Jabir b. ‘Abdallah told of a desert Arab who had sworn allegiance to God’s messenger, but who, when he suffered from a bout of fever in Medina, came to the Prophet and said, "Cancel my oath of allegiance, Muhammad;” but God’s messenger refused. He came again with the same request and again he refused. He came once more with the same request, and when he again refused, the desert Arab went off. God’s messenger then said, "Medina is like bellows which drives away its impurity and purifies what is good in it.” Bukhari and Muslim.

Jabir b. Samura told that he heard God’s messenger say, “God called Medina Taba.”( Taj al-'Arus says the objection to the name Yathrib was owing to the fact that the root from which this name comes has the meaning of corruption. Therefore Taba, which comes from a root meaning to be good, sweet, or pure, was considered better. Other forms which have been used are Taiba, al-Mutayyaba (or al-Mutayyiba)) Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, " I have been commanded to go to a town which will devour all towns. People call it Yathrib, but it is Medina. It drives away people as the bellows drives away the impurity of iron.” Bukhari and Muslim.

Sufyan b. Abu Zuhair told of hearing God’s messenger say, "The Yemen will be conquered and- people will come driving their camels gently, removing their families and those who are under their authority, but Medina would be best for them if they only knew. Syria will be conquered and people will come driving their camels gently, removing their families and those who are under their authority, but Medina would be best for them if they only knew. ‘Iraq will be conquered and people will come driving their camels gently, removing their families and those who are under their authority, but Medina would be best for them if they only knew.” Bukhari and Muslim.

'Abdallah b. ‘Umar told of the vision the Prophet had about Medina. He said, “I saw a black woman with dishevelled hair go out of Medina and settle at Mahya'a, and interpreted it as meaning that the pestilence of Medina had been transferred to Mahya'a, which is al-Juhfa.” Bukhari transmitted it.

When God’s messenger came to Medina Abu Bakr and Bilal were prostrated with fever and when I went to God’s messenger and told him he said, "O God, make Medina as dear to us as Mecca, or more so, make it healthy, bless us in its sa' and its mudd, and transfer its fever and put it in al-Juhfa." Bukhari and Muslim.

‘Amir b. Sa'd said that Sa‘d rode to his castle in al-'Aqiq and found a salve cutting down trees, or beating off their leaves, so he took what was on him. When Sa'd returned, the slave’s people came to him and asked him to return to their servant or to them what he had taken from their servant, but he replied, "God forbid that I should return anything which God’s messenger has given me as spoil;" and he refused to return it to them. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id reported the Prophet as saying, "Abraham declared Mecca sacred and made it a sacred area, and I declare Medina to be sacred throughout the area between its two mountain paths, so that no blood may be shed in it, weapons may not be carried in it for fighting, and leaves may not be beaten off trees in it except for fodder." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "No one from among my people will endure the hardship and rigour of Medina without my being an intercessor on his behalf on the day of resurrection." Muslim transmitted it.

He told that when the people saw the first fruits they brought them to the Prophet, and when he received them he said, "O God, bless us in our fruits; bless us in our city; bless us in our sa‘; and bless us in our mudd. O God, Abraham was Thy servant, friend and prophet, and I am Thy servant and prophet. He made supplication to Thee on behalf of Mecca, and I make on behalf of Medina the same supplication as he made on behalf of Mecca and as much again." He would then call to him the youngest child and give him those fruits. Muslim transmitted it.

Sa‘d reported God’s messenger as saying, “I declare sacred the territory between the two lava plains of Medina, so that its large thorn trees may not be cut down, or its game killed.” He also said, “Medina is best for them if they only knew. No one leaves it through dislike of it without God putting in it someone better than he in place of him, and no one will remain there in spite of its hardship and distress without my being an intercessor (or witness) on his behalf on the day of resurrection." Muslim transmitted it.

‘Ayyash b. Abu Rabi'a al-Makhzumi reported God’s messenger as saying, “This people will continue to prosper as long as they give this sacredness due respect, but when they squander that they will perish.” Ibn Majah transmitted it. Chapter 16a

We wrote down nothing on the authority of God’s messenger but the Qur’an and what this document contains. He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Medina is sacred from ‘Air to Thaur, ( This phrase has been much discussed. ‘Air is known as a hill at Medina and Thaur at Mecca. Because of the difficulty some have suggested that Uhud should be read instead of Thaur, but others feel that that is unjustifiable.) so if anyone produces an innovation in it, or gives protection to an innovator, the curse of God, the angels, and all men will rest upon him, and no repentance or ransom (Lane in his Lexicon gives a variety of meanings for this phrase, la yuqbal minhu sarf wald 'adl. The one used above seems the most suitable here) will be accepted from him. The protection granted by Muslims is one and must be respected by the humblest of them, so if anyone breaks a covenant made by a Muslim the curse of God, the angels, and all men will rest upon him and no repentance or ransom will be accepted from him. If anyone gives the rights of inheritance to people without the permission of his masters, (This is explained in relation to a slave who has been set free, for the rights of inheritance still belong to his master who set him free. Cf. Book 12, ch. 6, third tradition) the curse of God, the angels, and all men will rest upon him, and no repentance or ransom will be accepted from him.’’ Bukhari and Muslim. A version given by both of them says, “ If anyone makes a false claim to paternity or to being a client, the curse of God, the angels and all men will rest upon him, and no repentance or ransom will be accepted from him.”

Let me tell you something, commander, which God’s messenger said on the day following the Conquest. My ears heard it, my heart has retained it, and my eyes saw him when he spoke it. After praising and extolling God he said, “God, not men, has made Mecca sacred, so it is not allowable for a man who believes in God and in the last day to shed blood in it, or lop a tree in it. If anyone seeks licence to do so on the ground that God’s messenger fought in it, tell him that God has given permission to His messenger but not to you. He gave him permission only during one hour on one day, and its sacredness has been restored to it like what it was yesterday. Let him who is present convey the information to him who is absent." Abu Shuraih was asked what ‘Amr had replied, and said he had replied, “I am better informed of that than you, Abu Shuraih.' The sacred territory does not give refuge to one who is disobedient, or one who flies when he has shed blood, or one who flies because of a fault (kharba).” (The word is used of a vice) Bukhari and Muslim. In Bukhari’s work kharba is said to mean a crime.

'Abdallah b. ‘Adi b. Hamra’ said he saw God’s messenger standing at al-Hazwara (Taj al-'Arus gives two statements about this place, one saying it was a place at the gate of the wheat sellers, the other saying it was the market of Mecca which was later incorporated in the mosque when it was enlarged) and saying, “I swear by God that you are the best part of God’s earth and the part dearest to Him. Had I not been expelled from you I would not have gone out.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, ‘ I seem to see him black and hen-toed pulling it down stone by stone.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Ya'la b. Umayya reported God’s messenger as saying, “Storing up food to sell it at a high price in the sacred territory is a profanation of its sanctity.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying to Mecca, “What a fine town you are, and how dear you are to me! Were it not that my people expelled me from you, I would live nowhere else.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan sahih tradition whose isnad is gharlb.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “An Abyssinian with short legs will destroy the Ka'ba.” Bukhari and Muslim.

Jabir said that God’s messenger entered on the day of the Conquest of Mecca wearing a black turban, but not wearing the ihram. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A'isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “An army will set out to attack the Ka'ba, but in an extensive desert the first and last of them will be swallowed up.” She asked how the first and last of them would be swallowed up when among them there would be markets and people who were not of their number, to which he replied, “The first and last of them will be swallowed up, then they will be resurrected in a state agreeing with their intentions.” Bukhari and Muslim.

Jabir said he heard God's messenger say, “It is not allowable for any of you to carry weapons in Mecca.” Muslim transmitted it.

