bitten thee, thou hast burnt a people (like thyself) who celebrated the glory of their Lord.’ —Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: AB: NA. rae Do not cut off the forelock of the horse, for a decency is attached to its forelock; nor its mane, for it protects it; nor its tail, for it is its fly-flap. —Utbah b. ‘Abdu’s-Salamiy, AB.
The Prophet was seen wiping the face of his horse with his wrapper; and being questioned in regard to it, said, ‘At night I have had a reprimand from God in regard to my horse.’ —Yahya b. Sa‘id, MA. Even the mares the Prophet would call horses.1 —Abu-Hurayrah, AB.
Verily, God is gentle, and loves the gentle, and is pleased with him, and assists him (with an assistance) wherewith He assists nor the harsh; so when ye ride these dumb animals, make them alight at a place at which they alight; and if the land be sterile, pass over it with what is meet for them; and it is for you to journey by night, for by night ye can pass on a journey what ye cannot in the day. —Khalid b. Ma‘dan, MA.
Take not the backs of your beasts for platforms (to stand on for any length of time); verily God has pressed *Like a man who calls his pet daughter his son. *J.e., with provision enough for them.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 15 them into your service that ye may reach (distant) countries which ye cannot otherwise reach unless with great trouble to yourselves. Abu-Hurayrah, AB.
I was riding on a restive camel, and I turned it rough- ly; whereupon the Prophet said, ‘Upon thee devolves to be kind.’
—A‘ishah.
Once when the Prophet happened to be in a garden belonging to one of the Ansar*, a camel came in to the Prophet, and sobbed bitterly, and his eyes shed tears. ‘The Prophet went up to him, and stroked his head, and the camel paused. The Prophet said, ‘Who is the master of this camel?’ A young man of the Ansar* said, ‘It is mine, O Prophet of God!’ The Prophet said, “Dost thou not fear God with regard to this brute beast which God has given thee to possess? It complains to me that thou dost oppress him and fatigue him.’
We were on a journey with the Prophet when we saw a finch with which were two young ones we took away the two young ones, and the mother-bird fluttered around. Then the Prophet came and said, ‘Who has distressed her by taking away her young ones? Return her young ones to her.’ The Prophet also saw the abode of ants which we had burnt, and said ‘Who has burnt this?’ We said, ‘We (have done this).’ The Prophet said, ‘It is not meet 16 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD that any one should punish (another) by fire unless it be the Lord of fire himself.’ —Abdu’llah, through his son ‘Abdu’r-Rahman, AB.
We were with the Prophet when a man came up: upon him was a carpet, and he had something in his hand which he had wrapped up. He said, ‘O Prophet of God! as I was coming to thee, I passed through a wood of trees and therein heard the voices of the young of birds, and I took them up, and put them into my carpet. Then their mother came fluttering round my head: I uncovered the young for her, and she fell down upon them and joined them; then I wrapped them up in my carpet; and here are the young ones which I have.’ The Prophet said, “Put them down from thee.’ Then he put them down: their mother remained with them, and refused to be without them. The Prophet said to his companions, ‘Do ye wonder at the affection of the mother towards her young ones?’ They said, ‘Yes, O Prophet of God!’ The Prophet said, ‘By Him who has raised me up with the truth! God is more loving to His servants than the mother-bird to her young ones. Return with them, so that thou put them in the place, from whence thou hast taken them, and their mother also with them.’ Then the man returned with them.
—Amir, through Muhammad b. Ishaq, AB.
A man once robbed some eggs from the nest of a bird; whereupon the Prophet had them restored to the nest.
BU.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 17 a ae I said, ‘Amongst us are some men who take augury;’ the Prophet said, “That is a thing which they find (seated) in their breasts: but let not this hinder them from doing or not doing a thing.’
—Mu’awiyah b. al-Hakam, MU: AB: NA.
I said, ‘And among us are some men who go to consult the soothsayers.’ The Prophet said, “Then go not to them.’ —Mu‘awiyah b. at-Hakam, MU; AB: NA.
The evil which is in men is avarice that makes (one) restless, and cowardice that strips (one of all virtues).
Ibni ‘Umar, AB.
Two defects cannot be found together in a Mu‘min*: avarice and evil disposition.
