| Hadiths

Bukhari Hadiths 1356
Muslim Hadiths 558

Hadith

2021

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Seek the Night of Al-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan,' on the night when nine or seven or five nights remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadan (i.e., the 21st, the 23rd, and the 25th nights respectively).”.

Commentary : The Night of Al-Qadr is one of the blessed nights of Ramadan; it is a great and blessed night, in which Allah, Exalted is He, states that the Quran was revealed. It has been highly praised and venerated by Allah, Exalted is He, given the fact that it abounds in great bounties and yields abundant rewards, which are described as being equal to those earned by devoting oneself to worship for a thousand months. During that blessed night, many angels descend, and countless bounties and blessings are conferred upon people, and it is free of harm and evil.
In this hadeeth, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to seek the Night of Al-Qadr, and strive in worship. He ﷺ underlined that we should seek it inon the night when nine nights remain out of the last ten nights of the month, i.e., the 21st night; when seven nights remain, i.e., the 23rd night; or when five nights remain, namely, the 25th night. The meaning is to seek the Night of Al-Qadr in the odd-numbered nights among the last ten nights of the month, such as: the 21st, the 23rd, and the 25th nights.

It was called the Night of Al-Qadr because of its abundant virtues and great honor, or because the performance of worshipful acts on it yields greater reward.
The wisdom of Allah entailed that its exact date should be hidden from people so that they should strive and keenly devote themselves to worship throughout the last ten nights, and thus perform more worshipful acts and gain greater benefits (rewards).
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2022

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him):
Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, “The Night of Al-Qadr is in the last ten nights of the month (Ramadan), either on the first nine or in the last (remaining) seven nights (of Ramadan).” Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) added, “Seek it on the twenty-fourth night (of Ramadan).”
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Commentary :
The Night of Al-Qadr is one of the great and blessed nights of Ramadan, in which the Quran was revealed. It has been highly praised and venerated by Allah, Exalted is He, given the fact that it abounds in great bounties and yields abundant rewards, which are described as being equal to those earned by devoting oneself to worship for one thousand months. During that blessed night, many angels descend, and countless bounties and blessings are conferred upon people, and it is free of harm and evil.
In this hadeeth, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ informed us that the Night of Al-Qadr falls in the last ten days of Ramadan, and that we should seek it when nine nights remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadan, i.e., the 29th night; or when seven nights remain, i.e., the 23rd night; or it is unspecified and could be any night of the last seven nights of Ramadan.
It was called the Night of Al-Qadr because of its abundant virtues and great honor, or because the performance of worshipful acts on it yields greater reward.
The wisdom of Allah entailed that its exact date should be hidden from people so that they should strive and keenly devote themselves to worship throughout the last ten nights, and thus perform more worshipful acts and gain greater benefits (rewards).
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2024

‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet ﷺ used to tighten his waist belt and used to devote his whole night to worship, and used to wake up his family for the prayers..

Commentary :
The last ten days of Ramadan are the best nights of the whole year and they include the Night of Al-Qadr, which is better (and more rewardable) than one thousand months, as Allah, Exalted is He, states in the Quran. This is why the Prophet ﷺ performed worshipful acts very diligently in these nights, and he urged his family to do the same.
In this hadeeth, ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) explained the situation of the Prophet ﷺ during these ten days, in terms of his diligence in worship and urging his family to follow his example. She (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “In the last ten days of Ramadan,” i.e., starting from the 21st night. Her phrase, “tighten his waist belt,” is a metaphor for keeping away from his wives (i.e., abstaining from sexual relations) and occupying himself with worship. He ﷺused to “devote his whole night to worship, and used to wake up his family for the prayers,” at night, and this is the enjoined encouragement of one’s family to perform voluntary acts of worship, and to exert their utmost in worship at this blessed time.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that maximizing one’s benefit from the blessed times (by devoting oneself to worship) requires resolve, patience, and self-discipline.
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2026

‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, said: “The Prophet ﷺ used to observe I‘tikaaf (i.e., spiritual retreat in the mosque to devote oneself exclusively to worship Allah) in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to observe I‘tikaaf after him..

Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ used to strive hard in worship to draw closer to Allah, Exalted is He, all the time, and one such time was the last ten days of Ramadan when he ﷺ used to observe I’tikaaf (i.e., a spiritual retreat in the mosque to devote oneself exclusively to worship), to dedicate himself exclusively to observing fasting, performing prayer, reciting Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), and other worshipful acts, and to seek the Night of Al-Qadr.
In this hadeeth, the Mother of the Believers, ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) used to observe I‘tikaaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan, starting from the 21st night till the end of the month. I‘tikaaf means a spiritual retreat in the mosque to draw closer to Allah, Exalted is He, (by devoting oneself exclusively to worship). The Prophet ﷺ used to observe I‘tikaaf during the last ten nights of Ramadan and did not neglect it until he died. After his death, his wives (may Allah be pleased with them) used to observe I‘tikaaf at the mosque in the last ten days of Ramadan. It was narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet ﷺ used to observe I‘tikaaf along with some of his wives. They used to observe I‘tikaaf during his lifetime and after his death. At first, the Prophet ﷺ used to observe I‘tikaaf in the first ten nights of Ramadan, and later on observed it in the middle ten nights of Ramadan. Near the end of his life, he ﷺ observed I‘tikaaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan, seeking the Night of the Qadr.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is allowable for women to observe I‘tikaaf at the mosque provided that the due requirements set by the Laws of Islam are met..

2033

‘Amrah narrated:
‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, "The Prophet ﷺ used to practice I‘tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadan and I used to pitch a tent for him, and after offering the morning prayer, he used to enter the tent." Hafsah asked the permission of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with them) to pitch a tent for her and she allowed her and she pitched her tent. When Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her) saw it, she pitched another tent. In the morning the Prophet ﷺ noticed the tents. He said, 'What is this?" He was told of the whole situation. Then the Prophet ﷺ said, "Do you think that they intended to do righteousness by doing this?" He ﷺ therefore abandoned I‘tikaaf in that month and observe I‘tikaaf only for ten days in the month of Shawwaal.".

Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ used to show diligence in worship to draw closer to Allah, Exalted is He, and a manifestation of such diligence was observing I‘tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadan, to devote himself exclusively to worship, observing fasting, performing prayer, reciting Dhikr, and other worshipful acts. In this hadeeth, ‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet ﷺ used to observe I’tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. I‘tikaaf means a spiritual retreat in the mosque to draw closer to Allah, Exalted is He, (by devoting oneself exclusively to worship) during daytime or night. ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) used to pitch a small woolen tent for the Prophet ﷺ were he ﷺ observed I’tikaaf. He ﷺ would perform Fajr prayer with the people and then go into the tent. Hafsah asked ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with them) to seek the permission of the Prophet for her to pitch a tent to observe I‘tikaaf and he ﷺ gave her the permission. When Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her) saw her tent, she did the same. In the morning, the Prophet ﷺ saw many tents pitched in the mosque: one for him and three for his wives (‘Aa’ishah, Hafsah, and Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with them), as clarified in other narrations cited in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree). The Prophet ﷺ said, addressing the people who were with him, "Do you think that they intended to do righteousness by doing this?"
It seems that he ﷺ feared that their motive or drive for doing so was rivalry and blameworthy competitiveness triggered by jealousy to be near him, or feared that the rest of women would do the same, overcrowding the mosque so much that it would not accommodate the worshipers, or that their presence in the mosque would be as if he ﷺwas staying in his house rather than the mosque, and that they may preoccupy him from devoting himself exclusively to worship, and thus undermine the very purpose of I‘tikaaf. It is also possible that he ﷺ was jealous over them and disliked their stay in the mosque, given the fact that it accommodated all Muslims, including the Bedouins and hypocrites, and the Prophet’s wives would need to go in and out of their houses, and this would be inconvenient for them. All these reasons would undermine the very essence of I‘tikaaf.
On that occasion, the Prophet ﷺ left his tent and did not observe I‘tikaaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan, so that they would do the same; he ﷺ used to teach His Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) by example. He ﷺ observed I‘tikaaf that year in Shawwaal, making up for the I‘tikaaf that he ﷺwas going to observe in Ramadan.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is allowable to pitch a tent for a worshipper in the mosque to observe I‘tikaaf therein.
It is also inferred that it is permissible for women to observe I‘tikaaf.
The permissibility of cancelling the I‘tikaaf after commencing it is also deduced from the hadeeth, and also that I‘tikaaf does not become obligatory upon holding the intention to observe it or commencing it.
It is also inferred therefrom that it is allowable to give up what is more favorable and better if it secures a benefit or an interest.
It is also deduced that it is permissible to allocate a specific place in the mosque to observe I‘tikaaf, as long as it does not involve overcrowding the mosque and making it difficult for the other worshippers therein.
It is also inferred that when women observe I‘tikaaf, their places should be covered by some sort of cover, to protect their privacy.
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2042

