| 2 Hadiths


Hadith
73
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “There should be no envy except in two cases: a man to whom Allah has given wealth, and he is given authority over it to spend it in appropriate ways; and a man to whom Allah has given wisdom, so he judges in accordance with it and teaches it to others.”.

Commentary : Envy (hasad) is of two types, the first of which is blameworthy envy which is prohibited according to Islamic teaching. This refers to when a man wishes that a blessing be taken away from his brother, regardless of whether the envier has it or not. The second type is permissible envy, which is positive envy (ghibtah). What this means is that a man sees a blessing that someone else has, and he wishes that he could have something similar, without wishing that it be taken away from his brother. If that positive envy concerns worldly matters such as good health, physical strength, status or children, then it is permissible. If it concerns a religious matter – such as beneficial knowledge, or wealth from lawful sources, then it is encouraged according to Islamic teachings. Here the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us that envy cannot be praiseworthy or encouraged according to Islamic teachings except in two cases, the first of which is when there is a wealthy, pious man to whom Allah has granted halal wealth, so he spends it to benefit himself and others, and to please his Lord, on various charitable causes, so the person wishes to be like him and he envies him [ghibtah] for this blessing.
The second case is when there is a wise, knowledgeable man to whom Allah has granted beneficial knowledge that he acts upon, teaches to others and judges between people on the basis of his knowledge and wisdom, so the person wishes that he could be like him.
This hadith indicates that if a rich man fulfils the conditions of having wealth, and uses it in ways that please Allah, then he is better than a poor person.
It also highlights the virtue of knowledge and of learning it.
And it highlights the validity of competing in doing good, and indicates that we are urged to do that..

74
It was narrated from ‘Ubaydullah ibn ‘Abdillah from Ibn ‘Abbas from Ibn ‘Abbas that he disagreed with al-Hurr ibn Qays ibn Hisn al-Fazari about the companion of Musa. Ibn ‘Abbas said: He was Khadir. Ubayy ibn Ka‘b passed them and Ibn ‘Abbas called him over and said: This friend of mine and I are arguing about the companion of Musa, concerning whom Musa asked his Lord how he could meet him. Did you hear the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say anything about him? He said: Yes, I heard the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “Whilst Musa was with a group of Israelites, a man came to him and said: Do you know anyone more knowledgeable than you? Musa said: No. Then Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) revealed to Musa: Nay; Our slave Khadir [is more knowledgeable than you]. Musa asked how he could meet him, so Allah made the fish a sign for him. It was said to him: When you lose the fish, then retrace your steps, for you will meet him there. And he was following the path of the fish in the sea. His servant said to Musa: {Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it} [al-Kahf 18:63]. Musa said: {“That is what we were seeking.” So they returned, following their footprints} [al-Kahf 18:64]. There they found Khadir, after which the events narrated in the Qur’an took place.” .

Commentary : The Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) differed concerning some issues of knowledge, according to what each of them knew, whilst paying attention to proper etiquette, each of them showing due respect to others and appreciating their brothers’ knowledge. One example of this is when the two Companions, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas and al-Hurr ibn Qays (may Allah be pleased with them both) disagreed concerning the companion of Musa (peace be upon him) who is mentioned in the verse {And they found a servant from among Our servants to whom we had given mercy from us and had taught him from Us a [certain] knowledge. Moses said to him, “May I follow you on [the condition] that you teach me from what you have been taught of sound judgement?”} [al-Kahf 18:65-66]. The view of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was that this was al-Khadir, and this was the view in which Ubayy ibn Ka‘b supported him, based on what he had heard from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about the story of Musa and al-Khadir (peace be upon them both). So he told him that he had heard the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) saying that when Allah’s Prophet Musa was with a group of Israelites, a man came to him and asked him: Do you know of anyone more knowledgeable than you on earth? Based on his own opinion, Musa denied that there was anyone more knowledgeable than him, because he was a Prophet who received revelation. But Allah rebuked him for not referring the matter to Him, as is narrated in Sahih Muslim. It was said that this was a rebuke to Musa (peace be upon him) and a lesson for those who came after him, so that no one else would follow him in praising himself and being filled with self-admiration, and thus be doomed. Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) revealed to him: There is someone who is more knowledgeable than you, to whom Allah has given knowledge other than that which He revealed to you. He is a person whose name is Khadir. So Musa asked: How can I meet him? Allah made the fish a sign for him, to show him where al-Khadir was, so that he could meet him. It was said to him: When you lose the fish on the seashore, then retrace your steps, for you will meet him. That was when Musa asked how he could meet al-Khadir. Allah (may He be exalted) said: Look for him on the shore, near the rock. He said: O Lord, how can I reach him? He said: Take a fish in a basket, and where you lose it, he will be there. It was said that he took a salted fish, and said to his servant: When you lose the fish, tell me.
The phrase “And he was following the path of the fish in the sea” means: he was looking at it whilst he was on the shore, walking alongside it, until he reached al-Khadir. It does not mean that he was literally following its path in the sea. And it was said that Musa met al-Khadir on an island in the sea, and to reach that island one must travel by sea. And it was said that the pronoun in the phrase “he was following” refers to the servant of Musa, Yusha‘ ibn Nun. That was because Musa (peace be upon him) had said to him: When you lose the fish, tell me, because it was the sign of where he would meet al-Khadir.
The servant said to Musa, as Allah (may He be exalted) tells us: {Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it} [al-Kahf 18:63]. After they had rested beside the sea, the servant forgot the fish, then they travelled on for a while. When the servant remembered that, he told Musa (peace be upon him) about it, and Musa said to him: {“That is what we were seeking.” So they returned, following their footprints} [al-Kahf 18:64]. So they retraced their steps until they reached the place where they had lost the fish, and there they found Khadir, after which there happened the events of which Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) tells us in His Book, in Surat al-Kahf.
After that, it became clear to Musa how great al-Khadir’s knowledge was, which was based on what Allah had taught him of the unseen, and the events that took place by Allah’s decree, which none of the Prophets knew except what they were taught about by the Creator (may He be glorified and exalted).
In this hadith, we see that one should put up with some hardship for the sake of seeking knowledge and learning more, and acknowledge the status of the one who is more knowledgeable.
We also see that disagreeing about some issues of knowledge, if each person is seeking to learn the truth without being stubborn, is something permissible.
This hadith also indicates that in the event of disagreement, we should refer to people of knowledge, and that it is essential to show humility towards knowledge and people of knowledge.
It also indicates that one should take provisions when travelling.
And it indicates that the knowledgeable person should not become too proud of his knowledge..

75
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) embraced me and said: “O Allah, give him knowledge and understanding of the Book.”.

Commentary : Our Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) always set the best and most sublime example of mercy, love and compassion with his relatives and companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
In this hadith, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) embraced him and hugged him, then he prayed for him, saying: “O Allah, give him knowledge and understanding of the Book.” In other words, teach him the Qur’an and enable him to memorize it, understand it, explain it, interpret it and learn fiqh and rulings from it. Allah answered his prayer, and Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) became the most knowledgeable of the ummah, the interpreter of the Qur’an.
The reason for this dua was narrated by al-Bukhari in his Sahih: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) went to relieve himself, and I brought him some water for wudu’. According to one report: When he came out, he said: “Who brought this?” and he was told who had brought it. In Sahih Muslim it is narrated that the Mother of the Believers Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her) is the one who told him about that, and that happened in her house one night. Perhaps that was the night on which Ibn ‘Abbas stayed overnight in her house to see how the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed. Ahmad narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) about his standing behind the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) during the night prayer, in which it is narrated: he said to me: “What is the matter? I put you next to me but you step back.” I said: O Messenger of Allah, is it appropriate for anyone to pray next to you, when you are the Messenger of Allah to whom Allah has given abundance? He liked that, so he prayed to Allah to increase me in knowledge and understanding.
In this hadith, we see the blessing of the dua of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and this report also highlights the virtue of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), and how he became distinct from others by virtue of this blessed dua, when Allah answered the dua of His Prophet.
This hadith also highlights the virtue of knowledge and encourages us to seek knowledge and to memorize the Qur’an, and to pray for that. .

