'Aishah (RAA) narrated, 'Some people said to Allah's Messenger (PBUH), There are people who bring us meat and we do not know whether or not they have mentioned Allah's name over it.' He replied, "Mention Allah's name yourselves and eat it." Related by Al-Bukhari.

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said, "You will eagerly seek out the office of governorship, but it will become a cause of regret on the Day of Resurrection. How excellent it is as a Murdi'ah (wet nurse)! And how evil it is as a Fatimah (one who weans)! [Reported by al-Bukhari].

The Prophet (SAW) suggested to some people that they should take an oath (Yamin) and when they hastened to do so he ordered that lots should be cast among them concerning the oath, as to which of them should take it. [Reported by al-Bukhari].

I suffered from piles. So I asked the Prophet (SAW) about the prayers. He said: "Pray standing; and if you are unable, (pray) sitting; and if you are unable, (pray) lying on your side." [Reported by al-Bukhari].

Al-Bukhari related on the authority of Abu Hurairah, “Whoever accompanies the funeral of a Muslim, seeking the reward only from Allah, the Almighty, and he stays with it until he offers the funeral prayer and the burial is completed, will return back with two Qirat, each Qirat is equal to the mount of Uhud.”

Ibn Abi 'Ammar narrated. 'I said to Jabir (RAA), 'Is hyena a kind of game?' He replied, 'Yes.' I asked, 'Did Allah's Messenger (PBUH) say that?' He replied, 'Yes.' Related by Ahmad and the four Imams. Al-Bukhari and Ibn Hibban graded it as Sahih.

Bismillāh. Allāhumma jannibnash-Shayṭān, wa jannibish-Shayṭāna mā razaqtanā. With the Name of Allah. O Allah, keep the Devil away from us, and keep the Devil away from that which You provide for us. Reference: Al-Bukhari 6/141, Muslim 2/1028.

to be just, to spread greetings to all people and to spend (charitably) out of the little you have. Reference: Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 1/82 as a statement of the Companion 'Ammar (RA).

The daughter of the Prophet (PBUH) sent for him as her child was dying, but the Prophet (PBUH) returned the messenger and sent her good wishes saying, "Whatever Allah takes away or gives, belongs to Him, and everything with Him has a limited fixed term (in this world), and so she should be patient and anticipate Allah's reward." She again sent for him adjuring him for the sake of Allah to come. The Messenger of Allah, accompanied with Sa'd bin 'Ubadah, Mu'adh bin Jabal, Ubayy bin Ka'b, Zaid bin Thabit and some other men went to see her. The child was lifted up to the Messenger of Allah while his breath was disturbed in his chest. On seeing that, the eyes of the Prophet (PBUH) streamed with tears. Sa'd said, "O Messenger of Allah! What is this?" He replied, "It is compassion which Allah has placed in the hearts of His slaves, Allah is Compassionate only to those among His slaves who are compassionate (to others)".

Another version says: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Allah shows compassion only to those among His slaves who are compassionate".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Every day the sun rises charity (Sadaqah) is due on every joint of a person: you administer justice between two men is a charity; and assisting a man to mount his beast, or helping him load his luggage on it is a charity; and a good word is a charity; and every step that you take (towards the mosque) for Salat (prayer) is a charity and removing harmful things from the road is a charity".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In Muslim, it is reported on the authority of 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) that Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Everyone of the children of Adam has been created with three hundred and sixty joints; so he who declares the Glory of Allah (i.e., saying Allahu Akbar), praises Allah (i.e., Al-hamdu lillah), declares Allah to be One (i.e., La ilaha illallah), glorifies Allah, and seeks forgiveness from Allah (i.e., Astaghfirullah), and removes stone, or thorn, or bone from people's path, and enjoins good and forbids evil, to the number of those three hundred and sixty, will walk that day having rescued himself from Hell".

