If anyone wants something from God, or from a human being, he should perform ablution and do it well, then pray two rak'as, then extol God most high and invoke blessing on the Prophet, then say, "There is no god but God, the Clement and Generous. Glory be to God, the Lord of the mighty throne. Praise be to God, the Lord of the universe. I ask Thee for words which will guarantee Thy mercy, actions which will make certain Thy forgiveness, a supply of every virtue, and freedom from every offence. Do not leave me a sin which Thou dost not pardon, a care which Thou dost not remove, or a want that meets with Thy pleasure which Thou dost not supply, O most merciful of the merciful ones.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition.

‘Adi b. Hatim told that God’s messenger said to him, “When you set off your dog mention God's name, and if it catches anything for you and you come up to it while it is still alive cut its throat; if you come up to it when the dog has killed it but not eaten any of it eat it; but if it has eaten any of it do not eat, for it has caught it only for itself. If you find another dog with yours and a kill has been made, do not eat, for you do not know which of them killed the animal. When you shoot your arrow mention God’s name and if the game goes out of your sight for a day and you find in it only the mark of your arrow eat if you wish, but if you find it drowned in water do not eat.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He told that God’s Messenger and his companions went off and reached Badr before the polytheists, and when the polytheists arrived he said, “Rise to go to a garden whose breadth is as great as the heavens and the earth.” ‘Umair b. al-Humam thereupon said, “Bravo, bravo!” and when God’s Messenger asked him what had made him say that, he replied, “Nothing, I swear by God, Messenger of God, but a hope that I might be among its inhabitants.” He told him that he would be among them. He then took some dates out of his quiver and began to eat them, but after a little said, “If I live till I eat my dates it will mean a long life.” So he threw away the dates he had and then fought with the enemy till he was killed. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A’isha told that when the people of Mecca sent about ransoming their prisoners1 Zainab sent some property to ransom Abul ‘As, sending among it a necklace of hers which Khadija had had and had sent with her when she married Abul ‘As. When God’s Messenger saw it he felt great tenderness about it and said, “If you consider that you should free her prisoner for her and return to her what belongs to her it will be well.” To this they agreed. The Prophet had made an agreement with him that he should let Zainab come to him, so he sent Zaid b. Haritha and a man of the Helpers, telling them to wait in the valley of Yajij2 till Zainab came along and bring her back with them. 1. After the battle of Badr. 2. Near at-Tan'im. Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Jubair b. Mut'im told that a nomadic Arab came to God's messenger and said, "People are suffering distress, the children are hungry, the crops are withered and the animals are perishing, so ask God to grant us rain, for we seek you as our intercessor with God and God as our intercessor with you." Thereupon the Prophet said, "Glory be to God, glory be to God," and he continued declaring God's glory till the effect of that was apparent in the faces of his companions. He then said, "Woe to you! God is not to be sought as intercessor with anyone. God's state is greater than that. Woe to you! Do you know how great God is? His Throne is above the heavens thus (indicating with his fingers something like a dome over him), and it groans on account of Him as a saddle does because of the rider." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

it was the petition of Abraham[2], the good tidings by Jesus[3], and the vision my mother saw when she gave birth to me and a light issued to her from which the castles of Syria shone for her." 1. i.e., the substance to which bodily form was to be added and to which the soul was to be joined. The tradition says Muhammad was inscribed in God's presence as the seal (i.e., the last) of the prophets before Adam's creation was complete. 2. Cf. Quran; 2:129. 3. Cf. Quran; 61:6 It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna, and Ahmad transmitted it on the authority of Abu Umama from "I shall inform you . . .'' to the end.

God's messenger said to me, "Why do you not give me rest from Dhul Khalasa?" I told him that I certainly would, but as I was not able to keep from falling off a horse's back, I mentioned the fact to the Prophet. He gave me such a blow with his hand on my breast that I could see the mark of his hand on it and said, "O God, make him sit firm, and make him a guide who is led aright." After that I never fell off my horse. He went with a hundred and fifty resolute horsemen of Ahmas[*] and burned it and broke it up. *Ahmas (brave) is said to have been applied to Quraish, Kinana and Jadila of Qais because of the hardships they imposed on themselves in their religious observances in pre-Islamic times. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

`Abd ar-Razzaq quoted his father[1] as saying on the authority of Mina'[2] that Abu Huraira told that when they were with the Prophet a man who he thought belonged to Qais came to him and said, "Messenger of God, curse Himyar." He turned away from him, so he came round the other side, but he turned away from him. He then came round the other side, and the Prophet turned away from him again and then said, "May God show mercy to Him yar! Their mouths speak peace, their hands provide food, and they are people of security and faith." Hammam b. al-Harith an-Nakha'i. A client of the Ansar. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition which he knew only among the traditions of `Abd ar-Razzaq, and rejected traditions are transmitted on the authority of this Mina'.

