Fine Qualities

Rifa'a b. Rafi' told that Gabriel came to the Prophet and said, "How do you consider among you those who were present at Badr?" He replied, "Among the most excellent of the Muslims," or words to that effect. He said, "It is like that with the angels who were at Badr." Bukhari transmitted it.

Hafsa reported God's messenger as saying, "I hope that, if God will, no one who was present at Badr and al-Hudaibiya may enter hell." She asked if God most high had not said, "There is no one of you who will not go down to it[1]," and he replied, "Have you not heard Him say, 'Then We shall rescue those who are pious?[2]" A version has "If God will, not one of those who were present at the tree and swore allegiance under it will enter hell." 1. Quran; 19:4 2. Quran; 19:72Muslim transmitted it.

On the day of al-Hudaibiya, our numbers were one thousand four hundred, and the Prophet said to us, "To-day you are the best people on the earth." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God's messenger as saying, "He who goes up the pass, the pass of al-Murar[1], will have remitted to him what was remitted to the B. Isra'il." The first to go up it were our cavalry, the cavalry of the B. al-Khazraj; then all the people followed and God's messenger said, "You will all have your sins forgiven except the owner of the red camel[2]." We went to him and said, "Come and let God's messenger ask forgiveness for you," but he replied, "I would rather find my stray than have your companion ask forgiveness for me." Near Al Hudaibiya Abdullah bin UbayyMuslim transmitted it.The tradition of Anas that he said to Ubayy b. Ka'b, "God has commanded me to recite the Quran to you," has been mentioned in a chapter after that on the excellent qualities of the Quran.

Ibn Mas'ud reported the Prophet as saying, "When I am gone copy those two of my companions, Abu Bakr and `Umar, follow the guidance of `Ammar, and hold fast to the injunction of Ibn Umm `Abd.'' Hudhaifa's version has "Believe what Ibn Mas'ud tells you" Instead of "Hold fast to the injunction of Ibn Umm `Abd." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Ali reported God's messenger as saying, "If I were to appoint anyone as commander without [need for] consultation I would appoint Ibn Umm `Abd." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

I came to Medina and asked God to grant me a good companion to sit with and He granted me Abu Huraira. I sat with him and told him I had asked God to grant me a good companion to sit with and that he suited me. He asked where I came from and I replied that I belonged to al-kafa and had come desiring and seeking good. He then said, "Do you not have among you Sa'd b. Malik whose prayers are answered, Ibn Mas'ud who looked after God's messenger's water for ablution and his sandals, Hudhaifa who was God's messenger's confidant, `Ammar to whom God gave protection from the devil at the tongue of His Prophet, and Salman who was a believer in the two Books?" meaning the Injil and the Quran. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Abu Bakr is a fine man, `Umar is a fine man, Abu `Ubaida b. al-Jarrah is a fine man, Usaid b. Hudair is a fine man, Thabit b. Qais b. Shammas is a fine man, Mu'adh b. Jabal is a fine man, Mu'adh b. 'Amr b. al-Jamah is a fine man." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

'Ali, `Ammar and Salman." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Ali told that when `Ammar asked permission to come in to see the Prophet he said, "Let him come in. Welcome to the very good man!" Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`A'isha reported God's messenger as saying, "`Ammar is not given a choice between two things without choosing the more difficult and the lesser[*].''*Cf. Tirmidhi, Manaqib, 34. The editions of Cairo, 1875 and 1931-34, do not contain the word translated 'lesser,' and instead of ashaddahuma (the more difficult of them) they have asaddahuma (the more upright of them). Tirmidhi adds that this is a hasan gharib tradition.Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas told that when Sa'd b. Mu'adh's bier was carried the hypocrites said, "How light his bier is[*]!" that being because of his decision regarding the B. Quraiza. When the Prophet was told of that he said, "The angels were carrying it." *This was said to show how they despised him because of his decision regarding the B. Quraiza.Tirmidhi transmitted it.

"The sky has not covered and the earth has not carried anyone more truthful than Abu Dharr." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Dharr reported God's messenger as saying, "The sky has not covered and the earth has not carried anyone who speaks more truthfully or is more faithful in keeping his word than Abu Dharr. He resembles Jesus, son of Mary," i.e., in asceticism. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

When Mu'adh b. Jabal was on his deathbed he said, "Seek knowledge from four people, front `Uwaimir Abud Darda', from Salman, from Ibn Mas'ud, and from `Abdallah b. Salam who was a Jewish convert to Islam, for I heard God's messenger say he would be the tenth, to enter paradise." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Hudhaifa told that when the people expressed a desire that God's messenger should name a successor he said, "If I were to name a successor and you were to disobey him you would be punished, but believe what Hudhaifa tells you and recite what `Abdallah[*] recites to you."*i.e., Ibn Masud. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

There is no one who will be overtaken by trial regarding whom I do not fear it except Muhammad b. Maslama, for I heard God's messenger say, "Trial will not harm you."... transmitted it. The name of the collection of traditions is omitted. The tradition is in Abu Dawud, sunna, 12.

`A'isha told that when the Prophet saw a lamp in az-Zubair's house he said, "I think, `A'isha, that Asma'[*] must have given birth to a child. Do not give it a name till I do so." He named him `Abdallah and with his own hand rubbed his palate with a moistened date. *Wife of Az Zubair and sister of A'isha. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu `Amira told that the Prophet said of Mu'awiya, "O God, make him a guide who is rightly guided and guide others by him." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Uqba b. `Amir reported God's messenger as saying, "The people accepted Islam, but `Amr b. al-`As had faith[*]."*Some accepted Islam outwardly, possibly through fear, but `Amr was a genuine believer. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition whose isnad is not strong.