| 2 Hadiths


Hadith
254
It was narrated that Jubayr ibn Mut‘im said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “As for me, I pour water over my head three times,” and he gestured with both hands..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained to his ummah in both words and deeds how to purify oneself from impurity, which includes doing ghusl to cleanse oneself from janabah. In this hadith, Jubayr ibn Mut‘im narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to pour water over his head three times. Some of the Sahabah differed concerning the way in which the head is to be washed when doing ghusl to cleanse oneself from janabah, and that discussion took place in the presence of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), as is mentioned in the report narrated by Muslim. Each of them demonstrated how he did it, and some of the people said: As for me, I wash my head like this, showing how much water they used and how many times they poured water over their heads, being extremely thorough in cleansing it. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to them: “As for me, I pour water over my head three times,” and he gestured with both hands. What that means is that he would take water in both hands, then pour it over his head, and he did that three times, to indicate the minimum amount of water that is sufficient to wash the head..

256
It was narrated that Abu Ja‘far said: Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah said to me: Your cousin– meaning al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah – came to me and said: How is ghusl to be done to cleanse oneself from janabah? I said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to take three handfuls of water and pour them over his head, then he would pour water over the rest of his body. Al-Hasan said to me: I am a man who has a lot of hair. I said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had more hair than you..

Commentary : The Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to learn from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) all religious matters – especially those that are done repeatedly every day, such as wudu’, ghusl and prayer – so that they would know these things and convey them to those who came after them.
In this hadith, Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Baqir said: Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me: Your cousin came to me – meaning al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah; this Muhammad was the son of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him). Al-Hasan asked Jabir how to do ghusl to cleanse oneself from janabah. The word janabah refers to anyone who emits maniy (semen) as the result of a wet dream or intercourse; it is so called because he must avoid (ijtinab) prayer and other acts of worship until he has purified himself. Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) told him that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to take three handfuls of water and pour it over his head, then he would pour water on the rest of his body. Al-Hasan said to Jabir: I am a man who has a lot of hair, indicating that this amount of water was too little to wash his head, and would not be enough for all of his hair, using that as an excuse to use more water. But Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had more hair than you, meaning that he used to do that with this amount of water, even though his hair was thick. This highlights that no one has any excuse for being extravagant in his use of water on the grounds that he wants to make it reach all of his hair [or body].
This hadith urges us to be economical in using water.
It highlights how long the hair of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was.
It also highlights the eagerness of the Tabi‘in to learn from the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them)..

258
It was narrated that ‘A’ishah said: When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) wanted to do ghusl to cleanse himself from janabah, he would call for a vessel the size of a milking pail, then he would scoop up a handful of water from it, and begin with the right side of his head, then the left side, and he gestured with both hands on the middle of his head..

Commentary : The word janabah refers to anyone who emits maniy (semen) or has intercourse; it is so called because he must avoid (ijtinab) prayer and other acts of worship until he has purified himself. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) taught us in both word and deed how to do ghusl to cleanse ourselves from janabah, and the etiquette and Sunnahs of doing so.
In this hadith, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) tells us that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) wanted to do ghusl to cleanse himself from janabah, he would prepare to do that and he would ask that a vessel the size of a milking pail be brought. This refers to a vessel big enough to hold the milk of a she-camel. Then he would take a handful of water and start with the right side of his head, then the left side, then he did that with both hands on his head. In other words, he would take some water in his hand the first time and wash his head, starting on the right side, then he would take another handful of water and wash his head, starting on the left side. That was because he liked to start on the right in all things. Then he would take water in both hands for the last time, and pour it all over his head from his two hands. This is the Sunnah of ghusl as is proven from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
This hadith highlights how the wives of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) were keen to describe the tiniest details of his life, so as to teach the ummah..

262
It was narrated that ‘A’ishah said: When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) wanted to do ghusl to cleanse himself from janabah, he would wash his hands first..

Commentary : The word janabah refers to anyone who emits maniy (semen) or has intercourse; it is so called because he must avoid (ijtinab) prayer and other acts of worship until he has purified himself. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) taught us in both word and deed how to do ghusl to cleanse ourselves from janabah, and the etiquette and Sunnahs of doing so.
In this hadith, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) wanted to do ghusl to cleanse himself from janabah, he would wash his hands; what is meant is that he would wash his hands before doing ghusl and before putting his hand into the vessel to take some water, as is proven in another report. This is an example of prophetic etiquette, and is done so as to ensure that the hand is pure and that nothing dirty is stuck to it, so as not to contaminate the water. Thus he could be certain that the water was completely pure..

266
It was narrated that Maymunah bint al-Harith said: I brought some water for the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to do ghusl, and screened him. He poured water over his hand and washed it once or twice – Sulayman [one of the narrators] said: I do not know whether he mentioned a third time or not – then he poured water with his right hand onto his left hand and washed his private part. Then he rubbed his hand on the ground or on the wall. Then he rinsed his mouth and cleaned his nose, washed his face and hands, and washed his head. Then he poured water over his body. Then he stepped aside and washed his feet. Then I handed him a cloth, but he gestured like this with his hand, and did not want it..

Commentary : The word janabah refers to anyone who emits maniy (semen) or has intercourse; it is so called because he must avoid (ijtinab) prayer and other acts of worship until he has purified himself. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) taught us how to do ghusl to cleanse ourselves from janabah, and the etiquette and Sunnahs of doing so.
This hadith includes a description of his ghusl; his wife Maymunah bint al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that she brought water for the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) for him to do ghusl with it, then she concealed him with a curtain or screen. He poured water on his hand before putting his hand into the vessel, washing it once or twice to clean it before putting his hand into the water and scooping it up. The narrator was not sure whether the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) washed his hands a third time or not. Then he poured water with his right hand over his left hand, and washed his private part, then he rubbed his hand on the ground or on the wall so as to remove dirt from his hand. Then he rinsed his mouth by taking water into his mouth and moving it around, then spitting it out; and he cleaned his nose by sniffing water up into his nose, then expelling it, to clean the nose. Then he washed his face and hands, then he washed his head. Thus he did wudu’ before doing ghusl. Then he poured water over the rest of his body. Then he stepped aside from that place, and washed his feet outside of the place where he had done ghusl. Then – after he had finished his ghusl – Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her) handed him a cloth with which to dry his body, but he gestured with his hand like this, indicating that he would not take it and did not want to take it; rather he left the water to fall from his body without him drying himself.
This hadith highlights how the wives of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) were keen to describe the tiniest details of his life, so as to teach the ummah..

270
It was narrated that Muhammad ibn al-Muntashir said: I asked ‘A’ishah a question, and I told her what Ibn ‘Umar had said: I would not like to enter ihram in the morning with the smell of perfume still emanating from me. ‘A’ishah said: I put perfume on the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), then he went around to his wives, then he entered ihram in the morning..

