Anas said that the Prophet used to break his fast before praying with some fresh dates, but if there were no fresh dates he had a few dry dates, and if there were no dry dates he took some mouthfuls* of water. *Mirqat explains this as three mouthfuls, but 'three' does not occur in the text. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a hasan gharib tradition.

‘Abdallah b. Busr, on the authority of his sister as-Samma’, reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not fast on Saturday except during what has been made obligatory for you; and if one of you can get nothing but a grape skin or a piece of wood from a tree, he should chew it.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said he used to sell camels at an-Naqi‘for dinars and take dirhams for them, and sell for dirhams and take dinars for them. He went to the Prophet and mentioned that to him, and he replied, “There is no harm in taking them at the current rate so long as you do not separate leaving something still to be settled.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Ubada b. as-Samit told that he said, “Messenger of God, one of those whom I have been teaching the Book and the Qur’an has presented me with a bow, and as it cannot be reckoned property may I shoot with it in God's path?" He replied, “If you want to have a necklace of fire put on you, accept it." Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, said his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No descendant of Adam may make a vow about what he does not possess, or set free what he does not possess, or divorce what he does not possess.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Abu Dawud added, “or sell what he does not possess.”

On his father’s authority he said his grandfather told of a man coming to the Prophet and saying, “I am poor with no possessions and I have an orphan to care for.” He replied, “Eat from your orphan’s property, provided you are not extravagant, or take anything before you need it, or store up any of it.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

'Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God's Messenger as saying, “The blood wit for unintentional murder which resembles intentional, such as is done with a whip and a stick, is a hundred camels, forty of which are pregnant.” Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, and Abu Dawud transmitted it both on his authority and on that of Ibn ‘Umar. Sharh as-sunna has the wording in al-Masabih on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar.

Al-Mustadrid b. Shaddad told that he heard the Prophet say, “He who acts as a governor for us must get a wife; if he has not a servant he must get one, and if he has not a dwelling he must get one.” A version says, “He who takes anything else than that is acting unfaithfully.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abul Azhar al-Aimari told that when God’s messenger went to his bed at night he said, “In the name of God. I have laid down my side for God. O God, forgive me my sin, drive away my devil, free me from my responsibility, and place me in the highest assembly.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ghalib al-Qattan quoted a man who stated on the authority of his father that his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The office of a chief is necessary, for people must have chiefs, but the chiefs will go to hell.”* Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Mirqat. iv, 133 says this means those who are unjust, or is a warning against the temptations to injustice arising from their office.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr told of a man who said, “Messenger of God, the mu'adhdhins excel us.”* To him God’s Messenger replied, ‘Say the same words as they say, and when you come to the end, if you make any petition it will be granted to you.” * This most probably means that they get a greater reward. The reply suggests how that may be counterbalanced. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As said that God’s Messenger used to say on entering the mosque, “I seek refuge in God the mighty, in His noble being, and in His power which is from everlasting from the accursed devil.” He said that when the devil heard that he said, “He is protected from me for the rest of the day.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Kharija b. Hudhafa told of God’s Messenger coming out to them and saying, “God has given you an extra prayer which is better for you than the high-bred camels,* the witr, which God has appointed for you between the evening prayer and the daybreak.” * Literally “the red ones of the camels.” These were considered to be the best quality. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s Messenger stood in humble supplication daily for a month at the noon, afternoon; sunset, evening and morning prayer when he said, “God listens to him who praises Him” in the last rak'a, invoking a curse on some clans of the B. Sulaim, Ri‘l, Dhakwan and ‘Usayya, and those standing behind him said Amen. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Anas said that when the Prophet came to Medina the people had two days on which they engaged in games. Having asked what their significance was and being told that they had engaged in games on them in the pre-Islamic period, he said, “God has substituted for them something better than them, the day of sacrifice and the day of the breaking of the fast.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

'Ikrima said that when Ibn ‘Abbas was told that a certain wife of the Prophet had died, he prostrated himself. Someone asked him why he made prostration at such a time, and he replied, “God’s Messenger told us to prostrate ourselves when we saw a sign, and what sign is greater than the departure of the Prophet's wives?” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Umm Bujaid said she told God’s messenger that a poor man would stand at her door till she was ashamed, for she had nothing in her house to put in his hand, and he replied, “Put something in his hand, even though it should be a burnt hoof." Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Asma’ daughter of Yazid reported God’s messenger as saying, “Any woman who wears a gold necklace will have a similar one of fire put on her neck on the day of resurrection, and any woman who puts a gold earring in her ear will have a similar one of fire put in her ear by God on the day of resurrection.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Buraida told that a man asked Fadala b. ‘Ubaid why it was he saw him dishevelled and he replied that God's messenger had forbidden them to indulge much in luxury. He asked why it was he saw him unshod and he replied that God's messenger used to command them to go barefoot at times. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abdallah b. Mughaffal reported the Prophet as saying, "Were dogs not a species of creature I should command that they all be killed; but kill every pure black one." Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it. Tirmidhi and Nasa'i added, "No family attaches itself to a dog without a qirat of their good deeds being deducted daily, except in the case of a hunting dog, a farm dog, or a sheepdog.”

