The Aqeedah and Manhaj of AhlusSunnah wal Jamah

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Islamic Knowledge – Islam, Sunnah, Salafiyyah

Year: 2014

Calling to right guidance and forbidding depravity

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Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 20
Calling to right guidance and forbidding depravity

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And invite (men) to (believe in) your Rubb [i.e., in the Oneness (Tauhid) of Allah – (1) Oneness of the Rububiyah of Allah; (2) Oneness of the worship of Allah; (3) Oneness of the Name and Qualities of Allah]. (28:87)

“Invite (mankind, O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) to the way of your Rubb (i.e., Islam) with wisdom (i.e., with the Divine Revelation and the Qur’an and fair preaching)”.(16:125)

“Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety)”. (5:2)

“Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam).” (3:104)

173. Abu Mas`ud `Uqbah bin `Amr Al-Ansari Al-Badri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever guides someone to virtue will be rewarded equivalent to him who practices that good action”.
[Muslim].

174. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “If anyone calls others to follow right guidance, his reward will be equivalent to those who follow him (in righteousness) without their reward being diminished in any respect, and if anyone invites others to follow error, the sin, will be equivalent to that of the people who follow him (in sinfulness) without their sins being diminished in any respect”.
[Muslim].

175. Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said on the day of the Khaibar Battle, “I will give this banner to a person at whose hands Allah will grant victory; a man who loves Allah and His Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), and Allah and His Messenger love him also.” The people spent the night thinking as to whom it would be given. When it was morning, the people hastened to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). Every one of them was hoping that the banner would be given to him. He (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) asked, “Where is `Ali bin Abu Talib?” They said: “O Messenger of Allah! His eyes are sore.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) then sent for him and when he came, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) applied his saliva to his eyes and supplicated. `Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) recovered as if he had no ailment at all. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) conferred upon him the banner. `Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “O Messenger of Allah, shall I fight against them until they are like us?” Thereupon he (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said, “Advance cautiously until you reach their open places; thereafter, invite them to Islam and inform them what is obligatory for them from the Rights of Allah, for, by Allah, if Allah guides even one person through you that is better for you than possessing a whole lot of red camels”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

176.  Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A young man from the tribe of Aslam said, “O Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), I wish to fight (in the Cause of Allah) but I do not have anything to equip myself with (for fighting)”. He (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said, “Go to so-and-so, for he had equipped himself (for fighting) but he fell ill.” So he (the young man) went to him and said, “Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) sends you his greetings and says that you should give me the equipment that you have provided yourself with.” The man said (to his wife or servant): “O so-and-so, give him the equipment I have collected for myself and do not withhold anything from him. By Allah, if you withhold anything from him, we will not be blessed therein”.
[Muslim].

Heretics doing desirable or undesirable deeds

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Chapter 19
Heretics doing desirable or undesirable deeds

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And those who say: `Our Rubb! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders of the Muttaqun (the pious)”. (25:74)

“And We made them leaders, guiding (mankind) by Our Command”. (21:73)

171. Jarir bin `Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) shortly after dawn when there came to him some people clad in woollen rags, or covered with sleeveless blankets; and with swords hanging down from their necks. Most of them rather, all of them, belonged to the Mudar tribe. The face of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) changed when he saw them starving. Then he went into his house and came out; then he commanded Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him) to proclaim Adhan (call to prayers). So he proclaimed Adhan and recited Iqamah and the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) led the Salat. Then he delivered a Khutbah saying, “O mankind! Be dutiful to your Rubb, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women; and fear Allah through Whom you demand your (natural) rights, and do not sever the relations of kinship. Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you.” (4:1) He also recited the Ayah which is in the end of Surat Al-Hashr: “O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every one look what he has sent forth for the tomorrow”. (59:18). Thereafter, every man gave in charity Dinar, Dirham, clothes, measure-fulls of wheat and measure-fulls of dates till he said: “(Give in charity) be it half a date”. Then a man of the Ansar came with a bag which was difficult for him to hold in his hand. Thereafter, the people came successively (with charity) till I saw two heaps of food and clothes. I noticed that the face of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was glowing like that of the bright moon or glittering gold. Then he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whosoever introduces a good practice in Islam, there is for him its reward and the reward of those who act upon it after him without anything being diminished from their rewards. And whosoever introduces an evil practice in Islam, will shoulder its sin and the sins of all those who will act upon it, without diminishing in any way their burden”
[Muslim].

172. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The first son of Adam* takes a share of the guilt of every one who murders another wrongfully because he was the initiator of committing murder”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

* The son of Adam in the Hadith is said to be Qabil. Allah tells us about his story in Surat Al-Ma’idah (The Table spread with Food). Verses 27-31.

Obedience to the command of Allah is an obligatory duty

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Chapter 17
Obedience to the command of Allah is an obligatory duty

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“But no, by your Rubb, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” (4:65)

“The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah (His Words, the Qur’an) and His Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), to judge between them, is that they say: `We hear and we obey.’ And such are the successful (who will live forever in Jannah).” (24:51)

168.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When it was revealed to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam): “To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and whether you disclose what is in your own selves or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it,” the Companions of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) felt it hard and severe and they came to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and sat down on their knees and said: “O Messenger of Allah, we were assigned some duties which were within our power to perform, such as Salat (prayer), Saum (fasting), Jihad (striving in the Cause of Allah), Sadaqah (charity). Then this (the above mentioned) Verse was revealed to you and it is beyond our power to live up to it.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do you want to say what the people of two Books (Jews and Christians) said before you: ‘We hear and disobey?’ You should rather say: ‘We hear and we obey, we seek forgiveness, our Rubb and unto You is the return.”’ And they said: “We hear and we obey, (we seek) Your forgiveness, our Rubb! And unto You is the return.” When the people recited it and it smoothly flowed on their tongues, then Allah revealed immediately afterwards: “The Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Rubb, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say), ‘We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers‘ – and they say, ‘We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Rubb, and to You is the return (of all)”. When they did that, Allah abrogated this (Ayah) and Allah the Great revealed: “Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned.” (The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said): “Yes. ‘Our Rubb! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians)”. (The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said): “Yes. ‘Our Rubb! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear”. (The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said): “Yes. ‘Pardon us and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maula (Patron, Supporter and Protector) and give us victory over the disbelieving people”.

He (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said: “Yes”.
[Muslim].

Observing the Sunnah and the manners of its obedience

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Chapter 16
Observing the Sunnah and the manners of its obedience

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And whatsoever the Messenger   (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)”. (59:7)

“Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation that is revealed.” (53:3,4)

“Say (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) to mankind): `If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e., accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins”. (3:31)

“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day…” (33:21)

“But no, by your Rubb, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission”. (4:65)

“(And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)”. (4:59)

“He who obeys the Messenger  (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)), has indeed obeyed Allah.” (4:80)

“And verily, you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path (i.e., Allah’s Deen of Islamic Monotheism):. (42:52)

“And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) commandment (i.e., his Sunnah — legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements) (among the sects), beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant) should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.” (24:63)

“And remember (O you the members of the Prophet’s family, the Graces of your Rubb), that which is recited in your houses of the Verses of Allah and Al-Hikmah (i.e., Prophet’s Sunnah — legal ways, so give your thanks to Allah and glorify His Praises for this Qur’an and the Sunnah).” (33:34)

156.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do not ask me unnecessarily about the details of the things which I do not mention to you. Verily, the people before you were doomed because they were used to putting many questions to their Prophets and had differences about their Prophets. Refrain from what I forbid you and do what I command you to the best of your ability and capacity”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

157. `Irbad bin Sariyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: One day Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) delivered us a very eloquent Khutbah on account of which eyes shed tears and hearts were full of tears. A man said: “O Prophet of Allah, this is as if it were a parting advice. So advise us”. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I admonish you to fear Allah, to listen and obey even if an Abyssinian slave is appointed as your leader. Because whosoever among you shall live after me, will see much discord. So hold fast to my Sunnah and the examples of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who will come after me. Adhere to them and hold to it fast. Beware of new things (in Deen) because every Bid`ah is a misguidance”.
[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

158. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Everyone of my Ummah will enter Jannah except those who refuse”. He was asked: “Who will refuse?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever obeys me, shall enter Jannah, and whosoever disobeys me, refuses to (enter Jannah)”.
[Al-Bukhari].

159.  Salamah bin Al-Akwa` (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: My father said that a person ate in the presence of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) with his left hand. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Eat with your right hand”. He said, “I cannot do that.” Thereupon he (the Prophet) said, “May you never do that.” It was pride that prevented him from doing it. And he could not raise it (the right hand) up to his mouth afterwards.
[Muslim].

160.  Nu`man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Straighten your rows (during Salat) or Allah would create dissension amongst you”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In another narration reported by Muslim, Nu`man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) narrated: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to straighten our rows (in Salat), as if he was straightening an arrow with their help until he saw that we had learnt it from him. One day he came out, stood up (for Salat) and was about to say: Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), (marking the beginning of the prayer) when he saw  a man, whose chest was bulging out from the row. He said, “Slaves of Allah, you must straighten your rows or Allah would create dissension amongst you.”

161.  Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A house in Al-Madinah caught fire at night and the roof and walls fell down upon the occupants. When this was reported to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) he said, “Fire is your enemy; so put it out before you go to bed”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

162. Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The similitude of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like a  rain which has fallen on some ground. A fertile part of earth has absorbed water and brought forth much grass and herbs. Another part, which is solid, held the water and Allah benefits men thereby, who  drank and gave others to drink, and used it for irrigation. But some of it has fallen on a portion of sandy land which neither retains the water nor produces herbage. Such is the likeness of the man who understands the religion of Allah and who gets benefit of what Allah has sent me with; he learns and teaches others. It is also the likeness of the man who neither raises his head on that account (meaning he does not benefit from what the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was sent with) nor accepts Allah’s Guidance with which I am sent”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

163.  Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “My parable  and that of yours is like a man who kindled a fire. When it has illuminated all around him, the moths and grasshoppers began to fall therein. He tried to push them away, but they overcame him and jumped into it. I am catching hold of your waists ties (to save you) from fire, but you slip away from my hands”.
[Muslim].

164.  Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) commanded the licking of fingers (after eating) and the cleaning of the dish, saying: “You do not know in what portion the Blessing (of Allah) lies”.
[Muslim].

In another narration, Jabir said: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said,  “When a morsel of any of you falls down, you should pick it up and remove any dirt or dust on it and then eat it; and don’t leave it for Satan; and do not wipe your hand with the towel until you have licked your fingers, for you do not know in what portion of the food the Barakah* (of Allah) lies”.

* Barakah is the abundance of goodness and its continuity.

165. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “On the Day of Resurrection you will be assembled barefooted, naked and uncircumcised”. He then recited: “As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it,” and continued: “The first to be clothed on the Day of Resurrection will be (Prophet) Ibrahim. Then some of my Companions will be taken to the left, (i.e., towards Hell-fire) and when I will say, ‘They belong to my Ummah, O my Rubb!’ It would be said: ‘You do not know what they invented after you had left them.’ I shall then say as the righteous slave [i.e., `Isa (Jesus (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)] said: ‘And I was a witness over them while I was amongst them, when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them and You are a Witness to all things. If you punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily, You, only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.’ I shall be told: ‘They continued to turn on their heels since you parted from them”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

166. `Abdullah bin Mughaffal (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) prohibited flicking pebbles by the index finger and the thumb; and he said, “It does not kill a game animal nor does it inflict wound on the enemy, but breaks the tooth and gorges the eye”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

  In another narration it is said: A close relative of `Abdullah bin Mughaffal (May Allah be pleased with him) was hitting with pebbles using the index finger and the thumb; he said: “Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) has forbidden it saying that it does not kill the game”. He repeated the act and Ibn Mughaffal said to him: “I told you that the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) had prohibited it but you repeated it. I shall never talk to you.”

167.  `Abis bin Rabi`ah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I saw `Umar bin Al-Khattab(May Allah be pleased with him) kissing the Black Stone (Al-Hajar Al-Aswad) and saying: “I know that you are just a stone and that you can neither do any harm nor give benefit. Had I not seen Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) kissing you, I would not have kissed you”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 

Moderation in Worship

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Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 14
Moderation in Worship

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Ta-Ha. We have not sent down the Qur’an unto you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) to cause you distress”. (20:1,2)

“Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you”. (2:185)

142.  Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) came in when a woman was sitting beside me. He asked me, “Who is she?” I said: “She is the one whose performance of Salat (prayer) has become the talk of the town.” Addressing her, he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “(What is this!) You are required to take upon yourselves only what you can carry out easily. By Allah, Allah does not withhold His Mercy and forgiveness of you until you neglect and give up (good works). Allah likes the deeds best which a worshipper can carry out constantly”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

143.  Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) to inquire about the worship of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). When they were informed, they considered their worship insignificant and said: “Where are we in comparison with the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) while Allah has forgiven his past sins and future sins”. One of them said: “As for me, I shall offer Salat all night long.” Another said: “I shall observe Saum (fasting) continuously and shall not break it”. Another said: “I shall abstain from women and shall never marry”. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) came to them and said, “Are you the people who said such and such things? By Allah, I fear Allah more than you do, and I am most obedient and dutiful among you to Him, but still I observe fast and break it; perform Salat and sleep at night and take wives. So whoever turns away from my Sunnah does not belong to me”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

144.  Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Ruined are those who insist on hardship in matters of the Faith.” He repeated this three times.
[Muslim]

145. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The religion (of Islam) is easy, and whoever makes the religion a rigour, it will overpower him. So, follow a middle course (in worship); if you can’t do this, do something near to it and give glad tidings and seek help (of Allah) at morn and at dusk and some part of night”.
[Al-Bukhari].

146.  Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) came into the mosque and noticed a rope stretched between two poles. He enquired, “What is this rope for?” He was told: “This is Zainab’s rope. When during her voluntary prayer, she begins to feel tired, she grasps it for support”. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Untie it. You should perform prayers so long as you feel active. When you feel tired, you should go to sleep”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

147.  `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When one of you feels drowsy during prayer, let him lie down till drowsiness goes away from him, because when one of you performs prayers while feeling sleepy, he does not know whether he seeks forgiveness or abuses himself”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

148.  Jabir bin Samurah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I used to perform prayer with the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and his Salat was of a moderate length and his Khutbah too was moderate in length.
[Muslim].

149.  Abu Juhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) made a bond of brotherhood between Salman and Abud-Darda’. Salman paid a visit to Abud-Darda’ and found Umm Darda’ (his wife) dressed in shabby clothes and asked her why she was in that state. She replied: “Your brother Abud-Darda’ is not interested in (the luxuries of) this world. In the meantime Abud-Darda’ came in and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman requested Abud-Darda’ to eat (with him) but Abud-Darda’ said: “I am fasting.” Salman said: “I am not going to eat unless you eat.” So, Abud-Darda’ ate (with Salman). When it was night and (a part of the night passed), Abud-Darda’ got up (to offer the night prayer) but Salman asked him to sleep and Abud-Darda’ slept. After some time Abud-Darda’ again got up but Salman asked him to sleep. When it was the last hours of the night, Salman asked him to get up and both of them offered (Tahajjud) prayer. Then Salman told Abud-Darda’: “You owe a duty to your Rubb, you owe a duty to your body; you owe a duty to your family; so you should give to every one his due. Abud-Darda’ came to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and reported the whole story. Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Salman is right”.
[Al-Bukhari].

150.  `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was informed that I said that I would perform prayers the whole night and observe fasting every day as long as I live. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Is it you who said this?” I said to him, “O Messenger of Allah! I ransom you with my parents, it is I who said that.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “You will not be able to do that. Observe fast and break it; sleep and get up for prayer, and observe fast for three days during the month; for every good is multiplied ten times and that will be equal to fasting the whole year.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah! I can do more than that.” He said, “Observe fast one day and leave off the next two days.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah! I have strength to do more than that.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Observe fast every other day, and that is the fasting of Dawud (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and that is the most moderate fasting”.

According to another narration: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “That is the best fasting.” I said, “But I am capable of doing more than this”. Thereupon, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There is nothing better than this.” `Abdullah bin `Amr (May Allah be pleased with them) said (when he grew old): “Had I accepted the three days (fasting during every month) as the Messenger of Allah had said, it would have been dearer to me than my family and my property”.

In another narration `Abdullah is reported to have said: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to me, “O `Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you observe fast during the day and offer prayer all the night.” I replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Don’t do that. Observe fast for few days and then leave off for few days, perform prayers and also sleep at night, as your body has a right upon you, and your eyes have a right upon you; and your wife has a right upon you; your visitors have a right upon you. It is sufficient for you to observe fast three days in a month, as the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times, so it will be like fasting the whole year.” I insisted (on fasting) and so I was given a hard instruction. I said, “O Messenger of Allah! I have strength.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Observe fast like the fasting of Prophet Dawud (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam); and do not fast more than that.” I said: “How was the fasting of Prophet Dawud?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Half of the year (i.e., he used to fast on every alternate day).”

Afterwards when `Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) grew old, he used to say: “Would that I had availed myself of the concession granted to me by Messenger of Allah.”

In another narration `Abdullah is reported to have said: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I have been informed that you observe fast continuously and recite (the whole of the Qur’an) every night.” I said, “Messenger of Allah! It is right, but I covet thereby nothing but good,” whereupon he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Then observe fasts like the fasting of Prophet Dawud (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) as he was the most ardent worshipper of Allah; recite the Qur’an once every month.” I said, “O Prophet of Allah! I am capable of doing more than that.” He said, “Then recite it (the complete Qur’an) in every twenty days.” I said, “O Prophet of Allah I am capable of reciting more than that.” He said, “Then recite it once in every ten days.” I said, “O Prophet of Allah! I am capable of reciting more than that.” He said, “Then recite it once in every seven days, but not recite more than that.” The Prophet of Allah also said to me, “You do not know, you may have a longer life”. When I grew old I wished I had availed myself of the concession (granted to me by) the Prophet of Allah.

In another narration `Abdullah is reported to have said: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The best fasting with Allah is that of (Prophet) Dawud, and the best prayer with Allah is that of Dawud (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) for he would sleep half of the night and stand for prayer for the third of it and (then) would sleep sixth part of it; he observed fast one day and leave off the other. He would not flee on meeting the enemy”.

In another narration `Abdullah is reported to have said: My father helped me marry a noble woman and he used to inquire of his daughter-in-law regarding her husband. She would say: “He is, indeed, a fine man. Since I have come to him, he has neither stepped on my bed nor he has had sexual intercourse with me”. When this state of affairs lasted for some time, my father mentioned the matter to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) who directed my father saying, “Send him to me”. I went to him accordingly. He asked me, “How often do you observe fast?” I replied; “Daily”. He asked me, “How long do you take in reading the Noble Qur’an completely.” I said, “Once every night”. Then he narrated the whole story. He (in his old age) would recite one seventh of his nightly recitation to some members of his family during the day to lighten his task at night. Whenever he wished to have a relief from his fast on alternate days, he would give up fasting for a few days and make up deficiency later by observing the number of fasts he had missed. He would not give up the number of fasts altogether because he did not like to abandon what he had settled with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam).

151.  Hanzalah Al-Usayyidi (May Allah be pleased with him) who was one of the scribes of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), reported: I met Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) he said: “How are you O Hanzalah?” I said, “Hanzalah has become a hypocrite”. He said, “Far removed is Allah from every imperfection, what are you saying?” I said, “When we are in the company of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and he reminds us of Hell-fire and Jannah, we feel as if we are seeing them with our very eyes, and when we are away from Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), we attend to our wives, our children, our business, most of these things (pertaining to life hereafter) slip out of our minds.” Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “By Allah, I also experience the same thing”. So Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) and I went to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and I said to him, “O Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), Hanzalah has turned hypocrite.” Thereupon Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “What has happened to you?” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, when we are in your company, and are reminded of Hell-fire and Jannah, we feel as if we are seeing them with our own eyes, but when we go away from you and attend to our wives, children and business, much of these things go out of our minds.” Thereupon Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “By Him in Whose Hand is my life if your state of mind remains the same as it is in my presence and you are always busy in remembrance (of Allah), the angels will shake hands with you in your beds and in your roads; but Hanzalah, time should be devoted (to the worldly affairs) and time should be devoted (to prayer)”. He (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said this thrice.
[Muslim].

152.  Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: While the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was delivering Khutbah (religious talk), he noticed a man who was standing, so he asked about him and was told that he was Abu Israel who had taken a vow to remain standing and not sit, or go into the shade, or speak while observing fasting. Thereupon Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Tell him to speak, to go into the shade, to sit and to complete his fast”.
[Al-Bukhari].

