Jabir b. Samura reported God's messenger as saying, "I know a stone in Mecca which used to give me a salutation before I received my commission, and indeed I know it now." Muslim transmitted it.

Anas said that when the people of Mecca asked God's messenger to show them a sign, he showed them the moon in two pieces between which they were able to see Hira. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn Mas'ud said that in the time of God's messenger the moon was split in two portions, one above the mountain and one below it, and God's messenger said, "Testify." [*] *A call to the people to testify to his prophetic office, or to the miracle. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira told that Abu Jahl said, "Does Muhammad rub his face in the dust among you?" and that when he was told that he did he said, "I swear by al-Lat and al-`Uzza that if I see him do that I will tramp on his neck." He then came to God's messenger when he was praying with the purpose of tramping on his neck, but all of a sudden, he was sitting back on his heels and warding off something with his hands. He was asked what was the matter with him and replied, "Between him and me there are a trench of fire, something which causes terror, and wings." God's messenger said, "If he had come near me the angels would have snatched him limb by limb." Muslim transmitted it.

While I was with the Prophet a man came to him and complained to him of poverty; then another came to him and complained to him of highway robbery. He then said, "Have you seen al-Hira, `Adi? If you live long enough you will certainly see a woman travelling from al-Hira to go round the Ka'ba, fearing no one but God; if you live long enough the treasures of Kisra will certainly be conquered; if you live long enough you will certainly see a man coming out with a handful of gold or silver looking for someone to accept it but finding no one to accept it from him.[1] One of you will certainly meet God on the day he meets Him with no one between them to interpret for him. He will then certainly say, `Did I not send you a messenger who was conveying the message to you?' He will reply, `Certainly.' He will then say, `Did I not give you property and show favour to you?' He will reply, `Certainly;' then he will look to his right and see only Jahannam, and he will look to his left and see only Jahannam. Guard against hell, even though it be with half a date;[2] and if anyone cannot get so much, he should do it with a good word." `Adi said: I have seen a woman travelling from al-Hira to go round the Ka'ba, fearing no one but God; I was among those who conquered the treasures of Kisra, son of Hurmuz; and if you live long enough you will see what the Prophet Abul Qasim said, one coming out with his hand full. Because there will be no poor at that time. As alms. Bukhari transmitted it.

We made complaint to the Prophet when he was using a striped cloak as a cushion in the shade of the Ka'ba, for we had experienced persecution from the polytheists, asking him if he would not make supplication to God. His face became red, and he sat and said, "Before your time a man would have a pit dug for him in the earth and be put in it, then a saw would be brought and placed above his head which would be split in two, but that would not turn him away from his religion. He would be combed with iron combs below his flesh in bone and sinew, but that would not turn him away from his religion. I swear by God that this matter will reach perfection, so that a rider will go from San'a' to Hadramaut fearing nothing but God, or a wolf which may attack his sheep; but you are in a hurry." [*] *An assurance is here given that the polytheists will receive their punishment, but the people who complained to the Prophet are exhorted to exert patience till the time for that comes. Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas told that God's messenger used to visit Umm Haram, daughter of Milhan who was married to `Ubada b. as-Samit. One day when he visited her, she gave him food and sat clearing his head of lice. God's messenger went to sleep, and then awoke laughing. She asked what was making him laugh and he replied, "Some of my people were shown to me who, while on an expedition in God's path, were sailing in the midst of this sea as kings on thrones (or, like kings on thrones)." She said, "Messenger of God, beseech God that He may put me among them." He made supplication for her, then laid down his head and went to sleep, and after a time awoke laughing. She asked what was making him laugh and he replied, "Some of my people were shown to me who, while on an expedition in God's path ..." (and so on as in the first reply). She said, "Messenger of God, beseech God that He may put me among them." He replied, "You will be among the first." Umm Haram sailed on the sea in Mu'awiya's time, and was thrown from her beast when she came ashore, and died. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn `Abbas told that Dimad, a man of Azd Shanu'a who applied spells to avert the jinn[*], came to Mecca, and heard the foolish ones among the inhabitants of Mecca saying Muhammad was jinn-possessed. So, he said, "If I could only see this man, perhaps God might heal him at my hand." He met him and said, "I apply spells to avert the jinn, Muhammad. Would you like me do so?" God's messenger replied, "Praise is due to God whom we praise and from whom we seek help. No one can lead astray one whom God guides, and no one can guide one whom God leads astray. I testify that there is no god but God alone who has no partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. To proceed." Here he interrupted by saying, "Repeat these words to me," so God's messenger repeated them three times. He then said, "I have heard what the kahinssay, what the sorcerers say and what the poets say, but I have never heard anything like these words of yours which have reached a depth like that of the sea (balaghna qamus al-bahr). If you give me your hand, I will swear allegiance to you by accepting Islam." He said that he swore allegiance to him. *Literally, "applied spells against this wind." The word rih(wind) is sometimes used of the jinn, the reason given being that they are invisible like the wind. Muslim transmitted it. Some text of al-Masabih have balaghna na'us al-bahr, but it is a corruption.

