Book 3: Knowledge

Sahih al-Bukhari 59

Abū Hurairah (r.a) narrated: ‘While the Prophet (saw) was sitting in a gathering speaking to people, a Bedouin came to him and said: “When will the Hour take place?” The Messenger of Allāh (saw) continued speaking. Some of the people said that he [the Prophet (saw)] heard what the man had said but did not like it. Some others said that he did not hear it. When he had finished his speech, he [the Prophet (saw)] said: “Where is the one who inquired about the Hour?” The Bedouin said: “Here I am, O Messenger of Allāh.” He [the Prophet (saw)] said: “When trust is lost, anticipate the Hour.” He [the Bedouin] asked: “How will it be lost?” He [the Prophet (saw)] replied: “When authority is committed to those not fit to administer it, then expect the Hour.”

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 60

ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr (r.a) narrated: ‘The Prophet (saw) remained behind us on a journey we had made. Then he reached us when we were late in offering Prayer [and it was almost time for the next Prayer] while we were performing ablution. We were not thoroughly washing our feet, so he loudly called out to us: “Woe to the heels from the fire”, twice or thrice’.

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 61

Ibn ʿUmar (r.a) narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (saw) said: ‘Among trees there is one whose leaves do not fall off. It is similar to a Muslim. Can you tell me what tree it is?’ People began to contemplate the trees of the deserts. ʿAbd Allāh [ibn ʿUmar] said: ‘It occurred to me that it was the date tree but I felt hesitant [to answer].’ Then they asked: ‘Tell us what it is, O Messenger of Allāh?’ He replied: ‘It is the date tree.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 62

Ibn ʿUmar (r.a) narrated that the Prophet (saw) said: ‘Among trees there is one whose leaves do not fall off. It is similar to a Muslim. Can you tell me what tree it is?’ People began to contemplate the trees of the deserts. ʿAbd Allāh [ibn ʿUmar] said: ‘It occurred to me that it was the date tree.’ Then they asked: ‘Tell us what it is, O Messenger of Allāh (saw).’ He replied: ‘It is the date tree.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 63

Anas ibn Mālik (r.a) related: ‘Once we were sitting with the Prophet (saw) in the mosque, when a man on a camel entered. He made the camel kneel in the mosque and then tied it. He then asked the people: “Which of you is Muḥammad?” At that time, the Prophet (saw) was reclining among them, so we said: “This man of white complexion here who you see reclining.” The man said to him: “O son of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib!” And the Prophet (saw) said to him: “I am paying attention to what you are saying.” Then the man said: “I will be asking you some questions, and I may be firm in my approach, so please do not take offence.” He [the Prophet (saw)] said: “Ask whatever you like.” So, he asked: “I ask you in the name of your Lord and the Lord of those before you, has Allāh sent you to all mankind?” He replied: “By Allāh, yes indeed.” Then he asked: “I beseech you by Allāh [to tell me], has Allāh commanded you that we should offer five Prayers during the day and night?” He [the Prophet (saw)] replied: “By Allāh, yes.” He asked: “I ask by Allāh, has Allāh commanded you that we should fast in this month every year?” He [the Prophet (saw)] replied: “By Allāh, yes.” He asked: “I beseech you by Allāh, has Allāh commanded you to collect charity from the wealthy among us to distribute it among the poor among us?” And the Prophet (saw) replied: “By Allāh, yes indeed.” The man then concluded: “I have believed in what you have brought and I am a representative of those whom I have left behind among my people. I am Ḍimām ibn Thaʿlabah, hailing from the tribe of Banū Saʿd ibn Bakr”.’

Anas (r.a) narrated: ‘Although we were forbidden in the Qurʾān to ask the Prophet (saw) [too many] questions, we still found it gratifying when a discerning individual from the desert would approach him with inquiries, and we listened to their exchanges. Once, a man from among the people of the desert came and said: “Your messenger came to us and told us that you claim that Allāh, the Mighty, the Majestic, has sent you.” He [the Prophet (saw)] replied: “He has spoken the truth.” Then he [the man] asked: “So who has created the heavens?” He [the Prophet (saw)] replied: “Allāh, the Exalted, the Mighty.” He asked: “And who created the earth and the mountains?” He replied: “Allāh, the Exalted, the Mighty.” He asked: “And who made in it the means of benefit?” He replied: “Allāh, the Exalted.” Then He asked: “So [I beseech you] by Him Who created the heavens and created the earth and set the mountains in place and created beneficial things within them, has Allāh sent you?” He replied: “Yes.” He [the man] said: “Your messenger said that five Prayers are compulsory for us, as are alms (Zakāh) out of our wealth.” He [Prophet (saw)] said: “He has spoken the truth.”He said: “So [I beseech you] by Him Who has sent you, has Allāh given you this commandment?” He replied: “Yes.” He said: “Your messenger conveyed that we are obligated to fast for a month every year.” He replied: “He has spoken the truth.” He said: “So [I beseech you] by Him Who has sent you, has Allāh commanded you to do this?” He replied: “Yes.” He said: “And your messenger conveyed that pilgrimage to the House [the Kaʿbah] is obligatory for those who have the means.” He replied: “He has spoken the truth.” He said: “So [I beseech you] by Him Who has sent you, has Allāh given you this commandment?” He replied: “Yes.” He [the man] said: “By Him Who has sent you with the truth, I shall do neither more nor less [than these commandments].” The Prophet (saw) said: “If he has spoken the truth, he will surely enter Paradise”.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 64

ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (saw) sent a man with a letter and ordered him to deliver it to the Governor of Baḥrain. The Governor of Baḥrain forwarded it to Chosroes, but upon reading it, he tore it into pieces. [Ibn Shihāb continued]: ‘I believe that Ibn al-Musayyab said: “Thus the Messenger of Allāh (saw) prayed against them, that they be utterly torn apart”.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 65

Anas ibn Mālik (r.a) narrated: ‘The Prophet (saw) wrote a letter, or he intended to write a letter. It was said to him: “They [the intended recipients] do not read a letter unless it is sealed.” So, he had a silver ring made with ‘Muḥammad Rasūl Allāh’ [Muḥammad, the Messenger of Allāh] inscribed on it. It is as if I can still see its glimmer in his hand.’ So, I [Shuʿbah, a sub-narrator] said to Qatādah [another narrator]: ‘Who said that the inscription was “Muḥammad Rasūl Allāh”?’ He said: ‘Anas (r.a).’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 66

Abū Wāqid al-Laithī narrated: ‘The Messenger of Allāh (saw) was seated in the mosque surrounded by people. At that moment, three men arrived: two approached the Messenger of Allāh (saw) while the third went away.’ He [Abū Wāqid al-Laithī] added: ‘Then the two kept standing before the Messenger of Allāh (saw) and one of the two found a place in the gathering and sat down, while the other sat behind the assembly. Meanwhile, the third person turned away and left. When the Messenger of Allāh (saw) finished [his speech], he said: “Shall I tell you about these three individuals? The first sought refuge with Allāh, and Allāh granted him refuge. The second felt shy, and Allāh, in turn, was shy of him [i.e. he recognised his shyness and had mercy on him]. As for the third, he turned away, so Allāh turned away from him”.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 67

Abū Bakrah (r.a) narrated, mentioning the Prophet (saw): ‘While he was sitting on his camel and a man was holding its halter or its rein, he said: “Which day is this?” We remained silent, assuming he was going to give it a name different to the one it had. He said: “Is not this the Day of Sacrifice?” We affirmed: “Yes.” Next, he asked: “Which month is this?” Again, we remained silent, assuming he was going to give it a name different to the name it had. He said: “Is not this Dhū al-Ḥijjah?” We said: “Yes.” He declared: “Verily, your blood and your property and your honour are sacred to one another, just as this day of yours is sacred, in this month of yours, in this city of yours. Let those who are present convey this to those who are absent, for it is possible that one who is present may convey it to someone who understands better than him”.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 68

Ibn Masʿūd (r.a) narrated: ‘The Prophet (saw) would carefully select specific days to give us advice, fearing it might become tedious for us.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 69

Anas (r.a) narrated from the Prophet (saw) that he said: ‘Make things easy [for people] and do not complicate them. Give [them] good news and do not repel them [from religion].’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 70

Abū Wāʾil narrated: ‘ʿAbd Allāh (r.a) [ibn Masʿūd] used to exhort people every Thursday. One day, a man said to him: “O Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān! I wish that you would exhort us every day.” He said: “What keeps me from doing so is that I do not wish to bore you, I take care in exhorting you just as the Prophet (saw) did with us, out of fear that we might grow weary”.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 71

Ḥumaid ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān said: ‘I heard Muʿāwiyah delivering a sermon, saying: “I heard the Prophet (saw) say: ‘One whom Allāh desires good for, He grants him understanding of religion. I am simply a distributor; it is Allāh Who gives. As long as this Ummah continues to adhere to the commandments of Allāh, they will not be harmed by those who oppose them, until the arrival of Allāh’s decree’.”’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 72

Mujāhid narrated: ‘I accompanied Ibn ʿUmar (r.a) to Madīnah and did not hear him narrate any ḥadīth from the Messenger of Allāh (saw) except one. He said: “We were in the company of the Prophet (saw) when the spathe [of a date-tree] was brought to him. He said: ‘Indeed, among the trees there is one which resembles a Muslim.’ I wished to say it was the date-tree, but being the youngest amongst them, I remained silent. Then the Prophet (saw) said: “It is the date-tree”.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 73

ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd (r.a) said that the Prophet (saw) said: ‘There should be no envy except in two [cases]: a man to whom Allāh has granted wealth and he is empowered to spend it in the right way, and a man to whom Allāh has granted wisdom, so he judges by it and teaches it to others.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 74

Ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) narrated that he differed with al-Ḥurr ibn Qais ibn Ḥiṣn al-Fazārī about the companion of Moses. Ibn ʿAbbās said that it was al-Khaḍir. Ubayy ibn Kaʿb (r.a) happened to pass by, and Ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) called him and said: ‘I have differed with this friend of mine about the companion of Moses whom Moses sought to meet. Have you heard the Prophet (saw) mentioning anything about this matter?’ He said: ‘Yes, I heard the Messenger of Allāh (saw) saying: “Once when Moses (as) was sitting amongst the chiefs of the Israelites, a man came to him and asked: ‘Do you know anyone who is more learned than you?’ Moses (as) replied: ‘No.’ So Allāh revealed to Moses (as): ‘Certainly [there is]. Our servant al-Khaḍir [is more learned than you].’ Moses (as) sought directions to meet him. So, Allāh made the fish a sign for him, and it was said to him: ‘When you lose the fish, go back [to where you lost it] and you will encounter him [al-Khaḍir].’ So, he followed the signs of the fish in the sea. The young companion of Moses (as) said to him: ‘Did you see, when we betook ourselves to the rock for rest, and I forgot the fish – and none but Satan caused me to forget to mention it to you’ (Sūrat al-Kahf, 18:64). He said: ‘That is what we have been seeking.’ So, they both returned, retracing their footsteps (Sūrat al-Kahf, 18:65). Then they found al-Khaḍir and their story has been narrated by Allāh, the Mighty, the Majestic, in His Book’.”’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 75

Ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) narrated: ‘The Messenger of Allāh (saw) embraced me and supplicated: “O Allāh, grant him knowledge of the Book”.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 76

ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) reported: ‘I came riding on a she-donkey, and at that time I was nearing the age of maturity. The Messenger of Allāh (saw) was offering Prayer at Miná with no wall in front of him. So I passed in front of some of the rows [of worshippers], sent the she-donkey to graze, and joined the row. No one disapproved of this.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 77

Maḥmūd ibn al-Rabīʿ narrated: ‘I remember that when I was five years old, the Prophet (saw) once threw a mouthful of water from a bucket onto my face.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 78

Ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) narrated that he differed with al-Ḥurr ibn Qais ibn Ḥiṣn al-Fazārī about the companion of Moses. Ubayy ibn Kaʿb (r.a) passed by them and Ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) called him and said: ‘I have differed with this friend of mine about the companion of Moses whom he sought the way to meet. Have you heard the Messenger of Allāh (saw) mentioning his story?’ Ubayy said: ‘Yes, I heard the Prophet (saw) mentioning his story, saying: “Once when Moses was sitting amongst the chiefs of the Israelites, a man came to him and asked: ‘Do you know anyone who is more learned than you?’ Moses (as) replied: “No.” So Allāh the Mighty, the Majestic, revealed to Moses: ‘Certainly, Our servant al-Khaḍir [is more learned than you].’ So, he [Moses (as)] asked for the way to meet him. So, Allāh made the fish a sign for him, and it was said to him: “When you lose the fish, go back and you will encounter him [al-Khaḍir].” So Moses (as) followed the signs of the fish in the sea. The servant of Moses (as) said to him: ‘Did you see, when we betook ourselves to the rock for rest, I forgot the fish, and none but Satan caused me to forget to mention it to you” (18:64). Moses (as) said: “That is what we have been seeking.” So, they both returned, retracing their footsteps (18:65). Then they found al-Khaḍir and their story has been narrated by Allāh in His Book [the Holy Qurʾān]”.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat