Beginning of Creation

Muhammad ibn Kathir narrated to us: Sufyan informed us, from Jamiʿ ibn Shaddad, from Safwan ibn Muharriz, from ʿImran ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: Some men from Banu Tamim came to the Prophet (ﷺ), and he said, ‘Banu Tamim, rejoice in good tidings.’ They said, ‘You have given us good tidings, so give us something.’ His expression changed. Then the people of Yemen came, and he said, ‘People of Yemen, accept the good tidings, since Banu Tamim did not accept them.’ They said, ‘We accept them.’ The Prophet (ﷺ) began speaking to them about the beginning of creation and the Throne. Then a man came and said, ‘ʿImran, your riding camel has strayed.’ I got up and left; I wish I had not gotten up.

ʿUmar ibn Hafs ibn Ghiyath narrated to us: My father narrated to us: al-Aʿmash narrated to us: Jamiʿ ibn Shaddad narrated to us, from Safwan ibn Muharriz, who related to him, from ʿImran ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: I entered upon the Prophet (ﷺ) and tethered my she-camel at the door. Some people of Banu Tamim came to him, and he said, ‘Accept the good tidings, Banu Tamim.’ They said twice, ‘You have given us good tidings, so give us something.’ Then some people of Yemen came in, and he said, ‘Accept the good tidings, people of Yemen, since Banu Tamim did not accept them.’ They said, ‘We accept them, Messenger of Allah. We have come to ask you about this matter.’ He said, ‘Allah was, and there was nothing other than Him; His Throne was over the water; He wrote everything in the Reminder; and He created the heavens and the earth.’ Then a caller shouted, ‘Your she-camel has wandered off, Ibn al-Husayn!’ I went out, and there it was, with the mirage stretching between us. By Allah, I wished I had left it there.’

And ʿIsa related from Raqaba, from Qays ibn Muslim, from Tariq ibn Shihab, who said: I heard ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him) say: The Prophet (ﷺ) stood among us one day and spoke at length, informing us about the beginning of creation until the people of Paradise entered their dwellings and the people of the Fire entered theirs. Whoever retained it retained it, and whoever forgot it forgot it.

ʿAbd Allah ibn Abi Shayba narrated to me, from Abu Ahmad, from Sufyan, from Abu al-Zinad, from al-Aʿraj, from Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Prophet (ﷺ)—I think he said: ‘Allah says: The son of Adam insults Me, though he should not insult Me, and denies Me, though he should not deny Me. His insulting Me is his saying, “I have a child”; and his denying Me is his saying, “He will not restore me as He began me.”’

Qutayba ibn Saʿid narrated to us: Mughira ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman al-Qurashi narrated to us, from Abu al-Zinad, from al-Aʿraj, from Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When Allah completed creation, He wrote in His Book, which is with Him above the Throne: “My mercy prevails over My wrath.”’

ʿAli ibn ʿAbd Allah informed us: Ibn ʿUlayya informed us, from ʿAli ibn al-Mubarak: Yahya ibn Abi Kathir narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Harith, from Abu Salama ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman, who had a dispute with some people over land. He went to ʿAʾisha and told her about it. She said, ‘Abu Salama, stay away from the land, for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever wrongfully takes even a handspan of land, it will be made a collar around his neck reaching down through seven earths.”’

Bishr ibn Muhammad narrated to us: ʿAbd Allah informed us, from Musa ibn ʿUqba, from Salim, from his father, who said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever takes any land without right will be swallowed by the earth down through seven earths on the Day of Resurrection.’

Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna narrated to us: ʿAbd al-Wahhab narrated to us: Ayyub narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Sirin, from Ibn Abi Bakra, from Abu Bakra (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Prophet (ﷺ), who said: ‘Time has returned to its original form, as it was on the day Allah created the heavens and the earth. The year has twelve months, four of them sacred: three consecutive months—Dhu al-Qaʿda, Dhu al-Hijja, and al-Muharram—and Rajab of Mudar, which lies between Jumada and Shaʿban.’

ʿUbayd ibn Ismaʿil narrated to me: Abu Usama narrated to us, from Hisham, from his father, from Saʿid ibn Zayd ibn ʿAmr ibn Nufayl, that Arwa disputed with him before Marwan over a right she claimed he had diminished. Saʿid said, ‘Would I take away any of her right? I testify that I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Whoever wrongfully takes a handspan of land, it will be placed around his neck on the Day of Resurrection, reaching down through seven earths.”’ Ibn Abi al-Zinad related from Hisham, from his father, who said: Saʿid ibn Zayd told me, ‘I entered upon the Prophet (ﷺ).’

Muhammad ibn Yusuf narrated to us: Sufyan narrated to us, from al-Aʿmash, from Ibrahim al-Taymi, from his father, from Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: At sunset, the Prophet (ﷺ) said to Abu Dharr, ‘Do you know where it goes?’ I said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘It goes until it prostrates beneath the Throne and seeks permission. It is permitted. The time is near when it will prostrate and its prostration will not be accepted; it will seek permission and not be permitted. It will be told, “Return from where you came.” Then it will rise from its setting place. That is His, the Exalted’s, saying: “And the sun runs toward its appointed resting place; that is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.”’

Musaddad narrated to us: ʿAbd al-ʿAziz ibn al-Mukhtar narrated to us: ʿAbd Allah al-Danaj narrated to us, saying: Abu Salama ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman narrated to me, from Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Prophet (ﷺ), who said: ‘The sun and the moon will be folded up on the Day of Resurrection.’

Yahya ibn Sulayman said: Ibn Wahb narrated to me, saying: ʿAmr informed me that ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn al-Qasim related to him, from his father, from ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both), who used to report from the Prophet (ﷺ) that he said: ‘The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. They are two signs among Allah’s signs. When you see them, pray.’

Ismaʿil ibn Abi Uways narrated to us, saying: Malik narrated to me, from Zayd ibn Aslam, from ʿAtaʾ ibn Yasar, from ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘The sun and the moon are two signs among Allah’s signs. They do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. When you see that, remember Allah.’

Yahya ibn Bukayr narrated to us: al-Layth narrated to us, from ʿUqayl, from Ibn Shihab, who said: ʿUrwa informed me that ʿAʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her) told him that on the day the sun eclipsed, Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) stood, said the takbir, and recited a lengthy recitation. Then he bowed at length, raised his head and said, ‘Allah hears whoever praises Him,’ and remained standing as he was. He recited a lengthy recitation, shorter than the first, then bowed at length, shorter than the first bowing, and prostrated at length. He did the same in the second rakʿah, then gave the salutation as the sun had cleared. He addressed the people and said regarding solar and lunar eclipses: ‘They are two signs among Allah’s signs. They do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. When you see them, hasten to prayer.’

Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna narrated to me: Yahya narrated to us, from Ismaʿil, who said: Qays narrated to me, from Abu Masʿud (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Prophet (ﷺ), who said: ‘The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. They are two signs among Allah’s signs. When you see them, pray.’

Adam narrated to us: Shuʿba narrated to us, from al-Hakam, from Mujahid, from Ibn ʿAbbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), from the Prophet (ﷺ), who said: ‘I was aided by the easterly wind, and the people of ʿAd were destroyed by the westerly wind.’

Makki ibn Ibrahim narrated to us: Ibn Jurayj narrated to us, from ʿAtaʾ, from ʿAʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: When the Prophet (ﷺ) saw a cloud in the sky, he would go back and forth, enter and leave, and his face would change. When the sky rained, he would be relieved. ʿAʾisha recognized this state in him, and the Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘I do not know; perhaps it is as some people said: “When they saw it as a cloud approaching their valleys…”’—the verse.

Hudba ibn Khalid narrated to us: Hammam narrated to us, from Qatada. Khalifa also said to me: Yazid ibn Zurayʿ narrated to us, from Saʿid and Hisham, both of whom narrated to us from Qatada: Anas ibn Malik narrated to us, from Malik ibn Saʿsaʿa (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘While I was at the House, between sleep and wakefulness’—and he mentioned himself as between two men—‘a basin of gold filled with wisdom and faith was brought to me. My body was split open from the hollow of the throat to the lower abdomen, then my abdomen was washed with Zamzam water, then filled with wisdom and faith. A white mount was brought to me, smaller than a mule and larger than a donkey: al-Buraq. I set out with Gabriel until we reached the lowest heaven. It was said, “Who is this?” He said, “Gabriel.” It was said, “Who is with you?” He said, “Muhammad.” It was said, “Has he been sent for?” He said, “Yes.” It was said, “He is welcome; what an excellent arrival!” I came to Adam and greeted him. He said, “Welcome, son and Prophet.”’

‘We reached the second heaven, and the same questions were asked. Gabriel said, “Muhammad,” and when asked whether he had been sent for, said, “Yes.” It was said, “He is welcome; what an excellent arrival!” I came to Jesus and John, and they said, “Welcome, brother and Prophet.” We reached the third heaven and the same exchange took place. I came to Joseph and greeted him; he said, “Welcome, brother and Prophet.” We reached the fourth heaven and the same exchange took place. I came to Idris and greeted him; he said, “Welcome, brother and Prophet.” We reached the fifth heaven and the same exchange took place. We came to Aaron, and I greeted him; he said, “Welcome, brother and Prophet.” We reached the sixth heaven and the same exchange took place. I came to Moses and greeted him; he said, “Welcome, brother and Prophet.” When I passed beyond him, he wept. He was asked, “What makes you weep?” He said, “My Lord, this young man who was sent after me—more of his community will enter Paradise than of my community.”’

‘We reached the seventh heaven, and the same exchange took place. I came to Abraham and greeted him; he said, “Welcome, son and Prophet.” Then the Frequented House was raised up for me. I asked Gabriel about it, and he said, “This is the Frequented House. Every day seventy thousand angels pray in it; when they leave, they do not return to it.” The Lote Tree of the Farthest Boundary was raised up for me. Its lote fruits were like the large water jars of Hajar, and its leaves were like elephant ears. At its base were four rivers, two hidden and two visible. I asked Gabriel about them. He said, “The two hidden ones are in Paradise, and the two visible ones are the Nile and the Euphrates.”’

‘Then fifty prayers were prescribed for me. I went back and came to Moses. He asked, “What has been prescribed for you?” I said, “Fifty prayers.” He said, “I know people better than you; I dealt with the Children of Israel most rigorously, and your community will not be able to bear it. Return to your Lord and ask Him.” I returned and asked Him, and He made them forty. Then the same exchange took place, and He made them thirty; then the same, and He made them twenty; then the same, and He made them ten. I came to Moses, and he said the same. He made them five. I came to Moses, and he asked, “What has been prescribed for you?” I said, “He made them five.” He said the same. I said, “I accept gladly.” Then a call came: “I have confirmed My obligation and made things easier for My servants; I reward one good deed tenfold.”’ Hammam also related from Qatada, from al-Hasan, from Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Prophet (ﷺ), the phrase: ‘in the Frequented House.’

Al-Hasan ibn al-Rabiʿ narrated to us: Abu al-Ahwas narrated to us, from al-Aʿmash, from Zayd ibn Wahb. ʿAbd Allah said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), the truthful and confirmed as truthful, narrated to us: ‘Each of you is gathered in his mother’s womb for forty days. Then he is a clinging clot for a similar period, then a lump of flesh for a similar period. Then Allah sends an angel, who is commanded to record four things. It is said to him: “Record his deeds, his provision, his lifespan, and whether he will be wretched or blessed.” Then the spirit is breathed into him. A man among you may act until there is only a cubit between him and Paradise, then what was written for him overtakes him, and he acts with the deeds of the people of the Fire. And a man may act until there is only a cubit between him and the Fire, then what was written for him overtakes him, and he acts with the deeds of the people of Paradise.’

Muhammad ibn Salam narrated to us: Makhlad informed us: Ibn Jurayj informed us, saying: Musa ibn ʿUqba informed me, from Nafiʿ, who said: Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) related from the Prophet (ﷺ). Abu ʿAsim also related it from Ibn Jurayj, who said: Musa ibn ʿUqba informed me, from Nafiʿ, from Abu Hurayra, from the Prophet (ﷺ), who said: ‘When Allah loves a servant, He calls Gabriel and says, “Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.” Gabriel loves him, then calls out among the inhabitants of heaven: “Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.” The inhabitants of heaven love him, then acceptance of him is placed on earth.’