‘AbdullahNarrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab said, "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! I vowed in the pre-Islamic period to perform I‘tikaaf in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam for one night." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Fulfill your vow." So, he (may Allah be pleased with him) observed I‘tikaaf there for one night..

Commentary :
A vow is an act of worship and a good deed by means of which one draws closer to Allah, Exalted is He, and it must be devoted exclusively to Him. In the Quran, Allah, Exalted is He, lauded His righteous servants, and promised them reward, making mention of the fulfillment of vows as one of their good qualities. He Says (what means): {They [are those who] fulfill [their] vows.} [Quran 76:7].
In this hadeeth, ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he once told the Prophet ﷺ that he had vowed before his conversion to Islam to observe I’tikaaf in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, the Sacred Mosque in Makkah. I‘tikaaf means a spiritual retreat in the mosque to draw closer to Allah, Exalted is He, (by devoting oneself exclusively to worship) during daytime or night. The Prophet ﷺ commanded him to fulfil his vow and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) complied and observed I’tikaaf. The Prophet ﷺ commanded ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) to fulfill a vow that he had made before his conversion to Islam in the pre-Islamic time, because he (may Allah be pleased with him) had vowed to do a righteous and prescribed act that does not conflict with the Laws of Islam. However, if someone vows to do something that contravenes Islam, it is impermissible to fulfill such a vow.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is permissible to observe I’tikaaf at night, and it is not conditional upon fasting.
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2047

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
You people say that Aboo Hurayrah relates many narrations from Allah's Messenger ﷺ and you also wonder why the emigrants and Ansaar do not narrate from Allah's Messenger ﷺ as much as Aboo Hurayrah does. My emigrant brothers were busy in the marketplaces while I used to keep the company of Allah's Messenger ﷺ, content with what satisfied my hunger; so, I used to be present when they were absent and I used to remember when they used to forget, and my brothers from the Ansaar used to be busy with their property and I was one of the poor people of Suffah (i.e., homeless men who were sheltered in a place annexed to the Prophet’s Mosque). I used to remember the narrations when they used to forget. No doubt, Allah's Messenger ﷺ once said, "Whoever spreads his garment till I have finished my present speech and then gathers it to himself, will remember whatever I will say." So, I spread my colored garment which I was wearing till Allah's Messenger ﷺ had finished his saying, and then I gathered it to my chest. So, I did not forget any of his narrations!.

Commentary :
The transmission of the Sunnah and narrating the hadeeths of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are solemn and serious responsibilities, and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were remarkably meticulous regarding narration of the hadeeths and the verification of their authenticity. Some Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) related numerous hadeeths and reports while others narrated only few, according to the time during which they kept the company of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) used to keep the company of the Prophet ﷺ more often and narrated more hadeeths than other Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). When Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) realized the bewilderment of some of them and their questions about his ability to narrate so many hadeeths on the authority of the Prophet ﷺ, he (may Allah be pleased with him) clarified the reasons for them. He (may Allah be pleased with him) highlighted that he was able to narrate more hadeeths compared to the emigrants and Ansaar, meaning all the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), because his fellow brothers from the emigrants were busy with trade in the marketplaces, while he (may Allah be pleased with him) kept the company of the Prophet ﷺ longer and settled for having enough food to satisfy his hunger and keep him alive! This is why he (may Allah be pleased with him) was present with the Prophet ﷺ most of the time. He (may Allah be pleased with him) used to be present when they were absent and used to remember when they used to forget, because he kept the company of the Prophet ﷺ longer.
On the other hand, the Ansaar were also preoccupied with tending to their property, farms and the like, while he was a poor man, who belonged to the People of Suffah (i.e., homeless men who were sheltered in a place annexed to the Prophet’s Mosque) who did not engage in trade nor had any property to keep him busy. The word Suffah means a shaded place annexed to the Prophet’s Mosque which was home to the strangers and poor homeless Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). Therefore, he (may Allah be pleased with him) was always near the Prophet ﷺ and conveniently listened to the discussions of many knowledge-related issues and the hadeeths of the Prophet ﷺ. This is why he (may Allah be pleased with him) used to remember and memorize the hadeeths that they missed out on. Afterward, he (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever spreads his garment till I have finished my present speech and then gathers it to himself, will remember whatever I will say,” meaning that he would be able to memorize whatever he ﷺ said. Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) hastened to spread his garment, which was a striped or colored garment, and kept it spread till Allah's Messenger ﷺ had finished his saying, and then gathered it to his chest. Thus, he (may Allah be pleased with him) did not forget any of his hadeeths or statements in that gathering!
Perhaps one blessing of the Prophet’s ﷺsupplication for him manifested in the fact that he (may Allah be pleased with him) memorized everything he had learned and heard from the Prophet ﷺ during his long stay with him.
The hadeeth highlights an apparent miracle exercised by the Prophet ﷺ.
It also underlines the virtues and merits of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him).
It is deduced from the hadeeth that a Muslim is urged to seek knowledge.
It is also inferred therefrom that it is allowable for a person to proclaim his good qualities and virtues to dismiss suspicions about himself, and not to praise himself.
It is also deduced therefrom that senior Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) engaged in trade and worked to earn their living..

2048

Ibraaheem ibn Sa‘d narrated on the authority of his father narrating on the authority of his grandfather:
‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf said, "When we came to Al-Madeenah as emigrants, Allah's Messenger ﷺ established a bond of brotherhood between me and Sa‘d ibn Al-Rabee‘, who said (to me), 'I am the richest among the Ansaar, so I will give you half of my wealth and you may look at my two wives and whichever of the two you may choose I will divorce her, and when she has completed the prescribed period (before marriage) you may marry her!' ‘Abdul-Rahmaan replied, "I am not in need of all that. Is there any marketplace where trade is practiced?' He (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "The marketplace of Qaynuqaa‘." ‘Abdul-Rahmaan went to that market on the following day and brought some dried buttermilk (yogurt) and butter, and then continued to go there regularly. Few days later, ‘Abdul-Rahmaan came having traces of yellow (scent) on his body. Allah's Messenger ﷺ asked him whether he had got married. He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Whom have you married?' He replied, 'A woman from the Ansaar.' Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ asked, 'How much did you pay her (as dower)?' He (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, '(I gave her) a gold piece equal in weigh to a date stone (or a date stone of gold)! The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Throw a wedding banquet even if with one sheep.'".

