He told that a man among the Muslims and a man among the Jews reviled one another. The Muslim said, "By Him who chose Muhammad above the universe," and the Jew said, "By Him who chose Moses above the universe." Thereupon the Muslim raised his hand and struck the Jew on his face, and the Jew went to the Prophet and told him what had happened between him and the Muslim. The Prophet summoned the Muslim and asked him about that, and when he informed him, the Prophet said, "Do not make me superior to Moses, for mankind will swoon on the day of resurrection[1] and I shall swoon along with them. I shall be the first to recover and shall see Moses seizing the side of the Throne; and I shall not know whether he was among those who swooned and had recovered before me, or whether he was among those of whom God had made an exception." A version has "I shall not know whether he had his reckoning when he swooned on the day at at-Tur,[2] or was resurrected before me. And I do not say that anyone is more excellent than Jonah, son of Matta." In Abu Sa'id's version he said, "Do not make distinctions between the prophets." Abu Huraira's version has "Do not treat some of the prophets of God most high as superior to others." Quran, 39:68. Quran, 7:143. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

God’s Messenger went to perform an ‘umra in Dhul Qa'da, but the people of Mecca refused to let him enter Mecca till he had made an agreement with them to enter (i.e. in the following year) and stay three days. Then when on writing the document they wrote, "This is what Muhammad God’s Messenger has agreed,” the Meccans said, “We do not acknowledge it, for if we knew you were God’s Messenger we would not prevent you; but you are Muhammad b. ‘Abdallah.” He replied, "I am' both God's Messenger and Muhammad b. ‘Abdallah.” He then told ‘Ali b. Abu Talib to obliterate "Messenger of God”, and when he protested, "No, I swear by God, I will never obliterate it,” God's Messenger took it, and although he did not write well, he wrote, ‘‘this is what Muhammad b. ‘Abdallah has agreed. The only weapon with which he will enter Mecca will be a sword in the scabbard; if any of its people wishes to follow him he will not take him out; and if any of his companions wishes to stay in it he will not prevent him.” Then when he entered and the appointed period elapsed they went to 'Ali and told him to tell his friend to leave them for the appointed period had elapsed. So the Prophet went out. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. From Muhammad, God’s servant and Messenger, to Hiraql1 chief of the Byzantines. Peace be to those who follow the guidance. To proceed: I send you the summons to accept Islam (bi da'iyat al-islam). If you accept Islam you will be safe, and if you accept Islam God will bring you your reward twofold; but if you turn away you will be guilty of the sin of your followers (al-arisiyin).2 “0 people of the Book, come to a word which is common between us and you, that we should worship only God, not attribute any partner to Him, or take one another as lords apart from God. But if they turn away say, Testify that we are Muslims."3 1. Heraclius. 2. Arisi means a tiller of the soil, but is here used as a general reference to the common people who will follow his example. 3. Al-Qur’an; 3:64. (Bukhari and Muslim.) A version by Muslim has “From Muhammad God’s Messenger," “the sin of al-yarisiyin” and bi-di'ayat al-islam.

Anas said that Abu Talha was the one among the Ansar who possessed most palm trees, the property he prized most being Bairaha’ which was opposite the mosque and was often entered by God’s messenger who drank some of the sweet water it contained. When this verse came down, “You will never attain righteousness till you give freely of what you love,”* Abu Talha got up and going to God's messenger said, “Messenger of God, God says, ‘You will never attain righteousness till you give freely of what you love,' and my property which I prize most is Bairaha’, so I give it as sadaqa to God most high from whom I hope for reward for the act of righteousness and the treasure relating to it;** so apply it, messenger of God, to whatever purpose God shows you.” He replied, “Bravo! That is profitable property. I have heard what you said, and I think you should apply it to your nearest relatives.” Abu Talha told God’s messenger he would do so, and divided it among his nearest relatives and his cousins on his father’s side. (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Quran 3:92 ** The Arabic is dhukhraha, which conveys the idea of this good deed being stored up with God who will give a reward for it in the next world

Zainab the wife of ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said that when God's messenger told the women that they should give sadaqa, even though it should be some of their jewellery, she returned to ‘Abdallah and said, “you are a man who does not possess much, and God’s messenger has commanded us to give sadaqa; so go and ask him, and if giving to you will serve for me I shall do so, otherwise I shall give it to someone else.” He told her it would be better to go herself, so she went and found a woman of the Ansar at God's messenger’s door who had come for the same purpose as she had. Now God’s messenger was invested with respect, and when Bilal came out to them they said to him, “Go to God’s messenger and tell him that there are two women at the door who have come to ask him whether it will serve them to give sadaqa to their husbands and to orphans who are in their charge, but do not tell him who we are.” Bilal went in and asked him, and God’s messenger asked him who the women were. When he told him that they were the women of the Ansar and Zainab, he asked him which Zainab it was, and when he was told that it was the wife of ‘Abdallah he said. “They will have two rewards, the reward for kinship and the reward for sadaqa. (Bukhari and Muslim, the wording being Muslim’s.)

‘A’isha said that ‘Utba b. Abu Waqqas enjoined his brother Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas that the son of Zam'a's slave girl was his, and told him to look after him. In the year of the Conquest Sa'd took him, saying he was his brother’s son, but ‘Abd b. Zam'a claimed him as his brother. They made a simultaneous plea to God’s Messenger, Sa‘d saying, “Messenger of God, my brother has enjoined me regarding him,” and ‘Abd b. Zam'a saying, "He is my brother and the son of my father's slave girl, being born on his bed.” God’s Messenger then said, "He belongs to you, ‘Abd b. Zam'a, for the child is attributed to the one on whose bed it is born, and the fornicator is deprived of any right.”1 He then told Sauda daughter of Zam'a to veil herself from him because of the resemblance to ‘Utba which he saw in him, and he did not see her till he went into God’s presence.2 In a version he said, “He is your brother, ‘Abd b. Zam'a because he was born on his father’s bed.”3 1. Al-hajar. This might alternatively mean that the fornicator is to be stoned. 2. i.e., until he died. 3. This explanatory addition does not occur in Masabih as-sunna. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

“Tell me about a man who finds a man along with his wife. Should he kill him and then be killed by you¹, or how should he act?’’ He replied, “A revelation has been sent down about you and your wife², so go away and bring her.” Sahl said that they cursed one another in the mosque and that he was along with the people who were with God’s Messenger. Then when they finished ‘Uwaimir said, “I shall have lied against her, Messenger of God, if I keep her,” and pronounced her divorce three times. God’s Messenger then said to the people, “Look, and if she bears a child which is black, and has very black eyes, large buttocks and fat legs, I cannot but imagine that ‘Uwaimir has spoken the truth about her; but if she bears a reddish child like the lizard with red spots (wahara), I cannot but imagine that ‘Uwaimir has lied against her.” She gave birth to a child like that described by God’s Messenger in declaring that ‘Uwaimir had spoken the truth, and afterwards its lineage was traced to its mother. (Bukhari and Muslim.) 1. Some texts read as translated above; others use the third person, with reference to the family of the man and their revenge for killing him. 2. Al-Qur'an 24:6.

An-Nu'man b. Bashir told that his father brought him to God’s Messenger and said, "I have given this son of mine a slave.” He asked whether he had given all his children the same, and when he replied that he had not, he told him to take him back. A version reports him as asking, "Would you like them to show you equal filial piety?” When he replied that he would, he said, "Don’t do it then.” In a version he said that his father gave him a gift, but' Amra* daughter of Rawaha said, "I shall not be satisfied till you call God's Messenger as witness.” So he went to him and said, "I have given my son from ‘Amra daughter of Rawaha a gift and she has ordered me to call you as witness, Messenger of God.” He asked whether he had given the rest of his children the same, and when he replied that he had not, he said, "Fear God and act equally with your children.” He said that he then returned and took back his gift. A version quotes him as saying, "I shall not be a witness to oppression.” * She was the wife of Bashir b, Sad al-Ansari and mother of an-Nu'man (Isti'ab, p. 746). (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Allāhu Akbar (Allah is the Most Great)! Reference: Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 3/476. See also 472. The 'something' that was referred to in this Hadith was a cane.

Wa `alaykum. If one of the People of the Scripture (i.e. Christians and Jews) greets you saying As-Salaamu `alaykum, then say (to him): And upon you . Reference: Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 11/42, Muslim 4/1705.

-- When you hear the cock's crow, ask Allah for His favor upon you for surely it has seen an angel. When you hear the bray of a donkey, seek refuge in Allah from Satan, for surely it has seen a devil. Reference: Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 6/350, Muslim 4/2092.

