| 2 Hadiths


Hadith
775
It was narrated that Abu Wa’il said: A man came to Ibn Mas‘ud and said: I recited al-Mufassal in one rak‘ah last night. He said: That is too fast, like reciting poetry. I know the pairs of surahs that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to recite together. And he mentioned twenty surahs from al-Mufassal, two in each rak‘ah..

Commentary : Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has enjoined us to reflect upon the Qur’an, as He says: {[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded} [Sad 38:29] and {Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an?} [al-Nisa’ 4:82]. This is the purpose behind reciting it; it is not right to merely pronounce its letters without understanding or reflection. This is further emphasized if the recitation is in prayer. In this hadith, we see that ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) disliked the action of this man who said to him that he had recited all of al-Mufassal in one rak‘ah. Al-Mufassal includes the surahs from Qaf to the end of the Qur’an, or from Surat Muhammad to the end of the Qur’an. It is called mufassal because its surahs are short and are separated (infisal) from one another with frequent intervals. Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) objected to what this man did and said to him: This is like reciting poetry. In other words, his recitation was quick, without reflection, as is done when reciting poetry. He only said that because this manner of reciting was customary among them when reciting poetry. Here Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) was denouncing the man’s action because it indicated a lack of reflection on what he was reciting. But if the worshipper recites at a moderate pace whilst reflecting on the meaning, then standing for a longer time increases his reward.
Then Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that he knew the pairs of surahs that were similar in length, that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to recite together in prayer, reciting two surahs in each rak‘ah. The number of these surahs was thirty, from al-Mufassal. These surahs are mentioned in a report narrated by Abu Dawud, from Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him). They are: al-Rahman and al-Najm in one rak‘ah; al-Qamar and al-Haqqah in one rak‘ah; al-Tur and al-Dhariyat in one rak‘ah; al-Waqi‘ah and al-Qalam in one rak‘ah; al-Ma‘arij and al-Nazi‘at in one rak‘ah; al-Mutaffifeen and ‘Abasa in one rak‘ah; al-Muddaththir and al-Muzzammilin one rak‘ah; al-Insan and al-Qiyamahin one rak‘ah; al-Naba’ and al-Mursalat in one rak‘ah; al-Dukhan and al-Takwir in one rak‘ah.
If someone were to say: al-Dukhan is not part of al-Mufassal, so how can it be included as being part of al-Mufassal? The answer is that it is by way of convenience. In one report it says: Eighteen surahs from al-Mufassal and two surahs from the “family of Ha-Mim” [i.e., the surahs that begin with Ha-Mim].
This hadith indicates that it is permissible to recite two or more surahs in one rak‘ah..

775.1
It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that there was a man of the Ansar who used to lead them in prayer in the mosque of Quba’. Every time he led them and wanted to recite a surah, he would recite {QulHuwa Allahu ahad (Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One…)}  [al-Ikhlas] until he finished it, then he would recite another surah with it, and he would do that in every rak‘ah. His companions spoke to him about that, saying: You always start with this surah, then you think it is not enough, so you recite another surah. Either recite it only, or do not recite it and recite another surah instead. He said: I will not stop reciting it; if you want me to carry on leading you in prayer like this, I will do so, and if you do not like it, I will leave you. They thought that he was one of the best of them, and they did not want anyone else to lead them in prayer. So when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came to them, they told him about that, and he said: “O So-and-so, what prevented you from doing what your companions toldyou to do? What made you persist in reciting this surah in every rak‘ah?” He said: Because I love it. He said: “Your love for it has gained you admittance to Paradise.”.

Commentary : Surat al-Ikhlasis one of the greatest surahs in the Qur’an. Even though its words are few, it contains sublime and important meanings, as it clearly explains the concept of Tawhid (the oneness of Allah), the importance of worshipping Him alone and turning to Him alone, and it categorically states that He has no son and no father (may He be glorified and exalted).
In this hadith, Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man of the Ansar – whose name was Kulthum ibn Hidm (may Allah be pleased with him) – used to lead his companions in prayer in the mosque of Quba’, which was the first mosque that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) built in Madinah when he arrived in the city as a migrant. It stands at the entrance to Madinah for one who is coming from the direction of Makkah. Every time he wanted to recite a surah after al-Fatihah, he would recite before it {QulHuwa Allahu ahad  (Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One…)}  [al-Ikhlas], then he would recite another surah. His companions spoke to him and told him that this surah on its own was sufficient for reciting after al-Fatihah, and by reciting it you will have done what is required of you in terms of recitation, so either recite it on its own, or recite the other surah that youwant to recite after it. But the man refused to do that, and gave them the choice between letting him continue to lead them in prayer in this manner, or appointing someone else to lead the prayer, if they did not like him to lead them. When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came to them, they told him about what this man was doing – the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to come to the mosque of Quba’ every Saturday to pray there, as it says in al-Sahihayn – so the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) asked him about the reason why he did not agree to what his companions were asking of him, and why he persisted in reciting {QulHuwa Allahu ahad  (Say, “He is Allah , [who is] One…)}  [al-Ikhlas] with every other surah he recited. The man told the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that his love for Surat al-Ikhlas was what made him do that. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) approved of him doing that, and gave him the glad tidings that his love for this surah had gained him admittance to Paradise. It is well-known that admittance to Paradise will only happen in the hereafter, but as it is inevitably going to happen, it is as if it has already happened, so the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) spoke in the past tense when he gave him this good news.
This hadith highlights the virtue of Surat al-Ikhlas.
It also indicates that it is permissible to recite two surahs [besides al-Fatihah] in one rak‘ah..

779
It was narrated from Abu Qatadah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to make the first rak‘ah longer in Zuhr prayer, and make the second rak‘ah shorter, and he would also do that in Fajr prayer..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) taught his ummah how to pray by his own actions and practice, just as he taught them by means of direct commands and prohibitions. This hadith explains one aspect of the Prophet’s practice in some of the prayers. In this hadith, Abu Qatadah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) tells us that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to make the first rak‘ah of Zuhr prayer long, and he would make the second rak‘ah shorter than the first. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) also used to do that in Fajr prayer: he would make the first rak‘ah long and make the second shorter.
What is meant by making it long is that he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) made the recitation whilst standing lengthy. In Sahih Muslim it is narrated that Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We used to estimate how long the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stood in Zuhr and ‘Asr prayer. We estimated that his standing in the first two rak‘ahs of Zuhr was equivalent to the time it takes to recite “Alif-Lam-Mimtanzil” [Surat al-Sajdah], and we estimated that his standing in the last two rak‘ahs was equivalent to half of that. It was said that the reason for making the first rak‘ah long was that he had more energy in the first than in the second. It was also said that he did this so that the people would be able to catch up with the rak‘ah..

