Chapters on Tafsir

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

‘Imran ibn Husayn reported: ‘We were traveling with the Prophet when some Companions lagged behind. The Messenger of Allah raised his voice reciting the two verses, “O people, be mindful of your Lord; the convulsion of the Hour is tremendous…” through “But Allah’s punishment is severe” (Qur’an 22:1–2). When his Companions heard him, they hurried their mounts and realized he had something to tell them. He asked, “Do you know what day this is?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “It is a day when Allah will call Adam and say, ‘Adam, send forth those destined for the Fire.’ Adam will ask, ‘My Lord, how many?’ Allah will say, ‘From every thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine to the Fire and one to Paradise.’”’

The people despaired so deeply that they could hardly smile. Seeing their state, the Messenger of Allah said, “Strive and rejoice! By the One in whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, you will be counted alongside two vast creations: Gog and Magog, and those among the descendants of Adam and Iblis who have died.” Some of their distress lifted. He then said, “Strive and rejoice! By the One in whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, among all people you are like a mole on a camel’s flank or a mark on an animal’s foreleg.”

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih report.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

‘Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr reported that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘The House is called al-Bayt al-‘Atiq (the Ancient House) because no tyrant has ever prevailed over it.’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih report. It has also been transmitted from al-Zuhri directly from the Prophet as a mursal report. Qutaybah transmitted a similar version through al-Layth, from ‘Uqayl, from al-Zuhri, from the Prophet.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported: ‘When the Prophet was driven out of Makkah, Abu Bakr said, “They have driven out their Prophet; they are surely doomed.” Then Allah revealed: “Permission to fight is granted to those who are fought, because they have been wronged; and Allah is surely able to grant them victory” (Qur’an 22:39). Abu Bakr said, “I knew then that fighting would take place.”’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan report. ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Mahdi and others transmitted it from Sufyan, from al-A‘mash, from Muslim al-Batin, from Sa‘id ibn Jubayr, as a mursal report without Ibn ‘Abbas in the chain.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Sa‘id ibn Jubayr reported: ‘When the Prophet was driven out of Makkah, a man said, “They have driven out their Prophet.” Then these verses were revealed: “Permission to fight is granted to those who are fought, because they have been wronged; and Allah is surely able to grant them victory—those who were driven from their homes without right” (Qur’an 22:39–40). They were the Prophet and his Companions.’

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Abd al-Qari‘ reported: ‘I heard ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab say: When revelation came to the Prophet, a sound like the humming of bees could be heard near his face. One day revelation came to him and we waited for a while. When it had lifted, he faced the qiblah, raised his hands, and said, “O Allah, increase us and do not diminish us; honor us and do not humiliate us; give to us and do not deprive us; favor us and do not favor others over us; make us content and be pleased with us.” Then the Prophet said, “Ten verses have been revealed to me; whoever upholds them will enter Paradise,” and he recited “Successful indeed are the believers” through the end of ten verses (Qur’an 23:1–10).’

A second chain through Yunus ibn Yazid from al-Zuhri gives a similar report. Abu ‘Isa said this is more accurate than the first report. He heard Ishaq ibn Mansur say that Ahmad ibn Hanbal, ‘Ali ibn al-Madini, and Ishaq ibn Ibrahim transmitted it from ‘Abd al-Razzaq, from Yunus ibn Sulaym, from Yunus ibn Yazid, from al-Zuhri.