A man asked the Prophet (SAW), "What is the best act of Islam?" He said, "To feed others and to give greetings of Salam (peace) to those whom you know and to those whom you do not know. " Reference: Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 1/55, Muslim 1/65.

Alhamdu lillāhi ḥamdan kathīran tayyiban mubārakan fīh, ghayra makfiyyin wa lā muwadda`in, wa lā mustaghnan `anhu Rabbanā. All praise is to Allah, praise in abundance, good and blessed. It cannot [be compensated for, nor can it] be left, nor can it be done without, our Lord. Reference: Al-Bukhari 6/214, At-Tirmidhi 5/507.

Hayya 'alas-Salāh (hasten to the prayer) and Hayya 'alal-Falāh (hasten to salvation). Here you should say: Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata 'illā billāh. There is no might and no power except by Allah. Reference: Al-Bukhari 1/152, Muslim 1/288.

[The Prophet (SAW)] used to advance the 'Isha' prayer sometimes and delay it at other times. Whenever he saw the people assembled (for the 'Isha' prayer) he would pray early and if the people delayed, he would delay the prayer. And the Prophet (SAW) used to offer the Fajr prayer when it was still dark.

They asked him (SAW) to allow them to stay on the land, on condition that they should do all the cultivation and have half the dates. Allah's Messenger (SAW) replied to them, "We shall allow you to stay on the land, on that condition, as long as we wish." So they remained on the land till 'Umar (RA) expelled them.

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said, "Delay in payment on the part of one who possesses the means, makes it lawful to dishonor and punish him." [Abu Dawud and an-Nasa'i reported it. al-Bukhari reported it as Mu'allaq (broken chain from the side of the Hadith collector), and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic)].

When the daughter of al-Jaun was admitted into the presence of Allah's Messenger (SAW) and he went near her, she said, "I seek refuge in Allah from you." He replied, "You have sought refuge in the Supreme [One Who is worthy of refuge being taken in], return to your family." [Reported by al-Bukhari].

Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) said, “No Zakah is to be paid on one’s horse (that he rides) or one’s slave.” Related by Al-Bukhari. Muslim also has the narration, “There is no Zakah to be paid on one’s slave, except for Zakat-ul-Fitr (which is paid at the end of Ramadan, and a Muslim must pay it on behalf of all of those he is responsible for).”

Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: Where are those who love one another through My glory? Today I shall give them shade in My shade, it being a day when there is no shade but My shade. It was related by al-Bukhari (also by Malik).

I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say, "Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the salah (prayer), paying the zakat (obligatory charity), making the hajj (pilgrimage) to the House, and fasting in Ramadhan." [Bukhari & Muslim]

Allāhumma ḥawālaynā wa lā `alaynā. Allāhumma `ala ‘l-ākāmi waẓ-ẓirāb, wa buṭūni ‘l-awdiyati, wa manābitish-shajar. O Allah, let the rain fall around us and not upon us, O Allah, (let it fall) on the pastures, hills, valleys, and the roots of trees. Reference: Al-Bukhari 1/224, Muslim 1/614

Lā ilāha illallāh inna li ‘lmawti la’sakarāt. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, surely death has agonies. Reference: Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 8/144. The Hadith also mention him using the Siivak (tooth stick).

Alḥamdu lillāhil-ladhī kasānī hādhā (aththawba) wa razaqanīhi min ghayri hawlim-minnī wa lā quwwah. Praise is to Allah Who has clothed me with this (garment) and provided it for me, though I was powerless myself and incapable Reference: Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, At-Tirmidhi. See also 'Irwa'ul-Ghalil 7/47.

Ghailan bin Salamah accepted Islam and he had ten wives who accepted Islam along with him. So, the Prophet (SAW) commanded him to, "Choose four of them." [Reported by Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi. Ibn Hibban and al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic); but al-Bukhari, Abu Zur'ah and Abu Hatim considered it defective].

He addressed the people and said, "People were sometimes judged by the revealing of a Divine Revelation during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (SAW), but now the Divine Revelation has been discontinued [i.e. there is no longer any new revelation coming]. Now we judge you by the deeds you practice publicly." [Reported by al-Bukhari].

[concerning his consultation with the Prophet] He said: I said: O Allah's Messenger (SAW), I made a vow in the Jahiliyya times to spend a night in devotion (I'tikaf) in the Sacred Mosque. He (the Prophet) said, "Fulfill your vow." [Agreed upon]. al-Bukhari added in another narration: "Then, spend a night in devotion (in the Sacred Mosque)."

Jabir (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) had each two martyrs of the battle of Uhud wrapped in one shroud, and then would ask, “Which one of them knew more of the Qur’An?” He would put that one (that was pointed out) first in the grave. They were not washed and the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) did not offer a funeral prayer for them.’ Related by Al-Bukhari.

The Prophet (saw) went out to answer the call of nature and asked me to bring three stones. I found two stones and searched for the third but could not find it. So I took a dried piece of dung and brought it to him. He took the two stones and threw away the dung and said, “This is a filthy thing”. [Reported by Al-Bukhari]

Sahl b. Sa'd told that God's messenger said on the day of Khaibar, "I shall certainly give this standard tomorrow to a man who loves God and His messenger and is loved by God and His messenger, at whose hands God will give victory." In the morning the people came to God's messenger each hoping he would be given it, but he asked, "Where is `Ali b. Abu Talib?" On being informed that he was suffering from eye trouble he told them to send for him, and when he was brought God's messenger spat in his eyes and he recovered, so that it seemed as if nothing had been wrong with him. He then gave him the standard, and he said, "Messenger of God, I shall fight with them till they are like us." He then said, "Go gently till you come to their outskirts, then invite them to accept Islam and inform them of the demands due to God which it will involve for them. I swear by God it will be better for you that God should give guidance to one man through your agency than that you should acquire the red ones among the camels[*]." *This phrase indicates camels of the most valuable breed, and is also used figuratively of anything which is valuable. (Bukhari and Muslim.) The tradition of al-Bara' in which he said to `Ali, "You pertain to me and I pertain to you," has been mentioned in the chapter on young people attaining puberty.

Abu Huraira told that when a man came to God's messenger and told him he was suffering from distress he sent a message to one of his wives who said, "I swear by Him who sent you with the truth that I have nothing but water. He sent to another who said the same, and when they had all said the same God's messenger said, "Who will provide entertainment for him? God have mercy on him!" One of the Ansar called Abu Talha got up and said, "I shall, messenger of God." He then, took him to his house and asked his wife if she had anything, and when she replied that they had nothing but the children's food he said, "Put them off with something and put them to sleep. Then when our guest enters make him think we are eating, and when he puts forward his hand to eat get up, go to the lamp to adjust it, and put it out." She did so and they sat down, and the guest ate but they spent the night hungry. In the morning he came to God's messenger who said, "God is charmed with (or, has smiled on) such and such a man and such and such a woman." A version has the same without his naming Abu Talha, and at the end it says that God most high then sent down, "And they give preference to others over themselves even though they are suffering poverty[*]." *Quran; 59:9. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas told that when God gave His messenger the property of Hawazin which He gave him, and he began to give men from Quraish a hundred camels, some of the Ansar said, "God forgive God's messenger! He is giving to Quraish and leaving us out, yet our swords are dripping with their blood[*]." When God's messenger was told what they had said he sent for the Ansar and collected them in a tent of skin, letting no one else accompany them. Then when they had gathered God's messenger came to them and asked, "What is this I have heard about you?" Their learned ones replied, "Those of us whose opinion is worth considering, messenger of God, have said nothing, but some of our young people have said, `God forgive God's messenger. He is giving to Quraish and leaving the Ansar out, yet our swords are dripping with their blood'." God's messenger said, "I am giving to people who were recently infidels to win them over. Are you not pleased that some people should go off with the property and that you should return to your dwellings with God's messenger?'" They replied, "Certainly, messenger of God, we are pleased." *After the defeat of Hawazin at Hunain in S A.H. the spoils were stored at al-Ji'rana and siege was laid to at-Ta'if. After about a fortnight the siege was raised and the army returned to al-Ji'rana where the spoils were distributed. (Bukhari and Muslim)

I saw 'Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) giving a Khutbah (sermon) from the pulpit and I heard him saying: "By Allah, we have no book to read except Allah's Book and what is written in this scroll. He unrolled the scroll which showed a list of what sort of camels to be given as blood-money, and other legal matters relating to killing game in the sanctuary of Makkah and the expiation thereof. In it was also written: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: 'Al-Madinah is a sanctuary from 'Air to Thaur (mountains). He who innovates in this territory new ideas in Islam, commits a sin therein, or shelters the innovators, will incur the Curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people, and Allah will accept from him neither repentance nor a ransom on the Day of Resurrection. The asylum (pledge of protection) granted by any Muslim (even of the) lowest status is to be honoured and respected by all other Muslims, and whoever betrays a Muslim in this respect (by violating the pledge) will incur the Curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people; and Allah will accept from him neither repentance nor a ransom on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever attributes his fatherhood to someone other than his (real) father, and takes someone else as his master other than his (real) master without his permission, will incur the Curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and Allah will accept from him neither repentance nor a ransom on the Day of Resurrection."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Quraish were anxious about a woman from Banu Makhzum who had committed theft and asked : "Who will speak to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) about her?" Then they said: "No one will be bold enough to do so except Usamah bin Zaid, the (Companion who was) dearly loved by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH)." So Usamah (May Allah be pleased with him) spoke to him and the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) (angrily) said, "Are you interceding regarding one of the punishments prescribed by Allah?" He then got up and delivered an address in which he said, "Indeed what destroyed the people before you was just that when a person of high rank among them committed a theft, they spared him; but if the same crime was done by a poor person they inflicted the prescribed punishment on him. I swear by Allah that if Fatimah daughter of Muhammad should steal, I would have her hand cut off."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In another narration 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: (Upon hearing the intercession of Usamah), the face of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) changed color (because of anger) and he said, "Do you dare to intercede in matters prescribed by Allah?" Usamah pleaded: "O Messenger of Allah! Pray for my forgiveness." 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) added: Thereafter the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) gave orders to have that woman's hand cut off.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "A man (from amongst the people before you) said: 'Indeed! I will give in charity.' So he took his Sadaqah out and placed it in a thief's hand. In the morning the people were talking (about this incident) and saying: 'Sadaqah was given to a thief last night.' The man said: 'O Allah! Praise be to You. I have given Sadaqah to a thief. Indeed, I will give in charity!' So he took his Sadaqah out and he placed it in a prostitute's hand. In the morning the people were talking (about this incident) and saying: 'Sadaqah was given to a prostitute last night.' On hearing this, the man said: 'Praise be to You, O Allah! I gave Sadaqah to a prostitute. Indeed, I will give in charity!' So he took his Sadaqah out and placed it in a rich man's hand. In the morning the people were talking (about this incident) and saying: 'Sadaqah was given to a rich man last night.' The man said: 'O Allah! Praise be to You (for helping me) give charity to a thief, a prostitute and a rich man.' Then he had a dream in which he was told that his Sadaqah to the thief might result in his refraining from his theft, his Sadaqah to the prostitute might help her abstain from her immorality, and his Sadaqah to the rich man might help him pay heed and spend from what Allah had bestowed upon him."

[Al- Bukhari].

Arwa bint Aus brought a suit against Sa'id bin Zaid bin 'Amr bin Nufail (May Allah be pleased with him). She complained to Marwan bin Al-Hakam that he had wrongfully taken possession of a portion of her land. Sa'id said: "How can I take a portion out of her land while I have heard a denunciation from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH)." Marwan asked him: "What did you hear from the Messenger of Allah?" He said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, 'He who takes a span of land unjustly will be made to wear seven earths round his neck on the Day of Ressurection'." Marwan said to him: "I don't seek proof from you after this." Sa'id supplicated: "O Allah! If she is a liar, deprive her of her eye sight and cause her to die in her land." 'Urwah said: "She did not die till she became blind. While she was walking in her land (concerning which the dispute arose) she fell down into a pit and died."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In another narration of Muslim, Muhammad bin Zaid bin 'Abdullah bin 'Umar said that he had seen Arwa blind, feeling for on the walls with her hand and saying: "I am ruined by the curse of Sa'id." Later she fell in a well in the same disputed land and died.

I begged Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and he gave me; I begged him again and he gave me. I begged him again and he gave me and said, "O Hakim, wealth is pleasant and sweet. He who acquires it with self-contentment, it becomes a source of blessing for him; but it is not blessed for him who seeks it out of greed. He is like one who goes on eating but his hunger is not satisfied. The upper hand is better than the lower one." I said to him, "O Messenger of Allah, by Him Who sent you with the Truth I will not, after you, ask anyone for anything till I leave this world." So Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) would summon Hakim (May Allah be pleased with him) to give his rations, but he would refuse. Then 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would call him but he would decline to accept anything. So 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said addressing Muslims: "O Muslims, I ask you to bear testimony that I offer Hakim his share of the booty that Allah has assigned for him but he refuses my offer." Thus Hakim did not accept anything from anyone after the death of Messenger of Allah (PBUH), till he died.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

When Khaibar was conquered a poisoned sheep was presented to God's messenger and he said, "Collect for me the Jews who are here." Then when they were collected God's messenger said to them, "I am going to ask you something, so will you tell me the truth about it?" They replied, "Yes, Abul Qasim." He asked who their father was, and when they replied that he was so and so he told them they lied, for their father was so and so. They said, "You have spoken truly and well." He then said, "Will you tell me the truth about a matter if I ask you about it?" They replied, "Yes, Abul Qasim; and if we lie you will know as you did about our father." He asked them who would go to hell and they replied, "We shall be in it for a little, then you[*] will succeed us in it." He said, "Go off in shame into it. I swear by God that we shall never succeed you in it." He then said, "Will you tell me the truth about a matter if I ask you about it?" and when they replied, "Yes, Abul Qasim," he said, "Have you put poison in this sheep?" They replied that they had, and when he asked them what had induced them to do that they replied, "We wanted to get rid of you if you are a liar, for if you are telling the truth it will not harm you." *The Pronoun is plural, indicating the Prophet and his followers. Bukhari transmitted it.

The people were afflicted by famine in the time of God's messenger, and while the Prophet was preaching on a Friday a nomadic Arab got up and said, "The animals are perishing and the children are hungry, so make supplication to God for us." He then raised his hands, and we could not see a speck of cloud in the sky, but I swear by Him in whose hand my soul is that he had not lowered his hand before the clouds were appearing like mountains and before he descended from his pulpit, I saw the rain coming down on his beard. We had rain that day, the next, the following day, and on till the next Friday. Then that nomadic Arab or someone else got up and said, "Messenger of God, the buildings are being broken down and the animals are being drowned, so make supplication to God for us." He then raised his hands and said, "O God, round about us, but not on us." Then he did not point to any region in the clouds without their breaking up, and Medina became like a gap[*]. The wadi had a channel flowing in it for a month, and no one came from any region without speaking of plenty. In a version he said, "O God, round about us, but not on us; O God, on the mounds and knolls, in the basins of the wadis and in the plantations." He said: Then it stopped and we went out walking in the sun. *Meaning that Madina, unlike surrounding districts, had no clouds immediately above it or that it was like a wide, round hollow with the clouds round its edges. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He told that once when the Prophet was brought some meat and was offered the foreleg, which was a part he liked, he bit off a piece of it and then said, ``I shall be the lord of mankind on the day of resurrection, the day when mankind will stand up before the Lord of the universe and the sun will draw near. Mankind will then experience a degree of care and anxiety which they will be unable to bear, so they will ask one another whether they cannot see anyone who may intercede for them with their Lord and will go to Adam." He then mentioned the tradition about intercession and said, "I shall then set off and come below the Throne and fall down prostrating myself before my Lord, and after God has revealed to me some utterances of His praise and of a worthy manner of extolling Him which He had not revealed to anyone before me He will say, `Raise your head, Muhammad. If you make a request, it will be granted, and if you make intercession, it will be accepted.' I shall then raise my head and say, `My people, O my Lord; my people, O my Lord; my people, O my Lord,' and the reply will be given, `Bring in by the right gate of paradise, Muhammad, those of your people who are not taken into account, though they may equally enter by other gates along with mankind'." He then said, "By Him in whose hand my soul is, the distance between the two halves of the gates of paradise is like that between Mecca and Hajar." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A prophet who went out on an expedition told his people that no man should follow him who had married a woman with whom he wished to cohabit but had not yet done so, or who had built houses on which he had not yet put the roofs, or who had bought sheep or pregnant she-camels and was expecting them to produce young. He then went on the expedition and approached the town at the time of the afternoon prayer or thereabouts. He then told the sun that both it and he were under command and prayed God to keep it back for them, so it was kept back till God gave him victory. He collected the spoils and it (meaning fire) came to devour them, but did not do so. Saying that there was dishonesty about spoil among them he told them that a man from every tribe must swear allegiance to him, and when a man’s hand stuck in his he said there was dishonesty about spoil among them. They brought him a head of gold like a cow’s head an when he had laid it down the fire came and devoured the spoil.* A version has, "Spoils were not allowable to anyone before us .Then God allowed spoils to us. He saw our weakness and incapacity and allowed them to us.” *This tradition combines elements of the story of Joshua commanding the sun to stand still (Joshua, 10:12) and the story of Achan’s sin (Joshua, 7:10 ff ). (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I employ men of your number to deal with certain matters which God has entrusted to me, yet one of them comes and says, 'This is for you and this is a present which was given to me.’ Why did he not sit in his father’s or his mother’s house and see whether it would be given to him or not? By Him in whose hand my soul is, whoever takes any of it will inevitably bring it on the day of resurrection carrying it on his neck, be it a camel which rumbles, an ox which bellows, or a sheep which bleats.” Then raising his arms so that we could see the place where the hair grew under his armpits he said, "O God, have I given full information? O God, have I given full information?” (Bukhari and Muslim.) Khattabi said: The words "Why did he not sit in his father’s or his mother's house and see whether it would be given to him or not?” are a proof that every matter which, when it is adopted, leads to something forbidden is itself forbidden, and that note is taken of everyone who enters into covenants as to whether or not his decision made by himself is like his decision when he is associated with others. Thus it is quoted in Sharh as-sunna.