Numerous ways of doing Good

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Chapter 13
Numerous ways of doing Good

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“… and whatever you do of good deeds, truly, Allah knows it well.” (2:215)

“And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allah knows it.” (2:197)

“So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.” (99:7)

“Whosoever does a good deed, it is for his ownself…” (45:15)

117.  Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Which action is the best?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Faith in Allah and Jihad in the way of Allah.” I asked: “Which neck (slave) is best (for emancipation)?” He said, “That which is dearest of them in price and most valuable of them to its masters”. I asked: “If I cannot afford (it)?” He said, “Then help a labourer or work for one who is disabled”. I asked: “If I cannot do (it)?” He said, “You should restrain yourself from doing wrong to people, because it (serves as) charity which you bestow upon yourself”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

118.  Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When you get up in the morning, charity is due from every one of your joints. There is charity in every ascription of glory to Allah; there is charity in every declaration of His Greatness; there is charity in every utterance of praise of Him; there is charity in every declaration that He is the only true God (worthy of worship); there is charity in enjoining good; there is charity in forbidding evil. Two Rak`ah of Duha (Forenoon prayer) is equal to all this (in reward)”.
[Muslim].

119.  Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The deeds of my people, good and bad, were presented before me, and I found the removal of  harmful objects from the road among their good deeds, and phlegm which might be in a mosque left unburied among their evil deeds”.
[Muslim].

120.  Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Some people said to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam): “O Messenger of Allah, the rich have taken away (all the) reward. They observe Salat (prayers) as we do; and give Sadaqah (charity) out of their surplus wealth.” Upon this he (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said, “Has Allah not prescribed for you (a course) following which you can (also) give Sadaqah? In every declaration of the glorification of Allah (i.e., saying Subhan Allah) there is a Sadaqah, and in every Takbir (i.e., saying Allahu Akbar) is a Sadaqah, and in every celebration of praise (saying Al-hamdu lillah) is a Sadaqah, and in every declaration that He is One (La ilaha illallah) is a Sadaqah, and in enjoining of good is a Sadaqah, and in forbidding evil is a Sadaqah, and in man’s sexual intercourse (with his wife) there is a Sadaqah.” They (the Companions) said: “O Messenger of Allah, is there reward for him who satisfies his sexual need among us?” He said, “You see, if he were to satisfy it with something forbidden, would it not be a sin on his part? Similarly, if he were to satisfy it legally, he should be rewarded”.
[Muslim].

121.  Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother (Muslim) with a cheerful face”.
[Muslim].

122.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Every day the sun rises charity (Sadaqah) is due on every joint of a person: you administer justice between two men is a charity; and assisting a man to mount his beast, or helping him load his luggage on it is a charity; and a good word is a charity; and every step that you take (towards the mosque) for Salat (prayer) is a charity and removing harmful things from the road is a charity”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In Muslim, it is reported on the authority of  `Aishah  (May Allah be pleased with her) that Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Everyone of the children of Adam has been created with three hundred and sixty joints; so he who declares the Glory of Allah (i.e., saying Allahu Akbar), praises Allah (i.e., Al-hamdu lillah), declares Allah to be One (i.e., La ilaha illallah), glorifies Allah, and seeks forgiveness from Allah (i.e., Astaghfirullah), and removes stone, or thorn, or bone from people’s path, and enjoins good and forbids evil, to the number of those three hundred and sixty, will walk that day having rescued himself from Hell”.

123.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who goes to the mosque at dawn or dusk (for Salat), Allah prepares a hospitable abode for him in Jannah, every time when he walks to it or comes back from it”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

124.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: O Muslim women, never belittle any gift you give your neighbour even if it is a hoof of a sheep”.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

125. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Iman has over seventy branches, the uppermost of which is the declaration: `None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’; and the least of which is the removal of harmful object from the road, and modesty is a branch of Iman.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

126. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “While a man was walking on his way he became extremely thirsty. He found a well, he went down into it to drink water. Upon leaving it, he saw a dog which was panting out of thirst. His tongue was lolling out and he was eating moist earth from extreme thirst. The man thought to himself: `This dog is extremely thirsty as I was.’ So he descended into the well, filled up his leather sock with water, and holding it in his teeth, climbed up and quenched the thirst of the dog. Allah appreciated his action and forgave his sins”. The Companions asked: “Shall we be rewarded for showing kindness to the animals also?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “A reward is given in connection with every living creature”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

     In the narration of Al-Bukhari, the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) is reported to have said: “Allah forgave him in appreciation of this act and admitted him to Jannah”.

Another narration says: “Once a dog was going round the well and was about to die out of thirst. A prostitute of Banu Israel happened to see it. So she took off her leather sock and lowered it into the well. She drew out some water and gave the dog to drink. She was forgiven on account of her action”.

127.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I saw a man going about in Jannah (and enjoying himself) as a reward for cutting from the middle of the road, a tree which was causing inconvenience to the Muslims”.
[Muslim].

Another narration says: “A man who passed by a branch of a tree leaning over a road and decided to remove it, saying to himself, `By Allah! I will remove from the way of Muslims so that it would not harm them.’ On account of this he was admitted to Jannah”.

According to the narration in Al-Bukhari and Muslim: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “While a man was walking, he saw a thorny branch on the road, so he removed it and Allah appreciated his action and forgave him”.

128.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who performs his Wudu’ perfectly and comes to Jumu`ah prayer and listens (to the Khutbah) silently, the sins which he has committed since the previous Friday plus three more days (i.e., 10 days) will be forgiven for him. One who distracts himself with pebbles during the Khutbah will not get the (Jumu`ah) reward”.
[Muslim].

129. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When a Muslim or a believer washes his face (in the course of Wudu’), every sin he has committed with his eyes is washed away from his face along with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin they wrought is erased from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin towards which his feet walked is washed away with water, or with the last drop of water, with the result that he comes out cleansed of all sins”.
[Muslim].

130.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The five (daily) Salat (prayers), and from one Jumu`ah prayer to the (next) Jumu`ah prayer, and from Ramadan to Ramadan are expiations for the (sins) committed in between (their intervals); provided the major sins are not committed”.
[Muslim].

131.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Should I not direct you to something by which Allah obliterates the sins and elevates (your) ranks.” They said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah”. He said, “Performing Wudu’ properly, even in difficulty, frequently going to the mosque, and waiting eagerly for the next Salat (prayer) after a Salat is over; indeed, that is Ar-Ribat”.
[Muslim].

132.  Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who observes the Fajr and `Asr (prayers) will enter Jannah.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

133.  Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When a slave of Allah suffers from illness or sets on a journey, he is credited with the equal of whatever good works he used to do when he was healthy or at home”.
[Al-Bukhari].

134.  Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, “Every good deed is charity”.
[Al-Bukhari].

Muslim has reported the same on the authority of Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him).

135.  Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When a Muslim plants a tree, whatever is eaten from it is charity from him and whatever is stolen is charity and whatever is subtracted from it is charity”.
[Muslim].

Another narration says: “If a Muslim plants a tree, or sows a field and men and beasts and birds eat from it, all of it is charity from him”.

136.  Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The tribe Banu Salimah wanted to move nearer to the mosque. On learning this Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to them, “I heard that you intend to move nearer to the mosque”. They said, “That is so, O Messenger of Allah, we do want to do that”. He said, “O Banu Salimah, keep to your homes, your steps (to the mosque) are recorded”.
[Muslim].

Another narration says: “There is for every step (towards the mosque) a degree (of reward) for you“.
[Muslim].

137.  Ubayy bin Ka`b (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: There was a man, and I do not know of any other man whose house was farther than his from the mosque, and he never missed Salat (in congregation). It was said to him (or I said to him): “If you buy a donkey you could ride it in the dark nights and in the burning sand.” He said: “I do not like my house to be by the side of the mosque, for I (eagerly) desire that my steps towards the mosque and back from it should be recorded when I return to my family.” Upon this Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah has granted you all the rewards for you”.
[Muslim].

Another narration says:  “You will get the reward for what you have anticipated“.

138.  Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There are forty kinds of virtue; the uppermost of them is to lend a (milch) she-goat (to someone in order to benefit from it and then return it). He who practices any of these virtues expecting its reward and relying on the truthfulness of the promise made for it, shall enter Jannah.”
[Al-Bukhari].

139.  `Adi bin Hatim (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, “Protect yourself from (Hell) Fire, by giving of half of a date (in charity)”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 In another narration `Adi bin Hatim (May Allah be pleased with him) reported Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) as saying: “Allah will surely speak with everyone of you without an interpreter. He (the man) will look at his right side and will see nothing but (the deeds) which he had done before, and he will look to his left side and will see nothing but (the deeds) which he had done before. Then he will look in front of him and will find nothing but Hell-fire facing him. So protect (yourselves) from (Hell) Fire, by giving in charity even half a date; and if he does not finds it, then with a kind word”.

140.  Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah will be pleased with His slave who praises Him (i.e., says Al-hamdu lillah) when he eats and praises Him when he drinks”.
[Muslim].

141.  Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Giving in charity is an obligation upon every Muslim”. It was said (to him): “What about one who does not find (the means) to do so?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Let him work with his hands, thus doing benefit to himself and give in charity.” It was said to him: “What if he does not have (the means) to do so?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Then let him assist the needy, the aggrieved.” It was said: “What about if he cannot even do this?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Then he should enjoin good.” He was asked: “What if he cannot do that?” He (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said, “He should then abstain from evil, for verily, that is a charity from him”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Piety

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Chapter 6
Piety

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared”. (3:102)

“So, keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can…” (64:16)

This second Verse explains the meaning of the first one.

“O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth”. (33:70)

“… And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine…” (65:2,3)

“If you obey and fear Allah, He will grant you Furqan [(a criterion to judge between right and wrong), or   (Makhraj, i.e., a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you; and Allah is the Owner of the great bounty”. (8:29)

69. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Who is the most honourable amongst mankind?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The most honourable of them is one who is the most pious of them.” They said, “We are not asking about this”. He said, “Then, the most honourable of men was Yusuf  (Joseph), the Prophet of Allah, the son of  Allah’s Prophet, who was the son of  the Prophet of Allah, who was the son of the Khalil of Allah (i.e., Ibrahim (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam))‘ They said, “We are not asking you about this.” He enquired, “Are you then asking me about the classes of the Arabs? The best of them in the Pre-Islamic Period of  Ignorance are the best of them in Islam, provided they comprehend the religious knowledge”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

70. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The life of the world is sweet and green. Allah makes you generations succeeding one another so that He may try you in respect of your actions. So beware of the beguilements of the world and those of women. The first trial of Banu Israel was through women”.
[Muslim].

71. `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to say: “Allahumma inni as’alukal-huda wat-tuqa wal-`afafa wal-ghina (O Allah! I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity and self-sufficiency)”.
[Muslim].

72. `Adi bin Hatim At-Ta’i (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) say: “He who has taken an oath (to do something) but found something else better than that (which brings him closer to Allah), then he should do that which is better in piety (and he should expiate for the breaking of oath)”.
[Muslim].

73. Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) during the sermon of the Farewell Pilgrimage saying, “Be mindful of your duty to Allah; perform your five daily Salat, observe Saum during the month (of Ramadan) , pay the Zakat on your properties and obey your leaders; (if you do so) you will enter the Jannah of your Rubb”.
[At-Tirmidhi].

Patience and Perseverance

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Chapter 3
Patience and Perseverance

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“O you who believe! Endure and be more patient..”. (3:200)

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient)”.  (2:155)

“Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning.” (39:10)

“And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives, that would truly be from the things recommended by Allah.” (42:43)

“Seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer). Truly, Allah is with As-Sabirun (the patient).” (2:153)

“And surely, We shall try you till We test those who strive hard (for the Cause of Allah) and As-Sabirun (the patient)” (47:31)

There are numerous Verses of the Noble Qur’an inculcating patience and extolling it.

25. Abu Malik Al-Harith bin Asim Al-Ash`ar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “Wudu’ is half of Salah; the utterance of  (Al-hamdu lillah – all praise belongs to Allah) fills the Scales of good actions; the utterance of (Subhan Allah wa Al-hamdu lillah) (Allah is far removed from every imperfection and all praise belongs to Allah) fills the space between the heavens and the earth, and Salat (prayer) is light; and charity is the proof of Faith; and endurance is light, and the Qur’an is a plea in your favour or against you. Every person departs; he either ransoms it or puts it into perdition”.
[Muslim].

26. Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: Certain people of the Ansar asked the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and he gave them; then they again asked him and he gave them until all what he possessed was exhausted. Then the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whatever wealth I have, I will not withhold from you. Whosoever would be chaste and modest; Allah will keep him chaste and modest and whosoever would seek self-sufficiency, Allah will make him self-sufficient; and whosoever would be patient, Allah will give him patience, and no one is granted a gift better and more comprehensive than patience”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

27. Abu Yahya Suhaib bin Sinan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him”.
[Muslim].

28. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the last illness of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) made him unconscious, Fatimah (May Allah be pleased with her) exclaimed: “Ah, the distress of my dear father.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There will be no distress for your father after today”. When he died she said: “My father, Allah has called you back and you have responded to His Call. O father! Garden of Firdaus is your abode. O father! We announce to Jibril your death.” When he was buried, she said: “Are you satisfied now that you put earth over (the grave of) Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)?”
[Al-Bukhari]

29. Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with them) narrated: The daughter of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) sent for him as her child was dying, but the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) returned the messenger and sent her good wishes saying, “Whatever Allah takes away or gives, belongs to Him, and everything with Him has a limited fixed term (in this world), and so she should be patient and anticipate Allah’s reward.” She again sent for him adjuring him for the sake of Allah to come. The Messenger of Allah, accompanied with Sa`d bin `Ubadah, Mu`adh bin Jabal, Ubayy bin Ka`b, Zaid bin Thabit and some other men went to see her. The child was lifted up to the Messenger of Allah while his breath was disturbed in his chest. On seeing that, the eyes of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) streamed with tears. Sa`d said, “O Messenger of Allah! What is this?” He replied, “It is compassion which Allah has placed in the hearts of His slaves, Allah is Compassionate only to those among His slaves who are compassionate (to others)”.

  Another version says: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah shows compassion only to those among His slaves who are compassionate”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

30. Suhaib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There lived a king before you and he had a court magician. As he (the magician) grew old, he said to the king: `I have grown old, so send me a young boy in order to teach him magic.’ The king sent him a young boy to serve the purpose. And on his way (to the magician) the young boy met a monk to whom he listened to and liked it. It became his habit that on his way to the magician, he would meet the monk and sit there and would come to the magician (late). The magician used to beat him because of this delay. He complained about this to the monk who said to him: ‘When you feel afraid of the magician, say: Members of my family detained me. And when you fear your family, say: The magician detained me.’ It so happened that there came a huge beast and it blocked the way of the people, and the young boy said: ‘I will know today whether the magician or the monk is better.’ He picked up a stone and said: `O Allah, if the way of the monk is dearer to You than the way of the magician, bring about death to the animal so that the people be able to move about freely.’ He threw that stone at it and killed it and the people began to move about freely. He then came to the monk and told him the story. The monk said: `Son, today you are superior to me. You have come to a stage where I feel that you would be soon put to a trial, and in case you are put to a trial, do not reveal me.’ That young boy began to heal those born blind and the lepers and he, in fact, began to cure people from all kinds of illnesses. When a courtier of the king who had gone blind heard about him, he came to him with numerous gifts and said, `If you cure me, all these things will be yours.’ He said, `I myself do not cure anyone. It is Allah, the Exalted, Alone Who cures; and if you affirm faith in Allah, I shall also supplicate to Allah to cure you.’ This courtier affirmed his faith in Allah and Allah cured him. He came to the king and sat by his side as he used to sit before. The king said to him, `Who restored your eyesight?’ He said, `My Rubb.’ Thereupon he said, ‘Do you have another lord besides me?’ He said, `My Rubb and your Rubb is Allah.’ So the king kept torturing him untill he revealed the young boy. The young boy was thus summoned and the king said to him, ‘O boy, it has been conveyed to me that you have become so much proficient in your magic that you cure the blind and the lepers and you do such and such.’ Thereupon he said, `I do not cure anyone; it is Allah Alone Who cures,’ and the king took hold of him and began to torture him until he revealed of the monk. The monk was summoned and it was said to him: `You should turn back from your religion.’ But he refused. The king sent for a saw, placed it in the middle of his head and cut him into two parts that fell down. Then the courtier of the king was brought forward and it was said to him: `Turn back from your religion.’ He, too, refused, and the saw was placed in the midst of his head and he was torn into two parts. Then the boy was sent for and it was said to him: `Turn back from your religion.’ He refused. The king then handed him over to a group of his courtiers, and said to them: `Take him to such and such mountain; make him climb up that mountain and when you reach its peak ask him to renounce his Faith. If he refuses to do so, push him to his death.’ So they took him and made him climb up the mountain and he said: `O Allah, save me from them in any way you like,’ and the mountain began to shake and they all fell down (dead) and that young boy came walking to the king. The king said to him, `What happened to your companions?’ He said, `Allah has saved me from them.’ He again handed him to some of his courtiers and said: `Take him and carry him in a boat and when you reach the middle of the sea, ask him to renounce his religion. If he does not renounce his religion throw him (into the water).’ So they took him and he said: `O Allah, save me from them.’ The boat turned upside down and they all drowned except the young boy who came walking to the king. The king said to him, `What happened to your companions?’ He said, `Allah has saved me from them,’ and he said to the king: `You cannot kill me until you do what I command you to do.’ The king asked, `What is that?’ He said, `Gather all people in one place and tie me up to the trunk of a tree, then take an arrow from my quiver and say: With the Name of Allah, the Rubb of the boy; then shoot me. If you do that you will be able to kill me.’ `The king called the people in an open field and tied the young boy to the trunk of a tree. He took out an arrow from his quiver, fixed in the bow and said, `With the Name of Allah, the Rubb of the young boy,’ he then shot the arrow and it hit the boy’s temple. The young boy placed his hand upon the temple where the arrow had hit him and died. The people then said: `We believe in the Rubb of this young boy.’ The king was told: `Do you see what you were afraid of, by Allah it has taken place; all people have believed.’ The king then commanded that trenches be dug and fire lit in them, and said: `He who would not turn back from his (the young boy’s) religion,  throw him in the fire’ or `he would be ordered to jump into it.’ They did so till a woman came with her child. She felt hesitant in jumping into the fire. The child said to her: `O mother! Endure (this ordeal) for you are on the Right Path”.
[Muslim].

31. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) passed by a woman who was crying over a grave and said, “Fear Allah and be patient.” She said, “Away from me! My calamity has not befallen you and you are not aware of it.” The woman was later told that it was the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) (who had advised her). She came to his door where she found no doorkeeper. She said, “(I am sorry) I did not know you.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Patience is (becoming) only at the first (stroke) of grief”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Another narration in Muslim says: The woman was crying over her son.

32. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah, the Exalted, says: ‘I have no reward other than Jannah for a believing slave of Mine who remains patient for My sake when I take away his beloved one from among the inhabitants of the world”.
[Al-Bukhari].

33. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) about pestilence and he said, “It is a punishment which Allah sends upon whomsoever He wills, but Allah has made it as a mercy to the believers. Anyone who remains in a town which is plagued with pestilence maintaining patience expecting the reward from Allah, and knowing that nothing will befall him other than what Allah has foreordained for him, he would receive a reward of Shaheed”.
[Al-Bukhari].

34. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, “Allah, the Glorious and Exalted said: `When I afflict my slave in his two dear things (i.e., his eyes), and he endures patiently, I shall compensate him for them with Jannah.”.
[Al-Bukhari].

35. `Ata’ bin Abu Rabah reported: Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) asked him whether he would like that he should show him a woman who is from the people Jannah. When he replied that he certainly would, he said, “This black woman, who came to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and said, `I suffer from epilepsy and during fits my body is exposed, so make supplication to Allah for me.’ He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied: ‘If you wish you endure it patiently and you be rewarded with Jannah, or if you wish, I shall make supplication to Allah to cure you?‘ She said, ‘I shall endure it.’ Then she added: `But my body is exposed, so pray to Allah that it may not happen.’ He (Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) then supplicated for her”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

36. `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I can still recall as if I am seeing the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) resembling one of the Prophets whose people scourged him and shed his blood, while he wiped blood from his face, he said: “O Allah! Forgive my people, because they certainly do not know”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

37. Abu Sa`id and Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, an illness, an anxiety, a grief or mental worry or even the pricking of a thorn but Allah will expiate his sins on account of his patience”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

38. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I visited the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when he was suffering fever. I said, “You seem to be suffering greatly, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, “Yes, I suffer as much as two persons.” I said, “Is that because you have a double reward?” He replied that that was so and then said, “No Muslim is afflicted by a harm, be it the pricking of a thorn or something more (painful than that), but Allah thereby causes his sins to fall away just as a tree sheds its leaves”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

39.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “He whom Allah intends good, He makes him to suffer from some affliction”.
[Al-Bukhari].

40. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Let not one of you wish for death because of a misfortune which befalls him. If  he cannot help doing so, he should say: ‘O Allah, keep me alive as long as You know that life is better for me, and make me die when death is better for me”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

41. Khabbab bin Al-Aratt (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: We complained to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) regarding the persecution inflicted upon us by the disbelievers while he was lying in the shade of the Ka`bah, having made a pillow of his cloak. We submitted: “Why do you not supplicate for our prevalence (over the opponents)?”. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, “Among those people before you, a man would be seized and held in a pit dug for him in the ground and he would be sawed into two halves from his head, and his flesh torn away from his bones with an iron comb; but, in spite of this, he would not wean away from his Faith. By Allah, Allah will bring this matter to its consummation until a rider will travel from San`a’ to Hadramout fearing none except Allah, and except the wolf for his sheep, but you are in too much of a hurry”.
[Al-Bukhari].

Another narration is: He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) had placed his cloak under his head and we had been tortured by the polytheists.

42. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: After the battle of Hunain, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) favoured some people in the distribution of spoils (for consolation). He gave Al-Aqra` bin Habis and `Uyainah bin Hisn a hundred camels each and showed favour also to some more honourable persons among the Arabs. Someone said: “This division is not based on justice and it was not intended to win the Pleasure of Allah.” I said to myself: “By Allah! I will inform Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) of this.” I went to him and informed him. His face became red and he said, “Who will do justice if Allah and His Messenger do not?” Then he said, “May Allah have mercy on (Prophet) Musa (Moses); he was caused more distress than this but he remained patient.” Having heard this I said to myself: “I shall never convey anything of this kind to him in future”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

43. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When Allah intends good for His slave, He punishes him in this world, but when He intends an evil for His slave, He does not hasten to take him to task but calls him to account on the Day of Resurrection.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

44. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: One of the sons of Abu Talhah (May Allah be pleased with him) was ailing. Abu Talhah went out and the boy died in his absence. When he came back, he inquired, “How is the boy?”. Umm Sulaim, the mother of the boy, replied, “Better than before”. Then she placed his evening meal before him and he ate it; and thereafter slept with her. At last, she said to him: “Arrange for the burial of the boy”. In the morning, Abu Talhah went to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and informed him of the event. He enquired, “Did you sleep together last night?” Abu Talhah replied in the affirmative, on which the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) supplicated, “O Allah bless them.” Thereafter, she gave birth to a boy. Abu Talhah said to me: “Take up the boy and carry him to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)”;  and he sent some dates with him. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) enquired, “Is there anything with him?” He said; “Yes, some dates”. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) took a date, chewed it and put it in the mouth of the baby and rubbed the chewed date around the baby’s gum and named him `Abdullah.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The narration in Bukhari adds: Ibn `Uyainah relates that a man from the Ansar told him that he had seen nine sons of this `Abdullah, every one of whom had committed the Noble Qur’an to memory.

The narration of Muslim says: The son of Abu Talhah (May Allah be pleased with him) who was born of Umm Sulaim died. She (Umm Sulaim) said to the members of the family: “Do not tell Abu Talhah about his son until I mention it to him myself.” Abu Talhah came (home) and she gave him supper. He ate and drank. She then beautified herself the best way she ever did and he slept with her. When she saw that he was satisfied after sexual intercourse with her, she said, “O Abu Talhah! If some people borrow something from another family and then (the members of the family) ask for its return, would they refuse to give it back to them.” He said, “No”. She said, “Then hope reward for your son”. Abu Talhah got angry, and said; “You left me uninformed until I stained myself (with sexual intercourse) and then you told me about my son. “He went to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and informed him about the matter. Thereupon Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “May Allah bless the night you spent together!” He (the narrator) said: She conceived. (One day) Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was in the course of a journey and she was along with him. When Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to come back to Al-Madinah from a journey, he would not enter it (during the night). When the people came near Al-Madinah, she felt labour pains. He (Abu Talhah) remained with her and Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) proceeded on. Abu Talhah said: “O Rubb, You know that I love to go along with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when he goes out and enter along with him when he enters, and I have been detained as You see.” Umm Sulaim then said: “O Abu Talhah, I do not feel (so much pain) as I was feeling earlier, so we better proceed on. So we proceeded on and she felt the labour of delivery as they reached (Al-Madinah). She gave birth to a male child. My mother said to me: “O Anas, none should suckle him until you go to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) tomorrow  morning.” The next morning I carried the baby with me to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), and narrated the rest of the story.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

45. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The strong man is not one who is good at wrestling, but the strong man is one who controls himself in a fit of rage.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

46. Sulaiman bin Surad (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was sitting with the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when two men began to quarrel and curse each other and the face of one of them turned red and the veins of his neck were swollen (from rage). Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I know of a word, if he were to utter that, his rage would vanish and that is: A`udhu billahi minash-Shaitan nir-rajim (I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed).” So they (Companions) said to him: “The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) tells you to utter: ‘I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed”.
[Al-Bukhariand Muslim].

47. Mu`adh bin Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The one who suppresses anger and has the power to give effect to it, will be called out by Allah, the Exalted, to the forefront of the creatures on the Day of  Resurrection and he will be asked to choose any of the virgins (Hur) of his liking”.
[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

48. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man asked the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) for an advice and he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do not get angry”. The man repeated that several times and he replied, “Do not get angry”.
[Al-Bukhari].

49. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “A Muslim, male or female, continues to remain under trial in respect of his life, property and offspring until he faces Allah, the Exalted, with no sin record”.
[At-Tirmidhi].

50. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: ‘Uyainah bin Hisn came to Al-Madinah and stayed with his nephew Hurr bin Qais who was among those whom Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) showed favour to. The knowledgeable people (Qurra’), whether they were old or young, had the privilege of joining Umar’s council and he used to consult them. ‘Uyainah said to Hurr: “My nephew, the Leader of the Believers shows favour to you. Will you obtain permission for me to sit with him?” Hurr asked `Umar and he accorded permission. When `Uyainah came into the presence of `Umar, he addressed him thus: “O son of Khattab, you neither bestow much on us nor deal with us justly.” `Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) got angry and was about to beat him up when Hurr said: “O Leader of the Believers, Allah said to His Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam): ‘ Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish (i.e., don’t punish them).’ (7:199) This one is from the ignorants. When Hurr recited this, `Umar became quite motionless in his seat. He always adhered strictly to the Book of Allah.
[Al-Bukhari].

51. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “You will see after me favouritism and things which you will disapprove of.” They submitted: “What do you order us to do (under such circumstances)?” He replied, “Discharge your obligations and ask your rights from Allah”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

52. Usaid bin Hudhair (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: A person from among the Ansar said, “O Messenger of Allah! You appointed such and such person and why do you not appoint me?” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “After me you will see others given preference to you, but you should remain patient till you meet me at the Haud (Al-Kauthar in Jannah)”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

53. `Abdullah bin Abu Aufa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) at one time when he confronted the enemy, and was waiting for the sun to set, stood up and said, “O people! Do not long for encountering  the enemy and supplicate to Allah to grant you security. But when you face the enemy, show patience and steadfastness; and keep it in mind that Jannah lies under the shade of the swords.” Then he invoked Allah, saying, “O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Disperser of the clouds, Defeater of the Confederates, put our enemy to rout and help us in over-powering them”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Struggle (in the Cause of Allah)

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Chapter 11
The Struggle (in the Cause of Allah)

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely, guide them to Our paths (i.e., Allah’s religion – Islamic Monotheism). And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun (gooddoers)”. (29:69)

“And worship your Rubb until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e., death)”. (15:99)

“And remember the Name of your Rubb and devote yourself to Him with a complete devotion.” (73:8)

“So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it”. (99:7)

“And whatever good you send before you for yourselves (i.e., Nawafil – non-obligatory acts of worship: prayers, charity, fasting, Hajj and Umrah, etc.), you will certainly find it with Allah, better and greater in reward.” (73:20)

“And whatever you spend in good, surely, Allah knows it well.” (2:273)

95. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah the Exalted has said: ‘I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (prayer or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him. When I love him I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) from Me, I give him, and if he asks My Protection (refuge), I protect him”.
[Al-Bukhari].

96.   Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah says: ‘ When a slave of Mine draws near to Me a span, I draw near to him a cubit; and if he draws near to Me a cubit, I draw near to him a fathom. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.”’.
[Al-Bukhari].

97.  Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There are two blessings in which many people incur loss. (They are) health and free time (for doing good)”.
[Al-Bukhari]

98.  `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would stand (in prayer) so long that the skin of his feet would crack. I asked him, “Why do you do this while your past and future sins have been forgiven?” He said, “Should I not be a grateful slave of Allah?”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

99.  `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would pray all the night, and would keep his family awake for the prayers. He tied his lower garment (i.e., avoided sleeping with his wives) and devoted himself entirely to prayer and supplication.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

100.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak one, and both are good. Adhere to that which is beneficial for you. Keep asking Allah for help and do not refrain from it. If you are afflicted in any way, do not say: `If I had taken this or that step, it would have resulted into such and such,’ but say only: `Allah so determined and did as He willed.’ The word `if’ opens the gates of satanic thoughts”.
[Muslim].

101.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said. “The (Hell) Fire is surrounded with all kinds of desires and passions, while Jannah is surrounded with adversities.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

102.  Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I offered Salat (Tahajjud – optional night prayer) with the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) one night, and he started reciting (Surat) Al-Baqarah. I thought that he would bow at the end of one hundred Verses, but he continued reciting; I, then, thought that he would perhaps recite the whole (Surah) in a Rak`ah, but he proceeded on, and I thought he would perhaps bow on completing (this Surah); he then started (reciting Surat) An-Nisa’; he then started (Surat) Al-`Imran and his recitation was unhurried. And when he recited the Verses which referred to the Glory of Allah, he glorified Him (by saying Subhan Allah – My Rubb, the Supreme is far removed from every imperfection), the Great, and when he recited the Verses that mention supplication, he supplicated, and when he recited the Verses that mention seeking Refuge of the Rubb, he sought (His) Refuge. Then he bowed and said: “My Rubb, the Supreme is far removed from every imperfection (Subhana Rabbiyal-Azim);” his bowing lasted about the same length of  time as his standing (and then on returning to the standing posture after Ruku`) he said: “Allah listened to him who praised Him (Sami` Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd).” Then he stood about the same length of time as he had spent in bowing. He then prostrated himself and said: “My Rubb, the Supreme is far removed from every imperfection (Subhana Rabbiyal-A`la),” and his prostration lasted nearly the same length of time as his standing.
[Muslim].

103.  Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said: One night I joined the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in his (optional) Salat. He prolonged the standing so much that I thought of doing something evil. He was asked: “What did you intend to do?” He replied: “To sit down and leave him”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

104.  Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Three follow a dead body: members of his family, his possessions and his deeds. Two of them return and one remains with him. His family and his possessions return; his deeds remain with him”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

105.  Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Jannah is nearer to anyone of you than your shoe-lace, and so is the (Hell) Fire”.
[Al-Bukhari].

106.  Rabi`ah bin Ka`b Al-Aslami (May Allah be pleased with him (a servant of the Messenger of Allah and also one of the people of As-Suffah) said: I used to spend my night in the company of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and used to put up water for his ablutions. One day he said to me, “Ask something of me.” I said: “I request for your companionship in Jannah”. He inquired, “Is there anything else?” I said, “That is all.” He said, “Then help me in your request by multiplying your prostrations”.
[Muslim].

107. Thauban  (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, “Perform Salah more often. For every prostration that you perform before Allah will raise your position one degree and will remit one of your sins”.
[Muslim].

108. `Abdullah bin Busr Al-Aslami (May Allah be pleased with him) said: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The best of people is one whose life is long and his conduct is good”.
[At-Tirmidhi].

109. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: My uncle Anas bin An-Nadr (May Allah be pleased with him) was absent from the battle of Badr and he said: “O Messenger of Allah! I was absent from the first battle you fought against the pagans, and if Allah let me participate in a battle against the pagans, Allah will see what I do.” So he encountered the day of  Uhud Battle. The Muslims left the positions (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) told them to keep) and were defeated, he said: “O Allah! excuse these people (i.e., the Muslims) for what they have done, and I am clear from what the pagans have done“. Then he went forward with his sword and met Sa`d bin Mu`adh (fleeing) and said to him: “By the Rubb of the Ka`bah! I can smell the fragrance of Jannah from a place closer than Uhud Mount“. Sa`d said: “O Messenger of Allah, what he did was beyond my power”. Anas said: “We saw over eighty wounds on his body caused by stabbing, striking and shooting of arrows and spears. We found that he was killed, and mutilated by the polytheists. Nobody was able to recognize him except his sister who recognized him by the tips of his fingers.” Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “We believe that the Ayah `Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah [i.e., they have gone out for Jihad (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers]…’ (33:23), refers to him and his like”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

110. Abu Mas`ud `Uqbah bin `Amr Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) said: When the Ayah enjoining Sadaqah (charity) was revealed,* we used to carry loads on our backs to earn something that we could give away in charity. One person presented a considerable amount for charity and the hypocrites said: “He has done it to show off.” Another one gave away a few Sa` of dates and they said: “Allah does not stand in need of this person’s dates”. Thereupon, it was revealed:

“Those who defame such of the believers who give charity (in Allah’s Cause) voluntarily, and such who could not find to give charity (in Allah’s Cause) except what is available to them…” (9:79)
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

* This is the A’yah in which Allah says! “Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and suppliate Allah for them...” (9:103)

111. Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious, said; ‘O My slaves, I have prohibited Myself injustice; and have made oppression unlawful for you, so do not oppress one another. O My slaves, all of you are liable to err except the one whom I guide on the Right Path, so seek guidance from Me so that I will guide you to the Right Path. O My slaves, all of you are hungry except the one whom I feed, so ask food from Me, I will feed you. O My slaves, all of you are naked except those whom I clothe, so ask clothing of Me and I shall clothe you. O My slaves, you commit sins night and day and I forgive all sins, so seek My forgiveness and I shall forgive you. O My slaves, you can neither do Me any harm nor can you do Me any good. O My slaves, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and jinn of you to be as pious as the most pious heart of any man of you, that would not increase My domain a thing. O My slaves, were the first of you, and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any man of you, that would not decrease My domain in a thing. O My slaves, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to stand in one place and make a request of Me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not decrease what I have, any more than a needle decrease the sea if put into it. O My slaves, it is but your deeds that I reckon for you and then recompense you for, so let him who finds good (i.e., in the Hereafter) praise Allah and let him who finds other than that blame no one but himself.”’.
[Muslim].

Hastening to do Good Deeds

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Chapter 10
Hastening to do Good Deeds

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“So hasten towards all that is good”. (2:148)

“And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Rubb, and for Jannah as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for Al-Muttaqun (the pious)”. (3:133)

87. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Be prompt in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) by turbulence which would be like a part of the dark night. A man would be a believer in the morning and turn to disbelief in the evening, or he would be a believer in the evening and turn disbeliever in the morning, and would sell his Faith for worldly goods.”
[Muslim].

88. `Uqbah bin Al-Harith (May Allah be pleased with him) said: Once I performed the ‘Asr prayer in Al-Madinah behind the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) got up quickly after finishing the prayer with Taslim, and stepping over the people, went to one of the rooms of his wives. The people were startled at his haste, and when he came out and saw their astonishment at his urgency he said, “I recalled that there was left with me some gold which was meant for charity; I did not like to keep it any longer, so I gave orders that it should be distributed”.
[Al-Bukhari].

    In another narration, Messenger of Allah said, “I had left some gold for Sadaqah in the house, and did not wish to keep it overnight”.

89. Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man, said to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) during the battle of Uhud: “Tell me where I shall be if I am killed”. When he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied that he would be in Jannah, the man threw away some dates which he had in his hand and fought until he was killed.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

90. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: There came a man to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, which charity is the most rewardable?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “That you should give charity (in a state when you are) healthy and stingy and fear poverty, hoping to become rich (charity in such a state of health and mind is the best). And you must not defer (charity to such a length) that you are about to die and would be saying: ‘This is for so-and-so, and this for so-and-so.’ Lo! It has already come into (the possession of) so-and-so”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

91. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) took up a sword on the day of the battle of Uhud and said, “Who will take this sword from me?” Everyone stretched forth his hand saying: “I will take it; I will take it”. He (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said, “Who will take it with its full responsibility (i.e., to use it to fight Allah’s enemies with it)?” The Companions hesitated. Abu Dujanah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “I shall take it;” and with it he cracked the skulls of the pagans.
[Muslim].

92. Az-Zubair bin `Adi said: We went to Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) and complained to him of suffering at the hands of Al-Hajjaj. He replied: “Show endurance, for no time will come but will be followed by one worse (than the present one) till you meet your Rubb. I heard this from your Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)“.
[Al-Bukhari].

93. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Hasten to do good deeds before you are overtaken by one of the seven afflictions.” Then (giving a warning) he said, “Are you waiting for such poverty which will make you unmindful of devotion; or prosperity which will make you corrupt, or disease as will disable you, or such senility as will make you mentally unstable, or sudden death, or Ad-Dajjal who is the worst expected absent, or the Hour, and the Hour will be most grievous and most bitter”.
[At-Tirmidhi].

94. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: On the day of the battle of Khaibar, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I shall hand over this banner to one who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah will give us victory through him.” `Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “I had never longed for leadership but that day I expected that I might be called for. However, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) called `Ali bin Abu Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) and handed the banner to him and said, “Go forth and do not turn around till Allah bestows victory upon you”. (On hearing this) `Ali proceeded a little and then halted and without turning around inquired in a loud voice: “O Messenger of Allah, for what shall I fight them?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, “Go on fighting till they affirm that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If they admit that, their lives and their properties will be secured, subject to their obligations according to Islam, and they will be answerable to Allah”.
[Muslim].

Pondering over the Great Creation of Allah, The passing away of Life ofthe World, the Horrors of the Day of Requital and Laxity of One’s Nafs

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Chapter 9
Pondering over the Great Creation of Allah, The passing away of Life of the
World, the Horrors of the Day of Requital and Laxity of One’s Nafs

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“I exhort you to one (thing) only: that you stand up for Allah’s sake in pairs and singly, – and reflect (within yourselves the life history of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam))”. (34:46)

“Verily! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): ‘Our Rubb! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners)”. (3:190,191)

“Do they not look at the camels, how they are created? And at the heaven, how it is raised? And at the mountains, how they are rooted (and fixed firm)? And at the earth, how it is spread out? So remind them (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)), you are only a one who reminds”. (88:17-21)

“Have they not travelled through the earth, and seen..”. (47:10)

Ayat of the Qur’an and Ahadith on the subject are many. See for example Hadith No. 66 mentioned before.

Uprightness and Steadfastness

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Chapter 8
Uprightness and Steadfastness

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“So stand (ask Allah to make) you (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) firm and straight (on the religion of Islamic Monotheism) as you are commanded…” (11:112)

“Verily, those who say: `Our Rubb is Allah (Alone),’ and then they stand firm, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): ‘Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Jannah which you have been promised! We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask. An entertainment from (Allah), the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”’ (41:30-32)

“Verily, those who say: `Our Rubb is (only) Allah,’ and thereafter stand firm and straight (on the Islamic Faith of Monotheism), on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Such shall be the dwellers of Jannah, abiding therein (forever), – a reward for what they used to do.” (46:13,14)

85. Sufyan bin `Abdullah  (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me something of Islam which I will not ask anyone else about it.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Say, `I believe in Allah’ and then be steadfast”.
[Muslim].

86. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Follow the Right Path of Faith strictly, and be steadfast; and keep in mind that none of you can achieve salvation through his (good) actions.” Someone asked, “Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Not even me, unless Allah grants me His Mercy and Grace”.
[Muslim].

Firm Belief and Perfect Reliance on Allah

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Chapter 7
Firm Belief and Perfect Reliance on Allah

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And when the believers saw Al-Ahzab (the Confederates), they said: ‘This is what Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) had promised us, and Allah and His Messenger   (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) had spoken the truth, and it only added to their Faith and to their submissiveness (to Allah)”. (33:22)

“Those (i.e., believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said, `Verily, the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them.’ But it (only) increased them in Faith, and they said: `Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)’. So they returned with grace and bounty from Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty”. (3:173,174)

“And put your trust (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) in the Ever Living One Who dies not.” (25:58)

“And in Allah (Alone) let the believers, put their trust.” (14:11)

“… Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah…” (3:159)

“And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him”. (65:3)

“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts; and when His Verses (this Qur’an) are recited unto them, they (i.e., the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Rubb (Alone).” (8:2)

74. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I was shown the past nations. I saw a Prophet who had a very small group (less than ten in total) with him, another Prophet who was accompanied by only one or two men and some did not have even one. Suddenly I was shown a huge crowd and I thought that they were my Ummah, but I was told: ‘This is Musa (Moses) and his people, but look towards the other side.’ I looked and beheld a great assemblage. I was told: ‘These are your people and amongst them there are seventy thousand who shall enter Jannah without being taken to account or torment”. Then the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) stood up and went into his apartment, and the Companions began to guess who may be those people who would enter Jannah without any accounting or torment. Some said: “Probably, they are the ones who kept company with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)”. Others said: “Probably, they are the ones who have been born as Muslims and have never associated anyone with Allah in worship”. Then Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) came out and asked, “What are you discussing?” So they told him. He then said, “They are those who do not make Ruqyah (blowing over themselves after reciting the Qur’an or some prayers and supplications the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to say) nor seek it, nor perceive omens (i.e., they are not pessimistic) but keep trust in their Rubb (Allah).” On this ‘Ukashah bin Mihsan stood up and asked: “Pray to Allah to make me one of them.” The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “You are one of them.” Then another man stood up and asked the same thing. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) answered, “‘Ukashah has surpassed you”.
[Al-Bukhari and Mulsim].

75. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to supplicate: “O Allah! To You I have submitted, and in You do I believe, and in You I put my trust, to You do I turn, and for You I argued. O Allah, I seek refuge with You through Your Power; there is none worthy of worship except You Alone; that You safeguard me against going astray. You are the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists; the One Who never dies, whereas human beings and jinn will all die”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

76. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said: When (Prophet) Ibrahim (Abraham) was thrown into the fire, he said: “Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and, He is the Best Disposer of affairs.” So did Messenger of Allah Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when he was told: “A great army of the pagans had gathered against him, so fear them”. But this (warning) only increased him and the Muslims in Faith and they said: “Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)“.
[Al-Bukhari].

77. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “A group of people (both men and women) whose hearts will be like the hearts of birds, will enter Jannah”.
[Muslim].

  It has been interpreted that such people are those who put their trust in Allah; another interpretation is that these people are tender-hearted.

78. Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I went in an expedition along with the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in the direction of  Najd. When Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) returned, I also returned with him. Then the mid-day sleep overtook us in a valley full of prickly shrubs. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) got down and the people scattered around seeking shade under the trees. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) hang up his sword on the branch of a tree. We were enjoying a sleep when Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) called us, and lo! There was a desert Arab bedouin near him. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “This man brandished my sword over me while I was asleep. I woke up and saw it in his hand unsheathed. He asked: `Who will protect you from me?’ I replied: ‘Allah’ – thrice”. He did not punish him and sat down.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

  In another narration, Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) said: We accompanied Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in the campaign of Dhat-ur-Riqa`. We left Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) to take rest under a shady tree. One of the polytheists came to him. The sword of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was hanging on a tree. He drew it and said: “Are you afraid of me?” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “No”. Then he said: “Who will then protect you from me?” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, “Allah”.

 And in a narration of Abu Bakr Al-Isma`ili, the polytheist asked: “Who will protect you from me?” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, “Allah.” As soon as he said this, the sword fell down from his hand and Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) catching the sword, asked him, “Who will protect you from me.” He said, “Please forgive me.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “On condition you testify that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and that I am His Messenger.” He said, “No, but I promise you that I shall not fight against you, nor shall I be with those who fight with you”. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) let him go. He then went back to his companions and said: “I have come to you from one of the best of mankind“.

79. `Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying: “If you all depend on Allah with due reliance, He would certainly give you provision as He gives it to birds who go forth hungry in the morning and return with full belly at dusk”.
[At-Tirmidhi].

80. Al-Bara’ bin `Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) said: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) asked me to recite whenever I go to bed: “Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilaika, wa wajjahtu wajhi ilaika, wa fawwadtu amri ilaika, wal-ja’tu zahri ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika, la malja wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Amantu bikitabikal-ladhi anzalta, wa nabiyyikal-ladhi arsalta (O Allah! I have submitted myself to You, I have turned my face to You, entrusted my affairs to You; and committed my back to You out of desire for You and fear of You; expecting Your reward and fearing Your punishment). There is no refuge and no place of safety from You but with You. I believe in the Book You have revealed and in the Prophet You have sent.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said that if anyone recited these words and died that night, he would die in the true religion. In case he remains alive till morning, he will obtain good.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

  In another narration: He reported Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) as saying: “If you go to bed, perform the Salat Wudu’, lie down on your right side and say [the above Du`a (supplication)] and let these words be your last”.

81. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (May Allah bepleased with him) said: When Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and I were in the cave of Thaur and I saw the feet of the polytheists who were above us at the mouth of the cave (on the eve of the Emigration), I submitted: “O Messenger of Allah! If one of them were to look down below his feet, he would see us”. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two whose third is Allah”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

82. Umm Salamah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Whenever the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)  stepped out of his house, he would say, “Bismillah, tawakkaltu `alallah. Allahumma inni a`udhu bika an adilla aw udalla, aw azilla aw uzalla, aw azlima aw uzlama, aw ajhala aw yujhala `alayya”. “[I go forth. (I begin with the Name of Allah, I trust in Allah; O Allah! I seek refuge in You from leaving or being led astray, or against slipping or being caused to slip; or doing injustice or being done injustice; or doing wrong or having wrong done to me)]”.
[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi reported it. According to At-Tirmidhi, this Hadith is classified as Hasan Sahih. Its wording is from Abu Dawud].

83. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever says (upon leaving his house): `Bismillah, tawakkaltu `alallah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah [I begin with the Name of Allah; I trust in Allah; there is no altering of conditions but by the Power of Allah],’ it will be said to him: ‘You are guided, defended and protected.’ The devil will go far away from him”.
[Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i].

  Abu Dawud reported it with this addition: “One devil will say to another: ‘How can you deal with a man who has been guided, defended and protected?”.

84. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: There were two brothers in the days of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). One of them used to attend the Prophet’s circle (to acquire knowledge) and the other used to earn their living). Once the latter complained to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) against the former (for not earning his living). He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, “Perhaps you are being provided because of him”.
[At-Tirmidhi].

Watchfulness

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Chapter 5
Watchfulness

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Who sees you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) when you stand up (alone at night for Tahajjud prayers). And your movements among those who fall prostrate (to Allah in the five compulsory congregational prayers)”. (26:218,219)

“And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be”. (57:4)

“Truly, nothing is hidden from Allah, in the earth or in the heaven”. (3:5)

“Verily, your Rubb is Ever Watchful (over them)”. (89:14)

“Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal”. (40:19)

60. ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with them) said: Once we were sitting in the company of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when there appeared a man dressed in very white clothes and having extraordinary black hair. No signs of fatigue of journey appeared on him and he was known to none of us. He sat down facing the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) leaning his knees against the knees of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and placing both of his palms over his two thighs and said, “O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)! Tell me about Islam”. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)replied, “Islam is to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) is the Messenger of Allah; that you observe Salat (prayers), pay Zakat, observe Saum (fasting) of Ramadan and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) of the House, provided you have resources of making journey to it.” He replied: “You have spoken the truth”. We were surprised to see that he had asked him and confirmed the correctness of the answers. He then enquired: “Tell me about Iman”. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said. “It is to believe in Allah, and His Books, and His Messengers and the Last Day and that you believe in foreordainment, its bad and good consequences.” He said, “You have spoken the truth.” He then enquired: “Tell me about Ihsan.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “It is to worship Allah as if you are seeing Him; and although you do not see Him, He sees  you”. He enquired: “Inform me about the Hour (i.e., the Day of Resurrection)”. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, “I have no more knowledge thereof than you”. He said, “Inform me about some of its signs”. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “They are – that a bondswoman gives birth to her own master, and that you will find the barefooted, naked, poor shepherds competing one another in the construction of higher buildings”. Then he departed. The Messenger of Allah kept silent for a while then he said to me, “O `Umar! Do you know who the questioner was?” I replied, “Allah and His Messenger know better”. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He was Jibril (Gabriel); he came to you to teach you your religion”.
[Muslim].

61. Abu Dharr and Mu`adh bin Jabal (May Allah be pleased with them) reported that: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Fear Allah wherever you are, do good deeds after doing bad ones, the former will wipe out the latter, and behave decently towards people”.
[At-Tirmidhi].

62 Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said: One day, I was riding behind the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when he said, “O boy! I will instruct you in some matters. Be watchful of Allah (Commandments of Allah), He will preserve you. Safeguard His Rights, He will be ever with you. If you beg, beg of Him Alone; and if you need assistance, supplicate to Allah Alone for help. And remember that if all the people gather to benefit you, they will not be able to benefit you except that which Allah had foreordained (for you); and if all of them gather to do harm to you, they will not be able to afflict you with anything other than that which Allah had pre-destined against you. The pens had been lifted  and the ink had dried up”.
[At-Tirmidhi].

 Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Safeguard the Commandments of Allah, you will find Him before you. Remember Him in prosperity and He will remember you in adversity. Be sure that which you miss, was not to hit you; and what hits you, was never to miss you. Remember that the Help of Allah is obtained with patience, and relief emerges after distress, prosperity follows adversity, and hardship is followed by ease”.

63. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: You indulge in (bad) actions which are more insignificant to you than a hair while we considered them at the time of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) to be great destroying sins“.
[Al-Bukhari].

64. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Verily, ‘Allah, the Exalted, becomes angry, and His Anger is provoked when a person does what Allah has declared unlawful”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

65. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said that: He heard the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “There were three men among the Banu Israel, one leper, one bald and one blind. Allah wanted to test them. He therefore, sent to them an angel who came to the leper and asked him what he would like best. He replied: “A good colour, a good skin and to be rid of what makes me loathsome to people”. He (the angel) rubbed him and his loathsomeness vanished and he was given a good colour and a good skin. He then asked him what type of property he would like best. The leper replied that he would like camels – [or perhaps he said cattle, for Ishaq (one of the subnarrator of the Hadith) was uncertain, either said: ‘Camels,’ or: ‘Cattle’]. He was given a pregnant she-camel. The angel invoked for Allah’s Blessing on it. The angel then went to the bald man and asked him what he would like best and he replied: “Good hair and to be rid of what makes me loathsome to people”. The angel ran his hand over him and he was given good hair. He then asked him what property he would like best. He replied that he would like cattle, so he was given a pregnant cow. The angel invoked Allah’s Blessing on it. The angel then went to the blind man and asked him what he would like best, and he replied: “I wish that Allah restore my sight to me so that I may see people.” Thereupon the angel ran his hand over him and Allah restored his sight. The angel then asked what property he would like best. He replied that he would like sheep, so he was given a pregnant ewe. Flocks and herds were produced for the three men, the first having a valley full of camels, the second one, a valley full of cows and the third one full of sheep. Then the angel came in the form of a leper, to the one who had been a leper, and said: “I am a poor man and my resources have been exhausted in my journey, and my only means of reaching my destination are dependent on Allah and then on you, so I ask you by Him Who gave you the good colour, the good skin and the property, for a camel by which I may get to my destination”. He replied: “I have many dues to pay.” The angel then said: “I think I recognize you. Were you not a leper whom people found loathsome and a poor man to whom Allah gave property?” He replied: “I inherited this property through generations”. The angel said: “If you are telling a lie, may Allah return you to your former condition”. The angel went in the form of a bald man to the one who had been bald, and said the same as he had said to the former and received a similar reply. So he said: “If you are telling a lie, may Allah return you to your former condition”. The angel then went to the one who had been blind and said: “I am a poor traveller and my resources have been exhausted in my journey. My only means of reaching my destination are dependant on Allah and then on you, so I ask you by Him Who restored your eyesight for a sheep by which I may get to the end of my journey”. He replied: “Yes, I was blind. Allah restored my eyesight, so take what you wish and leave what you wish. I swear by Allah that I shall not argue with you today to return anything you take, as I give it for Allah’s sake”. The angel said: “Keep your property. You have all simply been put to a test, and Allah is pleased with you and displeased with both of your companions”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

66. Shaddad bin Aus (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “A wise man is the one who calls himself to account (and refrains from doing evil deeds) and does noble deeds to benefit him after death; and the foolish person is the one who subdues himself to his temptations and desires and seeks from Allah the fulfillment of his vain desires”.
[At-Tirmidhi].

67. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “It is from the excellence of (a believer’s) Islam that he should shun that which is of no concern to him”.
[At-Tirmidhi].

68. `Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “No man shall be asked for the reason of  beating his wife”.
[Abu Dawud].

Truthfulness

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Chapter 4
Truthfulness

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds)”. (9:119)

“…the men and women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds)..”. (33:35)

“…then if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them”. (47:21)

54. Abdullah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Truth leads to piety and piety leads to Jannah. A man persists in speaking the truth till he is enrolled with Allah as a truthful. Falsehood leads to vice and vice leads to the Fire (Hell), and a person persists on telling lies until he is enrolled as a liar”.’
[Agreed upon].

55. Hasan bin `Ali (May Allah be pleased with them) said: I remember (these words) from Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam): “Give up what is doubtful to you for that which is not doubtful; for truth is peace of mind and falsehood is doubt”.
[At-Tirmidhi].

56. Abu Sufyan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported, in course of his detailed narration about Heraclius when the latter questioned him about the teachings of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) He said that: He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) told (us): “Worship Allah Alone and do not associate a thing with Him; and give up all that your ancestors said. “He also commands us to perform Salat (prayers), to speak the truth, to observe modesty and to strengthen the ties of kinship.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

57.  Abu Thabit from Sahl bin Hunaif (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “He who asks Allah for martyrdom, Allah will raise him to the high status of the martyrs, even if he dies on his bed”.
[Muslim].

58. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “One of the earlier Prophets who was out on an expedition proclaimed among his people that no man should follow him who had married a woman with whom he wished to cohabit but had not yet done so, or who had built houses on which he had not yet put the roofs, or who had bought sheep or pregnant she-camels and was expecting them to produce young. He, then, went on the expedition and approached the town at the time of the ‘Asr prayer or little before it. He then told the sun that both it and he were under command and prayed Allah to hold it back for them, so it was held back till Allah gave him victory. He collected the spoils and it (meaning fire) came to devour these, but did not. He said that among the people there was a man who stole from the booty. He told them that a man from every tribe must swear allegiance to him, and when a man’s hand stuck to his, he said: “There is thief among you and every individual of your tribe must swear allegiance to me”. (In course of swearing of allegiance,) hands of two or three persons stuck to his hand. He said: “The thief is among you”. They brought him a head of gold like a cow’s head and when he laid it down, the fire came and devoured the spoils. Spoils were not allowed to anyone before us, then Allah allowed spoils to us as He saw our weakness and incapacity and allowed them to us”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

59. Hakim bin Hizam (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “Both parties in a business transaction have a right to annul it so long as they have not separated; and if they tell the truth and make everything clear to each other (i.e., the seller and the buyer speak the truth, the seller with regard to what is purchased, and the buyer with regard to the money) they will be blessed in their transaction, but if they conceal anything and lie, the blessing on their transaction will be eliminated.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Repentance

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Chapter 2
Repentance

Scholars said: It is necessary to repent from every sin. If the offense involves the Right of Allah, not a human, then there are three condition to be met in order that repentance be accepted by Allah:

1- To desist from committing it.

2- To feel sorry for committing it.

3- To decide not to recommit it.

Any repentance failing to meet any of these three conditions, would not be sound.

But if the sin involves a human’s right, it requires a fourth condition, i.e., to absolve onself from such right. If it is a property, he should return  it to its rightful owner. If it is slandering or backbiting, one should ask the pardon of the offended.

One should also repent from all sins. If he repents from some, his repentance would still be sound according to the people of sound knowledge. He should, however, repent from the rest. Scriptural proofs from the Book and the Sunnah and the consensus of the scholars support the incumbency of repentance.

Allah, the, Exalted says:

“And all of you beg Allah to forgive you, O believers, that you may be successful”. (24:31)

“Seek the forgiveness of your Rubb, and turn to Him in repentance”. (11:3)

“O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance!”. (66:8)

13. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying: “By Allah, I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day.”
[Al-Bukhari].

14. Al-Agharr bin Yasar Al-Muzani (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “Turn you people in repentance to Allah and beg pardon of  Him. I turn to Him in repentance a hundred times a day”.
[Muslim].

15 Anas bin Malik Al-Ansari (MayAllah be pleased with him) the servant of the Messenger of Allah narrated: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Verily, Allah is more delighted with the repentance of His slave than a person who lost his camel in a desert land and then finds it (unexpectedly)”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 In another version of Muslim, he said: “Verily, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than a person who has his camel in a waterless desert carrying his provision of food and drink and it is lost. He, having lost all hopes (to get that back), lies down in shade and is disappointed about his camel; when all of a sudden he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its reins and then out of boundless joy blurts out: ‘O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Rubb’.He commits this mistake out of extreme joy”.

16. Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allah, the Exalted, will continue to stretch out His Hand in the night so that the sinners of the day may repent, and continue to stretch His Hand in the daytime so that the sinners of the night may repent, until the sun rises from the west”.
[Muslim].

17.  Abu Hurairah  (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him”.
[Muslim].

18. `Abdullah bin `Umar bin Al-Khattab  (May Allah be pleased with them) reported that: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah accepts a slave’s repentance as long as the latter is not on his death bed (that is, before the soul of the dying person reaches the throat)”.
[At-Tirmidhi, who categorised it as Hadith Hasan].

19. Zirr bin Hubaish reported: I went to Safwan bin `Assal  (May Allah be pleased with him) to inquire about wiping with wet hands over light boots while performing Wudu’. He asked me, “What brings you here, Zirr?” I answered: “Search for knowledge”. He said, “Angels spread their wings for the seeker of knowledge out of  joy for what he seeks”. I told him, “I have some doubts in my mind regarding wiping of wet hands over light boots in the course of performing Wudu’ after defecation or urinating. Now since you are one of the Companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), I have come to ask you whether you heard any saying of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) concerning it?”. He replied in the affirmative and said, “He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) instructed us that during a journey we need not take off our light boots for washing the feet up to three days and nights, except in case of major impurity (after sexual intercourse). In other cases such as sleeping, relieving oneself or urinating, the wiping of wet hands over light boots will suffice.” I, then, questioned him, “Did you hear him say anything about love and affection?” He replied, “We accompanied the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in a journey when a bedouin called out in a loud voice, `O Muhammad.’ The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied him in the same tone, `Here I am.‘ I said to him (the bedouin), `Woe to you, lower your voice in his presence, because you are not allowed to do so.’ He said, `By Allah! I will not lower my voice,’ and then addressing the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) he said, `What about a person who loves people but has not found himself in their company.’ Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, `On the Day of Resurrection, a person will be in the company of those whom he loves.‘ The Messenger of Allah then kept on talking to us and in the course of his talk, he mentioned a gateway in the heaven, the width of which could be crossed by a rider in forty or seventy years”.

  Sufyan, one of the narrators of this tradition, said: “This gateway is in the direction of Syria. Allah created it on the day He created the heavens and the earth. It is open for repentance and will not be shut until the sun rises from that direction (i.e., the West) (on Doomsday)”.
[At-Tirmidhi, who categorised it as Hadith Hasan Sahih]

20. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Prophet of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “There was a man from among a nation before you who killed ninety-nine people and then made an inquiry about the most learned person on the earth. He was directed to a monk. He came to him and told him that he had killed ninety-nine people and asked him if there was any chance for his repentance to be accepted. He replied in the negative and the man killed him also completing one hundred. He then asked about the most learned man in the earth. He was directed to a scholar. He told him that he had killed one hundred people and asked him if there was any chance for his repentance to be accepted. He replied in the affirmative and asked, `Who stands between you and repentance? Go to such and such land; there (you will find) people devoted to prayer and worship of Allah, join them in worship, and do not come back to your land because it is an evil place.’ So he went away and hardly had he covered half the distance when death overtook him; and there was a dispute between the angels of mercy and the angels of torment. The angels of mercy pleaded, ‘This man has come with a repenting heart to Allah,’ and the angels of punishment argued, ‘He never did a virtuous deed in his life.’ Then there appeared another angel in the form of a human being and the contending angels agreed to make him arbiter between them. He said, `Measure the distance between the two lands. He will be considered belonging to the land to which he is nearer.’ They measured and found him closer to the land (land of piety) where he intended to go, and so the angels of mercy collected his soul”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 In another version: “He was found to be nearer to the locality of the pious by a cubit and was thus included among them”. Another version says: “Allah commanded (the land which he wanted to leave) to move away and commanded the other land (his destination) to draw nearer and then He said: “Now measure the distance between them.’ It was found that he was nearer to his goal by a hand’s span and was thus forgiven”. It is also narrated that he drew closer by a slight movement on his chest.

21. Abdullah bin Ka`b, who served as the guide of Ka`b bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) when he became blind, narrated: I heard Ka`b bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) narrating the story of his remaining behind instead of  joining Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when he left for the battle of Tabuk. Ka`b said: “I accompanied Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in every expedition which he undertook excepting the battle of Tabuk and the battle of Badr. As for the battle of Badr, nobody was blamed for remaining behind as Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and the Muslims, when they set out, had in mind only to intercept the caravan of the Quraish. Allah made them confront their enemies unexpectedly. I had the honour of being with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) on the night of `Aqabah when we pledged our allegiance to Islam and it was dearer to me than participating in the battle of Badr, although Badr was more well-known among the people than that. And this is the account of my staying behind from the battle of Tabuk. I never had better means and more favourable circumstances than at the time of this expedition. And by Allah, I had never before possessed two riding-camels as I did during the time of this expedition. Whenever Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) decided to go on a campaign, he would not disclose his real destination till the last moment (of departure). But on this expedition, he set out in extremely hot weather; the journey was long and the terrain was waterless desert; and he had to face a strong army, so he informed the Muslims about the actual position so that they should make full preparation for the campaign. And the Muslims who accompanied Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) at that time were in large number but no proper record of them was maintained.” Ka`b (further) said: “Few were the persons who chose to remain absent believing that they could easily hide themselves (and thus remain undetected) unless Revelation from Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious (revealed relating to them). And Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) set out on this expedition when the fruit were ripe and their shade was sought. I had a weakness for them and it was during this season that Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and the Muslims made preparations. I also would set out in the morning to make preparations along with them but would come back having done nothing and said to myself: ‘I have means enough (to make preparations) as soon as I like’. And I went on doing this (postponing my preparations) till the time of departure came and it was in the morning that Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) set out along with the Muslims, but I had made no preparations. I would go early in the morning and come back, but with no decision. I went on doing so until they (the Muslims) hastened and covered a good deal of distance. Then I wished to march on and join them. Would that I had done that! But perhaps it was not destined for me. After the departure of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) whenever I went out, I was grieved to find no good example to follow but confirmed hypocrites or weak people whom Allah had exempted (from marching forth for Jihad). Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) made no mention of me until he reached Tabuk. While he was sitting with the people in Tabuk, he said, `What happened to Ka`b bin Malik?’ A person from Banu Salimah said: “O Messenger of Allah, the (beauty) of his cloak and an appreciation of  his finery have detained him.’ Upon this Mu`adh bin Jabal (MatAllah be pleased with him) admonished him and said to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam): “By Allah, we know nothing about him but good.’ Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), however, kept quiet. At that time he (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) saw a person dressed in white and said, `Be Abu Khaithamah.‘ And was Abu Khaithamah Al-Ansari was the person who had contributed a Sa` of dates and was ridiculed by the hypocrites.” Ka`b bin Malik further said: “When the news reached me that Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was on his way back from Tabuk, I was greatly distressed. I thought of fabricating an excuse and asked myself how I would save myself from his anger the next day. In this connection, I sought the counsels of every prudent member of my family. When I was told that Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was about to arrive, all the wicked ideas vanished (from my mind) and I came to the conclusion that nothing but the truth could save me. So I decided to tell him the truth. It was in the morning that Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) arrived in Al-Madinah. It was his habit that whenever he came back from a journey, he would first go to the mosque and perform two Rak`ah (of optional prayer) and would then sit with the people. When he sat, those who had remained behind him began to put forward their excuses and take an oath before him. They were more than eighty in number. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) accepted their excuses on the very face of them and accepted their allegiance and sought forgiveness for them and left their insights to Allah, until I appeared before him. I greeted him and he smiled and there was a tinge of anger in that. He then said to me, ‘Come forward’. I went forward and I sat in front of him. He said to me, `What kept you back? Could you not afford to go in for a ride?’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, if I were to sit before anybody else, a man of the world, I would have definitely saved myself from his anger on one pretext or the other and I have a gifted skill in argumentation, but, by Allah, I am fully aware that if I were to put forward before you a lame excuse to please you, Allah would definitely provoke your wrath upon me. In case, I speak the truth, you may be angry with me, but I hope that Allah would be pleased with me (and accept my repentance). By Allah, there is no valid excuse for me. By Allah, I never possessed so good means, and I never had such favourable conditions for me as I had when I stayed behind.’ Thereupon, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘This man spoke the truth, so get up (and wait) until Allah gives a decision about you.’ I left and some people of  Banu Salimah followed me. They said to me, `By Allah, we do not know that you committed a sin before. You, however, showed inability to put forward an excuse before Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) like those who stayed behind him. It would have been enough for the forgiveness of your sin that Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would have sought forgiveness for you.’ By Allah, they kept on reproaching me until I thought of going back to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and retract my confession. Then I said to them, ‘Has anyone else met the same fate?’ They said, ‘Yes, two persons have met the same fate. They made the same statement as you did and the same verdict was delivered in their case.’ I asked, `Who are they?’ They said, ‘Murarah bin Ar-Rabi` Al-`Amri and Hilal bin Umaiyyah Al-Waqifi.’ They mentioned these two pious men who had taken part in the battle of Badr and there was an example for me in them. I was confirmed in my original resolve. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) prohibited the Muslims to talk to the three of us from amongst those who had stayed behind. The people began to avoid us and their attitude towards us changed and it seemed as if the whole atmosphere had turned against us, and it was in fact the same atmosphere of which I was fully aware and in which I had lived (for a fairly long time). We spent fifty nights in this very state and my two friends confined themselves within their houses and spent (most of their) time weeping. As I was the youngest and the strongest, I would leave my house, attend the congregational Salat, move about in the bazaars, but none would speak to me. I would come to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) as he sat amongst (people) after the Salat, greet him and would ask myself whether or not his lips moved in response to my greetings. Then I would perform Salat near him and look at him stealthily. When I finish my Salat, he would look at me and when I would cast a glance at him he would turn away his eyes from me. When the harsh treatment of the Muslims to me continued for a (considerable) length of time, I walked and I climbed upon the wall of the garden of Abu Qatadah, who was my cousin, and I had a great love for him. I greeted him but, by Allah, he did not answer to my greeting. I said to him, `O Abu Qatadah, I adjure you in the Name of Allah, are you not aware that I love Allah and His Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)?’ I asked him the same question again but he remained silent. I again adjured him, whereupon he said, `Allah and His Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) know better.’ My eyes were filled with tears, and I came back climbing down the wall.

As I was walking in the bazaars of Al-Madinah, a man from the Syrian peasants, who had come to sell food grains in Al-Madinah, asked people to direct him to Ka`b bin Malik. People pointed towards me. He came to me and delivered a letter from the King of Ghassan, and as I was a scribe, I read that letter whose purport was: `It has been conveyed to us that your friend (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) was treating you harshly. Allah has not created you for a place where you are to be degraded and where you cannot find your right place; so come to us and we shall receive you graciously.’ As I read that letter I said: ‘This is too a trial,’ so I put it to fire in an oven. When forty days had elapsed and Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) received no Revelation, there came to me a messenger of the Messenger of Allah and said, `Verily, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) has commanded you to keep away from your wife.’ I said, `Should I divorce her or what else should I do?’ He said, `No, but only keep away from her and don’t have sexual contact with her.’ The same message was sent to my companions. So, I said to my wife: ‘You better go to your parents and stay there with them until Allah gives the decision in my case.’ The wife of Hilal bin Umaiyyah came to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, Hilal bin Umaiyyah is a senile person and has no servant. Do you disapprove if I serve him?’ He said, `No, but don’t let him have any sexual contact with you.‘ She said, ‘By Allah, he has no such desire left in him. By Allah, he has been in tears since (this calamity) struck him.’ Members of my family said to me, `You should have sought permission from Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in regard to your wife. He has allowed the wife of Hilal bin Umaiyyah to serve him.’ I said, ‘I would not seek permission from Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) for I do not know what Messenger of Allah might say in response to that, as I am a young man’. It was in this state that I spent ten more nights and thus fifty days had passed since people boycotted us and gave up talking to us. After I had offered my Fajr prayer on the early morning of the fiftieth day of this boycott on the roof of one of our houses, and had sat in the very state which Allah described as: `The earth seemed constrained for me despite its vastness’, I heard the voice of a proclaimer from the peak of the hill Sal` shouting at the top of his voice: ‘O Ka`b bin Malik, rejoice.’ I fell down in prostration and came to know that there was (a message of) relief for me. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) had informed the people about the acceptance of our repentance by Allah after he had offered the Fajr prayer. So the people went on to give us glad tidings and some of them went to my companions in order to give them the glad tidings. A man spurred his horse towards me (to give the good news), and another one from the tribe of Aslam came running for the same purpose and, as he approached the mount, I received the good news which reached me before the rider did. When the one whose voice I had heard came to me to congratulate me, I took off my garments and gave them to him for the good news he brought to me. By Allah, I possessed nothing else (in the form of clothes) except these garments, at that time. Then I borrowed two garments, dressed myself and came to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) On my way, I met groups of people who greeted me for (the acceptance of) repentance and they said: ‘Congratulations for acceptance of your repentance.’ I reached the mosque where Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was sitting amidst people. Talhah bin `Ubaidullah got up and rushed towards me, shook hands with me and greeted me. By Allah, no person stood up (to greet me) from amongst the Muhajirun besides him.” Ka`b said that he never forgot (this good gesture of) Talhah. Ka`b further said: “I greeted Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) with `As-salamu `alaikum’ and his face was beaming with pleasure. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, `Rejoice with the best day you have ever seen since your mother gave you birth. ‘I said: `O Messenger of Allah! Is this (good news) from you or from Allah?’ He said, `No, it is from Allah.‘ And it was common with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) that when ever he was happy, his face would glow as if it were a part of the moon and it was from this that we recognized it (his delight). As I sat before him, I said, I have placed a condition upon myself that if Allah accepts my Taubah, I would give up all of my property in charity for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)!’ Thereupon Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, `Keep some property with you, as it is better for you.’ I said, ‘I shall keep with me that portion which is in Khaibar’. I added: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Verily, Allah has granted me salvation because of my truthfulness, and therefore, repentance obliges me to speak nothing but the truth as long as I am alive.” Ka`b added: “By Allah, I do not know anyone among the Muslims who has been granted truthfulness better than me since I said this to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). By Allah! Since the time I made a pledge of this to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), I have never intended to tell a lie, and I hope that Allah would protect me (against telling lies) for the rest of my life. Allah, the Exalted, the Glorious, revealed these Verses:

‘Allah has forgiven the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), the Muhajirun (Muslim Emigrants who left their homes and came to Al-Madinah) and the Ansar (Muslims of Al-Madinah) who followed him (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) in the time of distress (Tabuk expedition), after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated (from the Right Path), but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of kindness, Most Merciful. And (He did forgive also) the three who did not join [the Tabuk expedition and whose case was deferred (by the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) for Allah’s Decision] till for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their ownselves were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He forgave them (accepted their repentance), that they might beg for His Pardon [repent (unto Him)]. Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful. O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in word and deeds).” (9:117,118).

 Ka`b said: “By Allah, since Allah guided me to Islam, there has been no blessing more significant for me than this truth of mine which I spoke to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), and if I were to tell a lie I would have been ruined as were ruined those who had told lies, for Allah described those who told lies with the worst description He ever attributed to anybody else, as He sent down the Revelation:

They will swear by Allah to you (Muslims) when you return to them, that you may turn away from them. So turn away from them. Surely, they are Rijsun [i.e., Najasun (impure) because of their evil deeds], and Hell is their dwelling place – a recompense for that which they used to earn. They (the hypocrites) swear to you (Muslims) that you may be pleased with them, but if you are pleased with them, certainly Allah is not pleased with the people who are Al-Fa’siqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)”. (9:95,96)

 Ka`b further added: “The matter of the three of us remained pending for decision apart from the case of those who had made excuses on oath before Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and he accepted those, took fresh oaths of allegiance from them and supplicated for their forgiveness. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) kept our matter pending till Allah decided it. The three whose matter was deferred have been shown mercy. The reference here is not to our staying back from the expedition but to his delaying our matter and keeping it pending beyond the matter of those who made their excuses on oath which he accepted”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

 Another version adds: “Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) set out for Tabuk on Thursday. He used to prefer to set out on journey on Thursday.” Another version says: “Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to come back from a journey in the early forenoon and went straight to the mosque where he would perform two Rak`ah prayer. Afterwards he would seat himself there”.

22.  Imran bin Al-Husain Al-Khuza`i (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A woman from the tribe Juhainah came to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) while she was pregnant from (Zina) adultery and said to him: “O Messenger of Allah! I have committed an offense liable to Hadd (prescribed punishment), so exact the execution of the sentence.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) called her guardian and said to him, “Treat her kindly. Bring her to me after the delivery of the child.” That man complied with the orders. At last the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) commanded to carry out the sentence. Her clothes were secured around her and she was stoned to death. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) led her funeral prayers. `Umar submitted: “O Messenger of Allah! She committed Zina and you have performed funeral prayer for her?” He replied, “Verily, she made repentance which would suffice for seventy of the people of Al-Madinah if it is divided among them. Can there be any higher degree of  repentance than that she sacrificed her life voluntarily to win the Pleasure of Allah, the Exalted?”.
[Muslim].

23. Ibn ‘Abbas and Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “If a son of Adam were to own a valley full of gold, he would desire to have two. Nothing can fill his mouth except the earth (of the grave). Allah turns with mercy to him who turns to Him in repentance”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

24. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah, the Exalted, smiles at two men, one of them killed the other and both will enter Jannah. The first is killed by the other while he is fighting in the Cause of Allah, and thereafter Allah will turn in mercy to the second and guide him to accept Islam and then he dies as a Shaheed (martyr) fighting in the Cause of Allah.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Sincerity and Significance of Intentions and all Actions, Apparent andHidden

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Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 1
Sincerity and Significance of Intentions and all Actions, Apparent and Hidden

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat, and that is the right religion.” (98:5)

“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him.” (22:37)

“Say (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) ): Whether you hide what is in your breasts or reveal it, Allah knows it“. (3:29)

1. Narrated ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him), reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention. So whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messenger, his emigration will be for Allah and His Messenger; and whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration would be for what he emigrated for“.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

2. Narrated ‘A`ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “An army will raid the Ka`bah and when it reaches a desert land, all of them will be swallowed up by the earth.” She asked; “O Messenger of Allah! Why all of them?” He answered, “All of them will be swallowed by the earth but they will be raised for Judgement according to their intentions.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

3. A`ishah  (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There is no emigration after the conquest (of Makkah) but only Jihad [(striving and fighting in the cause of Allah) will continue] and good intention.* So if you are summoned to fight, go forth.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

*. Intention according to An-Nawawi: It means that goodness which ceased to continue by the cessation of emigration can still be obtained by Jihad and by intending accomplishing good deeds.

4.  Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleasedwith them) reported: We accompanied the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in an expedition when he said, “There are some men in Al-Madinah who are with you wherever you march and whichever valley you cross. They have not joined you in person because of their illness.” In another version he said: “They share the reward with you.”
[Muslim].

It is narrated by Bukhari from Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him): We were coming back from the battle of Tabuk with the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when he remarked, “There are people whom we left behind in Al-Madinah who accompanied us in spirit in every pass and valley we crossed. They remained behind for a valid excuse.”

5.  Ma`n bin Yazid bin Akhnas (May Allah be pleased with them) (he, his father and his grandfather, all were Companions) reported: My father set aside some dinars for charity and gave them to a man in the mosque. I went to that man and took back those dinars. He said: “I had not intended you to be given.” So we went to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), and put forth the matter before him. He said to my father, “Yazid, you have been rewarded for what you intended.” And he said to me, “Ma`n, you are entitled to what you have taken.”
[Al-Bukhari].

6. Abu Ishaq Sa`d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) (one of the ten who had been given the glad tidings of entry into Jannah) narrated: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) visited me in my illness which became severe in the year of Hajjat-ul-Wada` (Farewell Pilgrimage). I said, “O Messenger of Allah, you can see the pain which I am suffering and I am a man of means and there is none to inherit from me except one daughter. Should I give two-thirds of my property in charity?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “No”. I asked him, “Then half?” He said, “No”. Then I asked, “Can I give away one-third”. He said, “Give away one-third, and that is still too much. It is better to leave your heirs well-off than to leave them poor, begging people. You will not expend a thing in charity for the sake of Allah, but you will be rewarded for it; even the morsel of food which you feed your wife”. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, would I survive my companions?” He said, “If you survive others and accomplish a thing for the sake of Allah, you would gain higher ranking and standing. You will survive them … your survival will be beneficial to people (the Muslim) and harmful to others (the enemies of Islam). You will survive others till the people will derive benefit from you, and others would be harmed by you.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) further said, “O Allah, complete for my Companions their emigration and do not cause them to retract.” Sa`d bin Khaulah was unfortunate. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) lamented his death as he died in Makkah.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

7. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah does not look at your figures, nor at your attire but He looks at your hearts and accomplishments”.
[Muslim].

8. Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that Messenger of Allah  (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was asked about who fights in the  battlefield out of valour, or out of  zeal, or out of  hypocrisy, which of this is considered as fighting in the cause of Allah? He said: “He who fights in order that the Word of Allah remains the supreme, is considered as fighting in the cause of Allah”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

9. Abu Bakrah Ath-Thaqafi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “When two Muslims are engaged in a combat against each other with their sword’s and one is killed, both are doomed to Hell”. I said, “O Messenger of Allah! As to the one who kills, it is understandable, but why the slain one?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied: “He was eager to kill his opponent”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

10. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “The reward for Salat performed by a person in congregation is more than 20 times greater than that of the Salat performed in one’s house or shop. When one performs Wudu’ perfectly and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of performing Salat, then for every step he takes towards the mosque, he is upgraded one degree in reward and one of his sins is eliminated until he enters the mosque, and when he enters the mosque, he is considered as performing Salat as long as it is the Salat which prevents him (from leaving the mosque); and the angels keep on supplicating Allah for him as long as he remains in his place of prayer. They say: ‘O Allah! have mercy on him; O Allah! forgive his sins; O Allah! accept his repentance’. This will carry on as long as he does not pass wind“.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

11. `Abdullah bin `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:  Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said that Allah, the Glorious, said: “Verily, Allah (SWT) has ordered that the good and the bad deeds be written down. Then He explained it clearly how (to write): He who intends to do a good deed but he does not do it, then Allah records it for him as a full good deed, but if  he carries out his intention, then Allah the Exalted, writes it down for him as from ten to seven hundred folds, and even more. But if he intends to do an evil act and has not done it, then Allah writes it down with Him as a full good deed, but if he intends it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one bad deed”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

12. `Abdullah bin `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with them) narrated that: He heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) as saying: “Three men, amongst those who came before you, set out until night came and they reached a cave, so they entered it. A rock fell down from the mountain and blocked the entrance of the cave. They said: `Nothing will save you from this unless you supplicate to Allah by virtue of a righteous deed you have done.’ Thereupon, one of them said: `O Allah! I had parents who were old, and I used to offer them milk before any of my children or slaves. One day, I went far away in search of grazing and could not come back until they had slept. When I milked as usual and brought the drink I found them both asleep. I hated to disturb them and also disliked to give milk to my children before them. My children were crying out of hunger at my feet but I awaited with the bowl in my hand for them to wake up. When they awoke at dawn, they drank milk. O Allah! If  I did so to seek Your Pleasure, then deliver us from the distress caused by the rock’. The rock moved slightly but they were unable to escape. The next said: `O Allah! I had a cousin whom I loved more than any one else (in another version he said: as a man can love a woman). I wanted to have sexual intercourse with her but she refused. Hard pressed in a year of famine, she approached me. I gave her one hundred and twenty dinars on condition that she would yield herself to me. She agreed and when we got together (for sexual intercourse), she said: Fear Allah and do not break the seal unlawfully. I moved away from her in spite of the fact that I loved her most passionately; and I let her keep the money I had given her. O Allah! If I did that to seek Your Pleasure, then, remove the distress in which we are.’ The rock moved aside a bit further but they were still unable to get out. The third one said: `O Allah! I hired some labourers and paid them their wages except one of them departed without taking his due. I invested his money in business and the business prospered greatly. After a long time, he came to me and said: O slave of Allah! Pay me my dues. I said: All that you see is yours – camels, cattle, goats and slaves. He said: O slave of Allah! Do not mock at me. I assured him that I was not joking. So he took all the things and went away. He spared nothing. O Allah! If  I did so seeking Your Pleasure, then relieve us of our distress.’ The rock slipped aside and they got out walking freely”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Sahih Muslim : Book 43: The Book of Commentary (Kitab Al-Tafsir)

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Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 43:

 

 

The Book of Commentary (Kitab Al-Tafsir)

Chapter 1:

Book 043, Number 7151:

 

Hammim b. Munabbih reported: This is what Abu Huraira reported to us from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and in this connection he narrated some of the ahadith and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: It was said to people of Israel: Enter this land saying Hitta (Remove Thou from us the burden of our sins), whereupon We would forgive you your sins, but they twisted (this statement) and entered the gate dragging upon their breech and said: The” grain in the ear.”

