‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said: Verily, Witr is not a must like your prescribed prayers, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Witr, then he said: “Pray Witr, O people of the Qur`an. Pray Witr, for Allah is One and loves that which is odd numbered.”

I heard ‘Abdullah bin Mulail say: I heard Ali (رضي الله عنه) say: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: `There is no Prophet who came before me but he was given seven chiefs, advisors and nobles, but I have been given fourteen. Hamzah, Ja`far, `Ali, Hasan, Husain, Abu Bakr, ʻUmar, al-Miqdad, Hudhaifah, Salman, `Ammar and Bilal”. (رضي الله عنهم)

I saw Ali (رضي الله عنه) doing wudoo’ and wiping over his shoes. Then he said: “If I had not seen the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) doing what you have seen me do, I would have thought that the bottoms of the feet were more deserving of being wiped than their tops”.

No zakah is due on wealth until one year has passed.

I said to al-Hasan bin `Ali: The Shi`ah claim that ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) will return! He said. Those liars are lying. If we knew that, his wives would not have got married and we would not have divided his estate.

“I have exempted you with regard to horses and slaves; no zakah is due on them.”

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: `Whoever reads Qur`an and learns it by heart, he will be granted intercession for ten of his family for whom Hell was due.”

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: `I have exempted horses and slaves from zakah.”

`We do not enter a house in which there is an image or a dog.` And the dog belonging to al-Hasan was in the house.

I said to `Ali: Do you think that this decision of yours to leave (Madinah) is something that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recommended to you to do, or is it something that you decided yourself? He said: why are you asking this question? I said: For the sake of our religion. He said. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not recommend me to do anything with regard to this; rather it is something I decided myself.

Al-Mugheerah bin Shu`bah had a spear, and when we went out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a campaign, he would take it with him and stick it in the ground. And the people would pass by him and give him a ride. I said: When I go to the Prophet (ﷺ) I will tell him. He said: If you do that, no one will pick up a lost item.

’Ali (رضي الله عنه) did wudoo’, each part three times, then he drank the left over water. Then he said: This is how I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do wudoo`.

A man narrated to me from `Abdullah bin Mulail that he said: I heard `Ali (رضي الله عنه) say: Each Prophet (ﷺ) was given seven nobles, but your Prophet (ﷺ) was given fourteen nobles, including Abu Bakr, ʻUmar, ‘Abdullah bin Mas`ood and ‘Ammar bin Yasir. (رضي الله عنهم)

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to check the eyes and ears (of sacrificial animals), and told us not to sacrifice any that is one-eyed, or any muqabalah, mudabarah, sharqa’ or kharqa`. Zuhair said: “I said to Abu Ishaq, “Did he mention the one with its nose [or ear or lip] cut off?” He said: “No”, I said: “What is al-muqabalah?” He said: “One that has the edge of its ears cut.” I said: “What is al-mudabarah?” He said: “One whose ears are slit from the back.” I said: “What is ash-sharqa`?” He said: “One whose ears are slit in two lengthwise.” I said: “What is al-kharqa`?” He said: “One that has a round hole in its ear as a distinguishing mark.””

I heard ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) say: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade keeping the meat of sacrificial animals after three days.

I asked `A`ishah (رضي الله عنها) about wiping over the khuffain. She said: “Ask ‘Ali, for he knows more about that than me. He used to travel with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).” So I asked ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) and he said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: `For one who is not travelling, one day and night; and for the traveller, three days and nights.`

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever learns the Qur`an and learns it by heart, Allah will admit him to Paradise and will grant him intercession for ten of his family, all of whom were due for Hell.“

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) instructed me to sacrifice two rams on his behalf, and I like to do that. Muhammad bin `Ubaid al-Muharibi said in his hadeeth: He sacrificed two rams, one on behalf of the Prophet (ﷺ) and one on behalf of himself. Something was said to him (concerning that) and he said: “He ordered me to do it and I will never omit to do it.”

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me as a judge and said: `If two disputants come to you, do not pass judgement against one of them until you hear what the other has to say, then the right verdict will become clear to you.`

The Prophet (ﷺ) sent me to Yemen as a judge. I said: “Are you sending me to people when I am young and have no knowledge of judging?” He placed his hand on my chest and said: “May Allah make you steadfast and help you to get it right. If two disputants come to you, do not pass judgement in favour of the first one until you listen to what the other one has to say. That is more helpful and will enable you to reach the correct verdict.` Since then I have become a (good) judge. It was narrated that `Ali bin Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) said: The Prophet (ﷺ) sent me as a judge to Yemen (and he narrated the above). He said: “Allah will make your heart steadfast and guide your mind and heart.” (and he mentioned the hadeeth.) A similar report was narrated from ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه).

“Do you know what mission I am sending you on? It is the same mission as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me. To erase every image and level every grave.”

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “If two men come to you for judgement, do not judge in favour of the first one until you listen to what the other one says. Then you will know how to judge.`

I saw ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) sacrificing two rams and I said to him: “What is this?” He said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told me to offer a sacrifice on his behalf”.

“O Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah, I am not eloquent or a good speaker.” He said: “I have no choice but to go myself or send you with it.” Ali (رضي الله عنه) said: “If that is the case, I have no choice but to go.” He said: `Go, and Allah will make your tongue steadfast and guide your heart.` Then he placed his hand over his mouth.

“They distracted us from the middle prayer until the sunset. May Allah fill their graves, houses and stomachs with fire.”

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who pays it, the one who witness it, the one who writes it down, the woman who does tattoos, the woman who has tattoos done, the one who marries a woman and divorces her so that she becomes permissible for her first husband, and the one for whom that is done, and the one who withholds zakah. And he forbade wailing for the dead.

I used to spend a little time with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at night, during which Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, benefited me (as He willed). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: `The angels do not enter a house in which there is an image or a dog or a person who is junub.` He said: `I looked and found a puppy belonging to al Hasan bin ‘Ali beneath the bed, so I took it out.`

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade me to put the ring on the middle finger.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: `Do not tell lies about me, for the one who tells lies about me will enter Hell.`

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade (sacrificing) an animal that had lost most of its horn or ear.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade sacrificing any animal that had lost most of its horn or ear.

It was narrated from ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) that The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say at the end of his Witr. “O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath, I seek refuge in Your forgiveness from Your punishment. I seek refuge in You from You, I cannot praise You enough, You are as You have praised Yourself.`

“O Allah, by Your power I charge at the enemy, by Your power I ward off the plot of the enemy and by Your power I march to the enemy.”

When the ten verses of Bara`ah (Surah at-Tawbah) were revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ), he called Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) and sent him to recite them to the people of Makkah. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) called me and said to me: `Catch up with Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) and wherever you meet him, take the document from him and take it to the people of Makkah and read it to them.` I caught up with him at al-Juhfah and took the letter from him. Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) went back to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), has something been revealed concerning me? He said: `No, but Jibreel came to me and said: No one should do this for you except you or a man of your [family].`

It was said to ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه): “Did your Messenger say anything to you only that was not for the people in general?” He said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not say anything to us only that he did not say to the people, except something in the sheath of this sword of mine. He took out a document on which there was something about the ages of camels [for zakah] and in it was said: `Madinah is sacred, the area between Thawr and ‘A’ir. Whoever commits an offence or gives refuge to an offender, upon him will be the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and on the Day of Resurrection Allah will not accept any nafl or obligatory act of worship from him. Protection given by any Muslim is binding upon all of them. Whoever transgresses protection given by a Muslim, upon him be the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and on the Day of Resurrection Allah will not accept any nafl or obligatory act of worship from him. Whoever takes people as mawla without the permission of the ones who set him free, upon him be the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and on the Day of Resurrection Allah will not accept any nafl or obligatory act of worship from him.` The word mawla refers to the one who manumits a slave, who has a right to inherit ex-slave. Changing one’s mawla means giving the right of inheritance to the new mawla.

“They distracted us from the middle prayer, `Asr prayer, until the sunset. May Allah fill their graves and houses - or their graves and bellies - with fire.” Shu`bah said: “May Allah fill their graves and houses - or their graves and bellies - with fire`. I do not know whether this is part of the hadeeth or is not part of the hadeeth; I am not certain about it.

There were idols on top of the Ka`bah, and I wanted to lift up the Prophet (ﷺ) so he could reach them, but I could not do it. So he lifted me up, and I started smashing them, and if I had wanted to, I could have touched the sky.

“Some people will pass out of Islam as the arrow passes out of the prey. They will recite the Qur`an but it will go no further than their collar bones. Glad tidings to the one who kills them and they kill him. Their sign will be a man with a deformed arm.

`They distracted us from the middle prayer until the sunset; may Allah fill their graves and their houses - or their bellies and their houses - with fire.”

Ali (رضي الله عنه) was asked: “Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say anything to you exclusively; He said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not say anything to us exclusively that he did not say to all the people, except what is in the sheath of this sword of mine. He took out a document on which was written `May Allah curse the one who offers a sacrifice to anyone other than Allah; may Allah curse the one who steals the boundary markers; may Allah curse the one who curses his father; may Allah curse the one who gives refuge to an offender.`

“O Allah, fill their houses and their graves with fire, as they distracted us from the middle prayer until the sunset.”

I heard Hujayyah bin Adiyy say: I heard `Ali bin Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) When a man asked him about a cow. He said: “(It may be sacrificed) on behalf of seven.” He asked him about the animal that is lame. He said: “If it can reach the place of sacrifice (then sacrifice it).” He was asked about the horn. He said: “It doesn`t matter.” And ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) instructed us to check the eye and ear.

“Woe to you! Would you kill two hundred people for four men? Come and I will judge between you, if you accept it (all well and good), otherwise refer the matter to the Prophet (ﷺ).” He ruled that one quarter of the diyah should be given for the first one, one third of the diyah for the second one, half of the diyah for the third one and the complete diyah for the fourth one. Some of them accepted it and some of them did not like it. And he imposed the diyah on the tribes of the people who had crowded one another in that place. So they referred the matter to the Prophet (ﷺ). Bahz said: Hammad said: I think he said: He was reclining, then he sat up and said: “I shall judge between you.” Then he was told that ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) had issued such and such a verdict, and he approved of it, `Affan said: `I shall judge between you.”

`If I am a person`s mawla (friend and supporter) then `Ali is also his mawla.” And the people added after that: `So take as friends those who take him as a friend and take as enemies those who take him as an enemy.”

“[It may be sacrificed] on behalf of seven people.” He was asked about the cow with a broken horn and he said: “It does not matter.” He was asked about a lame animal, and he said: “If it can reach the place of sacrifice (then sacrifice it).” Then he said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) instructed us to check the eyes and ears.”

`Ali bin Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) said to me: “O son of A’bud, do you know what the rights of the food are?” I said: “What are its rights, O son of Abu Talib?” He said: “To say: in the Name of Allah; O Allah, bless for us what You have provided for us. Do you know how to express gratitude when you have finished eating?” I said: “What is gratitude for it?” He said: “To say: Praise be to Allah Who has fed us and given us to drink.” Then he said: “Shall I not tell you about me and Fatimah (رضي الله عنها)? She was the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and she was one of the dearest of his family to him, and she was my wife. She worked with the millstone until the millstone left marks on her hand, and she brought water with a bucket until the bucket left marks on her chest. She took care of the house until her garment became dusty and she lit a fire under the pot until her garment became dirty, and she suffered hardship because of that. Some female captives (or servants) were brought to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and I said to her: “Go to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and ask him for a servant to relieve you of the hardship you are in.” So she went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and she found some servants with him. Then she came back and did not ask him for one. (And he narrated the hadeeth - And he [the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)] said: `Shall I not tell you of something that is better for you than a servant? When you go to your bed, glorify Allah thirty three times, praise Him thirty three times, and magnify Him thirty four times.” She stuck her head out and said: “I am content with Allah and His Messenger,” twice. (And he narrated a hadeeth like that of Ibn ‘Ulayyah from al-Jurairi or similar to it.)

We used to think that the middle prayer was Fajr prayer. Then `Ali (رضي الله عنه) told us that on the day of al-Ahzab they fought and were distracted from ‘Asr prayer. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: `O Allah, fill their graves with fire - or fill their bellies with fire - as they kept us from the middle prayer.` Then on that day we realised that the middle prayer was ’Asr prayer.

It was narrated from ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) that The Prophet (ﷺ) sent him a suit of silk, and he put it on and went out to the people, then he recognised anger on his [the Prophet`s] face, and he [the Prophet (ﷺ)] instructed him to cut it up and divide it among his womenfolk.

I heard an-Nazzal bin Sabrah say: I saw ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) praying Zuhr, then he sat to listen to the people`s needs. When the time for ‘Asr came, a stone vessel of water was brought to him. He took a handful from it and wiped his face, forearms, head and feet. Then he took the leftover water and drank it whilst standing, and he said: Some people dislike this, but I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do it. And this is the wudoo’ of one who has not broken his wudoo’.

Perhaps you were forced? Perhaps your husband came to you? Perhaps...? She said: No. When she gave birth, he slogged her then he stoned her. It was said to him: Why did you flog her then stone her? He said: I flogged her in accordance with the Book of Allah and I stoned her in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).