Kathir b. Qais told how, when he was sitting with Abu Darda' in the mosque of Damascus, a man came to him and said, “Abu Darda', I have come to you from the town of the Messenger for a tradition I have heard that you relate from God's messenger. I have come for no other purpose.” He replied that he had heard God’s messenger say, “ If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge God will cause him to travel on one of the roads of paradise, the angels will lower their wings from good pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, and the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and the fish in the depth of the water will ask forgiveness for him. The superiority of the learned man over the devout man is like that of the moon on the night when it is full over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the prophets who leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who accepts it accepts an abundant portion.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi calling Him Qais b. Kathir.

"We have come to the morning, and in the morning the dominion belongs to God..." *The transmitter was not sure which word was used. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it. Tirmidhi did not mention "from the evil of infidelity" in his version.

I heard Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say: "No man fills a container worse than his stomach. A few morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for him. If he has to, then he should keep one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for his breathing."

[At-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hadith Hasan].

I sought permission of the Prophet (PBUH) to perform 'Umrah, and he granted me leave and said, "Brother, do not forget us in your supplications." I would not exchange these words of his for the whole world.

Another narration is: He (PBUH) said, "Include us, my brother, in your supplications."

[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

A man asked: "O Messenger of Allah! When a man meets a brother or a friend, should he bow to him?" He said, "No." The man asked whether he should embrace and kiss him? The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) replied, "No." He asked whether he should hold his hand and shake it? The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) replied, "Yes."

[At-Tirmidhi].

A Jew asked his companion to take him to the Prophet (PBUH); and when they came to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), they asked him about the nine clear signs (given to Prophet Musa). Safwan narrated the long Hadith which concludes: They kissed the hands and feet of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and said: "We testify that you are a Prophet."

[At-Tirmidhi]

I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "When a Muslim visits a sick Muslim at dawn, seventy thousand angels keep on praying for him till dusk. If he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels keep on praying for him till the morning; and he will have (his share of) reaped fruits in Jannah."

[At- Tirmidhi].

When Malik bin Hubairah (May Allah be pleased with him) offered a funeral prayer and found a small number of participants, he would divide them into three rows and would say that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "If three rows of men offer funeral prayer over anyone, his entry into Jannah will become certain."

[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Jannah becomes incumbent for a Muslim who fights for the Cause of Allah for a period as long as the time between two consecutive turns of milking a she-camel. He who receives a wound or a bruise in the Cause of Allah will appear on the Day of Resurrection as fresh as possible, its colour will be the colour of saffron and its fragrance will be that of musk."

[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The superiority of the learned over the devout worshipper is like my superiority over the most inferior amongst you (in good deeds)." He went on to say, "Allah, His angels, the dwellers of the heaven and the earth, and even the ant in its hole and the fish (in water) supplicate in favour of those who teach people knowledge."

[At-Tirmidhi].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Whoever gives up wearing elegant and expensive garments out of humbleness, when he can do so, Allah will call him on the Day of Resurrection, before all of creation, He will give him the choice to wear whichever garment of Iman he would like to wear."

[At-Tirmidhi].

There were two brothers in the days of the Prophet (PBUH). One of them used to attend the Prophet's circle (to acquire knowledge) and the other used to earn their living). Once the latter complained to the Prophet (PBUH) against the former (for not earning his living). He (PBUH) replied, "Perhaps you are being provided because of him".

[At- Tirmidhi, who said it has a sound chain].

Abu `Amir al-Ash`ari reported God's messenger as saying, "Asad and the members of Ash'ar[*] are good. They do not fly when fighting and are not treacherous. They pertain to me and I to them." *Mirqat, 5:511, suggests the reading Asd and says that both Ash'aruna and Ash'ariyuna are used. It says the former here refers to Azd Shanu'a. But there was a branch of Quraish called Asad. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Jabir told that Sa'd came forward and the Prophet said, "This is my maternal uncle; now let any man show me his maternal uncle." Tirmidhi transmitted it, explaining that Sa'd belonged to the B. Zuhra, the tribe to which the Prophet's mother belonged, and that on that account the Prophet said, "This is my maternal uncle." Al masabih has "let him honour" instead of "let him show me."

Jabir told that he saw God's messenger when performing the hajj seated on his she-camel al-Qaswa' on the day of `Arafa giving an address, and he heard him saying, "0 you people, I have left among you something of such a nature that if you adhere to it you will not go astray, God's Book and my close relatives who belong to my household." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

When God's messenger became very weak[*] the people and I came down to Medina. I went in to visit God's apostle who was tongue-tied and unable to speak: but he was placing his hands on me and raising them, and I recognised that he was invoking a blessing on me. *i.e., during his last illness. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

`Ali reported God's messenger as saying, "Every prophet has seven eminent men who are guardians, but I have been given fourteen." `Ali was asked who they were and replied, "I, my two sons, Ja'far, Hamza, Abu Bakr, `Umar, Mus'ab b. `Umair, Bilal, Salman, `Ammar, `Abdallah b. Mas`ud Abu Dharr and al-Miqdad." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that a Jew who was with him when he recited, “Today I have perfected for you your religion . . ."(Al-Qur’an; 5:3) remarked, “If this verse had been revealed to us we would have made it a festival." Ibn ‘Abbas replied, “It was revealed on a day which contained two festivals, on a Friday and on the day of ‘Arafa." Tirmidhi transmitted it and said this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Do not curse the wind, but when you see what you dislike say, "O God, we ask Thee for some of the good in this wind, in what it contains and in what it has been commanded to do; and we seek refuge in Thee from the evil in this wind, in what it contains and in what it has been commanded to do." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported the Prophet as saying, “No man will fail to pay the zakat on his property without God putting a large snake on his neck on the day of resurrection." He then recited to them the justification of it from God s Book, “Let not those who are niggardly with what God has given them from His bounty suppose…”* Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it. * Quran 3:180.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who begs from people when he has a sufficiency will come on the day of resurrection with his begging showing itself as scrapes, scratching or lacerations on his face.” On being asked what constituted a sufficiency, God’s messenger replied that it was fifty dirhams or their value in gold. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

When the Prophet came to Medina and I went and examined his face, I recognised that it was not the face of a liar. The first thing he said was, “If you people greet all whom you meet, provide food, care for the wellbeing of your kindred, and pray at night when people are asleep, you will enter paradise in peace.’’ Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Tarafa told that his grandfather ‘Arfaja b. As'ad who had had his nose cut off at the battle of al-Kulab (This was a battle about ten years before the Hijra in which the tribe of Tamim was engaged) got a silver nose, but it developed a stench, so the Prophet ordered him to get a gold nose. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

everyone who is proud and obstreperous, everyone who invokes another god along with God, and those who make representations of things.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri told that when God's messenger put on a new garment he mentioned it by name, turban, shirt, or cloak, and would then say, “O God, praise be to Thee ! As Thou hast clothed me with it, I ask Thee for its good and the good of that for which it was made, and I seek refuge in Thee from its evil and the evil of that for which it was made.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Be on your guard about tradition from me, except what you know; for he who lies about me deliberately will certainly come to his abode in hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ibn Mas'ud and Jabir, but did not mention, “ Be on your guard about tradition from me, except what you know.”

Anas reported that God’s messenger often said, “O Thou who turnest the hearts about, establish my heart in Thy religion.” Anas said, “Prophet of God, do you fear for us who believe in you and in your message?” He replied, “Yes. The hearts are between two of God’s fingers and He turns them about as He wills.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Sakhr b. Wada'a al-Ghamidi reported God’s Messenger as saying, "O God, bless my people in their early morning.” When he sent out a detachment or an army he sent them at the beginning of the day. Sakhr was a merchant, and he would send off his merchandise at the beginning of the day; and he became rich and had much wealth. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Umm Malik al-Bahziya told that when God's messenger mentioned civil strife and its nearness she asked him who would be the best of the people during it and he replied, "A man with his cattle who pays the zakat due on them and worships his Lord, and a man who holds his horse's head and causes fear to the enemy while they are causing him fear." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`When the sun is obscured[1] `When the sky shall be split open[2] and `When the sky shall be rent asunder.'"[3] 1. Quran, 81 2. Quran, 82 3. Quran, 84 Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Ali reported God's messenger as saying, "In paradise there is a meeting-place for the large-eyed maidens who will raise voices such as created beings have never heard and say, `We are the women who live forever and do not pass away, we are the women in affluent circumstances who will not be destitute, we are the women who are pleased and not displeased. Blessed are those who belong to us and to whom we belong!" Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Hakim b. Mu'awiya reported God's messenger as saying, "In paradise there are a great river of water, a great river of honey, a great river of milk and a great river of wine; then the smaller rivers will be divided off." Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it from Mu'awiya. (Mirqat, 5, 301 says this is most probably Mu'awiya b. Abu Sufyan because Hakim's father is not known to have been a Companion of the Prophet.)

one who has just ended a fast, a just imam, and one who has been wronged whose supplication is raised by God above the clouds and for which the gates of heaven are opened. The Lord says, ‘I swear by my might that I will certainly help you, though it be after some time’.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas told that when anything caused God’s messenger anxiety he would say, “O Living One, O Eternal One, in Thy mercy I seek help.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition which is not committed to memory.* *Laisa bi-mahfuz is used here. A tradition called mahfuz is one which is considered superior when compared with a shadhdh tradition (cf. p. xii).

‘Amr b. ‘Auf reported God’s messenger as saying, “The religion will shrink back to the Hijaz as a snake shrinks back to its hole, and the religion will seek refuge in the Hijaz as the mountain goat seeks refuge in the mountain top. The religion began few in number and will return to the state in which it began. Blessed are the few, for they will set right the corruptions caused in my sunna by people after my death.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Sa'id b. Zaid reported God’s messenger as saying, "He who does not mention God’s name while performing ablution is not credited with having performed it.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it from Abu Huraira, and Darimi from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri from his father, and they added at the beginning, “He who has not performed ablution is not credited with observing prayer”.

Abu Umama mentioned how God’s messenger performed ablution, saying that he used to wipe the corners of his eyes, and he said that the ears are treated as part of the head. Ibn Majah, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and the last two mentioned that Hammad said he did not know whether “the ears are treated as part of the head” belongs to what Abu Umama said, or to what God’s messenger said.

Umm ‘Umara, daughter of Ka‘b, said that once when the Prophet visited her and she called for food for him, he told her that she must eat also; but when she replied that she was fasting he said, “When people eat beside one who is fasting the angels invoke blessings on him till they finish eating.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God's messenger as saying, “The best shroud is a lower garment and one which covers the whole body, (The Arabic has al-kulla, which means the two garments known as the izar (lower garment) and rida' (a cloak which covers the whole body)) and the best sacrifice is a horned ram." Abu Dawud transmitted it; and Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Abu Umama.

He also reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The rewards of my people were placed before me, even [for] a speck of dust a man takes out of the mosque] and the sins of my people were placed before me, and I saw no sin greater than that a man should memorise a sura or verse of the Qur’an, then forget it."* * Cf. Al-Qur’an, 20:126. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone, prays the dawn prayer in a company, then sits making mention of God till the sun rises, then prays two rak'as, he will have a reward equivalent to that for a hajja* and an ‘umra.” He reported God’s Messenger as adding, “A perfect one, a perfect one, a perfect one.” * A pilgrimage to Mecca and neighbouring spots made at the proper season in Dhul Hijja. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

This is what al-‘Adda’ b. Khalid b. Haudha brought from Muhammad, God’s Messenger. He bought from him a slave, or a slave woman, with no disease or wickedness, or anything unlawful*, a transaction between two Muslims. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition. * This might be bad character on the part of the slave or unlawful enslavement.

Hakim b. Hizam said God's Messenger forbade him to sell anything which was not in his possession. Tirmidhi transmitted it. In a version by Abu Dawud and Nasa’i, he had said, “Messenger of God, a man comes to me and wants me to sell him something, but I do not have it and so I buy it for him from the market.” He replied, “Do not sell what you do not possess.”

Narrated Abu Waqid Al-Laithi (rad): Allah’s Messenger (saw) said, “Whatever (portion) is cut off from an animal when it is alive is dead (meat). [Reported by Abu Da’ud and At-Tirmidhi who graded it Hasan (fair) and this version is of Tirmidhi].

Astawdi`ullāha dīnak, wa amānatak, wa khawātīma `amalik. I leave your religion in the care of Allah, as well as your safety, and the last of your deeds. Reference: Ahmad 2/7, At-Tirmidhi 5/499. See also Al-Albani, Sahih At-Tirmidhi 2/155.

"The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned yet does not pray for Allah's blessings upon me." Reference: At-Tirmidhi 5/551 and others. See also Al-Albani, Sahih At-Tirmidhi 3/177 and Sahihul-Jarai' As-Saghir 3/25.

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "When the son of Adam gets up in the morning, all the limbs humble themselves before the tongue and say: 'Fear Allah for our sake because we are with you: (i.e., we will be rewarded or punished as a result of what you do) if you are straight, we will be straight; and if you are crooked, we will become crooked."'

[At- Tirmidhi].

I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Tell me, of something to which I may remain steadfast." He (PBUH) said, "Say: My Rubb is Allah and then remain steadfast." Then I said: "O Messenger of Allah! What do you fear most about me?" He took hold of his own tongue and said: "This."

[At-Tirmidhi].

Once the Prophet (PBUH) visited us and I served him some food. He (PBUH) asked me to eat. I replied that I was observing (optional) fast. He (PBUH) said, "When people eat by a person observing fast, the angels keep asking Allah's forgiveness for that person until they have had their fill."

[At-Tirmidhi].

I asked Umm Salamah (May Allah be pleased with her), "O Mother of the Believers! Which supplication did the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) make frequently when he was in your house?" She said: "He (PBUH) supplicated frequently: 'Ya muqallibal-qulubi, thabbit qalbi 'ala dinika (O Controller of the hearts make my heart steadfast in Your religion)."

[At- Tirmidhi].