76
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas said: I came riding on a female donkey – and at that time I was approaching the age of puberty – and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was praying in Mina with no wall in front of him. I passed in front of one of the rows, then I let the donkey go and graze, and I joined the row. And no one rebuked me for that..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) instructed the one who is praying to have a barrier (sutrah) in front of him, so that no one will pass in front of him and interrupt his prayer. But in the case of the congregational prayer, the imam is the “barrier” for those who are praying behind him.
In this hadith, Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he came riding on a female donkey. At that time, Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was a boy who was approaching puberty. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was praying in Mina without a barrier such as a wall and the like. Mina is a valley near the Haram of Makkah where the pilgrims halt to stone the Jamarat. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) passed in front of one of the rows of worshippers whilst he was riding his donkey, at the time when their imam – namely the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not have a barrier in front of him. Then he left the donkey to eat and graze, and wander among the rows, then he joined the people in the rows and prayed, and no one rebuked him for passing in front of the rows or for letting the donkey pass in front of them, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not interrupt the prayer.
This hadith indicates that the imam is like a barrier for those praying behind him.
It also indicates that it is valid for a young boy who has reached the age of discernment to hear a hadith and narrate it..

77
It was narrated that Mahmoud ibn al-Rabi‘ said: I remember the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) spraying water in my face from a bucket when I was five years old..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was the best of people in manners and attitudes, even with little children. He cared for them and would be playful with them. He would let them ride behind him, and teach them so that they would grow up to be true men.
In this hadith, the Sahabi Mahmoud ibn al-Rabi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he still remembered how the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sprayed water from his mouth in his face; at that time Mahmoud was a small boy, five years old, but he still remembered that and conveyed it after he grew up.
Spraying water into the child’s face is an example of the Prophet’s playfulness with young children; he showed kindness to them and honoured their fathers by doing that, whilst also teaching the people that being playful with children and family does not undermine the dignity of people of prominence and authority.
The hadith also indicates that he did that so that the child would get blessing (barakah) from him.
It also indicates that it is valid for a child to narrate, if he remembers and understands what he saw and heard..

79
It was narrated from Abu Musa that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The likeness of that with which Allah has sent me of guidance and knowledge is the likeness of abundant rain that falls on land. Some of it is pure and good land which absorbs the water and brings forth abundant vegetation and plants; some of it is solid, barren land which retains the water [in pools or ponds], so that Allah benefits the people thereby, as they drink from it, give water to their livestock and irrigate crops with it. And some of the rain falls on another type of land, which is nothing but flat, barren land which does not retain the water or produce vegetation. The first one is the likeness of one who understands issues of religion, so he benefits from that with which Allah sent me, thus he learns it and teaches others. The second is the likeness of the one who pays no attention to it and does not accept the guidance of Allah with which I was sent.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was the best educator. He often used to give simple yet eloquent likenesses through which the ideas that he wanted to convey would be transmitted and take root in people’s minds. In this hadith, he likened guidance, the ways that lead to Allah, and Islamic knowledge that is based on the Book of Allah (may He be exalted) and the Sunnah of His Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to abundant rain that falls on different types of land. The first type is fertile land that is free of nuisance insects and worms that destroy crops. This land receives the water and absorbs the rain, then it produces abundant vegetation. This is the likeness of the knowledgeable person who has deep understanding of the religion of Allah, acts upon what he knows, and teaches others. This is the highest level of guidance.
The second type is barren land that retains [but does not absorb] the water. This is solid land on which vegetation does not grow, so it is like huge reservoirs which collect and hold the water, and become a source for others. The people benefit from it, as they drink, give water to their livestock and irrigate fertile land with this water. Even though this land does not benefit from the rain itself, it benefits others, humans, animals and other types of land. This is the likeness of people who are able to memorize, but their minds are not sharp enough to derive meanings and rulings, and they do not strive to put what they learn into practice. Thus they memorize and preserve information until people of knowledge come along who are able to benefit from it, so they learn it from them and thus benefit others through what they convey to them. And it was said that the likeness of this land is that of the knowledgeable person who teaches others, but does not act upon his knowledge himself, so he is like a candle which gives light to others but burns itself.
The third type is the plains, which are vast tracts of flat land. It was also said that it is smooth land, or land that has no vegetation. This is what is referred to in the hadith: salt flats in which nothing grows and which do not retain water. Thus they do not benefit from the rain themselves, nor do they benefit any other land, because they are flat and have no vegetation. This is the worst type of land; it is the likeness of the ignorant Muslim, or the knowledgeable Muslim who does not act upon his knowledge or teach anyone else. This is what is meant by the words “who pays no attention to it.” Or it may refer to the disbelievers who do not enter Islam in the first place, and this is what is meant by the words “[he] does not accept the guidance of Allah.”
This hadith highlights the virtue of one who learns, acts upon his knowledge and teaches it to others.
It also indicates that it is blameworthy to turn away from knowledge..

80
It was narrated that Anas ibn Malik said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “One of the portents of the Hour is that knowledge will be taken away, ignorance will become widespread, much alcohol will be drunk and zina will become prevalent.”.

Commentary : The time of the onset of the Hour is not known to anyone except Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). Nevertheless, He has ordained signs which will indicate that it is close at hand, so that the Muslim may be careful and strive to prepare for that momentous Day.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us that one of the signs of the approach of the Hour is that beneficial knowledge that is accompanied by righteous deeds will be taken away with the death of knowledgeable people, not by means of it being erased from people’s hearts. Then the people will follow ignorant leaders who will speak about religious issues on the basis of their own personal views, and they will issue fatwas that are based on ignorance. Thus ignorance will prevail and spread among the people, and that will result in people no longer having fear of Allah in their hearts. So a great deal of alcohol will be drunk, and it will become widespread among people despite the fact that it is forbidden. Allah (may He be exalted) says: {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 } [al-Ma’idah 5:90]. The word khamr (intoxicants) comes from a root meaning to cover. It is so called because it covers the mind so that one cannot think properly, as a result of that the drinker falls into sins that lead to doom.
Another sign of the approach of the Hour is that zina (unlawful sexual relationships) and shameful deeds will become widespread, as mentioned in the report of Muslim, and they will become very clearly prevalent, even though Allah has forbidden them, as He says: {And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse} [al-Isra’ 17:32].
It is as if these things are singled out for mention because they indicate that matters are getting out of hand, which if they are brought under control, will be a cause of well-being in this world and the hereafter. The first is religion, because the taking away of knowledge will undermine religion. The second is reason, because it is undermined by consuming intoxicants. The third is lineage, because it is undermined by zina. The undermining of these three things indicates that the world is heading towards ruin.
This hadith indicates that Allah (may He be exalted) has already decreed that the ruin of life on earth will come once mischief and corruption become prevalent and widespread.
It also indicates that we are urged to acquire knowledge, for it will not be taken away except through the death of knowledgeable people.
This hadith is one of the signs of the prophethood of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). .

81
It was narrated from Qatadah that Anas ibn Malik  said: I will surely tell you of something that no one will tell you after me. I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “One of the portents of the Hour is that knowledge will become rare and ignorance will prevail; zina will become widespread; and there will be many women and few men, to the extent that for fifty women there will be one man to look after them.”.