780
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When the imam says Amin, then say Amin,for if anyone’s saying Amin coincides with that of the angels, his previous sins will be forgiven.” – Ibn Shihab said: And the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to say Amin..

Commentary : Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is immensely merciful and very generous. By His mercy to His slaves, He grants them immense reward for little effort. This hadith highlights one aspect of this mercy, as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explains that when the imam says Amin – which means:  O Allah, answer – after reciting al-Fatihah in a prayer in which recitation is done out loud, the one who is praying behind the imam should follow him in saying Amin when he hears him say it. For if a person’s saying Amin coincides with that of the angels, in timing – or in manner, humility and sincerity – his previous sins will be forgiven. What is meant by the angels is the recording angels or, it was said, the angels who come in succession by night and day. And it was said that it refers to all the angels, based on the general meaning of the phrase, because the plural form preceded by the definite article includes all of them, in the sense that it is said by the recording angels who are present, then those who are above them, until it reaches those on high and the inhabitants of the heavens.
The apparent meaning of the hadith is that the one who is praying behind the imam should say Amin after the imam says it. It was also said that the one who is praying behind the imam should say Amin at the same time as the imam, not before him and not after him. With regard to the words, “When the imam says Amin, then say Amin,” what is meant is when the imam is about to say Amin.
This hadith highlights the virtue of saying Amin after reciting al-Fatihah for the imam, the one who is praying behind an imam, and the one who is praying on his own..

783
It was narrated from al-Hasan, from Abu Bakrah, that he came to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) when he was bowing, so he bowed before he joined the row. He mentioned that to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and he said: “May Allah increase you in keenness, but do not do it again.”.

Commentary : Keenness to follow the teachings of Islam and to do the obligatory duties, and hastening to catch up with them,are indicative of a person’s righteousness and sincere faith in Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), so long as that keenness and hastening does not make him overstep the mark with regard to commands and prohibitions. The companions of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) were the keenest of people to do that, especially in the case of prayers in congregation. They did not fail to attend prayer in congregation, except when there was an excuse. In this hadith, Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he came to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and found him bowing in prayer. He (may Allah be pleased with him) wanted to catch up with the rak‘ah with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) before he rose from bowing, so he bowed on his own before reaching and joining the row, and walked bowing until he came to the row. When he mentioned that to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) after the prayer had ended, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) offered supplication for him, asking that he be increased in keenness to do good, because he knew that he only did that because he was so keen to catch up with the rak‘ah with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Then he told him not to do that again, because by doing that he was praying on his own behind the row, which is not allowed. It may be that the prohibition referred to walking to the row whilst praying; even though taking one or two steps does not invalidate the prayer, it is better to avoid doing that.
The basic principle is that the one who wants to pray behind an imam should walk towards the congregation in a calm and dignified manner, then whatever he catches up with with the imam he should pray with him, and whatever he misses of the prayer, he should complete it after the imam says the taslim..

784
It was narrated from Mutarrif, that ‘Imran ibn Husayn said that he prayed with ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) in Basra and he said: This man reminded us of a prayer that we prayed with the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and he said that he used to say takbir every time he moved up and every time he moved down..

Commentary : Conveying and teaching religion to the people, and correcting any shortcomings, is obligatory upon every Muslim, commensurate with his level of knowledge and ability. The Tabi‘in used to keep close to the companions of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in order to learn from their knowledge, and if they made a mistake, the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) would correct them.
In this hadith, the Tabi‘i Mutarrif ibn ‘Abdillah ibn ash-Shikhkhir narrates that he and ‘Imran ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed behind ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) in Basra, in Iraq. ‘Imran (may Allah be pleased with him) said to those around him, after the prayer ended: This man – meaning ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) – reminded us of the prayer that we used to pray with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). And he stated that he used to say takbir every time he lowered his head and raised it during the prayer. So he said takbir every time he went down, bowing and prostrating, and every time he rose from both. But he used to say when rising from bowing: “Sami‘a Allahu limanhamidah, Rabbanawalaka al-hamd (Allah hears those who praise Him; our Lord, to You be praise),” and similar phrases that have been narrated for this point in the prayer, and he did not say takbir. This is an exception from takbir, but what is said here refers to what is most often the case, so takbir is mentioned because this is what is said in most of the movements of the prayer. ‘Imran (may Allah be pleased with him) said that because that emphasizes how the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) used to pray.
This hadith describes the prayer of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
It also highlights the keenness of the Sahabah to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). .

787
It was narrated that ‘Ikrimah said: I saw a man at the Maqam, saying takbir every time he moved down and up [in prayer], when he stood and when he sat. I told Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) [about that] and he said: Is this not how the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to pray, may you be bereft of your mother!.

Commentary : Conveying and teaching religion to the people, and correcting any shortcomings, is obligatory upon every Muslim, commensurate with his level of knowledge and ability. The Tabi‘in used to keep close to the companions of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in order to learn from their knowledge, and if they made a mistake, the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) would correct them.
In this hadith, ‘Ikrimah, the freed slave of Ibn ‘Abbas, narrates that he saw a man – it was said that he was Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) – praying in Makkah at the Maqam of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). He said takbir every time he moved down and up [in the prayer]. This man found it odd, and according to a report narrated by al-Bukhari, he described the man as foolish. When he mentioned that to Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), the latter rebuked him and told him off, and he informed him that this was how the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to pray, because saying takbir at every movement, down or up, was what the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to do in his prayer. And he said to him: May you be bereft of your mother! This is a phrase that was used by way of rebuke, and Ibn ‘Abbas said it to him because he was unaware of the Sunnah, yet despite that he found it odd that someone would do it. What is meant is that the man was saying takbir every time he lowered his head and raised it during the prayer. So he said takbir every time he went down, bowing and prostrating, and every time he rose from both. But he used to say when rising from bowing: “Sami‘a Allahu limanhamidah, Rabbanawalaka al-hamd(Allah hears those who praise Him; our Lord, to You be praise),” and similar phrases that have been narrated for this point in the prayer, and he did not say takbir. This is an exception from takbir, but what is said here refers to what is most often the case, so takbir is mentioned because this is what is said in most of the movements of the prayer..

