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Bukhari Hadiths 1356
Muslim Hadiths 558

Hadith

2402

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
Allah's Messengerﷺsaid, "If anyone goes bankrupt, and a man finds his own property intact with him, he is more entitled to take it back than anyone else.”.

Commentary :
Islam pays significant care to preserving people's wealth, and keenly ensures that it should not be wasted. Therefore, it has enacted laws and laid down guidelines to preserve people’s wealth.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ regulated the conduct of a creditor who finds his property intact with a debtor who goes bankrupt. He ﷺ underlined that such a creditor is entitled to his own property only, and must not take anything more or less from the bankrupt debtor, because his wealth is exhausted and he cannot repay his debts. Such a creditor is more entitled to take back his property than other creditors. This means that if someone goes bankrupt, and he owed money to many creditors, his wealth (i.e., what is surplus of his needs) is to be divided among these creditors according to their debts, unless one finds his property intact and, in this case, he has more right to take it back than anyone else.
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2405

Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
When ‘Abdullah (my father) died, he left behind children and debts. I asked the creditors to reduce the debts, but they refused, so I went to the Prophet ﷺ to intercede with them, yet they refused. The Prophet ﷺ said (to me), "Classify your dates into their different kinds: ‘Idhq ibn Zayd, Lean and ‘Ajwah, each kind alone and call all the creditors and wait till I come to you." I did so and the Prophet ﷺ came and sat beside the dates and started measuring to each his due till he paid them fully, and the dates remained as they were before, as if he had not touched them. (On another occasion) I took part in one of Ghazawaat among with the Prophet ﷺand I was riding one of our camels. The camel got tired and was lagging behind the others. The Prophet ﷺhit it on its back. He ﷺ said, "Sell it to me, and you have the right to ride it till Al-Madeenah.'' When we approached Al-Madeenah, I took the permission from the Prophet ﷺ to go to my house, saying, "O Allah's MessengerﷺI have newly married." The Prophet ﷺasked, "Have you married a virgin or a previously married woman (i.e., a widow or divorcee)?" I said, "I have married a previously married woman; ‘Abdullah (my father) died and left behind young daughters, so I married a previously married woman who may teach them and bring them up to embody good manners." The Prophet ﷺthen said (to me), "Go to your family." When I went there and told my maternal uncle about the selling of the camel, he admonished me for it. On that I told him about its slowness and exhaustion and about what the Prophet ﷺ had done to the camel and his hitting it. When the Prophet ﷺ arrived, I went to him with the camel in the morning and he gave me its price, the camel itself, and my share from the spoils of war as he gave the other people.
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Commentary :
A Muslim is a brother of his fellow Muslim, and it is becoming of a Muslim to strive to fulfill the needs of his Muslim brothers, especially those who explicitly ask for his help. He should (hasten to their help and) stand by them until their need is fulfilled.
In this hadeeth, Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah Al-Ansaaree(may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that his father, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Haraam (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away owing a debt to someone. He (may Allah be pleased with him) had been martyred during the Battle of Uhud in 3 A.H, leaving behind seven or nine young daughters. Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the creditors to reduce the debts so that he would be able to repay them, but they refused and claimed the repayment of their debts in full. He (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet ﷺ to help him and intercede with the creditors to reduce their debts so that he would be able to repay them, but they refused. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ asked Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) to go back to his orchard and arrange his dates in heaps according to their different kinds. The cluster of Ibn Zayd, which were low-quality dates that were named after someone called Ibn Zayd, should be arranged on one side, Lean, another kind, should be arranged on another side, and ‘Ajwah dates, which were the finest kind of dates in Al-Madeenah, should be arranged on a different side, and so on.
Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) did as he ﷺ commanded and then notified him. The Prophet ﷺ came and sat at the head or in the middle of the heaps and ordered Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) to measure the dates for the creditors to repay his late father’s debts. He (may Allah be pleased with him) cut and measured for them till he repaid all the debts, and his dates remained as they were, as if nothing had been taken from them, by the blessing of the Prophet ﷺ.
The hadeeth highlights a miracle performed by the Prophet ﷺ and a sign indicating his prophethood.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is permissible to seek debt relief, if the debtor is unable to repay their dates in full, but the creditor has the choice either to accept or refuse such a request.
In this hadeeth, Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) also stated that he was once with the Prophet ﷺ on a journey back to Al-Madeenah after a battle. He (may Allah be pleased with him) was riding a slow camel used for carrying water. According to the version complied in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, “The camel got tired and lagged behind,” because of exhaustion. Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) lagged behind and the Prophet ﷺ passed by him and beat the slow camel, urging it to move faster. According to the version recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, the camel passed the others thenceforth, leading the way, by the blessing of the Prophet ﷺ.
He ﷺ asked Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) to sell him this camel, and he (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "It is (a gift) for you, O Allah's Messenger ﷺ.” However, the Prophet ﷺ refused to take it as a gift and insisted on buying it. He ﷺ bought it for four (gold) Dinars with the allowance that Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) may keep on riding it till they reached Al-Madeenah, and then the Prophet ﷺ would take it into his possession.
When they approached Al-Madeenah, Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) sought the permission of the Prophet ﷺ to go (quickly) to (join) his family, because he was newly married. This highlights the virtues of Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him), who partook in Jihaad shortly after his wedding. The Prophet ﷺ asked him whether he had married a virgin or a previously married woman. He ﷺ mentioned the ‘virgin’ first to indicate that it is better for a Muslim to marry a virgin. Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) informed him that he had married a previously married woman, named Suhaylah bint Mas‘ood Al-Awsiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her), because she would be more experienced and able to take care of his sisters,while a virgin would not be able to shoulder such a task. He (may Allah be pleased with him) explained to the Prophet ﷺ that his father left behind seven or nine young daughters and therefore he decided to marry a previously married woman to look after them and raise them properly. In the event of a conflict of interests, priority should be given to what is more important. Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) chose to put his sisters’ interests before his own, and the Prophet ﷺ approved his wise choice and supplicated Allah, Exalted is He, to bless his marriage. According to the version recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, he ﷺ said: “Go to your family,” meaning your wife. When Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived in Al-Madeenah, he (may Allah be pleased with him) informed his maternal uncle, and it was said that his name was Tha‘labah ibn Ghanamah ibn ‘Adiyy ibn Sinaan Al-Ansaaree Al-Khazrajiyy or ‘Amr ibn Ghanamah, that he had sold his camel to the Prophet ﷺ. His maternal uncle blamed him for it, perhaps because he (may Allah be pleased with him) needed it or because he (may Allah be pleased with him) had not offered it to the Prophet ﷺ as a gift. Narrated Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him): “I told him about its slowness and exhaustion and about what the Prophet ﷺ had done to the camel and his hitting it.”
When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Al-Madeenah, Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) went to him with the camel in the morning and he ﷺgave him its price, the camel itself, and his share from the spoils of war as he ﷺ gave the other people. This reflects the generosity and munificence of the Prophet ﷺ with his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
The hadeeth also underlines the Prophet’s gracious humbleness and kindness with his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), checking on them and serving their best interests.
It is also inferred that a woman should take care of her husband’s family and tend to the needs of his siblings (dependents).
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2409