Commentary : No one knows exactly when the Hour will begin except Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). Nevertheless, He has ordained some signs of its approach, to alert the Muslim so that he may strive to prepare for that momentous Day.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us that one of the signs of the approach of the Hour is that Islamic knowledge will become rare on earth, because many scholars will die. Then the people will follow ignorant leaders who will speak about religious issues on the basis of their own personal views, and they will issue fatwas that are based on ignorance. Thus ignorance will prevail among the people, and that will result in no one having fear of Allah in their hearts. Zina (unlawful sexual relationships) and shameful deeds will become widespread, as mentioned in the report of Muslim, and they will become clearly prevalent, even though Allah has forbidden them, as He says: {And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse} [al-Isra’ 17:32].
Another of the signs that the Day of Resurrection is approaching is that the numbers of women will increase exponentially in comparison with the numbers of men, as few males will be born, whereas many females will be born, or the number of men may be reduced as a result of wars and conquests, until fifty women will only be able to find one man to be in charge of them, sponsor them and look after their affairs.
It is as if these five things are singled out for mention because they indicate that matters are getting out of hand, which if they are brought under control, will be a cause of well-being in this world and the hereafter. The first is religion, because the taking away of knowledge will undermine religion. The second is reason, because it is undermined by consuming intoxicants. The third is lineage, because it is undermined by zina. As for life and wealth, they will be undermined too, because of overwhelming trials and tribulations, and when all of these things are undermined, this indicates that the world is heading towards ruin.
This hadith indicates that Allah (may He be exalted) has already decreed that the ruin of life on earth will come once mischief and corruption become prevalent and widespread.
In this hadith, we are urged to acquire knowledge, for it will not be taken away except through the death of knowledgeable people.
This hadith is one of the signs of the prophethood of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), as he foretold what will happen at the end of time..

82
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “Whilst I was sleeping, a vessel of milk was brought to me and I drank until I saw its wetness coming out of my nails. Then I gave my leftovers to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab.” They said, How did you interpret that, O Messenger of Allah? He said, “Knowledge.”.

Commentary : The dreams of the Prophets are true and are revelation from Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would give glad tidings to his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) when he saw a dream.
In this hadith, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) saw in a dream that he was given a vessel of milk, and he drank from it to the extent that his thirst was greatly quenched and the moisture of the milk started to come out from his fingers, flowing over his nails, which was an indication that his body had had its needs fully met, to the extent that the surplus came out of him. Then he gave what was left of the milk to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) and he drank it. Then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) interpreted the milk as signifying knowledge. It is as if that was glad tidings to ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he would excel in understanding Islamic knowledge and teachings, because he drank from that milk from which the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had drunk. This was an indication that ‘Umar would be singled out and distinguished because of extra knowledge that he had. And it was said that milk was interpreted as referring to knowledge because both are very beneficial, and both are a means of well-being. Milk is nourishment for children, and a means of their well-being; moreover, it is a food that maintains physical well-being, and knowledge is a means of well-being in the hereafter and in this world.
This hadith highlights the virtue, honourable status and importance of knowledge for people.
It also highlights the virtue of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)..

83
It was narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) halted in Mina during the Farewell Pilgrimage so that the people could ask him questions. A man came to him and said: I did not think, so I shaved my head before slaughtering the sacrifice. He said: “[Go ahead and] slaughter it; there is no problem.” Another man came to him and said: I did not think, so I slaughtered the sacrifice before stoning the Jamrah. He said: “[Go ahead and] stone the Jamrah, and there is no problem. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was not asked about anything that was brought forward or delayed but he said: “[Go ahead and] do it, and there is no problem.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) performed the Farewell Pilgrimage at the end of his life, in 10 AH. During this Hajj, he explained to the people their rituals and the rulings of Hajj, and what was permissible and what was forbidden of both words and deeds during the pilgrimage.
In this hadith, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) halted during his pilgrimage, whilst he was riding his mount – as mentioned in a report of Muslim – in Mina, near the Jamrah, after the sun had passed its zenith on the Day of Sacrifice. Mina is a valley surrounded by mountains, located east of Makkah on the road between Makkah and Jabal ‘Arafah. It is approximately six kilometres from al-Masjid al-Haram. It is the place where pilgrims stone the Jamarat and slaughter the sacrificial animals.
On this great occasion, amidst this great crowd, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) halted so that the pilgrims could ask him questions and seek advice about what they needed to know of the rulings of Hajj. That included a man who made a mistake and forgot, so he did not do the rituals in the proper order, as he shaved his head before slaughtering his sacrifice. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) responded: “[Go ahead and] slaughter it; there is no problem” – so there is no sin on you and you do not have to offer a compensatory sacrifice. Another question came from a man who had slaughtered his sacrificial animal before stoning Jamrat al-‘Aqabah. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) answered him: “[Go ahead and] stone it, and there is no problem.”
So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was not asked on that day about any of the actions of Hajj that was brought forward or delayed but he said to the questioner: “[Go ahead and] do it, and there is no problem.” He was not strict with them, no compensatory sacrifice was required of them, and they did not incur any sin for doing one action before another, or delaying it.
This was by way of making things easy for people, because the time of Hajj is a time of hardship, in which people encounter many difficulties and there are many necessary things that are required of the pilgrim, which may force people to do many things without following the proper order. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not insist that people do things in a particular order, for what matters is doing the actions of Hajj, even though it is preferable to follow his example and Sunnah in the manner he told people to do them, as was narrated from him.
This hadith highlights the compassion of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) towards his ummah, as he sought to make it easy for them to do the rituals of Hajj. .

84
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was asked during his Hajj: I slaughtered my sacrifice before stoning the Jamrah, and he gestured with his hand as if to say, There is no problem. Another person said: I shaved my head before slaughtering my sacrifice, and he gestured with his hand as if to say, There is no problem..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) performed the Farewell Pilgrimage at the end of his life, in 10 AH. During this Hajj, he explained to the people their rituals and the rulings of Hajj, and what was permissible and what was forbidden of both words and deeds during the pilgrimage.
In this hadith, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that during his Farewell Pilgrimage, when he was near the Jamrah after the sun had passed its zenith on the Day of Sacrifice, as narrated by al-Bukhari, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was asked questions. On this great occasion, amidst this great crowd, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) halted so that the pilgrims could ask him questions about what they needed to know of the rulings of Hajj. That included a man who made a mistake and forgot, so he did not do the rituals in the proper order, as he slaughtered his sacrifice before stoning Jamrat al-‘Aqabah. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) responded with a gesture to indicate that he approved of what he had done, or he made a gesture and said to him, “There is no problem,” so there is no sin on you and you do not have to offer a compensatory sacrifice. Someone else asked him about his having shaved his head before slaughtering the sacrifice, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) responded with a gesture to indicate that he approved of what he had done, or he made a gesture and said to him, “There is no problem,” so you have nothing to worry about and you do not have to offer a compensatory sacrifice for doing one action before another, or delaying it.
This was by way of making things easy for people, because the time of Hajj is a time of hardship, in which people encounter many difficulties and there are many necessary things that are required of the pilgrim, which may force people to do many things without following the proper order. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not insist that people do things in a particular order, for what matters is doing the actions of Hajj, even though it is preferable to follow his example and Sunnah in the manner he told people to do them, as was narrated from him..

85
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Knowledge will be taken away, and ignorance and tribulations will prevail, and there will be a great deal of harj.” It was said: O Messenger of Allah, what is harj? He gestured like that with his hand, tilting it, as if he meant killing..

Commentary : No one knows exactly when the Hour will begin except Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), for He has kept that knowledge to Himself.
Nevertheless, He has ordained some signs of its approach, to alert the Muslim so that he may strive to prepare for that momentous Day.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us that one of the signs of the approach of the Hour is that beneficial knowledge that is accompanied by righteous deeds will be taken away, and will disappear from the earth with the death of its people. It will be reduced by their death but will not be erased from people’s hearts. Then the people will follow ignorant leaders who will speak about religious issues on the basis of their own personal views, and they will issue fatwas that are based on ignorance. Thus ignorance will prevail and spread among the people, and tribulations, disputes and division will become widespread; that will result in no one having fear of Allah in their hearts, and there will be a great deal of “harj.” When the people asked what harj meant, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) made a gesture with his hand, from which it could be understood that the word referred to killing and unlawful bloodshed. This explanation is clearly mentioned in al-Sahihayn, where it says: They said: O Messenger of Allah, what is that? He said: “Killing, killing.” What is meant is that there would be tribulations and disputes, and that will be the cause of a great deal of killing among the Muslims, as is mentioned in a report narrated by Ibn Majah from Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him), in which it says that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “It will not be as a result of the polytheists killing the Muslims; rather you will kill one another, to the extent that a man will kill his neighbour, his cousin and his relative.”
This hadith indicates that Allah (may He be exalted) has already decreed that the ruin of life on earth will come once mischief and corruption become prevalent and widespread.
It also indicates that we are urged to acquire knowledge, for it will not be taken away except through the death of knowledgeable people.
This hadith is one of the signs of the prophethood of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)..

