I accompanied the Prophet ﷺ on a journey. One day I was near him while we were moving so I said: "O Messenger of Allah! Inform me about an action by which I will be admitted into Paradise, and which will keep me far from the Fire." He said: "You have asked me about something great, but it is easy for whomever Allah makes it easy: (1) Worship Allah and do not associate any partners with Him, (2) establish the Salah, (3) give the Zakat, (4) fast Ramadan and, (5) perform Hajj to the House.'

Then he ﷺ said: "Shall I not guide you to the doors of good? (1) Fasting is a shield, and (2) charity extinguishes sins like water extinguishes fire, and (3) a person's prayer in depths of the night." Then he ﷺ recited: "Their sides forsake their beds to call upon their Lord..." until he reached "what they used to do." [Sajdah 32:16-17]

Then he ﷺ said: "Shall I not inform you about the head of the entire matter, and its pillar, and its hump?" I said: "Of course, O Messenger of Allah!" He ﷺ said: "The head of the matter is Islam, and its pillar is the Salah, and its hump is Jihad."

Then he ﷺ said: "Shall I not inform you about what governs all of that?" I said: "Of course, O Messenger of Allah!" So he ﷺ grabbed his tongue and he said: "Restrain this." I said: "O Prophet of Allah! Will we be taken to account for what we say?" He said: "May your mother grieve your loss O Muadh! Are the people not tossed into the Hellfire upon their faces," or "upon their noses, except because of what their tongues have wrought?"  

كُنْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي سَفَرٍ فَأَصْبَحْتُ يَوْمًا قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ وَنَحْنُ نَسِيرُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَخْبِرْنِي بِعَمَلٍ يُدْخِلُنِي الْجَنَّةَ وَيُبَاعِدُنِي مِنَ النَّارِ قَالَ: «لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَنِي عَنْ عَظِيمٍ، وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسِيرٌ عَلَى مَنْ يَسَّرَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ: (١) تَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا، (٢) وَتُقِيمُ الصَّلاَةَ، (٣) وَتُؤْتِي الزَّكَاةَ، (٤) وَتَصُومُ رَمَضَانَ، (٥) وَتَحُجُّ الْبَيْتَ۔»

ثُمَّ قَالَ: «أَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ؟ (١) الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ، (٢) وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ، (٣) وَصَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ۔» قَالَ ثُمَّ تَلاََ {تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ} حَتَّى بَلَغَ {يَعْمَلُونَ} [السجدة 16-17]»

ثُمَّ قَالَ: «أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِرَأْسِ الأَمْرِ كُلِّهِ وَعَمُودِهِ وَذِرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ؟» قُلْتُ: بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ: «رَأْسُ الأَمْرِ الإِسْلاَمُ وَعَمُودُهُ الصَّلاَةُ وَذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ۔»

ثُمَّ قَالَ: «أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِمَلاَكِ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ؟ قُلْتُ: بَلَى يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَأَخَذَ بِلِسَانِهِ قَالَ: «كُفَّ عَلَيْكَ هَذَا۔» فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ، وَإِنَّا لَمُؤَاخَذُونَ بِمَا نَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ؟ فَقَالَ: «ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ يَا مُعَاذُ، وَهَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ فِي النَّارِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ» أَوْ «عَلَى مَنَاخِرِهِمْ إِلاَّ حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ؟»  

from the Prophet ﷺ who said: "(1) Charity does not decrease wealth, (2) no one forgives another except that Allah increases his honor, and (3) no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status."  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: «(١) مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ، (٢) وَمَا زَادَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلاَّ عِزًّا، (٣) وَمَا تَوَاضَعَ أَحَدٌ لِلَّهِ إِلاَّ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ۔»  

"Nothing is heavier on the believer's Scale on the Day of Judgment than good character. For indeed Allah, Most High, is angered by the shameless obscene person."  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ مَا شَيْءٌ أَثْقَلُ فِي مِيزَانِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ خُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيَبْغَضُ الْفَاحِشَ الْبَذِيءَ  

"That for which people are admitted into Jannah the most are (1) taqwá (fear and consciousness) of Allah, and (2) good conduct. And that for which people are admitted into Hellfire the most are the two cavities: (1) the mouth, and (2) the private parts."  

«أكثر ما يُدْخِلُ الناسَ الجنةَ: تقوى اللهِ وحُسْنُ الخُلِقُ، وأكثرُ ما يُدْخِل الناسَ النارَ: الأجوفان: الفمُ والفرجُ۔»  

“I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ circumambulating the Ka’bah and saying: ‘How good you are and how good your fragrance; how great you are and how great your sanctity. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, the sanctity of the believer is greater before Allah than your sanctity, his blood and his wealth, and to think anything but good of him.’”  

رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَطُوفُ بِالْكَعْبَةِ وَيَقُولُ مَا أَطْيَبَكِ وَأَطْيَبَ رِيحَكِ مَا أَعْظَمَكِ وَأَعْظَمَ حُرْمَتَكِ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَحُرْمَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ أَعْظَمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ حُرْمَةً مِنْكِ مَالِهِ وَدَمِهِ وَأَنْ نَظُنَّ بِهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا  

My friend (the Prophet ﷺ ) advised me to observe three things: (1) to fast three days a month; (2) to pray two rakʿat of Duha prayer (forenoon prayer); and (3) to pray witr before sleeping.  

أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي ﷺ بِثَلاَثٍ صِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَكْعَتَىِ الضُّحَى وَأَنْ أُوتِرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَنَامَ  

˹Ali said:˺ Fatimah complained of the ˹suffering˺ caused to her by ˹excessive use of˺ the hand mill. ˹Since˺ some captives were brought to the Prophet ﷺ, she came to him but did not find him. However, she found Aishah and then told her ˹about her need for some help˺. When the Prophet ﷺ came, Aishah informed him about Fatimah's visit. So the Prophet ﷺ came to us, while we had gone to bed I wanted to get up but the Prophet ﷺ said: "˹You may˺ stay as you are." Then he sat down between us till I found the coolness of his feet on my chest. Then he said, "Shall I not teach you a thing which is better than what you have asked me? When you go to bed, say:

'Allāhu akbar' thirty-four times, and 'subḥān Allāh' thirty-three times, and 'al-ḥamdu lillāh' thirty-three times

for that is better for you both than a servant."  

أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ عَلَيْهَا السَّلاَمُ شَكَتْ مَا تَلْقَى مِنْ أَثَرِ الرَّحَا۔ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سَبْىٌ، فَانْطَلَقَتْ فَلَمْ تَجِدْهُ۔ فَوَجَدَتْ عَائِشَةَ فَأَخْبَرَتْهَا۔ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَخْبَرَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ بِمَجِيءِ فَاطِمَةَ۔ فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَيْنَا وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا۔ فَذَهَبْتُ لأَقُومَ فَقَالَ: «عَلَى مَكَانِكُمَا۔» فَقَعَدَ بَيْنَنَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمَيْهِ عَلَى صَدْرِي، وَقَالَ: «أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكُمَا خَيْرًا مِمَّا سَأَلْتُمَانِي؟ إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا:

تُكَبِّرَا أَرْبَعًا وَثَلاَثِينَ، وَتُسَبِّحَا ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ، وَتَحْمَدَا ثَلاَثَةً وَثَلاَثِينَ،

فَهْوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ۔»  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The deeds of anyone of you will not save you ˹from Hellfire˺." They said, "Even you ˹will not be saved by your deeds˺, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" He said, "No, even I ˹will not be saved˺ unless and until Allah bestows His Mercy upon me. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your goal (Jannah).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «لَنْ يُنَجِّيَ أَحَدًا مِنْكُمْ عَمَلُهُ۔» قَالُوا: وَلاَ أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «وَلاَ أَنَا، إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِي اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ۔ سَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا وَاغْدُوا وَرُوحُوا وَشَىْءٌ مِنَ الدُّلْجَةِ وَالْقَصْدَ الْقَصْدَ تَبْلُغُوا۔»  

Abu Bakr, when praised, used to say: "O Allah, you know me better than myself, and I know myself better than them. O Allah, make me better than what they think of me, and forgive me for what they do not know, and do not hold me accountable for what they say."  

كَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِذَا مُدِحَ قَالَ: (اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ مِنِّى بِنَفْسِى، وأَنَا أَعْلَمُ بِنَفْسِى مِنْهُمْ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِى خَيْرًا مِمَّا يَظُنُّونَ، واغْفِر لِى مَا لَا يَعْلمُونَ، وَلَا تُؤَاخِذْنِى بِمَا يَقُولُونَ)۔  

I used to love to meet him, so I met him and said to him, "O Abu Dharr, tell me something about yourself that I may love to meet you and ask you about it." He said, "You have already met, so ask." I said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, 'There are three whom Allah loves and three whom Allah hates.'" He said, "Yes, what prevents me from lying about my beloved Muhammad ﷺ three times."

I said, "Who are the three whom Allah loves?" He said, "(1) A man who fights in the way of Allah, meeting the enemy as a fighter, hoping for reward, until he is killed. And you find in the Book of Allah, 'Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause as if they are a compacted structure.' (2) And a man who has a neighbor who harms him, and he endures and seeks reward from Allah until Allah suffices him of it with death or life. (3) And a man who joins a group and practices with them until it becomes burdensome for them, so they camp at the end of the night, then he stands up for his ablution and prayer."

I said, "Who are the three whom Allah hates?" He said, "(1) The arrogant, boastful person. And you find in the Book of Allah, 'Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.' (2) The stingy, miserly person. (3) And the deceitful businessman."

I said, "O Abu Dharr, what about wealth?" He said, "It is a means for us to divide and taste, meaning that we divide a small herd of sheep." I said, "I am not asking about this. I am only asking you about the silent wealth." He said, "I neither have morning nor evening, and what is evening is not morning." I said, "O Abu Dharr, what about you and your Quraishi brothers?" He said, "By Allah, I do not ask them for the world, nor do I seek their advice about the religion of Allah until I meet Allah and His Messenger three times and say these words."  

فَكُنْتُ أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَلْقَاهُ فَلَقِيتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكَ حَدِيثٌ فَكُنْتُ أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَلْقَاكَ فَأَسْأَلَكَ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ قَدْ لَقِيتَ فَاسْأَلْ

قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «ثَلَاثَةٌ يُحِبُّهُمُ اللهُ وَثَلَاثَةٌ يُبْغِضُهُمُ اللهُ» قَالَ نَعَمْ فَمَا أَخَالُنِي أَكْذِبُ عَلَى خَلِيلِي مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ ثَلَاثًا يَقُولُهَا

قَالَ قُلْتُ مَنِ الثَّلَاثَةُ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّهُمُ اللهُ ﷻ؟ قَالَ: (١) رَجُلٌ غَزَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ فَلَقِيَ الْعَدُوَّ مُجَاهِدًا مُحْتَسِبًا فَقَاتَلَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ وَأَنْتُمْ تَجِدُونَ فِي كِتَابِ اللهِ ﷻ {إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا} [الصف 4]، (٢) وَرَجُلٌ لَهُ جَارٌ يُؤْذِيهِ فَيَصْبِرُ عَلَى أَذَاهُ وَيَحْتَسِبُهُ حَتَّى يَكْفِيَهُ اللهُ إِيَّاهُ بِمَوْتٍ أَوْ حَيَاةٍ، (٣) وَرَجُلٌ يَكُونُ مَعَ قَوْمٍ فَيَسِيرُونَ حَتَّى يَشُقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الْكَرَى وَالنُّعَاسُ فَيَنْزِلُونَ فِي آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَيَقُومُ إِلَى وُضُوئِهِ وَصَلَاتِهِ۔

قَالَ قُلْتُ مَنِ الثَّلَاثَةُ الَّذِينَ يُبْغِضُهُمُ اللهُ؟ قَالَ: (١) الْفَخُورُ الْمُخْتَالُ وَأَنْتُمْ تَجِدُونَ فِي كِتَابِ اللهِ ﷻ {إِنَّ اللهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ} [لقمان 18]، (٢) وَالْبَخِيلُ الْمَنَّانُ، (٣) وَالتَّاجِرُ أَوِ الْبَيَّاعُ الْحَلَّافُ

قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ مَا الْمَالُ؟ قَالَ فِرْقٌ لَنَا وَذَوْدٌ يَعْنِي بِالْفِرْقِ غَنَمًا يَسِيرَةً قَالَ قُلْتُ لَسْتُ عَنْ هَذَا أَسْأَلُ إِنَّمَا أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ صَامِتِ الْمَالِ؟ قَالَ مَا أَصْبَحَ لَا أَمْسَى وَمَا أَمْسَى لَا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ مَا لَكَ وَلِإِخْوَتِكَ قُرَيْشٍ؟ قَالَ وَاللهِ لَا أَسْأَلُهُمْ دُنْيَا وَلَا أَسْتَفْتِيهِمْ عَنْ دِينِ اللهِ حَتَّى أَلْقَى اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ثَلَاثًا يَقُولُهَا  

I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, "Whoever exalts himself, or walks arrogantly (self righteously) will meet Allah while He is angry with him."  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنْ تَعَظَّمَ فِي نَفْسِهِ أَوِ اخْتَالَ فِي مِشْيَتِهِ لَقِيَ اللهَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ  