‘AbdullahNarrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
I heard Allah's Messenger ﷺsaying, "Every one of you is a guardian, and responsible for what is under his care. A ruler is a guardian of his subjects and responsible for them; a husband is a guardian of his family and is responsible for it; a lady is a guardian of her husband's house and is responsible for it, and a servant is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible for it." I heard that from Allah's Messenger ﷺand I think that the Prophet ﷺ also said, "A man is a guardian of his father's property and is responsible for it, so all of you are guardians and responsible for your wards and things under your care."
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Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, does not charge a soul beyond its capacity. It is incumbent on a person not to take up a responsibility for which he is not qualified. However, whenever he is obliged to take up such a responsibility, it is incumbent on him to shoulder it duly, and he shall be held accountable for it before Allah, Exalted is He.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ advised every member of his nation to carry out his duties towards those whom Allah, Exalted is He, placed under his care. The Prophet ﷺ stated that each and every Muslim is entrusted with someone to look after, and shoulder his due responsibility towards him or her. He ﷺ said: “Every one of you is a guardian, and responsible for what is under his care.” Care here meanseffort made to preserve and look after a person or object, and a guardian refers to a person who is entrusted with preserving and tending to the needs of those under his care. Every guardian is required to maintain justice in caring for the people or things under his care, and to preserve their religious and worldly interests and belongings. If he duly shoulders his responsibilities towards the people or things under his care, he receives the abundant reward, otherwise those under his care would demand their rights over him (on the Day of Judgment) and Allah, Exalted is He, would hold him accountable for neglecting their rights.
Afterward, he ﷺ detailed his general sentence by saying: “A ruler is a guardian of his subjects and responsible for them,” meaning that he is responsible for the ruled and is required to tend to their needs, guard and defend their Laws of Islam rights, and implement the Hudood (i.e., pl. of Hadd; corporal punishment prescribed for crimes by the Laws of Islam), protect them against injustice and aggression, and ward off their enemies. A ruler is required to abide by the commands of Allah, Exalted is He, and His Messenger ﷺ in carrying out his duties towards the ruled, and to aspire to no reward except from Allah, Exalted is He. He should know that he shall be held accountable for the subjects under his care (on the Day of Judgment).
A husband is a guardian of his family, including his wife and dependents, and is responsible for them. He is required to carry out his duties towards them by providing for them, living with them in kindness, and disciplining them, and should know that he shall be held accountable for those under his care (on the Day of Judgment).
A woman is also a guardian of her husband's house and is responsible for it. She is required to manage his household sensibly, raise his children, and serve his guests, and she shall be held accountable for that before Allah, Exalted is He (on the Day of Judgment).
Moreover, a servant, meaning a slave or a hired worker in general, is a guardian of his master's or employer’s property, and is responsible for preserving his property, carrying out his duties and serving him, and he shall be held accountable for his responsibility before Allah, Exalted is He (on the Day of Judgment).
In addition, a man is a guardian of his father's property and is responsible for serving his best interests and shall be held accountable for it.
Each person is a guardian and responsible for the people and things under his care. The Prophet ﷺ made a general statement in the beginning and then detailed it in the following sentences, referring to a husband, woman, and so on, and then confirmed the meaning by another general statement to finally stress the religious ruling.
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2410

