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| 2 Hadiths

Hadith
55
It was narrated from Abu Mas‘ud that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “If a man spends on his family, seeking reward with Allah thereby, it will be an act of charity on his part.”.

Commentary : Spending in Allah’s cause is one of the best of righteous deeds, hence spending may take many forms, and the extent of spending should be properly worked out. Spending may vary according to one’s situation and circumstances. One of the best kinds of spending is spending on one’s wife, children and relatives, just as neglecting them is a grievous sin.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explains that if a man spends his wealth on his family – his wife, children and other relatives – for whose maintenance he is responsible and spending on them is obligatory upon him, intending that for the sake of Allah and seeking His pleasure, then whatever he spends, small or great, will be regarded by Allah as a righteous deed for which he will be granted the reward of charity. What man can attain a greater reward than a man who spends on his family so that by means of his help, Allah will enable them to maintain their dignity and make them independent of means? The hadith does not mean that this spending comes under the same rulings as charity; rather the reward for it will be like the reward of charity. And it was said that the wording may give the sense that the reward for spending [on one’s family] can only be attained if one has the intention of drawing closer to Allah thereby, whether it is obligatory or permissible, and that the one who does not intend to draw closer to Allah thereby will not be rewarded, but he will have fulfilled his duty of spending on those on whom he is obliged to spend. This hadith encourages us to have a good intention in all that we do, and draws attention to the fact that the intention in the heart is important in all cases, therefore faith and other acts of worship are included in that..

56
It was narrated from Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “You will never spend anything, seeking thereby the pleasure of Allah, but you will be rewarded for it, even [the food] that you put in your wife’s mouth.”.

Commentary : Having a good intention in every action is very important, and no act of Islamic worship is valid or will be accepted unless it is accompanied by a sound intention. Even ordinary actions, if they are accompanied by a good intention, will bring reward.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him stated that reward is not limited to giving money in charity to others; rather whatever you spend on yourself, your family and others, if it is intended to seek the pleasure of Allah (may He be exalted), and is not done in order to show off or seek a good reputation, will bring reward. Whatever is intended for the sake of Allah will be rewarded, even if the doer feels some kind of pleasure and the like in doing it, such as putting a morsel of food into his wife’s mouth. That is something that is usually done for what one feels of pleasure, and if reward is assured in such a scenario, then reward will definitely be more appropriate when an action is done purely for the sake of Allah.
This hadith also indicates that a good intention turns an ordinary action into an act of worship, so the wise person should not do anything without intending to seek the pleasure of Allah (may He be exalted) thereby..

57
It was narrated that Jarir ibn ‘Abdillah said: I swore allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), pledging to establish prayer, give zakah and be sincere to every Muslim..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to accept the oath of allegiance (bay‘ah) from his companions when they became Muslim, to affirm their commitment to their faith, and to teach them the most important duties of Islam when they first became Muslim.
In this hadith, Jarir ibn ‘Abdillah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I swore allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), pledging to do these things: to establish prayer, which is done by regularly offering the five daily prayers in the manner required, on time, with all their essential parts, obligatory actions and conditions. And [pledging to] give zakah, which is an obligatory, financial act of worship, to be given on every type of wealth that meets the minimum threshold, as defined in Islamic teachings, when one full lunar (or Hijri) year has passed since acquiring that wealth, giving one quarter of one tenth. One should also give zakah on an‘am animals [camels, cattle and sheep] and other livestock; zakah on crops, fruits, and trade goods; and zakah on rikaz, which is buried treasure that is brought out of the earth and, it was said, minerals and metals, on the basis of their nisab (minimum threshold), to be given at the time at which their zakah becomes due. Giving zakah in the proper manner to those who are entitled to it brings increased blessing (barakah) to wealth, and brings great reward in the hereafter, whereas being stingy and withholding it from those who are entitled to it brings bad consequences in this world and the hereafter. Zakah combines the rights of Allah and the rights of people, and it is an obligatory duty and one of the pillars of Islam. It is a means of meeting the needs of those who are in need.
He said: I also pledged to be sincere to every Muslim man and woman, by being keen to benefit them, helping them to attain all that is good and warding off from them all that is bad, in both word and deed. Muslims are mentioned in particular because this is what is usually the case [in a majority-Muslim society]. However, sincerity towards disbelievers also matters, which means calling them to Islam and offering sound and sincere advice if they ask for it.
And it was said that only prayer and zakah are mentioned here because all other financial and physical acts of worship stem from them, as they are the major financial and physical acts of worship. They are the most important pillars of Islam after uttering the words of the twin declaration of faith. Moreover, fasting comes under the heading of physical acts of worship, and the one who regularly and consistently offers the prayers is more likely to fast, whereas if someone fasts, he does not necessarily adhere to praying regularly. Hajj is a combination of both financial and physical acts of worship, so whoever prays and fasts is going to do Hajj, especially when it is required only once in a lifetime, unlike the prayer, for which there are set times every day and night, and zakah, which is to be given once every year, from wealth that reaches the minimum threshold (nisab).
The reason why the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) mentioned the issue of sincerity to Jarir (may Allah be pleased with him) in particular is that he was the chief and leader of his people. He came to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in 10 AH and became Muslim, and his people followed him. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) advised him to be sincere because he had a greater need to do that.
This hadith indicates that it is obligatory to show sincerity towards the Muslims, to wish them well, to be keen to help them and to strive to benefit them..

58
It was narrated that Ziyad ibn ‘Ilaqah said: I heard Jarir ibn ‘Abdillah speak on the day al-Mughirah died. He stood up and praised and glorified Allah, and said: I urge you to fear Allah alone, with no partner or associate, and to be people of dignity and tranquility until a [new] governor comes to you, for he will come to you soon. Then he said: Pray for pardon for your governor, for he was a man who loved to pardon others. Then he said: To proceed (amma ba‘d): I came to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and said: Let me swear allegiance to you, pledging to follow Islam, and he stipulated that I should be sincere to all Muslims. So I swore allegiance to him on that basis. By the Lord of this mosque, I am sincere to you. Then he prayed for forgiveness and stepped down..

Commentary : Because of the importance and high status of sincerity in Islam, the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stipulated it as a condition for those who came to swear allegiance to him, pledging to follow Islam, namely the noble Sahabah. Here we see Jarir ibn ‘Abdillah (may Allah be pleased with him) on the day al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah (may Allah be pleased with him) died, which occurred in 50 AH, when he was the governor of Kufah, during the caliphate of Mu‘awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him). Before he died, he appointed his son ‘Urwah as interim governor. It was also suggested that he appointed Jarir ibn ‘Abdillah as interim governor, which is why he delivered this speech after the death of al-Mughirah. So he praised and glorified Allah, and said: “I urge you to fear Allah alone, with no partner or associate, and to be people of dignity and tranquility.” He enjoined these things upon them because usually the death of governors may lead to upheaval and turmoil, especially as the people of Kufah at that time were known to be opposed to the authorities. Moreover he urged them to maintain dignity – which means mature thinking, wisdom and rationality – until a new governor came to take the place of their recently-deceased governor al-Mughirah. He told them that the new governor would come “soon” so as to make things easier for them, and that is indeed what happened, because when news of al-Mughirah’s death reached Mu‘awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), he wrote to his governor in Basrah, Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan, instructing him to go to Kufah and serve as its governor.
Then Jarir said to them: Pray for pardon for your governor; in other words, ask Allah (may He be exalted) to pardon him, for he loved to pardon the people’s misdemeanours, and the reward matches the nature of the deed. According to a report narrated by Ahmad, he said, “pray for forgiveness”, meaning: ask Allah to forgive him. Then Jarir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated the story of how he swore allegiance to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). He said, “To proceed (amma ba‘d),” which is a word used when moving from one topic to another. What is meant is: I say, after opening with the shahadah and words praising Allah (may He be glorified and exalted): “I came to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, let me swear allegiance to you, pledging to follow Islam” that is, promising to do that. The Arabic word translated here as pledging (bay‘ah) likens this action to a financial transaction, as if each party is giving something in return for what he takes from the other party. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stipulated that he should be sincere to every Muslim man and woman, which means being keen to benefit them, helping them to attain all that is good and warding off from them all that is bad, in both word and deed. Muslims are mentioned in particular because this is what is usually the case [in a majority-Muslim society]. However, sincerity towards disbelievers also matters, which means calling them to Islam and offering sound and sincere advice if they ask for it. So Jarir swore allegiance on that basis. Then Jarir swore an oath to them, saying: By the Lord of this mosque, I am sincere to you. This is an indication that he fulfilled his pledge to the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), as he advised them to do what was in their best interests, swearing that his words were sincere and free of any ulterior motives.
Then he concluded his speech by asking Allah for forgiveness, and stepped down. This indicates that he delivered his speech from the minbar, or that he had been standing and sat down, because the beginning of the report says that he stood up and praised and glorified Allah.
This hadith indicates that it is obligatory to be sincere towards the Muslims.
It also indicates that a knowledgeable person may exhort people if he sees some development that he fears may cause trouble for them, and that he may encourage them to be united and in harmony, and to avoid dissent and division..

