Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger ﷺ ordered (a person) to collect Zakat, and that person returned and told him ﷺ that Ibn Jameel, Khaalid ibn al-Waleed, and al-`Abbas ibn `Abdul Muttalib had refused to give Zakat." The Prophet ﷺ said, "What is the matter with Ibn Jameel?! He was a poor man and was made wealthy by Allah and His Messenger! As for Khaalid, you are being unfair to him because he is keeping his armors and weapons to use them in fighting for Allah's Cause. As for al-`Abbas ibn `Abdul Muttalib - the uncle of Allah's Messenger ﷺ - it is incumbent upon him to pay it and an equal amount along with it.".

Commentary : Allah, Exalted be He, clarified to His Messenger ﷺ all the rulings and details pertaining to the obligation of zakat so that the wealthy is neither subjected to injustice nor the poor’s rights are overlooked. The Imaam (i.e., head of state or the ruler) is the one responsible for collecting the zakat from people, reminding people of its due time, encouraging those who are acting slack about it, and forcing those who withhold the zakat, so they pay it, and fight them if necessary.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ ordered the collection of zakat from Muslims. According to the report in Saheeh Muslim, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah e pleased with him) was the one that the Prophet ﷺ assigned to collect zakat from people. After the collectors of zakat returned, they informed the Prophet ﷺ that collection three persons refused to pay the zakat, and they were: Ibn Jameel; it has been said that his name was ‘Abdullah and that he is from al-Ansaar, Khaalid ibn al-Waleed, and al-‘Abbaas ibn ‘Abdul Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with all of them. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ said: “What is the matter with Ibn Jameel?” i.e., there is nothing that he dislikes except that he was a poor man but then he has become wealthy because of war bounties that Allah has made lawful for the Muslims to have after He has made it for His Messenger ﷺ. Had it not been allowed for the Prophet ﷺ, no other person would have received any share from the spoils of war. For this reason, he has no right whatsoever to withhold it because not only is it not how a person should appreciate and thank Allah for His blessings, but also it is a form of denying the favours of Allah upon him, causing him to respond to goodness with evil. For this reason, the Prophet ﷺ did not give him benefit of doubt. It has been said that Ibn Jameel was one of the hypocrites but afterwards he repented. Then, the Prophet ﷺ said: “You are being unfair to him” when you accused him of withholding the zakat. This is because he allocated his armours and weapons for fighting for Allah’s sake; thus, they are not subject to zakat. The weapons here include whatever supplies used in war such as weapons, horses, etc.
The statement of the Prophet ﷺ was directed to the collectors of the zakat because they did not know that he endowed all his armours and war supplies to the Muslim army to use them in fighting for the cause of Allah before one year has elapsed, and presumed they were intended for the purpose of business; thus, they demanded him to pay zakat. It is possible that the Prophet ﷺ intended to say that if Khaalid knew he has what he is to pay zakat on, he would have paid it without hesitation, because a person who gives away all his property for the sake of Allah willingly, it is impossible that he would withhold that which is obligatory upon him.
As for the paternal uncle of the Prophet ﷺ, al-‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet ﷺ mentioned that he will pay the obligatory zakat and an equal amount of it out of his generosity for he will never withhold it as he is not a miser. It has been said that al-‘Abbaas asked the Prophet ﷺ to allow him to pay his zakat before its due time and he ﷺ approved it, as reported in Sunan Aboo Dawood and Sunan al-Tirmithee and Sunan Ibn Majah. As such, the meaning of his statement, “it is incumbent upon him to pay it an equal amount along with it,” should be that it is obligatory upon al-‘Abbaas, but he paid it before its due time, and he even paid it double to cover the zakat of next year in advance.
In another version of the hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim, it reads: “and as for al-'Abbas, I shall be responsible for it and an equal amount along with it. He ﷺ then said to 'Umar: Do not you know that the paternal uncle of a person is like his father.”
This hadeeth reminds the heedless of the bounties and blessings of Allah upon them who made him wealthy after he was poor so he fulfills Allah’s right.
It shows that one should give valid excuses to justify a particular action.

It highlights the merit of Khaalid ibn al-Waleed (may Allah be pleased with him). .

1469

Narrated Abii Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him): Some people from the Ansaar asked for (something) from Allah's Messenger ﷺ and he gave them. They again asked him for (something) and he ﷺ again gave them. And then they asked him, and he gave them again till all that was with him finished. And then he ﷺ said "If I had anything. I would not keep it away from you. (Remember) Whoever abstains from asking others, Allah will make him contented, and whoever tries to make himself self-sufficient, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience.".

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ was so generous like a freely blowing wind who would give away without fearing poverty. Despite his generosity, he ﷺ endeavored to teach people to be content and self-sufficient and to only hope from Allah for what He has is better and everlasting.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that a group from the Ansaar – whom he did not name – asked the Prophet ﷺ for some money so he ﷺ gave them the money they asked for. He kept asking until he ﷺ gave them all the money he had. Then, the Prophet ﷺ explained to them that he will not keep away from them any money he has. Then, he ﷺ advised them to abstain from taking their needs through unlawful means, because Allah will facilitate to whoever possess this quality to obtain his needs through lawful means. After, he ﷺ encouraged them to abstain from asking people for anything and to suffice and be content with the little they have, and only ask others for help when there is a necessity that forces them to do so. By doing so, Allah will make them self-sufficient and make them view the little they have as much. Then, he ﷺ encouraged them to remain patient and accustom themselves on it because when a person is patient, he will be able and empowered to refrain from asking others for anything.
His statement: “And whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient.” Means that whoever endeavours to remain patient and discipline himself to endure the difficulties of life, Allah will fill his heart with patience, and whoever takes the means while being patient, Allah will facilitate for him the means to possess this quality and made it indispensable character of his personality. The Prophet ﷺ then explained that there is no better quality or blessing or a noble character that Allah has given to anyone better than patience. This is because all virtues, such like chastity, courage, determination, dignity, emerge from patience and are based upon it. When a person is patient, he will endure all that which he disliked, by the will of Allah.
This hadeeth teaches us that it is possible to possess noble qualities and good characters by practice.
It highlights the generosity of the Prophet ﷺ and that he would go beyond loving for others what he loves for himself and putting the needs of others over his own, out of kindness and compassion.
It shows that we should apologise to the one asking for help or money when there is nothing to help or provide.
The hadeeth encourages us to rely upon Allah, remain patient, and refrain from asking people for help or money, and to wait for the provision and aid from Allah. It shows us that patience is one of the best virtues that one be granted and that its reward is abundant. .

1470

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): “Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "By Him in Whose Hand my life is, it is better for anyone of you to take a rope and cut the wood (from the forest) and carry it over his back and sell it (as a means of earning his living) rather than to ask a person for something and that person may give him or not.".

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ was always keen to enable the believers to be self-sufficient and possess the quality of chastity and take all the means to earn lawful income.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ swears by Allah, the One in Whose Hand his soul, which is a phrase the Prophet ﷺ often used when he wanted to swear by Allah. He swears that having a lawful work, regardless of its type, saves the face and is better than asking people for something. This is because even if such work is difficult and harsh, it would be better than experiencing the humiliation of begging and asking.
His statement: “it is better for anyone of you to take a rope and cut the wood (from the forest) and carry it over his back and sell it (as a means of earning his living) rather than to ask a person for something and that person may give him or not,” is to say that the hardship and suffering that a person goes through in collecting wood is better than losing face and humiliation that result from asking people for something. That is to say, finding work, even if it is hard and difficult, should be always given precedence over asking people for something whenever a person is in need.
This hadeeth encourages us to work and earn a living through lawful means that protect one’s dignity and honour.
From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning that Islam fights begging and unemployment; thus, it ordered us to work and find a living, even if it was difficult and hard work, such like collecting wood.
It shows that it is permissible to swear by Allah to emphasise the matter.
This hadeeth confirms the Hand of Allah, Most High, as it befits Him, without changing the original meaning of this attribute, without denying such attributes for Allah, without enquiring into its true nature, and without likening His attributes to those of the creation..

1472

Narrated Hakeem ibn Hizaam (may Allah be pleased with him): "(Once) I asked Allah's Messenger ﷺ (for something) and he gave it to me. Again, I asked, and he ﷺ gave (it to me). Again, I asked, and he ﷺ gave (it to me). And then he ﷺ said, "O Hakeem! This property is like a sweet fresh fruit; whoever takes it without greediness, he is blessed in it, and whoever takes it with greediness, he is not blessed in it, and he is like a person who eats but is never satisfied; and the upper (giving) hand is better than the lower (receiving) hand." Hakeem added, "I said to Allah's Messenger ﷺ, 'By Him (Allah) Who sent you with the Truth, I shall never accept anything from anybody after you, till I leave this world.'" Then Aboo Bakr (during his caliphate) called Hakeem to give him his share from the war booty (like the other Companions of the Prophet ﷺ), he refused to accept anything. Then `Umar (during his caliphate) called him to give him his share but he refused. On that `Umar said, "O Muslims! I would like you to witness that I offered Hakeem his share from this booty, and he refused to take it." So, Hakeem never took anything from anybody after the Prophet ﷺ till he died..

