You people must understand that I am just human. My Lord's messenger will soon come for me and I shall answer his summons, but I am leaving among you the two important things, the first of which is God's Book which contains guidance and light, so study it and follow its commands closely." Then when he had urged attention to God's Book and commended it, he said, "Also my family. I remind you of your duty to God to care for my family; I remind you of your duty to God to care for my family." A version has "God's Book is God's rope; he who follows it has guidance and he who abandons it is in error." Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn `Umar told that when he gave a salutation to Ja'far's son[1] he said, "Peace be upon you, son of the possessor of the wings[2]." i.e., 'Abdallah. When Ja'far was killed at the battle of Mu'ta the Prophet said that though he had lost his limbs he had been provided with wings with which he was flying in paradise. Bukhari transmitted it.

Al-Bara' told that he saw the Prophet with al-Hasan b. `Ali on his shoulder saying, "O God, I love him, so I beseech Thee to love him." Bukhari and Muslim.

Abu Huraira told that at a certain time one day he went out with God's messenger who, when he came to Fatima's tent, said, "Is a little chap[*] there? Is a little chap there?" meaning Hasan. In a moment he came running and when they had embraced one another God's messenger said, "O God, I love him, so I beseech Thee to love him and to love those who love him." *The word is luka'. It is used of one who is contemptible, or of little worth, and is figuratively used of a young child. Perhaps one might compare the use of 'rascal' in English, where it is used of a child with obviously no suggestion of the normal meaning. It is used playfully. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Bakra told that he saw God's messenger on the pulpit with al-Hasan b. `Ali at his side. He was looking towards the people at one moment and towards him at another and saying, "This son of mine is a sayyid, and perhaps God m ay reconcile two large parties of Muslims by means of him." Bukhari transmitted it.

Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu Nu`m told that he heard `Abdallah b. `Umar say when a man asked him about [a pilgrim] wearing the ihram (Shu'ba remarking that he thought it concerned killing flies), "The people of al-`Iraq ask me about flies when they have killed the son of God's messenger's daughter, two people of whom God's messenger has said they[1] are his offspring[2] in the world! " Meaning al-Hasan and al-Husain. The word is raihan, used in the dual. One of the meanings of the word is a bounty or blessing from God. It is usually explained in connection with this tradition as meaning descendants. Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas said no one more closely resembled the Prophet than al-Hasan b. `Ali, and he said of al-Husain also that he was the one who bore the closest resemblance to God's messenger. Bukhari transmitted it.

The Prophet caught me to his breast and said, "O God, teach him the wisdom." A version has "Teach him the Book." Bukhari transmitted it.

The Prophet entered the privy and I placed water for him. On coming out he asked who had placed it, and when he was told he said, "0 God, give him insight regarding the religion." Bukhari and Muslim.

Usama b. Zaid told that the Prophet used to take al-Hasan and him and say, "0 God, I beseech Thee to love them, for I love them." In a version he told that God's messenger used to take him and put him on his knee, then put al-Hasan on the other knee, and after embracing them say, "0 God, I beseech Thee to have compassion on them, for I have compassion on them." Bukhari transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. `Umar told that when God's messenger sent out a force in charge of which he appointed Usama b. Zaid and some people criticised his appointment, he said, "If you criticise his appointment you have done the same before about his father's appointment[*]. I swear by God that he was worthy of the office of commander, that he was one of those who were dearest to me, and that this man is one of those who are dearest to me after his time." *The reference is to Zaid b. Haritha who was killed when leading the troops at Mu'ta. (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim there is something to the same effect at the end of which come the words "I commend him to you, for he is one of your upright ones."

