| 2 Hadiths


Hadith
297
It was narrated that ‘A’ishah said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to rest in my lap when I was menstruating, then he would recite Qur’an..

Commentary : There are rulings that apply specifically to the menstruating woman, but she herself is not impure (najis), because the believer never becomes impure, as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said. Being close to a menstruating woman does not mean that the one who wants to recite Qur’an should not do so. This is what ‘A’ishah, the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) speaks of in this hadith, in which she says that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to rest in her lap when she was menstruating. What is meant by the word translated here as resting is leaning on one side whilst sitting. It was also said that what is meant here is that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to put his head in her lap when she was menstruating, and whilst he was in that position, he would recite Qur’an; that did not prevent him from reciting.
In this hadith we see how the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) treated his wives kindly and paid attention to their condition.
This hadith indicates that being close to his menstruating wife does not prevent a husband from reciting Qur’an, and the menstruating woman may listen to Qur’an without any reservations.
It also indicates that the body of the menstruating woman and whatever she wears are both pure (tahir)..

301
It was narrated that ‘A’ishah said: He used to put his head out to me when he was observing i‘tikaf and I would wash his hair, when I was menstruating..

Commentary : Among the Jews, when one of their women menstruated, they would banish her from the house, and they would not eat with her, drink with her or be in the same room as her. In our religion, however, the menstruating woman is not to be blamed for something that Allah has ordained for her, so her body is pure, apart from the place where the impurity is.
In this hadith, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) tells us that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to put his head out to her in her apartment, when he was observing i‘tikaf in the mosque, and she would wash his hair for him, when she was menstruating. According to another report narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari, she would comb his hair when she was menstruating. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would bring his head close to her when she was in her apartment and the rest of his body was in the mosque, and he was aware of her condition and that she was menstruating, yet despite that she would touch him with her hands and take care of him, without any reservation or prohibition. Her apartment was attached to the mosque.
The hadith refers to cleaning a man’s hair, and other things that come under the heading of adorning oneself.
It indicates that a menstruating woman may care for her husband and help him with personal hygiene.
It indicates that if the one who is observing i‘tikaf puts his head, hand or foot outside the mosque, that does not invalidate his i‘tikaf.
It speaks of how the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) treated his wives kindly and paid attention to their condition.
It also indicates that the body of the menstruating woman and whatever she wears are both pure (tahir)..

302
It was narrated that ‘A’ishah said: When one of us was menstruating, and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) wanted to be intimate with her, he would tell her to wrap something around herself at the beginning of her menses, then he would be intimate with her. She said: Who among you is able to control his desire as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was able to control his desire?.

Commentary : Allah (may He be exalted) says: {And they ask you about menstruation. Say, It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure} [al-Baqarah 2:222]. What is meant by keeping away from wives in this verse is not having intercourse with them; as for anything other than that, the husband may do it, meaning that he may do everything except intercourse. This is what the Mother of the Believers ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) spoke of in this hadith, where she says: When one of us – meaning one of the wives of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) – was menstruating and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) wanted to be intimate with her by kissing and so on, other than intercourse, he would tell her to wrap something around her waist at the beginning of her period, so she would wrap herself in an izar (lower garment or waist wrapper) to cover the area between the navel and the knees. That would happen at the beginning of her menses, or when the bleeding was at its heaviest. Then he would be intimate with her, so he would approach her and touch her, but he would not have intercourse with her.
Then ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Who among you is able to control his desire as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was able to control his desire? 
This hadith indicates that one should not be put off by a menstruating woman or show dislike to her, in contrast to the Jews, who would not eat with a woman or sit with her if she was menstruating.
It speaks of how the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) treated his wives kindly and paid attention to their condition.
It also indicates that the body of the menstruating woman and whatever she wears are both pure (tahir)..

309
It was narrated from ‘A’ishah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) observed i‘tikaf, and one of his wives was with him, when she was suffering from istihadah and was bleeding. Sometimes she would put a basin beneath her to catch the blood. He [one the narrators] claimed that ‘A’ishah saw safflower water and said: It is as if this is something that So-and-so used to see..

Commentary : Islamic teachings explain how women should purify themselves following menses and nifas (postpartum bleeding). Some women suffer from menses that last longer than the usual time, and they bleed heavily for longer than the days of the usual period. Islam makes things easier for them in that case.
In this hadith, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) tells us that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) observed i‘tikaf in his mosque, isolating himself from people for the purpose of worship, and one of his wives observed i‘tikaf with him. It was said that she was Sawdah bint Zam‘ah, or that she was Ramlah Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyan, or that she was Zaynab bint Jahsh. She was suffering from istihadah and was bleeding; istihadah is irregular bleeding that a woman experiences after the end of her normal menses. The blood of istihadah is thin and is not like menstrual blood. Sometimes she would put a basin – meaning a large vessel – beneath her to catch this copious bleeding, lest it contaminate her garment or the mosque.
Khalid ibn Mihran, one of the narrators of this hadith, said regarding the phrase “he claimed”: The word claim may refer to something that one is certain about, even though it is most often used with regard to something one is uncertain about, or to suggest that it is false. ‘Ikrimah claimed that ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) saw some safflower water – which comes from a kind of plant and is yellow in colour; it is used as a dye but does not have a fragrance – and said: This yellow is something that resembles what So-and-so used to see at the time of her istihadah. This indicates that the blood of istihadah may be yellow and thin, and is not dark like menstrual blood.
This hadith indicates that a woman who is suffering from istihadah may observe i‘tikaf if she is certain that her bleeding will not contaminate the mosque..

312
It was narrated that Mujahid said: ‘A’ishah said: One of us would have only one garment in which she menstruated. If any blood got onto it, she would put some of her saliva on it and scratch it with her nails..

Commentary : This hadith is indicative of the hard life that the companions of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) lived, and that they were content with very little of worldly comforts. In it, the Mother of the Believers ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) says: One of us would have only one garment; what she meant by one of us is the wives of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), the Mothers of the Believers. Even though they lived in the house of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), one of them would own only one garment, and they were content with what Allah allocated to them. What ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) says in this hadith is not contradicted by what is narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her), that she had more than one garment, because what ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was referring to in this hadith was their situation at the beginning of Islam, for they were living a life of hardship and scarcity. When Allah granted conquests to the Muslims and their circumstances improved, women would have special garments to wear during their menses, separate from their other garments. It may be that what ‘A’ishah meant by “one garment” is a garment specifically for menses. There is nothing in the context to rule out the idea that she had other garments that she wore when she was not menstruating. That is also in harmony with the hadith of Umm Salamah in this regard.
If any menstrual blood got on the garment of one of the wives of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), she would put some of her saliva on it, then scratch it with her fingernail. Then she would rub it and scratch it with her nail until the traces of blood were removed. It was said that she would do that, because this blood that was removed by scratching was little and could be overlooked. Hence she did not say here that she washed it with water. Similarly, she did not say that she prayed in this garment after removing the traces of blood by using her saliva and scratching it with her fingernail. Rather she used her saliva to remove the traces of blood, and she did not intend to purify the garment. There is a report from her in Sahih al-Bukhari which mentions washing the garment after scratching and rubbing it, and she says: “Then she may pray in it,” which indicates that when she wanted to pray in the garment, she would wash it so that she would be able to pray in it after that.  .

314
It was narrated from ‘A’ishah that a woman asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about doing ghusl to purify herself following her menses, and he told her how to do ghusl. He said: “Take a piece of cloth on which there is musk and purify yourself with it.” She said: How do I purify myself? He said: “Purify yourself with it.” She said: How? He said: “Subhan Allah! Purify yourself!” I pulled her to me and said: Follow the traces of blood with it..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) taught women how to purify themselves and do ghusl following their menses to remove the blood. He described how to do that in a refined and polite manner, to avoid any embarrassment. He taught all of that to his wives, so that they could teach it to the Muslim women.
In this hadith, ‘A’ishah the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her) tells us that a woman – it was said that she was Asma’ bint Shakal, or that she was someone else – came to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and asked him how she should do ghusl after her menses ended. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told her how to do ghusl, and instructed her to take a piece of wool or cotton on which there was some musk or perfume, then purify the site of the bleeding and where the blood had got to. But the woman did not understand what was meant, so she asked again how she should purify herself with this perfumed piece of cotton. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Subhan Allah! Purify yourself!” He was astonished that she did not know how to purify herself with it, when that was something obvious that no one should be unaware of. At that point, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) pulled her aside and brought her close to herself, and told her: Follow the traces of blood with it; apply it to your private part and anywhere else that the blood got onto, to clean it and remove the smell of menstrual blood.
This hadith highlights how modest and shy the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was, and how well-mannered he was.
It indicates that one should show shyness and embarrassment when speaking of private matters, especially when that is mentioned by men in the presence of women, or by women in the presence of men, and that one should use metaphors and euphemisms, and avoid mentioning them explicitly. One should show shyness and embarrassment if such things are mentioned, and avoid speaking of them explicitly.
It highlights the role of wise and knowledgeable women in conveying information and teaching other women..

318
It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah (may He be glorified in exalted) has appointed an angel in charge of the womb, and he says: ‘O Lord, is it to be a nutfah (sperm drop)? O Lord, it is it to be a ‘alaqah (a piece of thick coagulated blood)? O Lord, is it to be a mudghah (chewed piece of flesh)?’ Then when Allah wants to complete its creation, he says: ‘Male or female? Doomed or blessed? What is his provision and lifespan?’ And it is decreed in his mother’s womb.”.

Commentary : Everything that Allah creates is already decreed and will be as He wants it to be. There is nothing that happens in His dominion except it happens by His decree and with His knowledge. Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has appointed an angel over the womb, which is the place where the embryo develops, as mentioned in this hadith. When the nutfah (sperm drop) is formed, this angel says: O Lord, is it to be a nutfah? This is a question from the angel to the Lord (may He be glorified and exalted). In other words, is it to be a nutfah, so that I should write it, for no one knows what is in the wombs except Allah; rather the angel is appointed to keep a record and write things down. The same thing happens in the following stages: O Lord, is it to a ‘alaqah (a piece of thick coagulated blood)…? And so on. The word nutfah refers to the sperm when it meets the ovum of the woman and fertilizes it. This is the first stage in the development of a human being. When it becomes a ‘alaqah, the angel says: O Lord, is it to be a ‘alaqah? The ‘alaqah is a piece of congealed blood that hangs on the wall of the uterus. When it becomes a mudghah, the angel says: O Lord, is it to be a mudghah? The mudghah is a small piece of flesh, the size of what a man can chew in his mouth. Then when Allah (may He be exalted) wills to complete the creation of this person, the angel asks the Lord (may He be exalted): Male or female? Doomed or blessed? In other words: Will You create it as a male or a female? Will he be one of those who are doomed (destined for Hell) or one of those who are blessed (destined for Paradise)? Then he asks about his provision and lifespan, and he writes down all of that when the person is still in his mother’s womb.
This is indicative of the might and eternal knowledge of Allah, and how He decrees all the affairs of His creation. So the individual should be moderate and not exhaust himself in seeking worldly provision, for everyone will be enabled to follow the path for which he was created; the one who is to be one of the people of Paradise will do the deeds that will enable him to reach Paradise, and the one who is to be one of the people of Hell will choose, by his own free will, the deeds that will lead him to Hell. Allah (may He be glorified) guides those who are blessed to do that which is good and makes available to them the means to do these deeds, and He causes those who are doomed to do evil and has made available for them the means of doing those deeds. That is because Allah has made clear to all the path of good and the path of evil. Thus each person acts with insight and knowledge, and chooses whatever he wants. Whoever chooses to do the deeds of the people of Paradise, Allah will enable him to do that, then He will admit him to Paradise, and He knows from eternity that he will be one of its people. By the same token, whoever chooses to do the deeds of the people of Hell, Allah will leave him to his own devices, until He admits him to Hell on the Day of Resurrection, and He knows from eternity that he will do the deeds of the people of Hell.
However, this does not contradict the command to work and strive in this world in pursuit of provision, and to seek Paradise by doing righteous deeds. Rather what we may understand from this hadith is that we should be moderate in striving (to earn a living), and not grieve over what we miss out on. The individual should strive his utmost and compel himself to do righteous deeds, and he should not neglect striving on the grounds that he is relying on what has already been decided from eternity about what his destiny is.
This hadith indicates that the fate of every person is written and decreed when he is still a foetus in his mother’s womb, after he has been formed and his limbs and faculties have taken their final shape. .

321
It was narrated from Mu‘adhah that a woman said to ‘A’ishah: Is the prayer of one of us valid [if she makes up the prayers] after she becomes pure? She said: Are you a Haruri? We used to menstruate at the time of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and he did not instruct us to do that – or, we did not do that..

Commentary : The Haruris are the Kharijis; they first emerged in the region of Harura’, near Kufah in Iraq, two miles from Kufah (approx. 3.5 km), and were named after that place. They are the ones who denounced ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) for accepting arbitration in his conflict with Mu‘awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), then they fought him. They regarded the Muslims as disbelievers and believed it was permissible to shed their blood. Hence when this woman came to ask ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) whether a woman should make up her prayers when she becomes pure following her menses, ‘A’ishah said to her, objecting to that notion: Are you a Haruri? Meaning: are you one of this group of Kharijis? Because some of them used to tell the menstruating woman to make up her missed prayers, which was a sign of extreme tendencies in religious matters. Then she told her that the wives of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to menstruate at the time of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) but he did not instruct them to make up missed prayers. This is a matter concerning which there is consensus among the Muslim scholars, that a woman who menstruates does not have to make up the prayers missed during her menses, because prayer is an obligation that is repeated on a daily basis, so there is no need to make it up. This is by way of making things easier for women, and not making things too difficult for them by requiring them to make up the prayers that they missed during their menses..

326
It was narrated that Umm ‘Atiyyah said: We used not to regard the brownish and yellowish discharge as being of any significance..

Commentary : Menstrual blood has its own characteristics which women know. It is dark and thick blood that comes on certain days of every month. When this bleeding ceases, the woman should do ghusl and resume praying, as she has become pure. If she sees a yellowish or brownish discharge, or blood that is different from menstrual blood, after the time of her usual menses has ended – and this is what is known as istihadah (irregular bleeding) – she should not regard it as being of any significance, and it is deemed to not be menses. This is what the Sahabiyyah Umm ‘Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) was speaking of when she said: We used not to regard the brownish and yellowish discharge as being of any significance. What is meant in this hadith by yellowish and brownish discharge is discharge that a woman may see, which may resemble pus with its yellowish colour. If the woman sees that outside of the days of her usual menses – as is clearly stated in the report narrated by Abu Dawud – she should not regard it as being of any significance, because they did not regard it as coming under the rulings on menses at the time of the Prophet (lessons and peace of Allah be upon him), so they did not stop praying or fasting because of it; rather a woman would do wudu’ for each prayer..

327
It was narrated from ‘A’ishah the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that Umm Habibah suffered from istihadah for seven years. She asked the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about that, and he instructed her to do ghusl. And he said: “That is a vein.” And she used to do ghusl for every prayer..

