"The Quraish said to the Jews: 'Give us something that we can ask this man about.' So he said: 'Ask him about the Ruh.' So they asked him about the Ruh. So Allah Most High, revealed: They ask you concerning the Ruh. Say: The Ruh is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you have been given only a little (17:85). They replied: 'We have been given immense knowledge, we were given the Tawrah, and whoever has been given the Tawrah, then he has indeed been given a wealth of knowledge.' So the following was revealed: Say: 'If the sea were ink for the Words of my Lord, surely the sea would be exhausted (before the Words of my Lord would be finished.) (18:109)'"

One day Messenger of Allah (PBUH) delivered us a very eloquent Khutbah on account of which eyes shed tears and hearts were full of tears. A man said: "O Prophet of Allah, this is as if it were a parting advice. So advise us". He (PBUH) said, "I admonish you to fear Allah, to listen and obey even if an Abyssinian slave is appointed as your leader. Because whosoever among you shall live after me, will see much discord. So hold fast to my Sunnah and the examples of the Rightly- Guided Caliphs who will come after me. Adhere to them and hold to it fast. Beware of new things (in Deen) because every Bid'ah is a misguidance".

[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi, who categorized it as Hadith Hasan Sahih].

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Seven are (the persons) whom Allah will give protection with His Shade* on the Day when there will be no shade except His Shade (i.e., on the Day of Resurrection), and they are: A just ruler; a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosque; two persons who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah; a man whom a beautiful and high ranking woman seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer by saying): 'I fear Allah'; a person who gives a charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the left hand might not know what the right has given; and a person who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes well up."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

* The Shade of Allah to which this Hadith refers to is the shade of His Throne.

the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "In the presence of three people, two should not hold secret counsel, to the exclusion of the third."

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

In Abu Dawud, Abu Salih related: I asked Ibn 'Umar: "What if there are four people." He said, "There is no harm in that."

Malik reported in Al-Muwatta that 'Abdullah bin Dinar related: Ibn 'Umar and I were together in Khalid bin 'Uqbah's house which was situated in the market place. A man came to consult Ibn 'Umar. None besides me was present. Ibn 'Umar called another man in and we became four and said to me and the man he had called: Move away a bit because I have heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "The two people should not hold secret counsel together excluding the third."

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When any of you goes to bed, he should shake off (or dust off) his bedsheet because he does not know what might have fallen on it after he had left it. Then he should recite: 'Bismika Rabbi wada'tu janbi, wa bika arfa'uhu, in amsakta nafsi farhamha, wa in arsaltaha fahfazha bima tahfazu bihi 'ibadakas-salihin [With Your Name, my Rubb, I place my side (upon the bed) and with Your Grace I will raise it up. If You withhold my soul (cause me to die), have mercy on it but if You let it go (let me live), guard it against which You guarded Your pious slaves]."'

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

We were accompanying a funeral procession in Baqi` Al-Gharqad (graveyard in Al-Madinah) when the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) proceeded towards us and sat down. We sat around him. He had a small stick in his hand. He was bending down his head and scraping the ground with the stick. He said, "There is none among you but has a place assigned for him either in the Jannah or in the Hell." The Companions said: "O Messenger of Allah, should we not depend upon what has been written for us (and give up doing good deeds)?'' The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Carry on doing good deeds. Every one will find it easy to do such deeds (as will lead him to his destined place) for which he has been created."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Why are you weeping when Allah has granted victory to you and caused you to prevail over your enemies and granted you joy? 'Umar said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: `Accumulation of worldly luxuries does not become available to any people but Allah, may He Be glorified and exalted, stirs up among them enmity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection, and that concerns me.`

`Umar passed by Talhah, and he narrated a similar report. He said: ‘Umar passed by Talhah and saw him looking worried. He said: Perhaps you are upset because your cousin was appointed (as caliph)? - referring to Abu Bakr. He said: No, but by Allah, I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: `I know a word which, if a man says it when he is dying, it will be light in the record of his deeds, or he will find comfort in it at the time of death.` ‘Umar said: I will tell you of it; it is the word that he wanted his paternal uncle to say, the testimony that there is no god but Allah. He said: It is as if a great burden has been lifted from me. He said: You are right. If he had known anything better that it, he would have instructed him to say it.