Commentary :
The Islamic Laws of Islam urges Muslims to seek self-sufficiency, work to earn their living, and refrain from begging others for money or relying on their charity, because a Muslim is enjoined to preserve his dignity and save face.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that when he migrated to Al-Madeenah, the Prophet ﷺ established a bond of brotherhood between him and Sa‘d ibn Al-Rabee‘ Al-Ansaaree Al-Khazrajee (may Allah be pleased with him), who was one of the leaders chosen during the pledge of Al-‘Aqabah. A bond of brotherhood was a contract between two men (one from the emigrants and the other from the Ansaar) to support and show solidarity to one another just as two blood brothers would do.
Sa‘d offered his brother, ‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with them), half his wealth and asked him to choose one of his wives, so that he would divorce her, and after her ‘Iddah expired he could marry her. However, ‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) rejected the (exceptionally) generous offer and said: “I am not in need of all that. Is there any marketplace where trade is practiced?” He guided him to the marketplace of Qaynuqaa‘, which was named after one of the Jewish tribes in Al-Madeenah.
‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) frequently visited the marketplace and engaged in the trade of dried buttermilk (yogurt) and butter, and continued to work until he earned money. Afterward, he (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Prophet ﷺ having traces of yellow (scent) on his body (i.e., customarily applied to the groom in wedding ceremonies). The Prophet ﷺasked him whether he had got married, and he (may Allah be pleased with him) replied in the affirmative. The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Whom have you married?' He (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, 'A woman from the Ansaar.' He (may Allah be pleased with him) married the daughter of Anas ibn Raafi‘, from Banee ‘Abd Al-Ashhal. The Prophet ﷺ asked, 'How much did you pay her (as dower)?' He (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, '(I gave her) a gold piece equal in weight to a date stone (or a date stone of gold)! This was equivalent to the weight of three Dirhams and one third.
The Prophet ﷺ commanded him to throw a wedding banquet even with one sheep. A wedding banquet is thrown on the occasion of marriage and may be done with one sheep or more, according to one’s financial ability. If someone cannot afford it, there is no harm in that. The Prophet ﷺ threw a wedding banquet with Saweeq (i.e., a liquid meal made of wheat and barley) and dates for some of his wives.
It was said the establishment of brotherhood bonds between the emigrants and the Ansaar (after the migration to Makkah) had two reasons. First, it conformed with the common practice of forming alliances in the pre-Islamic times with which they were familiar. The Arabs even used to establish inheritance rights based on their alliances. However, the Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no alliance in Islam!” Islam cancelled the practice of forming such alliances, but retained the practice of establishing ‘brotherhood bonds’ because human beings tend to develop an aversion when asked to give up the familiar all of a sudden.
Second, the emigrants came to Al-Madeenah while being in dire need of wealth and accommodation (as they left everything behind). They were graciously hosted by their fellow Muslim brothers from the Ansaar, and therefore Islam confirmed this manifestation of (the enjoined) solidarity by establishing brotherhood bonds between them. After the Battle of Badr, the practice of establishing ‘brotherhood bonds’ was no longer needed, because Muslims started gaining spoils of war.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is permissible to engage in trade, and that it is one of the noblest means of earning lawful wealth.
The hadeeth highlights the incomparable affection, love, and altruism embodied by the emigrants and the Ansaar during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ.
It is also inferred from the hadeeth that a Muslim is urged to throw a wedding banquet on the occasion of marriage.
It is also deduced that it is allowable for a Muslim man to wear perfume at his wedding ceremony.
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2055

Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet ﷺ passed by a fallen date and said, "Were it not for my doubt that this might have been given in charity, I would have eaten it." It was narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) the Prophet ﷺ said, "I found a date fruit fallen on my bed.".

Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, deemed it prohibited for His Prophet ﷺ or his household to avail themselves of charity, even an insignificant amount.
In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that the Prophet ﷺpassed by a fallen date once, and he ﷺ did not know its source or owner. He ﷺ said that he would have eaten it had not he any doubt that it may have been given in charity. Therefore, he ﷺ refrained from eating it to avoid such doubts.
Another version of the hadeeth reads: "I found a date fruit fallen on my bed," meaning he ﷺ refrained from eating a date fruit fallen in his own home lest it was given in charity, because he ﷺ used to distribute the dates offered in charity to the poor; it was possible that some date fruits could have clung to his garment and fallen on his bed or the like, or that he ﷺ was collecting dates given in charity in his house to distribute them and feared that this date belonged to them. Therefore, he ﷺ refrained from eating the it out of his mindfulness of Allah, lest it was given in charity.He would not eat it unless he ﷺ verified that it belonged to the household supply.
The hadeeth highlights the enjoined mindfulness of Allah and abandoning doubtful matters.
It is deduced from it that it is permissible to eat food that is thrown away by the road, because the Prophet ﷺ refrained from eating that date fruit only out of his mindfulness of Allah, lest it was given in charity.
It is also inferred therefrom that a Muslim’s wealth and property that only declared unlawful and inviolable to his fellow Muslims (as per the laws of Islam) is that which has a value.
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2057

‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
Some people said, "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! Meat is brought to us by some people and we are not sure whether the Name of Allah has been mentioned on it or not (at the time of slaughtering the animals)." Allah's Messenger ﷺ said (to them), "Mention the Name of Allah and eat it.".

Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺclarified for us the laws and rulings of religion and made clear the precise divine texts and the broadly indicative ones. He ﷺ detailed the rulings regarding food and beveragesand clarified the situations in which one is urged to avoid obsessiveness and doubts lest people should fall into hardship.
In this hadeeth, ‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that a group of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked the Prophet ﷺ about the ruling on eating the meat of an animal when they were not sure whether or not the Name of Allah had been mentioned when it was being slaughtered, because the one who slaughtered it was a recent convert, as stated in the version cited in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, reading: “…a recent convert to Islam.” Another version reads: “… recent converts from polytheism.”
The Prophet ﷺ clarified to them that there was no harm in eating such meat and that they should simply presume that the Name of Allah had been mentioned upon it during the slaughter. He ﷺ instructed them to mention the Name of Allah upon eating it, as is prescribed when eating any food.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that a Muslim is urged to have good expectations of his fellow Muslims.
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2059

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
The Prophet ﷺ said, "A time will come when one will not care much how he gains his wealth, lawfully or unlawfully!".

Commentary :
Islam urges Muslims to seek lawful provision and ensure that they obtain wealth from lawful sources only. It underlines the reward for that act, and also warns against availing oneself of what is unlawful, in all its forms and in all facets of life.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ foretold that the Muslims’ situation would change and there would come a time when religiosity would be weakened, consciences and inner moral characters would be corrupted, and people would greedily vie with one another to accumulate more wealth, caring less about its sources, whether it was acquired through lawful or unlawful means! They would not bother ensuring that their wealth was acquired from lawful means only, such as permissible sales or working and earning a living. They would not mind gaining wealth from unlawful means such as theft, embezzlement, Ribaa (i.e., interest, usury), gambling, bribery, etc. Their ultimate aim and sole purpose would be acquiring wealth and raising money without verifying the lawfulness of the means of its acquisition.
The hadeeth includes a stern warning against acquiring wealth from unlawful means.
It also highlights the Prophet’s forecast of people’s situation at the end of time, and this falls under the category of disapproval, admonition, and warning. The hadeeth also underlines one of the Prophet’s miracles, foretelling future events..