Book 043, Number 7152:

 

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, sent revelation to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) just before his death in quick succession until he left for his heavenly home, and the day when he died, he received the revelation profusely.

Book 043, Number 7153:

 

Tariq b. Shihab reported that a Jew said to’Umar: You recite a verse which, if it had been revealed in relation to us, we would have taken that day as the day of rejoicing. Thereupon ‘Umar said: I know where it was revealed and on the day when it was revealed and where Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had been at that time when it was revealed. It was revealed on the day of ‘Arafa (ninth of Dhu’l Hijjah) and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had been staying in ‘Arafat. Sufyan said: I doubt, whether it was Friday or not (and the verse referred to) is this:” Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favours upon you” (v. 4).

Book 043, Number 7154:

 

Tariq b. Shihab reported that a Jew said to ‘Umar: If this verse were revealed in relation to the Jews (i. e.” This day I have perfected your religion for you and have completed My favours for you and have chosen for you al-Islam as religion” ) we would have taken the day of rejoicing on which this verse was revealed. Thereupon ‘Umar said: I know the day on which it was revealed and the hour when it was revealed and where Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had been when it was revealed. It was revealed on the night of Friday and we were in ‘Arafat with Alleh’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) at that time.

Book 043, Number 7155:

 

Tariq b. Shihab reported that a Jew came to ‘Umar and said: Commander of the Faithful, there is a verse in your Book, which you recite. Had it been revealed in connection with the Jews, we would have taken it as the day of rejoicing. Thereupon he said: Which verse do you mean? He replied:” This day I have perfected your religion for you and I have completed My favours upon you and I have chosen al-Islam as religion for you.” Umar said, I know the day when it was revealed and the place where it was revealed. It was revealed to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) at ‘Arafat on Friday.

Book 043, Number 7156:

 

‘Urwa b. Zubair reported that he asked ‘A’isha about the words of Allah:” If you fear that you will not be able to maintain equity amongst the orphan girls, then marry (those) you like from amongst the women two, three or four.” She said: O, the son of my sister, the orphan girl is one who is under the patronage of her guardian and she shares with him in his property and her property and beauty fascinate him and her guardian makes up his mind to marry her without giving her due share of the wedding money and is not prepared (to pay so much amount) which anyone else is prepared to pay and so Allah has forbidden to marry these girls but in case when equity is observed as regards the wedding money and they are prepared to pay them the full amount of the wedding money and Allah commanded to marry other women besides them according to the liking of their heart. ‘Urwa reported that ‘A’isha said that people began to seek verdict from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) after the revelation of this verse about them (orphan girls) and Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this verse:” They asked thee verdict about women; say: Allah gives verdict to you in regard to them and what is recited to you in the Book about orphan woman, whom you give not what is ordained for them while you like to marry them” (iv. 126). She said: The wording of Allah” what is recited to you” in the Book means the first verse, i. e.” if you fear that you may not be able to observe equity in case of an orphan woman, marry what you like in case of woman” (iv. 3). ‘A’isha said: (And as for this verse [iv. 126], i. e. and you intend” to marry one of them from amongst the orphan girls” it pertains to one who is in charge (of orphans) having small amount of wealth and less beauty and they have been forbidden that they should marry what they like of her wealth and beauty out of the orphan girls, but with equity, because of their disliking for them.

Book 043, Number 7157:

 

‘Urwa reported that he asked ‘A’isha about the words of Allah:” If you fear that you will not be able to observe equity in case of orphan girls” ; the rest of the hadith is the same but with a slight variation of wording.

Book 043, Number 7158:

 

‘A’isha said that as for the words of Allah:” If you fear that you would not be able to observe equity in case of orphan girls),” it was revealed in reference to a person who had an orphan girl (as his ward) and he was her guardian, and her heir, and she possessed property, but there was none to contend on her behalf except her ownself. And he (her guardian) did not give her in marriage because of her property and he tortured her and ill-treated her, it was in relation to her that (Allah said: )” If you fear that you would not be able to observe equity in case of orphan girls, then marry whom you like among women,” i. e. whatever I have made lawful for you and leave her whom you are putting to torture.

Book 043, Number 7159:

 

‘A’isha said in connection with His words (those of Allah):” What is recited to you in the Book about orphan women whom you give not what is ordained for them, while you like to marry them,” these were revealed in connection with an orphan girl who was in the charge of the person and she shared with him in his property and he was reluctant to marry her himself and was also unwilling to marry her to someone else (fearing) that (that person) would share in his property (as the husband of that girl), preventing her to marry, neither marrying her himself nor marrying her to another person.

Book 043, Number 7160:

 

Hisham reported that ‘A’isha said in connection with the words of Allah:” They ask thee the religious verdict about women, say: Allah gives you the verdict about them” (iv. 126), that these relate to an orphan girl who is in charge of the person and she shares with him in his property (as a heir) even in the date-palm trees and he is reluctant to give her hand in marriage to any other person lest he (her husband) should partake of his property, and thus keep her in a lingering state.

Book 043, Number 7161:

 

Hisham reported on the authority of his father that ‘A’isha said in connection with His (Allah’s) words:” And whoever is poor let him take reasonably (out of it)” that it was revealed in connection with the custodian of the property of an orphan, who is in charge of her and looks after her; In case he is poor, he is allowed to eat out of that.

Book 043, Number 7162:

 

‘A’isha reported in connection with the words of Allah, the Exalted:” He who is rich should abstain, and he who is poor may reasonably eat (out of it)” that this was revealed in relation to the guardian of an orphan who is poor; he may get out of that what is reasonable keeping in view his own status of solvency.

Book 043, Number 7163:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 043, Number 7164:

 

‘A’isha reported that these words of Allah:” When they came upon you from above you and from below you and when the eyes turned dull and the hearts rose up to the throats” (xxxiii. 10) pertain to the day of Ditch.

Book 043, Number 7165:

 

‘A’isha said in connection with the verse:” And if a woman has reason to fear ill-treatment from her husband or that he might turn away from her” (iv. 128) that it was revealed in case of a woman who had long association with a person (as his wife) and now he intends to divorce her and she says: Do not divorce me, but retain me (as wife in your house) and you are permitted to live with another wife. It is in this context that this verse was revealed.

Book 043, Number 7166:

 

‘A’isha said in connection with these words of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious:” And if a woman has reason to fear ill-treatment from her husband or that he might turn away from her” that it was revealed in case of a woman who lived with a person and perhaps he does not want to prolong (his relationship with her) whereas she has had sexual relationship with him (and as a result thereof) she got a child from him and she does not like that she should be divorced, so she says to him: I permit you to live with the other wife.

Book 043, Number 7167:

 

‘Urwa reported on the authority of his father that ‘A’isha said to him: O, the son of my sister, the Muslims were commanded to seek forgiveness for the Companions of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) but they reviled him.

Book 043, Number 7168:

 

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Usama with the same chain of narrators.

Book 043, Number 7169:

 

Sa’id b. Jubair reported: The inhabitants of Kufa differed in regard to this verse:” But whoever slays another believer intentionally, his requital shall be Hell” (iv. 92), so I went to Ibn ‘Abbas and asked him about it, whereupon he said: This has been revealed and nothing abrogated it.

Book 043, Number 7170:

 

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Shu’ba with the same chain of narrators but with a slight variation of wording.

Book 043, Number 7171:

 

Sa’id b. Jubair reported: ‘Abd al Rahman b. Abzi commanded me that I should ask Ibn ‘Abbas about these two verses:” He who slays a believer intentionally his requital shall be Hell where he would abide for ever” (iv. 92). So, I asked him and he said: Nothing has abrogated it. And as for this verse:” And they who call not upon another god with Allah and slay not the soul which Allah has forbidden, except in the cause of justice” (xxv. 68), he (Ibn Abbas) said: This has been revealed in regard to the polytheists.”

Book 043, Number 7172:

 

Ibn ‘Abbas said: This verse was revealed in Mecca:” And they who call not upon another god with Allah and slay not the soul which Allah has forbidden except in the cause of justice” up to the word Muhdana (abased). Thereupon the polytheists said: Islam is of no avail to us for we have made peer with Allah and we killed the soul which Allah had forbidden to do and we committed debauchery, and it was (on this occasion) that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this verse:” Except him who repents and believes and does good deeds” up to the end Ibn ‘Abbis says: He who enters the fold of Islam and understands its command and then kills the soul there is no repentance for him.

Book 043, Number 7173:

 

Sa’id b. Jubair reported: I said to Ibn Abbas: Will the repentance of that person be accepted who kills a believer intentionally? He said: No. I recited to him this verse of Sura al-Furqan (xix.):” And those who call not upon another god with Allah and slay not the soul which Allah has forbidden except in the cause of justice” to the end of the verse. He said: This is a Meccan verse which has been abrogated by a verse revealed at Medina:” He who slays a believer intentionally, for him is the requital of Hell-Fire where he would abide for ever,” and in the narration of Ibn Hisham (the words are): I recited to him this verse of Sura al-Furqan:” Except one who made repentance.”

Book 043, Number 7174:

 

Ubaidullah b. ‘Abdullah b. ‘Utba reported: Ibn Abbas said to me: Do you know-and in the words of Harun (another narrator): Are you aware of-the last Sura which was revealed in the Qur’an as a whole? I said: Yes,” When came the help from Allah and the victory” (cx.). Thereupon, he said: You have told the truth. And in the narration of Abu Shaiba (the words are): Do you know the Sura? And he did not mention the words” the last one”.

Book 043, Number 7175:

 

This hadith has been reported on the authority of Abu ‘Umais through the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording.

Book 043, Number 7176:

 

Ibn Abbas reported that some Muslims met a person with a small flock of sheep. He said: As-Salam-o-‘Alaikum. They caught hold of him and killed him and took possession of his flock. Then this verse was revealed:” He who meets you and extends you salutations, don’t say: You are not a Muslim” (iv. 94). Ibn ‘Abbas, however, recited the word as-Salam instead of” as-Salam”.

Book 043, Number 7177:

 

Bara’ reported: When the Ansar performed the Pilgrimage, they did not enter their houses but from behind. A person from the Ansar came and he began to enter from his door but it was said to him (why he was doing something in contravention to the common practice of coming to the houses from behind). Then this verse was revealed.” Piety is not that you come to the doors from behind” (ii. 189).

Chapter 2: PERTAINING TO THE VERSE: ‘HAS NOT THE TIME YET COME FOR THE BELIEVERS THAT THEIR HEARTS SHOULD BE HUMBLE FOR THE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH?” (lvii. 16)

Book 043, Number 7178:

 

Ibn Mas’ud said: Since our acceptance of Islam and the revelation of this verse in which Allah has shown annoyance to us:” Has not the time yet come for the believers that their hearts should be humble for the remembrance of Allah?” (lvii. 16), there was a gap of four years.

Chapter 3: PERTAINING TO THE WORDS OF ALLAH:” ADORN YOURSELF AT EVERY PLACE OF WORSHIP” (vii. 31)

Book 043, Number 7179:

 

Ibn Abbas reported: During the pre-Islamic days women circumambulated the Ka’ba nakedly, and said: Who would provide cloth to cover the one who is circumambulating the Ka’ba so that she would cover her private parts? And then she would say: Today will be exposed the whole or the part and what is exposed I shall not make it lawful. It was in this connection that the verse was revealed:” Adorn yourself at every place of worship” (vii. 31).

Chapter 4: COMPEL NOT YOUR SLAVE-GIRLS TO PROSTITUTION

Book 043, Number 7180:

 

Jabir reported that ‘Abdullah b. Ubayy b. Salul used to say to his slave-girl: Go and fetch something for us by committing prostitution. It was in this connection that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this verse:” And compel not your slave-girls to prostitution when they desire to keep chaste in order to seek the frail goods of this world’s life, and whoever compels them, then surely after their compulsion Allah is Forgiving, Merciful” (xxiv. 33).

Book 043, Number 7181:

 

Jabir reported that ‘Abdullah b. Ubayy b. Salul had two slave-girls; one was called Musaika and the other one was called Umaima and he compelled them to prostitution (for which’Abdullah b. Ubayy b. Salul compelled them). They made a complaint about this to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and it was upon this that this verse was revealed:” And compel not your slave-girls to prostitute” up to the words:” Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

Chapter 5: PERTAINING TO THE WORDS OF ALLAH:” THOSE WHOM THEY CALL UPON, THEMSELVES SEEK THE MEANS OF ACCESS TO THEIR LORD” (xvii. 57)

Book 043, Number 7182:

 

Abdullah b. Mas’ud reported in connection with the words of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious:” Those to whom they call upon, themselves seek the means or access to their Lord as to whoever of them becomes nearest” (xvii. 57) that it related to a party of Jinn who were being worshipped and they embraced Islam but those who worshipped them kept on worshipping them (though the Jinn whom the misguided people worshipped had become Muslims). It was then that this verse was revealed.

Book 043, Number 7183:

 

Abdullah b. Mas’ud reported in connection with the verse:” Those whom they call upon, themselves seek the means of access to their Lord,” that it related to a group of people who worshipped a party amongst the Jinn. The group from amongst the Jinn embraced Islam, but the people kept worshipping them as they did before, and it was (on this occasion) that the verse was revealed:” Those whom they call upon, themselves seek the means of access to their Lord.” This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Sulaimin with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 043, Number 7184:

 

Abdullah b. Mas’ud said in connection with the verse:” Those whom they call upon, themselves seek the means of access to their Lord,” that that verse was revealed in connection with a party of Arabs who used to worship a group amnogst the jinn; the jinn embraced Islam but the people kept worshipping them without being conscious of it. Then this verse was revealed:” Those whom they call upon, themselves seek the means of access to their Lord.”

Chapter 6: PERTAINING TO SURAS TAUBA, AL-ANFAL AND HASHR

Book 043, Number 7185:

 

Sa’id b. Jubair reported: I said to Ibn ‘Abbas about Sura Tauba, whereupon he said: As for Sura Tauba, it is meant to humiliate (the non-believers and the hypocrites). There is constantly revealed in it (the pronoun) minhum (of them) and minhom (of them, i. e. such is the condition of some of them) till they (the Muslims) thought that none would be left unmentioned out of them who would not be blamed (for one fault or the other). I again said: What about Sura Anfal? He said: It pertains to the Battle of Badr. I again asked him about Sura al-Hashr. He said: It was revealed in connection with (the tribe) of Banu Nadir.

Chapter 7: PERTAINING TO THE PROHIBITION OF WINE

Book 043, Number 7186:

 

Ibn ‘Umar reported that Umar delivered a sermon on the pulpit of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and he praised Allah and lauded Him and then said: Now coming to the point. Behold I when the command pertaining to the prohibition of wine was revealed, it was prepared from five things: from wheat, barley, date, grape, honey; and wine is that which clouds the intellect; and O people, I wish Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) could have explained to us in (more) detail the laws pertaining to the inheritance of the grandfather, about one who dies leaving no issue, and some of the problems pertaining to interest.

Book 043, Number 7187:

 

Ibn ‘Umar reported: I heard ‘Umar b. Khattab delivering sermon on the pulpit ol Allah’s messenger (may peace be upon him) and saying’: Now, coming to the point, O people, there was revealed (the command pertaining to the prohibition of wine) and it was prepared (at that time) out of five things: grape, date, honey, wheat, barley, and wine is that which clouds the intellect, and, O people, I wish Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had explained to us in greater detail three things: the inheritance of the grandfather, of one who dies without leaving any issue, and some of the problems of interest.

Book 043, Number 7188:

 

This hadith has been transmitted on the same authority but with a slight variation of wording.

Chapter 8: PERTAINING TO THE VERSE:” THESE TWO ADVERSARIES WHO DISPUTE ABOUT THEIR LORD” (xxii. 19)

Book 043, Number 7189:

 

Abu Dharr took an oath that this verse:” These two adversaries who dispute about their Lord” (xxii. 19) was revealed in connection with those who on the Day of Badr came out (of rows to fight against the non-believers and they were) Hamza, ‘Ali, ‘Ubaida b. Harith (from the side of the Muslims) and ‘Utba and Shaiba, both of them the sons of Rabi’a and Walid b. ‘Utba (from the side of the non-believers of Mecca).

Book 043, Number 7190:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr through another chain of transmitters.

[ Index Page ]

Sahih Muslim : Book 40: The Book Pertaining to Paradise, Its Description, Its Bounties and Its Intimates (Kitab Al-Jannat wa Sifat Na’imiha wa Ahliha)

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Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 40:

The Book Pertaining to Paradise, Its Description, Its Bounties and Its Intimates (Kitab Al-Jannat wa Sifat Na’imiha wa Ahliha)

Chapter 1:

Book 040, Number 6778:

 

Anas b. Malik reported: The Paradise is surrounded by hardships and the Hell-Fire is surrounded by temptations.

Book 040, Number 6779:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira through another chain of transmitters.

Book 040, Number 6780:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying that: Allah the Exalted and Glorious, said: I have prepared for My pious servants which no eye has ever seen, and no ear has ever heard, and no human heart has ever perceived but it is testified by the Book of Allah. He then recited:” No soul knows what comfort has been concealed from them, as a reward for what they did”. (xxxii. 17)

Book 040, Number 6781:

 

Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: I have prepared for My pious servants which no eye (has ever) seen, no ear has (ever) heard and no human heart has ever perceived those bounties leaving apart (those bounties) about which Allah has informed you.

Book 040, Number 6782:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: I have prepared for My pious servants which the eye has seen not, and the ear has heard not and no human heart has ever perceived such bounties leaving aside those about which Allah has informed you. He then recited:” No soul knows what comfort has been hidden for thein”.

Book 040, Number 6783:

 

Sahl b. Sa’d as-Sa’idi reported: I was in the company of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) that he gave a description of Paradise and then Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) concluded with these words: There would be bounties which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard and no human heart has ever perceived them. He then recited this verse:” They forsake (their) beds, calling upon their Lord in fear and in hope, and spend out of what We have given them. So no soul knows what refreshment of the eyes is hidden for them: a reward for what they did” (xxxii. 16-17)

Chapter 2: THERE IS IN PARADISE A TREE UNDER THE SHADOW OF WHICH A RIDER CAN TRAVEL FOR A HUNDRED YEARS AND EVEN THEN HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COVER IT

Book 040, Number 6784:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: In Paradise, there is a tree under the shadow of which a rider can travel for a hundred years.

Book 040, Number 6785:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira through another chain of transmitters with the addition of these words:” He will not be able to cover this distance.”

Book 040, Number 6786:

 

Sahl b. Sa’d reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: In Paradise, there is a tree under the shadow of which a rider can travel for a hundred years without covering (the distance) completely. This hadith has also been transmitted on the authority of Abu Sa’id al-Khudri that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) is reported to have said: In Paradise, there is a tree under the shadow of which a rider of a fine and swift-footed horse would travel for a hundred years without covering the distance completely. There would be the pleasure of Allah for the inmates of Paradise and He would never be annoyed with them.

Book 040, Number 6787:

 

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said that Allah would say to the inmates of Paradise: O, Dwellers of Paradise, and they would say in response: At thy service and pleasure, our Lord, the good is in Thy Hand. He (the Lord) would say: Are you well pleased now? They would say: Why should we not be pleased, O Lord, when Thou hast given us what Thou hast not given to any of Thy creatures? He would, however, say: May I not give you (something) even more excellent than that? And they would say: 0 Lord, what thing can be more excellent than this? And He would say: I shall cause My pleasure to alight upon you and I shall never be afterwards annoyed with you.

Chapter 3: THE INMATES OF PARADISE WOULD SEE THE INMATES OF THE UPPER APARTMENT AS ARE SEEN THE PLANETS IN THE SKY

Book 040, Number 6788:

 

Sahl b. Sa’d reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The inmates of Paradise will look to the upper apartment of Paradise as you see the planets in the sky. I narrated this hadith to Nu’man b. Abi ‘Ayyash and he said: I heard Abu Sa’id al-Khudri as saying: As you see the shining planets in the eastern and western (sides of) horizon.

Book 040, Number 6789:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Hazim through another chain of transmitters.

Book 040, Number 6790:

 

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The inmates of Paradise would see the inmates of the apartment over them just as you see the shining planets which remain in the eastern and the western horizon because of the superiority some have over others. They said: Allah’s Messenger, would in these abodes of Apostles others besides them not be able to reach? He said: Yes, they will, by Him, in Whose hand is my life, those who believe in God and acknowledge the Truth, will reach them.

Chapter 4: HE WHO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A GLIMPSE OF THE SACRED FACE OF THE HOLY PROPHET (MAY PEACE BE UPON HIM) EVEN AT THE COsT OF HIS WHOLE PROPERTY AND HIS FAMILY

Book 040, Number 6791:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The people most loved by me from amongst my Ummah would be those who would come after me but everyone amongst them would have the keenest desire to catch a glimpse of me even at the cost of his family and wealth.

