Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Chapters on Tafsir
كتاب تفسير القرآن عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
Chapter 38
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ الصَّافَّاتِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ubayy ibn Ka‘b said: I asked the Messenger of Allah about Allah Most High’s words, ‘And We sent him to a hundred thousand, or more’ (Qur’an 37:147). He replied, ‘Twenty thousand.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a gharib hadith.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Left the Prophet’s brief answer as ‘Twenty thousand,’ without making explicit whether the figure is an addition to the hundred thousand, as the Arabic does not state that in the reply itself.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Samurah ibn Jundub reported that the Prophet said, regarding Allah’s words, ‘And We made his descendants the ones who remained’ (Qur’an 37:77): ‘Ham, Sam, and Yafith.’ Abu ‘Isa said: The name is pronounced Yafit with a t, Yafith with a th, and also Yafith. This is a hasan gharib hadith; we know it only through the report of Sa‘id ibn Bashir.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Kept Abu ‘Isa’s note that the name of Noah’s third son has variant pronunciations/spellings, rather than forcing one English form.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Samurah reported that the Prophet said: ‘Sam was the forefather of the Arabs, Ham the forefather of the Ethiopians, and Yafith the forefather of the Romans.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Translated ‘father of’ as ‘forefather of’ to convey the genealogical sense without changing the stated group associations.
Chapter 39
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ ص
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ibn ‘Abbas said: Abu Talib fell ill, and Quraysh came to visit him. The Prophet also came. A group of men were sitting with Abu Talib, and Abu Jahl stood up to keep the Prophet away. They complained about him to Abu Talib, who said, ‘Son of my brother, what do you want from your people?’ He replied, ‘I want them to accept one word, by which the Arabs will follow them and the non-Arabs will pay them the jizyah.’ Abu Talib said, ‘One word?’ He answered, ‘One word.’ Then he said, ‘Uncle, say: There is no god but Allah.’ They said, ‘One god? We have not heard of this in the latter religion. This is nothing but a fabrication.’ The Qur’an was revealed concerning them: ‘Sad. By the Qur’an containing the Reminder. But those who disbelieve are in arrogance and opposition …’ up to ‘We have not heard of this in the latter religion. This is nothing but a fabrication’ (Qur’an 38:1–7). Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith. Yahya ibn Sa‘id also narrated a similar report from Sufyan, from al-A‘mash. Yahya ibn ‘Umarah said: Bundar related to us, from Yahya ibn Sa‘id, from Sufyan, a similar report from al-A‘mash.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Preserved the exchange about one word and the Quraysh’s response, and retained Abu ‘Isa’s additional chain notes. The passage is cited only through the stated endpoint in Qur’an 38:7.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘Last night my Lord, Blessed and Exalted, came to me in the finest form’—the narrator said, ‘I think he said: in a dream.’ He said, ‘Muhammad, do you know what the highest assembly is disputing about?’ I replied, ‘No.’ He placed His hand between my shoulders, until I felt its coolness between my breasts—or, he said, at my throat—and I knew what was in the heavens and the earth. He said, ‘Muhammad, do you know what the highest assembly is disputing about?’ I said, ‘Yes: the acts that expiate.’ These are remaining in mosques after the prayers, walking on foot to congregational prayers, and performing ablution thoroughly despite hardship. Whoever does these things will live in goodness and die in goodness, and be free of sin as on the day his mother gave birth to him. He said, ‘Muhammad, when you pray, say: “O Allah, I ask You to enable me to do good deeds, leave wrong actions, and love the poor. And if You intend to put Your servants to trial, take me to Yourself without being tried.”’ The acts that raise ranks are spreading greetings of peace, feeding people, and praying at night while others sleep.’ Abu ‘Isa said: In this hadith they have inserted a man between Abu Qilabah and Ibn ‘Abbas. Qatadah also narrated it from Abu Qilabah, from Khalid ibn al-Lajlaj, from Ibn ‘Abbas.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Retained the narrator’s uncertainty about ‘in a dream’ and the alternate wording for where the coolness was felt. Kept the expiatory deeds distinct from the deeds that raise ranks, and included the chain note about an intermediary and Qatadah’s route.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Prophet said: ‘My Lord came to me in the finest form and said, “Muhammad!” I replied, “At Your service, my Lord.” He asked, “What is the highest assembly disputing about?” I said, “My Lord, I do not know.” He placed His hand between my shoulders, and I felt its coolness between my breasts; then I knew what lay between east and west. He said, “Muhammad!” I replied, “At Your service, my Lord.” He asked, “What is the highest assembly disputing about?” I said, “The acts that raise ranks and the acts that expiate: walking to congregational prayers, performing ablution thoroughly despite hardship, and waiting for one prayer after another. Whoever keeps to these will live in goodness and die in goodness, and his sins will be as on the day his mother gave birth to him.”’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib hadith through this route. There are related reports from Mu‘adh ibn Jabal and ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘A’ish from the Prophet. A longer version of this hadith is also reported from Mu‘adh ibn Jabal from the Prophet, which says: ‘I became drowsy and fell into a deep sleep, and I saw my Lord in the finest form. He said, “What is the highest assembly disputing about?”’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Preserved the three practices named here, distinct from the separate report’s list of expiatory deeds. Included the gharib grading, parallel reports, and the beginning of the longer Mu‘adh version.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
A longer version of this hadith is reported from Mu‘adh ibn Jabal from the Prophet: ‘I became drowsy and fell into a deep sleep, and I saw my Lord in the finest form.’ Mu‘adh then reported: One morning the Messenger of Allah was delayed from coming to lead the dawn prayer until we nearly saw the sun’s edge. He came out quickly, the call to begin the prayer was made, and he led a shortened prayer. After the salutation, he called out, ‘Remain in your rows as you are.’ He turned toward us and said, ‘I will tell you what kept me from you this morning. I got up during the night, performed ablution, and prayed as much as was decreed for me. I became drowsy in my prayer and fell into a deep sleep. Then I saw my Lord, Blessed and Exalted, in the finest form. He said, “Muhammad!” I said, “At Your service, my Lord.” He asked, “What is the highest assembly disputing about?” I said, “I do not know, my Lord.” He asked me three times. Then I saw Him place His palm between my shoulders, and I felt the coolness of His fingertips between my breasts. Everything became clear to me, and I knew. He said, “Muhammad!” I said, “At Your service, my Lord.” He asked, “What is the highest assembly disputing about?” I said, “The acts that expiate.” He asked, “What are they?” I said, “Walking to congregational prayers, sitting in mosques after the prayers, and performing ablution thoroughly despite hardship.” He asked, “And what else?” I said, “Feeding people, speaking gently, and praying at night while people sleep.” He said, “Ask.” I said, “O Allah, I ask You to enable me to do good deeds, leave wrong actions, love the poor, forgive me, and have mercy on me. If You intend to put a people to trial, take me to Yourself without being tried. I ask You for Your love, the love of those who love You, and the love of deeds that bring one near to Your love.”’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘This is true, so study it and learn it.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith. I asked Muhammad ibn Isma‘il [al-Bukhari] about it, and he said: ‘This is a hasan sahih hadith, and it is more authentic than the report of al-Walid ibn Muslim from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Yazid ibn Jabir. Al-Walid says: Khalid ibn al-Lajlaj related to me, from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘A’ish al-Hadrami, who said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah,” and then he mentioned the hadith. This version is not preserved. Al-Walid’s report thus states that ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘A’ish said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah.” Bishr ibn Bakr narrated this hadith from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Yazid ibn Jabir with this chain, from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘A’ish, from the Prophet, and this is more accurate. ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘A’ish did not hear directly from the Prophet.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Preserved the full morning-prayer context and supplication, along with the alternate route analysis. The compiler reports al-Bukhari’s judgment that the version claiming direct hearing by ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘A’ish is unpreserved, while the route through Bishr ibn Bakr is more accurate; ‘Abd al-Rahman did not hear directly from the Prophet.
Chapter 40
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ الزُّمَرِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
‘Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr reported from his father that when the verse ‘Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will dispute before your Lord’ (Qur’an 39:31) was revealed, al-Zubayr said, ‘Messenger of Allah, will our disputes be brought up again after what happened between us in this world?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ Al-Zubayr said, ‘Then the matter will indeed be grave.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Kept al-Zubayr’s question about renewed disputes after worldly conflicts and the Prophet’s brief reply.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Asma’ bint Yazid said: I heard the Messenger of Allah reciting: ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins, and He does not mind’ (Qur’an 39:53). Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib hadith. We know it only through the report of Thabit from Shahr ibn Hawshab. He added: Shahr ibn Hawshab narrated from Umm Salamah al-Ansariyyah, and Umm Salamah al-Ansariyyah is Asma’ bint Yazid.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Retained the closing Arabic phrase ‘and He does not mind’ as transmitted, and included Abu ‘Isa’s identification of Umm Salamah al-Ansariyyah with Asma’ bint Yazid.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
‘Abdullah said: A Jewish man came to the Prophet and said, ‘Muhammad, Allah holds the heavens on one finger, the earths on one finger, the mountains on one finger, and all creatures on one finger. Then He says, “I am the King.”’ The Prophet laughed until his molars appeared, then recited: ‘They have not esteemed Allah as He deserves to be esteemed’ (Qur’an 39:67). This is a hasan sahih hadith.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Kept the report’s wording and order for the heavens, earths, mountains, and creatures, followed by the Qur’anic citation and grading.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
‘Abdullah said: The Prophet laughed in amazement and affirmation. This is a hasan sahih hadith.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
