It was narrated that ‘Umar said: I and an Ansari neighbour of mine in [the neighbourhood of] Banu Umayyah ibn Zayd in ‘Awali al-Madinah used to take turns to go down to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). He would go down one day, and I would go down one day; if I went down, I would bring the news of the day, revelation and other events, and if he went down he would do the same. My Ansari friend went down one day when it was his turn, then he knocked loudly at my door and said: Is he there? I was startled and came out to him, and he said: Something serious has happened! I went to Hafsah and found her weeping. I said: Has the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) divorced you? She said: I do not know. Then I went to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and said, whilst standing there: Have you divorced your wives? He said: “No.” So I said: Allahu akbar..

Commentary : The Sahabah were keenly interested in hearing what the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, and were very eager to listen to him at all times. But sometimes they had to go and attend to their affairs and their livelihood. So they would take turns to go to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), but there were others who stayed close to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) for several years.
In this hadith, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he and an Ansari neighbour of his – whose name was ‘Itban ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) – lived in the neighbourhood of the tribe of Banu Umayyah ibn Zayd, whose houses were located in ‘Awali al-Madinah (the heights of Madinah); this refers to villages near the city of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), on higher ground to the east of Madinah. The closest part of al-‘Awali to Madinah was two or three miles away from the city, and the furthest part was eight miles away. They used to take turns to go down to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him); ‘Umar would go down one day, and ‘Itban would go down another day. That was due to their work circumstances, as it was not possible for each of them to go down to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and learn from him on a daily basis.
Then ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that his friend went down to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) one day, and when he came back from Madinah, he knocked loudly on ‘Umar’s door, which was not something that he usually did, and he asked whether ‘Umar was in the house or not. When ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) heard that, he was startled and was afraid that something bad had happened. So he came out, and his friend said to him: Something serious has happened; the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) has divorced his wives. So ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) went down to Madinah, to his daughter Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). He found her weeping, so he asked her: Has the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) divorced you? She said: I do not know. Then he went to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and asked him, as he was standing and had not sat down: Have you divorced your wives? He said: No, so ‘Umar said takbir – “Allahu akbar.” Thus his mind was put at rest; he was overwhelmed with joy and happiness, so he said takbir out of great joy.
This hadith highlights the interest of the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) in hearing news of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in particular, and of the Muslims in general, especially news of divine revelation and what it brought of teachings and rulings.
It indicates that it is encouraged to seek knowledge and be keen to attend gatherings of knowledge, no matter what the circumstances.
It indicates that the wise person does not hasten to ask about an issue until he understands what the issue is.
It also indicates that the seeker of knowledge may pay attention to his livelihood and that which will enable him to continue seeking knowledge..

It was narrated that Abu Mas‘ud al-Ansari said: A man said: O Messenger of Allah, I can hardly keep up with the prayers, because So-and-so makes them too lengthy for us.
I had never seen the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) more angry in giving exhortation that he was on that day. He said: “O people, you are putting others off. Whoever leads the people in prayer, let him make it brief, for among them are the sick, the physically weak, and those with needs.”.

Commentary : Prayer is an act of worship which requires presence of mind and ease of movement. Hence the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained the rulings on prayer and the related rulings on leading prayer and making it brief and easy for the people.
In this hadith, Abu Mas‘ud al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man complained to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that he was not able to keep up with the prayer, because the imam made it so lengthy. There is a difference of scholarly opinion concerning what was meant by the man’s words, “I can hardly keep up with the prayers, because So-and-so makes them too lengthy for us.” It was said that the wording may indicate that he was a man who was sick or physically weak, so if the imam made the standing too long, then as soon as he reached the positions of bowing or prostrating, he would feel too weak to keep up with him, so he would hardly be able to bow or prostrate with him. Or it was said: rather it is explained by what al-Bukhari narrated, [that the man said]: I join the prayer late. In that case the meaning would be: I can hardly catch up with the prayer in congregation, and sometimes I come late, because he makes it so lengthy, so I do not catch up with the congregation, even though he makes it too long.
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) got very angry, and the reason why he showed such anger was that he wanted his Companions to pay attention to what he was going to tell them, so that the one who did that would not repeat it. Therefore he exhorted them when he was very angry, telling them that those who made the prayer too long were putting people off, and making people dislike praying. The reason why he addressed everyone, and did not mention by name the one who was making the prayer lengthy, was out of kindness and gentleness, as was his usual approach. He did not address any rebuke or discipline specifically to the one who deserved it, so that that one would not be embarrassed and feel ashamed in front of people.
Then he instructed the one who led people in prayer to make the prayer shorter, because among the congregation were those who were sick, physically weak and had needs. He mentioned these three types, because they include all types of reasons why the prayer should be made brief, for the reasons which dictate making the prayer brief include either physical well-being or other matters. So in the first case, it is either because of something inherent, namely physical weakness, or something temporary, namely sickness.
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) wanted to show kindness and make things easy for his ummah. He did not prohibit making prayers lengthy because doing so is not permissible; rather the one who wants to offer supererogatory prayers by himself may make the prayer lengthy.
This hadith is a rebuke to those who make the prayers lengthy if those praying behind him are not happy with that.
It highlights the kindness of the Lawgiver and how he made things easy for his ummah.
It also indicates that one may show anger when seeing something that is not appropriate with regard to matters of religion..