Commentary : Money and wealth are from the temptations of this worldly life that the believer should not be keen on collecting and ensure to avoid earning it from unlawful sources, earning it via unlawful means, or spending it in matters that displease Allah.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ instructs Hakeem ibn Hizaam ibn Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with him) to the optimal and best way to earn money. This advice was given to Hakeem after he asked the Prophet ﷺ for money three times. In his advice, the Prophet ﷺ likened the money and property of this life with the fruit that is fresh in look and good in taste, which therefore are desired, and people are keen and inclined to have because it is pleasant to the eyes and tastes delicious too. After, he ﷺexplained that whoever receives money without him persisting in asking for it, without being concerned and keen to have it, and without putting the giver in a position that he dislikes or makes him embarrassed to give it, then this money will be blessed and increased, and the recipient will taste its sweetness. As for who takes it after persisting in asking for it due to his desire to have that which other people have and his greediness and takes it even though the giver dislikes to give him what he asked for, but he was too embarrassed to decline his persisting requests, the money he received will be devoid of Allah’s blessings. Knowing that he did not refrain from asking people for money, which is a condemned practice in religion, his punishment was to take away Allah’s blessings from the money he received and thus become like a person who eats without ever feeling satisfied i.e., he does not feel content with whatever he has and the more he collects money [via this way], the hungrier and stingier he becomes. The Prophet ﷺ then mentioned that the upper hand is better the lower hand, meaning that the giver is better than the receiver.
Once Hakeem (may Allah be pleased with him) heard this valuable advice from the Prophet ﷺ, he said: “'By Him (Allah) Who sent you with the Truth, I shall never accept anything from anybody after you, till I leave this world” i.e., I swear that I will not ask anyone for money from now and on. From that day, he would not accept taking his share from the war spoils that the Muslims seized from the disbelievers without fighting. He remained firm on his position during the reigns of Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) to the extent ‘Umar asked the people to be witness that he offered Hakeem his share, but he declined it only so that no one would think that ‘Umar refused to give him his share or deprive him of his right in the war spoils that are seized without fighting, and because he feared people may misunderstand the situation, so he (may Allah be pleased with him) wanted to leave no room for gossips and misunderstanding. Hakeem remained firm on his position until he departed this life 10 years after Mu’aawiyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) assumed his position as the new Caliph. All this because he (may Allah be pleased with him) was keen on acting upon the advice of the Prophet ﷺ. Indeed, the innate nature of humans is keen on having more wealth and collecting more money for the self is disposed to take as much as it can, and whoever approaches the sanctuary is bound to transgress upon it.
From the benefits of this hadeeth is that there is no shame if a person asks the ruler for money, and that it is fine to advise the person to refrain from asking others for money and decline his requests if he is found to be persistent in his request for money while he is no need of it.
This hadeeth shows that one should not ask for help or money except when there is a real need or necessity, and that the reward of zuhd (i.e., detachment from worldly pleasures) and the blessings of Allah in wealth will be realised if a person accepts money without being attached to it or keen on having it.
It highlights an evident merit of Hakeem ibn Hizaam (may Allah be pleased with him), condemns greediness and keenness on having more wealth, encourages refraining from asking for money and to be content with the little one had, and shows that the upper hand that gives in charity is better than the lower hand that receives the charity..

1473

Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): I heard ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) say: Allah's Messenger ﷺ used to give me something but I would say to him, "would you give it to a poorer and more needy one than l?" The Prophet ﷺ said to me, "Take it. If you are given something from this property, without asking for it or having greed for it take it; and if not given, do not run for it.".

Commentary : Money and property are from the temptations of this life that the believer should not be attached to or keen on collecting them, avoid collecting or wealth from unlawful sources, and avoid spending it on that which Allah dislikes or forbids.
The Prophet ﷺ used to give ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab money from the zakat money. However, the money was not given as a charity but rather as remuneration for his work in collecting the zakat. For this reason, ‘Umar thought that the Prophet ﷺ was giving him the money as a charity due to his poverty thus he (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet ﷺ to give the money to those who are poorer and more needy. The Prophet ﷺ, however, ordered him to take the money, and then said to him, as reported in the hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim, “keep it or give it away in charity”. He ﷺ gave him the option either to keep it or donate it after he takes it from him ﷺ. After, the Prophet ﷺ explained to him that if he is offered money or property without him being avaricious or begging for it, then he should accept it. However, if he was not offered that money or property, then he should not let his desire go after it or ask for it.
From the benefits of this hadeeth is that we learn that the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ were not after worldly pleasures, and that their deeds were only intended for the sake of Allah, Most High.
This hadeeth shows that it is permissible to accept gifts and offerings if one does not let his desire go after it or ask for it.
It highlights one of the merits of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him), and his altruism and lack of interest in worldly benefits and pleasures. .

1474

Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ said, "A man keeps on asking others for something till he comes on the Day of Resurrection without any piece of flesh on his face." The Prophet ﷺ added, "On the Day of Resurrection, the Sun will come near (to, the people) to such an extent that the sweat will reach up to the middle of the ears, so, when all the people are in that state, they will ask Adam for help, and then Moses, and then Muhammad ﷺ." The sub-narrator added "Muhammad will intercede with Allah to judge amongst the people. He will proceed on till he will hold the ring of the door (of Paradise) and then Allah will exalt him to highly-praised status (the privilege of intercession, etc.). Thereafter, all the people of the gathering will praise him.” Mu’alla said: Wuhayb narrated from al-Nu’maan ibn Raashid from ‘Abdillah ibn Muslim, the brother of al-Zuhree that Hamzah heard ‘Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Prophet the same issue.

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Commentary : Money and property are from the temptations of this worldly life that believers should detach themselves from them, and refrain from desiring the wealth and possessions of others or even asking them for help or money without being in a real need so they be saved from humiliation in this life and the Hereafter.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ clarifies that if a person is not poor or in need and yet asks people for money only to increase his wealth and possessions without caring about humiliating himself, although Allah orders him to preserve his dignity, Allah will be angry at him and humiliate him in the Day of Judgment just like how he accepted to humiliate himself in life for the sake of money. On the Day of Judgment, this person will be exposed in the presence of all people and the flesh of his face will fall off due to his embarrassment and shame. All this because he did not save his face in this life and accepting to experience humiliation for the sake of money.
The Prophet ﷺ then explained that the Sun will draw so close to the people, on the Day of Judgment, such that their sweat will reach up to the middle of their airs due to the extreme heat. It is reported on the authority of al-Miqdaad ibn al-Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The people would be submerged in perspiration according to their deeds, some up to their knees, some up to the waist and some would have the bridle of perspiration.” Amid this difficult situation, the people went to Adam and then Moses ((peace be upon them) asking for their help to intercede for them with Allah but they declined their request. According to the hadeeth of intercession that is reported on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, they first asked Adam before asking Ibraheem, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them) respectively. However, all of them declined and explained their excuse. Thereupon, they ask intercession from Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and Allah, Exalted be He, approves his intercession for them. He ﷺ then proceeds on till he holds the ring of the door of Paradise. Thereupon, all the people of the gathering praise him for his intercession, which is an exclusive privilege that Allah has granted to him ﷺ to relieve the people from the torments of the Day and judge the creation and settle all the disputes between them. That is the highly praised status that Allah has promised to the Prophet ﷺ.
The scholars differed on the reason that made the other prophets (peace be upon them) not to intercede for the people with Allah. One view said that it was out of humility and due to the seriousness of the request. It has been said that they believed that this intercession and lofty status do not belong to them; thus, they directed people to another prophet until they reached the Prophet ﷺ. It is also possible that they knew that only the Prophet ﷺ is entitled to this status and privilege and they directed them to lead people gradually to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
This hadeeth teaches us that punishment fits the crime thus Allah promised those who beg and ask for money and things only to increase their wealth and not because they are in need that He will skin off their faces on the Day of the Judgment just like how they did not save their faces in this life. This is because begging and asking people is humiliation and shame, and Allah does not wish for the believer to put himself in such shame and humiliation unless there is a necessity.
We learn from this hadeeth that begging and asking people for something is commended and ugly, and that we should endeavour to give our charity to those who are in need, but their dignity prevents them from asking people for help.
It confirms the intercession of the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Judgment..

1476

Narrated Aboo Hurayah (may Allah be pleased with him): “The Prophet ﷺ said, "The needy person is not the one who asks a morsel or two (of meals) from the others, but the needy is the one who has nothing and is ashamed to beg from others.".

Commentary : Property and wealth are from the pleasures and temptations of this worldly life that believers should not be keen on collecting them and avoid desiring what others have, and refrain from asking others for money or things, as much as possible.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ explains that the needy (Arabic: miskeen) who deserve receiving charity and zakat is not the one who begs people and would accept as little as one morsal or two. Rather, it is the one who works but what he earns is insufficient. Allah, Most High, described the ones who owned the ship in the story of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) as needy although the ownership of the ship was theirs. He said: {As for the ship, it belonged to some needy (masakeen) people, working at sea. So, I intended to damage it, for there was a ˹tyrant˺ king ahead of them who seizes every ˹good˺ ship by force.} [Quran 18:79].
The statement of the Prophet ﷺ “The needy person is not…” does not negate the vulnerability and neediness of the one who begs people. It is rather intended to mean that the vulnerability and neediness of the one who cannot cover all his basic needs are the most overwhelming. He could be a person who has money, but it is not enough to cover all his basic needs and yet is ashamed of asking people for money, and his shyness and embarrassment prevents him from informing people of his need and do not persist in his request for help. The Statement of Allah {They do not beg people persistently.} [Quran 2:273] means they do not beg people at all i.e., they do not go around begging people for money, and nobody is aware of their need. It is possible that it means that if they beg people for money and help, they would not be persistent.
This hadeeth encourages us to refrain from begging people and asking for their money, and directs us to whom we better give our charity, and that we should give priority to those who are ashamed of begging people and if they beg, they do not do it persistently. .

1477

The clerk of Al-Mugeerah ibn Shu`bah related that "Mu’aawiyyah wrote to al-Mugheera ibn Shu`bah asking him to write for him something which he has heard from the Prophet ﷺ." So, al-Mugheerah wrote “I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying, "Allah has hated for you three things: -1. Vain talks. -2. Wasting of wealth -3. And asking too many questions (in disputed religious matters).

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Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ would order people to observe good manners and warn them from bad manners.
In this hadeeth, Mu’aawiyyah ibn Abee Sufyaan (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah (may Allah be pleased with him) asking him to write to him something he heard directly from the Prophet ﷺ. In response, al-Mugheerah wrote to him this hadeeth in which the Prophet ﷺ mentions that Allah disliked for His servants engaging in three things:
1. “vain talks” i.e., talking too much without a real needthat necessitates it, or about others, or reporting something that one is not certain of its truthfulness, or useless talking that neither benefits nor harms.
2. “waste of wealth” i.e., by extravagance and spending it on inappropriate things, or spending it on unlawful things and sins.
3. “Asking too many questions” i.e., asking others for their money without being in need, or asking too many questions about the matters of this life and the Hereafter like asking about acts of worship that we are ordered to perform without disclosing to us the wisdom behind them, or asking about matters that do not concern the questioner, or asking people so many questions about their life affairs such that they become embarrassed.
This hadeeth shows that it is fine to ask for knowledge be written and fulfilling such requests, and that the Companions used to take knowledge from each other.
It highlights the superiority of living with the minimum where needs are covered over poverty and wealthiness, because wasting money will lead to poverty and begging people for money, and wealthiness could lead to inflictions and trials. .

