It was narrated that ‘Umayr, the freed slave of Ibn ‘Abbas, said: ‘Abdullah ibn Yasar, the freed slave of Maymunah, the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), went to visit Abu Juhaym ibn al-Harith ibn al-Simmah al-Ansari. Abul Juhaym al-Ansari said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came from the direction of Bi’r Jamal and was met by a man who greeted him with salaam, but the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not return the greeting until he turned to the wall and wiped his face and hands, then he returned the greeting..

Commentary : Tayammum is a concession that Allah (may He be exalted) has prescribed for His slaves when water is not available or it is not possible to use it, so as to make things easy for them, as it makes it permissible to offer the prayer and do other acts of worship. So if a Muslim is not in a state of purity, and cannot find water, but he wants to mention the name of Allah (may He be exalted), then he may do tayammum before mentioning Him, as is indicated by this hadith. Abu Juhaym ibn al-Harith ibn al-Simmah al-Ansari narrates that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came from the direction of Bi’r Jamal – which is a place near Madinah – he was met by a man who greeted him with salaam, but he did not return the greeting until he turned to a wall, patted it with his hands, and wiped his face and hands, then he returned the man’s greeting. That was because al-Salaam is one of the names of Allah (may He be exalted), so the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) wanted to mention the name of Allah when he was in a state of purity. Hence he did tayammum, then he returned the man’s greeting.
This hadith indicates that tayammum may be done for supererogatory actions and virtuous deeds, and not only for obligatory deeds.
It indicates that tayammum may be done when not travelling, if there is no water available, or if one is not able to use it.
It indicates that tayammum consists of patting the dust once to wipe the face and hands..

338

It was narrated that ‘Abdul Rahman ibn Abza said: A man came to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab and said: I became junub and could not find any water. ‘Ammar ibn Yasir said to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab: Do you not remember when we were on a journey, you and I? As for you, you did not pray; as for me, I rolled in the dust and prayed. I mentioned that to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “It would have been sufficient for you to do like this.” Then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) patted the ground with his hands and blew onto them, then he wiped his face and hands with them..

Commentary : Tayammum is a concession that Allah (may He be exalted) has prescribed for His slaves when water is not available or it is not possible to use it, so as to make things easy for them, as it removes impurity (hadath) and makes it permissible to offer the prayer and do other acts of worship. In this hadith, the Tabi‘i ‘Abdul Rahman ibn Abza narrates that a man from the desert – as mentioned in the report of ‘Abdul Razzaq – came to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) and told him that he had become junub, but he could not find any water with which to do ghusl to cleanse himself from janabah. The word janabah refers to anyone who emits maniy (semen) or has intercourse; it is so called because he must avoid (ijtinab) prayer and other acts of worship until he has purified himself from it.
The response of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), according to a report narrated by Muslim, was to say: Do not pray. He told him not to pray until he could find water. According to a version narrated by Abu Dawud, he said: As for me, I would not pray until I could find water. It is as if ‘Umar thought that he should not pray until he found water with which to purify himself, then he could pray. At this point, ‘Ammar ibn Yasir reminded ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them) of something that had happened to both of them, as he said: O Commander of the Faithful, do you not remember when you and I were on a journey? According to a report narrated by Muslim, he said: …and we became junub. They both became junub whilst they were on a journey, and they could not find any water. As for ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he refrained from praying, because he expected to reach water before the time for the prayer ended, or because he believed that tayammum was only valid in the case of minor impurity, not major impurity (janabah). As for ‘Ammar (may Allah be pleased with him), he drew an analogy between major impurity and minor impurity, and therefore he rolled in the dust in order to remove the major impurity. It is as if, because he believed that tayammum could be an alternative for wudu’ and it is done in a similar manner to it, he thought that tayammum could also be done in a manner similar to ghusl. Then he prayed after that. When he returned to Madinah, he told the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about that, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “It would have been sufficient for you to do like this,” then he patted the ground with his hands and blew onto them, to reduce the dust, then he wiped his face and hands with them. Thus he taught him how to do tayammum, and he taught him that it is valid for both major impurity (janabah) and minor impurity.
In this hadith, we see that the Sahabah strove to work out issues (ijtihad) at the time of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
It also indicates that making analogies (qiyas) is valid..

347

It was narrated that Shaqiq said: I was sitting with ‘Abdullah and Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari, when Abu Musa said to him: What if a man becomes junub and cannot find water for a month; would he not do tayammum and pray? Then how do you understand this verse in Surat al-Ma’idah, {[But if you] do not find water, then seek clean earth…} [al-Ma’idah 5:6]? ‘Abdullah said: If that concession was granted to them, then you would most likely see them, every time they found the water to be cold, seeking clean earth [to do tayammum]. I said: So you dislike it for that reason? He said: Yes. Abu Musa said: Did you not hear what ‘Ammar said to ‘Umar? [He said:] The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sent me on an errand, and I became junub but could not find any water, so I rolled in the dust as an animal does. I mentioned that to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and he said: “It would have been sufficient for you to do like this.” Then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) patted the ground with his hands once, then he shook them [to remove excess dust], then he wiped the back of his [right] hand with the palm of his left hand, or the back of his left hand with the palm of his [right] left, then he wiped his face with them. ‘Abdullah said: Did you not see that ‘Umar was not convinced by what ‘Ammar said? Ya‘la added, narrating from al-A‘mash, from Shaqiq: I was with ‘Abdullah and Abu Musa, and Abu Musa said: Did you not hear what ‘Ammar said to ‘Umar? [He said:] The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sent me and you, and I became junub and rolled in the dust. Then we came to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and told him about that, and he said: “It would have been sufficient for you to do like this.” And he wiped his face and hands once..

Commentary : Tayammum is a concession that Allah (may He be exalted) has prescribed for His slaves when water is not available or it is not possible to use it, so as to make things easy for them, as it removes impurity (hadath) and makes it permissible to offer the prayer and do other acts of worship.
‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that in the beginning, tayammum was an alternative to wudu’ only, not to ghusl. In this hadith, the Tabi‘i Shaqiq ibn Salamah reports the discussion that took place between ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud and Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with them both) about this matter, as Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) said to ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him): What if a man becomes junub and cannot find water for a month; would he not do tayammum and pray? Abu Musa objected to the view of Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) which said that tayammum cannot be done in the case of janabah, and a person in this situation cannot pray until he finds water. Then he [Abu Musa] quoted as evidence [to refute the view of Ibn Mas‘ud] the verse in which Allah (may He be exalted) says: {[But if you] do not find water, then seek clean earth…} [al-Ma’idah 5:6] ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) responded to him by saying that if people were granted a concession allowing them to do tayammum in this case, then people would most likely, every time they found the water to be cold, seek clean earth [to do tayammum] and they would stop washing with water. Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) suggested that if we go along with the view that it is permissible for the one who is junub to do tayammum, that might open the door to being too heedless with regard to tayammum, so everyone who found the water cold would do tayammum [instead of ghusl]. Thus he wanted to prevent people from resorting to it for trivial reasons, by preventing them from doing tayammum to cleanse themselves from janabah instead of doing ghusl. But Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) quoted the hadith of ‘Ammar ibn Yasir (may Allah be pleased with him), in which he said that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sent him on an errand, and that during this journey he became junub, so he rolled in the dust like an animal. According to a report narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab was with ‘Ammar (may Allah be pleased with them both), and he also became junub, but he refrained from doing tayammum and decided not to pray until he was able to find water. Then when ‘Ammar returned, he told the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about that, and that he had rolled in the dust with the intention of doing tayammum to cleanse himself of janabah. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) taught him how to do tayammum, which is to pat the dust with both hands, then blow on them to reduce the dust, then wipe the hands and face with them. This proves that it is valid for one who is junub to do tayammum. Thus ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud disagreed with Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with them both), and said to him: Did you not see that ‘Umar was not convinced of what ‘Ammar said? Here he was referring to when ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) did not remember that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said this to ‘Ammar (may Allah be pleased with him) when ‘Ammar (may Allah be pleased with him) told him about this incident. It was as if ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) was using ‘Umar’s view as evidence to prove that tayammum was not valid in the case of janabah and major impurity.
This hadith highlights the fact that the Sahabah used to discuss issues of knowledge and quote as evidence the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and sound analogies to both. .