‘Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with him) said:
I heard a man reciting a ayah (of the Holy Quran) but I had heard the Prophet ﷺ reciting it differently. So, I caught hold of the man by the hand and took him to Allah's Messengerﷺwho said, "Both of you are right." Shu‘bah, the sub-narrator said, "I think he ﷺ said to them, "Do not differ, for the nations before you differed and perished (i.e., because of their differences). "
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Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, revealed different modes of recitations of the Noble Quran to make it easier for all Arabs (who spoke different dialects) to read it and miraculously challenge their command of their own language.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that he heard a man reciting a ayah from Al-Ahqaaf chapter (no.46) with a different recitation that what he (may Allah be pleased with him) had heard from the Prophet ﷺ. Each of them informed the other that he had heard it from the Prophet ﷺ as he was reciting it, as narrated in Musnad Ahmad. ‘Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with him) took the man, went to the Prophet ﷺ, and each of them recited the ayah differently. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ said: "Both of you are right," meaning that both modes of recitation were correct. He ﷺ added: “Do not differ, for the nations before you differed and perished (i.e., because of their differences).” This means that they had incurred their own destruction, because their differences led them to distort and change their Scripture, following their whims, and this fueled disputes and incurred the punishment of Allah, Exalted is He. In addition, the Islamic Laws of Islam promotes affinity among Muslims and warns against disunity and dissension within the Muslim community. He ﷺ meant that Muslims should recite the Quran, adhere to unity and agreement, and if there should be any doubts that call for disagreement and disunity, give them up, and rather adhere to the established facts of Islam that promote affinity, and beware of falling into blameworthy disagreement and disunity like the previous nations, incurring their own destruction.
Moreover, it is impermissible to disagree about the correct modes of recitation, because since it is allowable to recite the Quran with any of the correct modes of recitation as per the laws of Islam, if someone denied any of these modes of recitation, he would be denying the Quran. It is also impermissible to speak of the Quran based on one’s personal opinions, because the recitation of the Quran is an act of Sunnah, and Muslims must adhere to the reported Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ in this regard. Rather, the disputing people should consult a more knowledgeable person about the disagreed-upon matter.
The hadeeth forbids disunity and disagreement.
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2411