1479

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "The needy person is not the one who goes round the people and ask them for a mouthful or two (of meals) or a date or two but the needy is that who has not enough (money) to satisfy his needs and whose condition is not known to others that others may give him something in charity, and who does not beg of people.".

Commentary : Allah has praised those who do not beg people despite their need (i.e., money, food, clothes, etc.) Allah, Most High, said: {Those unfamiliar with their situation will think they are not in need ˹of charity˺ because they do not beg.} [Quran 2:273] and the Prophet ﷺ disliked for his nation to frequently ask people for help.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ explains that the neediest person is not the one who goes around asking people for charity and all they want is a mouthful or two of meals or a date or two, and that is because he is capable of earning his living. Allah, Exalted be He, described the people of the ship as Miskeen despite the fact they owned the ship that Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) mounted. Allah, Most High, said: {As for the ship, it belonged to some needy (masakeen) people, working at sea.} [Quran 18:79].
The statement of the Prophet ﷺ “The needy person is not…” does not negate the vulnerability and neediness of the one who begs people. Rather, it means that his vulnerability and neediness are not the most overwhelming. The true needy person is the one who does not have enough money to cover all his basic needs and make him self-sufficient, yet he is ashamed of begging and does not disclose to others his neediness thus no one knows about his condition thus they do not give charity to him. As Allah, Most High, said: {They do not beg people persistently.} [Quran 2:273]
This hadeeth teaches us that we should refrain from begging and asking people for charity and directs us to be diligent about where to put our charity and ensure that our charity is given to the needy who does not beg people for charity..

1481

Narrated Aboo Humayd al-Saa’idee (may Allah be pleased with him): We joined Allah's Messenger ﷺ in the Battle of Tabuk and we came to the valley of al-Quraa where there was a garden belonging to a woman. Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, “Make an assessment.” And Allah's Messenger ﷺ also made an assessment, and it was ten awsaaq. He asked that woman to calculate the amount. Then, we proceeded on until we came to Tabuk and Allah's Messenger ﷺ said: A violent storm will overtake you during the night, so none amongst you should stand up and he who has a camel with him should hobble it firmly. A violent storm blew and a person who had stood up was carried away by the storm and thrown between the mountains of Tayy. The King of ‘Aylah, gifted Allah's Messenger ﷺ a white mule. Allah's Messenger ﷺ wrote him (the reply) and gifted him garments. We came back until we halted in the valley of al-Quraa. Allah's Messenger ﷺ asked that woman about the total weight of the date fruits she had. She said: Ten awsaaq. Then, Allah's Messenger ﷺ said: I am going to depart, and he who amongst you wishes may depart with me, but he who wants to stay may stay. We resumed the journey until we came to the outskirts of al-Madeenah. (It was at this time) that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said: This is Taaba, this is Uhud, that is a mountain which loves us, and we love it, and then said: Should I tell you the best houses of al-Ansaar? The best amongst the houses of the Ansaar is the house of Banee al-Najjaar. Then the house of Banee ‘Abd al-Ashhal, then the house of Banee Saa’idah - or Banee ‘Abd al-Haarith ibn al-Khazraj - and there is goodness in all the houses of the Ansaar.
Sulaimaan ibn Bilaal said: ‘Amr narrated to me: then the house of Banee al-Haarith then the house of Banee Saa’idah.
Sulaymaan related from Sa’d ibn Sa’eed from ‘Umaarah ibn Ghaziyyah from ‘Abbaas from his father that the Prophet ﷺ said: Uhud is a mountain that loves us and we love him..

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ loved al-Madeenah, its people, and everything about it. He ﷺdeclared it a safe sacred place and supplicated Allah for His blessings to be showered in its food twice as did Ibraheem (peace be upon him) for the inhabitants of Makkah.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Humayd al-Saa’idee (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were with the Prophet ﷺ in the Battle of Tabuk, which was the last military expedition in which he ﷺ took part. It occurred in the month of Rajab in the 9th year of Hijrah against the Romans. Tabuk is in the northernmost of the Arabian Peninsula, halfway to Damascus and is situated 1252 kilometers away from the region of Hijaaz.
He (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Muslim army arrived at the Valley of al-Quraa, which is located near al-Madeenah, between Taymaa’ and Khaybar (i.e., between al-Madeenah and al-Shaam). While scholars differed on its exact location, but most signs indicate that it refers to what is known today as the Valley of al-Jazl. After their arrival to that place, he ﷺ found a garden that belonged to a woman. The Prophet ﷺ asked his Companions to estimate the weight of the date fruits that are still on the palm trees. He ﷺ estimated that they would make when they are dry about 10 awsaaq (plural of wasaq) i.e., 1300 kg since one wasaq equals 60 Saa’, and then asked the woman to measure the weight of date fruits when they are dry to get an accurate measurement.
After they arrived at Tabuk, the Prophet ﷺ informed them that there would be a stormy wind coming in the night; thus, no one should stand up so they would not be harmed by the wind, and that those with camels should hobble them firmly so they do not get loose and carried away with the wind and be harmed. On that night, a violent windstorm swept the place, and one man stood up and was carried away by the wind until threw him near the mountain of Tayy, which is located in Haa’il, in the northern part of al-Hijaaz.
The king of ‘Aylah, which is an ancient coastal town, known today as Aqaba in Jordan, gifted the Prophet ﷺ a white mule called Duldul, and in return the Prophet ﷺ gifted him fancy garments and wrote him a letter to him inviting him and his people to Islam or pay the Jizayh. They opted for the jizyah and he ﷺ accepted that they remain upon their faith and pay the jizyah.
On their way back to al-Madeenah, they arrived at the valley of al-Quraa, where they visited the owner of the garden, and the Prophet ﷺ asked her about the total weight of her date fruits to which she confirmed that it was 10 awsaaq, which was exactly as the Prophet ﷺ estimated.
Afterwards, the Prophet ﷺ informed his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that he wishes to return to al-Madeeanh as soon as possible. It has been said that he ﷺ meant that he ﷺ wished to take the shortest route; thus, he ﷺ gave them the option to accompany him in the journey back to al-Madeenah or stay behind with the Muslim army. When he ﷺ arrived at the outskirts of al-Madeenah and saw the houses of its inhabitants from far, he ﷺ said this is Taabah (English: good) i.e., the good city that Allah has named Taabah due to its goodness. And when he ﷺ saw the mountain of Uhud, he ﷺ said that this mountain loves us and we love him. The mountain of Uhud is in the northwest of al-Madeenah and 4 km away from the Prophet Mosque. There is nothing to prevent that a non-animated object to love as Allah can create this emotion into it just like how it happens that non-animated objects extol Allah [as reported in the Quran and Sunnah]. The meaning of his statement is that he ﷺ loved the inhabitants of al-Madeenah and his love to the mountain of Uhud necessitates that it be a blessed place and encourage residing near it.
Then, the Prophet ﷺ asked his Companions if they would like to know which houses are the best amongst the Ansaar, and the word “houses” here is used in reference to their tribes. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) expressed their interest in knowing the answer so he ﷺ said: The best tribe is Banee al-Najjaar, which is the tribe of his mother and thus they are considered his maternal uncles who hosted him when he emigrated from Makkah to al-Madeenah. The next tribe he ﷺ mentioned was Banee ‘Abd al-Ashhal and that was because they were from the early tribes that entered Islam from the Ansaar at the hand of Mu’sab ibn ‘Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him) after their leader Sa’d ibn Mu’aadth entered Islam. There are a few of highly esteemed Companions from this tribe like Sa’d ibn Mu’aath, Usayd ibn al-Khudayr, and ‘Abbaad ibn Bishr. Then, he ﷺ mentioned Banee Saa’idah – or Banee al-Haarith ibn al-Khazraj and added that there is goodness in all of the tribes of al-Ansaar i.e., all the tribes of Ansaar are renowned and highly esteemed in Islam and even before Islam. However, he ﷺ ranked them based on who embraced Islam earlier and their contributions to Islam.
From the benefits of this hadeeth is learning the permissibility of estimating the total weight of dates that palm trees are expected to produce from the Rutab (i.e., dates before the maturity), so its zakat can be calculated.
This hadeeth provides one of the evidences on the truthfulness of the Prophethood of the Prophet ﷺ as he foretold the Companions about the windstorm.
It shows us that it is permissible to accept gifts from non-Muslims and that opposing the instructions of the Prophet ﷺ leads to loss and hardship.
It shows the merit of the mountain of Uhud and confirms the virtue of the Ansaar and that while they are meritorious, they differ in rank among each other..

1483

Narrated Saalim ibn ‘Abdullah from his father (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ said, "On a land irrigated by rain water or by natural water channels or if the land is wet due to a nearby water channel one-tenth is compulsory (as Zakat); and on the land irrigated by the well, half of a one-tenth is compulsory (as Zakat on the yield of the land).".

Commentary : Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam that Allah has dictated upon those whose savings exceed the specified threshold. It is taken from the wealthy and given to the poor (i.e., all those who are eligible to receive it according to the Quran). Allah and His Messenger ﷺ explained all the rulings and details pertaining to this obligatory act of worship to protect the wealthy ones from injustice and protect the rights of those who are in need.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ explains that the yield of rainfed agriculture and lands irrigated by natural water channels or irrigated by rivers and nearby water sources without the help of tools is subject to one-twentieth as zakat, and the yield of lands irrigated by water taken out from the well by whatever means is subject to one-fifth as zakat. The difference of zakat rate between the two types of lands is due to the additional cost incurred by lands owners.
This hadeeth explains the zakat on agricultural products and that the hardship and expenses incurred to produce the yield affect the rate of zakat..

