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Hadith
2237
Aboo Mas‘ood Al-Ansaaree(may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Allah's Messengerﷺ forbade availing oneself of the price of a dog, money earned by prostitution, and the earnings of a soothsayer.
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Commentary : Allah, Exalted is He, deemed lawful that which is good and ritually pure, and deemed unlawful that which is evil and ritually impure, with regards to food, beverages, earnings, trade, and so on. The Laws of Islam also urges Muslims to be gracious and deem themselves far above trivial and inferior aspirations.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Mas‘ood Al-Ansaaree(may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ forbade three things. First, the sale of dogs and availing oneself of the price. In fact, such earnings are declared unlawful, because it is prohibited to own and keep dogs, except those used for guarding livestock or crops. It was said that this is a general Laws of Islam ruling whether such a dogis trained for hunting or not, and whether or not it is allowable to keep such dog as per the laws of Islam. It was also said that guard and hunting dogs are excluded from this prohibition, because they are beneficial, as stated in the narration reported by Al-Daaraqutnee on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reading: “except for a hunting dog.” Another relevant narration reported by Al-Tirmithee reads: “Except for dogs meant for hunting.” This means that he ﷺ forbade the price of dogs except for the ones the keeping of which are deemed allowable as per the laws of Islam given their benefit. It is also possible that the prohibition of taking and availing oneself of the dog’s price was prescribed in the early days of Islam and was later abrogated, and it was deemed allowable to use dogs for hunting animals and sell dogs just like other hunting animals.
The second is the money earned by a prostitute in return for engaging in illicit sexual intercourse with non-Mahram men. The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Mahr’ because such money is paid in a similar context of the dower in the case of lawful marriage.
In the pre-Islamic era, people used to force their slave-girls into prostitution to earn money, but Islam renounced this practice. Allah, Exalted is He, Says (what means): {And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, Allah is [to them], after their compulsion, Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 24:33].
The third category is the earnings of a soothsayer in return for their prediction of the unseen.
A soothsayer refers to the one who claims to know the unseen, and informs people of his claims about unseen beings and future events. The reference here incorporates all those who claim such knowledge (to foresee the future), including astrologers, soothsayers who throw stones, and the like. The Arabic word used for the fees paid to a soothsayer is ‘Hulwaan’ literally denoting something sweet, because such money is taken for no real service rendered..

2239
Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: Allah's Messengerﷺ came to Al-Madeenah and people used to pay in advance the price of fruits to be delivered within one or two years. (The sub-narrator doubted whether it was one to two years or two to three years.) The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever pays money in advance for dates (to be delivered later) should pay it for known specified weight and measure (of dates)”.
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Commentary : Al-Salaf or Salam transaction (i.e., a sale of payment in advance) refers to a sale transaction whereby a buyer purchases a clearly defined item to be delivered in a fixed future date and pays its price in advance, in the contracting session.
In this hadeeth, ‘AbdullahIbn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them)stated that when the Prophet ﷺ migrated to Al-Madeenah, he ﷺ found the Ansaar conducting Salaf transactions - also called Salam, because it stipulates immediate payment of the specified price in the contracting session. They used to sell crops to be delivered within one, two, or three years, for an immediate payment paid in the contracting session. The Prophet ﷺ approved such transactions, yet set certain conditions for their validity. He ﷺ said that when someone buys crops: dates, wheat, or barley for example, to be delivered after one or two years for an immediate payment made in the contracting session, the purchased commodity must be clearly defined and specified. This means that the commodity must be of a specified weight and measure, and the delivery date must be fixed, e.g., a year or two, rather than an unspecified future time, to avoid potential Gharar (i.e., risk and uncertainty) and ambiguity that could occur in such sale transactions, and to eliminate potential disputes and conflicts.
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2244
Muhammad ibn Al-Mijaalid narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn Shaddad and Aboo Burdah sent me to ‘Abdullah ibn Abee Awfaa (may Allah be pleased with them) and told me to ask ‘Abdullah whether the people in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ used to pay in advance for wheat (to be delivered in a future time). ‘Abdullah replied, "We used to pay in advance to the peasants of Shaam for wheat, barley and olive oil of a known specified measure to be delivered in a specified future time." I asked (him), "Was the price paid (in advance) to those who had the sold items to be delivered later?" ‘Abdullah ibn Awfaa replied, "We did not use to ask them about that." Then they sent me to ‘Abdul- Rahmaan ibn Abzaa and I asked him. He replied, "The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) of the Prophet ﷺ used to conduct Salam transactions during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ; and we did not ask them whether or not they had standing crops."