Mu'adh bin Jabal was riding on the beast with the Prophet (PBUH), when he (PBUH) said to him, "O Mu'adh!" Mu'adh replied, "Here I am responding to you, and at your pleasure, O Messenger of Allah." He (PBUH) again called out, "O Mu'adh." He (again) replied, "Here I am responding your call, and at your pleasure." He (Messenger of Allah) addressed him (again), "O Mu'adh!" He replied, "Here I am responding to you, and at your pleasure, O Messenger of Allah." Upon this he (the Prophet (PBUH)) said, "If anyone testifies sincerely that there is no true god except Allah, and Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, truly from his heart, Allah will safeguard him from Hell." He (Mu'adh) said, "O Messenger of Allah, shall I not then inform people of it, so that they may have glad tidings." He (PBUH) replied, "Then they will rely on it alone (and thus give up good works altogether)." Mu'adh (May Allah be pleased with him) disclosed this Hadith at the time of his death, to avoid sinning for concealing.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious said: 'A slave committed a sin and he said: O Allah, forgive my sin,' and Allah said: 'My slave committed a sin and then he realized that he has a Rubb Who forgives the sins and punishes for the sin.' He then again committed a sin and said: 'My Rubb, forgive my sin,' and Allah (SWT) said: 'My slave committed a sin and then realized that he has a Rubb Who forgives his sin and punishes for the sin.' He again committed a sin and said: 'My Rubb, forgive my sin,' and Allah (SWT) said: 'My slave has committed a sin and then realized that he has a Rubb Who forgives the sin or takes (him) to account for sin. I have granted forgiveness to my slave. Let him do whatever he likes".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The last sentence "let him do..". means, as long he keeps asking for forgiveness after the commission of sins, and repents, Allah will forgive him because repentance eliminates previous sins". (Editor's Note)

I was with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) in a journey one night, and he asked me, "Do you have any water with you?" I said, "Yes." So he dismounted from his riding camel and walked away (to answer the call of nature) until he disappeared in the darkness. When he returned, I poured out some water from a vessel and he washed his face. He was wearing a long woolen cloak and could not take out his forearms from his sleeves, so he brought them out from below the cloak and then washed them, and then passed his (wet) hands over his head. I stretched out my hand to take off his Khuff (leather socks), but he said, "Leave them. I put them on after performing Wudu'," and he passed his (wet) hands over them.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was wearing a Syrian cloak with tight sleeves.

Another narration is: This incident took place during the battle of Tabuk.

We were talking about the Farewell Pilgrimage without knowing what was it when Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was also present. He (PBUH) stood up and recited the Praise and Glorification of Allah. He then gave a detailed account of Ad-Dajjal and said, 'Every Prophet sent by Allah had warned his people against his mischief. Nuh (PBUH) )warned his nation and so did all the Prophets after him. If he (i.e., Ad-Dajjal) appears among you, his condition will not remain hidden from you. Your Rubb is not one-eyed, but Ad-Dajjal is. His right eye is protruding like a swollen grape. Listen, Allah has made your blood, and your properties as inviolable as of this day of yours (i.e., the Day of Sacrifice), in this city of yours (i.e., Makkah), in this month of yours (i.e., Dhul -Hijjah). Listen, have I conveyed Allah's Message to you?'' The people replied in affirmative. There upon he said, "O Allah, bear witness.'' And he repeated it thrice. He (PBUH) concluded: "Do not revert after me as infidels killing one another".

[Al-Bukhari].

My father took me to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and said to him: "I have gifted one of my slaves to this son of mine." The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Have you given such gift to every son of yours?" He replied, "No." Thereupon he said, "Take this gift back."

Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Be mindful of your obligation to Allah and do justice in respect of your children." My father came back and revoked his gift.

Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) asked, "Have you other children besides this one?" He said, "Yes." The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) asked, "Have you awarded a gift like this to all of them." He said, "No." The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "I am not going to bear witness to this act of injustice."

Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) asked, "Do you not except goodness from all of them as you except from him?" He said, "Yes, of course." The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Then don't do this (i.e., do not give a gift to one son only)."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah dictated a letter to me addressed to Mu'awiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (PBUH) used to supplicate at the end of each obligatory Salat (prescribed prayer): "La ilaha illallahu, wahadahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku, wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa 'ala kulli shai'in Qadir. Allahumma la mani'a lima a'taita, wa la mu'tiya lima mana'ta, wa la yanfa'u dhal-jaddi mink-al-jaddu. (There is no true god except Allah, the One, Who has no partner. His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Able to do everything. O Allah! Nobody can withhold what You give; and nobody can give what You withhold; and the high status of a person is of no avail against Your Will)." He also wrote to him that the Prophet (PBUH) used to forbid irrelevant talk, wasteful expenditure, persistent questioning, disobedience of parents (especially mothers), infanticide of daughters by burying them alive, depriving others of their rights and acquisition of property wrongfully.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

glazed jars, gourds, hollowed stumps of palm trees, and receptacles smeared with pitch, saying, “Observe them and tell your people at home about them.” (Bukhari and Muslim, but the wording is Bukhari’s).