59
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: Whilst the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was in a gathering, addressing the people, a Bedouin came and said: When will the Hour be? The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) carried on talking, and some of the people thought: he heard him, but he did not like what he said. Others thought: Rather he did not hear him. Then when he had finished speaking, he said: “Where is the one who was asking about the Hour?” The man said: I am here, O Messenger of Allah. He said: “When trust is lost, then expect the Hour.” He said: How can trust be lost? He said: “When positions of authority are given to those who are not qualified for them, then expect the Hour.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to teach the people about their religion and answer their questions, so as to make the truth clear to them and explain to them that which would benefit them both in this world and the hereafter, and some matters of the unseen of which Allah informed him.
In this hadith, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was addressing his companions and teaching them. A Bedouin man – one of those who lived in the desert – came and asked: At what time will the Day of Resurrection begin? But the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not answer him straight away; rather he completed what he was saying to the people. This is an example of his good etiquette, as he did not interrupt what he was saying about the first topic until he had finished it and made sure that his listeners understood what he was saying. Some of the people thought that he did not like this question, and others thought that he had not heard what the Bedouin had said, and that was why he did not answer him. But when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had finished what he was saying, he turned towards the Bedouin and answered his question, saying that it would happen when trust was lost. Then he explained that by saying: “When positions of authority are given to those who are not qualified for them”, meaning: when people who are not religiously committed and are not honest take on positions of authority, and those who help them to commit wrongdoing and evil actions also take on such positions. In that case, the rulers will have neglected the trust which Allah enjoined upon them to the extent that one who is dishonest will be trusted, and one who is honest will be mistrusted. This can only happen when ignorance is prevalent and the people of truth fail to adhere to the truth. We ask Allah to keep us safe and sound.
This hadith indicates that one should be kind to one who asks a question, even if he is rough in his manner of asking or he behaves in an ignorant manner.
It also indicates that one should show care for questioners and seekers of knowledge, and show interest in them, and answer their questions.
It also indicates that one of the highest levels of honesty and trustworthiness is when qualified people are appointed to positions of authority, and failing to do that is failing to adhere to the trust.
And it indicates that the questioner may ask further questions of the knowledgeable person if he does not understand the answer..

60
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) fell behind us on a journey, then he caught up with us when the time for prayer was almost over, and we were doing wudu’. We started to wipe over our feet, and he called out at the top of his voice: “Woe to the heels from the Fire!” two or three times..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would always check on his companions (may Allah be pleased with them), especially with regard to their acts of worship, in order to teach them and advise them.
In this hadith, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) fell behind his companions on a journey, as he would usually travel behind them so as to urge those who had fallen behind to keep up, and to be with those who were physically weak. When the time for prayer came, they would halt to pray, then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would come and lead them in prayer. They delayed the prayer from the beginning of its time, hoping that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would catch up with them and pray with them. When not much time was left for the prayer, they hastened to do wudu’, and because they were in such a hurry, they did not do it properly and did not make the water reach every spot of the parts that were to be washed. They washed their feet too quickly, to the extent that it looked as if they were just wiping them. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) caught up with them when they were doing that, so he rebuked them for what he saw them doing, and called out in a loud voice so that everyone could hear, “Woe to the heels from the Fire!” This is a stern warning for the one who does not wash properly the parts that are to be washed in wudu’, and it is urging them to do it properly and perfectly, giving each part its due share of the water. “Woe (wayl)” is a word that signifies punishment and doom. The heel is the part of the foot that touches the ground and extends from the back of the foot to the place where a sandal strap is tied (around the ankle). The heels are singled out for mention because that is the spot where water is least likely to reach when one is not paying attention.
This hadith indicates that one should teach and advise the one who is ignorant.
It indicates that one of the basic guidelines when teaching in Islam is to repeat a sentence two or three times so that the seeker of knowledge will understand it.
It also indicates that the knowledgeable person may denounce what he sees of people neglecting of obligatory duties and Sunnahs, and he may speak harshly and raise his voice when denouncing that.
The hadith also indicates that it is encouraged to check the places that water does not usually reach when doing wudu’, such as the heels, and warn the one who does not do wudu’ properly.
It also indicates that the body may be punished; this is the view of Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama‘ah..

61
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Among trees, there is one tree whose leaves do not fall, and it is like the Muslim. Tell me what it is.” The people started listing the trees of the desert. ‘Abdullah said: It occurred to me that it was the palm tree, but I felt too shy to say anything. Then they said: Tell us what it is, O Messenger of Allah. He said: “It is the palm tree.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was a wise teacher and great educator. He used to give likenesses to the people to explain some ideas.
In this hadith, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) asked his companions about the tree whose leaves do not fall, which he likened to the Muslim. They started to think only about trees of the desert, each of them listing different types of desert trees, but the palm tree completely slipped their minds. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) thought to himself that it was the palm tree, but he was too shy to mention what he had in mind, out of respect for the senior Sahabah present, who could not give the right answer. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) gave them the answer, telling them that it was the palm tree. The palm tree is like the Muslim in the sense that it has a great deal of goodness, it constantly offers shade (because it does not lose its leaves), it bears good fruit, and it offers many other benefits. It is full of benefits, goodness and beauty. Similarly, the believer is all good because he does many acts of worship, has good characteristics, and persists in doing righteous deeds, giving charity and doing all kinds of good deeds. So it is as if he never stops doing good, so he constantly does good deeds just as the leaves of the palm tree are always there, then it gives fruits at the right time.
In this hadith we see that a knowledgeable person may ask a question of those who want to learn, in order to see how much they understand.
This hadith also highlights the intelligence of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).
It also highlights the virtue of the palm tree and how it is like the Muslim. .

63
It was narrated that Anas ibn Malik said: Whilst we were sitting with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in the mosque, a man came in on a camel. He made the camel kneel down in the mosque, then he hobbled it, then he said to them: Which of you is Muhammad? The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was reclining amongst them, and we said: He is this fair-skinned man who is reclining. The man said to him: O son of ‘Abdul Muttalib. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “I hear you.” The man said to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): I am going to ask you some questions, and may seem harsh, so do not get angry with me. He said: “Ask whatever you want.” The man said: I ask you by your Lord and the Lord of those who came before you, has He sent you to all people? He said: “By Allah, yes.” The man said: I adjure you by Allah, has Allah commanded you that we should offer five prayers every day and night? He said: “By Allah, yes.” The man said: I adjure you by Allah, has Allah commanded you that we should fast during this month of the year? He said: “By Allah, yes.” The man said: I adjure you by Allah, has Allah commanded you to take this charity [zakah] from our rich and distribute it among our poor? The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “By Allah, yes.” The man said: I believe in what you have brought, and I am an envoy of my people whom I left behind. I am Dimam ibn Tha‘labah, a man of Banu Sa‘d ibn Bakr. .

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was the most humble of people. People would come to him and ask him about the teachings of Islam, and he would teach them and answer their questions as appropriate to their circumstances, until the matter became clear in their minds.
In this hadith, Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Dimam ibn Tha‘labah (may Allah be pleased with him) – who was the chief of his people, Banu Sa‘d ibn Bakr – came to Madinah to meet the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and ask him about the pillars of Islam so that he could teach his people after he went back. He came in and found the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and his companions in the mosque. Dimam was riding a camel, and he made it kneel on the ground in the mosque, then he tied it so that it would not move. Then he said to them: Which of you is Muhammad? The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was reclining on a mat of his in the midst of the people, because he was so humble. The Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) told Dimam that the fair-skinned man who was reclining on the mat was the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), so Dimam called out to him: O son of ‘Abdul Muttalib, naming him after his grandfather. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to him: “I hear you”; in other words, ask me your questions so that I can answer you. He only answered in this abrupt manner because the man had not paid any attention to what was required of him, which was to show respect and be well-mannered, when he brought his camel into the mosque and asked “Which of you is Muhammad?”, and addressed him as son of ‘Abdul Muttalib. Then Dimam said: I am going to ask you some questions, and may seem harsh, so do not get upset or be angry with me. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Ask whatever you want”, meaning ask whatever comes to your mind. Dimam said: I ask you by your Lord and the Lord of those who came before you, has He sent you to all people? The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) replied: “By Allah, yes”, Allah has indeed sent me as a bringer of glad tidings and a warner to all people. Then Dimam adjured the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) by Allah (may He be glorified in exalted), reminding him of Allah, to answer him: has Allah enjoined upon His slaves to offer the obligatory prayers, fast Ramadan, and to collect the obligatory zakah, taking this charity from the rich and giving it to the poor? The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) answered by saying, “By Allah, yes.” At this point, Dimam hastened to declare his belief and become a Muslim. In fact, he told the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that he would call all his people to Islam. Then he introduced himself to the Prophet, telling him that he was Dimam ibn Tha‘labah, a man of Banu Sa‘d ibn Bakr, among whom the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had been breast-fed.
In this hadith, we see that a man may be identified by his physical characteristics, such as whether he is fair-skinned or dark-skinned, tall or short, because the Sahabah said: We said: He is this fair-skinned man.
It also highlights the humility of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and how he sat among his companions, and none of them stood whilst he was sitting, as the non-Arabs used to do unnecessarily.
The hadith also indicates that a person may give an apology and seek forgiveness before speaking, so that what he says will be well received by the one to whom he is speaking..