Abu ‘Isa said: Those who heard from ‘Abd al-Razzaq early included Yunus ibn Yazid in the chain; some others did not. The version that includes Yunus ibn Yazid is more accurate. ‘Abd al-Razzaq sometimes mentioned Yunus ibn Yazid and sometimes omitted him. When Yunus is omitted, the report is mursal.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Anas ibn Malik reported: ‘Al-Rubayyi‘ bint al-Nadr came to the Prophet. Her son, Harithah ibn Suraqah, had been struck by a stray arrow and killed at Badr. She said, “Tell me about Harithah. If he has attained good, I will accept it and be patient; if not, I will earnestly pray for him.” The Prophet said, “Mother of Harithah, there are gardens in Paradise, and your son has attained the highest Firdaws. Firdaws is the elevated place in Paradise, its central part and its finest.”’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih gharib report from Anas.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa‘id ibn Wahb al-Hamdani reported that ‘A’ishah, the Prophet’s wife, said: ‘I asked the Messenger of Allah about the verse “Those who give what they give while their hearts tremble” (Qur’an 23:60). I asked, “Are they the ones who drink wine and steal?” He replied, “No, daughter of al-Siddiq. They are those who fast, pray, and give charity while fearing that it may not be accepted from them. Those are the ones who hasten to good deeds and are foremost in them” (23:61).’

A similar report is also narrated from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa‘id, from Abu Hazim, from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet, explaining Allah’s words “Their faces will be grim” (Qur’an 23:104), said: ‘The Fire will disfigure them: the upper lip will contract until it reaches the middle of the head, and the lower lip will sag until it strikes the navel.’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih gharib report.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

‘Amr ibn Shu‘ayb reported from his father, from his grandfather: ‘There was a man named Marthad ibn Abi Marthad who carried captives from Makkah to Madinah. In Makkah there was a prostitute named ‘Anaq, who had been his companion. He had promised a captive from Makkah that he would transport him. One moonlit night I came to a wall in Makkah. ‘Anaq arrived, saw the shadow beside the wall, recognized me, and called, “Marthad?” I said, “Marthad.” She said, “Welcome. Come and spend the night with us.” I replied, “‘Anaq, Allah has forbidden fornication.” She called out to the people in the tents, “Here is the man who carries your captives away!” Eight men followed me. I went through the pass of al-Khandamah and reached a cave. I entered, and they came and stood above me, urinating until their urine fell over my head, but Allah kept them from seeing me.’

‘When they left, I returned to my companion and carried him. He was heavy. When we reached al-Idhkhir, I freed him from his shackles, and he helped me carry him until we reached Madinah. I went to the Messenger of Allah and asked twice, “Messenger of Allah, may I marry ‘Anaq?” He remained silent and gave me no answer until this was revealed: “A fornicator marries none but a fornicatress or a polytheist woman; and none marries a fornicatress but a fornicator or a polytheist man. That has been forbidden to the believers” (Qur’an 24:3). Then the Messenger of Allah said, “Marthad, a fornicator marries none but a fornicatress or a polytheist woman, and none marries a fornicatress but a fornicator or a polytheist man. So do not marry her.”’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib report. We know it only through this route.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Sa‘id ibn Jubayr said: ‘During the governorship of Mus‘ab ibn al-Zubayr, I was asked whether spouses who had performed li‘an were to be separated. I did not know what to say, so I went to the home of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar and asked permission to enter. I was told he was resting, but he heard me and said, “Ibn Jubayr, come in. You would only have come for a need.” I entered and found him lying on the saddlecloth of his mount. I asked, “Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman, are spouses who perform li‘an separated?” He said, “Glory be to Allah! Yes.”’

‘The first to ask about this was so-and-so, son of so-and-so. He came to the Prophet and said, “Messenger of Allah, if one of us finds his wife committing adultery, what should he do? If he speaks, he says something grave; if he remains silent, he remains silent about something grave.” The Prophet did not answer him. Later the man came and said, “The matter I asked you about has happened to me.” Then Allah revealed the verses in Surat al-Nur: “Those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves…” through the end of the verses (Qur’an 24:6–10).’

‘The Prophet called the man, recited the verses to him, admonished him, reminded him, and told him that punishment in this world is easier than punishment in the Hereafter. The man said, “No, by the One who sent you with the truth, I have not lied about her.” The Prophet then addressed the woman similarly, admonishing and reminding her, and telling her that punishment in this world is easier than in the Hereafter. She said, “No, by the One who sent you with the truth, he is not telling the truth.”’

‘The man then testified four times by Allah that he was truthful, and the fifth time invoked Allah’s curse upon himself if he was lying. Then the woman testified four times by Allah that he was lying, and the fifth time invoked Allah’s wrath upon herself if he was truthful. The Prophet then separated them.’

A report on this topic is also narrated from Sahl ibn Sa‘d. Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih report.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported: ‘Hilal ibn Umayyah accused his wife before the Prophet of adultery with Sharik ibn al-Sahma’. The Messenger of Allah said, “Produce proof, or you will be punished on your back.” Hilal said, “Messenger of Allah, if one of us sees a man with his wife, must he go and seek witnesses?” The Prophet kept saying, “Produce proof, or you will be punished on your back.” Hilal said, “By the One who sent you with the truth, I am truthful, and Allah will surely reveal something about my case that will spare me the punishment.” Then the verses were revealed: “Those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves…” through the verse stating that the fifth oath is Allah’s wrath upon her if he is truthful (Qur’an 24:6–9).’

The Prophet sent for the couple. Hilal stood and gave his testimony, while the Prophet said, “Allah knows that one of you is lying. Will either of you repent?” Then the woman stood and gave her testimony. When she reached the fifth oath—that Allah’s wrath would be upon her if he was truthful—the people warned her, “It is binding.” Ibn ‘Abbas said: ‘She hesitated and lowered her head until we thought she would withdraw, but then she said, “I will not disgrace my people for the rest of the day.”’ The Prophet said, “Watch her: if she gives birth to a child with kohl-dark eyes, full buttocks, and thick lower legs, then he is Sharik ibn al-Sahma’s.” She gave birth to a child with those features. The Prophet said, “Were it not for what had already been decreed in Allah’s Book, there would have been a matter between us and her.”’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib report through this route from Hisham ibn Hassan. ‘Abbad ibn Mansur also transmitted it from ‘Ikrimah, from Ibn ‘Abbas, from the Prophet. Ayyub transmitted it from ‘Ikrimah as a mursal report, without mentioning Ibn ‘Abbas.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

‘A’ishah reported: ‘When the accusation about me was being discussed, though I knew nothing of it, the Messenger of Allah stood and addressed the people. He praised Allah and said, “People, advise me about those who have slandered my family. By Allah, I know nothing bad about my family. They have also accused a man of whom, by Allah, I know nothing bad. He has never entered my home when I was absent, nor have I traveled without him accompanying me.” Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh stood and said, “Messenger of Allah, give me permission to strike their necks.” A man from the Khazraj stood; the mother of Hassan ibn Thabit was from his clan. He said, “You lie! If they were from the Aws, you would not want their necks struck.” The dispute nearly brought hostility between Aws and Khazraj in the mosque.’

‘That evening I went out for a need with Umm Mistah. She stumbled and said, “May Mistah be ruined!” I said, “Mother, are you cursing your son?” She was silent. She stumbled again and said it again. The third time, I rebuked her, and she said, “By Allah, I say it because of you.” I asked, “What about me?” She told me the whole story. I said, “Has this really happened?” She said, “Yes, by Allah.” I returned home so stunned that I had forgotten what I had gone out for, and I became ill. I asked the Messenger of Allah to send me to my father’s house, and he sent a young servant with me. I found Umm Ruman downstairs and Abu Bakr upstairs reading. My mother asked what had brought me, so I told her everything. It had not affected her as it had affected me. She said, “My daughter, take this lightly. Rarely is a beautiful woman loved by her husband while he has co-wives without their becoming jealous and speaking against her.” I asked whether my father and the Messenger of Allah knew. She said they did. I began to sob. Abu Bakr heard me, came down, and asked what was wrong. When my mother told him, his eyes overflowed with tears. He swore that I must return to my home, and I did.’

‘The Messenger of Allah had gone to my home and asked my servant about me. She said, “By Allah, I know no fault in her except that she sometimes sleeps so deeply that a sheep comes in and eats her leavened dough—or her dough.” Some of his Companions sharply told her to speak truthfully. She said, “Glory be to Allah! By Allah, I know of no fault in her; I know her as a goldsmith knows pure red gold.” The accused man heard what was being said and said, “Glory be to Allah! By Allah, I have never uncovered a woman.”’ ‘A’ishah said that he was later killed as a martyr in Allah’s cause.’

‘The next morning my parents were with me until the Messenger of Allah came after praying ‘Asr. They sat on my right and left. He praised Allah and said, “Now then, ‘A’ishah, if you have committed a wrong or wronged yourself, repent to Allah, for Allah accepts repentance from His servants.” An Ansari woman was sitting by the door. I said, “Are you not embarrassed to speak of this while that woman is here?” The Messenger of Allah advised me. I turned to my father and said, “Answer him.” He asked, “What should I say?” I asked my mother to answer; she said, “What should I say?” When neither answered, I praised Allah and said, “By Allah, if I tell you I did not do it, and Allah knows I speak the truth, you will not believe me, for you have spoken about it and your hearts have accepted it. If I say I did it, though Allah knows I did not, you will say I admitted it. I can find no example for us but Jacob, the father of Joseph, who said, ‘Beautiful patience; Allah is the One whose help is sought against what you describe’” (Qur’an 12:18).’

‘At that very moment revelation came to the Messenger of Allah. We fell silent. When it ended, I saw joy on his face as he wiped his brow. He said, “Good news, ‘A’ishah! Allah has revealed your innocence.” I was still deeply angry. My parents told me to get up and go to him. I said, “By Allah, I will not get up to him, nor thank him, nor you both. I thank only Allah, who revealed my innocence. You heard the accusation, yet neither denied it nor changed it.”’

‘A’ishah used to say: “As for Zaynab bint Jahsh, Allah protected her through her piety; she said nothing but good about me. Her sister Hamnah perished among those who perished. Those who spoke against me were Mistah, Hassan ibn Thabit, and the hypocrite ‘Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul, who spread the story and incited others to repeat it. He and Hamnah bore the greatest share of it.” Abu Bakr swore that he would never again help Mistah. Then Allah revealed: “Let not those of virtue and wealth among you swear not to give to relatives, the needy, and those who emigrated in Allah’s cause…”—meaning Abu Bakr giving to Mistah—“…Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? Allah is Forgiving, Merciful” (Qur’an 24:22). Abu Bakr said, “Yes, by Allah, our Lord; we love that You forgive us,” and resumed what he had been doing.’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih gharib report from Hisham ibn ‘Urwah. Yunus ibn Yazid, Ma‘mar, and others transmitted a longer and more complete version from al-Zuhri, from ‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyab, ‘Alqamah ibn Waqqas al-Laythi, and ‘Ubaydullah ibn ‘Abdullah, from ‘A’ishah.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

‘A’ishah reported: ‘When my innocence was revealed, the Messenger of Allah stood on the pulpit, spoke about it, and recited from the Qur’an. When he came down, he ordered two men and one woman to receive their prescribed punishment.’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib report. We know it only through the report of Muhammad ibn Ishaq.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

‘Abdullah reported: ‘I asked, “Messenger of Allah, which sin is greatest?” He replied, “That you set up a rival to Allah, when He created you.” I asked, “Then what?” He said, “That you kill your child for fear that he will share your food.” I asked, “Then what?” He said, “That you commit adultery with your neighbor’s wife.”’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib report. A second route from Mansur and al-A‘mash, from Abu Wa’il, from ‘Amr ibn Shurahbil, from ‘Abdullah, from the Prophet, gives similar wording. Abu ‘Isa said: This version is hasan sahih.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

‘Abdullah reported: ‘I asked the Messenger of Allah which sin is greatest. He said, “That you set up a rival to Allah, when He created you; that you kill your child so he will not eat with you—or because of your food; and that you commit adultery with your neighbor’s wife.”’ He recited: “Those who do not call upon another deity alongside Allah, nor kill a soul Allah has forbidden except with right, nor commit adultery—for whoever does that will meet punishment; his torment will be multiplied on the Day of Resurrection, and he will remain there disgraced” (Qur’an 25:68–69).