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Commentary : Al-Salaf or Salam transaction (i.e., a sale of payment in advance) refers to a sale transaction whereby a buyer purchases a clearly defined item to be delivered later,on a fixed future date, and pays its price in advance, in the contracting session.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions)Muhammad ibn Al-Mijaalid narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn Shaddad ibn Al-Haad and Aboo Burdah ibn Abee Moosaa Al-Ash‘ari differed about whether or not the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to pay in advance for wheat to be delivered at a future time during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, as narrated in the version complied in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree. They sent him to ‘Abdullah ibn Abee Awfaa (may Allah be pleased with them) to ask him about it, and he (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “We used to pay in advance to the peasants of Shaam for wheat, barley and olive oil of a known specified measure to be delivered at a specified future time.” The version of the hadeeth recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree reads, “… some Nabateans from those of Syria used to come to us.” The Nabateans were Arabs who mixed with non-Arabs and Romans, and this corrupted their language and lineage. Those of them who mixed with the non-Arabs settled in Al-Bataa’ih between Basrah and Kufa, and those who mixed with the Romans settled in the valleys of Shaam (Greater Syria or Levant) and were called: Al-Nabat, Al-Nabeet, and the Nabataeans. They were given these names because they were known for groundwater extraction as they worked in agriculture. They used to buy from them wheat, barley, oil - and in another version of the hadeeth: ‘and raisins’ - of known specified measures to be delivered at a specified future time. This means that they would buy these crops for an immediate payment, and specify their measure and future delivery date. Ibn Abee Al-Milaaid asked him: “Was the price paid (in advance) to those who had the sold items to be delivered later?” He asked him whether or not the Salam transaction is valid if the seller does not grow wheat or grapes to begin with, and ‘Abdullah ibn Awfaa replied, “We did not use to ask them about that.”
Then ‘Abdullah ibn Shaddad and Aboo Burdah (may Allah be pleased with them) sent Ibn Abee Al-Milaaid to ‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn Abzaa (may Allah be pleased with him) and he asked him about it, and he replied, "The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) of the Prophet ﷺ used to conduct Salam transactions during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ; and we did not use to ask them whether they had standing crops or not." This means that they did not ask them whether or not they grew such crops. This fosters ease and facilitation (preached by the Laws of Islam), and to opt for leniency regarding the matters that were pardoned as per the laws of Islam.
The hadeeth also highlights that Muslims are urged to consult the people of knowledge about disagreements and disputes (regarding religious matters).
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2246
Aboo Al-Bakhtaree At-Taa’ee said: I asked Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) about the Salam transaction for (the fruits of) date-palms. He (may Allah be pleased with him) replied "The Prophet ﷺ forbade the sale of unpicked dates till they became (ripe and) ready for consumption and could be weighed." A man asked what to be weighed (as the dates were still on the trees). Another man sitting beside Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) replied, "Till they are cut and stored." Aboo Al-Bakhtari said: I heard Ibn ‘Abbaas (saying) that the Prophet ﷺforbade ... etc. as above.
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Commentary : Any sale in which the sold item cannot be delivered, or its measure or weight is unspecified, is invalid as per the laws of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ forbade some forms of sales that fit this profile, including the one mentioned in this hadeeth.
The Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions)Aboo Al-Bakhtari At-Taa’ee narrated that he asked ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) about the Salam transaction for dates. Salam transaction (i.e., a sale of payment in advance) refers to a sales transaction whereby a buyer purchases a clearly defined item to be delivered at a fixed future date, and pays its price in advance, in the contracting session. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) replied "The Prophet ﷺ forbade the sale of unpicked dates till they became (ripe and) ready for consumption,” meaning that dates may not be sold except after they become ripe and edible, “and could be weighed.” A man asked what was to be weighed (as the dates were still on the trees). It is not possible to know the measure of unpicked dates!  Another man sitting beside Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) replied, “(It rather means) Till they are cut and stored.” Another version of the hadeeth reads: “… after their measure/weight is estimated,” meaning without plucking them. This helps with regard to knowing the amount of the due Zakaah payable to the poor before the owner disposes of the dates, and knowing the quantity that will be sold, so that there should be no ambiguity of the sold item, nor Gharra (i.e., risk and uncertainty) regarding its value. The one who estimates the measure/weight of the fruits on the trees is called Khaaris (estimator).
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2258
 ‘Amr ibn Al-Shareed said:
While I was standing with Sa‘d ibn Abee Waqqaas, Al-Miswaar ibn Makhramah (may Allah be pleased with them) came and put his hand on my shoulder. Meanwhile Aboo Raafi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him), the freed slave of the Prophet ﷺ came and asked Sa‘d to buy from him the (two) dwellings which were in his house. Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "By Allah I will not buy them." Al-Miswaar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "By Allah, you shall buy them." Sa‘d replied, "By Allah, I will not pay more than four thousand (Dirhams) in installment!" Aboo Raafi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I have been offered five hundred Dinars (for it) and had I not heard the Prophet ﷺ saying, 'The neighbor has more right (i.e., preemption) than anyone else because of his nearness,’ I would not have sold them to you for four-thousand (Dirhams) while I am offered five-hundred Dinars (i.e., one Dinar equals ten Dirhams) for them.” So, he sold it to Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him)..

Commentary : The Laws of Islam delineated the provisions regulating sales transactions in general, and of those involving one’s neighbors in particular. It clarified the provisions regarding the right of pre-emption (when selling property) to one’s neighbors because they have more right to buy neighboring property.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions) ‘Amr ibn Al-Shareed stated that he stood with Sa‘d ibn Abee Waqqaas once when Al-Miswaar ibn Makhramah (may Allah be pleased with them) came and put his hand on his shoulder, indicating their mutual affection and love. Meanwhile Aboo Raafi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him), the freed slave of the Prophet ﷺ, came and asked Sa‘d to buy from him the (two) dwellings which were in his house, because Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) had the right of Shuf‘ah (pre-emption), but he said, "By Allah I will not buy them." He (may Allah be pleased with him) swore not to buy them, but Al-Miswaar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “By Allah, you shall buy them.” Sa‘d said that he would not pay more than four thousand (Dirhams) in installments. The Arabic word used in the hadeeth - Munajjamah or Muqata‘ah, meaning “in installments,” - was doubted by one of the narrators, and the intended meaning is that such payments would be made at specified times. Aboo Raafi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) told him that he was offered five hundred Dinars for the dwellings, and this means that the price offered by Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) was one thousand Dirhams (silver) or one hundred Dinars (gold) less than the other offer. Aboo Raafi‘ asked him, “How would I sell it to you for four thousand Dirhams, and I turned down an offer to sell it for five thousand Dirhams?!”
However, he sold it to Sa‘d for the lower price and stated that he did so in compliance with the Prophet’s command, as he ﷺ said: ‘A neighbor has more right (of pre-emption) than anyone else to property that is near his.’ The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Saqb’ meaning physical proximity or nearness. A co-owner may be referred to as a ‘neighbor’ because he may co-own the joint property and live therein. This establishes his right of pre-emption, to buy the neighboring property that is near his. He (may Allah be pleased with him) explained that had it not been for the right of pre-emption, he would not have sold it to him for four-thousand (Dirhams) in installments while he had been offered five-hundred Dinars for them.
The hadeeth highlights the Companions’ keenness to comply with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and act upon his commands, and their willingness to incur financial loss for the sake of such compliance.
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2259
‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
I said, “O Allah's Messengerﷺ! I have two neighbors and would like to know to whom of them I should give presents.” He ﷺ replied, "To the one whose door is nearer to yours."
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Commentary : Allah, Exalted is He, urged Muslims to show kindness to their neighbors; He Says (what means): {… the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side.} [Quran 4:36]. Moreover, the Prophet ﷺ also commanded Muslims to honor the rights of their neighbors, and warned against harming them and infringing on their rights. The closer a neighbor is, the greater his rights are.
In this hadeeth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) stated that she asked the Prophet ﷺ, “I have two neighbors and would like to know to whom of them I should give presents.” He ﷺ replied, “To the one whose door is nearer to yours.” This is because the closer neighbors have greater rights, and deserve generosity and kindness more than those farther away from, for he sees what comes in and out of his house, and would naturally aspire to a share of such benefits. Moreover, the closer neighbors would respond faster to his call for help when he seeks it. Therefore, he should give the greatest share of his kindness and generosity to the closer neighbors whose doors are next to his, even if their houses are not the nearest.
This is meant for arranging one’s priorities when fulfilling neighbors’ rights, especially if one could not afford to offer gifts to all his neighbors.
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2263
‘Narrated Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
The Prophet ﷺ and Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) employed a (pagan) man from the tribe of Banee Al-Deel and the tribe of Banee ‘Abd ibn ‘Adiy as a guide. He was an expert guide and he had made a covenant with the tribe of Al-‘Aasi ibn Waa’il and adhered to the religion of Quraysh pagans. The Prophet ﷺ and Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) had confidence in him and gave him their riding camels and told him to bring them to the Cave of Thawr after three days. So, he brought them their two riding camels after three days and both of them (The Prophet ﷺ and Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) set out accompanied by ‘Aamir ibn Fuhayrah and the guide from Al-Deel tribe who guided them below Makkah along the road leading to the sea-shore.
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Commentary :
Despite the many reprehensible qualities and habits associated with pre-Islamic society in Arabia, it was also characterized by many benign traits that were later on approved by Islam, the most important of which were chivalry and fulfillment of covenants. These two good qualities were infused in the moral characters of Arabs.
This hadeeth highlights the situation of an Arab disbeliever named ‘Abdullah ibn Urayqit, reflecting these qualities. ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) stated that when the Prophet ﷺ and Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) decided to emigrate to Al-Madeenah, they hired a man from Banee Al-Deel, who belonged to Banee ‘Abd ibn ‘Adiy, named ‘Abdullah ibn Urayqit as their guide, for he was an expert guide who was well-acquainted with the hidden paths and narrow passageways, and knew his way around the desert. ‘Abdullah ibn Urayqit had made a covenant with Banee Al-‘Aas ibn Waa’il. The Arabic verb used in the hadeeth is ‘Ghamsa’ meaning to dip one’s hand into blood or similar liquids, as Arabs customarily did to affirm their commitment to covenants and alliances. The Prophet ﷺ and Aboo Bakr Al-Siddeeq (may Allah be pleased with him) entrusted Ibn Urayqit, as they knew of his chivalry and discretion. Therefore, they placed their confidence in him and trusted him with their secret migration out of Makkah, and the two she-camels they gave him to bring along when they agreed to meet three nights later in the cave of Thawr, a mountain at the (southern) end of Makkah. Ibn Urayqit honored his commitment and covenant with them and brought them the two she-camels at that agreed-upon time in Thawr Cave. Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ, Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), ‘Aamir ibn Fuhayrah, and their guide Ibn Urayqit set off on their journey. They walked down a route from the end of Makkah all the way to Al-Madeenah, along theRed Sea coast.
‘Aamir ibn Fuhayrah was the freed slave of Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) who shepherded sheep, and he would take the sheep in the evening and go to them in the cave to give them milk; he did this for three nights.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is allowable to hire a non-Muslim worker. It is also inferred that it is allowable for two people to hire one worker to perform one task for both of them.
It is also deduced therefrom that it is allowable to hire a worker to perform a task after a specified period of time, and that the contract concluded before the commencement of the work is valid.
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2271
Aboo Moosaa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "The example of Muslims, Jews, and Christians is like the example of a man who employed laborers to work for him from morning till night for specific wages. They worked till midday and then said, 'We do not need your money which you have fixed for us and let whatever we have done be annulled.' The man said to them, 'Do not quit the work, but complete the rest of it and take your full wages,' but they refused and went away. The man employed another batch after them and said to them, 'Complete the rest of the day and yours will be the wages I had fixed for the first batch.' So, they worked till the time of ‘Asr prayer. Then they said, "Let what we have done be annulled and keep the wages you promised us for yourself.' The man said to them, 'Complete the rest of the work, as only a little part of the day remains,' but they refused. Thereafter he employed another batch to work for the rest of the day and they worked for the rest of the day till the sunset, and they received the wages of the two former batches. So, that was the example of those people (Muslims) and the example of this light (guidance) which they have accepted willingly.”
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Commentary : Allah, Exalted is He, sent Muhammad ﷺ as the last of all the Prophets, rendered his message (i.e., Islam) the concluding divine message, and commanded all humankind to follow him. Therefore, it is incumbent on all people, including the Jews and Christians, to follow the religion of Islam. Alas, most of the Jews and Christians refused to follow it, disbelieved in what was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ, and rather adhered to their distorted books. In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ gave a similitude of the situation of Muslims, Jews and Christians. He ﷺ likened their situation to a man who had hired some people to do some work for him till the night, and promised them specified wages. They worked till midday, refused to complete their work, and then said to the employer, 'We do not need your money which you have fixed for us, and let whatever we have done be annulled.' Meaning that they annulled their agreement and would not ask him for any payment. The man said to them, 'Do not quit the work; complete the rest of it and take your full wages,' but they refused. These people symbolized the Jews, and this indicates that they had disbelieved, turned away from the truth, and Allah, Exalted is He, has turned them down. It also indicates that their good deeds were rendered void and worthless when they disbelieved in Prophet ‘Eesaa (Jesus) and distorted the divine law revealed to them; they were denied their full rewards due to their defiant refrainment from completing their duties and for not honoring their commitment.
The man employed another batch to complete the task and said to them, 'Complete the rest of (the work till the end of) the day and yours will be the wages I had fixed for the first batch.' They worked till the time of ‘Asr prayer, and then did as the previous group did! These people symbolized the Christians. Thereafter he employed another batch to work for the rest of the day, and they completed the work till the sunset, and received the wages of the two former batches. They (symbolizing Muslims) deserved the wages (rewards) of the two previous batches due to their belief in the three Prophets Muhammad, Moosaa, and ‘Eesaa ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The example of those people (Muslims) and the example of this light (guidance) which they have accepted willingly,” meaning that this is the similitude of Muslims, Jews, and Christians in accepting Islam, and following the light of (the divine) guidance. Since Muslims acknowledged the truth with which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was sent and adhered to it unto the Day of Resurrection, they deserved the rewards of the believers who would have adhered to the truth since the beginning of time till its end, because they completed the task for the rest of the appointed time, devoting worship exclusively to Allah, Exalted is He, like what the third batch of workers did when they completed the work for which the first batch (Jews) were originally hired.
The hadeeth highlights the special honor and divine bestowal conferred upon Muslims and that they are promised abundant rewards for their few good deeds.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that a person's deeds are judged according to the concluding and final ones.
It is also inferred therefrom that it is permissible to give examples and similitudes for education and amplification purposes..

2272
‘AbdullahNarrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
I heard Allah's Messenger ﷺ saying, "Three men from the previous nations set out on a journey together till they reached a cave at night and entered it. A big rock rolled down the mountain and blocked the mouth of the cave. They said (to each other), ‘Nothing could save you from this rock but to invoke Allah, Exalted is He, by virtue of your righteous deed which you have done (and devoted exclusively to Him).' So, one of them said, 'O Allah! I had old parents and I never served milk to my own dependents before them. One day, I happened to be delayed and came late (at night) while they had slept. I milked the sheep for them and took the milk to them, but found them sleeping. I disliked to serve my family the milk before them. Therefore, I waited for them holding the bowl of milk in my hand, and kept on waiting for them to get up till the day dawned. Then they got up and drank the milk. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us of our calamity caused by this rock.' So, the rock shifted a little but they could not get out." The Prophet ﷺ added, "The second man said, 'O Allah! I had a cousin who was the most beloved of all people to me and I wanted to have an illicit sexual intercourse with her but she refused. Later on, she had a hard time during a year of famine and came to me (for help). I gave her one hundred and twenty Dinars on the condition that she would not resist my desire (i.e., agree to have intercourse with me), and she complied. When I was about to approach her, she said: It is unlawful to deflower me except rightfully (i.e., by marriage). So, I refrained from committing that sin (of Fornication) and left her though she was the most beloved of all the people to me. I also left the gold I had given her. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us of our present calamity.' So, the rock shifted a little more but still they could not get out from there." The Prophet ﷺ added, "Then the third man said, 'O Allah! I employed few laborers and I paid them their wages with the exception of one man who did not take his wages and went away. I invested his wages and earned a great wealth thereby. (Then after some time) he came back and said to me: O Allah's slave! Pay me my wages. I said to him: All the camels, cows, sheep, and slaves you see, are yours. He said: O Allah's slave! Do not mock me. I said: I am not mocking you. So, he took all the herd and drove them away and left nothing. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us of our suffering.' So, that rock shifted completely and they got out walking.”
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Commentary :
Imploring Allah, Exalted is He, by virtue of one’s good deeds that were devoted exclusively to Him is a way to have all one’s distress and calamities relieved.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ related that three men, who belonged to the previous nations, set out on a journey. The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Raht’ which literally means a group of men whose number is below ten. They sought shelter in a cave to spend their night. The version recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim stated that they entered it because of the rain. A big rock rolled down the mountain and blocked the mouth of the cave, and they were trapped inside. They said (to each other), ‘Nothing could save you from this rock but to invoke Allah, Exalted is He, by virtue of a righteous deed that you have done (and devoted exclusively to Him),' to ensure that your supplications would be most likely answered and the rock would be moved.
“One of them said, 'O Allah! I had old parents and I never served milk to my own dependents before them,’ meaning he never served the milk at night to anyone else before them, not even his own family, and this indicated his dutifulness towards them, putting them before his own family and children. He added that he came back once late due to some needs to find his parents asleep. He prepared the milk that they usually drank before going to bed, but when he went home, he found them asleep; he disliked breaking his habit of serving them the milk first. Therefore, he did not drink milk that night nor did he serve it to his family. He said: ‘I waited for them holding the bowl of milk in my hand, and I kept on waiting for them to get up till the day dawned,’ he did not wake them up and chose to stay up all night until they woke up on their own. He said: “O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, I implore you to relieve us of our calamity caused by this rock,’ and grant us a way out of this cave. The Prophet ﷺ stated that the rock shifted a little but they could not get out.
The second man said, 'O Allah! I had a cousin who was the most beloved of all people to me and I wanted to have illicit sexual intercourse with her but she refused. Later on, she had a hard time during a year of famine and came to me (for help). I gave her one hundred and twenty Dinars on the condition that she would not resist my desire (i.e., agree to have intercourse with me), and she complied. When I was about to approach her, she said: ‘O Servant of Allah! Fear Allah,’ as recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim. In this version, she said: ‘It is unlawful to deflower me except rightfully (by marriage),’ reminding him of Allah, Exalted is He, and urging him to fear Him. She asked him to keep away from her and not to have illicit intercourse with her and deflower her without marriage that Allah has deemed lawful. Thereupon, he did not touch her as she reminded him of the right of Allah. The man said: “So, I refrained from committing that sin (of Fornication) and left her though she was the most beloved of all the people to me,” and this indicated that his deep love for her would most likely drive him to have intercourse with her, yet he refrained from falling into this sin and left the money he had given her. He added: “O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, I implore you to relieve us of our present calamity.' The Prophet ﷺ stated that the rock shifted a little more but still they could not get out from there.
The Prophet ﷺ added, "Then the third man said, 'O Allah! I employed a few laborers and I paid them their wages with the exception of one man who did not take his wages and went away. I invested his wages,’ meaning in trade, ‘and I earned great wealth thereby. (Then after some time) he came and,asked for his wages. He said to him: ‘All the camels, cows, sheep and slaves you see, are yours. He (the hired worker) said: ‘O Allah's slave! Do not mock me,’ as he could not believe that his wages would have generated such great wealth. The employer said: ‘I am not mocking you.’ The hired worker took all the wealth and drove them away and left nothing, and this indicates that the employer did not covet any of his wealth, and did not even aspire to a reward or compensation for investing his wages on his behalf. He said: “O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, I implore you to relieve us of this suffering.' Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ stated that rock shifted completely and they got out walking.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is permissible to implore Allah, The Exalted, by virtue of one’s good deeds.
It also highlights the virtue of sincerity and devoting one’s intentions and deeds exclusively to Allah, Exalted is He.
It also underlines the merits of showing dutifulness towards the parents, and the virtues of giving preference to them over all one’s family members and relatives.
It also underscores the virtue of abstaining from prohibitions, of mindfulness of Allah, Exalted is He, and of fearing Him.
It also urges Muslims to do good to others without aspiring to a reward from them, and to beware of greed..

2274
Taawoos narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) said, "The Prophet ﷺ forbade the meeting of trading caravans (on the way) and ordained that no townsman is permitted to sell things on behalf of a Bedouin." I asked Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them), "What is the meaning of his saying, 'No townsman is permitted to sell things on behalf of a Bedouin.' He (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "He should not work as a broker for him.”
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Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ forbade transactions that incur harm on people. Since human beings are infused with an inclination to love what benefits them and do what best serves their personal interests, even if it harms others, the Laws of Islamprovisions were prescribed to restrain the evil-enjoining self. One such provision that was prescribed to restrain and curb human greed is what the Prophet ﷺ prohibited in this hadeeth. He ﷺ forbade going out to meet the trading caravans (on their way) before they reach the marketplaces to buy their goods and then resell them for a higher price, taking advantage of the traders’ ignorance of their market values and prices or the buyer's needs. This incurs harm on the seller, because he may sell the goods for less than their market prices in this town, which may harm its people, because this buyer may monopolize such goods, controlling their price and increasing them as he wishes.
He ﷺ also forbade a townsman from selling goods on behalf of a Bedouin. This means that a Bedouin may not appoint a townsman to sell his goods on his behalf in any given village or town for higher prices, acting as a broker and mediator in the sales transaction. The wisdom behind the prohibition in this regard is that it best serves people’s interests; a townsman may sell the commodity for a higher price, but if the Bedouin sells his own goods, he may sell it for a lower price, and this would be more beneficial for people. Moreover, a townsman may harm the interests of the Bedouin, i.e., principal, and be a reason for imperiling him to deceit.
The hadeeth highlights the Prophet’s keenness to preserve the best interests of Muslims and his kindness towards them, even with regard to their worldly affairs.
It is also deduced from the hadeeth that a ruler guides people (to what is lawful and unlawful) with regard to their business and sales transactions..

2276

Aboo Sa’eed(may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that some Companions of the Prophet ﷺwent on a journey till they reached some of the Arab tribes (at night). They asked the latter to receive them as their guests but they refused. The chief of that tribe was then bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and they tried their best to cure him but in vain. Some of them said (to the others), "Nothing has benefited him, will you go to those people who stayed here that night; one of them might possess something (as treatment)." They went to the Companions(may Allah be pleased with them) and said, "Our chief has been bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and we have tried everything but he has not benefited. Have you got anything (useful)?" One of them replied, "Yes, by Allah! I can recite a Ruqyah (i.e., Quranic healing), but as you have refused to accept us as your guests, I will not recite the Ruqyah for you unless you pay us wages for it." They agreed to pay them a flock of sheep. One of them then went and recited (Surat Al-Faatihah): 'Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds,' and puffed over the chief who became all right as if he was released from a chain; he got up and started walking, showing no signs of sickness! They paid them what they agreed to pay. Some of them (i.e., the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them)) then suggested to divide their earnings among themselves, but the one who performed the recitation said, "Do not divide them till we go to the Prophet ﷺ and narrate the whole story to him, and wait for his command." So, they went to Allah's Messenger ﷺ and narrated the story. He ﷺasked, “How did you know that Soorat Al-Faatihah is recited as Ruqyah?” Then he ﷺ added, "You have done the right thing. Divide (what you have earned) and assign a share for me as well." The Prophet ﷺ smiled thereupon.
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Commentary :
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with him) keenly sought the opinion of the Prophet ﷺ on every new matter concerning their personal affairs, even if it seemed a righteous deed; they still demanded his consent or disapproval (prohibition).
In this hadeeth, Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudhree (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that he went on a journey with a group of Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). They passed by a tribe, and asked them for the usual hospitality as their guests, but they refrained. As these Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were in their place of residence, the chief of the tribe was stung by a scorpion and was poisoned. The pain intensified, and they tried their best to cure him but in vain.Some of them said (to the others), "Nothing has benefited him, will you go to those people who stayed here,” meaning the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Raht’ which is used to refer to a group of men below ten, and it was also said that it refers to a group of men below forty. They added, “…one of them might possess something (as treatment).” One of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) informed them that he would cure him by means of Ruqyah (i.e., Quranic healing), provided that they paid them fees, because they had refused to welcome them as their guests and show them the usual hospitality. They agreed to pay him a flock of sheep in return for curing their chief. The version recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree read: “… thirty sheep.” He then went and recited (Soorat Al-Faatihah): “Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds” and puffed over the chief; Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) added that he, “became all right as if he was released from a chain,” meaning that his pain ended immediately as if he was released from a chain; “he got up and started walking, showing no signs of sickness.” The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Qalabah’ meaning illness, and the word literally denotes turning something upside down. It is given this name because a patient may beasked to lie on his back during the medical examination. They paid them the agreed-upon fee, and some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) then suggested to divide their earnings among themselves, but the one who recited the Ruqyah, i.e., Aboo Sa’eed(may Allah be pleased with him), as stated in Musnad Ahmad, forbade them until they went to the Prophet ﷺ, related the whole story to him, and waited for his command. They went to Allah's Messenger ﷺ and narrated the story, and he ﷺasked Aboo Sa’eed(may Allah be pleased with him), “How did you know that Soorat Al-Faatihah is recited as Ruqyah (and a cure for illness)?” As recorded in Musnad Ahamd, Aboo Sa’eed(may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “It was inspired into my heart,” meaning that it was an insight and inspiration from Allah, Exalted is He, and he (may Allah be pleased with him) acted according to it, and this was a blessing from Him. Then he ﷺ added, "You have done the right thing,” by acting upon such insight and inspiration and reciting the Ruqyah to save this stung man, such that you were made the reason for his recovery. He ﷺ commanded them to divide those sheep among themselves and assign him a share as well, to comfort them so that they would be reassured regarding the lawfulness of such earnings.
It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is permissible to recite Ruqyah from the Quran and that Soorat Al-Faatihah is a cure for illness, and this is why one of its names is Al-Shifaa’, meaning ‘recovery or cure’.
It is also inferred from the hadeeth that although the whole Quran is a source of blessing, yet certain chapters are recited as Ruqyah.
It is deduced therefrom that it is permissible to take fees in return for reciting Ruqyah.
The Hadeeth also highlights the Companions’ mindfulness of Allah, Exalted is He, and keenness on consulting the Prophet ﷺ before availing themselves of any earnings to inquire about the relevant Laws of Islam ruling..

2280
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Prophet ﷺused to have Hijaamah performed on him and would never withhold the fees of any person.
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Commentary :
Hijaamah is a form of alternative medicine used to remove bad blood from the body. 
In this hadeeth, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that the Prophet ﷺ used to have Hijaamah performed on him. His saying, “would never withhold the fees of any person,” means that he ﷺpaid fees to the Hijaamah therapist. He ﷺ would never wrong others nor withhold the fees of any person. Rather, he ﷺ was the keenest on fulfilling people’s rights. The reference to the Prophet’s payment of such fees aims to refute the opinion suggesting that the earnings of the Hijaamah therapist are declared unlawfulas per the laws of Islam..

2283

It was narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ prohibited the earnings of slave girls (through prostitution).
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Commentary :
People in the Pre-Islamic era of ignorance used to force their slave girls into prostitution and Fornication (i.e., illicit sexual intercourse), and take their earnings, and therefore Allah, Exalted is He, revealed the ayah that reads (what means): {And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life.} [Quran 24:33].
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ forbade the earnings of female slaves from prostitution, and this aims to protect the female slaves from being forced into Fornication. It also aims to protect them from unlawful earnings and all base qualities and inferior ways of earning a living..

2284
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet ﷺ forbade taking a price for animal copulation..

Commentary :
Islam urges people to seek good and lawful means of earning a living to the best of one’s ability, and stay away from all evil and unlawful ones.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ forbade taking a price for animal copulation, which means charging fees for the stud's semen (i.e., hiring out a stud for copulation). The Arabic word used in the hadeeth is ‘Fahl’ (translates as stud) and is used to refer to a male animal (kept for breeding), including: horses, camels, goats, or otherwise. The transaction is conducted by hiring out a stud (for copulation) from its owner and keeping it until the female animals conceive (become pregnant) in return for fees payable to the stud’s owner, or that the owner of female animals would leave his animals with the stud’s owner until they conceive (become pregnant).
The Prophet ﷺ forbade such a transaction because of the ambiguity involved, since the benefit is not guaranteed; the copulation is not certain. The stud may not discharge semen and the female animals may not conceive. Therefore, the transaction involves Gharar (i.e., risk and uncertainty). It is also possible that the prohibition in this regard is meant to urge Muslims to embody noble morals and graciously lend the studs for copulation without charging fees to enhance animal breeding. This would indicate that such an act is the becoming attitude of Muslims towards one another, being an act of kindness that promotes the spirit of cooperation andinterdependence among Muslims.
It was narrated on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), as recorded in Sunan Al-Tirmithee, that the Prophet ﷺ deemed it allowable (as a legal concession) to accept an honorarium rather than charging fees for the stud’s semen. This means that he ﷺ deemed it allowable for the stud’s owner to accept a gift orhonorarium for offering his stud for copulation, but not fees.
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2287
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
The Prophet ﷺsaid, "Procrastination (delay) in repaying debts by a wealthy man is an act of injustice. So, if your debt is transferred from your debtor to a rich one, you should agree."
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Commentary : Allah, Exalted is He, commanded the fulfillment of others’ (financial) rights, and warned against unlawfully consuming people's wealth. He Says (what means): {And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly.} [Quran 2:188]. Allah, Exalted is He, sternly warned against taking loans with the intention of wasting people’s wealth and refraining from repayment.
In this hadeeth, he ﷺ stated that the delay of repayment by a wealthy debtor is an act of injustice, because he can afford the repayment of his debts. Since he refrains from paying off the debt despite his financial ability, his act is an act of injustice. Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ said: “So, if your debt is transferred from your debtor to a rich one, you should agree,” meaning that if someone owes you a debt and he requested transferring his debt to a rich person (who can repay it on his behalf), the creditor is urged to accept the transfer of the due debt.
Many lessons can be deduced from this hadeeth, including that it is an act of justice by a rich debtor to postpone the repayment of his debts. However, it should be noted that this does not apply to an insolvent debtor, who cannot repay his debts, because Allah, Exalted is He, commanded a creditor to give respite to insolvent debtors. He Says (what means): {And if someone is in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease.} [Quran 2:280].
It is also inferred from the hadeeth that the Laws of Islam declares the wealth of one’s fellow Muslims inviolable.
It also urges Muslims to avoid whatever may cause discord among Muslims and undermine their unity.
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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..