64
It was narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sent a letter to a man and instructed him to give it to the ruler of Bahrain. Then the ruler of Bahrain gave it to Khusraw. When he read it he tore it up, and I think that Ibn al-Musayyib said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed against them, praying that they would be torn to pieces..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to send letters to the kings and rulers of the earth at his time, calling them to Islam, in the hope that they would accept guidance and so that their people would be guided through them, without war. In this hadith, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas narrates that our Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sent his letter with a man, namely ‘Abdullah ibn Hudhafah, and instructed him to give it to the ruler of Bahrain. The ruler or governor of Bahrain at that time was al-Mundhir ibn Sawi. Bahrain was a kingdom between Basrah and Oman which belonged to the Persian Empire. The ruler of Bahrain sent the letter to Khusraw, whose name was Pervez son of Hormuz. He read the letter, then he tore it up. When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came to know of that, he prayed against them, praying that Allah would tear them to pieces and cause them to be scattered, putting an end to their kingdom. Allah answered the prayer of His Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Only a few years later, the power of the Persians diminished completely throughout the land, and collapsed by virtue of the prayer of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and a final end was put to it during the caliphate of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).
In this hadith, we see that we may call people to Islam verbally and in writing, and that writing may take the place of speaking.
This hadith is also one of the signs of the truthfulness of the prophethood of our Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)..

65
It was narrated that Anas ibn Malik said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him wrote a letter – or he wanted to write a letter – but he was told: They do not read any letter unless it is sealed. So he had a ring of silver made, engraved with the words Muhammad Rasulullah (Muhammad the Messenger of Allah). It is as if I can see it gleaming on his hand. I said to Qatadah: Who said that it was engraved with the words Muhammad Rasulullah? He said: Anas..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to write letters to the rulers of the earth at his time, calling them to enter Islam, in the hope that they would accept guidance and their people would be guided through them, without war. But they had some traditions with regard to correspondence.
In this hadith, Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that our Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) wanted to send a letter to one of the Persian rulers, or to the Byzantines, as it says in the report of al-Bukhari. But his companions told him that kings would not read any letters except those that had a seal bearing the signature of the sender. What is meant is a wax seal that was stamped with a name or a symbol that the sender had adopted for himself to seal and verify his letters. They would not read any letter unless it was sealed, for fear that their secrets might become known and their plans might be broadcast, and so as to be certain that the written contents had not been altered. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) acquired a ring of silver, because silver is not prohibited for men, and it may be worn on the hand, and he had it engraved with the second part of the shahadah: Muhammad Rasulullah (Muhammad [is] the Messenger of Allah).
Then Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that he used to look at the gleaming of the Prophet’s ring when it was worn on his hand. This hadith narrates how fresh this image of the ring and the Prophet’s wearing of it still was in his mind.
From this hadith, we also learn that rulers, judges and governors may use seals on letters, and this is a tradition that is still practised.
The hadith also indicates that it is prescribed to write to the disbelievers in ways that serve the interests of Islam and the Muslims.
It also indicates that it is prescribed to engrave rings and to inscribe the name of the owner on the ring..

66
It was narrated from Abu Waqid al-Laythi that whilst the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was sitting in the mosque, and the people were with him, three men came along. Two of them came towards the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and one went away. They stood before the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). One of them saw a gap in the circle, so he sat down there, and the other one sat behind the people. As for the third, he turned and left. When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had finished speaking, he said: “Shall I not tell you about these three people? As for the first one, he turned to Allah so Allah granted him refuge. As for the second one, he felt too shy, so Allah felt shy of him. As for the last one, he turned away, so Allah turned away from him.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was the best educator. He used to teach his companions on the basis of situations that happened to them, using them as examples to explain to them the path of guidance, and to show them the way to that which is in their best interests in this world and the hereafter.
In this hadith, Abu Waqid al-Laythi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was sitting with his companions in the mosque, when three men came along. As for the first one, he found space in the circle, so he sat in it. As for the second one, he sat behind the circle, as if he was too shy to push his way in and make it difficult for the people. As for the third, he turned away and left, and did not join the circle. When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) finished what he was talking about, teaching the Qur’an, Islamic knowledge and so on, he said: Shall I not tell you about these people? As for one of them, he turned to Allah, so Allah granted him refuge. He is the one who sat in the gap, because he was sincere and eager to sit with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), so Allah made it easy for him and provided space for him in the gathering of His Prophet. It was also said that was meant is that Allah caused him to be close to where His Prophet was sitting, and it was said that what was meant is that He will grant him refuge in the shade of His Throne.
As for the second man, he felt too shy, so he did not push his way in, out of shyness before the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and his companions, or he sat down because he was too shy to leave the circle of knowledge. So Allah felt shy of him, because he did not push in or put himself forward.
As for the third man, he turned away and left the gathering of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), so Allah turned away from him and did not inspire him to sit with those righteous people.
This hadith affirms the attribute of haya’ (shyness) for Allah, but it is not like the shyness of people; rather it is shyness in a perfect sense, as is befitting for Allah (may He be glorified and exalted).
This hadith also indicates that whoever seeks knowledge and gatherings of knowledge, then turns away from them, Allah will turn away from him, and if Allah turns away from someone, that person has exposed himself to His wrath. We ask Allah to keep us safe and sound.
It also indicates that part of good manners is to sit wherever one finds space, and not to make someone else get up and move.
The report also indicates that a knowledgeable person may teach the people who are sitting with him about issues of knowledge, before anyone asks about those issues.
It also indicates that shyness is a praiseworthy characteristic.
And it indicates that the one who shows no interest in knowledge is worthy of criticism, because no one is deprived of knowledge of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and still has any goodness in him..

67
It was narrated from ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Bakrah that his father spoke about the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sitting atop his camel, with another man holding the camel’s reins. He said: “What day is this?” We remained quiet until we thought that he would give it a different name. Then he said: “Is it not the Day of Sacrifice?” We said: Yes indeed. Then he said: “What month is this?” We remained quiet until we thought that he would give it a different name. Then he said: “Is it not Dhul Hijjah?” We said: Yes indeed. He said: “Your blood, your wealth and your honour are sacred to one another, as sacred as this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this land of yours. Let those who are present convey it to those who are absent, for perhaps one who is present will convey it to someone who understands it better than him.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did Hajj only once, which was the Farewell Pilgrimage, during which he addressed his companions, advising them about some things which are fundamental principles of Islamic teaching, including what is mentioned in this hadith. Abu Bakrah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) addressed the people on the Day of Sacrifice, which is the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah; this day is also Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice). He was sitting atop his camel, and there was a man holding onto the reins of his she-camel; this refers to a rope tied to a ring in the nose of the camel, so that it may be led easily. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to his companions: “What day is this?” They remained silent until they thought that he was going to change its name, because its name was well-known to all. This is also an example of their good manners with their Prophet. It also indicates that major issues should be referred to the Lawgiver. Then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Is it not the Day of Sacrifice?” It is so called because of what occurs on that day of the slaughter of sacrificial animals (hadiy and udhiyah). They said: Yes indeed. Then he said: “What month is this?” They again remained silent, because they thought that he was going to change the name that they knew. Then he said: “Is it not Dhul Hijjah?” So they said: Yes indeed. He asked them these two questions, then remained silent after each question, to make them focus and pay full attention to his words, and so that they would realize that what he was going to tell them was something of great importance. Hence he told them that the prohibition on transgressing against one another’s wealth and honour, and the sanctity of those things, was equivalent to the sanctity of the Day of Sacrifice, the sacred month, and Makkah al-Mukarramah. This was to emphasize how serious these matters are (and how great a sin it is to transgress against fellow Muslims). Then he instructed those who were present to convey what he said to those who were absent, for perhaps one who was absent would understand better than the one who heard it and conveyed it.
This hadith indicates that it is prescribed to convey and narrate hadiths, and highlights the virtue of this knowledge and its people.
It indicates that learning about hadith is one thing and understanding hadith is something else. The narrator may narrate a hadith to someone who understands it better than him, and the narrator may not understand it fully.
It indicates that it is permissible to sit on an animal’s back whilst it is standing still, if there is a need to do that.
It also indicates that speeches should be delivered from a high place, because that is more effective in letting the people hear and see the speaker..

