Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered upon a man for a sick visit and said to him:

"lā baʾs, ṭahūrun, in shā Allāh!"

(It's okay, ˹its spiritual˺ cleansing ˹for your faults˺, by the Will of Allah)

The man said, "No, it is in fact a fever that is boiling within an old man and will send him to his grave." On that, the Prophet ﷺ said, "Then yes, so be it."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ دَخَلَ عَلَى رَجُلٍ يَعُودُهُ فَقَالَ:

«(لاَ بَأْسَ، طَهُورٌ، إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ!)»

فَقَالَ: كَلاَّ، بَلْ حُمَّى تَفُورُ عَلَى شَيْخٍ كَبِيرٍ كَيْمَا تُزِيرَهُ الْقُبُورَ۔ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: «فَنَعَمْ، إِذًا۔»  

I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “If you follow the faults of people, you will corrupt them or risk corrupting them.”

He said that Abū Dardāʾ said, “Muʿāwiyah heard ˹this˺ statement from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Allah benefited him by it.”  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «إِنَّكَ إِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ عَوْرَاتِ النَّاسِ أَفْسَدْتَهُمْ أَوْ كِدْتَ أَنْ تُفْسِدَهُمُ» قَالَ يَقُولُ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ «كَلِمَةٌ سَمِعَهَا مُعَاوِيَةُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ بِهَا»  

from by the Prophet ﷺ, he said, "Whoever says before leaving and getting up from the Maghrib and Fajr prayers:

lā ilāha illā Allāhu, waḥdahū, lā sharīka lahū, lahū al-mulku, wa-lahū al-ḥamdu, bi-yadihī al-khayr, yuḥyī wa-yumītu, wa-huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr

(There is no god but Allah, alone, without partners. Him is the sovereignty and to Him is the praise. In His hand is all good. He gives life and He gives death, and He has Power over everything.)

... ten times: (1) ten good deeds will be recorded for him, and (2) ten bad deeds will be erased from him, and (3) he will be raised ten degrees, and (4) it will also be a protection for him against every disliked thing, and (5) a protection from the accursed Satan, and (6) no sin will reach him except shirk (associating partners with Allah), and (7) he will be among the best of people in terms of deeds, except for a person who does better than him in what he says."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «مَنْ قَالَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْصَرِفَ وَيَثْنِيَ رِجْلَهُ مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالصُّبْحِ:

(لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ)

۔۔۔ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ (١) كُتِبَ لَهُ بِكُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ، (٢) وَمُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ عَشْرُ سَيِّئَاتٍ، (٣) وَرُفِعَ لَهُ عَشْرُ دَرَجَاتٍ، (٤) وَكَانَتْ حِرْزًا مِنْ كُلِّ مَكْرُوهٍ، (٥) وَحِرْزًا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ، (٦) وَلَمْ يَحِلَّ لِذَنْبٍ يُدْرِكُهُ إِلَّا الشِّرْكَ، (٧) وَكَانَ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ النَّاسِ عَمَلًا إِلَّا رَجُلًا يَفْضُلُهُ يَقُولُ أَفْضَلَ مِمَّا قَالَ۔»  

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۔  

We went out with the Prophet ﷺ for the funeral of a man from the Ansar. When we arrived at the grave and it had not yet been dug, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat down, and we sat around him as if birds were on our heads (in silence and stillness). In his hand, he had a stick with which he was striking the ground. Then he raised his head and said twice or thrice, "Seek refuge with Allah from the punishment of the grave."

Then he said, "When the believing servant is about to depart from this world and head towards the Hereafter, angels from the heavens descend upon him, their faces as bright as the sun, bringing shrouds from Paradise and fragrance from Paradise. They sit at a distance that the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death, ﷺ , comes and sits by his head and says, 'O good soul, come out to forgiveness and pleasure from Allah.’ It comes out as gently as a drop flows from a water-skin, and the Angel of Death takes it. When he takes it, they (the angels) do not leave it in his hand even for the twinkling of an eye; they take it and place it in that shroud and that fragrance. From it emanates a fragrance like the sweetest scent of musk ever found on the face of the earth.

Then they ascend with it. They do not pass by a group of angels but they say, 'What is this good soul?’ They reply, 'It is so-and-so, the son of so-and-so,' using the best names by which people called him in this world, until they reach the first heaven. They ask for it to be opened, and it is opened for them. The closest angels from each heaven accompany him to the next heaven until they reach the seventh heaven. Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, says, 'Record the book of My servant in Illiyyin (the highest heaven) and return him to the earth, for I have created them from it and return them into it, and from it, I will bring them forth once again.'

His soul is then returned to his body, and two angels come to him, make him sit up and ask him, 'Who is your Lord?' He replies, 'My Lord is Allah.’ They then ask, 'What is your religion?' He replies, 'My religion is Islam.’ They further ask, 'Who is this man who was sent among you?' He says, 'He is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’ They will ask him, 'What is your knowledge?' He replies, 'I read the Book of Allah, believed in it, and accepted it as true.’ Then a voice calls from the heaven, saying, 'My servant has spoken the truth. Furnish him from Paradise and clothe him from Paradise, and open a door for him to Paradise.' Then he is provided with some of its fragrance and pleasant smell, and his grave is made wide, as far as the eye can see.

Then a man with a handsome face, beautiful clothing, and a good scent comes to him and says, 'Rejoice with what pleases you, for this is your day which you were promised.’ He asks, 'Who are you? Your face is one that brings good.’ He replies, 'I am your righteous deeds.’ Then he says, 'O Lord, establish the Hour so that I may return to my family and my wealth.'

When the disbelieving servant is about to depart from this world and head towards the Hereafter, angels descend upon him from the heavens. Their faces are dark, and they bring sackcloth. They sit at a distance that the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and says, 'O foul soul, come out to the displeasure and wrath of Allah.’ It recoils within his body, and he drags it out like a skewer being pulled from wet wool. When he takes it, they do not let it stay in his hand even for the twinkling of an eye; they take it and place it in that sackcloth. From it emanates a stench like the foulest stench of a dead body ever found on the face of the earth.

Then they ascend with it. They do not pass by a group of angels but they say, 'What is this foul soul?' They reply, 'It is so-and-so, the son of so-and-so,' using the worst names by which people called him in this world, until they reach the first heaven. They ask for it to be opened, but it is not opened for them." Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited: 'The gates of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel can pass through the eye of a needle.' (7:40) Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, says, 'Record his book in Sijjin (in the lowest earth) and return him to the earth, for I have created them from it and return them into it, and from it, I will bring them forth once again.' His soul is then cast down.” Then the Messenger of Allah recited: 'And whoever ascribes partners to Allah, it is as though he had fallen from the sky and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had blown him to a far-off place.' (22:31)

His soul is then returned to his body, and two angels come and make him sit up and ask him, 'Who is your Lord?' He replies, 'Alas, alas, I do not know.’ They ask, 'What is your religion?' He replies, 'Alas, alas, I do not know.’ They ask, 'Who is this man who was sent among you?' He replies, 'Alas, alas, I do not know.' Then a voice calls from the heaven, saying, 'He has lied, so furnish him from Hellfire and open a door for him to Hell.' Then some of its heat and hot wind comes to him, and his grave is made narrow, so much so that his ribs are crushed together.

Then a man with an ugly face, ugly clothing, and a foul smell comes to him and says, 'Rejoice with what displeases you, for this is your day which you were promised.’ He asks, 'Who are you? Your face is one that brings evil.’ He replies, 'I am your evil deeds.’ Then he says, 'O Lord, do not establish the Hour.’"  

خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي جِنَازَةِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَانْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى الْقَبْرِ وَلَمَّا يُلْحَدْ فَجَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَجَلَسْنَا حَوْلَهُ كَأَنَّ عَلَى رُءُوسِنَا الطَّيْرَ وَفِي يَدِهِ عُودٌ يَنْكُتُ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ اسْتَعِيذُوا بِاللهِ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثًا

ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي انْقِطَاعٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَإِقْبَالٍ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ نَزَلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَائِكَةٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِيضُ الْوُجُوهِ كَأَنَّ وُجُوهَهُمُ الشَّمْسُ مَعَهُمْ كَفَنٌ مِنْ أَكْفَانِ الْجَنَّةِ وَحَنُوطٌ مِنْ حَنُوطِ الْجَنَّةِ حَتَّى يَجْلِسُوا مِنْهُ مَدَّ الْبَصَرِ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ حَتَّى يَجْلِسَ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ فَيَقُولُ أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الطَّيِّبَةُ اخْرُجِي إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنَ اللهِ وَرِضْوَانٍ قَالَ فَتَخْرُجُ تَسِيلُ كَمَا تَسِيلُ الْقَطْرَةُ مِنْ فِي السِّقَاءِ فَيَأْخُذُهَا فَإِذَا أَخَذَهَا لَمْ يَدَعُوهَا فِي يَدِهِ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ حَتَّى يَأْخُذُوهَا فَيَجْعَلُوهَا فِي ذَلِكَ الْكَفَنِ وَفِي ذَلِكَ الْحَنُوطِ وَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا كَأَطْيَبِ نَفْحَةِ مِسْكٍ وُجِدَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ

قَالَ فَيَصْعَدُونَ بِهَا فَلَا يَمُرُّونَ يَعْنِي بِهَا عَلَى مَلَإٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا قَالُوا مَا هَذَا الرُّوحُ الطَّيِّبُ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ بِأَحْسَنِ أَسْمَائِهِ الَّتِي كَانُوا يُسَمُّونَهُ بِهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَنْتَهُوا بِهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَسْتَفْتِحُونَ لَهُ فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ فَيُشَيِّعُهُ مِنْ كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ مُقَرَّبُوهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا حَتَّى يُنْتَهَى بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ السَّابِعَةِ فَيَقُولُ اللهُ ﷻ اكْتُبُوا كِتَابَ عَبْدِي فِي عِلِّيِّينَ وَأَعِيدُوهُ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَإِنِّي مِنْهَا خَلَقْتُهُمْ وَفِيهَا أُعِيدُهُمْ وَمِنْهَا أُخْرِجُهُمْ تَارَةً أُخْرَى

قَالَ فَتُعَادُ رُوحُهُ فِي جَسَدِهِ فَيَأْتِيهِ مَلَكَانِ فَيُجْلِسَانِهِ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ مَنْ رَبُّكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّيَ اللهُ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ مَا دِينُكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ دِينِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ مَا هَذَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي بُعِثَ فِيكُمْ؟ فَيَقُولُ هُوَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ وَمَا عِلْمُكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ قَرَأْتُ كِتَابَ اللهِ فَآمَنْتُ بِهِ وَصَدَّقْتُ فَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ أَنْ صَدَقَ عَبْدِي فَأَفْرِشُوهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَأَلْبِسُوهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَافْتَحُوا لَهُ بَابًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ قَالَ فَيَأْتِيهِ مِنْ رَوْحِهَا وَطِيبِهَا وَيُفْسَحُ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ مَدَّ بَصَرِهِ

قَالَ وَيَأْتِيهِ رَجُلٌ حَسَنُ الْوَجْهِ حَسَنُ الثِّيَابِ طَيِّبُ الرِّيحِ فَيَقُولُ أَبْشِرْ بِالَّذِي يَسُرُّكَ هَذَا يَوْمُكَ الَّذِي كُنْتَ تُوعَدُ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ فَوَجْهُكَ الْوَجْهُ يَجِيءُ بِالْخَيْرِ فَيَقُولُ أَنَا عَمَلُكَ الصَّالِحُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّ أَقِمِ السَّاعَةَ حَتَّى أَرْجِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِي وَمَالِي

قَالَ وَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ الْكَافِرَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي انْقِطَاعٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَإِقْبَالٍ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ نَزَلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَلَائِكَةٌ سُودُ الْوُجُوهِ مَعَهُمُ الْمُسُوحُ فَيَجْلِسُونَ مِنْهُ مَدَّ الْبَصَرِ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ حَتَّى يَجْلِسَ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ فَيَقُولُ أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْخَبِيثَةُ اخْرُجِي إِلَى سَخَطٍ مِنَ اللهِ وَغَضَبٍ قَالَ فَتُفَرَّقُ فِي جَسَدِهِ فَيَنْتَزِعُهَا كَمَا يُنْتَزَعُ السَّفُّودُ مِنَ الصُّوفِ الْمَبْلُولِ فَيَأْخُذُهَا فَإِذَا أَخَذَهَا لَمْ يَدَعُوهَا فِي يَدِهِ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ حَتَّى يَجْعَلُوهَا فِي تِلْكَ الْمُسُوحِ وَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا كَأَنْتَنِ رِيحِ جِيفَةٍ وُجِدَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ

فَيَصْعَدُونَ بِهَا فَلَا يَمُرُّونَ بِهَا عَلَى مَلَأٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا قَالُوا مَا هَذَا الرُّوحُ الْخَبِيثُ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ بِأَقْبَحِ أَسْمَائِهِ الَّتِي كَانَ يُسَمَّى بِهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يُنْتَهَى بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيُسْتَفْتَحُ لَهُ فَلَا يُفْتَحُ لَهُ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ {لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَلَا يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى يَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ الْخِيَاطِ} [الأعراف 40] فَيَقُولُ اللهُ ﷻ اكْتُبُوا كِتَابَهُ فِي سِجِّينٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ السُّفْلَى فَتُطْرَحُ رُوحُهُ طَرْحًا ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {وَمَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتَخْطَفُهُ الطَّيْرُ أَوْ تَهْوِي بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي مَكَانٍ سَحِيقٍ} [الحج 31]

فَتُعَادُ رُوحُهُ فِي جَسَدِهِ وَيَأْتِيهِ مَلَكَانِ فَيُجْلِسَانِهِ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ مَنْ رَبُّكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ هَاهْ هَاهْ لَا أَدْرِي فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ مَا دِينُكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ هَاهْ هَاهْ لَا أَدْرِي فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ مَا هَذَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي بُعِثَ فِيكُمْ؟ فَيَقُولُ هَاهْ هَاهْ لَا أَدْرِي فَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَنْ كَذَبَ فَافْرِشُوا لَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَافْتَحُوا لَهُ بَابًا إِلَى النَّارِ فَيَأْتِيهِ مِنْ حَرِّهَا وَسَمُومِهَا وَيُضَيَّقُ عَلَيْهِ قَبْرُهُ حَتَّى تَخْتَلِفَ فِيهِ أَضْلَاعُهُ

وَيَأْتِيهِ رَجُلٌ قَبِيحُ الْوَجْهِ قَبِيحُ الثِّيَابِ مُنْتِنُ الرِّيحِ فَيَقُولُ أَبْشِرْ بِالَّذِي يَسُوءُكَ هَذَا يَوْمُكَ الَّذِي كُنْتَ تُوعَدُ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ فَوَجْهُكَ الْوَجْهُ يَجِيءُ بِالشَّرِّ فَيَقُولُ أَنَا عَمَلُكَ الْخَبِيثُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّ لَا تُقِمِ السَّاعَةَ  

from to the Prophet ﷺ that he mentioned the Salah (prayer) one day and said, "Whoever preserves it, it will be a source of light, proof, and salvation for him on the Day of Judgment. And whoever does not preserve it, he will not have any light, proof, or salvation. He will be with Qarun, Pharaoh, Haman, and Ubay b. Khalaf on the Day of Judgment."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ ذَكَرَ الصَّلَاةَ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا كَانَتْ لَهُ نُورًا وَبُرْهَانًا وَنَجَاةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ نُورٌ وَلَا بُرْهَانٌ وَلَا نَجَاةٌ، وَكَانَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَعَ قَارُونَ وَفِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَأُبَيِّ بْنِ خَلَفٍ  

from the Prophet ﷺ, who said, "Whoever provides for his family abundantly on the day of Ashura, will remain in abundance the rest of his year."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «مَنْ وَسَّعَ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ لَمْ يَزَلْ فِي سَعَةٍ سَائِرَ سَنَتِهِ»  

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)۔  

We went to Jabir b. Abdullah and he began inquiring about the people (who had gone to see him) till it was my turn. I said: I am Muhammad b. 'Ali b. Husain. He placed his hand upon my head and opened my upper button and then the lower one and then placed his palm on my chest (in order to bless me), and I was, during those days, a young boy, and he said: You are welcome, my nephew. Ask whatever you want to ask. And I asked him but as he was blind (he could not respond to me immediately), and the time for prayer came. He stood up covering himself in his mantle. And whenever he placed its ends upon his shoulders they slipped down on account of being short (in size). Another mantle was, however, lying on the clothes rack near by. And he led us in the prayer.