Commentary : Wearing perfume is one of the things that are prohibited whilst in ihram; what is meant is putting on perfume after entering ihram.  ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did not like to have any trace of perfume on him, even if he had put it on before entering ihram. Hence he said: I would not like to enter ihram in the morning with the smell of perfume still emanating from me. When Muhammad ibn al-Muntashir mentioned to ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) what Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) had said, she explained that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) put on perfume before entering ihram, and that she herself was the one who had put it on him, adorning him with beautiful fragrances before he formed the intention to perform the rituals, and before he entered ihram for that purpose. Then he went around to his wives and had intercourse with them, then he entered ihram on the morning of the following day, and undoubtedly the traces of that perfume were still present, as is mentioned in the report narrated in al-Sahihayn: It is as if I can still see the glistening of the perfume in the hair of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) when he was in ihram.
This hadith indicates that it is prescribed to put on perfume before entering ihram.
It indicates that the Sahabah sometimes refuted one another’s views.
It highlights the fact that a woman may serve her husband and put perfume on him..

275
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The call immediately preceding the prayer (iqamah) was given, the rows had been straightened and the people were standing, and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came out to us. But when he stood in his place, he remembered that he was junub, so he said to us: “Stay where you are,” then he went back and did ghusl. Then he came out to us with his head dripping with water, and said the takbir and led us in prayer..

Commentary : Purification from impurity is a condition of prayer being accepted; no prayer is valid without one being in a state of purity.
In this hadith, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) tells us that one day the iqamah was given for one of the prayers in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and the rows were organized and straightened as the people stood for prayer. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came out to lead the people in prayer, but when he stood in the imam’s place, he remembered that he was junub and had not done ghusl to cleanse himself from janabah. The word janabah refers to anyone who emits maniy (semen) or has intercourse; it is so called because he must avoid (ijtinab) prayer and other acts of worship until he has purified himself. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) instructed his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to remain where they were, then he went back to the apartments of his wives and did ghusl, then he came out to them with his head dripping with water as a result of having done ghusl. Then he led the people in prayer. This was by way of teaching his companions and his ummah that no one should be embarrassed about acts of purification and doing what Allah has prescribed when he remembers it, and he should not feel embarrassed before people.
The hadith indicates that the one who remembers that he is junub when he is in the mosque should leave the mosque and do ghusl; he does not have to do tayammum in order to walk out of the mosque, and the same applies to the one who wants to pass through the mosque when he is junub..

277
It was narrated that ‘A’ishah said: When one of us became junub, she would scoop water over her head with her hands three times, then she would pour water with her hand over her right side and pour water with her other hand over her left side..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) taught us the etiquette of purifying ourselves and doing ghusl, part of which is to start on the right hand side.
In this hadith, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) tells us that when one of the Mothers of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with them) became junub – and the word janabah refers to anyone who emits maniy (semen) or has intercourse; it is so called because he must avoid (ijtinab) prayer and other acts of worship until he has purified himself, and this applies to both men and women – she would scoop water with her hand and pour it over her head three times, to make the water reach the roots of the hair. Then she would begin by taking water in her hand and pouring it over the right side of her body, then she would do the same on the left side of her body, using the other hand. This is the sequence of actions when doing ghusl, starting on the right to seek blessing thereby, after washing the hair and the head first, to ensure that water reaches everywhere under the hair, because water does not reach there easily. .

278
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The Children of Israel used to bathing naked, looking at one another, but Musa used to bathe alone. They said: ‘By Allah, nothing is preventing Musa from bathing with us except that he has large testicles.’ He went to bathe one time, and placed his garment on a rock, then the rock fled with his garment, so Musa chased after it, saying ‘My garment, O rock!’ until the Children of Israel saw Musa and said: ‘By Allah, there is nothing wrong with Musa.’ Then Musa took his garment and struck the rock repeatedly.” Abu Hurayrah said: By Allah, he left marks on the rock, six or seven marks from striking it..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) praised modesty and shyness (haya’) and urged people to be modest, stating that it is one of the branches of faith. The Prophets were the most modest of people, and our Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was more modest and shy than a virgin in her chamber. Allah’s Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) was also very modest and shy.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us of the modesty and shyness of Musa (peace be upon him). Because of his shyness and modesty, he did not bathe naked, even though the Children of Israel used to bathe naked and did not see anything wrong with that. It may be that that was permissible in their law. It was said that this may have happened when they were wandering in the wilderness, because there were no buildings there; it was also said that nakedness was forbidden for them, but they were careless about the matter and did it deliberately, deliberately flouting religious teachings and going against Musa (blessings and peace be upon him). This is an example of their stubbornness and carelessness in following the teachings of Musa.
Musa (peace be upon him) never appeared naked in front of anyone when bathing. When the Children of Israel saw Musa refraining from bathing naked as they did, they began to speak ill of him, and said that he had large testicles; it was also said the word translated here as large testicles refers to a scrotal hernia. On one occasion he went to bathe, and he put his garment on a rock. It was Allah’s will to prove that what they were saying about Musa was false, so the rock fled by Allah’s leave, taking Musa’s garment with it, as he was chasing it and running behind it, saying, ‘My garment, O rock!’ Musa (peace be upon him) only spoke to the rock because he regarded it as something sentient after it had fled with his garment, so it had ceased to be inanimate and now came under the heading of animate things. This is why he called out to it. When Musa appeared naked, the Children of Israel saw him and realized that he was sound in body. It may be that he was wearing a thin waist wrapper which showed what was beneath it and it got wet, so they saw that he was the best of creation, and the vile notion that they had had in mind was dispelled. So they said: By Allah, there is nothing wrong with Musa and no defect in him. Then Musa caught up with the rock, took his garment and put it on. Then he struck the rock, leaving six or seven marks on it, and the traces of his blows, of which there were six or seven, were clearly visible to the onlooker.
This hadith speaks of a miracle of Musa (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), namely: the rock’s running away, carrying his garment, to a group of the Israelites; Musa’s calling out to the rock; and his blows leaving marks on it.
It also indicates that Allah (may He be exalted) made His Prophets perfect both physically and in their character, and He protected them from having defects and shortcomings..

279
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whilst Ayyub was bathing naked, locusts of gold fell on him, so Ayyub started to collect them in his garment. His Lord called out to him: ‘O Ayyub, have I not made you independent of means so that you have no need of what you see?’ He said: ‘Yes indeed, by Your glory, but I cannot do without Your blessing.’”.

Commentary : Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has promised His slaves good things as provision, and has enjoined them to give thanks for His blessings. If a person gives what is due on his wealth and give thanks to the Bestower of blessings, then he has done what is required of him. The Prophets are the most perfect of people, the most grateful and the most assiduous in giving what is due.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us that Allah’s Prophet Ayyub (peace be upon him) was bathing naked one day, but he was far away from where people could see him. There came down upon him from heaven locusts of gold, as a miracle from Allah (may He be exalted), so Ayyub (peace be upon him) began to pick them up by the handful and throw them into his garment. Allah (may He be exalted) said to him: “O Ayyub, have I not made you independent of means so that you have no need of what you see?” This was not a rebuke from Allah (may He be exalted); rather it was more like speaking gently to him and testing him to see whether he would give thanks for what had been bestowed upon him, and thus become more grateful. Hence Ayyub (peace be upon him) swore by Allah’s glory that he recognized the blessing that Allah had bestowed upon him, then he said: But I cannot do without Your blessing. It is impossible to think that Ayyub (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) took this wealth out of love of worldly gain; rather he took it, as he himself explained, because it was a blessing from his Lord, for it was newly created by Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), or because it was an extraordinary new blessing, so he should accept it and express his need for whatever Allah sent down of good. That was an expression of gratitude and appreciation for the blessing, for ignoring it would have been a kind of ingratitude for it.
This hadith indicates that it is prescribed to be keen to acquire halal wealth.
It also highlights the virtue of being well off, for one who is grateful, because he called it a blessing..