86
It was narrated that Asma’ said: I came to ‘A’ishah when she was praying, and I said: What is the matter with the people? She pointed to the sky, and I saw that the people were standing in prayer. Then she said, Subhan-Allah. I said: Is it a sign? And she nodded to say yes. So I started to pray [with the people] until I nearly fainted, so I began to pour water on my head. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) praised and glorified Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), then he said: “There is nothing that had not been shown to me before but it was shown to me [just now] whilst I was standing in prayer, even Paradise and Hell. Then it was revealed to me that you will be tested in your graves, like or close to” – I [the narrator] do not know which word Asma’ said – “the trial of the Dajjal. It will be said: What do you know about this man? As for the believer or the one who had certain faith” – I do not know which word Asma’ said – “he will say: He is Muhammad the Messenger of Allah; he came to us with clear proofs and guidance, and we responded and followed him; he is Muhammad” – three times. “Then it will be said: Rest, benefitting from your righteous deeds. We knew that you believed with certainty in him. As for the hypocrite or the one who had doubts” – I do not know which word Asma’ said – “he will say: I do not know; I heard the people saying something, so I said it too.”.

Commentary : The trial of the grave is one of the greatest trials that a person will undergo. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) always sought refuge with Allah from it at the end of his prayer.
In this hadith, Asma’ bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that she went to the house of her sister ‘A’ishah, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), and she found her praying, following the prayer of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in his mosque, as the houses of the Mothers of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with them) were attached to the mosque of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), as is well known. Asma’ asked her, whilst she was praying, why the people were so scared and were praying at this time, which was not the time of the obligatory prayer. ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) responded to her as she was praying with a gesture, pointing towards the sky, as if she wanted to make her understand that the sign of a solar eclipse in the sky was the reason for this fear and this prayer. Thus Asma’ realized that this was a sign of the might and power of Allah (may He be glorified), so she joined the people in prayer and offered a lengthy prayer with them, until she got tired and signs of exhaustion appeared on her, to the extent that she poured water on her head to revive herself and so that she would not faint. That was because the eclipse prayer is two rak‘ahs, in each of which there are two bowings (ruku‘) and two recitations, and the imam makes each recitation and bowing very long, with the bowing as long as the recitation. This lengthy procedure may be exhausting for some, but it is by way of beseeching Allah and humbling oneself before Him, so that He will relieve the people of this calamity and distress.
Then when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had finished the prayer, he addressed the people. He began by praising and glorifying Allah as He deserves, then he told the people that there was nothing that he had not seen before but he saw it whilst standing in this prayer, and he looked at it, even Paradise and Hell. He saw them both and they were both visible and displayed before him. He began to describe what he had seen, and told the people that Allah had revealed to him the trial of the grave, in which people will be questioned by the two angels. This is something very difficult, almost as difficult as the trial of the Dajjal, and the trial of the Dajjal is one of the greatest and most dangerous of trials and tribulations. The word Dajjal comes from a root meaning to cover; he is so called because he will cover the truth with his falsehood. He will be a human being, and his emergence will be one of the major signs of the Day of Resurrection. Allah will test His slaves by means of him, and He will enable him to do some things that only Allah (may He be exalted) can do, such as bringing back to life a dead person whom he killed, or bringing about prosperity and abundance in this world. He will have with him his paradise and his hell, and his two rivers, and the treasures of the earth will follow him; he will order the sky to send down rain and it will do so, and he will order the earth to bring forth vegetation and it will do so. All of that will happen by the will and decree of Allah (may He be exalted).
The trial of which the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) warned us will happen when a person is questioned in his grave: What do you know about this man? This is referring to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). The response of the believer or the one who had certain faith will be: he is Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, who came to us with clear proofs and guidance, and we responded and followed him. He will say that three times, as Allah will make him steadfast with the word that stands firm and will inspire him to give the right answer. The angels will affirm that what he says is correct, and will give him the glad tidings of rest and being spared suffering, and they will say to him: “Rest, benefitting from your righteous deeds. We knew that you believed with certainty in him.”
As for the hypocrite, or the one who doubted and was hesitant, he will say I do not know, I am not certain, but I heard the people saying something in the former world, so I said it too. So I was not certain that he was a Prophet; rather I went along with what the people said outwardly. He will be in a state of wretchedness and punishment, the opposite of the believer.
This hadith affirms that the believer, the hypocrite and the disbeliever will be questioned in the grave.
It indicates that Paradise and Hell are already created and they exist at present.
It also confirms the emergence and trial of the Dajjal.
It indicates that perfect faith and perfect knowledge is the knowledge of Allah and His Messenger, and knowing the proof for that.
It indicates that women may attend the eclipse prayer in congregation in the mosques.
It indicates that it is prescribed for the one who is praying to listen to what he is told by someone who is not praying.
It indicates that one who is praying may gesture with his hand and head to the one who asks him one thing after another.
It indicates that it is prescribed to pray and beseech Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) when natural phenomena occur, such as solar and lunar eclipses, and earthquakes. .

87
It was narrated that Abu Jamrah said: I used to translate between Ibn ‘Abbas and the people. He said: The delegation of ‘Abdul Qays came to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and he said: “Who are the delegation – or who are the people?” They said: [The tribe of] Rabi‘ah. He said: “Welcome to the people – or the delegation. You have nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to regret.” They said: We have come to you from afar, for between us and you there is this tribe of the disbelievers of Mudar, and we cannot come to you except in the sacred month. Tell us something that we can tell to those whom we left behind, by means of which we may enter Paradise. He commanded them to do four things, and forbade to them four things. He commanded them to believe in Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) alone. He said: “Do you know what believing in Allah alone means?” They said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: “Testifying that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” [And he commanded them] to establish prayer, give zakah and fast Ramadan, and to give one fifth of the war booty. And he forbade them to use gourds, glazed pitchers, and varnished jars. Shu’bah said: And perhaps he said hollowed-out stumps. And he said: “Memorize them [these rulings] and tell them to those you left behind.”.

Commentary : 103090.

88
It was narrated from ‘Uqbah ibn al-Harith that he married a daughter of Abu Ihab ibn ‘Aziz. A woman came to him and said: I breast-fed ‘Uqbah and the woman whom he married. ‘Uqbah said to her: I do not know that you breast-fed me, as you never told me that before. Then he sent word to the family of Abu Ihab to ask of them, and they said: We do not know that she breast-fed our daughter. He travelled to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in Madinah and asked him, and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “How [could you do that] after what was said?” So he left her, and she married someone else..