788
It was narrated from ‘Ikrimah: I prayed behind an old man in Makkah, and he said takbir twenty-two times. I said to Ibn ‘Abbas: He is foolish. He said: May your mother be bereft of you! It is the Sunnah of Abu’l-Qasim (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)..

Commentary : Conveying and teaching religion to the people, and correcting any shortcomings, is obligatory upon every Muslim, commensurate with his level of knowledge and ability. The Tabi‘in used to keep close to the companions of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in order to learn from their knowledge, and if they made a mistake, the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) would correct them.
In this hadith, the Tabi‘i ‘Ikrimah, the freed slave of Ibn ‘Abbas, narrates that in Makkah he offered a four-rak‘ah prayer behind an imam; he was the Sahabi Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), and the prayer was Zuhr, as it says in the report narrated by Ahmad. He said takbir twenty-two times in the four rak‘ahs. What is meant by the takbirs that ‘Ikrimah counted is that in every rak‘ah there were five takbirs: the takbir for bowing, the two rakbirs for the two prostrations, a takbir for sitting between the two prostrations, and a takbir for rising from the second prostration, in addition to the opening takbir (takbirat al-ihram) and the takbir for standing up following the first tashahhud. When ‘Ikrimah counted the number of takbirs, he said to Ibn ‘Abbas, finding the actions of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) odd: He is foolish – meaning that he is lacking in reason, because he does not know how to pray and when to say takbir. Ibn ‘Abbas said tohim: May you be bereft of your mother! This is a word that the Arabs say by way of rebuke, and they do not mean it literally. So this was by way of rebuking ‘Ikrimah and objecting to what he had said, and his ignorance of the Sunnah. It was not a supplication against him. Then he explained to him that this prayer, with this number of takbirs, was the Sunnah of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and it was not due to ignorance on the part of the imam. Abu’l-Qasim is the kunyah of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
This indicates that the people had become careless and negligent with regard to the takbirs of the prayer and with regard to saying them at the right points in the prayer, to the extent that some of them thought that the norm was what had become widespread among them of heedlessness and not saying the takbirsat the right points. It also indicates that when the scholars among the Sahabah saw this heedlessness and shortcoming on the people’s part, they showed them how to say the takbirs at the correct points, as the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had done.
This hadith highlights the fact that the scholars must correct what the people have changed, and show them the correct way..

789
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stood up to pray, he said takbir when he stood up, then he said takbir when he bowed. Then he said Sami‘a Allahu limanhamidah (Allah hears those who praise him) when he stood up straight from bowing. Then when he was standing upright, he said Rabbanalaka al-hamd (Our Lord, to You be praise) – ‘Abdullah ibn Salih said, narrating from al-Layth: Walaka al-hamd. Then he said takbir when he went down [to prostrate]; then he said takbir when he lifted his head; then he said takbir when he prostrated; then he said takbir when he lifted his head. Then he did that throughout the entire prayer until he finished it. And he said takbir when he stood up after the first two rak‘ahs..

Commentary : Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has instructed us, in the Holy Qur’an,  to pray in general terms. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained it to us very clearly in word and deed,and the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) transmitted that from the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in great detail. So there is no room to add or subtract anything.
In this hadith, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates part of the description of the Prophet’s prayer, telling us that when the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stood to pray, he said takbir when he began the prayer, which is known as takbirat al-ihram (opening takbir). Then he said takbir when he began to move to the bowing posture, when he prostrated, when he lifted his head from prostration, when he prostrated a second time, when he lifted his head again, and when he stood up following the first two rak‘ahs, after sitting to recite the first tashahhud. Then he would do that throughout the prayer, until he finished it. And he would say when he stood up straight after bowing: Sami‘a Allahu limanhamidah(Allah hears those who praise Him), then he would say once he was standing up straight: Rabbanalaka al-hamd. This indicates that the imam who is leading the prayer should recite both the tasmi‘ (Sami‘a Allahu limanhamidah) and the tahmid (Rabbanalaka al-hamd); and that the tasmi‘ is the dhikr to be said when rising from bowing, and the tahmid is the dhikr to be said when one has stood upright.
This hadith indicates that it is prescribed to say takbir with every movement up and down, except when rising from bowing, when one should say “Sami‘a Allahu limanhamidah; Rabbanalaka al-hamd.”.

790
It was narrated that Abu Ya‘fur said: I heard Mus‘ab ibn Sa‘d say: I prayed beside my father, and I put my hands together then placed them between my thighs. My father told me not to do that, and he said: We used to do that, then we were told not to do it, and we were instructed to place our hands on our knees..

Commentary : Prayer is the greatest of the pillars of Islam after the twin declaration of faith, and the Muslim should make sure that he prays regularly and establishes prayer as Allah wants us to do it and as the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to do it. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained the postures of prayer, namely bowing and prostrating. He taught that to the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them), and they transmitted it to those who came after them.
In this hadith, the Tabi‘i Mus‘ab ibn Sa‘d narrates that he prayed beside his father, Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) and he put his hands together, which means putting the palm of the right hand on the palm of the left hand, and he put them between his thighs, above his knees. But his father (may Allah be pleased with him) told him not to do that, and informed him that that had been permissible at the beginning of Islam, and they used to do it, then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told them not to do that, and instructed them to place their hands on their knees when bowing.
This hadith highlights the keenness of the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and to teach it to their children..

792
It was narrated that al-Bara’ said: The bowing of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), his prostration, his [sitting] between the two prostrations, and when he lifted his head from bowing – except when he was standing and sitting – were almost equal in length..