Anas said that the Prophet entered , Mecca on the day of the Conquest with a helmet on his head, and when he pulled it off a man came to him and said, “Ibn Khatal (He was a renegade Muslim) is hanging on to the curtains of the Ka'ba.” He replied, “Kill him.” Bukhari and Muslim.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Ya'mur ad-Dili told that he heard the Prophet say, “The pilgrimage is ‘Arafa. He who gets to ‘Arafa on the night of Jam' (This would suggest that one is credited with taking part in the halt at ‘Arafa if he gets there at any time before dawn on the night when the pilgrims are at al-Muzdalifa) before dawn has attained the pilgrimage. The days at Mina are three, but if anyone hurries over matters in two days he is guilty of no sin, and if anyone is late he is guilty of no sin.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying on the day of the conquest of Mecca, “There is no hijra, but only jihad and intention ; and when you are called to battle, go forth.’’ He also said on the day of the conquest of Mecca, “God made this town sacred on the day He created the heavens and the earth, so it is sacred by the sacredness conferred on it by God till the day of resurrection. Fighting in it has not been lawful to anyone before me and it has been made lawful for me only during one hour on one day, so it is sacred by the sacredness conferred on it by God till the day of resurrection. Its thorns are not to be cut, its game is not to be molested, things dropped are to be picked up only by one who publicly announces it, and its fresh herbage is not to be cut.” Ibn ‘Abbas made the suggestion, “Except the rush, messenger of God, for it is useful for their blacksmiths and for their houses.” He then said, “Except the rush.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) A version by Abu Huraira has, “Its trees are not to be lopped, and only one who announces it may pick up anything which falls in it.”

Al-Hajjaj b. ‘Amr al-Ansari reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone breaks a leg or becomes lame he has come out of the sacred state and must perform the pilgrimage the following year.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, and Abu Dawud added in another version “or becomes ill.” Tirmidhi said this is a hasan tradition, but in al-Masabih it is called weak.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger commanded his companions to substitute sacrificial animals at the ’umra of Fulfilment (‘Umra al-qada' The one performed in the year after the treaty made at al-Hudaibiya) for those they had sacrificed in the year of al-Hudaibiya. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God’s messenger went in to visit Duba'a daughter of az-Zubair and said to her, “Perhaps you intended to perform the pilgrimage ?” She replied, “I swear by God that I am suffering from pain,” so he said, “Perform the pilgrimage, but make a proviso saying, ‘O God, the place where I take off the ihram will be where Thou restrainest me’.” Bukhari and Muslim.

We went out with God’s messenger but the infidels of Quraish barred the way to the House, so the Prophet sacrificed his animals and had his head shaved, and his companions clipped their hair. Bukhari transmitted it.

Al-Miswar b. Makhrama said that God’s messenger sacrificed before having his head shaved and ordered his companions to do the same. Bukhari transmitted it.

Is the sunna of God’s messenger not enough for you ? If any of you is detained from the pilgrimage he should perform the circumambulation of the House and go between as-Safa, and al-Marwa, then come right out of the sacred state and perform the pilgrimage the following year. He should sacrifice an animal, or fast if he cannot get any. Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger had been detained, so he had his head shaved, had intercourse with his wives, and sacrificed his animals. Then he performed the ’umra the following year. Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a man is placed in his grave and his friends leave him, he hears the beat of their sandals. Then two angels come to him and, having made him sit up, they say, ‘What was your opinion of this man, of Muhammad?’ The believer replies, ‘I testify that he is God’s servant and messenger.’ He is then told to look at his abode in hell for which God has substituted for him an abode in paradise, and he sees them both. The hypocrite and infidel are asked, ‘What was your opinion of this man?’ and reply, ‘I do not know; I held the opinion others held.’ They will retort, ‘You neither knew nor did you follow [the believers].’ He will then be given a blow with iron hammers and will utter a shout which will be heard by all who are near him, with the exception of men and jinn.” (Bukhari and Muslim. The wording is Bukhari’s.)

