Chapters on Tafsir

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

Muhammad ibn Jubayr ibn Mut‘im reported from his father: The moon split during the Prophet’s time until it became two parts, one over this mountain and one over that mountain. They said, ‘Muhammad has bewitched us!’ Some said, ‘If he could bewitch us, he could not bewitch all the people.’ Abu ‘Isa said: Some transmitters narrate this from Husayn, from Jubayr ibn Muhammad ibn Jubayr ibn Mut‘im, from his father, from his grandfather Jubayr ibn Mut‘im, with a similar wording.

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

Abu Hurayrah said: The polytheists of Quraysh came disputing with the Prophet about divine decree, and these verses were revealed: ‘On the day they are dragged upon their faces into the Fire: “Taste the touch of Saqar! Indeed, We created everything according to a measure”’ (Qur’an 54:48–49). Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith.

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

Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The Messenger of Allah came out to his Companions and recited Surat al-Rahman from beginning to end. They remained silent. He said, ‘I recited it to the jinn on the Night of the Jinn, and they responded better than you. Whenever I came to the words, “So which of your Lord’s favors will you both deny?” they replied, “We deny none of Your blessings, our Lord. To You belongs all praise.”’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a gharib hadith. We know it only through the report of al-Walid ibn Muslim from Zuhayr ibn Muhammad. Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: ‘It seems the Zuhayr ibn Muhammad encountered in Syria is not the one whose reports are transmitted in Iraq; he seems to be another man, and they may have reversed the name, because of the objectionable reports transmitted from him.’ I heard Muhammad ibn Isma‘il al-Bukhari say: ‘The Syrians transmit objectionable reports from Zuhayr ibn Muhammad, while the Iraqis transmit reports from him that are acceptable.’

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: ‘Allah says: “I have prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and what has never occurred to a human heart.” If you wish, recite: “No soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for the eyes, as a reward for what they used to do” (Qur’an 32:17). In Paradise there is a tree whose shade a rider could travel beneath for a hundred years without crossing it. If you wish, recite: “And extended shade” (56:30). A space in Paradise the size of a whip is better than the world and all it contains. If you wish, recite: “Whoever is kept away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has triumphed; the life of this world is only the enjoyment of delusion” (3:185).’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith.

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

Anas reported that the Prophet said: ‘In Paradise there is a tree whose shade a rider could travel beneath for a hundred years without crossing it. If you wish, recite: “And extended shade, and water poured forth”’ (Qur’an 56:30–31). Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith. A related report is also transmitted from Abu Sa‘id.

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

Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, reported from the Prophet concerning Allah’s words, ‘And raised couches’ (Qur’an 56:34): ‘Their height is the distance between heaven and earth, and the journey between them is five hundred years.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib hadith. We know it only through Rushdin’s report. Some scholars said their height is like the distance between heaven and earth, meaning that the raised couches are in elevated ranks, and the distance between each two ranks is like the distance between heaven and earth.

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

‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah said about the verse, ‘And you make your provision that you deny’ (Qur’an 56:82): ‘Your way of giving thanks is to say, “We were given rain by such-and-such a star, by such-and-such a constellation.”’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib sahih hadith. We know it as a Prophetic report only through the report of Isra’il. Sufyan al-Thawri also narrated a similar report from ‘Abd al-A‘la, from Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami, from ‘Ali, without raising it to the Prophet. Muhammad ibn Bashshar related that route to us, from Yahya ibn Sa‘id, from Sufyan.

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

Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah recited, ‘We will bring them into a new creation’ (Qur’an 56:35), then said: ‘Among those brought into a new creation are women who were elderly, dim-eyed, and suffering from eye discharge in the world.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a gharib hadith. We know it as a Prophetic report only through the report of Musa ibn ‘Ubaydah. Both Musa ibn ‘Ubaydah and Yazid ibn Aban al-Raqashi are considered weak in hadith.

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

Ibn ‘Abbas reported that Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘Messenger of Allah, you have grown gray.’ He replied, ‘Surat Hud, al-Waqi‘ah, al-Mursalat, “What are they asking one another about?” (al-Naba’), and “When the sun is folded up” (al-Takwir) have made me gray.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib hadith. We know it from Ibn ‘Abbas only through this route. ‘Ali ibn Salih narrated a similar report from Abu Ishaq, from Abu Juhaifah. A portion of it is also reported mursal from Abu Ishaq, from Abu Maysarah. Abu Bakr ibn ‘Ayyash narrated a similar report from Abu Ishaq, from ‘Ikrimah, directly from the Prophet, without mentioning Ibn ‘Abbas; Hashim ibn al-Walid al-Harawi related that route to us, from Abu Bakr ibn ‘Ayyash.

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

Abu Hurayrah reported: While the Prophet of Allah was sitting with his Companions, a cloud came over them. He asked, ‘Do you know what this is?’ They replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘These are clouds carrying the earth’s water. Allah, Blessed and Exalted, drives them to people who do not thank Him or call upon Him.’ Then he asked, ‘Do you know what is above you?’ They said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘It is al-Raqi‘: a guarded roof and a restrained wave.’ He asked, ‘Do you know how far it is from you?’ They replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘The distance between you and it is a journey of five hundred years.’ He asked what was above that, and they answered as before. He said, ‘Above that are two heavens, with a journey of five hundred years between them.’ He continued until he had counted seven heavens, with the distance between each two heavens like the distance between heaven and earth. Then he asked what was above them. They answered, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘Above them is the Throne, and between it and the heaven is a distance like that between two heavens.’ He asked what was beneath them. They answered, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘It is the earth.’ He asked what was beneath that, and they answered as before. He said, ‘Beneath it is another earth, with a journey of five hundred years between them.’ He continued until he had counted seven earths, with a journey of five hundred years between each two earths. Then he said, ‘By Him in whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, if you lowered a man by a rope to the lowest earth, he would descend upon Allah.’ Then he recited: ‘He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He has knowledge of all things’ (Qur’an 57:3). Abu ‘Isa said: This is a gharib hadith through this route. It is reported that Ayyub, Yunus ibn ‘Ubayd, and ‘Ali ibn Zayd said that al-Hasan did not hear from Abu Hurayrah. Some scholars interpreted this hadith to mean that the man would reach Allah’s knowledge, power, and dominion: Allah’s knowledge, power, and dominion are everywhere, while He is above the Throne as He has described in His Book.

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

Salamah ibn Sakhr al-Ansari said: I had been given an unusually strong desire for intercourse with women. When Ramadan began, I pronounced zihar against my wife until Ramadan ended, fearing that I might have intercourse with her at night, then continue until dawn, unable to stop. One night, while she was serving me, part of her became uncovered, and I threw myself upon her. In the morning I told my people what had happened and asked them to come with me to the Messenger of Allah so I could explain my situation. They said, ‘No, by Allah! We will not. We fear that Qur’an may be revealed about us, or that the Messenger of Allah may say something about us whose shame will remain with us. Go by yourself and do what you think best.’ I went to the Messenger of Allah and told him what happened. He asked three times, ‘Are you the one who did that?’ Each time I said, ‘I am.’ Then I said, ‘Here I am before you. Carry out Allah’s judgment against me; I will bear it.’ He said, ‘Free a slave.’ I struck the side of my neck with my hand and said, ‘No, by the One who sent you with the truth, I own nothing else.’ He said, ‘Then fast for two months.’ I replied, ‘Messenger of Allah, was it not while I was fasting that this happened to me?’ He said, ‘Then feed sixty poor people.’ I said, ‘By the One who sent you with the truth, we went to bed hungry last night and had no supper.’ He said, ‘Go to the collector of the charity of Banu Zurayq and tell him to give it to you. Give one wasq of it on your behalf to sixty poor people, then use the remainder to help yourself and your family.’ I returned to my people and said, ‘I found hardship and poor counsel with you, but I found ease and blessing with the Messenger of Allah. He ordered me to take your charity, so give it to me.’ They gave it to me. Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan hadith. Muhammad said: In my view, Sulayman ibn Yasar did not hear from Salamah ibn Sakhr. His name is also given as Salman ibn Sakhr. A related report is transmitted from Khawlah bint Tha‘labah, the wife of Aws ibn al-Samit.

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

‘Ali ibn Abi Talib said: When the verse ‘O you who believe, when you consult the Messenger privately, give charity before your consultation’ (Qur’an 58:12) was revealed, the Prophet said to me, ‘What do you think—a dinar?’ I said, ‘They could not afford that.’ He asked, ‘Then half a dinar?’ I said, ‘They could not afford that.’ He asked, ‘Then how much?’ I said, ‘A barley grain’s weight.’ He said, ‘You are very sparing!’ Then the verse was revealed: ‘Were you afraid to give charity before your private consultation?’ (58:13). ‘Ali said: In my case Allah lightened this requirement for the community. Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib hadith, known only through this route. ‘A barley grain’ means the weight of a barley grain in gold. Abu al-Ja‘d’s name is Rafi‘.

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

Anas ibn Malik reported: A Jewish man came to the Prophet and his Companions and said, ‘Al-samu ‘alaykum’ (‘Death be upon you’). The people returned his greeting. The Prophet asked, ‘Do you know what he said?’ They replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best. He greeted you, Prophet of Allah.’ He said, ‘No, he said such-and-such. Bring him back to me.’ They brought him back, and the Prophet asked, ‘Did you say “Al-samu ‘alaykum”?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ Then the Prophet said, ‘When one of the People of the Book greets you, say, “And upon you”—what you said.’ He recited: ‘When they come to you, they greet you with a greeting with which Allah has not greeted you’ (Qur’an 58:8). Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith.