1485

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): Dates used to be brought to Allah's Messenger ﷺ immediately after being plucked. Different persons would bring their dates till a big heap collected (in front of the Prophet ﷺ). Once Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn were playing with these dates. One of them took a date and put it in his mouth. Allah's Messenger ﷺ looked at him and took it out from his mouth and said, "Don't you know that the family of Muhammad do not eat what is given in charity?".

Commentary : Allah, Exalted be He, has honored His Prophet Muhmmad ﷺ, purified him, elevated his rank above all His creation, and endowed him with exclusive qualities that befit the state of his prophethood that makes him different to the people in certain issues that entail desire for worldly pleasures.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the people during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ would harvest the palm trees after the date fruits ripen and fully dry, and then bring the zakat of their dates to the Prophet ﷺ making a big heap. One day, al-Hasan and al-Husayn, the two sons of Alee ibn Abee Taalib and Faatimah, the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ (may Allah be pleased with all of them), played with the dates, and al-Hasan picked one date from the dates of zakat and put it into his mouth. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ looked at him in a way that showed his disapproval so he ﷺ took it out from his mouth and said to him: “Don't you know that the family of Muhammad do not eat what is given in charity?” i.e., the family of Muhammad ﷺ are not allowed to accept and receive charity or zakat from people as Allah honored them because charity and zakat are the dirt of the people, as reported in the authentic hadeeths.
The family of the Prophet ﷺ who are not allowed to take or receive zakat and charity are his offspring, wives, and the descendants of ‘Abdul-Muttalib: the descendants of ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib, the descendants of al-‘Abbaas, the descendants of Ja’far, the descendants of ‘Aqeel, and the descendants of al-Haarith.
This hadeeth shows that zakat on dates should be given upon its plucking when the dates ripen and dry.
It teaches us that we should raise and teach our children to obey the rules of religion and avoid that which is made forbidden.
It shows that we should explain to children the reason they are not allowed to do a particular act, as much as possible.
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1486

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ forbade selling fruits till they appear ripe. When he ﷺ was asked about (the words): 'appear to be ripe'?" He ﷺ replied, "Till they were safe from damage or disease.".

Commentary : Islam introduces legislations that govern the transactions and dealings between people to protect their rights and end any possibility of dispute.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ forbids people from selling fruits that are not picked yet from the tree before they appear are ripe and good to eat i.e., the taste, texture, and color appear good. This is because when fruits and dates are soft and taste good, and their color changes to yellowish or reddish can be signs of their ripeness.
When the Prophet ﷺ was asked about the signs that can indicate the fruit is ripe, his answer was that it is when the defect is no longer present i.e., the signs of ripeness are evident as that indicates its suitability for consumption. The legal reasoning for prohibiting the selling of fruits before their condition is known i.e., they appear ripe is that such transaction would entail vagueness and harm. This is because when the condition of the fruit is unknown, there would be a possibility that it may become defective or damaged; thus, the buyer will lose his money and entail taking his money without any lawful right.
This hadeeth forbids us from selling fruits before they are ripe and good to consume..

1488

Narrated Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger ﷺ forbade the selling of fruits until they were ripe. The Prophet ﷺ added, "It means that they become red.".

Commentary : Islam introduces legislations that govern the transactions and dealings between people to protect their rights and end any possibility of dispute.
In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ forbade the selling of fruits on trees and dates on palm trees before their condition is known i.e., they are ripe and suitable for eating, and their color changes to red or yellow as that would indicate it is ripe. The Prophet ﷺ explained the red color is the sign that indicates the maturity of fruit and that is free of defects.
The legal reasoning for prohibiting the selling of fruits before their condition is known i.e., they appear ripe is that such transaction would entail vagueness and harm. This is because when the condition of the fruit is unknown, there would be a possibility that it may become defective or damaged; thus. the buyer will lose his money and entail taking his money without any lawful right.
One of the benefits that we can conclude from this hadeeth is learning the ruling of impermissibility to sell dates before they are ripe, and their condition is known..

1489

Narrated Saalim from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): `Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) gave a horse in charity in Allah's Cause and later he saw it being sold in the market and intended to purchase it. However, he went to the Prophet ﷺ and asked his permission. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Do not take back what you have given in charity." For this reason, Ibn `Umar never purchased the things which he had given in charity except that he would give it in charity again.”.

Commentary : Giving in charity for the sake of Allah, Exalted be He, is considered one of the best and most rewarding good deeds. It necessitates that when a person gives something in charity hoping for its reward and blessings from Allah alone that he does not wish to have it back again or request that it goes back to his possession.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that his father ’Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) gave in charity a horse to a man so he can mount it in fighting for Allah’s cause. Afterwards, he (may Allah be pleased with him) found that this horse in the market is offered for sale. The reason the man wanted to sell the horse was because it became fatigued and no longer suitable to participate in battles like other horses. According to another report in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, the ownership of the horse was transferred to the man, which explains the reason he wanted to sell it afterwards. When ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) found the man selling his horse in the market, he presumed that the man may sell it for less than its actual value and that he was no longer able to afford looking after it. For this reason, he wanted to buy it but before doing so he consulted the Prophet ﷺ about his plan. The Prophet ﷺ said to him: “Do not take back what you have given in charity” because it was given for the cause of Allah and no person may buy his charity because a person no longer owns anything that he has given away for the cause of Allah. ‘Umar complied and refrained from proceeding with his plan.
For this reason, whenever ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would buy something that he gave in charity before, he would only do it so he can give it away in charity one more time. It is as if he understood the order of the Prophet ﷺ to only apply to whose intent is to bring back his charity into his possessions and not whose intent is to give it away in charity again.
This hadeeth highlights the virtue of donating to the Muslim army to help and support them in their fighting for the cause of Allah.
It shows that it is impermissible to buy that which a person has given in charity because it will be considered as if one reconsidered his charity..

1050

Abu al-Aswad reported: Abu Mūsa al-Ash'ari sent for the reciters of the people of Basra. Three hundred men who had recited the Qur'an came to him. He said: "You are the best among the people of Basra and their reciters. So, recite it. And let not hope of a long life delude you, and thus your hearts would harden as the hearts of those before you had hardened. We used to recite a Surah, which we would liken to Barā‘ah in terms of length and toughness, and I was made to forget it. However, I memorized from it: "If the son of Adam had two valleys of wealth, he would seek a third valley, and nothing would fill the inside of the son of Adam except dust". We used to recite a Surah, which we would liken to one of the Musabbihāt, and I was made to forget it. However, I memorized from it: "O you who believe, why do you say what you do not do?" This will be written as a testimony on your necks, and you will be asked about it on the Day of Judgment..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to direct his Companions and advise them to refrain from keenness on worldly life and hope for an extended stay in it. And the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did the same with the Tābi'is.
In this tradition, Abu al-Aswad ad-Dīli informs that Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) sent for the reciters among the people of Basra to come to him and gather there. Basra is a city located in the south of Iraq. "Three hundred men, who had recited the Qur'an" and memorized it "came to him." He advised and directed them, saying: You are the best among the people of Basra and you are the people of the Qur’an among them. Then, he instructed them to read the Qur’an and recite it in the most proper manner, which entails understanding its meanings, reflecting upon its verses, and acting upon its rulings. And he said to them: "And let not hope of a long life delude you and thus your hearts would harden," i.e., do not have high hopes for worldly life and do not wish to stay therein for long, as this corrupts the hearts by dragging them to greed and hardness, and thus they will not soften to Dhikr or derive benefit from admonition or rebuke. As a result, you will have such hardness and aversion within your hearts that had befallen the nations before you due to their hopes for an extended stay in the life of this world. This includes a reference to the verse that reads: {Has the time not yet come for those who believe that their hearts should be humbled at the remembrance of Allah and the truth that has been revealed? They should not be like those who were given the Scriptures before, whose hearts grew hard after the passage after a long period of time, and many of them were evildoers.} [Surat al-Hadīd: 16]
Then, he informed that they used to recite a long Surah of the Qur’an, whose recitation was abrogated, and they would liken it to Surat Barā’ah, which is Surat at-Tawbah, in terms of length and toughness. He further said that he was made to forget it. Then, Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) made an exception and informed that he memorized from the meanings of this Surah such words that contain dispraise of attention on worldly life and the love and desire for having a lot of it. He said: "If the son of Adam had two valleys of wealth, he would seek a third valley." A valley is any gap between mountains or hills. "and nothing would fill the inside of the son of Adam except dust", i.e., he continues to be keen on worldly life till he dies, and his inside gets filled with the dust of his grave. The inside may also be intended to refer to the heart, and the meaning is that he does not get bored of the love for wealth. This is because man is naturally inclined to love wealth and has an unquenchable greed for it, and he has no limit to stop except a matter like his own, namely dust.
Then, Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that they used to recite a Surah which they would liken to one of the Musabbihāt, which are the Surahs that begin with "subhān, sabbaha, yusabbihu, sabbih ism rabbika" (glory be to, glorified, glorifies, glorify the name of your Lord), and that he was made to forget it; and he memorized from it: "O you who believe, why do you say what you do not do?" This is a question that signifies disapproval and rebuke for those who attribute to themselves good things that they do not do, either in relation to the past, in which case they would be liars, or concerning the future, and this would be a contradiction; both are dispraised. "This will be written as a testimony on your necks and you will be asked about this on the Day of Judgment" i.e., these false statements will be recorded against you, for what you said and did not do is a testimony from you, and you are liable for it, and you will be held accountable, and it will entail an evil recompense on the Day of Judgment.
This abrogation, which Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) told about in this Hadīth, is one of the abrogation types: the abrogation of words and recitation. Abrogation is of three types: First: Abrogation of rulings, while words and recitation endure. Second: Its opposite; and that is the abrogation of words and recitation, while the ruling endures. Third: Abrogation of the ruling along with the words and recitation. This is the abrogation which Allah Almighty mentions in the verse that reads: {We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 106] And also in the verses that read: {We will teach you [the Qur’an], so you will not forget*, except what Allah wills.} [Surat al-A‘la: 6-7] These two Surahs are among the Surahs Allah Almighty willed to be forgotten after He revealed them. This is because Allah Almighty does whatever He wills and is Able to do all things He wishes. Indeed, this is all possible. Let not one wrongly assume, because of this and the like of it, that any part of the Qur’an was lost. In fact, this is untrue, as established by the verse that reads: {It is We Who have sent down the Reminder, and it is We Who will preserve it.} [Surat al-Hijr: 9] This is also established by the consensus among the Companions and those after them that the Qur’an, which we are required to recite and act upon its rulings as a form of worship, is the text contained between the two covers of the Mus'haf, without addition or omission.
The Hadīth shows keenness to present advice to the Muslim reciters.
It contains dispraise of the keenness on worldly life and the hope for a long stay therein.
It includes dispraise of lying and bragging about something one did not do.
The Hadīth also mentions that a person's speech is recorded and he will be asked about it on the Day of Judgment.
And it indicates that a believer should be chiefly concerned about working for the Hereafter and he should not be deceived by worldly life and its desires..