Who, from among Kaʿb's sons, was the guide of Kaʿb when he became blind: I heard Kaʿb bin Malik narrating the story of (the Ghazwa of) Tabuk in which he failed to take part. Kaʿb said, "I did not remain behind Messenger of Allah ﷺ in any Ghazwa that he fought except the Ghazwa of Tabuk, and I failed to take part in the Ghazwa of Badr, but Allah did not admonish anyone who had not participated in it, for in fact, Messenger of Allah ﷺ had gone out in search of the caravan of Quraish till Allah made them (i.e. the Muslims) and their enemy meet without any appointment. I witnessed the night of Al-ʿAqaba (pledge) with Messenger of Allah ﷺ when we pledged for Islam, and I would not exchange it for the Badr battle although the Badr battle is more popular amongst the people than it (i.e. Al-ʿAqaba pledge). As for my news (in this battle of Tabuk), I had never been stronger or wealthier than I was when I remained behind the Prophet ﷺ in that Ghazwa. By Allah, never had I two she-camels before, but I had then at the time of this Ghazwa. Whenever Messenger of Allah ﷺ wanted to make a Ghazwa, he used to hide his intention by apparently referring to different Ghazwa till it was the time of that Ghazwa (of Tabuk) which Messenger of Allah ﷺ fought in severe heat, facing, a long journey, desert, and the great number of enemy. So the Prophet ﷺ announced to the Muslims clearly (their destination) so that they might get prepared for their Ghazwa. So he informed them clearly of the destination he was going to. Messenger of Allah ﷺ was accompanied by a large number of Muslims who could not be listed in a book namely, a register." Kaʿb added, "Any man who intended to be absent would think that the matter would remain hidden unless Allah revealed it through Divine Revelation. So Messenger of Allah ﷺ fought that Ghazwa at the time when the fruits had ripened and the shade looked pleasant. Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his companions prepared for the battle and I started to go out in order to get myself ready along with them, but I returned without doing anything. I would say to myself, 'I can do that.' So I kept on delaying it every now and then till the people got ready and Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Muslims along with him departed, and I had not prepared anything for my departure, and I said, I will prepare myself (for departure) one or two days after him, and then join them.' In the morning following their departure, I went out to get myself ready but returned having done nothing. Then again in the next morning, I went out to get ready but returned without doing anything. Such was the case with me till they hurried away and the battle was missed (by me). Even then I intended to depart to take them over. I wish I had done so! But it was not in my luck. So, after the departure of Messenger of Allah ﷺ, whenever I went out and walked amongst the people (i.e, the remaining persons), it grieved me that I could see none around me, but one accused of hypocrisy or one of those weak men whom Allah had excused. Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not remember me till he reached Tabuk. So while he was sitting amongst the people in Tabuk, he said, 'What did Kaʿb do?' A man from Banu Salama said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! He has been stopped by his two Burdas (i.e. garments) and his looking at his own flanks with pride.' Then Muʿadh bin Jabal said, 'What a bad thing you have said! By Allah! O Allahs Apostle! We know nothing about him but good.' Messenger of Allah ﷺ kept silent." Kaʿb bin Malik added, "When I heard that he (i.e. the Prophet ﷺ ) was on his way back to Medina. I got dipped in my concern, and began to think of false excuses, saying to myself, 'How can I avoid his anger tomorrow?' And I took the advice of wise member of my family in this matter. When it was said that Messenger of Allah ﷺ, had come near all the evil false excuses abandoned from my mind and I knew well that I could never come out of this problem by forging a false statement. Then I decided firmly to speak the truth. So Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived in the morning, and whenever he returned from a journey., he used to visit the Mosque first of all and offer a two-rakʿat prayer therein and then sit for the people. So when he had done all that (this time), those who had failed to join the battle (of Tabuk) came and started offering (false) excuses and taking oaths before him. They were something over eighty men; Messenger of Allah ﷺ accepted the excuses they had expressed, took their pledge of allegiance asked for Allah's Forgiveness for them, and left the secrets of their hearts for Allah to judge. Then I came to him, and when I greeted him, he smiled a smile of an angry person and then said, 'Come on.' So I came walking till I sat before him. He said to me, 'What stopped you from joining us. Had you not purchased an animal For carrying you?' I answered, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! But by Allah, if I were sitting before any person from among the people of the world other than you, I would have avoided his anger with an excuse. By Allah, I have been bestowed with the power of speaking fluently and eloquently, but by Allah, I knew well that if today I tell you a lie to seek your favor, Allah would surely make you angry with me in the near future, but if I tell you the truth, though you will get angry because of it, I hope for Allah's Forgiveness. Really, by Allah, there was no excuse for me. By Allah, I had never been stronger or wealthier than I was when I remained behind you.' Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'As regards this man, he has surely told the truth. So get up till Allah decides your case.' I got up, and many men of Banu Salama followed me and said to me. 'By Allah, we never witnessed you doing any sin before this. Surely, you failed to offer excuse to Messenger of Allah ﷺ as the others who did not join him, have offered. The prayer of Messenger of Allah ﷺ to Allah to forgive you would have been sufficient for you.' By Allah, they continued blaming me so much that I intended to return (to the Prophet) and accuse myself of having told a lie, but I said to them, 'Is there anybody else who has met the same fate as I have?' They replied, 'Yes, there are two men who have said the same thing as you have, and to both of them was given the same order as given to you.' I said, 'Who are they?' They replied, Murara bin Ar-Rabi Al- Amri and Hilal bin Umaiya Al-Waqifi.' By that they mentioned to me two pious men who had attended the Ghazwa (Battle) of Badr, and in whom there was an example for me. So I did not change my mind when they mentioned them to me. Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade all the Muslims to talk to us, the three aforesaid persons out of all those who had remained behind in that Ghazwa. So we kept away from the people and they changed their attitude towards us till the very land (where I lived) appeared strange to me as if I did not know it. We remained in that condition for fifty nights. As regards my two fellows, they remained in their houses and kept on weeping, but I was the youngest of them and the firmest of them, so I used to go out and witness the prayers along with the Muslims and roam about in the markets, but none would talk to me, and I would come to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and greet him while he was sitting In his gathering after the prayer, and I would wonder whether the Prophet ﷺ did move his lips in return to my greetings or not. Then I would offer my prayer near to him and look at him stealthily. When I was busy with my prayer, he would turn his face towards me, but when I turned my face to him, he would turn his face away from me. When this harsh attitude of the people lasted long, I walked till I scaled the wall of the garden of Abu Qatada who was my cousin and dearest person to me, and I offered my greetings to him. By Allah, he did not return my greetings. I said, 'O Abu Qatada! I beseech you by Allah! Do you know that I love Allah and His Apostle?' He kept quiet. I asked him again, beseeching him by Allah, but he remained silent. Then I asked him again in the Name of Allah. He said, "Allah and His Apostle know it better.' Thereupon my eyes flowed with tears and I returned and jumped over the wall." Kaʿb added, "While I was walking in the market of Medina, suddenly I saw a Nabati (i.e. a Christian farmer) from the Nabatis of Sham who came to sell his grains in Medina, saying, 'Who will lead me to Kaʿb bin Malik?' The people began to point (me) out for him till he came to me and handed me a letter from the king of Ghassan in which the following was written: "To proceed, I have been informed that your friend (i.e. the Prophet ﷺ ) has treated you harshly. Anyhow, Allah does not let you live at a place where you feel inferior and your right is lost. So join us, and we will console you." When I read it, I said to myself, 'This is also a sort of a test.' Then I took the letter to the oven and made a fire therein by burning it. When forty out of the fifty nights elapsed, behold ! There came to me the messenger of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, 'Messenger of Allah ﷺ orders you to keep away from your wife,' I said, 'Should I divorce her; or else! what should I do?' He said, 'No, only keep aloof from her and do not cohabit her.' The Prophet ﷺ sent the same message to my two fellows. Then I said to my wife. 'Go to your parents and remain with them till Allah gives His Verdict in this matter." Kaʿb added, "The wife of Hilal bin Umaiya came to Apostle and said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Hilal bin Umaiya is a helpless old man who has no servant to attend on him. Do you dislike that I should serve him? ' He said, 'No (you can serve him) but he should not come near you.' She said, 'By Allah, he has no desire for anything. By, Allah, he has never ceased weeping till his case began till this day of his.' (continued...) (continuing... 1): -5.702:... ... On that, some of my family members said to me, 'Will you also ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ to permit your wife (to serve you) as he has permitted the wife of Hilal bin Umaiya to serve him?' I said, 'By Allah, I will not ask the permission of Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding her, for I do not know What Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say if I asked him to permit her (to serve me) while I am a young man.' Then I remained in that state for ten more nights after that till the period of fifty nights was completed starting from the time when Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited the people from talking to us. When I had offered the Fajr prayer on the 50th morning on the roof of one of our houses and while I was sitting in the condition which Allah described (in the Qur'an) i.e. my very soul seemed straitened to me and even the earth seemed narrow to me for all its spaciousness, there I heard the voice of one who had ascended the mountain of Sala' calling with his loudest voice, 'O Kaʿb bin Malik! Be happy (by receiving good tidings).' I fell down in prostration before Allah, realizing that relief has come. Messenger of Allah ﷺ had announced the acceptance of our repentance by Allah when he had offered the Fajr prayer. The people then went out to congratulate us. Some bringers of good tidings went out to my two fellows, and a horseman came to me in haste, and a man of Banu Aslam came running and ascended the mountain and his voice was swifter than the horse. When he (i.e. the man) whose voice I had heard, came to me conveying the good tidings, I took off my garments and dressed him with them; and by Allah, I owned no other garments than them on that day. Then I borrowed two garments and wore them and went to Allah's Apostle. The people started receiving me in batches, congratulating me on Allah's Acceptance of my repentance, saying, 'We congratulate you on Allah's Acceptance of your repentance." Kaʿb further said, "When I entered the Mosque. I saw Messenger of Allah ﷺ sitting with the people around him. Talha bin Ubaidullah swiftly came to me, shook hands with me and congratulated me. By Allah, none of the Muhajirin (i.e. Emigrants) got up for me except him (i.e. Talha), and I will never forget this for Talha." Kaʿb added, "When I greeted Messenger of Allah ﷺ he, his face being bright with joy, said "Be happy with the best day that you have got ever since your mother delivered you." Kaʿb added, "I said to the Prophet ﷺ 'Is this forgiveness from you or from Allah?' He said, 'No, it is from Allah.' Whenever Messenger of Allah ﷺ became happy, his face would shine as if it were a piece of moon, and we all knew that characteristic of him. When I sat before him, I said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Because of the acceptance of my repentance I will give up all my wealth as alms for the Sake of Allah and His Apostle. Allah's Apostle said, 'Keep some of your wealth, as it will be better for you.' I said, 'So I will keep my share from Khaibar with me,' and added, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Allah has saved me for telling the truth; so it is a part of my repentance not to tell but the truth as long as I am alive. By Allah, I do not know anyone of the Muslims whom Allah has helped fortelling the truth more than me. Since I have mentioned that truth to Messenger of Allah ﷺ till today, I have never intended to tell a lie. I hope that Allah will also save me (from telling lies) the rest of my life. So Allah revealed to His Apostle the Verse:-- "Verily, Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirin (i.e. Emigrants (up to His Saying) And be with those who are true (in word and deed)." (9.117-119) By Allah, Allah has never bestowed upon me, apart from His guiding me to Islam, a Greater blessing than the fact that I did not tell a lie to Messenger of Allah ﷺ which would have caused me to perish as those who have told a lie perished, for Allah described those who told lies with the worst description He ever attributed to anybody else. Allah said:-- "They (i.e. the hypocrites) will swear by Allah to you when you return to them (up to His Saying) Certainly Allah is not pleased with the rebellious people-- " (9.95-96) Kaʿb added, "We, the three persons, differed altogether from those whose excuses Allah's Apostle accepted when they swore to him. He took their pledge of allegiance and asked Allah to forgive them, but Messenger of Allah ﷺ left our case pending till Allah gave His Judgment about it. As for that Allah said):-- And to the three (He did for give also) who remained behind." (9.118) What Allah said (in this Verse) does not indicate our failure to take part in the Ghazwa, but it refers to the deferment of making a decision by the Prophet ﷺ about our case in contrast to the case of those who had taken an oath before him and he excused them by accepting their excuses.  

سَمِعْتُ كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يُحَدِّثُ حِينَ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ قِصَّةِ تَبُوكَ۔ قَالَ كَعْبٌ: لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا إِلاَّ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي كُنْتُ تَخَلَّفْتُ فِي غَزْوَةِ بَدْرٍ وَلَمْ يُعَاتِبْ أَحَدًا تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا۔ إِنَّمَا خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُرِيدُ عِيرَ قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّى جَمَعَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ عَدُوِّهِمْ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِيعَادٍ وَلَقَدْ شَهِدْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيْلَةَ الْعَقَبَةِ حِينَ تَوَاثَقْنَا عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِي بِهَا مَشْهَدَ بَدْرٍ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ بَدْرٌ أَذْكَرَ فِي النَّاسِ مِنْهَا۔

كَانَ مِنْ خَبَرِي أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلاَ أَيْسَرَ حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْهُ فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ وَاللَّهِ مَا اجْتَمَعَتْ عِنْدِي قَبْلَهُ رَاحِلَتَانِ قَطُّ حَتَّى جَمَعْتُهُمَا فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ۔ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُرِيدُ غَزْوَةً إِلاَّ وَرَّى بِغَيْرِهَا حَتَّى كَانَتْ تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةُ غَزَاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي حَرٍّ شَدِيدٍ وَاسْتَقْبَلَ سَفَرًا بَعِيدًا وَمَفَازًا وَعَدُوًّا كَثِيرًا۔ فَجَلَّى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَمْرَهُمْ لِيَتَأَهَّبُوا أُهْبَةَ غَزْوِهِمْ فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ بِوَجْهِهِ الَّذِي يُرِيدُ۔

وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَثِيرٌ وَلاَ يَجْمَعُهُمْ كِتَابٌ حَافِظٌ يُرِيدُ الدِّيوَانَ۔ قَالَ كَعْبٌ: فَمَا رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَغَيَّبَ إِلاَّ ظَنَّ أَنْ سَيَخْفَى لَهُ مَا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِيهِ وَحْىُ اللَّهِ۔ وَغَزَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةَ حِينَ طَابَتِ الثِّمَارُ وَالظِّلاَلُ۔

وَتَجَهَّزَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ فَطَفِقْتُ أَغْدُو لِكَىْ أَتَجَهَّزَ مَعَهُمْ فَأَرْجِعُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا۔ فَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي أَنَا قَادِرٌ عَلَيْهِ۔ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَتَمَادَى بِي حَتَّى اشْتَدَّ بِالنَّاسِ الْجِدُّ فَأَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ مِنْ جَهَازِي شَيْئًا۔ فَقُلْتُ أَتَجَهَّزُ بَعْدَهُ بِيَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَلْحَقُهُمْ۔ فَغَدَوْتُ بَعْدَ أَنْ فَصَلُوا لأَتَجَهَّزَ فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا۔ ثُمَّ غَدَوْتُ ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا فَلَمْ يَزَلْ بِي حَتَّى أَسْرَعُوا وَتَفَارَطَ الْغَزْوُ وَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَرْتَحِلَ فَأُدْرِكَهُمْ۔

وَلَيْتَنِي فَعَلْتُ فَلَمْ يُقَدَّرْ لِي ذَلِكَ۔ فَكُنْتُ إِذَا خَرَجْتُ فِي النَّاسِ بَعْدَ خُرُوجِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَطُفْتُ فِيهِمْ أَحْزَنَنِي أَنِّي لاَ أَرَى إِلاَّ رَجُلاً مَغْمُوصًا عَلَيْهِ النِّفَاقُ أَوْ رَجُلاً مِمَّنْ عَذَرَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الضُّعَفَاءِ۔

وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى بَلَغَ تَبُوكَ فَقَالَ وَهْوَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْقَوْمِ بِتَبُوكَ: «مَا فَعَلَ كَعْبٌ؟» فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ: حَبَسَهُ بُرْدَاهُ وَنَظَرُهُ فِي عِطْفِهِ۔ فَقَالَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ: بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا۔ فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ۔

قَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَنِي أَنَّهُ تَوَجَّهَ قَافِلاً حَضَرَنِي هَمِّي وَطَفِقْتُ أَتَذَكَّرُ الْكَذِبَ وَأَقُولُ بِمَاذَا أَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ غَدًا وَاسْتَعَنْتُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ بِكُلِّ ذِي رَأْىٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي۔ فَلَمَّا قِيلَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ أَظَلَّ قَادِمًا زَاحَ عَنِّي الْبَاطِلُ وَعَرَفْتُ أَنِّي لَنْ أَخْرُجَ مِنْهُ أَبَدًا بِشَىْءٍ فِيهِ كَذِبٌ۔

فَأَجْمَعْتُ صِدْقَهُ وَأَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَادِمًا وَكَانَ إِذَا قَدِمَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ بَدَأَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ فَيَرْكَعُ فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ۔ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ لِلنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ جَاءَهُ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ فَطَفِقُوا يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ وَكَانُوا بِضْعَةً وَثَمَانِينَ رَجُلاً۔ فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلاَنِيَتَهُمْ وَبَايَعَهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ وَوَكَلَ سَرَائِرَهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ۔

فَجِئْتُهُ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ تَبَسَّمَ تَبَسُّمَ الْمُغْضَبِ۔ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «تَعَالَ۔» فَجِئْتُ أَمْشِي حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي: «مَا خَلَّفَكَ؟ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَدِ ابْتَعْتَ ظَهْرَكَ؟» فَقُلْتُ: بَلَى إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَوْ جَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا لَرَأَيْتُ أَنْ سَأَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ بِعُذْرٍ، وَلَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ جَدَلاً، وَلَكِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ لَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيثَ كَذِبٍ تَرْضَى بِهِ عَنِّي لَيُوشِكَنَّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُسْخِطَكَ عَلَىَّ، وَلَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ حَدِيثَ صِدْقٍ تَجِدُ عَلَىَّ فِيهِ إِنِّي لأَرْجُو فِيهِ عَفْوَ اللَّهِ۔ لاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ لِي مِنْ عُذْرٍ۔ وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلاَ أَيْسَرَ مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْكَ۔ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ صَدَقَ، فَقُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ فِيكَ۔» فَقُمْتُ۔

وَثَارَ رِجَالٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ فَاتَّبَعُونِي فَقَالُوا لِي: وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَاكَ كُنْتَ أَذْنَبْتَ ذَنْبًا قَبْلَ هَذَا وَلَقَدْ عَجَزْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَكُونَ اعْتَذَرْتَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِمَا اعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ الْمُتَخَلِّفُونَ قَدْ كَانَ كَافِيَكَ ذَنْبَكَ اسْتِغْفَارُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَكَ۔ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا زَالُوا يُؤَنِّبُونِي حَتَّى أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَرْجِعَ فَأُكَذِّبُ نَفْسِي۔ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ هَلْ لَقِيَ هَذَا مَعِي أَحَدٌ؟ قَالُوا: نَعَمْ رَجُلاَنِ قَالاَ: مِثْلَ مَا قُلْتَ فَقِيلَ لَهُمَا مِثْلُ مَا قِيلَ لَكَ۔ فَقُلْتُ: مَنْ هُمَا؟ قَالُوا: مُرَارَةُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ الْعَمْرِيُّ وَهِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ الْوَاقِفِيُّ۔ فَذَكَرُوا لِي رَجُلَيْنِ صَالِحَيْنِ قَدْ شَهِدَا بَدْرًا فِيهِمَا إِسْوَةٌ۔