During the period of peace between God's messenger and me I went off, and while I was in Syria a letter was brought from the Prophet to Hiraql. Dihya al-Kalbi brought it and handed it to the governor of Busra who handed it to Hiraql. Hiraql asked whether there was anyone there belonging to the people of that man who asserted `that he was a prophet, and when he was told that there was, I was summoned along with some members of Quraish. We entered the presence of Hiraql who made us sit in front of him and then asked, "Which of you is most closely related to this man who asserts that he is a prophet?" When I said that I was, they made me sit in front of him and made my companions sit behind me. He then called for his interpreter and said, "Tell them I am asking this man about this one who asserts he is a prophet, and that if he lies to me, they must accuse him of falsehood." (Abd Sufyan swore by God that if he had not been afraid of his falsehood being reported, he would have lied to him.) He said to his interpreter, "Ask him about the-nature of his lineage among them," and I replied, "He is a man of high lineage among us." He asked, "Has there been any king among his ancestors?" and I replied that there had not been any. He asked whether we had suspected him of falsehood before he said what he had said, and I replied that we had not. He asked whether he was followed by the nobles among the people or by the weak ones, and I replied that he was followed by the weak ones. He asked whether their numbers were increasing or diminishing, and I replied that they were increasing. He asked whether any apostatised from his religion after accepting it through displeasure with him, and I replied that they did not. He asked if we had fought with him, and I replied that we had. He asked the nature of our fighting with him, and I replied that it had its ups and downs, he neither getting the better of us nor we getting the better of him. He asked if he employed treachery, and I replied that he did not, but added that during that period we did not know what he was doing. I swear by God that he did not give me an opportunity of inserting a word except on this occasion. He asked if anyone had said what he was saying before him, and I replied that no one had. He then told his interpreter to say to me, "I asked you about his lineage among you and you asserted that he had a high lineage among you; and messengers ...

Qatada quoted the authority of Anas b. Malik who quoted the authority of Malik b. Sa'sa'a to the effect that God's prophet told them about the night when he was taken up to heaven, saying, "While I was lying down at al-Hatim[2] (but perhaps he said al-Hijr), someone came to me and made a split from here to here (meaning from the pit of his chest to the hair below his navel), then took out my heart. I was next brought a gold dish full of faith, and my heart was washed, then filled up and put back. (A version says the inside was washed with Zamzam water, after which it was filled with faith and wisdom.) I was then brought a beast smaller than a mule and larger than a donkey, which was white, was called al-Buraq, and stepped a distance equal to the range of its vision. I was mounted on it, and Gabriel went with me till he came to the lowest heaven. He asked that the gate be opened, and when he was asked who he was he replied that he was Gabriel. He was asked who was with him and replied that it was Muhammad. He was asked whether he had been sent for, and when he replied that that was so, the words were uttered, `Welcome; his coming is good,' and the gate was opened. When I entered Adam was there, and Gabriel said, `This is your father Adam, so give him a salutation. I did so, and when he had returned my salutation he said, `Welcome to the good son and the good prophet.' Gabriel then took me up till he came to the second heaven. He asked that the gate be opened, and when he was asked who he was he replied that he was Gabriel. He was asked who was with him and replied that it was Muhammad. He was asked whether he had been sent for, and when he replied that that was so, the words were uttered, `Welcome; his coming is good' and the gate was opened. When I entered John[3] and Jesus, who were cousins on the mother's side, were there, and Gabriel said, `These are John and Jesus, so give them a salutation I did so, and when they had returned my salutation they said, `Welcome to the good brother and the good prophet.' Gabriel then took me up to the third heaven. He asked that the gate be opened, and when he was asked who he was he replied that he was Gabriel. He was asked who was with him, and replied that it was Muhammad. He was asked whether he had been sent for, and when he replied that that was so, the words were uttered, `Welcome, his coming is good and the gate was opened. When I entered Joseph was there, and. Gabriel said, this is Joseph, so give him a salutation.' ...

Thabit al-Bunani told on the authority of Anas that God's messenger said, "I was brought al-Buraq which was an animal white and long, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, whose hoof touched the ground at a distance equal to the range of its vision. I mounted it and came to Jerusalem, then tied It to the ring used by the prophets. Then after entering the mosque and praying two rak'as in it I came out and Gabriel brought me a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk. I chose the milk, and Gabriel said, `You have chosen the true religion.' We were then taken up to heaven ..." and he went on with something to the same effect as has been mentioned already. He said, "I found Adam who welcomed me and prayed for my wellbeing." Regarding the third heaven he said, "I found Joseph who had been given half of beauty[*], and he welcomed me and prayed for my wellbeing." But he did not mention the weeping of Moses. Regarding the seventh heaven he said, "I found Abraham supporting his back against the frequented house which is entered daily by seventy thousand angels who do not return to it. He then took me to the lote-tree of the boundary whose leaves are like elephants' ears and whose fruits are like earthenware vessels. When what God commands overshadows it, it changes, and none of God's creatures can describe it because of its beauty. God revealed to me what He revealed and made obligatory for-me fifty prayers every day and night. I came down to Moses who asked what my Lord had made obligatory for my people, and when I told him He had prescribed fifty prayers every day and night he said, `Go back to your Lord and ask Him to make things lighter, for your people are not capable of that. I have tested and had experience of the B. Isra'il.' I went back to my Lord and said, `0 my Lord, make things lighter for my people,' so He relieved me of five. When I returned to Moses and told him He had relieved me of five he said, `Your people are not capable of that, so go back to your Lord and ask Him to make things lighter.' I then kept going back and forth between my Lord and Moses till He said, `They are five prayers every day and night, Muhammad, each being credited as ten, so that makes fifty times of prayer. He who intends to do a good deed and does not do it will have a good deed recorded for him, and if he does it, it will be recorded for him as ten; whereas he who intends to do an evil deed and does not do it will have nothing recorded for him, and if he does it one ...

Ibn Shihab told on the authority of Anas that Abu Dharr used to tell that God's messenger said, "The roof of my house was cleft when I was in Mecca and Gabriel descended and opened my breast, after which he washed it with Zamzam water. He then brought a gold dish full of wisdom and faith, and after emptying it into my breast he closed it up. Then taking me by the hand he ascended with me to heaven, and when I came to the lowest heaven Gabriel said to the guardian of heaven, `Open.' He asked who was there, and when he replied that it was Gabriel, he asked whether anyone was with him. When he replied that he had Muhammad with him he was asked whether he had been sent for and replied that he had. When the gate was opened, we went up into the lowest heaven and I saw a man sitting with people on his right and people on his left. When he looked to his right he laughed, and when he looked to his left he wept. He said, `Welcome to the good prophet and the good son.' I asked Gabriel who this was and he replied, `This is Adam, and these people on his right and his left are the souls of his descendants. Those of them on his right are the inhabitants of paradise and those on his left are the inhabitants of hell, so when he looks to his right he laughs and when he looks to his left he weeps.' He then took me up to the second heaven and said to its guardian, `Open,' and its guardian said to him the same as the first one had said." Anas said he mentioned that he had found in the heavens Adam, Idris, Moses, Jesus and Abraham, hut did not specify the nature of their abodes, except th a t he mentioned he had found Adam in the lowest heaven and Abraham in the sixth. Ibn Shihab said he was told by Ibn Hazm that Ibn `Abbas and Abu Habba al-Ansar! used to say that the Prophet said, "I was then taken up till I mounted a height in which I heard the scraping of the pens." Ibn Hazm and Anas told that the Prophet said, ``God then made fifty prayers obligatory for my people and I returned with that. When I passed Moses, he asked what God had made it obligatory for me to impose on my people, and when I told him He had made fifty I prayers obligatory he said, `Go back to your Lord, for your people are | not capable.' So, he sent me back and half of them were remitted, and i! when I returned to Moses and told him that half of them had been i remitted, he said, `Go back to your Lord, for your people are not capable.' I went back and repeated what I had said, and half of them were remitted. ...