Umayya b. Makhshi told that a man who was eating and had not mentioned God’s name said when he raised the last morsel to his mouth, “In the name of God at the beginning and at the end of it.” The Prophet laughed and said, “The devil kept eating along with him, but when he mentioned God’s name he vomited what was in his belly.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas told that when a mouse came dragging a wick and dropped it in front of God’s messenger on the mat on which he was sitting with the result th at it burned a hole in it about the size of dirham, he said, “When you go to sleep extinguish your lamps, for the devil guides a creature like this to do thus and sets you on fire.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Fadala b. ‘Ubaid reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Everyone who dies will have fully completed his actions, except one who is on the frontier in God’s path, for his deeds will be made to go on increasing for him till the day of resurrection, and he will be safe from the trial in the grave." Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it on the authority of ‘Uqba b. ‘Amir.

Buraida told that while God’s Messenger was walking a man who had an ass came to him and, moving to the back of the animal, invited him to mount, but he said, “No; you have more right to ride in front on your animal unless you grant that right to me." The man replied that he did, and so he mounted. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Allāhumma ‘a`innī `alā dhikrika, wa shukrika, wa ḥusni `ibādatik. O Allah, help me to remember You, to give You thanks, and to perform Your worship in the best manner. Reference: Abu Dawud 2/86, An-Nasa'i 3/53. See also Al-Albani Sahih Abu Dawud 1 /284.

Allāhumma’sqi `ibādaka wa bahā'imak, wanshur raḥmatak, wa aḥyi baladaka ‘l-mayyit O Allah, give water to Your slaves, and Your livestock, and spread Your mercy, and revive Your dead land. Reference: Abu Dawud 1/305. Al-Albani graded it good in Sahih Abu Dawud 1/218.

“The Beast will emerge and will have with it the seal of Sulaiman bin Dawud and the staff of Musa bin ‘Imran (as). It will make the faces of the believers shine with the staff, and will mark the noses of the disbelievers with the seal, until the inhabitants of a cluster of houses will gather together; then one will say ‘O believer!’ And to another ‘O disbeliever.’”

AbulMalih said: Some women of Syria came to Aisha. She asked them: From whom are you? They replied: From the people of Syria. She said: Perhaps you belong to the place where women enter hot baths (for washing ). The said: Yes. She said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say: If a woman puts off her clothes in a place other than her house, she tears the veil between her and Allah, the Exalted.

Abu Dawud said: This is the tradition narrated by Jarir, and it is more perfect. Jarir did not mention Abu al-Malih. He said (on the authority of 'A'ishah) that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said.

A man committed fornication with a woman. So the Messenger of Allah (saws) ordered regarding him and the prescribed punishment of flogging was inflicted on him. He was then informed that he was married. So he commanded regarding him and he was stoned to death.

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted by Muhammad b. Bakr al-Barsani from Ibn Juraij as a statement of Jabir, and Abu 'Asim has transmitted it from Ibn Juraid similar to that of Ibn Wahb. He did not mention the Prophet (saws). But he said: A man committed fornication, but did not know that he was married ; so he was flogged. It was then known that he was married, so he was stoned to death.

when a man cures anything, the curse goes up to heaven and the gates of heaven are locked against it. Then it comes down to the earth and its gates are locked against it. Then it goes right and left, and if it finds no place of entrance it returns to the thing which was cursed, and if it finds no place of entrance it returns to the thing which was cursed, and if it deserves what was said (it enters it), otherwise it returns to the one who uttered it.

Abu Dawud said : Marwan b. Muhammad said: He is Rabah b. al-Walid who heard from him (nimran). He (Marwan b. Muhammad) said: Yahya b. Hussain was confused in it.

I performed Hajj and came to Umm Salamah and said (to her): Mother of the believers, Samurah b. Jundub commands women to complete the prayers abandoned during their menstrual period. She said: They should not do so. The wives of the Prophet (saws) would refrain (from prayer) for forty nights (i.e. days) during the course of bleeding after child birth. The Prophet (saws) would not command them to complete the prayers abandoned during the period of bleeding.

Muhammad b. Hatim said: The name of Al-Azdiyyah is Mussah and her patronymic name is Umm Busrah.

Abu Dawud said: The patronymic names of Kathir b. Ziyad s Abu Sahl.

the Prophet (may peace be upon him) uttered the takbir and prostrated himself (in a tradition relating to the incidence of the possessor of arms [Dhu al-yadain]). The narrator Hisham, I,e, Ibn Hassan said: he uttered the takbir ; then he uttered the takbir and prostrated himself.

Abu Dawud said : This tradition has also been narrated by Habib b. al-shahid, Humaid, Yunus, and Asim b. al-Ahwal, from Muhammad on the authority of abu Hurairah none of them mentioned what Hammad b. Zaid mentioned from from Hisham that he uttered the takbir; then uttered the takbir and prostrated himself. Hammad b. Sulaimah and Abu BAkr b. ‘Ayyash also narrated this tradition from Hisham, but they did not narrate from him what HAmmad b. zaid narrated that he uttered the takbir and again uttered the takbir.

The Prophet (saws) said to a man: Would you like me to marry you to so-and-so?

He said: Yes. He also said to the woman: Would you like me to marry you to so-and-so?

She said: Yes. He then married one to the other. The man had sexual intercourse with her, but he did not fix any dower for her, nor did he give anything to her. He was one of those who participated in the expedition to al-Hudaybiyyah. One part of the expedition to al-Hudaybiyyah had a share in Khaybar.

When he was nearing his death, he said: The Messenger of Allah (saws) married me to so-and-so, and I did not fix a dower for her, nor did I give anything to her. I call upon you as witness that I have given my share in Khaybar as her dower. So she took the share and sold it for one lakh (of dirhams).

Abu Dawud said: The version of 'Umar b. al-Khattab added in the beginning of this tradition, and his version is more perfect. He reported the Messenger of Allah (saws) as saying: The best marriage is the one that is most easy. The Messenger of Allah (saws) said to the man. The narrator then transmitted the rest of the tradition to the same effect.

Abu Dawud said: I am afraid this tradition has been added later on, for the matter is otherwise.

The tradition mentioned above (No. 4401) has also been transmitted by Ubadah ibn as-Samit through a different chain of narrators.

This version has: The people said to Sa'd ibn Ubadah: AbuThabit, the prescribed punishments have been revealed: if you find a man with your wife, what will you do?

He said: I shall strike them with a sword so much that they become silent (i.e. die). Should I go and gather four witnesses? Until that (time) the need would be fulfilled.

So they went away and gathered with the Messenger of Allah (saws) and said: Messenger of Allah! did you not see AbuThabit. He said so-and-so.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: The sword is a sufficient witness. He then said: No, no, a furious and a jealous man may follow this course.

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted by Waki' from al-Fadl b. Dilham from al-Hasan, from Qabisah b. Huraith, from Salamah b. al-Muhabbaq, from the Prophet (saws). And this is the chain of the tradition narrated by Ibn al-Muhabbaq to the effect that a man had sexual intercourse with a slave girl of his wife.

Abu Dawud said: Al-Fadl b. Dilham was not the memoriser of traditions. He was a butcher in Wasit.

AbuSufyan ibn Sa'id ibn al-Mughirah reported that he entered upon Umm Habibah who presented him a glass of sawiq (a drink prepared with flour and water) to drink. He called for water and rinsed his mouth. She said: O my cousin, don't you perform ablution? The Prophet (saws) said: Perform ablution after eating anything cooked with fire, or he said: anything touched by fire.

Abu Dawud said: The version of al-Zuhri has: O my paternal cousin.

The Prophet (saws) said: When one of you prays facing a sutrah he should keep close to it, and not let the devil interrupt his prayer.

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has also been narrated by Waqid b. Muhammad from Safwan from Muhammad b. Sahl on the authority of his father, or on the authority of Muhammad b. Sahl from the Prophet (saws). Some have narrated it from Nafi' b. Jubair on the authority of Sahl b. Sa'd. There is a variation in the chain of its narrators.

I came riding a donkey. Another version has: Ibn Abbas said: When I was near the age of the puberty I came riding a she-ass and found the Messenger of Allah (saws) leading the people in prayer at Mina. I passed in front of a part of the row (of worshippers), and dismounting left my she-ass for grazing in the pasture, and I joined the row, and no one objected to that.

Abu Dawud said: These are the words of al-Qa'nabi, and are complete. Malik said: I take it as permissible at the time when the iqamah for prayer is pronounced.

The Prophet (saws) said: If anyone prays at night reciting regularly ten verses, he will not be recorded among the negligent; if anyone prays at night and recites a hundred verses, he will be recorded among those who are obedient to Allah; and if anyone prays at night reciting one thousand verses, he will be recorded among those who receive huge rewards.

Abu Dawud said: The name of Ibn Hujairah al-Asghar is 'Abd Allah b. 'Abd al-Rahman b. Hujairah.

The Prophet (saws) said: Do not cover the walls. He who sees the letter of his brother without his permission, sees Hell-fire.