283
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) met him in one of the streets of Madinah when he was junub, so he turned back from him, then he went and did ghusl, then he came back. [The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)] said: “Where did you go, O Abu Hurayrah?” He said: I was junub, and I did not like to sit with you when I was not in a state of purity. He said: “Subhan Allah! The Muslim does not become impure (najis).”.

Commentary : The Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) had the greatest respect for the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Some of them viewed janabah as a very serious matter, and regarded it as a kind of physical impurity, so they would not like to sit with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or touch him when they were in that state. But the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained to them the correct view concerning that matter, and that the believer never becomes impure (najis), even if he is junub, as referred to in this hadith. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) tells us that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) met him in one of the streets of Madinah when he was junub. This word refers to anyone who emits maniy (semen) or has intercourse with his wife; it is so called because he must avoid (ijtinab) prayer and other acts of worship until he has purified himself. So Abu Hurayrah turned back after meeting the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), without speaking to him or greeting him; he went and did ghusl and purified himself, removing the state of janabah and major impurity, then he came back to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), who asked him why he had disappeared and hidden in a manner that was not normal in his case. Abu Hurayrah told him that he had refused to meet the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) because he believed that if the Muslim is junub, he has become impure (najis). The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was surprised by Abu Hurayrah’s thinking and what he believed, for janabah only prevents a person from praying, touching the Mus-haf and entering the mosque; it does not prevent him from sitting with other Muslims or meeting them, and the one who is junub does not become impure in a literal sense. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told him that the Muslim does not become impure and that he is not filthy, meaning that when the Muslim is not in a state of purity (taharah), he is impure according to Islamic rulings, but he is not impure in a real sense, so he himself does not become najis because of the impurity that happened to him in his body. The description of him being impure is just a ruling that the Lawgiver applies to the body, so janabah prevents him from doing some things, such as praying and reading Qur’an. As for sitting with other people and interacting with them, that is not included among the things that are not allowed when one is junub. The believer is pure (tahir) in and of himself always, whether he is junub or not..

290
It was narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar that he said: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that he became junub at night, and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to him: “Do wudu’ and wash your penis, then go to sleep.”.

Commentary : Islam is a religion of mercy and compassion towards people, and seeks to make things easy for them. One example of that is the fact that purifying oneself from major impurity after becoming junub in order to resume doing acts of worship is a ruling with which one must comply; janabah is a shar‘i description, and it does not prevent one from dealing with other issues of daily life.
In this hadith, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that ‘Umar asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) whether a person could go to sleep when he is not in a state of purity because he is junub.
The word junub refers to anyone who emits maniy (semen) or has intercourse with his wife; it is so called because he must avoid (ijtinab) prayer and other acts of worship until he has purified himself. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told him that if he wanted to go to sleep when he was in a state of janabah, it was better for him to do wudu’ and wash his penis, but he did not have to do a complete ghusl. According to a report narrated by Muslim, he said: “Yes; let him do wudu’ then go to sleep, and then he does ghusl when he wants to.” Thus the time of doing ghusl is based on his choice, and ghusl becomes necessary if he wants to do some act of worship, especially when the time for prayer comes; in that case he must do it before the time for that prayer ends.
This hadith indicates that one may ask about matters of concern, and should not feel too shy to ask.
It also indicates that janabah is a shar‘i description, and is not to be taken literally..

291
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When a man sits between the four parts (arms and legs) of his wife and has intercourse with her, then ghusl is obligatory.”.

Commentary : The word janabah refers to anyone who emits maniy (semen) or has intercourse with his wife; it is so called because he must avoid (ijtinab) prayer and other acts of worship until he has purified himself. This applies to both men and women. This hadith highlights one of the things that make it obligatory to do ghusl to cleanse oneself of janabah, namely intercourse. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us that when the husband sits with his wife in an intimate position, and sits “between her four parts” – meaning between her arms and legs, or between her legs and thighs, and there are other explanations – and has intercourse with her; what is meant is penetration, which is when the man’s penis enters into the woman’s vagina and its head disappears, then ghusl becomes obligatory for both spouses at that point, regardless of whether the man ejaculates or not, as is clearly stated in a report narrated by Muslim, in which it says, “even if he does not ejaculate.” This hadith abrogates other hadiths which say that ghusl is not obligatory for a man who has intercourse with his wife but does not ejaculate.
This hadith indicates that one should not be explicit or mention words that could cause embarrassment or be considered obscene, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used a metaphor to refer to intercourse..

293
It was narrated from Ubayy ibn Ka‘b that he said: O Messenger of Allah, what if a man has intercourse with a woman and does not ejaculate? He said: “He should wash what touched the woman of his body, then do wudu’ and pray.”.

Commentary : Janabah refers to major impurity that results either from intercourse or the emission of maniy (semen). Islamic teaching enjoins doing ghusl to energize and cleanse the body, and to purify oneself completely.
In this hadith, Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) mentions that he asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about the ruling on a man who has intercourse with his wife but does not ejaculate; does he have to do ghusl? The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) replied by saying: “He should wash what touched the woman of his body”, which is a metaphor for washing the penis, as mentioned in the report narrated by Muslim, then he may do wudu’ and pray, and he does not have to do a complete ghusl, washing his entire body. This was the ruling in the beginning, then it was abrogated by what is mentioned in several other hadiths, which indicate that intercourse necessitates ghusl, regardless of whether ejaculation occurs or not, such as the hadith narrated by Muslim from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): “When he sits between the four parts (arms and legs) of his wife and one circumcised part touches the other, then ghusl becomes obligatory.” What is meant is the circumcised part of the man and the circumcised part of the woman. In al-Sahihayn it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When a man sits between the four parts (arms and legs) of his wife and has intercourse with her, then ghusl is obligatory.” Thus he stated that ghusl becomes obligatory for both spouses as a result of this intercourse, regardless of whether the man ejaculated or not, as is clearly stated in a report narrated by Muslim: “even if he does not ejaculate.”.

296
It was narrated from Hisham ibn ‘Urwah, from ‘Urwah, that he was asked: Can a menstruating woman take care of me or can a woman come close to me when she is junub? ‘Urwah said: All of that is fine with me; whatever the case, she may take care of me, and there is no problem for anyone in that regard. ‘A’ishah told me that she used to comb the hair of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) when she was menstruating and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was observing i‘tikaf in the mosque; he would put his head out for her when she was in her apartment, and she would comb his hair when she was menstruating..