Abu ‘Isa said: Sufyan’s report from Mansur and al-A‘mash is more accurate than Shu‘bah’s report from Wasil, because Sufyan’s chain includes an additional transmitter. Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna transmitted a similar report from Shu‘bah, from Wasil, from Abu Wa’il, from ‘Abdullah, from the Prophet, also omitting ‘Amr ibn Shurahbil.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

‘A’ishah reported: ‘When the verse “Warn your nearest kindred” (Qur’an 26:214) was revealed, the Messenger of Allah said, “Safiyyah bint ‘Abd al-Muttalib, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Children of ‘Abd al-Muttalib: I have no power to avail you against Allah. Ask me for whatever you wish from my own wealth.”’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih report. Waki‘ and others transmitted a similar report from Hisham ibn ‘Urwah, from his father, from ‘A’ishah. Some transmitters related it from Hisham, from his father, directly from the Prophet as a mursal report, without mentioning ‘A’ishah. Related reports are also narrated from ‘Ali and Ibn ‘Abbas.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Hurayrah reported: ‘When “Warn your nearest kindred” (Qur’an 26:214) was revealed, the Messenger of Allah gathered Quraysh, addressing some groups specifically and others generally. He said, “People of Quraysh, save yourselves from the Fire. I have no power to ward off harm from you or bring you benefit before Allah. People of Banu ‘Abd Manaf, save yourselves from the Fire; I have no power to ward off harm or bring benefit to you before Allah. People of Banu Qusayy, save yourselves from the Fire; I have no power to ward off harm or bring benefit to you. People of Banu ‘Abd al-Muttalib, save yourselves from the Fire; I have no power to ward off harm or bring benefit to you. Fatimah bint Muhammad, save yourself from the Fire; I have no power to ward off harm or bring benefit to you. You are my kin, and I will maintain our kinship as it should be maintained.”’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih gharib report through this route, known from the report of Musa ibn Talhah. ‘Ali ibn Hujr also transmitted a similar report in meaning through Shu‘ayb ibn Safwan, from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Umayr, from Musa ibn Talhah, from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Qasamah ibn Zuhayr reported from al-Ash‘ari: ‘When “Warn your nearest kindred” (Qur’an 26:214) was revealed, the Messenger of Allah put his fingers in his ears, raised his voice, and called, “O Banu ‘Abd Manaf! Hear the warning!”’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a gharib report through this route from Abu Musa. Some transmitters related it from ‘Awf, from Qasamah ibn Zuhayr, directly from the Prophet as a mursal report, without mentioning Abu Musa; that version is more accurate. Abu ‘Isa discussed it with Muhammad ibn Isma‘il, who did not recognize it as a report from Abu Musa.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘The Beast will emerge carrying the ring of Sulayman and the staff of Musa. With the ring it will brighten the believer’s face and mark the disbeliever’s nose. Then, when people gather around their dining spreads, one will say, “Here, believer,” and another, “Here, disbeliever”; one will be called this, and another that.’

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan report. This hadith about the Beast of the earth is also transmitted from Abu Hurayrah through another route. Related reports are narrated from Abu Umamah and Hudhayfah ibn Usayd.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Hurayrah reported: ‘The Messenger of Allah said to his uncle, “Say, ‘There is no deity but Allah,’ and I will testify for you by it on the Day of Resurrection.” He replied, “Were it not that Quraysh would reproach me, saying I only said it out of fear, I would make your eyes rejoice.”’ Then Allah, Mighty and Sublime, revealed: ‘You cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills’ (Qur’an 28:56).

Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib report. We know it only through the report of Yazid ibn Kaysan.