The Prophet ﷺ met Zaid bin 'Amr bin Nufail in the bottom of (the valley of) Baldah before any Divine Inspiration came to the Prophet. A meal was presented to the Prophet ﷺ but he refused to eat from it. (Then it was presented to Zaid) who said, "I do not eat anything which you slaughter in the name of your stone idols. I eat none but those things on which Allah's Name has been mentioned at the time of slaughtering." Zaid bin 'Amr used to criticize the way Quraish used to slaughter their animals, and used to say, "Allah has created the sheep and He has sent the water for it from the sky, and He has grown the grass for it from the earth; yet you slaughter it in other than the Name of Allah. He used to say so, for he rejected that practice and considered it as something abominable.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ لَقِيَ زَيْدَ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ نُفَيْلٍ بِأَسْفَلِ بَلْدَحَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ الْوَحْىُ فَقُدِّمَتْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ سُفْرَةٌ فَأَبَى أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ زَيْدٌ إِنِّي لَسْتُ آكُلُ مِمَّا تَذْبَحُونَ عَلَى أَنْصَابِكُمْ وَلاَ آكُلُ إِلاَّ مَا ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنَّ زَيْدَ بْنَ عَمْرٍو كَانَ يَعِيبُ عَلَى قُرَيْشٍ ذَبَائِحَهُمْ وَيَقُولُ الشَّاةُ خَلَقَهَا اللَّهُ وَأَنْزَلَ لَهَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ الْمَاءَ وَأَنْبَتَ لَهَا مِنَ الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ تَذْبَحُونَهَا عَلَى غَيْرِ اسْمِ اللَّهِ إِنْكَارًا لِذَلِكَ وَإِعْظَامًا لَهُ  

Zaid bin 'Amr bin Nufail went to Sham, inquiring about a true religion to follow. He met a Jewish religious scholar and asked him about their religion. He said, "I intend to embrace your religion, so tell me some thing about it." The Jew said, "You will not embrace our religion unless you receive your share of Allah's Anger." Zaid said, "'I do not run except from Allah's Anger, and I will never bear a bit of it if I have the power to avoid it. Can you tell me of some other religion?" He said, "I do not know any other religion except the Hanif." Zaid enquired, "What is Hanif?" He said, "Hanif is the religion of (the prophet) Abraham who was neither a Jew nor a Christian, and he used to worship None but Allah (Alone)" Then Zaid went out and met a Christian religious scholar and told him the same as before. The Christian said, "You will not embrace our religion unless you get a share of Allah's Curse." Zaid replied, "I do not run except from Allah's Curse, and I will never bear any of Allah's Curse and His Anger if I have the power to avoid them. Will you tell me of some other religion?" He replied, "I do not know any other religion except Hanif." Zaid enquired, "What is Hanif?" He replied, Hanif is the religion of (the prophet) Abraham who was neither a Jew nor a Christian and he used to worship None but Allah (Alone)" When Zaid heard their Statement about (the religion of) Abraham, he left that place, and when he came out, he raised both his hands and said, "O Allah! I make You my Witness that I am on the religion of Abraham."  

عَنِ الدِّينِ وَيَتْبَعُهُ فَلَقِيَ عَالِمًا مِنَ الْيَهُودِ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ دِينِهِمْ فَقَالَ إِنِّي لَعَلِّي أَنْ أَدِينَ دِينَكُمْ فَأَخْبِرْنِي فَقَالَ لاَ تَكُونُ عَلَى دِينِنَا حَتَّى تَأْخُذَ بِنَصِيبِكَ مِنْ غَضَبِ اللَّهِ قَالَ زَيْدٌ مَا أَفِرُّ إِلاَّ مِنْ غَضَبِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ أَحْمِلُ مِنْ غَضَبِ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا وَأَنَّى أَسْتَطِيعُهُ فَهَلْ تَدُلُّنِي عَلَى غَيْرِهِ قَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ حَنِيفًا قَالَ زَيْدٌ وَمَا الْحَنِيفُ قَالَ دِينُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَهُودِيًّا وَلاَ نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلاَ يَعْبُدُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ فَخَرَجَ زَيْدٌ فَلَقِيَ عَالِمًا مِنَ النَّصَارَى فَذَكَرَ مِثْلَهُ فَقَالَ لَنْ تَكُونَ عَلَى دِينِنَا حَتَّى تَأْخُذَ بِنَصِيبِكَ مِنْ لَعْنَةِ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَا أَفِرُّ إِلاَّ مِنْ لَعْنَةِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ أَحْمِلُ مِنْ لَعْنَةِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا وَأَنَّى أَسْتَطِيعُ فَهَلْ تَدُلُّنِي عَلَى غَيْرِهِ قَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ حَنِيفًا قَالَ وَمَا الْحَنِيفُ قَالَ دِينُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَهُودِيًّا وَلاَ نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلاَ يَعْبُدُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى زَيْدٌ قَوْلَهُمْ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ خَرَجَ فَلَمَّا بَرَزَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنِّي عَلَى دِينِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ  

I saw Zaid bin Amr bin Nufail standing with his back against the Ka'ba and saying, "O people of Quraish! By Allah, none amongst you is on the religion of Abraham except me." He used to preserve the lives of little girls: If somebody wanted to kill his daughter he would say to him, "Do not kill her for I will feed her on your behalf." So he would take her, and when she grew up nicely, he would say to her father, "Now if you want her, I will give her to you, and if you wish, I will feed her on your behalf."  

عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ قَالَتْ رَأَيْتُ زَيْدَ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ نُفَيْلٍ قَائِمًا مُسْنِدًا ظَهْرَهُ إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ يَقُولُ يَا مَعَاشِرَ قُرَيْشٍ وَاللَّهِ مَا مِنْكُمْ عَلَى دِينِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ غَيْرِي وَكَانَ يُحْيِي الْمَوْءُودَةَ يَقُولُ لِلرَّجُلِ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَقْتُلَ ابْنَتَهُ لاَ تَقْتُلْهَا أَنَا أَكْفِيكَهَا مَئُونَتَهَا فَيَأْخُذُهَا فَإِذَا تَرَعْرَعَتْ قَالَ لأَبِيهَا إِنْ شِئْتَ دَفَعْتُهَا إِلَيْكَ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ كَفَيْتُكَ مَئُونَتَهَا  

When the Kaʿba was rebuilt, the Prophet ﷺ and ʿAbbas went to carry stones. ʿAbbas said to the Prophet ﷺ "(Take off and) put your waist sheet over your neck so that the stones may not hurt you." (But as soon as he took off his waist sheet) he fell unconscious on the ground with both his eyes towards the sky. When he came to his senses, he said, "My waist sheet! My waist sheet!" Then he tied his waist sheet (round his waist).  

لَمَّا بُنِيَتِ الْكَعْبَةُ ذَهَبَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَعَبَّاسٌ يَنْقُلاَنِ الْحِجَارَةَ فَقَالَ عَبَّاسٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ اجْعَلْ إِزَارَكَ عَلَى رَقَبَتِكَ يَقِيكَ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ فَخَرَّ إِلَى الأَرْضِ وَطَمَحَتْ عَيْنَاهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ فَقَالَ إِزَارِي إِزَارِي فَشَدَّ عَلَيْهِ إِزَارَهُ  

In the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ there was no wall around the Kaʿba and the people used to pray around the Kaʿba till ʿUmar became the Caliph and he built the wall around it. 'Ubaidullah further said, "Its wall was low, so Ibn Az-Zubair built it."  

عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ وَعُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي يَزِيدَ قَالاَ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ حَوْلَ الْبَيْتِ حَائِطٌ كَانُوا يُصَلُّونَ حَوْلَ الْبَيْتِ حَتَّى كَانَ عُمَرُ فَبَنَى حَوْلَهُ حَائِطًا قَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ جَدْرُهُ قَصِيرٌ فَبَنَاهُ ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ  

'Ashura' (i.e. the tenth of Muharram) was a day on which the tribe of Quraish used to fast in the prelslamic period of ignorance. The Prophet ﷺ also used to fast on this day. So when he migrated to Medina, he fasted on it and ordered (the Muslims) to fast on it. When the fasting of Ramadan was enjoined, it became optional for the people to fast or not to fast on the day of Ashura.  

