those who believe in God and His Messenger and do not doubt, but strive with their property and their persons in God’s path; the man whom people trust with their property and their persons; then the man who, when he is about to display greed, abandons it for the sake of God who is great and glorious.” Ahmad transmitted it.

‘Ali, Abud Darda’, Abu Huraira, Abu Umama, ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar, ‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr, Jabir b. ‘Abdallah and ‘Imran b. Husain all reported God’s Messenger as saying, "He who sends a contribution towards God’s path and stays in his house will have seven hundred dirhams for every dirham he contributes, but he who fights in person and contributes towards that expedition of his will have seven hundred thousand dirhams for every dirham he contributes.” Then he recited this verse, "And God multiplies to whom He will.” (Al-Qur’an; 2:261)Ibn Majah transmitted it.

(1) a believing man whose faith is good who meets the enemy and is sincere towards God till he is killed, and that is the one to whom men will raise their eyes on the day of resurrection thus (raising his head till his cap fell off, but I do not know whether he meant ‘Umar’s cap or the Prophet’s cap); (2) a believing man whose faith is good, who meets the enemy and appears as if his skin had been torn by acacia thorns through cowardice, and then is killed by a random arrow, he being in the second class; (3) a believing man who mingles a good deed with another which is bad who meets the enemy and is sincere towards God till he is killed, that one being in the third class; (4) a believing man who has been dissipated who meets the enemy and is sincere towards God till he is killed, that one being in the fourth class.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is hasan gharib tradition.

(1) a believer who strives with his property and person in God’s path and when he meets the enemy fights till he is killed. (Of him the Prophet said that that martyr who has suffered trial is in God's tent under- His Throne and is not excelled by the prophets except in the degree of the prophetic office.) (2) A believer who mingles a good deed with another which is evil, who fights with his person and property in God’s path, fighting till he is killed when he meets the enemy. (Of him the Prophet said that it is a cleansing agent which has obliterated his sins and his errors, for the sword obliterates errors, and he will be introduced by whichever of the gates of paradise he wishes.) (3) A hypocrite who strives with his person and property, and when he meets the enemy fights till he is killed; but that one will go to hell, for the sword does not obliterate hypocrisy.” Darimi transmitted it.

He told that he heard God's Messenger say, “The Byzantines will be defeated at your hands and God will defend you, but let none of you be so careless as not to employ his arrows.”* * i.e. they must not neglect to practise archery. The idea is that although God defends them, this does not absolve them from effort.Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Wagers are allowed only for shooting arrows, or racing camels or horses.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

‘Imran b. Husain reported God’s Messenger as saying, “There must be no shouting or leading another horse at one’s side."* Yahya added in his tradition, “when racing for a wager." * There must be no shouting to urge one’s horse on, and one must not take a horse alongside him to which he may transfer if he is afraid his horse may be beaten.Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted it with an addition in the section on seizing forcibly.

Abu Qatada reported the Prophet as saying, “The best type of horse is the black one with a blaze on its face and a white spot on its upper lip* next comes the horse with a blaze on its face and white on the legs, except on a right one. If it is not black, then a dark bay horse with those markings.”* Artham. This may mean either that it has a white spot on its upper lip, or on the point of its nose.Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Ali told that God's Messenger was presented with a she-mule which he rode, so ‘Ali said, “If we made asses cover mares we would have animals of this type,” to which God’s Messenger replied, “Only those who do not know do that.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Hud b, ‘Abdallah b. Sa'd quoted his grandfather Mazida* as saying that on the day of the Conquest of Mecca God’s Messenger entered with gold and silver on his sword. *i.e. on his mother’s side.Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

As-Sa’ib b. Yazid told that the Prophet wore two coats of mail at the battle of Uhud as a double protection. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet’s standard1 was black and his banner2 white. 1. Raya.2. Liwa’. The standard was larger than the banner.Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The bell is the devil’s pipes.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When you travel in fertile country give the camels their due from the ground, and when you travel in time of drought make them go quickly. When you encamp at night keep away from the roads, for they are where the beasts pass and are the resort of insects at night." A version has, “When you travel in time of drought hasten with them while they have their marrow." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Travel is a piece of punishment which deprives a man of his sleep, food and drink; so when he accomplishes his purpose where he has gone he should hasten to his family.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, "The best number of companions is four, the best number in expeditions four hundred, and the best number in armies four thousand; and twelve thousand will not be overcome through smallness of numbers." Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a gharib tradition.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “Do not treat the backs of your beasts as pulpits, for God most high has made them subject to you only to convey you to a town which you could not reach without difficulty; and He has appointed the earth for you, so conduct your business on it." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Buraida told that while God’s Messenger was walking a man who had an ass came to him and, moving to the back of the animal, invited him to mount, but he said, “No; you have more right to ride in front on your animal unless you grant that right to me." The man replied that he did, and so he mounted. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Sa'id b. Abu Hind told that Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “There are camels which belong to devils and houses which belong to devils." He1 said he had seen the devils’ camels; one goes out with fine she-camels which he has fattened, neither riding any of them nor giving a lift to a tired brother whom he meets, but he had not seen the devils' houses. Sa'id used to say he thought they were those cages which concealed people2 with brocade. 1. It is commonly held that this refers to Abu Huraira. 2. A various reading has ‘which people concealed’. The cages mean the litters on camels' backs.Abu Dawud transmitted it.

An-Nu‘man b. Muqarrin said he was present at fighting along with God’s Messenger, and when he did not fight at the beginning of the day he waited till the winds blew and the time of prayer came. Bukhari transmitted it.