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

Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: The Messenger of Allah burned and cut down the date palms of Banu al-Nadir at al-Buwayrah. Then Allah revealed: ‘Whatever palm trees you cut down or left standing on their roots was by Allah’s permission, so that He might disgrace the defiantly disobedient’ (Qur’an 59:5). Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith.

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

Ibn ‘Abbas commented on Allah’s words, ‘Whatever palm trees you cut down or left standing on their roots … so that He might disgrace the defiantly disobedient’ (Qur’an 59:5). He said: ‘Linah means a date palm.’ They brought the people down from their fortresses and were ordered to cut down the palm trees. This troubled the Muslims, so they said, ‘We cut some down and left some standing. We should ask the Messenger of Allah whether we are rewarded for what we cut and burdened for what we left.’ Then Allah Most High revealed: ‘Whatever palm trees you cut down or left standing on their roots …’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib hadith. Some transmitters reported it from Hafs ibn Ghiyath, from Habib ibn Abi ‘Amrah, from Sa‘id ibn Jubayr, as mursal, without mentioning Ibn ‘Abbas. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman related that route to me, from Harun ibn Mu‘awiyah, from Hafs ibn Ghiyath, from Habib ibn Abi ‘Amrah, from Sa‘id ibn Jubayr, directly from the Prophet as mursal. Abu ‘Isa said: Muhammad ibn Isma‘il heard this hadith from me.

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

Abu Hurayrah reported: A man from the Ansar hosted a guest overnight, but had only enough food for himself and his children. He said to his wife, ‘Put the children to sleep, extinguish the lamp, and bring the guest what we have.’ Then this verse was revealed: ‘They give others preference over themselves, even though they are in need’ (Qur’an 59:9). This is a hasan sahih hadith.

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

‘Ali ibn Abi Talib said: The Messenger of Allah sent me, al-Zubayr, and al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad, saying, ‘Go to Rawdat Khakh. You will find a woman traveler there with a letter. Take it from her and bring it to me.’ We rode swiftly until we reached the place and found the woman. We said, ‘Hand over the letter.’ She said, ‘I have no letter.’ We said, ‘Either you hand over the letter or you remove your clothes.’ She took it from her braid. We brought it to the Messenger of Allah, and it was from Hatib ibn Abi Balta‘ah to some of the polytheists of Makkah, informing them of some of the Prophet’s affairs. He asked, ‘What is this, Hatib?’ Hatib replied, ‘Do not be hasty with me, Messenger of Allah. I was attached to Quraysh, but was not one of them. The Emigrants with you have relatives who protect their families and property in Makkah. Since I had no such blood ties, I wanted to do the people of Makkah a favor so they would protect my relatives. I did not do this out of disbelief, or to turn away from my religion, or because I approved of disbelief after Islam.’ The Prophet said, ‘He has spoken the truth.’ ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said, ‘Let me strike the neck of this hypocrite, Messenger of Allah.’ The Prophet replied, ‘He witnessed Badr. How do you know? Perhaps Allah looked upon the people of Badr and said, “Do as you wish, for I have forgiven you.”’ The surah beginning ‘O you who believe, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies’ (Qur’an 60:1) was revealed concerning this. ‘Amr said: I saw Ibn Abi Rafi‘, who was ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib’s scribe. Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith. Related reports are transmitted from ‘Umar and Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah. More than one transmitter narrated this from Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah with similar wording, including, ‘Either you hand over the letter or remove your clothes.’ A similar report is also narrated from Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami, from ‘Ali. Some transmitters give the threat as, ‘Either you hand over the letter or we will strip you.’

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

‘A’ishah said: The Messenger of Allah would test women only in accordance with the verse Allah revealed: ‘O Prophet, when believing women come to you pledging allegiance …’ (Qur’an 60:12). Ma‘mar said: Ibn Tawus informed me, from his father, who said: ‘The Messenger of Allah’s hand never touched the hand of a woman except one lawfully in his possession.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith.

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

Shahr ibn Hawshab said: Umm Salamah al-Ansariyyah told us that a woman asked, ‘What is the recognized good conduct in which we must not disobey you?’ He replied, ‘Do not wail.’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, the women of such-and-such clan joined me in lamenting my uncle, and I must repay them.’ He refused me at first. I asked him several times, then he gave me permission to repay them. After doing so, I never wailed again for them or anyone else, to this day. None of the women remained who had not wailed except me. Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan gharib hadith. A related report is transmitted from Umm ‘Atiyyah. ‘Abd ibn Humayd said: Umm Salamah al-Ansariyyah is Asma’ bint Yazid ibn al-Sakan.

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

Ibn ‘Abbas commented on Allah’s words, ‘When believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them’ (Qur’an 60:10): When a woman came to the Prophet to accept Islam, he made her swear by Allah: ‘I did not leave because I hated my husband. I left only out of love for Allah and His Messenger.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This is a gharib hadith.