I said to him: Tell me about the Hajj of Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him). And he pointed with his hand nine, and then stated: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stayed in (Medina) for nine years but did not perform Hajj, then he made a public announcement in the tenth year to the effect that Messenger of Allah ﷺ was about to perform the Hajj. A large number of persons came to Medina and all of them were anxious to follow the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) and do according to his doing.

We set out with him till we reached Dhu al-Hulayfah. Asma, daughter of Umays, gave birth to Muhammad b. Abu Bakr. She sent message to the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) asking him: What should 1 do? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Take a bath, bandage your private parts and put on Ihram. The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) then prayed in the mosque and then mounted al-Qaswa (his she-camel) and it stood erect with him on its back at al-Baida'. And I saw as far as I could see in front of me but riders and pedestrians, and also on my right and on my left and behind me like this. And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was prominent among us and the (revelation) of the Holy Qur'an was descending upon him. And it is he who knows (its true) significance. And whatever he did, we also did that. He pronounced the Oneness of Allah (saying):

"Labbaik, O Allah, Labbaik, Labbaik. Thou hast no partner, praise and grace is Thine and the Sovereignty too; Thou hast no partner."

And the people also pronounced this Talbiya which they pronounce (today). The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) did not reject anything out of it. But the Messenger of Allah (May peace. be upon him) adhered to his own Talbiya. Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) said: We did not have any other intention but that of Hajj only, being unaware of the Umra (at that season), but when we came with him to the House, he touched the pillar and (made seven circuits) running three of them and walking four. And then going to the Station of Ibrahim, he recited:" And adopt the Station of Ibrahim as a place of prayer." And this Station was between him and the House. My father said (and I do not know whether he had made a mention of it but that was from Allah's Apostle [May peace be upon him] that he recited in two rak'ahs:" say: He is Allah One," and say:" Say: 0 unbelievers." He then returned to the pillar (Hajar Aswad) and kissed it. He then went out of the gate to al-Safa' and as he reached near it he recited:" Al-Safa' and al-Marwa are among the signs appointed by Allah," (adding: ) I begin with what Allah (has commanded me) to begin. He first mounted al-Safa' till he saw the House, and facing Qibla he declared the Oneness of Allah and glorified Him, and said:" There is no god but Allah, One, there is no partner with Him. His is the Sovereignty. to Him praise is due. and He is Powerful over everything. There is no god but Allah alone, Who fulfilled His promise, helped His servant and routed the confederates alone." He then made supplication in the course of that saying such words three times. He then descended and walked towards al-Marwa, and when his feet came down in the bottom of the valley, he ran, and when he began to ascend he walked till he reached al-Marwa. There he did as he had done at al-Safa'. And when it was his last running at al-Marwa he said: If I had known beforehand what I have come to know afterwards, I would not have brought sacrificial animals and would have performed an 'Umra. So, he who among you has not the sacrificial animals with him should put off Ihram and treat it as an Umra. Suraqa b. Malik b. Ju'sham got up and said: Messenger of Allah, does it apply to the present year, or does it apply forever? Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) intertwined the fingers (of one hand) into another and said twice: The 'Umra has become incorporated in the Hajj (adding):" No, but for ever and ever." 'All came from the Yemen with the sacrificial animals for the Prophet (May peace be upon him) and found Fatimah (Allah be pleased with her) to be one among those who had put off Ihram and had put on dyed clothes and had applied antimony. He (Hadrat'Ali) showed disapproval to it, whereupon she said: My father has commanded me to do this. He (the narrator) said that 'Ali used to say in Iraq: I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ showing annoyance at Fatimah for what she had done, and asked the (verdict) of Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding what she had narrated from him, and told him that I was angry with her, whereupon he said: She has told the truth, she has told the truth. (The Prophet then asked 'Ali): What did you say when you undertook to go for Hajj? I ('Ali) said: 0 Allah, I am putting on Ihram for the same purpose as Thy Messenger has put it on. He said: I have with me sacrificial animals, so do not put off the Ihram. He (Jabir) said: The total number of those sacrificial animals brought by 'Ali from the Yemen and of those brought by the Apostle ﷺ was one hundred. Then all the people except the Apostle ﷺ and those who had with them sacrificial animals, put off Ihram, and got their hair clipped; when it was the day of Tarwiya (8th of Dhu'l-Hijja) they went to Mina and put on the Ihram for Hajj and the Messenger of Ailah ﷺ rode and led the noon, afternoon, sunset 'Isha' and dawn prayers. He then waited a little till the sun rose, and commanded that a tent of hair should be pitched at Namira. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then set out and the Quraish did not doubt that he would halt at al-Mash'ar al-Haram (the sacred site) as the Quraish used to do in the pre-Islamic period. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, however, passed on till he came to 'Arafa and he found that the tent had been pitched for him at Namira. There he got down till the sun had passed the meridian; he commanded that al-Qaswa should be brought and saddled for him. Then he came to the bottom of the valley, and addressed the people saying: Verily your blood, your property are as sacred and inviolable as the sacredness of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this town of yours. Behold! Everything pertaining to the Days of Ignorance is under my feet completely abolished. Abolished are also the blood-revenges of the Days of Ignorance. The first claim of ours on blood-revenge which I abolish is that of the son of Rabi'a b. al-Harith, who was nursed among the tribe of Sa'd and killed by Hudhail. And the usury of she pre-Islamic period is abolished, and the first of our usury I abolish is that of 'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib, for it is all abolished. Fear Allah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah. You too have right over them, and that they should not allow anyone to sit on your bed whom you do not like. But if they do that, you can chastise them but not severely. Their rights upon you are that you should provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner. I have left among you the Book of Allah, and if you hold fast to it, you would never go astray. And you would be asked about me (on the Day of Resurrection), (now tell me) what would you say? They (the audience) said: We will bear witness that you have conveyed (the message), discharged (the ministry of Prophethood) and given wise (sincere) counsel. He (the narrator) said: He (the Holy Prophet) then raised his forefinger towards the sky and pointing it at the people (said):" O Allah, be witness. 0 Allah, be witness," saying it thrice. (Bilal then) pronounced Adhan and later on Iqama and he (the Holy Prophet) led the noon prayer. He (Bilal) then uttered Iqama and he (the Holy Prophet) led the afternoon prayer and he observed no other prayer in between the two. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then mounted his camel and came to the place of stay, making his she-camel al-Qaswa, turn towards the side where there we are rocks, having the path taken by those who went on foot in front of him, and faced the Qibla. He kept standing there till the sun set, and the yellow light had somewhat gone, and the disc of the sun had disappeared. He made Usama sit behind him, and he pulled the nosestring of Qaswa so forcefully that its head touched the saddle (in order to keep her under perfect control), and he pointed out to the people with his right hand to be moderate (in speed), and whenever he happened to pass over an elevated tract of sand, he slightly loosened it (the nose-string of his camel) till she climbed up and this is how he reached al-Muzdalifa. There he led the evening and 'Isha prayers with one Adhan and two Iqamas and did not glorify (Allah) in between them (i. e. he did not observe supererogatory rak'ahs between Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then lay down till dawn and offered the dawn prayer with an Adhan and Iqama when the morning light was clear. He again mounted al-Qaswa, and when he came to al-Mash'ar al-Haram, he faced towards Qibla, supplicated Him, Glorified Him, and pronounced His Uniqueness (La ilaha illa Allah) and Oneness, and kept standing till the daylight was very clear. He then went quickly before the sun rose, and seated behind him was al-Fadl b. 'Abbas and he was a man having beautiful hair and fair complexion and handsome face. As the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) was moving on, there was also going a group of women (side by side with them). Al-Fadl began to look at them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ placed his hand on the face of Fadl who then turned his face to the other side, and began to see, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned his hand to the other side and placed it on the face of al-Fadl. He again turned his face to the other side till he came to the bottom of Muhassir. 1680 He urged her (al-Qaswa) a little, and, following the middle road, which comes out at the greatest jamra, he came to the jamra which is near the tree. At this be threw seven small pebbles, saying Allah-o-Akbar while throwing every one of them in a manner in which the small pebbles are thrown (with the help of fingers) and this he did in the bottom of the valley. He then went to the place of sacrifice, and sacrificed sixty-three (camels) with his own hand. Then he gave the remaining number to 'All who sacrificed them, and he shared him in his sacrifice. He then commanded that a piece of flesh from each animal sacrificed should be put in a pot, and when it was cooked, both of them (the Prophet and Hadrat 'All) took some meat out of it and drank its soup. The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) again rode and came to the House, and offered the Zuhr prayer at Mecca. He came to the tribe of Abd al-Muttalib, who were supplying water at Zamzam, and said: Draw water. O Bani 'Abd al-Muttalib; were it not that people would usurp this right of supplying water from you, I would have drawn it along with you. So they handed him a basket and he drank from it.  