Commentary : When a woman breast-feeds a child who is not hers, that results in some Islamic rulings, and what becomes mahram (forbidden for marriage) through breastfeeding is that which becomes mahram through blood ties.
In this hadith, ‘Uqbah ibn al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with him) tells us that he married the daughter of Abu Ihab ibn ‘Aziz, whose name was Ghaniyyah and her kunya was Umm Yahya. Then a woman who was a wet-nurse came to him and told him that she had breast-fed him and the woman whom he had married; in other words, the woman whom he had married was his foster sister, because she had breast-fed both of them. ‘Uqbah (may Allah be pleased with him) responded by saying: I do not know that you breast-fed me, giving the excuse that he knew nothing about that, or he denied that she had breast-fed him in the first place, as if he was accusing her of lying. ‘Uqbah also sent word to the family of Abu Ihab to ask them about that, and they said: We are not aware that she breast-fed our daughter. So they also denied that the woman who was making this claim had breast-fed the wife. In order to find out what he should do, ‘Uqbah rode from Makkah, because that was where he lived, and he went to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in Madinah, to ask him about the matter. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) replied “How [could you do that] after what was said?”  In other words, how could you be intimate with her when it was said that she is your foster sister? That is not appropriate for a man of dignity and piety. So he separated them, in order to avoid falling into a dubious matter, or because his marriage was invalid, because the wet-nurse had affirmed that she had breast-fed both of them, although ‘Uqbah denied it. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) accepted her word and ordered ‘Uqbah to separate from his wife, and she married someone else.
This hadith indicates that we should avoid dubious matters.
It also indicates that one who does not know about a matter cannot have any argument against the one who does know it.
It also highlights the keenness of the Sahabah to seek knowledge, and their commitment to that which would bring them closer to Allah (may He be exalted)..

868
Ibn ‘Abbās reported: Dimād came to Makkah, and he was from Azd Shanū’ah. He used to provide Ruqyah against this wind (demonic possession). He heard some foolish people from the people of Makkah saying: Indeed, Muhammad is mad. So, he said: If I see that man, Allah might heal him through me. He said: He met him and said: O Muhammad, I provide Ruqyah against this wind and Allah heals whoever He wills through me. Do you desire (this)? Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Praise be to Allah. We praise Him and seek His help. Whoever Allah guides, none can lead astray, and whoever Allah leads astray, none can guide. I testify that there is no god but Allah alone with no partner and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. To proceed, he said: He said: Repeat to me these words of yours. So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) repeated them three times. He said: So, he said: I have heard the words of soothsayers, the words of magicians, and the words of poets, but I have never heard such words as yours, and they have reached the Nā‘ūs (depth) of the sea. He said: So, he said: Give me your hand to pledge allegiance to you on Islam. He said: And he pledged allegiance to him. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: And on behalf of your people? He replied: And on behalf of my people. He said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) then sent an expedition, and they passed by his people. The expedition leader asked the army: Did you take anything from those? A man said: I took a Mit-harah (water utensil used for purification) from them. So, he said: Return it, for they are the people of Dimād..

Commentary : The Prophet's way of life and that of the early Muslims was full of difficulties and obstacles for the sake of spreading the word of Allah Almighty. The disbelievers of Makkah used to keep a close watch on the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and all those who believed along with him. However, Allah's victory was definite as He granted His slave victory, honored His soldiers, and defeated the Confederates alone.
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) narrates that Dimād ibn Tha'labah - who was from Azd Shanū’ah, which is a prominent tribe in Yemen and Azd is one of its tribes - came to Makkah and alighted there from a journey and this was at the beginning of the Prophet's mission. Dimād used to make Ruqyah, which refers to the incantations used for someone suffering from illnesses like fever, epilepsy, and other diseases. "He used to provide Ruqyah against this wind," and "wind" here refers to madness and demonic possession as if they considered the insanity that afflicted a person and the diseases resulting from such possession a breath from the Jinn. Thus, they called it "wind". Dimād heard the fools and the ignorant from among the disbelievers of Makkah saying: "Indeed, Muhammad is mad. So, he said: If I see that man" whom you call mad, Allah might heal him through me if I make Ruqyah for him. Ibn' Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) met Dimād. Dimād informed him that he provided Ruqyah against possession and madness and that Allah had made him a cause for curing some diseases, so would you like me to make Ruqyah for you and help you get rid of the madness that people say you are afflicted with? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) replied saying: "Praise be to Allah," i.e., it is established and exclusive for Him, whether He is praised or not. "We praise Him" because it is obligatory upon us as well as beneficial for us. "And seek His help" in all our affairs. "Whoever Allah guides" to the path of declaring His Oneness and witnessing His uniqueness by virtue of His favor, "none can lead astray" from the creatures, and whoever He leads astray from the right path by virtue of His justice, "none can guide". "I testify that there is no god but Allah, alone," i.e., One "with no partner," i.e., none is truly worthy of worship but Him. "And I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger; to proceed," On hearing these words from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), Dimād asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to repeat these words once again. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) repeated them thrice. Thereupon, Dimād said: "I have heard the words of soothsayers" plural of "soothsayer", one who foretells the unseen with rhyming sentences and creative signals. "The words of magicians" plural of "magician", one who alludes to the eye or mind by what he says or does. "And the words of poets" is the plural of a poet, one who beautifies everything with his tongue to the extent that he disgraces what is beautiful and beautifies what is disgraceful. I heard the words of those, "but I have never heard such words as yours," i.e., if you were one of these three, your words would sound like their words. He mentioned those three because the fools of Makkah used to describe him once as a soothsayer, another time as a magician, and a third time as a poet. Hence, he denied the three things they used to say about him.
Then, Dimād said: "And they have reached," i.e., these comprehensive words that you uttered and their impact on the heart of every living being along with their belief in them have reached the "Nā‘ūs" (depth) of the sea, and it was narrated the "Qāmūs", which is the middle and depth of the sea. In other words, they have reached the top and the highest peak of eloquence.
Then, Dimād said: "Give me your hand" and extend it "to pledge allegiance to you on Islam. And he pledged allegiance to" the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Then, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: And on behalf of your people, i.e., and you pledge allegiance to Islam on behalf of your people as well whom you left behind in your country? Thereupon, Dimād said: "And on behalf of my people." So, he pledged allegiance to Islam for himself and on behalf of his people.
Ibn' Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that after the Hijrah (emigration) to Madīnah, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent an expedition - part of the army that does not exceed one hundred men -. They passed by the people of Dimād ibn Tha'labah (may Allah be pleased with him). The expedition leader - i.e., its head - said to the army: "Did you take," i.e., seize "anything from those? A man said: I took a Mit-harah from them," which is a water utensil used for making Tahārah (ritual purification). He said: "Return it," i.e., give it back to its owners ", for those are the people of Dimād" ibn Tha'labah al-Azdi who pledged allegiance to Islam through Dimād. Hence, it is not permissible to seize their properties because they are Muslims.
The Hadīth sheds light on the Prophet's good manners, eloquence, and command of language.
It also shows how Dimād ibn Tha‘labah (may Allah be pleased with him) embraced Islam and the favor he did to his people..

869
Abu Wā’il reported: 'Ammār gave us a Khutbah (sermon), and he spoke briefly and eloquently. When he came down, we said: O Abu al-Yaqzhān, you spoke eloquently and briefly; would you have spoken longer? He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "A man's lengthy prayer and short Khutbah is a sign of his understanding, so lengthen the prayer and shorten the Khutbah, for there is a charm in the eloquent speech.".

Commentary : Everything has a point of moderation and reasonableness, and both the prayer and Khutbah of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) were moderate, i.e., they were neither prolonged in a boring manner nor shortened in a manner involving deficiency, and this was the course adopted by the Prophet's Companions.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Abu Wā’il, the brother of Ibn Salamah al-Asdi, narrates that ‘Ammār ibn Yāsir (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) delivered a sermon among people, and he spoke briefly and eloquently and conveyed what he wanted in a few words. On descending the pulpit, people said to him: "O Abu al-Yaqzhān," which is 'Ammār's nickname, and they praised his eloquence and brevity and said to him: "Would that you spoke longer," i.e., made it a little longer. He informed them that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "A man's lengthy prayer," referring to the Friday prayer, i.e., making the prayer longer than the Khutbah in a way that does not make it arduous for those praying behind him; to be moderate between prolonging and shortening, "and short Khutbah," i.e., shortening it "is a sign of his understanding," i.e., a sign indicating the preacher's understanding when his speech is eloquent, brief, and clear. The command of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) contains: "So, lengthen the prayer and shorten the Khutbah", denotes ultimate moderation by prolonging the prayer moderately so that those who are not present and those who are far away from the mosque can catch up with it without harming those behind him with such a prolongation, and by shortening the Khutbah without failing to meet its proper standards and in a way that would make it easier to memorize what is mentioned therein as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to do this in both.
His statement: "For there is a charm in the eloquent speech," "Eloquent speech" here means expressing the intended meaning using the most articulate wording, which indicates understanding and the heart's intelligence. "Charm" means changing the way one regards something and not changing the truth of something. This statement was said as a form of praise by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) with which he ended his speech to guide the preacher to be eloquent and clear in his speech, as Allah Almighty has bestowed upon His slaves the blessing of teaching them eloquence and clarity. Then, he compared it to magic because the hearts feel a tendency towards it as the eloquent speech attracts hearts and causes them to incline to what the speaker is saying.
The Hadīth points out that it is Sunnah for the preacher not to lengthen the Khutbah..