Commentary : The Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) were very keen to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in all things, and to transmit that to those who came after them, especially with regard to prayer, which is the foundation of faith.
In this hadith, al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) tells us of one of the characteristics of the Prophet’s prayer, which is the duration of his bowing, prostration, rising from bowing, and sitting between the two prostrations, which were so similar that they were almost equal in length, apart from his standing and sitting. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to make these two longer in length than other parts of the prayer. He only made the standing longer because of recitation and he made the sitting longer because of the tashahhud.
The characteristic mentioned in this hadith is the most perfect characteristic in the case of prayer offered in congregation. However, when a man is praying on his own, he may make the bowing and prostration much longer than the standing, and [also do that] in the pause between the two prostrations, and between bowing and prostrating..

797
It was narrated from Abu Salamah that Abu Hurayrah said: I shall surely show you how the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed, so that you can understand it. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) used to recite Qunut in the last rak‘ah of Zuhr, Isha’ and Fajr, after saying Sami‘a Allahu limanhamidah; he would pray for the believers and curse the disbelievers..

Commentary : The companions of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him and may Allah be pleased with them) were extremely keen to follow the teachings of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and to spread his Sunnah and teach it to those who came after them. They were especially keen to explain his practice in the prayer, as we see in this hadith, in which Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) transmitted to those who were present a description of the prayer of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in which he would recite Qunut, praying for the believers and cursing the disbelievers. Therefore he said: I shall surely show you how the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed, so that you can understand it. In other words, I will pray as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed, so learn from how I pray, so that your prayer will be like that of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Then, after rising from bowing in Zuhr, ‘Isha’ and Fajr, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed Qunut, praying for the believers and cursing the disbelievers.
The Qunut referred to here is a supplication (du‘a’) that is offered when standing in the prayer. It is done after rising from bowing in the final rak‘ah. This is a clear statement that the Qunut mentioned in these prayers is something that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did. It may be understood to refer to Qunut al-Nawazil (Qunut at times of calamity).  The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed against the polytheists who killed his companions at Bi’r Ma‘unah. It is also proven that he prayed Qunut against the disbelievers of Quraysh. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) wanted to explain to the people that the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sometimes included Qunut, so they should follow his example in that regard.
This hadith indicates that it is prescribed to pray Qunut during the prayer, and to curse the unjust, transgressing disbelievers..

798
It was narrated that Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Qunut was said in Maghrib and Fajr..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would seek to draw close to Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) by offering supplication (du‘a’) in all situations. This included the supplication of Qunut, which he would offer during his prayer. His companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were very keen to follow the practice of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and to spread his Sunnah.
In this hadith, Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) tells us about the Qunut of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) during his prayer. Qunut is the name of the supplication that is offered during the prayer at a particular point when standing, as the imam may  say Qunut before bowing or straight after standing up from bowing in the final rak‘ah, and those who are praying behind him should say Amin to his supplication. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) explained  that Qunut was offered in Maghrib and Fajr prayers, and the reason for this Qunut was that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was praying against a tribe of the polytheists who had killed approximately seventy reciters of the Qur’an whom the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had sent to them, to call them to Islam and teach them about the religion. He continued to pray against them, as was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed Qunut for a month, after bowing in Fajr prayer, praying against Ri‘l and Dhakwan, saying: “ ‘Usayyah [a tribe] have disobeyed [‘asat] Allah and His Messenger.” Then he stopped praying against them, when Allah (may He be exalted) revealed the words: {Not for you, [O Muhammad, but for Allah], is the decision} [Al ‘Imran 3:128].
This hadith indicates that Qunut may be said at times of calamity and turmoil.
It indicates that we may pray against oppressors and those who harm the Muslims..

799
It was narrated that Rifa‘ah ibn Rafi‘ al-Zuraqi said: One day we were praying behind the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and when he raised his head from bowing, he said: “Sami‘a Allahu limanhamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him).” And a man behind him said: Rabbanawalaka al-hamduhamdankathirantayyibanmubarakanfihi (Our Lord, to You be praise, much good and blessed praise). When he finished the prayer, he said: “Who is the one who spoke?” The man said: It was me. He said: “I saw thirty-odd angels hastening to be the first to write it down.”.

Commentary : Praising Allah as He deserves to be praised is one of the noblest acts of worship by means of which a person may draw closer to Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), and attain great reward in this world and the hereafter.
In this hadith, Rifa‘ah ibn Rafi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he was praying with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) one day, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said after rising from bowing: “Sami‘a Allahu limanhamidah(Allah hears those who praise Him).” A man who was praying behind the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: Rabbanawalaka al-hamduhamdankathirantayyibanmubarakanfihi (Our Lord, to You be praise, much good and blessed praise). What is meant is: praise that is free of showing off and seeking reputation, in which there is much good. The one who said that was Rifa‘ah ibn Rafi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him), the narrator of the hadith, as is stated in the report narrated by Abu Dawud. After finishing the prayer, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) asked who had said those words, and Rifa‘ah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: I was the one who said that, O Messenger of Allah. So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told him that he had seen a number of angels – as many as thirty-odd – rushing , each of them wanting to write down these words before the others. The word translated here as “-odd” refers to a number between three and nine.
This hadith highlights the virtue of praising and remembering Allah (may He be glorified).
It indicates that it is prescribed for the one who is praying behind an imam to say some of the dhikr out loud, so long as that will not disturb the people with him..

800
It was narrated that Thabit said: Anas used to describe the prayer of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to us, and he said: When he prayed and raised his head from bowing, he would stand so long that we would think: he has forgotten..

Commentary : The companions of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him and may Allah be pleased with them) were extremely keen to follow the teachings of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and to spread his Sunnah and teach it to those who came after them. They were especially keen to explain his practice in the prayer.
In this hadith, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) describes the prayer of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and tells us that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) lifted his head from bowing, he would stand for so long that one who was watching him would think that he had forgotten that he was praying, because he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stood for so long.
This description of the prayer is something good if one adheres to it and is able to do that, otherwise it is sufficient to do the minimum that is required, which is to stand up and pause briefly..

300
Aisha said, "I would drink when I was menstruating then hand it (the vessel) to the Prophet ﷺ who would put his mouth where mine had been then drink. I would eat flesh from a bone when I was menstruating then hand it to the Prophet ﷺ who would put his mouth where mine had been.".