350

It was narrated that ‘A’ishah the Mother of the Believers said: When Allah first enjoined the prayer, each prayer was two rak’ahs, whether one was at home or travelling. Then the prayer when travelling was confirmed and remained as it was, and the prayer when not travelling was increased..

Commentary : The revelation came down to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) gradually. By the wisdom of Allah (may He be exalted), some rulings were abrogated. This gradual approach was done to achieve some purposes, or to make things easy, or for other reasons.
In this report, the Mother of the Believers ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that in the beginning, before the Mi‘raj, all the prayers consisted of two rak‘ahs, whether one was at home or travelling. After that, the five daily prayers were enjoined, then obligatory prayers that were offered when not travelling were increased; Zuhr, ‘Asr and ‘Isha were increased to four rak‘ahs when not travelling, after having been two. Fajr, however, remained as two rak‘ahs because of the lengthy recitation in it; and Maghrib became three rak‘ahs, because it is the Witr of the day. Prayer offered when travelling remained two rak‘ahs, as it had been originally, except for Maghrib, which cannot be shortened.
It was said that after the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) reached Madinah and settled there, prayer offered when travelling was made lighter with the revelation of the verse, {And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy} [al-Nisa’ 4:101]. Thus we may say that when they said that prayer when travelling remained as it was, the Arabic phrase may be understood as meaning that the prayer when travelling ended up lighter and did not continue to be the same as it was initially enjoined..

355

It was narrated from ‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah that he saw the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) praying in a single garment in the house of Umm Salamah, with the ends of it wrapped over his shoulders..

Commentary : One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Islamic religion is that it makes things easy for people. Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has not enjoined anything but that which is easy to apply. One example of that is making it easy to do acts of worship. In this hadith, ‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah – the stepson of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him); he was the son of Umm Salamah the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) – narrates that he saw the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) praying in a single garment in the house of Umm Salamah, with the ends of it wrapped on his shoulders. The word translated here as shoulder refers to the place where the shoulder meets the side of the neck and it is the place where the garment is placed on both sides. What that means is that he put the right edge of his garment on his left shoulder and the left edge of his garment on his right shoulder, then he tied the two ends over his chest, which is known as ishtimal; it is done to prevent the garment from falling and uncovering the ‘awrah. This ruling applies to one who only owns one garment, if the garment is big enough for that and can cover the entire body. But if the garment is narrow or small, then the individual should pray with it wrapped around his waist to cover his ‘awrah and the lower half of his body, as is mentioned in the hadith of Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sahih al-Bukhari..

357

It was narrated from Abul Nadr the freed slave of ‘Umar ibn ‘Ubaydillah, that Abu Murrah, the freed slave of Umm Hani’ bint Abi Talib told him that he heard Umm Hani’ bint Abi Talib say: I went to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) during the year of the conquest [of Makkah], and I found him doing ghusl, with his daughter Fatimah screening him. I greeted him with salaam, and he said: “Who is that?” I said: I am Umm Hani’ bint Abi Talib. He said: “Welcome, Umm Hani’!” When he had finished his ghusl, he stood and prayed eight rak‘ahs, wrapped in a single garment. Then when he had finished, I said: O Messenger of Allah, The son of my mother is saying that he is going to kill a man to whom I have offered my protection, So-and-so the son of Hubayrah. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “We grant protection to whomever you grant protection to, O Umm Hani’.” Umm Hani’ said: That happened at midmorning..

Commentary : Offering protection is a promise that one of the Muslims may give to a disbeliever, according to which that person becomes safe on the basis of that promise, and his life and property are protected.
In this hadith, Umm Hani’ bint Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with her) – who was a paternal cousin of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) – narrates that she went to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) during the year of the conquest [of Makkah], which occurred in 8 AH. According to a report in Sahih al-Bukhari, that happened at midmorning; midmorning (duha) extends from the time when the sun has risen to the height of a spear until just before Zuhr. That happened in her house, as is stated in a report narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari. She found him doing ghusl, with his daughter Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) shielding him from view, so that he would not be seen. She greeted him with salaam, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) asked who she was, so she told him that she was Umm Hani’, whereupon the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) welcomed her.
Then she narrates that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had finished his ghusl, he prayed eight rak‘ahs, wrapped in a single garment. The way in which that garment was worn was that he placed the right edge of the garment on his left shoulder, and placed the left edge of it on his right shoulder, then tied the two ends over his chest. This is what is called ishtimal, and it is done to make the garment more secure in covering the ‘awrah.
When he finished his prayer, she said to him: The son of my mother – meaning ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib – is threatening that he is going to kill a man to whom I have granted protection. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “We grant protection to whomever you grant protection to.” Umm Hani’ said: That happened at midmorning.
This hadith indicates that a woman may grant protection to a polytheist (mushrik).
It highlights the good manners of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), how he upheld the ties of kinship, how he spoke kind words, was of a gentle nature, and welcomed visitors warmly.
It also indicates that it is prescribed to offer the Duha prayer..

358

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Do not aim to offer your prayer when the sun is rising or setting.”.

Commentary : There are specific times for the five daily obligatory prayers. With regard to supererogatory and voluntary prayers, it is permissible to offer them at any time, apart from the fact that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade praying at certain times, which include what is mentioned in this hadith, namely the time when the sun is rising and the time when it is setting. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Do not aim to offer your prayer when the sun is rising or setting.” In other words, do not seek out these two times to pray. The reason for that – as mentioned in other reports – is that the sun rises between the two sides of the head of a devil, or the side of the head of the Shaytan rises with it, and because some of the disbelievers used to prostrate to the sun and pray to it at these two times. Therefore it is prohibited to pray at these two times, in order to differ from these disbelievers.
This prohibition is understood to refer to voluntary prayers at these times. In the case of one who has an excuse for not having caught up with the obligatory prayer at the beginning of its time, he may pray at the end of its time and catch up with the prayer before the sun rises and before it sets, as it says in the hadith narrated by al-Bukhari: “Whoever catches up with one rak‘ah of Fajr before the sun rises has caught up with Fajr.” Or it may be that the prohibition is on praying deliberately at the time of sunrise or sunset. However, if it is not done deliberately – as in the case of one who wakes up or remembers after having forgotten – he may pray (at those times) and there is no blame on him..

358

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that someone asked the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about praying in a single garment. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Does everyone among you have two garments?”.

Commentary : One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Islamic religion is that it makes things easy for people. Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has not enjoined anything but that which is easy to apply.
In this hadith, Abu Hurayrah narrates that someone came to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and asked him about the ruling on praying in a single garment: was that permissible and valid, or not? The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) gave a response which implied the answer and gave a fatwa, as he said: “Does everyone among you have two garments?” This was a question which indicated that he found the first question somewhat odd, for if not everyone among you can afford two garments, and the prayer is obligatory, then it should be valid to pray in a single garment so long as it covers the ‘awrah, because this is a religion of ease and Allah does not burden any soul with more than it can bear. At the beginning of Islam, the Sahabah were extremely poor, and perhaps they could only afford one garment, which they would use in various ways for various purposes, including prayer. When Allah enabled the Muslims to make conquests, they prayed in two garments, a rida’ (upper garment) and izar (lower garment), so that this would be more covering for the body and the ‘awrah, and it would be more appropriate for the one who was standing in prayer, in addition to improving his appearance when standing before Allah (may He be glorified and exalted)..

