Ibn ‘Umar told of hearing the Prophet say, "Kill snakes, kill those which have two streaks and those with small tails, for they obliterate the eyesight and cause miscarriage." ‘Abdallah [i.e. Ibn Umar] said that while he was chasing a snake and trying to kill it Abu Lubaba called to him not to kill it, but he replied that God's messenger had given command that snakes should be killed. He then said that he had later prohibited killing house-snakes, for they are resident jinn. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

“Use a spell for her, for she has been affected by the evil eye.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Saf’a is explained as a stroke from the devil, or the influence of the evil eye. It may be read suf’a which means blackness, or blackness tinged with red. Sufra normally means yellowness, but it can also mean blackness, and that may be the interpretation it should have here, in which case one should read suf'a.

Jubair b. Mut'im reported the Prophet as saying about the prisoners taken at Badr, “If al-Mut‘im b. ‘Adi* had been alive and spoken to me about these filthy ones, I would have left them for him.” * He was head of the B. Naufal. He agreed to give Muhammad protection after his return from at-Ta'if where he had gone after Abu Talib’s death. Al-Mut‘im died before the battle of Badr. He did not become a Muslim. Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying at the battle of Badr, “Who will find out for us what has happened to Abu Jahl?” Ibn Mas'ud went and. found that the two sons of ‘Afra,’ had struck him till he was almost dead, so he seized him by his beard and said, “Are you Abu Jahl?” He replied, “Have you killed more than a man?” In a version he said, “I wish someone other than a tiller of the ground had killed me.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id reported God's messenger as saying, "The believers will be rescued from hell and restrained at a bridge between paradise and hell. Retaliation will be taken from some for others for wrongs done among them in the world, and when they have been cleansed and purified permission will be granted them to enter paradise. By Him in whose hand Muhammad's soul is, one of them shall find the way more easily to his dwelling in paradise than he did to his dwelling which he owned in the world." Bukhari transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "We have more right to doubt than Abraham when he said, `My Lord, show me how Thou wilt raise the dead to life.'[1] God have mercy on Lot who sought refuge in a strong support[2]. If I had stayed in the prison as long as Joseph did, I would have responded to the summoner[3]." 1. Quran, 2:260. 2. Quran, 11:80 3. Quran, 12:50. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Thabit told that when Anas was asked about God's messenger's hair dye, he replied that [his hair] did not reach the stage of needing to be dyed, adding that if he (i.e., Anas) wanted he could count the number of grey hairs in his beard. A version says that if he wanted to count the grey hairs which were in his head he could do so. In a version he said the white hairs above his chin, on his temples and on his head were few. (Bukhari and Muslim,)

Ibn 'Umar (RAA) narrated, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) say, "Start fasting after you have seen it (i.e. the new crescent) and end the fast (at the end of the month) when you see it. If it is overcast and cannot be seen, then estimate its sighting (i.e. presume that Sha‘ban lasted for thirty days)." Agreed upon. Muslim narrated, "If it is too overcast to be seen then presume that it (Sha'ban) lasted for thirty days."In another narration by al-Bukhari, "wait, until thirty days of it (Sha’ban) have passed."

Lā ilāha illallāh al-`Aẓīmul-Ḥalīm, lā ilāha illallāh Rabbu ‘l-`Arshi ‘l-'Aẓīm, lā ilāha illallāh Rabbus-samāwāti wa Rabbu ‘l-arḍ wa Rabbu ‘l-`Arshi ‘l-Karīm. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, and Lord of the Noble Throne. Reference: Al-Bukhari 8/154, Muslim 4/2092

Allāhumma innī as'aluka khayrahā, wa khayra mā fīhā, wa khayra mā ursilat bih, wa a`ūdhu bika min sharrihā, wa sharri mā fīhā, wa sharri mā ursilat bih. O Allah, I ask You for the good of it, for the good of what it contains, and for the good of what is sent with it. I seek refuge in You from the evil of it, from the evil of what it contains, and from the evil that is sent with it. Reference: Muslim 2/616, Al-Bukhari 4/76.

-- The Prophet (SAW) said Allāhu Akbar (Allah is the Most Great) with each pebble he threw at the three pillars. Then he went forward, stood facing the Qiblah, and raised his hands and called upon Allah. That was after (stoning) the first and second pillars. As for the third, he stoned it and called out Allāhu Akbar with every pebble he threw, but when he was finished he left without standing at it (for supplications). Reference: Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 3/581, 3, 4, and Muslim

When night falls, restrain your children (from going out) because at such time the devils spread about. After a period of time has passed, let them be. Shut your doors and mention Allah’s name, for verily the devil does not open a shut door, tie up your water-skins and mention Allah’s name, cover your vessels with anything and mention Allah’s name and put out your lamps. Reference: Al-Bukhari with Al-Fath 10/88 and Muslim 3/1595.