2060

Aboo Al-Minhaal narrated:
I used to practice money exchange, and I asked Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib and Zayd ibn Arqam about it, and they said: “We engaged in trade during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ and we asked about practicing money exchange (currency trading). He ﷺ replied, 'If the exchange is hand to hand, there is no harm in it; otherwise, it is not permissible.’".

Commentary :
Islam warns against falling into Ribaa (i.e., interest-based-loans, usury, etc.) in all its forms, because it involves devouring people's money unlawfully, and wipes out the blessing of one’s wealth.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi‘ee Aboo Al-Minhaal ‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn Mut‘im Al-Bunaanee stated that he asked Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib and Zayd ibn Arqam about the ruling on money exchange, like exchanging gold or Dinars for silver or Dirhams, and vice versa, or selling gold for gold, or silver for silver. They told him that they had engaged in trade during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, encountered such transactions, and asked him about the ruling on money exchange or currency trading. He ﷺ clarified that if the exchange is done hand to hand, there is no harm in that, as long as the Taqaabudh requirement (i.e., reciprocal taking possession of the purchased commodity and its monetary equivalent by the buyer and seller respectively in the contracting session) is fulfilled. However, if the exchange or receipt when selling one currency for another currency or gold is delayed, it is prohibited (i.e., the exchange must be hand to hand).
It is deduced from the hadeeth that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to work in trade and earn their living.
The hadeeth also urges Muslims to keenly investigate the lawfulness and unlawfulness of work dealings and business transactions.
It is also deduced that Taqaabudh (or immediate hand-to-hand exchange) is required in transactions that involve Ribaa Al-Fadhl (i.e., exchange or sale transactions in trade which effectively result in the charging of ‘interest’ through the exchange of the same commodity, but of a different quality or quantity).
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2062

‘Ubayd ibn ‘Umayr narrated: Aboo Moosaa sought permission to enter ‘Umar’s house, but was not given permission, because ‘Umar was busy, and therefore Aboo Moosaa left. When ‘Umar finished his task he said, "Did not I hear the voice of ‘Abdullah ibn Qays? Let him come in." ‘Umar was told that he had left. So, he sent for him and on his arrival, he (Aboo Moosaa) said, "We were ordered to do so (i.e., to leave if not admitted after seeking permission thrice). ‘Umar told him, "Bring a witness to prove your statement!" Aboo Moosaa went to the Ansaar's meeting places and asked them. They said, "None amongst us will witness to this except the youngest of us, Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree. Aboo Moosaa then took Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree (to ‘Umar) and ‘Umar said, surprisingly, "Has this command of Allah's Messenger ﷺ been hidden from me?" (Then he (may Allah be pleased with him) added), "I was preoccupied with trading in marketplaces!".

Commentary :
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to comply with the Prophet’s ﷺcommands and adhere to the Islamic etiquettes, and they (may Allah be pleased with them) left the most wonderful legacy attesting that.
In this hadeeth, the Tabi’ee (Follower) ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Umayr stated that Aboo Moosaa, ‘Abdullah ibn Qays Al-Ash’aree (may Allah be pleased with him) sought permission thrice to enter ‘Umar’s house, as recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim. However, the Caliph ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was busy and did not give him permission to enter, and therefore he left. When ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) finished his task, he ordered that Aboo Moosaa (may Allah be pleased with him) should be given permission to enter, but he was told that he had left. ‘Umar summoned Aboo Moosaa (may Allah be pleased with them) and inquired about his reason for leaving instead of waiting to be given permission to enter. Aboo Moosaa told him that he was acting upon the command of the Prophet ﷺ in this regard. It has been narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim that the Prophet ﷺ said: “When one of you seeks permission thrice to enter and it is not granted to him, he should go back.” Upon hearing the hadeeth, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was shocked that such etiquette should have missed him, while he (may Allah be pleased with him) accompanied the Prophet ﷺ in residence and travel! He (may Allah be pleased with him) feared that Aboo Moosaa (may Allah be pleased with him) might have been confused and therefore asked him to bring a witness to testify to the authenticity of this act of Sunnah so that people would not take lightly the attribution of a statement or an act to the Prophet ﷺ. Aboo Moosaa (may Allah be pleased with him) went to the Ansaar’s meeting place and asked them to testify with him that this hadeeth was authentically attributed to the Prophet ﷺ. Since this matter was well-known and quite common among the Ansaar, they sent with Aboo Moosaa a young Companion Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree to ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), and he testified as to the authenticity of the relevant hadeeth. Upon knowing that and learning of the authentic hadeeth on that act of Sunnah, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) attributed the reason for his lack of knowledge of it to his preoccupation with trade and spending a lot of time in the marketplaces. The Arabic word ‘Safq’ used in the hadeeth means handshakes upon concluding sales transactions.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that Muslims are required to investigate the authenticity of any statement before attributing it to the Prophet ﷺ.
It is also inferred that when a Companion (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We were commanded”, it meant that the Prophet ﷺ commanded them.
The hadeeth also highlights that senior Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) engaged in trade and worked to earn their living.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) complied with the Prophet’s command and accepted it upon verifying its authenticity.
It is also inferred therefrom that even a knowledgeable scholar (like ‘Umar) may be ignorant of some knowledge issues that may be known to someone else who is less knowledgeable!
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2066

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
The Prophet ﷺ said, "If a woman spends something (i.e., in charity) from her husband's earnings without his permission, he will get half the reward.".

Commentary :
In this hadeeth, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ highly praised spending in charity and emphasized its reward, urging Muslims to spend more in charity. He ﷺ also underlined the reward earned by both the husband and wife when she spends in charity from her husband's earnings without his explicit consent, while knowing his tacit approval of such disposal of his wealth; or in the case that such act of disposal is customarily pardoned and approved. An example is when she offers in charity an insignificant amount of food or money. However, if she spends a significant amount of food or money in charity without his explicit consent and such an act is not customarily pardoned and approved, she earns no reward for her act and rather bears a sin for it.
If she spends in charity seeking to earn the pleasure of Allah, Exalted is He, the husband is credited with half the reward. She would earn the reward for spending in charity, and her husband would be credited with the reward for earning this money. It has also been said that the hadeeth rather means that the husband gets an equal share in the reward of spending charity; each gets half the reward, since whoever guides someone to a good deed receives a reward similar to that of its doer (i.e.,without his reward being diminished in any respect), and this entails having equal shares of the reward.
It is said that the money spent in charity, for which a husband gets half the reward when his wife spends, should be surplus to the enjoined maintenance on one’s household and children, after fulfilling their needs without extravagance or squandering.
It has also been said that the hadeeth refers to the case when a husband gives an allowance to his wife to provide for herself and her household. If she spends from such money without his knowledge, the reward is shared by them both; she gets the reward of spending in charity and he gets the reward for earning this money, and because he is also rewarded for the money he spends on his family in general. The wife gets the reward because this money was taken from the enjoined maintenance for her (and her household).
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2067

Narrated Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him):
I heard Allah's Messenger ﷺ saying, "Whoever desires to have his Rizq (i.e., provisions) and life span expanded (i.e., blessed), should uphold ties of kinship.".

