| 2 Hadiths


Hadith
2189
Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺforbade the selling of fruits before they are ripe, and none of them should be sold except for Dinar or Dirham (i.e., money), except the ‘Arayah trees (, the dates of which could be sold for dates).
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Commentary :
Preventing cheating in sales and avoiding potential disputes between the sellers and the buyers are among the objectives of theLaws of Islam. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ forbade some sales that could lead to cheating and deception, or cause potential disputes between the buyers and sellers.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ forbade selling only the unpicked fruits or dates (rather than the fruits and trees altogether) before they appear fully ripe and ready for consumption, by becomingred or yellow or showing any other sign of ripeness. This is because when the fruits ripen, they become safe from potential loss or defects due to pests that may destroy or reduce the yield. In fact, the prohibition of such a sales transaction serves the best interests of both the buyer and seller. It benefits the seller, because the price paid for the unripe fruits is lower; he could sell them for a higher price if he waited until they are fully ripe. Therefore, hastening to sell the unripe crops may cause him to miss out on obtaining more earnings, and hastening to make small profits (rather than waiting to make big ones) implies a waste of wealth. Moreover, the unripe fruits may go bad and spoil before they ripen, and thus a seller would have unlawfully devoured the wealth of his Muslim brother. It also benefits the buyer, because when he buys the unripe fruits, he may lose his money if the quality of the purchased fruits turns out to be less than what was expected, and thus he would be risking the loss of his money. In addition, there is another benefit accruing to both parties, for the prohibition of this sale eliminates potential disputes and discord that may be caused between them were the sold fruits to go bad and spoil.
The Prophet ﷺ also forbade the sale of dates, after they appear ripe and ready for consumption, for dates. Rather, dates should be sold for Dinar, Dirham, or other trade goods, to avoid falling into Ribaa Al-Fadhl (i.e., excess charged in the event of a barter of specific homogenous commodities of different quality or quantity). It involves the sale of gold for gold, silver for silver, or food for food with excess, and it is deemed prohibited as per the laws of Islam with regard to six categories of commodity, as recorded in Saheeh Muslim. TheProphet ﷺ said: “Gold may be paid for by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, salt by salt, like by like, provided that the payment is made hand to hand. If the exchanged commodities are dissimilar, sell as you wish as long as the payment is made on the spot.”
The Prophet ﷺ later deemed allowable one form of this sale, namely Bay‘ Al-‘Ariyyah or ‘Araayaa (i.e., a sale of unpicked and unripe fruits, usually dates, for an estimated measure of picked and ripe fruits on the ground based on dry measurement). It is a sale whereby the owner of an orchard grants a poor person, who has no palm trees of his own nor cash to buy fresh dates for his household consumption, the (fresh) dates of his palm tree in return for a payment of surplus dry dates. It is a barter of the owner’s fresh dates of one or two palm trees for instance, for an estimated weight of surplus dry dates provided by the poor person, to avail himself of fresh dates like those who could afford buying them. This transaction was deemed allowable because some people had no palm trees or money during the season of fresh dates and wished to feed their dependents therefrom. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ gave them that legal concession, to conduct the sale of ‘Arayah for an estimated weight of dry dates, provided that they were less than five Wasaqs, as narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, and the Wasaq equaled 60 Saa‘s.
The hadeeth highlights how Islam promotes ease and facilitation and eliminates inconvenience for people.

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2191
Sahl ibn Abee Hathmah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Allah's Messenger ﷺ forbade the sale of fruits (fresh dates) for dry dates but allowed the sale of fruits on the ‘Ariyyah by estimation and their new owners might eat their fresh dates. Sufyaan (in another narration) said, "I told Yahyaa (a sub-narrator) when I was a mere boy, people of Makkah used to say that the Prophet ﷺ allowed them to conduct the sale of ‘Ariyyah by estimation.' Yahyaa asked, 'How did the people of Makkah know about it?' I replied, 'They narrated it (from the Prophet ﷺ) on the authority of Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him).' On that, Yahyaa kept quiet." Sufyaan said, "I meant that Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) from the people of Al-Madeenah." Sufyaan was asked whether or not there was a reference in Jaabir's narration any prohibition of selling fruits before their benefit is evident (i.e., they become fully ripen and free of any dangers of being spoilt or blighted). He replied that there was none..

Commentary :
Preventing cheating in sales and avoiding potential disputes between the sellers and the buyers are among the objectives of the Laws of Islam. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ forbade some sales that could lead to cheating and deception, or cause potential disputes between buyers and sellers.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ forbade selling only unpicked dates for an estimated equivalent weight of dry dates, known as the Muzaabanah sale (i.e., a sale that involves the exchange of fresh fruits for dry ones, where the quantity of the dry fruits is actually known, by precise measurement, but the quantity of the fresh fruits to be handed over in exchange is estimated while they are in their unpicked state on trees), but excluded one form of such a sale known as Bay‘ Al-‘Ariyyah (i.e., a sale of unpicked and unripe fruits, usually dates, for an estimated amount of picked and ripe fruits on the ground based on dry measurement). It is a sale whereby a poor person buys the unpicked dates of palm trees, after they appear to be ripe and ready for consumption, to eat therefrom whenever he wishes, in return for an estimated payment of dry dates on the ground. This transaction was deemed allowable because some people had no palm trees of their own, or money during the season of fresh dates, and they wished to feed their dependents therefrom.The Prophet ﷺ gave them that legal concession out of his compassion to them. He ﷺ deemed it allowable to conduct this form of that sale for an estimation of their equal weight of dry dates, provided they were less than five Wasaqs, as narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim.A Wasaq equaled 60 Saa‘s.
‘Alee ibn ‘Abdullah - one of the narrators of the hadeeth - told them that Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah narrated this hadeeth to them with two different wordings conveying the same meaning. Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah reported that he said to Yahyaa ibn Sa’eed Al-Ansaaree what had happened with him when he was a little boy, to indicate that he started seeking knowledge at a very young age, and that as a young seeker of knowledge used to debate and discuss with his teachers. Sufyaan said: “People of Makkah used to say that the Prophet ﷺ allowed for them the sale of ‘Arayaa (trees) by estimation.” Yahyaa asked about the supportive hadeeth text on which they relied in this regard, 'How did the people of Makkah know about it?' Sufyaan replied that they narrated such a hadeeth on the authority of Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah Al-Ansaaree(may Allah be pleased with him). On that, Yahyaa kept quiet. In fact, Sufyaan made mention of the narrator of this hadeeth because he, i.e., Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him), belonged to the people of Al-Madeenah. Thus, he underlined that the supportive hadeeth was narrated by the people of Al-Madeenah. The difference between the narration reported by Yahyaa ibn Sa’eed and that reported by the people of Makkah was that Yahyaa ibn Sa’eed limited the relevant legal concession in Bay‘ Al-‘Araayaa to estimation without weighing or measuring, and that the buyer must eat the dates fresh. As for the narration reported on the authority of Sufyaan from the people of Makkah, it did not specify such conditions, and indicated that Bay‘ Al-‘Araayaa was deemed allowable without any of these restrictions or conditions. Yahyaa could have said to Sufyaan that the people of Al-Madeenah held that such-and-such restrictions or conditions were stipulated; therefore,that which is general should be made subject to that which is restricted and specific i.e.,  applying a specific requirement on that which is general. The specification of the condition of estimation without weighing or measuring in the relevant narration is based on an addition made by a narrator, judged as Haafith (i.e., a title, lit. memorizer of hadeeth, awarded to a Hadeeth scholar after he had memorized thousands of hadeeths along with their chains of narration) by Hadeeth scholars, and therefore is essentially approved.Overall, the most likely correct opinion regarding the specification of being eaten fresh is that it is not a condition for the validity of this sale transaction but was rather mentioned to describe their actual situation.
Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah was asked whether or not there was any reference to the prohibition of selling fruits before their benefit is evident (i.e., becoming fully ripe) in Jaabir's narration, and he replied that there was none, meaning that the hadeeth did not state the prohibition of selling fruits before they ripen and become ready for consumption, although this is true according to another version of that hadeeth reported by other narrators.
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2193
Zayd ibn Thaabit (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "During the lifetime of Allah's Messenger ﷺ, people used to trade with fruits. When they cut their date-fruits and the purchasers came to receive their rights, a seller would say, 'My dates have gone bad and got rotten; they are blighted with diseases, or afflicted with Qushaam (i.e., a disease which causes the fruit to fall before ripening).' People used to go on complaining of defects in their purchases. Therefore, Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "Do not sell the fruits before their benefit is evident (i.e., they appear to be fully ripe and free of any dangers of being spoilt or blighted), by way of advice, for they disputed too much." [Another version of the hadeeth reads: Zayd ibn Thaabit (may Allah be pleased with him) used not to sell the fruits of his land till Pleiades appeared and one could distinguish the yellow (unripe) fruits from the red (fully ripe) ones..

Commentary : Preventing cheating in sales and avoiding potential disputes between buyers and sellers are among the objectives of the Laws of Islam. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ forbade some sales that could lead to cheating and deception, or cause potential disputes between the two parties.
In this hadeeth, Narrated Zayd ibn Thaabit (may Allah be pleased with him) that people during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ used to sell the unpicked fruits or dates before they were fully ripe and ready for consumption, as judged by showing signs of ripeness in terms of color or shape. When they cut their date-fruits and the purchasers came to receive their rights, the seller would say, 'My dates have gone rotten, they are blighted with such-and-such diseases; they are afflicted with Qushaam (i.e., a disease which causes the fruit to fall before ripening).' Therefore, when their disputes increased, Allah's Messenger ﷺ forbade selling fruits before their benefit is evident (i.e., they appear to be fully ripe, by means of color or shape or any other sign of ripeness. Then, the fruits would be safe from being spoilt or blighted with pests that may destroy or reduce the yield).
As for his saying, “Do not sell …,” it means that it is prohibited to sell the fruits except after these signs of ripeness are evident.
His saying, “by way of advice, for they disputed too much,” means that they were urged to refrain from buying any unpicked fruits until the whole yield was fully ripe, to avoid potential disputes. It was said that this was an interpretation made by some reporters of the hadeeth and was not part of the Prophet’s saying. This might have been the case in the beginning, and afterward the Prophet ﷺ decisively and explicitly forbade such sales. It was narrated on the authority of Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ forbade the sale of dates until they become fully ripe, as recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim.
Zayd ibn Thaabit (may Allah be pleased with him) used to act upon this prohibition; he (may Allah be pleased with him) did not sell the fruits of his palm trees till Pleiades appeared, marking the beginning of summer, when the wheatear became hot in Hijaaz and fruits became fully ripe. The Laws of Islam-approved criterion is the ripeness of the dates and the appearance of the Pleiades was a mere sign of the season of such ripeness.
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2198
Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah's Messengerﷺ forbade the sale of fruits till they are almost ripe. He (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked what is meant by 'are almost ripe.' He (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "Till they become red." Allah's Messenger ﷺ further said, "If Allah caused the fruits to go bad and spoil, what right would one have to take the money of his fellow Muslim brother (i.e., the buyer)?"
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Commentary : Preventing cheating in sales and avoiding potential disputes between buyers and sellers are among the objectives of the Laws of Islam. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ forbade some sales that could lead to cheating and deception, or cause potential disputes between the two parties.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ forbade selling only the unpicked fruits (rather than the fruits or dates and trees or palm trees) before they ripen, by showing signs of ripeness in terms of color or shape. The Prophet ﷺ underlined the reason for such a prohibition saying: “If Allah caused the fruits to go bad and spoil, what right would one have to take the money of his fellow Muslim brother (i.e., the buyer)?” This means that the Prophet ﷺ forbade such a sale because the unripe fruits may go bad and spoil, and thus the buyer would lose his money.It is prohibited for a Muslim to unlawfully take his Muslim brother’s wealth, and selling unripe fruits may lead to unlawfully taking the wealth of one’s Muslim brother, because if the fruits went bad and spoiled, the buyer would not receive anything in return for his payment!
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2201
Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree and Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated:
Allah's Messenger ﷺ appointed somebody as a governor of Khaybar. That governor brought to him an excellent kind of dates (from Khaybar). The Prophet ﷺasked, "Are all the dates of Khaybar like this (i.e., in terms of quality)?" He replied, "By Allah, no, O Allah's Messengerﷺ! But we barter one Saa‘ of this (type of dates) for two Saa‘s of dates of ours and two Saa‘s of it for three of ours." Allah's Messengerﷺ said, "Do not do so (as that is a kind of Ribaa) but sell the mixed dates (of inferior quality) for money, and then buy fine (high-quality) dates with that money."
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Commentary : Allah, Exalted is He, has permitted for His servants to earn their living by trade, but deemed Ribaa (i.e., interest, usury) prohibited. Hence, the Prophet ﷺ forbade some commercial transactions lest Muslims should fall into Ribaa, directly or indirectly.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree and Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ appointed Sawaad ibn Ghaziyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) as the governor for Khaybar, a northern area of ​​Al-Madeenah where the fortresses of the Jews were located, and it was conquered after the Pact of Al-Hudaybiyyah on the first of Muharram 7 A.H. Sawaad (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Prophet ﷺ with “Janeeb dates”, high-quality dates, and it was also said that the hadeeth rather referred to Sulb dates. The Prophet ﷺ asked him: "Are all the dates of Khaybar like this (i.e., in terms of quality)?" The man said: “No, Allah, O Messenger of Allah, but we barter one Saa‘ of Janeeb dates for two Saa‘s of dates of ours and two Saa‘s of Janeeb dates for three of ours,” meaning that they exchanged one Saa‘of Janeeb dates for two Saa‘s of low-quality dates, and two Saa‘s of Janeeb dates for three Saa‘s of low-quality dates. The Prophet ﷺ forbade him from doing so and commanded him instead to sell the low-quality dates for Dirhams, and then buy with his money the Janeeb dates, to be done in two separate sale transactions, to avoid falling into Ribaa Al-Fadhl (i.e., excess charged in the event of a barter of specific homogenous commodities of different quality or quantity).
It was deemed prohibited as per the laws of Islam with regard to six categories of commodity, as recorded in Saheeh Muslim. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Gold may be paid for by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, salt by salt, like by like, provided that the payment is made hand to hand. If the exchanged commodities are dissimilar, sell as you wish as long as the payment is made on the spot.”
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is prohibited to take excess of weight or measure in an exchange of a homogenous commodity of a different quality or quantity.
It also highlights that when the Prophet ﷺ forbade something that had lawful alternatives, he ﷺ used to refer to such alternatives.
It is also inferred from the hadeeth that ignorance of a prohibition warrants pardon until one obtains knowledge of it.
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2207
Narrated Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him):
Allah's Messengerﷺforbade Muhaaqalah (i.e., a sale in which grains in ears are sold for dry (processed) grain), Mukhaadharah (i.e., the sale of the unripe crops), Mulaamasah (i.e., a sale which become binding on seller if he just touches the object), Munaabadhah (i.e., a sale which is considered complete if one party just throw his garment to another party), and Muzaabanah (i.e., a sale of fresh fruit for an estimated equivalent weight of dried fruit)..

Commentary :
Islam came to eradicate the evil traces of the pre-Islamic era and forbid the sales that contravened the Laws of Islam, involved injustice, and yielded no benefits.
In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) underlined that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade the Muhaaqalah sale, which was the sale of wheat while still in its ear in return for a certain known measure of wheat.
He ﷺ also forbade Mukhaadarah, which referred to the sale of crops before they become ripe and ready for consumption.
He ﷺ also forbade Mulaamasah, which referred to a way of selling practiced before Islam whereby a buyer purchased clothes or otherwise without seeing it properly with the condition that he was disentitled to annul the sale after properly seeing the purchased commodity; whenever he touched it, the sale became binding.
He ﷺalso forbade Munaabadhah, which is an Arabic word derived from the root ‘Na-ba-dha’, denoting throwing. It refers to a way of selling practiced before Islam, whereby a buyer said to a seller, ‘I shall buy whatever garment you throw at me for such-and-such a price”.Thus, throwing the commodity at the buyer became the seller’s consent to conclude the purchase, and the buyer became obliged to buy it.
He ﷺ also forbade Muzaabanah, which is a transaction whereby an owner of fruit trees sold his fruit for an estimated equivalent weight of the dried fruit, such as palm fruit for dates or grapes for raisins. The Prophet ﷺ deemed such transactions forbidden, but excluded one form known as Bay‘ Al-‘Ariyyah (i.e., a sale of unpicked and unripe fruits, usually dates, for an estimated weight of picked and ripe fruit on the ground based on dry measurement).
It was reported that Zayd ibn Thaabit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet ﷺ gave a legal concession in case of the ‘Ariyyah sale, selling dry dates for fresh ones after measuring them out.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim].
This refers to a sale whereby the owner of an orchard grants a poor person, who has no palm trees of his own nor cash to buy fresh dates for his household consumption, the (fresh) dates of his palm tree in return for a payment of surplus dry dates made by the poor person. It is a barter of the owner’s fresh dates of one or two palm trees, for instance, for an estimated weight of surplus dates that the poor person had left, to avail himself of the fresh dates like those who could afford to buy them. The Prophet ﷺ gave a legal concession to conduct the sale of ‘Arayah for an estimated weight of dry dates, provided that they were less than five Wasaqs, as narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, and the Wasaq equaled 60 Saa‘s.
The hadeeth forbade a number of sales and financial transactions that involved Gharar (i.e., risk and uncertainty) and ambiguity.
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2212
Hishaam ibn ‘Urwah narrated on the authority of his father, who heard ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) saying, "Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {And whoever, [when acting as guardian], is self-sufficient should refrain [from taking a fee]; and whoever is poor - let him take according to what is acceptable.} [Quran 4:6] This ayah was revealed concerning the guardian of the orphans who looks after them and favorably manages their financial affairs. If such guardian is poor, he may avail himself of the orphan’s wealth within what is just and reasonable, (according to his work).
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Commentary : Since an (underage) orphan is unable to manage his own financial affairs, it is prescribed to appoint a guardian to shoulder that task on his behalf, to dispose of his financial (and legal) affairs and preserve his wealth. Allah, Exalted is He, commanded the guardian of the orphan to preserve the orphan’s wealth. The Laws of Islam also forbade the guardian from substituting (his) worthless items of wealth for the good and superior items of wealth owned by the orphan under his guardianship.
In this hadeeth,the Mother of Believers ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) explained the meaning of the ayah that reads (what means): {And whoever, [when acting as guardian], is self-sufficient should refrain [from taking a fee]; and whoever is poor - let him take according to what is acceptable.} [Quran 4:6].She (may Allah be pleased with her) stated that it was revealed regarding the orphan's guardian who is entrusted with taking care of him, tending to his needs, and preserving and managing his wealth. The ayah means that if a guardian of an orphan, whose father died before he reached puberty, has personal wealth to fulfill his own needs and dispense with the orphan’s wealth, i.e., not taking fees in return for managing the orphan’s financial affairs on his behalf, he should do so and graciously refrain from taking fees. However, if the guardian is poor, it is allowable for him to avail himself of the orphan’s wealth reasonably, i.e., taking only the fees that he needs without transgressing the proper limits, leading to the loss of the orphan's wealth.
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2213
Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Allah's Messengerﷺ gave preemption (to a partner) in every joint property, but if the boundaries of the property were demarcated or the ways and streets were fixed, then there was no pre-emption.
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Commentary : The Islamic Laws of Islam fosters whatever preserves people’s interests and perpetuates their mutual amiability, especially partners. Therefore, the Laws of Islam grants the right of Shuf‘ah or pre-emption to a partner and co-owner of a joint property, if the other partner or co-owner wishes to sell his share, according to specific rules and conditions.
In this hadeeth, Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah underlined that the Prophet ﷺ affirmed the right of Shuf‘ah or pre-emption in any jointly owned property that is dividable, such as: real estate, land, and the like, but was not divided. The term Shuf‘ah refers to the right of purchasing before others the share of one’s partner and co-owner. If a co-owner is selling his share in a jointly owned house or land for example, the other co-owner has more right to buy this share for the same price. The right of pre-emption is established for any property, be it real estate or land, which is not divided up, but each share is well-defined. If the shares are well-defined and each co-owner knows his share, and ‘the boundaries of the joint property were demarcated or the ways and streets were fixed,’ the right of pre-emption is not established for any of them, and each is entitled to sell his share to whomever he wishes.
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2217
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Prophet ﷺ Ibraaheem (Abraham) migrated with Sarah and entered a village\townwhere there was a king or a tyrant. (The king) was told that Ibraaheem had entered (the village\town) accompanied by a woman who was one of the most charming women. So, the king sent for Ibraaheem and asked, 'O Ibraaheem! Who is this lady accompanying you?' He replied, 'She is my sister, meaning his sister in faith.' Then Ibraaheem returned to her and said, 'Do not contradict my statement, for I have informed them that you are my sister. By Allah, there are no true believers on this land except you and I.' Then Ibraaheem sent her to the king. When the king tries to approach her, she got up, performed ablution, prayed and said, 'O Allah! If I have believed in You and Your Messengerand have guarded my private parts from everybody except my husband, then please do not let this pagan overpower me.' On that, the king had a seizure and started moving his legs violently. Seeing the king’s condition, Sarah said, 'O Allah! If he should die, people will say that I have killed him.' The king regained his powerand proceeded towards her but she got up again and performed ablution, prayed and said, 'O Allah! If I have believed in You and Your Messenger and have guarded my private parts from all men except my husband, then please do not let this pagan overpower me.' The king again had a seizure and started moving his legs violently. On seeing that state of the king, Sarah said, 'O Allah! If he should die, people will say that I have killed him.' The king got either two or three seizures, and after recovering from the last one he said, 'By Allah! You have sent a devil to me! Take her to Ibraaheem and give her a slave-girl.' So, she came back to Ibraaheem and said, 'Allah humiliated the pagan and gave us a slave-girl for service."
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Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, defends those who believe in Him, and supports them by His grace and kindness, granting them victory over their enemies if they duly relied on Him and declared their utter weakness, powerlessness, and need for His help, support, and strength. Prophet Ibraaheem (Abraham) and his wife Sarah duly relied on Allah, Exalted is He.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ related the story of Ibraaheem Al-Khaleel (i.e., the close friend of Allah) when he travelled with his wife Sarah, who was a charming woman endowed with a remarkable beauty, to a town ruled by a tyrant king. Upon hearing of her beauty, the king summoned Prophet Ibraaheem and asked him about Sarah. Prophet Ibraaheem said: “She is my sister,” meaning his sister in faith. Prophet Ibraaheem did not tell him that she was his wife because he realized that this tyrant wanted Sarah for his own evil intentions. Knowing his reputation, Prophet Ibraaheem knew that he would be reluctant to harm a man’s sister, but would not hesitate to harm his wife! It was also said that he knew that the king would have killed him, taken her away from him, or forced him to divorce her. Afterward, Ibraaheem said to her: “Do not contradict my statement,’ meaning ‘if this king asked you about me, do not say that I am your husband.’ He clarified to her that he was truthful, because she was essentially his sister in faith. He made an oath that there were no true believers in that land except him and her. His intention was to opt for Tawriyyah (i.e., indirect speech; when a speaker says something that has an apparent meaning that the listener would understand, and another hidden meaning that the speaker intends) to spare himself and his wife the evil of this tyrant had he known that she was his wife. His saying “There are no true believers in this land except you and I,” does not contradict the ayah that reads (what means): {And Lut believed him.} [Quran 29:26]. This is because Prophet Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) meant that there were no true believers in that town except them, and Prophet Lut was not there with them.
Then, Ibraaheem sent her to the king. The version of the hadeeth recorded in Saheeh Muslim reads: “… Ibraaheem stood in prayer,” meaning that he hastened to stand before his Lord in prayer (to seek His help and protection for his wife). When the king approached her, she got up, performed ablution, prayed and said, ‘O Allah! If I have believed in You and Your Messenger,’ meaning Prophet Ibraaheem. In fact, she was not doubtful of her belief in him, but mentioned it as an assumption to humble herself. She added: “… and have guarded my private parts from everybody’, meaning guarded herself against sin, ‘and enjoyed that which is lawful with my husband, … do not let this pagan overpower me.’ On that, the king had a seizure,’ meaning he suffered from shortness of breath, was nearly suffocated, his snorting could be heard, ‘and started moving his legs violently,’ out of pain. Seeing the condition of the king, Sarah said, 'O Allah! If he should die, people will say that I have killed him.' Allah, Exalted is He, relieved him of the pain, but after regaining his power, he approached her again! She got up again, performed ablution, recited the same supplication, and he again had a seizure. On seeing that state of the king, Sarah supplicated Allah, Exalted is He, to save him lest people would accuse her of killing him, and He relieved him. The king got either two or three seizures, and after recovering from the last one he said, 'By Allah! You have sent a devil to me!’Before Islam, people venerated the Jinn, and attributed to them all supernatural events and actions, and such seizures, which were similar to an epileptic seizure, fit the profile.
He added, ‘Take her to Ibraaheem and give her a slave-girl,’ meaning Hajar, the mother of Prophet Ismaa’eel (Ishmael).
So, she came back to Ibraaheem and said, 'Allah humiliated the pagan and gave us a slave-girl for service.’
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is allowable to opt for Tawriyyah and that indirect speech is a safe way to avoid lies.
It is also inferred therefrom the permissibility of beseeching Allah, Exalted is He, by means of one’s good deeds, the greatest of which is one’s faith in Him.
The hadeeth also underlines the protection and help of Allah, Exalted is He, for whoever implores Him sincerely, and that He answers sincere supplications with miracles to foster the supplicant’s faith, and reinforce his belief, submission, and reliance on Allah, Exalted is He.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that a gift given by a disbeliever is valid, and that it is permissible to accept it.
It is also inferred that it is allowable to accept a gift offered by unjust kings.
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2219
Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that his father said: ‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf said to Suhayb, 'Fear Allah and do not ascribe yourself to somebody other than your father.' Suhayb (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, 'I would not like to say it even if I were given a great fortune, but I say I was kidnapped in my childhood.’”
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Commentary : Islam assigned a special care and attention to lineages, commanded their preservation and protection, and prescribed laws and legislations to protect them from potential mixing of progeny. One of these laws and legislationsis the prohibition of affiliating oneself to other than his biological father.
In this hadeeth, the Companion ‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf warned Suhayb Al-Roomee (may Allah be pleased with them) against attributing himself to other than his biological father, after reminding him to fear Allah, Exalted is He. Suhayb (may Allah be pleased with him) used to attribute himself to Sinaan ibn Maalik ibn ‘Abd ‘Amr ibn ‘Aqeel, affiliating himself all the way to Al-Nimr ibn Qaasit, and saying that his mother belonged to the Banee Tameem tribe. In fact, he (may Allah be pleased with him) was a non-Arab because he (was captured by the Romans in his early childhood, and) grew up among the Romans, and learned their language.
‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf forbade Suyahb (may Allah be pleased with them) from doing so, assuming that he was attributing himself to other than his real father, being a violation of the Laws of Islam. However, Suhayb (may Allah be pleased with him) explained to him that he was not attributing himself to other than his real father and said, ‘I would not like to say it even if I were given a great fortune, but I say I was kidnapped in my childhood.’ His father worked for the Persian king Khosrau, who appointed him as a governor of Al-Ubullah (Apologou), located in present-day Mosul in Iraq. The Romans raided the city and captured Suhayb (may Allah be pleased with him). He was captured by the Romans in his early childhood and learned their language. He was then bought and brought to Makkah by a man from Kalb tribe, and was then bought and freed by ʻAbdullah ibn Judʻaan.
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2223
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him): It was once brought to the attention of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that a certain man sold Khamr (i.e., intoxicants). Furiously, ‘Umar said, "May Allah curse so-and-so! Does not he know that Allah's Messengerﷺsaid, 'May Allah curse the Jews; Allah, Exalted is He, had forbidden them from eating the fat of animals but they melted it and sold it."
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Commentary : Allah, Exalted is He, deemed Khamr (i.e., intoxicants) forbidden, and the Prophet ﷺ made it clear that the prohibition of Khamr included the prohibition of selling, buying, and carrying it, and the same goes for cunning circumventions of the Laws of Islam ruling, by changing its name and the like.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbaas stated that it was brought to the attention of the Caliph ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with them) that a man sold Khamr, and the man was Samrah ibn Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him), as recorded in Saheeh Muslim. There are three different opinions regarding how Samrah (may Allah be pleased with him) sold Khamr. First, it was said that he (may Allah be pleased with him) took it from some people who belonged to the People of the Book (i.e., Jews and Christians) as Jizyah, or obtained it as part of his share in the spoils of war or the like, and he sold it to them, believing that it was permissible. Second, it is possible that he (may Allah be pleased with him) sold (grape) juice to someone who used to make Khamr for people. Grape juice or grapes may be referred to as Khamr, for they are used to manufacture it. Third, it is also possible that he (may Allah be pleased with him) made grape vinegar and sold it, mistakenly believing it to be permissible. Upon knowing that, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was furious and said, "May Allah curse so-and-so,’ meaning ‘may Allah destroy him.’ He (may Allah be pleased with him) did not intend to actually invoke the curse of Allah on him, but this expression was commonly used by the Arabs for reproach. He (may Allah be pleased with him) added: ‘Does not he know that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, 'May Allah curse the Jews; Allah, Exalted is He, had forbidden them from eating the fat of animals,’ meaning dead animals or cows and sheep; Allah, Exalted is He Says (what means): {and of the cattle and the sheep We prohibited to them their fat,} [Quran 6:146],“but they melted it and sold it.” They melted their fat and sold it to cunningly circumvent the divine command. Accordingly, they incurred the curse of Allah, Exalted is He. This is because Allah, Exalted is He, deemed Khamr ritually impure and unlawful. Therefore, it is impermissible to sell, buy, or avail oneself of its price, just like other ritually impure and unlawful objects, such as: dead animals, blood, stool, and urine. This is why the hadeeth likened the one who sells Khamr and avails himself of its price to the Jews who sold the forbidden fat and availed themselves of its price, even though it was prohibited for them to consume such fat and it was deemed ritually impure, just like Khamr and dead animals as per the laws of Islam. Therefore, those who sell Khamr and avail themselves of its price are likened to the Jews who sold fat and availed themselves of its price.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that the means and ways leading to what is deemed unlawful as per the laws of Islam are declared unlawful as well.
It is also inferred therefrom the that it is permissible to draw analogies between similar situations.
It is also deduced that when the Laws of Islam deems something unlawful, the same ruling applies to its price.
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2225
Sa’eed ibn Abee Al-Hasan said: “While I was with Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) a man came and said, "O father of ‘Abbaas! I earn my living by making these images." Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) said, "I will tell you only what I heard from Allah's Messenger ﷺ.I heard him saying, 'Whoever makes an image will be punished by Allah till he brings it back to life, and he will never be able to do so!’ Hearing this, that man heaved a sigh and his face turned pale. Thereupon, Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) said to him, "What a pity! If you insist on taking image-making as a profession, I advise you to make images of trees and any other unanimated objects.”
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Commentary : A Muslim is urged to consume only lawful earnings and keenly seek lawful means of earning a living; a body that has been nourished with what is unlawful deserves to be thrown into Hellfire, as the Prophet ﷺ said.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions)Sa’eed ibn Abee Al-Hassan related that a man went to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them), asking him about the lawfulness of his profession through which he earned a living, and he used to make statues and images. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) told him that he would only answer him with what he had heard from the Prophet ﷺ, 'Whoever makes an image will be punished by Allah till he brings it back to life, and he will never be able to do so!’ Allah, Exalted is He, will command the makers of statues and images, to bring back to life the animated beings in their images and statues. These image makers will be punished until they do as commanded, and obviously, they would never be able to bring them back to life! Thus, they would continue to receive such punishment endlessly. Upon hearing that, the man heaved a sigh and his face turned pale, out of fear of such severe punishment. Thereupon, Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) said to him, ‘What a pity!’ The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Wayhaka,’ which literally means ‘Woe to you’, and may be translated as ‘What a pity’ or ‘May Allah be Merciful to you.’ It was commonly used to remark on a situation of a person who inadvertently incurs a disaster. He (may Allah be pleased with them) added: “If you insist on taking image-making as a profession, I advise you to make images of trees and any other unanimated objects,” for making such images is permissible.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is prohibited to make images of animated things and take it as a profession to earn a living.
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2227
It was narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Allah says, 'I shall be the opponent of three persons on the Day of Resurrection: -1. One who makes a covenant in My Name, but proves treacherous. -2. One who sells a free person (as a slave) and consumes the price, -3. And one who employs a laborer and gets the full work done by him but does not pay him his wages.' "
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Commentary : Islam regulates the interactions and transactions between people to preserve their rights, and establish justice in the Muslim community. It sternly warns against unlawful interactions and transactions, urges Muslims to avoid them, and underlines their evil consequences.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ stated that Allah, Exalted is He, said that there are three categories of people who commit evil deeds warranting His wrath on the Day of Resurrection, and this is a stern warning, because whoever has Allah, Exalted is He, as his opponent will inevitably incur utter loss.
The first category is those who make a covenant or swear an oath by the Name of Allah, and then break it. Allah, Exalted is He, commanded Muslims to honor and fulfill their covenants and oaths; He Says (what means): {And fulfill [every] covenant. Indeed, the covenant is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.} [Quran 17:34]. Moreover, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Every perfidious one will have a standard on the day of resurrection by which he will be recognized.” [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].
The second category includes those who knowingly sell a free Muslim man as a slave, and consume the earnings, meaning availing oneself of such money. The hadeeth made reference to ‘consumption’ in particular because this is the most fundamental way of availing oneself of the earnings, and the need to satisfy one’s hunger may force a person to commitprohibitions and violations of the Laws of Islam. The sin is grave when a Muslim man knowingly sells a free Muslim man as a slave, because all Muslims are held on an equal standing in terms of inviolability and sanctity, and a Muslim has rights over his fellow Muslims: to support him, refrain from doing injustice to him, be sincere to him, and abstain from handing him over to an oppressor.  The worst act of injustice to be done to a fellow Muslim is to enslave him or imperil him to such a fate. Whoever sells a free Muslim as a slave, has deprived him of his right to dispose of what Allah, Exalted is He, has deemed lawful to him and forced him into a life of humiliation and slavery; this is why it is a serious sin.
The third category comprises the employers who hire workers to perform certain tasks, and after the work is done, they refuse to pay them the due wages, because such workers had trusted the employers’ honesty. If the employer betrays his trust, Allah, Exalted is He, punishes him Himself, and because the employer availed himself of the worker’s service in return for no compensation; he has unlawfully devoured his wealth. This is one of the worst and most grievous acts of injustice.
It is noteworthy that mentioning the three categories in this hadeeth does not mean that Allah, Exalted is He, will not be the opponent of all wrongdoers, but He wanted to lay a special emphasis on these three categories, given the fact that they all share the heinous trait of treachery, being one of the worst, immoral qualities.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that Islam declares selling a free person a serious crime and major sin, because such stern warnings are only associated with major sins.
It is also inferred therefrom that boldly swearing false oaths, breaking covenants and oaths, and denying a hired worker’s wages are grave sins.
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2234
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying, "If a slave-girl of yours commits Fornication and her sin is proved, she should be lashed, and after that nobody should blame her, and if she commits Fornication the second time, she should be lashed and nobody should blame her after that, and if she commits the offense for the third time and her sin is proved, she should be sold even for a hair rope (i.e., for a very cheap price). "
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Commentary : The Hadd (i.e., the corporal punishment determined by the Islamic Laws of Islam) for Fornication (i.e., illicit sexual intercourse) prescribed for a slave woman is half of the Hadd prescribed for a free woman. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {But once they are sheltered in marriage (i.e., married), if they should commit adultery, then for them is half the punishment for free [unmarried] women.} [Quran 4:25].
A perpetrator of Fornication is subjected to the prescribed Hadd each time (s)he commits Fornication.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ commands the owner of a slave-girl, who commits Fornication and her sin is verified by means of evidence, pregnancy, or confession, to subject her to the prescribed Hadd, i.e., 50 lashes, and she should not be rebuked or blamed afterward for her sin from which she had repented, because the application of the Hadd expiates her sin. If she commits Fornication again, she should be subjected to the Hadd again, and should not be rebuked or blamed for her sin afterward as well. If she commits Fornication for a third time, her master is urged to sell her even for a hair rope (i.e., for a very cheap price), after subjecting her to the Hadd ofFornication. It was not mentioned in the third time because it is understood from the previous references. He is urged to sell her for any price, no matter how low it is. This is meant as to stress that he is strongly advised to sell her and indicate that is not considered a waste of money, because she has become dissolute and rectifying her conduct would be a difficult task. Moreover, a pious Muslim is urged to refrain from keeping the company of dissolute sinners and to keep away from them. Therefore, he is urged to sell such a slave-girl so she would (have a chance for a new beginning in which she would) adhere to chastity with her new master or she would be deterred by his status, kindness, or generosity towards her, or he may marry her off to someone or the like.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that a master is entitled to subject his slave to the prescribed Hadd.
It is also inferred therefrom that a sinner must not be blamed or rebuked for his sin, especially if he was subjected to the prescribed Hadd.
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2236
Narrated Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him): I heard Allah's Messengerﷺ in the year of the Conquest of Makkah, saying, "Allah and His Messenger made unlawful the trade of Khamr, dead animals, pigs and idols." People asked, "O Allah's Messengerﷺ! What about the fat of dead animals, for it was used for greasing boats and varnishing hides; and people use it for lights?" He ﷺ said, "No, it is lawful." Allah's Messengerﷺ further said, "May Allah curse the Jews, for Allah deemed the fat (of animals) unlawful to them, yet they melted the fat and sold it and consumed its price."
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Commentary : Allah, Exalted is He, deemed lawful that which is good, and deemed unlawful that which is evil, with regards to food, beverages, earnings, trade, and so on.
In this hadeeth, Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with him) informed us that in 8 A.H., during which Makkah was conquered, the Prophet ﷺ prohibited the sale of intoxicants in all its forms, dead animals,some birds, pigs, and idols, i.e., three-dimensional statues, because they are a means leading to Shirk (i.e., associating partners to Allah in worship), whether by imitating Him in creation or worshipping such idols like people did in the pre-Islamic era. People informed the Prophet ﷺ that the fat of dead animals was used for greasing boats and varnishing hides; people would use it for lights. The Prophet ﷺ informed them that this was strictly prohibited because Allah, Exalted is He, deemed dead animals unlawful in His Book. Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ said: “May Allah curse the Jews,” meaning, may Allah destroy and curse them, “for Allah deemed the fat (of animals) unlawful to them,’ meaning the fat of dead animals or that of cattle and sheep; Allah, Exalted is He Says (what means): {and of the cattle and the sheep We prohibited to them their fat,} [Quran 6:146]. “Yet they melted the fat and sold it and consumed its price,” to cunningly circumvent their divine law. Therefore, they incurred the curse of Allah, Exalted is He. This serves as a warning against circumventing the prohibitions like the Children of Israel did.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that the means leading to what is prohibited are declared prohibited as well.
It is also inferred therefrom that when something is deemed unlawful as per the laws of Islam, its price is deemed unlawful accordingly.
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241
Abdullah ibn Amr narrated, "We returned from Mecca to Medina with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When we came to some water on the way, some of us were in a hurry at the time of Asr prayer and performed ablution hurriedly. When we reached them, their heels were dry and not touched by water. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'Woe to the heels because of Hell! Complete the ablution.'".

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ used to preach and teach his companions the rules of Islam so he rebuked those not completing ablution. In this hadith, Abdullah ibn Amr narrated that while returning from Mecca to Medina with the Prophet ﷺ, they came to some water and some of them wanted to get Asr prayer before its time ended, as the narration of Bukhari showed. As a result, they hurriedly performed ablution. The Prophet's habit was to walk behind people to urge those being late, accompany the weak, and then lead them all in prayer. In this case, the above-mentioned people wanted to delay the prayer till its last time, hoping to pray with him. When he reached them, he noticed their dry heels that were not touched by the water of ablution. As a result, he rebuked them saying, "Woe to heels because of Hell," for they did not complete their ablution. Then, he commanded them to thoroughly complete their ablution. This hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It urges us to completely perform ablution and thoroughly wash all its members, (2) It warns against leaving to wash the back of the foot, and (3) It confirms that the unwashed members will be a reason for punishment..

243
Omar ibn Al-Khattab narrated that a man performed ablutions but missed to wash a spot equal to a toenail. When the Prophet ﷺ saw him, he said to him, "Go back and perform ablutions properly." He went back then prayed..

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) used to check his companions' worship just like a teacher who used to check his students' progress. It was his habit to teach them his teachings and rectify their mistakes. In this hadith, Omar ibn Al-Khattab narrated that when a man performed ablution but missed washing a spot equal to a toenail (a metaphor for a small size), the Prophet (ﷺ) referred to this mistake and said, "Go back and perform ablution properly." The man completed his ablution (or repeated it as said) and prayed after the Prophet (ﷺ) accepted his ablution. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It illustrated how the Companions rapidly responded to implement the Prophet's commands, (2) It urges us to complete ablution and warns against neglecting to wash even a small spot of ablution parts, and (3) It clarifies how imams and scholars should teach common people the matters of Islam and rectify their mistakes..

244
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When a Muslim servant, or a believer, performs ablution and washes his face, every sin he looked at with his eyes leaves with the water (or with the last drop of water). When he washes his hands, every sin he committed with his hands leaves with the water (or with the last drop of water). When he washes his feet, every sin his feet walked to leaves with the water (or with the last drop of water) until he finally emerges cleansed of all his sins.".

Commentary : Allah blessed His servants by making the performance of acts of worship according to their conditions a reason for forgiveness. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to encourage people to perform acts of worship by mentioning their reward. His saying, "servant" was to confirm to worship Allah alone. The sentence, "or a believer" was a doubt from one of the hadith narrators. The Prophet (ﷺ) confirmed that a Muslim's previous sins, like prohibited looks, touches, and walking, committed by his eyes, hands, and feet would come out of them with water or the last drop of water during ablution. As a result, a Muslim will emerge cleansed of all his minor sins, for the major sins are only forgiven after repentance, according to the abundant proofs in the Quran and Sunnah. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) The virtue of ablution and that it is a reason for forgiving sins, and (2) It encourages Muslims to frequently perform ablution..

245
Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be please with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “If anyone performs the ablutions well, his sins will come out from his body, even coming out from under his nails.”.

Commentary : Allah blessed His servants by making the performance of acts of worship according to their conditions a reason for forgiveness. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to encourage people to perform acts of worship by mentioning the rewards for them. In this hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) told us that if a Muslim performs ablutions well with caring about its recommended acts and manners, his sins will come out from his body to the extent that they will come out from under his hands' and feet's nails. This is specific to minor sins, for the major sins require repentance. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It shows the virtue of ablutions, for it expiates sins, and (2) It urges us to observe the etiquette and recommended acts of ablutions..

247
Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "My cistern is bigger than the distance between Aila and Aden. Its water is whiter than ice and sweeter than honey mixed with milk. Its cups are more than stars. Verily, I will prevent people from it just as a man prevents people's camels from his cistern." They said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, will you recognize us on that day?" He said "Yes, you will have distinctive marks that nobody of other nations has. You will come to me with blazing foreheads and bright limbs due to traces of ablution.".

Commentary : Al-Kawthar river and Prophetic cistern are grants from Allah to his Prophet (ﷺ) on the Day of Resurrection out of His generosity and kindness to him and his nation. In this hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) told us that the distance between his cistern’s two ends is bigger than that between Aila and Aden. Aila is now called Aqaba, a coastal city in Jordan, but Aden is a city in Yemen by the Indian Ocean, which confirms its vast space. Additionally, he told us that he would prevent hypocrites and apostates from it just as a man prevents people's camels from his cistern. As a result, one of his companions asked him how he would recognize them on that day. He answered that they would have distinguished marks that nobody from the previous nations had. They would have blazing foreheads and bright limbs just like horses due to traces of ablution. Finally, this hadith proves the Prophetic vast cistern and confirms the virtue of ablution..

249
Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ came to the graveyard and said, “Peace be upon you, an abode of the believing people. We, if Allah wills, will join you. I wish I saw our brothers.” The companions said, “Are not we your brothers, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ?” He said, “You are my companions. Our brothers have not come yet (to this world).” They said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, how do you recognize those who have not come from your nation yet?” He said, “Suppose a man has horses with white blazes on foreheads and legs beside among black horses. Does he not recognize his horses?” They said, “He will, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” He said, “They would come with white faces and legs owing to ablution. I would arrive at the cistern before them. Verily, some people would be driven away from my Cistern as the stray camel is driven away. I would call out, ‘Come on, come on.’ Then, it would be said (to me), ‘They changed (your guidance) after you.’ I would say, ‘Be off, be off.’”.

Commentary : Allah confirms that the believers will have characteristics that distinguish them from others in the Hereafter, by which the Prophet ﷺ will recognize them on that day. They will have blazing limbs due to the effect of ablution. In this hadith, Abu Hurairah narrated that Prophet ﷺ came to Al-Baqi cemetery, greeted his dead companions, and said, “Peace be upon you, an abode of the believing people. We, Allah willing, will join you.” They preceded the alive ones who would join them, Allah willing, when their life ended. Then, the Prophet ﷺ wished that he had seen his brothers, so his companions wondered and asked him, “Are not we your brothers?” He answered that they were his companions but his brothers had not come yet to this world. He clarified that whoever saw and believed him was one of his companions, but whoever believed him without seeing him among his nation were his brothers. They asked him how he would recognize his brothers on the Day of Resurrection among his nation although he did not see them. He answered, “Suppose a man has horses with white blazes on their foreheads and legs among black horses. Does he not recognize his horses?” This will be the Muslims’ case on that day. They will be distinguished by their white foreheads, hands, and legs owing to the ablution. The Prophet ﷺ will arrive at his cistern before them, from which he will water those coming to him from his nation. On the other hand, he mentioned that the angels would expel some Muslims from his cistern just as a camel herder expelled a camel that was not his own because it competed with his camels for food and drink. Before knowing the reason for expelling, the Prophet ﷺ will call them to come, but the angels will confirm that these people changed his guidance after his death, so he will say to them, “Be off, be off.” It is a supplication against them to be expelled from Allah’s mercy or the Prophet’s cistern. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It shows the legitimacy of visiting Muslims’ cemetery and clarifies the supplications that a Muslim should say in this event, (2) The Prophet’s love and longing for his followers, (3) It shows the virtue of ablution in Islam, (4) It indicates the punishment of deviation from Islam, which is a reason for being expelled from the Prophet’s cistern on the Day of Resurrection, (5) The virtue of having blazing foreheads and bright limbs due to traces of ablution on that day, (6) The legitimacy of wishing goodness for others and meeting virtuous people, and (6) The Prophet ﷺ does not know the unseen world except what Allah reveals to him..

250
Abu Hazem narrated, "I was (standing) behind Abu Huraira while he was performing ablution for prayer. He extended his hand until it went up to his armpit. I said to him, 'O Abu Huraira, what is this ablution?' He said, 'O sons of Faroukh, are you here? if I had known that you had been here, I would have never performed ablution like this. I heard my beloved one (ﷺ) say, 'The believer's adornment reaches the places where ablution reaches.'".

Commentary : Ablution and purity are among the believers' rites. Their effects will appear as lights on Muslims on the Day of Resurrection, through which the Prophet will recognize them at his basin. In this hadith, Abu Hazim Al-Ashja’i narrated that he was standing behind Abu Hurairah during his performing ablution for prayer. Abu Hurairah washed his hands and arms until he reached his armpits, hoping to wash the longest part of his arms. Abu Hazim asked him about the reason for this ablution that he had never seen anyone perform. Abu Hurairah was surprised that Abu Hazem was there and confirmed that if he had known he was seeing him, he would not have performed it this way. As for his saying "Sons of Faroukh," it meant the non-Arab. Abu Hurairah meant that a leader should take much care about his public acts, so he has to refrain from doing some acts of allowable lenience or strictness if he thinks that people may imitate him. They may follow his lenience without necessity or his strictness thinking it is an obligation. Then, Abu Hurairah clarified the reason for his way of ablution. He heard the Prophet confirm that the believer's whiteness, in Paradise, would reach the places where the ablution reached. As a result, Abu Hurairah wanted his ablution to reach the longest part of his arms. This hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It shows the believers' honor, as they will be singled out for the whiteness of faces and feet, (2) A scholar has to avoid doing some acts before the public if he fears that they do not realize what he does, (3) It shows the virtue of exaggeratedly washing the forehead and feet through washing beyond the obligatory place..

251
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Will I tell you about something for which Allah obliterates sins and elevates ranks?” They said, “Of course O Allah's Messenger!” He said, “Properly performing ablution in spite of difficulties, taking many steps to mosques, and waiting for the next prayer after observing the current one. That is the defense of the frontier.”.

Commentary : Prayer is of great prestige in Islam, for it is one of its pillars and bases. The Prophet (ﷺ) clarified that Allah boasted about His worshiping servants and those waiting for prayer's appointed times before His angels. In this sense, the Prophet (ﷺ) told his companions about three reasons for which Allah obliterated sins and elevated ranks. First: Properly washing each member during ablution despite difficulties like coldness or pain. Second: Frequently going to mosques to attend congregational prayers. Third: Waiting for the next obligatory prayer after performing the current obligatory one. Then, he explained that those sticking to these three acts were just like those defending the frontier, which was one of the greatest acts of worship in the sight of Allah. This Prophetic similarity confirmed that these acts were means to fight and block devilish whispers and one's prohibited whims. In another narration, the Prophet (ﷺ) repeated it thrice, "That is the defense of the frontier,” to confirm their great reward..

253
Shuraih said, "I asked Aisha, 'What was the first thing the Prophet ﷺ used to do when entering home?'" She replied, "He used to use siwak (tooth-stick.".

Commentary : The siwak is a means to get Allah's pleasing and purify our mouths, as the trustworthy Prophet (ﷺ) confirmed. He regularly observed this habit and verbally and practically urged his nation to keep it. In this hadith, Shuraih ibn Hane' narrated that he asked Aisha, Mother of the Believers, about the first thing that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to do at any time he entered home after greeting as known from his sunnah. She told him that the first thing was to use siwak to cleanse and purify his mouth. This was a part of his manners and caring about his wife. As a result, he was a role model that we should follow. Finally, this hadith confirmed the keenness of the companions' students to ask about the Prophet's tradition so they could follow him..

254
Abu Musa Al-Ash'ary narrated, "I came to the Prophet ﷺ while the siwak's end was on his tongue.".

Commentary : The siwak is a means to get Allah's pleasing and purify our mouths, as the trustworthy Prophet (ﷺ) confirmed. He regularly observed this habit and verbally and practically urged his nation to keep it. In this hadith, the noble companion Abu Musa Al-Ash'ary narrated that he once came to the Prophet (ﷺ) while the siwak's end on his tongue. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to use siwak in order to clean the teeth of anything stuck to them and get a nice smell. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It confirms how the Companions were keen to transmit and follow the Prophet's tradition, and (2) It shows the legitimacy of using the siwak in the presence of people..

256
Ibn 'Abbas narrated that he spent a night at the Prophet's house. The Prophet ﷺ got up in the last part of the night. He went out, looked towards the sky, and then recited a verse from Surat Aal-Imran, “Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day” until he reached, “Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.” Then, he returned to his house, used the tooth-stick, performed the ablution, prayed, and then lay down. Then, he got up again, went out, looked towards the sky, and recited this verse (mentioned above). Then, he returned, used the tooth-stick, performed the ablution, and prayed..

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ was keen to perform the night prayer and encouraged his companions to perform it to the extent that he never missed it while being a resident or traveling. In this hadith, the great companion Abdullah ibn Abbas mentioned that he spent a night in his aunt Maimouna’s house, a wife of the Prophet ﷺ. He found that the Prophet ﷺ got up in the last part of the night, went out, looked at the sky, and recited Allah’s sayings, “Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying), ‘Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.” (Aal Imran: 190, 191) In Muslim’s narration, he said, “He recited these verses until he finished the sura.” These verses mean: Verily, the perfect creation of the heavens and the earth from nothing and the alternation of night and day have clear signs guiding those having sound minds to the Creator and His attributes. They are those remembering Allah in all of their cases whether they are standing, sitting, or lying down. They are always pondering over the creation of heavens and earth then supplicate Allah, “Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.” Then, the Prophet ﷺ went home and used the siwak, which was a stick made of the roots of the arak tree, to clean his mouth and always smell good. Afterward, he performed ablution and night prayer then slept for a while. Later, he got up and exactly repeated what he did the first time. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It encourages Muslims to use siwak when waking up at night, (2) It confirms the possibility of a little kid’s (who does not reach puberty) spending the night with his female relative that he is forbidden to marry, even if her husband is present, (3) It clarifies the legitimacy of performing the night prayer, reciting the above-mentioned verses when waking up at night, and pondering over its great signs, (4) It recommends that a person looks at the sky to contemplate Allah’s wonderful creation, (5) It contains the permissibility that a person sleeps between his night prayers and repeats the Prophet’s above-mentioned deeds of using the siwak, reciting those two verses, and performing ablution..

258
Anas ibn Malek narrated, "We were given a time limit with regard to trimming the mustache, clipping the nails, plucking the armpit hairs, and shaving the pubic hairs. We were not allowed to leave that for more than forty days.".

Commentary : Islamic law collects the best of everything, so its rules are in harmony with pure human nature, including rules caring about internal and external human cleanliness. In this hadith, Anas ibn Malik narrated that the Prophet (as in Abu Dawud's and Al-Nasa’i's narration) talked about four issues that a Muslim was not allowed to leave for more than forty days. (1) Trimming the mustache: A Muslim should trim the hair growing on the upper lip. In the Two Sahihs, Ibn Omar narrated that the Prophet said, "Do the opposite of what the polytheists do. Let the beard grow long and clip the mustache." (2) Trimming the nails: This is because they contain dirties that prevent water during purification and ablution. (3) Plucking armpit hair: This is because its smell stinks due to sweat if it is uncut for a long time. Plucking is better if one bears it but removing it by any means is allowable. (4) Shaving the pubic hair: It is the hair growing around one's private parts. Finally, a Muslim is not allowed to leave them for more than forty days. However, it is better to cut them before. Adhering to these acts of cleanliness leads to protect one's body from filth and beautify its outer appearance. Thus, a Muslim combines internal and external cleanliness and purity..

261
Aisha said, "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 'There are ten matters of pure nature: (1) Trimming the mustache, letting the beard grow, Siwak (tooth-stick), rinsing the nose (in ablution), clipping the nails, washing the knuckles, plucking the armpit hairs, shaving the pubic hairs, and washing one's private parts (after relieving oneself)." Zakareyya said that Mus'ab (hadith narrator) said, "I forgot the tenth which may have been rinsing the mouth.".

Commentary : Islamic law collects the best of everything, so its rules are in harmony with pure human nature, including rules caring about internal and external human cleanliness. In this hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned ten matters of pure original nature with which all people were given birth. They are: (1) Trimming the mustache: A Muslim should trim the hair growing on the upper lip, as Ibn Omar narrated in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet said, "Do the opposite of what the polytheists do. Let the beard grow long and clip the mustache," (2) Letting the beard grow: It is to let the hair of chin and cheeks grow without trimming it, (3) Using siwak (tooth-stick): It is a stick cut from arak tree which is used to clean and freshen the mouth and teeth, and remove unpleasant odors, (4) Rinsing the nose: It is to sniff water into the nose then blow it out to remove any dirt or filth, (5) Trimming fingers’ and toes’ nails: It is to trim them before exceeding forty days, for they contain dirties that may harm a person, as Anas narrated in Sahih Muslim, (6) Washing the knuckles: It is to wash any dirties that they may collect, (7) Plucking the armpit hairs: Plucking is better if one bears it but if a person removes it by any means, he follows the Prophetic tradition as well, (8) Shaving the pubic hair: It is to remove the hair growing around male’s or female’s private parts, (9) Washing one's private parts after relieving himself, and (10) Rinsing the mouth: It is to cleanse one’s mouth then spit out the water, especially after eating or eating something with unpleasant smell. Moreover, Abu Hurairah narrated in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned circumcision as a matter of pure human nature. It is to cut the foreskin from a baby's penis or the top of the piece of skin that looks like a rooster’s comb from a female baby’s gentile. Finally, there is no doubt that these matters are related to religious and worldly benefits, such as improving one’s appearance, cleansing the body generally and in detail, having keenness on purification, kindly keeping people away from any unpleasant smells that may harm them, and avoiding the practices of the disbelievers like Magus, Jews, and Christians..

262
Salman, the Persian, said, "The polytheists said to us, 'We see that your friend taught you how to go to the toilet.' I said, 'Yes, he forbade us from cleaning ourselves with our right hand, facing the prayer direction (during relieving ourselves), and using dung or bones for cleaning (ourselves from impurities). He also said, 'None of you should clean with less than three pebbles.'".

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) was keen to teach his nation all aspects of Islam and correct the mistakes and habits they followed during the period before Islam. Thus, he taught them the etiquette of relieving oneself. The polytheists used to mock his companions and wondered, as Salman narrated, that the Prophet (ﷺ) taught his companions all Islamic matters even if how they should purify themselves after answering the call of nature. As a result, Salman proudly answered them, "Yes" and added that the Prophet (ﷺ) taught them to avoid the right hand in purifying oneself from urine or feces, due to respecting and dedicating it to honorable and noble things while dedicating the left one to remove filths and impurities. Purification is to use water or something similar to remove what comes out from one's penis, vagina, or anus. Salman added that the Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited them from facing the prayer direction while answering the call of nature. This is applied to doing so in deserts not in houses or similar close places. Abu Daoud reported that Marwan ibn Al-Asfar narrated, "I saw Ibn Omar when he making his camel kneel and facing the prayer direction. He sat down to urinate, so I asked him, "O Abu Abdurrahman, was it not forbidden?" He replied, "It is only forbidden if you do it in deserts, but there is no problem if there is something between you and the prayer direction." Salman added that the Prophet (ﷺ) and prohibited them from using dung or bones in purification. The former material is impure and the latter is the food of jinn. In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (ﷺ) answered the Jinn when they asked him for food, "Every bone on which the name of Allah is recited is your provision. When it falls in your hand, it will be completely covered with flesh, and every dung is fodder for your animals." Salman added that the Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited them from purifying themselves (after answering the call of nature) with less than three pure and dry pebbles. A Muslim can use more than three pebbles until he makes sure he is completely purified. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It clarifies the Prophet's keenness to guide his nation to all useful points, even the most minute details, (2) It contains some of the etiquette that a Muslim has to follow while relieving himself, and (3) A Muslim has to be proud of Islamic teachings, especially in front of those mocking and ridiculing him..

263
Jaber ibn Abdullah narrated that the Prophet ﷺ forbade the use of bone or camels' droppings for wiping (after excretion).".

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) taught his companions all the Islamic manners to the extent that he taught them the manners of entering the toilet. He detailed how they should clean themselves and the manners they should follow before and after relieving themselves. In this hadith, Jaber ibn Abdullah clarified that the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade them to cleanse themselves with animals' bones and dry droppings. In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not cleanse yourself with them, for they are the food of your brothers (Jinn)." Cleansing is done with what is pure such as water, stones, and what is similar to them like napkins..