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
Two persons, a Muslim and a Jew, quarreled. The Muslim said, "By Him Who gave Muhammad ﷺ superiority over all people! The Jew said, "By Him Who gave Moosaa superiority over all people!" At that, the Muslim raised his hand and slapped the Jew on the face. The Jew went to the Prophet ﷺ and informed him of what had happened between him and the Muslim. The Prophet ﷺ sent for the Muslim and asked him about it. The Muslim informed him of the event. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Do not give me superiority over Moosaa; on the Day of Resurrection, all the people will fall unconscious and I will be one of them, but I will be the first to gain consciousness, and will see Moosaa standing and holding the side of the Throne (of Allah). I will not know whether Moosaa has also fallen unconscious and got up before me, or Allah has exempted him from that stroke."
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Commentary :
Giving preference to any of the Prophets of Allah over the others is exclusive to Allah, Exalted is He. No human being should give preference to any of the Prophets over the others without knowledge, or following his personal whims. Rather, the only allowable preference in this context is what is stated in the Quran and clarified in the Prophet’s sayings. For instance, Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degree.} [Quran 2:253].
In this hadeeth, Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) related that a Muslim man and a Jewish one quarreled and verbally abused one another. The Muslim man said, "By Him Who favored Muhammad ﷺ and gave him superiority over all people!” The Jewish man said, "By Him Who favored Moosaa and gave him superiority over all people!" At that, the Muslim slapped the Jew on the face, for his lie, based on his understanding of the general indication of the word ‘people’ to include Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as well (i.e., he understood that the Jewish man’s statement meant that Moosaa was given superiority over the Prophet ﷺ). It is established for a Muslim that the Prophet ﷺ is the best of all the Prophets of Allah!
The Jew went to the Prophet ﷺ and informed him of what had happened between him and the Muslim person. The Prophet ﷺ sent for the Muslim and asked him about it, and he informed the Prophet ﷺ of the event. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Do not give me superiority over Moosaa;” meaning do not favor me over Moosaa in a way that leads to undermining his lofty status or leads to disputes and dissension. The Prophet ﷺ disliked favoring him over other Prophets of Allah out of his humbleness and to avoid potential disputes that would pave the way for Satan to sow seeds of discord among people. Thereafter, he ﷺ underlined the lofty status of Prophet Moosaa and stated that all people, including himself, will fall unconscious on the Day of Resurrection, with the first blow of the Trumpet. He ﷺ will be the first to be resurrected with the second blow, and will see Prophet Moosaa standing and holding the side of the Throne (of Allah) with his hand. He ﷺ added: “I will not know whether Moosaa has also fallen unconscious and got up before me,” and this would be one of the evident merits of Prophet Moosaa, “or Allah has exempted him from that stroke.” Allah, Exalted is He Says (what means): {And the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allah wills.} [Quran 39:68]. This would mean that Prophet Moosaa will be exempted from losing consciousness in that incident and it would be another virtue.
The Throne of Allah, Exalted is He, is Allah's (First and) Greatest Creation; it has pillars and is carried by angels. Allah, Exalted is He, Rose above the Throne (in a manner that befits Him); He Says (what means): {The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.} [Quran 20:5]. It is noteworthy that the attributes of ʻUluww (highness) of Allah as well as His Istiwaa' (establishment) over the Throne are among the Attributes of His Actions, which relate to the Will of Allah and whose instances recur according to His will. None but Him knows how these attributes are (i.e., the manner in which Allah’s Attributes take form and their essence are only known to Him). Whatever occurs to one’s mind with regard to His Attributes, Allah, Exalted is He, isentirely different and far above it.
The hadeeth highlights the virtues of Prophet Mossaa..

2435

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
Allah's Messengerﷺ said, "An animal should not be milked without the permission of its owner. Does any of you like that somebody comes to his store and breaks his container and takes away his food? The udders of the animals are the stores of their owners where their provision is kept, so nobody should milk the animals of somebody else, without the permission of their owner."
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Commentary :
Islam urges Muslims to preserve people's wealth and forbids devouring it unlawfully.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ forbade milking someone’s animal, i.e., domesticated animals reared by people such as sheep and camels, without his permission. The hadeeth forbade milking these cattle in the pastures or barns except with the permission of their owners. He ﷺ confirmed his prohibition by saying: “Does any of you like that somebody comes to his store and breaks his container and takes away his food?” The container here refers to a cupboard where the landlord stores his food and provisions, and breaking it means breaking it open and stealing his food. Similarly, one must not milk another person’s cattle without his permission. He ﷺ explained: “The udders of the animals are the stores of their owners where their provision is kept,” he ﷺ likened their udders where their milk is stored, to the cupboard where food and belongings are stored. Since no one would approve that someone should break his cupboard open and steal his food, similarly no one should milk these animals without the owner’s permission.
He ﷺ furthered emphasized the prohibition in this regard by saying: “… so nobody should milk the animals of somebody else, without the permission of their owner.”
Other versions of the hadeeth, like the one recorded in Sunan Ibn Maajah, referred to permissibility of milking others’ animals and drinking their milk. The meaning of such narrations is interpreted as to refer exclusively to the wayfarers, the destitute, and people at a time of famine, or when it is known that the owner of such an animal would authorize such disposal of his property, or that people in that place customarily pardon such disposal, provided that the person should limit himself to drinking only what suffices him and nothing more, and must not store any of the milk.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is forbidden for a Muslim to take anything from others without their permission, and the hadeeth made mention of milk in particular because people may be negligent in this regard (i.e., perceive it as insignificant), and therefore he ﷺ pointed it out to emphasize the need to preserve people’s other significant items of wealth.
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2437