I was with the Prophet when he was urging the people to help the army of distress[*]. `Uthman got up and said, "Messenger of God, I shall provide a hundred camels with their cloths and saddles in God's path." Afterwards he urged that help be given the army, and `Uthman got up and said, "I shall provide two hundred camels with their cloths and saddles in God' path." Again, he urged and 'Uthman got up and said, "I shall provide three hundred camels with their cloths and saddles in God's path." I saw God's messenger coming down from the pulpit, and he was saying, "Anything he does will not count against `Uthman after this; anything he does will not count against `Uthman after this." *This is a name applied to the expedition to Tabuk in 9 A.H. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

When `Ubaidallah b. Ziyad[*]was brought al-Husain's bead and it was put in a dish, he began to tap [it] and said something about his beauty, so I said, "I swear by God that he was the one of then who most closely resembled God's messenger." He was dyed with indigo. *The governor of Basra who was sent to Kufa to deal with Hussain's movement which ended with his death at Karbala. Bukhari transmitted it. In Tirmidhi's version he said: I was with Ibn Ziyad when al-Husain's head was brought in, and he began to tap on his nose with a wand and say, "I have never seen anyone as good looking as this man." I said, "I assure you that he was one of those who resembled God's messenger most closely." Tirmidhi said this is a sahih hasan gharib tradition.

"I was confused about this Divine Decree (Qadar), and I was afraid lest that adversely affect my religion and my affairs. So I went to Ubayy bin Ka'b and said: 'O Abu Mundhir! I am confused about the Divine Decree, and I fear for my religion and my affairs, so tell me something about that through which Allah may benefit me.' He said: 'If Allah were to punish the inhabitants of His heavens and of his earth, He would do so and He would not be unjust towards them. And if He were to have mercy on them, His mercy would be better for them than their own deeds. If you had the equivalent of Mount Uhud which you spent in the cause of Allah, that would not be accepted from you until you believed in the Divine Decree and you know that whatever has befallen you, could not have passed you by; and whatever has passed you by, could not have befallen you; and that if you were to die believing anything other than this, you would enter Hell. And it will not harm you to go to my brother, 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud, and ask him (about this).' So I went to 'Abdullah and asked him , and he said something similar to what Ubayy had said, and he told me: 'It will not harm you to go to Hudhaifah.' So I went to Hudhaifah and asked him, and he said something similar to what they had said. And he told me: 'Go to Zaid bin Thabit and ask him.' So I went to Zaid bun Thabit and asked him, and he said: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) say: "If Allah were to punish the inhabitants of His heavens and of His earth, he would do so and He would not be unjust towards them. And if He were to have mercy on them, His mercy would be better for them than their own deeds. If you had the equivalent of Mount Uhud which you spent in the cause of Allah, that would not be accepted from you until you believed in the Divine Decree and you know that whatever has befallen you, could not have passed you by; and whatever has passed you by, could not have befallen you; and that if you were to die believing anything other than this, you would enter Hell"

The Messenger of Allah (saws) encamped at Ulat al-Jaysh and Aisha was in his company. Her necklace of onyx of Zifar was broken (and fell somewhere). The people were detained to make a search for that necklace until the dawn broke. There was no water with the people. Therefore AbuBakr became angry with her and said: You detained the people and they have no water with them.

Thereupon Allah, the Exalted, sent down revelation about it to His Apostle (saws) granting concession to purify themselves with pure earth. Then the Muslims stood up with the Messenger of Allah (saws) and struck the ground with their hands and then they raised their hands, and did not take any earth (in their hands). Then they wiped with them their faces and hands up to the shoulders, and from their palms up to the armpits.

Ibn Yahya added in his version: Ibn Shihab said in his tradition: The people do not take this (tradition) into account.

Abu Dawud said: Ibn Ishaq also reported it in a similar way. In this (version) he said on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas. He mentioned the words "two strikes" (i.e. striking the earth twice) as mentioned by Yunus. And Ma'mar also narrated on the authority of al-Zuhri "two strikes". And Malik said: From al-Zuhri from 'Ubaid Allah b. 'Abd Allah from his father on the authority of 'Ammar. Abu Uwais also reported it in a similar way on the authority of al-Zuhri. But Ibn 'Uyainah doubted it, he sometimes said: from his father, and sometimes he said: from Ibn 'Abbas. Ibn 'Uyainah was confused in it and in his hearing from al-Zuhri. No one has mentioned "two strikes" in this tradition except those whose names I have mentioned.

A woman of Ghamid came to the Prophet (saws) and said: I have committed fornication. He said: Go back. She returned, and on the next day she came to him again, and said: Perhaps you want to send me back as you did to Ma’iz b. Malik. I swear by Allah, I am pregnant. He said to her: Go back. She then returned and came to him the next day. He said to her: Go back until you give birth to a child. She then returned. When she gave birth to a child, she brought the child to him, and said: Here it is! I have given birth to it. He said: Go back, and suckle him until you wean him. When she had weaned him, she brought him (the boy) to him with something in his hand which he was eating. The boy was then given to a certain man of the Muslims and he (the Prophet) commanded regarding her. So a pit was dug for her, and he gave orders about her and she was stoned to death. Khalid was one of those who were throwing stones at her. He threw a stone at her. When a drop blood fell on his cheeks, he abused her. The Prophet (saws) said to him: Gently, Khalid. By Him in whose hand my soul is, she has reported to such an extent that if one who wrongfully takes extra tax were to repent to a like extent, he would be forgiven. Then giving command regarding her, prayed over her and she was buried.

The Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him) entered the garden of the palm trees of Banu al-Najjar. He heard a voice and was terrified. He asked: Who are the people buried in these graves? The people replied: Messenger of Allah! These are some people who died in the pre-Islamic times. He said: Seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the fire, and the trail of Antichrist. They asked: Why is it that, Messenger of Allah? He said: When a man is placed in his grave, an angel comes to him and says to him: Whom did you worship? Allah then guides him and he says: I worshiped Allah. He is then asked: What was your opinion of this man? He replies: He is Allah’s servant and His Apostle. He will not then be asked about anything else. He will then be taken to his abode in Hell and will be told: This was your abode in Hell, but Allah protected you and had mercy on you substituted for you an abode in Paradise for it. He will say: Leave me so that I may go and give glad tidings to my family. He will be told: Dwell. When an infidel is placed in his grave, an angel comes to him, reprimands him and asks him: Whom did you worship? He replies: I do not know. He will be told: You neither knew nor did you follow(the believers). He is then asked: What was your opinion on this man? He replies: I held the opinion that the other people held. He will then give him a blow between his ears with an iron hammer and will utter a shout which will be heard by all the creatures(near him) with the exception of men and jinn.

There was an eclipse of the sun in the time of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had died. The people began to to say that there was an eclipse on account of the death of Ibrahim. The Prophet (may peace be upon him) stood up and led the people in prayer performing six bowings and four prostrations. he said: Allah is most great, and then recited from the Qur'an and prolonged the recitation. He then bowed nearly as long as he stood. He then raised his head and recited from the Qur'an but it was less than the first (recitation). He then bowed nearly as long as he stood. He then raised his head and then recited from the Quran for the third time, but it was less than the second recitation. He then bowed nearly as long as he stood. he then raised his head and then recited from the Qur'an for the third time, but it was less than the second recitation. he then bowed nearly as long as he stood. Then he raised his head and went down for prostration. he made two prostrations. He then stood and made three bowings before prostrating himself, the preceding bowing being more lengthy than the following, but he bowed nearly as long as he stood. He then stepped back during the prayer and the rows (of the people) too stepped back along with him. Then he stepped forward and stood in his place, and the rows too stepped forward. he then finished the prayer and the sun had become bright. He said: O people, the sun and the moon are two of Allah's signs; they are not eclipsed on account of a man's death. So when you see anything of that nature, offer prayer until the sun becomes bright. The narrator then narrated the rest of the tradition.

When the Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him) entered the mosque, a man also entered it and prayed. He then came and saluted the Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him) returned the salutation and said to him: Go back and pray, for you have not prayed. The man returned and prayed as he prayed before. He then came to prophet(may peace be upon him) and saluted him. The Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him) said to him: “ And upon you be peace. “ Go back and pray, for you have not prayed. He did so three times. Then the man said: By Him who has sent you(as a Prophet) with truth; I cannot do better than this; so teach me. He said: When you get up to pray, utter the takbir(Allah is most great); then recite a convenient portion of the Qur’an; then bow and remain quietly in that position; then sit and remain quietly in that position; then raise yourself and stand erect: then prostrate yourself and remain quietly in that position; then sit and remain quietly in that position; then do that throughout all your prayer.

Abu Dawud said: Al-Qa’nabi reported this tradition from Sa’id b. Abi Sa’Id on the authority of Abu Hurairah. This version has the wording in the last: When you do this, then your prayer is completed. If you omit anything form this, you omit that much from your prayer. This version also has the wording: when you get up for praying, perform the abulation perfectly.

I embraced Islam and my (ignorance of the) religion made me anxious (to learn the essentials). I came to Abu Dharr. Abu Dharr said: The climate of Medina did not suit me. The Messenger of Allah (saws) ordered me to have a few camels and goats. He said to me: Drink their milk. (The narrator Hammad said): I doubt whether he (the Prophet) said: "their urine." Abu Dharr said: I was away from the watering place and I had my family with me. I would have sexual defilement and pray without purification. I came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) at noon. He was resting in the shade of the mosque along with a group of Companions. He (the Prophet) said: Abu Dharr. I said: Yes, I am ruined, Messenger of Allah. He said: What ruined you ? I said: I was away from the watering place and I had family with me. I used to be sexually defiled and pray without purification. He commanded (to bring) water for me. Then a black slave-girl brought a vessel of water that was shaking as the vessel was not full. I concealed myself behind a camel and took bath and them came (to the Prophet). The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: Abu Dharr, clean earth is a means of ablution, even if you do not find water for ten years. When you find water, you should make it touch your skin.

Abu Dawud said: This is transmitted by Hammad b. Zaid from Ayyub. This version does not mention the words "their urine." This is not correct. The words "their urine" occur only in the version reported by Anas and transmitted only by the people of Basrah.

Abū Bakr sent for me after the slaughter of those who fought at al-Yamāma and ‘Umar b. al-Khattāb was with him. Abū Bakr told me that ‘Umar had come to him and drawn attention to the extensive slaughter among Qur’ān readers at the battle of al- Yamāma, saying he was afraid that if readers continued to be killed in large numbers at other battles a large amount of the Qur’ān would be lost, and that he therefore thought he should give command that the Qur’ān be collected. He had asked. ‘Umar how he could do a thing which God’s messenger had not done, and ‘Umar, swearing by God that this was best, had kept at him till God made him inclined to do that, and he came to hold ‘Umar’s opinion about the matter. Zaid told how Abū Bakr said to him, “You are an intelligent young man whom we do not suspect and you have been writing down the revelation which came to God’s messenger, so search for the Qur’ān and collect it,” adding: I swear by God that if they had imposed on me the transportation of a mountain it would not have been a heavier load for me than the collecting of the Qur’ān which he ordered me to undertake. I asked how they could do a thing which God’s messenger had not done and Abū Bakr, swearing by God that this was best, kept at me till God made me in­clined to do what He had made Abū Bakr and ‘Umar inclined to do. I therefore searched for the Qur’ān and collected it from leafless palm branches, white stones and the breasts of men till I found the end of sūra at-Tauba (Qur’ān, 9) with Abū Khuzaima al-Ansārī, not having found it with anyone else: "A messenger from among yourselves has come to you . . .” to the end of Barā'a* (Qur’ān, 9 128-129). The sheets were deposited with Abū Bakr till God took him, then with ‘Umar during his lifetime, then with Hafsa, ‘Umar’s daughter. *Tauba and Barā’a are alternative titles of sūra 9. Bukhārī transmitted it.

`Umar bin al-Khattab was in al-Jabiyah and he mentioned the conquest of Baitul-Maqdis (Jerusalem). Then Abu Salamah said: Abu Sinan told me, from `Ubaid bin Adam that he said: I heard `Umar bin al-Khattab say to Ka`b: Where do you think I should pray? He said: It you listen to me, you will pray behind the rock and all of al-Quds (Jerusalem) will be in front of you. `Umar said: You are suggesting something similar to the Jewish way; rather I shall pray where the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed. He went forward to the qiblah and prayed, then he came and spread his upper garment and swept the place, collecting garbage in his upper garment, and the people swept it too.

Jabir told how ‘Umar b. al-Khattab brought God’s messenger a copy of the Torah saying, “Messenger of God, this is a copy of the Torah.” When he received no reply he began to read to the obvious displeasure of God’s messenger, so Abu Bakr said, “Confound you ¹ do you not see how God’s messenger is looking?” So ‘Umar looked at God’s messenger’s face and said, “I seek refuge in God from the anger of God and His messenger. We are satisfied with God as Lord, with Islam as religion, and with Muhammad as Prophet.” Then God’s messenger said, “By Him in whose hand Muhammad’s soul is, were Moses to appear to you and you were to follow him and abandon me, you would err from the right way. Were he alive and came in touch with my prophetic mission he would follow me.” Darimi transmitted it. ¹ Literally, may the bereaved be bereaved of you.

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God's messenger as saying, "If anyone wishes to meet God, God wishes to meet him; but if anyone does not wish to meet God, God does not wish to meet him.” When ‘A'isha or one of his wives said she did not want to die, he replied, "That is not what I mean; but when death comes to a believer he is given glad tidings of God’s good pleasure and regard, so nothing is dearer to him than what lies before him, and he wishes to meet God and God wishes to meet him. But when an infidel approaches death he is given tidings of God’s punishment and chastisement, so nothing is more objectionable to him than what lies before him, and he does not wish to meet God and God does not wish to meet him.” In ‘A’isha's version it says that death precedes the meeting with God. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

God’s messenger prayed at a funeral and I have retained in my memory some of his supplication. He was saying, “O God, forgive him, show him mercy, grant him security, pardon him, grant him a noble provision and a spacious lodging, wash him with water, snow and ice, purify him from sins as Thou hast purified the white garment from filth, give him a better abode in place of his present one, a better family in place of his present one, and a better spouse in place of his present one, cause him to enter paradise and preserve him from the trial in the grave and the punishment in hell.” A version has “And guard him from the trial in the grave and the punishment in hell.” He added that the result was that he wished he had been that dead man. Muslim transmitted it.

When we were in the Suffa (A kind of verandah at the mosque in Medina where certain poor people lived) God’s mes­senger came out and asked, “Which of you would like to go out every morning to Buthān or al-‘Aqīq (Two wādis not far from Medina where camels were sold) and bring two large-humped she-camels without being guilty of sin or severing ties of relationship?” We replied, “Messenger of God, we would all like that.” He said, “Does not one of you go out in the morning to the mosque and teach or recite two verses of God’s Book? That is better for him than two she- camels, and three verses are better for him than three she-camels, and four verses are better for him than four she-camels, and so on than their numbers in camels.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallāh b. ‘Amr told of a man coming to the Prophet and asking him to teach him to recite. On being told to recite three of the sūras with A. L. R (Qur’ān, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15) he replied, “I am old, my heart has difficulty in remem­bering, and my tongue is sluggish.” When told that in that case he should recite three with Hā’ Mīm (Qur’ān, 40 to 46) he gave the same reply and then asked God’s messenger to teach him to recite a comprehensive sūra. He taught him to recite “When is shaken” (Qur’ān, 99) up to the end, and the man said, “I swear by Him who has sent you with the truth that I shall never recite more than that.” Then when the man turned away God's messenger said twice, “The little man has come into a state of felicity.” Ahmad and Abū Dāwūd transmitted it.

We came to a clan of the Arabs after leaving God's Messenger and they said, “We have been told that you have brought what is good from this man. Have you any medicine, or a charm, for we have a lunatic in chains?" When we replied that we had, they brought a lunatic in chains and I recited Fatihat al-Kitab over him three days morning and evening, collecting my saliva and then spitting it out, and he seemed as if he were set free from a bond. They gave me some payment, but I refused to accept it till I had asked the Prophet. When I did so he said, “Accept it*, for by my life, some accept it for a worthless charm, but you have done so for a genuine one." Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Literally "eat”.

Sa'id b. al-Musayyib told that there were two brothers among the Ansar who shared an inheritance and that when one of them asked the other for the portion due to him he replied, “If you ask me again for the portion due to you, all my property will be devoted to the Ka'ba.”¹ ‘Umar, telling him that the Ka'ba did not need his property, ordered I him to make atonement for his oath and speak to his brother, for he had heard God’s Messenger say, “An oath or a vow to disobey the Lord, t or to break ties of relationship, or about something over which one has no control is not binding on you.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. 1. Fi ritaj al-ka'ba. This phrase which speaks of the door of the Ka'ba is used as a phrase for the Ka'ba itself. 2. Mirqat, iii, 570 says it means he is to speak to his brother about repeating his request.

Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba told that one of two women who were fellow-wives threw a stone or a tent-pole at the other causing an abortion, and God’s Messenger gave judgment that a male or female slave of the best quality be given as compensation for the abortion, and he appointed it to be paid by the woman’s relatives on the father's side. This is Tirmidhi’s version.* Tirmidhi * The principle mentioned in the preface is not observed here. Section 1 should have only traditions from Bukhari or Muslim, but here Tirmidhi’s version is given first. In Muslim’s version he said that a woman struck her fellow-wife with a tent-pole when she was pregnant and killed her, adding that one of them belonged to Lihyan. He said that God’s Messenger made the blood wit for the woman who was killed payable by the paternal relatives of the woman who killed her, and made a slave of the best quality the compensation for the child that had been in her womb. Muslim.

‘Alqama b. Wa’il told on his father’s authority that a man from Hadramaut and man from Kinda came to the Prophet, the Hadrami saying, ‘‘Messenger of God, this man has seized land belonging to me,” and the Kindi saying, “It is my land and in my possession; he has no right to it.” The Prophet asked the Hadrami if he had any proof, but he replied that he had none, so he told him that he could have the other swear an oath. He replied, “Messenger of God, the man is a reprobate who would swear to anything and stick at nothing,” but he told him that that was his only recourse. The man went off to take an oath, and when he turned his back God’s Messenger said, “If he swears about his property to take it unjustly he will certainly find God turning away from him when he meets Him.” Muslim transmitted it.

Once when we accompanied God’s messenger on a journey and the people began to say aloud, “God is most great”, he said, “Restrain yourselves, people; you are not supplicating one who is deaf or absent, but are supplicating One who hears, sees and is with you. He whom you are supplicating is nearer to each of you than the neck of his riding-beast.” Abu Musa said: I was behind him saying within myself, “There is no might and no power except in God,” and he said, “‘Abdallah b. Qais,* would you like me to guide you to one of the treasures of paradise?” On my replying that I certainly would, he said that it was, “There is no might and no power except in God.” *This is Abu Musa’s name and his father's name. He is most commonly known by his kunya. and nisba as given at the beginning of the tradition. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. Busr said that God’s messenger visited his father and they presented him with some food and a mixture of dates, dried curd and clarified butter,* some of which he ate. Then some dates were brought to him and he ate them, throwing away the stones between two fingers, joining the forefinger and the middle finger. A version says that he began to throw away the stones on the outside of his forefinger and middle finger. He was then brought something to drink, and when he had drunk it [‘Abdallah’s] father took hold of the bridle of his beast and said, “Supplicate God for us.” So he said, “O God, bless them in that with which Thou hast provided them, forgive them and show them mercy.” *The Arabic word for this dish is watba. The word hais is used for very much the same dish. See p. 439, n.1. Muslim transmitted it.

When the inspiration was sent down to the Prophet, a low sound was heard near his face like the humming of bees. One day when inspiration was sent down to him and we had waited for a time, it left him, then facing the qibla and raising his hands, he said, “O God, give us more and do not give us less; honour us and do not humiliate us; give us and do not withhold from us; choose us and do not prefer others to us; please us and be pleased with us.” He then said, “I have had sent down to me ten verses which will provide entrance to paradise for those who recite them.” He then recited, “The believers have been successful” and continued till he had completed ten verses, 1 1. Qur'an, xxiii, 1-10. Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud told of a man coming to the Prophet and saying, “Messenger of God, I sported with a woman on the outskirts of Medina, and I got what I wanted from her short of having intercourse with her. Now here I am, so decide what you wish about me.” ‘Umar said to him, “God has concealed this about you. Would that you had kept it to yourself!” Ibn Mas'ud said that the Prophet gave no reply, so the man got up and went away. Then the Prophet sent a man after him to summon him, and he recited this verse to him. “And observe the prayer at the two ends of the day and the neighbouring parts of the night, for good deeds remove evil deeds. That is a reminder to those who remember (Al-Qur’an, 11:114).” One of the people asked, “Prophet of God, does this refer to him in particular?” He replied, “No, it refers to all men.” Muslim transmitted it.

Jubair b. Mut'im said that he saw God’s Messenger observing a prayer in which he said, “God is altogether great; God is altogether great; God is altogether great. Praise be to God in abundance; praise be to God in abundance; praise be to God in abundance. Glory be to God in the morning and afternoon (saying it three times). I seek refuge in God from the accursed devil, from his puffing up (nafkh), his magic (nafth) 1, and his evil suggestion (hamz) 2.” 1. Literally ‘sputtering’, but used of working magic by sputtering on knots. Cf. Qur’an, 113:4. 2. For this meaning cf. Qur’an, 23:97. Abu Dawud transmitted it, as did Ibn Majah, but he did not mention, “Praise be to God in abundance,” and he mentioned at the end of it “from the accursed devil.” ‘Umar said that his nafkh is pride, his, nafth is poetry, and his hamz is madness.

When we prayed with the Prophet we said,* “Peace be to God before it is supplicated for His servants; peace be to Gabriel; peace be to Michael; peace be to so and so.” When the Prophet finished he turned his face to us and said: Do not say, “Peace be to God”, for God Himself is Peace. When one of you sits during the prayer he should say, “The adorations of the tongue, acts of worship and all good things are due to God. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and God’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon God’s upright servants (for when he says that it reaches every upright servant in heaven and earth). I testify that there is no god but God, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.” Then he may choose any supplication which pleases him and offer it. * I.e. at the tashahhud. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Then when he finished he faced the people and said, “O people, I have done this only that you should be guided by me and know how I conduct prayer.”

‘Uthman b. Abul ‘As said that the last command God’s messenger gave him was, “When you act as imam for people, make the prayer short." Muslim transmitted it. In a version by him it says that God's messenger said to him, “Act as imam for your people” to which he said he replied, “Messenger of God, I find a defect in myself.” Telling him to come near and making him sit down in front of him, he placed his hand on his breast between his nipples; then telling him to turn round, he placed it on his back between his shoulders. He then said, “Act as imam for your people. Whoever acts as imam for people must be brief, for among them are the aged, among them are the sick, among them are the weak, and among them are people who have busi­ness to do. But when any of you prays alone he may pray as he likes.”

Zaid b. Khalid al-Juhani decided to watch one night what prayers God’s Messenger said. He prayed two short rak'as, then two long, long, long rak'as, then he prayed two rak'as which were less than the two preceding, then he prayed two rak'as which were less then the two preceding, then he prayed two rak'as which were less than the two preceding, then he prayed two rak'as which were less than the two preceding, then he prayed a single one, making a total of thirteen. Muslim transmitted it. The words “then he prayed two rak'as which were less than the two preceding”, mentioned four times, occur thus in Muslim’s Sahih and among those peculiar or him in Humaidi’s book, also in Malik’s Muwatta’, Abu Dawud’s Sunan, and Jami’ al-Usul.

An-Nu‘man b. Bashir said that when a solar eclipse took place in the time of God’s Messenger he began to pray a series of pairs of rak'as, making requests at the end of them till the sun became clear. Abu Dawud transmitted it. In a version by Nasa’i it says that when the sun was eclipsed the Prophet prayed as Muslims normally do, bowing and prostrating himself. Another version by him says that when a solar eclipse took place one day the Prophet went out quickly to the mosque and prayed till it cleared. Then he said, “The people in pre-Islamic times used to say that the sun and moon were eclipsed only on account of the death of a great man, but the sun and moon are not eclipsed on account of anyone’s death or on account of his birth, but they are two of God’s creatures. God produces in His creation what He wills; so when either of them is eclipsed pray till it clears or till God produces something.

We were brought a platter with a large amount of tharid and slices of boneless meat and I plunged in my hand in all directions, but God’s messenger ate what was in front of him. He seized my right hand with his left and said, “Eat from one place, Ikrash, for it is all one kind of food.” Afterwards we were brought a plate containing various kinds of dates and I began to eat what was.in front of me while God’s messenger’s hand went round in the plate. He then said, “Eat where you wish, ‘Ikrash, for it is not all one kind.” Next water was brought to us and when God’s messenger had washed his hands and wiped his face, forearms and head with the moisture on the palms of his hands, he said, “This, ‘Ikrash, is the ablution for what has been changed by fire.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

I was a guest one night along with God's messenger and he ordered a haunch to be roasted, then took a broad knife and began to cut off slices for me. Bilal then came to tell him the time for prayer had come, and he threw down the knife saying, “What is the m atter with him! May his hands be covered with dust!”* My moustache was long, so he said, “I shall clip it for you over a tooth-stick,” or, “Clip it over a tooth-stick.” *Taribat yadahu. I have here translated the phrase literally, but cf. p. 658. It is not normally to be taken literally. In this tradition the Prophet is evidently displeased because the call to prayer has been made so soon, but it should not be understood that he is calling down a curse on Bilal. In its use here it may indicate some degree of displeasure, but nothing more. Tirmidhi transmitted it*

Zainab the wife of ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud told that ‘Abdallah saw a thread on her neck and asked what it was. When she told him that it was a thread over which a spell had been recited for her he took it, cut it up and said, “You, family of ‘Abdallah, are independent of polytheism. I have heard God’s messenger say that spells, charms and love-spells are polytheism.” She replied, “Why do you speak like this? My eye was discharging and I kept going to so and so, the Jew, and when he applied a spell to it it calmed down.” ‘Abdallah said, “That was just the work of the devil who was pricking it with his hand, and when a spell was uttered he desisted. All you need to do is to say as God’s messenger did, ‘Remove the harm, O Lord of men, and heal. Thou art the Healer. There is no remedy but Thine which leaves no disease behind.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

When the first civil strife occurred, i.e., the assassination of `Uthman, not one of those who had been at Badr remained; when the second occurred, i.e., the Harra, not one of those who had been at al-Hudaibiya remained; and the third [1] one occurred and did not disappear while there was intelligence among the people.[2] 1. Probably a reference to 'Abdallah b. az-Zubair who claimed the Caliphate and was killed in 73 A.H. when al-Hajjaj stormed Mecca. 2. See Bukhari, Maghazi, 12, where the wording is slightly different. Qastallani remarks that tabakh means `intelligence,' but some say 'strength' and also `remains of good in the religion'. I have used the meaning he prefers, but one might use 'strength' which is said to be the basic meaning. Lane gives 'firmness,' 'soundness,' `strength and fatness', 'intelligence' and `good,' Cf. Mirqat. v, 153. Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, "Have you heard of a city part of which is on the land and part in the sea?" On receiving the reply, "Yes, messenger of God," he said, "The last hour will not come before seventy thousand of the descendants of Isaac attack it. When they come to it, they will dismount and will not fight with weapons or shoot arrows, but will say, `There is no god but God' and `God is most great,' whereupon one of its sides will fall down. (Thaur b. Yazid the transmitter remarked that he thought he said the part which was in the sea.) Then they will say a second time, `There is no god but God' and `God is most great,' whereupon the other side will fall down. A third time they will say, `There is no god but God' and `God is most great,' whereupon a breach will be made for them and they will enter it and take booty; but while they are dividing the spoils a cry will reach them to the effect that the dajjal has come forth, and they will abandon everything and go back." Muslim transmitted it.

Hudhaifa b. Asid al-Ghifari told that the Prophet once came on them when they were discussing and asked the subject of their discussion. On being told that they were discussing the last hour he said, "It will not come till you have seen ten signs before it." He then mentioned the smoke,[1] the dajjal, the beast,[2] the rising of the sun in its place of setting, the descent of Jesus, son of Mary, Gog and, Magog,[3] three subsidences, one in the East, one in the West, and one in Arabia, at the end of which a fire will issue from the Yemen and drive mankind to their place of assembly. A version says that a fire will issue from the lowest part of Aden and drive mankind to the place of assembly. A version has about the tenth [sign] "a wind will cast mankind into the sea." Cf. Quran, 44:10. Cf. Quran, 27:82. Cf. Quran, 18:94; 21:96. Muslim transmitted it.

A version has "Some of my people will come forth from hell by my intercession and be named the Jahannam is." `Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God's messenger as saying, " I know the last of the inhabitants of hell to come out of it and the last of the inhabitants of paradise to enter. He is a man who will come crawling out of hell and God will say, `Go and enter paradise.' When he comes to it he will be made to think it is full, so he will say, `O my Lord, I have found it full.' God will reply, `Go and enter paradise, for you will have the equivalent of the world and ten times as much.' He will say, `Art Thou making fun of me?' or `Art Thou laughing at me when Thou art the King?' "He told he had seen God's messenger laughing to such an extent that his back teeth were visible. It was said that that was the inhabitant of paradise who would have the lowest rank. (Bukhari and Muslim,)

`Ubada b. as-Samit reported God's messenger as saying, "In paradise there are a hundred stages between each two of which there is a distance like that between heaven and earth. Al-Firdaus from which issue the four rivers of paradise is the highest of them, and above it is the Throne; so, when you make request from God ask Him for al-Firdaus." Tirmidhi transmitted it. I have not found it in the two Sahihs or al-Humaidi's book[*]. *In Masabih as-sunna the source of each individual tradition is not given but those in section 1 are all called sahih and come from Bukhari or Muslim, or from both. One therefore does not expect to find a tradition from Tirmidhi in section 1. It occurs in his collection in Sifat al janna, 4. In Masabih as-sunna it does not say that this tradition comes from 'Ubada, but the Mishkat is correct in attributing it to him. There is one like it from Abu Huraira in Bukhari, jihad, 4, but the wording is not identical.

He told that God's messenger asked advice when they heard of the approach of Abu Sufyan, and Sa`d b. `Ubada got up and said, "Messenger of God, by Him in whose hand my soul is, if you were to command us to plunge our animals[1] into the sea we would do so, and if you were to command us to drive them as vigorously as possible to Bark al-Ghimad[2] we would do so." God's messenger then invited the people, and they went off till they alighted at Badr. God's messenger then said, "This is where so and so will be killed," putting his hand on the ground here and there. Anas said that none of them[3] left the place indicated by God's messenger's hand. 1. 'Literally, "to plunge them ". The context makes it clear that the reference is to animals. 2. A place in the Yemen. 3. This is explained as referring to the infidels the place of whose death the Prophet had foretold. Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir told that a Jewess belonging to Khaibar poisoned a roasted sheep and presented it to God's messenger. He took a foreleg and ate some of it, and some of his companions ate along with him. Then telling them to withdraw their hands, he sent for the Jewess, called her and said, "You have poisoned this sheep." She asked who told him and he replied, "This which is in my hand," referring to the foreleg. She said, "Yes, I said to myself that if he is a prophet, it will not harm him, and if he is not a prophet, we shall be rid of him." God's messenger pardoned her and did not punish her. His companions who had eaten some of the sheep died, and God's messenger had himself cupped on the upper arm because of what he had eaten of the sheep. Abu Hind who was a client of the B. Bayada, a section of the Ansar, cupped him with a horn and the edge of a knife. Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Al-Bara bin Azib and Zaid b. Arqam told that when God's Messenger alighted at the pool of Khumm[1] he took `Ali by the hand and asked those present, "Do you not know that I am closer to the believers than they themselves[2]?"and they replied, "Certainly." He then asked, "Do you not know that I am nearer to every believer than he himself?" and they replied, "Certainly." He then said, "0 God, he whose patron I am has `Ali as his patron. 0 God, be friendly to those who are friendly to him and hostile to those who are hostile to him." After that `Umar met him and said, "Congratulations, son of Abu Talib. Morning and evening you are the patron of every believing man and woman." Near al-Juhfa, a place four stages from Mecca on the way to Medina. cf. Quran, 33:6. Ahmad transmitted it.

Prayer passed through three stages. And out people narrated to us that Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) said; it is to my liking that the prayer of Muslims or believers should be united (i.e., in congregation), so much so that I intended to send people to the houses to announce the time of prayer; and I also resolved that I should order people to stand at (the tops of) the forts and announce the time of the prayer for Muslims; and they struck the bell or were about to strike the bell (to announce the time for prayer). Then came a person from among the Ansar who said: Messenger of Allah, when I returned from you, as I saw your anxiety. I saw (in sleep) a person with two green clothes on him; he stood on the mosque and called (people) to prayer. He then sat down for a short while and stood up and pronounced in a like manner, except that he added: “The time for prayer has come”. If the people did not call me (a liar), and according to the version of Ibn al-Muthanna, if you did not call me (a liar). I would say that I was awake; I was awake; I was not asleep. The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) said: According to the version of Ibn al-Muthanna, Allah has shown you a good (dream). But the version of ‘Amr does not have the words: Allah has shown you a good (dream). Then ask Bilal to pronounce the ADHAN (to call to the prayer). ‘Umar (in the meantime) said: I also had a dream like the one he had. But as he informed earlier. I was ashamed (to inform). Our people have narrated to us: when a person came (to the mosque during the prayer in congregation), he would ask (about the RAKAHS of prayer), and he would be informed about the number of RAKAHS already performed. They would stand (in prayer) along with the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him): some in standing position; others bowing; some sitting and some praying along with the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him).

Ibn al-Muthanna reported from ‘Amr from Hussain b. Abi Laila, saying ; Until Mu’adh came. Shu’bah said ; I heard it from Hussain who said : I shall follow the position (in the prayer in which I find him (the prophet)). . . you should do in a similar way.

Abu Dawud said: I then turned to the tradition reported by ‘Amr b. Marzuq he said; then Ma’adh came and they (the people) hinted at him. Shu’bah said; I heard it from hussain who said: Mu’adh then said; I shall follow the position (in the prayer when I join it) in which I find him (the prophet). He then said: Mu’adh has prayer when I join it in which I find him (the prophet). He then said: MU’adh has introduced for you a SUNNAH (a model behaviour), so you should do in a like manner. He said; our people have narrated to us; when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to Madina, he commanded them (the people) to keep fast for three days. Thereafter the Quranic verses with regard to the fasts during Ramadan were revealed. But they were people who were not accustomed to keep fast ; hence the keeping of the fasts was hard for them; so those who could not keep fast would feed an indigent; then the month”. The concession was granted to the patient and the traveler; all were commanded to keep fast.