1054

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās reported that: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Successful is the one who accepts Islam and is provided with mere subsistence and Allah makes him content with what He has given him.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to admonish his Companions, advise them, and encourage them to aim at sublime matters, so that the worldly life would be in their hands, not in their hearts, and what they gained thereof would help them in acts of worship.
This Hadīth contains guidance from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to his Ummah that a person should not tire himself in seeking more than mere subsistence, for what is commendable in sustenance is the amount that enables a person to perform worship and for which he should work as much as needed. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that success is attained and gained by a person who embraces Islam rightly, for he gets rid of Kufr (disbelief) and Shirk (polytheism), which is the sin that Allah does not forgive, and he is provided with mere subsistence, no more or less, and what makes him self-sufficient and saves him from necessities and wants. This means lawful sustenance, for no success comes with unlawful sustenance. And his words: "and Allah makes him content with what He has given him," i.e., Allah grants him contentment with the mere subsistence he has; so, he does not aspire to pursue more than that.
The Hadīth shows that success and triumph are attained by embracing Islam for the sake of Allah and being pleased with what Allah gives him.
It demonstrates the merit of contentment, and that it is one of the means of success..

1056

‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) distributed some wealth, and I said: "By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, there are other than those more deserving of it than them?" He said: "They gave me the choice that they either ask of me importunately or regard me as a miser, and I am not a miser.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the most generous and bountiful among the people. He would give like one who fears no poverty. This was to teach his Ummah and serve certain Shar‘i purposes that were probably not known or grasped at the time by anyone other than him (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
In this Hadīth, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) says The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) distributed some wealth among the people, and he gave some people, whereas ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) held that others were more deserving of being given than them. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified to him why he gave to them and not those who were more deserving to be given than them. This is because those he gave were people of ignorance and lying. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that they begged in an importunate manner due to their weak faith and drove him, by their very importunate attitude, to either give them what they asked for or they would describe him as a miser and defame him, while in fact, he is not a miser. Hence, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave to them and protected his honor by his giving, lest they might lie about him. Miserliness is not part of his character (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he gave to them to appease them and win their friendliness. Similarly, he said in a Hadīth of the Two Sahīh Collections: "Indeed, the worst people in rank in the sight of Allah is the one whom people leave or abandon for fear of his discourteousness." Thus, he endured their rudeness and treated them forbearingly to win their friendliness and protect himself from being described as a miser, a trait that does not befit him (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
The Hadīth indicates that we can appease the people of ignorance and harshness and win their friendliness, if this achieves a good interest.
It also shows that patience and forbearance were part of the Prophet's character.
The Hadīth demonstrates and directs a person to spend out of his money to protect his honor and himself from the people of ignorance..

1060

Rāfi‘ ibn Khadīj reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave to Abu Sufyān ibn Harb, Safwān ibn Umayyah, ‘Uyaynah ibn Hisn, and Al-Aqra‘ ibn Hābis, to every one of them, one hundred camels, and gave to ‘Abbās ibn Mirdās less than that. Thereupon, ‘Abbās ibn Mirdās said: You allot the share of my booty and that of Al-‘Ubayd between ‘Uyaynah and Al-Aqra‘ Both Badr and Hābis in no way surpassed Mirdās in the assembly I am in no way inferior to any one of these two. And he whom you lower today will not be elevated He said: So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) completed one hundred camels for him. [And in a version]: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) divided the spoils of the battle of Hunayn and gave Abu Sufyān ibn Harb one hundred camels... And he narrated the same Hadīth, with the addition: And he gave ‘Alqamah ibn ‘Ulāthah one hundred. [And in a version]: He did not mention poetry..

Commentary : This Hadīth reveals a part of how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to win people's hearts to Islam by giving them money, each according to the strength of Īmān in his heart or his tenderness, and how he was considerate of the circumstances of each one of them.
The circumstances surrounding this Hadīth: After the battle of Hunayn, which took place in the eighth Hijri year between the Muslims and the two tribes of Hawāzin and Thaqīf, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) divided the spoils he seized from this battle between the Muslims, preferring some of them over others. He gave some of them a hundred camels and others less than that. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave a hundred camels to Abu Sufyān ibn Harb, the Quraysh leader, Safwān ibn' Umayyah, who had embraced Islam after the Conquest of Makkah and was one of the Quraysh notables during Jāhiliyyah and Islam, 'Uyaynah ibn Hisn al-Fazāri, who had embraced Islam before the Conquest of Makkah and was marked by the typical roughness of desert dwellers, and Al-Aqra' ibn Hābis at-Tamīmi, who had come to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and partook in the Conquest of Makkah, and he was an arbitrator during Jāhiliyyah; he gave each one of these persons a hundred camels. On the other hand, he gave ‘Abbās ibn Mirdās less than a hundred. So, ‘Abbās ibn Mirdās became angry and said these poetic verses: "You allot the share of my booty and that of Al-‘Ubayd between ‘Uyaynah and Al-Aqra‘" Booty: the spoils. Al-‘Ubayd: the name of the horse of ‘Abbās ibn Mirdās. The meaning: Do you give the booty which I took part in seizing from Hunayn with my weapon and horse to ‘Uyaynah ibn Hisn and Al-Aqra‘ ibn Hābis and the like of them, by giving them more than me?! By his words "Both Badr and Hābis", he meant the grandfather of ‘Uyaynah and the father of Al-Aqra‘. ‘Uyaynah is the son of Hisn ibn Hudhayfah ibn Badr, and Al-Aqra‘ is the son of Hābis. And his words: "in no way surpassed Mirdās in the assembly". Surpass means: is higher than. Assembly: the meeting place of the clans and tribes. "I am in no way inferior to any one of these two" The meaning: My father was not inferior to theirs, neither am I inferior to them. He seemed to have been gripped with fear that his status might be lowered. Therefore, he said: "And he whom you lower today" by decreasing his share of the booty "will not be elevated", i.e., the people will not elevate him after this day.
So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave him a hundred camels like the others who were given a hundred, so as to win his heart and dispel the thought of inferiority or that he might be lower in rank than others.
The Hadīth shows how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would win the hearts of some people with money for an apparent interest.
The ruler may prefer some over others if he sees a certain benefit in doing so.
It is permissible to recite poetry and is permissible to listen to it..

1064

Abu Sa‘īd reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned a people who would be among his Ummah, who would emerge out of the dissension of people. Their distinctive mark would be shaven heads. He said: "They would be the worst creatures - or among the worst creatures. The nearer of the two groups, the truth would kill them." The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave an example of them, or he said: "A man throws an arrow at the prey - Or he said: at the target - and looks at the arrowhead and finds no trace, and he looks at the body and finds no trace. Then, he looks at the grip and finds no trace." He said: Abu Sa‘īd said: "And you killed them, O people of Iraq.".