68
It was narrated that Ibn Mas‘ud said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to choose the appropriate day and time to exhort us, for fear that we would become bored..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was the best in teaching and educating his companions. He used to teach them through his words and actions, and the noble Sahabah would describe his style and way of preaching.
In this hadith, ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was very keen that his companions should benefit and learn from his preaching and exhortation, he did not do that with them very often. Rather he would choose some days to exhort them, and not do that on other days; he would also choose an appropriate time when he thought that they would be more receptive to his teaching. He used to limit that to appropriate times, for fear that they would get bored and tired of it, which would lead to them finding his exhortation burdensome, then they would resent it and be put off by it, in which case it would not be as effective as hoped.
This hadith highlights the kindness of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and his compassion towards his ummah, and how he took measures to ensure that they would receive his exhortation with energy and eagerness, without becoming bored or tired. .

69
It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Make things easy and do not make things difficult; give glad tidings and do not put people off.”.

Commentary : Islam is a religion of moderation, which came to make things easy for people, not to burden them with what they cannot bear and are not able to do. Islam warns against overburdening oneself and going to extremes.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) enjoined two things and forbade their opposites. He enjoined making things easy and he forbade the opposite of that, which is making things difficult. Whoever makes things easy for a Muslim in any of his worldly affairs, such as transactions and interactions with others, or in any of his religious affairs, such as acts of worship, or in anything so long as it is within the framework of what is right and proper, and does not go beyond that, then Allah (may He be exalted) will make things easy for him. In this regard, it is sufficient to note that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), who was the leader of humanity and the most able to obey and worship Allah, was never given the choice between two things but he would choose the easier option, so long as it was not haram.
The second thing he enjoined was giving glad tidings and saying good things; this is the opposite of warning, which means giving bad news and going to extremes in alerting and scaring people, which could be off-putting. What is meant by the words “give glad tidings and do not put people off” is: Give the people – or the believers – glad tidings of the grace and reward of Allah, His immense generosity and His vast mercy, and do not put them off by speaking in such a way as to scare them and warn them. So with those who are new in Islam, it is more appropriate to be gentle with them and not be too strict with them. The same applies to young people who are approaching adolescence, and adults who have repented from sin. A gentle approach should be used with them all, and acts of worship should be introduced to them step-by-step, just as the rulings of Islam were introduced and enjoined gradually. That is because if a gentle approach is used with one who wants to start practising Islam or become a Muslim, it will become easy for him, and in most cases he will show more commitment and do more good deeds. But if it is made difficult for him from the outset, he may not commit himself to it, and if he does start, he may soon give up and find that he is no longer able to do it.
This is a lesson and a guideline for those who seek to call people to Islam, and those who are in charge of religious affairs: they should use an approach that is easy, giving glad tidings and offering encouragement, whether by referring to the beauties of Islam and what could motivate and encourage people, or speaking of what is with Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) in the hereafter of gardens of bliss.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) referred to the blessings of both this world and the hereafter, because this world is the realm of striving and the hereafter is the realm of requital. So with regard to worldly matters he enjoined making things easy, and with regard to the hereafter, he enjoined speaking of the promise of good things and glad tidings, to confirm that he was indeed a mercy to the worlds in both realms. .

71
Humayd ibn ‘Abdur Rahman said: I heard Mu‘awiyah delivering a speech and saying: I heard the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “When Allah wills good for someone, He grants him understanding of religion. I am simply sharing out something that Allah gives me. This ummah will continue to adhere to the command of Allah and those who oppose them will not harm them, until the decree of Allah comes to pass.”.

Commentary : Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is forbearing and most merciful to His slaves, and He loves good for them. In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us that when Allah wills much good and great benefit for a person, He grants him understanding of religion, so He bestows upon him Islamic knowledge. There is nothing better than that in this world in terms of virtue, honour and high status, because it is the legacy of the Prophets who did not leave any other legacy. The word khayran (translated here as good) appears in the indefinite form in the original Arabic, to indicate that it includes all types of good, small and great. The use of the indefinite may also indicate how great and important a thing is, and that fits the context here.
Then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us that the true giver is Allah (may He be exalted). It is as if he is saying: I am not the giver; I am simply sharing out what I have been commanded to share out, in accordance with the way that I have been instructed to do it. All things are subject to the will and decree of Allah (may He be exalted); human beings are controlled and their affairs are directed by their Lord. All wealth belongs to Allah (may He be exalted) and all people belong to Him; the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) shares out His wealth among them, so whoever receives a large share from him, that is by the decree of Allah (may He be exalted) and is what is already decreed for him, and the same applies to the one who receives a small share. No one will have more provision than is already decreed for him, just as no one’s lifespan can be extended. The reason why the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said that was to console the people and soften their hearts, because he used to give more to some people than others.
Then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stated that a group of Muslims would remain steadfast in adhering to his religion until the onset of the Hour. It was said that their steadfastness in religion would be manifested in their adhering to jihad and fighting to support the truth and make the word of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) supreme, until the decree of Allah comes to pass; what is meant by His decree here is the pleasant breeze that will come before the onset of the Hour and take the souls of the believers, as was explained in some reports. This indicates that the truth will never disappear among the ummah for there are people who will inherit it, generation after generation.
This hadith highlights the virtue of knowledge and the virtue of learning, for Islamic knowledge is the noblest of all branches of knowledge, because it is connected to Allah (may He be glorified and exalted).
It indicates that understanding of religion is one of the signs that the Muslim is good.
It also indicates that Islam will not be defeated, no matter how numerous its enemies become.
This hadith is also one of the signs of prophethood..

896
Anas reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prayed for rain pointing the back of his hands to the sky..

Commentary : It was part of the Prophet's practice to implore Allah Almighty and show humility to Him in all his worship, particularly in supplication. This includes his practice in the Istisqā’ prayer (rain-seeking prayer), his display of humbleness to his Lord at the time of afflictions, like famine, and during supplication for the removal of affliction.
In this Hadīth, Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that "the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prayed for rain," i.e., supplicated and asked for water and rainfall from Allah Almighty at the time of famine and drought. "pointing the back of his hands to the sky," i.e., the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) turned his hands and pointed their backs towards the sky, contrary to his usual practice in supplication, as he would point his palms. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did that with optimism that the situation may change to the opposite, likewise when he turned his apparel upside down for seeking rain, as authenticated in the Two Sahih Collections.
It is reported in the Two Sahīh Collections that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to raise his hands in supplication until the whiteness of his armpit would be visible due to his extreme earnestness in supplicating, imploring, and begging Allah Almighty, for earnestly imploring Allah Almighty and supplicating to Him is one of the greatest means for removing affliction and hardship..

898
Anas reported: It rained while we were with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) lifted his garment so the rain fell on him. We said: O Messenger of Allah, why did you do this? He said: Because it has recently been with its Almighty Lord..

Commentary : Allah has created the creation and has made some of His creatures, like rainwater, a cause of benefit and blessing for human beings. Allah Almighty says: {And We send down from the sky blessed rain, with which We cause to grow gardens and grain for harvest.} [Surat Qāf: 9] Allah Almighty also says: {And We send down from the sky pure water.} [Surat al-Furqān: 48]
In this Hadīth, Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that once it rained when they were with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who removed and lifted his garment revealing part of his body to be wetted with the rainwater falling from the sky. They asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): "Why did you do this?" A question asked by the Companions to know and learn the rationale behind the Prophet's act, as it was a new act practised by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) during rainfall, and all his acts are a Sunnah to be followed. His answer to their question was by mentioning the reason, saying: "Because it has recently been with its Almighty Lord," i.e., it has descended from between the sky and earth, as Allah Almighty says: {And clouds between the sky and earth.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 164] Its Lord has recently formed it, and it is sustenance and mercy. Allah Almighty has called it "mercy", "blessed", and "pure" and has made it a means of life and a means for avoiding punishment.
The Hadīth highlights the act of revealing the body - apart from the ‘Awrah (must-cover body parts) - during the fall of rain to fall on the body directly.
It also indicates that the less qualified person should ask the more qualified one about what he sees him doing if he does not know it to learn it and, thus, apply it and teach it to others..

904
Jābir reported: The sun eclipsed during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) on the very day Ibrāhīm, the Prophet's son, died. The people said that it eclipsed on account of Ibrāhīm's death. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood up and led the people in prayer, performing six bowings and four prostrations. He started by making Takbīr (saying: Allāhu Akbar). He then recited and lengthened the recitation, then bowed nearly as long as he stood, then raised his head from Rukū '(bowing) and recited, but it was a shorter recitation than the first one. He then bowed nearly as long as he stood, then raised his head from Rukū 'and recited, but it was a shorter recitation than the second one. Then, he bowed nearly as long as he stood, then raised his head from Rukū '. Then, he fell into prostration and made two prostrations. Then, he stood up and again made three bowings, each of which was shorter than the preceding one and longer than the following one. His Rukū 'was nearly the same length as his Sujūd (prostration). Then, he stepped back, and the rows behind him stepped back as well until we reached the extreme - [another version reads]: until he reached the women. Then, he stepped forward, and the people stepped forward along with him until he stood in his place. When he finished, the sun was bright. He said: O people, the sun and the moon are but two of Allah's signs, and they are not eclipsed on account of anyone's death - [another version reads]: on account of a human's death. So, when you see anything of this, offer prayer until darkness disappears. There is nothing of what you have been promised except that I saw it in this prayer of mine. Hellfire was brought, and that was when you saw me stepping back for fear of being affected by its heat, and I saw therein the owner of the curved staff dragging his intestines in the Fire. He used to steal the pilgrim with his curved staff. If he became aware, he would say: It got (accidentally) entangled in my curved staff, but if he was unaware of that, he would take that away. I also saw the cat owner who tied it without feeding it or letting it eat from the vermin of the earth until it died out of hunger. Then, Paradise was brought, and that was when you saw me stepping forward until I stood in my place, and I stretched my hand wanting to catch some of its fruits so you may see it, but it seemed to me that I should not do so. Nothing you have been promised except that I saw in this prayer of mine..

Commentary : The sun and the moon are two of Allah's great signs. Their rotation and their succession denote the perfection of Allah's making. The occurrence of lunar and solar eclipses entails fear of their obliteration and the occurrence of the Day of Judgment, which necessitates returning to Allah and resorting to Him through prayer and supplication, and this was the usual practice and the habit of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
In this Hadīth, Jābir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) narrates that the sun eclipsed during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) on the day his son Ibrāhīm, whose mother was Māriyah al-Qibtiyyah, died. He was born in 8 AH and died in 10 AH when he was eighteen months old. A solar eclipse occurs when all the sunlight or part of it disappears. People started saying that it eclipsed on account of the death of Ibrāhīm, the Prophet's son, which was a common belief among them during the pre-Islamic era of ignorance. On seeing the solar eclipse, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood up and led the people in a two-Rak'ah prayer with three bowings and two prostrations. His recitation in his first standing was longer than in the second one, and his recitation in the second standing was longer than in the third one, and his bowing was nearly as long as his standing.
During the prayer, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stepped back. The rows behind him stepped back as well, i.e., he was moving backwards, and the men's rows behind him were moving backwards like him while maintaining their status in prayer until reaching the women's rows behind them. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) moved forward, and the people moved forward along with him until he returned to his first place. Then, he finished the prayer and "the sun was bright," i.e., it returned to its former state and became bright and luminous again. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), then, said: "O people, the sun and the moon are but two of Allah's signs," i.e., two signs with which He frightens His slaves, "and they are not eclipsed on account of anyone's death". Another version reads: "On account of a human's death". They are two subservient creatures that have no control over anything and have no ability to ward anything off themselves. This includes a reply to what some people mistakenly thought about the solar eclipse taking place because of the death of Ibrāhīm, the Prophet's son. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified to them that the solar eclipse is not caused by the death of any of the people on earth. "So, when you see anything of this," i.e., the eclipse, "offer prayer until the darkness goes away," i.e., the sun, and reappears when the eclipse is being removed. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), then, said to them: "There is nothing of what you have been promised," i.e., nothing of what you have been promised to witness of Paradise, Hellfire, and other situations of the Day of Judgment "except that I saw it in this prayer of mine". Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified to them the reason why he stepped back while praying and said: "Hellfire was brought," i.e. brought forward, "and that was when you saw me stepping back, for fear of being affected by its heat," i.e., its flame and its heat, and I saw in the fire the owner of the Mihjan (curved staff). Mihjan: a staff with a crooked top, and it is said: a long wood with a jagged piece of iron on the top; and the owner of the curved staff was dragging his Qusb, i.e., dragging his intestines, which were extending out of his belly, in the Fire. He used to steal the pilgrims' belongings with his curved staff in worldly life. If his act were noticed and detected, he would say: This stolen thing got accidentally entangled in my curved staff, and if his act went unnoticed and unknown and nobody saw him, he would get away with what he stole with his curved staff.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) also informed them that he saw in Hellfire, the owner of the cat, i.e., a woman from the children of Israel who locked up a cat and tied it without feeding it or letting it eat from the vermin of the earth, i.e., its pests and insects, until the cat died out of hunger.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) then informed them that Paradise was brought to him, and that was when they saw him returning to the first position from which he stepped back, stretching his hand, wanting to take one of its fruits so that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would look at it. Then, it seemed to him that he should not do so. Once again, he confirmed and repeated what he had previously said that nothing of what they had been promised to witness of Paradise, Hellfire, and other situations of the Day of Judgment except that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) saw in this prayer of his.
It is said: The famous opinion regarding the manner of the Eclipse prayer is that it is two Rak‘ahs, and in each Rak‘ah, there are two incidents of standing, two recitations, and two bowings, and as for Sujūd, there are two prostrations like in other Rak‘ahs, whether the eclipse lasts for a long time or not.
What causes the solar and lunar eclipse is the fact that the moon is a dark body that derives its light from the sunlight, like a mirror that reflects the light falling upon it, making the viewer imagine that it is luminous, and the same applies to the earth. According to the universal law that Allah has set, the earth sometimes falls between the sun and the moon, blocking the sunlight from the whole or part of the moon, and the moon sometimes falls between the sun and the earth, blocking the sunlight from the vision of the people living on a particular area of the earth. Because of this, the people on earth witness the solar and lunar eclipse phenomenon.
The Hadīth clarifies the manner of performing the Eclipse prayer and the fact that it is to be performed in a congregation.
It also emphasizes the act of hastening to obey Allah Almighty on the occurrence of what results in fear and caution and seeking to ward off the affliction by remembering Allah Almighty, glorifying Him, and offering Him various acts of obedience.
It also sheds light on the Prophet's evident miracle and how he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to advise his Ummah, teach them what is beneficial to them, and warn them against what is harmful to them.
It also includes a warning against torturing animals.
It points out that Paradise and Hellfire are two places that currently exist..

905
‘Urwah reported: Do not say: Kasafat ash-Shams (the sun eclipsed); instead, say: Khasafat ash-Shams (the sun blackened)..

Commentary : In this tradition, the Tābi‘i Muhammad ibn Muslim az-Zuhri narrates that the Tābi‘i ‘Urwah ibn az-Zubayr (may Allah have mercy upon him) used to believe that the correct thing to say is: Khasafat ash-Shams, and that it is incorrect to say: Kasafat ash-Shams. The Qur’an reads: {And the moon is darkened, and the sun and the moon are brought together.} [Surat al-Qiyāmah: 8-9] It is said: Khusūf (occultation) covers everything, but Kusūf (eclipse) covers some, and it is for the sun.
Both words - Kusūf and Khusūf - were mentioned in authentic Hadīths about the sun, and the scholars' famous usage of these words is using "Kusūf" for the sun and "Khusūf" for the moon.
What ‘Urwah said is his personal opinion, and it is linguistically acceptable to say: the sun and the moon "kasafat", "kusifa", "inkasafa", "khasafa", "khusifa", and "inkhasafa".
What causes the solar and lunar eclipse is the fact that the moon is a dark body that derives its light from the sunlight, like a mirror that reflects the light falling upon it, making the viewer imagine that it is luminous, and the same applies to the earth. Had it not been for the universal law that Allah has set that the earth sometimes falls between the sun and the moon, blocking the sunlight from the whole or part of the moon, and the moon sometimes falls between the sun and the earth, blocking the sunlight from the vision of the people living on a particular area of the earth, the phenomenon of the solar and lunar eclipse would not have occurred to the people on earth..

909
Ibn ‘Abbās reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prayed when there was an eclipse. He recited and then bowed. He again recited and again bowed. He again recited and again bowed and again recited and again bowed and then prostrated. He said: The second Rak'ah was similar to this..

Commentary : This Hadīth is one of the authentic narrations reported from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) concerning the manner of performing the Solar Eclipse prayer. All the narrations describe one of the Prophet's states what he used to do at the time of such a calamity and how he used to offer prayer to Allah Almighty until the distress would be relieved. 'Abdullah ibn' Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reports the manner of the Prophet's prayer when the sun eclipsed and when its light totally or partially disappeared from the earth. He reported that when the sun eclipsed, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prayed two Rak'ahs (units of prayer), reciting four times in each Rak'ah and bowing four times and prostrating two times in each Rak'ah. These two prostrations would come after the fourth bowing.
What is reported here about the manner of the Eclipse prayer is that it is a two-Rak‘ah prayer, and each Rak‘ah has four bowings and two prostrations.
It is said: The famous opinion regarding the manner of the Eclipse prayer is that it is two Rak‘ahs, and in each Rak‘ah, there are two incidents of standing, two recitations, and two bowings. As for Sujūd, there are two prostrations like in other Rak‘ahs, whether the eclipse lasts for a long time or not.
What causes the solar and lunar eclipse is the fact that the moon is a dark body that derives its light from the sunlight, like a mirror that reflects the light falling upon it, making the viewer imagine that it is luminous, and the same applies to the earth. According to the universal law that Allah has set, the earth sometimes falls between the sun and the moon, blocking the sunlight from the whole or part of the moon, and the moon sometimes falls between the sun and the earth, blocking the sunlight from the vision of the people living on a particular area of the earth. Because of this, the people on earth witness the solar and lunar eclipse phenomenon..

913
‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Samurah reported: I was shooting my arrows during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when an eclipse of the sun took place. I, therefore, threw them away and said: I must see how the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) acts during the solar eclipse today. When I came to him, he was raising his hands while supplicating, saying Takbīr: Allāhu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), Tahmīd: Alhamdulillāh (praise be to Allah), and Tahlīl: La ilāha illallāh (there is no god but Allah) until the sun became bright. Then, he recited two Surahs and prayed two Rak'ahs (units of prayer)..

Commentary : The sun and the moon are two of Allah's great signs. Their rotation and their succession denote the perfection of Allah's making. The occurrence of lunar and solar eclipses entails fear of their obliteration and the occurrence of the Day of Judgment, which necessitates returning to Allah and resorting to Him through prayer and supplication, and this was the usual practice and the habit of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
This Hadīth is one of the authentic narrations reported from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) concerning the manner of performing the Eclipse prayer. All the narrations describe one of the Prophet's states what he used to do at the time of such a calamity and how he used to offer prayer and supplication to Allah until the distress would be relieved. The Companion' Abdur-Rahmān ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that while he was shooting arrows and darts, by way of training and perfecting its shooting, while he was in such a state of being preoccupied with shooting, during the time of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), "an eclipse of the sun took place", and such an eclipse results either in total or partial disappearance of the sunlight. On seeing the eclipse, he threw away the arrows and darts and said: "I must see how the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) acts during the solar eclipse today," i.e., I shall go to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to find out how he deals with this calamity. 'Abdur-Rahmān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that on reaching the place where the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was, he found him raising his hands out of humility before Allah supplicating Him. Part of what he was saying in his supplication was: Allāhu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), Al-hamdulillāh (praise be to Allah), and La ilāha illallāh (there is no god but Allah). The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) kept supplicating and invoking Allah until the eclipse was over and the sunlight appeared once again. Moreover, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered the Eclipse prayer, which was a two-Rak'ah prayer, and there were two bowings in each Rak'ah. He recited a Surah from the Qur'an while standing in each Rak'ah.
Among the narrations concerning the manner of the Eclipse prayer, there is a narration of tripling and quadrupling the Rukū‘ (bowing) in each Rak‘ah, while another narration reports two bowings in each Rak‘ah.
The Hadīth clarifies part of the Prophet's guidance represented in resorting to supplication, invocation, and prayer at the time of calamities like the occurrence of the eclipse.
It also shows how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) performed the Eclipse prayer.
It denotes the Companions' keenness to learn from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), especially during calamities..

916
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Prompt those of you who die to say: There is no god but Allah.".

Commentary : This Hadīth shows the Prophet's care for his Ummah and his keenness to direct them to every word and deed that benefits them, even at the time of death. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that the Muslims prompt those of them who die to say the word of Tawhīd. "Lā ilāha illa Allah" (There is no god but Allah). They should say it to anyone suffering the throes of death and repeat it near him so that he may say it. Thus, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) directs his Ummah to the significance of the word of Tawhīd in life and at the time of death. This is because it is this word that makes the blood of anyone who utters it inviolable in this word. If a person who is at the doorstep of the Hereafter says it, it is hoped that it will protect him from the punishment of the Hereafter, as it protected him from the worldly punishment, and for it to be the last speech he says in this world, and because, "he whose last words are 'there is no god but Allah' will enter Paradise." Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and reported by Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him).
Prompting a person who dies to say this word is something recommended; however, it is disliked pressing him and keep saying it to him in a successive manner, lest he may get bored due to the tough condition and hardship he is suffering, and thus he may dislike that in his heart and utter improper words.
In the Hadīth: We should be around the person who dies so as to remind him, keep his company, and fulfill his rights..

918
Umm Salamah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "No Muslim suffers a calamity and says what Allah commanded him: {We belong to Allah, and to Him we will return} [Surat al-Baqarah: 156], O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me something better than that in exchange for it, except that Allah will give him something better than that in exchange." When Abu Salama died, I said: "Which of the Muslims is better than Abu Salamah? His family was the first to immigrate to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)." I then said the words, and Allah gave me the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in exchange. She said: "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent Hātib ibn Abi Balta‘ah to deliver me the message of marriage with him. I said to him: "I have a daughter, and I am jealous." He said: "As for her daughter, we will supplicate to Allah to make her in no need for her, and I will supplicate to Allah to make the jealousy go away.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach his Ummah to be resigned to Allah Almighty if a calamity strikes them and to resort to His power and strength, Exalted be He, for He is the One Who predestined everything and from Whom compensation comes.
In this Hadīth, Umm Salamah, the mother of the believers (may Allah be pleased with her), says that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No Muslim suffers a calamity," this refers to any disaster whatsoever, great, or small, involving something unpleasant that happens to someone in himself, his family, his wealth, etc. "and says what Allah commanded him: {We belong to Allah, and to Him we will return.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 156]" In other words, we and all that is attributed to us do belong to Allah by way of ownership and creation, and we will return to Him in the Hereafter. This statement should be accompanied by patience and a lack of despondency. Then, the afflicted person should supplicate, saying: "O Allah, reward me," i.e., grant me the reward and recompense "for my affliction, and give me something better than that in exchange for it," i.e., give me a substitute for what I lost due to this affliction and make the substitute better than the lost thing.
Whoever says that his reward is that Allah will give him something better in exchange for what he lost in this affliction of his. Another version by Muslim has this addition: "except that Allah will give the reward for his affliction." Allah will record his reward for that.
Then, Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) mentioned that when her husband Abu Salamah ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abd al-Asad al-Makhzūmi (may Allah be pleased with him) died, she seemed to have remembered the Prophet's instruction, but she thought to herself or uttered it in wonder: "Which of the Muslims is better than Abu Salamah?!" She wondered at how to apply the Prophet's statement "except that Allah will give him something better than that in exchange" to her disaster, given her reverence for Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him). At the root of her wonder lay her belief that none was better than Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him), and she would not expect that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) might marry her, for he was outside this general categorization. Then, clarifying why Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) was meritorious, she said that "his family was the first to immigrate to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)." So, he was the first to immigrate along with his family and dependents. After her wonder, she complied with the command of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him); "I then said the words," i.e., the phrase "we belong to Allah, and to Him we will return" and the subsequent supplication. So, she said that Allah Almighty gave her the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in exchange, by making her his wife. Thus, he constituted better compensation for her than her husband Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him).
Then, Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned how she was engaged to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and what she asked for. She said that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent Hātib ibn Abi Balta‘ah (may Allah be pleased with him) to propose marriage to her on his behalf. Apologizing to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) out of fear that she may not fulfill his rights, she said that she had a daughter, namely Zaynab bint Abi Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her), who was young at the time and still under her care. She also stated that she was very jealous. These two things have their effect on the discharge of marital duties, leading to non-fulfillment of them. Also, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had other wives before her, and her extreme jealousy would make her unable to get together with the other wives. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "As for her daughter, we will supplicate to Allah to make her in no need for her," i.e., to make the daughter in no need for her mother as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would take care of her, or that she would find someone to take care of her from among her relatives, or that Allah will make her in no need for suckling from her mother, as the girl was an infant. "and I will supplicate to Allah to make the jealousy go away." By virtue of the blessing of the Prophet's supplication, jealousy went away from her heart, and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) married her.
In the Hadīth: We are enjoined to endure afflictions patiently and avoid despondency.
And in it: We should turn to Allah with supplication at the time of disasters, for the compensation comes from Him.
And in it: A believer must comply with the Prophet's commands, even if the wisdom behind them is not clear to him..