Let me tell you something, commander, which God’s messenger said on the day following the Conquest. My ears heard it, my heart has retained it, and my eyes saw him when he spoke it. After praising and extolling God he said, “God, not men, has made Mecca sacred, so it is not allowable for a man who believes in God and in the last day to shed blood in it, or lop a tree in it. If anyone seeks licence to do so on the ground that God’s messenger fought in it, tell him that God has given permission to His messenger but not to you. He gave him permission only during one hour on one day, and its sacredness has been restored to it like what it was yesterday. Let him who is present convey the information to him who is absent." Abu Shuraih was asked what ‘Amr had replied, and said he had replied, “I am better informed of that than you, Abu Shuraih.' The sacred territory does not give refuge to one who is disobedient, or one who flies when he has shed blood, or one who flies because of a fault (kharba).” (The word is used of a vice) Bukhari and Muslim. In Bukhari’s work kharba is said to mean a crime.

Al-Harith b. Suwaid said that ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud told him two traditions, one of them from God’s messenger and the other from him­ self. He said, “The believer sees in his sins as though he were sitting under a mountain which he fears may fall on him, but the profligate sees his sins like a fly which has passed over his nose and which he has brushed away with his hand.” Then he said that he heard God’s mes­ senger say, “God rejoices more over the repentance of a believer than a man who goes down to a desert and dangerous district with his riding- beast which carries his food and drink, who lays down his head and sleeps for a time, then awakening and finding that his riding-beast has gone, looks for it, and when distressed by heat and thirst or what God wills, says he will return to the place where he was and sleep till he dies, lays his head on his arm to die, then awakens and sees his riding-beast beside him with his food and drink on it. God rejoices more intensely over the repentance of a believing servant than this man does over his riding-beast and his provisions.” Muslim transmitted only the tradition which is traced back to God’s messenger from him, but Bukhari transmitted also the one which goes no farther back than Ibn Mas'ud.

He said that while they were sitting with the Prophet a man came to him and said, “Messenger of God, I am undone.” He asked him what had happened to him and he replied that he had had intercourse with his wife while he was fasting. God’s messenger then asked him whether he could get a slave to free, but he replied that he could not. He asked if he could fast two consecutive months, but he replied that he could not. He asked if he could provide food for sixty poor people, and when he replied that he could not, he told him to sit down. The Prophet then waited for a time, and meanwhile an ‘araq containing dates was brought to him, an ‘araq being a huge basket.* He asked where the man who had questioned him was, and when he replied, "[Here] I am," he said, "Take this and give it as sadaqa." The man replied, “Am I to give it to one who is poorer than I am, messenger of God? I swear by God that there is no poorer family than mine between the two lava plains of Medina," i.e. the two harras. The Prophet thereupon laughed so that his eye-teeth became visible and said, "Give it to your family to eat." *In explaining the word 'araq the tradition calls it a hugh miktal. The miktal was a basket containing fifteen sa's. It is also said to have had double that capacity. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

A’isha (RA) reported that whenever the Prophet ﷺ became sick, he would recite the Mu’awwidhāt (Sūrat Al-Falaq and Sūrat An-Nās) and then blow his breath over his body. When he became seriously ill, I used to recite (these two suwar) and rub his hands over his body hoping for its blessings. Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5016.

[Bismillāhi] Allāhumma 'innī 'a`ūdhu bika minal-khubthi walkhabā'ith. [In the Name of Allah]. O Allah, I seek protection in You from evil and the evil ones (or, from the evil male and female Jinn). Reference: Al-Bukhari 1/45, Muslim 1/283. The addition of Bismillah at its beginning was reported by Said bin Mansur. See Fathul-Bari 1/244

A desert Arab came to the Prophet (SAW) and said, "O Allah's Messenger, what are the major sins?" The narrator reported the Hadith and it contains: "The false oath." It contains also: I asked, "What is the false oath?" The Prophet (SAW) replied, "It is that (oath) by which one takes possession of the property of a Muslim person, while he is lying." [al-Bukhari reported it].

Az-Zubair bin Al-Awwam (RAA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) said, “It is better for any of you to take a rope and cut some wood (from the forest) and carry it over his back and sell it, to preserve his dignity (as he is earning his own living), rather than ask a person for something and that person may give him or not.” Related by Al-Bukhari.

Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: My faithful servant's reward from Me, if I have taken to Me his best friend from amongst the inhabitants of the world and he has then borne it patiently for My sake, shall be nothing less than Paradise. It was related by al-Bukhari.

Allah said: Sons of Adam inveigh against [the vicissitudes of] Time, and I am Time, in My hand is the night and the day (1). (1) As the Almighty is the Ordainer of all things, to inveigh against misfortunes that are part of Time is tantamount to inveighing against Him. It was related by al-Bukhari (also by Muslim).

A man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), “Counsel me,” so he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Do not become angry.” The man repeated [his request for counsel] several times, and [each time] he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Do not become angry.” [Al-Bukhari]

Let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day speak good, or keep silent; and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his neighbour; and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his guest. [Al-Bukhari] [Muslim]

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and until they establish the salah and pay the zakat. And if they do that then they will have gained protection from me for their lives and property, unless [they commit acts that are punishable] in Islam, and their reckoning will be with Allah." [Bukhari & Muslim]

Allāhumma fa'ayyumā mu'minin sababtuhu faj`al dhālika lahu qurbatan ilayka yawma ‘l-qiyāmah. O Allah, whomever of the believers I have abused, give him the reward of a sacrificial slaughter for it on the Day of Resurrection. Reference: Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 11/171, Muslim 4/2007. The wording in Muslim's report is: 'make it a purification for him and a source of mercy.

He said, "O people! We pass (in our recitation) verses to be prostrated at, so whoever prostrates has done the right thing, and there is no sin upon the one who does not prostrate." [al-Bukhari reported it]. It also contains the words: 'Allah the Most High has not made the prostration (of recitation) compulsory, unless one wishes (to do so).' [This Hadith is in the Muwatta' of Imam Malik).

'Adi (RAA) narrated, 'I asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) about hunting using a featherless arrow (al-Mi'rad) [1]. He replied, "If The game is killed with its sharp edge (the iron piece) eat it; but if it strikes with the middle part of the shart (i.e. it is not penetrated with the sharp part) and the game is killed (due to being hit with it), it is considered a Mauqudhah [2], so do not eat it." Related by Al-Bukhari.

Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudrī, “A man heard another man reciting (Sūrah Al-Ikhlāṣ) ‘Say He is Allah, (the) One.’ repeatedly. The next morning, he came to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and informed him about it as if he thought that it was not enough to recite. On that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “By Him in Whose Hand my life is, this Sūrah is equal to one-third of the Qur’an!” Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5013.

The Prophet (SAW) was with one of his wives when one of the Mothers of the Believers (another of his wives) sent a bowl containing food with a servant of hers. Then, she (in whose house he was) struck it with her hand and the bowl was broken. He collected the pieces of the bowl and began to collect the follow in it and said, "You eat," and gave an unbroken bowl to the messenger (servant) and kept the broken one. [Reported by al-Bukhari].

