logo

| 2 Hadiths

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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..