This is a concise parallel wording of the preceding report; rendered tasdiq as affirmation rather than omitting the stated reason for the Prophet’s laughter.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ibn ‘Abbas said: A Jewish man passed by the Prophet, who said to him, ‘Jew, tell us something.’ The man said, ‘Abu al-Qasim, what would you say when Allah places the heavens on this, the earths on this, the water on this, the mountains on this, and the rest of creation on this?’ Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn al-Salt first gestured with his little finger, then one by one until he reached the thumb. Then Allah revealed: ‘They have not esteemed Allah as He deserves to be esteemed’ (Qur’an 39:67). Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib sahih hadith. We know it as a report from Ibn ‘Abbas only through this route. Abu Kudaynah’s name is Yahya ibn al-Muhallab. I saw Muhammad ibn Isma‘il transmit this hadith from al-Hasan ibn Shuja‘, from Muhammad ibn al-Salt.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Kept the sequence of the narrator’s finger gesture through the thumb, and included Abu ‘Isa’s note identifying Abu Kudaynah and the route he saw Muhammad ibn Isma‘il use.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Mujahid said that Ibn ‘Abbas asked me, ‘Do you know how vast Hell is?’ I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Indeed, by Allah, you do not know.’ ‘A’ishah told me that she asked the Messenger of Allah about Allah’s words, ‘The whole earth will be in His grasp on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand’ (Qur’an 39:67). She said, ‘I asked, “Messenger of Allah, where will the people be that day?” He replied, “On the bridge over Hell.”’ The report contains a further account. Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih gharib hadith through this route.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Kept the initial exchange as a statement that the questioner does not know Hell’s vastness, followed by ‘A’ishah’s question about where people will be on the Day of Resurrection.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Masruq reported that ‘A’ishah said: ‘Messenger of Allah, Allah says, “The whole earth will be in His grasp on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand” (Qur’an 39:67). Where will the believers be that day?’ He replied, ‘On the Sirat, ‘A’ishah.’ This is a hasan sahih hadith.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
This parallel version asks specifically about the believers and says they will be on the Sirat; the previous report asks about the people generally and says they will be on a bridge over Hell.
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 Messenger of Allah said: ‘How can I be at ease when the one who holds the Trumpet has put it to his mouth, bowed his forehead, and inclined his ear, waiting for the command to blow so that he may blow?’ The Muslims asked, ‘What should we say, Messenger of Allah?’ He replied, ‘Say: “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs. We place our trust in Allah, our Lord.”’ Sufyan sometimes said: ‘Upon Allah we place our trust.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan hadith. Al-A‘mash also narrated it from ‘Atiyyah, from Abu Sa‘id.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Kept Sufyan’s alternate wording and the added corroborating route from al-A‘mash.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: A Bedouin asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, what is the Trumpet?’ He replied, ‘A horn that will be blown.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan hadith. We know it only through the report of Sulayman al-Taymi.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Kept the Bedouin’s question and the compiler’s restriction to Sulayman al-Taymi’s route.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Hurayrah said: A Jewish man in the market of Madinah said, ‘No, by the One who chose Moses above all people!’ A man from the Ansar raised his hand and slapped him, saying, ‘You say this while the Prophet of Allah is among us?’ The Messenger of Allah said: ‘The Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and the earth will fall unconscious, except those whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and they will be standing, looking on’ (Qur’an 39:68). ‘I will be the first to raise my head, and I will see Moses holding on to one of the supports of the Throne. I will not know whether he raised his head before me or was among those whom Allah exempted. Whoever says, “I am better than Yunus ibn Matta,” has lied.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Kept the Prophet’s uncertainty about whether Moses raised his head first or was among those exempted, and the closing warning not to claim superiority over Yunus ibn Matta.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Sa‘id and Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said: ‘A caller will call out: “You will live and never die; be healthy and never fall ill; remain young and never grow old; and enjoy bliss and never suffer.”’ This is the meaning of Allah’s words: ‘That is the Garden you have been made to inherit because of what you used to do’ (Qur’an 43:72). Abu ‘Isa said: Ibn al-Mubarak and others narrated this hadith from al-Thawri without raising it to the Prophet [i.e., as a Companion report].
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The source’s chain names both Abu Sa‘id and Abu Hurayrah; noted that Ibn al-Mubarak and others transmitted the report from al-Thawri as mawquf rather than Prophetic.
Chapter 41
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Al-Nu‘man ibn Bashir said: I heard the Prophet say, ‘Supplication is worship.’ Then he recited: ‘Your Lord says, “Call upon Me; I will answer you. Those who are too proud to worship Me will enter Hell in humiliation”’ (Qur’an 40:60). Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Preserved the equivalence between supplication and worship and the verse’s wording about those who refuse worship.
Chapter 42
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ حم السَّجْدَةِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ibn Mas‘ud said: Three men argued near the Ka‘bah—two Qurashis and a man from Thaqif, or two from Thaqif and one Qurashi. They had little understanding in their hearts but much fat in their bellies. One said, ‘Do you think Allah hears what we say?’ Another replied, ‘He hears us when we speak aloud, but not when we speak quietly.’ The third said, ‘If He hears us when we speak aloud, then He hears us when we speak quietly too.’ Then Allah revealed: ‘You did not think that your hearing, your sight, and your skins would testify against you’ (Qur’an 41:22). Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Kept the narrator’s description of the men and the uncertainty over whether there were two Qurashis or two men from Thaqif.