Commentary : Among the Jews, when one of their women menstruated, they would banish her from the house, and they would not eat with her, drink with her or be in the same room as her. In our religion, however, the menstruating woman is not to be blamed for something that Allah has ordained for her, so her body is pure, apart from the place where the impurity is.
In this report, the Tabi‘i Hisham ibn ‘Urwah narrates that someone asked his father, ‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr: Is it permissible for a menstruating woman to take care of him or to come close to him? Or for a woman who has become junub as a result of an erotic dream or intercourse to do that? ‘Urwah explained to him that there is nothing wrong with a woman who is menstruating or is junub taking care of someone else, or coming close to someone else; she may take care of him when she is menstruating or is junub, with no reservations, and she does not incur any sin. Then he narrated that ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to comb the hair of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) when she was menstruating and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was observing i‘tikaf in the mosque at that time. He would bring his head close to her when she was in her apartment and the rest of his body was in the mosque, and he was aware of her condition and that she was menstruating. Her apartment was attached to the mosque.
Even though this hadith indicates that it is permissible for a menstruating woman to take care of her husband and others, it also indicates that it is permissible for a woman who is junub to be close to other people and to take care of others. This is understood by analogy with the woman who is menstruating; what they have in common is major impurity, and this is a clear analogy.
The hadith refers to combing a man’s hair, and includes other things that come under the heading of adorning oneself.
It indicates that a menstruating woman may care for her husband and help him with personal hygiene.
It indicates that if the one who is observing i‘tikaf puts his head, hand or foot outside the mosque, that does not invalidate his i‘tikaf.
It highlights the Prophet’s kind treatment of his wives, and how he would understand their situation and condition.
It indicates that the body and clothing of the menstruating woman are pure (tahir). .

1108
‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah reported that he asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): "Can a fasting person kiss?" The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Ask her" (’Umm Salamah). So, she informed him that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would do that. Thereupon, he said: "O Messenger of Allah, Allah forgave your past and future sins for you." Whereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Indeed, by Allah, I am the most heedful and fearful of Allah among you.".

Commentary : Fasting has specific rulings that a Muslim must know and act upon. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) demonstrated its obligatory elements, Sunnahs, and disliked things verbally and physically.
In this Hadīth, ‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him), the foster son of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), relates that he asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): "Can a fasting person kiss" his wife or a woman lawful for him during the daytime of Ramadan without his fast being invalidated due to that? Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Ask this" i.e., ’Umm Salamah, who is the mother of ‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah (may Allah be pleased with them). So, she informed him that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would kiss his wives while he was fasting. Thereupon, he said: "O Messenger of Allah, Allah forgave your past and future sins for you" i.e., this is one of your peculiar traits and you are not blameworthy in what you do, for Allah forgave your past and future sins. In response, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Indeed, by Allah, I am the most heedful and fearful of Allah among you" i.e., I am the most knowledgeable among you of what I do in heedfulness of Allah Almighty and the most fearful among you of His punishment. So, how would you think of me, or see it as possible, that I may engage in something prohibited?! This denotes criticism of those who thought he might fall short in worship due to reliance upon the forgiveness of his sins.
It is said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) referred 'Umar ibn Abi Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him), concerning this question, to his mother, whereas during Jāhiliyyah, a person would not allude to the son or brother of his wife that he kissed or approached her intimately. And indeed, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is more exalted with regard to refraining from that. But, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) wanted to point out that their refrainment from that during Jāhiliyyah was frivolous behavior on their part and unrelated to the Shariah. So, he referred him to his mother.
The Hadīth indicates that kissing during the fast is not part of the peculiar traits of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)..

1110
‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: that a man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), asking him for a Fatwa while she was hearing from behind the door, he said: "O Messenger of Allah, the prayer becomes due upon me while I am Junub (ritually impure); should I fast?" The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The prayer also becomes due upon me while I am Junub, and I observe fast." He said: "You are not like us, O Messenger of Allah, for Allah forgave your past and future sins for you." Thereupon, he said: "By Allah, I hope I am the most fearful of Allah among you and the most knowledgeable among you of the things I should be heedful of.".

Commentary : Fasting has specific rulings that a Muslim must know and act upon. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) demonstrated its obligatory elements, Sunnahs, and disliked things by words and deeds.
In this Hadīth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) relates that a man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asking him about something relating to the purification of the fasting person from Janābah (major ritual impurity). Meanwhile, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was behind the door, hearing. The man told the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) that the Fajr prayer would sometimes become due while he was Junub; so, should he observe fast while in this state of Janābah and take a bath after that? Janābah refers to the state after someone ejaculates semen or engages in sexual intercourse. It is called such because of Ijtināb (avoidance) of prayer and worship till getting purified from it. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "The prayer also becomes due upon me while I am Junub, and I observe fast." He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) responded to him by action, for it is more profound than saying: Take a bath and observe fast. This demonstrates the legitimacy of fasting by a Junub person before he bathes. This is because the occurrence of Janābah before Fajr does not prevent the intention of fasting or make it invalid. The man said: "You are not like us, O Messenger of Allah, for Allah forgave your past and future sins for you" i.e., this is one of your peculiar traits, and you are not to blame for what you do. In the version by Abu Dāwūd: "So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got angry." Indeed, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got angry because this man regarded that as a peculiar trait for him without knowledge, though the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed him about his action in response to his question. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "By Allah, I hope I am the most fearful of Allah among you", i.e., that I am the most fearful among you of His punishment, "and the most knowledgeable among you of the things I should be heedful of" i.e., that I am the most knowledgeable among you of that by which I heed Allah Almighty. The hope of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would surely materialize, by consensus. This involves criticism of those who attribute to him neglect in worship for reliance upon the forgiveness of his sins..

1114
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) left for Makkah during the year of the Conquest, in Ramadan, and he fasted until he reached Kurā‘ al-Ghamīm, and so the people fasted. Then, he called for a cup of water, which he elevated so that the people could see it, and then he drank. Afterwards, it was said to him: Some of the people fasted. Thereupon, he said: "Those are the disobedient ones, those are the disobedient ones." [Another version adds]: It was said to him: Fasting has become too difficult for the people, and indeed they are watching you to see what you will do. So, he called for a cup of water after ‘Asr..