دَخَلْنَا عَلَى جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَسَأَلَ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَىَّ فَقُلْتُ أَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حُسَيْنٍ فَأَهْوَى بِيَدِهِ إِلَى رَأْسِي فَنَزَعَ زِرِّي الأَعْلَى ثُمَّ نَزَعَ زِرِّي الأَسْفَلَ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ كَفَّهُ بَيْنَ ثَدْيَىَّ وَأَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ غُلاَمٌ شَابٌّ فَقَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِكَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي سَلْ عَمَّا شِئْتَ فَسَأَلْتُهُ وَهُوَ أَعْمَى وَحَضَرَ وَقْتُ الصَّلاَةِ فَقَامَ فِي نِسَاجَةٍ مُلْتَحِفًا بِهَا كُلَّمَا وَضَعَهَا عَلَى مَنْكِبِهِ رَجَعَ طَرَفَاهَا إِلَيْهِ مِنْ صِغَرِهَا وَرِدَاؤُهُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ عَلَى الْمِشْجَبِ فَصَلَّى بِنَا

فَقُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ حَجَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ فَعَقَدَ تِسْعًا فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَكَثَ تِسْعَ سِنِينَ لَمْ يَحُجَّ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ فِي النَّاسِ فِي الْعَاشِرَةِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَاجٌّ فَقَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ بَشَرٌ كَثِيرٌ كُلُّهُمْ يَلْتَمِسُ أَنْ يَأْتَمَّ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَيَعْمَلَ مِثْلَ عَمَلِهِ

فَخَرَجْنَا مَعَهُ حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا ذَا الْحُلَيْفَةِ فَوَلَدَتْ أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ عُمَيْسٍ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ قَالَ اغْتَسِلِي وَاسْتَثْفِرِي بِثَوْبٍ وَأَحْرِمِي فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ رَكِبَ الْقَصْوَاءَ حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَوَتْ بِهِ نَاقَتُهُ عَلَى الْبَيْدَاءِ نَظَرْتُ إِلَى مَدِّ بَصَرِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنْ رَاكِبٍ وَمَاشٍ وَعَنْ يَمِينِهِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَعَنْ يَسَارِهِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِنَا وَعَلَيْهِ يَنْزِلُ الْقُرْآنُ وَهُوَ يَعْرِفُ تَأْوِيلَهُ وَمَا عَمِلَ بِهِ مِنْ شَىْءٍ عَمِلْنَا بِهِ فَأَهَلَّ بِالتَّوْحِيدِ:

«لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ۔»

وَأَهَلَّ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا الَّذِي يُهِلُّونَ بِهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَيْهِمْ شَيْئًا مِنْهُ وَلَزِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَلْبِيَتَهُ قَالَ جَابِرٌ ؓ لَسْنَا نَنْوِي إِلاَّ الْحَجَّ لَسْنَا نَعْرِفُ الْعُمْرَةَ

حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَيْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَعَهُ اسْتَلَمَ الرُّكْنَ فَرَمَلَ ثَلاَثًا وَمَشَى أَرْبَعًا ثُمَّ نَفَذَ إِلَى مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَقَرَأَ {وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى} فَجَعَلَ الْمَقَامَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْبَيْتِ فَكَانَ أَبِي يَقُولُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُهُ ذَكَرَهُ إِلاَّ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ {قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ} وَ {قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ} ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى الرُّكْنِ فَاسْتَلَمَهُ

ثُمَّ خَرَجَ مِنَ الْبَابِ إِلَى الصَّفَا فَلَمَّا دَنَا مِنَ الصَّفَا قَرَأَ {إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ} أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِهِ فَبَدَأَ بِالصَّفَا فَرَقِيَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى رَأَى الْبَيْتَ فَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ فَوَحَّدَ اللَّهَ وَكَبَّرَهُ وَقَالَ:

«لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كَلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ۔»

ثُمَّ دَعَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ مِثْلَ هَذَا ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ إِلَى الْمَرْوَةِ حَتَّى إِذَا انْصَبَّتْ قَدَمَاهُ فِي بَطْنِ الْوَادِي سَعَى حَتَّى إِذَا صَعِدَتَا مَشَى حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَرْوَةَ فَفَعَلَ عَلَى الْمَرْوَةِ كَمَا فَعَلَ عَلَى الصَّفَا

حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ آخِرُ طَوَافِهِ عَلَى الْمَرْوَةِ فَقَالَ لَوْ أَنِّي اسْتَقْبَلْتُ مِنْ أَمْرِي مَا اسْتَدْبَرْتُ لَمْ أَسُقِ الْهَدْىَ وَجَعَلْتُهَا عُمْرَةً فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ هَدْىٌ فَلْيَحِلَّ وَلْيَجْعَلْهَا عُمْرَةً فَقَامَ سُرَاقَةُ بْنُ مَالِكِ بْنِ جُعْشُمٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلِعَامِنَا هَذَا أَمْ لأَبَدٍ فَشَبَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَصَابِعَهُ وَاحِدَةً فِي الأُخْرَى وَقَالَ دَخَلَتِ الْعُمْرَةُ فِي الْحَجِّ مَرَّتَيْنِ لاَ بَلْ لأَبَدٍ أَبَدٍ

وَقَدِمَ عَلِيٌّ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ بِبُدْنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَوَجَدَ فَاطِمَةَ ؓ مِمَّنْ حَلَّ وَلَبِسَتْ ثِيَابًا صَبِيغًا وَاكْتَحَلَتْ فَأَنْكَرَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِي أَمَرَنِي بِهَذَا قَالَ فَكَانَ عَلِيٌّ يَقُولُ بِالْعِرَاقِ فَذَهَبْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُحَرِّشًا عَلَى فَاطِمَةَ لِلَّذِي صَنَعَتْ مُسْتَفْتِيًا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِيمَا ذَكَرَتْ عَنْهُ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ أَنِّي أَنْكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَ صَدَقَتْ صَدَقَتْ مَاذَا قُلْتَ حِينَ فَرَضْتَ الْحَجَّ قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُهِلُّ بِمَا أَهَلَّ بِهِ رَسُولُكَ قَالَ فَإِنَّ مَعِيَ الْهَدْىَ فَلاَ تَحِلُّ قَالَ فَكَانَ جَمَاعَةُ الْهَدْىِ الَّذِي قَدِمَ بِهِ عَلِيٌّ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ وَالَّذِي أَتَى بِهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِائَةً قَالَ فَحَلَّ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ وَقَصَّرُوا إِلاَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ هَدْىٌ

فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ التَّرْوِيَةِ تَوَجَّهُوا إِلَى مِنًى فَأَهَلُّوا بِالْحَجِّ وَرَكِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى بِهَا الظُّهْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالْمَغْرِبَ وَالْعِشَاءَ وَالْفَجْرَ ثُمَّ مَكَثَ قَلِيلاً حَتَّى طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَأَمَرَ بِقُبَّةٍ مِنْ شَعَرٍ تُضْرَبُ لَهُ بِنَمِرَةَ فَسَارَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلاَ تَشُكُّ قُرَيْشٌ إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ وَاقِفٌ عِنْدَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَا كَانَتْ قُرَيْشٌ تَصْنَعُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَأَجَازَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى أَتَى عَرَفَةَ فَوَجَدَ الْقُبَّةَ قَدْ ضُرِبَتْ لَهُ بِنَمِرَةَ فَنَزَلَ بِهَا حَتَّى إِذَا زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ أَمَرَ بِالْقَصْوَاءِ فَرُحِلَتْ لَهُ