It was narrated from Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani that a man asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about lost property, and he said: “Learn what kind of string it is tied with, or what kind of vessel it is in, or what kind of leather bag it is in. Then announce that to the people for a year, and after that make use of it. Then if its owner comes, give it to him.” He asked: What about a stray camel? He got so angry that his cheeks turned red, or his face turned red, and said: “What has it to do with you? It has its water and its feet, and it is able to find water and graze from the trees. Let it be until its owner finds it.” He said: What about a lost sheep? He said: “It is for you, or for your brother, or for the wolf.”.

Commentary : One of the greatest objectives of sharia is preservation of people’s wealth and protecting it from plunder, theft and loss, or anyone hoping to keep it when it is lost.
In this hadith, Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani narrates that a man asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about lost property, which is property that has been lost in the street and its owner is not known. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) advised the one who finds a lost item to learn all its distinguishing characteristics, such as the shape and colour of the vessel and string. The “leather bag” referred to here is something that was used to keep money in; it may be made of leather, cloth or other material. The string is something that was used to tie vessels with. All of this is by way of learning its characteristics. Then he should announce to the people that he has this lost item, and continue to announce it for a whole year, in an attempt to return it to its owner, then after one year he may make use of it. If he does find its owner during that year, then he should give it to him. If the owner comes after a year has passed, and describes its distinguishing characteristics, such as its shape, colour, type of vessel, and so on, and he still has it, then he should give it to him; if he has disposed of it, he is liable for it, and he should give its owner its value and price.
Then the man asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about the ruling on a stray camel, and he responded by saying that it is not to be taken, because it has all that it needs to survive, namely strong and solid feet to walk on, and the ability to store and keep water, in its belly and hump. Moreover, it can find vegetation and water around it, even after a number of days, and it can store the water in its belly and remain hydrated.
It was said that the only reason the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) got angry when he was asked about a stray camel is the lack of knowledge and poor understanding on the part of the questioner, as he failed to understand the matter being discussed, and he did not pay attention to it. Thus he made an incorrect analogy, because lost property refers to items that may be dropped by the owner, so he does not know where they went, whereas a stray camel is not like that, because it may graze for several days, then go back to the place that it knows, or its owner may come and take it.
Then the man asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about the ruling on lost sheep, and he answered by saying that the one who finds it may take it. The words “It is for you or your brother” mean: either you will take it, or someone else will do so, otherwise it will be food for the wolf, if it is left.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) enjoined the announcing of lost property for one year, whereas in the hadith of Ubayy that was narrated by al-Bukhari, it says: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) enjoined announcing it for three years. We may reconcile these two reports by interpreting the hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka‘b as referring to being more careful and prudent, not disposing of lost property, and exercising a high level of restraint in not making use of it, whilst this hadith and similar reports may be interpreted as referring to the minimum that is required, or cases where the one who finds something needs it, whereas Ubayy had no need of the lost property that he found.
This hadith also highlights how Islam pays attention to all aspects of life that may concern a person and be part of his life, whether by his choice or otherwise..

It was narrated that Abu Musa said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was asked about things he disliked, and when he was asked too many such questions, he got angry, then he said to the people: “Ask me whatever you want.” A man said: Who is my father? He said: “Your father is Hudhafah.” Another man stood up and said: Who is my father, O Messenger of Allah? He said: “Your father is Salim, the freed slave of Shaybah.” When ‘Umar saw the expression on his face, he said: O Messenger of Allah, we repent to Allah (may He be glorified and exalted)..

Commentary : Islam enjoins doing whatever one is able to do, and completely avoiding that which is forbidden according to Islamic teachings. It enjoins us to stop at what Allah and His Messenger have enjoined upon us, and not to go beyond that or ask too many questions about matters the knowledge of which is of no benefit.
In this hadith, Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) tells us that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was asked about things that he did not like to be asked about, because they were of no benefit in either religious or worldly terms, or because the answer could be harmful to the questioner or to someone else. When the people asked too many such questions, he said to them: “Ask me whatever you want.” Then he was asked by two men who wanted to confirm whether their attribution to their fathers was correct, and he replied that that was indeed the case. When ‘Umar saw anger on the Prophet’s face, he realized that these questions should not be asked, so he turned to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), seeking to assuage his anger, and said: O Messenger of Allah, we repent to Allah from asking these questions which have upset you. That was because these questions were something that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not like, and because too many of these questions could be a cause of something being made haram or obligatory, or something being made too strict. And that is proven in the revelation, as Allah (may He be exalted) says: {O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you} [al-Ma’idah 5:101]. This does not mean that one should not ask about things that one needs to know of religious matters; rather it is advice to be content with the commands and prohibitions of Allah, and not to concern oneself with questions for which there is no need.
This hadith indicates that it is the right of the knowledgeable person to express anger with the questioner if he asks a question that could lead to negative consequences, or that is not appropriate to the topic under discussion.
It also indicates that it is not allowed to ask too many questions or to persist in asking questions, and that nothing should be asked except what is needed.
And it highlights the virtue of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and how alert he was..

It was narrated from Anas, from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that when he gave the greeting of salaam, he gave it three times, and when he said something he would repeat it three times..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was very keen to teach and educate his ummah, and he used various educational methods to communicate information soundly. In this hadith, he teaches us the etiquette of speaking and greeting. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) greeted someone with salaam, he would greet him three times, and perhaps this refers to his practice when greeting a large number of people who would not all hear a greeting given once, or it was his practice to make sure that they heard the second and third greetings if he thought that the first one had not been heard, or he would repeat the salaam because he wanted to seek permission to enter, if the first salaam was not heard or responded to. But if he passed by a gathering and greeted everyone present, or he came to a house and gave the greeting of salaam and they responded, then there was no point in repeating it. It may be that when he came to some people, he would give the greeting of salaam by way of seeking permission to enter, then when he entered the house, he would greet them with salaam, then when he got up to leave the gathering he would say salaam to bid farewell, which is like a supplication (dua).
If he uttered a sentence, he would repeat it three times, so that those who were present would understand it and comprehend its meaning, because repetition was most effective in helping people to remember and making the pronunciation clear, so that there would be no room for misinterpretation, especially if there was the fear that his words might not be understood or heard, or if he wanted to convey the message when he was teaching, rebuking or exhorting. This is one of the basic principles of teaching in Islam, because repeating something three times is sufficient to make the meaning clear and leave no excuse for anybody. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to always do that in his actions too, so that his ummah could emulate him and so as to be an example for others..

It was narrated from Anas from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that when he said something, he would repeat it three times so that it could be understood, and when he came to some people, he would greet them with salaam three times..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was as Allah described him: {There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful} [at-Tawbah 9:128]. One example of that is his keenness to teach them and make sure they understood the matters of their religion. In this hadith, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to repeat his words three times when he wanted to exhort them, so that those who were present would understand it and comprehend its meaning, because repetition was most effective in helping people to remember and making the pronunciation clear, so that there would be no room for misinterpretation, especially if there was the fear that his words might not be understood or heard, or if he wanted to convey the message when he was teaching, rebuking or exhorting. This is one of the basic principles of teaching in Islam, because repeating something three times is sufficient to make the meaning clear and leave no excuse for anybody.
When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came to people, he would greet them with salaam three times, and perhaps this refers to his practice when greeting a large number of people who would not all hear a greeting given once, or it was his practice to make sure that they heard the second and third greeting if he thought that the first one had not been heard, or he would repeat the salaam because he wanted to seek permission to enter, if the first salaam was not heard or responded to. But if he passed by a gathering and greeted everyone present, or he came to a house and gave the greeting of salaam and they responded, then there was no point in repeating it. It may be that when he came to some people, he would give the greeting of salaam by way of seeking permission to enter, then when he entered the house, he would greet them with salaam, then when he got up to leave the gathering he would say salaam to bid farewell, which is like a supplication (dua). .