Commentary : Jihad and being in a battle are among the situations that require all the meanings of good health and strength, particularly upon encountering the enemy. A traveler is given a dispensation not to fast, so that he can have the strength to travel. And there is a greater reason for refraining from fasting during Jihad, as it needs more strength.
In this Hadīth, Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) set out during the year of the Conquest, in 8 A.H., intending to conquer Makkah, during Ramadan. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and the army with him were fasting, until he reached "Kurā‘ al-Ghamīm", the name of a place between Makkah and Madīnah. Al-Ghamīm: a valley 8 miles (nearly 13km) opposite ‘Usfān, and 64km away from Makkah on the way to Madīnah. It is known today as Barqā’ al-Ghamīm. Al-Kurā‘: a black mountain connected to it.
When he arrived there, he called for a cup of water and raised it to his mouth until the people looked at him. In a version: "Fasting has become too difficult for the people, and indeed they are watching you to see what you will do" in terms of fasting or breaking the fast. "So, he called for a cup of water after ‘Asr." This version clarifies that fasting exhausted the people and they were waiting for the Prophet's order regarding this matter. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) called for water after ‘Asr and drank from it, so that the people would follow his example and break their fast. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sought leniency and ease for them, in line with the verse that reads: {But if anyone is ill or on a journey, he should make up for those days. Allah wants ease for you and does not want hardship for you.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 185] Allah Almighty informs that, by breaking the fast during travel, He wants to facilitate things for His servants.
Thereafter, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was told that some of the people fasted. Thereupon, he said: "Those are the disobedient ones; those are the disobedient ones." This is because when he gives a command, it must be observed. He would sometimes give commands by his statements and sometimes by his actions. So, when he broke the fast, this constituted a command, indicated by his very condition, aimed at giving a dispensation, so that he could draw strength from breaking the fast and be able to engage in the Jihad he set out for. When those people renounced his action, they were extremely wrong. If they thought that their observance of the fast was better than the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) breaking the fast, this sufficed as an error and lack of understanding on their part. And if they were not aware that their breaking of the fast would make them more capable of Jihad, this was a poor understanding from them. Hence, they were labeled as disobedient because, by doing so, they violated the Shariah and were not flexible to accept it. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) repeated his statement "those are the disobedient ones" for emphasis.
The Hadīth mentions going to battle in Ramadan and the legitimacy of breaking the fast during its daytime, lest the army would be too weak to engage in the war.
It indicates the Prophet's complete mercy and compassion toward his Ummah.
It demonstrates the necessity of following the Prophet's commands and that whoever disobeys him, due to any standpoint, becomes a disobedient person.
It shows the leniency of Islam and the ease of its obligations, as it sanctions breaking the fast for travelers.
As it points to the permissibility of breaking the fast during the daytime for a person who intends to fast from the night if something unexpected occurs to him..

1120
Qaz‘ah reported: I came to Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) and he was surrounded by people, and when they dispersed, I said to him: "I am not going to ask you about what these people were asking." I asked him about fasting during travel. He said: We traveled with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to Makkah while we were fasting. We halted at a place. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You have neared your enemy and breaking the fast will give you greater strength." This was a dispensation. So, some of us continued to observe the fast and some of us broke it. Then, we stopped at another place, and he said: "You are going to encounter the enemy in the morning and breaking the fast will give you greater strength; so, break the fast." This was stressful; so, we broke the fast. Then, he said: I saw us observing the fast with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) during travel after that..

Commentary : Traveling and encountering the enemy are among the things that require physical strength to endure hardships and difficulties. This Hadīth demonstrates some of the dispensations and determinations related to travel by observing the fast therein or breaking it, and the dispensations and determinations upon encountering the enemy in the month of Ramadan and during fasting. The Tābi‘i Qaz‘ah ibn Yahya al-Basri says that he came to Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) "and he was surrounded by people" i.e., a lot of people were around him learning and benefiting from his narration of Hadīths. When the people dispersed and departed, he said to Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him): I will not ask you about the matters people ask you about. He probably meant that his question was not addressed by Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him) before that or no one in this gathering asked him about it. He asked him about the ruling on fasting during travel and the involved dispensations or determinations. Demonstrating their conditions during travel along with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him) informed him that they began their journey from Madīnah for the Conquest of Makkah while fasting during the month of Ramadan. When they stopped at some place for rest, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told them that they came near the enemy and the war, and that breaking the fast would give them greater strength, as encountering the enemy requires strength, and breaking the fast achieves this purpose more than fasting. This indicates that maintaining strength by refraining from fasting is better for someone expecting to face the enemy.
His statement: "This was a dispensation" means that they did not take this statement as denoting a binding command for breaking the fast or asking for that firmly. Rather, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) noted that breaking the fast is more appropriate for those apprehensive of weakness. So, some of them observed the fast and some others broke it.
Then, they halted at another place for rest. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: "You are going to encounter the enemy in the morning" i.e., you will attack them in the morning. "and breaking the fast will give you greater strength; so, break the fast." Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "This situation was stressful" i.e., they took his command to break the fast as denoting emphasis and necessity. So, they all broke the fast. This shows that the Companions would understand the objectives of the Prophet's discourse.
Then, Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him) said that they would later fast along with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) during travel, which indicates that the prohibition to observe fasting during their travel for the Conquest of Makkah did not abrogate the permissibility of fasting. Indeed, this is linked to ability and casual circumstances and whether there arises a need for breaking the the fast during travel..

1133
Al-Hakam ibn al-A‘raj reported: I came to Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was using his garment as a pillow near Zamzam and said to him: "Tell me about the fasting of ‘Āshūrā’." He said: "When you see the crescent of Muharram, then count and observe the fast on the ninth day." I said: "Is this how the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast it?" He said: 'Yes.'.

Commentary : The day of ‘Āshūrā’ is the tenth day of Muharram. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was keen on fasting the day of ‘Āshūrā’ and he would urge others to fast it. Its fasting was obligatory before Ramadan, and when the fasting of Ramadan was ordained upon the Muslims, only the fasting of Ramadan became the obligatory one, and the fasting of ‘Āshūrā’ became optional; whoever wished could fast it, and whoever wished could leave it.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Al-Hakam ibn al-A‘raj says that he came to ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was putting his garment and clothing underneath his head near the well of Zamzam inside the Sacred Mosque in Makkah. He asked Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) about the fasting of the day of ‘Āshūrā’: When should it be observed? Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: When you see the crescent of the month of Muharram and its beginning is verified, start to count the days until you reach the ninth day and observe the fast on it. In other words: Fast the ninth day along with the tenth one. This does not mean that the tenth day should be neglected and only the ninth day should be fasted. Thereupon, Al-Hakam ibn ‘Abbās asked: Did the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to fast the ninth day? In reply, Ibn ‘Abbās said: Yes, referring to the Hadīth narrated by Muslim about the Prophet's intention to fast the ninth day along with the tenth one. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If I live to the next year, I will fast the ninth day", lest it would resemble the Jews in fasting the tenth day only. On the merit of fasting this day, a Hadīth narrated in the Sahīh Muslim Collection mentions that it expiates the sins of the preceding year..

1134
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) fasted the day of ‘Āshūrā’ and commanded that it be fasted, they said: "O Messenger of Allah, this is a day on which the Jews and the Christians extol." So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the next year comes, Allah Willing, we will fast the ninth day." He said: Before the next year came, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) passed away..

Commentary : The day of ‘Āshūrā’ is the tenth day of Muharram, and the Quraysh used to fast it. When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madīnah, he fasted it as a usual practice and commanded that it be fasted. Its fasting was obligatory before Ramadan, and when the fasting of Ramadan was ordained upon the Muslims, only the fasting of Ramadan became the obligatory one, and the fasting of ‘Āshūrā’ became optional; whoever wished could fast it, and whoever wished could leave it.
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) fasted the day of ‘Āshūrā’ and enjoined his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to fast it, they said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, this is a day on which the Jews and the Christians extol" by fasting too. This is because it is a day in which Allah saved Moses (Mūsa) (peace be upon him) from Pharaoh and his soldiers. Indeed, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) mentioned that to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) because it was known that he would mostly intend to differ from the Jews and the Christians. In response, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), as narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections, said: "We are more entitled to Moses than them. So, fast it" i.e., by agreeing with him in gratitude to Allah Almighty and feeling happy for his salvation. This is because the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) accords with him over the basis of the religion. As for the Jews, they engaged in distortion, change, and alteration. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) fasted it and commanded the people to fast it. On the merit of fasting this day, a Hadīth narrated in the Sahīh Muslim Collection mentions that it expiates the sins of the preceding year.
Then, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) determined to fast the ninth day along with the tenth one to differ from the People of the Book in their observance of fasting on the tenth day only. Ibn ‘Abbās said that before the following year came, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had passed away.
The Hadīth points out that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to differ from the Jews and the Christians.
It demonstrates the significance of the day of ‘Āshūrā’ and how the Muslims value it highly..

1139
Ziyād ibn Jubayr reported: A man came to Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: "I made a vow to fast a day and it happened to coincide with a day of Ad'ha, or Fitr." Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "Allah Almighty enjoined the fulfillment of vows, and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade fasting this day.".

Commentary : A vow means that a person obligates himself to do something which the Shariah does not ordain upon him. For example, he says: Upon me is a sacrifice or fasting such and such a day, if Allah cures this ill person of mine. So, it takes the form of stipulating a condition to Allah Almighty.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Ziyād ibn Jubayr relates that a man came to ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and told him that he made a vow to fast a certain day, and this vowed day happened to coincide with the day of Eid al-Ad'ha, or the day of Eid al-Fitr. So, he asked him about what he should do: fast it or not? In response, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Allah Almighty enjoined the fulfillment of vows," which occurs in the verse that reads: {and fulfill their vows.} [Surat al-Hajj: 29] "and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade fasting this day" i.e., fasting the two days of the two Eids. He forbade fasting these two days because they are days of festivity, play, joy, and eating and drinking. Also, Eid al-Fitr is the day of breaking the fast of Ramadan. As for the day of Eid al-Ad'ha, this is intended to enable the Muslim to eat from his sacrificial animal, if he has sacrificed. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) seemed to have refrained from giving a Fatwa on this issue, considering the conflict between the proofs he had. This was done by way of Tawarru‘ (caution) from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and he was known for it. And it is said: Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) clarified to him the general ruling and the specific one. So, he should do both things, namely, to not fast the day of Eid, in compliance with the prohibition by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and to fast a day in place of it, given Allah's command to fulfill vows.
The Hadīth contains the command to fulfill vows.
It is prohibited to fast the two days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Ad'ha..

1141
Nubayshah al-Hudhali reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The Days of Tashrīq are days of eating and drinking." [Another version adds: "and remembrance of Allah."].

Commentary : Islam is the religion of tolerance and ease. It provides much space to the Muslims, so that they can be generous to themselves and their families in eating and drinking during the Eid days.
In this Hadīth, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "The Days of Tashrīq," are the 11th, 12th, and 13th days of Dhul-Hijjah. They were called as such because in these days people used to cure the meat of sacrificial animals and spread them in the sun to dry, which is known as Tashrīq in Arabic. This was their practice during their era. But, nowadays, the meat of sacrificial animals and offerings is available. They are "days of eating and drinking;" so, people should eat, drink, and not observe fasting therein. They should also remember Allah, supplicate to Him, and show gratitude to Him for the sustenance and guidance He has bestowed upon them.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade fasting during the Days of Tashrīq. For example, in a Hadīth narrated by Al-Bukhāri in his Sahīh Collection, Ibn ‘Umar and ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported: "No permission was given for fasting during the Days of Tashrīq except for someone who cannot afford the sacrificial animal," i.e., to the performer of Tamattu‘ or Qirān Hajj who cannot afford the sacrificial animal. This represents flexibility for the people.
In the prohibition of fasting these days and the command to eat and drink lies a good reason. Since Allah Almighty knows that those who come to His House undergo hardships during travel, tiredness because of Ihrām, and self-struggle while performing the rituals, He prescribed rest for them after that, by staying at Mina on the Day of Nahr and three subsequent days. And He ordered them to eat from the meat of sacrificial animals out of His kindness and mercy towards them, for they are the guests of Allah Almighty therein. He also included the people of other countries with them, for they join them in undergoing hardships for the sake of Allah Almighty, like the hard work they endure during the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, as they observe fasting, remember Allah, and worship diligently, and in seeking closeness to Allah by slaughtering sacrifices and in the attainment of forgiveness. So, they join them in their Eids, and everyone shares rest by eating and drinking. Thus, all Muslims become the guests of Allah Almighty during these days, eating from His sustenance and showing gratitude to Him for His grace. And since it does not befit the Most Generous to let His guests go hungry, they were forbidden to fast these days..

1142
Ka‘b ibn Mālik reported: that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent him and Aws ibn al-Hadathān during the days of Tashrīq to announce that none will enter Paradise except a believer, and the days of Mina are days of eating and drinking..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to clarify to the Muslims the matters of the religion and give them good news that would gladden them due to the great rewards for the deeds in Islam. He would also demonstrate to them the ease of the religion and how it cares about people's conditions.
In this Hadīth, Ka‘b ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent him along with Aws ibn al-Hadathān during the days of Tashrīq, which are the three days that follow the day of Nahr (slaughter), namely the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. They were given this name because of people's Tashrīq (cutting into long narrow strips) of the meat of sacrificial animals, as they would cut the meat into strips and leave them to dry in the sun. This was their situation in the early stage of Islam. They are also known as the days of Mina. He commanded them to announce to the pilgrims in the Sacred Precincts that "none will enter Paradise except a believer" i.e., none will enter Paradise except those who believe in Allah, testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and act according to this Īmān. This gives glad tidings to the believers and motivates people to complete the pillars of Īmān so that they can win Paradise. And it warns those who did not embrace Islam, and so that the pilgrims will return to their countries and warn the polytheists among their people.
He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) instructed them to announce to the people that the days of Mina are days of eating and drinking. These are the days in which the pilgrims stay in the valley of Mina - located nearly 6km away from the Sacred Mosque - to throw the pebbles. They are the appointed days which Allah mentions in the verse that reads: {And remember Allah during the appointed days. But whoever hastens to depart [Mina] on the second day, there is no sin upon him; and whoever delays [until the third], there is no sin upon him for those who fear Allah.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 203] During these days, the meat of ’Ud'hiyah (sacrificial animals by non-pilgrims on Eid al-Ad'ha) and Hady (sacrificial animals by pilgrims) is abundantly available. So, let the people eat and drink and mention Allah's name for His provision and guidance to them.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade fasting the days of Tashrīq. In a Hadīth narrated in the Sahīh Al-Bukhāri Collection, Ibn ‘Umar and ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported: It was not permitted to fast on the days of Tashrīq except for those who could not afford the Hady (sacrifice).
The Hadīth mentions that Paradise was prepared for the believers only.
It shows merit for Ka‘b ibn Mālik and Aws ibn al-Hadathān (may Allah be pleased with both of them) and a commendable act by them..

1144
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not single out the night of Friday from among the nights for performing Qiyām al-Layl. And do not single out Friday from among the days for fasting, unless it coincides with the days one of you regularly fasts.".

Commentary : Acts of worship are among the Tawqīfi matters all of whose actions must be taken from the Shariah, with no addition or omission. And none of them may be singled out for specific times unless it is prescribed in the Shariah.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbids that the night of Friday be singled out for Qiyām involving prayer and Dhikr apart from the other nights of the week. He also forbade that Friday be singled out for fasting apart from the other days of the week, unless this coincides with a certain fast a Muslim usually observes, such as when he fasts every other day, and the day he fasts coincides with Friday, or he makes a vow and its time happens to coincide with Friday, or other things that oblige him to observe fasting. In the Two Sahīh Collections: "None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts a day before or after it." So, he should fast on Thursday or Saturday along with it. It is said: The prohibition of singling out Friday and its night for these acts aims at differing from the Jews and the Christians, for the Jews hold that Saturday should be singled out for fasting, out of reverence to it, and the Christians hold that Sunday should be singled out for fasting, out of reverence to it, and its night for Qiyām al-Layl. Since Friday occupies a status within this Ummah like the status of these two days within the two groups, it is recommended that our practice be different from theirs in the way of revering this day..

1148
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, my mother passed away and she took an oath to fast, should I fast on her behalf?" He said: "Tell me, if there was a debt due on your mother and you settled it, would it be valid on her behalf?" She replied: 'Yes.' He said: "So, fast on behalf of your mother.".

Commentary : A vow is an act of worship and piety that should not be devoted to anyone other than Allah. In His glorious Book, Allah Almighty praised His pious servants and promised them the reward. Among their attributes which He mentioned is their fulfillment of vows. He says: {They fulfill their vows.} [Surat al-Insān: 7]
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that a woman came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asking him about her mother who had made a vow to fast and died before fulfilling her vow: Is it valid for her to fast on behalf of her mother? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to her: "Tell me, if there was a debt due on your mother and you settled it, would it be valid on her behalf?" This is an affirmative question. She replied: 'Yes, it settles on her behalf.' He said: "So, fast on behalf of your mother." The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) likened fasting due upon a woman who died and left a debt, which must be paid because it is a right to human beings, whereas the vow is a right to Allah Almighty. So, the fulfillment of His right, Exalted be He, is more significant and proper than the fulfillment of the right of humans, for Allah is more worthy of fulfillment. It is narrated in some narrations by Al-Bukhāri and in the Two Sahīh Collections that ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever dies while some fast is due on him, his guardian should fast on his behalf." Walī (guardian): It refers to one's male relatives such as the fathers and sons. If the guardian does not observe the fast on his behalf, he should feed a poor person in return for each day of the fast. Thereby, the deceased person's duty is fulfilled, as the guardian's discharge of this duty is tantamount to his own discharge of it. This applies if the deceased person was able to fulfill the duty at its time or later but failed to do so. But if he dies before being able to make up for the missed fast - like the case of a person whose illness lingers until he dies - then there is nothing due on him, and his guardians are not required to fast or feed the poor on his behalf.
In the Hadīth: It is permissible to fast on behalf of the dead.
And in it: It is permissible to fulfill vows on behalf of the dead.
And in it: Giving parables and analogical comparisons to make the topic clearer and more profound to those who hear it.
And in it: Showing kindness to one's parents by the fulfillment of their vows and debts..

1149
Buraydah reported: While I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), a woman came to him and said: "I gave a maidservant to my mother in charity, and she died." He said: "Your reward became due, and the inheritance has returned her to you." She said: "O Messenger of Allah, a month of fasting was due on her; shall I fast on her behalf?" He said: "Fast on her behalf." She said: "She never performed Hajj; shall I perform Hajj on her behalf?" He said: "Perform Hajj on her behalf." [In a version]: Fast two months..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to ask the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) for Fatwas on many of their acts of worship and dealings, and he would give them Fatwas and clarify the right aspects to them.
In this Hadīth, Buraydah ibn al-Husayb al-Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that as he was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) one day, a woman came to him and told him that she gave a maidservant - a female slave - as charity to her mother during her lifetime, and she transferred her to her ownership through this charity. Then, her mother died and left behind this maidservant as part of her overall wealth, and her sole inheritor was her daughter. So, does she have the right to take the maidservant back to her ownership through inheritance, or not? So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to her: "Your reward became due," i.e., your reward is established with Allah by upholding the ties with your mother and giving charity to her, and the maidservant was brought back to you by the inheritance from your mother, a reason in which you have no part. So, this does not detract from the reward for charity, and it is not regarded as retracting the charity or gift, because this is not optional.
Then, the questioner said that a month of fasting was due on her mother - and in a version: "two months" - and asked whether she could fast on her behalf. He did not point out whether this was the fasting of Ramadan, a vow, or an expiation. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to her: "Fast on her behalf," i.e., make up for the days missed by your mother on her behalf, for this is a debt due upon her, and the debt of Allah is more worthy of being repaid. According to a version in the Two Sahīh Collections, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) likened the fasting due on a deceased person to a debt, which is payable, for this is a right to human beings; whereas the due fasting - be it related to Ramadan, a vow, or an expiation - is a right to Allah Almighty. So, the fulfillment of Allah's right is more significant and worthy than the fulfillment of the right of human beings; indeed, Allah is more entitled to repayment, as related in some versions by Al-Bukhāri. And in a Hadīth in the Two Sahīh Collections, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever dies while some fast is still due on him, his heir should fast on his behalf." Heirs here refer to male relatives, such as fathers and sons. If the heir does not observe the missed fast on his behalf, he may feed one poor person in return for each day of a missed fast. Thus, this obligation ceases to be due on the deceased person. The observance of this missed fast by the heir is tantamount to the deceased person himself making up for this fast. This applies in case the deceased person was able to observe the fast or make up for it, yet he did not do that. As for someone who dies before being able to make up for the missed fast - like a person who remains ill until he dies - there is nothing due on him, and their heirs should not observe the missed fast, or feed poor people, on his behalf.
Then, the woman informed him that her mother died while she had never performed Hajj. This seems to indicate that she was able to perform Hajj, and so it was due on her. This is because Hajj ceases to be due on anyone who is not able to perform it. But she did not perform Hajj. So, is it valid to perform Hajj on her behalf? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to her: "Perform Hajj on her behalf." Perhaps it can be understood from the Prophet's permission to her to perform Hajj on behalf of her mother that the woman had already performed Hajj for herself and then she wanted to perform Hajj on behalf of her mother, based on a Hadīth narrated by Abu Dāwūd, in which Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) heard a man say: "Labbayk on behalf of Shubrumah." He said: "Who is Shubrumah?" He said: "A brother of mine," or "a relative of mine." He said: "Did you perform Hajj for yourself?" He said: 'No.' Thereupon, he said: "Perform Hajj for yourself and then perform Hajj on behalf of Shubrumah." And in the Sahīh Collection of Ibn Khuzaymah: "This is for you, and then perform Hajj on behalf of Shubrumah." If Hajj becomes due on someone and he dies before performing it, and then someone else performs Hajj on his behalf, he is absolved of this obligation. It is likely in light of the bounty and grace of Allah that if an heir performs Hajj on behalf of a deceased person, Allah will forgive the deceased person by virtue of that, give him a reward for it, or not punish him for his negligence.
The Hadīth indicates that if a person gives something in charity and then inherits it, he has the right to take and dispose of it, without his reward diminishing because of that.
It points out that fasting can be observed on behalf of a deceased person.
It also demonstrates that Hajj can be performed on behalf of a deceased person.
The Hadīth indicates that a person can show kindness to his parents by fulfilling their vows and debts..