870
‘Adiyy ibn Hātim reported: A man delivered a sermon before the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger is guided aright, and whoever disobeys them is deluded. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: What a bad preacher you are! Say: And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger. [Another version reads]: has gone astray..

Commentary : Delivering the Khutbah (sermon) is of great significance because it expresses what one thinks or means. The Khutbah must be clear and comprehensible to all. It must be free of probable words and meanings that could be misconstrued, or that could be interpreted in a way different from that intended by the preacher.
In this Hadīth, ‘Adiyy ibn Hātim at-Tā’i (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) heard a man delivering a Khutbah saying: "Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger is guided aright," "rushd" (right guidance) means: being on the side of the truth and what is right, "And whoever disobeys them is deluded," i.e., is wholly engaged in evil and goes astray from the path of the truth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him, teaching him in a firm and scolding manner - which is one of the Prophet's teaching methods: "What a bad preacher you are! Say: And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger" not "disobeys them". Here, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) called his attention to be cautious about stating such things in sermons and attended occasions because the basic rule here is simplicity and clarification along with avoidance of symbols and signs, unlike education, as the lesser the words are, the better their memorization becomes.
The Hadīth denotes that forbidding evil is to be carried out by those qualified to do so..

873
’Umm Hishām bint Hārithah ibn an-Nu‘mān reported: Our oven and the oven of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the same for two years, or for a year and part of a year. I learned the Surat of {Qāf. By the Glorious Qur’an} from none but the tongue of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as he used to recite it every Friday on the pulpit when delivering the Khutbah to people..

Commentary : The Companions were keen on knowing the Prophet's states and on learning everything from him because the best guidance is that of Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
In this Hadīth,' Umm Hishām bint al-Hārith ibn an-Nu'mān (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that she and her family shared the same oven with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) for two years, or a year and part of a year. "Tannūr" (oven) means the thing in which bread is baked, which is an indirect reference to their close neighborship and a reference to her extreme heedfulness of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), her vast knowledge about his states, and her closeness to him. She then reported that she did not memorize the Surat of {Qāf. By the Glorious Qur'an} except by hearing it from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), as he used to recite it every Friday on the pulpit when delivering the Khutbah to people. Perhaps the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) chose Surat Qāf because of the lessons and the powerful deterrents it includes, in addition to some of the horrors of the Day of Judgment, including death and resurrection, Paradise and Hellfire, besides the fact that the speech of Allah Almighty is more effective in preaching.
The Hadīth indicates reciting the Qur’an in the Khutbah and reciting Surat Qāf..

874
‘Umārah ibn Ru’aybah reported: He saw Bishr ibn Marwān on the pulpit raising his hands, so he said: "May Allah disfigure these hands! I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) doing no more than this with his hand." He pointed with his Musabbihah finger (forefinger). [Another version reads]: I saw Bishr ibn Marwān on Friday raising his hands, so, ‘Umārah ibn Ru’aybah said...and he related a similar Hadīth..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) never feared the reproach of any critic concerning Allah and were never prevented by people's prestige from saying the truth if witnessed or knew it, even if the evildoer was from the notables. An example is this Hadīth as ‘Umārah ibn Ru’aybah (may Allah be pleased with him) criticized Bishr ibn Marwān ibn al-Hakam ibn Abi al-‘Ās ibn ’Umayyah al-’Umawi al-Madani - one of the rulers of Banu ’Umayyah - for raising his hands during the Friday Khutbah while supplicating on the pulpit, as mentioned in the version of Abu Dāwūd. ‘Umārah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "May Allah disfigure these hands" that were raised during supplication contrary to the Sunnah. This apparently signifies supplicating against him for opposing the act of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in this respect. It is also said that it signifies the ugliness of his deed. Then, he reported that he saw the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) doing no more than gesturing in the Khutbah with the Musabbihah (forefinger) during the supplication, i.e., he pointed with it just as he used to raise it during the Tashahhud. The "Musabbihah" is the finger next to the thumb, and it was called so because of pointing with it when declaring Tawhīd (monotheism) and when making Tasbīh (glorifying Allah). It was also called "Sabbābah" because people usually use it to refer to "sabb" (insulting, swearing).
The Hadīth shows that the preacher should not raise his hand while supplicating during the Friday Khutbah..

876
Abu Rifā‘ah reported: I came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) while he was giving a sermon, and I said: "O Messenger of Allah, a stranger has come to inquire about his religion. He has no knowledge about his religion." So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) turned to me, left his sermon, and came to me. A chair was brought - and I thought its legs were made of iron - and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sat on it and started teaching me of what Allah taught him. Then, he resumed his sermon and completed it..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to care about the conditions and circumstances of people and facilitate things for them. Indeed, he was gentle, compassionate, and humble to the Muslims.
In this Hadīth, Abu Rifā‘ah al-‘Adawi (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that while the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was delivering a sermon to the people one day, Abu Rifā‘ah (may Allah be pleased with him) came to him and said: "O Messenger of Allah, a stranger," a stranger is a person away from his homeland. "has come to inquire about his religion," i.e., about the matters and legislations of Islam. "He has no knowledge about his religion," because no one has taught him. So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) turned to him, left his sermon, and walked until he reached Abu Rifā‘ah (may Allah be pleased with him). The Companions brought him a chair whose legs Abu Abu Rifā‘ah thought were made of iron. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sat on the chair, so that the Companions could see him and learn from him. He began to teach Abu Rifā‘ah (may Allah be pleased with him) the matters of Islam he needed to learn. Then, after he had finished teaching him, he returned to his place and completed his sermon to the end.
It was said: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) left the sermon and turned to this man to teach him because it was incumbent upon him right away, and because he feared he might miss that, and because this did not contradict the sermon he was giving. His walk and closeness to him at that moment was a desire to seize the opportunity and show care to the questioner.
In the Hadīth: The humbleness of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)
And in it: The gentleness of the questioner and the good way of presenting his question.

877
Ibn Abi Rāfi‘ reported: Marwān appointed Abu Hurayrah to be in charge of Madīnah on his behalf, and he set out for Makkah. Abu Hurayrah led us in the Friday prayer and recited after Surat al-Jumu‘ah in the last Rak‘ah (unit of prayer) Surat: {When the hypocrites come to you}. When he left, I caught up with Abu Hurayrah and told him: You recited two Surahs that ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib used to recite in Al-Kūfah. Abu Hurayrah said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reciting them on Friday. [Another version reads]: Marwān appointed Abu Hurayrah to be in charge of...relating a similar Hadīth; however, he said: He recited Surat al-Jumu‘ah in the first Sajdah (Rak‘ah) and the last one Surat: {When the hypocrites come to you}..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to learn from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and then apply what they learned. Hence, many of their acts were compatible with one another despite them being in different places.
In this Hadīth, 'Ubaydullah ibn Abi Rāfi' al-Madani, the Prophet's freed slave, narrates that Marwān ibn al-Hakam, the ruler of Madīnah during the era of Mu‘āwiyah ibn Abi Sufyān (may Allah be pleased with him), appointed Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) to be in charge of Madīnah on his behalf and he himself left for Makkah. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) led them in the Friday prayer and recited in the first Rak‘ah Surat al-Jumu‘ah, and the last Rak‘ah, he recited Surat al-Munāfiqūn. After finishing the prayer, Ibn Abi Rāfi‘ went to Abu Hurayrah and said: You recited two Surahs that ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him) used to recite in Kūfah when leading people in prayer. It is as if ‘Ubaydullah was wondering: Is there a cause behind this concord? Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) informed him that the reason why they both recited these Surahs in the same prayer despite the distance between them is that: he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reciting them on Friday. The reason behind this could be the fact that Surat al-Jumu'ah makes a mention of the Friday prayer and its high status and because Surat al-Munāfiqūn rebukes the hypocrites and urges them to repent since they used to attend the Friday prayer with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and used to gather therein, so, perhaps what is in this Surah would act as a deterrent, an alert, and a warning for them..

878
An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite the Surah of {Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High} and the Surah of {Has there come to you the story of the Overwhelming Event?} on the two Eids and on Friday. He said: If Eid and Friday fell on the same day, he would also recite them in the two prayers..

Commentary : The best guidance is that of Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) transmitted his guidance in everything. Among them is the Hadīth narrated by An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr (may Allah be pleased with him) about what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite in the prayers of the two Eids and Friday. He said that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite in the prayer of Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Ad'ha, and in the Friday prayer: the Surah of {Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High} and the Surah of {Has there come to you the story of the Overwhelming Event?} The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) probably chose these two Surahs because they contain mention of the affairs of the Hereafter and the promise of reward and the threat of punishment, which are appropriate for people in such a well-attended prayer. If Eid and Friday fell on the same day, he would also recite these two Surahs in the two prayers, to make prayer light for people.
And in it: It is recommended to recite the Surah of {Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High} and the Surah of {Has there come to you the story of the Overwhelming Event?} on the two Eids and Friday..

879
Ibn ‘Abbās reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite in the Fajr prayer on Friday: {Alif Lām Mīm. The revelation} (Surat as-Sajdah) and {Was there not a period of time when man} (Surat al-Insān). And the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite in the Friday prayer Surat al-Jumu‘ah and Surat al-Munāfiqūn..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were extremely keen on following the Prophet's Sunnah. They were quite aware of the details of his honorable Sunnah, what he used to recite in every prayer and whether he lengthened or shortened it, etc.
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reports that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to regularly recite Surat as-Sajdah in the first Rak'ah (unit of prayer) of the Fajr prayer every Friday. In contrast, in the second Rak'ah, he used to recite Surat al-Insān: {Was there not a period of time when man}. The reason behind this could be what is included in these two Surahs mentioning what happened and what will happen in the beginning and the Hereafter, like the creation of Adam (peace be upon him), gathering the creatures and resurrecting them from the graves to Paradise and Hellfire, the situations of the Day of Judgment, which will occur on Friday.
Ibn' Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) also reports that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite Surat al-Jumu'ah in the first Rak'ah of the Friday prayer, and in the Second Rak'ah he used to recite Surat al-Munāfiqūn. The reason behind this could be the fact that Surat al-Jumu'ah makes a mention of the Friday prayer and its high status and because Surat al-Munāfiqūn rebukes the hypocrites and urges them to repent since they used to attend the Friday prayer with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and used to gather therein, so, perhaps what is in this Surah would act as a deterrent, an alert, and a warning for them..

881
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If you pray after the Friday prayer, pray four (Rak‘ahs)." [In a version]: Suhayl said: "If you are in a hurry on account of something, then offer two Rak‘ahs in the mosque and two Rak‘ahs when you go back.".

Commentary : The Friday prayer is of great significance in Islam. Allah Almighty made it obligatory for non-traveling men to go out for it when the Muezzin makes the Adhān, calling for it, and He urged them to attend this prayer and warned against neglecting it. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) demonstrated its Sunnahs and etiquettes.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) directs anyone who wants to offer a supererogatory prayer after the Friday prayer in the mosque to pray four Rak‘ahs.
It is related in a version that ‘Umar an-Nāqid added in his version: ‘Abdullāh ibn Idrīs reported that Suhayl ibn Abi Sālih said to him: "If you are in a hurry on account of something," i.e., if you are prompted by anything to quickly leave the mosque after the Friday prayer, "then offer two Rak‘ahs in the mosque" after the Friday prayer; then, you can go and engage in whatever you want, then pray two Rak‘ahs at home when you go back. In the version by Abu Dāwūd, it was the father of Suhayl who said that to Suhayl. So, it is probable that he was first exhorted by his father to do that, and then Suhayl exhorted his student Ibn Idrīs to do the same.
It is narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would not pray after the Friday prayer until he departed, and he would then pray two Rak‘ahs," i.e., at home. Part of what was said about reconciling these two Hadīths is that if he prayed in the mosque, he would pray four Rak‘ahs, and if he prayed at home, he would pray two Rak‘ahs. It was also said: It may be taken on the basis that the regular Sunnah of the Friday prayer consists of six Rak‘ahs. And it was said: He would pray two Rak‘ahs in the mosque and two Rak‘ahs at home after he returned..

883
‘Umar ibn ‘Atā’ ibn Abi al-Khuwār reported that Nāfi' ibn Jubayr sent him to As-Sā’ib nephew of Namir to ask him about something that Mu‘āwiyah had seen him doing in prayer. He said: "Yes, I performed the Friday prayer along with him in the enclosure, and when the Imām concluded the prayer with Taslīm, I stood up in my place and prayed. When Mu‘āwiyah went in, he sent for me and said: 'Never do again what you did. When you have observed the Friday prayer, do not start another prayer until you speak to someone or you leave, for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us not to follow up a prayer with another prayer until we talk or leave.'" [In a version]: The same text, except that he said: when he concluded the prayer with Taslīm, I stood up in my place. He did not mention the Imām..

Commentary : The Tābi‘īs (may Allah have mercy upon them) were most keen on learning knowledge and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) from his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), as they observed all aspects of the Prophet's Sunnah and were keen to teach them to those who came after them.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘ī ‘Umar ibn ‘Atā’ says that Nāfi’ ibn Jubayr sent him to the Companion As-Sā’ib nephew of Namir (may Allah be pleased with him) to ask him about something that Mu‘āwiyah ibn Abi Sufyān (may Allah be pleased with him), who was then the Commander of the Faithful, had seen As-Sā’ib do in prayer, and of which Mu‘āwiyah had expressed disapproval. He said: 'Yes' i.e., I will answer your question. He informed him that he offered the Friday prayer with Mu‘āwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) in the enclosure, a chamber in the mosque for the caliphs and governors. Mu‘āwiyah ibn Abi Sufyān (may Allah be pleased with him) was the first to establish it, after one of the Khrijites struck him and attempted to kill him. So, he wanted to protect himself therein. When the Imām made Taslīm, As-Sā’ib stood up in his place where he offered the Friday prayer to perform the supererogatory prayer, without anything that separates it from the obligatory prayer. As Mu‘āwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) entered his house, he sent a messenger to call him. When he went to him, he said to him: Never do what you did again, offering the supererogatory prayer in the place of the obligatory prayer directly thereafter. If you have performed the Friday prayer, do not couple it with another prayer, until you speak to someone or move from the place of your prayer. For example, he may offer the supererogatory prayer at home. This is intended to safeguard the obligatory prayer, lest anyone may add to it what is not part of it with the passage of time, and lest ignorant people may think the supererogatory prayer is part of the obligatory one. Then, Mu‘āwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commanded them not to follow up a prayer with another prayer until they speak or leave the mosque or the place of the obligatory prayer, by moving from it.
In the Hadīth: Separating the supererogatory prayer from the obligatory one, either by speaking or by moving from its place
And in it: The ruler should give sincere advice to his subjects and demonstrate what is correct to them..

