| 2 Hadiths


Hadith
2780
Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) said, "A man from the tribe of Banee Sahm went out in the company of Tameem Al-Daaree and ‘Adiyy ibn Baddaa’. The man from Banee Sahm died in a land where there were no Muslims. When Tameem and ‘Adiyy returned conveying the property of the deceased, they claimed that they had lost a silver bowl with gold engraving. Allah's Messenger ﷺ made them take an oath (to confirm their claim), and then the bowl was found in Makkah with some people who claimed that they had bought it from Tameem and ‘Adiyy! Then two witnesses from the relatives of the deceased got up and swore that their testimony was more valid and truer than that of ‘Adiyy and Tameem, and that the bowl belonged to their deceased fellow. So, this ayah was revealed in connection with this case. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {O you who have believed, testimony [should be taken] among you when death approaches one of you at the time of bequest - [that of] two just men from among you …} [Quran 5:106]
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Commentary :
Honesty is one of the becoming attributes of a Muslim, and Islam urges Muslims to choose trusted and pious travel companions, to be of real help to them.
In this hadeeth, ‘AbdullahNarrated Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that a Muslim man, who was said to be named Buzayl, from the tribe of Banee Sahm, from Quraysh, was travelling in the company of Tameem Al-Daaree, who was still Christian at that time, and ‘Adiyy ibn Baddaa’, who was also a Christian and died as such. The man from Banee Sahm died in a land where there were no Muslims, and he had written his Wasiyyah (i.e., last will and testament) that was kept in his luggage.He asked them to deliver his property to his family. When Tameem and ‘Adiyy returned conveying the luggage and property of the deceased man to his family, they found the Wasiyyah and discovered that a silver bowl or cup with gold engraving was missing from his belongings. They reported the incident to the Prophet ﷺ and sought his judgment. He made them (i.e., ‘Adiyy and Tameem) take an oath to confirm their claim that they had lost that bowl. It seems that their oath was false, because the bowl was later found in Makkah with some people who claimed that they had bought it from Tameem Al-Daaree and ‘Adiyy ibn Baddaa’! Then two witnesses from the relatives of the deceased, i.e., ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas and Al-Muttalib ibn Abee Wadaa‘ah (may Allah be pleased with them) who belonged to the tribe of Sahm, got up and swore that this bowl belonged to their late relative Buzayl, and that their testimony was more valid and truer than that of ‘Adiyy and Tameem. On this occasion, the ayah about the writing of Wasiyyah and having witnesses attesting to it was revealed. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {O you who have believed, testimony [should be taken] among you when death approaches one of you at the time of bequest - [that of] two just men from among you …} [Quran 5:106].
Thisayah urges the testator to have two trustworthy witnesses attesting to his Wasiyyah, especially if there are signs of approaching death, such as illness or old age. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {… or two others from outside}, meaning from other tribes because one would usually seek witnesses from his own relatives and tribe members, and he may also seek non-Muslim witnesses when needed, when there are no Muslim witnesses available. The ayah goes on: {… if you are traveling through the land and the disaster of death should strike you. Detain them after the prayer and let them both swear by Allah if you doubt [their testimony, saying], "We will not exchange our oath for a price, even if he should be a near relative, and we will not withhold the testimony of Allah. Indeed, we would then be of the sinful."} This means that these two witnesses must honor the trust and honestly give whatever the deceased entrusted to them to the beneficiaries of the Wasiyyah and must not withhold anything, {But if it is found that those two were guilty of perjury,} meaning if there are proofs indicating their lying and dishonesty, {let two others stand in their place [who are] foremost [in claim] from those who have a lawful right. And let them swear by Allah, "Our testimony is truer than their testimony, and we have not transgressed. Indeed, we would then be of the wrongdoers."} [Quran 5:106-107]. This means that the two other witnesses, from the deceased’s closest relatives, must testify to the fact that the other witnesses were lying, and must take an oath that theirtestimony is truer than theirs. Accordingly, they would be declared legally entitled to the disputed property..