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “When one of you dies, his abode among the inhabitants of paradise will be shown him morning and evening if he is to be one of them; but if he is to be one of the inhabitants of hell, his abode among them will be shown him. He will be told that this is his abode to which God will finally raise him on the day of resurrection.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’isha told of a Jewess who visited her and mentioned the punishment in the grave adding, “May God preserve you from the punishment of the grave!” ‘A’isha asked God’s messenger about the subject and he said, “Yes, the punishment in the grave is real.” ‘A’isha said, “After that I never saw God’s messenger observing a prayer without seeking God’s protection from the punishment in the grave.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

While we were accompanying God’s messenger who was riding a she-mule in a garden belonging to the B. an-Najjar, the animal shied and almost unseated him. It happened that there were five or six graves there, so he asked if anyone knew who were buried in them. A man replied that he did, and on being asked when they died said it was in the period when the people were polytheists. The Prophet then said, “These people are being afflicted in their graves, and were it not that you would cease to bury, I would ask God to let you hear the punishment in the grave which I am hearing.” Then he turned facing us and said, “Seek refuge in God from the punishment of the fire.” They said, “We seek refuge in God from the punishment of the fire.” He said, “Seek refuge in God from the punishment in the grave.” They said, “We seek refuge in God from the punishment in the grave.” He said, “Seek refuge in God from trials both open and secret.” They said, “We seek refuge in God from trials both open and secret.” He said, “Seek refuge in God from the trial of ad-Dajjal!” They said, “We seek refuge in God from the trial of ad-Dajjal.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “When the dead is buried two black and blue angels, one called al-Munkar and the other an-Nakir, come to him and ask him what opinion he held about this man. If he is a believer he replies, ‘He is the servant and messenger of God. I testify that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is His servant and apostle.’ They say that they knew he would say so. A space of 4900 square cubits is then made for him in his grave, it is illuminated for him, and he is told to sleep. He will then express a desire to return to his family to tell them, but will be told to sleep like one newly married who is wakened only by the member of his family who is dearest to him, until God resurrects him from that resting-place of his. But if he is a hypocrite he will say, ‘I heard men expressing a belief and I held the same, but I really do not know.’ They will tell him they knew he would say so; then the earth will be told to press in upon him and it will do so. His ribs will be pressed together and he will remain there suffering punishment till God resurrects him from that resting-place of his.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib reported God’s messenger as saying, “Two angels will come to him, make him sit up, and ask him who his Lord is, to which he will reply that his Lord is God. They will ask him what his religion is, and he will reply that his religion is Islam. They will ask him about this man who was sent on a mission among his people, and he will reply that he is God’s messenger. They will ask him what made him aware of this, and he will reply that he read God’s Book, believed in it, and considered it true, which is verified by God’s words, ‘God establishes those who believe with the word that stands firm¹...’ Then a crier will call from heaven, ‘My servant has spoken the truth, so spread a bed for him from paradise, clothe him from paradise, and open a door for him into paradise.’ A door will then be opened for him towards paradise, some of its air and perfume will come to him, and a space will be made for him in it as far as the eye can see.” He also mentioned the death of the infidel, saying, “His spirit will be restored to his body, two angels will come, make him sit up and ask him who his Lord is, to which he will reply, ‘Alas, alas, I do not know.’ They will ask him what his religion is, and he will reply, ‘Alas, alas, I do not know.’ They will ask him about this man who was sent on a mission among his people, and he will reply, ‘Alas, alas, I do not know.' Then a crier will call from heaven, ‘He has lied, so spread a bed for him from hell, clothe him from hell, and open a door for him into hell.' Then some of its heat and pestilential wind will come to him, and his grave will become restricted so that his ribs will be pressed together. One who is blind and dumb will then be placed in charge of him, having a sledgehammer such that if a mountain were struck with it it would become dust. He will give him a blow with it and he will utter a shout which will be heard by everything between the east and the west except by men and jinn, and he will become dust. Then his spirit will be restored to him." Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it. ¹ Quran, xiv, 27.