كَانَ عَاشُورَاءُ يَوْمًا تَصُومُهُ قُرَيْشٌ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَصُومُهُ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ صَامَهُ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ رَمَضَانُ كَانَ مَنْ شَاءَ صَامَهُ وَمَنْ شَاءَ لاَ يَصُومُهُ  

The people used to consider the performance of ʿUmra in the months of Hajj an evil deed on the earth, and they used to call the month of Muharram as Safar and used to say, "When (the wounds over) the backs (of the camels) have healed and the foot-marks (of the camels) have vanished (after coming from Hajj), then ʿUmra becomes legal for the one who wants to perform ʿUmra." Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his companions reached Mecca assuming Ihram for Hajj on the fourth of Dhul-Hijja. The Prophet ﷺ ordered his companions to perform ʿUmra (with that lhram instead of Hajj). They asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What kind of finishing of Ihram?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Finish the Ihram completely.'  

أَنَّ الْعُمْرَةَ فِي أَشْهُرِ الْحَجِّ مِنَ الْفُجُورِ فِي الأَرْضِ وَكَانُوا يُسَمُّونَ الْمُحَرَّمَ صَفَرًا وَيَقُولُونَ إِذَا بَرَا الدَّبَرْ وَعَفَا الأَثَرْ حَلَّتِ الْعُمْرَةُ لِمَنِ اعْتَمَرْ قَالَ فَقَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَصْحَابُهُ رَابِعَةً مُهِلِّينَ بِالْحَجِّ وَأَمَرَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنْ يَجْعَلُوهَا عُمْرَةً قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الْحِلِّ قَالَ الْحِلُّ كُلُّهُ  

In the pre-lslamic period of ignorance a flood of rain came and filled the valley in between the two mountains (around the Kaʿba).  

جَاءَ سَيْلٌ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَكَسَا مَا بَيْنَ الْجَبَلَيْنِ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ وَيَقُولُ إِنَّ هَذَا لَحَدِيثٌ لَهُ شَأْنٌ  

Abu Bakr went to a lady from the Ahmas tribe called Zainab bint Al-Muhajir and found that she refused to speak. He asked, "Why does she not speak." The people said, "She has intended to perform Hajj without speaking." He said to her, "Speak, for it is illegal not to speak, as it is an action of the pre-islamic period of ignorance. So she spoke and said, "Who are you?" He said, "A man from the Emigrants." She asked, "Which Emigrants?" He replied, "From Quraish." She asked, "From what branch of Quraish are you?" He said, "You ask too many questions; I am Abu Bakr." She said, "How long shall we enjoy this good order (i.e. Islamic religion) which Allah has brought after the period of ignorance?" He said, "You will enjoy it as long as your Imams keep on abiding by its rules and regulations." She asked, "What are the Imams?" He said, "Were there not heads and chiefs of your nation who used to order the people and they used to obey them?" She said, "Yes." He said, "So they (i.e. the Imams) are those whom I meant."  

دَخَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَلَى امْرَأَةٍ مِنْ أَحْمَسَ يُقَالُ لَهَا زَيْنَبُ فَرَآهَا لاَ تَكَلَّمُ فَقَالَ مَا لَهَا لاَ تَكَلَّمُ قَالُوا حَجَّتْ مُصْمِتَةً قَالَ لَهَا تَكَلَّمِي فَإِنَّ هَذَا لاَ يَحِلُّ هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَتَكَلَّمَتْ فَقَالَتْ مَنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ امْرُؤٌ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ قَالَتْ أَىُّ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ قَالَ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ قَالَتْ مِنْ أَىِّ قُرَيْشٍ أَنْتَ قَالَ إِنَّكِ لَسَئُولٌ أَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ قَالَتْ مَا بَقَاؤُنَا عَلَى هَذَا الأَمْرِ الصَّالِحِ الَّذِي جَاءَ اللَّهُ بِهِ بَعْدَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ قَالَ بَقَاؤُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مَا اسْتَقَامَتْ بِكُمْ أَئِمَّتُكُمْ قَالَتْ وَمَا الأَئِمَّةُ قَالَ أَمَا كَانَ لِقَوْمِكِ رُءُوسٌ وَأَشْرَافٌ يَأْمُرُونَهُمْ فَيُطِيعُونَهُمْ قَالَتْ بَلَى قَالَ فَهُمْ أُولَئِكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ  

A black lady slave of some of the 'Arabs embraced Islam and she had a hut in the mosque. She used to visit us and talk to us, and when she finished her talk, she used to say: "The day of the scarf was one of our Lord's wonders: Verily! He has delivered me from the land of Kufr." When she said the above verse many times, I (i.e. ʿAisha) asked her, "What was the day of the scarf?" She replied, "Once the daughter of some of my masters went out and she was wearing a leather scarf (round her neck) and the leather scarf fell from her and a kite descended and picked it up, mistaking it for a piece of meat. They (i.e. my masters) accused me of stealing it and they tortured me to such an extent that they even looked for it in my private parts. So, while they all were around me, and I was in my great distress, suddenly the kite came over our heads and threw the scarf, and they took it. I said to them 'This is what you accused me of stealing, though I was innocent."  

أَسْلَمَتِ امْرَأَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ لِبَعْضِ الْعَرَبِ وَكَانَ لَهَا حِفْشٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ قَالَتْ فَكَانَتْ تَأْتِينَا فَتَحَدَّثُ عِنْدَنَا فَإِذَا فَرَغَتْ مِنْ حَدِيثِهَا قَالَتْ وَيَوْمُ الْوِشَاحِ مِنْ تَعَاجِيبِ رَبِّنَا أَلاَ إِنَّهُ مِنْ بَلْدَةِ الْكُفْرِ أَنْجَانِي فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرَتْ قَالَتْ لَهَا عَائِشَةُ وَمَا يَوْمُ الْوِشَاحِ قَالَتْ خَرَجَتْ جُوَيْرِيَةٌ لِبَعْضِ أَهْلِي وَعَلَيْهَا وِشَاحٌ مِنْ أَدَمٍ فَسَقَطَ مِنْهَا فَانْحَطَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الْحُدَيَّا وَهْىَ تَحْسِبُهُ لَحْمًا فَأَخَذَتْ فَاتَّهَمُونِي بِهِ فَعَذَّبُونِي حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنْ أَمْرِي أَنَّهُمْ طَلَبُوا فِي قُبُلِي فَبَيْنَا هُمْ حَوْلِي وَأَنَا فِي كَرْبِي إِذْ أَقْبَلَتِ الْحُدَيَّا حَتَّى وَازَتْ بِرُءُوسِنَا ثُمَّ أَلْقَتْهُ فَأَخَذُوهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ هَذَا الَّذِي اتَّهَمْتُمُونِي بِهِ وَأَنَا مِنْهُ بَرِيئَةٌ  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "If anybody has to take an oath, he should swear only by Allah." The people of Quraish used to swear by their fathers, but the Prophet ﷺ said, "Do not swear by your fathers. "  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ أَلاَ مَنْ كَانَ حَالِفًا فَلاَ يَحْلِفْ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ فَكَانَتْ قُرَيْشٌ تَحْلِفُ بِآبَائِهَا فَقَالَ لاَ تَحْلِفُوا بِآبَائِكُمْ  

Al-Qasim used to walk in front of the funeral procession. He used not to get up for the funeral procession (in case it passed by him). And he narrated from ʿAisha that she said, "The people of the pre-lslamic period of ignorance used to stand up for the funeral procession. When they saw it they used to say twice: 'You were noble in your family. What are you now?"  

أَنَّ الْقَاسِمَ كَانَ يَمْشِي بَيْنَ يَدَىِ الْجَنَازَةِ وَلاَ يَقُومُ لَهَا وَيُخْبِرُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ كَانَ أَهْلُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَقُومُونَ لَهَا يَقُولُونَ إِذَا رَأَوْهَا كُنْتِ فِي أَهْلِكِ مَا أَنْتِ مَرَّتَيْنِ  

The pagans used not to leave Jam' (i.e. Muzdalifa) till the sun had risen on Thabir mountain. The Prophet contradicted them by leaving (Muzdalifa) before the sun rose.  

عُمَرُ ؓ إِنَّ الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَانُوا لاَ يُفِيضُونَ مِنْ جَمْعٍ حَتَّى تَشْرُقَ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى ثَبِيرٍ فَخَالَفَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَأَفَاضَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ  

That ʿIkrima said, "Kasan Dihaqa means glass full (of something) followed successively with other full glasses."  

مَلأَى مُتَتَابِعَةً  

"In the pre-lslamic period of ignorance I heard my father saying, "Provide us with Kasan Dihaqa."  

سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَقُولُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ اسْقِنَا كَأْسًا دِهَاقًا  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The most true words said by a poet was the words of Labid." He said, Verily, Everything except Allah is perishable and Umaiya bin As-Salt was about to be a Muslim (but he did not embrace Islam).  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَصْدَقُ كَلِمَةٍ قَالَهَا الشَّاعِرُ كَلِمَةُ لَبِيدٍ أَلاَ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ مَا خَلاَ اللَّهَ بَاطِلٌ وَكَادَ أُمَيَّةُ بْنُ أَبِي الصَّلْتِ أَنْ يُسْلِمَ  

Abu Bakr had a slave who used to give him some of his earnings. Abu Bakr used to eat from it. One day he brought something and Abu Bakr ate from it. The slave said to him, "Do you know what this is?" Abu Bakr then enquired, "What is it?" The slave said, "Once, in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance I foretold somebody's future though I did not know this knowledge of foretelling but I, cheated him, and when he met me, he gave me something for that service, and that is what you have eaten from." Then Abu Bakr put his hand in his mouth and vomited whatever was present in his stomach.  

كَانَ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ غُلاَمٌ يُخْرِجُ لَهُ الْخَرَاجَ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَرَاجِهِ فَجَاءَ يَوْمًا بِشَىْءٍ فَأَكَلَ مِنْهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْغُلاَمُ تَدْرِي مَا هَذَا فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَمَا هُوَ قَالَ كُنْتُ تَكَهَّنْتُ لإِنْسَانٍ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَمَا أُحْسِنُ الْكِهَانَةَ إِلاَّ أَنِّي خَدَعْتُهُ فَلَقِيَنِي فَأَعْطَانِي بِذَلِكَ فَهَذَا الَّذِي أَكَلْتَ مِنْهُ فَأَدْخَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَدَهُ فَقَاءَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ فِي بَطْنِهِ  

In the pre-lslamic period of ignorance the people used to bargain with the meat of camels on the principle of Habal-al-Habala which meant the sale of a she-camel that would be born by a she-camel that had not yet been born. The Prophet ﷺ forbade them such a transaction.  

كَانَ أَهْلُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَتَبَايَعُونَ لُحُومَ الْجَزُورِ إِلَى حَبَلِ الْحَبَلَةِ قَالَ وَحَبَلُ الْحَبَلَةِ أَنْ تُنْتَجَ النَّاقَةُ مَا فِي بَطْنِهَا ثُمَّ تَحْمِلَ الَّتِي نُتِجَتْ فَنَهَاهُمُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ  

We used to visit Anas bin Malik and he used to talk to us about the Ansar, and used to say to me: "Your people did so-and-so on such-and-such a day, and your people did so-and-so on such-and-such a day."  

فَيُحَدِّثُنَا عَنِ الأَنْصَارِ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ لِي فَعَلَ قَوْمُكَ كَذَا وَكَذَا يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَفَعَلَ قَوْمُكَ كَذَا وَكَذَا يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا  

The first event of Qasama in the pre-lslamic period of ignorance was practiced by us (i.e. Banu Hashim). A man from Banu Hashim was employed by a Quraishi man from another branch-family. The (Hashimi) laborer set out with the Quraishi driving his camels. There passed by him another man from Banu Hashim. The leather rope of the latter's bag had broken so he said to the laborer, "Will you help me by giving me a rope in order to tie the handle of my bag lest the camels should run away from me?" The laborer gave him a rope and the latter tied his bag with it. When the caravan halted, all the camels' legs were tied with their fetters except one camel. The employer asked the laborer, "Why, from among all the camels has this camel not been fettered?" He replied, "There is no fetter for it." The Quraishi asked, "Where is its fetter?" and hit the laborer with a stick that caused his death (later on Just before his death) a man from Yemen passed by him. The laborer asked (him), "Will you go for the pilgrimage?" He replied, "I do not think I will attend it, but perhaps I will attend it." The (Hashimi) laborer said, "Will you please convey a message for me once in your life?" The other man said, "yes." The laborer wrote: 'When you attend the pilgrimage, call the family of Quraish, and if they respond to you, call the family of Banu Hashim, and if they respond to you, ask about Abu Talib and tell him that so-and-so has killed me for a fetter." Then the laborer expired. When the employer reached (Mecca), Abu Talib visited him and asked, "What has happened to our companion?" He said, "He became ill and I looked after him nicely (but he died) and I buried him." Then Abu Talib said, "The deceased deserved this from you." After some time, the messenger whom the laborer has asked to convey the message, reached during the pilgrimage season. He called, "O the family of Quraish!" The people replied, "This is Quraish." Then he called, "O the family of Banu Hashim!" Again the people replied, "This is Banu Hashim." He asked, "Who is Abu Talib?" The people replied, "This is Abu Talib." He said, "'So-and-so has asked me to convey a message to you that so-and-so has killed him for a fetter (of a camel)." Then Abu Talib went to the (Quraishi) killer and said to him, "Choose one of three alternatives: (i) If you wish, give us one-hundred camels because you have murdered our companion, (ii) or if you wish, fifty of your men should take an oath that you have not murdered our companion, and if you do not accept this, (iii) we will kill you in Qisas." The killer went to his people and they said, "We will take an oath." Then a woman from Banu Hashim who was married to one of them (i.e.the Quraishis) and had given birth to a child from him, came to Abu Talib and said, "O Abu Talib! I wish that my son from among the fifty men, should be excused from this oath, and that he should not take the oath where the oathtaking is carried on." Abu Talib excused him. Then another man from them came (to Abu Talib) and said, "O Abu Talib! You want fifty persons to take an oath instead of giving a hundred camels, and that means each man has to give two camels (in case he does not take an oath). So there are two camels I would like you to accept from me and excuse me from taking an oath where the oaths are taken. Abu Talib accepted them from him. Then 48 men came and took the oath. Ibn ʿAbbas further said:) By Him in Whose Hand my life is, before the end of that year, none of those 48 persons remained alive.  

