General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab)

Buraydah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: Some eloquence is like magic, some knowledge is ignorance, some poetry is wisdom, and some speech is burdensome. Saasah ibn Suhan said: The Prophet of Allah spoke truly. Some eloquence is like magic: a man may be owed a right, while the other party is more skilled in argument; he beguiles people with his eloquence and takes away the right. Some knowledge is ignorance: a scholar may presume to know what he does not know, and that makes him ignorant. Some poetry is wisdom: these are admonitions and examples by which people take heed. Some speech is burdensome: presenting your words and conversation to someone for whom it is irrelevant and who does not want it.

Said said: Umar passed by Hassan as he recited poetry in the mosque and looked at him. Hassan said, I used to recite poetry there when someone better than you was present, meaning the Prophet.

Abu Hurayrah reported a similar version through a different chain. It adds: Umar feared that Hassan would attack him using the Messenger of Allah as his support, so Umar allowed him to continue.

Aisha reported that the Messenger of Allah used to set up a pulpit in the mosque for Hassan, who stood on it and satirized those who spoke against the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah said: The Holy Spirit is with Hassan as long as he defends the Messenger of Allah.

Ibn Abbas said concerning the verse, The poets are followed by those who stray: Allah abrogated part of this and made an exception, saying: Except those who believe, do righteous deeds, and remember Allah often.

Abu Hurayrah reported that after the Messenger of Allah finished the dawn prayer, he would ask: Did any of you have a dream last night? He also said: Nothing of prophethood remains after me except a righteous dream.

Ubadah ibn al-Samit reported that the Prophet said: A believers vision is one part of forty-six parts of prophethood.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said: As the time draws near, a believers dream will scarcely be false. The truest in speech among them will have the truest dreams. Dreams are of three kinds: a good dream is glad tidings from Allah; a distressing dream is from Satan; and a dream may come from what a person tells himself. If one of you sees something he dislikes, let him get up and pray, and not tell people about it. He said: I like a fetter and dislike a neck shackle; a fetter signifies steadfastness in religion. Abu Dawud explained the phrase as the time when night and day draw near to equality.

Abu Razin reported that the Messenger of Allah said: A dream remains poised on a birds leg until it is interpreted; once interpreted, it comes to pass. I think he also said: Tell it only to someone who loves you or to a person of sound judgment.

Abu Qatadah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: A good vision is from Allah, while a disturbing dream is from Satan. If one of you sees something he dislikes, let him blow lightly to his left three times and seek refuge in Allah from its evil; then it will not harm him.

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah said: If one of you sees a dream he dislikes, let him spit lightly to his left, seek refuge in Allah from Satan three times, and turn over from the side on which he was lying.

Abu Hurayrah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: Whoever sees me in a dream will see me while awake—or it is as though he has seen me while awake—for Satan cannot take my form.

Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet said: Whoever makes an image will be punished by Allah for it on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked to breathe life into it, though he cannot. Whoever falsely claims to have dreamed something will be tasked with tying a knot in a grain of barley. Whoever listens in on people when they are avoiding him will have molten lead poured into his ears on the Day of Resurrection.

Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah said: Last night I dreamed that we were in the house of Uqbah ibn Rafi and were brought fresh dates from Ibn Tab. I interpreted it to mean that elevation would be ours in this world, a good outcome in the Hereafter, and that our religion had become wholesome.

Abu Said al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah said: When one of you yawns, let him cover his mouth with his hand, for Satan enters.

A similar report from Suhayl says: During prayer, restrain the yawn as much as possible.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: Allah loves sneezing and dislikes yawning. When one of you yawns, let him restrain it as much as he can and not say, Ah, ah, for that is from Satan, who laughs at him.

Abu Hurayrah reported that when the Messenger of Allah sneezed, he put his hand or garment over his mouth and lowered his voice. Yahya was unsure whether the verb meant lowered or subdued.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: A Muslim owes five things to his brother: returning the greeting, invoking mercy for him when he sneezes, accepting an invitation, visiting him when ill, and following his funeral.

Hilal ibn Yasaf said: We were with Salim ibn Ubayd when a man sneezed and said, Peace be upon you. Salim replied, And upon you and your mother. Later he asked the man whether my words had upset you. The man said, I wish you had not mentioned my mother, for good or ill. Salim said, I only said to you what the Messenger of Allah said. We were with the Messenger of Allah when a man sneezed and said, Peace be upon you. The Messenger of Allah replied, And upon you and your mother. He then said: When one of you sneezes, let him praise Allah. The report mentions some forms of praise, then says: Those with him should say, May Allah have mercy on you; and he should reply, May Allah forgive us and you.