Chapter 5: THERE IS A STREET IN PARADISE WHERE THE INMATES OF PARADISE WOULD GET FAVOUR AND GRACE

Book 040, Number 6792:

 

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: In Paradise there is a street to which they would come every Friday. The north wind will blow and would scatter fragrance on their faces and on their clothes and would add to their beauty and loveliness, and then they would go back to their family after having an added lustre to their beauty and loveliness, and their family would say to them: By Allah, you have been increased in beauty and loveliness after leaving us, and they would say: By Allah, you have also increased in beauty and loveliness after us.

Chapter 6: THE FIRST GROUP THAT WOULD BE ADMITTED TO PARADISE WOULD BE LIKE THE FACE OF THE FULL MOON AND THE DESCRIPTION OF THEIR QUALITIES AND THEIR SPOUSES

Book 040, Number 6793:

 

Muhammad reported that some (persons) stated with a sense of pride and some discussed whether there would be more men in Paradise or more women. It was upon this that Abu Huraira reported that Abu’l Qasim (the Holy Prophet) (may peace be upon him) said: The (members) of the first group to get into Paradise would have their faces as bright as full moon during the night, and the next to this group would have their faces as bright as the shining stars in the sky, and every person would have two wives and the marrow of their shanks would glimmer beneath the flesh and there would be none without a wife in Paradise.

Book 040, Number 6794:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira through another chain of transmitters.

Book 040, Number 6795:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira through another chain of transmitters that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The (members of the) first group which would get into Paradise will have their faces as bright as stars in the sky. They would neither pass water, nor void excrement, nor will they suffer from catarrh, nor will they spit, and their combs would be made of gold, and their sweat will be musk, the fuel of their brazier will be aloes, and their wives will be large-eyed maidens and their form would be alike as one single person after the form of their father (Adam) sixty cubits tall.

Book 040, Number 6796:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The first group of my Ummah to get into Paradise would be like a full moon in the night. Then those who would be next to them; they would be like the most significantly glittering stars in regard to brightness, then after them (others) in ranks. They would neither void excrement, nor pass water, nor suffer from catarrh, nor would they spit. And their combs would be made of gold, and the fuel of their braziers would be aloes and their sweat would be musk and their form would be the form of one single person according to the length of their father sixty cubits tall. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Abi Shaiba with a slight variation of wording.

Chapter 7: THE DESCRIPTION OF PARADISE AND THE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH BY ITS INMATES MORNING AND EVENING

Book 040, Number 6797:

 

Hammam b. Munabbih reported: These are some of the ahidith which Abu Huraira reported from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and one is this that he is reported to have said: The (members of the) first group that would be admitted to Paradise would have their faces as bright as full moon during the night. They would neither spit nor suffer catarrh, nor void excrement. They would have their utensils and their combs made of gold and silver and the fuel of their braziers would be aloes and their sweat would be musk and every one of them would have two spouses (so beautiful) that the marrow of their shanks would be visible through the flesh. There would be no dissension amongst them and no enmity in their hearts. Their hearts would be like one heart, glorifying Allah morning and evening.

Book 040, Number 6798:

 

Jabir reported: I heard Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying that the inmates of Paradise would eat and drink but would neither spit, nor pass water, nor void excrement, nor suffer catarrah. It was said: Then, what would happen with food? Thereupon he said: They would belch and sweat (and it would be over with their food), and their sweat would be that of musk and they would glorify and praise Allah as easily as you breathe.

Book 040, Number 6799:

 

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of A’mash with a slight variation of wording.

Book 040, Number 6800:

 

Jabir b. Abdullah reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said that the inmates of Paradise would eat therein and they would also drink, but they would neither void excrement, nor suffer catarrh, nor pass water, and their eating (would be digested) in the form of belching and their sweat would be musk aged they would glorify and praise Allah as easily ai you breathe.

Book 040, Number 6801:

 

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Jabir with a slight variation of wording.

Chapter 8: THE EVERLASTING BLISS FOR THE INMATES OF PARADISE

Book 040, Number 6802:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who would get into Paradise (would be made to enjoy such an everlasting) bliss that he would neither become destitute, nor would his clothes wear out, nor his youth would decline.

Book 040, Number 6803:

 

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri and Abu Huraira both reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There would be an announcer (in Paradise) who would make this announcement: Verily I there is in store for you (everlasting) health and that you should never fall ill and that you live (for ever) and do not die at all. And that you would remain young and never grow old. And that you would always live in affluent circumstances and never become destitute, as words of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, are:” And it would be announced to them: This is the Paradise. You have been made to inherit it for what you used to do”. (VII; 43)

Chapter 9: THE DESCRIPTION OF THE TENTS FOR THE INMATES OF PARADISE

Book 040, Number 6804:

 

Abu Bakr b. Abdullah b. Qais reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said that in Paradise there would be for a believer a tent of a single hollowed pearl the breadth of which would be sixty miles. It would be meant for a believer and the believers would go around it and none would be able to see the others.

Book 040, Number 6805:

 

Abu Bakr b. Abdullah b. Qais reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said that in Paradise there would be a tent made of a single hollowed pearl, the breadth of which would be sixty miles from all sides and there would live a family in each corner and the other would not be able to see the believer who goes around them.

Book 040, Number 6806:

 

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Bakr b. Abu Musa b. Qais who, on the authority of his father, reported the Apostle (may peace be upon him) to have said that there would be a tent made of a pearl whose height towards the sky would be sixty miles. In each corner, there would be a fanaily of the believer, out of sight for the others.

Chapter 10: WHAT RIVERS OF THE WORLD WOULD BE FOUND IN PARADISE

Book 040, Number 6807:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Saihan, Jaihan, Euphrates and Nile are all among the rivers of Paradise.

Chapter 11: THERE WOULD ENTER PARADISE SOME PEOPLE WHOSE HEARTS WOULD BE’LIKE THOSE OF BIRDS

Book 040, Number 6808:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There would enter Paradise people whose hearts would be like those of the hearts of birds.

Book 040, Number 6809:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, created Adam in His own image with His length of sixty cubits, and as He created him He told him to greet that group, and that was a party of angels sitting there, and listen to the response that they give him, for it would form his greeting and that of his offspring. He then went away and said: Peace be upon you! They (the angels) said: May there be peace upon you and the Mercy of Allah, and they made an addition of” Mercy of Allah”. So he who would get into Paradise would get in the form of Adarn, his length being sixty cubits, then the people who followed him continued to diminish in size up to this day.

Chapter 12: THE DESCRIPTION OF HELL AND THE INTENSITY OF ITS HEAT AND TORMENTS

Book 040, Number 6810:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The Hell would he brought on that da (the Day of judgment) with seventy bridles and every bridle would be controlled by seventy angels.

Book 040, Number 6811:

 

Abil Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as seying: The fire which sons of Adam burn is only one-seventieth part of the Fire of Hell. His Companions said: By Allah, even ordinary fire would have been enough (to burn people). Thereupon he said: It is sixty-nine parts in excess of (the heat of) fire in this world each of them being equivalent to their heat.

Book 040, Number 6812:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abn Huraira through another chain of transmitters with a slight variation of wording.

Book 040, Number 6813:

 

Abu Huraira reported: We were in the company of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) that we heard a terrible sound. Thereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Do you know what (sound) is this? We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. Thereupon he said: That is a stone which was thrown seventy years before in Hell and it has’been constantly slipping down and now it has reached its base.

Book 040, Number 6814:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abfi Huraira with the same chain of transmitters but with this change of wording that the Holy Prophet (may. peace be upon him) said: It reached at its base and you heard its sound.

Book 040, Number 6815:

 

Samura b. Jundub reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace -be upon him) as saying: There will be some to whose ankels the fire will reach, some to whose knees, some to whose waist the fire will reach, and some to whose collar-bone the fire will reach.

Book 040, Number 6816:

 

Samura b. Jundub reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There would be among them those to whom the fire will reach up to their ankels and to some of them the fire would reach their knees and to some it would reach their waists and to some it would reach up to their collar-bones.

Book 040, Number 6817:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Sa’id with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording.

Chapter 13: THE HAUGHTY AND THE PROUD WOULD GET INTO THE FIRE OF HELL AND THE HUMBLE AND MEEK WOULD GET INTO PARADISE

Book 040, Number 6818:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as say- ing: There was a dispute between the Hell and the Paradise and it (the Hell) said: The haughty and the proud would find abode in me. And the Paradise said: The meek and the humble would find their abode in me. Thereupon Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, (addressing the Hell) said: You are (the means) of My punishment by which I punish those of My servants whom I wish. (And addressing the Paradise) He said: You are only My Mercy by means of which 1 shall show mercy to those whom I wish, but each one of you would be full.

Book 040, Number 6819:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as say- ing: The Hell and the Paradise fell into dispute and the Hell said: I have been dis- tinguished by the proud and the haughty. And the Paradise said: What is the matter with me that the meek and the humble amongst people and the downtrodden and the simple enter me? Thereupon Allah said to the Paradise: You are (the means) of My Mercy whereby I show mercy to those of My servants whom 1 wish, and He said to the Hell: You are (the means) of punishment whereby 1 punish those of My servants whoml wish. Both of you will be full. The Hell will riot be filled up until Allah puts down His foot in it. The Hell would say: Enough, enough, enough, and at that time it will be filled up, all its parts integrated together.

Book 040, Number 6820:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: The Paradise and the Hell disputed with each other. The rest of the hadith is the same.

Book 040, Number 6821:

 

Hammam b. Munabbih reported that Abu Huraira narrated to them some ahadith of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and one of them is this that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The Paradise and the Hell fell into dispute and the Hell said: 1 have been distinguished for accommodating (the haughty and proud in me), and the Paradise said: What is the matter that the meek and the humble and the downtrodden and simple would find an abode in me? Thereupon Allah said to Paradise: You are a (means) of My Mercy. 1 shall show mercy through you to one whom I will from amongst My servants. And lie said to the Hell: You are a (sign) of My chastisement and I shall chastise through you anyone whom I will from amongst My servants and both of you, would be full. And as regards the Hell it would not be full until Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, places His foot therein, and it would say: Enough, enough, enough, and it would be then full and the one part would draw very close to the other one and Allah would not treat unjustly anyone amongst His creation and He would create another creation for the Paradise (to accommodate it).

Book 040, Number 6822:

 

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The Paradise and the Hell disputed with each other. The rest of the hadith is the same as transmitted by Abu Huraira up to the words’.” It is essential for Me to fill up both of you.”

Book 040, Number 6823:

 

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said that the Hell would continue to say: Is there anything more, until Allah, the Exalted and High, would place His foot therein and that would say: Enough, enough, by Your Honour, and some parts of it would draw close to the other.

Book 040, Number 6824:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Anas through another chain of transmitters.

Book 040, Number 6825:

 

‘Abd al-Wahhab b. Ata’ reported in connection with the words of Allah, the Exalted and the Glorious: We would say to Hell on the Day of Ressurection: Have you been completely filled up? and it would say: Is there anything -more? And he stated on the authority of Anas b. Malik that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: (The sinners) would be thrown therein and it would continue to say: Is there anything more, until Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, would keep His foot there- in and some of its part would draw close to the other and it would say: Enough, enough, by Thy Honour and by Thy Dignity, and there would be enough space in Paradise until Allah would create a new creation and He would make them accommo- date that spare place in Paradise.

Book 040, Number 6826:

 

Anas reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: There would be left some space in Paradise as Allah would like that to be left. Then Allah would create another creation as He would like.

Book 040, Number 6827:

 

Abu Sa’id reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Death would be brought on the Day of Resurrection. in the form of a white-coloured ram. Abu Kuraib made this addition: Then it would be made to stand between the Paradise and the Hell. So far as the rest of the hadith is concerned there is perfect agreement (between the two narrators) and it would be said to the inmates of Paradise: Do you recognise this? They would raise up their necks and look towards it and say: Yes, ‘ it is death. Then it would be said to the inmates of Hell-Fire.. Do you recognise this? And they would raise up their necks and look and say: Yes, it is death. Then command would be given for slaughtering that and then it would be said: 0 inmates of Paradise,, there is an everlasting life for you and no death. And then (addressing) to the inmates of the Hell-Fire, it would be said: 0 inmates of Hell-Fire, there is an everlasting living for you and no death. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be u@on him) then recited this verse pointing with his hand to this (material) world:” Warn them, this Day of dismay, and when their affairs would be decided and they would be un- mindful and they believe not” (xix. 39).

Book 040, Number 6828:

 

Abu Sa’id reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When the inmates of Paradise would be admitted to Paradise and the inmates of Hell would be admitted to Hell, it would be said (to the inmates of Paradise): 0 inmates of Paradise. The rest of the hadith is the same but with this variation (that he only) said. That is the word of Allah, the Exalted. And he did not say: Then Allah’s Mes- senger (may peace be upon him) recited, and he did not make a mention of his having pointed with his hand towards the (material) world.

Book 040, Number 6829:

 

Abdullah reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Allah would admit the inmates of Paradise into Paradise and the inmates of Hell into Hell. Then the announcer would stand between them and say: 0 inmates of Paradise, there is no death for you,0 inmates of Hell, there is no death for you. You would live for ever therein.

Book 040, Number 6830:

 

Umar b. Muhammad b. Zaid b. ‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar b. al-Khattab reported on the authority of his father Abdullah b. Umar that Allah’s Messenger (may peace big upon him) said: When the inmates of Paradise would go to Paradise and the inmates of Hell would go to Hell, death would be called and it would be placed between the Paradise and the Hell and then slaughtered and then the announcer would announce: 0 inmates of Paradise, no death 0 Inmates of Hell-Fire, no death. And it would in. crease the delight of the inmates of Paradise and it would increase the grief of the inmates of Hell-Fire.

Book 040, Number 6831:

 

It is transmitted on the authority of Abu Huraira that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The molar tooth of an unbeliever or the canine teeth of an unbeliever will be like Ubud and the thickness of his skin a three night’s journey.

Book 040, Number 6832:

 

Abu Huraira reported directly from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) that he said: The distance of the two shoulders of the non-believer in Hell will be a three-day journey for a swift rider.

Book 040, Number 6833:

 

Haritha b. Wahb reported that he heard Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: May I not inform you about the inmates of Paradise? They said: Do this, of course. Thereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Every humble person who is considered to be humble if he were to adjure In the name of Allah, He would fulfil it. He then said: May I not inform you about the denizens of Hell-Fire? They said: Yes. And he said: Every haughty, fat and proud (person).

Book 040, Number 6834:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu’ba with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording.

Book 040, Number 6835:

 

Haritha b. Wahb al-KhuzaIi reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: May I not inform you about the inmates of Paradise? (And then informing about them) said: Every meek person who is considered to be humble and if they were to adjure in the name of Allah, Allah would certainly fulfil it. May I not inform you about the inmates of Hell-Fire? They are all proud, mean and haughty.

Book 040, Number 6836:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as say- ing: Many a people with dishevelled hair are driven away from the door (but they are so pious) that if they are to swear in the name of Allah, He would definitely fulfil that.

Book 040, Number 6837:

 

‘Abdullah b. Zam’a reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) delivered an address and he made a mention of the dromedary and also made a mention of one (base person) who cut off Its hind legs, and he recited:” When the basest of them broke forth with mischief” (xei. 12). When A mischievous person, strong even because of the strength of a family like Abu Zam’a, broke forth. He then delivered instruction in regard to the women saying: There is amongst you who beats his woman, and in the narration on the authority of Abu Bakr, the words are: He flogs her like a slave-girl. And in the narration of Abu Kuraib (the words are): He flogs like a slave and then comforts his bed with the help of that at the end of the day, and he then advised in regard to laughing of people at the breaking of wind and said: One of you laughs at that which you yourself do.

Book 040, Number 6838:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as say- ing: I saw ‘Amr b. Luhayy b. Qam’a b. Khindif, brother of Bani Ka’b, dragging his Intestines in Fire.

Book 040, Number 6839:

 

Sa’id b. Musayyib explained” al-bahira” as that animal which is not milked but for the idols. and none amongst the people milks them, and” as-sa’iba” as that animal which is let loose for the deities. Nothing is loaded over it, and Ibn Musayyib narrated that Abu Huraira stated that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: I saw ‘Amr b. ‘Amir al-Khuzili dragging his intestines in fire and he was the first who devoted animals to deity.

Book 040, Number 6840:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Two are the types amongst the denizens of Hell, the one possessing whips like the tail of an ox and they flog people with their help. (The second one) the women who would be naked in spite of their being dressed, who are seduced (to wrong paths) and seduce others with their hair high like humps. These women would not get into Paradise and they would not perceive the odour of Paradise, although its frag- rance can be perceived from such and such distance (from great distance).

Book 040, Number 6841:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: If you survive for a time you would certainly see people who would have whips in their hands like the tail of an ox. They would get up in the morning under the wrath of Allah and they would get into the evening with the anger of Allah.

Book 040, Number 6842:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: If you live for a time, you would certainly see people get up (in the morning) in the wrath of Allah and getting into the evening under the curse of Allah, and there would be in their hands (whips) like the tail of an ox.

Chapter 14: PERTAINING TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD AND ASSEMBLING ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION

Book 040, Number 6843:

 

This hadith has been narrated through five different chains of transmitters and all of them are narrated on the authority of Mustaurid, brother of Bani Fihr, that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: By Allah, this world (is so insigni- ficant in comparison) to the Hereafter that if one of you should dip his finger- (and wnile saying this Yahyg pointed with his forefinger) -in the ocean and then he should see as to what has stuck to it. This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters also but with a slight variation of wording.

Book 040, Number 6844:

 

‘A’isha reported that she beard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The people would be assembled on the Day of Resurrection barefooted, naked and uncircumcised. I said: Allah’s Messenger, will the male and the female be together on the Day and would they be looking at one another? Upon this Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: ‘A’isha, the matter would be too serious for them to look to one another.

Book 040, Number 6845:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hatim b. Abi Saghira with the same chain of transmitters and there is no mention of the word” uncircum- cised.”

Book 040, Number 6846:

 

Ibn Abbas reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) deliver an address and he was saying that they would meet Allah barefooted, naked and uncircumcised.

Book 040, Number 6847:

 

This hadith has been narrated through other chains of transmitters on the authority of Ibn Abbas, (and) the words are: While Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) stood up to deliver a sermon, he said: 0 people, Allah would make you assemble barefooted, naked and uncircumcised (and then recited the words of the Qur’an):” As We created you for the first time, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise (binding) upon us. Lo! We are to perform it, and the first person who would be clothed on the Day of Resurrection would be (Hadrat) Ibrahim (peace be upon him)” and, behold! some persons of my Ummah would be brought and taken to the left and I would say: My Lord, they are my companions, and it would be said: You do not know what they did after you, and I would say just as the pious servant (Hadrat ‘Isa) said:, I was a witness regarding them as I remained among them and Thou art a witness over everything, so if Thou chastisest them, they are Thy servants and if Thou for- givest them, Thou art Mighty, Wise” (v. 117-118). And it would be said to him: They constantly turned to their heels since you left them. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Waki’ and Mu’adh (and the words are):” What new things they fabricated.”

Book 040, Number 6848:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying, The people will be assembled in three categories. Those desirous (of Paradise), fearing (Hell), coming two upon the came], three upon the camel, four upon the camel, ten upon the camel and the rest will be assembled, Hell-Fire being with them when they are at midday where they would spend the night and where they would spend the morning and where they would spend the evening.

Chapter 15: THE DESCRIPTION OF THE DAY OF RESURRECTION (MAY ALLAH SAVE US FROM ITS TERRORS)

Book 040, Number 6849:

 

Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: When the people would stand before Allah. the Lord of the worlds, each one of them would stand submerged into perspiration up to half of his ears, and there is no mention of the” day” in the badlth transmitted on the authority of Ibn Muthanni.

Book 040, Number 6850:

 

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar but with a slight variation of wording (and the words are):” One of them would be completely submerged in perspiration up to half of his ears.”

Book 040, Number 6851:

 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as say- ing: The perspiration would spread on the Day of Resurrection upon the earth to the extent of seventy cubits and it would reach up to their mouths or up to their ears. Thaur is not sure (which words) he used (mouth or ears).

Book 040, Number 6852:

 

Miqdad b. Aswad reported: I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace he upon him) as saying: On the Day of Resurrection, the sun would draw so close to the people that there woum be left only a distance of one mile. Sulaim b. Amir said: By Allah, I do not know whether he meant by” mile” the mile of the (material) earth or dn instrument used for applying collyrium to the eye. (The Holy Prophet is, however, reported to have said): The people would be submerged in perspiration according to their deeds, some up to their. knees, Some up to the waist and some would have the bridle of perspiration and, while saying this, Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) pointed his hand towards his mouth.