885
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh reported: I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) on the day of Eid. He commenced with the prayer before the sermon, without Adhān or Iqāmah. He then stood up leaning on Bilāl, and he commanded people to fear Allah and obey Him, and he preached to the people and reminded them. He then walked until he reached the women, and he preached and admonished them, and then said to them: "Give charity, for the majority of you will be the firewood of Hellfire." A woman amid the crowd, with dark spots on her cheeks, said: "Why is that so, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Because you often complain and show ingratitude to your spouses." Thus, they began to donate their jewelry, like earrings and rings, throwing them in Bilāl's garment..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) cared about the sermon on the day of Eid, for the people would gather in it, so the benefit would be all-inclusive, and knowledge would spread.
In this Hadīth, Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) says that he attended the Eid prayer with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) on Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Ad'ha. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) performed the Eid prayer first, and he then delivered the Eid sermon, and the Eid prayer did not have Adhān or Iqāmah. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood up to give the sermon after the end of the Eid prayer, leaning on Bilāl ibn Rabāh (may Allah be pleased with him). He commanded those in attendance to fear Allah in all their conditions; that is to put a shield between them and the punishment of Allah, by fulfilling His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. And he enjoined and encouraged them to obey Allah Almighty. "and he preached to the people," i.e., he commanded them to do what is right and good, as well as some admonition, and reminded them of Allah. Then, he went and left the place of his sermon to the men until he reached the women's praying place to give them a sermon. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) preached to the women and reminded them of Allah, saying: "Give charity," i.e., pay charity from your wealth; "for the majority of you will be the firewood of Hellfire," as Allah Almighty says: {then beware of the Fire whose fuel will be people and stones.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 24] Firewood: dry wood is used as fuel for inflaming. The meaning here: Most women will be the fuel of Hellfire. Thereupon, a woman stood up from the midst of women, "with dark spots on her cheeks," i.e., the color of her cheeks turned black. She asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about the reason for that. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed her that this is because women often complain and are not content with what is little, "and show ingratitude to your spouses," i.e., you are ungrateful for the kindness of your husbands, and you deny their rights upon you. He explained that in another version of the Two Sahīh Collections by saying: "If you have always been good to one of them and then she sees something from you (not of her liking), she will say: I have never seen any good from you." So, she meets this kindness with ingratitude and denial. Ingratitude dominates her attitude, as if she insists on it, and insistence turns a minor sin into a major one. This is because the rights of the husband are great, and she is required to show gratitude to him and acknowledge his favor, as he takes care of her affairs and protects and preserves her, and he exerts himself in doing so. Indeed, Allah enjoins anyone to whom a favor is done to show gratitude for it. So, what about the favors the husband generously bestows upon his wife for her entire life?!
Then, Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that when the women heard that, they gave charity from the jewelry and adornment they were wearing and put the charity in the lap of Bilāl, who was stretching out his garment to collect charity from them. "like earrings," jewelry hung in the ears. "and rings," jewelry worn on fingers.
In the Hadīth: Demonstrating that the Eid prayer is to be performed before the sermon, not thereafter, and that it has no Adhān or Iqāmah.
And in it: Urging the giving of charity
And in it: Warning women of much complaining and of showing ingratitude to their husbands
And in it: Delivering a particular sermon for women on Eid.

886
Ibn ‘Abbās and Jābir ibn ‘Abdullah al-Ansāri reported: No Adhān (call to prayer) used to be made on the Day of Fitr or the Day of Ad'ha. Then, after a while, I asked him about this, and he informed me. He said: Jābir ibn' Abdullah al-Ansāri told me that no Adhān should be made for prayer on the Day of Fitr, neither when the Imam comes out nor after he comes out, and there should be no Iqāmah (second call to prayer), no call, and nothing at all. No call and no Iqāmah should be made on that day..

Commentary : This Hadīth reveals part of the Prophet's guidance concerning the two Eid prayers and how he used to perform them without Adhān or Iqāmah. 'Abdullah ibn' Abbās and Jābir ibn' Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them) narrate that when the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went out to the praying area on the day of Eid, no Adhān was made for him neither on the Day of Fitr nor on the Day of Ad'ha.
Ibn Jurayj - one of the Hadīth narrators - reported that he asked his Shaykh, ‘Atā’ ibn Rabāh, after a long time about making Adhān and Iqāmah for the Eid prayer. He informed him that Jābir ibn' Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) told him that no Adhān or Iqāmah should be made for the Eid prayer, whether before or after the Imam comes out. Calling to this prayer, using whatever wording, has not been reported, including the statement said by some: "As-salātu jāmi'ah" (come to congregational prayer). He then repeated his words: "No call and no Iqāmah should be made on that day" for the sake of confirmation. There is no need to notify people of the Eid prayer as the Day of Eid is already known and is an occasion for gatherings, and people typically get ready for such a gathering. Therefore, their gathering for this occasion makes the call unnecessary, as the purpose is achieved through making Takbīr (proclaiming Allah's greatness) and attendance. Then, when the Imam stands up and orders them to straighten the rows or when he makes Takbīr, they know that the prayer has started, and after the prayer, he delivers the Eid Khutbah (sermon)..

887
Jābir ibn Samurah reported: I performed the two Eid prayers with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), not only once or twice, without Adhān or Iqāmah..

Commentary : Allah Almighty has made Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Ad'ha for the Muslims to be happy for the completion of Allah's favor upon them after performing two obligatory acts, namely fasting Ramadān and making Hajj to the Sacred House. These two days have rulings, Sunnah acts, and etiquettes. This Hadīth reveals part of the Prophet's guidance concerning the two Eid prayers. Jābir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he witnessed the two Eid prayers with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) - so, he was reporting what he saw and did with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) - without Adhān or Iqāmah. Instead, people used to come out, and once the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) arrived, they would pray without Adhān or Iqāmah since there is no need for both of them as the Day of Eid is already known and is an occasion for gathering and people usually get ready for such a gathering. Hence, their gathering for this occasion makes the call useless except for declaring the start of the prayer itself, which is achieved through making Takbīr (proclaiming Allah's greatness) and attendance. Then, after the prayer, he would deliver the Eid Khutbah (sermon). His statement: "not only once or twice," i.e., rather many times.
The Hadīth clarifies how the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) reported the Prophet's guidance to teach the Muslims his Sunnah..

891
‘Ubaydullāh ibn ‘Abdullāh reported: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb asked Abu Wāqid al-Laithi: "What did the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to recite in Eid al-Ad'ha and Eid al-Fitr?" He said: "He used to recite in both of them the Surah of: {Qāf. By the Glorious Qur’an!} and the Surah of: {The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split asunder.}".

Commentary : Prayer is a Tawqifiyyah (determined) act of worship. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught us the way of performing it and its Sunnahs and etiquettes. This Hadīth presents part of the Prophet's guidance in the prayers of the two Eids. The Tābi‘i ‘Ubaydullāh ibn ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Utbah ibn Mas‘ūd al-Hudhali says that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Companion Abu Wāqid al-Laithi (may Allah be pleased with him) about what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite after Al-Fātihah in the two Rak‘ahs of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Ad'ha. ‘Umar's question about this matter - the like of which was not unknown to him - may be rooted in the desire that he should tell him whether he memorized it or not, or he may have entertained doubt, or he may have been in dispute with someone else over this matter, and so he wanted to cite his statement, or he may have forgotten it. In response, Abu Wāqid (may Allah be pleased with him) told him that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite in the first Rak‘ah Surat Qāf, which begins with: {Qāf. By the Glorious Qur’an!} And in the second Rak‘ah, Surat al-Qamar, which starts with: {The Hour has drawn near and the moon has split asunder.}
The wisdom behind reciting them lies in the fact that they both contain information related to the Resurrection, the past nations, the destruction of the deniers, and the resemblance of people emerging for Eid to their emerging for the Resurrection and their coming out of the graves like scattered locusts - and Allah knows best.
In the Hadīth: If anyone finds any of the matters of knowledge confusing or unclear to him, he should ask a knowledgeable person about it..