When God's messenger was taken up to heaven, he was brought to the lote-tree of the boundary which is in the sixth heaven, to which what is taken up from the earth reaches and of which something is grasped, and to which what is sent down from above reaches and of which something is grasped. He said that "Behold, there overshadows the lote-tree what overshadows''[2] means a covering of gold. He said God's messenger was then given three things: he was given the five times of prayer, he was given the last verses of sura-al-Baqara, and forgiveness of serious sins was granted to those of his people who did not associate anything with God. 1, i.e., Ibn Mas'ud. 2 Quran, 53:16 Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "I have seen myself in al-Hijr when Quraish were questioning me about my night journey and asked me about matters connected with Jerusalem regarding which I was not sure. I was worried to an extent I had never experienced before, so God raised it up before me and they did not ask about anything without my informing them. I have seen myself in a company of the prophets, and there was Moses standing in prayer, a spare, strong-limbed man looking like one of the men of Shanu'a. Jesus was there standing in prayer, `Urwa b. Mas'ud ath-Thaqaf being the one who resembles him most closely. Abraham also was there standing in prayer, your companion (meaning himself) being the one who resembles him most closely. When the time for prayer came, I acted as their imam, and when I had finished the prayer, someone said to me, `This, Muhammad, is Malik, the guardian of hell, "so give him a salutation.' I turned round to him, and he gave me a salutation before I had time to salute him." Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir told that he heard God's messenger say, "When Quraish accused me of falsehood I stood up in al-Hijr, then God made Jerusalem clear to me, and I informed them of its distinguishing marks while I was looking at it." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I looked at the feet of the polytheists above our heads when we were in the cave and said, "Messenger of God, if one of them were to look at his foot he would see us." He replied, "Abd Bakr, what do you think of two people along with whom God makes a third?" (Bukhari and Muslim.)

We travelled all night and the following day till the midday sun offered little shade, the road being empty with no one passing on it. Seeing a tall, shady rock protected from the sun's rays we alighted beside it, and when I had smoothed a place with my hands for him to sleep and spread a skin garment over him, I said, "Sleep, messenger of God, and I shall keep watch around you." He went to sleep, and when I went out to keep watch around him, I saw a shepherd approaching. I asked if his sheep had any milk and he replied that they had, so I asked if he would draw some milk and he agreed, and drew a cupful into a wooden cup. I had a small skin vessel I carried for the Prophet from which he took water both for drinking and for performing ablution, so I went to the Prophet, but as I did not like to waken him, I waited for him till he awoke. I then poured some water on the milk till the bottom of it was cooled, and said, "Drink, messenger of God." When he had drunk an amount which made me feel pleased, he said, "Is it not time to be moving?" and I agreed that it was; so, we moved on after the sun had passed the meridian. Suraqa b. Malik had followed us up and I said, "We have been overtaken, messenger of God." He replied, "Do not grieve; God is with us." The Prophet then prayed that he might be hindered and his horse sank with him up to its belly in hard ground. He said, "I see that you two have prayed that I might be hindered; now pray for me, for God is on your side, that I may turn away the search from you." The Prophet prayed for him, and when he got free, he began to say whenever he met anyone, "You have been saved trouble, for there is no one here; and he met no one without turning him back. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas told that 'Abdallah b. Salam heard of the arrival of God's messenger when he was in an orchard gathering dates, so he went to the Prophet and said, "I shall ask you about three things which only a prophet knows What is the first sign of the last hour? What is the first thing the inhabitants of paradise will eat? And what makes a boy look like his father or his mother?" He replied, "Gabriel has just informed me about them. The first sign of the last hour will be a fire which will collect mankind from the east to the west; the first thing the inhabitants of paradise will eat will be the ligament of a fish's liver; and when the man's liquid comes before the woman's he attracts the child to his likeness, but when the woman's liquid comes first, she attracts it to her likeness." He said, "I testify that there is no god but God and that you are God's messenger. The Jews, messenger of God, are slanderous people, and if they know of my acceptance of Islam before you ask them, they will slander me." When the Jews came, he asked, "What kind of a man is `Abdallah among you?" They replied, "Our best one and the son of our best one, our chief and the son of our chief." He said, "Tell me what you will do supposing he accepts Islam," to which they replied, "God preserve him from that!" `Abdallah then came out and said, "I testify that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is God's messenger." They said, "He is the worst of us and the son of the worst of us," and belittled him, whereupon he said, "This is what I feared, messenger of God." Bukhari transmitted it.

He told that God's messenger asked advice when they heard of the approach of Abu Sufyan, and Sa`d b. `Ubada got up and said, "Messenger of God, by Him in whose hand my soul is, if you were to command us to plunge our animals[1] into the sea we would do so, and if you were to command us to drive them as vigorously as possible to Bark al-Ghimad[2] we would do so." God's messenger then invited the people, and they went off till they alighted at Badr. God's messenger then said, "This is where so and so will be killed," putting his hand on the ground here and there. Anas said that none of them[3] left the place indicated by God's messenger's hand. 1. 'Literally, "to plunge them ". The context makes it clear that the reference is to animals. 2. A place in the Yemen. 3. This is explained as referring to the infidels the place of whose death the Prophet had foretold. Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn `Abbas told that the Prophet said when he was in a round tent on the day of Badr, "O God, I ask Thee to fulfil Thy covenant and promise. O God, if Thou willest Thou shalt not be worshipped after to-day." Abu Bakr then took him by the hand and said, "What you have supplicated is enough, messenger of God; you have importuned your Lord." So, he went out hurrying in a coat of mail and saying, "The company will be routed and turn their backs[*]." *Quran; 54:45 Bukhari transmitted it.

He told that the Prophet said on the day of Badr, "This is Gabriel holding his horse's head with the accoutrements of war on him." Bukhari transmitted it.

He told that when one of the Muslims was going quickly after one of the polytheists in front of him, he heard the crack of a whip above him and the voice of a horseman saying, "Go on, Haizum[*]," and saw the polytheist in front of him fall on his back. He looked at him and saw his nose was cut and his face split as with a slash of a whip, and the whole of that turned green. When the Ansari came and told God's messenger he said, "You have spoken the truth; that was one of the troops of the third heaven." That day they killed seventy and took seventy prisoners. *The name of the angel's horse. Muslim transmitted it.

Sa`d b. Abu Waqqas told that at the battle of Uhud he saw two men in white clothing whom he had never seen before or since fighting as violently as possible on the right and left of God's messenger, meaning Gabriel and Michael. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

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.

When we were digging at the battle of the Trench a huge piece of rock appeared as an obstruction, so they went to the Prophet and told him that this piece of rock had appeared as an obstruction in the trench. Saying, "I shall go down," he stood up (and he had a stone tied on his belly[*], for we had been three days without tasting any food). The Prophet then took the pick and struck it and it became a mound of sand pouring down. I then went off to my wife and asked her if she had anything, for I had seen the Prophet was very hungry, and she brought out a bag containing a sa` of barley. We had a tame lamb which I killed and she ground the barley, and we put the meat in the pot. I then went to the Prophet and told him secretly that we had killed a small lamb and my wife had ground a sa' of barley, inviting him to come and bring some people with him. So, the Prophet shouted, "You who are working at the trench, Jabir has prepared a repast, so come on." God's messenger then said, "Do not take off your pot and do not bake your dough till I come." When he came, I brought out dough for him and he spat in it and invoked a blessing. He then went to our pot, spat, invoked a blessing, and then said, "Call a woman to bake along with you, and take ladlefuls from your pot but do not take it off." There were a thousand present, and I swear by God that they ate till they left it and went away, and our pot was boiling as it had been and our dough was being baked as before. *For the purpose of allaying the pangs of hunger. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Qatada told that when `Ammar was digging the trench God's messenger began to wipe his head and say, "How unfortunate Ibn Sumayya is! The wicked party will kill you[*]." *Yasir, 'Ammar's father, is said to have come from the Yemen to Mecca, where he married a slave woman called Sumayya who bore 'Ammar. `Ammar fought on 'Ali's side at the battle of Siffin (37 A.H.) and was killed. The wicked party mentioned in the tradition is Mu'awiya s army. See Ibn `Abd al-Barr, Isti'ab pp. 422 ff. Muslim transmitted it.

When God's messenger returned from the battle of the Trench, put off his armour and bathed, Gabriel came to him when he was shaking the dust off his head and said, "You have put off your armour, but I swear by God that I have not done so. Go out to them." The Prophet asked where he was to go and he indicated that it was to the B. Quraiza so the Prophet went out to them. (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Bukhari Anas said: I can imagine myself looking at the dust rising in the street of the B. Ghanm, the cavalcade of Gabriel when God's messenger went to the B. Quraiza.

Jabir told that on the day of al-Hudaibiya the people were thirsty and God's messenger had in front of him a water-vessel from which he performed ablution. Then the people came forward to him and told him they had no water for ablution or for drinking except what was in his vessel; so, the Prophet put- his hand into the vessel and the water began to pour forth between his fingers like springs. Jabir said they drank and performed ablution, and when he was asked how many they were he replied that if they had been a hundred thousand it would have been sufficient for them, adding that they numbered fifteen hundred. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

On the day of al-Hudaibiya we were along with God's messenger to the number of fourteen hundred. Now al Hudaibiya was a well which we drained leaving not a drop in it, and when the Prophet heard of that he came to it and sat down beside it. He called for a vessel of water, and when he had performed ablution, rinsed his mouth and made supplication, he poured the water into it, and told them to leave it for a time. Then they drew sufficient water for themselves and their animals until they left. Bukhari transmitted it.

