Ibn ‘Abbas reported God's Messenger as saying, “There are no days in which a good deed is more pleasing to God than these ten days.” On being asked whether not even jihad in God’s path were as pleasing, he replied, “Not even jihad in God’s path, except when a man goes out in person with his property and loses both life and property.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Jabir said that on the day of sacrifice the Prophet sacrificed two horned rams which were white with black markings and had been castrated. Then when he made them face the qibla he said, “I have turned my face towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, following Abraham’s religion as a hanif, and I am not one of the polytheists. My prayer, my religious rites, my life and my death belong to God, the Lord of the universe, who has no partner. That is what I was commanded to do, and I am one of the Muslims (Al-Qur’an; 6:161-163). O God, it comes from Thee and is given to Thee from Muhammad and his people. In the name of God, and God is most great.” Then he made sacrifice. Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it. A version by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi says that he sacrificed with his own hand and said, “In the name of God, and God is most great. O God, this is from me and from those of my people who have not sacrificed.”

Abu Said said God’s Messenger used to sacrifice a choice, horned ram with black round the eyes, the mouth and the feet. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, "On the day of sacrifice no one does a deed more pleasing to God than the shedding of blood. The sacrifice will come on the day of resurrection with its horns, its hairs and its hoofs, and the blood finds acceptance with God before it falls on the ground, so be glad about it.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, "There are no days on which God likes better to be worshipped than the ten days of Dhul Hijja. Fasting observed on each of these days is equivalent to a year’s fasting, and prayer during each of these nights is equivalent to prayer during Lailat al-qadr.’** A night towards the end of Ramadan. See Book 7, Chap. 9.Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but Tirmidhi said its isnad is weak.

We were standing with God’s Messenger at ‘Arafa, and I heard him say, “O people, every family must offer annually a sacrifice and an ‘atira. Do you know what the ‘atira is? It is what you call the Rajab sacrifice.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition with a weak isnad, and Abu Dawud said the ‘atira has been abrogated.

There was an eclipse of the sun in the time of God’s Messenger and he prayed accompanied by the people. He stood for a long time, about as long as it would take to recite Sura al- Baqara;(Al-Qur’an; 1) then he bowed for a long time; then he raised his head and stood for a long time; but it was less than the first time; then he bowed for a long time, but it was less than the first bowing; then he raised his head; then he prostrated himself; then he stood for a long time, but it was less than the first time ; then he bowed for a long time, but it was less than the first bowing; then he raised his head and stood for a long time, but it was less than the first time; then he bowed for a long time, but it was less than the first bowing; then he raised his head; then he prostrated himself; then he departed, and the sun had become bright. He said, “The sun and the moon are two of God’s signs; they are not eclipsed on account of anyone’s death or on account of anyone’s birth; 1 so when you see that, make mention of God.” The people said, “Messenger of God, we saw you reach out to something while you were standing here, then we saw you move back.” He replied, “I saw paradise and reached out to a bunch of its grapes; and had I taken it you would have eaten of it as long as the world endures. I also saw hell. No such abominable sight have I ever seen as that which I saw today; and I observed that most of its inhabitants were women." They asked why that was and he replied that it was for their ingratitude (bi-kufrihinna). He was asked whether they disbelieved in God2 and replied, “They are ungrateful to their husbands and they are ungrateful for kindness. If you were to treat one of them kindly for ever and she later saw some defect in you, she would say she had never seen any good in you." 1. Literally, life. 2. The word kufr means both ingratitude and unbelief, which explains why the remark was misunderstood.(Bukhari and Muslim.)

Then he prostrated himself for a long time, then departed and the sun had become clear. He preached to the people, and after praising and extolling God he said, “The sun and the moon are two of God’s signs; they are not eclipsed on account of anyone’s death or on account of anyone's birth, so when you see that supplicate God, declare His greatness, pray and give alms." He then said, “O people of Muhammad, I swear by God that no one is more indignant than God when His servant or handmaiden commits fornication. O people of Muhammad, I swear by God that if you knew what I know you would laugh little and weep much." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir said there was an eclipse of the sun in the time of God’s Messenger on the day his son Ibrahim died. He led the people in prayer, performing six bowings and four prostrations. Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that when an eclipse of the sun took place, God’s Messenger prayed performing eight bowings and four prostrations. There is a similar tradition from 'Ali. Muslim transmitted it.

'Ikrima said that when Ibn ‘Abbas was told that a certain wife of the Prophet had died, he prostrated himself. Someone asked him why he made prostration at such a time, and he replied, “God’s Messenger told us to prostrate ourselves when we saw a sign, and what sign is greater than the departure of the Prophet's wives?” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Zaid said God's Messenger took the people out to the place of prayer and prayed for rain. He led them in two rak'as in the course of which he recited from the Qur'an in a loud voice. He faced the qibla making supplication, raised his hands and turned round his cloak when he faced the qibla. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said the Prophet was not accustomed to raise his hands in any supplication he made except when praying for rain. He would then raise them high enough for the whiteness under his armpits to be visible. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Umair client of Abul Lahm said he saw the Prophet praying for rain at Ahjar az-Zait1 near az-Zaura’,2 standing, making supplication, praying for rain and raising his hands in front of his face, but not lifting them above his head. 1. A part of Medina which is said to have got the name because of the black stones there which looked as if they had been smeared with oil. 2. A house in Medina.Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted something similar.

'Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, quoted his grandfather as saying that when the Prophet prayed for rain he said, "O God, provide water for Thy servants and Thy cattle, display Thy mercy and give life to Thy dead land.” Malik and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Anas said that when they experienced a drought ‘Umar b. al-Khattab prayed for rain by virtue of al-‘Abbas b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib, and said, "O God, we used to supplicate Thee by virtue of our prophet and Thou didst give us water. We are now supplicating Thee by virtue of our prophet’s uncle, so give us water.” He said that they were then given water. Bukhari transmitted it.

Winds.Ibn 'Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I have been helped by the east wind, and ‘Ad* were destroyed by the west wind.” 1. An ancient people who were destroyed because of their rejection of the prophet Hud. Cf. Qur’an, 11:50 ff., etc. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She reported the Prophet as saying when the wind was stormy, "O God, I ask Thee for what is good in it, in what it contains and in what it was sent for; and I seek refuge in Thee from what is evil in it, in what it contains and in what it was sent for.” When the sky became black his colour changed and he went out and in, backwards and forwards, but when the rain came his alarm was removed. ‘A’isha noticed that and asked him about it and he replied, “Perhaps, ‘A’isha, it may be as the people of ‘Ad said. When they saw a cloud formation coming towards their valleys they said it was a cloud formation which would give them rain.” A version says that when he saw rain he would say, “Make it a blessing.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

No wind ever blew without the Prophet getting down on his knees and saying, "O God, make it a blessing and do not make it a punishment. O God, make it to be winds and do not make it a single wind.” Ibn ‘Abbas remarked that the Book of God most high contains these words, "We sent upon them a furious wind;"1 "We sent upon them the devastating wind;"2 "And We sent the winds fertilising;"3 and "We sent the winds as heralds of glad tidings."4 1. Al-Qur’an; 41:16. 2. Al-Qur’an; 51:41. 3. Al-Qur’an; 15:22. 4. Cf. Al-Qur an; 30:46. The quotation is not quite accurate. The quotations are meant to show that when 'wind’ is used without qualification in the Qur’an it indicates punishment, but the use of 'winds without qualification indicates blessing.Shafi'i and Baihaqi, in [Kitab] ad-da'awat al-kabir, transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that when the Prophet saw something rising in the sky, meaning clouds, he left what he was doing, faced them and said, "O God, I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of what they contain." If God cleared them away he praised Him, and if rain fell he said, "O God, give a beneficial fall.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Shafi'i transmitted it, the wording being Shafi'i's.