فَمَضَيْتُ حِينَ ذَكَرُوهُمَا لِي وَنَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَنْ كَلاَمِنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلاَثَةُ مِنْ بَيْنِ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ فَاجْتَنَبَنَا النَّاسُ وَتَغَيَّرُوا لَنَا حَتَّى تَنَكَّرَتْ فِي نَفْسِي الأَرْضُ فَمَا هِيَ الَّتِي أَعْرِفُ۔ فَلَبِثْنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً۔ فَأَمَّا صَاحِبَاىَ فَاسْتَكَانَا وَقَعَدَا فِي بُيُوتِهِمَا يَبْكِيَانِ۔ وَأَمَّا أَنَا فَكُنْتُ أَشَبَّ الْقَوْمِ وَأَجْلَدَهُمْ۔ فَكُنْتُ أَخْرُجُ فَأَشْهَدُ الصَّلاَةَ مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَأَطُوفُ فِي الأَسْوَاقِ وَلاَ يُكَلِّمُنِي أَحَدٌ۔ وَآتِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ وَهْوَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ فَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي هَلْ حَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ بِرَدِّ السَّلاَمِ عَلَىَّ أَمْ لاَ۔ ثُمَّ أُصَلِّي قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ فَأُسَارِقُهُ النَّظَرَ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلْتُ عَلَى صَلاَتِي أَقْبَلَ إِلَىَّ وَإِذَا الْتَفَتُّ نَحْوَهُ أَعْرَضَ عَنِّي۔

حَتَّى إِذَا طَالَ عَلَىَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ جَفْوَةِ النَّاسِ مَشَيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ جِدَارَ حَائِطِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ وَهْوَ ابْنُ عَمِّي وَأَحَبُّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَدَّ عَلَىَّ السَّلاَمَ۔ فَقُلْتُ: يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ أَنْشُدُكَ بِاللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُنِي أُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ؟ فَسَكَتَ فَعُدْتُ لَهُ فَنَشَدْتُهُ فَسَكَتَ فَعُدْتُ لَهُ فَنَشَدْتُهُ۔ فَقَالَ: اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ۔ فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَاىَ وَتَوَلَّيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ الْجِدَارَ۔

قَالَ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي بِسُوقِ الْمَدِينَةِ إِذَا نَبَطِيٌّ مِنْ أَنْبَاطِ أَهْلِ الشَّأْمِ مِمَّنْ قَدِمَ بِالطَّعَامِ يَبِيعُهُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ يَقُولُ: مَنْ يَدُلُّ عَلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ؟ فَطَفِقَ النَّاسُ يُشِيرُونَ لَهُ، حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَنِي دَفَعَ إِلَىَّ كِتَابًا مِنْ مَلِكِ غَسَّانَ۔ فَإِذَا فِيهِ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ صَاحِبَكَ قَدْ جَفَاكَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْكَ اللَّهُ بِدَارِ هَوَانٍ وَلاَ مَضْيَعَةٍ فَالْحَقْ بِنَا نُوَاسِكَ فَقُلْتُ لَمَّا قَرَأْتُهَا وَهَذَا أَيْضًا مِنَ الْبَلاَءِ فَتَيَمَّمْتُ بِهَا التَّنُّورَ فَسَجَرْتُهُ بِهَا۔

حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَتْ أَرْبَعُونَ لَيْلَةً مِنَ الْخَمْسِينَ إِذَا رَسُولُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْتِينِي فَقَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَعْتَزِلَ امْرَأَتَكَ۔ فَقُلْتُ: أُطَلِّقُهَا أَمْ مَاذَا أَفْعَلُ؟ قَالَ: لاَ بَلِ اعْتَزِلْهَا وَلاَ تَقْرَبْهَا وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى صَاحِبَىَّ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ۔ فَقُلْتُ لاِمْرَأَتِي: الْحَقِي بِأَهْلِكِ فَتَكُونِي عِنْدَهُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ فِي هَذَا الأَمْرِ۔ قَالَ كَعْبٌ: فَجَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ شَيْخٌ ضَائِعٌ لَيْسَ لَهُ خَادِمٌ فَهَلْ تَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَخْدُمَهُ؟ قَالَ: «لاَ وَلَكِنْ لاَ يَقْرَبْكِ۔» قَالَتْ: إِنَّهُ وَاللَّهِ مَا بِهِ حَرَكَةٌ إِلَى شَىْءٍ وَاللَّهِ مَا زَالَ يَبْكِي مُنْذُ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ مَا كَانَ إِلَى يَوْمِهِ هَذَا۔ فَقَالَ لِي: بَعْضُ أَهْلِي لَوِ اسْتَأْذَنْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي امْرَأَتِكَ كَمَا أَذِنَ لاِمْرَأَةِ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ أَنْ تَخْدُمَهُ فَقُلْتُ: وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَسْتَأْذِنُ فِيهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَمَا يُدْرِينِي مَا يَقُولُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنْتُهُ فِيهَا وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ فَلَبِثْتُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ عَشْرَ لَيَالٍ۔

حَتَّى كَمَلَتْ لَنَا خَمْسُونَ لَيْلَةً مِنْ حِينِ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ كَلاَمِنَا فَلَمَّا صَلَّيْتُ صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ صُبْحَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَنَا عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسٌ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّتِي ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ قَدْ ضَاقَتْ عَلَىَّ نَفْسِي وَضَاقَتْ عَلَىَّ الأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ، سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَ صَارِخٍ أَوْفَى عَلَى جَبَلِ سَلْعٍ بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ: يَا كَعْبُ بْنَ مَالِكٍ أَبْشِرْ! قَالَ: فَخَرَرْتُ سَاجِدًا وَعَرَفْتُ أَنْ قَدْ جَاءَ فَرَجٌ وَآذَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِتَوْبَةِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا حِينَ صَلَّى صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ۔ فَذَهَبَ النَّاسُ يُبَشِّرُونَنَا وَذَهَبَ قِبَلَ صَاحِبَىَّ مُبَشِّرُونَ وَرَكَضَ إِلَىَّ رَجُلٌ فَرَسًا وَسَعَى سَاعٍ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ فَأَوْفَى عَلَى الْجَبَلِ وَكَانَ الصَّوْتُ أَسْرَعَ مِنَ الْفَرَسِ۔ فَلَمَّا جَاءَنِي الَّذِي سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَهُ يُبَشِّرُنِي نَزَعْتُ لَهُ ثَوْبَىَّ فَكَسَوْتُهُ إِيَّاهُمَا بِبُشْرَاهُ۔ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَمْلِكُ غَيْرَهُمَا يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاسْتَعَرْتُ ثَوْبَيْنِ فَلَبِسْتُهُمَا وَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ۔ فَيَتَلَقَّانِي النَّاسُ فَوْجًا فَوْجًا يُهَنُّونِي بِالتَّوْبَةِ يَقُولُونَ لِتَهْنِكَ تَوْبَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ۔

قَالَ كَعْبٌ: حَتَّى دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَالِسٌ حَوْلَهُ النَّاسُ فَقَامَ إِلَىَّ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ يُهَرْوِلُ حَتَّى صَافَحَنِي وَهَنَّانِي۔ وَاللَّهِ مَا قَامَ إِلَىَّ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ غَيْرُهُ وَلاَ أَنْسَاهَا لِطَلْحَةَ۔ قَالَ كَعْبٌ: فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهْوَ يَبْرُقُ وَجْهُهُ مِنَ السُّرُورِ: «أَبْشِرْ بِخَيْرِ يَوْمٍ مَرَّ عَلَيْكَ مُنْذُ وَلَدَتْكَ أُمُّكَ۔» قَالَ قُلْتُ: أَمِنْ عِنْدِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «لاَ بَلْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ۔» وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا سُرَّ اسْتَنَارَ وَجْهُهُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُ قِطْعَةُ قَمَرٍ وَكُنَّا نَعْرِفُ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ۔

فَلَمَّا جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ أَنْخَلِعَ مِنْ مَالِي صَدَقَةً إِلَى اللَّهِ وَإِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ۔ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ بَعْضَ مَالِكَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ۔» قُلْتُ: فَإِنِّي أُمْسِكُ سَهْمِي الَّذِي بِخَيْبَرَ۔ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ إِنَّمَا نَجَّانِي بِالصِّدْقِ وَإِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ لاَ أُحَدِّثَ إِلاَّ صِدْقًا مَا بَقِيتُ۔ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا أَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَبْلاَهُ اللَّهُ فِي صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ مُنْذُ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحْسَنَ مِمَّا أَبْلاَنِي مَا تَعَمَّدْتُ مُنْذُ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى يَوْمِي هَذَا كَذِبًا، وَإِنِّي لأَرْجُو أَنْ يَحْفَظَنِي اللَّهُ فِيمَا بَقِيتُ۔

وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ ﷺ {لَقَدْ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ}۔ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ قَطُّ بَعْدَ أَنْ هَدَانِي لِلإِسْلاَمِ أَعْظَمَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ صِدْقِي لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، أَنْ لاَ أَكُونَ كَذَبْتُهُ فَأَهْلِكَ كَمَا هَلَكَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا۔ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ لِلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا حِينَ أَنْزَلَ الْوَحْىَ شَرَّ مَا قَالَ لأَحَدٍ فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى: {سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انْقَلَبْتُمْ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَرْضَى عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ}۔

قَالَ كَعْبٌ: وَكُنَّا تَخَلَّفْنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلاَثَةُ عَنْ أَمْرِ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ قَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ حَلَفُوا لَهُ فَبَايَعَهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ۔ وَأَرْجَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمْرَنَا حَتَّى قَضَى اللَّهُ فِيهِ۔ فَبِذَلِكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ {وَعَلَى الثَّلاَثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا} وَلَيْسَ الَّذِي ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ مِمَّا خُلِّفْنَا عَنِ الْغَزْوِ إِنَّمَا هُوَ تَخْلِيفُهُ إِيَّانَا وَإِرْجَاؤُهُ أَمْرَنَا عَمَّنْ حَلَفَ لَهُ وَاعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُ۔  

[Machine] I met the Christian monk who was the messenger of Heraclius, the king of Byzantium, to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in Hims. He was my neighbor, an elderly sheikh who was nearly blind. I asked him to inform me about the letters exchanged between Heraclius and the Prophet ﷺ . He said, "Yes, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Tabuk and sent Dihyah al-Kalbi to Heraclius. When Heraclius received the letter from the Prophet ﷺ , he summoned the Roman priests and dignitaries, then closed the door on them and himself. He said, 'Indeed this man has emerged where you said he would. He has called me to one of three matters: to follow him in his religion, or to give him our wealth on our land (which is our land), or to wage war against him. By Allah, you know from your readings of the scriptures that he shall possess all that lies under my feet. So, shall we follow him in his religion, or give him our wealth on our land?' They knelt down before him like a man humbly submitting until they left their palaces and said, 'You invite us to leave Christianity or become slaves for an Arabian who came from the Hijaz.' When he thought that they would cause corruption if they left him, the Romans exalted them. He said, 'Indeed, I only said that to test your resolve in your matter.' Then he called a man from the Arabs who was known for his knowledge of the Arabic language. He said, 'Send with me a man who is well-versed in traditions in Arabic. I will take him to this man with the response to his letter.' So, he came with me and handed me a letter from Heraclius who said, 'Take my letter to this man.' I did not forget anything he had told me. He said, 'Preserve for me three qualities in him: see if he mentions the parchment on which I had written to him, see if he mentions that which he read in my letter, and see if he doubts anything on his back.' I took his letter and left for Tabuk. When I arrived, I found him sitting among his companions, reclining by the water. I said, 'Where is your companion?' They said, 'Here he is.' I approached and sat before him, handing him the letter. He placed it under a stone and asked, 'Who are you?' I said, 'I am one of the Tanukh tribe.' He asked, 'Do you have the religion of your father, Ibrahim, the Hanif?' I replied, 'I am a messenger of a people, and I adhere to the religion of a people, and I shall not deviate from it until I return to them.' He laughed and said, 'You do not guide those you desire, but Allah guides whomever He wills, and He is the most knowledgeable of the guided.' O Companion of Tanukh, I wrote a letter to Khosrow, and he tore it up - may Allah tear him in pieces and tear up his kingdom. I wrote a letter to Negus, and he tore it up - may Allah tear him and tear up his kingdom. Then I wrote a letter to your companion and he held onto it. The people will always find therein division as long as it is available in this world. Good is to stay alive.' 'I recollected what you had told me your companion had entrusted me with in that letter and took an arrow from my quiver and inscribed it on my sword's sheath. He then, with a man by his left, pointed a finger to my sword's sheath, asking, 'Who is the companion of your book? The one that reads to you.' They replied, 'It is Mu'awiyah.' He said, 'In your companion's book you call me to a paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous. But where is the fire?' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'Glorified is Allah! Where is the night when the day comes?' I took an arrow from my quiver and inscribed it on my sword's sheath. When he finished reading my letter, he said, 'You have rights, and you are a messenger. If we had something that we could give you, we would have allowed it. We are a people returning from a pilgrimage.' A man from the people called out, 'I shall give it to him.' He opened his mount and brought out a yellow piece of cloth, which he placed in the corner. I asked, 'Who is the owner of this prize?' I was told, 'It is Uthman.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'Which one of you will host this man?' A young man from the Ansar stood and the Ansar got up. I stood with them until I left the assembly area. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ called me and said, 'Come, O Companion of Tanukh.' I approached him and leaned towards him until I was standing before him in my assembly area in front of him. He raised his garment off his back and said, 'Here, fulfill what you were commanded.' I leaned forward and found on his back a seal in the middle of his shoulder-blades like the size of a pigeon's egg.'  