When we were on a journey with the Prophet the people complained to him of thirst, so he dismounted and called for so and so (whose name was mentioned by Abu Raja' but forgotten by `Auf) and for `Ali and told them to go and look for water. They went off and met a woman riding with a leather water-bag, or a water-skin on either side of her, so they brought her to the Prophet and asked her to dismount from her camel. The Prophet called for a vessel and poured water into it from the mouths of the skins, after which proclamation was made among the people to draw water, and they did so. Then we forty thirsty men drank till we had had enough, and we filled every skin and small vessel which we had. I swear by God that water was taken from the skin, but it seemed to us to be fuller than it was when he began. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

We travelled with God's messenger, and when we alighted in a broad wadi God's messenger went to relieve himself, but could find nothing with which to screen himself. There were two trees at the side of the wadi, so God's messenger went to one of them and, taking hold of one of its branches, he said, "Allow yourself to be led by me, with God's permission." Then it was led by him like a camel with a piece of wood in its nose which is amenable to the one who guides it, until he came to the other tree. Then taking hold of one of its branches he said, "Allow yourself to be led by me, with God's permission," and it was led similarly. Then when he was in the middle between them, he said, "Draw close together about me, with God's permission," and they did so. I sat occupied with my thoughts, and when I turned round, I saw God's messenger coming, and noticed that the trees had separated, each standing on its own trunk. Muslim transmitted it.

I saw the mark of a blow on the leg of Salama b. al-Akwa' and asked, "What is this blow, Abu Muslim?" He replied, "It is a blow I received at the battle for Khaibar which made the people say I had been killed. I went to the Prophet who blew spittle on it three times, and up to now I have been having no trouble with it." Bukhari transmitted it.

The Prophet announced the death of Zaid, Ja`far and Ibn Rawaha to the people before news of them had reached them[*], saying, "Zaid took the standard and was smitten, then Ja'far took it and was smitten, then Ibn Rawaha took it and was smitten (the tears mean while dripping from his eyes). Finally, one of God's swords (meaning Khalid b. al-Walid) took the standard till God granted them success." Bukhari transmitted it.

I was present with God's messenger at the battle of Hunain. When the Muslims and the infidels met the Muslims turned in retreat, but God's messenger began to spur his she-mule in the direction of the infidels, while I was holding the bridle of his she-mule to restrain it, desiring that it should not go quickly, and Abu Sufyan b. al-Harith was holding God's messenger's stirrup. God's messenger then said, "Call those who were present at the gum-acacia tree[1]." `Abbas, who had a loud voice, told that he called at the top of his voice, "Where are those who were present at the gum-acacia tree?" adding, ``I swear by God that I made them turn back when they heard my voice as cows turn back to their young." They said, "At your service, at your service." They and the-infidels then fought, and the call among the Ansar was, "O company of the Ansar, O company of the Ansar." Then the call was confined to the B. al-Harith b. al Khazraj[2]. God's messenger watched their fighting while sitting on his she-mule like one stretching out his neck, and said, "This is when the oven has become hot[3]." Then taking some pebbles and throwing them in the faces of the infidels he said, "Be routed, by the Lord of Muhammad." I swear by God that no sooner had he thrown the pebbles at them than I began to see their power becoming weak and their ranks, turning in retreat. 1. The reference is to the battle of Mu'ta. 2. Those who swore allegiance to the Prophet at al-Hudaibiya. Cf. Quran, 48:18. 3. A tribal group which formed a section of the Ansar. 4. A figure of speech meaning that the fighting has become violent. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Ishaq told that a man said to al-Bara'[1], "Abu `Umara, did you[2] fly at the battle of Hunain?" He replied, 'No, I swear by God. God's messenger did not turn back, but some of his young companions who did not have many weapons went out against the enemy and met some archers whose arrows rarely fell on the ground[3], and they shot at them and rarely missed. So, they then went towards God's messenger who was on his white she-mule with Abu Sufyan b. al-Harith in front of him. He dismounted and prayed for victory saying. "I am the Prophet without falsehood; I am the descendant of Abd al-Muttalib." He then drew them up in line. 1. Al-Bara' b. 'Azib, whose kunya was Abu 'Umara. 2. The pronoun is plural, referring to the army. 3. i.e., failed to bit someone. 4. A line in the rajaz metre. Muslim transmitted it, and Bukhari has something to the same effect. In a version by both of them al Bara.' said, "I swear by God that when the battle became fierce, we sought refuge with him, and the bravest of us was the one who kept shoulder to shoulder with him," meaning the Prophet.