Jabir told that he saw God's messenger when performing the hajj seated on his she-camel al-Qaswa' on the day of `Arafa giving an address, and he heard him saying, "0 you people, I have left among you something of such a nature that if you adhere to it you will not go astray, God's Book and my close relatives who belong to my household." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

God's Book, a rope stretched from heaven to earth, and my close relatives who belong to my household. These two will not separate from one another till they come down to the Pond, so consider how you act regarding them after my departure." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He told that God's messenger said of `Ali, Fatima, al-Hasan and al-Husain, "I am war to him who makes war on them and peace to him who makes peace with them." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

I went in with my paternal aunt to visit `A'isha and asked[*] who was dearest to God's messenger. When she replied that it was Fatima, she was asked who was dearest among men and replied that it was her husband. *It is not clear from the text in Mirqat whether Jumai' or his paternal aunt asked the question. The word is not pointed, and the third singular feminine and the first singular have the same consonants. Cf. Mirqat, 5:601. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Once when I was with God's messenger, al-`Abbas came in angrily, and when he asked him what was making him angry he said, "What is wrong between us and Quraish? When they meet one another, they do so with cheerful faces, but when they met us they act differently." God's messenger became so angry that he was red in the face, and he then said, "By Him in whose hand my soul is, faith will not enter a man's heart till be loves you[*] for God's sake and His messenger's." He then said, "O you people, he who injures my paternal uncle has injured me, for a man's paternal uncle is the same as his father." *The pronoun is plural. Tirmidhi transmitted it. In al-Masabih it is given on the authority of al-Muttalib (There was a man al-Muttalib b. Rabi'a as well as 'Abd al-Muttalib b. Rabi'a, both of whom were companions of the Prophet, but it seems that a mistake has been made in Masabih as-sunna through the omission of `Abd, probably inadvertently.)

Ibn `Abbas reported God's messenger as saying, "Al-`Abbas pertains to me and I to him." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying to al-`Abbas, "When Monday morning comes come to me with your children so that I may make for you a supplication by which God may benefit you and your children." He and they came in the morning, and when he had put his cloak over them he said, "O God, grant al-`Abbas and his children such forgiveness without and within as will not leave a sin. O God, guard him in his children." Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Razin added, "And cause the Caliphate to remain among his descendants." Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition.

He told that he had seen Gabriel twice and that God's messenger invoked a blessing on him twice. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

God's messenger made supplication for me twice that God might give me wisdom. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that Ja'far used to love the poor. He would sit with them and talk to them and they would talk to him. God's messenger used to address him by the kunya Abul Masakin (father of the poor). Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "I saw Ja'far flying in paradise along with the angels." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Abu Sa'id reported God's messenger as saying, "Al-Hasan and al-Husain will be the chief ones among the youths[*] who go to paradise." *Mirqat, 5:604, indicates that the meaning is not easy to decide. One suggestion is that shabab (plural of shabb) which means "youths" is used in the same sense as fatan (young man) when it means a brave warrior without any particular indication of age. A less likely suggestion is that the words refer to all those who go to paradise, apart from prophets and the four rightly-guided Caliphs, because all the inhabitants of paradise will be young. Another suggestion is that the words refer to those who were young when the Prophet spoke them. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn `Umar reported God's messenger as saying, "Al-Hasan and al-Husain are my offspring in the world." Tirmidhi transmitted it. It has occurred already in the first section.

I went to the Prophet one night about something I required and he came out with something (I did not know what) under his cloak. When I had finished telling him my business, I asked him what he had under his cloak, and when he opened it, I saw al-Hasan and al-Husain on his hips. He then said, "These are my sons and my daughter's sons. 0 God, I love them, so I beseech Thee to love them and those who love them." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

I went in to visit Umm Salama and found her weeping. I asked her what was making her weep and she replied that she had seen God's messenger (meaning in a dream) with dust on his head and beard. She asked him what was the matter and he replied, "I have just been present at the slaying of al-Husain." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Anas told that when God's messenger was asked which member of his family was dearest to him, he replied, "Al-Hasan and al-Husain." He used to say to Fatim a, "Call my two sons to me," and then would sniff and cuddle them. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Buraida told that while God's messenger was addressing the people al-Hasan and al Husain came along in red shirts stumbling as they walked. God's messenger then descended from the pulpit, lifted them and put them in front of him, then said, "God has spoken truth in saying, `Your property and your children are just a temptation[*].' I looked at these two boys stumbling as they walked, and could not refrain from interrupting my address and lifting them up." *Quran; 64:15. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.

I ask my mother to let me go to the Prophet, pray the sunset prayer with him, and ask him to pray forgiveness for her and me. I went to the Prophet and prayed the sunset prayer along, with him, and he remained in prayer till he prayed the night prayer. When he went off, I followed him, and when he heard my voice he said, "Who is this? Is it Hudhaifa?" When I told him that it was, he said, "What do you require? God forgive you and your mother! Here is an angel who has never come down to earth before to-night. He asked his Lord's permission to give me a greeting and give me the good news that Fatima will be the chief lady among the inhabitants of paradise, and that al-Hasan and al-Husain will be the chief ones among the youths who go to paradise." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Ibn `Abbas told that when God's messenger was carrying al-Hasan b. `Ali on his shoulder a man said, "You have mounted on a fine steed, boy." The Prophet said, "And he is a fine rider." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Umar allotted to Usama three thousand five hundred and to `Abdallah b. `Umar three thousand, so `Abdallah b. Umar said to his father, "Why have you treated Usama as superior to me? I swear by God that he has never got to any battle before me." He replied, "It is because Zaid was dearer to God's messenger than your father and Usama was dearer to God's messenger than you, so I have given preference to the one who was beloved by God's messenger over the one who is loved by me. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

I came to God's messenger and said, "Messenger of God, send my brother Zaid along with me." He replied, "Here he is; if he goes with you, I shall not prevent him." But when Zaid said, "Messenger of God, I swear to God that I choose no one in preference to you," I considered my brother's opinion better than mine. Tirmidhi transmitted it

When God's messenger became very weak[*] the people and I came down to Medina. I went in to visit God's apostle who was tongue-tied and unable to speak: but he was placing his hands on me and raising them, and I recognised that he was invoking a blessing on me. *i.e., during his last illness. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

`A'isha told that once when the Prophet wanted to wipe Usama's nose, she asked to be allowed to do it, and he said, "Love him, `A'isha, for I love him." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Usama told that while he was sitting Ali and al-'Abbas came to ask permission to enter. They told him to ask God's messenger for permission to enter, and he said, "Messenger of God, `Ali and al-`Abbas are asking permission to enter." He asked if he knew what had brought them, and when he replied that he did not, he said, "But I know; give them permission." Then when they entered, they said, "Messenger of God, we have come to ask you which member of your family is dearest to you." On his replying, "Fatima, Muhammad's daughter," they said, "We have not come to ask you about your immediate family," so he said, "The member of my family who is dearest to me is he to whom God has shown favor and to whom I have shown favor, viz. Usama b. Zaid." They asked who came next, and when he replied that it was `Ali b. Abu Talib, al-`Abbas said, "Messenger of God, you have made your paternal uncle the last of them." He replied, "`Ali emigrated before you." Tirmidhi transmitted it. In the book on Zakat it has been mentioned that a man's paternal uncle is of the same stock as his father.

`Uqba b. al-Harith told that after praying the afternoon prayer Abu Bakr went out and walked accompanied by `Ali. He saw al-Hasan playing with the boys, and lifting him on to his shoulder he said, "My father be his ransom! He resembles the Prophet and does not resemble 'Ali." 'Ali was laughing meanwhile. Bukhari transmitted it.