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) was the best and most merciful one to his family. In this hadith, Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, told us about the Prophet's manners with her while she was menstruating. When she drank and handed the vessel to him, he used to place his mouth and drink from the same place from where she was drinking. Similarly, when she ate flesh from a bone, he used to eat from the same place from where she was eating. All of these manners were to give her comfort, protect her from sadness during this difficult period, kindly deal with her, and confirm that it is Islamically allowable to mix with menstruating women. It was unlike what Jews and people of pre-Islamic ignorant times believed that they neither ate nor drank with her during her period. Finally, this Hadith confirms the Prophet's kindness to his wives, especially during menstruation, for women are in dire need of kindness at that time..

302
Anas narrated that the Jews, when a woman menstruated, used to leave eating and living with her. The companions asked the Prophet ﷺ about that, so Allah revealed, "They ask you concerning menstruation. Say, "That is a harm," therefore keep away from women during menses." to the end of the verse (Al-Baqarah: 222). As a result, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Do everything except sexual intercourse.” When the Jews were reported about that, they said, 'This man does not want to leave anything we do without opposing us in it.' Usaid ibn Hudair and ‘Abbad ibn Beshr came and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the Jews are saying such and such. Will we not have intercourse with them (i.e. during menstruation)?' The face of Allah's Messenger ﷺ changed so we thought he was angry with them. When they went out, they were met by a gift of milk which was being brought to the Prophet ﷺ. He asked for them and gave them a drink. Thereupon, they knew that he was not angry with them.".

Commentary : Islam honored women more than any other civilization or system. It granted her rights, status, and a respected opinion. In this hadith, Anas ibn Malik narrated that the Jews, who were living in Medina before the Prophet's advent, used to leave eating or living with menstruating women, believing that they were impure. The Companions asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about how to treat women during this period, so Allah revealed, "They ask you concerning menstruation. Say, 'That is a harm,' therefore keep away from women during menses and go not to them till they are purified. And when they have purified themselves, then go into them as Allah has ordained for you. Truly, Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves." (Al-Baqarah: 222) The meaning is a Muslim has to avoid intercourse with his wife during her menstruation period which is a harm. After her blood stopped and she performed a complete bathing, he was allowed to have intercourse with her in the way that Islam has permitted i.e. penetrating one's penis into her vagina, not her anus. At the end of the verse, Allah confirmed that he loved those who frequently repent and purify. Then, the Prophet (ﷺ) permitted them to do everything like kissing, embracing, etc. during this period except intercourse. Above all, a Muslim can live and eat with them during this period. In Sahih Muslim, Aisha said, "I would drink when I was menstruating then hand it (the vessel) to the Prophet (ﷺ) who would put his mouth where mine had been then drink. I would eat flesh from a bone when I was menstruating then hand it to the Prophet (ﷺ) who would put his mouth where mine had been." When the Jews knew about the Prophet's guidelines, they said, "This man does not want to leave anything we do without opposing us in it." Both the two companions, Usaid Ibn Hudair and 'Abbad ibn Beshr came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and informed him about the Jews' comment. Due to their anger with the Jews, they asked the Prophet (ﷺ) to oppose the Jews' habit and have intercourse with menstruating wives. Thereupon, the Prophet's face changed to the point that the attending companions thought he was angry with them both, for his teachings were to clarify Allah's laws in this case not to agree nor contradict any sect in Medina as they both thought. After they went out, he feared that they were sad about what happened. To remove any difficult feelings, he asked them to come back to drink the milk that he received as a gift. Therefore, they knew that he was not angry with them. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It clarifies the Prophet's forbearing and kindness to his companions, (2) It shows that the Prophet (ﷺ) is only angry when facing something that contradicts Allah's teachings, and (3) It confirms that all Islam's teachings are from Allah..

307
Abdullah ibn Qais, said, "I asked Aisha about how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to perform Witr prayer." He mentioned the hadith and said, "I asked her, 'What did he do after having sexual intercourse? Did he take a bath before going to sleep or did he sleep before taking a bath?' She said, 'He did all of these acts. He may have taken a bath then slept or performed ablution then slept.' I said, 'All praise is due to Allah Who has made things easy.'".

Commentary : In some acts of worship, the Prophet ﷺ used to perform them in various methods, as his guidance regarding the night prayer, witr prayer, and bathing after intercourse. All of his acts were a source of guidance for his nation. In this hadith, Abdullah ibn Qais informed that he asked Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, about how the Prophet ﷺ used to perform Witr prayer. His saying, “He mentioned the hadith” meant that he wanted to summarize the hadith and mention its other part showing the Prophet’s act after having intercourse at night. In Sunan Abu Daoud, Abdullah narrated the first part in which Aisha answered, “He may perform witr prayer at the beginning of the night or performed it at its end.” Abdullah asked, “What about his recitation? Did he recite in a loud or low voice?” She answered, “He used to do all of that. Sometimes he recited in a loud voice and sometimes in a low voice.” The Prophet ﷺ used to perform witr prayer in various ways. He performed it with three, five, seven, nine, and eleven rak’as. He may have recited the Quran during his night prayer in a low voice or a loud voice that those around him could hear. Additionally, Abdullah asked her about the Prophet’s bathing due to intercourse at night. She explained that the Prophet ﷺ may have taken a bath before sleeping or just performed ablution. Abdullah’s saying: “All praise is due to Allah Who has made things easy” may be a comment on all of her answers or her answer about the Prophet’s bath after intercourse. This hadith contains the following benefits: (1) Islam facilitated the rules of bathing due to intercourse, (2) It clarified the Muslim predecessors’ keenness to ask about the rules of Islam and follow the Prophet’s acts, deeds, and cases..

308
Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When any one of you has intercourse with his wife and wants to repeat it, he should perform ablution." In another narration, he added, "An ablution should be between these two acts.”.

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) taught his nation the related matters to intercourse such as its permissible and prohibited acts and how to purify oneself afterward. In this hadith, he guided a husband who had intercourse with his wife to perform ablution if he wanted to do it again before bathing. It was reported in Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah that Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that ablution activated a person to have intercourse once again. Moreover, ablution reduces impurities by cleaning one's penis, which has some benefits: (1) From a medical perspective, it strengthens one's penis, (2) It enables the body to relieve before coming back again, and (3) It completes the pleasure by removing the couple's sperm attached to one’s penis, which may reduce pleasure. It was said that the mentioned ablution referred to only washing a man's penis as exaggerating cleanliness, for it was reported in Sunan Abu Daoud that Aisha (ﷺ) said, “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to sleep after having intercourse without touching water.” Some said that her saying, “without touching water” meant bathing which did not contradict ablution. It is possible that the Prophet’s command to perform ablution is, as mentioned, with the aim of seeking cleanliness and activity, for what was reported in Sahih Muslim that Aisha narrated, "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to have intercourse with his wives (one after another) with a single bathing." She did not mention that he performed ablution. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It is legitimate to perform ablution between two intercourses, whether it is with the same woman or another one, (2) It is not obligatory to perform bathing immediately after intercourse. It is obligatory when wanting to perform acts of worship like prayer which necessitates bathing, and (3) The legitimacy of frequent intercourse..

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Aisha narrated that a woman asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), "Is it obligatory upon a woman to bathe if she has a wet dream and sees her semen?" He answered, "Yes." Aisha said to her, "May your hand be covered with dust and injured!" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Leave her alone. Is the resemblance due to something other than that?! If her semen prevails over her husband's, the kid resembles his maternal uncles and if his semen prevails over her semen, the kid resembles his paternal uncles.".

Commentary : The Prophet (ﷺ) was a teacher for his nation. He used to teach it all the etiquette of intercourse and purity. In this hadith, Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, narrated that a woman (Umm Sulaim as Anas ibn Malek narrated in Sahih Muslim) asked the Prophet (ﷺ) if it was obligatory upon a woman to bathe if having a wet dream and seeing semen. He answered, “Yes.” He welcomed her question while Aisha expressed her refusal of that type of question. He saw that it was an important religious matter that a person had to inquire about. In Abu Daoud’s narration, he said, “Women are counterparts of men,” which meant that Islam addressed them with the same legislation as men. Out of his modesty, he implicitly indicated that both genders may have had a wet dream. He thought that the woman understood what he meant through his concise answer. He clarified that the kid resembled his maternal or paternal uncles based on which semen (father’s or mother’s) preceded the other, which was subject to Allah’s will. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It clarifies how the Prophet (ﷺ) took much care of teaching women the rules of Islam, and (2) It confirms that it is permissible for women to directly ask scholars..

315
Thawban, the servant of the Prophet ﷺ, said, “While I was standing beside the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, one of Jews’ rabbis came and said, ‘Peace be upon you, O Muhammad.’ I pushed him so strongly back that he was about to fall. He said, ‘Why did you push me?’ I said, ‘Why did you not say, ‘O Messenger of Allah?’ The Jew said, ‘We called him by the name his family named him.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said, ‘My name is Muhammad which my family named me.’ The Jew said, ‘I came to ask you (something).’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Will you benefit from something if I tell you about it?' He said, ‘I lend my ears to it.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ drew lines on the ground with a stick and said, ‘Ask.’ The Jew asked, ‘Where will people be on the Day when the earth changes into another earth and the heavens too?’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘They will be in darkness beside the Bridge.’ He asked, ‘Who will be the first to cross?’ The Prophet answered, ‘The poor immigrants.’ The Jew asked, ‘What will be their gift when they enter Paradise?’ The Prophet ﷺ answered, ‘The side part of a whale’s liver.’ The Jew asked, ‘What will be their food afterward?’ The Prophet ﷺ replied, ‘The Paradise’s bull which is eating from its different quarters will be slaughtered for them.’ The Jew asked, ‘What will be their drink?’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘They will drink from a well called Salsabil.’ The Jew said, ‘You have told the truth. I came to ask you about a thing none among the people on the earth knows except a prophet and one or two men.’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Will you benefit if I answer you?’ The Jew, ‘I lend my ears to it.’ The Jew resumed, ‘I came to ask you about the kid.’ The Prophet ﷺ answered, ‘A man’s sperm is white and a woman’s sperm is yellow. If they gather and the man’s sperm precedes the female's, it will be a male kid, Allah willing. If the woman’s sperm precedes the man's, it will be a female kid, Allah willing. The Jew said, ‘You have told the truth. Verily, you are a prophet.’ Then he left. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘He asked me about such and such things that I have had no knowledge till Allah gave me that.’”.