We went to the battle of Hunain with God's messenger and his companions turned back. Then when God's messenger was surrounded, he dismounted from his she-mule, took a handful of earth from the ground, and turning towards them threw it in their faces saying, "May the faces be made ugly!" Then there was not a man among them whom God had created whose eyes were not filled with earth by reason of that handful. They turned in retreat, God routed them, and God's messenger divided the spoils among the Muslims. Muslim transmitted it.

When we were with God's messenger at Hunain, he said of one of those who were with him who claimed to be a Muslim, "This will be one of the inhabitants of hell." When the fighting took place, the man fought most valiantly and received many wounds, so a man came and said, "Messenger of God, tell me about the man of whom you were telling that he would be one of the inhabitants of hell. He has fought valiantly in God's path and received many wounds." He replied, "He will indeed be one of the inhabitants of hell." Some people almost doubted, but while things were so the man felt the pain of his wounds, and putting his band into his quiver drew out an arrow and stabbed himself with it. Some Muslims then hastened to God's messenger and said, "Messenger of God, God has verified what you told. So and so has stabbed and killed himself." God's messenger then said, "God is most great. I testify that I am God's servant and messenger. Get up, Bilal, and make an announcement that only a believer will enter paradise, but that God will support this religion with a wicked man[*]." *While hypocrites and others whose character is worthless may fight on the side of the Muslims, only those who have faith will enter paradise. The idea is that taking part in Jihad does not of itself guarantee entrance into paradise. Bukhari transmitted it.

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

While we were with God's messenger when he was dividing portions, Dhul Khuwaisira, a man of the B. Tamim, came to him and said, "Act equitably, messenger of God." He replied, "Out upon you! Who will act equitably if I do not? You will be disappointed and losing if I do not act equitably." `Umar asked permission to cut off his head, but he replied, "Leave him alone, for he has companions[1] in comparison with whose prayers any of you would despise his, and in comparison, with whose fasting any of you would despise his. They recite the Quran but it does not pass their collarbones. They swerve from the religion as an arrow goes through the animal aimed at. Their look is directed to its head, on to the sinew on its socket, on to its nadi, which is its rod, on to its feathers, but there is no sign of excrement or blood on it[2]. They will be recognised by the presence of a black man one of whose upper arms quivers like a woman's breast, or like a piece of meat, and they will revolt against the best section of mankind[3]. Abu Sa'id said: I testify that I heard this tradition from God's messenger, and I testify that `Ali b. Abu Talib fought with them and that I was with him. He gave orders about that man who was sought for, and when he was brought in and I looked at him, he was exactly as the Prophet had described him. A version has: A man with deep-set eyes, a projecting brow, a thick beard, high cheekbones and a shaven head came forward and said, "Fear God, Muhammad." He replied, "Who will obey God if I disobey Him? God entrusts me with power over the inhabitants of the earth but you[4] do not." A man asked to be allowed to kill him but he prevented him. Then when the man turned away, he said, "From this one's stock there will be people who recite the Quran, yet it will not pass their throats. They will swerve from Islam as an arrow goes through the animal shot at. They will kill the followers of Islam and leave the worshippers of idols alone; but if I live to their time, I shall certainly kill them as `Ad were killed." 1. People like him, or people at a later period who will acquire a reputation for piety. The reference is to the Kharijites. 2. Just as an arrow can go through an animal without traces of excrement or blood, they will abandon Islam so quickly that no trace of it will be left in them. 3. `Ali and his party. 4. The pronoun is plural, indicating the man and his people. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I used to invite my mother who was a polytheist to accept Islam, and one day when I had invited her and she caused me to hear something about God's messenger which I do not care to repeat[*] I went to him weeping and said, "Messenger of God, supplicate God to guide Abu Huraira's mother." He said, "O God, guide Abu Huraira's mother," so I came out cheered by the Prophet's supplication. When I came to the door, I found it shut, and when she heard the sound of my feet she said, "Stay where you are, Abu Huraira." I heard the splashing of water, and when she had bathed and put on her chemise, but was in too big a hurry to put on her head-covering, she opened the door and said, "I testify, Abu Huraira, that there is no god but God, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and messenger." I then returned to God's messenger weeping for joy, and he praised God and said some good words. *Or, 'of which I disapproved' Muslim transmitted it.

You say that Abu Huraira transmits much from the Prophet, but God is the One to whom account will have to be given. My brethren among the Emigrants were occupied by business in the markets and my brethren among the Helpers were occupied by looking after their property, but I was a poor man who kept near God's messenger and was satisfied with what would fill my stomach. One day the Prophet said, "No one among you who spreads out his garment till I finish this address of mine and then gathers it to his breast will ever forget anything I say." I therefore spread out a woollen garment which was all I was wearing till the Prophet finished his address and afterwards gathered it to my breast, and I swear by Him who sent him with the truth that up to this day I have not forgotten any of that address of his. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

God's messenger said to me, "Why do you not give me rest from Dhul Khalasa?" I told him that I certainly would, but as I was not able to keep from falling off a horse's back, I mentioned the fact to the Prophet. He gave me such a blow with his hand on my breast that I could see the mark of his hand on it and said, "O God, make him sit firm, and make him a guide who is led aright." After that I never fell off my horse. He went with a hundred and fifty resolute horsemen of Ahmas[*] and burned it and broke it up. *Ahmas (brave) is said to have been applied to Quraish, Kinana and Jadila of Qais because of the hardships they imposed on themselves in their religious observances in pre-Islamic times. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

A man, who had acted as secretary to the Prophet apostatised from Islam and attached himself to the polytheists, so the Prophet said, "The earth will not accept him." Abu Talha told me he came to the land in which the man died and found him cast on the surface of the ground. He asked the reason and was told by the people that they had buried him several times, but that the earth would not accept him. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Ayyub told that the Prophet went out when the sun had set, and on hearing a sound said, "The Jews are being punished in their graves." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir told that when the Prophet was near Medina on his return from a journey a wind arose which stirred up the sand to such an extent that it could almost bury a horseman.' God's messenger said, "This wind has been sent on account of the death of a hypocrite." When he came to Medina, he found that one of the leading hypocrites had died. Muslim transmitted it.

We went out with the Prophet, and when we came to `Usfan he stayed there some nights. The people said, "We are serving no purpose here, our children have been left and we are not sure of their safety," and when the Prophet heard of that he said, "I swear by Him in whose hand my soul is that there is no ravine or mountain road in Medina which does not have two angels guarding it till you return." He then gave the order to set out, and we did so and came to Medina. Then, by Him in whose name oaths are sworn, we had not unloaded our beasts after entering Medina before the B. 'Abdallah b. Ghatafan raided us, but nothing had roused them to do so before that. Muslim transmitted it.

The people were afflicted by famine in the time of God's messenger, and while the Prophet was preaching on a Friday a nomadic Arab got up and said, "The animals are perishing and the children are hungry, so make supplication to God for us." He then raised his hands, and we could not see a speck of cloud in the sky, but I swear by Him in whose hand my soul is that he had not lowered his hand before the clouds were appearing like mountains and before he descended from his pulpit, I saw the rain coming down on his beard. We had rain that day, the next, the following day, and on till the next Friday. Then that nomadic Arab or someone else got up and said, "Messenger of God, the buildings are being broken down and the animals are being drowned, so make supplication to God for us." He then raised his hands and said, "O God, round about us, but not on us." Then he did not point to any region in the clouds without their breaking up, and Medina became like a gap[*]. The wadi had a channel flowing in it for a month, and no one came from any region without speaking of plenty. In a version he said, "O God, round about us, but not on us; O God, on the mounds and knolls, in the basins of the wadis and in the plantations." He said: Then it stopped and we went out walking in the sun. *Meaning that Madina, unlike surrounding districts, had no clouds immediately above it or that it was like a wide, round hollow with the clouds round its edges. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When the Prophet preached, he leaned on the trunk of a palm-tree which was one of the pillars of the mosque, then when the pulpit was made for him and he went up on it the palm-tree beside which he had preached shouted till it almost split. The Prophet therefore descended, took it, and embraced it, and it began to moan like a boy who is being calmed down till it became quiet. 'He then said, "It wept for the mention of God which it had been accustomed to hear." Bukhari transmitted it.

Salama b. al-Akwa` told that when a man ate with his left hand in the presence of God's messenger he said, " Eat with your right hand." On his replying, "I am not able," he said, "May you not be able!" for it was simply pride which prevented him. He told that he did not raise it[*] to his mouth [after that]. *i.e., his right hand. Muslim transmitted it.

Anas told that, once when the people of Medina had an alarm the Prophet mounted a slow horse belonging to Abu Talha which took short steps. When he returned, he said, "I found this horse of yours could run like a great river." After that it had none to compete with it. A version says it was never outstripped after that day. Bukhari transmitted it.