—Abu-Sa‘id al-Khudriy, TI. bea) ‘Do ye know what backbiting is? It is the speaking of one of you what he hates in his brother.’ A man said, ‘But what if it be in my brother?’ ‘If it be in him as thou sayest,’ the Prophet replied, ‘thou hast backbitten him; and if it be not in him as thou sayest, thou hast falsely accused him of it.’ 2 —Abu-Hurayrah, AB: TI.
Backbiting is more grievous than adultery: God will not pardon the backbiter until his companion (whom he has wronged) pardons him that. —Abu-Sa‘id and Jabir, BA.
2 18 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD He who keeps (any one) from (eating) the flesh of his brother by backbiting,! has a claim against God, (name- ly,) that He will save him from the fire (of hell).
—Asma daugter of Yazid, BA, He before whom his brother-Muslim* is backbitten, and who having the power to help him, does help him, God will help him in this world and the hereafter; and if he does not help him, having the power to help him, God will pursue him for it in this world and the hereafter.
—Anas, BG.
A man of the Ansar came to the Prophet begging of him. The Prophet said, ‘Hast thou nothing in thy house?’ He said, ‘Yes, | have a woollen carpet, with one part of which we cover ourselves, and spread the other, and a cup in which we drink water.’ The Prophet said, ‘Come to me with them both.’ The man came to him with both, and the Prophet took them in his hand, and said, “Who will buy these two?? A man said, ‘I will take them both for one dirham.*’ ‘The.Prophet said, “Who will give more than a dirham?’ ‘This he repeated twice or thrice. An- other man said, ‘I will take them both for two dirhams.” ‘Then the Prophet gave them both to that man, and took the two dirhams, and gave them to the man, and said, ‘Buy food with one of these, and let it go to thy family, and buy >“Backbite not one another: would one of yow Tike to eat, the flesh of his dead brother? Surely ye would abbor it. Then, fear SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 19 a hatchet with the other, and come to me with it.’ The man came to him with it. The Prophet fixed a handle to it with his own hands, and then said, ‘Go, cut wood, and sell it, and let me not see thee for fifteen days.’ The man did as he was bidden., Then he came when he had already got ten dirhams; and he bought a garment with part of it, and food with part. Then the Prophet said, “This is better for thee than that thou shouldst come on the day of resur- rection with black marks upon thy face.’
If ye knew what is in begging, none (of you) would go to another begging anything.
The Prophet called me, and enjoined upon me, saying, ‘Ask not anything of men.’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘And though it be thy scourge: if it has fallen from thee, get down to it, and take it.’
—Abu-Dharr, AH.
Verily, begging is not lawful for the rich, nor for the strong in body and those in good condition, but for him who is poor leading a miserable existence, or an insolvent ' debtor; and whoso begs of men to increase his wealth there- by, it shall be scratches and wounds on his face on the day of resurrection, and he shall devour the hated stone of hell; now let him who will, have (his) little, and let him who will, have it increased (by begging).
—Habshiy Janadah, TI.
20 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD ae Sad The upper hand is better than the lower hand; the upper hand bestows, and the lower begs. —Ibni ‘Umar, BU: MU: AB: NA: MA. [ Oia Whoso begs of men, although he has what would make him independent, would come on the day of resurrection with his acts of begging (as) scratches and wounds on his face. —Ibni Mas‘ud, AB: TI: NA: IB: DA.
[yee That one of you take his rope and go to the mountain and bring a bundle of food upon his back and sell it, and that thereby God guard his person,! is better for him than that he should beg of men, whether they give him or not. —Zubayr, BU.
Lvl Begging is a scratch and wound by which a man wounds his own face; let him who will, retain these upon his face, and let him who will, avoid these;—unless that a man asks of him who is in authority, in.a matter in which he finds no remedy. —Samurah b. Jundub, AB: TI: NA.
O Qabisah! verily, begging is not lawful to any but one of the three men; namely, a man who has undertaken the burden of another (which he can no longer bear): he may ask (men to help him) until he has got sufficiency; after that let him withhold himself; a man whom a misfor- 1 Lit., face.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD af tune has befallen and who is in want: he may ask (the help of men) until he is settled in life; and a man who is oppressed by hunger, so that three intelligent men out of his people may say that such an one is oppressed by starva- tion, until he is settled in life. None besides these may beg. O Qabisah! The beggar eats unlawfully. —Qabisah b. Mukhariq, MU: AB: NA.