Suwayyd ibn Ghafalah narrated:
While I as in the company of Salmaaan ibn Rabi‘ah and Zayd ibn Suwhaan, in one of the battles, I found a whip. One of them told me to drop it but I refused to do so and said that I would give it to its owner if I found him, otherwise I would utilize it. On our return we performed Hajj and on passing by Al-Madeenah, I asked Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) about it. He (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I found a bag containing a hundred Dinars in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ and took it to the Prophet ﷺ who said to me, 'Make public announcement about it for one year.' So, I announced it for one year and went to the Prophet ﷺwho said, 'Announce it publicly for another year.' So, I announced it for another year. I went to him again and he ﷺ said, "Announce for another year." So, I announced for still another year. I went to the Prophet ﷺ for the fourth time, and he ﷺ said, 'Remember the amount of money, the (detailed) description of its container and the string it is tied with, and if the owner comes (and claims it), give it to him; otherwise, utilize it.’”.

Commentary :
Islam pays significant care to preserving people's wealth, and keenly ensurs that it should not be wasted. Therefore, it has enacted laws and laid down guidelines to preserve people’s wealth.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ underlined what a Muslim should do when he finds a lost item of wealth and he does not know its owner. The Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions)Suwayyd ibn Ghafalah narrated that he found a whip thrown on the floor and took it. He was in the company of the Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions) Salmaaan ibn Rabi‘ah, and it was also said that the Taabi‘ee Zayd ibn Suwhaan was with them during a battle. One of them told him to drop it, but he refused to do so and said that he would give it to its owner if he found him, otherwise he would utilize it.
On their return, they performed Hajj and passed by Al-Madeenah where Suwayyd ibn Ghafalah saw Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked him about the religious ruling on picking up such a whip. He (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I found a bag containing a hundred Dinars in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ and took it to the Prophet ﷺ who said to me, 'Make a public announcement about it for one year,' meaning to publicly announce it to people at marketplaces, gatherings, and mosques, and the places where he most likely believed that he might find its owner. He (may Allah be pleased with him) was commanded to announce it for one year and keep it with him (as a trust) until its owner showed up to claim it. He (may Allah be pleased with him) announced it for one year, but its owner did not show up, and therefore he (may Allah be pleased with him) went to the Prophet ﷺwho said, 'Announce it publicly for another year.' He (may Allah be pleased with him) did the same for a second year, but no one showed up to claim it. Again, the Prophet ﷺ commanded him to announce it for a third year. After the end of the third year, he (may Allah be pleased with him) went to the Prophet ﷺ for the fourth time, and he ﷺ said, 'Remember the amount of money, the (detailed) description of its container and the string it is tied with,’ to be able to verify the truthfulness of whoever claims it, ‘and if the owner comes (and claims it), give it to him; otherwise, utilize it.’”
Shu‘bah ibn Al-Hajjaaj (one of the narrators) said: “I met him (i.e., Salamah ibn Kuhayl) in Makkah and he said: ‘I do not know whether he said three years or one year.’”
To reconcile between the hadeeth narrated on the authority of Ubayy (may Allah be pleased with him) and the one narrated by Zayd ibn Khaalid (may Allah be pleased with him), recorded in Shaheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, stating that the lost item of wealth should be publicly announced for one year only, it can be said that the hadeeth narrated on the authority of Ubayy (may Allah be pleased with him) is interpreted as to urge Muslims to adhere to the becoming mindfulness of Allah and graciously refrain from disposing of the Luqtah (i.e., lost and found item of wealth) and to deem oneself above availing of it, and the one narrated by Zayd ibn Kaalid (may Allah be pleased with him) stated the original ruling.
The hadeeth highlights how Islam assigns care and attention to all worldly affairs that are of concern to people, and become part of their lives directly or indirectly.
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2440

Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Allah's Messengerﷺsaid, "When the believers pass safely over the Siraat (i.e., the bridge across Hellfire), they will be stopped at a bridge in between Hellfire and Paradise where they will retaliate upon each other for the injustices done among them in the worldly life, and when they get purified of all their sins, they will be admitted to Paradise. By Him in Whose Hands the life of Muhammad is, everybody will recognize his dwelling in Paradise better than he recognizes his dwelling in this worldly life."
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Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, deemed injustice forbidden for Himself, declared it forbidden for His servants, and promised the unjust people Qisaas (i.e., retribution) and severe punishments. If the unjust wrongdoer escaped the due Qisaas in the worldly life, there is no escaping on the Day of Resurrection, nor there shall be a refuge from Allah, Exalted is He. There, neither wealth nor offspring will be of any avail.
The hadeeth depicts a horrific scene from the Day of Resurrection, where the believers will be stopped at a bridge between Hellfire and Paradise after passing safely over the Siraat (i.e., the bridge across Hellfire) and being saved from Hellfire by the grace and mercy of Allah, Exalted is He. The Angels will stop them at a bridge between Hellfire and Paradise where they will retaliate against each other for the injustices committed against one another in the worldly life. It is noteworthy that such retaliation will be specifically for those whose acts of injustice and grievances against him do not exhaust all their rewards, otherwise they would have been thrown into Hellfire and it would not have been true to say that they had been delivered from it.Whoever had wronged his fellow Muslim brother more (i.e., had committed moreacts of injustice) in the worldly life, his rewards will be deducted, and then they will enter Paradise. They shall share the places therein in proportion to the remaining rewards left for each of them, and this is why they will retaliate against one another by means of their rewards after being delivered from Hellfire, and Allah knows best. This is because no one will enter Paradise before his liability is cleared from any grievance and injustice against anyone.
After they retaliate against each other for the injustices committed against one another in the worldly life, and when they get purified of all their sins, they will be admitted to Paradise. The Prophet ﷺ swore by the name of Allah, Exalted is He, that everybody will recognize his dwelling in Paradise better than he recognizes his dwelling in this worldly life. They will be able to recognize their dwellings in Paradise easily because they would be shown to them repeatedly every morning and evening in their graves. It was reported on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: “When one of you dies, his abode among the inhabitants of Paradise will be shown to him, morning and evening, if he is to be one of them; but if he is to be one of the inhabitants of Hellfire, his abode among them will be shown him. He will be told that this is his abode to which Allah will finally raise him on the day of resurrection.” [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].
The hadeeth warns against committing injustice against others, and emphasizes the fact that people will inevitably retaliate against each other for the injustices they had committed against one another in the worldly life on the Day of Judgment, and each will get his rights back.
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2441

Safwaan ibn Muhriz Al-Maazinee narrated:
While I was walking with Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) once holding his hand, a man came in front of us and asked, "What have you heard from Allah's Messengerﷺ about An-Najwaa (i.e., private conversation between Allah and His obedient servants)?" Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I heard Allah's Messengerﷺ saying, 'Allah, Exalted is He, will bring a believer near Him and shelter him with His Screen and ask him: ‘Did you commit such-and-such sins?’ He will say: ‘Yes, my Lord.’ Allah will keep on asking him till he will confess all his sins and will think that he is ruined. Allah will say: 'I did screen your sins in the world and I forgive them for you today', and then he will be given the book of his good deeds. Regarding infidels and hypocrites (their evil acts will be exposed publicly) and the witnesses will say, as Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {These are the ones who lied against their Lord." Unquestionably, the curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers.} [Quran 11:18]”
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Commentary :
The mercy of Allah, Exalted is He, encompasses everything, and His mercy in the Hereafter shall be greater than the divine mercy manifested in the worldly life, and it shall be exclusively bestowed upon His believing servants. It will have many manifestations, including His screen concealing the believers during the reckoning.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions) Safwaan ibn Mihriz Al-Maazinee stated that he was walking once with ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) while holding his hand, when a man showed up and asked him about Al-Najwaa (i.e., private conversation between Allah and His obedient servants). Linguistically, the Arabic word Najwaa means whisper and private conversation with someone. It here refers to the private conversation between Allah, Exalted is He, and the believers during the reckoning. It is a manifestation of the grace of Allah, Exalted is He, to remind the believer of his sins in secret. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that the Prophet ﷺstated that Allah, Exalted is He, will bring the believer near Him and shelter him with His screen. The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is Kanaf, which linguistically means concealment and protection. He will conceal him from the rest of the creation so as not to disgrace him by exposing his sins before them. He will speak to him secretly and ask him to confirm his sins: “Do you know such-and-such sin?” He would respond: “O my Lord, I know; O my Lord, I know.” Allah, Exalted is He, will continue to kindly and secretly remind him of his sins and he would acknowledge them all, and would believe with certainty that he would be thrown into Hellfire accordingly, unless Allah, Exalted is He, confers upon him His mercy and pardon. Allah, Exalted is He, would say to him: “I did screen your sins in the worldly life, and I will forgive them for you today.”
As for the disbelievers and hypocrites who were insincere with regard to their beliefs, their evil acts will be exposed publicly and the witnesses, i.e., the Angels, Prophets, Jinn, and mankind, will say (what means): {These are the ones who lied against their Lord}, by disbelieving and attributing to Allah, Exalted is He, what was not befitting Him including: partners, a son, a wife, and the like of these falsehoods, {Unquestionably, the curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers.} [Quran 11:18]. This means that the wrath of Allah will be poured onto them, and these disbelievers, who had devoted worship to other than Him, shall be expelled from His mercy.
The hadeeth also affirms the Attribute of Speech with respect to Allah, Exalted is He, in a manner that befits Majesty.

