Abu Dharr told that God’s Messenger addressed him by name and he replied, "At your service and at your pleasure, Messenger of God.” He said, "How will you do when death ¹ smites people and a house, meaning a grave, will cost as much as a slave?” On his replying that God and His apostle knew best, he said, "Show endurance.” Hammad b. [Abu] Sulaiman said that the hand of one who rifles a grave ² should be cut off because he had entered the deceased’s house. Abu Dawud transmitted it. 1. Here "death” is used as a figure for a severe pestilence. 2. Mirqat, iv, 59, say this is done to steal the shroud.

‘A'isha said Quraish were anxious about the Makhzumi woman who had committed theft and asked, “Who will speak to God’s Messenger about her?” Then they said, “Who will be bold enough for it but Usama b. Zaid, God’s Messenger’s friend?” So Usama spoke to him and God’s Messenger said, “Are you interceding regarding one of the punishments prescribed by God?” He then got up and gave an address, saying, “What destroyed your predecessors was just that when a person of rank among them committed a theft they left him alone, but when a weak one of their number committed a theft they inflicted the prescribed punishment on him. I swear by God that if Fatima daughter of Muhammad should steal I would have her hand cut off.” (Bukhari and Muslim). In a version by Muslim she said that a Makhzumi woman used to borrow goods and deny having received them, so the Prophet gave orders that her hand should be cut off. Her family went and spoke to Usama and he spoke about her to God's Messenger. Then he mentioned the tradition in similar form to what has preceded.

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, “Beat anyone who drinks wine, and if he does it a fourth time kill him.” He said that after that a man who had drunk wine four times was brought to the Prophet and he beat him, but did not kill him. Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Abu Dawud transmitted it on the authority of Qablsa b. Dhu’aib. Another version by both of them and by Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi on the authority of some of the companions of God’s Messenger, including Ibn ‘Umar, Mu'awiya, Abu Huraira and ash-Sharid, stops at “kill him.”* * This means that they gave only the Prophet’s words, and did not say anything about the man who was not killed.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “If anyone’s intercession intervenes as an obstacle to one of the punishments prescribed by God he has opposed God; if anyone disputes knowingly about something which is false he remains in the displeasure of God most high till he desists; and if anyone makes an untruthful accusation against a Muslim he will be made by God to dwell in the corrupt fluid flowing from the inhabitants of hell* till he retracts his statement.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Radghat al-khabal. In a version by Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-iman it says, “He who assists in a dispute, not knowing whether it is true or false, will remain in God’s displeasure till he desists.” Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-iman

Abu Umayya al-Makhzumi told that a robber who had made acknowledgment was brought to the Prophet, but no goods were found with him. God’s Messenger said to him, “I do not think you have stolen.” He replied that he had and repeated it to him twice or thrice, making acknowledgment all the time, so he gave orders and his hand was cut off. He was then brought to him and God’s Messenger said to him, “Ask God’s pardon and turn to Him in repentance.” He said, “I ask God’s pardon and turn to Him in repentance.” God's Messenger then said three times, “O God, forgive him.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it. Thus did I find it in the four texts quoted, in Jami' al-usul, Shu'ab al-iman, and Ma'alim as-sunan on the authority of Abu Umayya, but in the texts of al-Masabih it is given on the authority of Abu Rimtha.* *This is the kind of misunderstanding which can easily arise owing to the similarity of امیۃ and رمثۃ if not carefully written.

Anas told that the Prophet gave a beating with palm branches and sandals for drinking wine and that Abu Bakr gave forty lashes. (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version on his authority it says that the Prophet used to give forty stripes with palm branches and sandals for drinking wine.

When a drinker was brought in the time of God’s Messenger, during Abu Bakr’s Caliphate and in the beginning of ‘Umar’s Caliphate, we beat him with our hands, sandals and cloaks, but at the end of ‘Umar’s Caliphate he inflicted forty stripes, and when people were immoderate and excessively wicked he inflicted eighty stripes. Bukhari transmitted it.

When a man who had drunk wine was brought to God’s Messenger he told us to beat him, and some struck him with their hands, some with their garments and some with their sandals. He then told them to reproach him, and they faced him and said, “You have not respected God, you have not feared God, and you have not shown shame before God’s Messenger.” But when some of the people said, “God put you to shame!” he told them not to say that and help the devil to get power over him, but to say, “O God, forgive him. O God show mercy to him.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas told that a man who had drunk and become intoxicated was found staggering in the road, so he was taken to God’s Messenger, but when he was opposite al-‘Abbas’s house he escaped, and going in to al-‘Abbas he grasped hold of him. When the Prophet was told that he laughed and said, “Did he do that?” and he gave no command regarding him. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Umair b. Sa'id an-Nakha‘i told that he heard ‘Ali b. Abu Talib say, “I am not one to have any feelings about a man who dies when I inflict a prescribed punishment on him, with the exception of one who has drunk wine, for if he were to die I would pay blood wit for him. Thai is because God’s Messenger did not lay down any specific custom regarding him.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Thaur b. Zaid ad-Dailami told that ‘Umar sought counsel about the prescribed punishment for drinking wine and ‘Ali said to him, “I think you should give one who drinks it eighty lashes, for when he drinks he becomes intoxicated, when he is intoxicated he raves, and when he raves he makes up lies.” So ‘Umar inflicted eighty lashes as the punishment prescribed for drinking wine. Malik transmitted it.

‘Umar b. al-Khattab told that a man called ‘Abdallah whose laqab was Ass used to make the Prophet laugh. The Prophet had beaten him because of wine-drinking, but when he was brought to him one day and he gave orders and had him beaten, and then one of those present said, “O God, curse him. How often he is brought!” he said, “Do not curse to him. I swear by God that for all I know he loves God and His messenger." Bukhari transmitted it.

When a man who had been drinking was brought to the Prophet he told those present to beat him, so some of us beat him with their hands, some with their sandals and some with their garments. Then when the man went away and one of those present said, “God shame you!’' the Prophet said, “Do not say such a thing. Do not help the devil to get power over him.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that al-Aslami (i.e. Ma’iz. See p. 759) came to the Prophet and testified four times that he had had illicit intercourse with a woman, while he all the time was turning away from him. Then when he confessed a fifth time he turned round and asked if he had had intercourse with her, and when he replied that he had he asked if he had done it so that his member penetrated hers. He replied that he had, and he asked whether he had done it like a collyrium stick when enclosed in its case and a rope in a well. On his replying that it was so, he asked whether he knew what fornication was and he replied, “Yes, I have done with her unlawfully what a man may lawfully do with his wife.” He then asked what he wanted by what he had said and he replied that he wanted him to purify him, so he gave command and he was stoned to death. Then God’s prophet heard one of his companions saying to another, “Look at this man whose fault was concealed by God but who could not leave the matter alone, so that he was stoned like a dog." He said nothing to them but walked on for a time till he came to the corpse of an ass with its legs in the air. He then asked where so and so and so and so were, and when they replied that they were there he said, “Go down and eat some of this ass’s corpse.” They replied, “Prophet of God, who can eat any of this?” whereupon he said, “The dishonour you have just shown to your brother is more serious than eating some of it. By Him in whose hand my soul is, he is now among the rivers of paradise plunging into them.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Burda b. Niyar reported the Prophet as saying, “No more than ten lashes are to be given, except in the case of one of the punishments prescribed by God.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “When one of you inflicts a beating he should avoid striking the face.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Wine comes from these two trees, the date-palm and the grapevine.” Muslim transmitted it.

grapes, dates, wheat, barley and honey. Wine (khamr) is what infects (khamara) the mind.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Wine was forbidden when it was forbidden (i.e. by the Qur’an), but we get only a little of the wine from grapes, most of our wine being from unripe dates and dry dates. Bukhari transmitted it.

Jabir told of a man who came from the Yemen and asked the Prophet about a liquor made from millet called mizr which they drank in their country. The Prophet asked whether it was intoxicating and when he replied that it was, he said, “Every intoxicant is prohibited. God has made a covenant regarding those who drink intoxicants to give them some tinat al-khabal to drink.” He was asked what that was and replied that it was the sweat of the inhabitants of hell, or the discharge of the inhabitants of hell. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Qatada told that the Prophet forbade mixing dried dates and unripe dates, mixing raisins and dried dates, and mixing dates beginning to take on colour and fresh dates, and told them to make nabidh from each separately. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said he had wine belonging to an orphan, and when al-Ma'idah (Al-Qur’an, 5) came down he asked God’s Messenger about it, telling him it belonged to an orphan, but he said, “Pour it out.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Umm Salama told that God’s Messenger forbade every intoxicant and everything which produces languidness. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Dailam al-Himyari told that he said, “Messenger of God, we live in a cold land in which we do heavy work and we make a liquor from wheat to get strength from it for our work and, to stand the cold of our country.” He asked whether it was intoxicating, and when he replied that it was, he said they must avoid it. When he replied that the people would not abandon it, he said, “If they do not abandon it fight with them.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Umama reported the Prophet as saying, “God has sent me as a mercy to the universe and as a guidance to the universe, and my Lord who is great and glorious has commanded me to annihilate stringed instruments, wind instruments, idols, crosses and pre-Islamic customs, and my Lord who is great and glorious has sworn, ‘By my might, none of my servants will drink a mouthful of wine without my giving him a similar amount of pus to drink, but he will not abandon it through fear of me without my giving him drink from the holy tanks'.” Ahmad transmitted it.

one who is addicted to wine, an undutiful son, and a cuckold who agrees to his women-folk’s adultery." Ahmad and Nasa'i transmitted it.

one who is addicted to wine, one who breaks ties of relationship, and one who believes in magic.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If one who is addicted to wine dies he will meet God most high in the same condition as an idolater.” Ahmad transmitted it, Ibn Majah transmitted on Abu Huraira’s authority, and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, gave it on the authority of Muhammad b. ‘Ubaidallah who quoted his father’s authority. He said that Bukhari in his Ta’rikh mentioned it on the authority of Muhammad b. ‘Abdallah who quoted his father's authority.