Umm al-Fadl daughter of al-Harith told that she went in to see God's messenger and said, "Messenger of God, I had an objectionable dream last night." He asked what it was and she replied, "It was terrible." He asked, "But what was it?" and she replied, "I seemed to see a piece of your body cut off and placed in my lap." He said, "You have seen something good. If God will Fatima will give birth to a son who will be in your lap." Fatima then gave birth to al-Husain who was placed in her lap as God's messenger had said. One day she went in to see God's messenger and placed him in his lap. She turned round, and noticing tears falling from God's messenger's eyes she said, "Prophet of God for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom, what is the matter with you?" He replied, "Gabriel came to me and informed me that my people will kill this son of mine." She asked if he really meant this one and he replied, "Yes, and he brought me a piece of red earth[*]." Ibn `Abbas told that one day at midday he saw in a dream the Prophet disheveled and dusty with a bottle containing blood in his hand and said, "You for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom, what is this?" He replied, "This is the blood of al-Husain and his companions which I have been collecting to-day." He told that he was reckoning that time and found that he had been killed at that time. *With reference to the soil made red by the shedding of Hussain's blood. Baihaqi transmitted the two traditions in Dala'il an-nubuwa and Ahmad transmitted the second.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "Love God for the favours with which He provides you, love me because of love of God, and love my family from love of me." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Dharr, while holding the door of the Ka'ba, told that he had heard the Prophet say, "My family among you are like Noah's ark. He who sails on it[*] will be safe, but he who- holds back from it will perish." *A figure of speech for showing love to the Prophet's family. Ahmad transmitted it.

`Ali told that he heard God's messenger say, "The best woman of her time was Mary daughter of `Imran, and the best woman of her time is Khadija daughter of Khuwailid." (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version Abu Kuraib said that Waki pointed to the sky and to the earth[*]. *The tradition is usually understood as translated above, but the gesture of Waki suggests that he understood the words to be spoken in Khadija's lifetime and meant Mary was the best in heaven and Khadija the best on earth.

Abu Huraira told that Gabriel came to the Prophet and said, "Messenger of God, here is Khadija who has come bringing a vessel containing condiments and food. When she comes give her a greeting from her Lord and from me, and give her the good news that in paradise she will have a house of brilliant pearls in which there will be no clamour or toil." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I was not so jealous of any of the Prophet's wives as I was of Khadija. I never saw her, but he frequently mentioned her, and he would often kill a sheep, cut it in pieces and send, them round among Khadija's friends. I often said to him, "It seems as if Khadija was the only woman in the world," and he replied, "She was indeed a fine woman, and I had children from her." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Salama told that `A'isha informed him that once when God's messenger said, "Gabriel is here, A'ish[*], and is giving you a greeting," she replied, "And upon him be peace and God's mercy," adding that he used to see what she could not. *This is the form of the name used on this occasion. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

God's messenger told me he had been shown me in a dream three nights brought in a silk cloth by an angel who said 1 to him, "This is your wife." He said, "When the garment was removed from your face it was you yourself, so I said, `If this is from God let Him carry it out'." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported the Prophet as saying, "Among the women of the universe Mary daughter of `Imran, Khadija daughter of Khuwailid, Fatima daughter of Muhammad and Asiya wife of Pharaoh are enough for you[*]." *i.e., examples to be followed. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`A'isha told that Gabriel brought a picture of her on a piece of green silk to God's messenger and said, "This is your wife in this world and the next.' Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas told that when Safiya heard Hafsa had called her a Jew's daughter she wept. God's messenger came in where she was while she was weeping and asked her what was making her weep, and when she told him Hafsa had called her a Jew's daughter the Prophet said, "You are a prophet's daughter, your paternal uncle[*] was a prophet, and you are married to a prophet, so what has she to boast of over you?" He then said, "Fear God, Hafsa." *Mirqat, 5:615, indicates that there is a difference of opinion as to whether this means Ishmael or Moses. Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it.

Umm Salama told that in the year of the Conquest God's messenger called Fatima and spoke privately to her and she wept; he then spoke to her and she laughed. When God's messenger died, she asked her about her weeping and her laughing and she replied, "God's messenger informed me that he was going to die, so I wept; he then informed me that, with the exception of Mary daughter of 'Imran, I would be the chief lady among the inhabitants of paradise, so I laughed." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

We, God's messenger's companions, never asked `A 'isha about a tradition regarding which we were in doubt without finding that she had some knowledge of it. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan sahih gharib tradition.

Musa b. Talha said he had seen no one whose speech was more chaste than `A'isha's. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan sahih gharib tradition.