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2442

‘Abdullah Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
Allah's Messengerﷺ said, "A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah, Exalted is He, will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah, Exalted is He, will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection.”
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Commentary :
Islam built Muslim society on a solid foundation of brotherhood and solidarity among them. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {The believers are but brothers.} [Quran 49:10].
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ informed us of the mutual duties Muslims have towards one another. He ﷺ stated that a Muslim, whether he is a free man or slave, an adult or minor, is a brother to his fellow Muslims. This brotherhood entails that a Muslim must not wrong his fellow Muslims; Allah, Exalted is He, deemed injustice forbidden, no matter how insignificant it may seem. At the same time, a Muslim is also required to rescue his fellow Muslims from any injustice or oppression, and must not to leave them subjected to it without providing them with help, and he should also not leave them to those who harm them without protection,to the best of his ability.
He ﷺ also stated that whoever strives to fulfill the needs of his fellow Muslim brother, Allah, Exalted is He, will help him and make things easy for him to fulfill his own needs. Moreover, whoever helps a fellow Muslim when a worldly calamity befalls him, i.e., distress or adversity pertaining to his worldly affairs, until his grief and calamity are relieved, Allah, Exalted is He, will relieve him of a calamity and terror on the Day of Resurrection. In addition, whoever sees one of his fellow brother’s faults or flaws and conceals it, Allah, Exalted is He, will conceal his faults on the Day of Resurrection. It is noteworthy that this does not mean that he should turn a blind eye and remain silent when he sees his fellow Muslim brother commit a sin. Rather, it is incumbent to advise and forbid him from it, using the prescribed means of forbidding sin until he refrains (from committing that sin). This is a manifestation of the enjoined sincerity towards one’s fellow Muslim brothers.
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2449

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
Allah's Messengerﷺ said, "Whoever has oppressed another person concerning his honor or anything else, he should beg him to forgive him before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on him."
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Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, deemed injustice forbidden for Himself, declared it forbidden for His slaves, and promised the unjust people Qisaas (i.e., retribution) and severe punishments. If the unjust wrongdoer escaped Qisaas in the worldly life, there is no escaping from it on the Day of Resurrection, nor shall there be refuge from Allah, Exalted is He. There, neither wealth nor offspring will be of any avail.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ commands any Muslim who had done his fellow Muslims wrong and committed against them acts of injustice with regard to honor, e.g., defamation and slander, or with regard to wealth (withholding or infringing upon their financial rights), or physical injury and the like, to seek his pardon in this worldly life before the Day of Resurrection should come, when there shall be neither Dinar of gold nor Dirham of silver which he may pay to compensate the wronged person and redeem himself. Retribution between people on the Day of Resurrection will be with their good and evil deeds. A wronged person will take from the good deeds of the one who had wronged him on the Day of Judgment in proportion to his act of injustice, and if such a person’s good deeds fall short of clearing the account, then some of the sins from the people whom he had wronged will be added to his record of evil deeds.
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2454

Saalim's father, ‘AbdullahNarrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever takes a piece of the land of others unjustly, he will sink down the seven earths on the Day of Resurrection."
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Commentary :
No one performs a good deed or commits a sin in this worldly life, except that he will be rewarded or punished for it on the Day of Resurrection accordingly. Since injustice and aggression are among the gravest sins and the most heinous misdeeds about which stern warnings were reported, the punishments designated for them are among the most severe.
This hadeeth underlines the punishment of the one who takes part of someone’s land unjustly and transgressively, be it a small or large area of land. Whoever commits this sin, Allah, Exalted is He, will cause him to sink down seven earths on the Day of Resurrection; they will swallow him up.
It was narrated on the authority of Sa’eed ibn Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: “If anyone usurps a span of land unjustly, Allah, Exalted is He, will strangle him with it from seven earths on the Day of Resurrection.” [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]. This means that he will be caused to sink down into the earth until it becomes like a necklace around his neck, which Allah will cause it to be long (i.e., he will be strangled with it). It could also mean that these different punishments are designated for the perpetrators of this sin and they shall vary according to the gravity of the evil committed by them. Some of them will be subjected to one punishment and the others will be subjected to the other.
The hadeeth emphasizes the prohibition of injustice and usurping others’ lands, and highlights the severe punishment designated for that sin.
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2455