لَقِيتُ التَّنُوخِيَّ رَسُولَ هِرَقْلَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ بِحِمْصَ وَكَانَ جَارًا لِي شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا قَدْ بَلَغَ الْفَنَدَ أَوْ قَرُبَ فَقُلْتُ أَلَا تُخْبِرُنِي عَنْ رِسَالَةِ هِرَقْلَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَرِسَالَةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ؟ فَقَالَ بَلَى قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ تَبُوكَ فَبَعَثَ دِحْيَةَ الْكَلْبِيَّ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ جَاءَهُ كِتَابُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ دَعَا قِسِّيسِي الرُّومِ وَبَطَارِقَتَهَا ثُمَّ أَغْلَقَ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَيْهِمْ بَابًا فَقَالَ قَدْ نَزَلَ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ حَيْثُ رَأَيْتُمْ وَقَدْ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ يَدْعُونِي إِلَى ثَلَاثِ خِصَالٍ يَدْعُونِي إِلَى أَنْ أَتَّبِعَهُ عَلَى دِينِهِ أَوْ عَلَى أَنْ نُعْطِيَهُ مَالَنَا عَلَى أَرْضِنَا وَالْأَرْضُ أَرْضُنَا أَوْ نُلْقِيَ إِلَيْهِ الْحَرْبَ وَاللهِ لَقَدْ عَرَفْتُمْ فِيمَا تَقْرَءُونَ مِنَ الْكُتُبِ لَيَأْخُذَنَّ مَا تَحْتَ قَدَمَيَّ فَهَلُمَّ نَتَّبِعْهُ عَلَى دِينِهِ أَوْ نُعْطِيهِ مَالَنَا عَلَى أَرْضِنَا فَنَخَرُوا نَخْرَةَ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ حَتَّى خَرَجُوا مِنْ بَرَانِسِهِمْ وَقَالُوا تَدْعُونَا إِلَى أَنْ نَدَعَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةَ أَوْ نَكُونَ عَبِيدًا لِأَعْرَابِيٍّ جَاءَ مِنَ الْحِجَازِفَلَمَّا ظَنَّ أَنَّهُمْ إِنْ خَرَجُوا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ أَفْسَدُوا عَلَيْهِ الرُّومَ رَفَأَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكَدْ وَقَالَ إِنَّمَا قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ لَكُمْ لِأَعْلَمَ صَلَابَتَكُمْ عَلَى أَمْرِكُمْ ثُمَّ دَعَا رَجُلًا مِنْ عَرَبِ تُجِيبَ كَانَ عَلَى نَصَارَى الْعَرَبِ فَقَالَ ادْعُ لِي رَجُلًا حَافِظًا لِلْحَدِيثِ عَرَبِيَّ اللِّسَانِ أَبْعَثْهُ إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ بِجَوَابِ كِتَابِهِ فَجَاءَ بِي فَدَفَعَ إِلَيَّ هِرَقْلُ كِتَابًا فَقَالَ اذْهَبْ بِكِتَابِي إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فَمَا ضَيَّعْتُ مِنْ حَدِيثِهِ فَاحْفَظْ لِي مِنْهُ ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ انْظُرْ هَلْ يَذْكُرُ صَحِيفَتَهُ الَّتِي كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ بِشَيْءٍ وَانْظُرْ إِذَا قَرَأَ كِتَابِي فَهَلْ يَذْكُرُ اللَّيْلَ وَانْظُرْ فِي ظَهْرِهِ هَلْ بِهِ شَيْءٌ يَرِيبُكَ؟ فَانْطَلَقْتُ بِكِتَابِهِ حَتَّى جِئْتُ تَبُوكَ فَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانَيْ أَصْحَابِهِ مُحْتَبِيًا عَلَى الْمَاءِ فَقُلْتُ أَيْنَ صَاحِبُكُمْ؟ قِيلَ هَا هُوَ ذَا فَأَقْبَلْتُ أَمْشِي حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَنَاوَلْتُهُ كِتَابِي فَوَضَعَهُ فِي حَجْرِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ؟ فَقُلْتُ أَنَا أَحَدُ تَنُوخَ قَالَ هَلْ لَكَ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ الْحَنِيفِيَّةِ مِلَّةِ أَبِيكَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ؟ قُلْتُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ قَوْمٍ وَعَلَى دِينِ قَوْمٍ لَا أَرْجِعُ عَنْهُ حَتَّى أَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَضَحِكَ وَقَالَ {إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ} يَا أَخَا تَنُوخَ إِنِّي كَتَبْتُ بِكِتَابٍ إِلَى كِسْرَى فَمَزَّقَهُ وَاللهُ مُمَزِّقُهُ وَمُمَزِّقٌ مُلْكَهُ وَكَتَبْتُ إِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ بِصَحِيفَةٍ فَخَرَقَهَا وَاللهُ مُخْرِقُهُ وَمُخْرِقٌ مُلْكَهُ وَكَتَبْتُ إِلَى صَاحِبِكَبِصَحِيفَةٍ فَأَمْسَكَهَا فَلَنْ يَزَالَ النَّاسُ يَجِدُونَ مِنْهُ بَأْسًا مَا دَامَ فِي الْعَيْشِ خَيْرٌ قُلْتُ هَذِهِ إِحْدَى الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّتِي أَوْصَانِي بِهَا صَاحِبِي وَأَخَذْتُ سَهْمًا مِنْ جَعْبَتِي فَكَتَبْتُهَا فِي جِلْدِ سَيْفِي ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ نَاوَلَ الصَّحِيفَةَ رَجُلًا عَنْ يَسَارِهِ قُلْتُ مَنْ صَاحِبُ كِتَابِكُمُ الَّذِي يُقْرَأُ لَكُمْ؟ قَالُوا مُعَاوِيَةُ فَإِذَا فِي كِتَابِ صَاحِبِي تَدْعُونِي إِلَى جَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ فَأَيْنَ النَّارُ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ أَيْنَ اللَّيْلُ إِذَا جَاءَ النَّهَارُ قَالَ فَأَخَذْتُ سَهْمًا مِنْ جَعْبَتِي فَكَتَبْتُهُ فِي جِلْدِ سَيْفِي فَلَمَّا أَنْ فَرَغَ مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ كِتَابِي قَالَ إِنَّ لَكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّكَ رَسُولٌ فَلَوْ وُجِدَتْ عِنْدَنَا جَائِزَةٌ جَوَّزْنَاكَ بِهَا إِنَّا سَفْرٌ مُرْمِلُونَ قَالَ فَنَادَاهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ طَائِفَةِ النَّاسِ قَالَ أَنَا أُجَوِّزُهُ فَفَتَحَ رَحْلَهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ يَأْتِي بِحُلَّةٍ صَفُورِيَّةٍ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي حِجْرِي قُلْتُ مَنْ صَاحِبُ الْجَائِزَةِ؟ قِيلَ لِي عُثْمَانُ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّكُمْ يُنْزِلُ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ؟ فَقَالَ فَتًى مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ أَنَا فَقَامَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ وَقُمْتُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا خَرَجْتُ مِنْ طَائِفَةِ الْمَجْلِسِ نَادَانِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَقَالَ تَعَالَ يَا أَخَا تَنُوخَ فَأَقْبَلْتُ أَهْوِي إِلَيْهِ حَتَّى كُنْتُ قَائِمًا فِي مَجْلِسِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَحَلَّ حَبْوَتَهُ عَنْ ظَهْرِهِ وَقَالَ هَاهُنَا امْضِ لِمَا أُمِرْتَ لَهُ فَجُلْتُ فِي ظَهْرِهِ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِخَاتَمٍ فِيمَوْضِعِ غُضُونِ الْكَتِفِ مِثْلِ الْحَجْمَةِ الضَّخْمَةِ  

Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ˹fought˺ the Battle of Tabūk and he wanted Rome while the Arab Christians were in Shām. Ibn Shihāb said that ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. ʿAbdullāh b. Kaʿb b. Mālik told me that ʿAbdullāh b. Kaʿb was the leader of one of Banū Kaʿb's children when he became blind. He said: I heard Kaʿb b. Malik narrate when he stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during the Battle of Tabūk.

Kaʿb b. Malik said: I never remained behind Messenger of Allah ﷺ from any expedition that he undertook except the Battle of Tabuk and that of the Battle of Badr. So far as the Battle of Badr is concerned, nobody was blamed for remaining behind as Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Muslims (did not set out for attack but for waylaying) the caravan of the Quraish, but it was Allah Who made them confront their enemies without their intention (to do so). I had the honor to be with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the night of 'Aqaba when we pledged our allegiance to Islam and it was dearer to me than my participation in the Battle of Badr, although Badr was more popular amongst people as compared to with that (Tabَūk).

And this is my story of remaining back from Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the occasion of the Battle of Tabuk. Never did I possess means enough and (my circumstances) more favorable than at the occasion of this expedition. And, by Allah, I had never before this expedition simultaneously in my possession two rides. Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out for this expedition in the extremely hot season; the journey was long and the land (which he and his army had to cover) was waterless and he had to confront a large army, so he informed the Muslims about the actual situation (they had to face), so that they should adequately equip themselves for this expedition, and he also told them the destination where he intended to go. And the Muslims who accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at that time were large in numbers but there was no proper record of them.

Ka'b (further) said: Few were the persons who wanted to absent themselves, and were under the impression that they could easily conceal themselves (and thus remain undetected) until revelations from Allah, the Exalted and Glorious (descended in connection with them). And Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out on an expedition when the fruits were ripe and their shadows had been lengthened. I had a weakness for them and it was during this season that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made preparations and the Muslims too along with them. I also set out in the morning so that I should make preparations along with them but I came back and did nothing and said to myself: I have means enough (to make preparations) as soon as I like. And I went on doing this (postponing my preparations) until people were about to depart and it was in the morning that Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out and the Muslims too along with him, but I made no preparations. I went early in the morning and came back, but I made no decision. I continued to do so until they (the Muslims) hastened and covered a good deal of distance. I also made up my mind to march on and to meet them. Would that I had done that but perhaps it was not destined for me. After the departure of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as I went out amongst people, I was shocked to find that I did not find anyone like me but people who were labeled as hypocrites or the people whom Allah granted an exemption because of their incapacity and Messenger of Allah ﷺ took no notice of me until he had reached Tabuk.

One day as he was sitting amongst the people in Tabuk he said: What has happened to Ka'b b. Malik? A person from Banu' Salama said: Messenger of Allah, the (beauty) of his cloak and his appreciation of his sides have allured him and he was thus detained. Mua'dh b. Jabal said: Woe be upon that what you contend. Messenger of Allah, by Allah, we know nothing about him but good. Messenger of Allah ﷺ, however, kept quiet. It was during that time that he (the Holy Prophet) saw a person (dressed in an all-white (garment) shattering the illusion of eye (mirage). Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: May he be Abu Khaithama and, lo, it was Abu Khaithama al-Ansari and he was that person who contributed a sa' of dates and was scoffed at by the hypocrites. Ka'b b. Malik further said: When this news reached me that Messenger of Allah ﷺ was on his way back from Tabuk I was greatly perturbed. I thought of fabricating false stories and asked myself how I would save myself from his anger on the following day. In this connection, I sought the help of every prudent man from amongst the members of my family and when it was said to me that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was about to arrive, all the false ideas vanished (from my mind) and I came to the conclusion that nothing could save me but the telling of truth, so I decided to speak the truth and it was in the morning that Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived (in Medina). And it was his habit that as he came back from a journey he first went to the mosque and observed two Rak'ahs of nafl prayer (as a mark of gratitude) and then sat amongst people.

And as he did that, those who had remained behind him began to put forward their excuses and take an oath before him and they were more than eighty persons. Messenger of Allah ﷺ accepted their excuses on the very face of them and accepted their allegiance and sought forgiveness for them and left their secret (intentions) to Allah, until I presented myself to him. I greeted him and he smiled and there was a tinge of anger in that. He (the Holy Prophet) then said to me: Come forward. I went forward until I sat in front of him. He said to me: What kept you back? Could you not afford to go in for a ride? I said: Messenger of Allah, by Allah, if I were to sit in the presence of anybody else from amongst the worldly people I would have definitely saved myself from his anger on one pretext (or the other) and I have also the knack to fall into argumentation, but, by Allah, I am fully aware of the fact that if I were to put forward before you a false excuse to please you Allah would definitely provoke your wrath upon me, and if I speak the truth you may be annoyed with me, but I hope that Allah would make its end well and, by Allah, there is no valid excuse for me. By Allah, I never possessed so good means, and I never had such favorable conditions for me as I had when I stayed behind you (failed to join the expedition). Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: This man told the truth, so get up until Allah gives a decision in your case. I stood up and some people of Banu' Salama followed me in hot haste, and they said to me: By Allah, we do not know about you that you committed a sin prior to this. You, however, showed an inability to put forward an excuse before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as those who stayed behind him have put forward excuses. It would have been enough for the forgiveness of your sin that Messenger of Allah ﷺ would have sought forgiveness for you.

By Allah, they continued to incite me until I thought of going back to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and contradicting myself. Then I said to them: Has anyone else also met the same fate? They said: Yes, two persons have met the same fate as has fallen to you and they have made the same statement as you have made, and the same verdict has been delivered in their case as it has been delivered in your case. I said: Who are they? They said: Murara b. ar-Rabi'a 'Amiri and Hilal b. Umayya al-Waqafi. They made a mention of these two pious persons to me who had participated in the Battle of Badr and there was an example for me in them. I went away when they named these two persons.

Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade the Muslims to talk with three of us from amongst those (persons) who had stayed behind him. The people began to avoid us and their attitude towards us underwent a change and it seemed as if the whole atmosphere had turned (hostile) against us and it was in fact the same atmosphere of which I was fully aware and in which I had lived (for a fairly long time). We spent fifty nights in this very state and my two friends confined themselves within their houses and spent (most of the) time in weeping, but as I was young and strong amongst them I got (out of my house), participated in congregational prayers, moved about in the bazar; but none spoke to me. I came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ as he sat amongst (people) after the prayer, greeted him and asked myself whether his lips stirred in response to my greetings (or not). Then I observed prayer beside him and looked at him with stealing glances and when I attended to my prayer, he looked at me and when I cast a glance at him he turned away his eyes from me.

And when the harsh treatment of the Muslims towards me extended to a (considerable) length of time, I walked until I climbed upon the wall of the garden of Abu Qatada, and he was my cousin, and I had the greatest love for him. I greeted him but, by Allah, he did not respond to my greetings. I said to him: Abu Qatada, I adjure you by Allah, arn't you well aware of the fact that I love Allah and His Messenger ﷺ the most. He kept quiet. I again repeated saying: I adjure you by Allah. aren't you well aware of the fact that I love Allah and His Messenger ﷺ the most. He kept quiet. I again adjured him, whereupon he said: Allah and the Messenger ﷺ are best aware of it. My eyes began to shed tears and I came back climbing down from the wall.

As I was walking in the bazar of Medina a Nabatean from amongst the Nabateans of Syria, who had come to sell foodgrains in Medina, asked people to direct him to Ka'b b. Malik. People gave him the indication by pointing towards me. He came to me and delivered to me a letter of the King of Ghassan and as I was a scribe I read that letter and it was written like this: Coming to my point, it has been conveyed to us that your friend (the Holy Prophet) is subjecting you to cruelty and Allah has not created you for a place where you are to be degraded and where you cannot find your right place, so you come to us that we should accord you honour. As I read that letter I said: This is also a calamity, so I burnt it in the oven.

When out of the fifty days, forty days had passed and Messenger of Allah ﷺ received no revelation, there came the messenger of Messenger of Allah ﷺ to me and said: Verily, Messenger of Allah ﷺ has commanded you to remain separate from your wife. I said: Should I divorce her or what (else) should I do? He said: No, but only remain separate from her and don't have sexual contact with her. The same message was sent to my companions. So I said to my wife: You better go to your parents and stay there with them until Allah gives the decision in my case. The wife of Hilal b. Umayya came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: Messenger of Allah, Hilal b. Umayya is a senile person, he has no servant. Do you disapprove of my serving him? He said: No, but don't go near him. She said: By Allah, he has no such instinct in him. By Allah, he spends his time in weeping from that day to this day. Some of the members of my family said to me: Were you to seek permission from Messenger of Allah ﷺ in regard to your wife as he has granted permission to the wife of Hilal b. Umayya to serve him. I said: I would not seek permission from Messenger of Allah ﷺ, for I cannot say what Allah's Apostle may say in response to seeking my permission. Moreover, I am a young man.

It was in this state that I spent ten more nights and thus fifty nights had passed that (people) had observed boycott with us. It was on the morning of the fiftieth night that I observed my dawn prayer and was sitting on one of the roofs of our houses. And I was in fact sitting in that very state which Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, has described about us in these words:" Life had become hard for myself and the earth had compressed despite its vastness," that I heard the noise of an announcer from the peak of the hill of Sal' saying at the top of his voice: Ka'b b. Malik, there is glad tidings for you. I fell down in prostration and came to realise that there was (a message of) relief for me. Messenger of Allah ﷺ had informed the people of the acceptance of our repentance by Allah as he offered the dawn prayer. So the people went on to give us glad tidings and some of them went to my friends in order to give them the glad tidings and a person galloped his horse and came from the tribe of Aslam and his horse reached me more quickly than his voice. And when he came to me whose sound I heard, he gave me the glad tidings. I took off my clothes and clothed him with them because of his bringing good news to me and, by Allah, I possessed nothing else (in the form of clothes) than these two on that occasion, and I asked one to lend me two clothes and dressed myself in them.