359

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “No one of you should pray in a single garment of which nothing is on his shoulders.”.

360

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: I bear witness that I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “Whoever prays in a single garment, let him put each end of it on the opposite shoulder.”.

361

It was narrated that Sa‘id ibn al-Harith said: We asked Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah about praying in a single garment, and he said: I went out with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) on one of his journeys. I came to him at night for some reason, and I found him praying. I was wearing a single garment, so I wrapped myself in it and prayed beside him. When he finished he said: “What brought you here at night, O Jabir?” I told him what I needed, and when I had finished speaking, he said: “What is this wrapping that I see?” I said: The garment is narrow. He said: “If it is wide, then wrap yourself with it, and if it is narrow, then wrap it around your waist.”.

Commentary : Prayer is an act of worship that nourishes the soul. In the prayer, the individual stands before his Lord, and he should cover his body and his ‘awrah, presenting himself in a manner that is appropriate to standing before Allah (may He be glorified). The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained what is permissible when praying and what is not permissible.
In this hadith, the Tabi‘i Sa‘id ibn al-Harith narrates that they asked Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah (may Allah be pleased with him) about the ruling on praying in a single garment, and Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) responded by telling them what happened to him with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), when he went out with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) on one of his journeys. That was the campaign of Buwat – as was specified in Sahih Muslim. Buwat is the mountains of Juhaynah; between Buwat and Madinah there is a distance of approximately 36 miles. This campaign was one of the first campaigns of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Jabir went by night for some purpose, and he found the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) standing in prayer. Jabir was wearing a single garment, so he wrapped it around himself because it was narrow, and he put its edges on his shoulders, and prayed with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) finished praying, he asked Jabir why he had come at night; he only asked him that because he knew that what had made him come at night was a serious matter. So Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) told him what he needed, then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “What is this wrapping that I see?” This is a question which reflected disapproval; the reason why he did not approve was that the garment was narrow, and Jabir had put its ends on opposite shoulders; so it was as if when he put its ends on opposite shoulders, the garment was no longer covering him properly. Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) replied by telling him that he was wearing a single garment that was narrow, so he had wrapped himself in it. Then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) taught him that the time to wrap oneself in that manner was when the garment was wide enough, in which case he could wrap himself in it by using one end as an izar and the other end as a rida’. But if the garment was narrow, then it would be sufficient to wrap it around his waist, because the aim is to cover the ‘awrah, which may be achieved by wrapping it around the waist only, if it is small and narrow..

362

It was narrated that Sahl ibn Sa‘d said: Some men were praying with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), with their izars tied on their shoulders, like children, and it was said to the women: Do not raise your heads [from prostration] until the men have sat up completely..

Commentary : Some of the companions of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) were so poor and needy that they did not own more than one garment with which to wrap themselves and cover both the upper and lower parts of their bodies whilst praying. The basic principle concerning the izar is that it is used to cover the lower part of the body, but they were wrapping it around their shoulders, to serve as both a rida’ and an izar, covering the entire body as small children used to do at that time.
This is indicative of how Islam makes it easy to pray in one garment when necessary, if the garment is large enough to do that. But if it is too narrow or small, then the individual should pray with it wrapped around his waist, so as to cover his ‘awrah and the lower part of his body, as mentioned in the hadith of Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sahih al-Bukhari.
It was said to the women: Do not raise your heads [from prostration] until you are certain that the men have sat up completely after rising from prostration. That was to prevent them seeing the ‘awrahs of the men, if they raised their heads from prostration before them. That was because the women stood behind the men, and the men’s ‘awrahs might become uncovered as they were standing up. Therefore the women were prohibited to raise their heads too soon, for that reason.
This hadith indicates that the garments of those men were short and might uncover their ‘awrahs.
It also highlights the fact that averting the gaze and avoiding looking at ‘awrahs is more emphasized in the case of prayer..

363

It was narrated that Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah said: I was with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) on a journey, and he said: “O Mughirah, pick up the vessel.” So I picked it up, then the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) set out, until he disappeared from my view and relieved himself. He was wearing a Syrian jubbah, and he went to bring his arm out from its sleeve, but it was too narrow, so he brought his arm out from beneath the garment, and I poured water for him and he did wudu’ as for prayer and wiped over his khuffs, then he prayed..

Commentary : Al-Mughirah (may Allah be pleased with him) was with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) during a journey on one of his campaigns, which was the campaign to Tabuk in 9 AH. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) instructed him to pick up “the vessel” – the vessel in question was a small vessel that was used for carrying water for wudu’ and the like. So al-Mughirah (may Allah be pleased with him) picked it up, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) set out until he had moved away from al-Mughirah and disappeared from his sight. Then he relieved himself, urinating or defecating. He was wearing a jubbah that had been woven in Syria. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tried to bring his arm out of the sleeve, but he could not do that, because it was too narrow. So he brought his arm out from beneath the jubbah so that he would be able to wash it in wudu’, and he lifted the jubbah up onto his shoulders; the word translated here as shoulder refers to the point where the arm meets the shoulder. Al-Mughirah poured water for him, and he did wudu’ as prescribed for prayer, and wiped over his khuffs. The khuff is a kind of footwear made of leather, which covers the foot. It is usually worn for warmth. He wiped over his khuffs because he had put them on his feet when he was in a state of purity, so he availed himself of the concession allowing one to wipe over the khuffs without taking them off. Then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed.
The Sunnah explains that wiping over the khuffs may be done for one day and night for one who is not travelling, and for three days and nights for one who is travelling.
This hadith indicates that one may pray in clothes that were made by the polytheists, because there were Christians in Syria.
It also indicates that it is valid to wipe over the khuffs..

364

It was narrated that ‘Amr ibn Dinar said: I heard Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah narrating that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was moving stones with them for [the rebuilding of] the Kaaba. He was wearing his izar, and his uncle al-‘Abbas said to him: O son of my brother, if you undo your izar and put it on your shoulders, it will protect you from the stones. So he undid it and placed it on his shoulders, then he fainted. And he was never seen in a state of undress after that, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him..

Commentary : Allah (may He be exalted) cared for His Prophet from childhood and before He sent him with His message; He protected him from anything shameful or inappropriate. One example of this divine care is mentioned in this hadith, in which Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was moving the stones to rebuild the Kaaba with his people, when Quraysh wanted to rebuild it. That was some time before his mission began. It was said that at that time he was fifteen years old. Whilst he was carrying the stones, he was wearing his izar, which is a garment that is worn to cover the lower part of the body. His uncle al-‘Abbas said to him: If you undo your izar and put it on your shoulders, making it a barrier between the skin and the rocks, it will be less painful and less tiring for you to carry the stones. The word translated here as shoulder refers to where the top of the arm meets the shoulder. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did that. Then he fainted, because his ‘awrah had become uncovered, for he had a natural inclination towards the best of manners and attitudes, and was created with a complete sense of modesty and shyness, and fainting was more covering for him. This is an example of Allah’s care for His Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and of His guiding him to follow the best manners and attitudes. From that time on, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was never seen in a state of undress with his ‘awrah uncovered.
It was also said that he fainted because of something he saw behind him, or because of a caller who called out to him to alert him to his being in a state of undress. In al-Sahihayn it says: He fell to the ground and his eyes rolled up, then he woke up and said: “My izar, my izar!” Then he tied his izar on firmly..

365

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: A man went to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and asked him about praying in a single garment. He said: “Does everyone among you have two garments?” Then a man asked ‘Umar [a similar question] and he said: If Allah has enabled you to afford it, then cover yourselves properly; a man may wear whatever he has of garments. A man may pray in an izar and rida’, or in an izar and chemise, or in an izar and a qaba’, or in a sirwal and a rida’, or in a sirwal and a chemise, or in a sirwal and a qaba’, or in a short sirwal and a qaba’, or in a tubban and a chemise. And I think he said: in a tubban and a rida’..

Commentary : Prayer is an act of worship that nourishes the soul. In the prayer, the individual stands before his Lord, and he should cover his body and his ‘awrah, presenting himself in a manner that is appropriate to standing before Allah (may He be glorified). The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained what is permissible when praying and what is not permissible.
In this hadith, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man came to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and asked him about praying in a single garment: was that permissible and valid, or not? The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) gave a response which implied the answer and gave a fatwa, as he said: “Does everyone among you have two garments?” This was a question which indicated that he found the question somewhat odd, for if not everyone among you can afford two garments, and the prayer is obligatory, then it should be valid to pray in a single garment so long as it covers the ‘awrah, because this is a religion of ease and Allah does not burden any soul with more than it can bear.
Then a man asked ‘Umar about praying in a single garment. That occurred during the caliphate of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). It seems that they differed concerning that matter, so they asked the caliph about it, and he said: If Allah has enabled you to afford it, then cover yourselves properly. Here he was urging people to let the blessings of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) be seen clearly. This indicates that a single garment is sufficient, but anything in addition to that is better. Then ‘Umar said: A man may wear whatever he has of garments. A man may pray in an izar and rida’… What is meant is: let him put on his garments and pray in them. So a man may pray in an izar and rida’; the izar is the garment that covers the lower part of the body, and the rida’ covers the upper part. Or he may pray in an izar and a chemise, which refers to a garment with sleeves and pockets that is shaped to fit the body, and is put on and taken off over the head. It is like the thobe that people wear nowadays. Or he may pray in an izar and qaba’; the qaba’ is a garment with narrow sleeves and a narrow middle, and a slit at the back. Or he may pray in a sirwal (loose trousers) and a rida’; or in a sirwal and a chemise; or in a sirwal and a qaba’; or in a tubban and a qaba’; or in a tubban and a chemise. Sirwal refers to trousers that cover the body from the navel to the knees, or to the feet. Tubban refers to something that is like the sirwal except that it has no legs; it covers the most private part of the ‘awrah only. These nine types of clothing are listed with a conjunction, because ‘Umar said that by way of listing options. It is as if he was saying: if a man puts on whatever he has of garments, that is good enough, then he explained what garments may go together.
This hadith indicates that praying in two garments is better, even though it is permissible to pray in one garment.
It indicates that the matter of what garments may be worn when praying is easy and broad in scope, and that it may vary according to what one is able to afford, without falling short with regard to covering the ‘awrah..

1160

Mu‘ādhah al-‘Adawiyyah reported: I asked ‘Ā’ishah, the wife of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): “Did the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast three days of each month?" She said: 'Yes.' I said to her: "Which days of the month did he use to fast?" She said: "It did not matter to him which days of the month he fasted.".

Commentary : People would ask the Prophet's wives about his custom regarding matters unclear to them or those they liked to learn about.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Mu‘ādhah al-‘Adawiyyah informs that she asked ‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her): "Did the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to fast three days of each month?" The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urged the observance of fasting for three days every month, as narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections. In response to her, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: 'Yes', he used to fast them, and this was the minimum he would fast in a month. Then, Mu‘ādhah al-‘Adawiyyah asked for the specification of these days; whether they were at the start, middle, or end of the month, and whether they were successive or separated? ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) told her that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not care about fixing these days; rather, she would find him fasting at the start of the month and at its middle and at its end. It was said: He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) probably did not observe three specific days in a persistent manner, lest it might be thought they were specified.
In a Hadīth narrated by Abu Dāwūd, ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast - meaning at the Ghurrah of each month - three days, i.e., the start of the month. The Ghurrah of something is its beginning. It was also said: He meant the white days in the middle of the month during which the moon becomes full, namely the 13th, 14th, and 15th days. This is because Ghurrah also refers to whiteness. So, the Companion ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd, who reported the Hadīth, probably mentioned the usual practice based on his knowledge of the Prophet's conditions and that he used to fast these days. Also, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), as narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections, reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would fast so often outside Ramadan until it was said: He does not cease fasting. And he would refrain from fasting until it was said: He does not fast. Nonetheless, he used to fast on certain days, like the days at the start of the month and its middle, as well as on Mondays and Thursdays.
The bottom line is that there were numerous conditions for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) regarding fasting. Every Companion reported what he knew about the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), or what he saw, or what was suitable in a certain situation; all the reports about the Prophet's fasting are authentic, which falls under permissibility and flexibility for those who want to fast as they wish while being keen to adhere to the Prophet's Sunnah and keep away from the days in which fasting is prohibited.
In the Hadīth: Demonstrating the practice of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as he used to fast often and diligently.

1162

Abu Qatādah al-Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about his fasting. He said: . The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got angry. Thereupon, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "We are pleased with Allah as a Lord, with Islam as a religion, with Muhammad as a Messenger, and with our pledge of allegiance as a pledge of allegiance." He said: He was asked about fasting of Ad-Dahr (all days), and he said: May he not fast or break his fast, or he has not fasted or broken his fast. He said: He was asked about fasting for two days and not fasting for one day, and he said: Who could bear that?! He said: He was asked about fasting one day and not fasting for two days, and he said: I wish that Allah had given us the strength for that. He said: He was asked about fasting one day and not fasting for one day, and he said: That is the fasting of my brother David (Dāwūd) (peace be upon him). He said: He was asked about fasting on Monday, and he said: That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I was sent (as a Prophet), or the revelation was sent down to me on that day. He said: And he said: Fasting three days every month and from Ramadan to the next Ramadan is (equivalent to) the fasting of Ad-Dahr (all days). He said: He was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah, and he said: It expiates the past year and the coming one. He said: He was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Āshūrā’, and he said: It expiates the past year..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) liked that a Muslim should perform the deeds he can bear and do regularly. People used to ask about his guidance (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) regarding matters confusing and unclear to them, or about things they would like to know, so that they could follow his example and attain success.
In this Hadīth, Abu Qatādah al-Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about his fasting, meaning: the fasting of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). In the version by Ahmed, it is mentioned that the questioner was a Bedouin, an Arab living in the desert. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got angry and the effect of anger became manifest on his face, due to this man's statement and question. He probably got angry because he disliked the question, as he would need to answer it and feared that his answer would lead to some evil, namely that the questioner might think it to be obligatory or too little, or he might restrict himself to it while his condition allowed for more than that. As for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), he restricted himself to it due to his preoccupation with the interests and rights of Muslims, and the rights of his wives and guests and those who came to him, lest his example might be followed by anyone, and this would cause harm to some people. The questioner should have said: How much should I fast? Or: How should I fast? Thus, he would pose the question regarding himself, to which he would give him an answer based on his condition, as he gave answers to others on the basis of their respective conditions. Moreover, the Prophet's fasting did not follow one pattern. Rather, it would differ with the difference of conditions. He would sometimes fast often and at other times less often, and a situation like that makes it hard to answer the question.
When ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) noticed the Prophet's anger, he - out of politeness and respect towards the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and as an apology and appeasement to him, and out of pity towards the questioner - said: "We are pleased with Allah as a Lord, with Islam as a religion, with Muhammad as a Messenger," i.e., we are pleased with His planning and predestination for us, and we have taken Him as our God and Deity, apart from anyone else. And we are pleased with Islam as a religion, as we have chosen it from among all religions and entered it being content and submissive, and we did not seek a religion other than Islam. And we are pleased with Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as a Messenger. We are pleased with all he brought from Allah Almighty and accepted that with submission and delight, and we believed what he said, obeyed his commands, and shunned his prohibitions, and we loved, followed, and supported him.
"and with our pledge of allegiance as a pledge of allegiance," which refers to the pledge of allegiance over Hijrah and Jihad. This shows complete faith and submission to Allah and to His Messenger and religion.
When the Prophet's anger subsided, ‘Umar asked him - as related in another version by Muslim - in a more accurate and rational manner that was closer to the truth. He posed his question in a general way that would benefit all people. He asked him about fasting for all days, which is the fasting for all the days of the year consecutively, and about the state of he who observes such fasts, as to whether it is commendable or dispraised. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "May he not fast or break his fast;" or he said: "He has not fasted or broken his fast." The meaning: He does not struggle against the severity of hunger and thirst because he gets used to fasting and so it becomes easier for him, and he does not need the patience over the effort upon which the reward is conditional. Hence, he becomes like one who did not fast. And since he does not gain the comfort and pleasure felt by those who break their fast, it is as if he did not break his fast. It was said: This means supplication against him, by way of deterring him. It may also be an informative statement, meaning that it is as if this person did not break the fast because he ate nothing, and he did not observe the fast because his fast was not prescribed by the Lawgiver.
Then, he asked him about a person fasting for two days and not fasting for one day. Thus, the days he fasts are double the days he does not fast, which makes this act of worship more common than the usual way of life. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Who could bear that?!", i.e., who can do that being able to continue fasting while discharging his other duties of the day?! He seemed to have disliked it, for it mostly goes beyond people's capacity, and so it is not encouraged by an easy and tolerant religion. It was said: It indicates that the reason for prohibition is weakness, which means: If anyone can bear it, there is nothing wrong with that.
Then, he asked him about a person fasting one day and not fasting for two days. Thus, the days he does not fast are double the days he fasts, and he continues to do that for all his life. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) replied to him, saying: I wish that Allah had given us the strength for that. He seemed to have approved of this type of fasting and hoped to observe it. It was said: That his wish pertains to others in his Ummah, for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would bear it and more than that, and it is authentically reported that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to observe continuous fasts. It was said: This means that because of his preoccupation with his wives, guests, activities, and people, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not observe this amount of fasting on a continuous basis. This is not because of his weakness to bear fasting, or his lack of patience over abstinence from eating for this period.
Then, he asked him about a person who fasts one day and does not fast for one day, and who takes that as a habit. In response, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "That is the fasting of my brother David (Dāwūd) (peace be upon him)." This indirectly indicates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged this fasting, for it is very moderate and it takes the two aspects of worship and habit into the best consideration, and it is one of the most beloved fasts to Allah Almighty, as related in the Two Sahīh Collections. This is because it is not ongoing fasting nor ongoing abandonment of fasting.
Then, he asked him about the reason behind fasting on Monday. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "That is the day on which I was born and a day on which I was commissioned (as a Prophet)," i.e., the day of the beginning of my prophethood; so, it is the day most worthy of being fasted. Or he said: "the revelation was sent down to me therein;" the revelation began to come down on it.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that fasting three days every month - which applies to specification, like the fasting of the white days: the 13th, 14th, and 15th days; or to generality, like fasting three days at the beginning of the month, its middle, or at its end, successively or sporadically - and the fasting of Ramadan every year is equivalent to the fasting of all days. That is, Allah, out of His grace and generosity, multiplies the reward for every act of goodness and worship, involving words or deeds, tenfold. So, a good deed is multiplied to ten similar good deeds. Likewise, the fasting of one day is recorded as fasting of ten days. Accordingly, if a person fasts three days, it is as if he fasts thirty days, which is a whole month. Thus, by fasting three days every month, it is as if he fasts the entire year, in addition to the obligatory fasting in the month of Ramadan.
And he asked him about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah. In response, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that whoever fasts it, Allah forgives for him the sins of two years: the past year and the coming year. This fasting is to be observed by non-pilgrims, for it is disliked for a pilgrim to fast on the day of ‘Arafah. This is because fasting on this day will make the pilgrim too weak to stand and supplicate. As for non-pilgrims, they are addressed by this Hadīth to the relevant merit and attainment of rewards from Allah Almighty. The day of ‘Arafah is the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah. It was called as such because it comprises one of the pillars of Hajj, namely standing at ‘Arafah in Makkah.
Then, he asked him about the fasting of the day of ‘Āshūrā’, which is the tenth day of the month of Muharram. This is the day in which Allah saved Moses (peace be upon him) and his people from Pharaoh. So, Moses fasted it in gratitude to Allah for His favor in destroying the oppressors. In response, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that Allah forgives by fasting this day the sins of the past year.
This expiation includes minor sins, not the major ones. As for major sins, they can only be expiated by repentance or mercy from Allah, or it is hoped the major sins will be alleviated. It was said: The expiation for the coming year is that He will preserve him from committing sins in it. It was also said: that He will give him an amount of mercy and reward that expiates for the past year and the next one if it comes and he commits sins therein.
These questions by ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) point to his proper understanding. He first calmed the anger of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and then asked him about certain types of fasting that comprise all that a Muslim can observe, and he knew their rulings, while demonstrating which of them are valid and which are not and pointing out the merit of some of them. Meanwhile, he taught us all of that. So, whoever wishes can observe the valid fast and choose what is more suitable for himself and his ability.
The Hadīth points out the merit of fasting on Monday.
It also points out the merit of fasting on the day of ‘Āshūrā’.
It also shows the merit of fasting on the day of ‘Arafah.
And it demonstrates the merit of fasting during the month of Ramadan.
The Hadīth points out that Allah is Kind to His servants, and He facilitates things for them and removes hardships and restrictions from them.
The Hadīth prohibits fasting for all days.
And it forbids overburdening oneself in worship with things beyond one's capacity..

1163

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported in a Marfū‘ Hadīth: He [i.e., the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)] was asked: "Which prayer is the most excellent after the obligatory prayer? And which fasting is the most excellent after the month of Ramadan?" He said: "The most excellent prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer in the middle of the night, and the most excellent fasting after the month of Ramadan is fasting Allah's month of Al-Muharram.".

Commentary : Prayer and fasting are among the pillars of Islam. Allah determined the obligatory prayer as five prayers during the day and night and determined the obligatory fasting as the fasting of the month of Ramadan. But, if anyone wants to perform these two forms of worship on a voluntary basis, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) specified its meritorious times during which the servant obtains the best reward.
In this Hadīth, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the best times and conditions for offering prayer and observing fast voluntarily. So, someone asked him: What are the best prayers after performing the five obligatory prayers, which must be offered? These are the best forms of worship whereby a servant can seek closeness to Allah Almighty before thinking about supererogatory and additional worship, in case he wants to offer that voluntarily. In a clarifying and demonstrating reply, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most excellent prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer in the middle of the night." This is because prayer during the night is more likely to be free from Riyā’ (show-off) and closer to sincerity, and the praying person can offer it in a focused and carefree manner away from daytime preoccupations. Plus, this is more helpful in remembering the Qur’an and not forgetting some of the verses. The middle of the night means: the last third of the night.
And he was asked about the most excellent fasting after the obligatory fasting of Ramadan, and he replied that the most excellent fasting after the month of Ramadan is fasting Allah's month of Al-Muharram, which is one of the sacred months within which Allah prohibited fighting. The month is attributed to Allah by way of extolment. It is the first month in the Hijri calendar, which is a reason for him to start it with the doing of good and receive it with worship. This is one of the best deeds, just as the first part of the day is received with Dhikr. So, it is hoped that this expiates for the rest of the year, akin to the merit of Dhikr in the early part of the day. It is also probable that since fighting was prohibited during Muharram, seizing its time for fasting was a good opportunity because the times during which fighting is permissible may entail that the believer does not fast, for fasting causes weakness.
The Hadīth points out the merit of prayer in the middle of the night.
It demonstrates the merit of fasting during the month of Muharram.
It also indicates that supererogatory and voluntary worship can be offered after performing the obligations..