Jihad for the sake of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. He wanted to go for jihad. but he was asked: Have you done Hajj? He said. No. It was said to him: Do Hajj and `Umrah, then go for jihad. So he entered ihram for both of them together, then he met Zaid bin Soohan and Salman bin Rabee`ah who said: He is more misguided than his camel, or he is no more guided than his camel, He went to `Umar (رضي الله عنه) and told him what they had said, and he said: You have been guided to the Sunnah of your Prophet (ﷺ) , or to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) .

We went out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and when we were in the Harrah, at as-Suqya (a halting place between Makkah and Madinah) which belonged to Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: `Bring me some water for wudoo’.” When he had done wudoo he stood up and turned to face the qiblah, then he said takbeer, then he said: O Allah, Ibrahim was Your slave and Your close friend; he prayed for blessing for the people of Makkah. I am Muhammad, Your slave and Your Messenger; I am praying to You for the people of Madinah - bless their mudd and sa` [weights and measures] as You blessed the people of Makkah, double the blessing You bestowed upon the people of Makkah, a twofold blessing.”

When al-Hasan was born, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came and said: “Show me my son; what did you name him?` I said: I named him Harb [which means `war`]. He said: `Rather he is Hasan.” When al-Husain was born, he said: `Show me my son; what did you name him?` I said: I named him Harb, He said: `Rather he is Husain.” When the third one was born, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: `Show me my son; what did you name him?` I said: Harb, He said: “Rather. he is Muhassin.” Then he said: “I have named them after the fashion of the sons of Haroon, Shabbar and Shabeer and Mushabbir.”

The Prophet (ﷺ) sent out an expedition and appointed over them a man of the Ansar, and commanded them to listen to him and obey. They made him angry about something, so he said: Gather firewood for me. So they gathered firewood, then he said: Light a fire. So they lit a fire, then he said: Didn`t the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) command you to listen to me and obey? They said: Yes indeed. He said: Then enter it (the fire). They looked at one another and said: We only fled to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) because of the Fire. They continued talking until his anger dissipated and the fire went out. When they came to the Prophet (ﷺ) they told him about that and he said: “If they had entered it they would never have come out of it, obedience is only in that which is right and proper.`

I saw ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) when he killed the people of an-Nahrawan. He said: Look for the deformed one. They looked for him among the slain and said: We cannot find him. He said: Go back and look again, for by Allah I did not lie and I was not told a lie. So they went back and looked for him. That happened several times, and each time he swore by Allah, saying: I did not lie and I was not told a lie. Then they went out and they found him beneath the slain, lying in the mud. They brought him out, and brought him [to ‘Ali]. Abul-Wadi said: It is as if I can see him: an Abyssinian with one arm ending in something like the breast of a woman, on which there are hairs like the hair on the tail of a jerboa.

Abu Zaid quoted ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud as saying that on the night when the jinn listened to the Qur’an* the Prophet asked him what was in his skin vessel, and when he replied that he had some nabidh, he said, “It consists of fresh dates and pure water.” *Lit "the night of the jinn" After Abu Talib’s death the Prophet went to at-Ta’if to proclaim his message, but was driven out. Returning to Mecca, he spent a night in the valley of Nakhla and we are told that a company of the jinn listened to him reciting the Qur’an See sura lxxii. Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Ahmad and Tirmidhi added that he performed ablution from it. Tirmidhi said that Abu Zaid is unknown, and there is a sound tradition in which ‘Alqama quotes ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud as saying, “I was not with God’s messenger on the night when the jinn listened.” Muslim transmitted it.

We went out on a journey, and one of our men was struck by a stone which wounded him in the head. He had a nocturnal emission and asked his companions whether they could find any permission for him to perform ablution with earth, but they replied that they could not when he was able to get water; so the man washed and died. When we came to the Prophet he was told about that and said, "Then killed him, God kill them! Why did they not ask when they did not know? The only cure for ignorance is to ask. It would have been enough for him to use earth and tie a rag over the sore, then wipe over it and wash the rest of his body." Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from ‘Ata’ b. Abu Rabah from Ibn ‘Abbas.