Jabalah said:
"We were in Al-Madeenah with some of Iraqi people, and we were struck with famine and Ibn Al- Zubayr used to give us dates. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to pass by and say, "The Prophet ﷺ forbade us to eat two dates at a time, unless one takes the permission of one's companions.”
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Commentary :
Islam instills the values of self-contentment and altruism within its followers, teaches them the etiquette of eating, for a person eating alone, and when someone else joins him for the meal.
In this hadeeth, Jablah ibn Suhaym related that they were in Al-Madeenah with some people from Iraq, and they were afflicted with high prices and famine, so ‘Abdullah ibn Al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) used to offer them dates. ‘AbdullahIbn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would pass by them while they were eating these dates and tell them that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade eating more than one date at a time, putting another date in one’s mouth before finishing the other, when one is eating with a group of people and there is not much food. The one who eats two dates at a time is trying to have a bigger share than the others, and this constitutes injustice against them, in addition to greed that reflects such a person’s bad moral character. The Prophet ﷺ forbade such an act unless the doer seeks the permission of his companions, for being in a hurry and wanting to leave for example, and they give him permission, because it is his companions’ right and they are entitled to give up their rights. This prohibition aims to teach such a person to recognize others’ rights to the shared food as well.
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2457

‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
The Prophet ﷺ said, "The most hated person in the sight of Allah is the most quarrelsome one."
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Commentary :
Islam urges Muslims to embody good morals in their interactions and dealings with people, and therefore it encourages them to be kind and courteous with others.
The hadeeth states a stern warning against the quarrelsome person and underlines that such person is the most hated to Allah, Exalted is He! A quarrelsome person is the one who is given to quarrels, disputes, and arguments. Allah, Exalted is He, hates such a person the most, and this entails falling into sin and incurring His punishment accordingly. Such a quarrelsome person engages in arguments and disputes without any knowledge, and this leads to wasting people’s rights, which constitutes injustice against them and support of falsehood. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {And of the people is he whose speech pleases you in worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the fiercest of opponents.} [Quran 2:204].
The hadeeth also warns against exceeding the proper limits with opponents and against behaving in an impudent and insulting manner when claiming rights, using abusive language, or arguing without knowledge (i.e., for the sake of argument).
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2461

‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
We said to the Prophet ﷺ, "You send us out and it happens that we have to stay with people who do not entertain us. What do you think about it?” He ﷺ said to us, "If you stay with some people and they entertain you as they should for a guest, accept their hospitality, but if they do not, take the right of the guest from them."
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Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ used to pay a special care and attention to the affairs of the Muslims, and instruct them to embody noble morals and good manners, including showing hospitality to their guests. It is one of the manifestations of noble moral character, part of the Islamic etiquette, and one of the manners of the Prophets of Allah and the righteous.
In this hadeeth, ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that when the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) complained to the Prophet ﷺ that when he delegated them to people, some of them refrained from showing them the enjoined hospitality. The Prophet ﷺ informed them that when their host offered them the enjoined hospitality, they should accept it, and if he were to refrain, they were entitled to take from his wealth what would compensate for such hospitality, because a host is enjoined as per the laws of Islam to entertain and show hospitality to his guests, and this is a religious obligation that must be observed.
This hadeeth is interpreted to mean that when the guests are in need of it, the enjoined hospitality may be taken from the reluctant host’s wealth (since he withholds their due rights). It is also possible that this was the ruling in the early days of Islam when solidarity was obligatory, and when Muslims conquered many lands (and earned spoils of war), and that this ruling was abrogated with the words of the Prophet ﷺ narrated on the authority of Aboo Shurayh Al-‘Adawee (may Allah be pleased with him) reading: “Whoever (truly) believes in Allah, Exalted is He, and the Last Day, let him entertain his guest generously by giving him his reward, which is (to be entertained generously for) a day and a night…” [Al-Bukhaaree]. The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is Jaa’izah (reward) and this indicates that such hospitality is recommended rather than obligatory. It is also possible that the hadeeth refers to the workers or envoys sent by a ruler to carry out certain tasks, as indicated by their words, ‘You send us out.’ Therefore, the people to whom the Prophet ﷺ sent them were obliged to provide food, riding mounts, and accommodation for these workers or envoys in return for the task they performed, because they cannot perform their tasks without the fulfillment of such rights.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that whoever could take his right from the one withholding it has the right to take it as long as it does not incur a graver evil..

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..

Book of Hadith