919
’Umm Salamah reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: When you visit a sick or dead person, say good things, for the angels say "Amen" to whatever you say. She said: When Abu Salamah died, I came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, Abu Salamah died. He said: Say: O Allah, forgive me and him and compensate me with someone better than him. She said: So, I said this, and Allah compensated me with someone better for me than him; Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach his Ummah to resign to Allah Almighty if a calamity strikes them and to resort to His power and strength, Exalted be He, for He is the One Who predestined everything and from Whom compensation comes.
In this Hadīth, the Mother of the Believers ’Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When you visit a sick or dead person, say good things." The command here is meant to discipline and teach people what to say when visiting a dead person, i.e., a dying person or a sick person on his deathbed. Supplication is to be made for the ill person, asking Allah to cure him, and for the dead person, asking Allah to have mercy on him and forgive him. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) justified this saying that the angels who are present with the afflicted person - like the angel of death and his aids, or other angels in general - say "Amen" to whatever is said by the people who are present. They say: Āmīn, which means: O Allah, answer the supplication. The angels' supplication is readily answered; hence, one must not supplicate with something that could harm him or others.
Then, ’Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that when her husband Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) died - and he was her husband before the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) - she went to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him of the death of her husband Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) expressing her pain and grief about him, not telling the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) of her husband's death, for it was reported in Sahīh Muslim Collection that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) attended the death of Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him).
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) guided and advised her to supplicate Allah, resign to Him, and ask Him for a compensation better than him by saying: "O Allah, forgive me and him," asking forgiveness for her sins and those of her departed one. "And compensate me with someone better than him," i.e., grant me a good compensation and a better substitute. She then reported that Allah Almighty answered her supplication and granted her a better substitute, as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) married her.
The Hadīth clarifies that the angels are present with the sick person and say "Amen" to whatever supplication is made by people therein..

920
’Umm Salamah reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) entered upon Abu Salamah while his eyes were fixedly open, so he closed them and then said: When the soul is taken away, the sight follows it. Some people from his family clamored, so he said: Do not supplicate for yourselves except with what is good, for the angels say "Amen" to whatever you say. Then, he added: O Allah, forgive Abu Salamah and raise his degree among rightly guided people, be his successor in his descendants who remain. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds, make his grave spacious for him and grant him light therein. [Another version quoted]: a similar Hadīth; however, he said: Be his successor in his legacy; and he said: O Allah, make his grave wide for him, and did not say: Make his grave spacious for him..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was a teacher and a mentor as he used to teach Muslims and educate them on adopting patience during the calamity of a close or a dear person's death. He taught us what to say, what supplication to recite, and how we should avoid screaming and indecent words when someone is dying.
This Hadīth represents a practical incident, as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was there with Abu Salamah ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abd al-Asad al-Makhzūmi (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was on his deathbed. ’Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) - the wife of Abu Salamah at that time - narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) entered upon Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) - as it was the Prophet's habit to visit the sick - "while his eyes were fixedly open," i.e., his eyes were kept wide open after his soul had departed to its Creator, and he remained with his eyes fixed. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), thus, realized that he had died. So, he closed Abu Salamah's eyes to avoid appearing ugly. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the soul is taken away, the sight follows it." Perhaps this was the cause for closing his eyes as if he was saying: I closed his eyes because when the soul leaves the body, the sight follows it in leaving, so it is useless to keep his eyes open, or it could be a clarification of the cause why his eyes were open. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) closed the eyes of Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) and made that statement, the attendees became certain about his death. "Some people from his family clamored," i.e., some people from Abu Salamah's family cried loudly and wailed. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade them from saying anything indecent and ordered them to say what is good and supplicate with what is good, and said: "Do not supplicate for yourselves except with what is good." This refers to forbidding them from clamoring as if they said: O woe to us! What a disaster! So, he forbade them from this, not crying out for destruction, death, and similar things, which was a pre-Islamic practice; rather, saying good things like invoking forgiveness and mercy upon the dead person and saying the Prophet's supplication, which will be mentioned later, for Abu Salamah. Moreover, one should supplicate for himself with what is good and say what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) advised us to say: "Allāhumma ajirni fi musībati wakhluf li khayran minha (O Allah, reward me for my calamity and give me something better in place of it), after saying: We belong to Allah, and to Him we will return.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) justified this by saying that the angels say "Amen" to supplication, whether for good or evil. They say: Āmīn (O Allah, answer this supplication), which is likely to make the supplication accepted as the angels' supplication is undoubtedly answered. Hence, it is not permissible to supplicate for what could bring him or others any harm. What is meant by the "angels" here is the Angel of death and his aids, or the angels in general who are present when someone is dying. This is part of how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) disciplines and teaches his Ummah what to say when someone dies.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated for Abu Salamah saying: "O Allah, forgive Abu Salamah," i.e., erase his sins and misdeeds. "And raise his degree among those who are rightly guided," i.e., O Allah, let him be with those whom You have previously guided to Islam and to emigrate to the best among people; or it means: O Allah, let him be with those whom You have guided and who obtained the high degrees in Paradise. And " be his successor in his descendants," i.e., be his successor in managing his affairs and maintaining the interests of his family and children and do not leave them to anyone but You. Another version reads: "Be his successor in his legacy," which he left behind after his death, "who remain," i.e., who remain among the living. "And make his grave spacious for him," which was interpreted by the version that reads: "O Allah, make his grave wide for him," i.e., make his grave extremely wide, which is part of the believer's delight in the grave since the grave is either widened or narrowed for its dweller. "And grant him light therein," i.e., in his grave and ward off the darkness from him, which is another aspect of the bliss that the believer experiences.
The Hadīth shows that the dead person's eyes should be closed.
It also guides to adopt patience and say what is good when the calamity of death strikes.
It also clarifies that supplication should be made for the dead person, his family, and his descendants concerning the Hereafter and worldly affairs.
It also signifies that the dead person finds joy or torment in his grave.
Moreover, it teaches what Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and supplication should be said at the moment of dying, saying what is good and making Istirjā ', which is saying: Inna lillāhi wa inna ilayhi rāj‘ūn (We belong to Allah, and Him we will return), besides supplicating for whoever will succeed him. So, it is a must to follow the Prophet's example.
It also points out the presence of angels with the sick and dead person and that they say "Amen" to whatever supplication is made therein.
Finally, it clarifies that the angels' supplication is answered and not rejected..

921
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Did you not see when a person dies, his eyes become fixedly open?" They said: 'Yes.' He said: "This is when his eyesight follows his soul.".

Commentary : This Hadīth contains clarification and explanation by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about a general condition, namely the staring of the eyes of dying people after the departure of their souls. In explanation of this condition, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that the eyesight follows the soul. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them): "Did you not see when a person dies, his eyes become fixedly open?" i.e., his eyesight goes upwards and does not turn back, and it remains open and wide. This question denotes affirmation of the condition that people know to happen upon death. They replied to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) that this is what actually occurs. So, he said: "This is when his eyesight follows his soul," i.e., he looks at his soul as it ascends to heaven with the angels. Muslim narrated in his Sahīh Collection that Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came to Abu Salamah while his eyes were fixedly open, and he closed them. This is to prevent the appearance of the deceased person from turning ugly. So, his eyes must be closed after the departure of the soul, as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) closed the eyes of Abu Salamah..

922
’Umm Salamah reported: When Abu Salamah died, I said: A stranger and in a strange land, I shall, indeed, weep for him in a manner which would be talked of. I was prepared to weep for him when a woman from the Sa‘īd (upper side of the city) came intending to assist me. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) received her and said: Do you want to let the devil enter a house from which Allah has driven him out?! Twice. So, I stopped weeping and did not weep..

Commentary : This Hadīth shows how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) disciplined and taught his Ummah and how keen he was on keeping Muslims away from the devil's temptation, especially when being stricken by the calamity of the death of a relative or a dear and precious person. The Mother of the Believers ’Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that "when Abu Salamah died", i.e., 'Abdullah ibn' Abd al-Asad al-Makhzūmi (may Allah be pleased with him), who was her first husband and who emigrated from Makkah to Madīnah,' Umm Salamah said to herself: "A stranger and in a strange land," i.e., he was from the people of Makkah and died in Madīnah as a stranger far from his relatives and homeland and having none to weep for him except her, so, there were two calamities: that of being far away from one's country and that of death. She intended this sentence to justify the act of weeping copiously. Hence, she swore to weep and wail for him in such an intense manner that would cause people to talk about it and wonder at it because of its intensity. Such were her thoughts because wailing and gathering for that purpose was a pre-Islamic practice, and that was before she learned that wailing is prohibited. Then, ’Umm Salamah reported that she was prepared and ready to cry by having the intention and the determination to do so and preparing the causes of grief, and meanwhile, a woman who wanted to assist her, i.e., assist her with weeping and wailing, came. This woman who wanted to help' Umm Salamah was from the "Sa‘īd" in the 'Awāli region of Madīnah. "Sa‘īd" originally meant the dust on the earth's surface. The 'Awāli today is the region located in the eastern and south-eastern sides of Madīnah on a line extending from Baqī 'to Harrat Wāqim eastwards and parallel to Qubā' Mosque southwards.
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), thus, received this woman to advise her and forbid her from doing this. After knowing what she intended to do, he said to her: O woman, do you want by your help with the sin to be a cause for letting the devil enter with his actions and deception, which Allah has driven him out and has kept him far from tempting its dwellers?! The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) repeated his advice for the woman twice to confirm such a prohibition. Another probable meaning is: He drove the devil out of this house and kept him far from tempting its dwellers twice, referring by "twice" to the act of soundly embracing Islam by Abu Salamah and his good act of emigration. Or the first time could be referring to the day he embraced Islam, and the second time refers to the day he left this world as a Muslim. Another probability is intending the repetition, i.e., Allah has driven him out time and again, as Allah Almighty says: {Then look again and again.} [Surat al-Mulk: 4] It is also said: Perhaps the first time refers to his emigration from Makkah to Abyssinia and the second time refers to his emigration to Madīnah, as he is one of those who made the two emigrations.
This is a manifestation of the Prophet's good education and discipline of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), as he clarified to the woman that if she did that, she would let the devil enter a house from which Allah has driven him out, and this is a serious harm and an evil act. Moreover, he did not just forbid her; instead, he explained to her the disadvantages of this evil act and the resulting damages, harms, and punishments, which makes it more likely to be accepted.
On hearing the Prophet's words,' Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) was deterred from crying and stopped. She refrained from crying in such a dispraised manner, accompanied by lamenting and wailing.
The Hadīth shows that weeping for the dead accompanied by wailing is from the devil's acts.
It also points out how a Muslim must comply with the commands and prohibitions of the Shariah once he knows them.
It also clarifies that assistance in wailing is counted as assistance in sin.
Moreover, it sheds light on the merit of the house of Abu Salamah and ’Umm Salamah, as Allah Almighty has driven the devil out from it, and he could not overpower them through temptation and misguidance.
As it shows that forbidding evil should be carried out wisely by clarifying the harmful consequences..

925
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar reported: We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when a man from the Ansār (Supporters) came and greeted him. The Ansāri man then turned back. So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: O brother of the Ansār, how is my brother Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubādah? He said: Good. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), then said: Who among you would visit him? He stood up, and we stood up along with him. There were more than ten of us. We were wearing neither shoes, leather socks, caps, or shirts. We walked on swampy ground until we came to him. His people around him made way for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and those of his Companions who came along with him..

Commentary : This Hadīth shows how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Ummah. He was keen on establishing good relations among Muslims through visits and communication, especially visiting the sick. 'Abdullah ibn' Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) narrates that some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were sitting with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and this was the Companions' habit with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), i.e., gathering around him to teach and guide them. During this session, a man from the Ansār - people of Madīnah - came to him and greeted the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and those who were present, which is the etiquette of Islam in extending the greeting of peace to all. After greeting the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), the Ansāri man wanted to leave. So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said in a pleasant way: "O brother of the Ansār, how is my brother Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubādah?" Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) was the chief of the Khazraj, and he was sick then. Here, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was teaching Muslims to ask after each other in case of being absent or falling sick. His saying: "O brother of the Ansār", is a call by the brotherhood of Islam and a call for the man to show that he was from the Ansār, besides the act of honoring Sa'd ibn' Ubādah as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) called him: "My brother". Answering the Prophet's question, the man said: He is "good," i.e., no worry about him, as he is still alive and is likely to recover from his sickness, which is a polite thing to say and is said as a form of being optimistic that the patient will recover and be healthy once again.
Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged his Companions to visit him, saying: "Who among you would visit him?" This was how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) practically taught Muslims, as he got up along with his Companions to visit Sa'd ibn' Ubādah (may Allah be pleased with him), and they were "bid'at 'ashr" (more than ten), and "bid '" is: from three to ten. At this time, those who were present from among the Companions were suffering from indigence and poverty to the extent that 'Abdullah ibn' Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "We were wearing neither Ni‘āl (shoes)", plural of "Na‘l", which is the shoe, "nor Khifāf (leather socks)", plural of "Khuff", which is footwear made of thin leather. In other words, they had nothing to wear on their feet. "Nor Qalānis (caps)", plural of "Qalansuwah", which is something worn on the head, "nor Qumus (shirts)", plural of "Qamīs", which is a sewn undergarment having two sleeves, or that which is made either of cotton or linen and this means that they were wearing Izār (lower garment) and Ridā' (upper garment). They went walking on foot to the house of Sa'd ibn' Ubādah (may Allah be pleased with him) "on such swampy ground," which is the earth that is highly saline and nothing grows therein except some trees, i.e., they were wearing nothing on their feet to protect them from the harm of such ground. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reached the house of Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him), Sa‘d's people, family, and kinfolk moved from around him to give the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessing be upon him) and his Companions who came to visit him the chance to proceed and get close to him, which is part of the visit etiquettes and honoring guests.
The Hadīth encourages asking after the absent and the sick and shows how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to ask after his Companions.
It prompts us to visit the sick and communicate with them.
It points out the indigence and poverty of some of the Companions and how far they were from lavish in their clothes and their appearance.
It sheds light on honoring the guest who comes to visit by making room for him.
It shows that whoever has no shoes may walk barefoot..

929
[Ibn ‘Abbās reported:] So, I stood up and entered upon ‘Ā’ishah and informed her of what Ibn ‘Umar had said. Thereupon, she said: No, by Allah, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) never said: The dead person is punished because of anyone's weeping; however, he said: Allah increases the punishment of the disbeliever because of his family's weeping. Verily, Allah is the One {Who makes people laugh and weep} [Surat an-Najm: 43], {No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another.} [Surat Fātir: 18] [Another version reads:] When the words of ‘Umar and Ibn ‘Umar were conveyed to ‘Ā’ishah, she said: You are conveying to me the words of these two who are neither liars nor suspected of lying, but one may mishear..

Commentary : In this Hadīth, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) says: I entered upon ‘Ā’ishah and informed her of what Ibn ‘Umar had said, i.e., that he had heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Indeed, the dead person is punished because of his family's weeping." After that, she said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) never said: "The dead person is punished because of anyone's weeping," however, he said: "Allah increases the punishment of the disbeliever because of his family's weeping," i.e., he is punished on account of his family's weeping over him, and if you wish, you may recite. Verily, Allah is the One {Who makes people laugh and weep}. [Surat an-Najm: 43] This means: man's weeping and laughter, his sadness and delight are all from Allah. {No bearer of burden will bear the burden of another.} [Surat an-Najm: 38], which means: On the Day of Judgment, every soul will bear only the sins it had committed.
Another version reads: "When the words of ‘Umar and Ibn ‘Umar were conveyed to ‘Ā’ishah, she said: You are conveying to me the words of these two who are neither liars nor suspected of lying, but one may mishear," i.e., they have misheard this. Some scholars are of the opinion that what is meant by punishing the dead person due to the weeping of those who are alive is, in case such weeping was a regular habit of the deceased person and his own choice..

931
‘Urwah reported: The words of Ibn' Umar: The dead person is punished because of his family's weeping over him, were mentioned to 'Ā’ishah, who said: May Allah have mercy upon Abu' Abdur-Rahmān; he heard something but did not memorize it. A Jew's funeral passed before the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and they were weeping over him. So, he said: You are weeping, and he is being punished..

Commentary : No matter how grave it is, every calamity includes a reward for whoever patiently endures its severity, and the same applies to the catastrophe of death that entails losing people and dear ones. One of the habits of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance was to request in one's will that people should weep and wail over his death in opposition to all traditions and revealed laws. Islam has, indeed, forbidden this and has threatened to punish the one who does this deliberately and persistently. It has clarified that such an act brings pain and torment to the one who makes a will with it or approves it.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i ‘Urwah ibn az-Zubayr reports that it was mentioned to ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: "The dead person is punished because of his family's weeping over him," i.e., he is punished in his grave because those who are alive from among his family are weeping over him, besides doing other things of the pre-Islamic habits. A group of scholars interpreted this to be referring to whoever makes a will with it, or if this is their habit, and he does not forbid them by advising them before his death not to say or do something evil. This was a famous practice among the Arabs. So, if one thinks they will likely do this and does not advise them to refrain from it, then he is asking them to do it, and he becomes like one who does not forbid evil despite having the ability to do so. However, if he advises them to refrain from such an act and they disobey him, then Allah is far more Generous to punish him for that.
Upon hearing this, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "May Allah have mercy upon Abu ‘Abdur-Rahmān, he heard something but did not memorize it," because this Hadīth had a reason and it was not as understood by Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), or he mistakenly thought the Hadīth to have a general indication including all the dead people. Therefore, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported the reason behind this Hadīth, saying: "A Jew's funeral passed before the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)", and his family members were weeping over him. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You are weeping" after his death, addressing the dead person's family, "and he is being punished". An agreed-upon version reads: Thereupon, she said: "He missed the point; the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had only said: Indeed, he is punished for his sins and misdeeds, and his family members are weeping over him right now," i.e., his family members are weeping over him while he is being punished for his sins. So, the reason for his punishment is not his family's weeping over him; rather, it is his misdeeds and sins.
Allah Almighty says: {No bearer of burden will bear the burden of another.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 164] This means: no soul bears the sin of another soul.
The Hadīth highlights the status of ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) in terms of understanding and knowledge.
It also corrects the wrong concepts that some people have by using evidence and means of persuasion..