I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say: "Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated." [Bukhari & Muslim]

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al-qadr [Night of Decree] in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Amr said that he expressed a wish to Ta’us that he would abandon the practice of employing people on land in return for part of the pro-duce, for people asserted that the Prophet had forbidden it. He replied to ‘Amr that he was just giving them something and helping them, adding that the most learned of the people, meaning Ibn ‘Abbas, had informed him that the Prophet did not forbid it, but said, “It is better for one of you to lend to his brother than to take a prescribed sum from him." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I swear by God that I have seen the Prophet standing at the door of my room when the Abyssinians were playing with spears in the mosque and God’s Messenger was covering me with his cloak in order that I might look over his shoulder* at their sport. He would then stand for my sake till I was the one who departed; so estimate the time a young girl eager for amusement would wait.” * Literally “between his ear and his shoulder.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “When a woman who has been called to come to her husband’s bed refuses and he spends the night angry, the angels curse her till the morning.” In a version by both of them he said, “By Him in whose hand my soul is, if any woman who has been called to come to her husband’s bed refuses, He who is in heaven is displeased with her till her t husband is pleased with her.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ka'b b. Malik told that he said, “Messenger of God, to make my repentance complete* I should divest myself of my property as sadaqa for God and His Messenger.” God's Messenger replied, “Retain some of your property, for that will be better for you.” So he said he would retain the portion he had at Khaibar. (Bukhari and Muslim.) This is part of a long tradition. * Mirqat, iii, 566 refers this to his withdrawal from the expedition to Tabuk without a valid reason. Pt. 10

Jundub b. ‘Abdallah reported God’s Messenger as saying that among those who lived before their time there was a man who had a wound and had so little patience to bear it that he took a knife with which he cut off his hand, but the blood did not cease to flow till he died. God most high said, “My servant has tried to outstrip me in taking his life, so I have excluded him from paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “He who obeys me has obeyed God and he who disobeys me has disobeyed God; he who obeys the commander has obeyed me and he who disobeys the commander has disobeyed me. The imam is only a shield behind whom fighting is engaged in and by whom protection is sought; so if he commands piety and acts justly he will have a reward for that, but if he holds another view he will on that account be held guilty.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

The Prophet (PBUH) came into the mosque and noticed a rope stretched between two poles. He enquired, "What is this rope for?" He was told: "This is Zainab's rope. When during her voluntary prayer, she begins to feel tired, she grasps it for support". The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Untie it. You should perform prayers so long as you feel active. When you feel tired, you should go to sleep".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

I heard Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "Shall I not inform you about the people of Jannah? It is every person who is, modest and humble (before Allah), a person who is accounted weak and is looked down upon but if he adjures Allah, Allah will certainly give him what he desires. Now shall I not inform you about the inmates of Hell? It is every violent, impertinent and proud man".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

I heard the Prophet (PBUH) saying, "The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and of the one blowing the bellows. The owner of musk would either offer you some free of charge, or you would buy it from him, or you smell its pleasant fragrance; and as for the one who blows the bellows (i.e., the blacksmith), he either burns your clothes or you smell a repugnant smell".

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

I heard Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "When Allah created the creatures, He wrote in the Book, which is with Him over His Throne: 'Verily, My Mercy prevailed over My Wrath"

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "(Allah wrote) 'My Mercy dominated My Wrath".

Still another narration is: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "(Allah wrote) 'My Mercy surpasses My Wrath".

A drink was brought to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and he drank some of it. On his right was a boy and on his left were elderly people. He said to the boy, "Would you permit me to give the rest of this drink to these on my left?" The boy said, "O Messenger of Allah, I would certainly not give preference to anyone in anything that might come to me from you." So he handed over the rest of the drink to him.

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Let none of you wish for death on account of an affliction that befalls him. If he has no alternative, let him pray: 'Allahumma ahyine ma kanatil-hayatu khairan li, wa tawaffani idha kanatil-wafatu khairan li (O Allah! Give my life so long as the life is good for me, and take away my life if death is good for me)'."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

When the Prophet (PBUH) visited any ailing member of his family, he would touch the sick person with his right hand and would supplicate: "Allahumma Rabban-nasi, adhhibil-ba'sa, washfi, Antash-Shafi, la shifa'a illa shifa'uka, shifaan la yughadiru saqaman [O Allah! the Rubb of mankind! Remove this disease and cure (him or her)! You are the Great Curer. There is no cure but through You, which leaves behind no disease]."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

I saw Mu'awiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) during the Hajj (pilgrimage) standing on the pulpit. He took from the guard a bunch of hair, and said: "O people of Al-Madinah! Where are your scholars? (Why do they do not prohibit you) I heard the Prophet (PBUH) prohibiting from using this (false hair) and saying, 'The people of Bani Israel were ruined when their women wore such hair."'

