I was with God’s Messenger at night, and when I brought him his water for ablution and what he required, he told me to make a request. I said, “I ask to accompany you in paradise.” He asked if I had any other request to make, and when I replied that that was all, he said, “Then help me to accomplish this for you by devoting yourself often to prostration.” Muslim transmitted it.

Mu'adh b. Jabal said that God’s Messenger took him by the hand and said, “I love you, Mu'adh,” to which he replied, “And I love you, Messenger of God.” He then told him not to omit to say at the end of every prayer, “My Lord, help me to remember Thee, thank Thee, and worship Thee acceptably.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it, but Abu Dawud did not mention that Mu‘adh said, “And I love you.”

Ibn Mas'ud said that the Prophet recited "By the star”(Al-Qur’an; 53) prostrating himself when doing so, as did those who were with him with the exception of an old man of Quraish who took a handful of pebbles or dust and raised it to his forehead saying. "This is enough for me.” ‘Abdallah (i.e. Ibn Mas’ud) said that he later saw him killed as an infidel. (Bukhari and Muslim.) Bukhari added in a version that he was Umayya b. Khalaf.

He who knows me knows me, and if anyone does not know me, I am Jundub* who heard God's Messenger say, “There is no prayer after the morning prayer till the sun rises, or after the afternoon prayer till the sun sets except in Mecca, except in Mecca, except in Mecca.” * Abu Dharr’s name was Jundub b- Janada. Ahmad and Razin transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that al-Hasan b. 'All took one of the dates of the sadaqa and put it in his mouth, whereupon the Prophet said, “Leave it alone, leave it alone,” in order that he might throw it away. He then said, “Do you not know that we* do not eat the sadaqa?’ (Bukhari and Muslim.) * The pronoun includes the Prophet and his family, al Hasan being his grandson. The idea is more definitely expressed in 'Abd al-Muttalib's tradition.

‘Ata’ b. Yasar told that when God’s messenger was in the mosque a man whose head and beard were dishevelled entered, and God’s messenger pointed his hand at him as though he were ordering him to arrange his hair and his beard. When he had done so and returned, God's messenger said, “Is this not better than that one of you should come with his head dishevelled, as though he were a devil ?” Malik transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No war-like party or body of troops will go out to fight, gain booty and return safe without getting beforehand two-thirds of their rewards,* and no war-like party or body of troops will be disappointed of their hopes and be smitten without getting their rewards in full.” * The suggestion is made that the two-thirds are a safe return and booty which they get in this world, the remaining third being reward in the next. Muslim transmitted it.

When God’s Messenger intended to go on an expedition he always pretended to be going somewhere else till that expedition, meaning the one to Tabuk. God’s Messenger undertook it in extreme heat, facing a long journey, desert country and a numerous enemy. He made clear to the Muslims what they were about to do in order that they might get ready the equipment for their expedition, telling them where he was going. Bukhari transmitted it.

'Abdallah b. `Umar reported God's messenger as saying that God will fold the heavens on the day of resurrection, then seizing them in His right hand He will say, "I am the King. Where are the mighty men? Where are the proud men?" He will then fold the earths in His left hand. A version states that He will take them in His other hand and then say, "I am the King. Where are the mighty men? Where are the proud men?" Muslim transmitted it.

Usama b. Zaid reported God's messenger as saying, "Let him who falsely attributes to me things I have not said come to his seat in hell." That was because a man he had sent on an errand had told lies about him. God's messenger therefore invoked a curse on him and he was found dead with his belly split, and the earth would not accept him. Baihaqi transmitted the two traditions in Dala'il an-Nubuwa.

The Prophet announced the death of Zaid, Ja`far and Ibn Rawaha to the people before news of them had reached them[*], saying, "Zaid took the standard and was smitten, then Ja'far took it and was smitten, then Ibn Rawaha took it and was smitten (the tears mean while dripping from his eyes). Finally, one of God's swords (meaning Khalid b. al-Walid) took the standard till God granted them success." Bukhari transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. `Amr told that the Prophet went out at the battle of Badr with three hundred and fifteen men and said, "0 God, they are barefoot, so provide mounts for them; O God, they are naked, so clothe them; O God, they are hungry, so satisfy them." God then gave him victory, and when they went back there was not a man who did not return with one camel or two, and they were clothed and had enough to eat. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Jabir b. Samura told that he heard God's messenger say, "Islam will continue to be strong during the time of twelve Caliphs all of whom belong to Quraish." A version has "Men's interests will continue to proceed well as long as they are governed by twelve men all of whom belong to Quraish." Another version has, "The religion will continue to be established till the last hour comes, and there are twelve Caliphs over them, all of whom belong to Quraish." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Muslim told in his sahih that when al-Hajjaj killed `Abdallah b. az-Zubair Asma' said God's messenger had told them that Thaqif would have among them a great liar and one who would cause destruction, adding that they had seen the great liar, and that she thought the one who would cause destruction was no other than [al-Hajjaj], The complete form of the tradition will be given in Section III. Muslim.

Abu Huraira told that at-Tufail b. Amr ad-Dausi came to God's messenger and said, "Daus have perished; they have disobeyed and refused, so supplicate God to punish them." The people thought he would do so, but he said, "0 God, give Daus guidance and bring them[*]." *Mirqat 5:517, explains this as meaning either to bring them as emigrants to Medina or to bring them into obedience to Islam. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Bahz b. Hakim, on his father's authority, told that with reference to the words of God most high, `You were the best people brought forth for mankind[*],' his grandfather said he had heard God's messenger say, "You bring the number up to seventy peoples of which you are the best and most honourable in the estimation of God most high." *Quran; 3:110 Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan tradition.

Hilal b. Umayya accused his wife in the Prophet’s presence of having committed adultery with Sharik b. Sahma'. When the Prophet told him that he must produce evidence or receive punishment on his back, he said, “Messenger of God, when one of us sees a man having intercourse with his wife, must he go and seek evidence?” But the Prophet merely replied that he must produce evidence or receive punishment on his back. Hilal then said, “By Him who sent you with the truth, I am speaking truly. May God send down something which will free my back from punishment!” Then Gabriel descended and brought down to him, “And those who make charges against their spouses,” reciting till he reached, “if he is one of those who speak the truth” (Al-Qur’an 24:6-9).Then Hilal came and gave testimony and the Prophet was saying, “God knows that one of you is lying. Will one of you repent?” Then the woman got up and testified, but when she was about to do it a fifth time they stopped her and told her that it would be the deciding one. Ibn ‘Abbas told that she then hesitated and drew back, so that they thought she would renounce what she had said; but thereafter she said, “I shall not disgrace my people forever,” and went on with her declaration. The Prophet told them to look and see whether she gave birth to a child with eyes looking as if they had antimony in them, wide buttocks and fat legs, for if she did, Sharik b. Sahma' would be its father. Then when she gave birth to a child of that description the Prophet said, “If it were not for what has already been stated in God’s Book, I would have dealt severely with her.” Bukhari transmitted it.

The Prophet came on the fourth of Dhul Hijja and commanded us to put off the ihram, saying (as reported by ‘Ata’), “Come out of the sacred state and have intercourse with your wives." Ata’ explained that this was not by way of making intercourse obligatory, but by way of making it lawful. As it was only five days before they were due at ‘Arafa, they said he had ordered them to go in to their wives and so they would come to ‘Arafa with their penises dripping with prostatic fluid. He said that Jabir made a gesture, moving his hand, and he could still imagine himself looking at him (Perhaps the gesture was meant to indicate that they could have shaken off the fluid). The Prophet then got up among them and said, “You know that I am the most godfearing, truthful and pious one among you. Were it not that I have sacrificial animals I would have removed the ihram as you are doing, and had I known beforehand about my affair what I have come to know later I would not have brought sacrificial animals ; so remove the ihram.'’ They did so, hearing and obeying. ‘Ata’ quoted Jabir as saying that ‘Ali arrived after his expedition to collect the poor rate and he asked him for what he had raised his voice in the talbiya. He replied that he had done it for the same purpose as the Prophet, so God's messenger said to him, “Bring the sacrificial animals and remain in the sacred state.” He said that ‘Ali brought sacrificial animals for him and that Suraqa b. Malik b. Jush'um asked God’s messenger whether this applied to that particular year or, forever, to which he replied that it was applicable forever. Muslim transmitted it.

Hizam b. Hisham, on his father's authority, said that his grandfather, Hubaish b. Khalid brother of Umm Ma'bad, told that when God's messenger was put out of Mecca he went as an emigrant to Medina, he, Abu Bakr and `Amir b. Fuhaira, Abu Bakr's client, with `Abdallah al-Laithi as their guide. They passed the two tents of Umm Ma'bad and asked her for some meat and dates meaning to buy them from her, but found she had nothing of that nature, for the provisions were exhausted as the tribe had been afflicted with famine. God's messenger looked at a sheep at the side of the tent and said, "What is this sheep, Umm Ma'bad?" She replied, "It is a sheep too emaciated to follow the flock." He asked if it had any milk, and when she replied that it was too exhausted for that, he asked if she would let him milk it. She said, "You for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom, if you see anything to milk in it, milk it." God's messenger asked it to be brought, and wiping its udder with his hand and mentioning the name of God most high, he prayed that she might have a blessing in her sheep. It then opened its legs for him, gave a flow of milk and ruminated. He called for a vessel which could hold enough for the people and milked an abundant supply into it till the froth appeared on the top. He gave her a drink till she was satisfied and gave his companions a drink till they were satisfied, then drank himself last of all. Immediately afterwards he milked it a second time, and when he had filled the vessel, he left it with her. He contracted with her [to accept Islam] and they departed from her. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna, by Ibn `Abd al-Barr in al-Isti'ab, and by Ibn al-Jauzi Kitab al-wafa'. In the tradition a story follows.

Khaibar was divided among those who had been at al-Hudaibiya, and God’s Messenger divided it into eighteen portions. The army was one thousand five hundred of which three hundred were cavalry, and he gave two shares to a horseman and one to a footman. Abu Dawud transmitted it, saying Ibn ‘Umar’s tradition¹ is sounder, and it is the one which is followed. The error in the tradition of Mujammi’ was because he said three hundred horsemen when there were only two hundred. Habib b. Maslama al-Fihri said he saw the Prophet give a quarter of the spoil on the outward journey and a third on the return journey.² 1. I have available two editions of Abu Dawud’s Sunan (Cairo, 1280 and 1348 A .H.). Both give Ibn Mu'awiya in place of Ibn 'Umar. See Jihad, 144. 2. This tradition and the following one are explained as referring to a section of the army which comes in contact with the enemy. The greater amount granted them when this happens on the return journey is because there is more difficulty and danger in fighting after having gone through the campaign. The second tradition is more explicit by making it clear that the fifth was deducted. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

The Prophet sent a small party of Abu Rafi'[*], and `Abdallah b. `Atik entered his house at night when he was asleep and killed him. `Abdallah b. `Atik said, "I put the sword in his belly till it came out at his back, and I knew that I had killed him I then began to open the doors till I came to a stair, but when I put my foot on it, I fell and broke my leg, and it was a moonlight night. I tied it with a turban and rejoined my companions, and when I came to the Prophet, I told him all that had happened. He told me to stretch out my leg, and when I had done so and he had passed his hand over it, it seemed as though I had never had anything wrong with it." *Different dates are given for the incident. J.M.B. Jones who has made an important study of the dates of the Maghazi prefers the date given by Ibn Ishaq, viz. Dhul Hijja 5 or Muharram 6. See Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 1957, 19/2, pp. 250, 269 f. Bukhari transmitted it.

Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas told that `Umar b. al-Khattab asked permission from God's messenger to enter when there were with him some women of Quraish who were talking volubly to him with loud voices. They got up when `Umar asked permission and hastened to veil themselves, and when `Umar entered God's messenger was laughing, so he said, "God keep you smiling, messenger of God!" The Prophet replied, "I was astonished at these women who are with me, for when they heard your voice, they hastened to veil themselves." `Umar then said, "Enemies of yourselves, do you stand in awe of me and do not stand in awe of God's messenger?" They replied, ``Yes, you are more churlish and harsher." God's messenger then said, "Never mind, son of al-Khattab; I swear by Him in whose hand my soul is that the devil has never met you walking on a mountain-road without going to another one than yours." Al-Humaidi said that after "messenger of God" al-Barqani added ``What makes you laugh[*]?" *i.e., after `Umar's remark, "God keep you smiling, messenger of God." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

“I used to spend the night at the door of the Prophet (saws), so that I may give him his water for Wudu', and I would hear him, for a long period of the night, saying: ‘Allah hears the one who praise Him (Sami` Allāhu liman ḥamidah).’ And I would hear him, for a long period saying: ‘All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the all that exists. (Al-ḥamdulillāhi rabbil-`ālamīn).’”

Masruq and I visited ‘A'isha and said, “Mother of the faithful, there are two of Muhammad’s companions one of whom hastens to break the fast and hastens to pray while the other delays breaking the fast and delays praying. She asked which of them hastened to break the fast and hastened to pray, and when we told her that he was ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud she said, "Thus did God’s messenger do." The other was Abu Musa. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Ubada b. as-Samit said that the Prophet came out to inform them about lailat al-qadr, but finding two Muslims disputing together he said, “I came out to inform you about lailat al-qadr, but so and so and so and so had a dispute, and the knowledge of it has been withdrawn. That, however, may perhaps be better for you, so seek it on the ninth, the seventh and the fifth.”* *i.e. the twenty-ninth, twenty-seventh, and twenty-fifth. Bukhari transmitted it.

Uthman b. Abul ‘As said he complained to God’s messenger of a pain he had in his body, and he told him to put his hand on the part of his body which was sore and say three times “In the name of God,” and seven times, “I seek refuge in God’s might and power from the evil of what I am experiencing and trying to avert.” He said he did so, and God removed his trouble. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr said that when a man who had been born in Medina died there, the Prophet prayed at his funeral and said, “Would that he had died somewhere else than in his birthplace!” On being asked why he had said that he replied, “When a man dies somewhere else than in his birthplace a space will be measured for him in paradise equal to the distance between his birthplace and the place where he died.” Nasa’I and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

We sat attentive to God’s messenger who gave us an exhortation and softened our hearts. Then Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas wept copiously and said, “Would that I were dead! ” God’s messenger said, “Do you wish for death in my presence, Sa'd?’’ repeating it three times. He then said, “Sa'd, if you have been created for paradise, it will be better for you if your life is prolonged and your deeds are good.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Wathila b. al-Asqa‘ said God’s messenger led them in prayer over a Muslim and he heard him say, “O God, so and so son of so and so is in Thy protection and in Thy nearer presence, so guard him from the trial in the grave and the punishment in hell. Thou art faithful and true. O God, forgive him and show him mercy. Thou art the forgiving and the merciful One.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Amra daughter of ‘Abd ar-Rahman said that when ‘A’isha was told that ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar said the dead was punished because of the weeping of the living for him, she heard her say, “God forgive Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman ! He has not lied, but he has forgotten, or has made a mistake. What happened was just that God’s messenger came upon some people weeping for a Jewess and said, ‘They are weeping for her, and she is being punished in her grave.’ ” (Bukharl and Muslim.)

‘Imran b. Husain and Abu Barza said that when they went out with God’s messenger to a funeral he saw some people who had removed their cloaks and were walking in shirts, and said, “Do you adhere to the practice of pre-Islamic times?” or, “Do you copy what was done in pre-Islamic times ? I feel inclined to invoke a curse on you that you should return metamorphosed.” Then they took their cloaks and did not do that again. Ibn Majah transmitted it.

We went out one rainy and intensely dark night to look for God’s messenger, and when we caught up on him he said to me, “Say.” I asked him what I was to say, and he replied, “If you recite ‘Say, He is God, One’ and al-Mu'awidhatān (The last 3 sūras of the Qur’ān) three times morning and evening, they will serve you for every purpose.” Tirmidhī, Abū Dāwūd and Nasā’i transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Zam'a reported God’s Messenger as saying, “None of you must whip his wife as a slave is whipped and then have intercourse with her at the end of the day.” A version has, “One of you has recourse to whipping his wife as a slave is whipped and perhaps he lies with her at the end of the day.” He then gave them an exhortation about laughing when someone breaks wind, saying, “Why does one of you laugh at what he does himself?” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

“Messenger of God, what right can any wife demand of her husband?’’ He replied, “That you should give her food when you eat, clothe her when you clothe yourself, not strike her on the face, and do not revile her or separate from her except in the house” (Al-Quran 4:34). Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Iyas b. ‘Abdallah reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Do not beat God’s handmaidens;” but when ‘Umar came to God’s Messenger and said, “The women have become emboldened towards their husbands,” he gave licence to beat them. Then many women went round God’s Messenger’s family complaining of their husbands, and he said, “Many women have gone round Muhammad’s family complaining of their husbands. Those are not the “best among you.” Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, said that his grandfather told of a man who got up and said, “Messenger of God, so and so is my son; I had illicit intercourse with his mother in the pre-Islamic period.” God’s Messenger replied, “There is no unlawful claiming of paternity in Islam. What was done in pre-Islamic times has been annulled. The child is attributed to the one on whose bed it is born, and the fornicator is deprived of any right.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr told that a steward of his came to him and he asked him whether he had given the slaves their food. When he replied that he had not, he told him to go and give it to them, for God’s Messenger had said, “It is a serious enough fault for a man to withhold his food from one whom he possesses.” A version has, “It is a serious enough fault for a man to destroy one he is bound to sustain.” Muslim transmitted it.

I was brought before God’s Messenger in the year of Uhud when I was fourteen and he sent me back. Then I was brought before him in the year of the Trench when I was fifteen and he gave me permission to fight.* ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz said this represents the difference between fighting men and children. * Ajazani. It may be translated as above or it may mean “he gave me a fighting man's permission”. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

'Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, said his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone kills a man deliberately he is to be handed over to the relatives of the one who has been killed. If they wish they may kill him, but if they wish they may accept blood wit, which is thirty she-camels in their fourth year, thirty in their fifth year, and forty pregnant she-camels. Any arrangement they make with him is for them to decide.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas told that the Prophet asked Ma'iz b. Malik, “Is what I have heard about you true?” He asked what he had heard about him, and he replied that he had heard he had had intercourse with a girl belonging to the family of so and so. When he admitted it, and had acknowledged it four times, he ordered him to be stoned to death. Muslim transmitted it. (Here a tradition by Muslim has been placed in Section II.)

Thaur b. Zaid ad-Dailami told that ‘Umar sought counsel about the prescribed punishment for drinking wine and ‘Ali said to him, “I think you should give one who drinks it eighty lashes, for when he drinks he becomes intoxicated, when he is intoxicated he raves, and when he raves he makes up lies.” So ‘Umar inflicted eighty lashes as the punishment prescribed for drinking wine. Malik transmitted it.

‘Auf b. Malik told that the Prophet gave a decision between two men and that when the one against whom the decision had been given turned away he said, “My sufficiency is God, and good is the Guardian." Thereupon the Prophet said, “God most high blames for falling short, hut apply intelligence, and when a matter gets the better of you say, 'My sufficiency is God, and good is the Guardian’. (Al-Qur’an, 3:173) Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Jabir b. ‘Abdallah told that a man got up on the day of the Conquest and said, “Messenger of God, I have vowed to God who is great and glorious that if God conquers Mecca at your hands I shall pray two rak'as in Jerusalem.” He replied, “Pray here.” He repeated his statement to him and he replied, “Pray here.” He again repeated it to him and he replied, “Pursue your own course, then.” Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

I can still picture myself looking at God’s Messenger when a man who had drunk wine was brought before him and he told the people to beat him. Some struck him with sandals, some with sticks and some with mitakhas. Ibn Wahb said this means green palm fronds. Then God’s Messenger took some dust from the ground and threw it in his face. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has prescribed the pilgrimage for you people." Al-Aqra' b. Habis then got up and asked whether it was to be performed annually, to which God’s messenger replied that if he were to tell them that it was, it would become obligatory, and if it did they would not keep it nor be able to do so, adding, “The pilgrimage should be performed once, and if anyone does it oftener he performs supererogatory act." Ahmad, Nasa'i and Darimi transmitted it.

Yazid b. al-Asamm, Maimuna’s nephew, told on Maimuna’s authority that God’s messenger married her when he was not in the sacred state. Muslim transmitted it. The shaikh and imam Muhyi as-Sunna has said that most people believe he married her when he was not in the sacred state, but the news of his marriage to her became public when he was performing the pilgrimage. Then when he had come out of the sacred state he cohabited with her at Sarif on the way to Mecca.

Anas b. Malik reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A man’s prayer in his house is equivalent to a single observance of prayer, his prayer in a tribal mosque is equivalent to twenty-five, his prayer in a mosque in which the Friday prayer is observed is equivalent to five hundred, his prayer in the Aqsa mosque is equivalent to fifty thousand, his prayer in my mosque is equivalent to fifty thousand, and his prayer in the sacred mosque (the Ka’ba) is equivalent to a hundred thousand.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Shaddad b. Aus reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Act differently from the Jews, for they do not pray in their sandals or their shoes.”* * Khuff (pl. khifaf), an article of footwear which came up above the ankle. Traditions tell that the Prophet allowed pilgrims to wear the khuff only when unable to procure sandals, but said they must be cut to come below the ankle. Cf. Bukhari, Hajj, 21, 23; Libas, 8, 4, 15, 73. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Marwan appointed Abu Huraira as governor of Medina and went to Mecca. Abu Huraira led us in the Friday prayer and recited sura al-Jumu'a1 in the first sajda and “When the hypocrites come to you"2 in the last, and said, “I heard God's Messenger reciting them on Friday." 1. Al-Qur'an, 62, recited in the first rak'a, which is what is meant by sajda in the text. 2. Al-Qur'an, 63. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib on his father’s authority quoted his grandfather as saying, “There is no short or long sura in al-Mufassal* which I have not heard God’s Messenger reciting when he led the people in the prescribed prayer.” * A name applied to the latter part of the Qur’an because there are many divisions, but opinions differ about where it begins. Lane mentions the different views in his Lexicon, pp 2407 f., saying the most correct opinion is that it begins with sura 49. Malik transmitted it.