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ was a mercy to the worlds. He was a teacher, educator, and caller to Allah with wisdom and good preaching. In this hadith, his servant, Thawban, narrated that a Jewish rabbi came and greeted the Prophet ﷺ saying, “Peace be upon you, O Muhammad.” Thawban rejected his way of addressing the Prophet ﷺ by his name and neglecting his description of prophethood. Thawban pushed him so strongly that the Jew was about to fall. When the Jew asked Thawban about the reason for pushing him, Thawban wondered, “Why did you not say, O Messenger of Allah?” The Jew answered that he called the Prophet ﷺ by the name his family called him. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ approved his point of view. The name Muhammad means the frequently praised one who has all praised attributes. The Prophet ﷺ asked him if he wanted to ask to get benefits or aimed to challenge and argue. The Jew confirmed that he was keen to hear and judge the Prophet’s words. The Prophet ﷺ started to draw lines with a wooden stick on the ground, which was an Arab way during thinking. Then, the Prophet ﷺ allowed him to ask. The Jew asked about where the people would be on the day when the earth and the heavens would be altered. The Prophet ﷺ informed him that they would be in the darkness beside the bridge over Hell. In the Two Sahihs, Sahl ibn Sa’d narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “The people will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection on reddish white land like a pure loaf of bread where none has landmarks.” In addition, the Jew asked who would be the first to cross that bridge so the Prophet ﷺ answered that they would be his poor companions who immigrated from Mecca to Medina with their faith, left their family and properties, and supported him for Allah’s pleasing. The Jew asked about the gift they would get once getting to Paradise. The Prophet ﷺ clarified that it would be the side part of a whale’s liver which was the best of its parts. The Jew asked about their lunch (or food as in the other narration) so the Prophet ﷺ answered that it would be Paradise’s bull which was eating from its different quarters. This referred that it was a bull with unique characteristics that were not similar to other bulls or it was the only bull in Paradise. In the Two Sahihs, Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that the Jew asked the Prophet ﷺ, “Will I inform you of their food?” The Prophet answered him, “Yes.” The Jew answered, “Bull and whale. Seventy thousand people will eat from the side part of the whale’s liver.” They may be those seventy persons who will enter Paradise without reckoning so they will be preferred and given the best food. The mentioned number may have meant exaggeration not confining. When the Jew asked the Prophet ﷺ about their drink after eating that bull, he replied that they would drink from a well called Salsabil in Paradise as Allah Almighty said, “And they will be given to drink there of a cup (of wine) mixed with ginger. A spring there, called Salsabil.” (Al-Insan: 17, 18) It water is running so fast. Salsabil means that its water is sweet and easy to enter one’s throat. The Jew believed what the Prophet ﷺ told and added that he came to ask the Prophet ﷺ about something none among the people on the earth knew except a prophet and one or two men. It was a metaphor that only a few people knew it. It was known to a prophet or a few persons that a Prophet informed them about it. The Prophet ﷺ asked him if he wanted to benefit from him if he told him something. The Jew confirmed that he was keen to hear and judge the Prophet’s words. The Jew asked the Prophet ﷺ about how the embryo's gender was determined. The Prophet ﷺ answered that the man’s sperm was white and thick while that of the woman was yellow and thin. If they gathered in a woman’s womb and the man’s sperm preceded the female's, it would be a male kid, Allah willing. If the woman’s sperm preceded the man's, it would be a female kid, Allah willing. The Jew confirmed the Prophet’s truthfulness, for all he mentioned was consistent with what he learned from Torah. He also acknowledged the Prophet’s message but did not bear witness to it. This indicates that the mere acknowledgment without belief in Islam has no benefit, for the Prophet did not confirm that the Jew became Muslim. Once the Jew left, the Prophet ﷺ said that he did not know how to answer the Jew’s questions except after Allah informed him. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It contains some signs that confirm the Prophet’s message, for he told about some matters of the unseen world, (2) The high level of the Prophet’s morals, and (3) It clarifies the virtue of the poor immigrants who Allah will honor with preceding others in crossing the bridge..

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Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to bath with the water left over by Maimuna (his wife)..

Commentary : Islam honored women and did not treat them like outcasts, as was the case in pre-Islamic times in which men neither mixed, ate, nor drank with women during menstruation or postpartum, believing their filthiness. In this hadith, Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to bathe from the water remaining after his wife Maimunah's bathing (Ibn Abbas's aunt) due to intercourse or menstruation as Ibn Majah's narration confirmed. The Prophet's wife used to scoop water with her hand, but the water was still pure as Imam An-Nasa'i narrated, "Some of the Prophet's wives had taken a bath due to intercourse then the Prophet (ﷺ) performed ablution from her remaining water. Afterward, she mentioned that to him, but he replied, “Water is not made impure by anything." He meant that water was pure, and a Muslim could use it as long as none of its characteristics changed..

325
Safina, the servant of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, narrated, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to take a bath with one sa' (four water handfuls) and performed ablution with one mudd (a handful of water)." In another narration, he said, "One mudd sufficed for his ablution.".

Commentary : Islamic law forbids extravagance and Allah warns those following this behavior. Extravagance is the excessive usage of anything. A Muslim should be economical even when using water in ablution or bathing. In this hadith, Safina, the companion and servant of the Prophet, confirmed that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to bathe, due to intercourse, with one sa' (eight water handfuls). Sa’ equals eight pounds. A pound in modern quantities is about 380 or 538 grams. It is a little less or more than a liter. Additionally, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform ablution with one mudd (two handfuls of water). This hadith shows the amount that sufficed him, not the amount that a person cannot exceed, for people vary in using water for ablution or bathing. Anyway, using water extravagantly is forbidden in Islam that commands its followers to preserve and wisely use water resources as needed..

326
Safina, the servant of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, narrated, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to take a bath with one sa' (four water handfuls) and performed ablution with one mudd (a handful of water)." In another narration, he said, "One mudd sufficed for his ablution.".

Commentary : Islamic law forbids extravagance and Allah warns those following this behavior. Extravagance is the excessive usage of anything. A Muslim should be economical even when using water in ablution or bathing. In this hadith, Safina, the companion and servant of the Prophet, confirmed that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to bathe, due to intercourse, with one sa' (eight water handfuls). Sa’ equals eight pounds. A pound in modern quantities is about 380 or 538 grams. It is a little less or more than a liter. Additionally, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform ablution with one mudd (two handfuls of water). This hadith shows the amount that sufficed him, not the amount that a person cannot exceed, for people vary in using water for ablution or bathing. Anyway, using water extravagantly is forbidden in Islam that commands its followers to preserve and wisely use water resources as needed..

330
Umm Salama narrated, "I said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I am a woman that braids my head. Should I undo it to take a bath after intercourse?’ He said, ‘No, it is sufficient that you only pour three handfuls of water on your head and then pour water over the rest of your body so you will be purified.'".

Commentary : The required bathing in Islam is to wash the entire body with water, as shown in the Prophetic tradition. In this hadith, Um Salama, the Mother of the Believers, narrated that she said to the Prophet (ﷺ) that she used to braid her head so is it required for her to undo it in case of taking a bath due to sexual intercourse. He answered her that it was sufficient that she poured three handfuls of water on her head and then poured water over the rest of her body. If she did that, she would become purified. In another narration, she asked, "Should I undo it to take a bath due to intercourse or menstruation?" This narration indicates that a woman does not need to undo her braids during bathing due to intercourse or menstruation. On the other hand, it was said that adding the word "menstruation" was not narrated by the most trustworthy narrators. Accordingly, the braids should be undone during bathing due to menstruation, not intercourse. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) A Muslim should ask about the religious rules that he does not know, (2) It clarifies how the female Companions were keen to learn the Islamic rules, especially those relating to menstruation, and (3) It explains how a woman takes a bath due to intercourse or menstruation..

331
Ubeid ibn Umeir narrated, "Aishah heard that Abdullah ibn Amr ordered women to undo their (plaits of) hair while bathing. She said, 'What a strange issue from Ibn 'Amr! He ordered women to undo their (plaits of) hair while bathing! Did he not command them to shave their hair? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and I used to bathe from a single vessel. I never poured more than three handfuls of water over my head.'".

Commentary : Facilitation is one of the noble virtues of Islamic law. This facilitation is obvious in various issues such as purification and ablution. In this hadith, Ubeid ibn Umeir Al-Laithy narrated that Aishah heard that Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al-Aas ordered women to undo their (plaits of) hair while bathing so water would reach all hair. He may have made it obligatory. When she heard that, she wondered and declined his opinion, for it was so difficult that they undo their plaits. So she mocked and added, "Did he not command them to shave their hair?" Her proof is that the Prophet (ﷺ) and she used to bathe from a single vessel. She never poured more than three handfuls of water over her head. Aisha is the most well-known one of these details. On the other hand, there is another related hadith in which Um Salama narrated, "I asked, ’O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I am a woman that braids my head. Should I undo it to take a bath after intercourse?’ He said, ‘No, it is sufficient that you only pour three handfuls of water on your head and then pour water over the rest of your body so you will be purified.'" This hadith confirms that a woman is not required to undo her plaits while bathing due to intercourse..

338
Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, "A man must not look at a man's private parts nor must a woman look at a woman's private parts. A man must not lie naked under one cover with another man nor must a woman lie naked under one cover with another woman.".

Commentary : Islam blocks all pretexts leading to committing sins and provides humanity with the noblest ideals and the right path to worldly life and the Hereafter. To achieve this goal, Islam commands lowering one’s gaze and forbids looking at private parts, which may lead to committing immoral acts. In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ prohibits a man from looking at another man's private parts and also prohibits a woman from looking at another woman's private parts. These teachings involve two commands: (1) Covering one's private parts, and (2) Lowering one’s gaze. Allah pardons the first unintentional glance which may aim to distinguish the way, for example. Islam prohibits us from looking at or touching people's private parts without a need. However, it is permissible to look and touch them if there is a legitimate need such as a medical check, provided that there is a need and without a lust. By the way, this prohibition is not applied to spouses during intercourse. As a rule, a man's private part is from his navel to his knees and a woman's private part is her entire body except her face and hands. On the other hand, the Prophet ﷺ prohibits a man from lying naked under one cover with another man or a woman lying naked under one cover with another woman, for this will lead to touching their private parts. Undoubtedly, touching them is more prohibited than looking at them, for it leads to greater dangers. This prohibition is specifically mentioned, for some people may think that when men meet each other or women meet each other, they are not commanded to lower their gaze or cover their private parts. One's private parts must be covered for every male or female person, except for some categories that Islam excludes..

341
Al-Meswar ibn Makhrama said, "While I was walking and carrying a heavy stone, both my light lower garment and the stone fell. I could not place the stone until I put it in its proper place. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, 'Return and wear your garment and do not walk naked.".

Commentary : Modesty is the manner of Islam. Allah prescribed for His servants what preserves their modesty and covers their private parts. In this hadith, Al-Meswar ibn Makhrama narrated that while he was carrying a heavy stone, his lower garment's tie loosed so his private parts were exposed. He was unable to place the stone and tie his garment because of its heavy weight. He continued to carry it until he placed it in its proper place. When the Prophet (ﷺ) saw that, he commanded him to go back and wear his garment to cover his private parts. The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "... and do not walk naked." This is a general Islamic rule. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) A Muslim has to cover his private parts, (2) It is forbidden for Muslims to be or walk naked in front of people except being naked in front of a woman's husband or man's wife..

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Abdullah ibn Ga'far narrated, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ one day made me mount behind him and confided to me something secret which I would not disclose to anybody. The thing that the Prophet ﷺ most liked to conceal himself behind while relieving himself was a hillock or a stand of date palm trees.".

Commentary : Concealing one's private parts is one of the etiquette of relieving oneself so a Muslim is required to preserve them away from people's eyes. In this hadith, Abdullah ibn Ga'far narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) one day made him mount behind him and confided to him something secret. Ga’far was honest and would not disclose it to anybody. This indicated his perfect virtue and supreme status with the Prophet to the extent that he let him in on a secret. Afterward, Abdullah narrated, "The thing that the Prophet most liked to conceal himself behind while relieving himself was a hillock or a stand of date palm trees." It was the Arabs' custom that they relieved themselves in gardens but they later used bathrooms. Finally, this hadith confirms the importance of concealing all one's body while answering the call of nature..

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Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated, "I went to Quba' with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on Monday. When we reached (the habitation) of Banu Salim, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood at the door of Itban and called him loudly. So he came out dragging his lower garment. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 'We made the man haste.' Itban said, 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), if a man leaves his wife suddenly (during intercourse) without ejaculation, what is he required to do?' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 'Washing oneself is obligatory due to ejaculation.'".

Commentary : Purity is the symbol of believers. The Prophet (ﷺ) was keen to teach his companions the matters of purification and they used to ask him about any inquiries they had. In this hadith, Abu Saeed Al-Khudry narrated that he went out with the Prophet (ﷺ) on Monday to Quba’. It is a close village located south of Media on the way of coming caravans from Mecca. When they arrived at Banu Salem, a sect of Khazraj tribe, The Prophet (ﷺ) stood at the door of Itban bin Malik Al-Ansari and called him in a loud voice. As a result, Itban came out dragging his lower garment, which is a metaphor for his rapid response to the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) thought he made Itban haste. Itban asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the necessity of bathing if a man left his wife suddenly during intercourse without ejaculation. The Prophet (ﷺ) confirmed that bathing is only obligatory if a man ejaculates. This rule was applied at the beginning of Islam, then abrogated by the hadith reported in the Two Sahihs that Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When a man sits between her four parts (his wife) and has intercourse, bathing is compulsory." In Muslim’s narration, he said, "Even if he does not ejaculate.” So, bathing is obligatory for anyone who has intercourse with his wife, whether or not he ejaculates semen. It was the established rule during or after the Prophet's lifetime. Finally, this hadith confirms the legitimacy of loud calling a household to inform them of one's presence..