The Prophet gave us seven commands and seven prohibitions. He commanded us to visit the sick, to follow funerals, to say ‘God have mercy on you’ when someone sneezes, to return salutations, to accept invitations, to help people to fulfil their oaths, and to help the wronged; and he forbade us gold rings, silk, thick brocade, embroidered silk, red stuffing placed on a saddle, Qassi garments (said to be cloth made of flax and raw silk which came from a place in Egypt called Qass between al-'Arish and al-Farama. Another suggestion is that the name is changed from qazzi and means silk.) and silver vessels. A version says drinking from silver vessels, for he who drinks out of them in this world will not drink out of them in the next. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Sa'd b. Ibrahim told on his father’s authority that ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf was brought food when he was fasting and said, “Mus'ab b. ‘Umair who was better than I am was killed and was shrouded in a cloak [which was so short that] if his head was covered his feet appeared and if his feet were covered his head appeared. ([Sa'd] added that he thought he said ‘And Hamza who was better than I am was killed.’) Then we were given such great worldly wealth as we have been given (or, We have been given such worldly goods as we have been given), and I am afraid that my good things have been given me in advance.” He then began to weep and left the food untouched. Bukhari transmitted it.

I was travelling on a camel of mine which had grown jaded when the Prophet passed by and struck it, with the result that it went as it had never done before. He then said, “Sell it to me for a wuqiya*”. I agreed, but made the stipulation that I should be allowed to ride it home. Then when I came to Medina I took the camel to him and he paid me its price in ready money. In a version he said, “He gave me its price and returned it to me." In a version by Bukhari he said to Bilal, “Pay him and give something extra," so he gave the money adding a qirat (A small coin, probably meaning here a sixteenth of a dirham). (Bukhari and Muslim.) *This and the more common form uqiya used below in the tradition from 'A'isha is an amount equivalent to forty dirhams.

I said, “Messenger of God, tell me what I should do about a cousin of mine to whom I go and ask for something, but who neither gives me anything nor regards my kinship, then when he needs my help comes to me and asks for something, and I have sworn that I would not give him anything or regard his kinship.” He commanded me to do that which is better and make atonement for my oath. In Ibn Majah’s version he told that he said, “Messenger of God, my cousin comes to me and I swear that I will not give him anything or regard his kinship,” and that he replied, “Make atonement for your oath.” Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Anas told that some people of ‘Ukl who had come to the Prophet and accepted Islam found Medina unhealthy, so he ordered them to go to the camels of the sadaqa and drink some of their urine and their milk. They did so and became well, after which they apostatised, killed the herdsmen and drove off the camels. So he sent people in pursuit of them, and when they were brought he had their hands and feet cut off and their eyes put out and left them to die without cauterising them to stop the flow of blood. A version says nails were driven into their eyes. Another says he ordered nails to be heated and after having them blinded with them he had them thrown out on the harra, and although they begged for water they were left to die without being given any. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Mu'adh b. Jabal told that when God’s Messenger sent him to the Yemen he asked him how he would judge when the occasion arose, and he replied that he would judge in accordance with God’s Book. He asked what he would do if he could not find guidance in God’s Book, and he replied that he would act in accordance with God’s Messenger’s sunnah. He asked what he would do if he could find no guidance in God’s Messenger’s sunnah, and he replied that he would do his best to form an opinion and spare no pains. God’s Messenger then tapped him on the breast and said, “Praise be to God who has disposed His Messenger’s Messenger to something with which God’s Messenger is pleased!" Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father's authority, said his grandfather told that the value of the blood wit in the time of God’s Messenger was eight hundred dinars or eight thousand dirhams, and that the blood wit for the people of the Book at that time was half that for Muslims. He said that applied till ‘Umar became Caliph, and he made a speech in which he said camels had become dear; so ‘Umar fixed the value for those who possessed gold at a thousand dinars, for those who possessed silver at twelve thousand,* for those who possessed cattle at two hundred cows, for those who possessed sheep at two thousand sheep, and for those who possessed suits of clothing at two hundred suits. But he said he left the blood wit for dhimmis as it was, not raising it in proportion to the increase he made in the blood wit. Abu Dawud transmitted it. *i.e. dirhams