It is all the same to me whether I drink wine or worship this pillar instead of God.* Nasa’i transmitted it. *He says that the one sin is as serious as the other.

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “He who obeys me has obeyed God and he who disobeys me has disobeyed God; he who obeys the commander has obeyed me and he who disobeys the commander has disobeyed me. The imam is only a shield behind whom fighting is engaged in and by whom protection is sought; so if he commands piety and acts justly he will have a reward for that, but if he holds another view he will on that account be held guilty.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Umm al-Husain reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If a slave who has been mutilated is made your commander and leads you in accordance with God’s Book, listen to him and obey.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Ali reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No obedience is to be given in the case of an act of disobedience to God, obedience is to be given only regarding what is reputable.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

We swore allegiance to God’s Messenger agreeing to hear and obey in time of difficulty and time of ease, in what we liked and what we disliked, to give way to others’ interests, not to dispute about government with those in power, and to say what was right wherever we were, not fearing for God’s sake what anyone who blamed us might say. A version has, “Not to dispute about government with those in power unless you see evident infidelity regarding which you have a proof from God.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar told that when they swore allegiance to God’s Messenger to hear and obey he was saying to them, “In what you are able.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone sees in his commander what he dislikes he should show patience, for no one separates a span's distance from the community and dies without dying like those of pre-Islamic times.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Umm Salama reported God’s Messenger as saying, “You will have commanders some of whom you will approve and some of whom you will disapprove. He who expresses disapproval is guiltless and he who feels disapproval is safe, but he who is pleased and follows them ...” His hearers interrupted, “Shall we not fight with them?” but he replied, “No, as long as they pray; no, as long as they pray.” It means one who feels disapproval in his heart and expresses disapproval in his heart. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud told that God’s Messenger said to them, “After my death you will see [rulers] appropriating the best things for themselves and other matters which you will disapprove.” He was asked what he commanded them to do and replied, “Give them what is due to them and ask God for what is due to you.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Wa’il b. Hujr told that Salama b. Yazid al-Ju‘fi questioned God’s Messenger saying, “Prophet of God, tell us what you command us to do if commanders arise over us who demand of us what is due to them and refuse us what is due to us.” He replied, “Listen and obey, for they are responsible only for what has been laid on them (cf. Al-Qur’an, 24:54) and you for what has been laid on you.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar told that he heard God's Messenger say, “He who throws off obedience will meet God on the day of resurrection without possessing any plea, and he who dies without having taken an oath of allegiance will die like a pagan.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “The B. Isra’il were governed by the prophets, as often as one died another taking his place. There will be no prophet after me, but there will be numerous caliphs.” He was asked what command he had to give and replied, “Fulfil the oath of allegiance to each and give them their due for God will question them about what He asked them to guard.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “If anyone comes to you when you are united under one man desiring to split you or cause parties in your community, kill him.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone swears allegiance to an imam, giving him his hand in ratification and sincere agreement in his heart, he must obey him if he can. Then if another comes and contends with him, cut off that other one’s head.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Samura told that God’s Messenger said to him, “Do not ask for the position of commander, for if you are given it after asking you will be left to discharge it yourself; but if you are given it without asking you will be helped to discharge it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Two of my cousins on my father’s side and I went in to see the Prophet and one of them said, “Messenger of God, put us in command of part of what God has put in your charge,” the other also saying the same. He replied, “I swear by God that I will not put in charge, of this work anyone who asks for it, or anyone who is eager for it.” In a version he said, “We will not employ in our work one who wants it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ma'qil b. Yasar told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “Any governor in charge of Muslim subjects who dies while acting dishonestly towards them will be excluded by God from paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “Anyone who is asked by God to take charge of subjects and does not protect them with good counsel will not smell the fragrance of paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’idh b. ‘Amr told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “The worst shepherds are those who are ungentle.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “O God, cause distress to him who has any charge over my people and causes them distress, and be gentle to him who has any charge over my people and is gentle to them.” Muslim transmitted it.

Anas said that Qais b. Sa‘d had a position in relation to the Prophet like that of a prefect of a district in relation to a governor. Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Bakra told that when God’s Messenger heard the people of Persia had made Kisra’s daughter their queen he said, “People who make a woman their ruler will never prosper.” Bukhari transmitted it.