Commentary :
Upholding ties of kinship is one of the best acts of worship by means of which a person draws closer to his Lord, who commanded it, and warned against cutting it off. He even deems severing ties of kinship a cause to incur His punishment, and its upholding as a good deed warranting reward.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ stated the virtues and merits of upholding ties of kinship in this worldly life. The reference to ties of kinship incorporates all one’s relatives bonded by kinship ties, whether they are heirs or non-heirs, and the obligation of upholding ties of kinship is further emphasized the closer in kinship a relative.
He ﷺ stated that upholding ties of kinship is rewarded with having one’s Rizq (provision) blessed, and whoever wishes to earn such reward should uphold ties of kinship. He ﷺ also stated that such a good deed is rewarded with having one’s lifespan blessed, meaning to guide him to acts of worship and obedience, preoccupying his time with what benefits him in the Hereafter, and guarding him against wasting his life in other futile activities. It could also mean that his good remembrance would live longer after his death. It has also been said that there are two ends to one’s life on earth; one end is unconditional and only known to Allah and the second is conditional. Allah, Exalted is He, commands an angel to write down the lifespan of a given person, and it is said that he also writes: “If he upholds ties of kinship, he shall live until such-and-such time!” The angel does not have knowledge of whether or not this person’s lifespan shall be extended; this is only Known to Allah, Exalted is He.
Muslims are urged to uphold ties of kinship in countless religious texts. Upholding ties of kinship can be done by visiting one’s relatives when they are sick, checking in on them, paying them visits, talking nicely to them, helping them do what is good and righteous, spending in charity for the poor among them, offering gifts to the rich ones, and the like of what is customarily considered a means to uphold ties of kinship. It is noteworthy that ties of kinship are not merely upheld with those who uphold ties of kinship with us. The Prophet ﷺ said: “A person who perfectly upholds ties of kinship is not the one who does it to reciprocate or recompense those relatives (for being kind and good to them), but the one who truly upholds ties of kinship is the one who persistently upholds them even though such relatives have severed ties of kinship with him.” [Al-Bukhaaree].
It is deduced from the hadeeth that some good deeds may have lasting impacts and keep the doer’s good memory alive after his death, and may cause his lifespan to be blessed, beyond his actual lifespan..

196

Anas ibn Malek narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I will be the first intercessor in Paradise. Not a prophet among prophets has followers like me. There is a prophet who was believed by only one man from his nation.".

Commentary : The Prophet's merits are abundant and supreme. He was sent to all people including Jews and Christians so all must believe and follow him. This hadith mentions some of his merits such as he will be the first to enter Paradise after Allah accepts his intercession to open it, as in Imam Muslim's narration. Later his intercession will be accepted for two types of people: (1) The disobedient to be admitted to Paradise, and (2) Those who entered Paradise but got lower ranks. Imam Ahmad narrated that the Prophet said, “I will be the first to enter Paradise on the Day of Resurrection and I am not boasting. When I come to the gate of Paradise and take its ring, they will ask, 'Who is this?' I will answer, 'Muhammad.' They will open it for me. I will enter and see the Mighty facing me. I will prostrate to Him and He will say, 'O Muhammad, raise your head, speak so you will be responded, say so your requests will be accepted, and intercede so your intercession will be granted.' I will raise my head and say, 'O God, my nation, my nation.' He will say, 'Go to your nation. Whoever you find in his heart a weight of barley grain of faith, admit him to Paradise.' So I will accept. Whoever I find that in his heart, I will admit him to Paradise.” In addition, he will have the most followers on that day in comparison with other prophets. It indicates that having more followers means having a supreme followed one. Allah dignifies this nation for dignifying his Prophet. No nation will be like his nation on the Day of Resurrection, for it will form half of Paradise's people as in the two Sahihs' narration or even two-thirds as Imam Ahmad, Tirmedhy, and Ibn Maja reported. Moreover, he confirmed that there was a prophet who was only believed by one man from his nation. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It clarifies the Divine dignity of the Prophet, and (2) It proves the Prophet's intercession on the Day of Judgement..

196

Anas ibn Malek narrated, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “I will be the first to intercede in (allowing people to enter) Paradise and have the most followers in comparison with other prophets.”.

Commentary : The Prophet's merits are great and supreme. He was sent to all people including Jews and Christians so all people must believe and follow him. In this hadith, he mentioned some of his virtues such as he will be the first one to enter Paradise and intercede for people to be admitted to Paradise as in Muslim's narration. Afterward, he will be granted the right to intercede for those who committed sins to enter Paradise or those who entered lower ranks to raise their ranks. In Ahmad's narration, he said, “I will be the first to enter Paradise on the Day of Resurrection and it is no boast. When I come to the gate of Paradise and take its ring, they will ask, 'Who is this?' I will answer, 'Muhammad.' They will open it for me. I will enter and see the Mighty facing me. I will prostrate to Him and He will say, 'O Muhammad, raise your head, speak so you will be responded, say so your requests will be accepted, and intercede so your intercession will be granted.' I will raise my head and say, 'O God, my nation, my nation.' He will say, 'Go to your nation. Whoever you find in his heart a weight of barley grain of faith, admit him to Paradise.' So I will accept. Whoever I find that in his heart, I will admit him to Paradise.” In addition, he will have the most followers on that day in comparison with other prophets. It means that having more followers means having a supreme followed one. Allah dignifies this nation for dignifying his Prophet. No nation will be like his nation on the Day of Resurrection, for it will form half of Paradise's people as in the two Sahihs. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It clarifies the divine dignity of the Prophet Muhammad, (2) It proves his right of intercession, and (3) It confirms the virtue of having many followers to the straight path, for the one being followed is given his followers' rewards..

197

Anas ibn Malek narrated, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘I will come to the gate of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection and ask to open it. The keeper will ask, ‘Who are you?’ I will say, ‘Muhammad.’ He will say, ‘It is just you for whom I have been ordered to open before anyone else.’”.

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) has great virtues. He is the master of Prophet Adam’s sons. Allah has sent him to all people, including Jews and Christians. It is obligatory for anyone to believe his prophethood and message. In this hadith, he mentioned that he would knock at Paradise’s gate on the day of Judgement and ask to get in. The keeper asked him about his identity. The Prophet (ﷺ) answered, “Muhammad.” He answers with his proper name that people and angels know. The keeper would say when hearing the Prophet’s name (ﷺ), “It is just you for whom I have been ordered to open before anyone else.” Thus, the Prophet informed us that he would be the first one to enter Paradise. This is a divine honor to our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) by giving him the priority of entering Paradise and even its highest levels..

202

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al-'As ﷺ narrated that the Prophet ﷺ recited Prophet Ibrahim's saying in the Quran, "O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoso follows me, he, verily, is of me." (Ibrahim: 36) and Prophet Jesus' saying in the Quran, "If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You, are the All‑Mighty, the All‑Wise." (Al-Ma'idah: 118) then raised his hands, wept, and said, "O Allah, my nation, my nation!" Allah, the Almighty, said, "O Gabriel, go to Muhammad (and Allah knows best) and ask him, 'What makes you weep?'" Gabriel came and asked him, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ informed him about what he asked Allah (and Allah knows best). Thus, Allah said, "O Gabriel, go to Muhammad and say to him, 'Verily, We will please you with regard to your nation and not displease you.'".

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) was compassionate and merciful, so he used to frequently and deeply supplicate Allah not to perish his nation as the previous nations, as in this report. In this hadith, he recited Prophet Ibrahim's supplication to his nation in the Quran, "O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoso follows me, he, verily, is of me." (Ibrahim: 36) Prophet Ibrahim means that whoever follows me and abandons worshipping idols, he is one of my followers who deserves forgiveness and mercy. Whoever disobeys and continues worshipping idols, it is up to Allah. If He Wills, He guides him and if He Wills, He goes him astray. Allah does not forgive those dying while being polytheists as He said, "Verily, Allah does not forgive that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives, except that, anything else to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah (in worship), he has indeed invented a tremendous sin." (An-Nisa’: 48) Then, he recited Prophet Jesus' saying in the Quran, "If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You, are the All‑Mighty, the All‑Wise." (Al-Ma'idah: 118) Afterward, the Prophet (ﷺ) wept and supplicated Him, "O Allah, my nation, my nation!" Due to his deep love for his nation, he asked Allah's mercy, kindness, and goodness to them. Although Allah knows all that the breasts conceal, he sent Gabriel to ask the Prophet (ﷺ) about the reason for his weeping. It was said that this was to show the Prophet's prestige and honor. Gabriel asked the Prophet (ﷺ) who informed him about what he asked Allah. Thus, Allah asked Gabriel to inform the Prophet (ﷺ) that He would please and grant him what he asked and not displease him with regard to his nation, as Allah said, "And verily, your Lord will give you (all good) so that you shall be well‑pleased." (Ad-Duha: 5) This is one of the best glad tidings to Muslim nation. On the other hand, this hadith explains the Quranic verse, "Verily, there has come to you a Messenger from amongst yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He is anxious over you; for the believers full of pity, kind, and merciful." (At-Tawbah: 128). Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It clarifies the Prophet's kindness and supplication to his nation, (2) It shows the Prophet’s supreme prestige with Allah Who promised to please him with regard to his nation, and (4) It includes a great glad tiding to the Muslim nation..

203

Anas narrated that a man asked, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, where is my father?” The Prophet ﷺ answered, “In Hell.” When the man turned away, the Prophet ﷺ called him and said, “Verily, my father and your father are in Hell.”.

Commentary : It is established in Islam that if a person dies while being a disbeliever, he will enter Hell. Some people frequently asked the Prophet useless questions until he fed up. As a result, he used to rebuke them and others to help them stop this kind of question. In this hadith, Anas ibn Malik narrated that a man asked, "O Messenger of Allah, where is my father?” He asked whether his father was in Paradise or Hell. The Prophet replied, "In Hell.” This is because the man’s father died while being a disbeliever. When the man turned away, the Prophet called him and said, "Verily, my father and your father are in Hell.” It is due to the Prophet's good behavior and treatment of his companions. When he noticed the man’s sadness, he wanted to console him to find contentment, for if there had been a son who wanted to benefit his disbelieved father, the Prophet would have been the first one to do so. It was the revelation that informed the Prophet of his own father's destiny. This is because whoever died before the Prophet's message of Islam and followed the Arabs’ practice of worshiping idols was one of the people of Hell. As a matter of fact, the people of that period received the call of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and other prophets. In addition, some of them followed his message and lived with Jews and Christians, so they knew about prophets and the necessity of faith, but the majority intentionally disobeyed and associated others in worshipping Allah. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) If a person dies while being a disbeliever, he will enter Hell, and his close relatives will not benefit him, and (2) It clarifies the Prophet’s good treatment and honorable character..

211

Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Verily, the least tormented one of the people of Hell is who will wear two shoes of fire so his brain will boil due to the heat of his shoes.”.

Commentary : The severe punishment of Allah is inconceivable. The torment of the sinners mentioned in the Quran and Prophetic tradition just illustrates a picture of this severity and requires every human being to fear it on the Day of Resurrection. In this hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) confirmed that the least tormented one in Hell is the one who would wear two shoes of fire. Allah said, "... will have cut out for them garments of fire." (Al-Hajj: 19) Although he is the least tormented one in Hell, his brain will boil due to just the heat of his shoes. Some said that all of his body is tormented while others said it is just his feet, out of kindness. It was said that it is the Prophet's uncle Abu Taleb, for the Prophet's saying, when his uncle was mentioned, as in the two Sahihs, “My intercession may benefit him on the Day of Resurrection so that he may be placed in a shallow part of fire reaching only up to his ankles and causing his brain to boil.” The hadith included him and other ones who would be punished likewise. The hadith refers that the people of Hell are those abiding in it forever such as the disbelievers. This does not include the believers who committed major sins, as in the hadith reported in Bukhari and Muslim that Allah will say to the least tormented one in Hell, “I asked you a much easier thing than this, that is, not to worship others besides Me, but you refused and insisted to worship others besides Me.” Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It shows the severity of Hell's torment to the extent that the least torment one will wear two shows causing his brain to boil and (2) It warns us against Hell and urges us to do what keeps us away from it..

214

Aisha narrated, "I said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Ibn Jud'an used to establish ties of relationship and fed the poor. Will it benefit him?'" He answered, "It will not benefit him, for he did not ever say, 'O my God, forgive my sins on the Day of Recompense.’”.

Commentary : Believing in Allah is a prerequisite to getting His pleasing, entering Paradise, and being saved from Hell. Therefore, Allah, the Almighty, has sent people His messengers to call them to believe in Him and abandon all forms of disbelief and polytheism. In this hadith, Aisha narrated that she asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about one of her relatives, Abdullah ibn Jud'an. He was a Qureish leader from the tribe of Banu Tamim ibn Murrah during the pre-Islamic ignorant times before the Prophet's mission. It was called so, for it was full of ignorant practices. At that time, Ibn Jud'an used to establish ties of relationship, feed the poor, and follow lots of manners that Islam would encourage later. She was wondering if these righteous acts would benefit him in the hereafter and save him from Allah's punishment of the polytheists due to his disbelief. The Prophet (ﷺ) told her that all of his works would not benefit him, for he never believed in neither Allah nor the Last Day. A disbeliever will not get a reward in the hereafter for his righteous acts, for he nullified them by his disbelief. This is an indication that if he had embraced Islam, these acts would have benefitted him. As for his acts’ reward in this worldly life, Imam Muslim reported that Anas ibn Malek narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah does not unjustly prevent a believer from even a good deed’s reward. He is rewarded in this world and in the Hereafter. As for the disbeliever, he is given a reward for the good deeds he did for the sake of Allah in the world and when he comes to Hereafter, there is no rewards for him.” Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It clarifies the virtue of faith, the prerequisite for accepting righteous deeds, (2) It shows the terrible results of disbelief which nullifies the reward of the righteous deeds..

223

Abu Malek Al-Hareth ibn ‘Asem Al-Ash'ary narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Purity is half of faith, al-hamdulillah fills the scale, and subhanallah and al-hamdulillah fill what is between the heavens and Earth. Prayer is a light, charity is proof, and patience is illumination. The Quran is proof for or against you. All people go out early in the morning and sell themselves, either setting themselves free or ruining themselves.".

Commentary : This is a great hadith and one of the Islamic foundations in which the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned all that concerns a Muslim in his life and the afterlife. The Prophet (ﷺ) confirmed that purification is half of faith. It means one of the two following meanings: (1) All Islamic aspects aim to purify a Muslim inwardly from evil attributes and outwardly from impurities as in purification, or (2) The word faith means prayer as in Allah's saying, "And Allah would never make your faith be lost." (Al-Baqarah: 143) So, the hadith means that purification is half of prayer which is not accepted without it. Moreover, the Prophet (ﷺ) added that the saying of al-hamdulillah (all praise is due to Allah) will fill one's scale on the Day of Resurrection with reward when Allah weighs all people's deeds. It is a real scale to weigh their deeds, which does not resemble the worldly scales. It is one of the matters of the unseen world that we all must believe in. Al-hamdulillah means to acknowledge that Allah, alone, deserves all types of gratitude. The Prophet (ﷺ) added that subhanallah (glory be to Allah) meant to describe Allah with the complete perfection he deserves and negate all that contradict this perfection. These two sentences fill what is between heaven and Earth, for they contain praising Allah, negating all that contradicts His perfection, and showing the servant's need for his Creator. Moreover, the Prophet (ﷺ) added that prayer is a light. This means one of the following possibilities: (1) It is a light on a Muslim's face in this life and in his way in the afterlife, unlike those who do not pray, (2) It guides a servant to the straight path and makes him away from sins, immorality, and indecency, or (3) It means all the above-mentioned possibilities, for it is a light in his heart, face, grave, and hereafter. Moreover, the Prophet (ﷺ) added that charity is proof of a Muslim's truthful faith, unlike a hypocrite who does not give charity, for he does not believe. Then, the Prophet (ﷺ) added that patience is a shining light. It is a light with heat and burning power like the sun, unlike the moon. He mentioned this similarity, for patience was a difficult attribute that required struggling oneself in preventing prohibited desires and whims. The recommended patience is during three cases: (1) Patience in obeying Allah, (2) Patience in avoiding disobeying Him, and (3) Patience during calamities and hardships. Thus, patience will be a light for us throughout the straight way. Then, the Prophet (ﷺ) showed one's stand with the Quran in the hereafter. He confirmed that it would be proof for a person if he kept reciting and acting upon it in this life. On the other hand, it would be proof against him when he left reciting or acting upon it. The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned that all people went out early in the morning and sold themselves, either setting themselves free from Hell by obeying Allah or ruining themselves in Hell by obeying their whims and the devil. Thus, hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It shows the virtue of purification and its reward, (2) It mentions some sayings and deeds of faith that set the believers free from Hell, (3) It clarifies that a person will be held accountable for his actions, so he is free to choose the way he wants to himself..

224

Mus'ab ibn Sa'd narrated, "Abdullah ibn Omar visited Ibn 'Amer when he was sick. Ibn 'Amer said to him, 'O Ibn Omar, will you not supplicate Allah to me?' Ibn Omar replied, 'I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'No prayer is accepted without ablution and no charity is accepted due to ghulul (taking spoils before authorized distribution). You were the governor of Al-Basrah.'".

Commentary : The Prophet's companions used to advise people on religious and worldly matters in accordance with people’s cases and abilities. The caliph Uthman ibn Affan appointed Abdullah ibn Amer ibn Kuraiz a ruler over Basra after Abu Musa Al-Ash’ary in 29 H. Later, Uthamn appointed him over Basra and Fares after Othman ibn Abi Al-'As. Later, the caliph Mu'aweya ibn Abi Sufyan appointed him a ruler over Basra and then dismissed him after three years. Afterward, Abdullah lived in Medina until he died in 57 or 58 H. In this hadith, Abdullah ibn Omar visited Ibn 'Amer when he was sick. Ibn 'Amer asked him to supplicate Allah to him, for the Prophet's companion Abdullah ibn Omar was one of the righteous persons at that time. So, Ibn 'Amer was keen to ask for his supplication during this hardship. Abu Nu'aim narrated in his Mustakhraj, "When Abdullah ibn Omar visited Ibn 'Amer during his illness, people were praising Ibn 'Amer but Ibn Omar kept silent. Ibn Amer said to him, ‘O Abu Abdderrhman, what does prevent you from saying (alike)?’ Ibn Omar wisely answered, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, 'No prayer is accepted without ablution and no charity is accepted due to ghulul (taking spoils before authorized distribution).’” Ablution is a prerequisite to make prayer accepted and charity is not accepted if it is taken from spoils before authorized distribution. Generally, this hadith includes taking illegal money. Ibn Omar meant that Allah did not accept charity from illegal sources and Ibn 'Amer used to illegally take people's properties during his rule over some cities. Ibn Omar wanted to scold him for his old sins and urge him to repent to Allah although Ibn ‘Amer was dismissed in 29 H. and died in 57 or 58 H. Ibn Omar wanted to urge other rulers to perform righteous deeds and fear Allah. He also wanted to warn them against oppression and negligence. Ibn Omar scolded him although the Prophet (ﷺ), his companions, and the righteous ones after them used to supplicate Allah for people of sins. In the Two Sahihs, Abu Hurairah narrated, "Tufail ibn Amr Ad-Daousy and his companions came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, the tribe of Daous disobeyed and refused so supplicate Allah against them.' Someone said, 'Daous will be destroyed.' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'O Allah, guide the tribe of Daous and let them come.’” Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It urges Muslims to visit the patient, (2) It confirms the scholars' advice to rulers with wisdom and good words, (3) It contains the virtue of ablution, (4) It contains the virtue of giving charity from legal properties, (5) It shows the legitimacy of asking righteous people for supplication to Allah, (6) It clarifies Ibn Omar's deep keenness in enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, without flattery, and (7) It indicates that having illegal properties prevents accepting one's supplication..

227

Humran, the servant of Uthman, narrated, "I heard Uthman - when he was in the courtyard of the mosque and asked for water to perform ablution after the caller to prayer came to him - said, 'By Allah, I am narrating to you a hadith. If there had not been a verse in the Book of Allah, I would have never narrated it to you. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, 'If a Muslim properly performs ablution and offers prayer, Allah will forgive him the sins committed to the next prayer.'" In another narration, "If a Muslim properly performs ablution and offers obligatory prayer ...".

Commentary : The Prophet's Companions used to teach and convey Prophetic clear guidance to people. In this hadith, Human, the servant of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan, narrated, “I heard Uthman - when he was in the courtyard of the mosque and asked for water to perform ablution after the caller to (afternoon) prayer came to him - said, 'By Allah, I am narrating to you a hadith. If there had not been a verse in the Book of Allah, I would have never narrated it to you.’” The verse he meant was Allah’s saying, "Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers." (Al-Baqarah: 159) It means that Allah will expel them from His mercy and people ask Him to expel them from His mercy as well. It was only this verse that encouraged Uthman to narrate this Prophetic hadith although he preferred not to narrate it temporarily, for he was afraid that people may have been deceived by their little obedience to Allah. In the end, he decided to narrate it and confirmed that he heard the Prophet saying, “If a Muslim properly performs ablution and offers prayer, Allah will forgive him the sins committed to the next prayer." The prayer mentioned here is the obligatory one and the sins mentioned here are the minor, for repentance is a prerequisite to forgive the major sins. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) Caliph Uthman was keen to teach people goodness, (2) It warns against concealing Islamic knowledge, (3) It urges people to learn and properly abide by ablution's etiquette and conditions, (4) It stressed on the virtue of properly performing ablution, and (5) The legitimacy of swearing without being asked to swear..

228

Amr ibn Saeed ibn Al-'As said, "I was with Uthman who asked for ablution water and said, 'I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, 'When the time for a prescribed prayer is due and a Muslim properly performs its ablution, submissiveness, and bowing, it will be an expiation for his past sins as long as he did not commit a major sin. This applies for all times.’”.

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) used to encourage people to perform acts of worship by mentioning their reward, for it is Allah's grace that he makes performing these acts, with caring about their conditions, a reason for forgiveness. In this hadith, Amr ibn Saeed ibn Al-'As narrated that when he was with Caliph Uthman ibn Affan, Uthman asked for ablution water and told him that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When the time for a prescribed prayer is due and a Muslim properly performs its ablution, submissiveness, and bowing, it will be an expiation for his past sins as long as he did not commit a major sin. This applies for all times." Submissiveness in prayer means that all Muslim's limbs are facing Allah and recalling His greatness. Also, the above-mentioned sins are the minor ones, for forgiving the major sins necessitate repentance. The major sins are those sins that are called in the Quran, the authentic Sunnah, or consensus major sins, necessitate severe punishment, or its doer was cursed or highly reprehensible. This favor from Allah is general and applied to all times, not confined to a specific time. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It clarifies the virtue of frequently persevering the acts of worship, which is a reason for forgiving minor sins, and (2) It confirms the virtue of ablution and submissiveness in prayer..

231

Humran ibn Aban narrated, “I used to fetch water of ablution for Uthman. There was not a day that he did not take a bath with a small quantity of water. Uthman said, ‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told us after completing this prayer, (one of the narrators called Mes'ar said, ‘I think it afternoon prayer.’) ‘I do not know whether I should tell you something or keep quiet.’ We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, if it is good, tell us about it, and if it is otherwise, Allah and His Prophet ﷺ know best.’ So, he said, ‘If a Muslim purifies in a complete way as enjoined upon him by Allah and offers these five prayers, they will expiate what (sins) committed between them.’”.

Commentary : Due to Allah’s grace, He makes performing acts of worship a reason for forgiveness. Thus, the Prophet ﷺ used to encourage people to perform them, by mentioning its reward. In this hadith, Humran ibn Aban, the servant of Othman ibn Affan, narrated that he used to fetch water of ablution for Othman. There was not a day that Othman did not take a bath with a small quantity of water. He was keen to purify himself, out of cleanliness and seeking great rewards mentioned in this hadith. Then, Othman narrated that one day the Prophet ﷺ finished the afternoon prayer and gave his companions the choice between speaking to them or keeping silent to draw their attention for knowledge. They replied, “If it is good, tell us about it, and if it is otherwise, Allah and His Prophet ﷺ know best.” Their response indicates their high good manners with the Prophet ﷺ. He told them that if a Muslim completely performs ablution and offers the five prayers at their appointed times - as in other narrations -, they will expiate what (sins) committed between them. In another narration in Sahih Muslim, he said, “Unless the major sins are committed.” Thus, the above-mentioned forgiveness is applied to the minor, not the major sins which Allah may forgive or punish its doer. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It shows the virtue of ablution, (2) It clarifies the virtue of regularly offering the acts of worship, which is a reason for forgiveness, and (3) It confirms the legitimacy of a ruler’s preaching to people, for Othman was then the caliph..

232

Uthman ibn Affan narrated, "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, 'Whoever properly performs ablution for prayer, walks to (attend) the obligatory prayer, and prays with the people, with the congregation, or in the mosque, Allah will forgive him his sins.'".

Commentary : Prayer is the pillar of Islam that has a great reward. As a result, mere walking to perform prayer in a mosque is a reason for forgiving one’s sins and raising his ranks in Paradise. Similarly, Allah makes ablution and prayer reasons for purifying people from the effects of their sins. Also, he promises that performing acts of worship based on their conditions is a reason for forgiveness. In this hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) said that whoever properly and perfectly performs ablution then walks to perform an obligatory prayer with people, with the congregation, or in the mosque, Allah will forgive his sins. The repeated "or" may be due to a narrator's doubt so the hadith means that a Muslim performs an obligatory prayer with people in a mosque and if they finished it, he would perform it alone in the mosque. Also, it may mean that a Muslim performs an obligatory prayer with people whether in a mosque or somewhere else, so the hadith focusses on performing it with people. As a result, Allah will forgive all of his sins. On the other hand, it was proven in the Quranic and Prophetic texts that it is the minor, not the major sins that will be forgiven, for forgiving major sins necessitates repentance, decisive intention not to commit them again along with some other prerequisites. Finally, the hadith contains the following benefits: (1) Encouragement to properly and perfectly perform ablution, and (2) The virtue of congregational prayer and its great reward..

233

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The five (daily) prayers, the periods from one Friday prayer to the (next) Friday prayer, and from Ramadan to Ramadan expiate the (sins) committed in between provided that one shuns the major sins.".

Commentary : People are created weak, overcome by themselves and devils through committing sins. Allah grants them things that expiate their sins on condition that they avoid major sins, such as performing acts of worship with their prerequisites. In this hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) confirmed that performing the five daily prayers, performing Friday's prayer to the next one, and fasting Ramadan month to the next one expiate the sins committed in between provided that one shuns the major sins. Repentance is a prerequisite to expiate them. The major sin is the sin that the Quran, the Sunnah, or the scholars' consensus: (1) Stipulated as a major sin, (2) Mentioned a severe punishment or a specific penalty of its doer, and (3) Deeply dispraised or cursed its doer. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It shows Allah's comprehensive mercy, his grace of forgiveness, and his great reward for small acts of worship, and (2) It confirms the virtue of prayer and fasting in expiating sins..

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Uqbah ibn Amer narrated, "We were entrusted with the task of caring about camels. On my turn, I took them back in the evening after grazing them in the pastures, I found the Messenger of Allah ﷺ standing and addressing people. I heard him saying, "If any Muslim performs ablution properly, then performs two rak'ahs with his face and heart (inwardly and outwardly), Paradise will be guaranteed for him." I said, "What a fine thing is this!" Someone in front of me said, "The words before them were better." When I cast a glance, I saw that it was 'Umar who said, "I have seen that you have just come." He narrated, "If anyone amongst you performs ablution properly, then says, 'I testify that there is no god worthy of worship, but Allah and that Muhammad is the servant and messenger of Allah, the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him, so he can enter by whichever of them he wishes." In another narration, "Whoever performs ablution and says, 'I testify that there is no god worthy of worship, but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.".

Commentary : Allah’s mercy and reward may be for the simplest acts of worship. Thus, simple acts like ablution, prayer, fasting, charity, and others are means to purify people and forgive their sins on the condition that they avoid the major sins. In this hadith, Uqbah ibn Amer narrated that the companions were alternatively responsible for grazing camels outside Medina, for they did not have servants for this task. After finishing his tiring task, Uqbah went to the Prophetic Mosque and found the Prophet (ﷺ) standing and addressing people, "If any Muslim performs ablution properly, then performs two rak'ahs with his face and heart (outwardly and inwardly), Paradise will be guaranteed for him." His words, "... with his face and heart ..." meant to be sincere and submissive and avoid turning face or making heart busy with thoughts other than prayer details. As a result, the reward is Paradise. Uqbah was astonished by this simple act of worship with the glad tiding and supreme reward. Uqbah lately came to the speech, so he did not hear the speech from the beginning. Omar commented on Uqbah’s opinion, "The words before them were better." Omar told him what he (Uqbah) missed of the Prophetic words, "If anyone amongst you performs ablution properly, then says, 'I testify that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is the servant and messenger of Allah, the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him, so he can enter by whichever of them he wishes." Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It clarifies Allah’s great reward. He limitlessly rewards his servants for their simple acts of worship, (2) The virtue of ablution and supplications said afterward, (3) It clarifies the virtue of the two rak'ahs after ablution and urges people to perform them as described in the hadith, (4) It illustrates the companions' keenness to learn and spread the Prophetic knowledge, (5) It stresses that sincerity, devotion to worship, and avoiding worldly concerns are the spirit of worship, (6) It shows the virtue of the two testimonies of monotheism, (7) It describes supreme attributes of the Companions like humility, serving themselves, grazing their camels in spite of their prestige with Allah, (8) It shows the legitimacy of cooperation in the matters of living..

Book of Hadith