God’s messenger spent the first ten nights of Ramadan in devotion, and spent the middle ten nights in devotion in a round Turkish tent, after which he raised his head and said, “I have spent the first ten nights in devotion seeking this night, then I spent the middle ten nights in devotion, and after that I had a heavenly visitant and was told that it is in the last ten, so he who has engaged in devotion along with me should do so during the last ten nights, for I was shown this nights, then was caused to forget it, but I have seen myself prostrating in water and clay on the morning following, so seek it among the last ten and seek it in every night with an odd number.” He said: Rain fell that night, the mosque which was a thatched building dripped, and my eyes saw God’s messenger with traces of water and clay on his forehead on the morning after the twenty-first night. Bukhari and Muslim agree on the subject-matter, the wording being Muslim's up to “and was told it is it the last ten”, the remainder being Bukhari's. In the version of ‘Abdallah b. Unais he said it was the twenty-third night. Muslim transmitted it.

he may keep them if he is pleased with them, and may return them along with a sa‘ of dates if he is displeased with them.” A version by Muslim has, “If anyone buys a sheep whose udder has been tied up he has three days in which to decide whether to keep it or not; but if he returns it he must return with it a sa’ of any grain but wheat.”² (Bukhari and Muslim.) 1. When agreement has obviously been reached, although the contract has not been confirmed, no one must step in and offer a higher price. 2. Samra’. The full pharse is hinta samra’, meaning "tawny wheat" ; then the adjective is used by itself as a word for wheat.

Abu Huraira and Zaid b. Khalid told that two men brought a dispute before God’s Messenger, one of them saying, "Pronounce judgment between us in accordance with God’s Book," and the other saying, "Yes Messenger of God, pronounce judgment between us in accordance with God’s Book, and allow me to speak." He told him to speak and he said, "My son who was a hired servant with this man committed fornication with his wife, and when I was told that my son must be stoned to death I ransomed him with a hundred sheep and a slave girl of mine; but when I asked the learned they told me that my son should receive a hundred lashes and be banished for a year, and that stoning to death applied only to the man’s wife." God’s Messenger replied, "By Him in whose hand my soul is, I shall certainly pronounce judgment between you in accordance with God's Book. Your sheep and your slave girl must be returned to you, and your son shall receive a hundred lashes and be banished for a year. As for you, Unais, go to this man's wife, and if she confesses stone her to death." She confessed and he stoned her. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

God’s Messenger used to teach us how to ask God’s guidance about matters just as he used to teach as a sura of the Qur’an, saying: When any of you intends to do something he should pray two rak'as which are not compulsory, then say, “O God, I ask Thy guidance by Thy knowledge, I ask Thee for power by Thy power, and I ask Thee out of Thy great abundance, for Thou hast power and I have none, Thou knowest and I did not, and Thou art the One who is aware of the unseen. O God, if Thou knowest that this matter is good for me regarding my religion, my livelihood, and my future wellbeing (or he said, “my affairs in this world and the next”), ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. But if Thou knowest that this matter is bad for me regarding my religion, my livelihood, and my future wellbeing (or he said, “my affairs in this world and the next”), turn it away from me, turn me away from it, ordain good for me wherever it is, then make me pleased with it.” He said that he should name what he required. Bukhari transmitted it.

Your brethren have come repentant and I have considered that I should return their captives to them, so let those of you who are willing to release the captives act accordingly, but those who wish to hold on to what they have till I give them some of the first booty God gives us may do so.” The people told God’s Messenger that they were willing to release the captives, and he said, “I cannot distinguish between those of you who have granted that and those who have not, so return that your headmen may tell me about you.” They did so, and after their headmen had spoken to them they came back to God’s Messenger and told him they were agreeable and had given permission. Bukhari transmitted it.

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

My father died in debt and I suggested, to his creditors that they should accept the dates we had in payment of his debt. When they refused, I went to the Prophet and said, "You know that my father died a martyr at the battle of Uhud leaving a large debt, and I would like the creditors to see you." He told me to go and collect all the dates in separate groups, and when I had done so I called him. When they looked at him it seemed as though they were more persistent with me at that time, and when he saw what they were doing he went round the largest group three times, then sitting down beside it he said, "Call your creditors to me." He then kept measuring out to them till God paid on my father's behalf what he owed. I should have been pleased that God should pay my father's debt leaving me not a date to take back to my brothers; but God kept all the groups intact, and when I looked at the group beside which the Prophet was, it seemed as if it had not been diminished by a single date. Bukhari transmitted it.

One of God's favours to me was that God's messenger died in my house on my day resting on my breast, and that God joined his saliva with mine[*] when he died. When I was supporting God's messenger `Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu Bakr came in to -visit me with a tooth-stick in his hand. I saw the Prophet looking at it, and I knew it was a characteristic of his to like a tooth-stick, so I asked if I would get it for him and he nodded his assent. He took it, but it was too hard for him, so I suggested softening it for him and he nodded his assent. I softened it and he moved it over his teeth. There was a jug of water in front of him and he began to put his hands into the water and wipe his face with them saying meanwhile, ``There is no god but God. Death has pangs." The he raised his hand and began to say, ["Put me] among the highest companions" until he died and his hand dropped. *The reference is to the detail mentioned later in the tradition telling that she softened the tooth-stick in her mouth before the Prophet used it. Bukhari transmitted it.

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

When `Umar was stabbed he began to suffer, and Ibn `Abbas who seemed to be trying to console him said, "Do not worry about all that. You were a good companion to God's messenger and when he left you, he was pleased with you; you were a good companion to Abu Bakr and when he left you, he was pleased with you; you have been a good companion to the Muslims and if you leave them, you will do so when they are pleased with you." He replied, "As for what you have mentioned about my companionship with God's messenger and his good pleasure, that was simply a favour from God which He bestowed on me; as for what you have mentioned about my companionship with Abu Bakr and his good pleasure, that was simply a favour from God which He bestowed on me; but as for my anxiety which you see, it is on account of you and your companions. I swear by God that if I had as much gold as would fill the earth, I would ransom myself with it from God's punishment before seeing Him." Bukhari transmitted.

Ibn `Umar reported God's messenger as saying, "Your appointed period in relation to that of peoples who have passed away is just the time between the afternoon prayer and sunset. A comparison between you and the Jews and Christians is like a man who employed labourers and said, `Who will work for me till midday for a qirat each?' The Jews worked till midday for a qirat each, and then he said, `Who will work for me from midday till the afternoon prayer for a qirat each?' The Christians worked from midday till the afternoon prayer for a qirat each, and then he said, `Who will work for me from the afternoon prayer till sunset for two qirat each?' I assure you that you are the ones who work from the afternoon prayer till sunset and that you will have the reward twice over. The Jews and Christians were angry and said, `We have done more work and received less pay,' but God most high asked, `Have I wronged you in any respect regarding what was due to you?' When they admitted that He had not, God most high said, `It is my extra favour which I grant to whomsoever I will.'" Bukhari transmitted it.

'Umar (RAA) narrated, ‘The pagans did not use to depart from Muzdalifah until the sun had risen, and they would say, ‘Let the sun shine on Thabir (the highest mountain in Makkah). The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) contradicted them and departed from Muzdalifah before sunrise.' Related by Al-Bukhari.

Ibn 'Umar (RAA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) said, “The Wala’ (of a manumitted slave) is considered as one’s lineage, not to be sold or donated (refer to hadith no. 984).” Related by Ash-Shafi’i. Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim graded it as Sahih. It is also related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim with different wording

Some nights after her husband's death, Subai'ah al-Aslamiyah (RA) gave birth to a child. Then she went to the Prophet (SAW) and asked permission to marry. He gave her permission and she married. [Reported by al-Bukhari].

The Prophet (SAW) said, "Pray before Maghrib, pray before Maghrib" then he said at the third time, "Whoever wishes (to)". He said so, because he did not like the people to take it as a Sunnah. [Reported by al-Bukhari].

Whenever we went up a hill we would say Allāhu Akbar (Allah is the Most Great) and when we descended we would say Subḥānallāh (Glory is to Allah). Reference: Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 6/135.

Allāhumma’j`alhu lanā faraṭan, wa salafan, wa ajra. O Allah, make him for us a precursor, a forerunner and a cause of reward. Reference: Al-Hasan (Al-Basri) used to recite Surat Al-Fatihah for a child's funeral and then say this. Al-Bukhari, Kitabul-Jana'iz, p. 65.

Ibn ‘Abbas (RAA) narrated, ‘When the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was prevented from performing ‘Umrah (by Quraish) he shaved his head, had intercourse with his wives and slaughtered his animal. The next year he performed ‘Umrah to make up for the year that he had missed.’ Related by Al-Bukhari.

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: "An animal may be ridden, due to what is spent on it, when it is in pledge; and the milk of a camel may be drunk, due to what is spent on it, when it is in pledge. And the responsibility of spending on it is upon the one who rides (it) and drinks (its milk)." [Reported by al-Bukhari].

'Aishah (RA) had a Qiram (a soft piece of cloth with colours) with which she had screened one side of her house. The Prophet (SAW) said, "Take away this Qiram of yours, for its pictures are displayed in front of me during my prayer." [Reported by al-Bukhari].

He reached the Prophet (SAW) while he was bowing, so he (Abu Bakrah) bowed before reaching the row. He mentioned that to the Prophet (SAW) and the Prophet (SAW) said to him, "May Allah increase your eagerness! But do not repeat." [Reported by al-Bukhari].

Subḥānallāh, Wa ‘l-ḥamdu lillāh, Wallāhu Akbar. Glory is to Allah (thirty-three times in Arabic), Praise is to Allah (thirty-three times), Allah is the Most Great (thirty-four times) Reference: Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 7/71, Muslim 4/2091.

Abu Talha told Umm Sulaim[*] he had noticed God's messenger's voice was weak and realised that he was suffering from hunger, so he suggested she might have something. Replying that she had, she brought out some barley loaves, then took out a head-covering of hers in part of which she wrapped the bread, and when she had put it under my arm, she wound part of it round my head and sent me to God's messenger. When I went with it, I found God's messenger in the mosque accompanied by some people. I gave them a salutation and God's messenger asked me if Abu Talha had sent me. I replied that he had, and he asked if he had sent me with food. When I replied that that was so he told the people who were with him to get up. He set off and I went in front of them, and when I came to Abu Talha, I informed him. He said, "God's messenger has come with some people, Umm Sulaim, and we have nothing to give them to eat." When she replied that God and His messenger knew best, he went off till he met God's messenger, who then came accompanied by Abu Talha and said, "Bring what you have, Umm Sulaim." She brought that bread, and he then ordered that the bread be broken into small pieces, and when Umm Sulaim had squeezed a skin and put seasoning on its God's messenger said regarding it what God willed him to say. He then asked permission for ten to enter, and when that was granted, they ate till they had had enough'. When they had gone out, he asked permission for one group of ten after another to enter, and all the people ate and had enough. They numbered seventy or eighty men. *She had married Malik b. an-Nadr to whom she bore Anas. Miltk had gone to Syria, where he died, and she married Abu Talha. (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim he said, "Permit ten to enter," and when they entered, he said, "Eat, mentioning God's name." They ate until he had done that with eighty men, after which the Prophet and the members of the household ate, and he left something over. In a version by Bukhari he said, "Enter by tens," until he had counted forty. Then the Prophet ate, and I began to look whether it had diminished at all. A version by Muslim says he then took what remained and collected it, then invoked a blessing on it, and when it returned to its original state he said, "Take this."

'Uyainah bin Hisn came to Al-Madinah and stayed with his nephew Hurr bin Qais who was among those whom Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) showed favour to. The knowledgeable people (Qurra'), whether they were old or young, had the privilege of joining Umar's council and he used to consult them. 'Uyainah said to Hurr: "My nephew, the Leader of the Believers shows favour to you. Will you obtain permission for me to sit with him?" Hurr asked 'Umar and he accorded permission. When 'Uyainah came into the presence of 'Umar, he addressed him thus: "O son of Khattab, you neither bestow much on us nor deal with us justly." 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) got angry and was about to beat him up when Hurr said: ''O Leader of the Believers, Allah said to His Prophet (PBUH): ' Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish (i.e., don't punish them).' (7:199) This one is from the ignorants. When Hurr recited this, 'Umar became quite motionless in his seat. He always adhered strictly to the Book of Allah.

[Al-Bukhari].

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "When Allah loves a slave, calls out Jibril and says: 'I love so-and-so; so love him'. Then Jibril loves him. After that he (Jibril) announces to the inhabitants of heavens that Allah loves so- and-so; so love him; and the inhabitants of the heavens (the angels) also love him and then make people on earth love him".

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

Another narration of Muslim is: Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) said: "When Allah loves a slave, He calls Jibril (Gabriel) and says: 'I love so-and-so; so love him.' And then Jibril loves him. Then he (Jibril) announces in the heavens saying: Allah loves so-and-so; so love him; then the inhabitants of the heavens (the angels) also love him; and then people on earth love him. And when Allah hates a slave, He calls Jibril and says: 'I hate so- and-so, so hate him.' Then Jibril also hates him. He (Jibril) then announces amongst the inhabitants of heavens: 'Verily, Allah hates so- and-so, so you also hate him.' Thus they also start to hate him. Then he becomes the object of hatred on the earth also".

[Muslim].

The Prophet (PBUH) used to supplicate: "Allahumm-aghfir li khati'ati, wajahli, wa israfi fi amri, wa ma Anta a'lamu bihi minni. Allahumm-aghfir li jiddi wa hazli, wa khata'i wa 'amdi, wa kullu dhalika 'indi. Allahumm-aghfir li ma qaddamtu wa ma akhkhartu, wa ma asrartu, wa ma a'lantu, wa ma Anta a'lamu bihi minni. Antal-Muqaddimu, wa Antal-Mu'akhkhiru; wa Anta 'ala kulli shai'in Qadir (O Allah! Forgive my errors, ignorance and immoderation in my affairs. You are better aware of my faults than myself. O Allah! Forgive my faults which I committed in seriousness or in fun deliberately or inadvertently. O Allah! Grant me pardon for those sins which I committed in the past and I may commit in future, which I committed in privacy or in public and all those sins of which You are better aware than me. You Alone can send whomever You will to Jannah, and You Alone can send whomever You will to Hell-fire and You are Omnipotent)."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to supplicate: "Allahumma laka aslamtu, wa bika amantu, wa 'alaika tawakkaltu, wa ilaika anabtu, wa bika khasamtu, wa ilaika hakamtu. Faghfir li ma qaddamtu, wa ma akh-khartu, wa ma asrartu wa ma a'lantu, Antal-Muqaddimu, wa Antal-Mu'akhkhiru, la ilaha illa Anta (O Allah! to You I submit, in You I affirm my faith, in You I repose my trust, to You I turn in repentance and with Your Help I contend my adversaries and from You I seek judgement. O Allah! Grant me forgiveness for the faults which I made in past and those ones I may commit in the future, those which I committed secretly or openly. You Alone send whomever You will to Jannah, and You Alone send whomever You will to Hell-fire. There is none worthy of worship except You)." Another narration adds: "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no strength to resist evil and no power to do good except through Allah)."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "The best supplication for seeking forgiveness (Syed-ul- Istighfar) is to say: 'Allahumma Anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa Anta, khalaqtani wa ana 'abduka, wa ana 'ala 'ahdika wa wa'dika mastata'tu, a'udhu bika min sharri ma sana'tu, abu'u laka bini'matika 'alayya, wa abu'u bidhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta. (O Allah! You are my Rubb. There is no true god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I hold to Your Covenant as far as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins. Pardon me, for none but You has the power to pardon).' He who supplicates in these terms during the day with firm belief in it and dies on the same day (before the evening), he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah; and if anyone supplicates in these terms during the night with firm belief in it and dies before the morning, he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah."

[Al-Bukhari].

Rafi' b. Khadij and Sahl b. Abu Hathma told that ‘Abdallah b. Sahl and Muhayyisa b. Mas'ud came to Khaibar and when they had separated among the palm-trees ‘Abdallah b. Sahl was killed. ‘Abd ar-Rah¬man b. Sahl and Huwayyisa, and Muhayyisa, the sons of Mas'ud, came to the Prophet and spoke about what had happened to their friend. ‘Abd ar-Rahman who was the youngest spoke first, but the Prophet said to him kabbir al-kubr, which was said by Yahya b. Sa'id to mean “Let the oldest take charge of speaking." They then spoke and the Prophet said, “Make your demand regarding your dead man (or he said, your friend) by the oaths of fifty of you." They replied, “Messenger of God, it is a matter which we did not see." He said, “The Jews will exonerate themselves by the oaths of fifty of them," but they replied, “Messenger of God, they are a people who are infidels." So God’s Messenger paid them the blood wit himself. A version has, “You must swear fifty oaths and make your claim regarding your slain man (or, your friend)." Then God’s Messenger himself paid his blood wit consisting of a hundred she- camels. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir said that Mu'adh b. Jabal used to pray along with the Prophet, then come and lead his people in prayer. One night he prayed the evening prayer along with the Prophet, then came to his people and led them in prayer, beginning with Sura al-Baqara1. A man turned aside, pronounced the taslim, then prayed alone and departed. The people said to him, “Have you become a hypocrite, so and so?” He replied, I swear by God that I have not, but I shall certainly go to God’s Messenger and tell him.” So he went to him and said, “Messenger of God, we look after camels used for watering and work by day. After having prayed the evening prayer with you, Mu'adh came and began with Sura al-Baqara.” God’s Messenger then approached Mu'adh and said, “Are you a troubler, Mu’adh? Recite, ‘By the sun and its morning brightness,’2 ‘By the morning brightness,’3 ‘By the night when it covers over,’4 and ‘Glorify the name of thy most high Lord’.”5 1. Al-Qur’an; 2 the longest sura in the Qur’an. 2. Al-Qur’an; 91 3. Al-Qur'an; 93. 4. Al-Qur'an; 92. 5. Al-Qur’an; 87. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I heard the Prophet prohibiting them and afterwards saw him praying them. When he came in I sent the slavegirl to him telling her to say that Umm Salama sent this query, “Messenger of God, I heard you prohibiting these two, and I see you praying them.” He replied, “Daughter of Abu Umayya,* you have asked about the two rak'as after the afternoon prayer. Some people of ‘Abd Qais came and hindered me from praying the two rak'as which come after the noon prayer, so those are the two I have been praying.” * Abu Umayya was Umm Salama’s father. Although the slavegirl conveyed the query, the reply is given as if addressed directly to Umm Salama. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Abu Huraira said that God’s messenger told of a man who expressed his intention to give sadaqa, and who when he took it out placed it in a thief’s hand. In the morning the people were talking and saying, “Sadaqa was given to a thief last night.” The man said, “O God, to Thee be the praise—to a thief!’’ He then expressed his intention to give sadaqa and when he took it out he placed it in a prostitute’s hand. In the morning the people were talking and saying, “Sadaqa was given to a prostitute last night." The man said, "O God, to Thee be the praise— to a prostitute!" He then expressed his intention to give sadaqa and when he took it out he placed it in a rich man’s hand. In the morning the people were talking and saying, “Sadaqa was given to a rich man last night." The man said, “O God, to Thee be the praise—to a thief, a prostitute and a rich man!” He then had a vision in which he was told that his sadaqa to a thief might result in his refraining from his theft, the prostitute might perhaps refrain from her immorality, and the rich man might perhaps pay heed and spend from what God had given him. (Bukhari and Muslim, the wording being Bukhari’s.)

He said that God's messenger told them two traditions one of which he had seen happen and was looking forward to the other. He told them that faith had come down into the roots of men's hearts, then they gained knowledge from the Qur'an, then gained knowledge from the sunnah. He also told about its removal, saying, "A man will sleep[2] and faith will be taken from his heart, but its mark will remain like the mark of a spot. He will sleep again, and it will be taken away, its mark remaining like the mark of a blister, as when you drop live coals over your foot a water blister is produced and you see it swollen with nothing in it. People will make business agreements with one another and scarcely one will fulfil his trust. It will then be said that among the B. so and so there is a trustworthy man. People will remark how intelligent, excellent, and resolute a man is while he has not as much faith in his heart as a grain of mustard seed." 1. Fitan pl of fitnah. There are different meanings, e.g., temptation, seduction; discord, commotion, civil war; testing, trial; impiety, unbelief. 2. This may either be understood literally, or as a figure of speech for carelessness. (Bukhari and Muslim.)