Among the B. Isra’il there was a man who killed ninety-nine people and then went out to make enquiry. He went to a monk and asked him whether repentance would be accepted for what he had done, and when he replied that it would not, he killed him. He then began to make enquiry, and a man told him to go to such and such a village. When he was upon the point of death he arose to go towards it, and the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment disputed over him. God then told the one village to come near and the other to remove to a distance, and told the angels to measure the distance between them. He was found to be the distance of a span nearer to the one towards which he was going, and so he was forgiven. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu ‘Ayyash reported God's messenger as saying that if anyone says in the morning, “There is no god but God alone who has no partner; to Him belongs the dominion, to Him praise is due, and He is omnipotent,” he will have a reward equivalent to that for setting free a slave from among the descendants of Ishmael, will have ten good deeds recorded for him, will have ten evil deeds deducted from him, will be advanced ten degrees, and will be guarded from the devil till the evening. If he says them in the evening he will have a similar recompense till the morning. Hammad b. Salama said that a man saw God’s messenger in a dream and said, “Messenger of God, Abu ‘Ayyash is relating such and such on your authority,” to which he received the reply, “Abu ‘Ayyash has spoken the truth.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that the Prophet used to say, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from slackness, decrepitude, debt and sin. O God, I seek refuge in Thee from the punishment in hell, the trial [which leads to] hell, the trial in the grave, (2) the punishment in the grave, the evil of the trial of riches, the evil of the trial of poverty, (3) and the evil of the testing of the antichrist. (4) O God, wash away my sins with snow and hail water, purify my heart as a white garment is purified from filth, and put my sins as far away from me as Thou hast put the East from the West.” 2. Being unable to answer the two angels. 3. Riches may lead to oppression and poverty to envy. 4. al-Masih ad-dajjal. The false Christ who is to appear in the last days. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “He who abandons obedience and separates from the community and then dies, will die like those of pre-Islamic times; he who fights under a banner of ignorance* showing anger in support of party spirit, or summoning people to party spirit, or helping party spirit, and then is killed will be killed like those of pre-Islamic times; and he who goes out against my people with his sword smiting the virtuous and the reprobate, not keeping away from those who are believers or observing covenants which have been made, has nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with him.” Muslim transmitted it. *'Immiya, or 'ummiya, meaning either pride or error. I have translated it as ‘‘ignorance, for it is explained as being here used of people who fight without considering whether they are in the right or not.

Abdallah b. 'Amr b. al-As said that God’s messenger stopped during the Farewell Pilgrimage at Mina for people who had something to ask him. A man came and said, “Being ignorant, I shaved before sacrificing.” He replied, “Sacrifice, for no harm will come.” Another came and said, “Being ignorant, I sacrificed before throwing the pebbles.” He replied, “Throw them, for no harm will come.” The Prophet was not asked about anything which had been done before or after its proper time without saying, “Do it, for no harm will come.” Bukhari and Muslim. According to a version by Muslim a man came and said, “I shaved before throwing the pebbles.” He replied, “Throw them, for no harm will come.” Another came to him and said, “I hastened to the House before throwing the pebbles.” He replied, “Throw them, for no harm will come.”

the sunset prayer after the sun had set; the night prayer between the ending of the twilight and the passing of a third of the night (adding three times “if one lies down to sleep may his eye not sleep”); and the morning prayer when the stars were still visible and out in abundance. Malik transmitted it.

The Prophet thereupon recited a verse at which a prostration should be made, then prostrated himself, and I heard him saying the words the man told him the tree had said. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but Ibn Majah did not mention, "and accept it from me as Thou didst accept it from Thy servant David.” Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition.

‘Abdallah confronted him, and reviling him in terms the like of which I have never heard at any other time, he said, “I give you information on the authority of God’s Messenger, yet you say, ‘I swear by God I will certainly prevent them’!” * He is Salim b. ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar b. al-Khattab. Muslim transmitted it.

‘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.)

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying to his companions, “When your brethren were smitten at the battle of Uhud God put their spirits in the crops of green birds which go down to the rivers of paradise, eat its fruits and nestle in lamps of gold in the shade of the Throne. Then when they experienced the sweetness of their food, drink and rest they asked who would tell their brethren about them that they were alive in paradise in order that they might not cease to desire paradise or recoil in war. God most high said He would tell them about them, so He sent down, ‘And do not consider those who have been killed in God’s path to be dead; nay, they are alive in the presence of their Lord and are being supplied with provision . ..” (Al-Qur’an; 3:169 ff.) Abu Dawud 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.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God's messenger as saying, "The dajjal will come but will not be allowed to enter the mountain passes of Medina, so he will alight in one of the salt tracts which are near Medina. A man who is the best (or, one of the best) of the people will go out to him, and will say he testifies that he is the dajjal the report of whom was given them by God's messenger. The dajjal will then ask the people to tell him whether, supposing he kills this man and brings him back to life, they will have any doubts about the matter, and when they reply that they will not he will kill him and afterwards bring him back to life. The man will then say, `I swear by God that I have had no clearer insight into your true nature than I have to-day.' The dajjal will therefore want to kill him, but will not be given power over him." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, "On the day of resurrection Abraham will meet his father Azar with blackness and dust on Azar's face and ask him if he did not tell him not to disobey him. His father will reply that now he will not disobey him, and Abraham will say, `My Lord, Thou hast promised not to put me to shame on the day when men are resurrected, but what shame is greater than my father being farthest from Thy mercy?' God most high will reply, `I have debarred the infidels from paradise.' Abraham will then be told to look and see what is under his feet, and he will see a bespattered hairy hyena which will then be taken by its legs and thrown into hell[*]." *Abraham's father will be turned into the form of a hyena so that Abraham will not see him being thrown into hell in his own form. Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri told that he went to God's messenger and asked him to tell him who would be strong enough to stand on the day of resurrection of which God who is great and glorious said, "A day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the universe."¹ He replied, "It will be made easy for the believer, so that it will be for him like the prescribed prayer." He told that God's messenger was asked about "a day whose extent is fifty thousand years²," how men could endure the length of this day, and replied, "By Him in whose hand my soul is, it will be made easy for the believer so that it will be easier for him than the prescribed prayer he observes in this world." [1] Quran; 83:6 [2] Quran; 70:4 Baihaqi transmitted the two traditions in Kitab al-ba'th wan nushur.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "God who is great and glorious has promised me that four hundred thousand of my people will enter paradise without being taken to account." Abu Bakr asked God's messenger to tell them more, and he replied that God did thus, taking up two handfuls and joining his hands together. Abu Bakr asked him to tell them more, and he did the same again. `Umar then said, "Let the matter alone, Abu Bakr," to which Abu Bakr replied, "What harm would it do you if God were to bring us all into paradise?" `Umar said, "If God who is great and glorious wishes to bring all His creatures into paradise simultaneously, He can do so," and the Prophet said, "`Umar has spoken the truth." It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

I went on an expedition with God's messenger on a camel used for drawing water which had grown weary and could scarcely go on. The Prophet came up beside me and asked what was the matter with my camel, and when I told him it had grown weary, he went behind it and urged it on. He then made supplication for it and it kept going in front of the other camels. He asked me how I found my camel and I replied that it was fine, having received the benefit of his blessing. He asked if I would sell it to him for a wuqiya, and I agreed on condition that I might ride it till we came to Medina. When God's messenger came to Medina I took the camel to him in the morning, and he gave me its price, then returned the animal to me. (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'.

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.

Ibn `Abbas said: “We were with the Messenger of Allah (saws) when `Ali bin Abi Talib came to him, and he said: ‘May my father and mother be ransomed for you! This Qur’an has suddenly left my heart, and I do not find myself capable of it.’ So the Messenger of Allah (saws) said to him: ‘O Abul-Hasan! Should I not teach you words that Allah shall benefit you with, and benefit whomever you teach, and they will make whatever you have learned in your chest firm?’ He said: ‘Of course, O Messenger of Allah (saws), so teach me.’ He (saws) said: ‘When it is the night of (before) Friday, then if you are able to stand in the last third of the night, then verily it is a witnessed hour, and supplication is answered in it. And my brother Ya`qub (as) did say to his sons: I shall seek forgiveness for you from my Lord. He said: “Until the night of Friday comes.” So if you are not able, then stand in the middle of it, and if you are not able then stand in the first of it. And pray four Rak`ah. Recite Fatihatul-Kitab (the Opening of the Book) and Surat Ya-Sin in the first Rak`ah, and Fatihatul-Kitab and Ha-Mim Ad-Dukhan in the second Rak`ah, and Fatihatul-Kitab and Alif Lam Mim Tanzil As-Sajdah in the third Rak`ah, and Fatihatul-Kitab and Tabarak Al-Mufassal in the fourth Rak`ah. So when you have finished with the Tasha-hud, then praise Allah and mention Allah’s greatness in an excellent manner, and send Salat upon me - and be excellent in it - and upon the rest of the Prophets. And seek forgiveness for the believing men and the believing women, and for your brothers who have preceded you in faith. Then say in the end of that: “O Allah, have mercy on me by abandonment of sins forever, so long as You keep me remaining. And have mercy on me from taking upon myself what does not concern me, and provide me good sight for what will make You pleased with me. O Allah, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Possessor of glory, and generosity, and honor that is not exceeded. I ask you, O Allah, O Rahman, by Your glory and the light of Your Face, to make my heart constant in remembering Your Book as You taught me, and grant me that I recite it in the manner that will make You pleased with me. O Allah, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Possessor of glory, and generosity, and honor that is not exceeded. I ask you, O Allah, O Rahman, by Your glory and the light of Your Face, to enlighten my sight with Your Book, and make my tongue free with it, and to relieve my heart with it, and to expand my chest with it, and to wash my body with it. For indeed, none aids me upon the truth other than You, and none gives it except You, and there is no might or power except by Allah, the High, the Magnificent. (Allāhummarḥamnī bitarkil-ma`āṣī abadan mā abqaitanī, warḥamnī an atakallafa mā lā ya`nīnī, warzuqnī ḥusnan-naẓari fī mā yurḍīka `annī. Allāhumma badī`as-samāwāti wal-arḍi dhal-jalāli wal-ikrāmi wal-`izzatil-latī lā turāmu, as’aluka yā Allāhu yā Raḥmānu bi-jalālika wa nūri wajhika, an tulzima qalbī ḥifẓa kitābika kamā `allamtanī, warzuqnī an atluwahū `alan-naḥwil-ladhī yurḍīka `annī. Allāhumma badī`as-samāwāti wal arḍi dhal-jalāli wal-ikrāmi wal `izzati-llatī lā turāmu, as’aluka yā Allāhu, yā Raḥmānu bi-jalālika wa nūri wajhika, an tunawwira bi-kitābika baṣarī, wa an tuṭliqa bihī lisānī, wa an tufarrija bihī `an qalbī, wa an tashraḥa bihī ṣadrī, wa an taghsila bihī badanī, fa innahu lā yu`īnunī `alal-ḥaqqi ghairuka wa lā yu’tīhi illā anta wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāhil-`Aliyyil-`Aẓīm).” O Abul-Hasan! So do this three Fridays, or five, or seven, you will be answered - by the will of Allah - by the One Who sent me with the Truth, it has not failed a believer once.’” `Abdullah bin `Abbas said: “So, by Allah, `Ali did not wait but five or seven until [`Ali] came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) in a gathering similar to that and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (saws), indeed I was [a man] in the time that passed, who used to not take except four Ayat or about that much, so when I would recite them to myself they would suddenly depart from me, and today I learn forty Ayat or about that much, and when I recite them to myself, then it is as if the Book of Allah is before my eyes. I used to hear a Hadith and when I would repeat it, it would suddenly depart from me, and today I hear Ahadith, and when I report them, I do not err in a single letter.’ So the Messenger of Allah (saws) said at that point: ‘A believer, by the Lord of the Ka`bah, O Abul-Hasan.’”

Zurarah ibn Awfa said that Aisha was asked about the midnight prayer of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

She said: He used to offer his night prayer in congregation and then return to his family (in his house) and pray four rak'ahs. Then he would go to his bed and sleep, but the water for his ablution was placed covered near his head and his tooth-stick was also kept there until Allah awakened him at night.

He then used the tooth-stick, performed ablution perfectly then came to the place of prayer and would pray eight rak'ahs, in which he would recite Surah al-Fatihah, and a surah from the Qur'an as Allah willed. He would not sit during any of them but sit after the eighth rak'ah, and would not utter the salutation, but recite (the Qur'an) during the ninth rak'ah. Then he would sit and supplicate as long as Allah willed, and beg Him and devote his attention to Him; He would utter the salutation once in such a loud voice that the inmates of the house were almost awakened by his loud salutation. He would then recite Surah al-Fatihah while sitting, bow while sitting, and then recite the Qur'an during the second rak'ah, and would bow and prostrate while sitting. He would supplicate Allah as long as He willed, then utter the salutation and turn away.

This amount of prayer of the Messenger of Allah (saws) continued till he put a weight. During that period he retrenched two rak'ahs from nine and began to pray six and seven rak'ahs standing and two rak'ahs sitting. This continued till he died.

We came upon the Messenger of Allah (saws) in a deputation of Thaqif. The signatories of the pact came to al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah as his guests. The Messenger of Allah (saws) made Banu-Malik stay in a tent of his.

Musaddad's version says: He was in the deputation of Thaqif which came to the Messenger of Allah (saws). He used to visit and have a talk with us every day after the night prayer.

The version of AbuSa'id says: He remained standing for such a long time (talking to us) that he put his weight sometimes on one leg and sometimes on the other due to his long stay. He mostly told us how his people, the Quraysh, behaved with him.

He would say: We were not equal; we were weak and degraded at Mecca (according to Musaddad's version). When we came over to Medina the fighting began between us; sometimes we overcome them and at other times they overcome us. One night he came late and did not come at the time he used to come.

We asked him: You came late tonight? He said: I could not recite the fixed part of the Qur'an that I used to recite every day. I disliked to come till I had completed it.

Aws said: I asked the companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws): How do you divide the Qur'an for daily recitation? They said: Three surahs, five surahs, eleven surahs, thirteen surahs' mufassal surahs.

Abu Dawud said: The version of Abu Sa'id is complete.

My husband, Aws ibn as-Samit, pronounced the words: You are like my mother. So I came to the Messenger of Allah (saws), complaining to him about my husband.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) disputed with me and said: Remain dutiful to Allah; he is your cousin.

I continued (complaining) until the Qur'anic verse came down: "Certainly has Allah heard the speech of the one who argues with you, [O Muhammad], concerning her husband..." [58:1] till the prescription of expiation.

He then said: He should set free a slave. She said: He cannot afford it. He said: He should fast for two consecutive months. She said: Messenger of Allah, he is an old man; he cannot keep fasts. He said: He should feed sixty poor people. She said: He has nothing which he may give in alms. At that moment an araq (i.e. date-basket holding fifteen or sixteen sa's) was brought to him.

I said: I shall help him with another date-basked ('araq). He said: You have done well. Go and feed sixty poor people on his behalf, and return to your cousin. The narrator said: An araq holds sixty sa's of dates.

Abu Dawud said: She atoned on his behalf without seeking his permission.

Abu Dawud said: This man (Aws b. al-Samit) is the brother of 'Ubadah b. al-Samit.

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.

Abu Dawud said “The opinion of Ibn ‘Abbas has been mentioned in the following tradition. “Ahmad bin Salih and Muhammad bin Yahya narrated this is the version of Ahmad (bin Salih)” from ‘Abd Ar Razzaq from Ma’mar from Al Zuhri from Abu Salamah din Abd Al Rahman bin ‘Awf and Muhammad bin ‘Abd Al Rahman bin Thawban from Muhammad bin Iyas that Ibn ‘Abbas, Abu Hurairah and ‘Abd Alah bin ‘Amr bin Al ‘As were asked about a virgin who is divorced three times by her husband. They all said “She is not lawful for him until she marries a man other than her former husband.” Abu Dawud said “Malik narrated from Yahya bin Sa’id from Bukair bin Al Ashajj from Mu’awiyah bin Abi ‘Ayyash who was present on this occasion when Muhammad bin Iyas bin Al Bukair came to Ibn Al Zubair and Asim in ‘Umar. He asked them about this matter. They replied “Go to Ibn ‘Abbas and Abu Hurairah, I have left them with A’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her). He then narrated the rest of the tradition.”

Abu Dawud said “The statement of Ibn ‘Abbas goes “The divorce by three pronouncements separates the wife from husband whether the marriage has been consummated or not, the previous husband is not lawful for her until she marries a man other than her husband”. This statement is like the tradition which deals with the exchange of money. In this tradition the narrator said “Ibn ‘Abbas withdrew his opinion.”"

If anyone observes a prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Qur’an, it is incomplete, it is incomplete, it is incomplete, and deficient. (The narrator said) I said: Abu Hurairah, sometime I pray behind the imam(then what should I do)? Pressing my hand he replied: O Persian, recite it inwardly, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying that Allah, Most High, has said: I have Me and the Half for my servant and My servant will receive what he asks. The Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him) said: Recite. When the servant says: “praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe,” Allah, Most High says: “My servant has praised me.” When the servant says: “ The Compassionate, the merciful, “Allah Most High says: “My servant has lauded me.” When the servant says: “Owner of the Day of Judgment,” Allah, Most High, says: “My servant has glorified Me” When the servant says: “ Thee do we worship and of thee we ask help. “ (Allah says) “This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks.” When the servant says: “ Guide us to the Straight Path, the path of those whom thou hast favoured, not ( the path) of those who earn thine anger nor of those who go astray,”(Allah says: ) “This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks.”

Sulaiman bin Buraidah reported on the authority of his father. When the Apostle of Allaah(saws) appointed a Commander over an Army or a detachment, he instructed him to fear Allaah himself and consider the welfare of the Muslims who were with him. He then said “When you meet the polytheists who are your enemy, summon them tone of three things and accept whichever of them they are willing to agree to, and refrain from them. Summon them to Islam and if they agree, accept it from them and refrain from them. Then summon them to leave their territory and transfer to the abode of the Emigrants and tell them that if they do so, they will have the same rights and responsibilities as the Emigrants, but if they refuse and choose their own abode, tell them that they will be like the desert Arabs who are Muslims subject to Allaah’s jurisdiction which applies to the believers, but will have no spoil or booty unless they strive with the Muslims. If they refuse demand jizyah (poll tax) from them, if they agree accept it from them and refrain from them. But if they refuse, seek Alaah’s help and fight with them. When you invade the fortress and they (its people) offer to capitulate and have the matter referred to Allaah’s jurisdiction, do not grant this, for you do not know whether or not you will hit on Allaah’s jurisdiction regarding them. But let them capitulate and have the matter refereed to your jurisdiction and make a decision about them later on as you wish.

Sufyan (bin ‘Uyainah) said thah ‘Alqamah said “I mentioned this tradition to Muqatil bin Habban, He said “Muslim narrated it to me.” Abu Dawud said “He is Ibn Haidam narrated from Al Nu’man in Muqqarin from the Prophet (saws) like the tradition of Sulaiman bin Buraidah.

Umm Habibah, daughter of Jahsh and sister-in-law of Messenger of Allah (saws)m and wife of 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf, had a prolonged flow of blood for seven years. She inquired from the Messenger of Allah (saws) about it. The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: This is not menstruation, but this (due to) a vein. Therefore, wash yourself and pray.

Abu Dawud said: In this tradition which is transmitted by al-Zuhri from 'Urwah and 'Urwah on the authority of 'Aishah, al-Awza'i added: She ('Aishah) said: Umm Habibah daughter of Jahsh and wife of 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf had a prolonged flow of blood for seven years. The Prophet (saws) commander her saying: When the menstruation begins, abandon prayer; when it is finished, take a bath and pray.

Abu Dawud said: None of the disciple of al-Zuhri mentioned these words except al-Awza'i, from al-Zuhri it has been narrated by 'Amr b. al-Harith, al-Laith, Yunus, Ibn Abi Dhi'b, Ma'mar, Ibrahim b. Sa'd, Sulaiman b. Kathir, Ibn Ishaq and Sufyan b. 'Uyainah, they did not narrate these words.

Abu Dawud said: These are the words of the version reported by Hisham b. 'Urwah from this father on the authority of 'Aishah.

Abu Dawud said: In this tradition Ibn 'Uyainah also added the words: He commander her to abandon prayer during her menstrual period. This is a misunderstanding on the part of Ibn 'Uyainah. The version of this tradition narrated by Muhammad b. 'Amr from al-Zuhri has the addition similar to that made by al-Awza'i in his version.