Chapter 16: THE QUALITIES BY WHICH THE INMATES OF PARADISE AND THE DENIZENS OF HELL CAN BE RECOGNISED IN THIS WORLD

Book 040, Number 6853:

 

‘Iyad b. Him-ar reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), while delivering a sermon one day, said: Behold, my Lord commanded me that I should teach you which you do not know and which He has taught me today. (He has instructed thus): The property which I have conferred upon them is lawful for them. I have created My servants as one having a natural inclination to the worship of Allah but it is Satan who turns them away from the right religion and he makes unlawful what has been declared lawful for them and he commands them to ascribe partnership with Re, although he has no justification for that. And verily, Allah looked towards the people of the world and He showed hatred for the Arabs and the non-Arabs, but with the exception of some remnants from the People of the Book. And He (further) said: I have sent thee (the Holy Prophet) in order to put you to test and put (those to test) through you. And I sent the Book to you which cannot be washed away by water, so that you may recite it while in the state of wakefulness or sleep. Verily, Allah commanded me to burn (kill) the Quraish. I said: My Lord, they would break my head (like the tearing) of bread, and Allah said: You turn them out as they turned you out, you fight against them and We shall help you in this, you should spend and you would be conferred upon. You send an army and I would send an army five times greater than that. Fight against those who disobey you along with those who obey you. The inmates of Paradise are three: One who wields authority and is just and fair, one who Is truthful and has been endowed with power to do good deeds. And the person who is merciful and kind hearted towards his relatives and to every pious Muslim, and one who does not stretch his hand in spite of having a large family to support. And He said: The inmates of Hell are five: the weak who lack power to (avoid evil), the (carefree) who pursue (everything irrespective of the fact that it is good or evil) and who do not have any care for their family or for their wealth. And those dishonest whose greed cannot be concealed even in the case of minor things. And the third. who betray you. morning and evening, in regard to your family and your property. He also made a mention of the miser and the liar and those who are in the habit of abusing people and using obscene and foul language. Abu Ghassan in his narration did not make mention of” Spend and there would be spent for you.”

Book 040, Number 6854:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Qatada with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording.

Book 040, Number 6855:

 

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of ‘Iyad b. Himar that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave an address one day. The rest of the hadith is the same.

Book 040, Number 6856:

 

Iyad. b. Himar reported tbat, while Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was delivering an address, he stated that Allah commanded me The rest of the hadith is the same, and there is an addition in it:” Allah revealed to me that we should be humble amongst ourselves and none should show pride upon the others, And it does not behove one to do so, and He also said: There are among you people to follow not caring a bit for their family and property. Qatada said: Abu Abdullah, would this happen? Thereupon he said: Yes. By Allah, I found this in the days of ignorance that a person grazed the goat of a tribe and did not find anyone but their slave-girl (and he did not spare her) but committed adultery with her.

Chapter 17: THE DEAD WOULD BE SHOWN HIS SEAT IN PARADISE AND HELL, AND THE AFFIRMATION OF THE TORMENT OF THE GRAVE AND SEEKING REFUGE FROM IT

Book 040, Number 6857:

 

Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as say- ing: When any one of you dies, he is shown his seat (in the Hereafter) morning and evening; if he is amongst the inmates of Paradise (he is shown the seat) from amongst the inmates of Paradise and if he is one from amongst the denizens of Hell (he is shown the seat) from amongst the denizens of Hell, and it would be said to him: That is your seat until Allah raises you on the Day of Resurrection (and sends you to your proper seat).

Book 040, Number 6858:

 

Ibn Umar reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: When a person dies, he is shown his seat morning and evening. If he is one amongst the inmates of Paradise (he is shown his seat) in Paradise and if he is one amongst the denizens of Hell-Fire (he is shown his seat) in the Hell-Fire. Then it is said to him: That is your seat where you would be sent on the Day of Resurrection.

Book 040, Number 6859:

 

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: I did not hear this badith from Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) directly but it was Zaid b. Thibit who narrated it from him. As Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) was going along with us towards the dwellings of Bani an-Najjar, riding upon his pony, it shied and he was about to fall. He found four, five or six graves there. He said: Who amongst you knows about those lying in the graves? A person said: It is I. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: In what state did they die? He said: They died as polytheists. He said: These people are passing through the ordeal in the graves. If it were not the reason that you would stop burying (your dead) in the graves on listening to the torment in the grave which I am listening to, I would have certainly made you hear that. Then turning his face towards us, he said: Seek refuge with Allah from the torment of Hell. They said: We seek refuge with Allah from the torment of Hell. He said: Seek refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave. They said: We seek refuge with Allali from the torment of the grave. He said: Seek refuge with Allah from turmoil, its visible and invisible (aspects), and they said: We seek refuge with Allah from turmoil and its visible and invisible aspects and he said: Seek refuge with Allah from the turmoil of the Dajjal, and they said We seek refuge with Allah from the turmoil of the Dajjal.

Book 040, Number 6860:

 

Anas reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: If you were not (to abandon) the burying of the dead (in the grave), I would have certainly supplicated Allah that He should make you listen the torment of the grave.

Book 040, Number 6861:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Ayyub through some other chains of transmitters (and the words are):” Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) went out after the sun had set and he heard some sound and said: It is the Jews who are being tormented in their graves.

Book 040, Number 6862:

 

Anas b. Malik reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) having said: When the servant is placed in his grave and his companions retrace their steps arid he hears the noise of the footsteps, then two angels come to him and make him sit and say to him: What you have to say about this person (the Holy Prophet)? If he is d believer, lie would say: I bear testimony to the fact that he is a servant of Allali and His Messenger. Then it would be said to him: Look to your seat in the Hell- Fire, for Allah has substituted (the seat of yours) with a seat in Paradise. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He would be shown both the seats. Qatada said: It was mentioned to us that his grave (the grave of a believer) expands to seventy cubits and is full with verdure until the Day when they would be resurrected.

Book 040, Number 6863:

 

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When the dead body. is placed in the grave, he listens to the sound of the shoes (as his friends and relatives return after burying him).

Book 040, Number 6864:

 

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: When the servant is placed in his grave and his friends retrace their steps. The rest of the liadith is the same as transmitted by Qatada.

Book 040, Number 6865:

 

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: This verse:” Allah grants steadfastness to those who believe with firm word,” was rereaied in connection with the torment of the grave. It would be said to him: Who is your Lord? And he would say: Allah is my Lord and Muhammad is my Apostle (may peace be upon him), and that is (what is implied) by the words of Allah, the Exalted:” Allah keeps steadfast those who believe with firm word in this world and in the Hereafter.”

Book 040, Number 6866:

 

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib reported that this verse:” Allah keeps steadfast those who believe with firm word in th;s world and the Hereafter,” was revealed in con- nection with the torment of the grave.

Book 040, Number 6867:

 

Abu Huraira reported: When the soul of a believer would go out (of his body) it would be received bv two angels who would take it to the sky. Hammad (one of the narrators in the chain of transmitters) mentioned the swetness of its odour, (and further said) that the dwellers of the sky say: Here comes the pious soul from the side of the earth Let there be blessings of Allah upon the body in which it resides. And it is carried (by the angels) to its Lord, the Exalted and Glorious. He would say: Take it to its destined end. And if he is a nonbeliever and as it (the soul) leaves the body-Hammad made a mention of its foul smell and of its being cursed-the dwellers of the sky say: There comes a dirty soul from the side of the earth, and it would be said: Take it to its destined end. Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) put a thin cloth which was with him upon his nose while making a mention (of the foul smell) of the soul of a non-believer.

Book 040, Number 6868:

 

Anas b. Malik reported: We were along with Umar between Mecca and Medina that we began to look for the new moon. And I was a man with sharp eye- sight, so I could see it, but none except me saw it. I began to say to ‘Umar: Don’t you see it? But he would not see it. Thereupon Umar said: I would soon be able to see it (when it will shine more brightly). I lay upon bed. He then made a mention of the people of Badr to us and said: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) showed us one day before (the actual battle) the place of death of the people (participating) in (the Battle) of Badr and he was saying: This would be the place of death of so and so tomorrow, if Allah wills. Umar said: By Him Who sent him with truth, they did not miss the places (of their death) which Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had pointed for them. Then they were all thrown in a well one after another. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) then went to them and said: O, so and so, the son of so and so; O so and so, the son of so and so, have you found correct what Allah and His Messenger had promised you? I have, however, found absolutely true what Allah had promised with me. Umar said: Allah’s Messenger, how are you talking with the bodies without soul in them. Thereupon he said: You cannot hear more distinctly than (their hearing) of what I say, but with this exception that they have not power to make any reply.

Book 040, Number 6869:

 

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) let the dead bodies of the unbelievers who fought in Badr (lie unburied) for three days. He then came to them and sat by their side and called them and said: O Abu Jahl b. Hisham, O Umayya b. Khalaf, O Utba b. Rab’ila, O Shaiba b. Rabi’a, have you not found what your Lord had promised with you to be correct? As for me, I have found the promises of my Lord to be (perfectly) correct. Umar listened to the words of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and said: Allah’s Messenger, how do they listen and respond to you? They are dead and their bodies have decayed. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: By Him in Whose Hand is my life, what I am saying to them, even you cannot hear more distinctly than they, but they lack the power to reply. Then’he commanded that they should be buried in the well of Badr.

Book 040, Number 6870:

 

Aba Talha reported: When it was the Day of Badr and Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) had gained victory over them (the Meccans), he commanded more than twenty persons, and in another hadith these are counted as twenty-four persons, from the non-believers of the Quraish to be thrown into the well of Badr. The rest of the hadith is the same.

Chapter 18: THE RECKONING ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT IS A FACT

Book 040, Number 6871:

 

‘A’isha reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He who is taken to account on the Day of Resurrection is in fact put to torment. I said: Has Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, not said this: ‘He will be made subject to an easy reckoning” (Ixxxiv. 8)? Thereupon he said: (What it implies) is not the actual reckoning, but only the presentation of one’s deeds to Him. He who is thoroughly examined in reckoning is put to torment.

Book 040, Number 6872:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ayyub with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 040, Number 6873:

 

‘A’isha reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: Everyone who is reckoned thoroughly is undone. I said: Allah’s Messenger, has Allah not called (reckoning) as easy reckoning? Thereupon he said.. It implies only presenta- tion of (one’s deeds to Him), but if one is thoroughly examined in reckoning, he in fact is undone.

Book 040, Number 6874:

 

‘A’isha reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who is examined thoroughly In reckoning is undone.

Chapter 19: IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HOPE GOOD FROM ALLAH

Book 040, Number 6875:

 

Jabir reported: I heard Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying three days before his death: None of you should court death but only hoping good from Allah

Book 040, Number 6876:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of A’mash with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 040, Number 6877:

 

Jabir b. ‘Abdullah al-Ansari reported: I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) say three days before his death: None of you should die but hoping only good from Allah, the Exalted and Glorious.

Book 040, Number 6878:

 

Jabir reported: I heard Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying. Every servant would be raised (in the same very state) in which he dies.

Book 040, Number 6879:

 

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of A’mash but with a slight variation of wording.

Book 040, Number 6880:

 

Abdullah b. Umar reported: I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When Allah intends to chastise a people, He chastises all of them then they would be raised according to their deeds.

 

[ Index Page ]

Sahih Muslim : Book 38: Pertaining To The Charateristics Of The Hypocrites And Command Concerning Them (Kitab Sifat Al-Munafiqin Wa Ahkamihim)

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Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 38:

 

 

Pertaining To The Charateristics Of The Hypocrites And Command Concerning Them (Kitab Sifat Al-Munafiqin Wa Ahkamihim)

Chapter 1:


Book 038, Number 6677:

 

Zaid b. Arqam reported: We set out on a journey along with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) in which we faced many hardships. ‘Abdullah b. Ubayy said to his friends: Do not give what you have in your possession to those who are with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) until they desert him. Zubair said: That is the reciting of that person who recited as min haulahu (from around him) and the other reciting is man haulahia (who are around him). And in this case when we would return to Medina the honourable would drive out the meaner therefrom (lxiv. 8). I came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and informed him about that and he sent someone to ‘Abdullah b. Ubayy and he asked him whether he had said that or not. He took an oath to the fact that he had not done that and told that it was Zaid who had stated a lie to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). Zaid said: I was much perturbed because of this until this verse was revealed attesting my truth:” When the hypocrites come” (lxiii. 1). Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) then called them in order to seek forgiveness for them, but they turned away their heads as if they were hooks of wood fixed in the wall (lxiii. 4), and they were in fact apparently good-looking persons.


Book 038, Number 6678:

 

Jabir reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) came to the grave of ‘Abdullah b. Ubayy, brought him out from that, placed him on his knee and put his saliva in his mouth and shrouded him in his own shirt and Allah knows best.


Book 038, Number 6679:

 

Jabir b. ‘Abdullah reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came to the grave of ‘Abdullah b. Ubayy as he was placed in that. The rest of the hadith is the same.


Book 038, Number 6680:

 

Ibn ‘Umar reported that when ‘Abdullah b. Ubayy b. Salul died. His son ‘Abdullah b. ‘Abdullah (b. Ubayy) came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and begged him that he should give him his shirt which he would use as a coffin for his father, he gave him that. He then begged that he should conduct funeral prayer for him. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had hardly got up to observe the prayer for him that ‘Umar stood up and caught hold of the garment of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Allah’s Messenger, are you going to conduct prayer for this man, whereas Allah has forbidden you to offer prayer for him? Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Allah has given me an option as He has said:” You may beg pardon for them or you may not beg pardon for them, and even if you beg pardon for them, seventy times” (ix. 80), and I am going to make an addition to the seventy. He was a hypocrite and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) offered prayer for him and Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this verse:” Do not offer prayer for any one of them at all and do not stand upon their graves for (offering prayer over them)” (ix. 84).


Book 038, Number 6681:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah with the same chain of transmitters but with this addition:” He then abandoned offering (funeral) prayer for them.”


Book 038, Number 6682:

 

Ibn Mas’ud reported that there gathered near the House three persons amongst whom two were Quraishi and one was a Thaqafi or two were Thaqafis and one was a Quraishi. They lacked understanding but wore more flesh. One of them said: Do you think that Allah hears as we speak? The other one said: He does hear when we speak loudly and He does not hear when we speak in undertones, and still the other one said: If He listens when we speak loudly, He also listens when we speak in undertones. It was on this occasion that this verse was revealed:” You did not conceal yourselves lest your ears, your eyes and your skins would stand witness against you” (xli. 22).


Book 038, Number 6683:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah through another chain of transmitters.


Book 038, Number 6684:

 

Zaid b. Thabit reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) set out for Uhud. Some of those persons who were with them came back. The Companions of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) were divided in two groups. One group said: We would kill them, and the other one said: No, this should not be done, and it was on this occasion that this verse was revealed:” Why should you, then, be two parties in relation to hypocrites?” (iv. 88).


Book 038, Number 6685:

 

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu’ba with the same chain of transmitters.


Book 038, Number 6686:

 

Abu Sa’id Khudri reported that during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) the hypocrites behaved in this way that when Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) set out for a battle, they kept themselves behind, and they became happy that they had managed to sit in the house contrary to (the act of) Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and when Allah’s Apostle (may peace he upon him) came back, they put forward excuses and took oath and wished that people should laud them for the deeds which they had not done. It was on this occasion that this verse was revealed:” Think not that those who exult in what they have done, and love to be praised for what they have not done-think not them to be safe from the chastisement; and for them is a painful chastisement” (iii. 18).


Book 038, Number 6687:

 

Humaid b. ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Auf reported that Marwan said to Rafi’, his chamberlain, that he should go to Ibn ‘Abbas and ask him: If every one of us be punished for his being happy upon his deed and for his being praised for what he has not done, nobody would be saved from the torment. Ibn ‘Abbas said: What you have to do with this verse? It has been in fact revealed in connection with the people of the Book.” Then Ibn Abbas recited this verse:” When Allah took a covenant from those who had been given the Book: You shall explain it to people and shall not conceal this” (iii. 186), and then Ibn ‘Abbas recited this verse:” Think not that those who exult in what they have done and love to be praised for what they have not done” (iii. 186). Ibn ‘Abbas (further) said: Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) asked them about something and then they concealed that and they told him something else and they went out and they thought that they had informed him as lie had asked them and they felt happy of what they had concealed.


Book 038, Number 6688:

 

Qais reported: I said to ‘Ammar: What is your opinion about that which you have done in case (of your siding with Hadrat ‘Ali)? Is it your personal opinion or something you got from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him)? ‘Ammar said: We have got nothing from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) which people at large did not get, but Hudhaifa told me that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) had especially told him amongst his Companion, that there would be twelve hypocrites out of whom eight would not get into Paradise, until a camel would be able to pass through the needle hole. The ulcer would be itself sufficient (to kill) eight. So far as four are concerned, I do not remember what Shu’ba said about them.


Book 038, Number 6689:

 

Qais b. ‘Ubad reported: We said to ‘Ammar: Was your fighting (on the side of ‘Ali in the Battle of Siffin) a matter of your own choice or you got its hints from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) for it, is likely for one to err in one’s own discretion or was it because of any covenant that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) got from you? He said: It was not because of any covenant that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) got from us which he did get from other people, and he further said that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said:” In my Ummah.” And I think that Hudhaifa reported to me and according to Ghundar (the words are) that he said: In my Ummah, there would be twelve hypocrites and they would not be admitted to Paradise and they would not smell its odour, until the camel would pass through a needle’s hole. Dubaila (ulcer) would be enough to (torment them) -a kind of flame of Fire which would appear in their shoulders and it would protrude from their chest.


Book 038, Number 6690:

 

Abu Tufail reported that there was a dispute between Hudhaifa and one from the people of Aqaba as it happens amongst people. He said: I adjure you by Allah to tell me as to how many people from Aqaba were. The people said to him (Hudhaifa) to inform him as he had asked. We have been informed that they were fourteen and If you are to be counted amongst them, then they would be fifteen and I state by Allah that twelve amongst them were the enemies of Allah and of His Messenger (may peace be upon him) in this world. The rest of the three put forward this excuse: We did not hear the announcement of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and we were not aware of the intention of the people as he (the Holy Prophet) had been in the hot atmosphere. He (the Holy Prophet) then said: The water is small in quantity (at the next station). So nobody should go ahead of me, but he found people who had gone ahead of him and he cursed them on that day.


Book 038, Number 6691:

 

Jabir b. Abdullah reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He who climbed this hill, the hill of Murar, his sins would be obliterated as were obliterated the sins of Bani Isra’il. So the first to take their horses were the people of Banu Khazraj. Then there was a ceaseless flow of persons and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to them: All of you are those who have been pardoned except the owner of a red camel. We came to him and said to him: You also come on, so that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) may seek forgiveness for you. But he said: By Allah, so far as I am concerned, the finding of something lost is dearer to me than seeking of forgiveness for me by your companion (the Holy Prophet), and he remained busy in finding out his lost thing.


Book 038, Number 6692:

 

Jabir b. Abdullah reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who would climb this hill of Murar. The rest of the hadith is the same but with this variation that it was a desert Arab who was finding out his lost thing.


Book 038, Number 6693:

 

Anas b. Malik reported: There was a person amongst us who belonged to the tribe of Bani Najjar and he recited Sura al-Baqarah and Surat Al-i-‘Imran and he used to transcribe for Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). He ran away as a rebel and joined the People of the Book. They gave it much importance and said: He is the person who used to transcribe for Muhammad and they were much pleased with him. Time rolled on that Allah caused his death. They dug the grave and buried him therein, but they found to their surprise that the earth had thrown him out over the surface. They again dug the grave for him and buried him but the earth again threw him out upon the surface. They again dug the grave for him and buried him but the earth again threw him out upon the surface. At last they left him unburied.


Book 038, Number 6694:

 

Jabir reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came back from a journey and as he was near Medina, there was such a violent gale that the mountain seemed to be pressed. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: This wind has perhaps been made to blow for the death of a hypocrite, and as he reached Medina a notorious hypocrite from amongst the hypocrites had died.


Book 038, Number 6695:

 

Iyas reported on the authority of his father: We went along with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) to visit a person suffering from fever. When I placed my hand upon him, I said: By Allah, I have never seen, till this day, a person running higher temperature than he. Thereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), turning his face to his companions, said: May I not inform you of a severer temperature than this which these two persons would run on the Day of Resurrection? And they were two hypocrites riding upon the camel turning their back towards (the Muslims).


Book 038, Number 6696:

 

Ibn Umar reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: The similitude of a hypocrite is that of a sheep which roams aimlessly between two flocks. She goes to one at one time and to the other at another time.


Book 038, Number 6697:

 

Ibn Umar reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) saying like this but with this change of words:” She sometimes finds a way in one flock and then in another flock.”


 

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