It was narrated that Abu Musa said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “There are three who will have a double reward: a man from among the People of the Book who believed in his Prophet and believed in Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him); a slave who does his duty to Allah and to his master; and a man who has a slave woman whom he disciplines and disciplines well, and he teaches her and teaches her well, then he manumits her and marries her. He will have a double reward.” Then ‘Amir said: We are giving this report to you without you making any great effort. People used to travel to Madinah to seek a report less important than this..

Commentary : Allah’s bounty to His slaves is immense, which includes His generosity in multiplying the rewards for deeds. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to urge the people to do acts of worship and all kinds of righteous deeds by highlighting the rewards for righteous deeds and mentioning different types thereof.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) states that three types of people will have a double reward. The first is a man of the People of the Book, a Jew or Christian, who believed in his Prophet who was sent to him previously, namely Musa or ‘Isa (peace be upon them), and he believed in Muhammad when his call reached him. He will have two rewards: a reward for believing in Musa or ‘Isa, and a reward for believing in Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). If he enters Islam and becomes a good Muslim, then every good deed that he did before that will be recorded for him. This is proven in the verses in which Allah (may He be exalted) says: {Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it - they are believers in it, And when it is recited to them, they say, “We have believed in it; indeed, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed we were, [even] before it, Muslims [submitting to Allah].” Those will be given their reward twice} [al-Qasas 28:52-54].
The second is a slave who does his duty to Allah, so he worships Allah (may He be exalted), and he does what is obligatory upon him of prayer, fasting and so on. And he also does what his master requires him to do, in the best manner. He will also have two rewards: a reward for worshipping Allah (may He be exalted) and a reward for obeying his master, showing forbearance for the pain of enslavement, and submitting and accepting his duties as a slave.
The third is a man who has a slave woman with whom he has intercourse because he owns her, and he disciplines her without violence or beating; rather he does so with kindness and gentleness, and he educates her and takes good care of her, teaching her the pillars and rulings of Islam, then he manumits her and marries her, giving her the rights of a free woman. He will have two rewards: a reward for teaching her and manumitting her, and a reward for marrying her. Whoever does that is far removed from arrogance, and is very humble, keeping away from showing off by marrying a woman of noble lineage and high status.
The words “We are giving this report to you without you making any great effort. People used to travel to Madinah to seek a report less important than this” are addressed to a man from Khorasan who asked ‘Amir al-Sha‘bi about a man who manumits his slave woman then marries her, and he responded by narrating this hadith.
This hadith highlights the great bounty and generosity of Allah to those who obey Him.
It indicates that whoever does well in two aspects of any act of righteousness will have a double reward, for Allah multiplies the reward for whomever He wills.
It highlights the virtue of teaching a slave woman and treating her kindly.
It highlights the fact that the early generations used to travel to distant lands to seek a single hadith or to learn about a single issue of knowledge..

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: I bear witness that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him – or ‘Ata’ said: I bear witness that Ibn ‘Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) – went out, accompanied by Bilal, because he thought that he had not been heard [by the women], and he exhorted them and instructed them to give charity. So the women began to give their earrings and rings, and Bilal collected them in the edge of his garment..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to seek appropriate occasions to exhort his companions from time to time, at times when they had energy and it was thought that they would listen and understand, and on Islamic occasions and Eids. He would address the women in particular, as in this hadith, in which ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) went out, accompanied by Bilal, and exhorted his companions. Then it occurred to him that his voice might not have reached the women, because they were sitting behind the men in the prayer-place on Eid al-Fitr. So he went through the rows of men until he came to the women, then he exhorted them, reminded them about Paradise and Hell, and instructed them to give charity. The women responded to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and gave their earrings and rings in charity, and Bilal collected them in the edge of his garment. He collected this jewellery and charitable gifts so that they could be given and distributed among the poor and needy who were entitled to them, and be spent on other causes as prescribed in Islamic teachings.
What is meant by the words “or ‘Ata’ said: I bear witness that Ibn ‘Abbas said” is that the narrator was not sure whether the phrase “I bear witness” reflected the words of Ibn ‘Abbaas testifying about the action of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), or the words of ‘Ata’ testifying about the words of Ibn ‘Abbas. Rather he said “I bear witness” to emphasize and confirm that the incident definitely took place.
This hadith indicates that one should be keen to teach all people, men and women.
It highlights the virtue of the women among the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) and how quickly they responded to the exhortation and command of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). .

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that he said: It was said: O Messenger of Allah, who will be most blessed with your intercession on the Day of Resurrection? The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “I thought, O Abu Hurayrah, that no one would ask me about this hadith before you, because of what I have seen of your keenness to learn hadith. Those who will be most blessed with my intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be those who say La ilaha illa Allah with sincerity, from the heart.”.

Commentary : The Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) were always keen to ask the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about the most important actions that would benefit them the most and save them in the hereafter. One aspect of that was their keenness to attain his intercession, as we see in this hadith, in which Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was asked who would be most blessed with his intercession on the Day of Resurrection. The one who asked this question was Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) responded that those who would be most blessed with his intercession on the Day of Resurrection would be those who said La ilaha illa Allah, believing in the meaning of this phrase, acting in accordance with it, showing sincerity in faith by keeping away from shirk and showing sincerity in obedience by not showing off. The fact that the sincere believer will be more blessed with the Prophet’s intercession than others is due to the fact that superiority in this regard depends on the level of sincerity that one attains. So he [the one who attains a higher level of sincerity] will be more blessed than the one who does not attain this high and perfect level of sincerity. Many people will attain the blessing of the Prophet’s intercession, but the sincere believer will attain a greater blessing in that regard. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) will intercede for people to be given relief from the terror of standing [on the Day of Resurrection], and he will intercede for some of the disbelievers to have their punishment reduced, as is soundly narrated concerning Abu Talib, the maternal uncle of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). He will also intercede for some of the believers to be brought forth from the Fire after having entered it; for some of them not to enter it even though they deserve to do so; for some of them to enter Paradise without being brought to account; and for some of them to be raised in status therein. So they will have in common the fact that they are all blessed with his intercession, but the one who will be most blessed with it is the sincere believer.
The Prophet’s words to Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), “I thought, O Abu Hurayrah, that no one would ask me about this hadith before you, because of what I have seen of your keenness to learn hadith”, affirms the status and mature thinking of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), and that his questions were the type of question that is desirable and will benefit the questioner and others with regard to both religious and worldly matters; they were not the type of question that is forbidden.
This hadith indicates that it is encouraged to be keen to acquire knowledge and goodness, for such keenness will prompt a person to research issues that are not clear and to learn about subtle matters, and that will bring benefit and reward, and a reward like those who act upon such knowledge, until the Day of Resurrection.
It also shows that a scholar should be able to analyze and understand the character of the one who is learning from him, and he should point out his good qualities to him, so that it will motivate him to strive harder.
It indicates that it is appropriate for a scholar to keep quiet about some issues of knowledge if he is not asked about them, until he is asked, and that is not to be regarded as concealing or withholding knowledge, because the seeker of knowledge should initiate questions, unless it becomes essential for the scholar to explain some issues, in which case he should not keep quiet.
This hadith affirms that our Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) will intercede for people.
It also highlights the virtue of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) and his keenness to seek knowledge. .

100

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) saying: “Allah will not take knowledge away by snatching it from people; rather He will take knowledge away through the death of the scholars until, when no knowledgeable people are left, the people will follow ignorant leaders who will be asked questions and will issue fatwas without knowledge; thus they will go astray and lead others astray.”.

Commentary : Allah has made knowledge a beacon that guides to His path, and without knowledge the people will lose their way. True knowledge prevents one from falling into error.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us that Allah will not take knowledge away from people by removing it from the hearts of the scholars and erasing it; rather He will take knowledge away through the death of the scholars. Thus knowledge will be lost, and there will be no one among those who are left to take the place of the scholars who have passed away. Every time a scholar passes away, the knowledge that he had will be lost, until Allah will have left no knowledgeable person, as all the people of true knowledge will have died, then ignorant people will reach academic positions for which they are not qualified, such as teaching, issuing fatwas, and so on. But the people will regard them as scholars and ask them questions, so they will issue fatwas without knowledge, because of their ignorance. They will regard as permissible that which is forbidden, and regard as forbidden that which is permissible. They themselves will go astray from the truth, and they will lead astray those of the common folk who follow them and accept their fatwas. Books and essays are not sufficient without scholars, because they cannot be understood in a proper manner without them.
In this hadith, we are urged to seek knowledge and memorize it, for it will not be taken away except when the scholars die.
It is also a warning against appointing ignorant people to positions of leadership, and it warns those in authority not to appoint ignorant people to positions of religious authority.
It also highlights the fact that the position of issuing fatwas is a true position of leadership, and criticizes those who issue fatwas without knowledge. .

101

It was narrated that Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri said: The women said to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): The men are taking all your time, so allocate a day for us. So he allocated a day for them, when he met with them, exhorted them and instructed them. Among the things that he said to them was: “There is no woman among you who sends ahead three of her children, but they will be a shield for her against the Fire.” A woman said: Or two [of her children]? He said: “Or two.”.

Commentary : Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has promised an immense reward to those who bear with patience the calamities that befall them.
In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) gives glad tidings to women who are faced with the loss of a child of the immense reward that results from this calamity. They had asked him to set aside a day for them on which he could exhort them and speak to them, and they said to him: The men are taking all your time, meaning: they prevent us from being able to sit with you and listen to you. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) set aside a day for them, when he exhorted them and reminded them of the reward for bearing calamity with patience. He told them that there is no woman, three of whose children die during her lifetime, but this calamity will be a shield for her, a barrier that will protect her from the Fire. A woman said: What about one who loses two of her children; will she have the same reward as one who loses three? And the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “Or two.” So if two of a woman’s children die during her lifetime, that calamity will be a shield for her that will protect her from entering the Fire.
The report of Abu Hurayrah that was narrated by al-Bukhaari explains that what is meant here is three children who do not reach puberty; that reward is on condition that they did not reach the age of accountability at which sins begin to be recorded. The ruling here stipulates that the reward comes only in the case where the children did not reach puberty, because parents’ hearts are more compassionate and more attached to a small child, in a way that is not applicable in the case of a child who has reached adulthood, because in the case of a child who has reached adulthood, in most cases he has invariably gone against his parents.
And it was said that the ruling stipulated the condition of three children at first, because three comes under the heading of many. A believer may be afflicted with the loss of one child, but his faith is strong enough to enable him to bear the calamity with patience, but he may not be able to bear it if it happens again. Hence the one who goes through repeated calamities and bears them with patience is more deserving of great reward. A child is one of the greatest joys that a person may have in life, to the extent that he would willingly sacrifice himself for his child. This is what is usually the case with people, and even with animals, hence the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) referred to the worst type of calamity, and urged people to bear it with patience and perseverance.
This hadith was addressed to the women, but it is applicable to all Muslims, as al-Bukhaari narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “No Muslim who loses three of his children in death will ever enter the Fire, except in fulfilment of the oath.” This includes both men and women.
This hadith is indicative of a great reward for the one who loses his children, if he bears it with patience and does not say anything reprehensible.
It indicates that women may ask about religious matters.
It also indicates that the children of the Muslims [who died before reaching puberty] are in Paradise, because if Allah (may He be glorified) has mercy on their parents and admits them to Paradise because of their mercy and compassion towards their children, then it is more appropriate that the children will also receive His mercy..

102

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: Three who have not reached puberty..

Commentary : Children are a blessing from Allah (may He be glorified), and parents feel great love for them, to the extent that they may be a trial for their parents. But death is something that is decreed for all people, and Allah has ordained an immense reward for parents who bear with patience the loss of their children.
This hadith, which was narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), is part of – and completes – the report of Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) which was narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari. In it, it says that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) exhorted the women and said to them: “There is no woman among you who sends ahead three of her children, but they will be a shield for her against the Fire.” A woman said: Or two [of her children]? He said: “Or two.” Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with her) added: “Three who have not reached the age of puberty.” Thus he narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to the women: Whoever loses three of her children in childhood, before they reach the age of accountability, when no sins have been recorded against them, this calamity will be a shield for her, a barrier that will protect her from the Fire. A woman said: What about one who loses two of her children; will she have the same reward as one who loses three? And the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “Or two.” So if two of a woman’s children die during her lifetime, that calamity will be a shield for her that will protect her from entering the Fire. This ruling applies only to children who have not reached the age of puberty, because parents’ hearts are more compassionate and more attached to a small child, in a way that is not applicable in the case of a child who has reached adulthood, because in the case of a child who has reached adulthood, in most cases he has invariably gone against his parents.
And it was said that the ruling stipulated the condition of three children at first, because three comes under the heading of many. A believer may be afflicted with the loss of one child, but his faith is strong enough to enable him to bear the calamity with patience, but he may not be able to bear it if it happens again. Hence the one who goes through repeated calamities and bears them with patience is more deserving of great reward. A child is one of the greatest joys that a person may have in life, to the extent that he would willingly sacrifice himself for his child. This is what is usually the case with people, and even with animals, hence the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) referred to the worst type of calamity, and urged people to bear it with patience and perseverance.
This hadith was addressed to the women; however, al-Bukhaari narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “No Muslim who loses three of his children in death will ever enter the Fire, except in fulfilment of the oath.” This includes both men and women..

103

It was narrated from Ibn Abi Mulaykah that if ‘A’ishah, the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), heard something that she was not aware of, she would ask questions about it until she understood it. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever is brought to account will be punished.” ‘A’ishah said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, but doesn’t Allah say, {He will be judged with an easy account} [al-Inshiqaq 84:8]? He said: “That refers to the presentation of accounts, but whoever is subjected to a detailed review of his account will be doomed.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was the ultimate reference for clarifying anything that was not clear in people’s minds regarding their religion, and the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to refer to him with regard to any issues they faced and did not understand.
In this hadith, ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Mulaikah narrated that ‘A’ishah, the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not hear anything that she did not understand but she would ask the one who said it for clarification, or she would ask the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about it, so that she could verify it and determine how correct or otherwise it was. This was a sign of her intelligence and smartness, that she would not believe everything she heard when she could check everything with the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
Then ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever is brought to account will be punished.” So ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with him) compared what the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said with the words of Allah (may He be exalted): {He will be judged with an easy account} [al-Inshiqaq 84:8]. The wording of the hadith is general in meaning, and indicates that anyone who is brought to account will be punished, whereas the wording of the verse indicates that some people will not be punished. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) responded to her by saying: “That refers to the presentation of accounts, but whoever is subjected to a detailed review of his account will be doomed.” The Prophet’s response explained the true meaning of the verse, that the easy reckoning is something else, namely the presentation of accounts, which refers to showing deeds or making them known, in which Allah will remind a person of what sins he committed, then He will pardon them, so that he will realize how gracious Allah was to him when He concealed his sins in the previous world and pardoned him for them in the hereafter. On the other hand, whoever is subjected to a detailed review of his account will be doomed, and what is meant is that falling short is something that most people do, so whoever is subjected to a detailed discussion of his account and is not pardoned will be doomed and will enter Hell.
The reckoning on the Day of Resurrection is of two types: the presentation of accounts and rebuke, which is an easy reckoning in which there is no punishment, and a detailed review of the account, which is a difficult and hard reckoning, which will not be without punishment, because it will involve examining the individual’s sins in detail, covering all of his sins, and no sin will be left without being pointed out and discussed.
This hadith highlights the virtue of ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and her eagerness to learn and verify facts.
It is also an affirmation of the reckoning, presentation of accounts, and punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and that the reckoning will vary from one person to another.
It indicates that it is permissible to debate and compare what the Sunnah says and what the Qur’an says.
It indicates that the seeker of knowledge has the right to ask about what he does not understand, and to raise the issue with his teacher.
It indicates that scholars or knowledgeable people should welcome any questions that are referred to them, and answer the questions of one who is seeking to understand, as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did..

104

It was narrated from Abu Shurayh that he said to ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id – when he was sending the expeditions to Makkah – Give me permission, O governor, to tell you about something that I heard from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in a speech on the morning of the day of the conquest [of Makkah]. My ears heard it, my heart understood it and my eyes saw him when he said it. He praised and glorified Allah, then he said: “It is Allah Who made Makkah sacred; people did not make it sacred. It is not permissible for anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day to shed blood in it, or to cut down trees in it. If anyone uses as an excuse the fact that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) fought in it, then say: Allah gave permission to His Messenger but He did not give permission to you. Rather I was only given permission [to fight] in it for part of a day, then its sanctity is restored today as it was yesterday. Let those who are present convey to those who are absent.” It was said to Abu Shurayh: What did ‘Amr say to you? He said: I have more knowledge of that than you, O Abu Shurayh. The Haram does not offer protection to a sinner, or to a fugitive who killed someone, or a fugitive who committed theft..

Commentary : Conveying Islamic knowledge is something required of the scholars and knowledgeable people, and it is more obligatory at times of tribulation and hardship, so that they may explain to the people what is true and what is false, and explain to them the path of guidance.
In this hadith, Abu Shurayh al-Khuza‘i (may Allah be pleased with him) – the well-known Sahabi who was one of the wise men of Madinah – narrates that he asked ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id, the governor of Madinah appointed by Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah at that time, to give him permission to tell him something that he had heard from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id was sending troops to Makkah to fight ‘Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) for having refused to swear allegiance to Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah and having fortified himself in the Haram. Abu Shurayh (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him to let him narrate to him a hadith that he had heard from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), affirming that he had heard it with his own ears, understood it and memorized it, indicating that it was still as fresh in his mind as when he had heard it from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), without any intermediary, and he had not forgotten it. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had spoken this hadith on the morning of the conquest of Makkah in 8 AH. When he referred to a speech that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had given, he was referring to words that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) addressed to the people, in which he explained that it was Allah (may He be exalted) Himself who had made Makkah sacred in His Book, where He said: {Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) which We have made (open) to (all) men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there (as regards its sanctity and pilgrimage (Hajj and Umrah))} [al-Hajj 22:25] and {[Say, O Muhammad], “I have only been commanded to worship the Lord of this city, who made it sacred”} [al-Naml 27:91]. So it is not permissible for anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day to shed blood in it, by fighting or otherwise, or to cut down its trees. If anyone regards it as permissible to fight in Makkah, quoting as evidence for that the fact that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) fought therein on the day of the conquest, the response to that is that Allah gave permission to His Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to fight in it on that day for a brief part of the day. What is meant is that it was a limited time, a certain part of the day of the conquest, and He did not give permission to you and it is not permissible for you to ever fight in it. Then its sanctity was restored as it had been.
Then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) instructed his companions who were listening to this speech of his to convey it to those who came after them, whether at the time of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or afterwards, so that they would be careful and would not have the audacity to transgress against that which Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) had made sacred, especially for one who wanted to shed blood and prepared himself for that, as in the case of ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id. This is what prompted Abu Shurayh (may Allah be pleased with him) to narrate this hadith to him, as instructed by the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
Abu Shurayh was asked: How did ‘Amr respond to you? And he replied: He said to me: I know better than you, O Abu Shurayh, that the sanctuary of Makkah does not protect a sinner from the hadd punishment being carried out on him, and it does not protect a fugitive who has committed murder and seeks sanctuary in Makkah so that he will not be punished. The phrase “committed theft” means that there is no protection for a fugitive who committed theft; a variant reading suggests that there is no protection for one who spread heretical ideas. ‘Amr’s response consists of words that appear sound, but were aimed at justifying his wrong actions, because the Sahabi was denouncing him for waging war on Makkah, but he responded that Makkah did not prevent the carrying out of retaliatory punishments (qisas). Ibn az-Zubayr had not committed any sin that deserved such punishment, so this was not a valid response to the words of Abu Shurayh, because he did not differ with him with regard to the issue of someone who committed a sin that incurred a hadd punishment outside the Haram zone then sought refuge in the Haram zone and whether it was permissible to carry out the hadd punishment on him within the Haram zone or not. Rather what Abu Shurayh objected to was the sending of troops to Makkah, violating its sanctity and waging war on it. He presented his argument well, but ‘Amr’s response was not straightforward; rather he gave a response that had nothing to do with the question, because in his answer he referred to a man who had committed an action that incurred a hadd punishment outside the Haram zone, and whether entering the Haram zone would protect him or not. This may be regarded as going off topic and showing stubbornness when debating, because he was a governor who had instructions from the caliph, so he tried hard to find a justification for his actions by presenting any argument he could.
This hadith indicates that one should transmit knowledge and spread the Sunnah and Islamic rulings.
It indicates that one should be gentle when objecting, especially when speaking to those in authority and discussing issues that are contrary to their aims, because that makes it more likely that they will accept one’s argument.
It indicates that one should offer sincere advice to those in authority, and not be dishonest or harsh with them, if one feels confident that that will not lead to trouble.
It indicates that what is halal and haram is determined by Allah (may He be exalted), and it has nothing to do with people. In all matters, whether they pertain to this world or the hereafter, reference should be made to the religious texts, and that can only be known from the actions, words and approval of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
It highlights the great and honourable status of Makkah, may Allah increase it in honour and greatness.
It indicates that it is prescribed to make analogies with the actions of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), except in matters which were specifically and exclusively for him.
It indicates that there are some matters which apply exclusively to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and not to anyone else.
It also highlights the virtue of Abu Shurayh, because he followed the command of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to convey teachings from him..

105

It was narrated from Abu Bakrah that it was mentioned that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “… for your blood and your wealth” – Muhammad [ibn Sirin] said: And I think he said – “and your honour are sacred to you, as sacred as this day of yours, in this month of yours. O people, let those of you who are present convey to those who are absent.” – Muhammad [ibn Sirin] used to say: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) spoke the truth, and that is what indeed happened. – “O people, have I conveyed the message?” [He said that] twice..

Commentary : 1536.

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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