فَأَتَى بَطْنَ الْوَادِي فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ وَقَالَ إِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ حَرَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا فِي شَهْرِكُمْ هَذَا فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا أَلاَ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ تَحْتَ قَدَمَىَّ مَوْضُوعٌ وَدِمَاءُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مَوْضُوعَةٌ وَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ دَمٍ أَضَعُ مِنْ دِمَائِنَا دَمُ ابْنِ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ كَانَ مُسْتَرْضِعًا فِي بَنِي سَعْدٍ فَقَتَلَتْهُ هُذَيْلٌ وَرِبَا الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مَوْضُوعٌ وَأَوَّلُ رِبًا أَضَعُ رِبَانَا رِبَا عَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَإِنَّهُ مَوْضُوعٌ كُلُّهُ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ فِي النِّسَاءِ فَإِنَّكُمْ أَخَذْتُمُوهُنَّ بِأَمَانِ اللَّهِ وَاسْتَحْلَلْتُمْ فُرُوجَهُنَّ بِكَلِمَةِ اللَّهِ وَلَكُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ أَنْ لاَ يُوطِئْنَ فُرُشَكُمْ أَحَدًا تَكْرَهُونَهُ فَإِنْ فَعَلْنَ ذَلِكَ فَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ضَرْبًا غَيْرَ مُبَرِّحٍ وَلَهُنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَقَدْ تَرَكْتُ فِيكُمْ مَا لَنْ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدَهُ إِنِ اعْتَصَمْتُمْ بِهِ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَنْتُمْ تُسْأَلُونَ عَنِّي فَمَا أَنْتُمْ قَائِلُونَ قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ بَلَّغْتَ وَأَدَّيْتَ وَنَصَحْتَ فَقَالَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ السَّبَّابَةِ يَرْفَعُهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَيَنْكُتُهَا إِلَى النَّاسِ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدِ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ ثُمَّ أَقَامَ فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ أَقَامَ فَصَلَّى الْعَصْرَ وَلَمْ يُصَلِّ بَيْنَهُمَا شَيْئًا

ثُمَّ رَكِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَوْقِفَ فَجَعَلَ بَطْنَ نَاقَتِهِ الْقَصْوَاءِ إِلَى الصَّخَرَاتِ وَجَعَلَ حَبْلَ الْمُشَاةِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ وَاقِفًا حَتَّى غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَذَهَبَتِ الصُّفْرَةُ قَلِيلاً حَتَّى غَابَ الْقُرْصُ وَأَرْدَفَ أُسَامَةَ خَلْفَهُ وَدَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَدْ شَنَقَ لِلْقَصْوَاءِ الزِّمَامَ حَتَّى إِنَّ رَأْسَهَا لَيُصِيبُ مَوْرِكَ رَحْلِهِ وَيَقُولُ بِيَدِهِ الْيُمْنَى أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ السَّكِينَةَ السَّكِينَةَ كُلَّمَا أَتَى حَبْلاً مِنَ الْحِبَالِ أَرْخَى لَهَا قَلِيلاً حَتَّى تَصْعَدَ

حَتَّى أَتَى الْمُزْدَلِفَةَ فَصَلَّى بِهَا الْمَغْرِبَ وَالْعِشَاءَ بِأَذَانٍ وَاحِدٍ وَإِقَامَتَيْنِ وَلَمْ يُسَبِّحْ بَيْنَهُمَا شَيْئًا ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ وَصَلَّى الْفَجْرَ حِينَ تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الصُّبْحُ بِأَذَانٍ وَإِقَامَةٍ

ثُمَّ رَكِبَ الْقَصْوَاءَ حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَشْعَرَ الْحَرَامَ فَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ فَدَعَاهُ وَكَبَّرَهُ وَهَلَّلَهُ وَوَحَّدَهُ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ وَاقِفًا حَتَّى أَسْفَرَ جِدًّا فَدَفَعَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ وَأَرْدَفَ الْفَضْلَ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ وَكَانَ رَجُلاً حَسَنَ الشَّعْرِ أَبْيَضَ وَسِيمًا فَلَمَّا دَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَرَّتْ بِهِ ظُعُنٌ يَجْرِينَ فَطَفِقَ الْفَضْلُ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِنَّ فَوَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَدَهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْفَضْلِ فَحَوَّلَ الْفَضْلُ وَجْهَهُ إِلَى الشِّقِّ الآخَرِ يَنْظُرُ فَحَوَّلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَدَهُ مِنَ الشِّقِّ الآخَرِ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْفَضْلِ يَصْرِفُ وَجْهَهُ مِنَ الشِّقِّ الآخَرِ يَنْظُرُ

حَتَّى أَتَى بَطْنَ مُحَسِّرٍ فَحَرَّكَ قَلِيلاً ثُمَّ سَلَكَ الطَّرِيقَ الْوُسْطَى الَّتِي تَخْرُجُ عَلَى الْجَمْرَةِ الْكُبْرَى حَتَّى أَتَى الْجَمْرَةَ الَّتِي عِنْدَ الشَّجَرَةِ فَرَمَاهَا بِسَبْعِ حَصَيَاتٍ يُكَبِّرُ مَعَ كُلِّ حَصَاةٍ مِنْهَا مِثْلِ حَصَى الْخَذْفِ رَمَى مِنْ بَطْنِ الْوَادِي

ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى الْمَنْحَرِ فَنَحَرَ ثَلاَثًا وَسِتِّينَ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ أَعْطَى عَلِيًّا فَنَحَرَ مَا غَبَرَ وَأَشْرَكَهُ فِي هَدْيِهِ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ بَدَنَةٍ بِبَضْعَةٍ فَجُعِلَتْ فِي قِدْرٍ فَطُبِخَتْ فَأَكَلاَ مِنْ لَحْمِهَا وَشَرِبَا مِنْ مَرَقِهَا

ثُمَّ رَكِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَفَاضَ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ فَصَلَّى بِمَكَّةَ الظُّهْرَ فَأَتَى بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ يَسْقُونَ عَلَى زَمْزَمَ فَقَالَ انْزِعُوا بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَلَوْلاَ أَنْ يَغْلِبَكُمُ النَّاسُ عَلَى سِقَايَتِكُمْ لَنَزَعْتُ مَعَكُمْ فَنَاوَلُوهُ دَلْوًا فَشَرِبَ مِنْهُ  

I never saw the Prophet ﷺ seeking to fast on a day that he favored more than another except this day, the day of 'Ashura', and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan.  

مَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَتَحَرَّى صِيَامَ يَوْمٍ فَضَّلَهُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ إِلاَّ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَهَذَا الشَّهْرَ يَعْنِي شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ  

he attributed this to the Prophet ﷺ: He was asked which prayer is best after the obligatory prayers and which fasting is best after the month of Ramadan? He said: (1) The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the one offered in the middle of the night, and (2) the best fast after the month of Ramadan is the fast in the Month of Allah: al-Muharram.  

سُئِلَ أَىُّ الصَّلاَةِ أَفْضَلُ بَعْدَ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ وَأَىُّ الصِّيَامِ أَفْضَلُ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ أَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ الصَّلاَةُ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ وَأَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صِيَامُ شَهْرِ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمِ  

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  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whenever a man performs his wuḍūʾ (ritual ablution) intending to pray and (1) he washes his hands, the sins of his hands fall down with the first drop. When (2) he rinses his mouth and (3) nose, the sins of his tongue and lips fall down with the first drop. When (4) he washes his face, the sins of his hearing and sight fall down with the first drop. When (5) he washes his arms to his elbows and (6) his feet to his ankles, he is purified from every sin and fault like the day he was born from his mother.”

He ˹also˺ said, "If he stands for prayer, Allah will raise his rank by a degree. ˹And thus,˺ when he sits, he will sit faultless.”  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ: «أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ قَامَ إِلَى وَضُوئِهِ يُرِيدُ الصَّلَاةَ ثُمَّ (١) غَسَلَ كَفَّيْهِ نَزَلَتْ خَطِيئَتُهُ مِنْ كَفَّيْهِ مَعَ أَوَّلِ قَطْرَةٍ۔ فَإِذَا (٢) مَضْمَضَ (٣) وَاسْتَنْشَقَ وَاسْتَنْثَرَ نَزَلَتْ خَطِيئَتُهُ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَشَفَتَيْهِ مَعَ أَوَّلِ قَطْرَةٍ۔ فَإِذَا (٤) غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ نَزَلَتْ خَطِيئَتُهُ مِنْ سَمْعِهِ وَبَصَرِهِ مَعَ أَوَّلِ قَطْرَةٍ۔ فَإِذَا (٥) غَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى الْمِرْفَقَيْنِ (٦) وَرِجْلَيْهِ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ سَلِمَ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ هُوَ لَهُ وَمِنْ كُلِّ خَطِيئَةٍ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ۔»

قَالَ: «فَإِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ رَفَعَ اللهُ بِهَا دَرَجَتَهُ وَإِنْ قَعَدَ قَعَدَ سَالِمًا۔»  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When a Muslim man performs wuḍūʾ (ritual ablution), his sins are removed from his hearing, his sight, his hands, and his legs. If he sits down, he will sit down forgiven.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ: «إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ الرَّجُلُ الْمُسْلِمُ خَرَجَتْ ذُنُوبُهُ مِنْ سَمْعِهِ وَبَصَرِهِ وَيَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ فَإِنْ قَعَدَ قَعَدَ مَغْفُورًا لَهُ۔»  

"When Ibrahim, the beloved friend of Allah, performed the rituals, Satan appeared to him at the Jamrat al-'Aqabah and threw stones at him seven times until he sank into the ground. Then he appeared to him at the second Jamrah and threw stones at him seven times until he sank into the ground. Then he appeared to him at the third Jamrah and threw stones at him seven times until he sank into the ground."

[Machine] Ibn Abbas said, "You are stoning the Shaytan and boasting about the faith of your father."  

«لَمَّا أَتَى إِبْرَاهِيمُ خَلِيلُ اللَّهِ الْمَنَاسِكَ عَرَضَ لَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ عِنْدَ جَمْرَةِ الْعَقَبَةِ فَرَمَاهُ بِسَبْعِ حَصَيَاتٍ حَتَّى سَاخَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ عَرَضَ لَهُ عِنْدَ الْجَمْرَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَرَمَاهُ بِسَبْعِ حَصَيَاتٍ حَتَّى سَاخَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ عَرَضَ لَهُ عِنْدِ الْجَمْرَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَرَمَاهُ بِسَبْعِ حَصَيَاتٍ حَتَّى سَاخَ فِي الْأَرْضِ»

قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ «الشَّيْطَانَ تَرْجُمُونِ وَمِلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ تَنْعُونَ»  

Abraham did not tell a lie except on three occasion. Twice for the Sake of Allah when he said, "I am sick," and he said, "(I have not done this but) the big idol has done it." The (third was) that while Abraham and Sarah (his wife) were going (on a journey) they passed by (the territory of) a tyrant. Someone said to the tyrant, "This man (i.e. Abraham) is accompanied by a very charming lady." So, he sent for Abraham and asked him about Sarah saying, "Who is this lady?" Abraham said, "She is my sister." Abraham went to Sarah and said, "O Sarah! There are no believers on the surface of the earth except you and I. This man asked me about you and I have told him that you are my sister, so don't contradict my statement." The tyrant then called Sarah and when she went to him, he tried to take hold of her with his hand, but (his hand got stiff and) he was confounded. He asked Sarah. "Pray to Allah for me, and I shall not harm you." So Sarah asked Allah to cure him and he got cured. He tried to take hold of her for the second time, but (his hand got as stiff as or stiffer than before and) was more confounded. He again requested Sarah, "Pray to Allah for me, and I will not harm you." Sarah asked Allah again and he became alright. He then called one of his guards (who had brought her) and said, "You have not brought me a human being but have brought me a devil." The tyrant then gave Hajar as a girl-servant to Sarah. Sarah came back (to Abraham) while he was praying. Abraham, gesturing with his hand, asked, "What has happened?" She replied, "Allah has spoiled the evil plot of the infidel (or immoral person) and gave me Hajar for service." (Abu Huraira then addressed his listeners saying, "That (Hajar) was your mother, O Bani Ma-is-Sama (i.e. the Arabs, the descendants of Ishmael, Hajar's son).  

لَمْ يَكْذِبْ إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ إِلاَّ ثَلاَثَ كَذَبَاتٍ ثِنْتَيْنِ مِنْهُنَّ فِي ذَاتِ اللَّهِ ﷻ قَوْلُهُ {إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ } وَقَوْلُهُ {بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَذَا} وَقَالَ بَيْنَا هُوَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ وَسَارَةُ إِذْ أَتَى عَلَى جَبَّارٍ مِنَ الْجَبَابِرَةِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّ هَا هُنَا رَجُلاً مَعَهُ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ أَحْسَنِ النَّاسِ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ مَنْ هَذِهِ قَالَ أُخْتِي فَأَتَى سَارَةَ قَالَ يَا سَارَةُ لَيْسَ عَلَى وَجْهِ الأَرْضِ مُؤْمِنٌ غَيْرِي وَغَيْرُكِ وَإِنَّ هَذَا سَأَلَنِي فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ أَنَّكِ أُخْتِي فَلاَ تُكَذِّبِينِي فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهَا فَلَمَّا دَخَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ ذَهَبَ يَتَنَاوَلُهَا بِيَدِهِ فَأُخِذَ فَقَالَ ادْعِي اللَّهَ لِي وَلاَ أَضُرُّكِ فَدَعَتِ اللَّهَ فَأُطْلِقَ ثُمَّ تَنَاوَلَهَا الثَّانِيَةَ فَأُخِذَ مِثْلَهَا أَوْ أَشَدَّ فَقَالَ ادْعِي اللَّهَ لِي وَلاَ أَضُرُّكِ فَدَعَتْ فَأُطْلِقَ فَدَعَا بَعْضَ حَجَبَتِهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّكُمْ لَمْ تَأْتُونِي بِإِنْسَانٍ إِنَّمَا أَتَيْتُمُونِي بِشَيْطَانٍ فَأَخْدَمَهَا هَاجَرَ فَأَتَتْهُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ مَهْيَا قَالَتْ رَدَّ اللَّهُ كَيْدَ الْكَافِرِ أَوِ الْفَاجِرِ فِي نَحْرِهِ وَأَخْدَمَ هَاجَرَ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ تِلْكَ أُمُّكُمْ يَا بَنِي مَاءِ السَّمَاءِ  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The Prophet ﷺ Abraham emigrated with Sarah and entered a village where there was a king or a tyrant. (The king) was told that Abraham had entered (the village) accompanied by a woman who was one of the most charming women. So, the king sent for Abraham and asked, 'O Abraham! Who is this lady accompanying you?' Abraham replied, 'She is my sister (i.e. in religion).' Then Abraham returned to her and said, 'Do not contradict my statement, for I have informed them that you are my sister. By Allah, there are no true believers on this land except you and 1.' Then Abraham sent her to the king. When the king got to her, she got up and performed ablution, prayed and said, 'O Allah! If I have believed in You and Your Apostle, and have saved my private parts from everybody except my husband, then please do not let this pagan overpower me.' On that the king fell in a mood of agitation and started moving his legs. Seeing the condition of the king, Sarah said, 'O Allah! If he should die, the people will say that I have killed him.' The king regained his power, and proceeded towards her but she got up again and performed ablution, prayed and said, 'O Allah! If I have believed in You and Your Apostle and have kept my private parts safe from all except my husband, then please do not let this pagan overpower me.' The king again fell in a mood of agitation and started moving his legs. On seeing that state of the king, Sarah said, 'O Allah! If he should die, the people will say that I have killed him.' The king got either two or three attacks, and after recovering from the last attack he said, 'By Allah! You have sent a satan to me. Take her to Abraham and give her Ajar.' So she came back to Abraham and said, 'Allah humiliated the pagan and gave us a slave-girl for service."  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ هَاجَرَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ بِسَارَةَ فَدَخَلَ بِهَا قَرْيَةً فِيهَا مَلِكٌ مِنَ الْمُلُوكِ أَوْ جَبَّارٌ مِنَ الْجَبَابِرَةِ فَقِيلَ دَخَلَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بِامْرَأَةٍ هِيَ مِنْ أَحْسَنِ النِّسَاءِ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ مَنْ هَذِهِ الَّتِي مَعَكَ قَالَ أُخْتِي ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَيْهَا فَقَالَ لاَ تُكَذِّبِي حَدِيثِي فَإِنِّي أَخْبَرْتُهُمْ أَنَّكِ أُخْتِي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ عَلَى الأَرْضِ مُؤْمِنٌ غَيْرِي وَغَيْرُكِ فَأَرْسَلَ بِهَا إِلَيْهِ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهَا فَقَامَتْ تَوَضَّأُ وَتُصَلِّي فَقَالَتِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتُ آمَنْتُ بِكَ وَبِرَسُولِكَ وَأَحْصَنْتُ فَرْجِي إِلاَّ عَلَى زَوْجِي فَلاَ تُسَلِّطْ عَلَىَّ الْكَافِرَ فَغُطَّ حَتَّى رَكَضَ بِرِجْلِهِ قَالَ الأَعْرَجُ قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ إِنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَتِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ يَمُتْ يُقَالُ هِيَ قَتَلَتْهُ فَأُرْسِلَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَيْهَا فَقَامَتْ تَوَضَّأُ تُصَلِّي وَتَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتُ آمَنْتُ بِكَ وَبِرَسُولِكَ وَأَحْصَنْتُ فَرْجِي إِلاَّ عَلَى زَوْجِي فَلاَ تُسَلِّطْ عَلَىَّ هَذَا الْكَافِرَ فَغُطَّ حَتَّى رَكَضَ بِرِجْلِهِ قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَقَالَتِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ يَمُتْ فَيُقَالُ هِيَ قَتَلَتْهُ فَأُرْسِلَ فِي الثَّانِيَةِ أَوْ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَرْسَلْتُمْ إِلَىَّ إِلاَّ شَيْطَانًا ارْجِعُوهَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَأَعْطُوهَا آجَرَ فَرَجَعَتْ إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَقَالَتْ أَشَعَرْتَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ كَبَتَ الْكَافِرَ وَأَخْدَمَ وَلِيدَةً  

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۔»  

"إِذَا نَزَلَ أحدُكُمْ منْزِلًا فقال فيه، فلا يَرْحل حتَّى يُصلِّى ركعتينِ" .  

that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ received a group of men and he accepted the pledge from nine of them, while he refrained from one. They said, “O Messenger of Allah, you accepted the pledge of nine men and left this one out?” The Prophet said, “There is an amulet upon him.” The man took it in his hand and cut it, then the Prophet accepted his pledge and he said, “Whoever hangs an amulet around his neck has committed an act of shirk (associating partners to Allah).”  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَقْبَلَ إِلَيْهِ رَهْطٌ فَبَايَعَ تِسْعَةً وَأَمْسَكَ عَنْ وَاحِدٍ فَقَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، بَايَعْتَ تِسْعَةً وَتَرَكْتَ هَذَا؟ قَالَ: «إِنَّ عَلَيْهِ تَمِيمَةً۔» فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فَقَطَعَهَا فَبَايَعَهُ وَقَالَ: «مَنْ عَلَّقَ تَمِيمَةً فَقَدْ أَشْرَكَ۔»  

Some of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ went on a journey till they reached some of the 'Arab tribes (at night). They asked the latter to treat them as their guests but they refused. The chief of that tribe was then bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and they tried their best to cure him but in vain. Some of them said (to the others), "Nothing has benefited him, will you go to the people who resided here at night, it may be that some of them might possess something (as treatment)," They went to the group of the companions (of the Prophet ﷺ ) and said, "Our chief has been bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and we have tried everything but he has not benefited. Have you got anything (useful)?" One of them replied, "Yes, by Allah! I can recite a Ruqya, but as you have refused to accept us as your guests, I will not recite the Ruqya for you unless you fix for us some wages for it." They agrees to pay them a flock of sheep. One of them then went and recited (Surat-ul-Fatiha): 'All the praises are for the Lord of the Worlds' and puffed over the chief who became all right as if he was released from a chain, and got up and started walking, showing no signs of sickness. They paid them what they agreed to pay. Some of them (i.e. the companions) then suggested to divide their earnings among themselves, but the one who performed the recitation said, "Do not divide them till we go to the Prophet ﷺ and narrate the whole story to him, and wait for his order." So, they went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and narrated the story. Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, "How did you come to know that Suratul- Fatiha was recited as Ruqya?" Then he added, "You have done the right thing. Divide (what you have earned) and assign a share for me as well." The Prophet ﷺ smiled thereupon.  

انْطَلَقَ نَفَرٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي سَفْرَةٍ سَافَرُوهَا حَتَّى نَزَلُوا عَلَى حَىٍّ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ الْعَرَبِ فَاسْتَضَافُوهُمْ فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمْ فَلُدِغَ سَيِّدُ ذَلِكَ الْحَىِّ فَسَعَوْا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُهُ شَىْءٌ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَوْ أَتَيْتُمْ هَؤُلاَءِ الرَّهْطَ الَّذِينَ نَزَلُوا لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عِنْدَ بَعْضِهِمْ شَىْءٌ فَأَتَوْهُمْ فَقَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّهْطُ إِنَّ سَيِّدَنَا لُدِغَ وَسَعَيْنَا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُهُ فَهَلْ عِنْدَ أَحَدٍ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ شَىْءٍ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ نَعَمْ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَرْقِي وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدِ اسْتَضَفْنَاكُمْ فَلَمْ تُضِيِّفُونَا فَمَا أَنَا بِرَاقٍ لَكُمْ حَتَّى تَجْعَلُوا لَنَا جُعْلاً فَصَالَحُوهُمْ عَلَى قَطِيعٍ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ فَانْطَلَقَ يَتْفِلُ عَلَيْهِ وَيَقْرَأُ {الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ} فَكَأَنَّمَا نُشِطَ مِنْ عِقَالٍ فَانْطَلَقَ يَمْشِي وَمَا بِهِ قَلَبَةٌ قَالَ فَأَوْفَوْهُمْ جُعْلَهُمُ الَّذِي صَالَحُوهُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمُ اقْسِمُوا فَقَالَ الَّذِي رَقَى لاَ تَفْعَلُوا حَتَّى نَأْتِيَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَنَذْكُرَ لَهُ الَّذِي كَانَ فَنَنْظُرَ مَا يَأْمُرُنَا فَقَدِمُوا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرُوا لَهُ فَقَالَ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ أَنَّهَا رُقْيَةٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَدْ أَصَبْتُمُ اقْسِمُوا وَاضْرِبُوا لِي مَعَكُمْ سَهْمًا فَضَحِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

"No sin is ˹considered˺ major that is ˹followed up˺ with seeking forgiveness, and no sin is ˹considered˺ minor if it remains persistent."  

"لا كَبِيرَةَ مَعَ الاسْتِغْفَارِ، وَلا صَغِيرَةَ مَعَ الإصْرَارِ".  

that the Prophet ﷺ, "The disease of the nations before you is creeping towards you: Envy and hatred ˹growing among you˺, it is the haliqah (razor). I'm not speaking of what shaves the hair, rather what severs the religion.

By the One in Whose Hand is my soul (Allah), you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love each other. Shall I tell you about what will strengthen that ˹love˺ between you? Spread ˹the greeting of˺ salam among each other."  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ: «دَبَّ إِلَيْكُمْ دَاءُ الأُمَمِ قَبْلَكُمُ: الْحَسَدُ وَالْبَغْضَاءُ، هِيَ الْحَالِقَةُ! لاَ أَقُولُ تَحْلِقُ الشَّعْرَ، وَلَكِنْ تَحْلِقُ الدِّينَ۔»

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لاَ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا، وَلاَ تُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى تَحَابُّوا۔ أَفَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا يُثَبِّتُ ذَاكُمْ لَكُمْ؟ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ بَيْنَكُمْ۔»  

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؟»  

"When one of you encounters a complete row, let him call a man to stand next to him."  

"إِذَا انْتهَى أحدُكم إلى الصّفِّ وقدْ تَمَّ فْليجذْب إليه رَجُلًا يُقيمه إلى جنْبِه".  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ left and there was a man praying alone behind the people. He said, "O you who are praying alone, why don't you join them and enter with them, or bring someone to stand beside you if the place becomes tight for you? Repeat your prayer, for indeed, there is no prayer for you."  

انْصَرَفَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَرَجُلٌ يُصَلِّي خَلْفَ الْقَوْمِ وَحْدَهُ فَقَالَ «أَيُّهَا الْمُصَلِّي وَحْدَهُ أَلَا تَكُونَ وَصَلْتَ صَفًّا فَدَخَلْتَ مَعَهُمْ أَوِ اجْتَرَرْتَ رَجُلًا إِلَيْكَ إِنْ ضَاقَ بِكَ الْمَكَانُ أَعِدْ صَلَاتَكَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا صَلَاةَ لَكَ»  

The Prophet ﷺ used to say:

allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika min al-faqri wa-al-qillati wa-al-dhillati, wa-aʿūdhu bika min an aẓlima aw uẓlam

(O Allah, I seek refuge in You from poverty, deficiency, humiliation, and I seek refuge in You that I do ˹something˺ wrong or that I be wronged ˹by someone˺)"  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ يَقُولُ:

«(اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْفَقْرِ وَالْقِلَّةِ وَالذِّلَّةِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أَظْلِمَ أَوْ أُظْلَمَ)»  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Never has anyone been afflicted with distress or grief and said:

allāhumma innī ʿabduk, ibnu ʿabdik, ibnu amatik, nāṣiyatī bi-yadik, māḍin fiyya ḥukmuk, ʿadlun fiyya qaḍāʾuk, asʾaluka bi-kulli ismin huwa lak, sammayta bi-hī nafsak, aw ʿallamtahu aḥadan min khalqik, aw anzaltahū fī kitābik, aw istaʾtharta bi-hī fī ʿilm al-ghaybi ʿindak, an tajʿal al-qurʾāna rabīʿa qalbī, wa-nūra ṣadrī, wa-jilāʾa ḥuznī, wa-dhahāba hammī

(O Allah, I am your servant, son of your servant, son of your maidservant; my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You have named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Quran the life of my heart and the light of my chest, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety),

except that Allah will take away his distress and grief, and replace it with joy." It was said, "O Messenger of Allah, should we not learn it?" He replied, "Of course, whoever hears it should learn it."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ: «مَا أَصَابَ أَحَدًا قَطُّ هَمٌّ وَلَا حَزَنٌ فَقَالَ:

(اللهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ ابْنُ أَمَتِكَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي وَنُورَ صَدْرِي وَجِلَاءَ حُزْنِي وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي)

إِلَّا أَذْهَبَ اللهُ هَمَّهُ وَحُزْنَهُ وَأَبْدَلَهُ مَكَانَهُ فَرَحًا۔» قَالَ فَقِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَلَا نَتَعَلَّمُهَا؟ فَقَالَ: «بَلَى يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ سَمِعَهَا أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَهَا۔»  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The jinn are of three types: (1) one type has wings and they fly in the air, (2) another type are snakes and dogs, and (3) another type camp ˹at a place˺ and then ˹later˺ move ˹away˺."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «الْجِنُّ ثَلَاثَةُ أَصْنَافٍ صِنْفٌ لَهُمْ أَجْنِحَةٌ يَطِيرُونَ فِي الْهَوَاءِ وَصِنْفٌ حَيَّاتٌ وَكِلَابٌ وَصِنْفٌ يَحِلُّونَ وَيَظْعَنُونَ»  

A woman from Juhaynah came to the Prophet ﷺ while she was pregnant after having illegal sexual relations. She said: O Prophet of Allah ﷺ, I've crossed boundaries ˹with a sin˺, so lift it from me (i.e. punish me for it). Allah's Apostle ﷺ called her guardian and said: Treat her well, and when she delivers bring her to me. He did accordingly.

Then Allah's Apostle ﷺ pronounced judgment on her and her clothes were tied around her and then he commanded and she was stoned ˹to death˺. He then prayed over her (dead body). Thereupon Umar said to him: Allah's Apostle, you offer prayer for her, whereas she had committed adultery! Thereupon he said: "She has made such a repentance that if it were to be divided among seventy men of Madinah, it would be enough. Have you found any repentance better than this that she sacrificed her life for Allah ﷻ?"  

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً مِنْ جُهَيْنَةَ أَتَتْ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهِيَ حُبْلَى مِنَ الزِّنَى فَقَالَتْ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ، أَصَبْتُ حَدًّا فَأَقِمْهُ عَلَىَّ۔ فَدَعَا نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلِيَّهَا فَقَالَ: «أَحْسِنْ إِلَيْهَا فَإِذَا وَضَعَتْ فَائْتِنِي بِهَ۔» فَفَعَلَ۔

فَأَمَرَ بِهَا نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَشُكَّتْ عَلَيْهَا ثِيَابُهَا ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِهَا فَرُجِمَتْ۔ ثُمَّ صَلَّى عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ تُصَلِّي عَلَيْهَا يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ وَقَدْ زَنَتْ؟ فَقَالَ: «لَقَدْ تَابَتْ تَوْبَةً، لَوْ قُسِمَتْ بَيْنَ سَبْعِينَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ لَوَسِعَتْهُمْ وَهَلْ وَجَدْتَ تَوْبَةً أَفْضَلَ مِنْ أَنْ جَادَتْ بِنَفْسِهَا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى؟»  

that the Prophet ﷺ left ˹Juwayriyah, our mother and his wife˺ early in the morning after praying Subh (Fajr) and she was in her place of worship. He then came back at duha time (midmorning) and she was ˹still˺ sitting ˹doing dhikr˺. He asked, "Have you been in the same place since I left you?" She said: "Yes." Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ said: "I recited four words three times after I left you and if these are to be weighed against what you have recited since morning these would outweigh them:

subḥān Allāhi wa-bi-ḥamdihī, adada khalqihī, wa-riḍā nafsihī, wa-zinata ʿarshihī, wa-midāda kalimātihi

(Exalted is Allah and praise is due to Him according to: the number of His creation, and ˹according to˺ the pleasure of His Self, and ˹according to˺ the weight of His Throne, and ˹according to˺ the ink of words ˹of His constant decrees or of praise that is due to Him.)"  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهَا بُكْرَةً حِينَ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ وَهِيَ فِي مَسْجِدِهَا۔ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَضْحَى وَهِيَ جَالِسَةٌ۔ فَقَالَ: «مَا زِلْتِ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّتِي فَارَقْتُكِ عَلَيْهَا؟» قَالَتْ: نَعَمْ۔ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: «لَقَدْ قُلْتُ بَعْدَكِ أَرْبَعَ كَلِمَاتٍ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ، لَوْ وُزِنَتْ بِمَا قُلْتِ مُنْذُ الْيَوْمِ لَوَزَنَتْهُنَّ:

(سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ، وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ، وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ، وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ)۔»  

Do you think that having wealth is being wealthy and not having wealth is poverty? In fact, true wealth is in the heart and true poverty is in the heart: Whoever's richness is in his heart; will not be harmed no matter what happens to him in the world; Whoever is poor in his heart, he will not be satisfied no matter how much he has gained in the world. In fact he is only harmed by the greed of his own soul.  

أَتَرَي أَنَّ كَثْرَةَ الْمَالِ هُوَ الْغِنَي وَقِلَّةَ الْمَالِ الْفَقْرُ؟ إِنَّمَا الْغِنَى غني الْقَلْبِ، وَالْفَقْرُ فَقْرُ الْقَلبِ، مَنْ كَانَ الْغِنَى فيِ قَلبِهِ فَلَا يَضُرّهُ مَا لَقِيَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا، وَمَنْ كَانَ الْفَقْرُ فيِ قَلبِهِ فَلَا يُغْنِيهِ مَا أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا، وَإنَّمَا يَضُرُّ نَفْسَهُ شُحُّهَا.  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ kissed al-Hasan b. ʿAli (his grandchild) while al-Aqra b. Habis al-Tamimi was sitting beside him. al-Aqra said, "I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them," Messenger of Allah ﷺ cast a look at him and said, "Whoever is not merciful to others will not be shown Mercy ˹by Allah˺."  

قَبَّلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ وَعِنْدَهُ الأَقْرَعُ بْنُ حَابِسٍ التَّمِيمِيُّ جَالِسًا. فَقَالَ الأَقْرَعُ: إِنَّ لِي عَشَرَةً مِنَ الْوَلَدِ مَا قَبَّلْتُ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا! فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمُ لاَ يُرْحَمُ.»  

I saw the Prophet ﷺ eating chicken.  

رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَأْكُلُ دَجَاجًا  

al-Shabi said to me, "Whatever they tell you about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ˹said˺ then take it, but whatever they say based on their own opinions, then cast it aside."  

قَالَ لِيَ الشَّعْبِيُّ «مَا حَدَّثُوكَ هَؤُلَاءِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَخُذْ بِهِ وَمَا قَالُوهُ بِرَأْيِهِمْ فَأَلْقِهِ فِي الْحُشِّ»  

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۔»  

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