Supplicate Allah with the palms of your hands; do not supplicate Him with their backs upwards. When you finish supplication, wipe your faces with them.

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted through a different chains by Muhammad b. Ka'b; all of them are weak. The chain I have narrated is best of them; but it is also weak.

When the children of a woman (in pre-Islamic days) did not survive, she took a vow on herself that if her child survives, she would convert it a Jew. When Banu an-Nadir were expelled (from Arabia), there were some children of the Ansar (Helpers) among them. They said: We shall not leave our children. So Allah the Exalted revealed; "Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error."

Abu Dawud said: Muqlat means a woman whose children do not survive.

Asma, daughter of AbuBakr, entered upon the Messenger of Allah (saws) wearing thin clothes. The Messenger of Allah (saws) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma', when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to his face and hands.

Abu Dawud said: This is a mursal tradition (i.e. the narrator who transmitted it from 'Aishah is missing) Khalid b. Duraik did not see 'Aishah.

The Prophet (saws) said: The mill of Islam will go round till the year thirty-five, or thirty-six, or thirty-seven; then if they perish, they will have followed the path of those who perished before them, but if their religion is maintained, it will be maintained for seventy years. I asked: Does it mean seventy years which remain or seventy years which are gone by? He replied: It means (seventy years) that are gone by.

Abu Dawud said: Those who recorded Khirash, the name of a narrator, are wrong. (The correct name is Hirash)

A man who had the mark of yellowness on him came to the Messenger of Allah (saws). The apostle of Allah (saws) rarely mentioned anything of a man which he disliked before him. When he went out, he said: Would that you asked him to wash it from him.

Abu Dawud said: Salam is not 'Alawi (from the descendants of 'Ali). He used to foretell events by stars. He bore witness before 'Abi b. Arafat to the visibility of moon, but he did not accept his witness.

I brought my son to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) while I had compressed his uvula for its swelling. He said : Why do you afflict your children by squeezing for a swelling in the Uvula ? Apply this Indian aloes wood, for it contain seven types of remedies, among them being a remedy for pleurisy. It is applied through the nose for a swelling of the uvula poured into the side of the mouth for pleurisy.

Abu Dawud said : By aloes wood he meant costus.

if Allah conquers al-Ta’if for you tomorrow, I shall lead you to a woman who has four folds of fats in front and eight behind. Thereupon the Prophet (May peace be upon him) said: Put them out of your houses.

Abu Dawud said : The woman had four folds of fat on her belly.

‘Abd Allaah bin Umar said that he heard the Apostle of Allaah(saws) prohibiting women in the sacred state (wearing ihram) to wear gloves, veil(their faces) and to wear clothes with dye of waras or saffron on them. But afterwards they can wear any kind of clothing they like dyed yellow or silk or jewelry or trousers or shirts or shoes.

Abu Dawud said ‘Abdah and Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated this tradition from Muhammad bin Ishaq up to the words “And to wear clothes with dye of waras or saffron on them”. They did not mention the words after them.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) as saying: Both parties in a business transaction have a right of option (to annul it) so long as they are not separated ; and if they tell the truth and make everything clear, they will be blessed in their transaction, but it they conceal anything and lie, the blessing on their transaction will be blotted out.

Abu Dawud said: A similar tradition has also been transmitted by Sa'id b. Abi 'Arubah and Hammad. As regards with Hammam, he said in his version: Until they separate or exercise the right of option (to annul the transaction), saying the words of option three times.

The Prophet (saws) as saying: I swear by Allah, I shall fight against the Quraish. The then said: If Allah wills. He again said: I swear by Allah, I shall fight against the Quraish if Allah wills. He again said: I swear by Allah, I shall fight against the Quraish. He then kept silence. Then he said: If Allah wills.

Abu Dawud said: Al-Walid b. Muslim said on the authority of Sharik: He then said: But he did not fight against them.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) would be overtaken by the dawn when he was in a state of sexual defilement. The narrator 'Abd Allah al-Adhrami said in his version: During Ramadan, due to sexual intercourse and no owing to a dream (i.e. nocturnal emission), and would fast.

Abu Dawud said: How brief is this sentence uttered by the narrator, this is, "he was overtaken by daw when he was in the state of sexual defilement"? The tradition says: The Prophet (saws) was overtaken by dawn in the state of sexual defilement when he was fasting.

A man used to pray on the roof of his house. When he recited the verse “Is not He able to bring the dead to life?” [Surah al-Qiyamah:42] he would say: ”Glory be to You, then, why not?” They asked him about it, and he replied: "I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)".

Abu Dawud said : Ahmad (b. Hanbal) said: It is pleasing to me that one should recite in the obligatory prayer those supplications which have occurred in the Quran.