1164

Abu Ayyūb al-Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If anyone fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days in Shawwāl, it will be like a perpetual fast.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast some days every month on a voluntary basis, and he urged his Companions to do the same. He also urged the fasting of some days within the months of the year, given their abundant reward.
In this Hadīth, he directed the Muslims to fast six days in Shawwāl, after Ramadan, and pointed out that if anyone fasts the entire Ramadan and then fasts six days in Shawwāl, successive or sporadic - for fasting them successively or sporadically falls under the adherence to the Sunnah - he will obtain a reward equivalent to fasting the entire year. This stems from the great bounty of Allah towards His Muslim servants, as He multiplies the reward for them. This is explained by the verse that reads: {Whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded tenfold.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 160] The month of Ramadan is equivalent to ten months, and fasting six days after Eid al-Fitr completes the year.
The Hadīth points out the merit of fasting six days in the month of Shawwāl..

1166

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I was shown Laylat al-Qadr, and then some members of my family woke me up, and I was caused to forget it. So, seek it in the remaining ten days." [And in a version]: I forgot it..

Commentary : Laylat al-Qadr is a great night whose status Allah points out in Surat al-Qadr. In this night the Qur’an was revealed; worship in it is better than worship in a thousand months; the angels descend in it with the permission of Allah; and it contains safety, security, and peace. It is known to occur, but its time is unknown. Several versions are reported from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the specification of Laylat al-Qadr. This Hadīth is one of those versions, and in it the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I was shown Laylat al-Qadr," i.e., I was made aware of the specification of Laylat al-Qadr and on which night it occurs, but "some members of my family woke me up." This indicates that the Prophet's sighting of it was in a dream. However, his dreams (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and the dreams of the prophets (peace be upon them) were divine revelations. This does not denote that he did not learn about it during wakefulness. As the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was caused to forget it, he said: "So, seek it in the remaining ten days," i.e., try to find it in the remaining ten days, which are the last ten days of the month of Ramadan as a whole. Other versions in the Two Sahīh Collections state that it occurs on odd-numbered days within the last ten days of Ramadan. The Prophet's statement: "seek it" denotes encouragement to try to find it. This should be done by engaging in worship, supplication, and pious acts.
This Hadīth mentions that the reason behind the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forgetting Laylat al-Qadr was that some members of his household awakened him. And it is mentioned in a Hadīth in the Sahīh Al-Bukhāri Collection, reported by ‘Ubādah ibn as-Sāmit (may Allah be pleased with him), that the reason behind that was a dispute and conflict between two men. And also in a Hadīth in the Sahīh Muslim Collection, reported by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), with the wording: "There came two men contending with each other and along with them was the devil." To reconcile these two Hadīths, this may either be taken to denote plurality; thus, the vision in the Hadīth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) was a dream. The forgetfulness happened because of awakening, and the vision in the Hadīth reported by others happened during wakefulness, while the forgetfulness occurred because of the mentioned dispute. Or it may be taken to suggest the occurring of the two stories, in which case the forgetfulness happened twice for two reasons. Or this may probably mean: Some members of my family awakened me, and I heard the dispute between the two men and got up to mediate between them. So, I was caused to forget it, due to my preoccupation with the two men.
The Hadīth indicates that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was subject to forgetfulness, in what Allah willed.
It points out that Laylat al-Qadr lies in the last ten days of Ramadan.
It urges us to seek Laylat al-Qadr..

1168

‘Abdullāh ibn ’Unays reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I was shown Laylat al-Qadr and then I was caused to forget it. I saw myself prostrating in water and mud on its morning." He said: We had rain during the twenty-third night. So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) led us in prayer and left, and indeed the trace of water and mud was on his forehead and nose. He said: ‘Abdullāh ibn ’Unays used to say: The twenty-third..

Commentary : There is no doubt that the greatest month in the sight of Allah is the month of Ramadan, and the greatest night is Laylat al-Qadr. Therefore, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) diligently tried to specify it. So, numerous Hadīths were reported on determining this night.
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ’Unays (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I was shown Laylat al-Qadr and then I was caused to forget it," i.e., I came to know on which day it occurs. Then, this knowledge was taken away from me. Jibrīl (Gabriel) (peace be upon him) informed him of its specific time in that year. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) saw in a dream - and the dreams of the prophets are true and truth, and constitute revelation from Allah Almighty - that its sign is that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was prostrating in water and mud. Then, ‘Abdullāh ibn ’Unays (may Allah be pleased with him) related that it rained on the twenty-third night. The Prophet's vision of himself prostrating in water and mud came true. He led them in Qiyām al-Layl and departed after the prayer as the trace of water and mud was on his forehead and nose due to prostrating over them. This was confirmation of the Prophet's dream. The roof of his mosque was made of palm leaf stalks. Based on this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ’Unays (may Allah be pleased with him) used to determine Laylat al-Qadr to be the twenty-third night every year. Several Hadīths are reported specifying the time of Laylat al-Qadr. The scholars had a lot to say on reconciling these Hadīths or favoring some above others. This includes: that Laylat al-Qadr moves every year within the last ten days of Ramadan. It was called Laylat al-Qadr because of its high status and rank, or because the pious deeds performed therein are of great significance. Out of Allah's wisdom, He concealed it from people for them to diligently seek it within the nights, and thus, they will engage more in worship, which brings benefits to them.
The Hadīth mentions prostration on water and mud.
It states that the dreams of the prophets are true.
It urges us to seek Laylat al-Qadr and utilize it for the performance of righteous deeds, given the increased merit and reward therein.
It affirms prostration on the forehead and nose..

1170

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were talking about Laylat al-Qadr in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who said: "Who amongst you remembers when the moon rose and it was like a half of plate?".

Commentary : Laylat al-Qadr is a great night. Allah points out its status in Surat al-Qadr. The Qur’an was revealed therein. Worship in it is better than worship in a thousand months. The angels descend in it with the permission of Allah, and it contains safety, security, and peace. It is known to occur, but its time is unknown. Several versions are reported from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the specification of Laylat al-Qadr or the nature of its night.
This Hadīth is one of those versions, and it identifies one of the characteristics of Laylat al-Qadr. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that they talked to one another about Laylat al-Qadr and its status and significance, the merit of performing Qiyām al-Layl therein, and its signs which were mentioned by the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Who amongst you remembers when the moon rose, and it was like a half of plate?" He likened the moon to half of a food plate. The meaning: Who amongst you remembers the night in which half of the moon appeared like half of a food plate? This was the sign of Laylat al-Qadr in this month known to them and in that year, or the sign of Laylat al-Qadr in all years. This indicates that Laylat al-Qadr can be seen and verified by whomever Allah wills..

1175

‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would strive more in the last ten days than he would strive in other than them..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was most keen on attaining rewards, and he was good at utilizing the virtuous times, including the last ten days of Ramadan, which are the best nights of the year, and they contain Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree), which is better than a thousand months.
In this Hadīth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) relates that when the last ten days of Ramadan came - starting from the night of the 21th day until the end of the month - the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would strive more in them than he would strive at other times, i.e., more than his diligence in other nights. This is due to the significance and merit of those nights and in pursuit of Laylat al-Qadr. He would engage more in righteous deeds and worship, draw close to Allah Almighty, retire in his praying place, and keep away from women. This is demonstrated by another version in the Two Sahīh Collections: "When the ten days came, he would pray all night, wake up his family, show diligence, and tie up his lower garment firmly."
The Hadīth demonstrates keenness to engage diligently in worship during the last ten days of Ramadan.
It indicates that one should strive to have the best possible ending of Ramadan..

1176

‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I never saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) fasting during the ten days..