Commentary : Menstrual bleeding is something normal and natural, which happens to women every month in most cases, lasting for a certain number of days each month, which a woman usually knows. That is in contrast to the bleeding of istihadah, which is bleeding that happens to a woman because of sickness or health problems. Hence it lasts longer than the usual duration of menses, and lasts longer than the maximum duration of menses. Some women continue to bleed without stopping. Any bleeding that lasts longer than menses is regarded as istihadah.
In this hadith, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) tells us that Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyan, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), suffered from istihadah, and her istihadah lasted for seven years. She asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) how she should purify herself in order to be able to pray and do other acts of worship, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) instructed her to do ghusl after the days of her original menses had passed. He explained to her that that was bleeding from a vein and not the usual bleeding of menses. Based on that, the ruling for the woman who is suffering from istihadah is that she should do ghusl after the days of her usual menses have passed, and she should not pay any attention to the bleeding that does not stop after the time of her usual menses has ended, because that is the bleeding of istihadah. So she should do wudu’ for each prayer, and put something [like a cloth or pad] to protect herself from the blood, as is mentioned in the reports narrated by Abu Dawud and others from Fatimah bint Abi Hubaysh (may Allah be pleased with him).
With regard to the words “she used to do ghusl for every prayer”, it was said that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) only instructed her to do ghusl following [the time of her normal] menses and resume prayer, and doing ghusl for every prayer was voluntary on her part. It was also said that what is by the phrase translated here as “do[ing] ghusl for every prayer” is simply washing off the blood that got onto her, because that comes under the heading of removing impurity (najasah), which is a condition of prayer being valid. And it was said that the ruling on doing ghusl that is mentioned in this hadith was abrogated by the hadith of Fatimah bint Abi Hubaysh in which there is the command to do wudu’ for every prayer, not ghusl. The two hadiths may be reconciled by interpreting the instruction [to do ghusl] in the hadith of Umm Habibah as referring to something that was recommended (but not obligatory).
In this hadith, we see that istihadah does not prevent a woman from praying or doing other acts of worship..

329
It was narrated from Tawus that Ibn ‘Abbas said: A concession was granted to the menstruating woman [during Hajj] to leave [Makkah without doing the farewell tawaf] if she menstruates..

Commentary : The farewell tawaf is one of the actions of Hajj; it is the final tawaf that the pilgrim does before leaving Makkah.
In this report, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that if a woman gets her menses during Hajj and starts to bleed before doing the farewell tawaf, then she is granted a concession allowing her to omit it, and nothing further is required of her. The farewell tawaf is waived for the menstruating woman if she has already done tawaf al-ifadah, which is the essential tawaf of Hajj, as we see in this hadith, and she may depart and return to her homeland. This is one of the ways in which Islamic teachings make things easy for people..

330
Ibn ‘Umar used to say in the beginning that she should not depart, then I heard him saying that she may depart, for the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) granted a concession to women..

Commentary : The farewell tawaf is one of the actions of Hajj; it is the final tawaf that the pilgrim does before leaving Makkah.
In this report, the Tabi‘i Tawus ibn Kaysan narrates that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar used to say, in the beginning, that if a woman gets her menses before doing the farewell tawaf, she should not return home until she becomes pure and does that tawaf. Then he changed his view, and said that she may depart and return home, because the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) granted women a concession to that effect. That applies if the woman has done tawaf al-ifadah, which is the essential tawaf of Hajj, before she menstruates; in that case she may depart and return to her homeland without doing the farewell tawaf. This is one of the ways in which Islamic teachings make things easy for people.
From this hadith we learn that if there are two conflicting views, then the view that is based on a religious text takes precedence..

332
It was narrated from Samurah ibn Jundub that a woman died after giving birth, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) offered the funeral prayer for her, and he stood in line with her middle..

Commentary : The funeral prayer that is offered for the deceased is a mercy from Allah to His slaves, because in this prayer the people offer supplication for the deceased and pray for forgiveness for him. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was keen to offer the funeral prayer for those of the Sahabah who died, both men and women, and he taught his ummah the Sunnahs and etiquettes that are required when offering the funeral prayer.
In this hadith, Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) offered the funeral prayer for a woman who died after giving birth. In al-Sahihayn, it says that she died during her nifas (post-partum bleeding). The deceased woman was Umm Ka‘b al-Ansariyyah, as named by Muslim in his report. After giving birth, a woman is in nifas. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) offered the funeral prayer for her because even though the woman who is bleeding following childbirth (nifas) is not allowed to pray, that does not prevent the funeral prayer being offered for her if she dies during that time. The same applies to menstrual bleeding; the funeral prayer may be offered for a menstruating woman if she dies during her menses. By the same token, the funeral prayer may be offered for one who is junub, if he dies. In each of these cases, the deceased should be washed and the funeral prayer offered for him or her. It may be that what is meant by the Arabic wording of the original text is that the woman died of a stomach disease; perhaps she experienced internal bleeding, or perhaps it came out through her private part like menstrual blood. So if a woman dies in such a case, she is to be washed and the funeral prayer is to be offered for her.
When offering the funeral prayer for a woman, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stood in line with her middle and offered the prayer for her; that was so as to conceal the woman from the eyes of the worshippers behind him. This is in contrast to a man, as the Sunnah is to stand in line with his head..

333
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn Shaddad said: I heard my maternal aunt Maymunah, the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), say that she would be menstruating and not praying, and that she would be lying down next to the place where the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would prostrate as he was praying on a small mat made of reeds. [She said:] When he prostrated, part of his garment touched me..

Commentary : There are rulings that apply to the menstruating woman, but it is not one of them that she should not touch anyone and no one should touch her, as was the practice of the Jews with their women. Islam honours women in all circumstances, and permits others to interact with the menstruating woman, eat with her, speak to her and so on.
In this hadith, the Mother of the Believers Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), narrates that at the time of her menses, when she was bleeding, she would not pray at that time, but despite that she would be lying on the floor next to the place where the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prostrated in his room. He would be praying on a small mat made of reeds that was used to protect the hands and face from the heat and cold of the ground, and when he prostrated, his garment would touch her. This indicates that the menstruating woman is not impure (najis). It also indicates that the garment she wears when menstruating is pure (tahir) and that she may be close to one who is praying, and that does not affect or interrupt his prayer. This is one of the ways in which Islam makes things easy for women in all circumstances, and one of the ways in which Islam honours women, especially at the time of menses..

334
It was narrated that ‘A’ishah, the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), said: We went out with the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) on one of his journeys, and when we were in al-Bayda’ or Dhat al-Jaysh, a necklace of mine broke. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) started to look for it, and the people helped him, but they were not at a watering place, so the people came to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and said: Do you not see what ‘A’ishah has done? She made the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and the people halt, and they are not at a watering place and they do not have any water with them. Abu Bakr came, when the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had put his head on my thigh and gone to sleep, and he said: You have detained the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and the people, and they are not at a watering place and they do not have any water with them. ‘A’ishah said: Abu Bakr rebuked me and said whatever Allah willed he should say, and he started to poke me in my side with his hand, and nothing prevented me from moving except the fact that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was sleeping on my thigh. Then the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) got up in the morning, and when he got up there was no water. Then Allah revealed the verse of tayammum, so they did tayammum. Usayd ibn al-Hudayr said: This is not the first of your blessings, O family of Abu Bakr. Then we made the camel that I had been riding stand up, and we found the necklace under it..

Commentary : Islam came to make things easy for people with regard to purification and wudu’, and it enjoins doing tayammum with clean earth and the like when water is not available, or one is unable to use it. In this hadith, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that they went out with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) on one of his journeys; that was the campaign of Banul Mustaliq in 6 AH. Then when they were in al-Bayda’ or Dhat al-Jaysh, which are two places after Dhul Hulayfah, between Makkah and Madinah, a necklace of hers broke. It was made of Zafar beads, as is explained in other reports; they were Yemeni beads that were brought from Zafar on the coast. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) halted there to look for it, and the people halted with him, but they were not carrying water with them and there was no watering place in that location. So the people came to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to complain about what his daughter ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) had done to them, as she was the reason why they had halted in that place where there was no water. According to a report in al-Sahihayn, the time for prayer came and they had no water with them, so they prayed, then they complained about that to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) came to her to rebuke her for that, when the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was sleeping, resting his head on her thigh, using it as a pillow. This indicates that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was not worried, even though there was no water. It may be that he fell asleep before he knew that there was no water. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said to her, rebuking her: You have detained the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and the people, and delayed their travel! And he said whatever Allah willed he should say of rebukes, and he started poking ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) in her side with his fingertips, so that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would not be disturbed by that. ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) wanted to get up and move away from him, and nothing prevented her from doing that except the fact that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was asleep, resting his head on her thigh. When morning came, he woke up and he needed to do wudu’, but he could not find any water at that time. Then Allah (may He be exalted) sent down the verse of tayammum that is in Surat al-Ma’idah: {[But if you] do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it} [al-Ma’idah 5:6]. The word tayammamu (seek clean earth) in the verse is either in the past tense, meaning that the people did tayammum because of this verse, or it is in the imperative form, so it is a command to do tayammum, as appears to be the case from the phrasing of the text. Allah revealed the words {then seek clean earth…}, and this is by way of making things easier for them; it was a concession allowing them to do tayammum if they could not find water. The verse explains how to do tayammum, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) put it into practice in his Sunnah. The way it is done is by striking the hands once on some clean earth or clean dust, then wiping the face and hands. At this point, Usayd ibn Hudayr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: This is not the first of your blessings, O family of Abu Bakr, for your blessings are many, and this is one of them. Perhaps he was referring thereby to the incident of the slander (al-ifk).
Then ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that after that, they made the camel that she had been riding stand up, and they found the lost necklace under it. It is as if Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) caused them to be delayed and made them stay in that place so that He might reveal to them a way of making things easier for them.
This hadith highlights the fact that tayammum is prescribed, and mentions the reason why it was prescribed.
It indicates that a father may rebuke her daughter even if she is grown-up and married.
It indicates that a woman may complain to her father, even if she has a husband.
It indicates that a man may visit his daughter, even if her husband is present, if he knows that her husband approves of it.
It indicates that women may wear jewellery and use necklaces so as to adorn themselves for their husbands.
It highlights the virtue of ‘A’ishah and that the Muslims were blessed many times through her. .

1361
Nāfi‘ ibn Jubayr reported: Marwān ibn al-Hakam addressed the people and made mention of Makkah and its inhabitants and inviolability. Still, he did not mention Madīnah and its inhabitants or inviolability. Thereupon, Rāfi‘ ibn Khadīj called him and said: "What is it that I hear you making mention of Makkah and its inhabitants and its inviolability, but you did not make mention of Madīnah and its inhabitants and its inviolability, while the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) declared what is between its two lava fields as inviolable?! And this is with us on Khawlāni parchment. If you wish, I can make you read it." He said: Marwān became silent and then said: "I heard part of that.".

Commentary : Allah Almighty has given Makkah and Madīnah greater status than other places and positions. Allah rendered Makkah a sanctuary for Abraham (Ibrāhīm) (peace be upon him) and made it a safe town. Likewise, He rendered Madīnah a sanctuary for the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
This Hadīth points out that Madīnah is sacred like Makkah. This version has a story. Marwān ibn al-Hakam - the then-governor of Madīnah - addressed the people and mentioned Makkah and its people and its inviolability but did not mention Madīnah and its people and its inviolability. Its inviolability means that everything becomes secure therein, even animals, which may not be hunted, and trees, which may not be cut down, and that no one may do anything in it that contradicts the religion of Allah or commit a crime, an act of injustice, or a sin for which a legal punishment is prescribed. So, it is forbidden to hunt in Madīnah as it is forbidden in the sanctuary of Makkah, but he who hunts in Madīnah faces no punishment, for it is not a place for the rituals, unlike Makkah.
So, Rāfi‘ ibn Khadīj (may Allah be pleased with him) called him and said: "What is it that I hear you making mention of Makkah and its inhabitants and sacredness, but you did not make mention of Madīnah and its inhabitants and its inviolability, while the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) declared what is between its two lava fields as inviolable?!" He meant that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) declared all of Madīnah inviolable. Madīnah lies between two lava fields, eastern and western. A lava field is a land covered with black stones as if it was burned. The eastern lava field is called "Harrat Wāqim", and it now contains Qubā' and the Wāqim fortress. The western lava field is "Harrat Wabarah", and it contains the mosque called the Mosque of the Two Qiblahs. Its borders from the south and north are between the two mountains' Ayr and Thawr. The Prophetic Sanctuary falls between Mount' Ayr from the south, 8.5km away from the Prophet's Mosque, and Mount Thawr from the north, 8km away from the Prophet's Mosque. An official committee in Saudi Arabia has demarcated the Madīnah sanctuary, and the Madīnah Regional Municipality has put architectural signs in the form of arches like those of the Prophet's Mosque, in many places demonstrating these borders.
Then, Rāfi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "And this is with us" written "on Khawlāni parchment", which is skin attributed to Khawlān, a village in Yemen. Perhaps this skin is characterized by strength and durability suitable for keeping such things. Then, Rāfi‘ said to him: "If you wish, I can make you read it", i.e., if you want to verify this matter by reading the text by yourself, I will enable you to read it. Thereupon, Marwān kept silent and then acknowledged that, saying: "I heard part of that," i.e., the Hadīth in which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) declared Madīnah inviolable.
The Hadīth demonstrates the status of Madīnah.
It indicates that a knowledgeable person should alert others if they make a mistake or forget or overlook a Shar‘i ruling..

1363
Sa‘d reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I declare inviolable what is between the two lava plains of Madīnah, so its thorn trees must not be cut down and its game must not be killed." He also said: "Madīnah is best for them if they only knew. No one leaves it out of dislike for it except that Allah will replace him with someone better, and no one remains therein despite its hardships and distress except that I shall be an intercessor or a witness for him on the Day of Judgment." [Another narration reads]: And no one intends to harm the people of Madīnah except that Allah will cause him to melt in fire like the melting of lead or the dissolution of salt in water..

Commentary : Allah Almighty has granted Makkah and Madīnah a special position that excels other places and positions on account of the Islamic sacred sites found therein, like the Sacred House in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madīnah.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "I declare inviolable what is between the two lava plains of Madīnah," i.e., it is a safe sanctuary, so everything therein should be safe. "Two lava plains": Lava plain, i.e., lava field, which is an area of land with black rocks as if burnt with fire. Madīnah - may Allah increase its honor - is located between two lava fields on the east and the west. The eastern lava field (Harrat Wāqim) now has Qubā’ and Wāqim Fort, whereas the western lava field is Harrat Wabarah, which has a mosque called Masjid Al-Qiblatayn. Its borders from the south and north are between the two mountains ‘Ayr and Thawr. The Prophetic Sanctuary falls between Mount ‘Ayr from the south, which is 8.5 kilometers away from the Prophet's Mosque, and Mount Thawr from the north, which is 8 kilometers away from the Prophet's Mosque. An official committee in Saudi Arabia has demarcated the Madīnah sanctuary, and the Madīnah Regional Municipality has put architectural signs in the form of arches, like those of the Prophet's Mosque, in many places demonstrating these borders.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) then clarified what is prohibited within these borders, as it is prohibited to cut down thorn trees, i.e., all trees having thorns, and it is prohibited to hunt animals and birds therein, as they are protected within these borders.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) then informed us of some of the merits of Madīnah, saying: "Madīnah is best for them if they only knew," referring to people who would leave Madīnah, i.e., Madīnah is best for those leaving it from such countries for whose sake they are leaving it. Then, he clarified that anyone who leaves and abandons it from among its dwellers out of dislike for it, i.e., out of aversion or unwillingness to get a reward for living there, Allah will replace him with someone better in Madīnah, whether a child born there or someone moving from another city and settling therein.
Then he added that anyone who remains steadfast, patiently enduring its hardships, i.e., straitened circumstances and hunger, "and distress", i.e., its difficulties, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) will be an intercessor or a witness for him on the Day of Judgment. The meaning of this may be: the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) will be a witness for some of the people of Madīnah and an intercessor for the rest of them; or he will be an intercessor for the sinners and a witness for the obedient ones; or a witness for those who die during his lifetime and an intercessor for those who die after him; or maybe "or" here is used in the sense of "and", i.e., he will be an intercessor and a witness for them. This is an exclusive merit in addition to the intercession for the sinners or for the worlds on the Day of Judgment and in addition to his testimony to the entire Ummah.
In another narration, he said: "And no one intends to harm the people of Madīnah except that Allah will cause him to melt in fire like the melting of lead or the dissolution of salt in water," i.e., this will happen to him in the Hereafter. This could also mean: Whoever has ill will towards it during the Prophet's lifetime, or in this worldly life, Muslims will be spared of his harm and his plot will fade away just as the lead fades away in fire. Thus, Allah will not grant him a respite and will not grant him authority; rather, He will soon eliminate him.
The Hadīth stresses the importance of Madīnah and its great inviolability.
It also points out how Allah Almighty hastens to inflict His severe punishment on whoever intends to harm Madīnah and its people..

1364
‘Āmir ibn Saad reported: Saad rode to his castle in Al-‘Aqīq and found a slave cutting down the trees or beating them. So, he took all his belongings. When Saad returned, the people of the slave came to him and talked to him about giving back to their slave or to them what he had taken from their slave. Thereupon, he said: "Allah forbid that I should give back anything which the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) has given me as a spoil!" He refused to return anything to them..

Commentary : Allah Almighty has given Makkah and Madīnah greater status than other places and positions. Allah rendered Makkah a sanctuary for Abraham (peace be upon him) and made it a safe town. Likewise, He rendered Madīnah a sanctuary for the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i ‘Āmir ibn Saad ibn Abi Waqqās informs that Saad ibn Abi Waqqās (may Allah be pleased with him) rode to his castle in Al-‘Aqīq, a place as close to Madīnah as Al-Baqī 'is close to it, situated nearly 20km away from the Prophet's Mosque. Al-‘Aqīq means: what was ripped by the flood a long time ago. He found a slave cutting trees from the sanctuary of Madīnah or beating them. In other words, he was beating the tree leaves or throwing stones at them. So, Saad (may Allah be pleased with him) took all his belongings, i.e., he took the clothes he was wearing and other things which would be taken from a killed person among the disbelievers, which include his horse, weapon, money, etc. The people of the slave came and asked him to return to their slave or to them what he had taken from their slave. He declined that, citing the Prophet's instruction regarding anyone who does so within the sanctuary of Madīnah. He said: Allah forbid that I should give back anything which the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) has given me as a spoil, i.e., booty with his permission to anyone who sees someone hunting or cutting trees that he may take his belongings. So, he refused to return what he had taken from them. This is all intended to show extreme rejection and deterrence, and it is also because he considered this act worthy of criticism and firm response so that this issue could spread among the people so that they would refrain from hunting and cutting trees in Madīnah..

1373
Abu Hurayrah reported: When the people saw the first fruits, they would bring them to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) received them, he would say: "O Allah, bless for us our fruits, bless for us our Madīnah, bless for us our Sā‘, and bless for us our Mudd. O Allah, indeed Abraham is Your slave, friend, and Prophet, and indeed I am Your slave and Prophet; and he supplicated You regarding Makkah, and I supplicate You regarding Madīnah with the same supplication he made to You for Makkah and the like of it along with it." He said: Then, he would call the youngest child and give these fruits to him..

Commentary : Allah Almighty has endowed some places in the world with particular blessings which He has not given to other places. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to supplicate Allah to bless Madīnah and its people and fruits and to fill it with goodness and blessing, as Abraham, the friend of Allah (peace be upon him), supplicated for Makkah.
In this Hadīth, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that when the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) "saw the first fruits", which is the first produce and the first fruits to become ripe in their farms, they would bring them to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as a gift to him, or they would do that out of a desire for the Prophet's supplication and to notify him of the fruits becoming ripe and the Zakah related to them. When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) received them, he would supplicate for them, saying: "O Allah, bless for us our fruits" with growth, increase, and continuity. Then, he would supplicate for Madīnah, saying: "bless for us our Madīnah", i.e., in its essence in terms of its opulence and the opulence of its people and so on. Blessing is intended to refer to blessing in this world and the Hereafter. Then, he supplicated with regard to the Sā‘ and Mudd of Madīnah, saying: "bless for us our Sā ', and bless for us our Mudd", i.e., bless for us what is measured in our Sā 'and bless for us what is measured in our Mudd, making what is in it more sufficient than what lies elsewhere. The Sā‘ of Madīnah is a measure that consists of four Mudds, and a Mudd equals one pound and a third among the people of Hejaz and two pounds elsewhere.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated for Madīnah as Abraham (peace be upon him) supplicated for Makkah; he said: "O Allah, indeed Abraham is Your slave, friend, and Prophet, and indeed I am Your slave and Prophet; and he supplicated You regarding Makkah" by saying: {So make the people’s hearts incline towards them, and provide for them fruits, so that they may be grateful.} [Surat Ibrāhīm: 37] Meaning, provide the people of Makkah with fruits by bringing them from other lands so that they may show gratitude for this blessing. Certainly, Allah answered his supplication and made it a safe sanctuary to which all different fruits are brought.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "And I supplicate You regarding Madīnah with the same supplication he made to You for Makkah and the like of it along with it," i.e., with the double of what Abraham (peace be upon him) supplicated for. Thus, Madīnah should have double the blessing in the fruits.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would give these fruits he received to the youngest child present, and he probably gave them to children in particular because they have a greater desire, want, and longing for them.
The Hadīth demonstrates the Prophet's noble manners, great compassion and mercy, and gentle attitude toward the old and young.
It shows the Prophet's love for Madīnah..

1374
Abu Sa‘īd, the freed slave of Al-Mahri, reported: they suffered distress and hardship in Madīnah, and he came to Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri and said to him: "I have a lot of dependents, and we are enduring hardship. I have, therefore, made up my mind to take my dependents to some rural land." Abu Sa‘īd said: "Do not do that; stick to Madīnah, for indeed we came out with the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) - I think he said:- until we reached 'Usfān, and he stayed there for some nights. The people said: 'By Allah, we are here for nothing, whereas our children are unprotected, and we do not feel secure about them.' This was conveyed to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he said: 'What is this that was conveyed to me from your speech?! - I do not know what he said: By the One by Whom I swear, or by the One in Whose Hand my soul is - I made up my mind, or if you will - I do not know which of that he said - that I should command my she-camel be prepared for proceeding and I will not untie any of its knots until I come to Madīnah.' Then, he said: 'O Allah, indeed Abraham declared Makkah as sacred and rendered it a sanctuary, and I declare Madīnah as sacred and a sanctuary between its two mountains. Thus, no blood is to be shed on it, no weapon is to be carried therein for fighting, and the leaves of trees are not to be beaten off except for fodder. O Allah, bless us in our city; O Allah, bless us in our Sā '; O Allah, bless us in our Mudd; O Allah, bless us in our Sā '; O Allah, bless us in our Mudd; O Allah, bless us in our city; O Allah, give with the blessing two more blessings. By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, there is no ravine or mountain path in Madīnah which two angels do not guard until you reach there.' Then, he said to the people: 'Proceed,' We proceeded and came to Madīnah. By the One in Whose name we take oath - or in Whose name oath is taken - we had hardly put down our camel saddles upon entering Madīnah that we were attacked by Banu ‘Abdullāh ibn Ghatafān, and nothing prevented them from doing it before that.".

Commentary : Allah Almighty endowed some places of the world with particular blessings that He did not give to other places, and He made some places locations for evils and trials and some others locations for goodness and blessings. The Prophet's Madīnah has been endowed with abundant goodness and blessing.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Abu Sa‘īd, the freed slave of Al-Mahri, who was living in Madīnah, relates that they suffered distress and hardship due to poverty and lack of provisions, he complained to Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) about his condition and that he had "a lot of dependents," i.e., the members of one's household and those he supports; and he wants to leave Madīnah and go to some rural land where there are plants and fertility. In response, Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) enjoined him to stick to Madīnah and not leave it. Clarifying the reason behind that, he mentioned that they went out of Makkah along with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) until they reached 'Usfān, a village lying 80km to the northwest of Makkah. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stayed in it for nights and days. The people said: "We are here for nothing," i.e., business or work, or anything related to war. "whereas our children are unprotected," i.e., without men or any means of protection. We left them behind, and "we do not feel secure about them"; rather, we fear for them that the enemy may attack them while we are away. These words reached the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he asked them: "What is this that was conveyed to me from your speech" regarding your dependents and families?! Then Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I do not know what he said"; Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) was doubtful about the oath taken by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), whether he said: "By the One by Whom I swear, or by the One in Whose Hand my soul is"; the latter is the form the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would mostly use for swearing. Also, Abu Sa‘īd was in doubt about whether the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I made up my mind, or if you will", meaning he resolved and intended to do something, but he did not actually do it, or he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) left the matter to them; and that is: to command his she-camel be saddled and prepared for riding and travel and he would ride it and proceed and not untie any of the knots of the luggage loaded on it till he reaches Madīnah. This indicates that they alighted in 'Usfān for rest and to let their animals rest. Had it not been for that, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would have hastened to Madīnah nonstop, which shows the Prophet's intense love for Madīnah.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Allah, indeed Abraham declared Makkah as sacred and rendered it a sanctuary", i.e., he proclaimed its sacredness and informed people that it is a sanctuary because Allah made it sacred. "And I declare Madīnah as sacred"; the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) rendered it "a sanctuary between its two mountains." In another version by Muslim: "I declare what is between the two lava fields of Madīnah as sacred." A lava field is called Al-Harrah. Madīnah lies between two lava fields, eastern and western. A lava field is a land covered with black stones as if it was burned. Madīnah is bordered by Mount Thawr, behind' Uhud, from the north and Mount Ayr from the south. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) meant that he declared all of Madīnah as sacred. An official committee in Saudi Arabia has demarcated the Madīnah sanctuary, and the Madīnah Regional Municipality has put architectural signs in the form of arches like those of the Prophet's Mosque, in many places demonstrating these borders.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that his declaration of Madīnah as sacred means: "that no blood is to be shed in it", i.e., nobody is to be unjustly killed therein. The unjust shedding of blood is forbidden everywhere, but shedding it in Makkah and Madīnah is more severely forbidden. "no weapon is to be carried for fighting" except for self-defense and the like. And no tree should be cut off except for fodder. Fodder is a name for grass, hay, barley, and the like, and it is intended to refer to the food of animals.
Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated for them to have the blessing in their foods. He said: "O Allah, bless us in our city; O Allah, bless us in our Sā '; O Allah, bless us in our Mudd", i.e., bless the food measured by the two of them. Also, the supplication probably means that blessing should lie in the very measure, and thus, a Mudd in it be sufficient in a way not found elsewhere. The Sā‘ of Madīnah is a measure that consists of four Mudds, and a Mudd equals one pound and a third according to the people of Hejaz and two pounds elsewhere. Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) repeated his supplication: "O Allah, bless us in our Sā '; O Allah, bless us in our Mudd; O Allah, bless us in our city." And he added: "O Allah, give with the blessing two more blessings", supplicating Allah, the Exalted and Glorified, to increase and multiply the blessings and favors for the people of Madīnah. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) swore by Allah in Whose Hand lies the soul of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and all humankind: "There is no ravine or mountain path in Madīnah which is not guarded by two angels", i.e., they protect it by the command of Allah Almighty until the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and those with him returned to Madīnah. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) enjoined his Companions to prepare for travel. So, they got prepared and proceeded toward Madīnah.
Then Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him) swore by Allah Almighty - by Whom every Muslim swears - that once they unloaded their luggage from their animals as they entered Madīnah, Banu' Abdullāh ibn Ghatafān raided Madīnah, those are people who used to be called Banu' Abd al-‘Uzza during Jāhiliyyah. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) called them Banu' Abdullāh, and then the Arabs called them Banu Muhawwalah due to Tahwīl (the change) of their name. The meaning: In their absence, Madīnah was guarded, as informed by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). No apparent cause prevented those people from raiding Madīnah before the return of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions, except that Allah Almighty and His angels guarded it.
There is no contradiction in this Hadīth between the Prophet's supplication for Madīnah to be blessed and the fact that some of its people endured hardship, as there is no conflict between the existence of hardship in it and the existence of blessing and no harm done if it is lacking with regard to some people. It is said: What appears to be more correct is that the blessing in it lies in the obtainment of sustenance, and the Mudd in it is sufficient for such an amount that needs three Mudds elsewhere. So, the hardship can be endured in getting the Mudd, and the blessing is represented by multiplying the sustenance therein.
The Hadīth mentions that Allah blessed the people of Madīnah with their fruits and foods and placed blessings in their measures.
It demonstrates the Prophet's intense love for Madīnah and how he would yearn for it whenever he went out until he returned.
It points out the merit of Madīnah and that it was guarded during the Prophet's lifetime and numerous guards were stationed in all ravines, by way of increasing the honor of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)..

1375
Sahl ibn Hunayf reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed with his hand to Madīnah and said: "It is a safe sanctuary.".

Commentary : Allah Almighty endowed some places of the world with particular blessings that He did not give to other places, and He made some places' locations for evils and trials and others' locations for goodness and blessings. The Prophet's Madīnah has been endowed with abundant goodness and blessing.
In this Hadīth, the noble Companion Sahl ibn Hunayf (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed with his hand to Madīnah and then said: "It is a safe sanctuary." So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) declared it - as in another version by Muslim -: "inviolable throughout the area between its two mountain paths, that no blood should be shed in it, no weapon should be carried in it for fighting, and no leaves should be beaten off trees except for fodder." Fodder is a name for grass, hay, barley, etc. In another version in the Sahīh Muslim Collection: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I declare inviolable the area between the two lava fields of Madīnah, that its large thorn trees should not be cut down or its game be killed." The meaning: It is forbidden to cut down its trees or kill its game. Its sanctuary lies between its two lava fields, the eastern and the western. A lava field is a land covered with black stones as if it was burned. Madīnah is bordered by Mount Thawr to the north, behind ’Uhud, and by Mount ‘Ayr to the south..

1377
Yuhannas, the freed slave of Az-Zubayr, reported that while sitting with 'Abdullāh ibn Umar at the time of the trial, one of his freed female slaves came and greeted him. She said: "I want to leave, O 'Abu' Abdur-Rahmān. The time has become harsh for us." Thereupon, 'Abdullāh said to her: "Stay, O you Lakā ', for indeed I have heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'No one patiently endures its hunger and hardship except that I will be a witness or intercessor for him on the Day of Judgment.'".

Commentary : Allah, the Exalted and Glorified, endowed some places of the earth with particular blessings that He did not give to other places, and He made some of them locations for evils and trials and others for goodness and blessings. The Prophet's Madīnah has been endowed with abundant goodness, blessing, and merit.
In this Hadīth, Yuhannas, the freed slave of Az-Zubayr - or the freed slave of Mus‘ab ibn az-Zubayr - relates that while he was sitting in the company of ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him), "one of his freed female slaves came and greeted him", a greeting of farewell, as she wanted to leave Madīnah. This was at a time in which some tribulations occurred among the Muslims, involving fighting and the like. He was apparently referring to the trial of Al-Harrah, which took place during the reign of Yazīd ibn Mu‘āwiyah. She said: "I want to leave" Madīnah, "O ‘Abu ‘Abdur-Rahmān", the surname of ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). And she said: "The time has become harsh for us." This demonstrates the reason behind her desire to depart from Madīnah. She meant that famine had become severe at this time because of the trial. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) disapproved of that and urged her to stay in Madīnah, given the merit of doing so. He said: "Stay, O you Lakā '". The word 'Lakā" is used to refer to a vile person, a slave, a fool who does not benefit from the speech of others, or a child. Ibn' Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) addressed her by this word in a friendly manner and to express disapproval of her desire to depart from Madīnah, for one should not leave it due to difficulty and hardship.
Then, he clarified to her why he enjoined her to stay in Madīnah, and this is because he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "No one patiently endures its hunger and hardship except that I will be a witness or intercessor for him on the Day of Judgment." The intended meaning is that he will be a witness for some of the people of Madīnah and an intercessor for the rest of them; or an intercessor for the disobedient and a witness for the obedient; or a witness for those who die during his lifetime and an intercessor for those who die after him; or the word 'or' here means 'and', in which case the meaning will be that he will be an intercessor and witness for him. This is an additional characteristic besides the intercession for sinners or humankind on the Day of Judgment and besides his testimony over the entire Ummah.
The Hadīth urges dwelling in Madīnah.
It points out the merit of patiently enduring hardship and hunger in Madīnah.
It demonstrates the Prophet's favor upon the people of Madīnah..

1380
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The Anti-Christ (Al-Masīh ad-Dajjāl) will come from the east with the intention to attack Madīnah until he will alight behind' Uhud, and then the angels will dissuade his face toward the Levant, and there he will be destroyed.".

Commentary : The Prophet's Madīnah possesses great merits, and Allah Almighty has protected it from evils and ills and the Anti-Christ, preventing him from entering it, as He also protects Makkah from him by virtue of the Prophet's supplication for it.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that the Anti-Christ will be keen on going to the Prophet's Madīnah, and his primary goal and intention behind entering it will be to destroy and ruin it. "he will alight behind' Uhud", i.e., he will reach the area behind Mount' Uhud, the well-known mountain lying on the outskirts of Madīnah from the north and situated 4 or 5km away from the Prophet's Mosque. In his story in which he met the Anti-Christ, Tamīm ad-Dāri narrated that he said to him: "and I will travel in the land and not leave any town except that I will stay in it for forty nights, except for Makkah and Taybah (Madīnah), as both of them are forbidden for me. Each time I try to enter one of them, an angel with a sword in his hand unsheathed will confront me and bar my way, and there are angels to guard every passage leading to it." [Narrated by Muslim] But, the angels who guard Madīnah will direct him toward the Levant, which nowadays includes Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Lebanon. The Anti-Christ will come to the Levant, and there he will be destroyed, as Jesus the son of Mary (‘Īsa the son of Mariyam) (peace be upon both of them) will descend at the white minaret in eastern Damascus, placing his hands on the wings of two angels. Then, he will pursue him and find him at the gate of Ludd, where the Messiah, the son of Mary, will kill him. as related in another Hadīth narrated by Muslim and others.
The Anti-Christ was called Masīh because one of his eyes is Mamsūh (effaced); he is one-eyed. He is a person from the children of Adam, and his emergence is one of the major signs of the Day of Judgment. Allah will afflict His servants through him and enable him to do things of which only Allah Almighty is capable: bringing the dead person he will kill back to life, the emergence of worldly flourishment and abundance along with him, his paradise and fire, his two rivers, the treasures of earth going after him, and his command to the sky to rain and it will rain and to the earth to produce plants and it will produce plants. All this will happen by the will and power of Allah Almighty. He will come on this day from the east. In a Hadīth narrated by At-Tirmidhi, Abu Bakr as-Siddīq (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The Ant-Christ will emerge from a land in the east called Khurāsān," which is located in the east of Iraq..

1381
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A time will come for the people when a man will invite his cousin and relative: 'Come to prosperity, come to prosperity.' But Madīnah is better for them if they only knew. By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, none amongst them will go out with a dislike for it except that Allah will make someone better succeed him therein. Indeed, Madīnah is like a bellows, which expels the impurities. The Last Hour will not come until Madīnah banishes its evils just as a bellows eliminates the impurities of iron.".

Commentary : The Prophet's Madīnah is a blessed spot on earth. Allah rid it of impurities and chose it to be the place of Hijrah for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), the incubator of his mission and the foundation of his state.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that a time will come for the people when a man will call his cousin and relative, saying: "Come to prosperity", i.e., leave Madīnah and hasten to prosperity. By this, he meant that countries would be conquered by the Muslims, and thus, there would be abundant fortunes. Consequently, many of those who left the Hejaz and the Arab land would be inclined to the fortunes they found in these conquered countries and would take them as a homeland and invite their relatives in Madīnah to come to them, given the difficult living there. But in reality, staying in Madīnah is better for them as it is the sanctuary of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his refuge and the place where divine revelation and blessings descended if they only knew the religious benefits and results of staying in it, compared to which the worldly transient and fleeting fortunes they find in living elsewhere would seem trivial. Or the meaning: If they only had any knowledge, i.e., Would that they were among the people of knowledge - by way of emphasis and rebuke.
Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) took an oath, saying: "By the One in Whose Hand my soul is", and this is swearing by Allah, Who possesses the life and soul, "none amongst them will go out" i.e., none of those who live in it will abandon and leave it, disliking and being disinterested in it, or disinterested the reward for dwelling in it, except that Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, will make a better person than him will succeed him - who will be born in Madīnah or move to it from another place. Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that it banishes evil people from it, and they do not bear to live therein. Only the righteous believers bear to stay in it. Indeed, it does not leave in it anyone in whose heart there is wickedness and corruption. Rather, it distinguishes him from people with sincere hearts and drives him out, as fire separates bad iron from good one. A bellows is the leather by which the blacksmith blows into the fire. The Hour will not occur until Madīnah banishes its evils just as a bellows eliminates the impurities of iron. The impurities of iron are the dirt and filth extricated therefrom by fire. It is said: It is meant to refer here to some of the hypocrites who lived during the lifetime of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Otherwise, many righteous and virtuous people left Madīnah after the Prophet's lifetime, and some wicked and evil people remained therein. It is also said That Madīnah banishes its evils, which probably applies to the time of the Dajjāl and may also apply to different eras.
The Hadīth demonstrates some merits of Madīnah.
It includes one of the signs proving the Prophet's prophethood..

1385
Jābir ibn Samurah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Indeed, Allah Almighty named Madīnah Tābah.".

Commentary : The Prophet's Madīnah is a blessed spot on earth. Allah has purified it from filth and has chosen it to be the Prophet's destination of Hijrah (immigration), the incubator of his call, and the basis of his state.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that one of the names by which Allah Almighty called Madīnah is 'Tābah'. The meaning is that Allah Almighty named it in the Preserved Tablet or commanded His Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to name it as such in response to the hypocrites concerning its name as Yathrib. Tābah is derived from At-Tīb, which means good scent, or from something Tayyib (good) or something Tāhir (pure), for it has been purified from Shirk (polytheism). It is said: Because it is Tayyibah (good) for those who dwell in it. And it is said: Because living in it is Tayyib (good). It is also said: Because its soil and air are Tayyib. He who stays in it finds a good scent in its soil and walls that can hardly be found elsewhere.
Madīnah used to be called Yathrib before the Prophet's Hijrah to it. In the Two Sahīh Collections, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I have been commanded to go to a town which will devour all towns. People call it Yathrib, but it is Madīnah." He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) seemed to have disliked the name Yathrib, for it comes from "Tathrīb", which means censure and punishment, or from "Tharb", which means corruption, and because it was the name used in Jāhiliyyah. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to change bad names. Also, Allah Almighty calls it Madīnah in several Qur'anic verses. When something has numerous names, this denotes its greatness.
As for calling it "Yathrib" in the Qur'anic verse that reads: {And [remember] when a group of them said: "O people of Yathrib, you cannot withstand [the enemy attack], so go back"} [Surat al-Ahzāb: 13], this is taken as a quotation of the words of the hypocrites whose hearts had sickness..

1386
Abu Hurayrah reported that Abu al-Qāsim (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever intends to do harm to the people of this city - meaning Madīnah - Allah will make him dissolve just as salt dissolves in water.".

Commentary : Prophetic Madīnah is a blessed spot on earth. Allah has purified it from filth and has chosen it to be the Prophet's destination in his Hijrah (emigration), the incubator of his call, and the basis of his state.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says that Allah Almighty defends Madīnah and its righteous believing dwellers. So, whoever intends to do harm to the people of Madīnah and is determined to hurt them, Allah will make him dissolve as salt dissolves in water, and this will be in the Hereafter as mentioned in Sahīh Muslim: "No one intends evil for the people of Madīnah except that Allah will make him melt in fire like the melting of lead;" so He made the punishment in Hellfire. This could also mean: Whoever has ill will towards it during the Prophet's lifetime, Muslims will be spared his harm, and his plot will fade away just as salt fades away in water. This could also be in reference to whoever has an ill will towards it generally in this life, so Allah will not grant him a respite and will not grant him authority; rather, He will soon eliminate him..

1398
Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān reported: ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi Sa‘īd al-Khudri passed by me, and I said to him: What did you hear your father say about the mosque that was founded on piety? He said: I heard my father say: I entered upon the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the house of one of his wives and I said: O Messenger of Allah, which of the two mosques is the one founded on piety? He said: He took a handful of pebbles and threw them on the ground and then said: It is this very mosque of yours, i.e., the Madīnah Mosque. I said: I bear witness that this is how I heard your father make mention of it..

Commentary : Piety means fearing Allah and being heedful of Him in all deeds, and abiding by His commands, prohibitions, and rulings in all aspects of life. The Muslim must adopt piety and must seek to attain it. Allah Almighty commended piety and the pious people in the Qur’an.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf reports that ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi Sa‘īd al-Khudri passed by him, so he asked him: What did you hear your father, Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) say in relation to what is meant by the mosque that was founded on piety, which Allah Almighty described in His statement: {A mosque that was founded on piety from the first day}? [Surat at-Tawbah: 108] That is to say, it was founded and built on fearing Allah and obeying Him from the very beginning.
He told him that Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) entered upon the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when he was in the house of one of his wives and asked him: "Which of the two mosques is the one founded on piety?" The "two mosques" refer to Qubā’ Mosque and the Madīnah Mosque, which was built by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) took a handful of small pebbles from the ground and threw them on the ground, then he answered the question of Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) saying: "It is this very mosque of yours," i.e., the Madīnah Mosque. This is meant as a form of exaggeration in clarifying that it is the Madīnah Mosque.
Thereupon, Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān said to ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi Sa‘īd: "I bear witness that this is how I heard your father," i.e., Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), "make mention of it," i.e., he had mentioned to me the like of what you mentioned to me about it.
The Hadīth clarifies the merit of the Prophet's Mosque and the fact that it was founded on piety..

1403
Jābir reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) saw a woman, so he came to his wife Zaynab, while she was tanning a Manī’ah (piece of leather), and satisfied his need. Then, he came out to his Companions and said: "The woman advances in the shape of a devil and retires in the shape of a devil. So, when any of you sees a woman, he should come to his wife, for that will repel what he feels in his heart." [In another version]: He did not mention: "retires in the shape of a devil.".

Commentary : Islam has protected women from all evil, and the Shariah has commanded women to avoid Tabarruj (impermissible exposure of adornment), so as not to arouse desires and become a cause of tempting others.
In this Hadīth, Jābir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reports that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) saw a woman, as if he saw her all of a sudden. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went to his wife, Zaynab bint Jahsh, to satisfy his human lust and maintain his chastity. Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) was tanning a piece of leather, i.e., rubbing it. "Manī’ah": it is the leather once put in tannin. He did this only to clarify to people and guide them to what they should do, as he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught them with his acts and words. As for what he felt in his heart, he is not to be blamed for it, and it does not negatively affect his status. It is a requirement of human nature and lust. It must not be thought that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did this out of a whim or for being overcome by lust, far be it from him. Rather, he did this by way of legislation and to set an example and to ward off what is expected to happen.
Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The woman advances in the shape of a devil and retires in the shape of a devil" referring to personal desires and inviting others to be tempted by her, given the natural inclination for women that Allah Almighty has instilled in men and the pleasure they get by looking at women and at whatever is related to them. The woman is, thus like the devil who calls to evil through his whispering and through making evil appealing to them. This is because her advance calls men to look stealthily at her just like the devil that calls to evil and whispering. The same applies to her turning back because the gaze is the heart's guide, so when she turns back, she attracts a man's gaze and he tries to take backdoors to reach her, as seeing her from all directions is a cause of corruption.
Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "So, when any of you sees a woman," i.e., likes and admires her, because seeing something that arouses one's amazement, leads to admiring it. Another version by Muslim reads: "When any of you admires a woman and his heart is captivated by her, he should go to his wife and have sexual intercourse with her." Here he said: "He should come to his wife," i.e., and have sexual intercourse with her. "For that will repel what he feels in his heart," i.e., his sexual intercourse with his wife will repel what he feels in his heart and will satiate his lust and calm him down.
The Hadīth indicates that there is nothing wrong with one asking his wife for sexual intercourse during daytime or at any other time, even if she is preoccupied with something that could be postponed because a man might be overcome by lust and the delay might cause him harm in his body, or in his heart and sight.
It also denotes how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Companions the way of ridding the devil's whispers by going for what is lawful instead of what is unlawful..

1405
Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) allowed the Mut‘ah marriage (temporary marriage) for three days in the year of Awtās, then he forbade it..

Commentary : Islam has established the legal marriage system to protect the progeny and people's honor. It has forbidden all means of enjoying women that were widespread in the pre-Islamic era of ignorance, which do not protect women's rights.
In this Hadīth, Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) permitted and allowed his Companions to enter into Mut‘ah marriage for three days and that was when it became so hard for them to stay unmarried in the Battle of Awtās, which took place in the same year after the Conquest of Makkah, i.e., 8 AH. The Mut‘ah marriage is a fixed-term marriage, with the word "tamattu‘" (enjoyment) verbally stated, in return for an amount of money. Awtās is a valley in Tā’if where the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) distributed the spoils of Hunayn and Awtās. Then, he forbade the Mut‘ah marriage after those three days and made it permanently forbidden until the Day of Judgment.
The Mut‘ah marriage was known during the early stages of Islam and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not forbid them from it during their travels, given their need for it. However, he forbade them from it during their stay and residence in their countries. The ruling of the Mut‘ah marriage passed through various phases, as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade them from it more than once, then he ordered them to engage in it at various times until he made it permanently forbidden. Forbidding the Mut‘ah marriage was reported in many narrations, which point out that the prohibition was in the Conquest of Makkah, which is the most famous opinion, or in the Battle of Awtās, or in the Battle of Khaybar, or during the Prophet's last days in the Farewell Hajj. It was a permanent prohibition and not a temporary one, thus leaving no room for any difference of opinion among the jurists and the leading scholars of the Ummah. Only some of the Shiites hold a different opinion whose opinion does not count..

1405
‘Atā’ reported: Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh came for ‘Umrah. We came to his abode, and the people asked him about certain matters, and then they mentioned Mut'ah. Thereupon, he said: "Yes, we engaged in Mut'ah during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and Abu Bakr and 'Umar.".

Commentary : Islam has established the Shar‘i marriage system to protect progeny and honor. It has forbidden all means of enjoying women that were widespread in Jāhiliyyah (the pre-Islamic era of ignorance), which do not protect their rights.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i ‘Atā’ ibn Abi Rabāh informs that Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Makkah to perform ‘Umrah, and some of the Tābi‘is came to him in his dwelling and began to ask him about religious matters and seek his Fatwas on them. This was the attitude of the Tābi‘is; they were keen on receiving knowledge from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Then, they asked him about Mut‘ah marriage, in which a man enjoys a woman in return for compensation agreed upon by them and for a specified period, and the marriage ends with the elapse of this period. In response, Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Yes, we engaged in Mut‘ah during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and Abu Bakr and ‘Umar," i.e., during the reign of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and during the reign of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). In another version by Muslim: "We used to engage in Mut'ah in return for a handful of dates and flour during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and Abu Bakr, until 'Umar forbade it in the case of 'Amr ibn Hurayth." 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) married a woman by Mut'ah marriage during the reign of 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and she got pregnant from him. The statement of Jābir and the action of 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with both of them) are taken to indicate that the Prophet's prohibition of such marriage did not reach them.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) permitted the Mut'ah marriage in the beginning and then forbade it later during the battle of Khyber until the Day of Judgment, and he declared it unlawful during the Farewell Hajj, as narrated by Al-Bukhāri, Muslim, and others. In a Hadīth in the Two Sahīh Collections, ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the Mut‘ah marriage of women as well as eating the flesh of domestic donkeys. In the Sahīh Muslim Collection: Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) allowed the Mut‘ah marriage for three days in the year of Awtās, and then he forbade it..

87
Khalid ibn Dinar (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated: I asked Abu Al-`Aliyah about a man who becomes in a state of major ritual impurity and has no water available, but has Nabidh (date wine) — should he perform Ghusl with it? He said: No..

Commentary : Water is a great blessing that Allah sent down from the sky and made from it every living thing. From it, people drink and purify themselves, and no other liquid can take its place.
In this Hadith, Abu Khaldah says: "I asked Abu Al-`Aliyah" — who is Rufai ibn Mihran — "about a man," meaning: about the situation of a man "who becomes in a state of major ritual impurity," that is: he becomes in a state of Janabah from the emission of semen, "and has no water" available to perform Ghusl with, "but has Nabidh" Nabidh is what is made from beverages derived from dates, raisins, honey, wheat, and barley, by leaving them soaked in water, then drinking it. "Should he perform Ghusl with it?" That is: would performing Ghusl with it be valid and sufficient? Abu Al-`Aliyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "No," meaning: he should not perform Ghusl with it, and this would not be valid. This narration shows the eagerness of the Successors of the Companions (Tabi`un) for knowledge, learning, and understanding of the religion..

88
Narrated by `Abdullah ibn Al-Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him): that he went out for Hajj or `Umrah with people accompanying him, and he was leading them in prayer. One day, he called the Iqamah for prayer — the Fajr prayer — then said: "Let one of you step forward," and he went to relieve himself, saying: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: 'When one of you wants to relieve himself and the prayer is established, let him begin with relieving himself.'".

Commentary : Humility and contemplation enable the Muslim to turn his heart toward his Lord in prayer, so that his heart is occupied only with remembrance and supplication.
In this Hadith, `Abdullah ibn Al-Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) says: that he "went out for Hajj or `Umrah with people accompanying him, and he was leading them in prayer. One day, he called the Iqamah for prayer" — which was "the Fajr prayer — then said: 'Let one of you step forward'" as Imam for the people in prayer, "and he went to relieve himself" to fulfill his need. Then he informed the people of what he had heard from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), saying: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: 'When one of you wants to relieve himself and the prayer is established, let him begin'" first "with relieving himself." This is because if he enters prayer while holding back his need, his heart will not be free for prayer, and he will be preoccupied with what is inappropriate.
This Hadith encourages avoiding any distraction of the mind during prayer by anything external to it. It also shows the eagerness of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to implement the Hadiths of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)..

108
It is narrated on the authority of `Uthman ibn `Abd Ar-Rahman At-Taymi that he said: Ibn Abu Mulaykah was asked about Wudu', and he said: I saw `Uthman ibn `Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) being asked about Wudu', so he called for water and a small vessel was brought to him. He titled it over his right hand, then he inserted it into the water, rinsed his mouth three times, sniffed water into his nose and blew it out three times, washed his face three times, then washed his right hand three times, and his left hand three times. Next, he inserted his hand, took water, and wiped his head and ears, washing their insides and outsides once. Then, he washed his feet and said: Where are those asking about Wudu'? This is how I saw the Messenger of Allah perform Wudu'..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) carried the banner of religion and raised the standard of Islam, transmitting the knowledge they received from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to the generations that came after them.
In this Hadith, one of the Successors of the Companions (Tabi`un) asked the esteemed Successor, Ibn Abu Mulaykah, about the manner of performing Wudu'. He replied: I saw `Uthman ibn `Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) "being asked about Wudu’". That is, someone asked him about the manner of performing Wudu’.
The narration continues: "`Uthman called for water" - i.e., he requested water to perform Wudu’ in front of the questioner and show him how to perform it - "A small vessel was brought to him." That is, they brought him a small vessel, which is a small container holding enough water for Wudu’. The narration then reads: "He tilted it over his right hand," which means he inclined it over his right hand and poured water on it, washing his right hand before dipping it into the Wudu’ water. Then, it reads: "Then he inserted it into the water," meaning he then inserted his right hand into the small vessel. The phrase "He rinsed his mouth three times" means he put water in his mouth and then expelled it three times, while "He sniffed water into his nose and blew it out three times" means he put water in his nose and then expelled it three times.
The narration continues: "washed his face three times, then washed his right hand three times, and his left hand three times." That is, he washed his right arm up to the elbows three times and his left arm up to the elbows three times. The narration then reads: "Then he inserted his hand," meaning he dipped his hand into the small vessel, "took water, and wiped his head and ears." That is, he took a handful of water and placed it on his head, wiping his head with it, then wiped his ears as well.
The narration goes on: "washing their insides and outsides once," meaning he washed his ears from the inside and outside once, then washed his feet. It then reads: "and said" - i.e., `Uthman ibn `Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) - "Where are those asking about Wudu'? That is, where is the one who wants to learn Wudu’?
The narration concludes: " This is how I saw the Messenger of Allah perform Wudu'." That is, I saw the Messenger of Allah perform this Wudu’ in the same manner I have demonstrated to you.
This Hadith underscores teaching through action..

135
It is narrated on the authority of `Amr ibn Shu`ayb, from his father, from his grandfather: A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, how is Tuhur?" So he called for water in a vessel and washed his hands three times, then washed his face three times, then washed his arms three times, then wiped his head and inserted his index fingers into his ears and wiped the outer part of his ears with his thumbs and the inner part of his ears with his index fingers, then washed his feet three times each. Then he said, "This is how Wudu’ is done. Whoever adds to this or omits from it has done wrong and acted unjustly, or has acted unjustly and done wrong.".

Commentary : The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was keen on teaching the Companions by doing things in front of them so that it would be firmly established in their minds.
In this Hadith, `Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, how is Tuhur?" The meaning of the question is: How is Wudu’ performed? "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) called for water in a vessel, then washed his hands three times, then washed his face three times, then washed his arms three times, then wiped his head, without mentioning a number, then inserted his two index fingers (Sabbahatayn) into his ears," referring to the index fingers of the right and left hands, and they were called Sabbahatayn because they are pointed with during Tasbih (glorifying Allah), "wiped the outer part of his ears with his thumbs and the inner part of his ears with his index fingers , then washed his feet three times each," then he said: " This is how Wudu’ is done. Whoever adds to this", meaning: more than three - "or omits from it" doing less than three "has done wrong" by abandoning the Sunnah and the proprieties of Shari`ah, "and acted unjustly" by not following the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and opposing him. He mentioned here the mandatory acts of Wudu’, and did not mention rinsing the mouth or sniffing water into the nose (and then blowing it out); perhaps they are included in washing the face, or they are not mandatory; so he did not mention them.
A group of scholars have considered the addition of "or omits from it" to be inauthentic and counted it among what was criticized about `Amr ibn Shu`ayb; because its apparent meaning is a condemnation of doing it less than three, while it is permissible; for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did it. So, how can it be expressed as a "wrongdoing"? It was said: If the wording is not due to doubt from the narrator, then it is one of the clear errors that leave no room for ambiguity; for performing Wudu’ once or twice is unanimously permitted, and the reports regarding the matter are authentic. It was said regarding his statement “or omits from it” that there is an ellipsis, and its implied meaning is: whoever falls short in the single washing, such as by leaving a patch unwashed during a single rinse, has done wrong. This is supported by what Nu`aym ibn Hammad ibn Mu`awiyah narrated through Al-Muttalib ibn Hantab in a Marfu` narration (a narration attributed to the Prophet): “Wudu’ may be done once, twice, or up to three times, but whoever falls short of one or exceeds three has erred.”
This Hadith highlights the importance of learning through action, along with verbal instruction..

162
`Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said: "If the religion were based on opinion, then the underside of the Khuff (leather socks) would have been more deserving of being wiped than the upper side. But I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wiping over the upper side of his Khuff.".

Commentary : Religion is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) conveyed from the Lord of the Worlds, not what people deduce through personal opinion or limited intellect.
In this Hadith, `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "If the religion were based on opinion." That is, if religious rulings were determined by what seems rational or logical to the human mind. The narration reads, "then the underside of the Khuff would have been more deserving of being wiped than the upper side," because it is what most frequently comes into contact with filth and wear. This, on the surface, is what reason and observation might suggest. However, `Ali continues: "But I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wiping over the upper side of his Khuff." Meaning, this is what he did, and we follow his practice because his guidance comes from divine wisdom, far beyond what the intellect alone can grasp. Upon closer reflection, it becomes clear that the idea of wiping the bottom of the sock is flawed: the underside is likely to be dirty and wiping it would only soil the hand without any actual benefit, since the purpose of the wiping is not to clean the sock, but to fulfill an act of worship in the prescribed manner.
This Hadith highlights the strength of `Ali’s intellect and his deep faith. It also underscores an important principle: any opinion that contradicts the Sunnah is an invalid opinion, and the Sunnah is always worthier of being followed..

189
`Abdullah ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah ate a shoulder, then wiped his hand with a cloth that was beneath him, then stood up and prayed”..

Commentary : The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was the most humble of people, despite the great virtues and noble qualities Allah had granted him. Among the signs of his humility was that he ate as a servant would eat. In this Hadith, it is reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) “ate a shoulder” — that is, he ate from the meat of a roasted sheep’s shoulder — “then wiped his hand with a cloth that was beneath him.” The “cloth” refers to a rough garment or fabric made of hair. He was sitting on it and used it to wipe his hand rather than washing it. “Then he stood up and prayed”. That is, he prayed without performing a new Wudu’.
This Hadith and others have been cited as evidence that the previous command to perform Wudu’ after eating food touched by fire was later abrogated. The final ruling was that Wudu’ is not required after eating food cooked over fire..

210
Sahl ibn Hunayf (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "I used to experience difficulty with Madhiy, and I would frequently perform Ghusl. I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about this, and he said: 'Wudu’ suffices for that.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what about what gets on my clothing from it?' He said: 'It suffices you to take a handful of water and sprinkle it on your garment wherever you think it has touched it.'".

Commentary : Islam is a religion of mercy and compassion toward people. While Ghusl (ritual bath) is mandatory for semen and major ritual impurity, among Islam's leniencies and consideration for people's circumstances is that it distinguishes between thick semen and the light Madhiy (pre-seminal fluid) that frequently emerges when desire is present in a man's body, or following the emission of semen and after performing Ghusl from it.
In this Hadith, Sahl ibn Hunayf (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "I used to experience difficulty with Madhiy," meaning: in its frequent emission and discharge. Madhiy is a thin white fluid that typically precedes or follows the emission of semen and sometimes emerges after urination or during arousal. He said: "And I would frequently perform Ghusl," meaning: because of the discharge of Madhiy, thinking that Ghusl was required for it. Sahl said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about this," meaning: about performing Ghusl for Madhiy. He said: "Wudu’ suffices for that," meaning: Wudu’ is sufficient for it, not Ghusl. Sahl said: "O Messenger of Allah, what about what gets on my clothing from it?" meaning: from this Madhiy. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "It suffices you to take a handful of water and sprinkle it on your garment wherever you think it has touched it," meaning: sprinkle the spot on the garment that the Madhiy has touched with water, until you believe you have removed it..

269
Narrated by `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and I would sleep under the same covering while I was menstruating. If it was touched by anything from me, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would wash that spot without going beyond it, then pray in it. And if anything from him — meaning: his garment — touched it, he would wash that spot without going beyond it, then pray in it.".

Commentary : A menstruating woman's body is pure, as is her sweat, and she may undertake all activities such as cooking, kneading dough, baking, and performing all tasks as she did before menstruation began, except for prayer and fasting.
In this Hadith, the Mother of the Believers, `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), says: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and I would sleep under the same covering" — the covering being the garment that is closest to the body — "while I was menstruating. If it" — meaning: if that garment — "was touched by anything from me," that is: blood, "the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would wash that spot without going beyond it," meaning: he would limit himself to that specific area only and not exceed it, "then pray in it" — in that covering. "And if anything from him touched it" — meaning: the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) garment — "he would wash that spot without going beyond it, then pray in it."
This Hadith demonstrates the breadth and ease of Islamic law..

363
Narrated by Umm Qays bint Mihsan (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: I asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about menstrual blood that gets onto clothing. He said: "Scrape it with a rib and wash it with water and Sidr.".

Commentary : Islam is a religion of ease, and among the manifestations of this ease is making things easier for people and treating them gently, especially in matters that cannot be easily avoided and occur out of necessity rather than choice.
In this Hadith, Umm Qays bint Mihsan (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "I asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about menstrual blood that gets onto clothing," meaning: what is the ruling regarding clothes that are stained with menstrual blood? The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Scrape it with a rib," meaning: remove it with a stick or something similar like a stone or other object, and scrape it with this to remove the thick, clinging blood. "And wash it with water and Sidr," meaning: after scraping, wash it with something that will improve its scent. Sidr is the Lote tree, and its leaves are used for cleaning. By this, the trace of blood, its smell, and its appearance are removed from the garment..

675
Narrated by `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "And do not differ, lest your hearts differ, and beware of the clamor of the markets.".

Commentary : The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) organized the matter of congregational prayer. He taught us the qualities of the Imam, then who should stand behind him from among those with knowledge who memorize the Quran and with sound minds, then how the rows should be arranged, how people should be gentle with one another, then how children and women should be in the back rows, and other matters.
This Hadith is part of another Hadith, in which he said: "Let those among you who are mature and wise stand close to me," meaning: let those with sound minds and forbearance stand behind me in prayer, "then those who come after them, then those who come after them," meaning: then let the most excellent, then the next most excellent arrange themselves behind them. Then he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "And do not differ, lest your hearts differ," meaning: be harmonious and gentle in your standing next to each other in prayer, for disagreement in this situation becomes a cause for the differing of hearts. Then he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "And beware of the clamor of the markets," meaning: beware of raising voices in prayer and mosques, and speaking without benefit, as happens in the markets. Do not let thinking about such matters distract you from humility in prayer. It is possible that this is a prohibition against mixing in mosques and in prayer rows, so that those with sound minds and the elderly should not mix with the young and women as in the markets.
This Hadith contains a prohibition against disagreement among people in prayer and in standing in rows. It also contains a warning against raising one's voice and mixing in prayer and mosques, as is often done in the markets..

708
It is narrated on the authority of `Amr ibn Shu`ayb, from his father, from his grandfather, that: We descended with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) from the Thaniyyah of Adhakhir, and the time for prayer came. So he prayed facing a wall, using it as a Qiblah, and we stood behind him. Then a Bahmah (small sheep) came passing in front of him, and he kept trying to prevent it until he pressed his stomach against the wall, and it passed behind him..

Commentary : The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) instructed the one who is praying to place a Sutrah (barrier) in front of him, so that nothing may pass in front of him and interrupt his prayer. As for the congregational prayer, if the Imam places a barrier for himself, it serves as a barrier for the followers behind him.
In this narration, `Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We descended”, meaning, we were on a journey and stopped at a location, “with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) from the Thaniyyah of Adhakir”, which is a mountain pass between Makkah and Madinah. The word Thaniyyah refers to a path through the mountains. “The time for prayer came,” meaning the prescribed time had entered, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed with the people “facing a wall”, using it as a Qiblah and barrier, so that no one would pass in front of him and interrupt his prayer. The people were praying behind him. The narration reads, "Then a Bahmah came trying to pass in front of him" - the term Bahmah refers to the offspring of sheep, whether male or female - "He kept trying to prevent it", meaning he kept pushing it away and blocking its path, " until he pressed his stomach was pressed his stomach against the wall ". That is, he moved so close that there was no space left for it to pass in front of him, so it passed behind him instead.
This narration shows that the Sutrah of the Imam serves as a Sutrah for those praying behind him, as the animal passed in front of the followers but behind the Imam, and this did not invalidate the prayer.
The Hadith also teaches that it is upon the one who is praying to prevent anything, human or animal, from passing directly in front of him..

753
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered into prayer, he would raise his hands outstretched..

Commentary : The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) everything related to prayer: movements, stillness, and other matters. The Companions used to observe him and learn from him, and they transmitted this to those who came after them (may Allah be pleased with them all).
In this Hadith, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered into prayer," meaning: when he began it and pronounced the first Takbir, which is the Takbir of Ihram, "he would raise his hands outstretched," meaning: he would raise his hands upward, aligning them with his head or close to that, or other ways that have been narrated regarding his manner (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) of raising them.
This Hadith demonstrates the Companions' meticulous observation of the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) actions and their transmission of these actions to others..

789
On the authority of Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I stand to lead the prayer intending to prolong it, but then I hear the crying of an infant, so I shorten it out of dislike for causing hardship to his mother.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to love to prolong the prayer, but at the same time he would take the people's needs into consideration. He would sometimes shorten the prayer for the sake of certain individuals, as in this Hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I stand to lead the prayer intending to prolong it.” That is, he intended to complete it and perfect it in the usual manner—not the kind of prolonging which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade the Imams from doing. “Then I hear the crying of an infant, so I shorten it,” meaning: he would hear the crying of a child who was present with his mother, who was praying in the congregation. So he would lighten the prayer and not prolong it in terms of recitation or other actions, “out of dislike for causing hardship to his mother,” meaning: out of compassion for the child and his mother, due to her being distracted by her child’s crying during the prayer.
This Hadith highlights the importance of taking the condition of the congregation into account during the prayer, and of avoiding causing them hardship by unnecessary lengthening..

792
It is narrated from some of the Companions that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to a man, "What do you say in the prayer?" The man replied, "I recite the Tashahhud and then say: O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and seek refuge in You from the Fire. As for me, I am not good at your murmuring nor the murmuring of Mu`adh." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "It is around these that we murmur.".

Commentary : The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would ask the Companions about their acts of worship and supplications, in order to clarify whether they were correct, or to correct and guide them to what would benefit them in this world and the Hereafter.
In this Hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to a man, "What do you say in the prayer?", meaning: what remembrance and supplication do you say during your prayer? The man said, “I recite the Tashahhud,” referring to the testimony or greetings recited during prayer. “And I say: O Allah, I ask You for Paradise,” meaning: I ask You for entry into it. “And I seek refuge in You from the Fire,” meaning: to be kept far from it and not even come near it. Then the man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), “As for me, I am not good at your murmuring nor the murmuring of Mu`adh.” Murmuring refers to low, indistinct speech, a tone that is heard but whose words are not clear, and it is also interpreted as private or concealed speech. The man meant that he was not proficient in the invocations and supplications that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) or Mu`adh (may Allah be pleased with him) would say in prayer, nor was he able to formulate supplications with eloquence. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, “It is around these that we murmur”. Namely, our invocations revolve around Paradise and Hellfire; all our supplications ultimately aim for the same purpose: to attain Paradise and be protected from the Hellfire.
This Hadith teaches that there is no need for affectation or overelaboration in supplication; rather, sincerity and clarity of intention are what matter most..

832
Narrated by `Abdullah ibn Abu Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: "I am unable to memorize anything from the Quran, so teach me something that will suffice for me." He said: "Say: Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great." The man said: "O Messenger of Allah, this is for Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, but what is there for me?" He said: "Say: O Allah, have mercy on me, grant me sustenance, grant me well-being, and guide me." When the man stood up, he gestured with his hand like this, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "As for this one, he has filled his hand with goodness.".

Commentary : In this Hadith, a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: "I am unable to memorize anything from the Quran," meaning: in terms of memorization, learning, and recitation, "so teach me something that will suffice for me" — something I can recite in prayer and elsewhere. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told him: "Say: Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest, and there is no power" — meaning: there is no means of escaping sins and warding off disliked evils except by the Will of Allah — "and no strength" for me to perform acts of obedience and attain good "except with Allah," that is: through His guidance, the Almighty. "Al-`Aliyy" (the Most High) is one of the Names of Allah that encompasses a perfect attribute, which is elevation in its three types: elevation of dominance and victory, elevation of status, and elevation of essence. "Al-`Adhim" (the Most Great) is one of the Names of Allah that encompasses a perfect attribute, which is Greatness. The man then said: "O Messenger of Allah, this" — the remembrance and praise — "is for Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, but what is there for me" in terms of supplication and requests? The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told him: "Say: O Allah, have mercy on me, and grant me sustenance" of good things, "and grant me well-being" from evil, "and guide me" to the straight path. "When the man stood up, he gestured with his hand like this," meaning: he clenched it, "and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'As for this one, he has filled his hand with goodness,'" meaning: he has gathered abundant good and reward.
The Hadith demonstrates the ease and compassion of the Islamic Shari`ah. It also highlights the importance of learning the Quran and various Adhkar (remembrances).

119
Narrated by `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to perform Wudu’ before going to sleep..

Commentary : Purity and cleanliness are among the signs of the believer, and it was from the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) practice to maintain this at all times as much as he was able.
This Hadith explains some of these meanings, where the Mother of the Believers, `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), informs us that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "used to perform Wudu’ before going to sleep," meaning: it was his habit to perform the Wudu’ for prayer before going to sleep..

616
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) delivering a sermon during the Farewell Pilgrimage, in which he said, "Fear Allah, your Lord; perform your five prayers; fast during your month; pay the Zakah of your wealth; obey those in authority among you; and you will enter the Paradise of your Lord.".

Commentary : Drawing closer to Allah by performing what Allah has enjoined, such as prayer, fasting, mandatory almsgiving (Zakah), and pilgrimage, is among the most beloved deeds to Allah the Exalted, and one of the greatest means of entering Paradise.
In this Hadith, Abu Umamah Al-Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) delivering a sermon during the Farewell Pilgrimage, in which he said: “Fear Allah, your Lord,” meaning: place a barrier between yourselves and the Punishment of Allah, fear Him as though you see Him, comply with His commands, and avoid His prohibitions. “Perform your five daily prayers,” meaning: perform the five prayers that Allah has enjoined upon you at their prescribed times and observe them consistently. “fast during your month,” meaning: the month of Ramadan. “Pay the Zakah of your wealth,” meaning: pay the due right of Allah from your wealth when it reaches the Nisab (minimum threshold that incurs the obligation of Zakah) and a full lunar year has passed over it. “Obey those in authority among you,” meaning: obey your leader and the one in authority over you, and do not disobey or oppose him. Their obedience is only in what is right. But if they command something that involves disobedience to Allah, then there is no obedience to any created being in disobedience to the Creator.
“You will enter the Paradise of your Lord,” meaning: your reward for doing so is that Allah the Exalted, will admit you to Paradise. The reward for the one who fulfills what Allah has enjoined upon him is Paradise and its bliss.
The Hadith includes the command to fulfill what Allah has prescribed of prayer, fasting, and Zakah (mandatory almsgiving).
And in it is the command to obey the ruler and not to oppose or disobey him..

675
Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prescribed the charity of Al-Fitr upon males and females, free persons and slaves: a Sa` of dates or a Sa` of barley. He said: So the people began to equate it to half a Sa` of wheat..

Commentary : In this Hadith, `Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prescribed the charity of Al-Fitr," referring to Zakat Al-Fitr given at the end of Ramadan. The wisdom behind its obligation includes: to spare the poor from having to ask on the day of `Eid, and to purify the fasting person from (the sinfulness of) any idle talk or inappropriate behavior that may have occurred during the fast. He continued: "males and females, free persons and slaves," indicating that it is mandatory upon every Muslim individual, whether young or old. The obligation is fulfilled on behalf of minors by their parents or guardians, and on behalf of slaves by their masters. It is to be given as "a Sa` of dates or a Sa` of barley," where a Sa` is equivalent to four Mudds, and a Mudd is the amount that fills two cupped hands. Ibn `Umar further stated: "Then people began to equate it," meaning that they began to give Zakat in an amount equivalent to a Sa` of dates or barley.
It is said that the “people” referred to here were Mu`awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) and those who followed his view, who substituted it with "half a Sa` of wheat," i.e., wheat instead of dates or barley..

982
It is narrated on the authority of Buraydah ibn Al-Husaib Al-Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "The believer dies with sweat on his forehead.".

Commentary : The severity of death and its agonies are not necessarily signs of punishment or a bad end. This is clarified in the Hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The believer dies with sweat on his forehead." It has been said that this refers to the intensity of death, such that his forehead sweats as a means of purifying his sins or elevating his rank. It is also said to be a sign of a good ending. Others interpret it as a metaphor for the believer’s lifelong striving in seeking lawful sustenance and his self-discipline through fasting and prayer until he meets Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). It is also said that his forehead sweats out of modesty when receiving the glad tidings at the moment of death. The "forehead" here refers to the front part of the head.
Ahmad, Ibn Majah, At-Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on them), and others narrated from Sa`d ibn Abu Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked: Which people are most severely tested?" He said: "The prophets, then the most exemplary and then the next best, are tested. A man is tested according to the strength of his faith. If he is firm in his faith, his trials are severe, and if there is weakness in his faith, his trials are made easier for him.".

1131
It is narrated on the authority of Ruwayfi` ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day let him not water his seed to the offspring of another..

Commentary : Islam has prescribed specific rulings to safeguard honor and lineage, especially given that, during times of war, female captives would be taken and distributed among the warriors. Additionally, the buying and selling of slave women (concubines) was a common practice. All such women were lawfully permissible (for intimacy) to their lawful owners. Therefore, Islam legislated the practice of ensuring wombs are free (of pregnancy) when these women were transferred from one man to another.
In this Hadith, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day,” meaning: whoever has complete faith, affirming and acknowledging belief in Allah and the Last Day, and adheres to the laws of Islam, “ let him not water his seed to the offspring of another” that is, he should not deposit his seed ( i.e., have intercourse) except in a womb that is reliably known to be free of any legal impediments to intercourse (i.e., pregnant by or married to another man). This directive came in light of the practice at the time, where men would purchase slave women or acquire female captives in war, who would then be distributed among the warriors or rightful claimants. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) instructed them to ensure the wombs were free(of pregnancy) before engaging in intercourse. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said in the Hadith regarding the captives of Awtas: “A pregnant woman must not be approached until she gives birth, and a non-pregnant woman until she menstruates once.” He thus prohibited a man from engaging in intercourse with a woman who is pregnant by another man. This is because pregnancy in the womb is like a crop in the soil, and a man’s water (i.e., semen) is what nourishes what lies within the wombs of women.
Therefore, every believer must be cautious with his seed and only place it where Allah and His Messenger have permitted, where there is no ambiguity or religious doubt. Some scholars have stated that the fetus may continue to grow nourished by the semen of the second man, and then be born, appearing as though it is a child shared between two men. This may lead to the newborn inheriting from the second man while it is, in fact, the child of another, or the second man taking ownership of the child while he is, in fact, his own son. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade intercourse with pregnant slave women and captives until they have delivered or experienced one menstrual cycle..

1138
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: Coitus interruptus was mentioned in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and he said: Why would one of you do that? Ibn Abu `Umar added in his narration: He did not say, "None of you should do that." They both said in their narrations: "For there is no soul that Allah has decreed to be created except that He is its Creator.".

Commentary : Every creature has had its lifespan and offspring decreed by Allah, and the Pen has already recorded this; therefore, practicing coitus interruptus to prevent offspring is ultimately of no real benefit.
In this Hadith, Abu Sa`id (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "Coitus interruptus was mentioned," referring to the act of withdrawing the male organ from the vagina before ejaculation. This discussion took place "in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)," i.e., during his gathering. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) responded with a tone of disapproval, saying: "Why would one of you do that!" This question expresses disapproval of the practice, which is often done to avoid conception. However, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reminds them that all matters are ultimately determined by the decree of Allah. If Allah wills for a child to be conceived, it will happen, whether through intentional intercourse or even if ejaculation occurs before withdrawal, without the person realizing it. Thus, the will and decree of Allah will inevitably come to pass.
At-Tirmidhi said that Ibn Abu `Umar added to his narration, and he [the Prophet] did not say: "None of you should do that," meaning that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not explicitly forbid his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), but rather indicated that it is preferable to leave that. In the narration by Al-Bukhari, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Do you indeed do that?" "There is no blame upon you if you do not do that." Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "For there is no soul that Allah has decreed to be created except that He is its Creator." Another narration reads: "Except that it will come forth." That is, Allah has ordained the means for its emergence, even if the man takes precautions through coitus interruptus.
It was said that among the reasons for practicing coitus interruptus is that the woman is nursing, and there is concern for the infant she is nursing in that case; or that the man has limited means and desires to have fewer children; or due to fear of having a child with a slave woman, which would result in the child being born into slavery. However, none of these reasons can stand against the divine command and decree of Allah, and indeed, it is Allah Who provides..

1149
Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked whether, if a man had two female slaves, and one of them nursed a slave-boy, and the other had nursed a slave-girl, is it permissible for the boy to marry the girl? He said, "No. The origin of the milk is one.".

Commentary : The Successors of the Companions (Tabi`un) used to ask the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and learn the religion from them. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to transmit the religion to them, teach them, and issue Fatwas for them concerning the new matters that arose.
In this Hadith, the Successor `Amr ibn Ash-Sharid (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated: "`Abdullah ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked whether, if a man had two female slaves, and one of them nursed a slave-boy, and the other had nursed a slave-girl." That is: one of the two slave women suckled a female child, and the other slave woman suckled a male child. Then he was asked: "Is it permissible for the boy to marry the girl?" That is: is it permissible for the boy who was suckled by the first slave woman to marry the girl who was suckled by the second? Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “No,”—that is, it is not permissible for them to marry one another. “The origin of the milk is one,” meaning: both women were owned by the same man, and it was he who fathered both children. The milk by which the two infants were breastfed was produced as a result of a single man’s procreative act, and thus the children are considered milk-siblings..

1894
Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "The one who serves drinks to the people is the last to drink.".

Commentary : Islam promotes manners and conduct that elevate the spirit of those who uphold them, whether in private or in public.
Among the examples of this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) teaches in this Hadith how one should serve the community, how such service uplifts a person’s character, and how one should prioritize the collective interest in all aspects of life.
This Hadith is an abridged version of another narration in which it is mentioned that when the Companions lost access to water during one of their journeys, Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "They were saying, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we are perishing, we are thirsty!’ So he replied, ‘There is no destruction upon you.’ Then he said, ‘Bring me my Ghumar,’ meaning, bring me my small cup, and the Ghumar is a small vessel." He continued: "Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) called for the water container (used for Wudu’; Mida'ah), and he began to pour, while I, Abu Qatadah, was giving the people to drink. As soon as the people saw water in the container, they rushed toward it. But the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘Pour it gently, each of you will have enough to drink.’ So they did as he said, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) continued to pour, and I continued to serve them until no one remained except myself and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) poured and said to me, ‘Drink.’ I replied, ‘I will not drink until you drink, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said, ‘The one who serves the people is the last to drink.’" That is, whoever takes on the task of serving others should delay their own turn until everyone has been served.
The Hadith indicates: Whoever is entrusted with an affair of the Muslims must strive for the benefit of the Muslims and delay his own benefit until their benefit is fulfilled.
It highlights the Shari`ah's encouragement to spread virtuous morals among Muslims.
It also indicates the good manners and commitment that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) showed toward the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)..

2428
On the authority of Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them), they said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The servant will be brought on the Day of Resurrection, and Allah will say to him: 'Did I not give you hearing, sight, wealth, children, and did I not make the cattle and tillage subservient to you, and did I not allow you to hold leadership of people and to settle in Riba`? Did you not think that you would meet Me on this Day of yours?' So he will say: 'No.' So Allah will say to him: 'Today you shall be forgotten just as you have forgotten Me.'".

Commentary : Every servant will be presented before Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, and He will make him acknowledge His blessings that He bestowed upon him in the world, and He will ask him: What did you do with them? And did he fulfill their due gratitude and not neglect the Rights of Allah concerning them?
In this Hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says: "The servant will be brought on the Day of Resurrection," meaning for the reckoning and presentation before Allah, "and Allah will say to him," meaning He will ask him and confirm: "Did I not grant you hearing, sight," meaning did I not bestow upon you the blessing of sight and hearing, "wealth, and children," meaning and I provided you with wealth and children, "Did I not subject," meaning I made subservient "the cattle and the tillage to you" from livestock, horses, and cultivation, "allow you to hold leadership," I allowed you to be a leader and a person of status among the people, and in your community, “and to settle in Riba`” — meaning: you possessed Riba`, which refers to homes and cultivated lands. And it was also said: it refers to taking one-fourth of the spoils of war. Then He — the Exalted — will say to him: "Did you not think that you would meet Me on this Day of yours?" That is: Did you believe that there is resurrection, life after death, reckoning, Paradise, and Hell on the Day of Resurrection? "The servant says, 'No,' meaning: I did not think there would be a resurrection after death, and that there would be an accounting on this day. Allah Says to him, 'Today,' on this day, 'you shall be forgotten,' meaning: you will be left neglected, I will turn away from you and abandon you, and withhold My Mercy from you, and you will be treated as one forgotten, 'as you forgot Me,' meaning: this is your recompense as you forgot My obedience and gratitude for the blessings I bestowed upon you..

2883
It is narrated on the authority of An-Nawwas ibn Sam`an (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The Quran will come, along with its companions, those who acted upon it in the worldly life, preceded by Surat Al-Baqarah and Surat Al `Imran.” An-Nawwas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave three parables for them, which I have not forgotten since. He said: “They will come as if they were two shades with a brightness between them, or as if they were two dark clouds, or as if they were two flocks of birds in ranks, with wings outspread, pleading on behalf of their companion.”’.

Commentary : The Shari`ah encourages the recitation of the Quran with contemplation and reflection upon its verses, along with acting upon the obedience it enjoins and avoiding what it cautions against. It clarifies that whoever does this sincerely, seeking the pleasure of Allah, will be granted a great reward and immense favor on the Day of Judgment.
In this Hadith, An-Nawwas ibn Sam`an (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "The Quran will come, along with its companions," meaning those who recited and memorized it, "those who acted upon it in the worldly life," meaning they performed deeds according to its guidance, seeking reward and recompense from Allah. "preceded by Surat Al-Baqarah and Surat Al `Imran," meaning these two Surahs will lead the companions of the Quran on the Day of Judgment. It is also said that they will precede the entire Quran.
An-Nawwas said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave them three parables," meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) likened the precedence of Surat Al-Baqarah and Surat Al `Imran to three parables. An-Nawwas ibn Sam`an said: "I have not forgotten them since," meaning these three parables have remained vividly in my mind. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "They will come," meaning Surat Al-Baqarah and Surat Al `Imran on the Day of Judgment, "as if they were two shades," meaning as if they are two canopies shading their companion and those who memorized them , "with a brightness between them," meaning there will be light and radiance between them.
The second parable given by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was: "Or as if they were two dark clouds," meaning as if they were like clouds that act as umbrellas, protecting their reciter from the heat of the Day of Judgment.
The third parable was: "Or as if they were two flocks of birds in ranks," meaning as if they were a canopy of birds lined up with their wings spread, "pleading," meaning defending and protecting "their companion", the one who recited, memorized, and acted upon the verses.
The Hadith involves the encouragement to frequently recite Surat Al-Baqarah and Surat Al `Imran.
It indicates that teaching through examples reinforces the meaning..

86
`Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The best of people after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and the best of people after Abu Bakr is `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).”.

Commentary : The Companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) have a lofty status. Some of them are superior to others due to the virtue with which Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) favored them.
In this narration, `Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The best of people after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and the best of people after Abu Bakr is `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).” This was due to their strong virtue in the religion of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, and their unwavering support for it. Both carried the banner of the Caliphate after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and they fulfilled that trust in the best manner.
This statement is a clear refutation of the Rafidah, who gave precedence to `Ali on account of his lineage and closeness to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), over Abu Bakr and `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) made this statement in a sermon in Kufah, as reported by Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him).
This Hadith clearly affirms the virtue and merit of Abu Bakr and `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). It also reflects the deep love that `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) had for them, along with his humility and recognition of their excellence..

114
It was narrated from `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that Abu Bakr and `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) gave him the glad tidings that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever wishes to recite the Quran fresh (Ghaddan) as it was revealed, let him recite it according to the recitation of Ibn Umm `Abd.”.

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would strive to carry the banners of this religion, each according to his ability. At times, one of them would excel and surpass others in a particular matter.
In this Hadith, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Abu Bakr and `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) gave me the glad tidings that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever wishes to recite the Quran fresh (Ghaddan) as it was revealed, let him recite it according to the recitation of Ibn Umm `Abd.’”
The word Ghaddan refers to something tender and unchanged. It is also said to refer to fruit at its earliest stage. The meaning is that he memorized it and recited it as Allah revealed it adhering to its rulings and reciting it with a pleasant voice. It is also said that it refers to his method and manner of recitation, or that it refers to the verses which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) heard from him from the beginning of Surat An-Nisa’ to the verse (interpretation of the meaning): {And We have brought you as a witness over these} [An-Nisa’ 4:41] After the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) heard the recitation of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him), he began to say concerning him: “Ask, and it will be granted to you.” This is a testimony that his recitation was accepted and that his supplication was answered.
This Hadith includes the permissibility of giving glad tidings to the believer regarding what pleases him. It also highlights a noble virtue and great merit of Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him), who was among those who memorized and mastered the Quran. It also encourages following the method and manner of Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) in reciting the Quran and in adhering to its rulings..

117
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever loves Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn has indeed loved me, and whoever hates them has hated me.”.

Commentary : The household of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) possesses many virtues, and they are entitled to certain rights over others. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded that they be loved and forbade hatred toward them.
In this Hadith, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever loves Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn has indeed loved me.” Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn are the sons of `Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). They are the two grandsons of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and they are his two fragrant flowers from this world. Among the signs of loving the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is to love Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, "and whoever hates them has hated me." Among the signs of hating the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is to hate Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn. It is sufficient as a mark of wretchedness to hate he (i.e., the Messenger) whose love is part of the perfection of faith. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) enjoined love for his family. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, as narrated in Sahih Muslim: “I remind you, to fear Allah, regarding my household.” Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I am leaving behind two successors among you: the Book of Allah and my household.” Allah the Exalted has removed impurity from the household and purified them completely, as He Says (interpretation of the meaning): {Indeed, Allah only intends to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification} [Al-Ahzab 33:33] This love that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) enjoined is not one of extremism—such as raising the members of the household above the level of humanity—nor does it justify hatred toward others among the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), as is the practice of the Shi`ah in their exaggeration regarding Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated from `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising `Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus—peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Verily, I am only the slave of Allah and His Messenger.” In Al-Bukhari and Muslim, it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Do not revile my Companions. Do not revile my Companions. For by the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend gold equivalent to Mount Uhud, it would not amount to the Mudd (a handful) of what one of them spent, nor even half of it.”
This Hadith highlights the noble status and great virtue of Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them both), and that love for them is part of love for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)..

190
`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: ‘May Allah brighten the face of a person who hears a Hadith from us and conveys it to others. For perhaps the one to whom it is conveyed has more understanding than the one who heard it.’".

Commentary : The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) urged the conveyance of the call to truth to the people and the transmission of his Sunnah, so that the religion may spread.
In this Hadith, `Abdullah ibn Ma`sud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “May Allah brighten” — meaning: grant radiance and beauty; this is a supplication that Allah beautifies his physical form and elevates his rank. “A person” — that is, anyone, whether from the noble Companions or those who heard from them. “Who hears a Hadith from us” — referring to the words, actions, or approvals of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). In one narration: “...and memorizes it” — meaning: he comprehends it with both his mind and heart and retains it. “And conveys it” — meaning: he transmits it to others exactly as he heard it. “For perhaps the one to whom it is conveyed has more understanding than the one who heard it.” In another narration: “For perhaps a carrier of Fiqh is not a jurist (Faqih), and perhaps a carrier of Fiqh conveys it to one who is more knowledgeable than he.” The particle “perhaps” (Rubba) can be used to express both rarity and frequency. The intended meaning is that it is sometimes — or even often — the case that the narrator who hears a Hadith is neither a scholar nor a jurist. However, he memorizes the Sunnah and transmits it to others — among whom are scholars and jurists capable of deriving rulings, or to someone more capable of understanding and deduction.
This Hadith encourages memorizing the Prophetic Sunnah and conveying it to others. It also illustrates the merit that scholars hold, and the merit of bearing, safeguarding, and conveying knowledge..

200
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Part of what continues to benefit a believer from his deeds and good actions after his death is: knowledge he taught and spread; a righteous child he left behind; a Mus-haf he bequeathed; a mosque he built; a house he built for a wayfarer; a canal he caused to flow; or charity he gave from his wealth during his lifetime while he was in good health—these continue to reach him after his death.”
Part of what continues to benefit a believer from his deeds and good actions after his death is.

Commentary : Islamic law encourages performing acts of righteousness and obedience. The Muslim is instructed to treat this worldly life as a field in which he plants for his Hereafter. It has clarified that some deeds continue to benefit a person even after death.
In this Hadith, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “ Part of what continues to benefit a believer from his deeds and good actions after his death” That is: the impact and reward of these deeds persist beyond the person’s lifetime. This applies broadly to both the righteous and the sinful. However, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) clarified that what is intended are righteous deeds, when he said: “and good actions after his death.” In other words, the reward continues to reach him. He then gave examples: “Knowledge he taught and spread” — meaning he made it accessible to others by any means, whether through teaching, writing, authoring, or otherwise. “A righteous child he left behind” — and in another version: “a righteous child who prays for him.” Meaning: if the child performs righteous actions taught by the parent, then the parent shares in the reward. “A Mus-haf he bequeathed” — meaning he left behind a copy of the Quran, either as a personal possession or something he endowed for the Muslims. “A mosque he built” — whether through personal effort or financial contribution. “A house he built for a wayfarer” — meaning a shelter or dwelling for travelers. “A canal he caused to flow” — meaning he extracted water, built a means for it to flow, and facilitated its benefit to others. “Charity he gave from his wealth during his lifetime while he was in good health—these continue to reach him after his death” — that is: he gave charity while alive and well, and its reward continues after his passing. Even if some of these actions were not intended to have a lasting effect, Allah out of His Bounty allows any good that benefits people after one’s death, and is a trace of one’s work, to count in one’s record.
This Hadith illustrates the immense grace of Allah toward His believing slaves: He has made some deeds continue in reward even after death. It encourages giving Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity) during one’s lifetime, so its benefit endures. It also shows that books of beneficial knowledge left behind are among the righteous deeds whose reward remains after a person’s death..

541
From Mu`adhah bint `Abdullah Al-`Adawiyyah (may Allah have mercy on her): A woman asked `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), saying: “Is it permissible for a menstruating woman to apply henna or dye?” She replied: “We used to be with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and we would apply henna, and he did not forbid us from doing so.”.

Commentary : The Shari`ah (Islamic law) came to bring ease to people, especially in matters related to Taharah (ritual purity).
In this Hadith, Mu`adhah bint `Abdullah Al-`Adawiyyah (may Allah have mercy on her) reports: “A woman asked `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), saying: ‘Is it permissible for a menstruating woman to apply henna or dye?’” meaning: is it permissible for her to apply henna to her hands, feet, or hair while she is in a state of menstruation? `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “We used to be with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and we would apply henna, and he did not forbid us from doing so.” This indicates that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) approved of their practice, which serves as evidence of its permissibility. The dye left by henna on the hands does not prevent the removal of major impurity—whether due to Janabah (a state of ritual impurity caused by the discharge of semen or sexual intercourse) and menstruation—through ritual bathing (Ghusl), when they perform it..

542
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): “I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) carrying Al-Husayn the son of `Ali on his shoulder, and his saliva was dripping on him.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) clarified for his Ummah all matters related to purification. He explained what is pure and what is impure, along with the detailed guidelines for each.
In this Hadith, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) carrying Al-Hasan — and in some versions: Al-Husayn — the son of `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) on his shoulder, and his saliva was dripping on him.” That is, the moisture from his mouth was falling onto the garment of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), indicating that it is pure. Had it been impure, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would have washed it. It is also possible that the pronoun "on him" refers to Al-Hasan, and in that case, if it had been impure, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would not have carried a child with impure clothing.
This Hadith also encourages showing gentleness toward children..

660
Narrated by `Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him): "We prayed Maghrib with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Some returned, while others remained. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came out in haste, breathing heavily, with his garment lifted above his knees, and said: ‘Rejoice! Your Lord has opened one of the gates of Heaven and is boasting about you to the angels, saying: “Look at My slaves—they have fulfilled one mandatory duty and are awaiting another.”’”.

Commentary : Prayer is a pillar from the pillars of Islam. It holds immense virtue and an elevated status among the acts of worship. It is a connection between the servant and his Lord. It is repeated five times a day. The Shari`ah has encouraged its voluntary prayers, and the Prophetic Sunnah has clarified that Allah boasts to His angels about His praying servants and those who await its appointed times.
In this Hadith, `Abdullah ibn `Amr ibn Al-`As (may Allah be pleased with them) conveys some of these meanings. He said: “We prayed Maghrib with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Some returned,” meaning: some people returned to their homes, “while others remained,” meaning: some waited in the Masjid (mosque) after the end of the prayer, awaiting the `Isha’ prayer. “Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came out in haste, breathing heavily,” meaning: his breath had quickened, and his breathing was continuous, “with his garment lifted above his knees,” meaning: he had uncovered his clothing and raised it above his knees, such that they were visible this was due to the speed of his walk and his haste because he was carrying glad tidings for them. “And said: ‘Rejoice! Your Lord has opened one of the gates of Heaven and is boasting about you to the angels,’” meaning: He is proudly mentioning you before the angels. The Lord of Might says: “Look at My slaves—they have fulfilled one mandatory duty and are awaiting another.” Meaning: their waiting for the next mandatory prayer in the Masjid after completing the first is a reason for Allah to boast about them to His angels. This is evidence of the virtue of waiting for one prayer after another.
Muslim narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Waiting for the prayer after the prayer—that is the Ribat (enduring at the frontier to guard the Muslim state), that is the Ribat, that is the Ribat.” Thus he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made enduring in acts of worship and waiting patiently for the next prayer a form of Ribat in the path of Allah. For whoever prays a prayer, then sits waiting for another, and remains consistent in doing so he will have filled his life with obedience, and that will be counted as Ribat in the path of Allah..

804
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to like for the Muhajirun and the Ansar to stand directly behind him, so that they could learn from him.”.

Commentary : Prayer represents a spiritual act of worship wherein a person stands before their Creator. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) provided instruction on its proper etiquette and the requisite practices involved, such as the organization of prayer rows and the maintenance of humility, among other related matters.
In this Hadith by Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), it is stated: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to like for the Muhajirun and the Ansar to stand directly behind him [in prayer],” meaning: he preferred that they be closest to him in the front rows — “so that they could learn from him.” That is: so they could learn from him the rulings of the prayer, its manner of performance, and anything else the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) might say after the prayer, such as commands, prohibitions, reminders, and other teachings.
Furthermore, as recorded in Sahih Muslim on the authority of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stated: “Let those among you who are mature and possess understanding stand closest to me,” meaning: those with intellect and comprehension — so that they may fully grasp what comes from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
Some scholars said that “those with maturity” refers to those who have reached puberty, and “those with understanding” refers to those of sound mind. This is an encouragement for people of knowledge and virtue in religion to stand in the front rows of prayer and close to the Imam — as they are most deserving of honor, and because the Imam may at times need to appoint someone to replace him, and they are most suited for that role. Moreover, they are more likely to notice and correct any mistakes the Imam might make — something that others may not be aware of.
This Hadith also highlights the virtue and distinction of the Muhajirun and the Ansar (may Allah be pleased with them)..

809
On the authority of `Uqbah ibn `Amir (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say:
“Whoever leads the people in prayer and performs it properly, the prayer is for him and for them. But whoever falls short in it, the burden is upon him and not upon them.”.

Commentary : Congregational prayer is of extreme significance, and encompasses numerous virtues. Any deficiencies that may arise from the Imam during the congregational prayer are the sole responsibility of the Imam and do not extend to those praying behind him. This is why the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stated:
“Whoever leads the people in prayer” — meaning: acts as their Imam in prayer — “and performs it properly,” that is: he completes the prayer with all its pillars, conditions, obligations, and recommended acts, without neglecting anything — “then the prayer is for him and for them,” meaning: he receives the reward for his prayer, and the followers receive the reward for theirs. “But whoever falls short in it,” meaning: if the Imam is deficient in his prayer — “then it is upon him,” that is: the burden of that shortcoming is on the Imam alone; those who prayed behind him bear no responsibility, and they receive full reward for their prayer.
The Hadith shows that the Imam must strive not to fall short in the prayer. It also teaches that if the Imam is deficient in his prayer, the sin falls upon him alone and not upon the rest of the congregation..

1072
On the authority of Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to go out on the day of `Eid, lead the congregation in two Rak`ahs, then he would give the closing salutations [of prayer], stand on his feet, and face the people while they were seated, saying: "Give charity, give charity." It is the women who give most in charity, offering their earrings, as well as rings and other items. If he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had a need — such as sending out an expedition — he would then mention it to them, otherwise he would leave.”.

Commentary : The `Eid prayer holds great importance in Islam, as it reflects the strength of the faith, and the unity and assembly of Muslims, along with the expression of joy, happiness, and devotion to Allah, the Almighty. In this Hadith, Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to go out on the day of `Eid,” that is, he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to go out to a wide, open space. Then, “lead the congregation in two Rak`ahs, then he would give the closing salutations [of prayer], stand on his feet, and face the people while they were seated”, meaning: he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would deliver the `Eid sermon: "saying: Give charity, give charity." That is, part of what he would say in the sermon was his urging of his companions to give charity. The narration continues: “It is the women who give most in charity, offering their earrings” — which are among the adornments women wear and hang on their ears — “as well as rings and other items,” meaning: other pieces of their jewelry. “If he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had a need — such as sending out an expedition — he would then mention it to them, otherwise he would leave.” That is: if he intended to dispatch an army to a particular region, he would inform them then. The reason he would give such instructions on the day of `Eid is because the people would already be gathered, and there would be no need to assemble them again.
This Hadith elucidates the guidance provided by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) regarding the `Eid prayer, specifically that the sermon follows the prayer, and that the Imam stands in front of the people. Furthermore, it indicates that encouraging charity should be part of the `Eid sermon..

1117
Narrated by Umm Hani’ (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: "I used to hear the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) recitation at night while I was on my `Arish.".

Commentary : In this Hadith, Umm Hani’ bint Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “I used to hear the recitation of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) recitation at night while I was on my `Arish.” In another narration: “while I was sleeping on my `Arish .” `Arish is something used for shade; here, it refers to the bed on which one sleeps — meaning: she would hear his voice as he recited the Quran during the night. It may have been recitation during prayer or outside of prayer.
The Mother of the Believers `Aʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her), was asked about the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) recitation during the night, and she said: “Sometimes he would recite quietly, and sometimes aloud.” That is: he would do one or the other on a given night or two. This points to the permissibility of both options, and that each is equally valid in night prayer. However, reciting aloud is considered preferable, as it helps occupy the heart, fosters attentiveness and energy in worship, and may awaken those who are heedless. The best form of recitation outside of prayer is what is more conducive to humility and further from showing off. Allah the Exalted Said (interpretation of the meaning): {And do not recite your prayer too loudly or too quietly, but seek a way in between} [Al-Isra’ 17:110] This means a moderate approach between loudness and quietness. Moderation is required and is beloved in all matters..

1391
On the authority of `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would spend the night in a state of major ritual impurity (Junub). Then Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) would come to inform him of the prayer, so he would get up and perform the ritual bath (Ghusl). I would see the water dripping from his head, then he would go out, and I would hear his voice in the Fajr prayer.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was indeed the best teacher and nurturer for his Ummah. He taught them by both words and actions. Among what he taught were the rulings related to purification and all that pertains to it at all times—what is permitted therein and what is not.
In this Hadith, `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would spend the night in a state of major ritual impurity (Junub)"—that is, he would remain throughout the night in the state of (Junub) and would delay performing the ritual bath (Ghusl). "Then Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) would come to inform him of the prayer"—meaning: he would inform him that it’s time for the Fajr prayer. "So he would get up and perform the ritual bath (Ghusl)"—that is, he would perform (Ghusl) from (Janabah) after the Adhan of Fajr. She said: "I would see the water dripping from his head"—that is, she would see the water running down from his hair as a result of the (Ghusl). "Then he would go out, and I would hear his voice in the Fajr prayer"—meaning: he would go out after performing (Ghusl), and she would hear his voice reciting in the Fajr prayer.
Another narration clarified that this action of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) occurred during Ramadan and outside of it. If it was in Ramadan, then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would begin the fast in the state of (Junub) and would not break his fast. In this action of his is a clarification of the permissibility of delaying Ghusl until the time of Fajr or shortly after it. `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked: "How would the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) act regarding Janabah?" Did he perform Ghusl before going to sleep, or did he sleep before performing it? She said: “He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to do all of that—sometimes he would perform Ghusl and then sleep, and sometimes he would perform minor Wudu’ and then sleep.”
This Hadith indicates the leniency of the Shari`ah in matters related to purification from major ritual impurity (Janabah). It also affirms the permissibility of delaying Ghusl until Fajr, and that Janabah does not invalidate fasting if one is in that state before Fajr and intends to fast..

1535
From Nafi` (may Allah have mercy on him), from Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): When `Uthman ibn Madh`un (may Allah be pleased with him) died, he left behind a daughter. Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: My maternal uncle Qudamah (may Allah be pleased with him), who was her paternal uncle, gave her to me in marriage without consulting her. That was after her father had died. She disliked the marriage and the girl preferred to marry Al-Mughirah ibn Shu`bah (may Allah be pleased with him), so he married her to him..

Commentary : Islam legislated marriage and defined its conditions and pillars, clarifying what is permissible and what is prohibited in it. Among these matters is that it gave women the right to choose their husbands, and they cannot be married against their will.
In this narration, `Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) informs us: "that when `Uthman ibn Madh`un died" — meaning: he passed away, and he (may Allah be pleased with him) was one of the devout and ascetic Companions — "he left behind a daughter." Her mother was Khuwaylah bint Hakim ibn Umayyah, as mentioned in Imam Ahmad's narration. Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "My maternal uncle Qudamah gave her to me in marriage," meaning: her guardian was Qudamah ibn Madh`un, who was the maternal uncle of `Abdullah ibn `Umar, since Ibn `Umar's mother was Zainab bint Madh`un, the sister of `Uthman and Qudamah (may Allah be pleased with them). "And he was her paternal uncle," meaning: the uncle of `Uthman ibn Madh`un’s daughter, and this indicates that he was responsible for her affairs when contracting the marriage. "Without consulting her," meaning: regarding her marriage to Ibn `Umar, "and this was after her father had died. She disliked the marriage," meaning: she did not accept marrying Ibn `Umar. "And the girl preferred to marry Al-Mughirah ibn Shu`bah, so he married her to him," meaning: he married her to him after annulling the first marriage by the option of reaching maturity.
Imam Ahmad's narration mentions the reason for her preference for Al-Mughirah ibn Shu`bah (may Allah be pleased with him), which is what Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I proposed to Qudamah ibn Madh`un for `Uthman ibn Madh`un’s daughter, and he gave her to me in marriage. Al-Mughirah ibn Shu`bah entered — meaning: to see her mother — and enticed her with wealth, so she inclined toward him, and the girl inclined toward her mother's desire. They both refused until their matter was brought before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Qudamah ibn Madh`un (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'O Messenger of Allah, she is my niece, he (my brother) entrusted her to me, and I married her to her cousin `Abdullah ibn `Umar. I did not fall short choosing one who is righteous and compatible, but she is a woman, and she has inclined toward her mother's desire.' The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'She is an orphan, and she cannot be married except with her permission.'" He (Ibn `Umar) said: "By Allah, she was taken from me after I had possessed her, and they married her to Al-Mughirah."
This Hadith establishes the option of maturity for a girl when someone other than her father marries her off. She has the choice after reaching maturity: to remain in her marriage, annul it, or renew the contract with a guardian, witnesses, and dowry..

1572
On the authority of Bahz ibn Hakim, from his father, from his grandfather, who said: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, with regard to our private parts—what may we expose and what must we conceal He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Guard your private parts except from your wife or those whom your right hand possesses.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what if the people are gathered closely together?” He said: “If you can prevent anyone from seeing it, then do not let anyone see it.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what if one of us is alone?” He said: “Allah is more deserving that one be shy before Him than before people.".

Commentary : A Muslim is commanded to observe modesty in general, and specifically to guard his private parts (`Awrah) from being exposed to others. The Shari`ah has clarified what may be exposed of the body—whether male or female—and has defined the boundaries for that.
In this Hadith, Mu`awiyah ibn Haydah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I said: O Messenger of Allah, with regard to our private parts—what may we expose and what must we conceal?” —meaning: what are we permitted to uncover, and what are we required to keep covered? The `Awrah refers to that which one would feel shame for if exposed. For a man, it is the area between the navel and the knee. For a free woman, it is her entire body. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: “Guard your private parts” —meaning: guard them from being exposed, or from unlawful intercourse. The first meaning—covering and concealment—is the more appropriate here. “Except from your wife or those whom your right hand possesses” —that is: your wife is permitted to see your entire body, as are the female slaves you lawfully own. This indicates that both marriage and ownership permit viewing each other’s private areas from either side.
This Hadith reflects the meaning of the Saying of Allah, the Exalted (interpretation of the meaning): {And those who guard their private parts * Except from their wives or those whom their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed} [Al-Mu’minun 23:5–6]
Mu`awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) then said: “I said: O Messenger of Allah, what if the people are gathered closely together?” —meaning: when people are gathered tightly and remain in place, such that we may sometimes be unable to fully cover our `Awrah in the complete and proper way—due to a tight garment or it coming undone due to necessity. So he asked: how are we to manage covering the `Awrah in such situations? And how can we prevent them from seeing us? The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If you can prevent anyone from seeing it, then do not let anyone see it.” Meaning: protect your private parts to the best of your ability from exposure. Mu`awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what if one of us is alone?’” Meaning: if a person is in seclusion, with no one else present. It is as though he was asking: is it permissible for a person to remove all of his clothing in such a situation? The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: “Allah is more deserving that one be shy before Him than before people.” Meaning: guard your private parts out of obedience to Him, seeking what pleases Him and earns His approval. The matter is not limited to covering one’s `Awrah only in front of people. What is not intended here is the idea of covering from Allah Himself—Exalted is His Remembrance and His Praise—for such a thing is impossible.
Exceptions to exposing the `Awrah include: the time of relieving oneself, while performing ritual bathing (Ghusl), though there is scholarly disagreement concerning this, and in cases of medical necessity, and similar situations in which there is a need. In such cases, exposure must be limited to what is needed, without excess.
This Hadith encourages guarding the `Awrah and taking precautions to prevent exposing it in front of anyone other than a spouse or those whom one’s right hand possesses..