‘Uthman told that when he stood over a grave he would weep so sorely that the tears moistened his beard. Someone said to him, “You remember paradise and hell, without weeping, yet you are weeping over this." He replied that God’s messenger said, “The grave is the first stage of the next world ; if one escapes from it what follows is easier than it, but if one does not escape from it what follows is more severe than it." He further quoted God’s messenger as saying, “I have never seen a sight as horrible as the grave." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition.

He also said that when the Prophet finished the burial of the dead he stood over it and said, “Ask forgiveness for your brother, then ask that he may be strengthened, for he is now being questioned." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id reported God’s messenger as saying, “Ninety-nine dragons will be given power over an infidel in his grave, and will bite and sting him till the last hour comes. If one of those dragons were to breathe over the earth, it would bring forth no green thing." Darimi transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted something similar, but he said seventy instead of ninety-nine.

We went out with God’s messenger to [the funeral of] Sa'd b. Mu'adh when he died. God’s messenger prayed over him, and when he was placed in his grave and the ground was levelled over him, God’s messenger extolled God and we did so also at great length. He then said, “God is most great," and we did the same. Someone asked him why he had extolled God and then said, “God is most great," to which he replied, “This upright servant’s grave had closed in on him, but finally God removed the pressure from him." Ahmad transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “This is the one¹ on account of whom the throne moved, for whom the gates of heaven were opened, and whose funeral seventy thousand angels attended. He was compressed, but afterwards the pressure was removed from him." Nasa’i transmitted it. ¹ i.e Sa’d

Asma’ daughter of Abu Bakr said, “God’s messenger arose to deliver an address in which he mentioned the trial a man will endure in the grave. On his mentioning that, the Muslims gave a shout of dismay." Bukhari transmitted it thus, but Nasa’i added, “which prevented me from grasping what God's messenger had said. So when the clamour died down I said to a man near me, ‘God bless you, what did God’s messenger say at the end of his address?' He replied that he said he had had a revelation that the trial they would endure in their graves would approximate to that of ad-Dajjal."

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, “When a dead man is covered up in his grave he will be shown the setting sun and will sit up, rub his eyes, and say, ‘Let me observe the prayer’." Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “When a dead man comes into his grave he will sit up in his grave neither dismayed nor refractory and will be asked what religion he followed, to which he will reply that he followed Islam. He will then be asked his opinion of this man, and will reply that he is Muhammad, God’s messenger, who brought men the clear proofs from God, and they believed him. He will then be asked if he has seen God, and will reply that it is not fitting that anyone should see God. Then an opening will be made for him in the direction of hell, he will look at it being crushed together, and will be told to look at what God has guarded him from. Then an opening will be made for him in the direction of paradise, he will look at its beauty and what is therein, and will be told that this will be his resting-place, for he followed what was sure, died in that belief, and will be resurrected in this belief, if God will. But the evil man will sit up in his grave dismayed and refractory and will be asked what religion he followed, to which he will reply that he does not know. He will then be asked his opinion of this man, and will reply that he heard people express an opinion which he followed. An opening will then be made for him in the direction of paradise, he will look at its beauty and what is therein, and will be told to look at what God has turned away from him. Then an opening will be made for him towards hell, he will look at it being crushed together, and will be told that this will be his resting-place on account of the doubt he harboured, in which he died, and in which he will be resurrected, if God will." Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘A’isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone introduces into this affair of ours anything which does not belong to it, it is rejected.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

The best discourse is God’s Book, the best guidance is that given by Muhammad, and the worst things are those which are novelties. Every innovation is error.” Muslim transmitted it.

he who is heretical in the sacred territory, he who wants to introduce into Islam the sunna of the pre-Islamic period, and he who unjustly demands the death of a Muslim to shed his blood.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “All my people will enter paradise except those who refuse.” On being asked who refused, he replied, “He who obeys me will enter paradise, and he who disobeys me has refused.” Bukhari transmitted it.