I came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and on my way I met groups of people who greeted me because of (the acceptance of) repentance and they said: Here is a greeting for you for your repentance being accepted by Allah. (I moved on) until I came to the mosque and Messenger of Allah ﷺ had been sitting there amongst persons. So Talha b. 'Ubaidullah got up and rushed towards me and he shook hands with me and greeted me and, by Allah, no person stood up (to greet me) from amongst the emigrants except he. Ka'b said that he never forgot (this good gesture of) Talha. Ka'b further said: I greeted Messenger of Allah ﷺ with Assalam-o-'Alaikam and his face was glistening because of delight, and he said: Let there be glad tidings and blessings for you, the like of which (you have neither found nor you will find, as you find today) since your mother gave your birth. I said: Messenger of Allah. is this acceptance of repentance from you or from Allah? He said: No, (it is not from me), it is from Allah, and it was common with Messenger of Allah ﷺ that as he was happy his face brightened up and it looked like a part of the moon and it was from this that we recognised it (his delight). As I sat before him, I said: Messenger of Allah, am I allowed to give in charity my wealth for Allah's sake and for the sake of His Messenger ﷺ? Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Keep some property with you as it is better for you. I said: I shall keep with me that part (of my property) which fell to my lot (on the occasion of the expedition of) Khaibar. I said: Messenger of Allah, verily, Allah has granted me salvation because of truth and, therefore, (I think) that repentance implies that I should not speak anything but truth as long as I live.

He said: By Allah, I do not know whether anyone amongst the Muslims was put to more severe trial than I by Allah because of telling the truth. And since I made a mention of this to Messenger of Allah ﷺ up to this day I have not told any lie and, by Allah, I have decided not to tell a lie and I hope that Allah would save me (from trials) for the rest of my life and Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed these verses:" Certainly, Allah has turned in Mercy to the Prophet and the emigrants and the helpers who followed him in the hour of hardship after the hearts of a part of them were about to deviate; then He turned to them in mercy. Surely, to them He is Compassionate, Merciful and (He turned in Mercy) to the three who were left behind until the earth despite its vastness became strait for them and their souls were also straitened to them." And this revelation reached up to the (words):" O you who believe, develop God consciousness, and be with the truthful" (ix. 117-118). Ka'b said: By Allah, since Allah directed me to Islam there has been no blessing more significant for me than this truth of mine which I spoke to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and if I were to tell a lie I would have been ruined as were ruined those who told lies, for in regard to those who told lies Allah used harshest words used for anyone as He descended revelation (and the words of Allah are):" They will swear by Allah to you when you return to them so that you may leave them alone. So leave them alone. Surely, they are unclean and their resort is Hell, recompense for what they earned. They will swear to you that you may be pleased with them but if you are pleased with them, yet surely Allah is not pleased with the transgressing people" (ix. 95-96).

Kaʿb said that the matter of us three persons was deferred as compared with those who took an oath in the presence of Allahs Messenger ﷺ and he accepted their allegiance and sought forgiveness for them and Allah did not give any decision in regard to us. It was Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, Who gave decisions in our case, three who remained behind. (The words of the Qur'an)" the three who were left behind" do not mean that we remained back from Jihad but these imply that He kept our matter behind them who took oath and presented excuse before Him.  

ثُمَّ غَزَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ غَزْوَةَ تَبُوكَ وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ الرُّومَ وَنَصَارَى الْعَرَبِ بِالشَّامِ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَأَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ كَعْبٍ كَانَ قَائِدَ كَعْبٍ مِنْ بَنِيهِ حِينَ عَمِيَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يُحَدِّثُ حَدِيثَهُ حِينَ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ۔

قَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ: لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا قَطُّ إِلاَّ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي قَدْ تَخَلَّفْتُ فِي غَزْوَةِ بَدْرٍ۔ وَلَمْ يُعَاتِبْ أَحَدًا تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ إِنَّمَا خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ يُرِيدُونَ عِيرَ قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّى جَمَعَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ عَدُوِّهُمْ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِيعَادٍ۔ وَلَقَدْ شَهِدْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيْلَةَ الْعَقَبَةِ حِينَ تَوَاثَقْنَا عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِي بِهَا مَشْهَدَ بَدْرٍ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ بَدْرٌ أَذْكَرَ فِي النَّاسِ مِنْهَا۔

وَكَانَ مِنْ خَبَرِي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلاَ أَيْسَرَ مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْهُ فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ۔ وَاللَّهِ مَا جَمَعْتُ قَبْلَهَا رَاحِلَتَيْنِ قَطُّ حَتَّى جَمَعْتُهُمَا فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ۔ فَغَزَاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي حَرٍّ شَدِيدٍ وَاسْتَقْبَلَ سَفَرًا بَعِيدًا وَمَفَازًا وَاسْتَقْبَلَ عَدُوًّا كَثِيرًا۔ فَجَلاَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَمْرَهُمْ لِيَتَأَهَّبُوا أُهْبَةَ غَزْوِهِمْ فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ بِوَجْهِهِمُ الَّذِي يُرِيدُ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَثِيرٌ وَلاَ يَجْمَعُهُمْ كِتَابُ حَافِظٍ يُرِيدُ بِذَلِكَ الدِّيوَانَ۔

قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَقَلَّ رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَغَيَّبَ يَظُنُّ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ سَيَخْفَى لَهُ مَا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِيهِ وَحْىٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ ﷻ وَغَزَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةَ حِينَ طَابَتِ الثِّمَارُ وَالظِّلاَلُ فَأَنَا إِلَيْهَا أَصْعَرُ فَتَجَهَّزَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ وَطَفِقْتُ أَغْدُو لِكَىْ أَتَجَهَّزَ مَعَهُمْ فَأَرْجِعُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا وَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي أَنَا قَادِرٌ عَلَى ذَلِكَ إِذَا أَرَدْتُ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ ذَلِكَ يَتَمَادَى بِي حَتَّى اسْتَمَرَّ بِالنَّاسِ الْجِدُّ فَأَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ غَادِيًا وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ مِنْ جَهَازِي شَيْئًا ثُمَّ غَدَوْتُ فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا فَلَمْ يَزَلْ ذَلِكَ يَتَمَادَى بِي حَتَّى أَسْرَعُوا وَتَفَارَطَ الْغَزْوُ فَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَرْتَحِلَ فَأُدْرِكَهُمْ فَيَا لَيْتَنِي فَعَلْتُ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُقَدَّرْ ذَلِكَ لِي فَطَفِقْتُ إِذَا خَرَجْتُ فِي النَّاسِ بَعْدَ خُرُوجِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَحْزُنُنِي أَنِّي لاَ أَرَى لِي أُسْوَةً إِلاَّ رَجُلاً مَغْمُوصًا عَلَيْهِ فِي النِّفَاقِ أَوْ رَجُلاً مِمَّنْ عَذَرَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الضُّعَفَاءِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى بَلَغَ تَبُوكًا۔

فَقَالَ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْقَوْمِ بِتَبُوكَ: «مَا فَعَلَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ؟» قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ: حَبَسَهُ بُرْدَاهُ وَالنَّظَرُ فِي عِطْفَيْهِ۔ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ: بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتَ، وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا۔ فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ۔ فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ رَأَى رَجُلاً مُبَيِّضًا يَزُولُ بِهِ السَّرَابُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «كُنْ أَبَا خَيْثَمَةَ،» فَإِذَا هُو أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ وَهُوَ الَّذِي تَصَدَّقَ بِصَاعِ التَّمْرِ حِينَ لَمَزَهُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ۔

فَقَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ تَوَجَّهَ قَافِلاً مِنْ تَبُوكَ حَضَرَنِي بَثِّي فَطَفِقْتُ أَتَذَكَّرُ الْكَذِبَ وَأَقُولُ بِمَ أَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ غَدًا وَأَسْتَعِينُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ كُلَّ ذِي رَأْىٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي فَلَمَّا قِيلَ لِي إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ أَظَلَّ قَادِمًا زَاحَ عَنِّي الْبَاطِلُ حَتَّى عَرَفْتُ أَنِّي لَنْ أَنْجُوَ مِنْهُ بِشَىْءٍ أَبَدًا فَأَجْمَعْتُ صِدْقَهُ وَصَبَّحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَادِمًا وَكَانَ إِذَا قَدِمَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ بَدَأَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ فَرَكَعَ فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ لِلنَّاسِ۔

فَلَمَّا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ جَاءَهُ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ فَطَفِقُوا يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ وَكَانُوا بِضْعَةً وَثَمَانِينَ رَجُلاً فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلاَنِيَتَهُمْ وَبَايَعَهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ وَوَكَلَ سَرَائِرَهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ حَتَّى جِئْتُ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ تَبَسَّمَ تَبَسُّمَ الْمُغْضَبِ ثُمَّ قَالَ تَعَالَ فَجِئْتُ أَمْشِي حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي مَا خَلَّفَكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَدِ ابْتَعْتَ ظَهْرَكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَوْ جَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا لَرَأَيْتُ أَنِّي سَأَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ بِعُذْرٍ وَلَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ جَدَلاً وَلَكِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ لَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيثَ كَذِبٍ تَرْضَى بِهِ عَنِّي لَيُوشِكَنَّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُسْخِطَكَ عَلَىَّ وَلَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ حَدِيثَ صِدْقٍ تَجِدُ عَلَىَّ فِيهِ إِنِّي لأَرْجُو فِيهِ عُقْبَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ لِي عُذْرٌ وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلاَ أَيْسَرَ مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ صَدَقَ فَقُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ فِيكَ فَقُمْتُ وَثَارَ رِجَالٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ فَاتَّبَعُونِي فَقَالُوا لِي وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَاكَ أَذْنَبْتَ ذَنْبًا قَبْلَ هَذَا لَقَدْ عَجَزْتَ فِي أَنْ لاَ تَكُونَ اعْتَذَرْتَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِمَا اعْتَذَرَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ فَقَدْ كَانَ كَافِيَكَ ذَنْبَكَ اسْتِغْفَارُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَكَ۔

قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا زَالُوا يُؤَنِّبُونَنِي حَتَّى أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَرْجِعَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأُكَذِّبَ نَفْسِي قَالَ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ هَلْ لَقِيَ هَذَا مَعِي مِنْ أَحَدٍ قَالُوا نَعَمْ لَقِيَهُ مَعَكَ رَجُلاَنِ قَالاَ مِثْلَ مَا قُلْتَ فَقِيلَ لَهُمَا مِثْلُ مَا قِيلَ لَكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَنْ هُمَا قَالُوا مُرَارَةُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ الْعَامِرِيُّ وَهِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ الْوَاقِفِيُّ قَالَ فَذَكَرُوا لِي رَجُلَيْنِ صَالِحَيْنِ قَدْ شِهِدَا بَدْرًا فِيهِمَا أُسْوَةٌ قَالَ فَمَضَيْتُ حِينَ ذَكَرُوهُمَا لِي۔

قَالَ وَنَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَنْ كَلاَمِنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلاَثَةُ مِنْ بَيْنِ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ قَالَ فَاجْتَنَبَنَا النَّاسُ وَقَالَ تَغَيَّرُوا لَنَا حَتَّى تَنَكَّرَتْ لِي فِي نَفْسِيَ الأَرْضُ فَمَا هِيَ بِالأَرْضِ الَّتِي أَعْرِفُ فَلَبِثْنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً فَأَمَّا صَاحِبَاىَ فَاسْتَكَانَا وَقَعَدَا فِي بُيُوتِهِمَا يَبْكِيَانِ وَأَمَّا أَنَا فَكُنْتُ أَشَبَّ الْقَوْمِ وَأَجْلَدَهُمْ فَكُنْتُ أَخْرُجُ فَأَشْهَدُ الصَّلاَةَ وَأَطُوفُ فِي الأَسْوَاقِ وَلاَ يُكَلِّمُنِي أَحَدٌ وَآتِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ فَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي هَلْ حَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ بِرَدِّ السَّلاَمِ أَمْ لاَ ثُمَّ أُصَلِّي قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ وَأُسَارِقُهُ النَّظَرَ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلْتُ عَلَى صَلاَتِي نَظَرَ إِلَىَّ وَإِذَا الْتَفَتُّ نَحْوَهُ أَعْرَضَ عَنِّي۔

حَتَّى إِذَا طَالَ ذَلِكَ عَلَىَّ مِنْ جَفْوَةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَشَيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ جِدَارَ حَائِطِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّي وَأَحَبُّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَدَّ عَلَىَّ السَّلاَمَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ أَنْشُدُكَ بِاللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمَنَّ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ فَعُدْتُ فَنَاشَدْتُهُ فَسَكَتَ فَعُدْتُ فَنَاشَدْتُهُ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَاىَ وَتَوَلَّيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ الْجِدَارَ۔

فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي فِي سُوقِ الْمَدِينَةِ إِذَا نَبَطِيٌّ مِنْ نَبَطِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ مِمَّنْ قَدِمَ بِالطَّعَامِ يَبِيعُهُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ يَقُولُ مَنْ يَدُلُّ عَلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ فَطَفِقَ النَّاسُ يُشِيرُونَ لَهُ إِلَىَّ حَتَّى جَاءَنِي فَدَفَعَ إِلَىَّ كِتَابًا مِنْ مَلِكِ غَسَّانَ وَكُنْتُ كَاتِبًا فَقَرَأْتُهُ فَإِذَا فِيهِ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ صَاحِبَكَ قَدْ جَفَاكَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْكَ اللَّهُ بِدَارِ هَوَانٍ وَلاَ مَضْيَعَةٍ فَالْحَقْ بِنَا نُوَاسِكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ حِينَ قَرَأْتُهَا وَهَذِهِ أَيْضًا مِنَ الْبَلاَءِ فَتَيَامَمْتُ بِهَا التَّنُّورَ فَسَجَرْتُهَا بِهَا۔

حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَتْ أَرْبَعُونَ مِنَ الْخَمْسِينَ وَاسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْىُ إِذَا رَسُولُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْتِينِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَعْتَزِلَ امْرَأَتَكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ أُطَلِّقُهَا أَمْ مَاذَا أَفْعَلُ قَالَ لاَ بَلِ اعْتَزِلْهَا فَلاَ تَقْرَبَنَّهَا قَالَ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى صَاحِبَىَّ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لاِمْرَأَتِي الْحَقِي بِأَهْلِكِ فَكُونِي عِنْدَهُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ فِي هَذَا الأَمْرِ قَالَ فَجَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ شَيْخٌ ضَائِعٌ لَيْسَ لَهُ خَادِمٌ فَهَلْ تَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَخْدُمَهُ قَالَ لاَ وَلَكِنْ لاَ يَقْرَبَنَّكِ فَقَالَتْ إِنَّهُ وَاللَّهِ مَا بِهِ حَرَكَةٌ إِلَى شَىْءٍ وَوَاللَّهِ مَا زَالَ يَبْكِي مُنْذُ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ مَا كَانَ إِلَى يَوْمِهِ هَذَا قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي بَعْضُ أَهْلِي لَوِ اسْتَأْذَنْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي امْرَأَتِكَ فَقَدْ أَذِنَ لاِمْرَأَةِ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ أَنْ تَخْدُمَهُ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لاَ أَسْتَأْذِنُ فِيهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَمَا يُدْرِينِي مَاذَا يَقُولُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنْتُهُ فِيهَا وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ۔

قَالَ فَلَبِثْتُ بِذَلِكَ عَشْرَ لَيَالٍ فَكَمُلَ لَنَا خَمْسُونَ لَيْلَةً مِنْ حِينَ نُهِيَ عَنْ كَلاَمِنَا قَالَ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ صَبَاحَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسٌ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّتِي ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ ﷻ مِنَّا قَدْ ضَاقَتْ عَلَىَّ نَفْسِي وَضَاقَتْ عَلَىَّ الأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَ صَارِخٍ أَوْفَى عَلَى سَلْعٍ يَقُولُ بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ يَا كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ أَبْشِرْ قَالَ فَخَرَرْتُ سَاجِدًا وَعَرَفْتُ أَنْ قَدْ جَاءَ فَرَجٌ قَالَ فَآذَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ النَّاسَ بِتَوْبَةِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا حِينَ صَلَّى صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ فَذَهَبَ النَّاسُ يُبَشِّرُونَنَا فَذَهَبَ قِبَلَ صَاحِبَىَّ مُبَشِّرُونَ وَرَكَضَ رَجُلٌ إِلَىَّ فَرَسًا وَسَعَى سَاعٍ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ قِبَلِي وَأَوْفَى الْجَبَلَ فَكَانَ الصَّوْتُ أَسْرَعَ مِنَ الْفَرَسِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَنِي الَّذِي سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَهُ يُبَشِّرُنِي فَنَزَعْتُ لَهُ ثَوْبَىَّ فَكَسَوْتُهُمَا إِيَّاهُ بِبِشَارَتِهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَمْلِكُ غَيْرَهُمَا يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاسْتَعَرْتُ ثَوْبَيْنِ فَلَبِسْتُهُمَا۔

فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَتَأَمَّمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَتَلَقَّانِي النَّاسُ فَوْجًا فَوْجًا يُهَنِّئُونِي بِالتَّوْبَةِ وَيَقُولُونَ لِتَهْنِئْكَ تَوْبَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ حَتَّى دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَالِسٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَحَوْلَهُ النَّاسُ فَقَامَ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ يُهَرْوِلُ حَتَّى صَافَحَنِي وَهَنَّأَنِي وَاللَّهِ مَا قَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ غَيْرُهُ قَالَ فَكَانَ كَعْبٌ لاَ يَنْسَاهَا لِطَلْحَةَ قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ وَهُوَ يَبْرُقُ وَجْهُهُ مِنَ السُّرُورِ وَيَقُولُ أَبْشِرْ بِخَيْرِ يَوْمٍ مَرَّ عَلَيْكَ مُنْذُ وَلَدَتْكَ أُمُّكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ أَمِنْ عِنْدِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ لاَ بَلْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا سُرَّ اسْتَنَارَ وَجْهُهُ كَأَنَّ وَجْهَهُ قِطْعَةُ قَمَرٍ قَالَ وَكُنَّا نَعْرِفُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَلَمَّا جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ أَنْخَلِعَ مِنْ مَالِي صَدَقَةً إِلَى اللَّهِ وَإِلَى رَسُولِهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمْسِكْ بَعْضَ مَالِكَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُمْسِكُ سَهْمِيَ الَّذِي بِخَيْبَرَ قَالَ وَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ إِنَّمَا أَنْجَانِي بِالصِّدْقِ وَإِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ لاَ أُحَدِّثَ إِلاَّ صِدْقًا مَا بَقِيتُ۔

قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ أَحَدًا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَبْلاَهُ اللَّهُ فِي صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ مُنْذُ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى يَوْمِي هَذَا أَحْسَنَ مِمَّا أَبْلاَنِي اللَّهُ بِهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا تَعَمَّدْتُ كَذْبَةً مُنْذُ قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى يَوْمِي هَذَا وَإِنِّي لأَرْجُو أَنْ يَحْفَظَنِيَ اللَّهُ فِيمَا بَقِيَ قَالَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ { لَقَدْ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأَنْصَارِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِي سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّهُ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ * وَعَلَى الثَّلاَثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا حَتَّى إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ} حَتَّى بَلَغَ { يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ} قَالَ كَعْبٌ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ قَطُّ بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَانِي اللَّهُ لِلإِسْلاَمِ أَعْظَمَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ صِدْقِي رَسُولَ اللَّهُ ﷺ أَنْ لاَ أَكُونَ كَذَبْتُهُ فَأَهْلِكَ كَمَا هَلَكَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ لِلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا حِينَ أَنْزَلَ الْوَحْىَ شَرَّ مَا قَالَ لأَحَدٍ وَقَالَ اللَّهُ { سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انْقَلَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لِتُعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْ فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ * يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْ فَإِنْ تَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَرْضَى عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ}۔

قَالَ كَعْبٌ كُنَّا خُلِّفْنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلاَثَةُ عَنْ أَمْرِ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ قَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ حَلَفُوا لَهُ فَبَايَعَهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ وَأَرْجَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمْرَنَا حَتَّى قَضَى اللَّهُ فِيهِ فَبِذَلِكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ ﷻ { وَعَلَى الثَّلاَثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا} وَلَيْسَ الَّذِي ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ مِمَّا خُلِّفْنَا تَخَلُّفَنَا عَنِ الْغَزْوِ وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ تَخْلِيفُهُ إِيَّانَا وَإِرْجَاؤُهُ أَمْرَنَا عَمَّنْ حَلَفَ لَهُ وَاعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُ۔  

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.'

"Fasting is a shield (protection from the Hellfire and from committing sins). If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say: I am fasting."

"By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk."

"There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «قَالَ اللَّهُ: كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ، فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ۔»

«وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ وَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ صَوْمِ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ وَلاَ يَصْخَبْ فَإِنْ سَابَّهُ أَحَدٌ أَوْ قَاتَلَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ إِنِّي امْرُؤٌ صَائِمٌ۔»

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ، لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ لِلصَّائِمِ۔»

«فَرْحَتَانِ يَفْرَحُهُمَا إِذَا أَفْطَرَ فَرِحَ وَإِذَا لَقِيَ رَبَّهُ فَرِحَ بِصَوْمِهِ۔»  

He heard Al-'Irbad bin Sariyah say: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ delivered a moving speech to us which made our eyes flow with tears and made our hearts melt. We said: 'O Messenger of Allah. This is a speech of farewell. What did you enjoin upon us?' He said: 'I am leaving you upon a (path of) brightness whose night is like its day. No one will deviate from it after I am gone but one who is doomed. Whoever among you lives will see great conflict. I urge you to adhere to what you know of my Sunnah and the path of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, and cling stubbornly to it. And you must obey, even if (your leader is) an Abyssinian leader. For the true believer is like a camel with a ring in its nose; wherever it is driven, it complies."  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ الْعِرْبَاضَ بْنَ سَارِيَةَ يَقُولُ وَعَظَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَوْعِظَةً ذَرَفَتْ مِنْهَا الْعُيُونُ وَوَجِلَتْ مِنْهَا الْقُلُوبُ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذِهِ لَمَوْعِظَةُ مُوَدِّعٍ فَمَاذَا تَعْهَدُ إِلَيْنَا؟ قَالَ: «قَدْ تَرَكْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْبَيْضَاءِ لَيْلُهَا كَنَهَارِهَا لاَ يَزِيغُ عَنْهَا بَعْدِي إِلاَّ هَالِكٌ۔ مَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ فَسَيَرَى اخْتِلاَفًا كَثِيرًا۔ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا عَرَفْتُمْ مِنْ سُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ، عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ وَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالطَّاعَةِ وَإِنْ عَبْدًا حَبَشِيًّا۔ فَإِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُ كَالْجَمَلِ الأَنِفِ حَيْثُمَا قِيدَ انْقَادَ۔»  

from the Prophet ﷺ who said: "Whoever is gentle, lenient, and easygoing, Allah will forbid him from entering Hellfire."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَنْ كَانَ لَيِّنًا هَيِّنًا سَهْلًا حَرَّمَهُ اللهُ عَلَى النَّارِ  

that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Indeed among the believers with the most complete faith is the one who is the best in conduct, and the most kind to his family."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ مِنْ أَكْمَلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا وَأَلْطَفُهُمْ بِأَهْلِهِ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ  

I asked Messenger of Allah ﷺ about virtue and vice. He said: Virtue is a kind disposition and vice is what rankles in your heart and that you disapprove that people should come to know of it.  

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنِ الْبِرِّ وَالإِثْمِ فَقَالَ الْبِرُّ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ وَالإِثْمُ مَا حَاكَ فِي صَدْرِكَ وَكَرِهْتَ أَنْ يَطَّلِعَ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ  

Abdullah bin 'Amr mentioned Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying that he was neither a Fahish nor a Mutafahish. Abdullah bin 'Amr added, Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'The best among you are those who have the best manners and character.'  

دَخَلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو حِينَ قَدِمَ مَعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ فَذَكَرَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ لَمْ يَكُنْ فَاحِشًا وَلاَ مُتَفَحِّشًا وَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ مِنْ أَخْيَرِكُمْ أَحْسَنَكُمْ خُلُقًا  

"Nothing is placed on the Scale that is heavier than good character. Indeed the person with good character will have attained the rank of the person of fasting and prayer."  

سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَا مِنْ شَيْءٍ يُوضَعُ فِي الْمِيزَانِ أَثْقَلُ مِنْ حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَإِنَّ صَاحِبَ حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ لَيَبْلُغُ بِهِ دَرَجَةَ صَاحِبِ الصَّوْمِ وَالصَّلاَةِ  

"The merciful are shown mercy by Ar-Rahman. Be merciful on the earth, and you will be shown mercy from Who is above the heavens. The womb is named after Ar-Rahman, so whoever connects it, Allah connects him, and whoever severs it, Allah severs him."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمُ الرَّحْمَنُ ارْحَمُوا مَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ يَرْحَمْكُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ الرَّحِمُ شُجْنَةٌ مِنَ الرَّحْمَنِ فَمَنْ وَصَلَهَا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ قَطَعَهَا قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ  

He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawwal. it would be as if he fasted perpetually.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ  

“Ramadan began, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘This month has come to you, and in it there is a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of it is deprived of all goodness, and no one is deprived of its goodness except one who is truly deprived.’”  

دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ هَذَا الشَّهْرَ قَدْ حَضَرَكُمْ وَفِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ مَنْ حُرِمَهَا فَقَدْ حُرِمَ الْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ وَلاَ يُحْرَمُ خَيْرَهَا إِلاَّ مَحْرُومٌ  

If Allah intends good for His servant, He will provide him with an advisor from his own heart who commands him and prohibits him."  

«إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْرًا جَعَلَ لَهُ وَاعِظًا مِنْ قَلْبِهِ يَأْمُرُهُ وَيَنْهَاهُ»  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed ten involved in wine: The one who presses it, the one who has it pressed, its drinker, its carrier, and the one it is carried to, its server, its seller, the consumption of its price, the one who purchases it and the one it was purchased for."  

لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الْخَمْرِ عَشَرَةً عَاصِرَهَا وَمُعْتَصِرَهَا وَشَارِبَهَا وَحَامِلَهَا وَالْمَحْمُولَةَ إِلَيْهِ وَسَاقِيَهَا وَبَائِعَهَا وَآكِلَ ثَمَنِهَا وَالْمُشْتَرِيَ لَهَا وَالْمُشْتَرَاةَ لَهُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prescribed Zakat al-Fitr as a purification ˹and a kaffarah (expiation)˺ of the fasting person for any empty and obscene talk and ˹for it to be˺ as food for the needy. If anyone pays it before the ˹Eid˺ prayer, it will be accepted as zakat. If anyone pays it after the prayer, that will be a sadaqah like other sadaqahs.  

فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرِ طُهْرَةً لِلصَّائِمِ مِنَ اللَّغْوِ وَالرَّفَثِ وَطُعْمَةً لِلْمَسَاكِينِ مَنْ أَدَّاهَا قَبْلَ الصَّلاَةِ فَهِيَ زَكَاةٌ مَقْبُولَةٌ وَمَنْ أَدَّاهَا بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ فَهِيَ صَدَقَةٌ مِنَ الصَّدَقَاتِ  

Then Abū Bakr came to him with a carved rock, so he collected water in it and Abū Bakr and I drank from it. Then I went to him afterwards and said, "Teach me from this Quran." He said, "Indeed, you are a young boy to be taught." I then took from him seventy surahs."  

فَأَتَاهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِصَخْرَةٍ مَنْقُورَةٍ فَاحْتَلَبَ فِيهَا فَشَرِبَ وَشَرِبَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَشَرِبْتُ۔ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ: عَلِّمْنِي مِنْ هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ۔ قَالَ: «إِنَّكَ غُلَامٌ مُعَلَّمٌ۔» قَالَ: فَأَخَذْتُ مِنْ فِيهِ سَبْعِينَ سُورَةً۔  

ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd said: "Shall I not demonstrate the Ṣalāh of Messenger ﷺ of Allah to you?" Then he offered the Ṣalāh and he did not raise his hands except while saying the first takbīr."  

قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ أَلاَ أُصَلِّي بِكُمْ صَلاَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ؟ فَصَلَّى، فَلَمْ يَرْفَعْ يَدَيْهِ إِلاَّ فِي أَوَّلِ مَرَّةٍ۔  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Come toward the pulpit," and we all came. When he climbed a step, he said, "Āmīn", and when he climbed the second step he said, "Āmīn", and when he climbed the third step he said, "Āmīn. When he came down ˹after the sermon˺ we asked, "O Messenger of Allah, we heard something from you that we had not heard before."

He said, "Jibrīl, peace be upon him, ˹came˺ to me and said, (1) 'Away with the one who found Ramaḍān and he was not forgiven.'", and I said, 'Āmīn.'"

"When I climbed the second ˹step˺ he said, (2) 'Away with the one to him when I (Allah) am mentioned and he does not send ṣalāh upon you.'"

"When I climbed the third ˹step˺ he said, (3) 'Away with the one who finds his parents in old age or ˹at least˺ one of them and they do not become ˹a means˺ for him to enter Jannah.' And I said, 'Āmīn.'"  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «احْضَرُوا الْمِنْبَرَ» فَحَضَرْنَا فَلَمَّا ارْتَقَى دَرَجَةً قَالَ «آمِينَ۔» فَلَمَّا ارْتَقَى الدَّرَجَةَ الثَّانِيَةَ قَالَ «آمِينَ۔» فَلَمَّا ارْتَقَى الدَّرَجَةَ الثَّالِثَةَ قَالَ «آمِينَ۔» فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ قُلْنَا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ سَمِعْنَا مِنْكَ الْيَوْمَ شَيْئًا مَا كُنَّا نَسْمَعُهُ۔

قَالَ: «إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَرَضَ لِي فَقَالَ: (١) بُعْدًا لِمَنْ أَدْرَكَ رَمَضَانَ فَلَمْ يَغْفَرْ لَهُ۔ قُلْتُ: آمِينَ۔

فَلَمَّا رَقِيتُ الثَّانِيَةَ قَالَ: (٢) بُعْدًا لِمَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيْكَ۔ قُلْتُ: آمِينَ۔

فَلَمَّا رَقِيتُ الثَّالِثَةَ قَالَ: (٣) بُعْدًا لِمَنْ أَدْرَكَ أَبَوَاهُ الْكِبَرَ عِنْدَهُ أَوْ أَحَدُهُمَا فَلَمْ يُدْخِلَاهُ الْجَنَّةَ۔ قُلْتُ: آمِينَ۔»  

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah has those who are freed ˹from the Hellfire˺ in every day and night ˹of Ramaḍān˺. Every servant among them has a duʿāʾ that will be answered."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عُتَقَاءَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ۔ لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مِنْهُمْ دَعْوَةٌ مُسْتَجَابَةٌ۔»  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "While I was at Mecca the roof of my house was opened and Gabriel descended, opened my chest, and washed it with Zamzam water. Then he brought a golden tray full of wisdom and faith and having poured its contents into my chest, he closed it. Then he took my hand and ascended with me to the nearest heaven."

"When I reached the nearest heaven, Gabriel said to the gatekeeper of the heaven, 'Open (the gate).' The gatekeeper asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered: 'Gabriel.' He asked, 'Is there anyone with you?' Gabriel replied, 'Yes, Muhammad I is with me.' He asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel said, 'Yes.' So the gate was opened and we went over the nearest heaven and there we saw a man sitting with some people on his right and some on his left. When he looked towards his right, he laughed and when he looked toward his left he wept. Then he said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious son.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is he?' He replied, 'He is Adam and the people on his right and left are the souls of his offspring. Those on his right are the people of Paradise and those on his left are the people of Hell and when he looks towards his right he laughs and when he looks towards his left he weeps.'"

"Then he ascended with me till he reached the second heaven and he (Gabriel) said to its gatekeeper, 'Open (the gate).' The gatekeeper said to him the same as the gatekeeper of the first heaven had said and he opened the gate."

Anas said: Abu Dhar added that the Prophet ﷺ met Adam, Idris, Moses, Jesus and Abraham, he (Abu Dhar) did not mention on which heaven they were but he mentioned that he (the Prophet ﷺ ) met Adam on the nearest heaven and Abraham on the sixth heaven.

Anas said, When Gabriel along with the Prophet ﷺ passed by Idris, "he said said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious brother.' I asked, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Idris."

"Then I passed by Moses and he said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious brother.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Moses.'"

"Then I passed by Jesus and he said, 'Welcome! O pious brother and pious Prophet.' I asked, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Jesus."

"Then I passed by Abraham and he said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious son.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Abraham.'"

The Prophet ﷺ added, 'Then Gabriel ascended with me to a place where I heard the creaking of the pens."

Ibn Hazm and Anas bin Malik said: The Prophet ﷺ said, "Then Allah enjoined fifty prayers on my followers when I returned with this order of Allah, I passed by Moses who asked me, 'What has Allah enjoined on your followers?' I replied, 'He has enjoined fifty prayers on them.' Moses said, 'Go back to your Lord (and appeal for reduction) for your followers will not be able to bear it.' (So I went back to Allah and requested for reduction) and He reduced it to half. When I passed by Moses again and informed him about it, he said, 'Go back to your Lord as your followers will not be able to bear it.' So I returned to Allah and requested for further reduction and half of it was reduced. I again passed by Moses and he said to me: 'Return to your Lord, for your followers will not be able to bear it. So I returned to Allah and He said, 'These are five prayers and they are all (equal to) fifty (in reward) for My Word does not change.' I returned to Moses and he told me to go back once again. I replied, 'Now I feel shy of asking my Lord again.'"

"Then Gabriel took me till we '' reached Sidrat al-Muntahá (a lote tree of the utmost boundary) which was shrouded in colors, indescribable. Then I was admitted into Paradise where I found small (tents or) walls (made) of pearls and its earth was of musk."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: «فُرِجَ عَنْ سَقْفِ بَيْتِي وَأَنَا بِمَكَّةَ، فَنَزَلَ جِبْرِيلُ فَفَرَجَ صَدْرِي ثُمَّ غَسَلَهُ بِمَاءِ زَمْزَمَ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ بِطَسْتٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ مُمْتَلِئٍ حِكْمَةً وَإِيمَانًا فَأَفْرَغَهُ فِي صَدْرِي، ثُمَّ أَطْبَقَهُ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَعَرَجَ بِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا،»

«فَلَمَّا جِئْتُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ لِخَازِنِ السَّمَاءِ: افْتَحْ۔ قَالَ: مَنْ هَذَا؟ قَالَ: هَذَا جِبْرِيلُ۔ قَالَ: هَلْ مَعَكَ أَحَدٌ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ مَعِي مُحَمَّدٌ ﷺ۔ فَقَالَ: أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ۔ فَلَمَّا فَتَحَ عَلَوْنَا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا، فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ قَاعِدٌ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ أَسْوِدَةٌ وَعَلَى يَسَارِهِ أَسْوِدَةٌ، إِذَا نَظَرَ قِبَلَ يَمِينِهِ ضَحِكَ وَإِذَا نَظَرَ قِبَلَ يَسَارِهِ بَكَى۔ فَقَالَ: مَرْحَبًا بِالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ وَالاِبْنِ الصَّالِحِ! قُلْتُ لِجِبْرِيلَ: مَنْ هَذَا؟ قَالَ: هَذَا آدَمُ وَهَذِهِ الأَسْوِدَةُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَشِمَالِهِ نَسَمُ بَنِيهِ، فَأَهْلُ الْيَمِينِ مِنْهُمْ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ وَالأَسْوِدَةُ الَّتِي عَنْ شِمَالِهِ أَهْلُ النَّارِ، فَإِذَا نَظَرَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ ضَحِكَ وَإِذَا نَظَرَ قِبَلَ شِمَالِهِ بَكَى۔»

«حَتَّى عَرَجَ بِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَقَالَ لِخَازِنِهَا: افْتَحْ۔ فَقَالَ لَهُ خَازِنُهَا مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ الأَوَّلُ، فَفَتَحَ۔» قَالَ أَنَسٌ: فَذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ وَجَدَ فِي السَّمَوَاتِ آدَمَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَلَمْ يُثْبِتْ كَيْفَ مَنَازِلُهُمْ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ ذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ وَجَدَ آدَمَ فِي السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي السَّمَاءِ السَّادِسَةِ۔

قَالَ أَنَسٌ: فَلَمَّا مَرَّ جِبْرِيلُ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِإِدْرِيسَ، قَالَ: «مَرْحَبًا بِالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ وَالأَخِ الصَّالِحِ! فَقُلْتُ: مَنْ هَذَا؟ قَالَ: هَذَا إِدْرِيسُ۔»

«ثُمَّ مَرَرْتُ بِمُوسَى، فَقَالَ: مَرْحَبًا بِالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ وَالأَخِ الصَّالِحِ! قُلْتُ: مَنْ هَذَا؟ قَالَ: هَذَا مُوسَى۔»

«ثُمَّ مَرَرْتُ بِعِيسَى، فَقَالَ: مَرْحَبًا بِالأَخِ الصَّالِحِ وَالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ! قُلْتُ: مَنْ هَذَا؟ قَالَ: هَذَا عِيسَى۔»

«ثُمَّ مَرَرْتُ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ، فَقَالَ: مَرْحَبًا بِالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ وَالاِبْنِ الصَّالِحِ! قُلْتُ: مَنْ هَذَا؟ قَالَ: هَذَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ ﷺ۔»

قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَأَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ حَزْمٍ أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَبَا حَبَّةَ الأَنْصَارِيَّ كَانَا يَقُولاَنِ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: «ثُمَّ عُرِجَ بِي، حَتَّى ظَهَرْتُ لِمُسْتَوًى أَسْمَعُ فِيهِ صَرِيفَ الأَقْلاَمِ۔»

قَالَ ابْنُ حَزْمٍ وَأَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: «فَفَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَى أُمَّتِي خَمْسِينَ صَلاَةً، فَرَجَعْتُ بِذَلِكَ حَتَّى مَرَرْتُ عَلَى مُوسَى، فَقَالَ: مَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ لَكَ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ؟ قُلْتُ: فَرَضَ خَمْسِينَ صَلاَةً۔ قَالَ: فَارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّ أُمَّتَكَ لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ۔ فَرَاجَعْتُ فَوَضَعَ شَطْرَهَا۔ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى مُوسَى قُلْتُ: وَضَعَ شَطْرَهَا۔ فَقَالَ: رَاجِعْ رَبَّكَ فَإِنَّ أُمَّتَكَ لاَ تُطِيقُ۔ فَرَاجَعْتُ فَوَضَعَ شَطْرَهَا۔ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ: ارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّ أُمَّتَكَ لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ۔ فَرَاجَعْتُهُ فَقَالَ: هِيَ خَمْسٌ وَهْىَ خَمْسُونَ، لاَ يُبَدَّلُ الْقَوْلُ لَدَىَّ۔ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى مُوسَى فَقَالَ: رَاجِعْ رَبَّكَ۔ فَقُلْتُ اسْتَحْيَيْتُ مِنْ رَبِّي۔»

«ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ بِي حَتَّى انْتَهَى بِي إِلَى سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى، وَغَشِيَهَا أَلْوَانٌ لاَ أَدْرِي مَا هِيَ، ثُمَّ أُدْخِلْتُ الْجَنَّةَ فَإِذَا فِيهَا حَبَايِلُ اللُّؤْلُؤِ وَإِذَا تُرَابُهَا الْمِسْكُ۔»  

That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "When you see someone selling or buying in the Masjid then say: 'May Allah not profit your business.' And when you see someone announcing about something lost then say: 'May Allah not return it to you.'"  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ مَنْ يَبِيعُ أَوْ يَبْتَاعُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقُولُوا لاَ أَرْبَحَ اللَّهُ تِجَارَتَكَ وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ مَنْ يَنْشُدُ فِيهِ ضَالَّةً فَقُولُوا لاَ رَدَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: When any of you hears the summons to prayer while he has a vessel in his hand, he should not lay it down till he fulfils his need.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا سَمِعَ أَحَدُكُمُ النِّدَاءَ وَالإِنَاءُ عَلَى يَدِهِ فَلاَ يَضَعْهُ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ حَاجَتَهُ مِنْهُ  

Bukhtanassar (Nebuchadnezzer) brought Prophet Dāniyāl (Daniel, peace be upon him) and ordered him to be imprisoned and cast into a den with two lions. He was left there for five days, after which the den was opened. To his astonishment, Daniel was found praying, and the two lions had not harmed him. Bukhtanassar asked him, "Tell me, what did you say? How were you saved?"

˹Dāniyāl˺ replied, "I said, 'Praise be to Allah, who does not forget those who remember Him. Praise be to Allah, who does not disappoint those who have hope in Him. Praise be to Allah, the One to whom those who place their trust never turn in vain. Praise be to Allah, who is our refuge when all other means fail. Praise be to Allah, our hope when our deeds disappoint us. Praise be to Allah, who relieves our distress in times of difficulty. Praise be to Allah, who rewards excellence with excellence. Praise be to Allah, who rewards patience with salvation.'"  

أُتِىَ بُخْتُنصرُ بِدَانْيَالَ النَّبِيّ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ - فَأَمرَ بِه فَحُبِسَ وَضَرَّىَ أَسَدَيْنِ فَأَلْقَاهُمَا فِى جُبٍّ مَعَهُ وَطَيَّنَ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلى الأَسَدَيْنِ خَمْسَةَ أَيَّامٍ، ثُمَّ فَتَحَ عَلَيْهِ بَعْدَ خَمْسَةِ أَيَّامٍ فَوَجَدَ دَانْيَالَ يُصَلِّى، وَالأَسَدَانِ فِى نَاحيَةِ الْجُبِّ لَمْ يَعْرِضَا لَهُ، قَالَ بُخْتنَصرُ: أَخْبِرْنِى مَاذَا قُلتَ؟ فَدَفَعَ عَنْكَ؟ قَالَ: قُلْتُ: الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِى لاَ يَنْسَى مَنْ ذَكَرَهُ، الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِى لاَ يَخَيِّبُ مَنْ رَجَاهُ، الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذى لاَ يَكِلُ مَنْ تَوَكَّلَ عَلَيْهِ إِلَى غيرِهِ، الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِى هُوَ ثقَتُنَا حِينَ تَنْقطِعُ عَنَّا الْحيَلُ، الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذى هُوَ رَجَاؤُنا يَوْمَ تَسُوءُ ظُنُونُنَا بِأَعْمَالِنَا، الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِى يَكْشِفُ ضُرَّنَا عِنْدَ كَرْبِنَا، الْحَمدُ للهِ الَّذِى يَجْزِى بِالإِحْسَانِ إِحْسَانًا، الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِى يَجْزِى بِالصَّبْرِ نَجَاةً  

the first man who discussed Qadar (Divine Decree) in Baṣrah was Maʿbad al-Juhanī. I along with Ḥumayd b. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Ḥimyarī set out for pilgrimage or for ʿUmrah and said: Should it so happen that we come into contact with one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we shall ask him about what is talked about Qadar. Accidentally we came across ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb, while he was entering the mosque. My companion and I surrounded him. One of us ˹stood˺ on his right and the other stood on his left. I expected that my companion would authorize me to speak. I, therefore, said: Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, there have appeared some people in our land who recite the Quran and pursue knowledge. And then after talking about their affairs, added: They claim that there is no such thing as Qadar and events are not predestined. He said: When you happen to meet such people tell them that I have nothing to do with them and they have nothing to do with me. And verily they are in no way responsible for my ˹belief˺. ʿAbdullāh b ʿUmar swore by Allah: If any one of them had with him gold equal to the bulk of ˹the mountain˺ Uḥud and spent it ˹for the sake of Allah˺, Allah would not accept it unless he affirmed his faith in the Qadar.

He further said: My father, ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb, told me: One day we were sitting in the company of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when there appeared before us a man dressed in pure white clothes. His hair was extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on him. None amongst us recognized him. At last, he sat with the Prophet ﷺ. He knelt before him placed his palms on his thighs,

then said: Muhammad, inform me about Islam. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Islam implies that: (1) you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and (2) you establish prayer, (3) pay Zakat, (4) observe the fast of Ramadan, and (5) perform pilgrimage to the (House) if you are solvent enough ˹to bear the expense of˺ the journey. ˹The inquirer˺ said: You have told the truth. ˹ʿUmar˺ said: It amazed us that he would put the question and then he would himself verify the truth.

˹The inquirer˺ said: Inform me about Iman (faith). He replied: That (1) you affirm your faith in Allah, (2) in His angels, (3) in His Books, (4) in His Apostles, (5) in the Day of Judgment, and (6) you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil. ˹The inquirer˺ said: You have told the truth.

˹The inquirer˺ again said: Inform me about Iḥsān (excellence in deeds). He said: That (1) you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, (2) for though you don't see Him, He, verily, sees you.

˹The inquirer˺ again said: Inform me about the Hour (of the Last Day). He remarked: One who is asked knows no more than the one who is inquiring. ˹The inquirer˺ said: Tell me some of its indications. He said: That (1) the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and master, that (2) you will find barefooted, destitute goat herders vying with one another in the construction of magnificent buildings.

˹ʿUmar˺ said: Then ˹the inquirer˺ went on his way but I stayed with (the Prophet) for a long while. He then, said to me: "ʿUmar, do you know who this inquirer was?" I replied: Allah and His Messenger know best. He remarked: "He was Jibrīl (Angel Gabriel). He came to you in order to teach you in your religion."  

كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ قَالَ فِي الْقَدَرِ بِالْبَصْرَةِ مَعْبَدٌ الْجُهَنِيُّ۔ فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَحُمَيْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ حَاجَّيْنِ أَوْ مُعْتَمِرَيْنِ، فَقُلْنَا لَوْ لَقِينَا أَحَدًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلْنَاهُ عَمَّا يَقُولُ هَؤُلاَءِ فِي الْقَدَرِ۔ فَوُفِّقَ لَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ دَاخِلاً الْمَسْجِدَ فَاكْتَنَفْتُهُ أَنَا وَصَاحِبِي أَحَدُنَا عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَالآخَرُ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ۔ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ صَاحِبِي سَيَكِلُ الْكَلاَمَ إِلَىَّ۔ فَقُلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ: إِنَّهُ قَدْ ظَهَرَ قِبَلَنَا نَاسٌ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَتَقَفَّرُونَ الْعِلْمَ وَذَكَرَ مِنْ شَأْنِهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنْ لاَ قَدَرَ، وَأَنَّ الأَمْرَ أُنُفٌ۔ قَالَ: فَإِذَا لَقِيتَ أُولَئِكَ فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِنْهُمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ بُرَآءُ مِنِّي، وَالَّذِي يَحْلِفُ بِهِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ لَوْ أَنَّ لأَحَدِهِمْ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا فَأَنْفَقَهُ، مَا قَبِلَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ۔

ثُمَّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ: بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ إِذْ طَلَعَ عَلَيْنَا رَجُلٌ شَدِيدُ بَيَاضِ الثِّيَابِ، شَدِيدُ سَوَادِ الشَّعَرِ۔ لاَ يُرَى عَلَيْهِ أَثَرُ السَّفَرِ وَلاَ يَعْرِفُهُ مِنَّا أَحَدٌ۔ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَأَسْنَدَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ إِلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ، وَوَضَعَ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى فَخِذَيْهِ۔

وَقَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ، أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ۔ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «الإِسْلاَمُ (١) أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، (٢) وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةَ، (٣) وَتُؤْتِيَ الزَّكَاةَ، (٤) وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ، (٥) وَتَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً۔» قَالَ: صَدَقْتَ۔ قَالَ: فَعَجِبْنَا لَهُ يَسْأَلُهُ وَيُصَدِّقُهُ!

قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الإِيمَانِ۔ قَالَ: «أَنْ (١) تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ، (٢) وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ، (٣) وَكُتُبِهِ، (٤) وَرُسُلِهِ، (٥) وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ، (٦) وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ۔» قَالَ: صَدَقْتَ۔

قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الإِحْسَانِ۔ قَالَ: «أَنْ (١) تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، (٢) فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ۔»

قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ السَّاعَةِ۔ قَالَ: «مَا الْمَسْئُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ۔» قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ أَمَارَتِهَا۔ قَالَ: «أَنْ تَلِدَ الأَمَةُ رَبَّتَهَا، وَأَنْ تَرَى الْحُفَاةَ الْعُرَاةَ الْعَالَةَ رِعَاءَ الشَّاءِ يَتَطَاوَلُونَ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ۔»

قَالَ: ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ فَلَبِثْتُ مَلِيًّا ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي: «يَا عُمَرُ أَتَدْرِي مَنِ السَّائِلُ؟» قُلْتُ: اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ۔ قَالَ: «فَإِنَّهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَتَاكُمْ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ دِينَكُمْ۔»  

one day while the Prophet ﷺ was sitting in the company of some people, and ˹the angel˺ Gabriel came to him and said: What is Īmān (Faith)? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'Faith is to (1) believe in Allah, (2) His angels, (3) meeting with Him, (4) His Messengers, and (5) to believe in Resurrection."

He (Gabriel) said: What is Islām? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "To (1) worship Allah and not to ascribe any partners to Him, (2) to establish Ṣalāh (Prayer), (3) to pay the compulsory charity (Zakāh), and (4) to fast during the month of Ramaḍān."

He (Gabriel) said: "What is Iḥsān (Excellence in Faith)?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "To (1) worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you are unable to see Him (i.e. achieve such as state) (2) ˹know˺ that He is watching you."

He (Gabriel) said: When is the Hour (the Last Day)? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its signs. (1) When a servant woman gives birth to her master, and (2) when the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of taller buildings, (3) ˹and it (the Hour) is one of five ˹things˺ which nobody knows except Allah." The Prophet ﷺ then recited: "Verily, with Allah (alone) is the knowledge of the Hour... (Luqmān 31:34)"

Then he (Gabriel) left and the Prophet ﷺ ˹asked his companions˺ to call him back, but they could not see him. Then the Prophet ﷺ said, "That was Gabriel who came to teach the people their religion."  

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بَارِزًا يَوْمًا لِلنَّاسِ فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ، فَقَالَ: مَا الإِيمَانُ؟ قَالَ: «الإِيمَانُ أَنْ (١) تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ، (٢) وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ، (٣) وَبِلِقَائِهِ، (٤) وَرُسُلِهِ، (٥) وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْبَعْثِ۔»

قَالَ: مَا الإِسْلاَمُ؟ قَالَ: «الإِسْلاَمُ أَنْ (١) تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكَ بِهِ، (٢) وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةَ، (٣) وَتُؤَدِّيَ الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ، (٤) وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ۔»

قَالَ: مَا الإِحْسَانُ؟ قَالَ: أَنْ (١) تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ (٢) فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ۔»

قَالَ: مَتَى السَّاعَةُ؟ قَالَ: «مَا الْمَسْئُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ۔ وَسَأُخْبِرُكَ عَنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا: (١) إِذَا وَلَدَتِ الأَمَةُ رَبَّهَا، (٢) وَإِذَا تَطَاوَلَ رُعَاةُ الإِبِلِ الْبُهْمُ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ، (٣) فِي خَمْسٍ لاَ يَعْلَمُهُنَّ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ۔» ثُمَّ تَلاَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: {إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ} الآيَةَ

ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ فَقَالَ رُدُّوهُ فَلَمْ يَرَوْا شَيْئًا فَقَالَ: «هَذَا جِبْرِيلُ جَاءَ يُعَلِّمُ النَّاسَ دِينَهُمْ۔»  

We were with Ammar b. Yasir when a roasted sheep was brought and he said: "Eat." Someone among the people said: "I am fasting." So Ammar said: "Whoever fasts on a day in which there is doubt, then he has disobeyed Abu al-Qasim ﷺ."  

كُنَّا عِنْدَ عَمَّارِ بْنِ يَاسِرٍ فَأُتِيَ بِشَاةٍ مَصْلِيَّةٍ فَقَالَ كُلُوا فَتَنَحَّى بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ فَقَالَ عَمَّارٌ مَنْ صَامَ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي يَشُكُّ فِيهِ النَّاسُ فَقَدْ عَصَى أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ ﷺ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“allāhumma lā sahlan illā mā jaʿaltahū sahlan, wa-anta tajʿal al-ḥazna sahlan idhā shiʾta

(O Allah, there is no ease except what You make easy, and You make the difficult easy if You Will.)”  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ:

«اللَّهُمَّ لَا سَهْلَ إِلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلًا وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ سَهْلًا إِذَا شِئْتَ»  

My friend (the Prophet ﷺ) advised me to do three things and I shall not leave them till I die: (1) to fast three days every month, (2) to offer the Duha prayer, and (3) to offer Witr before sleeping.  

أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي بِثَلاَثٍ لاَ أَدَعُهُنَّ حَتَّى أَمُوتَ: (١) صَوْمِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ، (٢) وَصَلاَةِ الضُّحَى، (٣) وَنَوْمٍ عَلَى وِتْرٍ.  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us the way of doing istikhārah (seeking Allah's help while making a choice), in all matters as he taught us the Surahs of the Quran. He said, "If anyone of you is concerned regarding a matter, he should offer a two-rakʿah Ṣalāh outside of the obligatory ones and should say:

allāhumma inni astakhīruka bi-ʿilmika, wa-astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa-asʾaluka min fadlik al-ʿaẓīm, fa-innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa-taʿlamu wa-la aʿlamu, wa anta ʿallām al-ghuyūb.

allāhumma in kunta taʿlamu anna {hādhā al-amra} khayrun lī fī dīni wa-maʿāshī wa-ʿāqibati amrī," or said, "fi ʿājili amrī wa-ājilihī, fa-uqdurhu lī wa-yassirhu lī, thumma bārik lī fīh; wa-in kunta taʿlamu anna {hādhā al-amra} sharrun lī fī dīni wa-maʿāshī wa-ʿāqibati amrī," or said, "fī ʿājili amri wa-ʿājilihī fa-iṣrifhu ʿannī wa-iṣrifnī ʿanhu, wa-uqdur līya al-khayra ḥaythu kāna, thumma arḍini bi-hī.

(O Allah! I seek ˹Your help˺ in making a choice through Your knowledge and seek the ability ˹to do so˺ through Your Power, and I ask You for Your Great Blessings. For You are capable and I am not. You know ˹better˺, and I do not, and You know the ˹matters of the˺ unseen."

O Allah! If You know that {such a matter} is good for me, my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter..." or he said, "for my short-term ˹goals˺ as well as my long-term ˹goals˺, then ordain it for me and make its ˹path˺ easy for me and then bestow Your blessings upon it. If You know that {such a matter} is bad for me, my religion, my livelihood, and for my Hereafter..." or he said, "for my short-term ˹goals˺ as well as my long-term ˹goals˺, then remove it from ˹my path,˺ and remove me from ˹its path˺ and ˹instead˺ ordain for me good, whatever it may be, and let me be content with it.)"

He said: he should name his need (in place of what is mentioned in brackets).  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُنَا الاِسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الأُمُورِ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ يَقُولُ: «إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ لِيَقُلِ:»

«اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ۔ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ۔»

«اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ {هَذَا الأَمْرَ} خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي» أَوْ قَالَ «عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ۔ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ {هَذَا الأَمْرَ} شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي» أَوْ قَالَ «فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ۔»

قَالَ: وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ.  

The Prophet ﷺ used to teach us the Istikhara for each and every matter as he used to teach us the Suras from the Holy Quran, he would say, "If anyone of you intends to do something, he should offer a two-rakah prayer other than the obligatory prayer, and then say:

allāhumma inni astakhīruka bi-ʿilmika, wa-astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa-asʾaluka min fadlik al-ʿaẓīm, fa-innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa-taʿlamu wa-la aʿlamu, wa anta ʿallām al-ghuyūb; allāhumma in kunta taʿlamu anna {hādhā al-amra} khayrun lī fī dīni wa-maʿāshī wa-ʿāqibati amrī," or said, "fi ʿājili amrī wa-ājilihī, fa-uqdurhu lī, wa-in kunta taʿlamu anna {hādhā al-amra} sharrun lī fī dīni wa-maʿāshī wa-ʿāqibati amrī," or said, "fī ʿājili amri wa-ʿājilihī fa-iṣrifhu ʿannī wa-iṣrifnī ʿanhu wa-uqdur līya al-khayra ḥaythu kāna, thumma raḍḍini bi-hī."

(O Allah! I seek ˹Your help˺ in making a choice through Your knowledge, and seek the ability ˹to do so˺ through Your Power, and I ask You for Your Great Blessings. For You are capable and I am not. You know ˹better˺, and I do not, and You know the ˹matters of the˺ unseen. O Allah! If You know that {such a matter} is good for me, my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter..." or he said, "for my short-term ˹goals˺ as well as the long-term ˹goals˺, then ordain it for me and make its ˹path˺ easy for me and then bestow Your blessings upon it. If You know that {such a matter} is bad for me, my religion, my livelihood, and for my Hereafter..." or he said, "for my short-term ˹goals˺ as well as my long-term ˹goals˺, then remove it from ˹my path,˺ and remove me from ˹its path˺ and ˹instead˺ ordain for me good, whatever it may be, and let me be content with it."

He said: he should name his need (in place of what is mentioned in brackets).  

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُنَا الاِسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا كَالسُّورَةِ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ إِذَا هَمَّ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ:

«(اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ؛ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ؛ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ {هَذَا الأَمْرَ} خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي،» أَوْ قَالَ «عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي؛ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ {هَذَا الأَمْرَ} شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي» أَوْ قَالَ «فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ؛ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ)

وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ»  

The Prophet ﷺ used to teach us these words when Ramadan came:

"O Allah! Preserve me until Ramadan, safeguard Ramadan for me, and accept it from me."  

"كان رسول الله ﷺ يعلمنا هؤلاء الكلمات إذا جاء رمضان:

«اللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْنِي لِرَمَضَانَ وَسَلِّمْ رَمَضَانَ لِي وَتَسَلَّمْهُ مِنّي مُتَقَبَّلًا»  

Every servant of Allah who observes fast for a day in the way of Allah, Allah would remove, because of this day, his face farther from the Fire (of Hell) to the extent of seventy years' distance.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ بَاعَدَ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا۔»  

that He heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, "There are five actions that if done in a day, Allah will write the person from the people of Paradise: (1) visiting a sick person, (2) attending a funeral, (3) fasting for a day, (3) going to Jumuah prayer, and (5) freeing a slave."  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «خَمْسٌ مَنْ عَمِلَهُنَّ فِي يَوْمٍ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ مَنْ عَادَ مَرِيضًا وَشَهِدَ جَنَازَةً وَصَامَ يَوْمًا وَرَاحَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَأَعْتَقَ رَقَبَةً»  

He who took a bath and then came for Jumu'a prayer and then prayed what was fixed for him, then kept silence till the Imam finished the sermon, and then prayed along with him, his sins between that time and the next Friday would be forgiven, and even of three days more.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنِ اغْتَسَلَ ثُمَّ أَتَى الْجُمُعَةَ فَصَلَّى مَا قُدِّرَ لَهُ ثُمَّ أَنْصَتَ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنْ خُطْبَتِهِ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّيَ مَعَهُ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ الأُخْرَى وَفَضْلَ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ  

We are pleased with Allah as the Lord, with Islam as our Code of Life, with Muhammad as the Messenger and with our pledge (to you for willing and cheerful submission) as a (sacred) commitment. He was then asked about perpetual fasting, whereupon he said: He neither fasted nor did he break it, or he did not fast and he did not break it. He was then asked about fasting for two days and breaking one day. He (the Holy Prophet) said: And who has strength enough to do it? He was asked about fasting for a day and breaking for two days, whereupon he said: May Allah bestow upon us strength to do it. He was then asked about fasting for a day and breaking on the other, whereupon he said: That is the fasting of my brother David (peace be upon him). He was then asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It was the day on which I was born. on which I was commissioned with prophethood or revelation was sent to me, (and he further) said: Three days' fasting every month and of the whole of Ramadan every year is a perpetual fast. He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Arafa (9th of Dhu'I-Hijja), whereupon he said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year. He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Ashura (10th of Muharram), whereupon be said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year. (Imam Muslim said that in this hadith there is a) narration of Imam Shu'ba that he was asked about fasting on Monday and Thursday, but we (Imam Muslim) did not mention Thursday for we found it as an error (in reporting).  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِهِ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ: رَضِينَا بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولاً وَبِبَيْعَتِنَا بَيْعَةً۔

قَالَ فَسُئِلَ عَنْ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ فَقَالَ: «لاَ صَامَ وَلاَ أَفْطَرَ أَوْ مَا صَامَ وَمَا أَفْطَرَ۔»

قَالَ فَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمَيْنِ وَإِفْطَارِ يَوْمٍ قَالَ: «وَمَنْ يُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ؟»

قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارِ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ: «لَيْتَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَوَّانَا لِذَلِكَ۔»

قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارِ يَوْمٍ قَالَ: «ذَاكَ صَوْمُ أَخِي دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ۔»

قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ قَالَ: «ذَاكَ يَوْمٌ وُلِدْتُ فِيهِ، وَيَوْمٌ بُعِثْتُ أَوْ أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ فِيهِ۔» قَالَ فَقَالَ: «صَوْمُ ثَلاَثَةٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَمَضَانَ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ۔»

قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ فَقَالَ: «يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ۔»

قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ: «يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ۔»  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah)." Then some companions of the Prophet ﷺ said, "Not even Jihad?" He replied, "Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah's sake) and does not return with any of those things."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «مَا الْعَمَلُ فِي أَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ فِي هَذِهِ۔» [يعني: أَيامَ العشرِ] قَالُوا: وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ؟ قَالَ: «وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ يُخَاطِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ بِشَىْءٍ۔»  

The father or Uncle of Mujibah al-Bahiliyyah visited the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He then went away and came to him (again) after one year when his condition and appearance had changed. He said: Messenger of Allah, do you not recognize me? He asked: Who are you? He replied: I am al-Bahili who came to you last year. He said: What has changed you? You were looking well, then you were good in appearance? He said: I have only food at night since I departed from you.

Thereupon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Why did you torment yourself? Fast during Ramadan (the month of patience) and fast for one day every month. He said: Increase it for me, for I have (more) strength. He said: Fast two days. He again said: Increase it for me. He said: Fast three days. He again said: Increase it for me. He said: Fast during the inviolable months and then stop; fast during the inviolable months and then stop; fast during the inviolable months and then stop. He indicated by his three fingers, and joined them and then opened them.  

أَنَّهُ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ فَأَتَاهُ بَعْدَ سَنَةٍ وَقَدْ تَغَيَّرَتْ حَالَتُهُ وَهَيْئَتُهُ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمَا تَعْرِفُنِي؟ قَالَ: «وَمَنْ أَنْتَ؟» قَالَ: أَنَا الْبَاهِلِيُّ الَّذِي جِئْتُكَ عَامَ الأَوَّلِ۔ قَالَ: «فَمَا غَيَّرَكَ وَقَدْ كُنْتَ حَسَنَ الْهَيْئَةِ؟» قَالَ: مَا أَكَلْتُ طَعَامًا إِلاَّ بِلَيْلٍ مُنْذُ فَارَقْتُكَ۔ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «لِمَ عَذَّبْتَ نَفْسَكَ؟»

ثُمَّ قَالَ: «صُمْ شَهْرَ الصَّبْرِ، وَيَوْمًا مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ۔» قَالَ: زِدْنِي فَإِنَّ بِي قُوَّةً۔ قَالَ: «صُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ۔» قَالَ: زِدْنِي۔ قَالَ: «صُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ۔» قَالَ: زِدْنِي۔ قَالَ: «صُمْ مِنَ الْحُرُمِ وَاتْرُكْ، صُمْ مِنَ الْحُرُمِ وَاتْرُكْ، صُمْ مِنَ الْحُرُمِ وَاتْرُكْ۔» وَقَالَ بِأَصَابِعِهِ الثَّلاَثَةِ فَضَمَّهَا ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَهَا  

The Prophet ﷺ never fasted in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban.

He used to say, "Do those deeds which you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) till you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds)." The most beloved prayer to the Prophet ﷺ was the one that was done regularly (throughout the life) even if it were little. And whenever the Prophet ﷺ offered a prayer he used to offer it regularly.  

لَمْ يَكُنِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَصُومُ شَهْرًا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ

وَكَانَ يَقُولُ خُذُوا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مَا دُووِمَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ قَلَّتْ وَكَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلاَةً دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهَا