” Sa‘d said that he would not pay more than four thousand (Dirhams) in installments. The Arabic word used in the hadeeth - Munajjamah or Muqata‘ah, meaning “in installments,” - was doubted by one of the narrators, and the intended meaning is that such payments would be made at specified times. Aboo Raafi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) told him that he was offered five hundred Dinars for the dwellings, and this means that the price offered by Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) was one thousand Dirhams (silver) or one hundred Dinars (gold) less than the other offer. Aboo Raafi‘ asked him, “How would I sell it to you for four thousand Dirhams, and I turned down an offer to sell it for five thousand Dirhams?!”
However, he sold it to Sa‘d for the lower price and stated that he did so in compliance with the Prophet’s command, as he ﷺ said: ‘A neighbor has more right (of pre-emption) than anyone else to property that is near his.’ The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Saqb’ meaning physical proximity or nearness. A co-owner may be referred to as a ‘neighbor’ because he may co-own the joint property and live therein. This establishes his right of pre-emption, to buy the neighboring property that is near his. He (may Allah be pleased with him) explained that had it not been for the right of pre-emption, he would not have sold it to him for four-thousand (Dirhams) in installments while he had been offered five-hundred Dinars for them.
The hadeeth highlights the Companions’ keenness to comply with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and act upon his commands, and their willingness to incur financial loss for the sake of such compliance.
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2259

‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
I said, “O Allah's Messengerﷺ! I have two neighbors and would like to know to whom of them I should give presents.” He ﷺ replied, "To the one whose door is nearer to yours."
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Commentary : Allah, Exalted is He, urged Muslims to show kindness to their neighbors; He Says (what means): {… the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side.} [Quran 4:36]. Moreover, the Prophet ﷺ also commanded Muslims to honor the rights of their neighbors, and warned against harming them and infringing on their rights. The closer a neighbor is, the greater his rights are.
In this hadeeth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) stated that she asked the Prophet ﷺ, “I have two neighbors and would like to know to whom of them I should give presents.” He ﷺ replied, “To the one whose door is nearer to yours.” This is because the closer neighbors have greater rights, and deserve generosity and kindness more than those farther away from, for he sees what comes in and out of his house, and would naturally aspire to a share of such benefits. Moreover, the closer neighbors would respond faster to his call for help when he seeks it. Therefore, he should give the greatest share of his kindness and generosity to the closer neighbors whose doors are next to his, even if their houses are not the nearest.
This is meant for arranging one’s priorities when fulfilling neighbors’ rights, especially if one could not afford to offer gifts to all his neighbors.
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2263

‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
The Prophet ﷺ and Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) employed a (pagan) man from the tribe of Banee Al-Deel and the tribe of Banee ‘Abd ibn ‘Adiy as a guide. He was an expert guide and he had made a covenant with the tribe of Al-‘Aasi ibn Waa’il and adhered to the religion of Quraysh pagans. The Prophet ﷺ and Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) had confidence in him and gave him their riding camels and told him to bring them to the Cave of Thawr after three days. So, he brought them their two riding camels after three days and both of them (The Prophet ﷺ and Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) set out accompanied by ‘Aamir ibn Fuhayrah and the guide from Al-Deel tribe who guided them below Makkah along the road leading to the sea-shore.
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Commentary :
Despite the many reprehensible qualities and habits associated with pre-Islamic society in Arabia, it was also characterized by many benign traits that were later on approved by Islam, the most important of which were chivalry and fulfillment of covenants. These two good qualities were infused in the moral characters of Arabs.
This hadeeth highlights the situation of an Arab disbeliever named ‘Abdullah ibn Urayqit, reflecting these qualities. ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) stated that when the Prophet ﷺ and Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) decided to emigrate to Al-Madeenah, they hired a man from Banee Al-Deel, who belonged to Banee ‘Abd ibn ‘Adiy, named ‘Abdullah ibn Urayqit as their guide, for he was an expert guide who was well-acquainted with the hidden paths and narrow passageways, and knew his way around the desert. ‘Abdullah ibn Urayqit had made a covenant with Banee Al-‘Aas ibn Waa’il. The Arabic verb used in the hadeeth is ‘Ghamsa’ meaning to dip one’s hand into blood or similar liquids, as Arabs customarily did to affirm their commitment to covenants and alliances. The Prophet ﷺ and Aboo Bakr Al-Siddeeq (may Allah be pleased with him) entrusted Ibn Urayqit, as they knew of his chivalry and discretion. Therefore, they placed their confidence in him and trusted him with their secret migration out of Makkah, and the two she-camels they gave him to bring along when they agreed to meet three nights later in the cave of Thawr, a mountain at the (southern) end of Makkah. Ibn Urayqit honored his commitment and covenant with them and brought them the two she-camels at that agreed-upon time in Thawr Cave. Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ, Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), ‘Aamir ibn Fuhayrah, and their guide Ibn Urayqit set off on their journey. They walked down a route from the end of Makkah all the way to Al-Madeenah, along theRed Sea coast.
‘Aamir ibn Fuhayrah was the freed slave of Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) who shepherded sheep, and he would take the sheep in the evening and go to them in the cave to give them milk; he did this for three nights.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is allowable to hire a non-Muslim worker. It is also inferred that it is allowable for two people to hire one worker to perform one task for both of them.
It is also deduced therefrom that it is allowable to hire a worker to perform a task after a specified period of time, and that the contract concluded before the commencement of the work is valid.
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2271

Aboo Moosaa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "The example of Muslims, Jews, and Christians is like the example of a man who employed laborers to work for him from morning till night for specific wages. They worked till midday and then said, 'We do not need your money which you have fixed for us and let whatever we have done be annulled.' The man said to them, 'Do not quit the work, but complete the rest of it and take your full wages,' but they refused and went away. The man employed another batch after them and said to them, 'Complete the rest of the day and yours will be the wages I had fixed for the first batch.' So, they worked till the time of ‘Asr prayer. Then they said, "Let what we have done be annulled and keep the wages you promised us for yourself.' The man said to them, 'Complete the rest of the work, as only a little part of the day remains,' but they refused. Thereafter he employed another batch to work for the rest of the day and they worked for the rest of the day till the sunset, and they received the wages of the two former batches. So, that was the example of those people (Muslims) and the example of this light (guidance) which they have accepted willingly.”
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Commentary : Allah, Exalted is He, sent Muhammad ﷺ as the last of all the Prophets, rendered his message (i.e., Islam) the concluding divine message, and commanded all humankind to follow him. Therefore, it is incumbent on all people, including the Jews and Christians, to follow the religion of Islam. Alas, most of the Jews and Christians refused to follow it, disbelieved in what was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ, and rather adhered to their distorted books. In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ gave a similitude of the situation of Muslims, Jews and Christians. He ﷺ likened their situation to a man who had hired some people to do some work for him till the night, and promised them specified wages. They worked till midday, refused to complete their work, and then said to the employer, 'We do not need your money which you have fixed for us, and let whatever we have done be annulled.' Meaning that they annulled their agreement and would not ask him for any payment. The man said to them, 'Do not quit the work; complete the rest of it and take your full wages,' but they refused. These people symbolized the Jews, and this indicates that they had disbelieved, turned away from the truth, and Allah, Exalted is He, has turned them down. It also indicates that their good deeds were rendered void and worthless when they disbelieved in Prophet ‘Eesaa (Jesus) and distorted the divine law revealed to them; they were denied their full rewards due to their defiant refrainment from completing their duties and for not honoring their commitment.
The man employed another batch to complete the task and said to them, 'Complete the rest of (the work till the end of) the day and yours will be the wages I had fixed for the first batch.' They worked till the time of ‘Asr prayer, and then did as the previous group did! These people symbolized the Christians. Thereafter he employed another batch to work for the rest of the day, and they completed the work till the sunset, and received the wages of the two former batches. They (symbolizing Muslims) deserved the wages (rewards) of the two previous batches due to their belief in the three Prophets Muhammad, Moosaa, and ‘Eesaa ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The example of those people (Muslims) and the example of this light (guidance) which they have accepted willingly,” meaning that this is the similitude of Muslims, Jews, and Christians in accepting Islam, and following the light of (the divine) guidance. Since Muslims acknowledged the truth with which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was sent and adhered to it unto the Day of Resurrection, they deserved the rewards of the believers who would have adhered to the truth since the beginning of time till its end, because they completed the task for the rest of the appointed time, devoting worship exclusively to Allah, Exalted is He, like what the third batch of workers did when they completed the work for which the first batch (Jews) were originally hired.
The hadeeth highlights the special honor and divine bestowal conferred upon Muslims and that they are promised abundant rewards for their few good deeds.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that a person's deeds are judged according to the concluding and final ones.
It is also inferred therefrom that it is permissible to give examples and similitudes for education and amplification purposes..

2272

‘AbdullahNarrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
I heard Allah's Messenger ﷺ saying, "Three men from the previous nations set out on a journey together till they reached a cave at night and entered it. A big rock rolled down the mountain and blocked the mouth of the cave. They said (to each other), ‘Nothing could save you from this rock but to invoke Allah, Exalted is He, by virtue of your righteous deed which you have done (and devoted exclusively to Him).' So, one of them said, 'O Allah! I had old parents and I never served milk to my own dependents before them. One day, I happened to be delayed and came late (at night) while they had slept. I milked the sheep for them and took the milk to them, but found them sleeping. I disliked to serve my family the milk before them. Therefore, I waited for them holding the bowl of milk in my hand, and kept on waiting for them to get up till the day dawned. Then they got up and drank the milk. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us of our calamity caused by this rock.' So, the rock shifted a little but they could not get out." The Prophet ﷺ added, "The second man said, 'O Allah! I had a cousin who was the most beloved of all people to me and I wanted to have an illicit sexual intercourse with her but she refused. Later on, she had a hard time during a year of famine and came to me (for help). I gave her one hundred and twenty Dinars on the condition that she would not resist my desire (i.e., agree to have intercourse with me), and she complied. When I was about to approach her, she said: It is unlawful to deflower me except rightfully (i.e., by marriage). So, I refrained from committing that sin (of Fornication) and left her though she was the most beloved of all the people to me. I also left the gold I had given her. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us of our present calamity.' So, the rock shifted a little more but still they could not get out from there." The Prophet ﷺ added, "Then the third man said, 'O Allah! I employed few laborers and I paid them their wages with the exception of one man who did not take his wages and went away. I invested his wages and earned a great wealth thereby. (Then after some time) he came back and said to me: O Allah's slave! Pay me my wages. I said to him: All the camels, cows, sheep, and slaves you see, are yours. He said: O Allah's slave! Do not mock me. I said: I am not mocking you. So, he took all the herd and drove them away and left nothing. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us of our suffering.' So, that rock shifted completely and they got out walking.”
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Commentary :
Imploring Allah, Exalted is He, by virtue of one’s good deeds that were devoted exclusively to Him is a way to have all one’s distress and calamities relieved.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ related that three men, who belonged to the previous nations, set out on a journey. The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Raht’ which literally means a group of men whose number is below ten. They sought shelter in a cave to spend their night. The version recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim stated that they entered it because of the rain. A big rock rolled down the mountain and blocked the mouth of the cave, and they were trapped inside. They said (to each other), ‘Nothing could save you from this rock but to invoke Allah, Exalted is He, by virtue of a righteous deed that you have done (and devoted exclusively to Him),' to ensure that your supplications would be most likely answered and the rock would be moved.
“One of them said, 'O Allah! I had old parents and I never served milk to my own dependents before them,’ meaning he never served the milk at night to anyone else before them, not even his own family, and this indicated his dutifulness towards them, putting them before his own family and children. He added that he came back once late due to some needs to find his parents asleep. He prepared the milk that they usually drank before going to bed, but when he went home, he found them asleep; he disliked breaking his habit of serving them the milk first. Therefore, he did not drink milk that night nor did he serve it to his family. He said: ‘I waited for them holding the bowl of milk in my hand, and I kept on waiting for them to get up till the day dawned,’ he did not wake them up and chose to stay up all night until they woke up on their own. He said: “O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, I implore you to relieve us of our calamity caused by this rock,’ and grant us a way out of this cave. The Prophet ﷺ stated that the rock shifted a little but they could not get out.
The second man said, 'O Allah! I had a cousin who was the most beloved of all people to me and I wanted to have illicit sexual intercourse with her but she refused. Later on, she had a hard time during a year of famine and came to me (for help). I gave her one hundred and twenty Dinars on the condition that she would not resist my desire (i.e., agree to have intercourse with me), and she complied. When I was about to approach her, she said: ‘O Servant of Allah! Fear Allah,’ as recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim. In this version, she said: ‘It is unlawful to deflower me except rightfully (by marriage),’ reminding him of Allah, Exalted is He, and urging him to fear Him. She asked him to keep away from her and not to have illicit intercourse with her and deflower her without marriage that Allah has deemed lawful. Thereupon, he did not touch her as she reminded him of the right of Allah. The man said: “So, I refrained from committing that sin (of Fornication) and left her though she was the most beloved of all the people to me,” and this indicated that his deep love for her would most likely drive him to have intercourse with her, yet he refrained from falling into this sin and left the money he had given her. He added: “O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, I implore you to relieve us of our present calamity.' The Prophet ﷺ stated that the rock shifted a little more but still they could not get out from there.
The Prophet ﷺ added, "Then the third man said, 'O Allah! I employed a few laborers and I paid them their wages with the exception of one man who did not take his wages and went away. I invested his wages,’ meaning in trade, ‘and I earned great wealth thereby. (Then after some time) he came and,asked for his wages. He said to him: ‘All the camels, cows, sheep and slaves you see, are yours. He (the hired worker) said: ‘O Allah's slave! Do not mock me,’ as he could not believe that his wages would have generated such great wealth. The employer said: ‘I am not mocking you.’ The hired worker took all the wealth and drove them away and left nothing, and this indicates that the employer did not covet any of his wealth, and did not even aspire to a reward or compensation for investing his wages on his behalf. He said: “O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, I implore you to relieve us of this suffering.' Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ stated that rock shifted completely and they got out walking.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is permissible to implore Allah, The Exalted, by virtue of one’s good deeds.
It also highlights the virtue of sincerity and devoting one’s intentions and deeds exclusively to Allah, Exalted is He.
It also underlines the merits of showing dutifulness towards the parents, and the virtues of giving preference to them over all one’s family members and relatives.
It also underscores the virtue of abstaining from prohibitions, of mindfulness of Allah, Exalted is He, and of fearing Him.
It also urges Muslims to do good to others without aspiring to a reward from them, and to beware of greed..

2274

Taawoos narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) said, "The Prophet ﷺ forbade the meeting of trading caravans (on the way) and ordained that no townsman is permitted to sell things on behalf of a Bedouin." I asked Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them), "What is the meaning of his saying, 'No townsman is permitted to sell things on behalf of a Bedouin.' He (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "He should not work as a broker for him.”
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Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ forbade transactions that incur harm on people. Since human beings are infused with an inclination to love what benefits them and do what best serves their personal interests, even if it harms others, the Laws of Islamprovisions were prescribed to restrain the evil-enjoining self. One such provision that was prescribed to restrain and curb human greed is what the Prophet ﷺ prohibited in this hadeeth. He ﷺ forbade going out to meet the trading caravans (on their way) before they reach the marketplaces to buy their goods and then resell them for a higher price, taking advantage of the traders’ ignorance of their market values and prices or the buyer's needs. This incurs harm on the seller, because he may sell the goods for less than their market prices in this town, which may harm its people, because this buyer may monopolize such goods, controlling their price and increasing them as he wishes.
He ﷺ also forbade a townsman from selling goods on behalf of a Bedouin. This means that a Bedouin may not appoint a townsman to sell his goods on his behalf in any given village or town for higher prices, acting as a broker and mediator in the sales transaction. The wisdom behind the prohibition in this regard is that it best serves people’s interests; a townsman may sell the commodity for a higher price, but if the Bedouin sells his own goods, he may sell it for a lower price, and this would be more beneficial for people. Moreover, a townsman may harm the interests of the Bedouin, i.e., principal, and be a reason for imperiling him to deceit.
The hadeeth highlights the Prophet’s keenness to preserve the best interests of Muslims and his kindness towards them, even with regard to their worldly affairs.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that a ruler guides people (to what is lawful and unlawful) with regard to their business and sales transactions..

2276

Aboo Sa’eed(may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that some Companions of the Prophet ﷺwent on a journey till they reached some of the Arab tribes (at night). They asked the latter to receive them as their guests but they refused. The chief of that tribe was then bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and they tried their best to cure him but in vain. Some of them said (to the others), "Nothing has benefited him, will you go to those people who stayed here that night; one of them might possess something (as treatment)." They went to the Companions(may Allah be pleased with them) and said, "Our chief has been bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and we have tried everything but he has not benefited. Have you got anything (useful)?" One of them replied, "Yes, by Allah! I can recite a Ruqyah (i.e., Quranic healing), but as you have refused to accept us as your guests, I will not recite the Ruqyah for you unless you pay us wages for it." They agreed to pay them a flock of sheep. One of them then went and recited (Surat Al-Faatihah): 'Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds,' and puffed over the chief who became all right as if he was released from a chain; he got up and started walking, showing no signs of sickness! They paid them what they agreed to pay. Some of them (i.e., the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them)) then suggested to divide their earnings among themselves, but the one who performed the recitation said, "Do not divide them till we go to the Prophet ﷺ and narrate the whole story to him, and wait for his command." So, they went to Allah's Messenger ﷺ and narrated the story. He ﷺasked, “How did you know that Soorat Al-Faatihah is recited as Ruqyah?” Then he ﷺ added, "You have done the right thing. Divide (what you have earned) and assign a share for me as well." The Prophet ﷺ smiled thereupon.
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Commentary :
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with him) keenly sought the opinion of the Prophet ﷺ on every new matter concerning their personal affairs, even if it seemed a righteous deed; they still demanded his consent or disapproval (prohibition).
In this hadeeth, Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudhree (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that he went on a journey with a group of Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). They passed by a tribe, and asked them for the usual hospitality as their guests, but they refrained. As these Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were in their place of residence, the chief of the tribe was stung by a scorpion and was poisoned. The pain intensified, and they tried their best to cure him but in vain.Some of them said (to the others), "Nothing has benefited him, will you go to those people who stayed here,” meaning the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Raht’ which is used to refer to a group of men below ten, and it was also said that it refers to a group of men below forty. They added, “…one of them might possess something (as treatment).” One of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) informed them that he would cure him by means of Ruqyah (i.e., Quranic healing), provided that they paid them fees, because they had refused to welcome them as their guests and show them the usual hospitality. They agreed to pay him a flock of sheep in return for curing their chief. The version recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree read: “… thirty sheep.” He then went and recited (Soorat Al-Faatihah): “Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds” and puffed over the chief; Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) added that he, “became all right as if he was released from a chain,” meaning that his pain ended immediately as if he was released from a chain; “he got up and started walking, showing no signs of sickness.” The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Qalabah’ meaning illness, and the word literally denotes turning something upside down. It is given this name because a patient may beasked to lie on his back during the medical examination. They paid them the agreed-upon fee, and some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) then suggested to divide their earnings among themselves, but the one who recited the Ruqyah, i.e., Aboo Sa’eed(may Allah be pleased with him), as stated in Musnad Ahmad, forbade them until they went to the Prophet ﷺ, related the whole story to him, and waited for his command. They went to Allah's Messenger ﷺ and narrated the story, and he ﷺasked Aboo Sa’eed(may Allah be pleased with him), “How did you know that Soorat Al-Faatihah is recited as Ruqyah (and a cure for illness)?” As recorded in Musnad Ahamd, Aboo Sa’eed(may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “It was inspired into my heart,” meaning that it was an insight and inspiration from Allah, Exalted is He, and he (may Allah be pleased with him) acted according to it, and this was a blessing from Him. Then he ﷺ added, "You have done the right thing,” by acting upon such insight and inspiration and reciting the Ruqyah to save this stung man, such that you were made the reason for his recovery. He ﷺ commanded them to divide those sheep among themselves and assign him a share as well, to comfort them so that they would be reassured regarding the lawfulness of such earnings.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is permissible to recite Ruqyah from the Quran and that Soorat Al-Faatihah is a cure for illness, and this is why one of its names is Al-Shifaa’, meaning ‘recovery or cure’.
It is also inferred from the hadeeth that although the whole Quran is a source of blessing, yet certain chapters are recited as Ruqyah.
It is deduced therefrom that it is permissible to take fees in return for reciting Ruqyah.
The Hadeeth also highlights the Companions’ mindfulness of Allah, Exalted is He, and keenness on consulting the Prophet ﷺ before availing themselves of any earnings to inquire about the relevant Laws of Islam ruling..

2280

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Prophet ﷺused to have Hijaamah performed on him and would never withhold the fees of any person.
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Commentary :
Hijaamah is a form of alternative medicine used to remove bad blood from the body.
In this hadeeth, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that the Prophet ﷺ used to have Hijaamah performed on him. His saying, “would never withhold the fees of any person,” means that he ﷺpaid fees to the Hijaamah therapist. He ﷺ would never wrong others nor withhold the fees of any person. Rather, he ﷺ was the keenest on fulfilling people’s rights. The reference to the Prophet’s payment of such fees aims to refute the opinion suggesting that the earnings of the Hijaamah therapist are declared unlawfulas per the laws of Islam..

2283

It was narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ prohibited the earnings of slave girls (through prostitution).
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Commentary :
People in the Pre-Islamic era of ignorance used to force their slave girls into prostitution and Fornication (i.e., illicit sexual intercourse), and take their earnings, and therefore Allah, Exalted is He, revealed the ayah that reads (what means): {And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life.} [Quran 24:33].
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ forbade the earnings of female slaves from prostitution, and this aims to protect the female slaves from being forced into Fornication. It also aims to protect them from unlawful earnings and all base qualities and inferior ways of earning a living..

2284

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet ﷺ forbade taking a price for animal copulation..

Commentary :
Islam urges people to seek good and lawful means of earning a living to the best of one’s ability, and stay away from all evil and unlawful ones.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ forbade taking a price for animal copulation, which means charging fees for the stud's semen (i.e., hiring out a stud for copulation). The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Fahl’ (translates as stud) and is used to refer to a male animal (kept for breeding), including: horses, camels, goats, or otherwise. The transaction is conducted by hiring out a stud (for copulation) from its owner and keeping it until the female animals conceive (become pregnant) in return for fees payable to the stud’s owner, or that the owner of female animals would leave his animals with the stud’s owner until they conceive (become pregnant).
The Prophet ﷺ forbade such a transaction because of the ambiguity involved, since the benefit is not guaranteed; the copulation is not certain. The stud may not discharge semen and the female animals may not conceive. Therefore, the transaction involves Gharar (i.e., risk and uncertainty). It is also possible that the prohibition in this regard is meant to urge Muslims to embody noble morals and graciously lend the studs for copulation without charging fees to enhance animal breeding. This would indicate that such an act is the becoming attitude of Muslims towards one another, being an act of kindness that promotes the spirit of cooperation andinterdependence among Muslims.
It was narrated on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), as recorded in Sunan Al-Tirmithee, that the Prophet ﷺ deemed it allowable (as a legal concession) to accept an honorarium rather than charging fees for the stud’s semen. This means that he ﷺ deemed it allowable for the stud’s owner to accept a gift orhonorarium for offering his stud for copulation, but not fees.
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2287

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
The Prophet ﷺsaid, "Procrastination (delay) in repaying debts by a wealthy man is an act of injustice. So, if your debt is transferred from your debtor to a rich one, you should agree."
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Commentary : Allah, Exalted is He, commanded the fulfillment of others’ (financial) rights, and warned against unlawfully consuming people's wealth. He Says (what means): {And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly.} [Quran 2:188]. Allah, Exalted is He, sternly warned against taking loans with the intention of wasting people’s wealth and refraining from repayment.
In this hadeeth, he ﷺ stated that the delay of repayment by a wealthy debtor is an act of injustice, because he can afford the repayment of his debts. Since he refrains from paying off the debt despite his financial ability, his act is an act of injustice. Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ said: “So, if your debt is transferred from your debtor to a rich one, you should agree,” meaning that if someone owes you a debt and he requested transferring his debt to a rich person (who can repay it on his behalf), the creditor is urged to accept the transfer of the due debt.
Many lessons can be deduced from this hadeeth, including that it is an act of justice by a rich debtor to postpone the repayment of his debts. However, it should be noted that this does not apply to an insolvent debtor, who cannot repay his debts, because Allah, Exalted is He, commanded a creditor to give respite to insolvent debtors. He Says (what means): {And if someone is in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease.} [Quran 2:280].
It is also inferred from the hadeeth that the Laws of Islam declares the wealth of one’s fellow Muslims inviolable.
It also urges Muslims to avoid whatever may cause discord among Muslims and undermine their unity.
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Tareq ibn Shehab narrated, “Marwan was the first one to deliver a sermon before the Eid prayer. A man stood up and said, ‘Prayer should precede sermon.’ He (Marwan) said, ‘It has been done away with.’ Abu Saeed remarked, ‘This man has performed what he should do. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, ‘Whoever among you sees something abominable should modify it with his hand, if he is not able to do it, then (he should modify it) with his tongue, and if he is not able to do it, then (he should modify it) with his heart, which is the least level of faith.’”.

Commentary : Allah honors and prefers the Muslim nation to other nations, for it enjoins goodness, forbids evil, and gently advises people, the qualities that transform any society into a virtuous one. This hadith related that the first person who delivered the Eid speech before performing the prayer was Marwan ibn Al-Hakam, the governor of Medina assigned by Caliph Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufian. He became the caliph in the year of 64 after Prophetic immigration. It was mistakenly narrated that the first person did that was Omar, Othman, Muawiyah, or Abdullah ibn Az-Zubeir. On the contrary, it was proven that the Prophet ﷺ and his four Caliphs used to pray before delivering the Eid speech as Ibn Abbas narrated in the two Sahihs, “I witnessed the Eid with the Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr, Omar, and Othman. They all prayed before the speech." In the narration of Bukhari, Marwan mentioned why he did that. He said, "People do not sit to listen to our speech after the prayer, so I delivered it before the prayer." Most of the people used to leave after the prayer and only some listened to Marwan's speech. He may have done that thinking that it was something in which he could follow his own opinion. Once he changed the Prophet's tradition, one of the attendees came and denounced his behavior. That person may have been Abu Masoud as in Imam Abderazzaq's narration but it was narrated in Sahih Bukhari that he was Abu Saeed himself, this hadith's narrator. Perhaps, this situation happened more than once and that every time Marwan was contradicted by someone. On the other hand, if it happened once, it would be possible that Abu Saeed first denounced Marwan's behavior, as in Bukhari's narration, then Abu Masoud. Marwan's response, "It has been done away with" may mean that: (1) People used to leave, for they were in a hurry, or (2) He left the proven tradition of praying before delivering the speech on purpose. Abu Saeed approved the man’s denouncing Marwan and said, "This man has performed what he should do." He denounced the evil with his tongue, for he could not change the ruler's behavior by his hands. Then Abu Saeed narrated the Prophet's hadith. The hadith states that if a person sees something evil and corrupting, he has to change it with his hand provided that his knowledge and ability. If he cannot change it with his hands, he has to wisely and kindly remind people about its prohibition. Changing the reality may be achieved by gentleness and wisdom away from swords. If he is unable to change it by word or tongue, he has to denounce it with his heart and resolve that if he were able to remove it, he would do it. Denouncing evil with one's heart is the lowest reaction that a believer has to bring, so the Prophet ﷺ said as in Ibn Masoud's narration in Sahih Muslim, "Beyond that, there is no faith even as the extent of a mustard seed." This hadith shows that there are two conditions of the obligation of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil: (1) Knowledge of whether that action is good or evil, for the ignorant person cannot determine that, and (2) The ability to do so, for it is enough for the unable person to hate the evil with his heart. Abu Saeed's comment confirmed that Marwarn was the first one to display that behavior, for if the Prophet ﷺ or his companions showed that behavior, Abu Saeed would not call it evil as in his comment. Moreover, Abu Saeed held Marwan to prevent him from delivering the speech but the latter insisted on doing so. This hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It urges us to gradually enjoin the goodness and forbid the evil, each based on his ability, (2) It confirms the legitimacy of opposing rulers' behavior if they accept advice in public and this does not lead to another evil, (3) It clarifies that denouncing evil is a part of faith, (4) It shows that one's faith is subject to increase and decrease, (5) It stresses that Islam's rites cannot be changed or reordered. Once rulers try to do so, they have to be opposed as long as a person is able to do so and his denouncing will not lead to a greater evil..

Abdullah ibn Masoud narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Allah has not sent a prophet to a nation before me but he (a prophet) had disciples and companions following his way and obeying his command. Afterward, there came successors who said what they did not practice and practiced what they were not commanded to do. Whoever strove against them with his hand was a believer, whoever strove against them with his tongue was a believer, and whoever strove against them with his heart was a believer. There is no faith beyond that even to the extent of a mustard seed.” Abu Rafi' said, “I narrated this hadith to Abdullah ibn Umar but he disapproved of the narration. When Ibn Masoud came and stayed at Qanat, Abdullah ibn Umar asked me to accompany him to visit him (Ibn Masoud) during his illness. I went with him and asked Ibn Masoud about the Hadith when we sat (before him). He narrated it in the same as I narrated it to Ibn Umar.”.

Commentary : The Prophets' calls are of common features. All were resisted by some or lots of their people. All were followed by some of their people who afterward conveyed their calls. Over decades and centuries, people began to gradually move away from the truth. The one adhering to this truth had to resist them as much as he could. In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ confirmed that all Prophets that Allah had sent had disciples and companions following their ways and obeying their commands. Afterward, there came successors and hypocrites who said what they did not practice and practiced what they were not commanded to do while claiming and complimenting themselves on following their prophet's guidance. On the contrary, they were committing and spreading corruption. Every believer has to strive against those people based on his ability. Whoever strives against and tries to remove their evil with his hand or tongue is a believer. Moreover, whoever hates their evil with his heart is a believer, for he wishes he had been able to remove these evils with his hand or tongue but he was unable to do so. There is no faith beyond that even to the extent of a mustard seed, for if one does not hate the evil even if with his heart but pleases it, it is an approval of disbelief. This hadith shows that there are two conditions of the obligation of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil with hands or tongue: (1) Knowledge of whether that action is good or evil, for the ignorant person cannot determine that, and (2) The ability to do so, for it is enough for the unable person to hate the evil with his heart. Striving against evils by one's hands is only for those being able to change them without a conflict such as those in charge and rulers. Striving against evils by one’s tongue is by showing and calling for the truth. Striving against evils by one's heart is by rejecting, hating, and displeasing them. Abu Rafi' said, “I narrated this hadith to Abdullah ibn Omar but he disapproved of the narration.” Ibn Omar’s disapproval may be interpreted that he wanted to check the authenticity of the hadith, for one may unwillingly increase, decrease, or even distort his own narrations. He did not mean to accuse Abu Rafi’, for all people were vulnerable to forget. Ibn Omar knew that Abu Rafi’ was a great companion with a high level of justice and honesty. When Ibn Masoud came to Medina, Ibn Omar commanded Abu Rafi’ to go with him to visit Ibn Masoud. When they sat with him, Abu Rafi’ asked Ibn Masoud about this hadith, so Ibn Masoud narrated it to him just as Abu Rafi’ had narrated it to Ibn Omar. Abu Rafi’ did that to make sure of the hadith context and defend his narration. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It includes one of the signs of the Prophet’s prophethood, (2) It stresses the necessity of enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, according to people’s conditions, (3) It clarifies the virtue of the Prophet’s companions, for they presented his properties and selves for the sake of this religion, (4) It shows that changing the evil is part of the Islamic faith, and (5) It refers that one’s faith increases and decreases..

Jaber ibn Abdullah narrated, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Hearts’ callousness and sternness is in the East while faith is among the people of the Hijaz.’”.

Commentary : People vary in faith, piety, behavior, and even the degrees of their evil acts. The Prophet used to teach us people's various attributes so that we can deal with them in the proper way they deserve. In this hadith, he informed us that we find people of hard hearts, lack of understanding, and refusing the truth due to disbelief in the East. A narration in the two Sahihs reported by Abu Masoud Uqbah ibn Amr clarified that they are the people of Rabi’a and Mudar. This was during the era of the Prophet ﷺ. They were hard people due to the harsh conditions they were living in. It was said that he may have meant all areas of the East: Middle, Near, and Far. After the Prophet's death, these two tribes had many trials such as: (1) Many people disbelieved once again, and (2) Some claimed prophethood as Museilemah, the Liar. The Prophet meant that they were subject to obey the devil and disbelieve the Islamic message. On the other hand, he informed us that we find deep faith, tranquillity, and comfort in the people of Hijaz, i.e. Mecca, Medina, and their environs. It is called "hijaz," for some potential reasons: (1) It separates Najd from Sara, (2) It separates Ghaur from Levant, or (3) It is surrounded by mountains. Finally, this hadith confirms the virtue of the people of Hijaz over other people..

Abu Hurairah narrated, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘You will not enter Paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love one another. May I tell you something you can do to make you love one another? Spread the greetings of salam (peace) among you.’”.

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ used to teach his companions and nation the virtues of righteous deeds that display a feeling of affection among them and raise their ranks in the Hereafter. He also warned us against reasons for hatred and disharmony. Spreading the greetings of peace is one of the causes of love and harmony among Muslims. In this hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ clarified that only believers will enter Paradise and added that love among believers is part of the perfect faith. He said, "You will not enter Paradise until you believe." He means that our faith is neither complete nor benefits us until we love one another. Then he guides us to the best attributes for getting that kind of love in Muslim society which is to declare, act upon, and spread peace among Muslims. Peace is the greeting that Allah, the Almighty, has prescribed for His servants. Once a Muslim passes by another Muslim, relative or stranger, he greets him with peace. Allah made spreading peace a reason for love and affection among Muslims, which is a reason for getting a perfect faith and prevailing the word of Islam. On the other hand, hatred and conflict are reasons for spreading division among Muslims. The form of that greeting as in the narration of Abu Daoud and others is to say, “Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.” Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits such as: (1) The command to spread the greeting of peace among Muslims, for it spreads love and safety among them and (2) It is proof that love is a reason for the perfect faith..

Tamim Ad-Dary narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Religion is sincerity." They said, "To whom?" He said, "To Allah, to his Book, to his Messenger, to the leaders of Muslims and their common folk.".

Commentary : Sincere advice is one of the features of our true religion. Muslims should advise each other in a good manner, and without making a greater evil than the benefit they want to achieve. This should be with loving and knowing the rights of the one who is advised in the society for his being a Muslim. This hadith clarifies the methods of this supreme behavior. The Prophet ﷺ clarified that sincere advice is Islam's essence and a means for its spreading. It is to say or do something that contains goodness for a person(s) sincerely. It is to seek goodness for the one who is advised. Moreover, it is a comprehensive term with various meanings. The Prophet's companions asked him to whom they offer it, so he answered, "To Allah, to his Book, to his Messenger, to the leaders of Muslims and their common folk." As for one's dealing with Allah, it means glorifying His command, showing mercy on His creation, calling people to believe in Him, and avoiding any acts of polytheism while worshiping him only. As for one's dealing with the Quran, it means to believe that it is Allah's word, deeply love and glorify it, recite it as it should be recited, face those distorting its authentic interpretations, ratify its stories, ponder over its lessons and miracles, act upon its rules, spread its knowledge, and call people to believe in it. As for one's dealing with the Messenger, it means to believe, follow, obey his commands, and avoid what he forbade. Moreover, it means to be loyal to those who are loyal to him and hate those who hate him. In addition, it means glorifying him, spreading his teachings, and facing people's accusations against him. As for one's dealing with leaders of Muslims, it means helping them in what is right, obeying them in goodness, gently reminding them if they neglect something, and avoiding disobeying them unless we see them doing an act of clear disbelief that Allah obviously showed in his religion, which is conditional on ability and avoiding having greater harms. The Muslim's leaders may include the scholars as well. As for one's dealing with Muslim scholars, it means accepting what they narrated and thinking well of them. As for one's dealing with common Muslim folk, it means gently teaching them Islam's laws, providing them with what is beneficial, having mercy on them, respecting them, avoiding cheating or envying them, loving for them what one loves for himself, hating for them what one hates for himself, and defending their properties and honor. Finally, this hadith contains the following lessons: (1) It confirms that advising people is the essence of Islam, and (2) It urges people to advise all people types, from the ruler to lay people..

Abu Hurairah narrated, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'There are three signs of a hypocrite ... even if he fasted, prayed, and claimed he is a Muslim.'".

Commentary : Hypocrisy has two types: (1) Doctrinal: It expels the person from Islam, for he shows Islam and conceals disbelief and (2) Practical: It does not expel the person from Islam, for he just imitates the hypocrites in their morals, which is a major sin. This hadith identifies some attributes of hypocrites by clarifying the second type of hypocrisy. This hadith is part of another hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ informed that a hypocrite has three signs: (1) He used to tell lies and fabricate unrealistic stories. Lying is to say something contrary to reality. Its greatest form is to lie to Allah, the Almighty, and His Messenger ﷺ. It also includes lying in one's acts, so the hypocrite is a liar, for he shows faith but conceals disbelief inwardly. The Prophet ﷺ indicated that lying sometimes is permissible for some overriding interests. Bukhari and Muslim narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “He is not a liar who reconciles between people, so he conveys or says goodness.” Islam urges us to reconcile between people even if it is achieved by lying to settle quarrels and avoid feelings of hatred and enmity, (2) He used to break his promises willingly, and (3) He used to betray people's trust. He loses, betrays, and uses their trust. The Prophet ﷺ informed that whoever used to act upon these three attributes is a hypocrite even if he performs the practical acts of worship such as prayer, fasting, etc. This hadith clarifies that these qualities belong to hypocrites so whoever behaves like that resembles hypocrites. It does not mean he is a hypocrite who shows Islam and conceals disbelief, for the Prophet ﷺ did not mean that he is a hypocrite who will be eternally in the lowest degree of Hell..

Jarir narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, "If any slave escapes from his masters, he becomes an infidel till he returns to them.”.

Commentary : Islam regulated the relations between masters and slaves. It called for kindly treating slaves and urged masters to emancipate them. It also encouraged slaves to care for Allah's and their masters' rights, for their masters bought them so it does not make sense that their properties may be wasted. Islam makes obeying masters, for the sake of Allah, is one of the greatest acts of worship. In this hadith, Jarir ibn Abdullah narrated that if any slave flees from his masters, he is a disbeliever. It may mean that he denies his master's rights or behaves like disbelievers do. It may also mean that his behavior leads to disbelief. It does not mean the literal meaning of disbelief. It means that he disbelieves Allah's graces by fleeing from his master until he returns to him willingly or unwillingly. Allah neither pleases him nor accepts his righteous deeds until his return, repentance, and righteousness. The complete narration of this hadith is that Mansour ibn Abdurrahman (the hadith narrator on the authority of Amer Ash-Sha’by) said after his narration, "By Allah, it is a Prophetic hadith, but I hate that it may be narrated on my authority here in Basra.” This means that Mansour traced back this hadith to the companion but he then swore that it was the Prophet's hadith to let his knowledgeable companions know about that. He feared that his transmitted narration to the Prophet may have spread in Basra which was full of Kharijites and Mutazilites who believed that one would eternally remain in Hell due to his sins. The former added that he is a disbeliever, depending on the apparent meaning of this hadith. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) The slave’s fleeing from his masters is a major sin that contradicts the faith's requirements of obeying them and (2) Muslim predecessors cautioned against the wrong concepts that people of heresies may deduce from the Islamic texts that may apparently support their heresies..

Jarir ibn Abdullah narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, "If a slave escapes (from his master), not a single prayer will be accepted from him.”.

Commentary : The slave’s obedience to his master according to the obedience of Allah, the Almighty, is one of the greatest acts of worship. Allah organized the relations between masters and slaves. He urged masters to gently deal with them and recommended them to set them free. On the other hand, he encouraged slaves to preserve Allah's and their masters' rights. A master buys his slave with his money, so he has the right not to waste his money. In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ confirmed that if a slave escapes from his master, "not a single prayer will be accepted from him.” This is because the slave is completely owned by his master so if he escapes, his master misses some benefits. It was said that the hadeeth refers to a slave who considers escaping lawful so he becomes a disbeliever and neither his prayer nor any other acts of worship are accepted from him. The Prophet ﷺ exclusively mentioned prayer for its greatness and virtue. It was said that the hadeeth is general and that rejecting his worship does not necessitate its invalidity. The escaped slave's prayer (who does not think that escaping is lawful) is correct, for he fulfils its pillars, but it is still unaccepted because it is associated with disobeying his master. There is no contradiction in that, for rejecting his worship means losing the reward but its validity means he is neither required to re-perform it nor he may be punished as the one used to abandon the prayer. Finally, this hadith confirms that a slave's escaping from his master is a great sin which contradicts faith's requirements commanding him to obey his master..

Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "A person who believes in Allah and the Last Day never bears a grudge against the Ansar.".

Commentary : The Ansar, the people of Medina from the Prophet's companions before his immigration, reached a high rank in Islam for their great effort in supporting Islam, sheltering the Messenger and his immigrant companions, loving him, and his love for them. They used to present all that they had for him to the extent that lots of people became their enemies due to Islam. As a result, the Prophet ﷺ urged all Muslims to love them. Moreover, he made loving them a sign of one's truthful and perfect faith and hating them is a sign of one's hypocrisy and lack of faith. In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ informed that a person who believes in Allah and the Last Day never bears a grudge against the Ansar, for whoever knows their right, initiative to support and spread Islam, and fighting against all people in defending the prophet will definitely love them out of necessity, which is a sign of his sincere faith. On the other hand, if one hates them, it is a sign of hypocrisy and corrupted intention. Because these great people with those supreme attributes are loved by only believers and hated by only hypocrites. Whoever loves them is loved by Allah and whoever hates them is hated by Allah as in the hadith narrated in the two Sahihs. Finally, this hadith contains some lessons: (1) It shows the Ansar’s virtues, (2) It confirms that loving them is a sign of one's sincere faith while hating them is a sign of corruption or lack of faith, and (3) It calls every Muslim to give Medina's people their rights..

Ali said, "By Him Who split up the seed and created something living, it is the illiterate Prophet's promise ﷺ that he gave me that none but a believer would love me and none but a hypocrite would bear grudge against me.".

Commentary : Ali ibn Abi Taleb had great status with the Prophet ﷺ for the following reasons: (1) His father, Abu Taleb, used to support and defend the Prophet against Qureish disbelievers, (2) He is the husband of Fatema, the Prophet's daughter, his most beloved daughters, and (3) The father of Prophet's grandsons, Al-Hasan and Al-Husein. In this hadith, Ali swore in Allah Who split up the seed, placed it in the soil, and created the plant by His power. He swore in Allah Who created the men and souls. His saying, "It is the Prophet's promise ..." means a covenant. His saying, "illiterate ..." is the attribute with which the Prophet was described in the previous books and in two places in the Quran: (1) "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel." {Al-A'raaf: 157) and (2) "So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and His words." {Al-A'raaf: 158) It was the Prophet's promise to Ali that he had a virtue that all believers would love him, but hypocrites would hate him. It means that if one loves and knows Ali's prestige, his closeness to the Prophet, the Prophet's love for him, and his support of Islam, it is proof of his authentic faith and truthfulness as he is doing what Allah and his Prophet please. On the contrary, if one hates him, it is proof of his hypocrisy and evil intention. It is an additional recommendation for Ali, for the Prophet ﷺ recommended us to care about his companions and follow their methods. Also, he guided us to give a high prestige to his rightly guided caliphs, including Ali. It is neither proof of Ali's specific guardianship, nor his caliphate after the Prophet's death. It may have been the Prophet's appreciation for Alai and call for Muslims to give him his considerable prestige and avoid belittling him after the Prophet's death. On the other hand, it was a sign of prophethood, for the Prophet knew that some people would go to extremes when dealing with Ali after the Prophet's death whether they would love him exaggeratedly or belittle him. As a result, he confirmed the believers' hearts would love Ali and the hypocrites' hearts would hate him..

Abdullah ibn Omar narrated, “The Messenger of Allah said, “O Women, give charity and frequently ask Allah for forgiveness, for I saw you form the majority of Hell.” A wise woman from them asked, “O Messenger of Allah, why will we form the majority of Hell?” He answered, “You frequently curse and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen someone lacking in discernment and religion more overwhelming a wise man than you.” She asked, “What is the lack of discernment and religion?” He answered, “As for the lack of discernment, the testimony of two women is equal to a man’s one. She does not pray for some days and breaks fast in the month of Ramadan. This is the lack of religion.”.

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ used to preach to women just as he did to men, ask them to protect themselves against evilness, and frequently remind them of rectify their faults. In this hadith, Abdullah ibn Omar narrated that after the Prophet ﷺ delivered his speech on the day of eid, he preached to women only, as in the narration in the Two Sahihs that Abu Saeed Al-Khudry reported that the Prophet ﷺ commanded them to give charity and ask Allah for forgiveness. He justified this matter by the fact that he knew that most of the people of Hell were women. Giving charity is a means to increase good deeds and avoid Allah's anger and punishment. When hearing so, a wise woman asked about the reason. He showed two reasons: (1) They used to frequently curse those who did not deserve it. Cursing is to supplicate Allah to expel someone from his mercy, which was a habit of women before Islam and (2) They used to be ungrateful to their husbands. He explained it in another narration in the Two Sahihs when he addressed men, "If you treated one of them kindly forever, but she later saw something (disliked) from you, she would say, 'I never saw any good from you.'" She may be ungrateful to her husband while he treats her kindly. This continuous deliberate behavior enlarges this sin to be a major one. His help, protection, sacrifice, and care should be met with her gratitude and appreciation. Allah commands us to thank whoever gives us a favor. How is it the case with a woman's husband who gives her all that he owns throughout his entire life?! Then, he ﷺ described them with three attributes: (1) A woman has the ability to affect her wise husband's decision whether it is right or wrong. What about the unwise husband? (2) A lack of discernment: This is because a man's testimony is equivalent to two women's testimony. Allah said, "... so that if one of them (two women) errs, the other can remind her." (Al-Baqarah: 282), (3) A lack of religion: This is because she does not pray for some days and breaks fast in the month of Ramadan due to her menstruation. The Prophet ﷺ did not mean to blame them for these attributes with which Allah created them but wanted to warn men against the tricks that women sometimes use. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) A person has the right to discuss the scholar and others if he does not understand his words, (2) Encouragement of charity acts, frequent seeking of Allah’s forgiveness, and all other acts of obedience, (3) One's righteous deeds eliminate his evil deeds, (4) Some Islamic texts may call something disbelief but do not mean the disbelief in Allah such as disbelief in marital life, benevolence, grace, and truth..

Abu Hurairah narrated, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘When a son of Adam recites a verse mentioning prostration then he prostrates, the devil withdraws weeping and saying, ‘Woe to him! - in another narration, ‘Woe to me!’ - The son of Adam has been commanded to prostrate, has done so, and will be rewarded with Paradise but I have been commanded to prostrate, have refused, and will be punished with Hell.’ In another narration, ‘ … have disobeyed, and will be punished with Hell.’”.

Commentary : There are Quranic verses that one is prescribed to prostrate after reciting them, which the Prophet's noble tradition specified. It is an act of worship and a reward for those who prostrate. In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ informed that when a Muslim prostrates after reciting this type of verse, the devil withdraws weeping due to the reward that a Muslim gets for his obedience and prostration. He is crying and saying, "Woe to him!" In another narration, "Woe to me!" It means, "Oh, my sorrow, oh my doom." He regrets his previous disobedience to Allah. The son of Adam has been commanded to prostrate, has done so, and will be rewarded with Paradise due to his obedience. On the other hand, Satan has been commanded to prostrate but has refused. In another narration, "I have disobeyed, and will be punished with Hell." He deserved to enter Hell for disobeying Allah's command. Allah says, "And [mention] when We said to the angels, 'Prostrate before Adam;' so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant ..." (Al-Baqarah: 34) He is deeply sad for some reasons: (1) His failure in luring the son of Adam to commit sins, (2) His committing a fatal sin of being arrogant to Allah's command, and (3) Muslim's being deserved to enter Paradise for his obedience, while Satan is condemned to be expelled from Allah’s mercy. Blessed are those believers whose hearts become fearful when Allah is mentioned, their faith increases when Allah's verses are recited to them, and those who trust in their God. As for what a Muslim can say during this prostration, he can say the same supplications he says during the prostration of prayer, such as glorification. Finally, this hadith contains the following lessons: (1) The virtue of prostration which is a reason for entering Paradise and (2) A Quran reciter is permissible to prostrate after reciting a verse of prostration..

Gaber said, "I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying, 'Verily, between a man and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of prayer.'".

Commentary : Prayer is an obligatory act for every assigned Muslim. It is the second pillar of Islam and the greatest practical pillar after monotheism testimony. In this hadith, the Messenger ﷺ strongly warned against abandoning it and confirmed that between a man and polytheism is to abandon prayer. If he abandons it out of denial of its obligation, he is unanimously a disbeliever but if he abandons it out of negligence or laziness, he is a disbeliever according to the opinion of many scholars and the consensus of the Prophet's companions. If he sometimes performs and neglects it, he is also included in the description mentioned in the hadith, which is consistent with Allah's sayings, "But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil. Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all." (Maryam: 59, 60) In this verse, Allah condemned those neglecting prayer either abandoning it completely, abandoning some of its pillars and conditions, neglecting its duties, or performing it after its appointed times, etc. He condemned those being busy with their own whims and desires and preferring them to Allah's obedience and Paradise. Thus, he deserves to be punished except those who rectify their mistakes, struggle in the path of truth, regularly perform prayer, refrain from following their whims. They will enter Paradise and be saved from Hell. One has to caution against abandoning or neglecting this great worship. On the other hand, polytheism and disbelief may be used in the same sense, which is disbelief in Allah, the Almighty. There may be a distinction between them, so polytheism is specific to worshipping idols while acknowledging Allah, the Creator, like the infidels of Qureish. In this meaning, disbelief is more general than polytheism. Finally, this hadith deeply warns against abandoning or neglecting prayer..

Abdullah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "None will enter Hell as long as he has the weight of a mustard seed of faith in his heart and none will enter Paradise as long as he has the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance in his heart.”.

Commentary : Faith is a reason for salvation from Hell and winning Paradise while arrogance is an attribute that refers to corrupted hearts and a reason for entering Hell. In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ informed that a Muslim will neither enter Hell nor even remain there forever if his heart has the weight of a mustard seed of faith. Mustard is a plant with very small black fruits. It is a linguistic usage referring to smallness. It is Allah's great blessing that he will save the believers for their faith, even if He holds them accountable for their deeds first and admits them to Paradise by His grace and mercy. Afterward, the Prophet informed that a Muslim will not enter Paradise if his heart has the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance. Arrogance is to give oneself a high prestige that it does not deserve and belittle people. Allah is the only one that deserves this attribute. Mentioning the infinitesimal mustard seed indicates that even the slightest amount of arrogance in a Muslim's heart is a reason for not initially entering Paradise until he is held accountable for this arrogance which may necessitate punishment. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It is proof that faith increases and decreases in hearts and (2) It forbids arrogance..

Abdullah narrated, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance will not enter Paradise.' A man said, 'Verily, a person loves that his dress should be fine and his shoes should be fine.' The Prophet said, 'Verily, Allah is beautiful and likes beauty. Arrogance is to reject the truth and despise people.'".

Commentary : Arrogance is an attribute that indicates the corruption of hearts, which Islam forbade because it means self-aggrandizement while despising others. It is only Allah who deserves to be proud, for everyone else is His servant. In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ explained the severe consequences of arrogance and dispelled some people’s misconceptions related to good appearance. He told us that Allah would not admit anyone to Paradise if his heart had the weight of an atom (or dust particle) of arrogance. This indicates that even the slightest bit of arrogance in one's heart is a reason for not initially entering Paradise. He should be reckoned first then will be punished or forgiven. One of the Prophet's companions thought that arrogance includes beautifying one’s clothing and appearance. So, he asked the Prophet ﷺ if a person loves that his clothes should be fine, is this considered arrogance? The Prophet ﷺ replied, "Verily, Allah is beautiful and likes beauty." He confirmed that Allah loved this manner as long as it did not lead to despising people. One's caring for his appearance is an indication of Allah's blessings upon him. Then the Prophet ﷺ clarified that the intended meaning of arrogance is to reject the truth and look down on people. So, this bad manner leads to oppress and disdain people. As a result, he will not initially enter Paradise but be punished for this great sin. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It is forbidden to be arrogant and reject the truth, (2) Islam allows beautifying oneself by wearing beautiful clothes and shoes, (3) It proves that the name “the Beautiful” is one of Allah's names..

Book of Hadith