1150
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If one of you is invited for food while he is fasting, let him say: 'I am fasting.'".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was keen on maintaining good relations, harmony, and continuous cordiality among the Muslims. Hence, he made the acceptance of an invitation a due right among the Muslims, so that they stay connected and get together.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "If one of you is invited to food," i.e., any food, be it a banquet or something else, "while he is fasting" on a supererogatory basis, or making up for a missed fast, or in fulfillment of a vow, he should apologize. Specifically, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) directed the fasting person to clarify his condition: "let him say: 'I am fasting'" in an apology to the inviting person and to inform him that he is fasting and cannot eat from his food.
This is also meant to notify his fellow Muslim who invited him that his abstention is only because of fasting, not that he did not want to eat from his food. It was the habit of the Arabs that if they held evil intentions toward someone, they would not eat from his food. It is narrated in the Sahīh Muslim Collection that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If one of you is invited, let him answer the invitation. If he is fasting, let him supplicate (for the inviter); if he is not fasting, let him eat."
In the Hadīth: There is nothing wrong with revealing voluntary acts of worship - like prayer and fasting - if there is a need for that..

1151
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Every action of the son of Adam is multiplied, and a single good deed is worth ten to seven hundred times. Allah Almighty said: 'Except for fasting, for indeed it is for Me, and I will give reward for it. He leaves his desires and food for My sake.' For the fasting person, there are two moments of joy: a moment of joy when he breaks his fast, and a moment of joy when he meets his lord. Verily, the Khulūf (unpleasant smell) coming from his mouth is more fragrant with Allah than the smell of musk.".

Commentary : Fasting is one of the most beloved acts of worship to Allah and the most sublime acts of piety whereby a servant seeks closeness to his Almighty Lord. Thus, its reward is immense, and its merit is great. The honor afforded by Allah for the fasting people is ceaseless, for they deprive themselves of food, drink, and sexual relations, and so Allah Almighty gives them from His vast bounty and prefers them over others.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentions that the reward for every act of goodness, righteousness, and worship performed by a Muslim gets multiplied, with a good deed being rewarded tenfold, up to seven hundred fold. Allah Almighty says: {Whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded tenfold.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 160] Allah Almighty also says: {The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a grain that sprouts seven ears, each ear bearing a hundred grains. And Allah gives multiple [rewards] for whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 261]
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that Allah Almighty said: "Except for fasting, for indeed it is for Me," i.e., fasting is excluded from these acts whose rewards are multiplied, for the reward of fasting can only be estimated by Allah Almighty. This is because fasting is a secret between a servant and his Lord. "and I will give reward for it," i.e., Allah Almighty is the One Who undertakes this reward and recompense, for the reward of fasting can only be enumerated by Allah, Exalted be He. He did not leave that to His angels. Rather, He undertook the giving of reward for it by Himself, and when Allah undertakes something by Himself, this denotes the immensity of this reward and recompense. This is because the fasting person abandons what his soul desires and the pleasures of food, drink, and copulation which are made lawful by Allah Almighty, in obedience to Allah, Exalted be He, and in pursuit of His love and approval.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stated that the fasting person has two moments of joy: The First Joy: "a moment of joy when he breaks his fast;" this joy occurs in the worldly life after he ends and breaks the fast and completes the worship, hoping for Allah's reward and bounty. The second joy occurs when he dies and obtains the reward and recompense.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) swears that "the Khulūf (unpleasant smell) coming from his mouth" - the unusual foul smell that remains, after eating, in the mouth of a fasting person - "is more fragrant," i.e., better to Allah than the smell of musk. There is a difference of opinion regarding the Khulūf being more fragrant to Allah than the smell of musk. It means that it is more fragrant to Allah than the smell of musk to you; or it means that Allah Almighty will reward him in the Hereafter until his smell becomes more fragrant than the smell of musk; or that the person with the Khulūf will obtain a reward better than the smell of musk; or that the Khulūf is more rewardable than musk, which is recommended during Fridays and Eids; or that the angels find the Khulūf more pleasant than the smell of musk.
The Hadīth points out the reward and merit of fasting..

1154
‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), reported: One day the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "O ‘Ā’ishah, do you have something (to eat)?" I said: "O Messenger of Allah, there is nothing with us." Thereupon, he said: "Then, I am fasting." She said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went out, and a gift was given to us - or some visitors came in. When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came back, I said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, a gift was given to us - or some visitors came in - but I have saved something for you." He said: "What is it?" I said: "Hays." He said: "Bring it." So, I brought it to him, and he ate. Then, he said: "I woke up in the morning while fasting." Talhah said: I narrated this Hadīth to Mujāhid and he said: "This is like a man giving charity out of his wealth. He may spend it if he wills or withhold it if he wills.".

Commentary : This Hadīth reveals one aspect of the Prophet's guidance in intending to fast, if a person did not find food, and breaking the fast if he found food. This stems from the leniency, ease, and flexibility of Islam. ‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), relates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) one day asked her while being in her house in the morning, according to the version by An-Nasā’i: "O ‘Ā’ishah, do you have anything?" He meant food for him to eat, as related in the wording by Abu Dāwūd. She replied to him that she had no food. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), intending to fast, said: "Then, I am fasting," i.e., I am observing fast and abstaining from food. This indicates the legitimacy of intending to observe supererogatory fasting during the daytime, in case one has not eaten or drunk anything since the Adhān of Fajr.
Then, ‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), said that after the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went out in a state of fasting, a gift of food was given to them - the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would eat from gifted food, unlike food given as charity - or some visitor came to them and brought a gift of food.
When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came back to the house of ‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), she told him about that and said that she hid part of the food for him to eat, as she knew he wanted to eat. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked her about the kind of food. She said: "Hays", which is a food made from a mixture of butter with dried dates. It is said: Flour or dried milk is added to it. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked her to bring it for him to eat therefrom. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ate from it after having the intention to fast. Therefore, he said after eating: "I woke up in the morning fasting." This was supererogatory fasting. This is a teaching from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to the Muslims so that they can follow his example.
Talhah ibn Yahya, who narrated the Hadīth from ‘Ā’ishah bint Talhah, said: I narrated this Hadīth narrated by ‘Ā’ishah bint Talhah to Mujāhid ibn Jabr al-Makki, the erudite Imām, and he said: "This is like a man giving charity out of his wealth. He may spend it if he wills or withhold it if he wills," i.e., the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did that because he had free choice regarding supererogatory fasting. This is like a man who intends to give charity from his wealth. If he wills, he can go ahead and give it to the one to whom he intended to give it, and if he wills, he can withhold it and not give it out.
The Hadīth indicates that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) could break the supererogatory fasting at any time of the day.
It shows that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) possessed little of worldly things because he adopted an ascetic approach to the transient worldly pleasures and preferred the bliss of the Hereafter with Allah.
It also suggests that if a person allocates part of his wealth for charity and then reconsiders and decides not to give charity, there is nothing wrong with that..