1066

Zayd ibn Wahb al-Juhani reported that he was in the army led by ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that set out to fight the Kharijites. ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O people, I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'There would arise within my Ummah a people who would recite the Qur’an, and your recitation would be nothing compared to their recitation, your prayer would be nothing compared to their prayer, and your fast would be nothing compared to their fast. They would recite the Qur’an thinking that it supports them, whereas it is against them. Their prayer does not get beyond their collarbones. They would pass through Islam as an arrow passes through the prey. If the army that is to encounter them were to know what had been decreed for them by the tongue of their Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), they would completely rely upon that and cease to work. The sign of this is that there would be among them a man with an upper arm and without an arm, and the head of his upper arm would be like the nipple of the breast on which there would be some white hairs.' So, will you go to Mu‘āwiyah and the people of the Levant and leave them behind among your children and your property?! By Allah, I hope they are those people, for they have shed inviolable blood and raided the animals of the people. So, go forth in the name of Allah." Salamah ibn Kuhayl said: Zayd ibn Wahb made me alight at a place, till we crossed a bridge. When we encountered them - and ‘Abdullāh ibn Wahb ar-Rāsibi was the leader of the Kharijites on that day - he said to them: "Throw the spears and draw out your swords from their sheaths, for I fear that they would appeal to you as they appealed to you on the day of Harūrā'." They went back and threw their spears and drew out their swords, and people fought against them with their spears and they were killed on top of one another. Only two men were killed from among the people on that day. Then, ‘Ali (Allah be pleased with him) said: "Search for the Mukhdaj (the maimed one) among them." They searched but did not find him. So, ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) himself stood up till he came upon people who had been killed on top of one another. He said: "Move them away from one another." So, they found him near the ground. Thereupon, he proclaimed Takbīr and then said: "Allah told the truth, and His Messenger conveyed it." He said: Then, ‘Abīdah as-Salmāni stood before him and said: "O Commander of the Believers, by Allah, other than Whom there is no god, did you hear this Hadīth from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)?" He said: "Yes, by Allah, other than Whom there is no god." He repeated the request for an oath from him three times, and he swore each time..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) warned us against religious innovations and extremism, for it leads to the corruption of societies. Extremism, along with the lack of proper understanding of the religion, may result in considering the Muslim communities as people of religious innovations and Kufr (disbelief) and lead to revolt against the rulers unjustly.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Zayd ibn Wahb al-Juhani relates that he was with ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him) in the army that marched toward the Kharijites. This happened in 38 A.H., in the battle of Nahrawān, located nearly 35km southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. They were those who criticized ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) for the arbitration over his fighting against Mu‘āwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), and they fought him and declared the Muslims as disbelievers and regarded the shedding of their blood as lawful. ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) addressed his army to make them firm and urge them to fight and display patience in doing so. He informed that he heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) point out some traits of the Kharijites, mentioning that they would be a people within the Muslim Ummah, and they would "recite the Qur'an," i.e., recite it a lot. They would also perform prayer and observe fast often, to the extent that if people compared their condition to the condition of others, they would regard the worship of others as nothing next to them. "They would recite the Qur'an thinking that it supports them", i.e., it provides an argument for them in proving their claims, whereas this is not the case in reality; instead, it serves as an argument against them with Allah Almighty. In the Two Sahīh Collections, in a Hadīth reported by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him): "It does not get beyond their collarbones." Likewise, their prayer does not get beyond their collarbones. Prayer here probably refers to the recitation in prayer. The collarbone is the bone that extends from the neck cavity to the shoulder. They do not understand the Qur’an, draw benefit from its recitation, ponder its verses, or reflect upon its meanings. So, they do not reach their hearts through reflection and Khushū‘ (humility and focus) and do not ascend to heaven. Therefore, they obtain no reward for them. "They would pass through" i.e., they would depart from Islam quickly and not get attached to anything in it, just as an arrow passes through prey, i.e., like a powerful and fast arrow that penetrates the target and passes through prey, due to its power and speed, entering from one side and coming out from the opposite one; and it leaves no trace of blood or flesh. Then, they would not go back to the religion, as the arrow does not go back to its place in the bow.
Then, ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him) states that if the army that would kill and defeat them were to know the reward and recompense that their Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed them about and determined for them, they would abandon work and solely rely upon this glad tiding which was given to them for killing the Kharijites.
The distinctive mark of those Kharijites is "that there would be among them a man with an upper arm", which extends from the shoulder to the elbow, "and without an arm", which extends from the elbow to the hand. And the head of his upper arm would be like "the nipple of the breast", and there would also be some white hairs on the top of his upper arm.
Then, ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him) expressed criticism of the army in the form of questioning: Do you want to go to Mu‘āwiyah and the people of the Levant and fight them and leave those Kharijites behind to stay among your women and children and loot your property?! The meaning: This is not proper and should not happen. By this, he intended to urge them to fight the Kharijites first before marching toward Mu‘āwiyah and the people of the Levant.
Then, ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) swore, saying: "By Allah, I hope they are those people" who are amongst us, revolted against us, and departed from obedience to us, "the people" whom the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) described to us. Indeed, they went to extremes in shedding the blood of Muslims, and it is blood whose shedding is forbidden. They killed 'Abdullāh ibn Khabbāb and the mother of his child. "and they raided the animals of the people", i.e., they raided people's property and stole their grazing livestock. Then, ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "So, go forth in the name of Allah", i.e., with the blessing of the name of Allah, seek help from Him and put your trust in Him. This indicates that actions should begin with the mention of Allah.
Salamah ibn Kuhayl al-Hadrami al-Kūfi - one of the Hadīth narrators - informs that the Tābi‘i Zayd ibn Wahb mentioned to him the locations of their travel to fight the Kharijites, one by one, until they reached the bridge at which the fighting took place - the bridge of Dizjān. This is also mentioned in As-Sunan Al-Kubra Collection of An-Nasā’i. A bridge is a structure built over water for crossing on it. This is the bridge of Nahrawān, where the Kharijites gathered.
Zayd ibn Wahb related that when the two armies encountered each other for fighting, the leader of the Kharijites on that day was ‘Abdullāh ibn Wahb ar-Rāsibi, who said to the Kharijites: Throw the spears and draw out your swords from their sheaths. He wanted the two armies to start fighting. Thus, there would be no possible alternative to fighting, such as a truce or appeal, which means that they would ask and adjure them by Allah, and this might cause some of his companions to leave him, and, as a result, his army would become weaker. Confrontation with spears puts the two armies at a distance from each other, and this carries the possibility that some of them may feel pity upon seeing the blood and call for the cessation of fighting. On the other hand, fighting with the swords breaks out quickly and ends with defeating one of the two armies. Ibn Wahb hoped that he would be victorious in this battle. "as they appealed to you on the day of Harūrā’." This is a village near Kufa, after which a sect of the Khrijites was named, as their first gathering took place there, "the day" here refers to the day in which the Kharijites gathered, numbering eight thousand - and a different number was also mentioned - and they alighted at Harūrā’. Their leaders were ‘Abdullāh ibn al-Kawwā’ al-Yashkuri and Shabath at-Tamīmi. ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him) sent his cousin ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) to them. He debated with them, and as a result, many of them came back with him. Then, ‘Ali went out to them, appealed to them, and engaged in a discussion with them. Consequently, they obeyed him and entered Kufa along with him.
When the Kharijites listened to ‘Abdullāh ibn Wahb, they obeyed him and "threw their spears" i.e. they threw them away and engaged in fighting against the army of ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) with swords. So, this opinion led to victory for the Muslims and ‘Ali's army, the preservation of their blood, and their empowerment. "and people fought against them with their spears" i.e., the companions of ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) stabbed them with their spears like trees. The Arabic text uses a verb derived from 'shajar', which means trees. So, the companions of ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) threw the spears at them before they could reach them. Then, they engaged in battle with them and killed so many of them; only two men were killed on the side of ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). His words "they were killed on top of one another" mean that they were piled upon one another due to the large number of them who were killed, forming heaps.
Then, after the end of the battle, ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) ordered them to search for "the Mukhdaj" man, i.e., his body is incomplete. This is the man described at the beginning of the Hadīth. They searched for him but could not find him. So, 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) himself rose and moved to a heap of dead bodies from the Kharijites. He ordered that they be separated from one another, and they found underneath them the man he was looking for dead. Thereupon, 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) proclaimed Takbīr in wonder at seeing the Mukhdaj man with the description given by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Then, he said after the Takbīr: "Allah", Exalted be He, "told the truth" in what He revealed to His Prophet; "and His Messenger conveyed" His message to us and to the people, in truth.
Then, Zayd ibn Wahb al-Juhani informed that the Tābi‘i ‘Abīdah as-Salmāni called out to ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him): "O Commander of the Believers", and he adjured him by Allah, other than Whom there is no god, to tell him whether he heard this Hadīth from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). In response, ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) swore, saying: "Yes, by Allah, other than Whom there is no god" i.e., yes, I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). "He repeated the request for an oath from him three times". He asked him to swear to let this be heard by the people present and affirm that to them, and in order to reveal to them the miracle informed by the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and show them that ‘Ali and his Companions are the worthier among the two groups in claiming the truth, and that they are rightful in fighting them.
The Hadīth points to the danger of ignorance in religion and dogmatic thinking.
It mentions the great reward of killing the Kharijites.
It warns against extremism in religion and affectation in worship.
Those who revolt against the just rulers should be fought against.
The Hadīth mentions some traits of the Kharijites.
It shows the merit of ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him).
An oath may be requested for verifying something unfamiliar, so as to affirm it to those who hear about it..

1067

Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Verily, there is from my Ummah after me - or there would be from my Ummah after me - a people who would recite the Qur’an, but it would not go beyond their throats, and they would pass through the religion as an arrow passes through the prey, and then they would not come back to it; they are the worst among the creation and the creatures.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed the Companions about many of the trials that took place during their generation and that would take place after their generation. One of the trials they witnessed during their time was the trial of the Kharijites.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) made reference to that. He mentioned people who would be in his Ummah after him; among their characteristics is that they "would recite the Qur'an, but it would not go beyond their throats." They recite the Qur'an but do not get affected by it, understand it, or act upon its verses. So, they will not be recompensed for that by rewards, and their recitation does not go beyond their tongues, so no good deed is accepted from them. This is not something required; instead, it is required to ponder and reflect upon the Qur'an as it influences the heart. This all means that Imān (faith) did not settle firmly in their hearts. "they would pass through the religion as an arrow passes through the prey, and then they would not come back to it", i.e., they come out of the religion like the coming out of a fast arrow, which hits the prey and enters and comes out of it with a high speed, without any trace of the prey sticking to it; this is due to its quick coming out of the target. The "ramiyyah" (prey) is the animal that is hunted and hit with an arrow after getting chased. This is a description of the Kharijites, who do not obey the rulers and revolt against them and declare people as disbelievers on account of major sins that are below Shirk (polytheism) and Kufr (disbelief). They kill the people of Islam and leave the people of idols (disbelievers). After all that, they do not return to the religion again, as they do not repent or reconsider their matter. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) remarked: "They are the worst among the creation and the creatures." It is said: "Khalq" (creation) refers to humankind, and "khaliqah" (creatures) refers to animals. It is also said: They both have the same meaning. So, this refers to all creation. They are the worst among all creation because they fight the best people, thus corrupting the land after it was in good condition.
The Hadīth includes one of the Prophet's prophecies, as he told about something that would happen after his death, and it did happen as he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed.
It warns against misunderstanding the Qur’an and not pondering its verses, goals, and objectives; and it points out that this causes corruption on earth.
It also indicates that one of the consequences of poor reflection upon the verses of Allah is to depart from the religion..

1068

Sahl ibn Hanīf reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A people will go astray toward the east, with shaven heads.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was keen on teaching his Ummah and warning them against trials. A true Muslim ponders the Prophet's statements and teachings and tries his best to save himself and his Muslim community from falling into misleading trials.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that there will emerge a group of people who will deviate from the true and correct path and go astray in the darkness of religious innovations and misguidance. They will never be guided to the truth; they will be lost and follow the wrong paths. They will emerge from the east, which refers to the direction of the sunrise. Those people who go astray from the true path are described as having shaven heads, which indicates their abandonment and renouncement of worldly life. The intended meaning is that shaving their heads was a habit that they persistently engaged in and for which they were known. This trait was mentioned with regard to the Kharijites, that they are marked by shaving their heads, until it became a slogan for them, by which they were identified.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) warns his Ummah in this Hadīth against the trial of going astray in misguidance and tells us about the signs of deviation.
One of the signs of deviation and misguidance is leading a life of false asceticism..

1072

‘Abdul-Muttalib ibn Rabī‘ah ibn al-Hārith reported: Rabī‘ah ibn al-Hārith and Al-‘Abbās ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib got together and said: "By Allah, if we sent these two young men - I and Al-Fadl ibn al-‘Abbās - to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and they spoke to him, he would put them in charge of these Zakah funds, and they would pay as the people pay and get a share as the people get." He said: As they were talking about that, 'Ali ibn Abi Tālib came and stood before them, and they mentioned it to him. Thereupon, ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib said: "Do not do this, for, by Allah, he would not do that." Rabī‘ah ibn al-Hārith turned to him and said: "By Allah, you are only doing this out of jealousy toward us. By Allah, you became the son-in-law of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), but we felt no jealousy toward you." 'Ali said: "Send them." So, they set out, and 'Ali lay on the bed. He said: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered the Zhuhr prayer, we went ahead of him to his room and stood near it till he came, took hold of our ears, and then said: "Take out what you keep within yourselves." Then, he entered, and we entered his place. He was on that day in the house of Zaynab bint Jahsh. He said: We urged each of us to speak. Then, one of us spoke, saying: "O Messenger of Allah, you are the most righteous and the best of people in upholding kinship ties. We have reached the marriageable age. We have come so that you may put us in charge of some of these Zakah funds, and we would submit them to you as the people submit and get a share as they get." He said: He kept silent for a long time until we wished to speak with him. He said: Zaynab pointed to us from behind the curtain, telling us not to talk to him. He said: Then, he said: "Zakah does not befit the family of Muhammad, for it is the impurities of people. Call Mahmiyah to me - and he was in charge of the Khums funds - and Nawfal ibn al-Hārith ibn' Abdul-Muttalib." They both came to him, and he said to Mahmiyah: "Marry your daughter to this young man", i.e., Al-Fadl ibn' Abbās. He married her to him. And he said to Nawfal ibn al-Hārith: "Marry your daughter to this young man", i.e., me. He married her to me. And he said to Mahmiyah: "Pay such and such from the Khums funds as a dowry on behalf of both of them.".

Commentary : Allah Almighty honored His Prophet and the believing members of his household and purified them of all filth and impurities. An example is that Zakah is forbidden for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his household. They may not take from it or accept it.
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdul-Muttalib ibn Rabī‘ah ibn al-Hārith (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that Rabī‘ah ibn al-Hārith, the Prophet's cousin, met with his uncle Al-‘Abbās ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib, the Prophet's uncle, and they said: By Allah, if we sent these two young men - meaning: 'Abdul-Muttalib ibn Rabī‘ah and Al-Fadl ibn' Abbās (may Allah be pleased with them) - to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and they talked to him, and he appointed them as Zakah collectors, and they would submit as the people submit and get a share like the people, as a wage for the Zakah work. They wanted this money to help them get married, as they reached the marriageable age and could not afford marriage, as narrated in the version by Abu Dāwūd. As Al-‘Abbās and Rabī‘ah (may Allah be pleased with both of them) were talking and discussing this matter, ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him), also a cousin of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), came and stood before them. They mentioned to him what they were discussing and told him about what they intended to do. So, ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him) forbade them from doing that and swore that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would not agree to their request in this regard. Thereupon, Rabī‘ah turned to ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him tough words and swore that he did not forbid them from sending the two young men and asking the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to put them in charge of Zakah funds except because of jealousy toward them and his desire to be the only one among them with closeness to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Then, he swore by Allah to ‘Ali that he won the relationship with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) by marriage - meaning his marriage to his daughter Fātimah (may Allah be pleased with her) - and they felt no jealousy toward him because of that. When ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) heard that from him, he asked them to send them so that they could be certain about his advice to them. "and ‘Ali lay on the bed." In another version by Muslim: "'Ali threw his cloak and lay on it, and he said: I am the father of Hasan, and I am the Qarm (chief). By Allah, I would not move from my place till your sons return to you with the reply to that for which you sent them to the Messenger of Allah the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)." Qarm: the stud among animals. It refers to a master and chief who possesses knowledge and wise judgment. He (may Allah be pleased with him) meant: I spoke what I said to you from knowledge, and I would not move from my place, and I would wait for the reply they would come with from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He knew that the reply would be as he told them.
So, ‘Abdul-Muttalib and Al-Fadl (may Allah be pleased with both of them) left and headed to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). 'Abdul-Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) performed the Zhuhr prayer, they went ahead of him to the room he would enter after the prayer, and that was the room of the Mother of the Believers Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her). They waited for him at the door till the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came, took hold of their ears by way of jesting, and then said: "Take out what you keep within yourselves" i.e., the talk you harbor within your chests. Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) entered his room, and they entered after him so as to proceed with their talk and let him hear them. Each of them wanted the other to start the talk with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in awe of him. Then, one of them talked. He said to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): "O Messenger of Allah, you are the most benevolent of all people", i.e., the best among people in benevolence and doing good to others. "and the best of people in upholding kinship ties" i.e., you are most keen on maintaining the ties of kinship. "We have reached the marriageable age." Thus, they presented the reason for their following requests. "We have come so that you may put us in charge of" collecting "some of these Zakah funds", which are to be calculated and taken from money owners and kept and given to you and distributed to the due recipients. "and we would submit to you as the people submit" i.e., we would transfer the Zakah funds and hand them over to you like others. "and get a share as they get" as a wage for the Zakah work. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) remained silent for so long that they wanted to repeat their speech and request. Meanwhile, Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her) began to point to them with her garment or hand from behind the curtain to not talk to him. After his long silence, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) made clear to them that Zakah may not be given to the household of Muhammad, i.e., it is forbidden for him and his family, whether it is given for work or because of poverty, destitution, or some other reason. "for it is the impurities of people", i.e., it purifies their wealth from the sin of hoarding and their souls from the sin of stinginess. Or it is the impurities of people because it expiates for sins, removes afflictions, and acts as a ransom for the person in this regard. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered them to call Mahmiyah ibn Jaz’ ibn ‘Abd Yaghūt az-Zubaydi (may Allah be pleased with him) to him. He was a man from Banu Asad, and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had put him in charge of the Khums (one-fifth of the spoils), and to call Nawfal ibn al-Hārith ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib, the brother of Rabī‘ah ibn al-Hārith. Mahmiyah and Nawfal came and appeared before the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered Mahmiyah ibn Jaz' to marry his daughter to Al-Fadl ibn' Abbās, which Mahmiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) did. And he ordered Nawfal ibn al-Hārith to marry his daughter to Rabī‘ah ibn al-Hārith. Both of them (may Allah be pleased with both of them) complied. Mahmiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) was in charge of the Prophet's expenses from the Khums. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered him to pay an amount which he specified for him as a dowry on behalf of each of them to his wife. The Khums refers to the share of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the spoils, as revealed in the verse that reads: {Know that whatever spoils you obtain, one-fifth belongs to Allah and the Messenger, his close relatives, the orphans, the needy and the [stranded] travelers.} [Surat al-Anfāl: 41]
The Hadīth indicates that Zakah funds are to be paid to the ruler and the authority holder.
It shows the Prophet's modesty and cheerfulness and how he would jest with and show compassion toward the young.
Words of praise may be said before asking for something.
The Hadīth mentions that it is forbidden to give Zakah to the household of Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
It indicates that the Prophet's household were not employed for the collection of charity and Zakah.
It also shows that a person should seek to obtain the wherewithal for marriage.
It demonstrates a father's interest in helping his son get married to maintain his chastity.
The Hadīth also points out the merit of ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), as he was more knowledgeable about this matter than those Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
And it shows the extreme politeness of Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) as she pointed to the two young men not to repeat the speech to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)..

1087

Kurayb reported: that ’Umm al-Fadl sent him to Mu‘āwiyah in the Levant. He said: I came to the Levant and fulfilled her errand. Then, the crescent of Ramadan was sighted while I was in the Levant. I saw the crescent on the night of Friday. Then, I came to Madīnah at the end of the month. ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) asked me about the sighting of the moon and said: "When did you see the crescent?" I said: "We saw it on the night of Friday." He said: "Did you see it yourself?" I said: "Yes, and the people saw it and fasted and so did Mu‘āwiyah." He said: "But we saw it on the night of Saturday; so, we will continue fasting until we have completed thirty days, or we see it." I said: "Will you not be content with the sighting of Mu‘āwiyah and his fasting?" He said: "No, this is what the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) enjoined upon us." Yahya ibn Yahya was doubtful about whether it is "Will we not be content?" or "Will you not be content?".

Commentary : Allah made crescents a means for counting months and years. By sighting the crescent, one month begins and another ends. Based on this sighting, many obligations are determined, like fasting and Hajj.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Kurayb ibn Abi Muslim says that ’Umm al-Fadl Lubābah bint al-Hārith, the wife of Al-‘Abbās ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib and the mother of ‘Abdullāh ibn al-‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with them), sent him to Mu‘āwiyah ibn Abi Sufyān (may Allah be pleased with him), who was then the caliph of Muslims. Kurayb went to the Levant and finished her errand. Then, the crescent of the month of Ramadan appeared while he was in the Levant. The crescent was sighted on the night of Friday. There are over 1,120km between the Levant and Madīnah, the center of the caliphate during the era of Mu‘āwiyah ibn Abi Sufyān, from which the state was run, and which was followed by all the Muslim provinces.
Then, Kurayb said that he went back to Madīnah once again at the end of the month of Ramadan. ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him about the journey and the fulfillment of his mother's errand. Then, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned the crescent and asked him: When did you see the crescent in the Levant? Kurayb told him that they saw it on the night of Friday. Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) further asked: "Did you see it" with your own eyes? In response, Kurayb said: Yes, and the people also saw it, and they fasted and so did Mu‘āwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him). Thereupon, Ibn ‘Abbās said: "But we saw it on the night of Saturday," i.e., one night after it was sighted in the Levant. Therefore, we will continue to fast until we complete the thirty days of the month or see the crescent before that with the month being 29 days. This results from the different sightings of crescents from different places. So, Kurayb asked Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him): Will you - or he said: will we - not be content with the sighting by the people of the Levant of the crescent of Ramadan at its beginning, and with them is Caliph Mu‘āwiyah ibn Abi Sufyān (may Allah be pleased with him)? Thus, you fast with their fasting at the start of the month and break your fast with their break of the fast. In reply, Ibn ‘Abbās said: 'No' i.e., we are not content with their sighting. Rather, we observe the fast or complete the month according to our sighting. He probably said that given the great distance between Hejaz and the Levant which allows for different crescent sightings. Also, news could not reach Madīnah from the Levant on the same night. Hence, they comply with the Prophet's command to observe the fast and break the fast based on sighting the crescent. In a Hadīth narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fast when you see it and break your fast when you see it, and if the weather is cloudy, complete it as thirty." This does not exclusively pertain to the people of a certain region; rather, it is addressed to all Muslims.
The Hadīth indicates that we must rely on sighting the crescents to know the beginnings and ends of the lunar months.
It also points out that the people of each region should fast based on their sighting of the crescent..

1088

Abu al-Bakhtari reported: We saw the crescent of Ramadan while we were at Dhāt ‘Irq. So, we sent a man to Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) to ask him about that. In response, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah has deferred it till it is seen, but if the weather is cloudy, then complete the period.".

Commentary : Allah made crescents a means for counting months and years. By sighting the crescent, one month begins and another ends. Based on this sighting, many obligations are determined, like fasting and Hajj.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Abu al-Bakhtari Sa‘īd ibn Fayrūz at-Tā’i informs that they saw the crescent of Ramadan one day while they were at a place called Dhāt ‘Irq. This is the locational Miqāt of the pilgrims of the people of Iraq. It lies 42 miles (100km) to the northeast of Makkah. They sent a man to ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) to ask him about the crescent of Ramadan and the related rulings, especially if the weather is too cloudy for the people to see it. Thereupon, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah has deferred it till it is seen," i.e., indeed, Allah extended the period of sighting the crescent till the people could see it. If it is not possible to see it until the end of the twenty-ninth day of the month, and you cannot see it for one reason or another, like the clouds being in the way, you should observe the complete period of the month of Sha'bān as thirty days. This also applies to all Hijri lunar months. This does not exclusively pertain to the people of a certain region; rather, it is addressed to all Muslims.
The Hadīth indicates that we should ask the people of knowledge about obscure and confusing matters.
It also points out that we should leave doubt to certainty when the crescent is hidden by completing the month as thirty days..

1094

Samurah ibn Jundub reported: I heard Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Do not be misled with regard to your Suhūr by the Adhān of Bilāl or the whiteness of the horizon that grows long in this way until it spreads this way.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) defined the time in which a fasting person should refrain from eating during the month of Ramadan; that is the time of "al-Fajr as-Sādiq" (the true dawn). He pointed out that a Muslim may eat and drink till the Adhān of the real dawn.
In its meaning, this Hadīth is linked to other versions which demonstrate that there were two Adhāns for Fajr during the Prophet's lifetime: The first Adhān was proclaimed by Bilāl ibn Rabāh (may Allah be pleased with him). This is the one about which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not be misled with regard to your Suhūr by the Adhān of Bilāl or the whiteness of the horizon that grows long in this way." This teaches the Muslims that they may eat and drink when they hear the Adhān of Bilāl, for it was only intended to give notice that the time of Fajr was approaching. The Adhān of Bilāl was proclaimed at the time when the whiteness of the horizon grows long in the sky. And it was meant to make the sleeping person wake up and alert the one standing in prayer. It was followed by the second Adhān, which was proclaimed by Ibn ’Umm Maktūm. Upon hearing it, the people would abstain from food and drink and start fasting.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) directed the people to the sign of the true dawn. He commanded them to eat and drink till "it spreads this way" i.e., until dawn appears extended on the horizon..

1096

‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The difference between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is the Suhūr (pre-dawn) meal.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to urge and enjoin the Muslims to have the Suhūr meal, given the blessing it contains for the fasting person.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "The difference between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is the Suhūr (pre-dawn) meal," i.e., the Suhūr meal - for he who wants to observe fasting, obligatory, or supererogatory - differentiates between the nature of our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book - the Jews and the Christians. This is because Allah made permissible for us some of what He has prohibited for them. So, our difference from them in this regard represents gratitude for this favor. They do not have a Suhūr meal, while we are enjoined to have it. The best time for this meal is the time of Sahar, which comes shortly before the rise of the true dawn.
This meal is stressed because at this time most people will probably be sleeping, and sleep and its enjoyment may overcome and distract them from the significance of this meal. Then, as a result of abandoning this meal, they will be weakened in undertaking their activities during the daytime.
The Hadīth urges us to have the Suhūr meal.
It shows the Prophet's keenness on being distinguished and different from the People of the Book in the acts of worship common between us and them..

1099

‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: Sometimes I missed some fasts of Ramadan and I would not be able to make up for them except in Sha‘bān; due to being busy with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), or because of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). [And in a version]: That is because of the status of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). [And in a version]: Being busy with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is not mentioned in the Hadīth..

Commentary : The Shariah urges and encourages us to use the dispensations, particularly if they entail something that may lead to a certain harm or hardship.
In this Hadīth, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "Sometimes I missed some fasts of Ramadan," i.e., days of fasting in Ramadan were due upon me, for I did not fast them due to things that happen to women, like menstruation, illness, etc. "and I would not be able to make up for them except in Sha‘bān," i.e., she could not make up for these days throughout the year except in Sha‘bān. "due to being busy with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), or because of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)." She used to keep herself prepared and ready for his affairs (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and for pleasing him (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) at all times. This shows her extreme politeness and love for him (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and it indicates the great rights of the husband upon one's wife.
The Hadīth indicates the legitimacy of delaying the fast of Ramadan until the next Sha‘bān.
It also demonstrates the flexibility provided in the acts of worship and religious obligations.
The Hadīth also shows the significance of the rights of the husband and being busy with obeying him and tending to his affairs..

1104

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: As the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was performing prayer during Ramadan, I came and stood by his side. Then, another man came and stood likewise till we became a group. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) perceived that we were behind him, he lightened the prayer. Then, he went to his abode and performed such a prayer that he would not perform with us. In the morning, we asked him, "Did you perceive us during the night?" He said: "Yes, it was this that prompted me to do what I did." He said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) began to observe Wisāl (continuous Qiyām and fasting) at the end of the month, and some men among his Companions began to observe Wisāl. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "What about those men who observe Wisāl?! You are not like me. By Allah, if the month were lengthened for me, I would observe Wisāl in a way that would make those who act with exaggeration abandon their exaggeration!".

Commentary : Acts of worship must be performed exactly as the Shariah prescribed them. We were commanded to fear Allah as much as we can, without overburdening ourselves or adopting a strict approach in religion, for people differ in terms of their abilities and capacities, and lest people become bored of worship and the religious injunctions.
In this Hadīth, Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) informs the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) once performed a supererogatory prayer in Ramadan during a night in the mosque. Meanwhile, he came and stood on his right side, praying with him. Then, another man came and also stood to pray with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Then, people continued to come and pray behind the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) till they became "Raht" (a group), which is less than ten persons or more, up to forty men. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) perceived they were praying behind him, he began to lighten the prayer to facilitate the matter and make it easy for them. This contrasts with his usual performance of Qiyām al-Layl when he prayed alone. After he made Taslīm ending the prayer, he entered "his abode" i.e., his house, where he performed a long prayer the like of which he did not perform with him. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that in the morning after that night, they said to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): "Did you perceive us?" i.e., did you feel our presence during that night when we prayed behind you? He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Yes' i.e., I perceived you praying behind me. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: "it was this that prompted me to do what I did", i.e., it was what you did as you prayed behind me that drove me to lighten the prayer, go to my house and pray there, and refrain from coming out to you, lest it may be made obligatory for you. Indeed, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is the most lenient and merciful among people toward his Ummah.
Then, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) told that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) began to observe Wisāl, performing Qiyām all night long and observing fast day and night without breaking it. This Wisāl was at the end of the month of Ramadan. So, some men among his Companions began to observe Wisāl and act like him, thinking that the Prophet's prohibition was meant for discouraging, not unlawfulness. As a result, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got angry and disapproved of them, as Wisāl was not prescribed for the Ummah. Rather, it is one of his peculiar traits (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: "What about those men who observe Wisāl" of fasting?! "You are not like me", i.e., in this matter, you are not like me. Rather, you are required to do what is easier for you. It is authentically reported in the Two Sahīh Collections that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would spend the night with his Lord so Allah would provide him with food and drink. This stems from the Prophet's complete compassion and mercy toward his Ummah and his fear that they might get bored of worship and fall short of some tasks of the religion. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) swore to them: "By Allah, if the month were lengthened for me" i.e., if the days of the month of Ramadan increased, as they sighted the crescent one or two days after their observance of Wisāl, according to a Hadīth narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections and reported by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him). "I would observe Wisāl," i.e., he would continue this Wisāl of his, "in a way that would make those who act with exaggeration", those who overburden themselves, adopt a strict approach, and oblige themselves to do things that were not prescribed for them, "abandon their exaggeration." i.e., so that they would abandon it because of tiredness and hardship, and thus they would themselves be sure of the leniency of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) toward them when he prohibited them from Wisāl. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would indeed increase Wisāl for them to deter and punish them for their lack of compliance with his command (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
The Hadīth points out the Prophet's leniency toward his Ummah and that he would not burden them with things beyond their capacity.
It warns of exaggeration in the acts of worship.
And it warns against overburdening oneself with supererogatory acts of worship..

Book of Hadith

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