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ قَسَامَةٍ كَانَتْ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ لَفِينَا بَنِي هَاشِمٍ كَانَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ اسْتَأْجَرَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ مِنْ فَخِذٍ أُخْرَى فَانْطَلَقَ مَعَهُ فِي إِبِلِهِ فَمَرَّ رَجُلٌ بِهِ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ قَدِ انْقَطَعَتْ عُرْوَةُ جُوَالِقِهِ فَقَالَ أَغِثْنِي بِعِقَالٍ أَشُدُّ بِهِ عُرْوَةَ جُوَالِقِي لاَ تَنْفِرُ الإِبِلُ فَأَعْطَاهُ عِقَالاً فَشَدَّ بِهِ عُرْوَةَ جُوَالِقِهِ فَلَمَّا نَزَلُوا عُقِلَتِ الإِبِلُ إِلاَّ بَعِيرًا وَاحِدًا فَقَالَ الَّذِي اسْتَأْجَرَهُ مَا شَأْنُ هَذَا الْبَعِيرِ لَمْ يُعْقَلْ مِنْ بَيْنِ الإِبِلِ قَالَ لَيْسَ لَهُ عِقَالٌ قَالَ فَأَيْنَ عِقَالُهُ قَالَ فَحَذَفَهُ بِعَصًا كَانَ فِيهَا أَجَلُهُ فَمَرَّ بِهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ أَتَشْهَدُ الْمَوْسِمَ قَالَ مَا أَشْهَدُ وَرُبَّمَا شَهِدْتُهُ قَالَ هَلْ أَنْتَ مُبْلِغٌ عَنِّي رِسَالَةً مَرَّةً مِنَ الدَّهْرِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَكُنْتَ إِذَا أَنْتَ شَهِدْتَ الْمَوْسِمَ فَنَادِ يَا آلَ قُرَيْشٍ فَإِذَا أَجَابُوكَ فَنَادِ يَا آلَ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ فَإِنْ أَجَابُوكَ فَسَلْ عَنْ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَأَخْبِرْهُ أَنَّ فُلاَنًا قَتَلَنِي فِي عِقَالٍ وَمَاتَ الْمُسْتَأْجَرُ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ الَّذِي اسْتَأْجَرَهُ أَتَاهُ أَبُو طَالِبٍ فَقَالَ مَا فَعَلَ صَاحِبُنَا قَالَ مَرِضَ فَأَحْسَنْتُ الْقِيَامَ عَلَيْهِ فَوَلِيتُ دَفْنَهُ قَالَ قَدْ كَانَ أَهْلَ ذَاكَ مِنْكَ فَمَكُثَ حِينًا ثُمَّ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ الَّذِي أَوْصَى إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يُبْلِغَ عَنْهُ وَافَى الْمَوْسِمَ فَقَالَ يَا آلَ قُرَيْشٍ قَالُوا هَذِهِ قُرَيْشٌ قَالَ يَا آلَ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ قَالُوا هَذِهِ بَنُو هَاشِمٍ قَالَ أَيْنَ أَبُو طَالِبٍ قَالُوا هَذَا أَبُو طَالِبٍ قَالَ أَمَرَنِي فُلاَنٌ أَنْ أُبْلِغَكَ رِسَالَةً أَنَّ فُلاَنًا قَتَلَهُ فِي عِقَالٍ فَأَتَاهُ أَبُو طَالِبٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ اخْتَرْ مِنَّا إِحْدَى ثَلاَثٍ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تُؤَدِّيَ مِائَةً مِنَ الإِبِلِ فَإِنَّكَ قَتَلْتَ صَاحِبَنَا وَإِنْ شِئْتَ حَلَفَ خَمْسُونَ مِنْ قَوْمِكَ أَنَّكَ لَمْ تَقْتُلْهُ فَإِنْ أَبَيْتَ قَتَلْنَاكَ بِهِ فَأَتَى قَوْمَهُ فَقَالُوا نَحْلِفُ فَأَتَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ كَانَتْ تَحْتَ رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ قَدْ وَلَدَتْ لَهُ فَقَالَتْ يَا أَبَا طَالِبٍ أُحِبُّ أَنْ تُجِيزَ ابْنِي هَذَا بِرَجُلٍ مِنَ الْخَمْسِينَ وَلاَ تَصْبُرْ يَمِينَهُ حَيْثُ تُصْبَرُ الأَيْمَانُ فَفَعَلَ فَأَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا طَالِبٍ أَرَدْتَ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلاً أَنْ يَحْلِفُوا مَكَانَ مِائَةٍ مِنَ الإِبِلِ يُصِيبُ كُلَّ رَجُلٍ بَعِيرَانِ هَذَانِ بَعِيرَانِ فَاقْبَلْهُمَا عَنِّي وَلاَ تَصْبُرْ يَمِينِي حَيْثُ تُصْبِرُ الأَيْمَانُ فَقَبِلَهُمَا وَجَاءَ ثَمَانِيةٌ وَأَرْبَعُونَ فَحَلَفُوا قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا حَالَ الْحَوْلُ وَمِنَ الثَّمَانِيَةِ وَأَرْبَعِينَ عَيْنٌ تَطْرِفُ  

Allah caused the day of Buath to take place before Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sent (as an Apostle) so that when Messenger of Allah ﷺ reached Medina, those people had already divided (in different groups) and their chiefs had been killed or wounded. So Allah made that day precede Messenger of Allah ﷺ so that they (i.e. the Ansar) might embrace Islam.  

كَانَ يَوْمُ بُعَاثٍ يَوْمًا قَدَّمَهُ اللَّهُ لِرَسُولِهِ ﷺ فَقَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَدِ افْتَرَقَ مَلَؤُهُمْ وَقُتِّلَتْ سَرَوَاتُهُمْ وَجُرِّحُوا قَدَّمَهُ اللَّهُ لِرَسُولِهِ ﷺ فِي دُخُولِهِمْ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ  

To run along the valley between two green pillars of Safa and Marwa (mountains) was not Sunna, but the people in the pre-islamic period of ignorance used to run along it, and used to say: "We do not cross this rain stream except running strongly. "  

لَيْسَ السَّعْىُ بِبَطْنِ الْوَادِي بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ سُنَّةً إِنَّمَا كَانَ أَهْلُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَسْعَوْنَهَا وَيَقُولُونَ لاَ نُجِيزُ الْبَطْحَاءَ إِلاَّ شَدًّا  

I heard Ibn ʿAbbas saying, "O people! Listen to what I say to you, and let me hear whatever you say, and don't go (without understanding), and start saying, 'Ibn ʿAbbas said so-and-so, Ibn ʿAbbas said soand- so, Ibn ʿAbbas said so-and-so.' He who wants to perform the Tawaf around the Kaʿba should go behind Al-Hijr (i.e. a portion of the Kaʿba left out unroofed) and do not call it Al-Hatim, for in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance if any man took an oath, he used to throw his whip, shoes or bow in it.  

ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ مَنْ طَافَ بِالْبَيْتِ فَلْيَطُفْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْحِجْرِ وَلاَ تَقُولُوا الْحَطِيمُ فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ كَانَ يَحْلِفُ فَيُلْقِي سَوْطَهُ أَوْ نَعْلَهُ أَوْ قَوْسَهُ  

During the pre-lslamic period of ignorance I saw a she-monkey surrounded by a number of monkeys. They were all stoning it, because it had committed illegal sexual intercourse. I too, stoned it along with them.  

رَأَيْتُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ قِرْدَةً اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهَا قِرَدَةٌ قَدْ زَنَتْ فَرَجَمُوهَا فَرَجَمْتُهَا مَعَهُمْ  

'Ubaidullah said: "I heard Ibn ʿAbbas saying, "Following are some traits of the people of the pre- Islamic period of ignorance (i) to defame the ancestry of other families, (ii) and to wail over the dead." 'Ubaidullah forgot the third trait. Sufyan said, "They say it (i.e. the third trait) was to believe that rain was caused by the influence of stars (i.e. if a special star appears it will rain).  

سُفْيَانُ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهَا الاِسْتِسْقَاءُ بِالأَنْوَاءِ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ was inspired Divinely at the age of forty. Then he stayed in Mecca for thirteen years, and then was ordered to migrate, and he migrated to Medina and stayed there for ten years and then died.  

أُنْزِلَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهْوَ ابْنُ أَرْبَعِينَ فَمَكَثَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً ثُمَّ أُمِرَ بِالْهِجْرَةِ فَهَاجَرَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَمَكَثَ بِهَا عَشْرَ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ تُوُفِّيَ ﷺ  

I came to the Prophet ﷺ while he was leaning against his sheet cloak in the shade of the Kaʿba. We were suffering greatly from the pagans in those days. i said (to him). "Will you invoke Allah (to help us)?" He sat down with a red face and said, "(A believer among) those who were before you used to be combed with iron combs so that nothing of his flesh or nerves would remain on his bones; yet that would never make him desert his religion. A saw might be put over the parting of his head which would be split into two parts, yet all that would never make him abandon his religion. Allah will surely complete this religion (i.e. Islam) so that a traveler from Sana to Hadra-maut will not be afraid of anybody except Allah." (The sub-narrator, Baiyan added, "Or the wolf, lest it should harm his sheep.")  

سَمِعْتُ خَبَّابًا يَقُولُ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَهْوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ بُرْدَةً وَهْوَ فِي ظِلِّ الْكَعْبَةِ وَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ شِدَّةً فَقُلْتُ أَلاَ تَدْعُو اللَّهَ فَقَعَدَ وَهْوَ مُحْمَرٌّ وَجْهُهُ فَقَالَ لَقَدْ كَانَ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ لَيُمْشَطُ بِمِشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ مَا دُونَ عِظَامِهِ مِنْ لَحْمٍ أَوْ عَصَبٍ مَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَيُوضَعُ الْمِنْشَارُ عَلَى مَفْرِقِ رَأْسِهِ فَيُشَقُّ بِاثْنَيْنِ مَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَلَيُتِمَّنَّ اللَّهُ هَذَا الأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضْرَمَوْتَ مَا يَخَافُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ زَادَ بَيَانٌ وَالذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ  

The Prophet ﷺ recited Surat An-Najam and prostrated, and there was nobody who did not prostrate then except a man whom I saw taking a handful of pebbles, lifting it, and prostrating on it. He then said, "This is sufficient for me." No doubt I saw him killed as a disbeliever afterwards.  

قَرَأَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ النَّجْمَ فَسَجَدَ فَمَا بَقِيَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ سَجَدَ إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ رَأَيْتُهُ أَخَذَ كَفًّا مِنْ حَصًا فَرَفَعَهُ فَسَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ هَذَا يَكْفِينِي فَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ بَعْدُ قُتِلَ كَافِرًا بِاللَّهِ  

While the Prophet ﷺ was prostrating, surrounded by some of Quraish, ʿUqba bin Abi Mu'ait brought the intestines (i.e. Abdominal contents) of a camel and put them over the back of the Prophet. The Prophet ﷺ did not raise his head, (till) Fatima, came and took it off his back and cursed the one who had done the harm. The Prophet ﷺ said, "O Allah! Destroy the chiefs of Quraish, Abu Jahl bin Hisham, ʿUtba bin Rabiʿal, Shaba bin Rabiʿa, Umaiya bin Khalaf or Ubai bin Khalaf." (The sub-narrator Shuʿba, is not sure of the last name.) I saw these people killed on the day of Badr battle and thrown in the well except Umaiya or Ubai whose body parts were mutilated but he was not thrown in the well.  

بَيْنَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ سَاجِدٌ وَحَوْلَهُ نَاسٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ جَاءَ عُقْبَةُ بْنُ أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ بِسَلَى جَزُورٍ فَقَذَفَهُ عَلَى ظَهْرِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَلَمْ يَرْفَعْ رَأْسَهُ فَجَاءَتْ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْهَا السَّلاَمُ فَأَخَذَتْهُ مِنْ ظَهْرِهِ وَدَعَتْ عَلَى مَنْ صَنَعَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ اللَّهُمَّ عَلَيْكَ الْمَلأَ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ أَبَا جَهْلِ بْنَ هِشَامٍ وَعُتْبَةَ بْنَ رَبِيعَةَ وَشَيْبَةَ بْنَ رَبِيعَةَ وَأُمَيَّةَ بْنَ خَلَفٍ أَوْ أُبَىَّ بْنَ خَلَفٍ شُعْبَةُ الشَّاكُّ فَرَأَيْتُهُمْ قُتِلُوا يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ فَأُلْقُوا فِي بِئْرٍ غَيْرَ أُمَيَّةَ أَوْ أُبَىٍّ تَقَطَّعَتْ أَوْصَالُهُ فَلَمْ يُلْقَ فِي الْبِئْرِ  

ʿAbdurRahman bin Abza said, "Ask Ibn ʿAbbas about these two Qur'anic Verses: 'Nor kill such life as Allah has made sacred, Except for just cause.' (25.168) "And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell. (4.93) So I asked Ibn ʿAbbas who said, "When the Verse that is in Sura-al-Furqan was revealed, the pagans of Mecca said, 'But we have slain such life as Allah has made sacred, and we have invoked other gods along with Allah, and we have also committed fornication.' So Allah revealed:-- 'Except those who repent, believe, and do good-- (25.70) So this Verse was concerned with those people. As for the Verse in Surat-an-Nisa (4-93), it means that if a man, after understanding Islam and its laws and obligations, murders somebody, then his punishment is to dwell in the (Hell) Fire forever." Then I mentioned this to Mujahid who said, "Except the one who regrets (one's crime) . "  

مُشْرِكُو أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ فَقَدْ قَتَلْنَا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَدَعَوْنَا مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَقَدْ أَتَيْنَا الْفَوَاحِشَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {إِلاَّ مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ} الآيَةَ فَهَذِهِ لأُولَئِكَ وَأَمَّا الَّتِي فِي النِّسَاءِ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا عَرَفَ الإِسْلاَمَ وَشَرَائِعَهُ ثُمَّ قَتَلَ فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ فَذَكَرْتُهُ لِمُجَاهِدٍ فَقَالَ إِلاَّ مَنْ نَدِمَ  

I asked Ibn ʿAmr bin Al-As, "Tell me of the worst thing which the pagans did to the Prophet." He said, "While the Prophet ﷺ was praying in the Hijr of the Kaʿba; ʿUqba bin Abi Mu'ait came and put his garment around the Prophet's neck and throttled him violently. Abu Bakr came and caught him by his shoulder and pushed him away from the Prophet ﷺ and said, "Do you want to kill a man just because he says, 'My Lord is Allah?' "  

أَخْبِرْنِي بِأَشَدِّ شَىْءٍ صَنَعَهُ الْمُشْرِكُونَ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ بَيْنَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُصَلِّي فِي حِجْرِ الْكَعْبَةِ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ عُقْبَةُ بْنُ أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ فَوَضَعَ ثَوْبَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ فَخَنَقَهُ خَنْقًا شَدِيدًا فَأَقْبَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَتَّى أَخَذَ بِمَنْكِبِهِ وَدَفَعَهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ {أَتَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلاً أَنْ يَقُولَ رَبِّيَ اللَّهُ} الآيَةَ  

I saw Messenger of Allah ﷺ , and the only converts (to Islam) with him, were five slaves, two women and Abu Bakr.  

عَمَّارُ بْنُ يَاسِرٍ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَمَا مَعَهُ إِلاَّ خَمْسَةُ أَعْبُدٍ وَامْرَأَتَانِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ  

None embraced Islam, except on the day I embraced it. And for seven days I was one of the three persons who were Muslims (one-third of Islam).  

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ سَعْدَ بْنَ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ يَقُولُ مَا أَسْلَمَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي أَسْلَمْتُ فِيهِ وَلَقَدْ مَكَثْتُ سَبْعَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَإِنِّي لَثُلُثُ الإِسْلاَمِ  

"I asked Masruq, 'Who informed the Prophet ﷺ about the Jinns at the night when they heard the Qur'an?' He said, 'Your father ʿAbdullah informed me that a tree informed the Prophet ﷺ about them.' "  

سَأَلْتُ مَسْرُوقًا مَنْ آذَنَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ بِالْجِنِّ لَيْلَةَ اسْتَمَعُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَقَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُوكَ يَعْنِي عَبْدَ اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ آذَنَتْ بِهِمْ شَجَرَةٌ  

That once he was in the company of the Prophet ﷺ carrying a water pot for his ablution and for cleaning his private parts. While he was following him carrying it (i.e. the pot), the Prophet ﷺ said, "Who is this?" He said, "I am Abu Huraira." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Bring me stones in order to clean my private parts, and do not bring any bones or animal dung." Abu Huraira went on narrating: So I brought some stones, carrying them in the corner of my robe till I put them by his side and went away. When he finished, I walked with him and asked, "What about the bone and the animal dung?" He said, "They are of the food of Jinns. The delegate of Jinns of (the city of) Nasibin came to me--and how nice those Jinns were--and asked me for the remains of the human food. I invoked Allah for them that they would never pass by a bone or animal dung but find food on them."  

أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَحْمِلُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِدَاوَةً لِوَضُوئِهِ وَحَاجَتِهِ فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ يَتْبَعُهُ بِهَا فَقَالَ مَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ أَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَقَالَ ابْغِنِي أَحْجَارًا أَسْتَنْفِضْ بِهَا وَلاَ تَأْتِنِي بِعَظْمٍ وَلاَ بِرَوْثَةٍ فَأَتَيْتُهُ بِأَحْجَارٍ أَحْمِلُهَا فِي طَرَفِ ثَوْبِي حَتَّى وَضَعْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفْتُ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ مَشَيْتُ فَقُلْتُ مَا بَالُ الْعَظْمِ وَالرَّوْثَةِ قَالَ هُمَا مِنْ طَعَامِ الْجِنِّ وَإِنَّهُ أَتَانِي وَفْدُ جِنِّ نَصِيبِينَ وَنِعْمَ الْجِنُّ فَسَأَلُونِي الزَّادَ فَدَعَوْتُ اللَّهَ لَهُمْ أَنْ لاَ يَمُرُّوا بِعَظْمٍ وَلاَ بِرَوْثَةٍ إِلاَّ وَجَدُوا عَلَيْهَا طَعَامًا  

When Abu Dhar received the news of the Advent of the Prophet ﷺ he said to his brother, "Ride to this valley (of Mecca) and try to find out the truth of the person who claims to be a prophet who is informed of the news of Heaven. Listen to what he says and come back to me." So his brother set out and came to the Prophet ﷺ and listened to some of his talks, and returned to Abu Dhar and said to him. "I have seen him enjoining virtuous behavior and saying something that is not poetry." Abu Dhar said, "You have not satisfied me as to what I wanted." He then took his journey-food and carried a waterskin of his, containing some water till be reached Mecca. He went to the Mosque and searched for the Prophet and though he did not know him, he hated to ask anybody about him. When a part of the night had passed away, ʿAli saw him and knew that he was a stranger. So when Abu Dhar saw ʿAli, he followed him, and none of them asked his companion about anything, and when it was dawn, Abu Dhar took his journey food and his water-skin to the Mosque and stayed there all the day long without being perceived by the Prophet, and when it was evening, he came back to his retiring place. ʿAli passed by him and said, "Has the man not known his dwelling place yet?" So ʿAli awakened him and took him with him and none of them spoke to the other about anything. When it was the third day. ʿAli did the same and Abu Dhar stayed with him. Then ʿAli said "Will you tell me what has brought you here?" Abu Dhar said, "If you give me a firm promise that you will guide me, then I will tell you." ʿAli promised him, and he informed ʿAli about the matter. ʿAli said, "It is true, and he is the Messenger of Allah. Next morning when you get up, accompany me, and if I see any danger for you, I will stop as if to pass water, but if I go on, follow me and enter the place which I will enter." Abu Dhar did so, and followed ʿAli till he entered the place of the Prophet, and Abu Dhar went in with him, Abu Dhar listened to some of the Prophet's talks and embraced Islam on the spot. The Prophet ﷺ said to him, "Go back to your people and inform them (about it) till you receive my order." Abu Dhar said, "By Him in Whose Hand my life is, I will proclaim my conversion loudly amongst them (i.e. the pagans)." So he went out, and when he reached the Mosque, he said as loudly as possible, "I bear witness that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." The People got up and beat him painfully. Then Al-Abbas came and knelt over him ((to protect him) and said (to the people), "Woe to you! Don't you know that this man belongs to the tribe of Ghifar and your trade to Sha'm is through their way?" So he rescued him from them. Abu Dhar again did the same the next day. They beat him and took vengeance on him and again Al-Abbas knelt over him (to protect him).  

لَمَّا بَلَغَ أَبَا ذَرٍّ مَبْعَثُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ لأَخِيهِ ارْكَبْ إِلَى هَذَا الْوَادِي فَاعْلَمْ لِي عِلْمَ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ يَأْتِيهِ الْخَبَرُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَاسْمَعْ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ ثُمَّ ائْتِنِي فَانْطَلَقَ الأَخُ حَتَّى قَدِمَهُ وَسَمِعَ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى أَبِي ذَرٍّ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَأَيْتُهُ يَأْمُرُ بِمَكَارِمِ الأَخْلاَقِ وَكَلاَمًا مَا هُوَ بِالشِّعْرِ فَقَالَ مَا شَفَيْتَنِي مِمَّا أَرَدْتُ فَتَزَوَّدَ وَحَمَلَ شَنَّةً لَهُ فِيهَا مَاءٌ حَتَّى قَدِمَ مَكَّةَ فَأَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ فَالْتَمَسَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَلاَ يَعْرِفُهُ وَكَرِهَ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ عَنْهُ حَتَّى أَدْرَكَهُ بَعْضُ اللَّيْلِ فَرَآهُ عَلِيٌّ فَعَرَفَ أَنَّهُ غَرِيبٌ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ تَبِعَهُ فَلَمْ يَسْأَلْ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ عَنْ شَىْءٍ حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ ثُمَّ احْتَمَلَ قِرْبَتَهُ وَزَادَهُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَظَلَّ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ وَلاَ يَرَاهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ حَتَّى أَمْسَى فَعَادَ إِلَى مَضْجَعِهِ فَمَرَّ بِهِ عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ أَمَا نَالَ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ مَنْزِلَهُ فَأَقَامَهُ فَذَهَبَ بِهِ مَعَهُ لاَ يَسْأَلُ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ عَنْ شَىْءٍ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمَ الثَّالِثِ فَعَادَ عَلِيٌّ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَأَقَامَ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلاَ تُحَدِّثُنِي مَا الَّذِي أَقْدَمَكَ قَالَ إِنْ أَعْطَيْتَنِي عَهْدًا وَمِيثَاقًا لَتُرْشِدَنَّنِي فَعَلْتُ فَفَعَلَ فَأَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ فَإِنَّهُ حَقٌّ وَهُوَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَاتْبَعْنِي فَإِنِّي إِنْ رَأَيْتُ شَيْئًا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكَ قُمْتُ كَأَنِّي أُرِيقُ الْمَاءَ فَإِنْ مَضَيْتُ فَاتْبَعْنِي حَتَّى تَدْخُلَ مَدْخَلِي فَفَعَلَ فَانْطَلَقَ يَقْفُوهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ فَسَمِعَ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ وَأَسْلَمَ مَكَانَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ارْجِعْ إِلَى قَوْمِكَ فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ أَمْرِي قَالَ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لأَصْرُخَنَّ بِهَا بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانَيْهِمْ فَخَرَجَ حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ فَنَادَى بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَامَ الْقَوْمُ فَضَرَبُوهُ حَتَّى أَضْجَعُوهُ وَأَتَى الْعَبَّاسُ فَأَكَبَّ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ وَيْلَكُمْ أَلَسْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مِنْ غِفَارٍ وَأَنَّ طَرِيقَ تِجَارِكُمْ إِلَى الشَّأْمِ فَأَنْقَذَهُ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ عَادَ مِنَ الْغَدِ لِمِثْلِهَا فَضَرَبُوهُ وَثَارُوا إِلَيْهِ فَأَكَبَّ الْعَبَّاسُ عَلَيْهِ  

I heard Saʿid bin Zaid bin ʿAmr bin Nufail saying in the mosque of Al-Kufa. "By Allah, I have seen myself tied and forced by ʿUmar to leave Islam before ʿUmar himself embraced Islam. And if the mountain of Uhud could move from its place for the evil which you people have done to ʿUthman, then it would have the right to move from its place."  

أَنَّ أُحُدًا ارْفَضَّ لِلَّذِي صَنَعْتُمْ بِعُثْمَانَ لَكَانَ مَحْقُوقًا أَنْ يَرْفَضَّ  

We have been powerful since ʿUmar embraced Islam.  

مَا زِلْنَا أَعِزَّةً مُنْذُ أَسْلَمَ عُمَرُ  

While ʿUmar was at home in a state of fear, there came Al-ʿAs bin Wail As-Sahmi Abu ʿAmr, wearing an embroidered cloak and a shirt having silk hems. He was from the tribe of Bani Sahm who were our allies during the pre-Islamic period of ignorance. Al-ʿAs said to ʿUmar "What is wrong with you?" He said, "Your people claim that they would kill me if I become a Muslim." Al-ʿAs said, "Nobody will harm you after I have given protection to you." So Al-ʿAs went out and met the people streaming in the whole valley. He said, "Where are you going?" They said, "We want Ibn Al-Khattab who has embraced Islam." Al-ʿAs said, "There is no way for anybody to touch him." So the people retreated.  

زَعَمَ قَوْمُكَ أَنَّهُمْ سَيَقْتُلُونِي إِنْ أَسْلَمْتُ قَالَ لاَ سَبِيلَ إِلَيْكَ بَعْدَ أَنْ قَالَهَا أَمِنْتُ فَخَرَجَ الْعَاصِ فَلَقِيَ النَّاسَ قَدْ سَالَ بِهِمُ الْوَادِي فَقَالَ أَيْنَ تُرِيدُونَ فَقَالُوا نُرِيدُ هَذَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ الَّذِي صَبَا قَالَ لاَ سَبِيلَ إِلَيْهِ فَكَرَّ النَّاسُ  

When ʿUmar embraced Islam, all The (disbelieving) people gathered around his home and said, "ʿUmar has embraced Islam." At that time I was still a boy and was on the roof of my house. There came a man wearing a cloak of Dibaj (i.e. a kind of silk), and said, "ʿUmar has embraced Islam. Nobody can harm him for I am his protector." I then saw the people going away from ʿUmar and asked who the man was, and they said, "Al-ʿAs bin Wail."  

لَمَّا أَسْلَمَ عُمَرُ اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ عِنْدَ دَارِهِ وَقَالُوا صَبَا عُمَرُ وَأَنَا غُلاَمٌ فَوْقَ ظَهْرِ بَيْتِي فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ عَلَيْهِ قَبَاءٌ مِنْ دِيبَاجٍ فَقَالَ قَدْ صَبَا عُمَرُ فَمَا ذَاكَ فَأَنَا لَهُ جَارٌ قَالَ فَرَأَيْتُ النَّاسَ تَصَدَّعُوا عَنْهُ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا قَالُوا الْعَاصِ بْنُ وَائِلٍ  

I never heard ʿUmar saying about something that he thought it would be so-and-so, but he was quite right. Once, while ʿUmar was sitting, a handsome man passed by him, ʿUmar said, "If I am not wrong, this person is still on his religion of the pre-lslamic period of ignorance or he was their foreteller. Call the man to me." When the man was called to him, he told him of his thought. The man said, "I have never seen such a day on which a Muslim is faced with such an accusation." ʿUmar said, "I am determined that you should tell me the truth." He said, "I was a foreteller in the pre-lslamic period of ignorance." Then ʿUmar said, "Tell me the most astonishing thing your female Jinn has told you of." He said, "One-day while I was in the market, she came to me scared and said, 'Haven't you seen the Jinns and their despair and they were overthrown after their defeat (and prevented from listening to the news of the heaven) so that they (stopped going to the sky and) kept following camel-riders (i.e. 'Arabs)?" ʿUmar said, "He is right." and added, "One day while I was near their idols, there came a man with a calf and slaughtered it as a sacrifice (for the idols). An (unseen) creature shouted at him, and I have never heard harsher than his voice. He was crying, 'O you bold evil-doer! A matter of success! An eloquent man is saying: None has the right to be worshipped except you (O Allah).' On that the people fled, but I said, 'I shall not go away till I know what is behind this.' Then the cry came again: 'O you bold evil-doer! A matter of success! An eloquent man is saying: None has the right to be worshipped except Allah.' I then went away and a few days later it was said, "A prophet has appeared."  

سَمِعْتُ عُمَرَ لِشَىْءٍ قَطُّ يَقُولُ إِنِّي لأَظُنُّهُ كَذَا إِلاَّ كَانَ كَمَا يَظُنُّ بَيْنَمَا عُمَرُ جَالِسٌ إِذْ مَرَّ بِهِ رَجُلٌ جَمِيلٌ فَقَالَ لَقَدْ أَخْطَأَ ظَنِّي أَوْ إِنَّ هَذَا عَلَى دِينِهِ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ أَوْ لَقَدْ كَانَ كَاهِنَهُمْ عَلَىَّ الرَّجُلَ فَدُعِيَ لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ مَا رَأَيْتُ كَالْيَوْمِ اسْتُقْبِلَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ قَالَ فَإِنِّي أَعْزِمُ عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ مَا أَخْبَرْتَنِي قَالَ كُنْتُ كَاهِنَهُمْ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ قَالَ فَمَا أَعْجَبُ مَا جَاءَتْكَ بِهِ جِنِّيَّتُكَ قَالَ بَيْنَمَا أَنَا يَوْمًا فِي السُّوقِ جَاءَتْنِي أَعْرِفُ فِيهَا الْفَزَعَ فَقَالَتْ أَلَمْ تَرَ الْجِنَّ وَإِبْلاَسَهَا وَيَأْسَهَا مِنْ بَعْدِ إِنْكَاسِهَا وَلُحُوقَهَا بِالْقِلاَصِ وَأَحْلاَسِهَا قَالَ عُمَرُ صَدَقَ بَيْنَمَا أَنَا عِنْدَ آلِهَتِهِمْ إِذْ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ بِعِجْلٍ فَذَبَحَهُ فَصَرَخَ بِهِ صَارِخٌ لَمْ أَسْمَعْ صَارِخًا قَطُّ أَشَدَّ صَوْتًا مِنْهُ يَقُولُ يَا جَلِيحْ أَمْرٌ نَجِيحْ رَجُلٌ فَصِيحْ يَقُولُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ فَوَثَبَ الْقَوْمُ قُلْتُ لاَ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّى أَعْلَمَ مَا وَرَاءَ هَذَا ثُمَّ نَادَى يَا جَلِيحْ أَمْرٌ نَجِيحْ رَجُلٌ فَصِيحْ يَقُولُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ فَقُمْتُ فَمَا نَشِبْنَا أَنْ قِيلَ هَذَا نَبِيٌّ  

I heard Saʿid bin Zaid saying to the people, "If you but saw me and ʿUmar's sister tied and forced by ʿUmar to leave Islam while he was not yet a Muslim. And if the mountain of Uhud could move from its place for the evil which you people have done to ʿUthman, it would have the right to do that."  

أَنَّ أُحُدًا انْقَضَّ لِمَا صَنَعْتُمْ بِعُثْمَانَ لَكَانَ مَحْقُوقًا أَنْ يَنْقَضَّ  

The people of Mecca asked Messenger of Allah ﷺ to show them a miracle. So he showed them the moon split in two halves between which they saw the Hira' mountain.  

أَنَّ أَهْلَ مَكَّةَ سَأَلُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يُرِيَهُمْ آيَةً فَأَرَاهُمُ الْقَمَرَ شِقَّتَيْنِ حَتَّى رَأَوْا حِرَاءً بَيْنَهُمَا  

The moon was split ( into two pieces ) while we were with the Prophet ﷺ in Mina. He said, "Be witnesses." Then a Piece of the moon went towards the mountain.  

انْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ وَنَحْنُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِنًى فَقَالَ اشْهَدُوا وَذَهَبَتْ فِرْقَةٌ نَحْوَ الْجَبَلِ وَقَالَ أَبُو الضُّحَى عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ انْشَقَّ بِمَكَّةَ وَتَابَعَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ  

During the lifetime of Messenger of Allah ﷺ the moon was split (into two places).  

أَنَّ الْقَمَرَ انْشَقَّ عَلَى زَمَانِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

The moon was split (into two pieces).  

انْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ  

That Al-Miswar bin Makhrama and ʿAbdur-Rahman bin Al-Aswad bin 'Abu Yaghuth had said to him, "What prevents you from speaking to your uncle ʿUthman regarding his brother Al-Walid bin ʿUqba?" The people were speaking against the latter for what he had done. 'Ubaidullah said, "So I kept waiting for ʿUthman, and when he went out for the prayer, I said to him, 'I have got something to say to you as a piece of advice.' ʿUthman said, 'O man! I seek Refuge with Allah from you. So I went away. When I finished my prayer, I sat with Al-Miswar and Ibn 'Abu Yaghutb and talked to both of them of what I had said to ʿUthman and what he had said to me. They said, 'You have done your duty.' So while I was sitting with them. ʿUthman's Messenger came to me. They said, 'Allah has put you to trial." I set out and when I reached ʿUthman, he said, 'What is your advice which you mentioned a while ago?' I recited Tashahhud and added, 'Allah has sent Muhammad and has revealed the Holy Book (i.e. Qur'an) to him. You (O ʿUthman!) were amongst those who responded to the call of Allah and His Apostle and had faith in him. And you took part in the first two migrations (to Ethiopia and to Medina), and you enjoyed the company of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and learned his traditions and advice. Now the people are talking much about Al-Walid bin ʿUqba and so it is your duty to impose on him the legal punishment.' ʿUthman then said to me, 'O my nephew! Did you ever meet Messenger of Allah ﷺ ?' I said, 'No, but his knowledge has reached me as it has reached the virgin in her seclusion.' ʿUthman then recited Tashahhud and said, 'No doubt, Allah has sent Muhammad with the Truth and has revealed to him His Holy Book (i.e. Qur'an) and I was amongst those who responded to the call of Allah and His Apostle and I had faith in Muhammad's Mission, and I had performed the first two migrations as you have said, and I enjoyed the company of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and gave the pledge of allegiance to him. By Allah, I never disobeyed him and never cheated him till Allah caused him to die. Then Allah made Abu Bakr Caliph, and by Allah, I was never disobedient to him, nor did I cheat him. Then ʿUmar became Caliph, and by Allah, I was never disobedient to him, nor did I cheat him. Then I became Caliph. Have I not then the same rights over you as they had over me?' I replied in the affirmative. ʿUthman further said, 'The what are these talks which are reaching me from you? As for what you ha mentioned about Al-Walid bin 'Uqb; Allah willing, I shall give him the leg; punishment justly. Then ʿUthman ordered that Al-Walid be flogged fort lashes. He ordered ʿAli to flog him an he himself flogged him as well."  

عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ فَانْتَصَبْتُ لِعُثْمَانَ حِينَ خَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ لِي إِلَيْكَ حَاجَةً وَهْىَ نَصِيحَةٌ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا الْمَرْءُ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْكَ فَانْصَرَفْتُ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ الصَّلاَةَ جَلَسْتُ إِلَى الْمِسْوَرِ وَإِلَى ابْنِ عَبْدِ يَغُوثَ فَحَدَّثْتُهُمَا بِالَّذِي قُلْتُ لِعُثْمَانَ وَقَالَ لِي فَقَالاَ قَدْ قَضَيْتَ الَّذِي كَانَ عَلَيْكَ فَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا جَالِسٌ مَعَهُمَا إِذْ جَاءَنِي رَسُولُ عُثْمَانَ فَقَالاَ لِي قَدِ ابْتَلاَكَ اللَّهُ فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ مَا نَصِيحَتُكَ الَّتِي ذَكَرْتَ آنِفًا قَالَ فَتَشَهَّدْتُ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابَ وَكُنْتَ مِمَّنِ اسْتَجَابَ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ﷺ وَآمَنْتَ بِهِ وَهَاجَرْتَ الْهِجْرَتَيْنِ الأُولَيَيْنِ وَصَحِبْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَرَأَيْتَ هَدْيَهُ وَقَدْ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ فِي شَأْنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ فَحَقٌّ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تُقِيمَ عَلَيْهِ الْحَدَّ فَقَالَ لِي يَا ابْنَ أَخِي أَدْرَكْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ قُلْتُ لاَ وَلَكِنْ قَدْ خَلَصَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ مَا خَلَصَ إِلَى الْعَذْرَاءِ فِي سِتْرِهَا قَالَ فَتَشَهَّدَ عُثْمَانُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابَ وَكُنْتُ مِمَّنِ اسْتَجَابَ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ﷺ وَآمَنْتُ بِمَا بُعِثَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ ﷺ وَهَاجَرْتُ الْهِجْرَتَيْنِ الأُولَيَيْنِ كَمَا قُلْتَ وَصَحِبْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَبَايَعْتُهُ وَاللَّهِ مَا عَصَيْتُهُ وَلاَ غَشَشْتُهُ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَخْلَفَ اللَّهُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا عَصَيْتُهُ وَلاَ غَشَشْتُهُ ثُمَّ اسْتُخْلِفَ عُمَرُ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا عَصَيْتُهُ وَلاَ غَشَشْتُهُ ثُمَّ اسْتُخْلِفْتُ أَفَلَيْسَ لِي عَلَيْكُمْ مِثْلُ الَّذِي كَانَ لَهُمْ عَلَىَّ قَالَ بَلَى قَالَ فَمَا هَذِهِ الأَحَادِيثُ الَّتِي تَبْلُغُنِي عَنْكُمْ فَأَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ شَأْنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ فَسَنَأْخُذُ فِيهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِالْحَقِّ قَالَ فَجَلَدَ الْوَلِيدَ أَرْبَعِينَ جَلْدَةً وَأَمَرَ عَلِيًّا أَنْ يَجْلِدَهُ وَكَانَ هُوَ يَجْلِدُهُ وَقَالَ يُونُسُ وَابْنُ أَخِي الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ أَفَلَيْسَ لِي عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي كَانَ لَهُمْ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْد اللَّهِ بَلَاءٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ مَا ابْتُلِيتُمْ بِهِ مِنْ شِدَّةٍ وَفِي مَوْضِعٍ الْبَلَاءُ الِابْتِلَاءُ وَالتَّمْحِيصُ مَنْ بَلَوْتُهُ وَمَحَّصْتُهُ أَيْ اسْتَخْرَجْتُ مَا عِنْدَهُ يَبْلُو يَخْتَبِرُ مُبْتَلِيكُمْ مُخْتَبِرُكُمْ وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهُ بَلَاءٌ عَظِيمٌ النِّعَمُ وَهِيَ مِنْ أَبْلَيْتُهُ وَتِلْكَ مِنْ ابْتَلَيْتُهُ  

Um Habiba and Um Salama mentioned a church they had seen in Ethiopia and in the church there were pictures. When they told the Prophet ﷺ of this, he said, "Those people are such that if a pious man amongst them died, they build a place of worship over his grave and paint these pictures in it. Those people will be Allah's worst creatures on the Day of Resurrection . "  

أَنَّ أُمَّ حَبِيبَةَ وَأُمَّ سَلَمَةَ ذَكَرَتَا كَنِيسَةً رَأَيْنَهَا بِالْحَبَشَةِ فِيهَا تَصَاوِيرُ فَذَكَرَتَا لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أُولَئِكَ إِذَا كَانَ فِيهِمُ الرَّجُلُ الصَّالِحُ فَمَاتَ بَنَوْا عَلَى قَبْرِهِ مَسْجِدًا وَصَوَّرُوا فِيهِ تِيكَ الصُّوَرَ أُولَئِكَ شِرَارُ الْخَلْقِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ  

When I came from Ethiopia (to Medina), I was a young girl. Messenger of Allah ﷺ made me wear a sheet having marks on it. Messenger of Allah ﷺ was rubbing those marks with his hands saying, "Sanah! Sanah!" (i.e. good, good).  

قَدِمْتُ مِنْ أَرْضِ الْحَبَشَةِ وَأَنَا جُوَيْرِيَةٌ فَكَسَانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَمِيصَةً لَهَا أَعْلاَمٌ فَجَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمْسَحُ الأَعْلاَمَ بِيَدِهِ وَيَقُولُ سَنَاهْ سَنَاهْ قَالَ الْحُمَيْدِيُّ يَعْنِي حَسَنٌ حَسَنٌ  

We used to greet the Prophet ﷺ while he used to be in prayers, and he used to reply to our greetings. But when we came back from Najashi (the King of Ethiopia) we greeted him (while he was praying) and he did not reply to us. We said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We used to greet you in the past and you used to reply to us." He said, "Verily The Mind is occupied and busy with more important matter during the prayer." (So one cannot return One's greetings.)  

كُنَّا نُسَلِّمُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَهْوَ يُصَلِّي فَيَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا فَلَمَّا رَجَعْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ النَّجَاشِيِّ سَلَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْنَا فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا نُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْكَ فَتَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا قَالَ إِنَّ فِي الصَّلاَةِ شُغْلاً فَقُلْتُ لإِبْرَاهِيمَ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ أَنْتَ قَالَ أَرُدُّ فِي نَفْسِي