He married Umm Yahya, daughter of Abu Ihab, and a woman came and said, "I have suckled both of you." So he asked the Prophet (SAW) and he replied, "How (can you hesitate) while it has been said (that you are foster brothers and sisters)?" 'Uqbah therefore separated from her and she married another husband. [al-Bukhari reported it].

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said, "The food of Walima on the first day is a duty, that on the second day is a Sunnah, while the third is showing off. Whoever (does something) to show-off, Allah will expose him (in the Hereafter)." [Reported by at-Tirmidhi who considered it Gharib (transmitted through a single narrator)]. [It is incorrectly claimed that] its narrators are those who are reported from in the Sahih (collection of al-Bukhari)].

'Aishah (RAA) narrated, 'When my vindication was revealed, the Prophet (PBUH) mounted the pulpit and mentioned what happened and recited the verses of the Quran (which had been revealed). When he came down from the pulpit he ordered that two men and a women should be given the prescribed flogging (for this false accusation of 'Aishah (RAA) which is eighty lashes).' Related by Ahmad and the four Imams. Al-Bukhari refereed to it.

Jubair bin Mut’am (RAA) narrated, “Uthman Ibn 'Affan and I went to the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) &, and said to him, ‘O Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.)! You have given the family of Banu Al-Muttalib from the fifth of the war booty of Khaibar and left us out, while we and they are of the same status.’ The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) replied, “Banu Al-Muttalib and Banu Hashim are one.” Related by al-Bukhari.

My father 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said: When (his daughter) Hafsah (May Allah be pleased with her) became a widow, I met 'Uthman bin 'Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) and offered Hafsah for marriage to him. 'Uthman said: "I shall think over the matter." I waited for a few days and then 'Uthman met me and said: "It occurred to me that I should not marry at present." Then I met Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: "If you are willing, I shall marry my daughter Hafsah to you." Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) remained silent and did not utter any word to me in reply. I grew more angry with him than with 'Uthman. I had waited for only a few days when Messenger of Allah (PBUH) asked for her hand in marriage and I married her to him. Thereafter, I met Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) who said, "Perhaps you were angry with me when you offered Hafsah to me and I said nothing in reply." I said, "Yes, that is so." He said, "Nothing stopped me to respond to your offer except that I knew that Messenger of Allah (PBUH) had mentioned her and I could not disclose the secret of Messenger of Allah (PBUH). Had Messenger of Allah (PBUH) left her, I would have accepted her."

[Al-Bukhari].

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) sent us to Huraqat, a tribe of Juhainah. We attacked that tribe early in the morning and defeated them, (then) a man from the Ansar and I caught hold of a man (of the defeated tribe). When we overcame him, he said: 'La ilaha illallah (There is no true god except Allah).' At that moment, the Ansari spared him, but I attacked him with my spear and killed him. By the time we went back to Al-Madinah, news had already reached Messenger of Allah (PBUH). He said to me, "O Usamah, did you kill him after he professed La ilaha illallah (There is no true god except Allah)?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah! He professed it only to save his life." Messenger of Allah (PBUH) repeated, "Did you kill him after he had professed La ilaha illallah?" He went on repeating this to me until I wished I had not embraced Islam before that day (so that I would have not committed this sin).

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Did you kill him in spite of his professing La ilaha illallah?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah! He said out of fear of our arms." He (PBUH) said, "Why did you not cut his heart open to find out whether he had done so sincerely or not?" He continued repeating it until I wished that I had embraced Islam only that day.

When Messenger of Allah (PBUH) told the women that they should give Sadaqah (charity), even if it should be some of their jewellery, I returned to 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud and said, "You are a man who does not possess much, and Messenger of Allah (PBUH) has commanded us to give Sadaqah. So go and ask him if giving to you will serve the purpose; otherwise, I shall give it to someone else." He asked me that I should better go myself. I went and found a woman of the Ansar at the door of Messenger of Allah (PBUH), waiting to ask a similar question as mine. The Prophet (PBUH) was endowed with dignity, and so we could not go in. When Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him) came out to us, we said to him: "Go to Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and tell him that there are two women at the door who have come to ask him whether it will serve them to give Sadaqah to their husbands and to orphans who are in their charge, but do not tell him who we are. Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him) went in and asked him, and Messenger of Allah (PBUH) asked him who the women were. When he told him that they were a woman of the Ansar and Zainab, he asked him which Zainab it was, and when he was told it was the wife of 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud, he (PBUH) said, "They will have a double reward, one for maintaining the ties of kinship and another for Sadaqah".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

My uncle Anas bin An-Nadr (May Allah be pleased with him) was absent from the battle of Badr and he said: "O Messenger of Allah! I was absent from the first battle you fought against the pagans, and if Allah let me participate in a battle against the pagans, Allah will see what I do." So he encountered the day of Uhud Battle. The Muslims left the positions (the Prophet (PBUH) told them to keep) and were defeated, he said: "O Allah! excuse these people (i.e., the Muslims) for what they have done, and I am clear from what the pagans have done". Then he went forward with his sword and met Sa'd bin Mu'adh (fleeing) and said to him: "By the Rubb of the Ka'bah! I can smell the fragrance of Jannah from a place closer than Uhud Mount". Sa'd said: "O Messenger of Allah, what he did was beyond my power". Anas said: "We saw over eighty wounds on his body caused by stabbing, striking and shooting of arrows and spears. We found that he was killed, and mutilated by the polytheists. Nobody was able to recognize him except his sister who recognized him by the tips of his fingers." Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "We believe that the Ayah 'Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah [i.e., they have gone out for Jihad (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers]...' (33:23), refers to him and his like".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

"One of the earlier Prophets who was out on an expedition proclaimed among his people that no man should follow him who had married a woman with whom he wished to cohabit but had not yet done so, or who had built houses on which he had not yet put the roofs, or who had bought sheep or pregnant she-camels and was expecting them to produce young. He, then, went on the expedition and approached the town at the time of the 'Asr prayer or little before it. He then told the sun that both it and he were under command and prayed Allah to hold it back for them, so it was held back till Allah gave him victory. He collected the spoils and it (meaning fire) came to devour these, but did not. He said that among the people there was a man who stole from the booty. He told them that a man from every tribe must swear allegiance to him, and when a man's hand stuck to his, he said: "There is thief among you and every individual of your tribe must swear allegiance to me". (In course of swearing of allegiance,) hands of two or three persons stuck to his hand. He said: "The thief is among you". They brought him a head of gold like a cow's head and when he laid it down, the fire came and devoured the spoils. Spoils were not allowed to anyone before us, then Allah allowed spoils to us as He saw our weakness and incapacity and allowed them to us".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Anas told that 'Abdallah b. Salam heard of the arrival of God's messenger when he was in an orchard gathering dates, so he went to the Prophet and said, "I shall ask you about three things which only a prophet knows What is the first sign of the last hour? What is the first thing the inhabitants of paradise will eat? And what makes a boy look like his father or his mother?" He replied, "Gabriel has just informed me about them. The first sign of the last hour will be a fire which will collect mankind from the east to the west; the first thing the inhabitants of paradise will eat will be the ligament of a fish's liver; and when the man's liquid comes before the woman's he attracts the child to his likeness, but when the woman's liquid comes first, she attracts it to her likeness." He said, "I testify that there is no god but God and that you are God's messenger. The Jews, messenger of God, are slanderous people, and if they know of my acceptance of Islam before you ask them, they will slander me." When the Jews came, he asked, "What kind of a man is `Abdallah among you?" They replied, "Our best one and the son of our best one, our chief and the son of our chief." He said, "Tell me what you will do supposing he accepts Islam," to which they replied, "God preserve him from that!" `Abdallah then came out and said, "I testify that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is God's messenger." They said, "He is the worst of us and the son of the worst of us," and belittled him, whereupon he said, "This is what I feared, messenger of God." Bukhari transmitted it.

While I was with the Prophet a man came to him and complained to him of poverty; then another came to him and complained to him of highway robbery. He then said, "Have you seen al-Hira, `Adi? If you live long enough you will certainly see a woman travelling from al-Hira to go round the Ka'ba, fearing no one but God; if you live long enough the treasures of Kisra will certainly be conquered; if you live long enough you will certainly see a man coming out with a handful of gold or silver looking for someone to accept it but finding no one to accept it from him.[1] One of you will certainly meet God on the day he meets Him with no one between them to interpret for him. He will then certainly say, `Did I not send you a messenger who was conveying the message to you?' He will reply, `Certainly.' He will then say, `Did I not give you property and show favour to you?' He will reply, `Certainly;' then he will look to his right and see only Jahannam, and he will look to his left and see only Jahannam. Guard against hell, even though it be with half a date;[2] and if anyone cannot get so much, he should do it with a good word." `Adi said: I have seen a woman travelling from al-Hira to go round the Ka'ba, fearing no one but God; I was among those who conquered the treasures of Kisra, son of Hurmuz; and if you live long enough you will see what the Prophet Abul Qasim said, one coming out with his hand full. Because there will be no poor at that time. As alms. Bukhari transmitted it.