Commentary : The month of Dhul-Hijjah is one of the sacred months. It includes the ten days at its beginning, during which righteous deeds are greatly meritorious. They include the day of ‘Arafah, the ninth day. And they include the day of Eid al-Ad'ha, the tenth day. A number of Hadīths are reported on their merit.
In this Hadīth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that she did not see the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) fasting during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. In another version narrated by Muslim, she said: "He did not fast the ten days." The ten days here refer to the nine days from the beginning of Dhul-Hijjah, for fasting on the day of Eid is forbidden.
This Hadīth indicates that it is disliked fasting the ten days; whereas other Hadīths point to the merit of performing pious deeds - which include fasting - in those ten days. It is authentically narrated in the Sahīh Al-Bukhāri Collection that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There are no deeds on any day better than deeds in these," i.e., the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. It is probable that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not observe fasting on these days because he would sometimes abandon certain deeds, though he would like to perform them, for fear that they might be ordained upon his Ummah. The merit of fasting the day of ‘Arafah by non-pilgrims is mentioned in a Hadīth narrated by Muslim: "Fasting the day of ‘Arafah, I expect from Allah that it expiates the sins of the preceding year and the next one.".

1184

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) proclaim Talbiyah with his hair matted, saying: "Labbayka allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharīka laka labbayk, inna al-hamda wa an-ni‘mata laka wa al-mulk, la sharīka lak." (Here I am at Your service, O Allah, here I am at Your service, here I am at Your service. You have no partner; the praise, the favor, and the dominion belong to You. You have no partner). He would not say anything more than these words. ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would offer two Rak‘ahs in Dhul-Hulayfah, and when his she-camel stood upright with him on its back near the mosque of Dhul-Hulayfah, he proclaimed Talbiyah with these words. ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) used to proclaim Talbiyah like the Talbiyah of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) with these words and would say: Labbayka allahumma labbayk, labbayka wa sa‘dayk, wa al-khayr fi yadayk, labbayka wa ar-raghba’ ilayka wa al-‘amal (Here I am at Your service, O Allah, here I am at Your service. Here I am at Your service, in bliss. Good is in Your Hands. Here I am at Your service; things are sought of You, and deeds are done for Your sake)..

Commentary : This Hadīth demonstrates the manner of the Prophet's Talbiyah upon assuming Ihrām for Hajj. ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) mentions that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) "proclaimed Talbiyah," i.e., he said Talbiyah in a loud voice, "with his hair matted," i.e., he put something like glue in his hair to prevent it from drooping or to keep insects away. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to say in his Talbiyah: "Labbayka allahumma labbayk" (Here I am at Your service, O Allah, here I am at Your service), i.e., I repeat my response to You in complying with Your command to perform Hajj; so, I respond to Your command time and again. "labbayka la sharīka laka labbayk" (Here I am at Your service; You have no partner), i.e., You alone are Sovereign in Your dominion, without any opponent or partner. "inna al-hamda wa an-ni‘mata laka" (the praise, the favor... belong to You), i.e., praise, gratitude, and laudation are due to You alone, and every favor comes from You, and You are the Giver of it. "wa al-mulk, la sharīka lak" (and the dominion belongs to You; You have no partner). He mentioned the dominion after the praise and favor to generalize the causes of obedience and demonstrate the aspects of submission and worship. Then, he followed that with the words "la sharīka lak" (You have no partner) to dispel any resemblance to Him and affirm that He alone is the Possessor of the dominion, the praise, and the favor. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would not say anything beyond these words in his Talbiyah and the assumption of Ihrām. It is said: The wisdom behind Talbiyah is to note Allah's honor to His servants as they come to His House after a call from Him.
Then, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered two Rak‘ahs in the mosque of Dhul-Hulayfah. This refers to the Zhuhr prayer performed in a shortened form, as related in a Hadīth narrated by Muslim and reported by Ibn ‘Abbās. Dhul-Hulayfah is a place lying outside Madīnah, on the way to Makkah. Dhul-Hulayfah is located 6 or 7 miles, nearly 9 or 10km, away from Madīnah. It is the Miqāt of the people of Madīnah and the non-residents who pass by it. It is known today among the ordinary people as Abiyār ‘Ali or Ābār ‘Ali. It lies about 420km away from Makkah. On the day he arrived in Dhul-Hulayfah, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) performed the ‘Asr prayer therein as two Rak‘ahs. Then, he performed the Maghrib, ‘Ishā’, Fajr, and Zhuhr prayers there. Thus, he offered five prayers there and stayed for a day and night. "and when his she-camel stood upright with him on its back near the mosque of Dhul-Hulayfah," i.e., he rode his she-camel, and it stood up in preparation for moving, "he proclaimed Talbiyah with these words," i.e., the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) raised his voice as he said this supplication mentioned earlier.
Then, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) would assume Ihrām and raise his voice as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to do and say: "Labbayka allahumma labbayk, labbayka wa sa‘dayk" (Here I am at Your service, O Allah, here I am at Your service. Here I am at Your service, in bliss), i.e., bliss after bliss, and I repeat that time and time again. "Wa al-Khayr fi yadayk" (Good is in Your Hands); good comes from You alone. "Labbayka wa ar-raghba’ ilayka wa al-‘amal." (Here I am at Your service; things are sought from You, and deeds are done for Your sake), i.e., things are sought from You and asked of You.
This addition was from the words of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Other additions to Talbiyah are reported from some of the Companions, who added them by way of increasing what is good. It is narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would not criticize the Talbiyah proclaimed by any of his Companions..

1185

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The polytheists used to say: "Labbayk la sharika lak" (Here I am at Your service; there is no partner with You.) He said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would say: "Woe to you! Enough, enough." They would say: "illa sharika howa lak; tamlikuhu wa ma malak" (Except a partner with You, whom You possess and all what he possesses." They would say that while performing Tawāf around the House!.

Commentary : Talbiyah for Hajj among the Muslims involves proclamation of the Tawhīd of Allah, sincere devotion to Him, and keeping away from Shirk. As for the polytheists, they used to proclaim Talbiyah for Hajj with Shirk.
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the polytheists used to say while performing Tawāf around the Ka‘bah: "Labbayk, there is no partner with You." So, they would commence the Talbiyah with Tawhīd. Since the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) knew what they would add after that, he would say to them when they pronounced Talbiyah with Tawhīd: "Woe to you!" i.e., you will be in ruin and destruction for what you add to the Talbiyah. "Enough, enough!" i.e., your statement of Tawhīd is sufficient. Limit your Talbiyah to it and do not add the subsequent words: "illa sharika howa lak; tamlikuhu wa ma malak" (Except a partner with You, whom You possess and all what he possesses." By the partner, they meant their idols. This phrase in Arabic (tamlikuhu wa ma malak) has two potential meanings: First: You possess him and what is in his possession. Second: You possess him and he possesses nothing. They acknowledge that he is not worthy of any worship, for he is capable of nothing for himself or others, and that indeed the Sovereign is Allah. Nonetheless, they associate him with Allah in worship, out of ignorance or stubbornness, transgression, and arrogance! Allah Almighty says: {They have taken besides Him other gods who can create nothing but are themselves created. Nor do they have the power to harm or benefit themselves, nor do they have the power to cause death, give life or resurrect the dead.} [Surat al-Furqān: 3]
Moreover, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) says that they used to say that while performing Tawāf around the Sacred House of Allah by way of seeking closeness to Allah Almighty through false words, which are rejected..

1186

Sālim reported: When Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was told that Ihrām should start from Al-Baydā’, he would say: Al-Baydā’ about which you tell a lie about the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)! The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not proclaim Talbiyah except at the tree when his camel stood up with him on its back..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) learned the rituals of Hajj from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) during the Farewell Hajj, as he enjoined them to do, and they passed them on to those who came after them.
In this Hadīth, Sālim ibn ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar mentions that when his father ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) was told that raising one's voice with Talbiyah in Hajj or ‘Umrah should start from Al-Baydā’, he would deny that and say: "Al-Baydā’ about which you tell a lie about the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)!" i.e., you allege that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) started his Talbiyah in his Hajj when he reached Al-Baydā’. You are mistaken in this. He attributed lying to them, for they said something contrary to reality. This does not mean intentional lying. Indeed, the Arabs tend to say to one who made an error: You lied. Al-Baydā’ is a place near Dhul-Hulayfah from the direction of Makkah. It was called Baydā’ for the absence of landmarks therein such as buildings and the like. What is meant here is the elevated and high place opposite Dhul-Hulayfah from the direction of Makkah.
Then, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) explained what is right to them, namely that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not raise his voice with Talbiyah "except at the tree" located near the mosque of Dhul-Hulayfah, which is a village situated 6 or 7 miles (nearly 10km) away from Madīnah, and it is the Miqāt for the people of Madīnah and the non-residents who pass by it. This happened when he set out for the Farewell Hajj. He raised his voice with Talbiyah as he rode his camel and made it stand up to leave, after he had assumed Ihrām at that location.
The difference between the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) over the places from which the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) proclaimed Talbiyah is probably caused by the fact that each of them talked about what he saw. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) left Madīnah for Hajj. When he prayed in the mosque of Dhul-Hulayfah, he proclaimed Talbiyah for Hajj, which some people heard and memorized from him. Then, he rode his she-camel, and it stood up, he proclaimed the Talbiyah, of which some people became aware, for they were coming in groups. So, they heard him and said: Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) proclaimed the Talbiyah when his she-camel stood up with him on its back. Then, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) proceeded, and when he ascended the elevated place of Al-Baydā’, he proclaimed the Talbiyah, which some people became cognizant of and said: Indeed, he proclaimed the Talbiyah when he ascended the elevated place of Al-Baydā’. So, each of them transmitted what he had heard. This shows that the difference arose over the starting of the Talbiyah and the assumption of Ihrām from the Miqāt. This confusion is cleared up by a Hadīth narrated by Abu Dāwūd, in which Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "By Allah, he proclaimed the Talbiyah in his place of prayer, proclaimed the Talbiyah when his she-camel stood up with him on its back, and proclaimed the Talbiyah when he ascended the elevated place of Al-Baydā’.".

1195

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Zayd ibn Arqam came, and ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās said to him, reminding him: "How did you tell me about the meat of the game presented as a gift to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) while he was in a state of Ihrām?" He said that he said: "He was presented with a slice of the meat of the game, and he refused it, saying: "Indeed, we will not eat it; we are in a state of Ihrām.".

Commentary : Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, and it is an act of worship for those who can find a way to it. During it, some permissible things become forbidden for those who assume Ihrām for Hajj. One of these is that Allah Almighty says: {But hunting land animals is forbidden to you as long as you are on pilgrimage.} [Surat al-Mā’idah: 96]
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Tāwūs ibn Kaysān al-Yamāni relates that Zayd ibn Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) came from Kufa to ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him), and Ibn ‘Abbās asked him to relate to him what he had previously told him about the Prophet's action when some meat from a hunted land animal was presented to him as a gift while he was in a state of Ihrām for Hajj. In other words, did the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) accept it and eat therefrom or refuse it? So, Zayd ibn Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) told him that when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was presented with some meat and he knew that it was part of a hunted land animal, he refused the gift and did not accept it from the person who offered it to him. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified to the man who presented the gift that he refused it because he was in a state of Ihrām, and a Muhrim may not eat from hunted land animals.
In a Hadīth in the Two Sahīh Collections, Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ate from his game while being in a state of Ihrām. However, Abu Qatādah was not in a state of Ihrām when he hunted this animal from which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ate. Reconciling the two Hadīths, the scholars said that he refused the first gift because the man hunted it for his sake, whereas he deemed the second game lawful because no role was played by a Muhrim in its hunt, and he did not hunt it for his sake. So, if a non-Muhrim hunts an animal for himself and then presents part of it to a Muhrim, there is nothing wrong with that, and the Muhrim may eat from it.
The Hadīth demonstrates the Prophet's guidance upon refusing a gift, and that he would mention the reason for refusing it. This stems from his good manners (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)..

1197

Mu‘ādh ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn ‘Uthmān at-Taymi reported: We were with Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullāh as we were in a state of Ihrām. A bird was presented to him as a gift. Meanwhile, Talhah was sleeping. Some of us ate and some of us refrained. When Talhah woke up, he agreed with those who ate it and said: "We ate it along with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).".

Commentary : Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, and it is an act of worship for those who can find a way to it. During it, some permissible things become forbidden for those who assume Ihrām for Hajj.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn ‘Uthmān at-Taymi says that they were one day with the Companion Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullah (may Allah be pleased with him) as the people were in a state of Ihrām for Hajj or ‘Umrah. Meanwhile, a grilled or cooked bird was gifted to Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him), and it probably was a hunted bird. Talhah was reclining, asleep. So, he did not know about the bird gifted to him, and the ruling on eating therefrom was not clear to those in the state of Ihrām. Therefore, the people fell under two categories; some of them ate from this bird, and others feared and refrained from eating from the gifted bird thinking that a Muhrim may not eat from it. "When Talhah woke up, he agreed with those who ate it," i.e., he described their action as right, by words or deeds. Clarifying the reason behind his approval of those who ate, Talhah said: We ate the like of that along with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) while we were in a state of Ihrām. So, eat from what was gifted to me.
In the Two Sahīh Collections, Ibn ‘Abbās reported: As-Sa‘b ibn Jaththāmah al-Laythi presented to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) the meat of a zebra while he was in Al-Abwā’ or Waddān (they are two places). The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) declined to eat therefrom. Upon noticing the unpleasant feeling on his face, he said to him: "Indeed, we only declined it because we are in a state of Ihrām."
Reconciling between the two Hadīths, it is to be said that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) permitted the bird for them because the Muhrims played no role in hunting it. This is also explicitly mentioned in a Hadīth in the Two Sahīh Collections, in which Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he hunted a zebra, and when they asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), he said to them: "Did anyone of you command him or point to him with something?" They said: 'No.' So, he said: "Then, eat what is remaining of its meat."
As for declining the meat of the hunted animal from As-Sa‘b ibn Jaththāmah, this is because he hunted it for the Prophet's sake, and he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was in a state of Ihrām, and a Muhrim may not eat from the meat of a prey which was hunted for him. Had he not been in a state of Ihrām, he would have accepted it and eaten it.
The Hadīth shows how the Companions used to explain the rulings of the religion to the contemporary Tābi‘is..

1202

Ibn ‘Abbās reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got himself cupped and paid the cupper his wage, and he put medicine in his nose..

Commentary : Allah Almighty has made good things lawful for His slaves and made unlawful for them anything evil and impure concerning food, drink, gains, trade, etc. The Shariah has also urged Muslims to have self-esteem and to elevate themselves from lowly things.
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) mentions that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) "got himself cupped," i.e., he asked someone to cup him. Cupping is to extract some blood from the body by pricking the area of pain and then absorbing and extracting this blood after collecting it by means of a cup, which is an instrument resembling a funnel. Cupping provides treatment for a variety of pains. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) paid the person who cupped him his wage for that. This is part of the Prophet's actual acts of Sunnah. If it was prohibited to give a wage to a cupper, he would not pay this cupper a wage. The scholars took the Hadīths prohibiting the earning by a cupper and stating that it is impure to denote purification and exaltation above lowly earnings and to urge noble manners and lofty matters. Or perhaps the prohibition was in the early days of Islam, and it was subsequently abolished. So, when he paid the cupper his wage, he abrogated the previous ruling.
Then, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned another medicine which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used, saying: "and he put medicine in his nose." To use it, a person lies down and places something below his shoulders to raise them, and then he puts drops of the medicine into his nose, so that they can reach his brain. Then, the illness comes out with sneezing.
The Hadīth demonstrates the Prophet's use of medicine and his pursuit of the proper means of treatment.
It mentions that the cupper took a wage for cupping..

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