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and said: "I have a co-wife. "Is there any harm for me if I give her the false impression of getting something from my husband which he has not in fact given me?" The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The one who creates a false impression of receiving what one has not been given is like one who wears two garments of falsehood."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Whosoever possesses these four characteristics, is a sheer hypocrite; and anyone who possesses one of them, possesses a characteristic of hypocrisy till he gives it up. (These are:) When he is entrusted with something, he proves dishonest; when he talks, he tells a lie; when he makes a covenant, he acts treacherously; and when he quarrels, he utters foul language."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) passed by two graves and said, "Both of them (the persons in these graves) are being tortured, and they are not being tortured for a cardinal sin. But indeed they are great sins. One of them used not to save himself from being soiled with his urine, and the other one used to go about with calumnies (among the people to rouse hostilities, e.g., one goes to a person and tells him that so-and-so says about him such and such evil things)."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying: "Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people, but He takes it away by taking away (the lives of) the religious scholars till none of the scholars stays alive. Then the people will take ignorant ones as their leaders, who, when asked to deliver religious verdicts, will issue them without knowledge, the result being that they will go astray and will lead others astray."

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "He who utters ten times: 'La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahulmulku wa lahulhamdu, wa Huwa 'ala kulli sha'in Qadir (there is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner with Him. His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent),' he will have a reward equal to that for freeing four slaves from the progeny of Prophet Isma'il."

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "If anyone intends to have (sexual intercourse) with his wife, he should say: "Bismillah! Allahumma janibnash-Shaitana, wa jannibish-Shaitana ma razaqtana (In the Name of Allah, O Allah! Keep us away from Satan and keep Satan away from what You have bestowed upon us);' and if Allah has ordained a child for them, Satan will never harm him."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

A man kissed a woman. So he came to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and informed him about it. Then Allah revealed this Ayah: "And perform the Salat, between the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night. Verily, the good deeds efface the evil deeds (i.e., minor sins)." (11:114) The man asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) whether this applies to him only. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "It applies to all of my Ummah."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

We accompanied the Prophet (PBUH) in a journey, and when we climbed up a height, we proclaimed aloud: "La ilaha illallah (There is no true god except Allah)" and "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)." The Prophet (PBUH) admonished us saying, "O people, take it easy. He Whom you are calling is not deaf or absent. He is with you (i.e., by His Knowledge), He is Hearing and He is Near."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "There is a tree in Jannah that is so huge that if a rider of a swift horse has to cover its distance from one end to another in one hundred years, he will not be able to do so."

Another narration from Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) is: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "A rider will not be able to cross its (the tree's) shade even after travelling for one hundred years."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

When Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and I were in the cave of Thaur and I saw the feet of the polytheists who were above us at the mouth of the cave (on the eve of the Emigration), I submitted: "O Messenger of Allah! If one of them were to look down below his feet, he would see us". He (PBUH) said, "O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two whose third is Allah".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Ibn ‘Abbas said God's messenger left Medina to go to Mecca and fasted till he reached ‘Usfan. He then called for water, and raising it aloft so that the people might see it, he broke his fast and did not resume it till he reached Mecca, and that was in Ramadan. Ibn ‘Abbas used to say, “God’s messenger has fasted and has broken his fast, so he who wishes may fast and he who wishes may break his fast.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim from Jabir it says that he drank after the afternoon prayer.

She said that when the Prophet had a complaint he would blow on himself, ejecting saliva, reciting the Mu'awwidhat (See n. 1, p, 197.), and wipe himself with his hand. She said, “When he suffered from the pain of which he died, I would blow on him ejecting saliva and recite the Mu'awwidhat as he did, and would take the Prophet’s hand to wipe him.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim she said, “When one of his family was ill he would blow on him ejecting saliva and recite the Mu'awwidhat.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has a hundred, mercies of which He has sent down one among jinn and men, animals and creeping things. By it they are kind to one another, by it they show mercy to one another, and by it the wild beast is kind to its young. But God has kept back ninety-nine mercies by which He will show mercy to His servants on the day of resurrection.” (Bukhari and Muslim). A version by Muslim from Salman has something similar, at the end of which he said, “When the day of resurrection comes He will complete them with this one.”

A bedouin came to Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and said to him, "When will be the Hour (i.e., the Day of Resurrection)?" He (the Prophet (PBUH)) said, "What preparation have you made for it?" He said, "Only the love of Allah and His Messenger." Then Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "You will be with those whom you love."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The narration in Muslim is: The man replied: "I have made no significant preparation with regard to Salat (prayer), Saum (fasting) and Sadaqah (charity) but I love Allah and His Messenger".

I visited the Prophet (PBUH) when he was suffering fever. I said, "You seem to be suffering greatly, O Messenger of Allah." The Prophet (PBUH) replied, "Yes, I suffer as much as two persons." I said, "Is that because you have a double reward?" He replied that that was so and then said, "No Muslim is afflicted by a harm, be it the pricking of a thorn or something more (painful than that), but Allah thereby causes his sins to fall away just as a tree sheds its leaves".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

He reported God’s messenger as declaring that God says, “When I take away from my believing servant his favourite friend among the people of this world and he seeks his reward from me, he will have no other reward from me but paradise.” Bukhari transmitted it.

“I saw in a dream that I was emigrating from Mecca to a land containing palm-trees and I conjectured that it was to al-Yamama or to Hajar, but it was the city of Yathrib.* In this vision of mine I saw that I brandished a sword and the front part of it was cut off; this represented those believers who were smitten at the battle of Uhud. I brandished it again and it was restored to perfect condition; and this represented the victory and the community of believers which God brought about.”** (Bukhari and Muslim.) * The old name of Medina. ** Probably a reference to the Conquest of Mecca and the numbers who accepted Islam. Cf. Qur'an, 110

When we were on an expedition along with God’s Messenger and had no women with us we asked whether we should not have ourselves castrated, but he forbade us to do that. Then he granted us licence to contract temporary marriages, and one would marry a woman giving a garment as dower up to a fixed date. Then ‘Abdallah recited, “You who believe, do not make unlawful the good things which God has made lawful for you” (Al-Qur’an 5:87). (Bukhari and Muslim.)

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Keep away from the seven fatalities." It was asked: "What are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He (PBUH) replied, "Associating anything with Allah in worship (i.e., committing an act of Shirk), sorcery, killing of one whom Allah has declared inviolable without a just cause, devouring the property of an orphan, the eating of usury (Riba), fleeing from the battlefield and accusing chaste believing women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Bakra reported the Prophet as saying, “When two Muslims meet and one of them bears arms against his brother, they are both on the brink of hell, and if one of them kills the other they will both enter it.” In a version on Abu Bakra's authority he said, “When two Muslims meet with their swords, the one who kills and the one who is killed will go to hell." When he (i.e. Abu Bakr) remarked that one was the killer and asked what was wrong with the one who was killed, he replied, “He was eager to kill his companion." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Allah created all the creatures and when He finished the task of His creation, Ar-Rahm (ties of relationship) said: '(O Allah) at this place I seek refuge with You against severing my ties.' Allah said: 'That I treat with kindness those who treat you with kindness and sever ties with those who sever ties with you.' It said: 'I am satisfied.' Allah said: 'Then this is yours". Then Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Recite this Ayah if you like: 'Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? Such are they whom Allah has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight". (47:22,23).

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The words in Al-Bukhari are: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Allah (SWT) says: 'He who maintains good ties with you, I maintain good ties with him; and he who severs your ties, I sever ties with him".

I never felt jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet (PBUH) as much as I did of Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her), although I have never seen her, but the Prophet (PBUH) used to mention her very often. Whenever he slaughtered a sheep, he would cut it into pieces and send them to the women friends of Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her). When I sometimes said to him: "You treat Khadijah in such a way as if there is no woman on earth except her". He (PBUH) would say, "Khadijah was such and such (commending her and speaking well of her), and I had children from her".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Another narration is: And if he (PBUH) slaughtered a sheep, he would send meat to the friends of Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) as a present as much as would suffice them.

Another narration is: When a sheep was slaughtered, he (PBUH) would say, "Send this meat to Khadijah's friends." Once, Halah bint Khuwailid (May Allah be pleased with her), sister of Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her), sought permission of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) to enter. He recognized and recalled to his mind the manner of Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) and was deeply moved. He said, "O Allah, she must be Halah bint Khuwailid".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Our Lord (glorified and exalted be He) descends each night to the earth's sky when there remains the final third of the night, and He says: Who is saying a prayer to Me that I may answer it? Who is asking something of Me that I may give it him? Who is asking forgiveness of Me that I may forgive him? It was related by al-Bukhari (also by Muslim, Malik, at-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud). In a version by Muslim the Hadith ends with the words: And thus He continues till [the light of] dawn shines.

‘A'isha said that when God’s messenger washed because of a seminal emission he first washed his hands, then performed ablution as he did for prayer, then put his fingers into the water and moved them through the roots of his hair, then poured three handfuls on his head with both hands, then poured the water over all his skin. (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim he first washed his hands before putting them into the vessel, then poured water over his left hand with his right hand, then washed his private parts, after which he performed ablution.

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "None of you should wish for death. If he is righteous, perhaps he may add to (his) good works, and if he is a sinner, possibly he may repent (in case he is given a longer life)."

[Al-Bukhari].

In Muslim, Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported : Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Let none of you wish for death, nor he ask for it before it comes to him, because when he dies, his actions will be terminated; certainly the age of a (true) believer does not add but good."

Dhul Hulaifa for the people of Medina, al- Juhfa for the people of Syria, Qarn al-Manazil for the people of Najd, and Yalamlam for the people of the Yemen ; so these spots are for these regions and for people of other regions who come to them intending to perform the hajj and the ‘umra. The place where those who live nearer to Mecca should put on the ihram (The pilgrim dress) is where they live, and so on and so on up to the inhabitants of Mecca itself who put on the ihram in it. Bukhari and Muslim.

When we were with the Prophet at al- Ji'rana a desert Arab came to him wearing a tunic which was copiously perfumed (Literally “smeared copiously with khaluq." This is a perfume composed of saffron and other elements, yellow and red being the predominant colours) and said, “Messenger of God, I entered the sacred state for the ’umra while wearing this.” He replied, “Wash the perfume which is on you three times, take off the tunic, then do in your ’umra as you do in your hajj.” Bukhari and Muslim.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When a summons to prayer is made the evil turns his back and breaks wind so as not to hear the call being made, but when the summons is finished he turns round. When a second call to prayer is made he turns his back, and when the second call is finished he turns round to distract a man, saying, ‘Remember such and such ; remember such and such’, referring to something the man did not have in mind, with the result that he does not know how much he has prayed.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, “He who eats garlic or onions must keep away from us.” Or he said, “must keep away from our mosque,” or, “must sit in his house.” A pot containing green vegetables was brought to the Prophet, but on noticing that it had an odour he told them to give it to one of his Companions, to whom he said, "Eat, for I hold intimate converse with one with whom you do not."* *The reference is here said to be to angels, or particularly to Gabriel. Cf. Mirqat, iv, 373 (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. Abu Aufa told that at one of his battles in which God’s Messenger met the enemy he waited till the sun declined, then stood up among the people and said, “You people must not desire to meet the enemy, but must ask God for wellbeing, and when you meet them show endurance and know that paradise is under the shadows of the swords." He then said, “O God, who sendest down the Book, makest the clouds to travel and routest the confederates, rout them and give us victory over them.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Shu'ba, on Qatada's authority, said Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "My commission and the coming of the last hour are like these two[*]." Shu'ba added that he also heard Qatada say in his telling of the tradition, "Like the superiority of one of them ovel the other," but did not know whether he mentioned it on the authority of Anas, or whether Qatada said it himself. *Mirqat, 5:223 f., explains this as the middle finger and the forefinger, referring to al-Mustaurid's tradition given below. The middle finger is only slightly longer. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He quoted the Prophet as stating that on the day of resurrection God will say to the inhabitant of hell who has the lightest punishment, " If you had everything the earth contains would you seek to ransom yourself with it? " and when he replies that he would, He will say, "I desired less than that from you when you were in Adam's loins, viz. that you should associate nothing with Me[*], but you insisted on associating others with Me." *The reference here is to what is mentioned in Quran, 7:172, regarding the covenant with the descendants of Adam. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Umm Sulaim told that the Prophet used to visit her and have a siesta in her house, and she would spread out a leather cloth on which he had his siesta. He sweated profusely, and she would collect his sweat and put it in perfume. The Prophet asked, "What is this, Umm Sulaim?" and she replied, "It is your sweat which we put in our perfume, and it is a perfume of the sweetest type." In a version she said, "Messenger of God, we hope for your blessing on our children," and he replied, "You are right." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When I was walking with God's messenger who was wearing a Najrani cloak with a coarse fringe, a nomadic Arab caught up on him and gave his cloak a violent tug, pulling God's Prophet back against his chest, and I saw that the side of God's messenger's shoulder was marked by the fringe of the cloak because of the violence of the man's tug. He said, "Command, that I be given some of God's property which you have, Muhammad," and God's messenger turned round to him and laughed, then ordered that he be given something. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

God's messenger was the best of men, the most generous of men, the bravest of men. One night when the people of Medina were startled and went in the direction of the sound, they were met by the Prophet who had gone in the direction of the sound before them, and he was saying, "You have nothing to fear, you have nothing to fear." He was on a bare-backed horse with no saddle belonging to Abu Talha and had a sword slung on his neck. He said, "I found it could run like a great river." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Do you have any other Divine Revelation besides what is in the Qur’an? ’Ali said, ‘No. By Him Who made the grain split (germinate) and created the soul, we have nothing besides the Qur’an except the gift of understanding the Qur’an, which Allah gives a man, besides what is written in this manuscript. I said, ‘What is in this manuscript?’ ‘Ali said, ‘The regulations of Diyah (Blood money), the ransom for captives and the ruling that no Muslim should be killed in Qisas for killing a disbeliever.’ Related by Al-Bukhari.

Labbayk-Allāhumma labbayk, labbayka lā sharīka laka labbayk, inna ‘l-ḥamda, wanni`mata, laka wa ‘l-mulk, lā sharīka lak. I am here at Your service, O Allah, I am here at Your service. I am here at Your service, You have no partner, I am here at Your service. Surely the praise, and blessings are Yours, and the dominion. You have no partner. Reference: Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 3/408, Muslim 2/841.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Every joint of a person must perform a charity each day that the sun rises: to judge justly between two people is a charity. To help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it, is a charity. And the good word is a charity. And every step that you take towards the prayer is a charity, and removing a harmful object from the road is a charity.” [Al-Bukhari] [Muslim]

Abu Huraira reported that an Arab came to the Prophet and said, "Guide me to a deed by doing which I shall enter paradise.” He said, “Worship God and associate nothing with Him, observe the prescribed prayer, pay the obligatory zakat, and fast during Ramadan.” He replied, "By Him in whose hand my soul is, I shall not add anything to this, or fall short of it.” Then when he turned away the Prophet said, "If anyone wishes to look at a man who will be among the people of paradise, let him look at this man.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A'isha said, "God’s messenger used to fast to such an extent that we thought he would never break his fast, and he would go without fasting to such an extent that we thought he would never fast. I never saw God’s messenger fast a complete month except in Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more in any month than in Sha'ban." In a version she said he used to fast the whole of Sha'ban, i.e. he would fast all but a little of Sha'ban. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar said that a man told the Prophet that he was being deceived in business transactions, and he replied, "When you make a bargain say, 'There is no attempt to deceive'*.” Then the man made a habit of saying that. (Bukhari and Muslim.) * He was to say this to protect himself because he was not expert enough to detect defects in what he was buying. Some hold that one who says this has the right to cancel the transaction if any defect is discovered within three days. Some say this applied only to the man who spoke to the Prophet; others say it applies to anyone.

Abu Sa'id and Abu Huraira told that God’s Messenger appointed a man over Khaibar and he brought him dates of a very fine quality. He asked him whether all the dates of Khaibar were like that, and he replied, “I swear by God that they are certainly not, Messenger of God. We take a sa‘ of this kind for two, and two for three." So he said, "Do not do so. Sell the lot for dirhams, then buy the very fine dates for dirhams." He said that it was the same when things were sold by weight. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id said that Bilal brought the Prophet some barni* dates, and when he asked him where he had got them he replied, "I had some inferior dates, so I sold two sa's of them for a sa." He said, "Ah, the very essence of usury, the very essence of usury. Do not do so, but when you wish to buy, sell the dates in a separate transaction, then buy with what you get." (Bukhari and Muslim.) * A type of dates of the best quality, sweet and luscious, red tinged with yellow.

Abu Huraira told that a man demanded payment of a debt from God's Messenger in a most uncivil manner and his companions were vexed, but he said, “Leave him alone, for one who has a right is entitled to speak, and buy him a camel and give it to him." When they told him that all they could find was one of a more excellent age than the man was entitled to, he said, “Buy it and give him it, for the best person among you is he who discharges his debt in the best manner." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

My paternal uncle through fosterage came and asked permission to enter, but I refused to allow him till I asked God’s Messenger. When he came I asked him and he said, “He is your paternal uncle, so give him permission.” I replied, “Messenger of God, it was only the woman who suckled me and not the man” whereupon he said, “He is your paternal uncle, so let him come in where you are.” That was after seclusion was instituted for us. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’isha told that the wife of Rifa'a al-Qurazi came to God's Messenger and said, “I was married to Rifa’a but he divorced me, making my divorce irrevocable. Afterwards I married ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. az- Zubair, but all he possesses is like the fringe of a garment.” He asked her whether she wanted to return to Rifa'a, but when she replied that she did, he said, “You may not until ‘Abd ar-Rahman and you have experienced the sweetness of intercourse with one another.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A woman must not ask to have her sister* divorced in order to deprive her of what belongs to her, but she must marry, because she will have what has been decreed for her." (Bukhari and Muslim.) * The word ‘sister’ is here used in a general sense. The tradition has been explained as referring to one of a man’s wives trying to get him to divorce another, but it probably refers to a woman whom the man has asked in marriage wanting him to divorce his wife before she marries him.

He said that ar-Rubaiyi‘, paternal aunt of Anas b. Malik, broke the front tooth of a girl of the Ansar, and when they went to the Prophet he ordered retaliation to be taken. Then Anas b. an-Nadr, paternal uncle of Anas b. Malik, said, “No, by God, her front tooth will not be broken, Messenger of God." He replied, “Anas, God’s decree is retaliation." But the people were agreeable to accepting a fine, so God’s Messenger said, “Among God’s servants there are those who, if one adjured God, would consent to it." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Umar b. al-Khattab said that captives came to the Prophet among whom was a woman whose breast was oozing with milk. She was running, and when she found a boy among the captives she took him, put him to her breast and suckled him. Then the Prophet said to us, “Do you think this woman will cast her child into the fire?” We replied, “No, so long as is she in a position not to do so.” He said, “God is more merciful to His servants than this woman is to her child.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Every one of my followers will be forgiven except those who expose (openly) their wrongdoings. An example of this is that of a man who commits a sin at night which Allah has covered for him, and in the morning, he would say (to people): "I committed such and such sin last night,' while Allah had kept it a secret. During the night Allah has covered it up but in the morning he tears up the cover provided by Allah Himself."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

I was walking with Messenger of Allah (PBUH) who was wearing a Najrani cloak with a very thick border when a bedouin happened to meet him. He took hold of the side of his cloak and drew it violently. I noticed that the violence of jerk had bruised the neck of Messenger of Allah (PBUH). The bedouin said: "O Muhammad! Give me out of Allah's wealth that you possess." Messenger of Allah (PBUH) turned to him and smiled and directed that he should be given something.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Four are the qualities which, when found in a person, make him a sheer hypocrite, and one who possesses one of them, possesses one characteristic of hypocrisy until he abandons it. These are: When he is entrusted with something, he betrays trust; when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he acts treacherously; and when he argues, he behaves in a very imprudent, insulting manner."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) used to preach to us once every Thursday. A man said to him: "O Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, we love your talk and we wish that you preach us every day." He said: "There is nothing to prevent me from doing so, but I don't lest I bore you. I follow the same method in preaching to you that Messenger of Allah (PBUH) adopted in preaching to us for fear of boredom."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

A drink was brought to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and he drank (some) from it. On his right was a boy and on his left were some elderly people. He (PBUH) said to the boy, "Would you permit me to give rest of this drink to these on my left?" The boy said: "O Messenger of Allah, I would certainly not give preference to anyone in anything that might come to me from you." So he (PBUH) handed over the rest of the drink to him.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) visited me after returning from a journey, and I had a shelf with a thin cloth curtain hanging over it and on which there were portraits. When he saw it, the colour of his face changed (because of anger) and he said, "O 'Aishah! the most grievous torment from Allah on the Day of Resurrection will be for those who imitate (Allah) in the act of His creation." 'Aishah said: We tore it into pieces and made a cushion or two cushions out of that.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

(My father) Abu Musa got seriously ill and lost his consciousness. His head was in the lap of a woman of the family and she began to wail. When Abu Musa recovered his consciousness, he said: "I am innocent of those from whom Messenger of Allah (PBUH) is innocent. Verily, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) declared himself free of (the responsibility) for a woman who wails, shaves her head and tears up her clothes."

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

I donated a horse in the way of Allah. Its new possessor did not treat it properly. I made my mind to buy it because I thought that he would sell it at a cheap price (now that it became weak and emaciated). I asked the Prophet (PBUH) about it, whereupon he said, "Do not buy it and do not get back your charity, for one who gets back the charity is like a dog that eats its own vomit."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

I happened to pass by some lads of the Quraish who had tied a bird at which they have been shooting arrows. Every arrow that they missed came into the possession of the owner of the bird. No sooner had they seen Ibn 'Umar, they dispersed. Thereupon, Ibn 'Umar said: "Who has done this? May Allah curse him who has done so. Verily, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) has cursed anyone who makes a live thing the target (of one's marksmanship)."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Whosoever possesses these four characteristics is a sheer hypocrite; and anyone who possesses one of them possesses a characteristic of hypocrisy till he gives it up. These are: when he is entrusted with something, he proves dishonest; when he speaks, he tells a lie; when he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous; and when he quarrels, he behaves in very imprudent, evil, insulting manner."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) had two Mu'adhdhin: Bilal and Ibn Umm Maktum (May Allah be pleased with them). The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Bilal proclaims Adhan [call to Salat (prayer)] at fag end of night, so eat and drink till Ibn Umm Maktum pronounces Adhan." Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) added: And the gap between their Adhan was not more than the time spent in one's getting down and the other's climbing (the minaret).

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

A man demanded of the Prophet (PBUH) for repayment of a loan and was harsh to him. His Companions were about to attack him, but he (PBUH) said, "Leave him, as the creditor is entitled to make a demand. Give him a camel of the same age as the camel that is due to him." They said: "We find a better camel senior to it in age." He (PBUH) said, "Then buy it and give it to him; verily the best of you is the one who is the best in discharging his obligations (repayment of loans)."

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "There are angels who take turns in visiting you by night and by day, and they all assemble at the dawn (Fajr) and the afternoon ('Asr) prayers. Those who have spent the night with you, ascend to the heaven and their Rubb, Who knows better about them, asks: 'In what condition did you leave My slaves?' They reply: 'We left them while they were performing Salat and we went to them while they were performing Salat."'

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The Hour will not come to pass before the River Euphrates dries up to unveil the mountain of gold, for which people will fight. Ninety-nine out of one hundred will die (in the fighting) and every man amongst them will say: 'Perhaps I may be the only one to remain alive."'

Another narration is: "The time is near when the River Euphrates will dry up to unveil a treasure of gold. Whosoever may be alive at that time, should not take anything of it."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Allah likes sneezing and dislikes yawning. When any one of you sneezes and says `Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah)', it becomes obligatory upon every Muslim who hears him to respond with `Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you)'. Yawning is from the devil. When one of you feels like yawning, he should restrain it as much as possible, for the devil laughs when one of you yawns."

[Al-Bukhari].

When a person complained to the Prophet (PBUH) about an ailment or suffered from a sore or a wound, the Prophet (PBUH) would touch the ground with his forefinger and then raise it (Sufyan bin `Uyainah, the narrator, demonstrated this with his forefinger) and would recite: `Bismil-lahi, turbatu ardina, biriqati ba`dina, yushfa bihi saqimuni, bi 'idhni Rabbina' (With the Name of Allah, the dust of our ground mixed with the saliva of some of us would cure our patient with the permission of our Rubb.''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

There came a man to the Prophet (PBUH) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, which charity is the most rewardable?" He (PBUH) said, "That you should give charity (in a state when you are) healthy and stingy and fear poverty, hoping to become rich (charity in such a state of health and mind is the best). And you must not defer (charity to such a length) that you are about to die and would be saying: 'This is for so-and-so, and this for so-and-so.' Lo! It has already come into (the possession of) so-and- so".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God's messenger as saying, "The inhabitants of paradise will look at those in the upper apartments above them as you look at a shining planet which remains in the east or west horizon[*], on account of the superiority some have over others." God's messenger was asked whether those were the dwellings of the prophets which no one else would reach and replied, "Yes, they will. By Him in whose hand my soul is, men who believed in God and acknowledged the truth of the messengers will reach them." *It can be seen in the morning after daybreak, or in the west before the darkness descends. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "The dwellers of Jannah will look at those in the upper abodes above them as you look at a shining star which remains in the eastern or western horizon; such will be the difference in superiority which some of them have over others." The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was asked: "Will those be the dwellings of the Prophets which no one else will be able to reach?" He (PBUH) replied, "Yes, but by Him in Whose Hand my soul is! men who believed in Allah and acknowledged the truthfulness of the Messengers will reach them."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

God's messenger was bewitched so that he would imagine he had done something he had not done. One day when he was staying with me, he made supplication after supplication to God, then said, "Do you know, `A'isha, that God has given me a decision about what I asked? Two men came to me and one of them sat at my head and the other at my feet. One of them asked the other, `What is the man suffering from?' and he replied, `He is under a spell.' He asked, `Who has put a spell on him?' and he replied, `Labid b. al-A`sam the Jew .' He asked, `What did he use?' and he replied, `A comb and combings and the spathe of a male palm-tree He asked, `Where is it?' and he replied, `In the well of Dharwan'[*]." The Prophet then went with some of his companions to the well and said, "This is the well I was shown." Its water looked like diluted henna and its palm-trees like the heads of devils. He then took it out. *Bukhari, Adab, 56, has Dharwan, but Tibb, 50, has Dhu Arwan, which is the form given by Muslim in Salam, 43. Nawawi in his commentary on Muslim (Cairo, 1349, vol. 14, p. 177) says both forms are correct, but Dhu Arwan is better and sounder. He says it was a well in the garden in Madina belonging to the B. Zuraiq. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Any slave whom Allah makes him in charge of subjects and he dies while he is not sincere to them, Allah will make Jannah unlawful for him."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Another narration is: Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said, "He who does not look after his subjects with goodwill and sincerity, will be deprived of the fragrance of Jannah."

A narration in Muslim is: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "A ruler who, having control over the affairs of the Muslims, does not strive diligently for their betterment and does not serve them sincerely, will not enter Jannah with them."

We used to greet the Prophet while he was engaged in prayer and he would respond to our greeting, but when we returned from the Negus* we greeted him and he did not respond to us, so we said, “Messenger of God, we used to greet you when you were engaged in prayer and you would respond to us.” He replied, “Prayer demands one’s whole attention.” * The reference is to the return of those who had gone from Mecca to Abyssinia when Muslims were being persecuted. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Malik b. Aus b. al-Hadathan reported "Umar b. al-Khattab as saying that God appointed His Messenger a special portion in this fai’* which He gave to no other. He then recited, “What God has bestowed on His Messenger from them . . . omnipotent" (Al-Qur’an; 59:6). This was purely for God’s Messenger who used to give his family their annual contribution from this property, then take what remained and deal with it as he did with God’s property. *Fai’ is the term used for tribute from territory the Muslims have conquered. (Bukhari and Muslim.)