While God's messenger was praying at the Ka'ba and the company of Quraish were in the places where they sat, someone said, "Which of you will go to the sacrificial camel of the family of so and so, make for the contents of its stomach, its blood and the skin over the foetus then wait and put it on his shoulders when he prostrates himself?" The most wretched one among them* then went off, and when he prostrated himself put it on his shoulders; and as the Prophet remained in prostration, they laughed to such an extent that they rolled against one another. Someone went to tell Fatima who came running, and the Prophet remained in prostration till she threw it off him, faced them and reviled them. Then when God's messenger finished the prayer, he said three times, "0 God, deal with Quraish (it being his practice when he made supplication to make it three times and when he made a request to make it three times); 0 God, deal with 'Amr b. Hisham, `Utba b. Rabi'a, Shaiba b. Rabi'a, al Walid b. `Utba, Umayya b. Khalaf, `Uqba b. Abu Mu'ait, and `Umara b. al-Walid." `Abdallah said: I swear by God that I have seen them prostrate at the battle of Badr, after which they were dragged to the well, the well of Badr; and God's messenger said, "Those thrown into the well have been followed with a curse." *Mirqat, 5:409, says this was either Abu Jahl, or `Uqba b. Abu Mu'ait, adding that Nawawi said it was the latter. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "The last hour will not come before two parties which make the same profession fight together and a great slaughter results, before about thirty lying dajjals are sent forth each of them asserting that he is God's messenger, before knowledge is withheld, earthquakes are abundant, the time becomes short, dissensions appear, and there is much harj, which means slaughter, before wealth is abundant and overflowing among you, before one who possesses property is anxious to find someone who will accept his sadaqa, before he offers it and the one to whom it is offered says he has no need of it, before people try to outstrip one another in building, before a man passes another's grave and expresses the desire that he were in his place, and before the sun rises in its place of setting. Then when it rises and people see it, they will all believe, but that is a time when a soul will not be benefited by faith it did not have before, or acquire any good from its faith. The last hour will certainly come when two men have spread out their garment between them, but they will not complete the transaction or fold up the garment; the last hour will certainly come when a man has gone off with the milk of his milch camel, but he will not taste it; the last hour will certainly come when a man is repairing his tank, but he will not water his camels from it; and the last hour will certainly come when one has raised his food to his mouth, but he will not taste it." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When I stood in the rank at the battle of Badr I looked to my right and my left, and when I saw that I was between two young men of the Ansar I wished that I had been between men who were stronger than they. One of them pinched me and said, "Do you know Abu Jahl, uncle?" and I replied, "Yes, but what do you want with him, nephew?” He said, “I have been told that he reviles God's Messenger. By Him in whose hand my soul is, if I see him I shall not leave him till the one of us who is to die first dies.” I was astonished at that, and then the other pinched me and said the same to me. Before long I saw Abu Jahl going round among the people and I said, “Look, this is the man about whom you were asking.” They then hastened to him with their swords and struck him till they killed him, after which they went to God’s Messenger and informed him. He asked which of them had killed him and they both claimed to have done so. He then asked if they had wiped their swords, and when they replied that they had not he looked at the swords and said, “Both of you killed him.” God’s Messenger then decided that what was taken from him should go to Mu'adh b. ‘Amr b. al-Jamuh. The two men were Mu'adh b. ‘Amr b. al-Jamah and Mu'adh b. ‘Afra’.* *’Afra’ was his mother. His father was al-Harith. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

We wrote down nothing on the authority of God’s messenger but the Qur’an and what this document contains. He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Medina is sacred from ‘Air to Thaur, ( This phrase has been much discussed. ‘Air is known as a hill at Medina and Thaur at Mecca. Because of the difficulty some have suggested that Uhud should be read instead of Thaur, but others feel that that is unjustifiable.) so if anyone produces an innovation in it, or gives protection to an innovator, the curse of God, the angels, and all men will rest upon him, and no repentance or ransom (Lane in his Lexicon gives a variety of meanings for this phrase, la yuqbal minhu sarf wald 'adl. The one used above seems the most suitable here) will be accepted from him. The protection granted by Muslims is one and must be respected by the humblest of them, so if anyone breaks a covenant made by a Muslim the curse of God, the angels, and all men will rest upon him and no repentance or ransom will be accepted from him. If anyone gives the rights of inheritance to people without the permission of his masters, (This is explained in relation to a slave who has been set free, for the rights of inheritance still belong to his master who set him free. Cf. Book 12, ch. 6, third tradition) the curse of God, the angels, and all men will rest upon him, and no repentance or ransom will be accepted from him.’’ Bukhari and Muslim. A version given by both of them says, “ If anyone makes a false claim to paternity or to being a client, the curse of God, the angels and all men will rest upon him, and no repentance or ransom will be accepted from him.”

Two words are light on the tongue, weigh heavily in the balance, and are loved by the Most Merciful One: Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdih, Subḥānallāhi ‘l-`Aẓīm. Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: Two words are light on the tongue, weigh heavily in the balance, and are loved by the Most Merciful One: Glorified is Allah and praised is He, Glorified is Allah the Most Great. Reference: Al-Bukhari 7/168, Muslim 4/2072.

Allāhumma ‘innī ẓalamtu nafsī ẓulman kathīran, wa lā yaghfiru-dhdhunūba illā 'anta, faghfir lī maghfiratam’min `indika warḥamnī innaka 'anta ‘l-Ghafūr ur-Rahīm. O Allah, I have greatly wronged myself, and no one forgives sins but You. So, grant me forgiveness and have mercy on me. Surely, you are Forgiving, Merciful. Reference: Al-Bukhari 8/168, Muslim 4/2078.

Al·Miswar bin Makhramah and Marwan narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) went out in the year of al-Hudaibiyah (reconciliation)- the narrator narrated a long hadith which contained, ‘this is what Muhammad bin 'Abdullah has reconciled with Suhail bin ’Amro, to stop fighting for 10 years during which time people will live safely, and refrain from lighting one another...’ Related by Abu Dawud. It is part of a long hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari.

Ibn 'Umar (RAA) narrated, ‘Allah’s Messenger (P.B.U.H.) took hold of my shoulders and said, “Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a passerby.” Ibn ’Umar used to say, “If you are alive in the evening, do not expect to be alive till the morning and if you are alive in the morning do not expect to be alive till the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and from your life for your death.” Related by Al-Bukhari.

Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) said, “When one of you sneezes, he should say, ‘Alhamdulillah (Praise is to Allah) and his (Muslim) brother should say to him, ‘Yarhamuka Allah (May Allah have mercy on you). When he says this to him (the last phrase), he should reply, ‘Yahdikum Allah (May Allah guide you) and grant you well being.” Related by Al-Bukhari.

There was amongst those before you a man who had a wound. He was in [such] anguish that he took a knife and made with it a cut in his hand, and the blood did not cease to flow till he died. Allah the Almighty said: My servant has himself forestalled Me; I have forbidden him Paradise. It was related by al-Bukhari.

It was narrated from ʿĀ’ishah that when the Prophet ﷺ went to bed every night, he would hold his hands together and blow into them, and recite into them (by cupping his hands together) the last three chapters of the Qur'ān. Then he would wipe them over whatever he could of his body, starting with his head and face and the front of his body, and he would do that three times. Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5017.

A man was reciting Sūrat Al-Kahf and his horse was tied with two ropes beside him. A cloud came down and spread over that man, and it kept on coming closer and closer to him till his horse started jumping (as if afraid of something). When it was morning, the man came to the Prophet, and told him of that experience. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "That was tranquility which descended because of (the recitation of) the Qur'an." Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5011

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said, "No descendant of Adam may make a vow concerning something he does not possess, or set free (a slave) that he does not possess, or divorce (a woman) whom he does not possess (in marriage)." [Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi reported it; the latter graded it Sahih (authentic), and transmitted from al-Bukhari his statement that it is the most authentic Hadith on this subject].

I said, "O Allah's Messenger, I have accepted Islam and I am married to two sisters." Allah's Messenger (SAW)then said, "Divorce whichever of them you wish." [Reported by Ahmad and al-Arba'a, except an-Nasa'i. Ibn Hibban, ad-Daraqutni and al-Baihaqi graded it Sahih (authentic) but al-Bukhari considered it defective].

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said, "When you swear an oath and then consider something else to be better than it, make atonement for your oath and do the thing that is better." [Agreed upon]. A wording of al-Bukhari has: "Do the thing that is better and make atonement for your oath." In a narration by Abu Dawud: "Make atonement for your oath, then do the thing that is better." [The chains of narrators of both Ahadith are Sahih (authentic)].

We, the Prophet's wives, were once with him when Fatima came along, her style of walking being indistinguishable from that of God's messenger. When he saw her, he said, "Welcome, my daughter," and made her sit down. He then said something privately to her and she wept bitterly, so when he saw her grief, he said something else privately to her and she began to laugh. When God's messenger got up and left, I asked her what he had said to her privately, but she replied, "I am not one to publish God's messenger's secrets." After his death I said, "I adjure you by my right over you to tell me," And she replied, "Now I am agreeable. When he spoke privately to me about the first matter, he informed me that Gabriel was in the habit of going over the Quran with him once annually but that he had done it twice that year, so he felt his appointed time was near. He then told me to fear God and show endurance, for he was a good forerunner for me. I wept, and when he saw my distress, he spoke to me privately a second time saying, `Are you not pleased, Fatima, that you will be the chief lady among the female inhabitants of paradise (or, of the women of the believers)'?" A version has, "He spoke to me privately informing me that he would die of his pain, so I wept. He then spoke to me privately informing me that I would be the first member of his family to follow him, so I laughed." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

The people in the Suffa were poor men, and the Prophet said, "Let him who has food for two take a third, and let him who has food for four take a fifth, or a sixth*." Abu Bakr brought three men and the Prophet went off with ten. Abu Bakr had supper with the Prophet, then remained till the evening prayer was said, after which he went back and stayed till the Prophet had had his supper. Then when so much of the night as God willed had passed, he came home and his wife asked what had kept him away from his guests. He asked if she had not given them their supper, and when she told him they had refused to take it till he came he was angry and said, "I swear by God that I will never taste it." His wife swore that she would not taste it, and the guests swore that they would not taste it; so Abu Bakr, saying this came from the devil, called for the food and ate, and they ate also. Whenever they raised a morsel to their mouths the place from which it was taken increased in quantity, so Abu Bakr said to his wife, "You who come from the B. Firas, what does this mean?" She replied, "I swear by my wellbeing that it is three times as great as it was." They ate and he sent it to the Prophet, and it is mentioned that he ate some of it. *It is not clear whether there is doubt about whether a fifth or a sixth is correct, or whether the words "or a sixth" indicate that two extra people may be invited when there is enough for four. The construction of the sentence rather suggests this latter meaning. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I asked the Prophet (PBUH) "Have you ever experienced a day harder than the day of the battle of Uhud?" He replied, "Indeed, I experienced them (dangers) at the hands of your people (i.e., the disbelievers from amongst the Quraish tribe). The hardest treatment I met from them was on the Day of 'Aqabah when I went to Ibn 'Abd Yalil bin 'Abd Kulal (who was one of the chiefs of Ta'if) with the purpose of inviting him to Islam, but he made no response (to my call). So I departed with deep distress. I did not recover until I arrived at Qarn ath-Tha'alib. There, I raised my head and saw a cloud which had cast its shadow on me. I saw in it Jibril (Gabriel) (PBUH) who called me and said: 'Indeed, Allah, the Exalted, heard what your people said to you and the response they made to you. And He has sent you the angel in charge of the mountains to order him to do to them what you wish.' Then the angel of the mountains called me, greeted me and said: 'O Muhammad, Allah listened to what your people had said to you. I am the angel of the mountains, and my Rubb has sent me to you so that you may give me your orders. (I will carry out your orders). If you wish I will bring together the two mountains that stand opposite to each other at the extremities of Makkah to crush them in between."' But Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "I rather hope that Allah will raise from among their descendants people as will worship Allah the One, and will not ascribe partners to Him (in worship)."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) used to make me sit with the noble elderly men who had participated in the battle of Badr. Some of them disliked it and said to 'Umar: "Why do you bring in this boy to sit with us when we have sons like him?" 'Umar replied: "Because of the status he has, which you already know about (i.e., belongs to the source of knowledge and the house of the Prophet (PBUH))." One day, 'Umar called me and seated me in the gathering of those people; and I think that he called me just to show them (of my religious knowledge). 'Umar then questioned them (in my presence). "How do you interpret the ayah of Allah: 'When there comes the Help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad (PBUH) against your enemies) and the Conquest (of Makkah)."' Someone said that when Allah's Help and the Conquest (of Makkah) came to us, we were called upon to celebrate the Praise of Allah and ask for His forgiveness. Some others remained silent and did not utter a word. Thereupon 'Umar asked me: "Ibn 'Abbas! Do you say the same." I replied: "No". He said: "What do you say then?" I replied: "That is the sign of the Prophet's death about which he had been informed. Allah, the Exalted, says:

'When there comes the help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad (PBUH) against your enemies) and the Conquest (of Makkah)'.

So declare the remoteness of your Rubb from every imperfection, and ask for His forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives".

On that 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "I do not know anything about it other than what you have said".

[Al- Bukhari]

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "I was shown the past nations. I saw a Prophet who had a very small group (less than ten in total) with him, another Prophet who was accompanied by only one or two men and some did not have even one. Suddenly I was shown a huge crowd and I thought that they were my Ummah, but I was told: 'This is Musa (Moses) and his people, but look towards the other side.' I looked and beheld a great assemblage. I was told: 'These are your people and amongst them there are seventy thousand who shall enter Jannah without being taken to account or torment". Then the Prophet (PBUH) stood up and went into his apartment, and the Companions began to guess who may be those people who would enter Jannah without any accounting or torment. Some said: "Probably, they are the ones who kept company with Messenger of Allah (PBUH)". Others said: "Probably, they are the ones who have been born as Muslims and have never associated anyone with Allah in worship". Then Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came out and asked, "What are you discussing?" So they told him. He then said, "They are those who do not make Ruqyah (blowing over themselves after reciting the Qur'an or some prayers and supplications the Prophet (PBUH) used to say) nor seek it, nor perceive omens (i.e., they are not pessimistic) but keep trust in their Rubb (Allah)." On this 'Ukashah bin Mihsan stood up and asked: "Pray to Allah to make me one of them." The Prophet (PBUH) said, "You are one of them." Then another man stood up and asked the same thing. The Prophet (PBUH) answered, "'Ukashah has surpassed you".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Prophet of Allah (PBUH) said: "There was a man from among a nation before you who killed ninety-nine people and then made an inquiry about the most learned person on the earth. He was directed to a monk. He came to him and told him that he had killed ninety-nine people and asked him if there was any chance for his repentance to be accepted. He replied in the negative and the man killed him also completing one hundred. He then asked about the most learned man in the earth. He was directed to a scholar. He told him that he had killed one hundred people and asked him if there was any chance for his repentance to be accepted. He replied in the affirmative and asked, 'Who stands between you and repentance? Go to such and such land; there (you will find) people devoted to prayer and worship of Allah, join them in worship, and do not come back to your land because it is an evil place.' So he went away and hardly had he covered half the distance when death overtook him; and there was a dispute between the angels of mercy and the angels of torment. The angels of mercy pleaded, 'This man has come with a repenting heart to Allah,' and the angels of punishment argued, 'He never did a virtuous deed in his life.' Then there appeared another angel in the form of a human being and the contending angels agreed to make him arbiter between them. He said, 'Measure the distance between the two lands. He will be considered belonging to the land to which he is nearer.' They measured and found him closer to the land (land of piety) where he intended to go, and so the angels of mercy collected his soul".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) visited me in my illness which became severe in the year of Hajjat-ul-Wada' (Farewell Pilgrimage). I said, "O Messenger of Allah, you can see the pain which I am suffering and I am a man of means and there is none to inherit from me except one daughter. Should I give two-thirds of my property in charity?" He (PBUH) said, "No". I asked him, "Then half?" He said, "No". Then I asked, "Can I give away one-third". He said, "Give away one-third, and that is still too much. It is better to leave your heirs well-off than to leave them poor, begging people. You will not expend a thing in charity for the sake of Allah, but you will be rewarded for it; even the morsel of food which you feed your wife". I said, "O Messenger of Allah, would I survive my companions?" He said, "If you survive others and accomplish a thing for the sake of Allah, you would gain higher ranking and standing. You will survive them ... your survival will be beneficial to people (the Muslim) and harmful to others (the enemies of Islam). You will survive others till the people will derive benefit from you, and others would be harmed by you." Messenger of Allah (PBUH) further said, "O Allah, complete for my Companions their emigration and do not cause them to retract." Sa'd bin Khaulah was unfortunate. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) lamented his death as he died in Makkah.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

When the Prophet was newly married to Zainab, my mother Umm Sulaim took some dates, clarified butter and curd, and made hais[1]. When she had prepared it in a cooking-pot she said, "Take this to God's messenger, Anas, say your mother has sent this to him along with her good wishes, and tell him this is a small gift to him from us." When I had gone and repeated this, he told me to put it down, then said, "Go and invite so and so, so and so, and so and so (naming some men) to come to me, and invite those whom you meet to come to me." I invited those he named and those I met, and when I returned the house was crowded with people[2]. (Anas was asked how many there were and replied that there were about three hundred.) I saw the Prophet put his hand on that bit of hais and say such words as God wished. He then began to invite them to eat in groups of ten, and he was saying to them, "Mention God's name, and let each man eat from the place nearest him." When they had eaten to their satisfaction one party went out and another entered till they had all eaten. He told me to remove the food and I did so, and I do not know whether there was more of it when I set it down or when I removed it. Hais (special dish prepared from dried yoghourt, butter and dates). This is what the Arabic says, but in view of what follows about the people being admitted in tens, it probably means that the house was surrounded by a great throng. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When we were digging at the battle of the Trench a huge piece of rock appeared as an obstruction, so they went to the Prophet and told him that this piece of rock had appeared as an obstruction in the trench. Saying, "I shall go down," he stood up (and he had a stone tied on his belly[*], for we had been three days without tasting any food). The Prophet then took the pick and struck it and it became a mound of sand pouring down. I then went off to my wife and asked her if she had anything, for I had seen the Prophet was very hungry, and she brought out a bag containing a sa` of barley. We had a tame lamb which I killed and she ground the barley, and we put the meat in the pot. I then went to the Prophet and told him secretly that we had killed a small lamb and my wife had ground a sa' of barley, inviting him to come and bring some people with him. So, the Prophet shouted, "You who are working at the trench, Jabir has prepared a repast, so come on." God's messenger then said, "Do not take off your pot and do not bake your dough till I come." When he came, I brought out dough for him and he spat in it and invoked a blessing. He then went to our pot, spat, invoked a blessing, and then said, "Call a woman to bake along with you, and take ladlefuls from your pot but do not take it off." There were a thousand present, and I swear by God that they ate till they left it and went away, and our pot was boiling as it had been and our dough was being baked as before. *For the purpose of allaying the pangs of hunger. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

`A'isha told that she asked God's messenger whether he had experienced a day more severe than that of Uhud, and that he replied, "I have experienced things from your people, but the most severe thing I experienced from them was on the day of the `Aqaba when I offered myself to Ibn `Abd Yalil b. Kulal and he did not agree to what I wanted.1 I then went off full of care not noticing where I was going, and did not come to my senses till I was at Qarn ath-Tha'alib[2]. Raising my head, I saw a cloud which overshadowed me, and when I looked, I saw Gabriel in it. He called to me, told me God had heard the words of my people and their rejection of me, and said He had sent me the angel of the mountains for me to order him to do to them what I wanted. The angel of the mountains then called to me, saying, after giving me a salutation, `God has heard the words of your people, Muhammad, and I am the angel of the mountains whom your Lord has sent to you to order me if you wish to cover them with al-Akhshaban[3].'" God's messenger replied, "No, I hope God may bring forth from their loins people who will worship God alone, associating nothing with Him." Ibn 'Abd Yalil belonged to at-Ta'if. His father was one of the leading men, but he was 'Abd Ya`lil b. 'Amr b. `Umair (see Isti'ab, p. 410). Yaqut, Mu'jam, 4:72, sats it is a day and a night's journey from Mecca when one comes from Najd. Two hills near Mecca. Cf. Yaqut, Mu'jam, 1:163. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When we were with `Umar he asked which of us remembered the tradition of God's messenger about the fitna, and I replied that I remembered it just as he had uttered it. Telling me to relate it, and remarking that I was daring, he asked how he had spoken and I replied that I had heard God's messenger say, "A man's fitna concerns his family, his property, his person, his children and his neighbour for any shortcoming in which atonement made by fasting, prayer, sadaqah recommending what is reputable and reproving what is disreputable.[1] `Umar said that this was not what he meant, for he was thinking of the fitna which swells like the waves of the sea.[2] I asked the commander of the faithful what he had to do with it, for between him and it there was a closed door. He asked whether the door would be broken down or opened, and when I replied that it would be broken down, he said it would never likely be closed. Hudhaifa was asked if `Umar knew who the door was and he replied that he knew it as well as he knew that a night comes before tomorrow, adding that he had told him a tradition which included no misleading language. They were afraid to ask Hudhaifa who the door was, so they asked Masruq to ask him, and when he did so he replied that it was `Umar.3 A man who has these responsibilities may fall short of what is due from him, but can make atonement for his shortcoming. Contention which leads to strife and warfare. The point of the tradition is that the fitna would not occur in `Umar's lifetime, but that as he was to be assassinated there was no hope of peaceful conditions ever returning. The opening of the door indicates a natural death and the breaking down of the door a violent death. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I spent a night with my maternal aunt Maimuna when the Prophet was with her. After talking to his family for a time he had a sleep, then when the last third of the night came, or a little later, he sat up, looked at the sky, and recited, “In the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day there are indeed signs for people of understanding,"(Al-Qur’an; 3:190) to the end of the sura. Then getting up and going to the bucket, he loosened its cord and poured some water into a bowl, then performed a good ablution between the two extremes, not going to great length, and when he had done it fully he stood up and prayed. I got up, and when I had performed ablution I stood at his left side, whereupon he took me by the ear and made me go round to his right side. His prayer was altogether thirteen rak'as. Then he lay down and slept, and he snored as was his custom. When Bilal made the call to prayer for him he prayed without performing ablution, and his supplication included these words, “O God, place light in my heart, light in my eyesight, light in my hearing, light on my right hand, light on my left hand, light above me, light below me, light in front of me, light behind me, and grant me light." Some added, “and light in my tongue," and mentioned, “my joints, my flesh, my blood, my hair, my skin." (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by both of them he said, “Place light in my soul, and give me abundant light." In another by Muslim he said, “O God, give me light."

We lived by water which people passed. Riders would pass by us and we would ask them, "What has happened to the people? What has happened to the people? What is this man like?” and they would reply, "He asserts that God has sent him, has made a revelation to him, has made a revelation to him to this effect.”I was remembering those words with the result that they seemed to be glued in my breast. By their acceptance of Islam the Arabs were expecting victory for they would say ‘Let him and his people alone, for if be gets the better of them, he is a true prophet.’ Then when the battle of the conquest of Mecca took place every tribe hastened to accept Islam, and my father was the first of my tribe to accept it. When he returned he said: I swear by God that I have come to you from him who is truly the Prophet. He said, “Pray such and such a prayer at such and such a time, and such and such a prayer at such and such a time. When the time of prayer comes one of you should call the >i>adhan and the one of you who knows most of the Qur’an should act as your imam” So they considered, and there was no one who knew more of the Our’an than I did because of what I had received from the riders. They therefore put me forward in front of them, and I was only six or seven years old. I wore a mantle which, when I prostrated myself, went up on me, and a woman of the clan said, “Why do you not cover the backside of your reader from us?” So they bought and cut out a shirt for me, and I have never been so pleased about anything as I was about that shirt. Bukhari transmitted it.

Whoever says: Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdihi. one hundred times a day, will have his sins forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea. Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: Whoever says: Glorified is Allah and praised is He. one hundred times a day, will have his sins forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea. Reference: Al-Bukhari 7/168, Muslim 4/2071, see also invocation no. 91 of this book.

Allāhumma innī a`ūdhu bika mina ‘l-ḥammi wa ‘l-ḥazan, wa ‘l-`ajzi wa ‘l-kasal, wa ‘l-bukhli wa ‘l-jubn, wa ḍala`id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijāl. O Allah! I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by (other) men. Reference: Al-Bukhari 7/158.