I begged of the Prophet, and he gave me; then I (again) begged of him, and he gave me; then he said to me, ‘O Hakim! verily this substance is pleasant to the eye and sweet to the taste; whoso then takes it in a liberal spirit, he is blessed therein; and who so takes it in a cove- tous spirit, he is not blessed therein, and he is as one who eats and is not satiated; and the upper hand is better than the lower hand.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! by Him who has sent thee with the truth! I will not take anything from the property of any one after that (thou hast told me), until I leave this world.’ —Hakim b. Hizam, BU: MU.
Certain people of the Ansar begged of the Prophet, and he gave them; then they again begged of him, and he . gave them, so that what was with him was (all) exhausted. Then the Prophet said, ‘What I have of good things. I will not withhold from you; whoso would be abstemious, God will keep him abstemious; and whoso be independent, God will keep him independent; and whoso would be patient, God will give him patience, and no one is granted 22 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD a gift that is better and more extensive than patience.’ —Abu-Sa‘id. al-Khudriy, BU: MU.
I said, ‘O Prophet of God! should I beg?’ He said, ‘No; and if thou wilt do it of necessity, then ask of the righteous.’
—Abnu'1-Firasiy, AB: NA. ety Whoso furnishes security before me that he will not beg anything of men, I bring him security of paradise.
—Thauban, AB: NA, OS BS ‘Verily, when I give a man anything, and he walks away with it under his arm, or puts it into his belly, it is nothing but fire,’ said the Prophet. “And why dost thou give what is fire, O Prophet?’ said ‘Umar. ‘God has not given me to be miserly,’ said thé Prophet.
When one of you sees a bier, and does not walk with it, let him stand up until it has passed away or is put down. —Amir b. Rabi‘ah, BU: MU: AB: TI: NA. A bier was passing, and the Prophet stood up for it, and we also stood up with him, and said, ‘O Prophet of God! verily this is a Jewish woman (who is dead).’ ‘The Prophet said, ‘Verily, death is terrible; so when ye see a bier, stand up.’
t —Habshiy, RA.
—Jabir, BU: MU. i | an A bier passed by the Prophet, and he stood up. It was said to him, ‘Verily, it is the bier of a Jew.” The SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 23 Prophet said, Was it not a living thing?’ —Abdu’r-Rahman b. Abu-Layla, BU: MU.
‘The Prophet cursed the giver of bribes, and the taker of bribes in deciding causes. —Ibni ‘Amru b. al-As, AB; Abu-Hurayrah and {bni ‘Amru, TI He whom we have appointed an officer and for whom we have provided a provision, if he takes anything after that, he is a transgressor. —Bnraydah, AB. et ae Do not appear rejoicing at the misfortune of thy brother, for God may be merciful to him and put thee into trouble. j —Wathilah, TI. OR ae Whoso has forsaken his brother a whole year, it is as though he has shed his blood.
—Abu-Khirash a’s-Sulamiy, AB. No man blames another for wickedness and unbelief, but it will return upon him.
86 A calumniator shall Son ae paradise, —Hudhayfah, BU: MU: TI: AB. bone! Every good! work is charity. —Jabir, BU: MU: TI: AH; Hudhayfah, BU: MU: AB: TI.
—Abu-Dharr, BU.
1Orig., ma‘ruf, lit., ‘acknowledged to be good, fit, decent, becoming; good conduct: obligingness, kindness, favour, bounty; obedience to- wards God.’
24 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD Thy smiling in thy brother’s face in charity; thy bid- ding what is good is charity; thy forbidding what is wrong is charity; thy putting a man in an unknown land in the right road is charity for thee; thy assisting a man who has a defect in the eye is charity for thee; thy removing stones and thorns and bones from the road is charity for thee; and thy emptying the bucket into the bucket of thy brother is charity for thee. —Abu-Dharr, TI. ae To bid what is reasonable! is charity, and to forbid what is wrong is charity.
—Abu-Dharr, MU.
Enjoined upon every joint of a man is charity, every day in which the sun rises; doing justice between two people is charity; and assisting a man upon his beast, and loading upon it, or lifting up to it his baggage, is charity; and a good word is charity; and every step which is taken towards prayer is charity; and removing hurtful things from the road is charity. —Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU..
oe) ‘Charity is (enjoined) upon every Muslim.’ ‘But if he find not wherewith (to do this)?’ they asked. ‘Then let him work with both his hands, and let him benefit his own self, and also give in charity,’ said the Prophet. “But if he be not able (to do this either) or to work?’ “Then let him 1 Orig., ma‘ruf, - SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 25 assist the needy, the aggrieved.’ They said, ‘But if he can- not do that? “Then let him bid what is good.’ They said, ‘But if he cannot do that either?” ‘Then let him with- hold himself from evildoing; for, verily, this is his charity.’ _—Abu-Musa al-Ash‘ariy, BU: MU. No Muslim plants a plant, or sows a field, and birds, men, and beasts, eat therefrom, but it is his almsgiving. —Anas, BU: TI. No one gives anything in alms out of good things— and God accepts only good things—but the Merciful God receives it with His right hand although it be a dry date; and it increases in the hand of the Merciful God until it becomes a larger thing than a mountain, like as one of you nurses his unweaned foal or his weaned child. —Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: TI: AB: NA: MA. An Arab of the desert said, ‘O Prophet of God! tell me about the hijrat*.’ The Prophet said, ‘Aha! it is a hard task. Hast thou a camel?’ The man said, ‘Yes.’ ‘Dost thou also give alms for it?? The man said, ‘Yes.’ ‘And dost thou-also make gifts ( of the milk) thereof.’ ' He said, ‘Yes.’ ‘And dost thou get it milked (for poor people) on the day of watering it?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ The Prophet said, “Then do thou work on this side of the seas (without undergoing the troubles of a hijrat), for, verily, God will not leave any portion of thy work (unrewarded.) —Abu-Sa‘id, BU: MU: AB: NA, 26 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD [ BJ God says: ‘Expend (in alms), and I will expend upon thee.’ Both the hands of God are full; expending night and day does not affect Him. Have ye considered? how much must He have spent since He created the heavens and the earth. Yet? verily, what is in His hands is not affected.
—Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: TI.
O son of Man! that thou give with thine own hands the superabundance (of thy wealth) is better for thee, and that thou withhold it, is bad for thee;—though thou art not to blame for a sufficient subsistence;—and begin with him who is of kin (to thee). —Abu-Umamah, MU: TI.
Nang A man said, ‘O Prophet of God! I have a dinar* with me.’ ‘The Prophet said, “Then bestow it upon thyself.’ The man said he had another more. ‘Then,’ said the Prophet, ‘bestow it upon thy children.’ ‘I have yet another,’ the man said. “Then bestow it upon thy wife,’ was the Prophet’s reply. ‘I have yet another,’ the man_ said. “Then bestow it upon thy dependents,’ said the Prophet. The man said, ‘I have yet another.’ “Then,’ said the Pro- phet, ‘(bestow it) upon whom thou seest fit.’
—Abu-Hurayrah, AB: NA. ida Almsgiving extinguishes the wrath of God.
—Abu-Hurayrah, TI.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 27 aaa | ‘Which almsgiving is the best?’ it was asked of the Prophet. “The resources of the poor given in alms are the best; and do thou begin with him who is of kin to thee.’
—Abu-Hurayrah, AB, “What is the best almsgiving?’ it was asked of the Pro- phet. “That thou give alms whilst thou art healthy and (feel) miserly, hoping to be rich, and fearing poverty; and put it not off to the time when (the soul) shall reach up to the throat, and thou shalt say, “This is for such-and-such a one; when it is already for such-and-such a one.” ’ —Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: AB: NA. [ I0heq That a man give a dirham* in alms during his lifetime, is better for him than that he should give an hundred dirhams at his death. —Abu-Sa‘id, AB. fig") There is no Muslim* who clothes a Muslim with gar- ment but is preserved of God as long as there is any part of it left upon his person. et an A man said, ‘O Prophet of God! my mother is dead; will my giving alms for her profit her?” The Prophet said, ‘Yes...The man said, ‘I have an orchard, and I make thee —Ibni ‘Abbas, ‘TIL.
to witness that I give it in alms for her,’ —Ibni ‘Abbas, BU: TI: AB: NA. I said, ‘O Prophet of God! my mother is dead; what 28 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD would be the best almsgiving for her?’ The Prophet said, ‘Water;’ bethinking himself of the panting heat of the desert. —Sa‘d b. ‘Ubadah, AB: NA. Poy ‘What almsgiving is pleasing to thee?’ it was asked of- the Prophet. ‘Water,’ was the Prophet’s reply.
—Ibni Musayyab, AB. Look ye sharp with your almsgiving, for distress never crosses it.
—‘Aliy, RA.
The man who asks has a right (to be heard) although he come to thee on horseback. —Aliy, AB. Give to him who asks of thee, although he come to thee on horseback. ) —Zayd b. Aslam, MA. When God created the earth, it shook and trembled, then God laid stable mountains upon it, and it rested. Then the angels marvelled at the strength of the moun- tains, and said, ‘O our Lord! hast Thou created a stronger creation than the mountains?’ God said, ‘Yes, iron, for it breaks them.’ They said, ‘And hast Thou created a stronger creation than iron?’ He said, ‘Yes, fire, for it melts it.’ ‘And hast Thou created a stronger creation than fire?’ they asked. ‘Yes, water, for it quenches it.’ ‘And hast Thou created a stronger creation than water?’ ‘Yes,’ SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 29 said God, ‘the wind, for it sets it in motion.’ They said, ‘And hast Thou created a stronger creation than the wind?’ God said, ‘Yes, the child of man when he gives alms with his righ hand and hides it from his left.’ —Anas, TI. et A Fae, The people of the Prophet’s house killed a goat. Then they gave away portions to the poor, so that there remained only a portion thereof. The Prophet asked, “What remains thereof?? They said, ‘Nothing but the shoulder.’ The Prophet said, ‘Nay, all of it remains except its shoulder, for the reward thereof is eternal.’ —A‘ishah, TI.
idl Lup There is one of you who comes to me with all that he possesses, and says, “This is for almsgiving; and then will sit begging of people. The best of almsgiving is what is backed up by riches. —Jabir, AB.
Cleanliness is one-half of the faith. —Abu-Malik al-Ask‘ariy, MU. [bio | To be alone is better than (to have) a bad companion and a good companion is better than being alone; and dic- tating the good is better than keeping silence; and silencc is better than dictating evil. PP Paes sa] The best of companions, in the sight of God, is he who is best among them to his companions; and the best —Imran b. Hittan, BA.
30 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD of neighbours, in the sight of God, is the best among them to his neighbours. —Ibni ‘Umar, TI: DA. [oe Sie | The likeness of a good companion and a bad com- panion is as the likeness of one who carries musk with him and one who blows a match. ‘Then as to him who carries musk, he wilt either make a present of it to thee, or thou wilt buy of him; and as to the blower of the match, he will either burn thy clothes, or thou shalt find a bad smell therefrom. —Abu-Musa, BU: MU.
Shall I tell you of something more excellent in degree than lasting and almsgiving and prayer? It is to improve concord,! for, verily, discord shaves smooth quite.
—Abu-Darda, AB: TL.
I say not, it shaves smooth the hair, but it shaves religion quite smooth. —TI. [ ay Whoso sympathizes with the mother of a dead child shall be clothed with garment in paradise. —Abu-Hurayrah, TL i tbe | Whoso condoles with one in distress shall have the like of his reward.: —Ibni Mas‘ud, TI.
‘O Prophet of God!’ said one of his disciples, ‘I have heard so many things from thee, and I fear that I may for- SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 3t get their end and aim, so tell me a word that may contain everything.” The Prophet said, ‘Fear God according to what thou dost know, and act accordingly.’ —Yazid b. Salamab, TI: RA.
fiicck20.:, J 4 Verily God has distributed among you your disposi- tions like as He has distributed among you your provisions; verily God gives the world to whom He loves and to whom: He loves not, but He gives not conscience (to any) except to whom He loves, and whom He gives conscience, He loves: Him. By Him in whose hand stands my life! no servant (of God truly) accepts Islam* unless his heart and his. tongue (also) accept Islam,. and no one (really) belives until his neigh hours are safe from his calamities. —Ibni Mas‘ud, AH: BA.
hee Whoso treats with contempt the authority of God on earth! treats God with contempt. —Abu-Bakr, TT.
Whoso obeys me, obeys God; and whoso rebels against me, rebels against God, and whoso obeys a gover- nor, obeys me, and whoso rebels against a governor rebels.
against me. —Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: NA.
Fates 4 If a slave whose ears, nose, lips, and hands have been 2“Q ye who believe! obey God and obey the apostle and those in authority among you: and if ye dispute about anything, refer it to God and the apostle, if ye believe in God and the last day; that were the best and excellent interpretation.”—Qur’an, S. 4 59.
32 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD cut off, be put in command over you to guide you by the Book of God, then hearken to him and obey. —Ummu'l-Husayn, MU. Pe ey Hearken, and obey, although a negro slave, whose head is like a dried grape, be appointed to rule over you. —Anas, BU. [Pot OF I enjoin you to fear God, and to hear and obey, although it be a negro slave, for verily he among you who shall live after me, shall surely see much discord. Ye are to follow my example and the example of those who come after me, being also rightly guided. And bewere of new things! for verily all new things are an innovation, and all innovation (in religion) is error. —Irbad b. Sariyah, AB: TI. [i ie0 ek Blessed is he who is guided to Islam,* and whose livelihood is daily bread, and who is contented. —Fudalah b. ‘Ubayd, TI. pee yy Whoso wakes up in the morning in the full security of his heart, and his body free from harm, having also his day’s food, it is as though the world, all of it, is driven to him. —‘Ubaydu'llah b. Mihsan, TI. [un ite J The son of Man has no more right than that he should have a house wherein he may live, and a piece of SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 33 cloth whereby he may hide his nakedness, and a chip of bread, and water. —Uthman, TI.
When one of you sees another who is superior to him in point of wealth and creation, let him look to him who is below him. That is more proper that ye hold not in contempt the favour of God towards you.
—Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: TI. Pu tS0s 5] Whoso will remain abstemious, God will keep him abstemious, and whoso will keep himself independent, God will keep him independent; and whoso will be stead- fast, God will keep him steadfast, and no one is granted a better thing than that. ’ —Al-Khudriy, BU: MU: AB: TI: NA: MA.
And happy indeed is he who has accepted Islam,* and is given a sufficient livelihood, and whom God has kept contented with what He has given him.
; —Ibni ‘Amru b al-‘As, MU: TI: RA. eg gt A party of the Jews asked permission to come to the Prophet, and said, ‘Death upon you!’! I said, ‘Rather upon _ you be death and curse!’ The Prophet said, ‘O ‘A‘ishah! verily, God is kind, and loves kindness in all things.’ I said, ‘Hast thou not heard what they said?’ He said, “I did also say, ‘Upon you!’”’
; —A‘ishah, BU: MU.
*They said A’s-samu, destruction, instead of *A’s-salamu, peace.
3 34 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD f #lS2Qini] ‘Pray to God against the idolaters,’ it was said to the Prophet, ‘and curse them.’ ‘I have only been sent as a mercy, and have not been sent to curse,’ was the Prophet's reply.
—Abu-Hurayrah, MU, Whoso curses a thing when it does not deserve, makes the curse to return upon him.
—Ibni ‘Abbas, AB: TI, Piwddéde] When a servant (of God) curses anything, the curse rises up to heaven, and the doors of heaven are closed against it; then it falls to the earth, and its doors are closed against it; then it takes ( a way) to the right and to the left, and when, it does not find a way it returns to him who is cursed, if he deserves that; otherwise it returns upon him who said it. —Abu-Darda, AB. dude? 21 In one of the Prophet’s journeys, a woman of the Ansar* was riding on her camel. The beast roared; whereupon the woman cursed it. The Prophet said, “Take away what is upon it, and let it go, for (now) it is cursed, (and thou need have no use for it).’ —Imran b. Husayn, MU: AB. Curse not people with the curse of God, or with the wrath of God, or with the fire of hell. —Samurah b. Jundab, AB: TI.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 35 The Prophet passed by Abu-Bakr while he was cursing certain of his slaves, and turned to him, and said, ‘ (What!) does a truthful, sincere man curse? By no means! by the God of the Ka‘bah!’ That day Abu-Bakr freed some of his slaves, and then came to the Prophet, (and said,) ‘I will never do this again.’
—A‘ishah, BA, —A‘ishah, BA, ‘O company of women‘ give alms, and be frequent in asking pardon of God, for verily I see you mostly to be people of the fire (of hell).’ The women said, ‘And what is in us that we are mostly people of the fire (of hell)?’ The Prophet said, ‘Ye are given much to cursing, and ye are thankless to your companions.’
—Ibni ‘Umar, MU. fig eS Sa Remember the virtues of your dead ones, and with- hold yourselves from their vices, —Ibni ‘Umar, AB: TI.
A bier passed by the Prophet, and he said, “This man is either going to rest himself, or going to give rest (to others).’ They said, ‘And what is meant by that, O Pro- phet of God?’ He said, ‘A servant (of God), a Mu‘min,* rests (in death) from the wearied suffering existence of this world, and a wicked man gives rest thereby to all creatures, and the land, and tree, and all moving things.’ —Abu-Qatadah, BU: MU: NA: MA, 36 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD The Prophet saw a large tent erected over the tomb of ‘Abdu’r-Rahman, and said to one, ‘O young man! pull it out; for his work only will overshadow him.’ —Ibni ‘Umar, BU. pee itcaey No one dies but is ashamed of himself: if he is a doer of good, he is ashamed of not doing more (good), and if he is an evil-doer, he is ashamed of not desisting. —Abu-Hurayrah, TI. CY leony When the Prophet was free after the internment of a dead body, he would stop thereat, and say, “Ask pardon for your brother, and ask (God) to keep him steadfast; for verily now will he be questioned (as to what he has done).” -—‘Uthman, AB. rt Fees When ye pray over the dead, pray specially for him. —Abu-Hurayrah, AB: IB. O God! Thou art its Lord, and Thou didst create it, and thou didst guide it to Islam,* and Thou hast taken away its soul. Thou best knowest its secret deeds and its public deeds We have come to intercede (for him); so do Thou pardon him.. —Abu-Hurayrah, AB. When a man dies, the angels say, ‘What has he sent SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 37 on before (him)?’ and the son of Man says, ‘What has he left behind?’ —Abu-Hurayrah, BA.
map ry Three things follow a dead man, (of these) two return, and one remains with him; his people, his wealth, and his works follow him, but his people and his wealth return, and his works alone remain (with him). —Anas, BU: MU. fi tl48e o] O ye people! remember God, remember God: the quaking will come, it shall be followed by another; death will come with what is therein, death will come with what is therein! —Ubbayy b. Ka’‘b, TI.
fe ag When a man dies, his works also stop, except three: acts of charity which are continued, knowledge by which (all) profit, and a righteous issue which prays for him.
—Abu-Hurayrah, MU: AB: TI: NA.
Verily, what reaches the Mu‘min,* of his works and his good actions, after his death is the knowledge which he acquired and spread abroad, and a righteous issue which he has left (behind him), or a book which he has given to inherit, or a place of worship which he has built, or a ‘house for the homeless which he has built, or a canal which he has caused to be excavated, or an act of charity which he has done out of his wealth while in his health and life,— (the good effects hereof) reach him (even) after his death. Bei ie ; —Abu-Hurayrah, BA.
38 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD Let none of you long for death nor pray for it ere it come to him; verily when he dies, his hopes are (all) cut off; and verily his age only increases good to.the Mu‘min.* —Abu-Hurayrah, MU. Ly (Bee Let none of you long for death: if he is a doer of good works, it may be that he will increase in good works, and if he is an evil-doer, it may be that he will turn with (true) penitence —Abu-Hurayrah, BU.
Let none of you long for death because of a (certain) injury which has befallen him; and if he must needs do (it), let him say, ‘O God! let me live so!ong as life is better for me, and let me die when death is better for me.’
—Anas, BU: MU. (tony Verily, of the worst sins, in the sight of God, with which a servant of God shall meet Him, after the great sins which God has forbidden, is that a man die while he has debts against him for which he has (left) nothing where- with to pay them off.
—Abu-Musa, AB. All sins are pardoned to a martyr except (his) debts. —Amru b. al-‘As, MU.
Putting off (the payment of debt) by a rich man is wrong-doing. —Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: AB: TI: NA: MA.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 39 fer J The Prophet owed a man a camel; the man came to him, and demanded it, and spoke so harshly that some of the people resolved (to turn him out). But the Prophet said, ‘Let him demand, for the man who has a claim has a right to speak.’ Then the Prophet said, ‘Give it to him;’ and the men searched for a camel, and found none but was better than it. "The Prophet said, ‘Give it to him; and the creditor was glad to have it. Then the Prophet said, “The best of you is he who is the best at repaying.’
—Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: TI: NA.
[ te j Whoso takes the substance of men, desiring to pay it off, God will have it paid out of him; and whoso takes desiring to make them the losers by it, God will ruin him. —Abu-Hurayrah, BU. et ath Whoso is pleased that God should save him from the distress of the day of resurrection, let him respite (his debtor) who is hard-up, or let him remit (the debt). —Abu-Qatadah, MU.
Verily God is pure, and loves the pure, is cleanly and loves the cleanly, is beneficent and loves the beneficent, is generous and loves the generous.
oe oe I said, ‘O Prophet of God! I have so much hair upon my head, should I then comb it?” The Prophet said, ‘Yes, and also do it justice.”
—Ibni Musayyab, TI.
—Abu-Qatadah, NA: MA. 4 Lit., honour.
40 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD E fi Tea j He who has hair, let him do it, justice.1 —Abu-Hurayrah, AB.
A man came to the Prophet with his hair and beard. in a disordered state. The Prophet pointed to his hair as. if to bid him put it in order. The man did as he was bidden, and then came to the Prophet. The Prophet said, ‘Is not this better than that one of you should come with dishevelled hair as though he were a satan?’
—‘Ata‘ b. Yasar, MA. f Ke] The Prophet saw a man with his hair dishevelled, and said, ‘What! does he not find anything with which he may ‘ put his hair in order?’ At another time he saw a mam who had on his person a dirty clothing, and said, “What! does not this man find water to wash his clothes therewith?’ or —Jabir, AB.
If it were not (for the fact) that I was going to put a hardship upon my people, I would surely tell them to brush their teeth before each of the prayers. —Abu-Hurayrah, BU: ‘MU: AB: TI: NA; MA.
I went to the Prophet in a mean dress. He Py ‘Hast thou any means?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ The Prophet said, ‘What means hast thou?’ I said, ‘God has given me all the means.’ ‘Since God has given thee the means,’ the *Lit., honour.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 4i Prophet said, ‘let the signs of God’s favour to thee appear on thy person.’ —Abu’l-Ahwas, from his father, NA- ef TOFU No prayer of a grown-up girl is accepted (of God)’ unless with a wrapper. —A‘ishah, AB: TI. Deliberation is of God, and haste is of satan, —Sahl b. Sa‘d a’s-Sa‘idiy, Tl; cf. ‘Abdu’l-Muhaymin, TI. hae | i oa Take to an affair by deliberation, and if thou see any good in bringing it to a successful issue, then persist in it; and if thou fear to be led into error, withhold thyself.
—Anas, BG. fia] No man of bad habits shall enter paradise. —Abu-Bakr, TI. eed) Se A good habit is (a source of) increase, and a bad habit a curse. —Rafi' b. Mukayth, AB. ° ‘O Abu-Dharr! shall I tell thee of two qualities which are the lightest in burden and the weightiest in the bal- ‘ance?’ I said, ‘Yea,’ He said, ‘Long silence and a good disposition. By Him in whose hand stands my life! none in all creation has done a thing like these two.’ ; —Anas, BA.
I stand surety in respect of a suburb in paradise for 42 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD him who leaves off quarrelling although he be in the right, and in respect of a house in the middle of paradise for him who leaves off lying although it be in jest; and in res- pect of a house in the highest part of paradise for him whose disposition is the best. —Abu-Umamah, AB; Anas, TI. eves O Mu‘adh! be of noble disposition towards men. —Mu‘adh b. Jabal, MA. lg 5 Sea I asked the Prophet concerning righteousness and sin, He said, ‘Righteousness is to have a good disposition; and sin is what pricks within thy bosom, and what thou wouldst be averse to make public.’ ——‘A’n-Nawwas b. Sam‘an, MU: TI. f ej The man of good disposition certainly attains thereby the degree of the man of prayer and fasting. —Abu Darda, TI. (ee) val ‘Verily, the most beloved of me among you, and the nearest to me in regard to seat on the day of resurrection, will be he who is the best among you in point of disposi- tion. And the most hateful to me among you, and the farthest removed from me in regard to seat on the day of resurrection, will be the garrulous, and those who talk glibly, and those who talk tall.’ The companions said, ‘And, O Prophet of God! who talk tall?’ He said, “The vainglorious.’ —Jabir, TI.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 43