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Hadith
1913
Narrated Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them):The Prophet ﷺ said, "We are an illiterate nation; we can neither write nor calculate. The month is like this and this, i.e., sometimes of 29 days and sometimes of thirty days.".

Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, decreed that the sighting of the new moon (crescent) should be usedto determine the timings of the lunar months. The sighting of the crescent marks the end of one lunar month and the beginning of another. Based on this sighting, many religious obligations are determined, such as fasting and Hajj.
In this hadeeth, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “We are an uneducated nation; we can neither write nor calculate,” meaning that we, as Arabs, are mostly uneducated or unlettered. The Arabic word ‘Ummi’ denotes “motherly,” which indicates the inability to read, write, or calculate.
Reference to arithmetic skills here means the use of astronomical calculation to track the movements of stars, lunar stages, and calculate times and dates. Arabs are predominantly unfamiliar with astronomical calculation, although a few have mastered it.
Therefore, Islam assigns clear signs and obvious marks for acts of worship that require no astronomical calculation. Then, the Prophet ﷺexplained by the use of sign language to clarify for both the deaf and the non-Arabs. He ﷺ said: “The lunar month is such and such.” The narrator said: “He ﷺ pointed with his hands to indicate that the lunar month is either twenty-nine or thirty days. He ﷺ first pointed with all ten fingers of his hands twice, and folded the thumb the third time, to indicate twenty-nine days; and then gestured with his two hands thrice, to indicate thirty days.
A lunar month does not exceed thirty days and is not less than twenty-nine days. The beginning of the month is marked by the sighting of the crescent after the sunset of the twenty-ninth day, and if the crescent is not sighted, the month is thirty days.
It is noteworthy that the description ‘Ummi (uneducated)’ is one of the attributes of perfection with which Allah, Exalted is He, endowed His Messenger ﷺ and praised him, even though it may be considered an attribute of imperfection with respect to others, because the practice of reading and writing is a means to acquire knowledge that often refines people’s personalities and elevates their status. Since Allah, Exalted is He, singled out the Prophet ﷺ for the earlier and latter knowledge without the need of learning how to read and write, it was a miracle in this respect, and an indication of the sincerity with which he ﷺ was described in the earlier heavenly books and by which was known to the previous nations. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel…} [Quran 7:157].
In his case, illiteracy is perceived as one of his greatest miracles, and the greatest honor conferred upon him, although it is indicative of apparent deficiency and inability for others.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that the use of sign language is allowable to explain unclear information..

1914
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ said, "None of you should fast a day or two before the month of Ramadan unless he has the habit of fasting (voluntary fasting) (and if his fasting coincides with that day) then he can fast that day.".

Commentary :
Allah, Exalted is He, decreed that the sighting of the new moon (crescent) should be usedto determine the timing of the lunar months. The sighting of the crescent marks the end of one lunar month and the beginning of another. Based on this sighting, many religious obligations are determined, such as fasting and Hajj.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that the Prophet ﷺ forbade Muslims from fasting the day or two days before the month of Ramadan (the last day or two days of Sha’baan). It is not prescribed for Muslims to observe fasting at the end of Sha’baan as a precaution, because theobligatory fastingis contingent on the sighting of the moon and there should beno Takalluf (i.e., overburdening oneself with undue duties) involved, whether the sky is clear or cloudy.
He ﷺ specifically mentioned the last two days of Sha‘baan because doubt may arise on those two days if the sky happened to be cloudy (and it was not possible to sight the new moon clearly) for two or three months. He ﷺforbade fasting on these days for two reasons.First, for fear that this would involve adding extra days to the month of Ramadan.It was also forbidden to fast on the Day of ‘Eid for the same reason, and to avoid following the example of the People of the Book,who had fallen into adding to their obligatory fasting based on their personal whims and preferences. This is whyit is prohibited to fast on the Day of Doubt, i.e., the last day of Sha‘baan. Second, the religion made the obligatory fasting in Ramadancontingent on the sighting of the moon and fasting on the preceding day or two days implies challenging the rulings of Islam.
Then he ﷺmade an exception from this prohibition if a person is used to fasting on a specific day, such as the case of someone who habitually observes fasting on alternate days or on Mondays, if such were to coincide with these two days. In this case, there is no impediment to fasting on these days because it does not fall under the category of forbidden fasting (as intended in the hadeeth) as per the laws of Islam.
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1915
Narrated Al-Baraa’ (may Allah be pleased with him):It was the custom among the Companions of Muhammad that if any of them was fasting and the food was served (fast-breaking meal), but he slept before eating, he would not eat that night and the following day till sunset. Qays ibn Sirmah Al-Ansaaree was fasting and came to his wife at the time of Iftaar (fast-breaking meal) and asked her whether she had anything to eat. She replied, "No, but I would go and bring some food for you." He used to do hard work during the day, so he was overwhelmed by sleep and fell asleep. When his wife came back and saw him, she said, "Disappointment for you!" When it was midday on the following day, he fainted and the Prophet ﷺ was informed about the whole matter and the following ayah was revealed (which mean): {It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]…} [Quran 2:187] So, they were overjoyed by it, and then Allah also revealed: {And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset...} [Quran 2:187]
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Commentary :
The wisdom of Allah, Exalted is He, entailed that the Quran should not be revealed all at once, but should rather be revealed on different occasions, to ensurethe gradual building and refinement of the Muslim community that He willed for Muslims.Therefore, the ayaat of the Quran were revealed to address the problems and emerging issues that arose.
In this hadeeth, Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib(may Allah be pleased with him)related that when fasting was first made obligatory (in Ramadan), any ofthe Companions (may Allah be pleased with them)who happened to sleep before breaking his fast would not eat that night and would fast the following day,eating onlyafter the Maghrib prayer of the following day! They had a limited window of time to break their fast; from Maghrib prayer to the time when they went to bed that night. If anyone happened to sleep before breaking his fast, he would carry on with fasting on the following day, and then break his fast on the following day.The same was true for engagement in sexual intercourse with their wives.
He (may Allah be pleased with him) also stated that Qays ibn Sirmah Al-Ansaaree(may Allah be pleased with him) was fasting oneday and went to his wife at the time of Maghrib prayer asking her for the Iftaar (fast-breaking) meal. She told him that she hadn’t any food butsought his permission to go and fetch him some. Exhausted after his workday, hefell asleep while waiting for her. When his wife came back and saw him asleep, she said: "Disappointment for you," meaning,“what a deprivation.” Thiswas a commonly used expression for someone who missed out on an attainment to which he aspired. Qays (may Allah be pleased with him)did not eat anything that night and woke up on the following dayand observed fasting. When hewas halfway through the day, he fainted, and the incident was reported to the Prophet ﷺ. On that occasion, Allah, Exalted is He, revealed the ayah that reads (meaning): {It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous.} [Quran 2:187].The ayah means that it is deemed allowable for you to engage in sexual intercourses with your wives, eat, and drink at any time of the night until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread (of night). At that point of the night, it is obligatory on them to abstain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse until sunset. The Companions(may Allah be pleased with them)were overjoyed.

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1916
Narrated ‘Adiy ibn Haatim(may Allah be pleased with him):When the above ayahwas revealed (which means): {And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of the dawn],} [Quran 2:187] I took two (hair) strings, one black and the other white, and kept them under my pillow and went on looking at them throughout the night but could not make anything out of it! So, the next morning I went to Allah's Messenger ﷺ and told him the whole story. He ﷺexplained to me, "That ayah means the darkness of the night and the whiteness of the dawn.".

Commentary :
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the source of knowledge for his Companions(may Allah be pleased with them); whenever they were confused regarding any of the laws of Islam or the meaning of any ayaatof the Quran, they turned to him for clarification and guidance, and he ﷺ would teach and guide them.
In this hadeeth, ‘Adiy ibnHaatim(may Allah be pleased with him)reports that when the following ayah was revealed (which means): {And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]} [Quran 2:187], it was prescribed for Muslims to eat and drink all night long until dawn, and prior to that they were only allowed to eat and drink after Maghrib prayer until they went to bed. Whenever any of them went to bed, it was not allowed to eat or drink on that night and on the following day as well (until the Maghreb prayer), as narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree. ‘Adiy ibn Haatim(may Allah be pleased with him) understood that the wording of the ayahto be literal,that it meant actualwhite and black threads, and that it is allowable to eat and drink until one could distinguish between them, i.e., after sunrise. Therefore, he brought two ropes (black and white ones) and put them under his pillow to preserve them so that he could easily look at them without having to get up. He would raise the pillow and look at them to determine the beginning of the fast day. After dawn,he would look at the two ropes, but hecould not distinguish the white from the black one, for the daylight was still faint.
Whereupon he (may Allah be pleased with him)went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺand told him the whole story. The Messenger of Allah he ﷺexplained that the correct meaning of theayahwas not to be able to see clearly actualwhite and black threads, but rather meant the ability to distinguish the blackness of the night from the whiteness of the morning, i.e., after dawn, and that the break of dawn was the time limit for the end of the night and the beginning of the morning.This means that whoever wishes to observe fasting is required to abstain from eating and drinking upon seeing that clear and prominent sign, i.e., the break of dawn..

1917
Narrated Sahl ibn Sa’d(may Allah be pleased with him):When the following ayah was revealed(which means): {And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread,} [Quran 2:187] some people who intended to fast, tied black and white threads to their legs and went on eating till they differentiated between the two. Allah then revealed the words, {[of the dawn]}, and it became clear that meant the night and day..

Commentary :
The Noble Quran was not revealed all at once, but was rather revealed to the Prophet ﷺon different occasions, and some ayaat were revealed to further explain and clarify others. The Companions(may Allah be pleased with them)hastened to comply with the divine commands revealed to them.
In this hadeeth, Sahl ibn Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) related the occasion during which the following ayah was revealed. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {And eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread.} [Quran 2:187].Some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them)understood the wording of the ayah literally, and that it meant actual white and black threads. Therefore, they would bring two threads (a black and a white one) and tie them to their feet and would eat and drink until they were able to differentiate between the black and white one (i.e., to determine the beginning of the fast day after dawn). Afterwards, Allah, Exalted is He, revealed the words {of the dawn} [Quran 2:187].in the ayah, and thereupon they learned that it does not referto actual white and black threads, but rather meant the ability to distinguish the blackness of the night from the whiteness of the morning, i.e., after dawn, and that the break of dawn was the time limit for the end of the night and the beginning of the morning. This means that whoever wishes to observe fasting is required to abstain from eating and drinking upon seeing that clear and prominent sign, i.e., the break of dawn.
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1923
Narrated Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him):The Prophet ﷺsaid, "Eat Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) for indeed there is a blessing in it."
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Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ did not leave any good pertaining to this worldly life or the Hereafter without guiding Muslims to it and urging them to abide by it.
In the hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺurgedand commanded those who wished to fast to eat the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal). He ﷺ said: “Eat Suhoor,”meaning the pre-dawn meal during the month of Ramadan(obligatory fasting) and otherwise (voluntary fasting). He ﷺ explained: “for indeed there is a blessing in it,”meaning that it abounds in good, benefits, and blessings. The blessings in Suhoor aretastededon account of following the Sunnah and going against the practices of the People of the Book, because they did not eat before dawn. It also helps the fasting person gain strength to be able to endure fasting, boosts his energylevels for the rest of the day, andempowers him to practice self-restraintand repel the urges toexhibit bad mannerstriggered by hunger. The blessings of Suhoor are also manifest in being a reason for giving charity to those who may ask for it at this time, or join him for the Suhoor meal, in reciting Thikr and supplications at a time when they are most likely accepted, and holding the intention of fasting for those who had forgotten to do so before going to bed on the previous night.
Emphasis is placed on eating the Suhoor meal because most people most likely sleep at this time;they may be overwhelmed by sleep and thus miss out on having thisimportant meal, causingthem to experience fatigue at daytime while performing their daily activities and work.
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1924
Narrated Salamah ibn Al-Akwa’ (may Allah be pleased with him):Once the Prophet ﷺordered a person on ‘Aashooraa’ (the 10th day of Muharram) to announce, "Whoever has eaten, should not eat any more, but observe fasting, and who has not eaten should not eat, but complete his fast (till the end of the day)”.
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Commentary :
The Day of ‘Aashooraa’ is one of the blessed days of Allah, Exalted is He, on which He saved His Prophet Moosaa from Pharaoh and his army. The Messenger of Allahﷺ fasted it, and commanded Muslims to fast as well. It was the first prescribed fast for Muslims before fasting was deemed obligatory in Ramadan.
In this hadeeth, Salamah ibn Al-Akwa‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that the Prophet ﷺ sent a man, i.e., Hind ibn Asmaa’ ibn Haarithah Al-Aslamee(may Allah be pleased with him), as stated in Musnad Ahmad and other Hadeeth collections, to announce to people on the Day of ‘Aashooraa’, the 10th day of the sacred month of Muharram, that whoever had eaten on that day should abstain from eating for the rest of the day until the time of Iftaar, to honor the sacredness of this blessed day, and that whoever had not eaten yet should hold the intention of fasting and fast.
After the fasting of Ramadan was deemed obligatory, fasting on the Day of ‘Aashooraa’became optional.It has been reported that fasting on the Day of ‘Aashooraa’ expiates the sins committed during the previous year, as reported on the authority of Aboo Qataadah (may Allah be pleased with him) and narrated by Imam Muslim.
Many narrations have been reported regarding the reasons why the Prophet ﷺ fasted onthe Day of ‘Aashooraa’. For instance, it was narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:“When the Prophet ﷺ came to Al-Madeenah, he found (the Jews) fasting on the Day of ‘Aashooraa’ (i.e., 10th of Muharram). They used to say: "This is a great day on which Allah, Exalted is He, saved Prophet Moosaa and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Moosaa observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah." The Prophet ﷺ said, "I am closer to [Prophet] Moses than they!" So, he observed fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it.” [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].
Moreover, it was reported on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)that the Prophet ﷺ said about the Day of ‘Aashooraa’: “That was a day on which the people of pre-Islamic days used to observe fast. So, he who amongst you likes to observe fast should do so, and he who does not like it should abandon it.” [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].
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1926
‘Aa’ishah and Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with them)said:At times, Allah's Messenger ﷺ used to get up in the morning in a state of Janaabah (i.e., post sexual-intercourse ritual impurity) after having sexual relations with his wives, take a bath and fast.
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Commentary :
The Companions sometimes held different opinions regarding certain issues, but they abided by the due Islamic etiquette of disagreement that the Prophet ﷺ taught them.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abd Al-Rahmaan ibn Al-Haarith, a Taabi‘i (Follower, from the generation of Muslims who followed the Companions), narrated thathe told Marwaan ibn Al-Hakam that the Mothers of Believers ‘Aa’ishah and Umm Salamah(may Allah be pleased with them) told him that the Prophet ﷺ sometimes woke upafter dawn in a state of Janaabah after having intimate relations with some of his wives,and that he ﷺ would perform Ghusl and observe fasting on that day, as long as he ﷺ had not eaten or drunk anything after dawn. This indicates the permissibility ofcommencing fasting while being in a state of Janaabah before performing Ghusl. The state of Janaabah refers to the post sexual-intercourse state of major ritual impurity experienced by whoever discharges(ejaculates) Manniy (semen) or engages in a sexual intercourse, and the Arabic word denotes the refrainment from prayer and certain worshipful acts until attaining ritual purity (by performing Ghusl).
When Marwaan ibn Al-Hakam, who was then the governor of Al-Madeenah,heard that, he made‘Abd Al-Rahman swear to tell this hadeeth to Aboo Hurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him) - for he used to give Fatwa (scholarly opinion) that whoever wakes upin a state of Janaabah in the morning, his fast on that day is not valid - because the wives of the Prophet ﷺwere the most knowledgeable in such matters. He added: “I urge you tosurprise Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)with it,” and this could also mean to rebuke him with it.Marawaan made ‘Abd Al-Rahmaanswear to inform Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) of that hadeeth to investigate the relevant ruling further, to know whether or not he (may Allah be pleased with him)knew of another abrogated text, or one that abrogated this ruling, or warranted specification of its general indication or its interpretation to a different effect.
‘Abd Al-Rahmaan ibnAl-Haarith disliked doing what Marwaan ibn Al-Hakam asked him to do, and later on met with Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)at the Miqaat of Dhul-Haleefah, theMiqaat of the people of Al-Madeenah who wish to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah.This place is currently known as Aabaar ‘Ali,a specified placeat the beginning of the route from Al-Madeenah to Makkah, about six miles (approximately 13 km) away from Al-Madeenah and two hundred miles (approximately 408 km) away from Makkah, and it is the farthest Miqaat from Makkah. Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) owned a plot of land there. ‘Abd Al-Rahmaan said to him, “I shall tell you something, and had not Marawaan urged me to do so, I would not have brought it up!” He then informed him of the statement the Mothers of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah and Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with them). Thereupon, Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) told him that Al-Fadhl ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) had reported to him that the Prophet ﷺ said that whoever wakes up in the morning of a fast day while being in a state of Janaabah, his fasting is invalid, but ‘Aa’ishah and Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with them) were more knowledgeable of such matters.A version of the hadeeth cited in Saheeh Muslim reads: “Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) ‘Have they said that?’ He (‘Abd Al-Rahmaan) replied: ‘Yes!’ Thereupon, Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) ‘They are more knowledgeable (of such matters)!’”
Clearly, they were more knowledgeable of such matters than Al-Fadhl (may Allah be pleased with them), and their statement in this regard is given precedence overothers, because they narrated it based on close observation of the Prophet’s private life, unlike others.
It is deduced fromm the hadeeth that Muslims should accept and embrace the truth and give up opinions that are proven wrong by means of sound argument and proof.
It is also inferred from it that it is permissible for scholars to visit therulers, discuss with them issues of knowledge, and obey them in what is permissible and good.
Finally, it is deduced that ifa religious ruling on a given matter is disputed, it should be referred to the ones who are most likelyknowledgeable of it.
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1927
‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
The Prophet ﷺ used to kiss and embrace (his wives) while he was fasting, and he had more power to control his sexual desires than any of you.”Narrated Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him): "The person who discharges (semen) after casting a look (on his wife) should complete his fast.".

Commentary :
The Prophet ﷺ made clear for us the permissible and impermissible acts for a fasting person by means of his sayings and actions, and the honorable Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) reported such sayings and actions to us.
In this hadeeth, the Mother of Believers ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, clarified to us the allowable acts of intimacy between spousesduring fasting. She (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Prophet ﷺ used to kiss and embrace (his wives) while he was fasting,” meaning kissing ortouching (skin-to-skin contact), without engaging in sexual intercourse, such asforeplay and embracing. He ﷺ used to do so in the obligatory and voluntary fasting. She (may Allah be pleased with her) added: “… and he had more power to control his sexual desires than any of you,” meaning that he ﷺ had the best self-control ability to curb his sexual desires from invalidating his fast. The Arabic word ‘Al-’Irab’ used in the hadeeth refers to the sexual need or body part. The Mother of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her)indicated by her saying: “… and he had more power to control his sexual desires than any of you,” that it is permissible to kiss and to engage in lesser acts of intimacy (without actually having sexual intercourse) for those who are able to control themselvesso that there is no fear of ejaculation or even having sex.
The hadeeth also highlights the good manners of the Prophet ﷺ and his kindness with his wives.
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1929
Zaynab(may Allah be pleased with her), the daughter of Umm Salamah, narrated that her mother said, "While I was (lying) with Allah's Messenger ﷺ underneath a woolen sheet, I got the menstrual bleeding, and then slipped away and put on the clothes (which I used to wear) in menses. He asked, "What is the matter? Did you get your menses?" I replied in the affirmative and then entered underneath that woolen sheet. I and Allah's Messenger ﷺ used to take a bath from one water pot and he used to kiss me while he was fasting.".

Commentary :
The Mothers of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with them), the wives of the Prophet ﷺ, reported to us manydetails of his private life with them. This has helped tofurther explain the laws of Islam and clarify for Muslims their religion.
In this hadeeth, the Mother of the Believers, Umm Salamah, Hind bint Aboo Umayyah(may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that while she was lying next to the Prophet ﷺ beneath a blanket or covering called ‘Al-Khameelah,’a black sheet made of wool or other fabric, she experienced the menstrual bleeding. Therefore, shegot up hurriedly anddiscreetly so thatno blood shouldreach the Prophet’s ﷺbody. It could also mean that she was disgusted to sleep next to him in such acondition. She (may Allah be pleased with her)took the clothes that she had prepared to wear during menstruation to put them on. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺnoticed and said to her: "What is the matter? Did you get your period?" She (may Allah be pleased with her) replied in the affirmative and then he ﷺ asked her to come back to bed next to him underneath that woolen sheet (Khameelah).
She (may Allah be pleased with her)also stated that she and the Prophet ﷺ used to take a bath from one water pot while both were in a state of Janaabah. They used to share the same water pot during Ghusl and he ﷺused to kiss her while he was fasting, for he ﷺhad more power in controlling his sexual desires, and kissing his wives would not result in engaging in sexual intercourse during daytime of Ramadan, as the Mother of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “… and he had more power to control his sexual desires than any of you.” It is deduced therefrom that it is allowable for a Muslim man to kiss and engage in Mubaasharah (i.e., lesser acts of intimacy like kissing, embracing, and skin-to-skin contact without engaging in sexual intercourse) with his wife during daytime inRamadan, provided that he has the power to control himself and abstain from any act of intimacy where there is fear of ejaculation or engaging in sexual intercourse.
It is also inferred from the hadeeth that it is preferable for a woman to wear special clothes for menstruation, other than her usual clothes.
The hadeeth also underlines the good manners of the Prophet ﷺ and his kindness with his wives..

1938
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him):The Prophet ﷺhad Hijaamah performed on him while he was in the state of lhraam (i.e., ritual state of consecration), and also while he was observing fasting..

Commentary :
Hijaamah (cupping therapy)is one of the ancient forms of alternative medicine used to remove bad blood from the body.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullahibn ‘Abbaas(may Allah be pleased with them) informed us that the Prophet ﷺhad Hijaamah performed on him while he was in a state of lhraam (ritual state of consecration), and also while he was fasting.
The apparent indication of the hadeeth is that it refers to two sperate occasions. The version of the hadeeth cited in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree reads: “The Prophet ﷺhad Hijaamah performed on his head while he was in a state of lhraam to cure migraine headaches. This took place in Lahy Jamal,a place between Makkah and Al-Madeenah, about seven miles (12 km) away from Al-Madeenah..

1940
Narrated Thaabit Al-Bunaanee:Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him)was asked whether they believed that undertaking Hijaamah therapyis disliked for a fasting person. He replied in the negative and said, "No [not for a religious reason], except for fear of weakness.".

Commentary :
Hijaamah (wet cupping therapy) is one of the ancient forms of alternative medicine used to remove bad blood from the body.
In this hadeeth,the Taab’iee Thaabit Al-Bunaaneeinforms us that Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked whether they believed that Hijaamah therapy was disliked for a fasting person during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) clarifiedthat it was held as non-prohibitivelydisliked(Makrooh Tanzeehan) rather than prohibitively disliked (Makrooh Tahreeman), because it may cause fatigue during fasting, possibly drainingthe fasting person and requiringhim to getnutrients into his body (i.e., break his fast).
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1942
‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):Hamzah ibn ‘Amr Al-Aslamee(may Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Allah's Messenger!I fast continuously."
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Commentary :
Islam commands Muslims to avail of their share of the worldly life, and not to neglect the right of Allah to be worshipped. Thus, it preaches harmonious balance between the life of the body and that of the heart. Some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them)used to abide by the original religious rulings rather than opting for concessionsgranted by the religion with the aim of drawing closer to Allah, without hindering their abilities to carry on with their normal everyday activities.
In this hadeeth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) stated that Hamzah ibn ‘Amr Al-Aslamee(may Allah be pleased with him) told the Prophet ﷺ he used to fast continuously, meaning to fast all year long,except for days when fasting is deemed forbidden such as the two days of ‘Eid andthe days of Tashreeq (i.e., the 11th 12th and 13th of Thoo al-Hijjah).
A version of the hadeeth in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim states that he (may Allah be pleased with him) said so to the Prophet ﷺ because hetravelled often and was asking about fasting while traveling. The Prophet ﷺ said: “You may fast if you wish or refrain from fastingif you wish!” As far as voluntary fasting while traveling is concerned, a person is given the choice to observe fasting or refrain from it. The prohibition of fasting continuously (all year long) has been reported in the Sunnah. It has been narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet ﷺ said to him: “There is no (reward for) fasting (for him) who fasts perpetually (all year long).” [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].
To reconcile between the two hadeeths,scholars have advised that the wisdom behind forbidding fasting perpetually (all year long) is that it drains a person and renders him unable to partake in Jihaad and fulfill the rights due on him. However, if someone has the physical strength to endure fasting all year long while fulfilling the rights due on him (and carry out his obligations), there is no harm in that..

1943
‘Aa’ishah(may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, said:“Hamzah ibn ‘Amr Al-Aslamee(may Allah be pleased with him)asked the Prophet ﷺ: "Should I fast while traveling?" The Prophet ﷺreplied, "You may fast if you wish, and you may not fast if you wish.”
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Commentary :
Travelling is a tortuous experience and it is usually accompanied by fatigue and hardship. Therefore, Allah, Exalted is He,has relieved travelersof certain religious duties and the Laws of Islamhas granted him legal concessions to eliminate such hardship. However, some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to abide by the original religious rulings rather than opting for legal concessions granted by the religion with the aim of drawing closer to Allah.
 In this hadeeth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) stated that Hamzah ibn ‘Amr Al-Aslamee(may Allah be pleased with him)asked the Prophet ﷺwhether or not he should fast while traveling. The Prophet ﷺ gave him the choice to fast or refrain from fasting while traveling. He ﷺ said: "You may fast if you wish, and you may not fast if you wish.”
Refrainment from fasting while traveling is a legal concession granted to the traveler, upon whom fasting is otherwise deemed obligatory. A traveler is given the choice between availing himself of this legal concession or abiding by the original ruling.
Hamzah ibn ‘Amr Al-Aslamee(may Allah be pleased with him)observed voluntary fasting often and it has been reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim that he even used to fast continuously, meaning all year long, except for days when fasting is deemed forbidden, such as the two days of ‘Eidand the days of Tashreeq (i.e., the 11th 12th and 13th of Thoo al-Hijjah).
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1945
Narrated Aboo Al-Dardaa’ (may Allah be pleased with him):We set out with Allah's Messengerﷺon one of his journeys on a very hot day, and it was so hot that one had to put his hand over his head because of the severity of heat. None of us was fasting except the Prophet ﷺand Ibn Rawaahah (may Allah be pleased with him).
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Commentary :
Traveling is not free of physical and psychological hardship, and therefore, Allah, Exalted is He, relieved travelersof certain religious duties, and the Laws of Islam grants legal concessions to eliminate such hardship. However, some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to abide by the original rulings rather than opting for legal concessions granted by the Laws of Islam whenever they were able to do so, with the aim of drawing closer to Allah.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Al-Dardaa’ (may Allah be pleased with him) related that they set off on a journey with the Prophet ﷺ on a very hot day during the month ofRamadan, as stated in the narration in Saheeh Muslim. It was so hot thatthe Companions had toput their hands over their heads because of the severity of the heat. None of them fasted on that day except for the Prophet ﷺ and‘Abdullahibn Rawaahah(may Allah be pleased with him).The rest of the Companions(may Allah be pleased with them) availed themselves of thelegal concession in this regard. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {…and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship.} [Quran 2:185].
It has been reported that the Prophet ﷺ refrained from fasting during some of his travels and criticized those who were fasting, as narrated in Saheeh Muslim on the authority of Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with them): “The Messenger of Allahﷺwent off to Makkah in Ramadan in the year of the Conquest, and they fasted until they arrived at Kuraa‘Al-Ghameem (i.e., a valley two stages from Makkah on the way to Al-Madeenah). He ﷺthen called for a cup of water which he raised until people looked at it, and then he drank. He ﷺwas told afterwards that some people had carried on with their fast (and had not broken it). Thereupon, heﷺ said, “Those are the disobedient ones; those are the disobedient ones.””
The reason the Prophet ﷺ described those people as ‘disobedient’ was that he ﷺ had commandedthem to break their fast and it was upon them to obey him. He ﷺ sometimes commanded Muslims verbally and sometimes tacitly by his actions.When he ﷺ broke his fast, this was a tacit command for themto avail themselves of the relevant legal concession so that they would gain strengthen forJihaad. Since these disobedient people refused to comply with his command, they fell into manifest error. They were described as ‘disobedient’ because in doing so they contravened the Laws of Islam..

300
Aisha said, "I would drink when I was menstruating then hand it (the vessel) to the Prophet ﷺ who would put his mouth where mine had been then drink. I would eat flesh from a bone when I was menstruating then hand it to the Prophet ﷺ who would put his mouth where mine had been.".

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) was the best and most merciful one to his family. In this hadith, Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, told us about the Prophet's manners with her while she was menstruating. When she drank and handed the vessel to him, he used to place his mouth and drink from the same place from where she was drinking. Similarly, when she ate flesh from a bone, he used to eat from the same place from where she was eating. All of these manners were to give her comfort, protect her from sadness during this difficult period, kindly deal with her, and confirm that it is Islamically allowable to mix with menstruating women. It was unlike what Jews and people of pre-Islamic ignorant times believed that they neither ate nor drank with her during her period. Finally, this Hadith confirms the Prophet's kindness to his wives, especially during menstruation, for women are in dire need of kindness at that time..

302
Anas narrated that the Jews, when a woman menstruated, used to leave eating and living with her. The companions asked the Prophet ﷺ about that, so Allah revealed, "They ask you concerning menstruation. Say, "That is a harm," therefore keep away from women during menses." to the end of the verse (Al-Baqarah: 222). As a result, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Do everything except sexual intercourse.” When the Jews were reported about that, they said, 'This man does not want to leave anything we do without opposing us in it.' Usaid ibn Hudair and ‘Abbad ibn Beshr came and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the Jews are saying such and such. Will we not have intercourse with them (i.e. during menstruation)?' The face of Allah's Messenger ﷺ changed so we thought he was angry with them. When they went out, they were met by a gift of milk which was being brought to the Prophet ﷺ. He asked for them and gave them a drink. Thereupon, they knew that he was not angry with them.".

Commentary : Islam honored women more than any other civilization or system. It granted her rights, status, and a respected opinion. In this hadith, Anas ibn Malik narrated that the Jews, who were living in Medina before the Prophet's advent, used to leave eating or living with menstruating women, believing that they were impure. The Companions asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about how to treat women during this period, so Allah revealed, "They ask you concerning menstruation. Say, 'That is a harm,' therefore keep away from women during menses and go not to them till they are purified. And when they have purified themselves, then go into them as Allah has ordained for you. Truly, Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves." (Al-Baqarah: 222) The meaning is a Muslim has to avoid intercourse with his wife during her menstruation period which is a harm. After her blood stopped and she performed a complete bathing, he was allowed to have intercourse with her in the way that Islam has permitted i.e. penetrating one's penis into her vagina, not her anus. At the end of the verse, Allah confirmed that he loved those who frequently repent and purify. Then, the Prophet (ﷺ) permitted them to do everything like kissing, embracing, etc. during this period except intercourse. Above all, a Muslim can live and eat with them during this period. In Sahih Muslim, Aisha said, "I would drink when I was menstruating then hand it (the vessel) to the Prophet (ﷺ) who would put his mouth where mine had been then drink. I would eat flesh from a bone when I was menstruating then hand it to the Prophet (ﷺ) who would put his mouth where mine had been." When the Jews knew about the Prophet's guidelines, they said, "This man does not want to leave anything we do without opposing us in it." Both the two companions, Usaid Ibn Hudair and 'Abbad ibn Beshr came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and informed him about the Jews' comment. Due to their anger with the Jews, they asked the Prophet (ﷺ) to oppose the Jews' habit and have intercourse with menstruating wives. Thereupon, the Prophet's face changed to the point that the attending companions thought he was angry with them both, for his teachings were to clarify Allah's laws in this case not to agree nor contradict any sect in Medina as they both thought. After they went out, he feared that they were sad about what happened. To remove any difficult feelings, he asked them to come back to drink the milk that he received as a gift. Therefore, they knew that he was not angry with them. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It clarifies the Prophet's forbearing and kindness to his companions, (2) It shows that the Prophet (ﷺ) is only angry when facing something that contradicts Allah's teachings, and (3) It confirms that all Islam's teachings are from Allah..

307
Abdullah ibn Qais, said, "I asked Aisha about how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to perform Witr prayer." He mentioned the hadith and said, "I asked her, 'What did he do after having sexual intercourse? Did he take a bath before going to sleep or did he sleep before taking a bath?' She said, 'He did all of these acts. He may have taken a bath then slept or performed ablution then slept.' I said, 'All praise is due to Allah Who has made things easy.'".

Commentary : In some acts of worship, the Prophet ﷺ used to perform them in various methods, as his guidance regarding the night prayer, witr prayer, and bathing after intercourse. All of his acts were a source of guidance for his nation. In this hadith, Abdullah ibn Qais informed that he asked Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, about how the Prophet ﷺ used to perform Witr prayer. His saying, “He mentioned the hadith” meant that he wanted to summarize the hadith and mention its other part showing the Prophet’s act after having intercourse at night. In Sunan Abu Daoud, Abdullah narrated the first part in which Aisha answered, “He may perform witr prayer at the beginning of the night or performed it at its end.” Abdullah asked, “What about his recitation? Did he recite in a loud or low voice?” She answered, “He used to do all of that. Sometimes he recited in a loud voice and sometimes in a low voice.” The Prophet ﷺ used to perform witr prayer in various ways. He performed it with three, five, seven, nine, and eleven rak’as. He may have recited the Quran during his night prayer in a low voice or a loud voice that those around him could hear. Additionally, Abdullah asked her about the Prophet’s bathing due to intercourse at night. She explained that the Prophet ﷺ may have taken a bath before sleeping or just performed ablution. Abdullah’s saying: “All praise is due to Allah Who has made things easy” may be a comment on all of her answers or her answer about the Prophet’s bath after intercourse. This hadith contains the following benefits: (1) Islam facilitated the rules of bathing due to intercourse, (2) It clarified the Muslim predecessors’ keenness to ask about the rules of Islam and follow the Prophet’s acts, deeds, and cases..

308
Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When any one of you has intercourse with his wife and wants to repeat it, he should perform ablution." In another narration, he added, "An ablution should be between these two acts.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) taught his nation the related matters to intercourse such as its permissible and prohibited acts and how to purify oneself afterward. In this hadith, he guided a husband who had intercourse with his wife to perform ablution if he wanted to do it again before bathing. It was reported in Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah that Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that ablution activated a person to have intercourse once again. Moreover, ablution reduces impurities by cleaning one's penis, which has some benefits: (1) From a medical perspective, it strengthens one's penis, (2) It enables the body to relieve before coming back again, and (3) It completes the pleasure by removing the couple's sperm attached to one’s penis, which may reduce pleasure. It was said that the mentioned ablution referred to only washing a man's penis as exaggerating cleanliness, for it was reported in Sunan Abu Daoud that Aisha (ﷺ) said, “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to sleep after having intercourse without touching water.” Some said that her saying, “without touching water” meant bathing which did not contradict ablution. It is possible that the Prophet’s command to perform ablution is, as mentioned, with the aim of seeking cleanliness and activity, for what was reported in Sahih Muslim that Aisha narrated, "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to have intercourse with his wives (one after another) with a single bathing." She did not mention that he performed ablution. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It is legitimate to perform ablution between two intercourses, whether it is with the same woman or another one, (2) It is not obligatory to perform bathing immediately after intercourse. It is obligatory when wanting to perform acts of worship like prayer which necessitates bathing, and (3) The legitimacy of frequent intercourse..

314
Aisha narrated that a woman asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), "Is it obligatory upon a woman to bathe if she has a wet dream and sees her semen?" He answered, "Yes." Aisha said to her, "May your hand be covered with dust and injured!" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Leave her alone. Is the resemblance due to something other than that?! If her semen prevails over her husband's, the kid resembles his maternal uncles and if his semen prevails over her semen, the kid resembles his paternal uncles.".

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) was a teacher for his nation. He used to teach it all the etiquette of intercourse and purity. In this hadith, Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, narrated that a woman (Umm Sulaim as Anas ibn Malek narrated in Sahih Muslim) asked the Prophet (ﷺ) if it was obligatory upon a woman to bathe if having a wet dream and seeing semen. He answered, “Yes.” He welcomed her question while Aisha expressed her refusal of that type of question. He saw that it was an important religious matter that a person had to inquire about. In Abu Daoud’s narration, he said, “Women are counterparts of men,” which meant that Islam addressed them with the same legislation as men. Out of his modesty, he implicitly indicated that both genders may have had a wet dream. He thought that the woman understood what he meant through his concise answer. He clarified that the kid resembled his maternal or paternal uncles based on which semen (father’s or mother’s) preceded the other, which was subject to Allah’s will. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It clarifies how the Prophet (ﷺ) took much care of teaching women the rules of Islam, and (2) It confirms that it is permissible for women to directly ask scholars..

315
Thawban, the servant of the Prophet ﷺ, said, “While I was standing beside the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, one of Jews’ rabbis came and said, ‘Peace be upon you, O Muhammad.’ I pushed him so strongly back that he was about to fall. He said, ‘Why did you push me?’ I said, ‘Why did you not say, ‘O Messenger of Allah?’ The Jew said, ‘We called him by the name his family named him.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said, ‘My name is Muhammad which my family named me.’ The Jew said, ‘I came to ask you (something).’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Will you benefit from something if I tell you about it?' He said, ‘I lend my ears to it.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ drew lines on the ground with a stick and said, ‘Ask.’ The Jew asked, ‘Where will people be on the Day when the earth changes into another earth and the heavens too?’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘They will be in darkness beside the Bridge.’ He asked, ‘Who will be the first to cross?’ The Prophet answered, ‘The poor immigrants.’ The Jew asked, ‘What will be their gift when they enter Paradise?’ The Prophet ﷺ answered, ‘The side part of a whale’s liver.’ The Jew asked, ‘What will be their food afterward?’ The Prophet ﷺ replied, ‘The Paradise’s bull which is eating from its different quarters will be slaughtered for them.’ The Jew asked, ‘What will be their drink?’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘They will drink from a well called Salsabil.’ The Jew said, ‘You have told the truth. I came to ask you about a thing none among the people on the earth knows except a prophet and one or two men.’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Will you benefit if I answer you?’ The Jew, ‘I lend my ears to it.’ The Jew resumed, ‘I came to ask you about the kid.’ The Prophet ﷺ answered, ‘A man’s sperm is white and a woman’s sperm is yellow. If they gather and the man’s sperm precedes the female's, it will be a male kid, Allah willing. If the woman’s sperm precedes the man's, it will be a female kid, Allah willing. The Jew said, ‘You have told the truth. Verily, you are a prophet.’ Then he left. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘He asked me about such and such things that I have had no knowledge till Allah gave me that.’”.

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ was a mercy to the worlds. He was a teacher, educator, and caller to Allah with wisdom and good preaching. In this hadith, his servant, Thawban, narrated that a Jewish rabbi came and greeted the Prophet ﷺ saying, “Peace be upon you, O Muhammad.” Thawban rejected his way of addressing the Prophet ﷺ by his name and neglecting his description of prophethood. Thawban pushed him so strongly that the Jew was about to fall. When the Jew asked Thawban about the reason for pushing him, Thawban wondered, “Why did you not say, O Messenger of Allah?” The Jew answered that he called the Prophet ﷺ by the name his family called him. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ approved his point of view. The name Muhammad means the frequently praised one who has all praised attributes. The Prophet ﷺ asked him if he wanted to ask to get benefits or aimed to challenge and argue. The Jew confirmed that he was keen to hear and judge the Prophet’s words. The Prophet ﷺ started to draw lines with a wooden stick on the ground, which was an Arab way during thinking. Then, the Prophet ﷺ allowed him to ask. The Jew asked about where the people would be on the day when the earth and the heavens would be altered. The Prophet ﷺ informed him that they would be in the darkness beside the bridge over Hell. In the Two Sahihs, Sahl ibn Sa’d narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “The people will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection on reddish white land like a pure loaf of bread where none has landmarks.” In addition, the Jew asked who would be the first to cross that bridge so the Prophet ﷺ answered that they would be his poor companions who immigrated from Mecca to Medina with their faith, left their family and properties, and supported him for Allah’s pleasing. The Jew asked about the gift they would get once getting to Paradise. The Prophet ﷺ clarified that it would be the side part of a whale’s liver which was the best of its parts. The Jew asked about their lunch (or food as in the other narration) so the Prophet ﷺ answered that it would be Paradise’s bull which was eating from its different quarters. This referred that it was a bull with unique characteristics that were not similar to other bulls or it was the only bull in Paradise. In the Two Sahihs, Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that the Jew asked the Prophet ﷺ, “Will I inform you of their food?” The Prophet answered him, “Yes.” The Jew answered, “Bull and whale. Seventy thousand people will eat from the side part of the whale’s liver.” They may be those seventy persons who will enter Paradise without reckoning so they will be preferred and given the best food. The mentioned number may have meant exaggeration not confining. When the Jew asked the Prophet ﷺ about their drink after eating that bull, he replied that they would drink from a well called Salsabil in Paradise as Allah Almighty said, “And they will be given to drink there of a cup (of wine) mixed with ginger. A spring there, called Salsabil.” (Al-Insan: 17, 18) It water is running so fast. Salsabil means that its water is sweet and easy to enter one’s throat. The Jew believed what the Prophet ﷺ told and added that he came to ask the Prophet ﷺ about something none among the people on the earth knew except a prophet and one or two men. It was a metaphor that only a few people knew it. It was known to a prophet or a few persons that a Prophet informed them about it. The Prophet ﷺ asked him if he wanted to benefit from him if he told him something. The Jew confirmed that he was keen to hear and judge the Prophet’s words. The Jew asked the Prophet ﷺ about how the embryo's gender was determined. The Prophet ﷺ answered that the man’s sperm was white and thick while that of the woman was yellow and thin. If they gathered in a woman’s womb and the man’s sperm preceded the female's, it would be a male kid, Allah willing. If the woman’s sperm preceded the man's, it would be a female kid, Allah willing. The Jew confirmed the Prophet’s truthfulness, for all he mentioned was consistent with what he learned from Torah. He also acknowledged the Prophet’s message but did not bear witness to it. This indicates that the mere acknowledgment without belief in Islam has no benefit, for the Prophet did not confirm that the Jew became Muslim. Once the Jew left, the Prophet ﷺ said that he did not know how to answer the Jew’s questions except after Allah informed him. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It contains some signs that confirm the Prophet’s message, for he told about some matters of the unseen world, (2) The high level of the Prophet’s morals, and (3) It clarifies the virtue of the poor immigrants who Allah will honor with preceding others in crossing the bridge..

323
Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to bath with the water left over by Maimuna (his wife)..

Commentary : Islam honored women and did not treat them like outcasts, as was the case in pre-Islamic times in which men neither mixed, ate, nor drank with women during menstruation or postpartum, believing their filthiness. In this hadith, Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to bathe from the water remaining after his wife Maimunah's bathing (Ibn Abbas's aunt) due to intercourse or menstruation as Ibn Majah's narration confirmed. The Prophet's wife used to scoop water with her hand, but the water was still pure as Imam An-Nasa'i narrated, "Some of the Prophet's wives had taken a bath due to intercourse then the Prophet (ﷺ) performed ablution from her remaining water. Afterward, she mentioned that to him, but he replied, “Water is not made impure by anything." He meant that water was pure, and a Muslim could use it as long as none of its characteristics changed..

325
Safina, the servant of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, narrated, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to take a bath with one sa' (four water handfuls) and performed ablution with one mudd (a handful of water)." In another narration, he said, "One mudd sufficed for his ablution.".

Commentary : Islamic law forbids extravagance and Allah warns those following this behavior. Extravagance is the excessive usage of anything. A Muslim should be economical even when using water in ablution or bathing. In this hadith, Safina, the companion and servant of the Prophet, confirmed that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to bathe, due to intercourse, with one sa' (eight water handfuls). Sa’ equals eight pounds. A pound in modern quantities is about 380 or 538 grams. It is a little less or more than a liter. Additionally, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform ablution with one mudd (two handfuls of water). This hadith shows the amount that sufficed him, not the amount that a person cannot exceed, for people vary in using water for ablution or bathing. Anyway, using water extravagantly is forbidden in Islam that commands its followers to preserve and wisely use water resources as needed..

326
Safina, the servant of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, narrated, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to take a bath with one sa' (four water handfuls) and performed ablution with one mudd (a handful of water)." In another narration, he said, "One mudd sufficed for his ablution.".

Commentary : Islamic law forbids extravagance and Allah warns those following this behavior. Extravagance is the excessive usage of anything. A Muslim should be economical even when using water in ablution or bathing. In this hadith, Safina, the companion and servant of the Prophet, confirmed that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to bathe, due to intercourse, with one sa' (eight water handfuls). Sa’ equals eight pounds. A pound in modern quantities is about 380 or 538 grams. It is a little less or more than a liter. Additionally, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform ablution with one mudd (two handfuls of water). This hadith shows the amount that sufficed him, not the amount that a person cannot exceed, for people vary in using water for ablution or bathing. Anyway, using water extravagantly is forbidden in Islam that commands its followers to preserve and wisely use water resources as needed..

330
Umm Salama narrated, "I said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I am a woman that braids my head. Should I undo it to take a bath after intercourse?’ He said, ‘No, it is sufficient that you only pour three handfuls of water on your head and then pour water over the rest of your body so you will be purified.'".

Commentary : The required bathing in Islam is to wash the entire body with water, as shown in the Prophetic tradition. In this hadith, Um Salama, the Mother of the Believers, narrated that she said to the Prophet (ﷺ) that she used to braid her head so is it required for her to undo it in case of taking a bath due to sexual intercourse. He answered her that it was sufficient that she poured three handfuls of water on her head and then poured water over the rest of her body. If she did that, she would become purified. In another narration, she asked, "Should I undo it to take a bath due to intercourse or menstruation?" This narration indicates that a woman does not need to undo her braids during bathing due to intercourse or menstruation. On the other hand, it was said that adding the word "menstruation" was not narrated by the most trustworthy narrators. Accordingly, the braids should be undone during bathing due to menstruation, not intercourse. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) A Muslim should ask about the religious rules that he does not know, (2) It clarifies how the female Companions were keen to learn the Islamic rules, especially those relating to menstruation, and (3) It explains how a woman takes a bath due to intercourse or menstruation..

331
Ubeid ibn Umeir narrated, "Aishah heard that Abdullah ibn Amr ordered women to undo their (plaits of) hair while bathing. She said, 'What a strange issue from Ibn 'Amr! He ordered women to undo their (plaits of) hair while bathing! Did he not command them to shave their hair? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and I used to bathe from a single vessel. I never poured more than three handfuls of water over my head.'".

Commentary : Facilitation is one of the noble virtues of Islamic law. This facilitation is obvious in various issues such as purification and ablution. In this hadith, Ubeid ibn Umeir Al-Laithy narrated that Aishah heard that Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al-Aas ordered women to undo their (plaits of) hair while bathing so water would reach all hair. He may have made it obligatory. When she heard that, she wondered and declined his opinion, for it was so difficult that they undo their plaits. So she mocked and added, "Did he not command them to shave their hair?" Her proof is that the Prophet (ﷺ) and she used to bathe from a single vessel. She never poured more than three handfuls of water over her head. Aisha is the most well-known one of these details. On the other hand, there is another related hadith in which Um Salama narrated, "I asked, ’O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I am a woman that braids my head. Should I undo it to take a bath after intercourse?’ He said, ‘No, it is sufficient that you only pour three handfuls of water on your head and then pour water over the rest of your body so you will be purified.'" This hadith confirms that a woman is not required to undo her plaits while bathing due to intercourse..

338
Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, "A man must not look at a man's private parts nor must a woman look at a woman's private parts. A man must not lie naked under one cover with another man nor must a woman lie naked under one cover with another woman.".

Commentary : Islam blocks all pretexts leading to committing sins and provides humanity with the noblest ideals and the right path to worldly life and the Hereafter. To achieve this goal, Islam commands lowering one’s gaze and forbids looking at private parts, which may lead to committing immoral acts. In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ prohibits a man from looking at another man's private parts and also prohibits a woman from looking at another woman's private parts. These teachings involve two commands: (1) Covering one's private parts, and (2) Lowering one’s gaze. Allah pardons the first unintentional glance which may aim to distinguish the way, for example. Islam prohibits us from looking at or touching people's private parts without a need. However, it is permissible to look and touch them if there is a legitimate need such as a medical check, provided that there is a need and without a lust. By the way, this prohibition is not applied to spouses during intercourse. As a rule, a man's private part is from his navel to his knees and a woman's private part is her entire body except her face and hands. On the other hand, the Prophet ﷺ prohibits a man from lying naked under one cover with another man or a woman lying naked under one cover with another woman, for this will lead to touching their private parts. Undoubtedly, touching them is more prohibited than looking at them, for it leads to greater dangers. This prohibition is specifically mentioned, for some people may think that when men meet each other or women meet each other, they are not commanded to lower their gaze or cover their private parts. One's private parts must be covered for every male or female person, except for some categories that Islam excludes..

341
Al-Meswar ibn Makhrama said, "While I was walking and carrying a heavy stone, both my light lower garment and the stone fell. I could not place the stone until I put it in its proper place. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, 'Return and wear your garment and do not walk naked.".

Commentary : Modesty is the manner of Islam. Allah prescribed for His servants what preserves their modesty and covers their private parts. In this hadith, Al-Meswar ibn Makhrama narrated that while he was carrying a heavy stone, his lower garment's tie loosed so his private parts were exposed. He was unable to place the stone and tie his garment because of its heavy weight. He continued to carry it until he placed it in its proper place. When the Prophet (ﷺ) saw that, he commanded him to go back and wear his garment to cover his private parts. The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "... and do not walk naked." This is a general Islamic rule. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) A Muslim has to cover his private parts, (2) It is forbidden for Muslims to be or walk naked in front of people except being naked in front of a woman's husband or man's wife..

342
Abdullah ibn Ga'far narrated, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ one day made me mount behind him and confided to me something secret which I would not disclose to anybody. The thing that the Prophet ﷺ most liked to conceal himself behind while relieving himself was a hillock or a stand of date palm trees.".

Commentary : Concealing one's private parts is one of the etiquette of relieving oneself so a Muslim is required to preserve them away from people's eyes. In this hadith, Abdullah ibn Ga'far narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) one day made him mount behind him and confided to him something secret. Ga’far was honest and would not disclose it to anybody. This indicated his perfect virtue and supreme status with the Prophet to the extent that he let him in on a secret. Afterward, Abdullah narrated, "The thing that the Prophet most liked to conceal himself behind while relieving himself was a hillock or a stand of date palm trees." It was the Arabs' custom that they relieved themselves in gardens but they later used bathrooms. Finally, this hadith confirms the importance of concealing all one's body while answering the call of nature..

343
Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated, "I went to Quba' with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on Monday. When we reached (the habitation) of Banu Salim, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood at the door of Itban and called him loudly. So he came out dragging his lower garment. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 'We made the man haste.' Itban said, 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), if a man leaves his wife suddenly (during intercourse) without ejaculation, what is he required to do?' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 'Washing oneself is obligatory due to ejaculation.'".

Commentary : Purity is the symbol of believers. The Prophet (ﷺ) was keen to teach his companions the matters of purification and they used to ask him about any inquiries they had. In this hadith, Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that he went out with the Prophet (ﷺ) on Monday to Quba’. It is a close village located south of Media on the way of coming caravans from Mecca. When they arrived at Banu Salem, a sect of Khazraj tribe, The Prophet (ﷺ) stood at the door of Itban bin Malik Al-Ansari and called him in a loud voice. As a result, Itban came out dragging his lower garment, which is a metaphor for his rapid response to the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) thought he made Itban haste. Itban asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the necessity of bathing if a man left his wife suddenly during intercourse without ejaculation. The Prophet (ﷺ) confirmed that bathing is only obligatory if a man ejaculates. This rule was applied at the beginning of Islam, then abrogated by the hadith reported in the Two Sahihs that Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When a man sits between her four parts (his wife) and has intercourse, bathing is compulsory." In Muslim’s narration, he said, "Even if he does not ejaculate.” So, bathing is obligatory for anyone who has intercourse with his wife, whether or not he ejaculates semen. It was the established rule during or after the Prophet's lifetime. Finally, this hadith confirms the legitimacy of loud calling a household to inform them of one's presence..