2781
Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah Al-Ansaaree (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated:
My father was martyred on the day (of the Battle) of Uhud and left six daughters and some debts to be paid. When the time of plucking the date-fruits was due, I went to Allah's Messengerﷺ and said, "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ, you know that my father was martyred on Uhud and owed much debt, and I wish that the creditors would see you." The Prophet ﷺsaid, "Go and collect the various kinds of dates and place them separately in heaps."' I did accordingly and called him. On seeing him, the creditors started claiming their rights pressingly at that time. When the Prophet ﷺ, saw how they behaved, he ﷺ went round the biggest heap for three times and sat over it and said, "Call your companions (i.e., the creditors)." Then he ﷺ kept on measuring and giving them, till Allah, Exalted is He, cleared all my father's debts. By Allah, it would have pleased me that Allah, Exalted is He, would clear the debts of my father even though I had not taken a single date to my sisters. But by Allah, all the heaps were complete, (as they were) and I looked at the heap where Allah's Messengerﷺ was sitting and noticed as if not a single date had been taken thereof!
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Commentary :
Incurring debts is a serious matter given its gravity; it is incumbent on debtors to repay their debts. If a debtor dies before the repayment, his guardian and heirs are required to pay off his debts from his estate.
In this hadeeth, Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah Al-Ansaaree (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that his father ‘Abdullah ibn Haraam (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyredat the Battle of Uhud, in 3 A.H., and left six young daughters and some debts to be paid. Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) promised the repayment of these debts when the date-fruits should be picked. When the time of harvesting dates was due, he (may Allah be pleased with him) went to Allah's Messengerﷺ and asked him to be present when the creditors, who were Jews, should claim their debts, in the hope they would see him and write off part of the debt for his sake. Another version of the hadeeth recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree stated that the Prophet ﷺ asked the creditors to reduce the debts, but they refused. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺsaid to him, "Go and collect the various kinds of dates and place them separately in heaps,” meaning arrange each kind in a separate heap. Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) did as commanded and called the Prophet ﷺ. On seeing him, the creditors started claiming their rights pressingly. When the Prophet ﷺ saw how they behaved, he ﷺ went round the biggest heap three times and sat over it, to be blessed, and said, "Call your companions (i.e., the creditors).” Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) called for the creditors and the Prophet ﷺ kept on measuring and giving them from the very heap over which he ﷺ was sitting, till Allah, Exalted is He, cleared all his father's debts. Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that he would have been pleased that Allah, Exalted is He, cleared the debts of his late father, even if he could not take a single date to his sisters. However, the dates were blessed by the Prophet ﷺ, and all the heaps were complete, (as if they were untouched). Even after repaying all the creditors, the heap remained the same,as if not a single date had been taken!
The hadeeth highlights a sign of hisﷺ prophethood.
It urges the repayment of debts owed by the deceased.
It is also deduced from it that the unpaid debts owed by one’s dead parents must be repaid by their children. .

2785
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
A man came to Allah's Messengerﷺ and said, "Instruct me as to such a deed that equals Jihaad (in reward)." He ﷺ replied, "I do not find such deed!" Then he ﷺ added, "Can you, while the Mujaahid (i.e., a Muslim fighter partaking in Jihaad) is on the battlefield, enter your mosque to perform prayers unceasingly and fast without breaking your fast?" The man said, "But who can do that?" Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) added, "A Mujaahid is rewarded even for the footsteps of his horse while it wanders about (for grazing) tied in a long rope."
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Commentary :
Jihaad is the most rewardable good deed in Islam; it is the pinnacle of Islam, by means of which Allah, Exalted is He, honors Muslims, and empowers the monotheists on earth.
In this hadeeth, It was narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man went to Allah's Messengerﷺ and asked him about a good deed that was equal to Jihaad in terms of reward and status in the Sight of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ replied, "I do not find such a deed!" This means that there is no better or more rewardable good deed than Jihaad. Afterward, he ﷺ asked him, "Can you, while the Mujaahid (i.e., a Muslim fighter partaking in Jihaad) is on the battlefield, enter your mosque to perform prayers unceasingly and fast without breaking your fast?" The man inquired, "But who can do that?" There is no doubt that none can endure exerting such enormous effort!
Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) added, underlining the great merits and rewards of Jihaad, "A Mujaahid is rewarded even for the footsteps of his horse while it wanders about (for grazing) tied to a long rope,” meaning that he earns reward in all situations; whenever he eats, sleeps, sells, and buys what he needs – equal to the reward of the one who unceasingly observes fasting, performs prayer, and recites the Book of Allah (unfailingly), and few people are able to do so!
The hadeeth highlights the virtues of Jihaad in the cause of Allah, Exalted is He, and urges Muslims to partake in it..

2786
Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Somebody asked, "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! Who is the best among all people?" He ﷺ replied, "A believer who strives his utmost in Allah's Cause with his life and property." They asked, "Who is next?" He ﷺ replied, "A believer who stays in one of the mountain paths worshipping Allah, Exalted is He, and leaving people safe from his mischief.".

Commentary :
Interacting and mixing with people entails that one should be careful and cautious, lest he should fall into what Allah, Exalted is He, has forbidden. As for the one who cannot do so regarding his interactions with others, solitude is better for him.
Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree(may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ about the best among all people in terms of reward and status in the Sight of Allah, Exalted is He, He ﷺ replied, "A believer who strives his utmost in Allah's Cause with his life and property,” meaning that he was martyred, and the reference to spending his property means that he spends on his needs or on those partaking in Jihaad. It is noteworthy that the hadeeth does not mean that such person is the best and most virtuous among all people in general, because this description fits those who attain the ranks of the steadfast affirmers of truth, ensure that people should follow the laws of Allah, Exalted is He, and the Sunnah of His Prophet ﷺ, guide them to perform good deeds, and help them with regard to their religious or worldly affairs. However, the Prophet ﷺ meant that such a person was the best among lay Muslims in general, because there may be some devout Muslims who are endowed with (greater shares of) righteousness, knowledge, virtue, and adherence to the Sunnah, who may be better than such person.
People asked, "Who is next?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "A believer who stays in one of the mountain paths worshipping Allah, Exalted is He, and leaving people safe from his mischief." The hadeeth means that such a believer stays in isolation without quarrelling and disputing with others regarding anything, and this takes place in a time of Fitnah (i.e., dissension and civil strife) or for someone who cannot endure people's harm.
His saying ‘in one of the mountain paths,’ is intended as a mere example since such mountain paths are often deserted and therefore would be perfect places of retreat, yet any distant place away from people fits the profile and the hadeeth applies to it.
The hadeeth underlines that the becoming etiquette of the one who seeks solitude entails that he should aim to keep his evil and harm away from Muslims, not to escape theirs, even though it is also entailed, and this aims to discipline his ‘self’ (i.e., humble himself) so that he does not see himself as superior to others, in compliance with the command of Allah, Exalted is He, to display humbleness.
It is also inferred from the hadeeth that good deeds vary in terms of virtue and reward..

2787
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
I heard Allah's Messengerﷺ saying, "The example of a Mujaahid in Allah's Cause (i.e., a Muslim fighter partaking in Jihaad) - and Allah knows better who sincerely strives in His Cause - is like a person who fasts and prays unceasingly. Allah, Exalted is He, guarantees that He will admit the Mujaahid in His Cause into Paradise if he is killed, otherwise He will return him to his home safely with rewards and spoils of war."
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Commentary :
Ikhlaas (i.e., sincere devotion of one’s worship exclusively to Allah, Exalted is He) is one of the conditions for the acceptance of worshipful acts and good deeds. In fact, a worshipful or good act may incur destruction upon the doer if he does not sincerely devote it exclusively to Allah, Exalted is He. Conayahly, it could be a reason for attaining reward and bliss (in the Hereafter) if he sincerely devotes it exclusively to Him.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ stated the divine promise for a Mujaahid who participates in Jihaad in the cause of Allah, Exalted is He, when he sincerely devotes his deed to Him alone. He ﷺ said: “… and Allah knows better who sincerely strives in His Cause,” meaning that Allah, Exalted is He, knows best people’s intentions and knows those who partake in Jihaad with the intention of upholding the truth and raising the Words of Allah (i.e., His Religion) and those who merely seek worldly gains, fame, and to be labeled “heroes.” Whoever participates in Jihaad sincerely for the sake of Allah, Exalted is He, devoting his intention exclusively to Him, earns the reward of a person who observes obligatory fasting at daytime and also devotes his nights to worship while displaying humbleness and sincerity to Him. This worshipper earns the rewards of both worshipful acts by the grace of Allah, Exalted is He. He ﷺ likened such person to a fasting person because the latter abstains from eating and drinking and sexual activity, and similarly a Mujaahid refrains from carrying out his everyday activities and devotes himself entirely to Jihaad. Moreover, a person who observes fasting and prays at night is devoting his day and night to worship unceasingly, and similarly a Mujaahid earns unceasing rewards for all his time devoted to Jihaad.
Then the Prophet ﷺ stated that Allah, Exalted is He, guarantees that He will grant a Mujaahid in His cause one of two great rewards: martyrdom and entering Paradise, or returning him to his home safely with the rewards of partaking in Jihaad, whether without the spoils of war, with both the reward and the spoils of war.
The hadeeth highlights the grace of Allah, Exalted is He, bestowed upon the Mujaahid.
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2790
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever believes in Allah, Exalted is He, and His Messenger, establishes prayer perfectly, and fasts the month of Ramadan, will rightfully be granted Paradise by Allah, no matter whether he fights in Allah's Cause or remains in the land where he is born." People said, "O Allah's Messengerﷺ! Shall we acquaint people with such good news?" He ﷺ said, "Paradise has one-hundred ranks which Allah has reserved for the Mujaahideen (pl. Mujaahid) who fight in His Cause, and the distance between each of two ranks is like the distance between the Heaven and the Earth. So, when you ask Allah (for something), ask for Al-Firdaws which is the best and highest part of Paradise." (The sub-narrator added, "I think the Prophet ﷺ also said, 'Above it (i.e., Al-Firdaws) is the Throne of The Especially Merciful (i.e., Allah), and from it originate the rivers of Paradise.")
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Commentary :
The sincere good deeds that are devoted exclusively to Allah, Exalted is He, are a reason for winning the Pleasure of Allah, Exalted is He. Prayer, fasting and Jihaad are examples of the good deeds that help the doer ascend to higher ranks of righteousness in the sight of Allah and enter Paradise.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ underlines that whoever believes in Allah, Exalted is He, and does not associate partners with Him, sincerely believes in His Messenger ﷺ as the last Messenger of Allah for humanity, establishes the five obligatory prayers (i.e., Fajr, Duhr, Asr, Maghrib, and ‘Ishaa’), by fulfilling their conditions and pillars as due, and fasts the month of Ramadan, out of sincerity of faith and in the hope of earning reward, will rightfully be granted Paradise by the grace and mercy of Allah, Exalted is He, no matter whether he was able to partake in Jihaad and fight in Allah's Cause or remained in the land where he is born and did not participate in Jihaad. This is because each Muslim shall be rewarded according to his or her abundant or few good deeds.People vary in terms of their good deeds in the worldly life and their ranks in Paradise shall vary accordingly.
The Prophet ﷺ did not make mention of Zakaah and Hajj in this hadeeth and it was said that it is because the hadeeth was not intended to list the pillars of Islam. Therefore, he ﷺ made mention of these worshipful acts because they are the more common for most people. Zakaah is not due except on a wealthy person when certain conditions are met, and similarly, Hajj is only obligatory on whoever is able to perform it, and is required once in a lifetime.
When the Prophet ﷺ said so, people said, "O Allah's Messengerﷺ! Shall we acquaint people with such good news?" They wanted to bear such glad tidings to others. It was narrated on the authority of Mu‘aadh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "Should I not inform the people of this?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Leave people to perform good deeds.” [Al-Tirmithee]. It means, ‘Do not inform people of what I have said about the fact that those who believe in Allah, Exalted is He, and carry out the obligatory worshipful acts would enter Paradise lest this should drive them to stop performing any extra good deeds and miss out on attaining higher ranks earned by those who partake in Jihaad.’
The Prophet ﷺ stated the one who believes in Allah, Exalted is He, and His Messengerﷺ, establishes the prayer, and fasts Ramadan shall earn such reward whether he participates in Jihaad and fights in Allah's Cause or remains in the land where he is born, meaning does not partake in Jihaad. However, he ﷺ further explained it by his following statement, reading: "Paradise has one-hundred ranks which Allah has reserved for the Mujaahideen (pl. Mujaahid) who fight in His Cause…” Such a statement explained that the situation of the two people (i.e., the one who partakes in Jihaad and the one who does not) is not the same in all regards, but it rather means that the performance of the previously-mentioned deeds is the condition for entering Paradise rather than attaining equal ranks therein; there are various ranks and levels in Paradise (attained by performing other worshipful acts). He ﷺ informed them of the ranks designated for those who partake in Jihaad, and the distance between each of two ranks is like the distance between Heaven and Earth, to urge Muslims to participate in Jihaad, fight against the disbelievers, and support Islam. There are numerous ranks in Paradise whose exact number was not reported in Laws of Islam texts, and one hundred of such ranks are designated for those who partake in Jihaad. Afterward, he ﷺ said: “So, when you ask Allah (for something), ask for Al-Firdaws which is the best and highest part of Paradise." In the Arabic language, the term Firdaws means a grove where there are trees, flowers, and plants. The Arabic term used by the Prophet ﷺ to describe its location is Awsat, lit., the middle part, and it means the best and highest (rank of Paradise). This is similar to the ayah that reads (what means): {And thus we have made you a midmost (i.e., the most just and moderate) community,} [Quran 2:143].The Arabic word used in the ayah is Wasataa, meaning the most just and moderate. It was also said that Wasataa here means the most vast and highest part of Paradise. The Prophet ﷺ added: 'Above it (i.e., Al-Firdaws) is the Throne of The Especially Merciful (i.e., Allah),’ meaning that its ceiling is the Throne of Allah, Exalted is He, which is higher than all the ranks of Paradise. It is the greatest, highest, and best of all Allah’s Creation.
The rivers of Paradise originate from Al-Firdaws, and they were referred to in the ayah that reads (what means): {… wherein are rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk the taste of which never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey.} [Quran 47:15].

The hadeeth urges Muslims to perform the obligatory acts of worship prescribed by Allah, Exalted is He.
It also urges Muslims to partake in Jihaad and fight in Allah’s Cause to support His religion.It is deduced from the hadeeth that Al-Firdaws is the highest garden in Paradise.

It also comforts those who miss out on partaking in Jihaad, to learn that they may not miss out on a great reward. Rather, if they believe in Allah, Exalted is He, and His Messenger ﷺ and perform the obligatory worshipful acts, they will earn Paradise, even if they shall attain lower ranks therein than those allocated for the ones who partake in Jihaad.
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2795
Narrated Anas ibn Maalik(may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophetﷺsaid, "Nobody who dies and finds good from Allah (in the Hereafter) would wish to come back to this world even if he were given the whole world and whatever is in it, except the martyr who, on seeing the superiority of martyrdom, would like to come back to the world and get killed again (in Allah's Cause)."
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Commentary : Allah has promised a great reward for those who die in His way. Allah, Most High, says: { Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed.} [Quran 9:111].

In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺinforms us that nobodywho dies and finds good from Allah after departing this life would like to come back to this world, even if he were given the whole world and whatever is in it, except the martyr.On seeing the superiority of martyrdom and its great reward, he would like to come back to the world and get killed again, to attain and enjoy more of Allah's favours. Even the pious, whose good deeds were of all kinds except martyrdom,would not like to return to this life.

It is said that the reason those who die in the way of Allah are described as Shaheed in Arabic is because the word entails the meaning of witnessing i.e., their souls witness the land of peace as opposed to the souls of others who are only able to witness it on the Day of Judgment. One view suggests that the word entails that Allah, Most High, and His angels (peace be upon them) witness that they are from the dwellers of Paradise. Others said it means that upon the departure of his soul, the martyr witnesses what Allah has prepared for him from reward and honour.

This hadeeth highlights the high status of martyrs,and the significant reward that Allah has made for them, and it encourages us to fight for the cause of Allah and in His way..

2798
Narrated Anas ibn Maalik:(may Allah be pleased with him)The Prophetﷺdelivered a sermon and said, "Zayd took the flag and was martyred, and then Ja'far took the flag and was martyred, and then `Abdullah ibn Rawaahah took the flag and was martyred too, and then Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed took the flag though he was not appointed as a commander and Allah made him victorious." The Prophetﷺfurther added, "It would not please us to have them with us"and in another narration: "theProphetﷺsaid while shedding tears, 'It would not please them to be with us.'"
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Commentary : Allah prepared for martyrs the highest ranks in Paradise and a great reward that is beyond imagination.This superior status made the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) so keen on having this honour and dying in the cause of Allah, and many of them attained this honour and died in the way of Allah on battlefields.

In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that while the Prophetﷺwas delivering a sermon, Allah revealed to him that the three commanders of the Muslim army had beenmartyred. This was in the battle of Mu'tah, which is situated in al-Balqaa' in the south of Jordan and occurred in the 8th year of Hijrah. The battle was between the Muslims and the Romans. Upon receiving the revelation, the Prophet ﷺ shared from his noble pulpit the news with his Companions in al-Madeenah. The first one who was martyred was Zayd in Haarithah (may Allah be pleased with him), the commander and flag bearer of the army. After his martyrdom, Ja'far ibn Abee Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him), the paternal cousin of the Prophet ﷺ, took the flag and was martyred, and then `Abdullah ibn Rawaahah(may Allah be pleased with him) took the flag and was martyred too. The Prophet ﷺ delivered the news ashis eyes shed tears out of his grief over them. Then, he ﷺ remarked: "It would not please us to have them with us" i.e., the great honour and high ranks those martyrs receive is much better for them than being with us in this life. According to the other version of the hadeeth, it reads: "It would not please them to be with us" i.e., after seeing all the honour and rewards preparedfor them, they no longer desire this worldly life except for the purpose of fighting again in the way of Allah to attain the honour of martyrdom repeatedly.

The three martyred Companions mentioned in the hadeeth were appointed by the Prophet ﷺ as general commanders of the Muslim army. After they all died in the battle, Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed(may Allah be pleased with him)took the flag, though he was not appointed by the Prophet ﷺ as a commander, and Allah made him victorious. He took the initiative after seeing that taking the leadership would serve the best interest of the Muslims. The victory mentioned in the hadeeth refers to the success of his military tactics when he ordered the army to leave their positions and retreat to save the strength and supplies of the Muslims. This was because the number of the Romans and their allies who fought was two hundred thousand; 100,000 from the Romans and 100,000 from the Christians of the Levant, while the number of the Muslims was only three thousand. In response to the tactic of Khaalid (may Allah be pleased with him), the Romans retreated too despite their large number and advantage of arms and troops.But they had no choice because of the fierceness of the battle and the large number of casualties in their army. It is reported on the authority of Khaalid (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "Nine swords were broken in my hand on the Day of Mu'tah, and nothing was left in my hand except a Yemenite sword." [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree]. The Prophet ﷺ considered this a victory for the Muslims.

From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning that being compassionate and merciful is a praiseworthy quality, and that one should take the initiative to help, support, and benefit the Muslims, whenever he is able to and sees that it will serve their best interests.

This hadeeth highlights the virtue and merit of Khaalid ibn al-Waleed (may Allah be pleased with him),and it shows that it is permissible to shedtears for the deceased. It also offers one of the miracles of the Prophet ﷺ..

2801
Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ sent seventy men from the tribe of Banee Saleem to the tribe of Banee‘Aamir. When they reached there, my maternal uncle said to them, "I will go ahead of you, and if they allow me to convey the message of Allah's Messenger ﷺ (it will be all right); otherwise, you will remain close to me." So, he went ahead of them, and the pagans granted him security but while he was reporting the message of the Prophet ﷺ , they beckoned to one of their men who stabbed him to death. My maternal uncle said, "Allah is Greater! By the Lord of the Ka`bah, I am successful." After that they attached the rest of the party and killed them all except a lame man who went up to the top of the mountain. (Hammam, a sub-narrator said, "I think another man was saved along with him)." Angel Gabriel informed the Prophet ﷺ that they (i.e., the martyrs) met their Lord, and He was pleased with them and made them pleased. We used to recite, {Inform our people that we have met our Lord, He is pleased with us, and He has made us pleased.}Afterwards, this ayah was abrogated. The Prophet ﷺ invoked Allah for forty days to curse the murderers from the tribes of Ra’l, Thakwaan, Banee Lihyaan and Banee‘Usaiyyah who disobeyed Allah and his Messenger..

Commentary :  The Reciters were among the best of people during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ; they used to learn and teach the Quran and help the Muslims whenever they werein need.

In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ dispatched 70 men from the Reciters to the tribe of Banee' Aamir ibn Sa'sa'ah, who were based in Najd, to invite them to Islam.

 The seventy men that the Prophet ﷺ dispatched are mentioned in this narration to be from the tribe of Banee Saleem, which is wrong. The correct narration, as recorded in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, states that they were from the Ansaar, and headed by Haraam ibn Milhaan, the maternal uncle of Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with them). When they reached there, Haraam said to his group, "I will go ahead of you, and if they allow me to convey the message of Allah's Messenger ﷺ (it will be all right); otherwise, you will remain close to me." After he approached the tribe of Banee ‘Aamir, they assured him of safety and so he started to convey the message of Islam to them. However, they beckoned to one of their men who stabbed him with his spear to death. Thereupon, Haraam exclaimed in excitement for attaining martyrdom: “Allah is the Greatest! By the Lord of the Ka’bah, I have succeeded.”

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) then mentioned that after killing his maternal uncle, they pusued the others, killing the 70 companions except a lame man, named Ka’b ibn Zayd al-Ansaaree, who climbed a mountain and managed to escape to safety. The sub-narrator mentioned that there was another man who managed to escape, and it was said that he was ‘Amr ibn Umayyah al-Damree. Angel Gabriel reported the incident to the Prophet ﷺ and informed him that they met their Lord, and He was pleased with them and made them pleased. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) goes on to say: “We used to recite, {Inform our people that we have met our Lord, He is pleased with us, and He has made us pleased.}, but it was then abrogated and cancelled.” This incident made the Prophet ﷺ fall into great grief and angered him; thus, he ﷺ invoked Allah against the tribes of Ra’l, Thakwaan, Banee Lihyaan and Banee ‘Usaiyyah – who disobeyed Allah and His Messenger ﷺand killed his noble Companions - for forty consecutive days in the Fajr prayer, as reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim.

It is reported on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited Qunoot daily for a monthat the Thuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, ‘Ishaa and Fajr prayers. Heﷺ wouldinvoke Allah against the clans of Ra’l, Thakwaan, Banee Lihyaan and Banee ‘Usaiyyah, and those who were standing behind him would say: "Allah listens to him who praises Him” in the last unit of the prayer, and then say: “Amen.” [Sunan Aboo Dawood]. After the revelation of the ayah: {Not for you, [O Muḥammad, but for Allah], is the decision whether He should [cut them down] or forgive them or punish them, for indeed, they are wrongdoers.} [Quran 3:128], the Prophet ﷺ refrained from invoking Allah against them, as reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim.

From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is that it is permissible to invoke Allah against oppressors, traitors, and those who harm the Muslims.

The hadeeth shows that complete submission to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ causes us to attain Allah’s pleasure and safety from His punishment.

It shows that Qunoot is to be recited in times of affliction and hardship.

It shows the eagerness of the Companions to attain martyrdom, and their happiness at attaining it.

It serves as evidence that the people of the truth may suffer harm from those who are upon falsehood, and that does not indicate that the people of the truth are wrong. Rather, it serves as a grace for them and as a tribulation for the people of falsehood..

2802
Narrated Jundab ibn Sufyaan (may Allah be pleased with him):In one of the Battles a finger of Allah's Messengerﷺ(got wounded and) bled. Heﷺ said, "You are just a finger that bled, and what you got is in Allah's Cause."
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Commentary :  Allah, Exalted is He, guaranteed Paradise for His believing servants who sacrifice their lives and wealth for His sake. Allah, Most High, says: {Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed.} [Quran 9:111].

In this hadeeth, Jundub ibn Sufyaan (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the finger of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was wounded in one battle – it is said that it was the battle of Uhud – so he ﷺ addressed his finger by saying“You are just a finger that bled, and what you got is in Allah's Cause” i.e., take it easy, for you have not been wounded in vain, for you have been injured and bled only in the cause of Allah and His pleasure. It is said that lines that the Prophet ﷺ uttered are not considered poetry and that it is natural rhyming that comes unintentionally. Allah, Most High, said: {We have not taught him poetry nor is it befitting him} [Quran 36:69]. Others suggested that it is a couplet from the poetry of ‘Abdullah ibn Rawaahah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ quoted,as he found it to fit the situation.

From the benefits that can be concluded from the hadeeth is learning that Prophets can suffer harm sometimes to increase their reward;indeed,they are the highest rank of people in enduring trials and hardships. .

2805
Narrated Anas(may Allah be pleased with him): My paternal uncle Anas ibn An-Nadr was absent from the Battle of Badr. He said, "O Allah's Messengerﷺ! I was absent from the first battle you fought against the pagans. (By Allah) if Allah gives me a chance to fight the pagans, no doubt. Allah will see how (bravely) I will fight." On the day of Uhud when the Muslims turned their backs and fled, he said, "O Allah! I apologize to You for what these (i.e., his companions) have done, and I denounce what these (i.e., the pagans) have done." Then he advanced and Sa`d ibn Mu’aath met him. He said "O Sa`d ibn Mu’aath ! By the Lord of An-Nadr, it is Paradise! I am smelling its aroma coming from before (the mountain of) Uhud," Later on Sa`d said, "O Allah's Messenger! I cannot achieve or do what he (i.e., Anas ibn An-Nadr) did. We found more than eighty wounds by swords and arrows on his body. We found him dead, and his body was mutilated so badly that none except his sister could recognize him by his fingers." We used to think that the following ayah was revealed concerning him and other men of his sort: {Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah..........} (Quran 33.23) His sister Al-Rubay' broke a front tooth of a woman and Allah's Messengerﷺordered for retaliation. On that Anas (ibn An-Nadr) said, "O Allah's Messengerﷺ! By Him Who has sent you with the Truth, her tooth shall not be broken." Then the opponents of Anas's sister accepted the compensation and gave up the claim of retaliation. So, Allah's Messengerﷺsaid, "There are some people amongst Allah's servants whose oaths are fulfilled by Allah when they take them."
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Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) exerted all their efforts and set the best examples of sacrifice and sincerity to raise the Word of Allah and support His religion.Anas ibn al-Nadr (may Allah be pleased with him) is a Companion whoset a remarkable example of sincerity, truthfulness, commitment, and sacrifice for raising the word of Allah, Exalted is He.

In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that his paternal uncle, Anas ibn al-Nadr (may Allah be pleased with him) did not witness the battle of Badr, which occurred during the month of Ramadan in the 2nd year of Hijrah. This is because the Prophet ﷺ did not announce general mobilization,since  the original mission of the Prophet ﷺ and his expedition was to raid the trade caravan of Aboo Sufyaan, but a change of plan happened, and Allah willed that fighting to take place, to grant the Muslims their first victory. In the month of Shawaaal in the third year of Hijrah, the drums of war started to beat again when Quraysh prepared a large army to fight the Muslims. Anas ibn al-Nadr seized the opportunity and asked the Prophet ﷺ to allow him to participate in the battle,as he had missed the first battle, promising Allah that his actions would speak louder on the battlefield.

The battle of Uhud witnessed a dramatic change after the Muslim archers did not follow the strict orders of the Prophet ﷺthat they should remain stationed in their positions on the mountain of Uhud until further orders.After the Muslims defeated Quraysh in the beginning, those archers left their positions thinking the battle was over and because they wanted to collect the spoils of war. However, Anas ibn al-Nadr denounced their actions and declared himself innocent from that disobedience of the order of the Prophet ﷺ.Hedetached himself completely from the actions of pagans against the Muslims and the Prophet ﷺ in particular. As he (may Allah be pleased with him) advanced to fight the disbelievers of Quraish, Sa’d ibn Mu’aath (may Allah be pleased with him) met him on his way, so he said to Sa’d: “O Sa’d ibn Mu’aath, it is Paradise!” i.e., I want Paradise as it is my aim. Then, he swore by Allah by saying “By the Lord of [my father] al-Nadr,I can smell the scent of Paradise at the mountain of Uhud,” which could be theactual scent of Paradise or a sweet scent that made him think of the scent of Paradise. After seeing his actions, bravery, and achievements on the battlefield, Sa’d ibn Mu’aath (may Allah be pleased with him) stated: “O Messenger of Allah! I cannot achieve or do what he (i.e., Anas ibn al-Nadr) did.”

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) remarked that they found more than eighty wounds by swords, spears, and arrows on his body. Also,the pagans mutilated his dead body so badly that none except his sister – al-Rubay’ bint al-Nadr - could recognize him, by the tip of his finger. Then, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) remarked that the Muslims believed the ayah: {Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah...} (Quran 33.23) was revealed about Sa’d ibn al-Nadr and his like.

This hadeeth highlights the virtue and merit of Sa’d ibn al-Nadr (may Allah be pleased with him), and the virtue ofcommitment and devotion to fulfill one’s promise to Allah, regardless of the hardship one may experience. It shows that the order not to put one’s life in danger does not apply to the case of fighting in the way of Allah to attain martyrdom.

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him)wenton to add that once, the sister of Anas ibn al-Nadr broke the front tooth of another woman, so the issue was raised to the Prophet ﷺ and heﷺ ordered for retaliation i.e., her front tooth be broken just like she broke the front tooth of the woman, as Allah, Most High, said: {and for wounds equal retaliation.} [Quran 5:45]. On that Anas (ibn An-Nadr) said, "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! By Him Who has sent you with the Truth, her tooth shall not be broken." i.e., he said it out of his hope that Allah would soften the heart of the woman to forgive her and drop the case for the sake of Allah. It is also possible that he (may Allah be pleased with him) did not know at that time about the option either to accept equal retaliation or offer compensation. The outcome of the case was that the woman accepted compensation and relinquished her right toretaliation. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ said "There are some people amongst Allah's servants whose oaths are fulfilled by Allah when they take them,” i.e., they would take oaths while being confident in Allah’s generosity and favours, and Allahwould allow theiroaths to be fulfilled,sotheywouldnot have to offer oath expiation, due to their status with Allah.
This hadeeth highlights the virtue of Anas ibn al-Nadr (may Allah be pleased with him),and his strong faith and certainty in Allah, Exalted is He, and it shows that it is permissible to give up the claim of retaliation and accept financial compensation instead..

2808
Narrated Al-Baraa’ (may Allah be pleased with him): A man whose face was covered with an iron mask (i.e., clad in armour) came to the Prophetﷺand said, "O Allah's Messengerﷺ! Shall I fight or embrace Islam first? "The Prophetﷺsaid, "Embrace Islam first and then fight." So, he embraced Islam, and was martyred. Allah's Messengerﷺsaid, A Little work, but a great reward”.
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Commentary : It is from Allah’s favour upon a person to inspire him to do a good deed before passing from this life. It is from Allah’s grace over his servant to facilitate for him righteous deeds with which he concludes his life on this earth, to attain the eternal pleasures in the Hereafter, even if a person did only few good deeds in this life.

In this hadeeth, al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that a man whose face was covered with an iron mask came to the Prophet ﷺ asking him if he should enter Islam first and then fight or fight first and then enter Islam. The Prophet ﷺ advised him to embrace Islam first and then join the fight. The man complied and he was martyred in the battle, so the Prophet ﷺ remarked that this man did very little after embracing Islam, but he will be rewarded in abundance because of his martyrdom, and that his place in Paradise is secured although he did not offer one prayer.

The man came to the Prophet ﷺwhile the Muslims were preparing to go to war. It is said that the man was from the Ansaar from the tribe of al-Aws from Banee al-Nabeet, and it is said that his name was ‘Amr ibn Thaabit ibn Waqsh.

From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning that Allah, out of His favour and grace, rewards His servants in abundance for fewgood deeds. It also shows that the priority of the Prophet ﷺ was that people enter Islam and worship Allah alone. .

2815
Narrated Jaabir ibn `Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with him):"Some people drank alcohol in the morning of the day (of the battle) of Uhud and were martyred (on the same day)." Sufyaan was asked, "(Were they martyred) in the last part of the day?)" He replied, "Such information does not occur in the narration."
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Commentary : Allah does not punish or hold a person accountable for doing that which He has not forbid or warned against yet – even if He knows that such an action will be made forbidden at a later stage. This is because accountability is established after the order to do or refrain from something is confirmed.

In this hadeeth, Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that some of the Companions who participated in the battle of Uhud drank alcohol in the morning of the day of the battle. On the same day, they were martyred on the battlefield. However, as this happened before Allah revealed that consuming alcohol is completely prohibited, they are not to be held accountable for it. The fact that Allah knew in His eternal knowledge that drinking alcohol would be prohibited at a later stage does not deprive them from the reward of martyrdom. This is because the ruling of prohibition requires the existence of an order against that thing; therefore, people are not held accountable for their actions before the relevant orders and rulings are established.

The battle of Uhud took place between the Muslims and Quraysh in the month of Shawwaalin the third year of Hijrah. The battle is named after the mountain of Uhud, which is one of the mountains of al-Madeenah.

Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah – one of the sub-narrators of this hadeeth – was asked whether they were martyred in the last part of the day on which they drank alcohol. He stated that the narration does not mention such information. According to one version of the hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree: “All of them were martyred on the day, and this happened before it was made forbidden.”.

2819
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messengerﷺsaid, "Once Prophet Sulaymaan, son of Prophet Dawood (peace be upon them) said, '(By Allah) Tonight I will have sexual intercourse with one hundred (or ninety-nine) women each of whom will give birth to a knight who will fight in Allah's Cause.' On that his companions said: if Allah wills, but he did not say, 'Allah willing.' Therefore, only one of those women conceived and gave birth to a half-man. By Him in Whose Hands Muhammad's life is, if he had said, "Allah willing', (he would have begotten sons) all of whom would have been knights striving in Allah's Cause."
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Commentary :  There is nothing that occurs except that Allah wished and willed it to occur. Considering this, one is encouraged to detachhimself from personal whims and desires andmake his desires and wants subject to Allah’s will in order to obtain them.

In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ explains that Prophet Sulaymaan, son of Prophet Dawood (peace be upon them) swore that he would have sexual intercourse with one hundred - or ninety-nine – women, each of whom would give birth to a knight who would fight in Allah's Cause. The doubt about the number of women is from the narrator of this hadeeth. His companion, the angel who used to convey Allah’s revelation to him -and it is said he was someone else - said to him to say, “if Allah wills.” However, he did not say it, out of forgetfulness. The fact that he forgot to utter the words does not entail or mean that his heart was not relying upon Allah when he made that statement. He wasaProphet of Allah (peace be upon him), who was infallible like the other Prophets of Allah (peace be upon them). Simply, he forgot to utter the words “if Allah wills” with his tongue, but his heart was mindful of Allah and relying upon Him.

The Prophet ﷺ continued that only one woman of them conceived,and gave birth to a half-man, because he did not utter the words. The Prophet ﷺ swore by Allah that if he had said, "if Allah wills”, he would have begotten 100 sons, all of whom would have been knights striving in Allah's Cause, as he said. The Prophet ﷺ swore using the words: “By Him in Whose Hands Muhammad's life is,” which he ﷺ often used whenever he wanted to swear and emphasise a point.

From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning that one should strive to have sons with the intention of sending them to fight in the way of Allah.

This hadeeth confirms the divine attribute of Hand, which is understood as it befits Allah, Exalted is He..

2821
Narrated Jubayr ibn Mut`im(may Allah be pleased with him): While I was walking with Allah's Messenger ﷺand the people returning from Hunayn were walking along with him. Some people caught hold of the Prophet ﷺ and started begging of him so much so that he had to stand under a thorny tree, causing his cloak to be hooked onthe thorns. The Prophet ﷺ stopped and said, "Give me my cloak. If I had as many camels as these thorny trees, I would have distributed them amongst you, and you will not find me a miser or a liar or a coward.".

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ was a teacher who exercised the highest level of compassion, mercy, kindness, forbearance and gentleness.

In this hadeeth, Jubayr ibn Mu’tim (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that after the Battle of Hunayn, which was in the 8th year of Hijrah, the Prophet ﷺ walked with the people while they were on their way back to al-Madeenah. It happened that some of the people who participated in the Battle of Hunayan were new to Islam (i.e., new reverts). As such, some of them crowded around the Prophet ﷺ asking for spoils, to the extent that he had to stand next to a thorny tree. His cloak got caught on the thorns, so he ﷺ asked for his cloak and then addressed the people by saying: “If I had as many camels as these thorny trees, I would have distributed them amongst you,” i.e., if I had camels, cows, and sheep equivalent to the large number of trees I would have distributed between you without leaving anything from them for myself. He ﷺ intended to inform them that if he would give away all his property to them, then it is more befitting to know that he will not keep forhimself any of their spoils.

The Prophet ﷺclarified that he was neither a miser, coward, nor liar,but rather that he wasthe opposite, namely honest, generous, and brave. These three qualities are mentioned together,and each one of them necessitates the other two.

This hadeeth shows that it is permissible for one to mention the good qualities he possesses to those who do not know him well,to prove to them that he is a person that can be relied upon.

It also condemns the attributes of lying, miserliness and cowardice. .

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..