Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Chapters on Tafsir
كتاب تفسير القرآن عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
Chapter 84
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
‘Abdullah ibn Sa‘id Abu Sa‘id al-Ashajj narrated to us: Abu Khalid al-Ahmar narrated to us, from Dawud ibn Abi Hind, from ‘Ikrimah, from Ibn ‘Abbas, who said: ‘The Prophet was praying when Abu Jahl came and said, “Did I not forbid you from this? Did I not forbid you from this? Did I not forbid you from this?” The Prophet turned away and rebuked him. Abu Jahl said, “You know that no gathering in this town has more people than mine.” Then Allah revealed, “Let him call his council; We will call the guards [of Hell]” (96:17–18). Ibn ‘Abbas said, “By Allah, had he called his council, Allah’s guards would have seized him.” Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan gharib sahih. A similar report is also transmitted from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him).
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic says Abu Jahl claimed that no gathering (nadi) there had more people than his; the English witness paraphrases this as having the greatest number available to assist him. The report quotes Qur’an 96:17–18 and adds a parallel report from Abu Hurayrah.
Chapter 85
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ الْقَدْرِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Mahmud ibn Ghaylan and ‘Abd ibn Humayd narrated to us—the meaning is the same. They said: Abu Dawud al-Tayalisi narrated to us: al-Qasim ibn al-Fadl al-Huddani narrated to us, from Yusuf ibn Sa‘d, who said: A man stood before al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali after he had pledged allegiance to Mu‘awiyah and said, ‘You have blackened the faces of the believers!’—or, ‘O you who has blackened the faces of the believers!’ Al-Hasan said, ‘Do not reproach me, may Allah have mercy on you. The Prophet was shown the Banu Umayyah upon his pulpit, and that distressed him. Then was revealed, “Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar” (108:1)—that is, a river in Paradise, O Muhammad—and was revealed, “Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Decree. And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months” (97:1–3), which Banu Umayyah would rule after you, O Muhammad.’ Al-Qasim said: We counted them and found that they were exactly one thousand months, no day more and no day less. Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is gharib; we know it only by this route, through al-Qasim ibn al-Fadl. It has also been said that al-Qasim narrated it from Yusuf ibn Mazin. Al-Qasim ibn al-Fadl al-Huddani is trustworthy; Yahya ibn Sa‘id and ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Mahdi deemed him trustworthy. Yusuf ibn Sa‘d is an unknown man. We know this wording of the hadith only by this route.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The English witness renders the rebuke as ‘made fools of the believers’; the Arabic literally says ‘blackened the faces of the believers.’ The account attributes the interpretation about Banu Umayyah’s rule to the report itself. The compiler identifies al-Qasim as trustworthy but Yusuf ibn Sa‘d as unknown, notes a variant name Yusuf ibn Mazin, and says this wording is known only through this route.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ibn Abi ‘Umar narrated to us: Sufyan narrated to us, from ‘Abdah ibn Abi Lubabah and ‘Asim—Ibn Bahdalah—who both heard Zirr ibn Hubaysh. Zirr ibn Hubaysh, whose kunyah was Abu Maryam, said: I said to Ubayy ibn Ka‘b, ‘Your brother ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud says, “Whoever keeps up night prayer throughout the year will attain the Night of Decree.”’ Ubayy said, ‘May Allah forgive Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman. He knows that it is in the last ten nights of Ramadan and that it is the twenty-seventh night, but he wanted people not to rely on that.’ Then he swore categorically that it is the twenty-seventh night. I asked him, ‘On what basis do you say that, Abu al-Mundhir?’ He said, ‘On the sign—or indication—that the Messenger of Allah told us: the sun rises that day with no rays.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan sahih.
Muhammad ibn al-‘Ala’ narrated to us: Abu Bakr ibn ‘Ayyash narrated to us, from ‘Asim ibn Bahdalah, who said: Abu Wa’il, Shqiq ibn Salamah, would not speak as long as Zirr ibn Hubaysh was sitting with him. ‘Asim ibn Bahdalah said: Zirr ibn Hubaysh was eloquent, and ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud would ask him about Arabic.
Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Dawraqi narrated to us: Yazid ibn Mihran al-Kufi narrated to us: Abu Bakr ibn ‘Ayyash narrated to us, from ‘Asim ibn Bahdalah, who said: A man passed by Zirr ibn Hubaysh while he was calling the prayer and said, ‘Abu Maryam, you are calling the prayer? I consider you too distinguished for the call to prayer.’ Zirr replied, ‘You consider the call to prayer beneath you? By Allah, I will never speak to you again.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic not only reports Ubayy ibn Ka‘b’s view that the Night of Decree is the twenty-seventh night, but also says Ibn Mas‘ud reportedly encouraged worship throughout the year so people would not rely on one night. The following two reports are separate compiler additions about Zirr ibn Hubaysh: his eloquence and an exchange after someone implied he was too distinguished to call the prayer.
Chapter 86
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ لَمْ يَكُنْ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Muhammad ibn Bashshar narrated to us: ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Mahdi narrated to us: Sufyan narrated to us, from al-Mukhtar ibn Fulful, who said: I heard Anas ibn Malik say: A man said to the Prophet, ‘O best of creation!’ He replied, ‘That is Ibrahim.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The brief exchange is preserved as worded: the Prophet’s reply points to Ibrahim as ‘the best of creation.’
Chapter 87
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الأَرْضُ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Suwayd ibn Nasr narrated to us: ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak informed us: Sa‘id ibn Abi Ayyub informed us, from Yahya ibn Abi Sulayman, from Sa‘id al-Maqburi, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah recited this verse: ‘That Day it will report its news’ (99:4). He said, ‘Do you know what its news is?’ They replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘Its news is that it will bear witness against every male and female servant concerning what they did upon it. It will say, “On such-and-such day, he did such-and-such.” That is its news.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The pronoun ‘it’ in the verse and explanation refers to the earth; it will report and testify about deeds done upon it.
Chapter 88
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ التَّكَاثُرِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Mahmud ibn Ghaylan narrated to us: Wahb ibn Jarir narrated to us: Shu‘bah narrated to us, from Qatadah, from Mutarrif ibn ‘Abdullah ibn al-Shikhkhir, from his father, who came upon the Prophet reciting, ‘The piling up of more and more distracts you’ (102:1). He said: ‘The son of Adam says, “My wealth, my wealth!” But do you have anything of your wealth except what you gave in charity and sent ahead, what you ate and used up, or what you wore and wore out?’ Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The English witness begins by saying the father went to the Prophet; the Arabic says he came upon him as he was reciting Qur’an 102:1. The saying contrasts wealth retained with wealth spent, consumed, or worn out.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Kurayb narrated to us: Hakkam ibn Salm al-Razi narrated to us, from ‘Amr ibn Abi Qays, from al-Hajjaj, from al-Minhal ibn ‘Amr, from Zirr ibn Hubaysh, from ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: ‘We continued to doubt the punishment of the grave until “The piling up of more and more distracts you” (102:1) was revealed.’ Abu Kurayb said: On one occasion, he said ‘Amr ibn Abi Qays—who was from Rayy.’ ‘Amr ibn Qays al-Mula’i was a Kufan; he narrated from Ibn Abi Layla, from al-Minhal ibn ‘Amr. Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is gharib.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Abu Kurayb distinguishes ‘Amr ibn Abi Qays of Rayy from ‘Amr ibn Qays al-Mula’i of Kufa and notes a different route through Ibn Abi Layla. The English witness omits this clarification.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ibn Abi ‘Umar narrated to us: Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Alqamah, from Yahya ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Hatib, from ‘Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwam, from his father, who said: When the verse ‘Then, on that Day, you will surely be asked about the blessings’ (102:8) was revealed, al-Zubayr said, ‘Messenger of Allah, which blessings will we be asked about? We have only these two dark things: dates and water.’ He replied, ‘But that will indeed come to pass.’ This hadith is hasan.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The phrase ‘the two dark things’ refers here to dates and water, as the report itself explains. The Prophet’s reply points to a future state in which people would have more blessings.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
‘Abd ibn Humayd narrated to us: Ahmad ibn Yunus narrated to us, from Abu Bakr ibn ‘Ayyash, from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr, from Abu Salamah, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: When this verse was revealed, ‘Then, on that Day, you will surely be asked about the blessings’ (102:8), the people said, ‘Messenger of Allah, which blessings will we be asked about? We have only the two dark things, while the enemy is present and our swords are on our shoulders.’ He said, ‘That will indeed come to pass.’ Abu ‘Isa said: In my view, the hadith of Ibn ‘Uyaynah from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr is more sound than this one. Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah had better retention and was more reliable in hadith than Abu Bakr ibn ‘Ayyash.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic states that the enemy was present and their swords were on their shoulders, underscoring their circumstances at the time. The compiler explicitly prefers the preceding Ibn ‘Uyaynah route and explains that preference by his stronger retention and hadith reliability.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
‘Abd ibn Humayd narrated to us: Shababah narrated to us, from ‘Abdullah ibn al-‘Ala’, from al-Dahhak ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Arzam al-Ash‘ari, who said: I heard Abu Hurayrah say that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘The first blessing about which a servant will be questioned on the Day of Resurrection is that he will be asked, “Did We not make your body sound and give you cool water to drink?”’ Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is gharib. Al-Dahhak is [also identified as] Ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Arzab, and it is said ‘Ibn ‘Arzam’; ‘Ibn ‘Arzam’ is the more accurate form.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic says ‘make your body sound’ and ‘give you cool water’; the English witness adds ‘health’ as a separate phrase. The compiler notes a variant form of the narrator’s name and prefers Ibn ‘Arzam.
Chapter 89
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ الْكَوْثَرِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
‘Abd ibn Humayd narrated to us: ‘Abd al-Razzaq narrated to us, from Ma‘mar, from Qatadah, from Anas, concerning Allah’s words, ‘Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar’ (108:1): the Prophet said, ‘It is a river in Paradise.’ The Prophet also said, ‘I saw a river in Paradise, whose banks had domes of pearl. I asked, “What is this, Jibril?” He said, “This is al-Kawthar that Allah has granted you.”’ Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic describes domes of pearl along the banks of the river; the English witness says tents made of pearl.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ahmad ibn Mani‘ narrated to us: Surayj ibn al-Nu‘man narrated to us: al-Hakam ibn ‘Abd al-Malik narrated to us, from Qatadah, from Anas, who said that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘While I was walking in Paradise, a river appeared before me, its banks lined with domes of pearl. I asked the angel, “What is this?” He said, “This is al-Kawthar that Allah has granted you.” Then he reached his hand into the clay and brought out musk. Then the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary was raised before me, and I saw a tremendous light beside it.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan sahih. It has also been transmitted by other routes from Anas.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic describes pearl domes along the riverbanks and says the Prophet put his hand into the clay and brought out musk. It also preserves the movement to the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary and the light seen beside it.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Hannad narrated to us: Muhammad ibn Fudayl narrated to us, from ‘Ata’ ibn al-Sa’ib, from Muharib ibn Dithar, from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, who said that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘Al-Kawthar is a river in Paradise. Its banks are of gold, its course runs over pearls and rubies, its soil is more fragrant than musk, and its water is sweeter than honey and whiter than snow.’ He said: This hadith is hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic compares the water’s whiteness to snow; the English witness says milk. It describes the river’s course as running over pearls and rubies.
Chapter 90
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ النَّصْرِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
‘Abd ibn Humayd narrated to us: Sulayman ibn Dawud narrated to us, from Shu‘bah, from Abu Bishr, from Sa‘id ibn Jubayr, from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: ‘“Umar used to ask me questions in the presence of the Prophet’s Companions. ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf said to him, “Do you ask him when we have sons like him?” ‘Umar replied, “It is because of what you know about him.” He then asked me about the verse, “When Allah’s help and the victory come” (110:1). I said, “It announces the appointed term of the Messenger of Allah; Allah had informed him of it.” Then I recited the surah to its end. ‘Umar said to him, “By Allah, I know no more about it than you do.”’ Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan sahih.
Muhammad ibn Bashshar narrated to us: Muhammad ibn Ja‘far narrated to us: Shu‘bah narrated to us, from Abu Bishr, with this chain, something similar, except that he said: ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf said, “Do you ask him when we have a son like him?” This hadith is hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The second route varies between ‘sons like him’ and ‘a son like him.’ The exchange concerns Ibn ‘Abbas’s interpretation of Surah 110 as signaling the Prophet’s appointed term.
Chapter 91
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ تَبَّتْ يَدَا
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Hannad and Ahmad ibn Mani‘ narrated to us: Abu Mu‘awiyah narrated to us: al-A‘mash narrated to us, from ‘Amr ibn Murrah, from Sa‘id ibn Jubayr, from Ibn ‘Abbas, who said: ‘One day the Messenger of Allah climbed Mount al-Safa and called out, “O people, come quickly!” Quraysh gathered around him. He said, “I am a warner to you before a severe punishment. Tell me, if I informed you that the enemy would attack you this evening or this morning, would you believe me?” Abu Lahab said, “Was this why you gathered us? Perish you!” Then Allah revealed, “May the hands of Abu Lahab perish, and may he perish” (111:1). Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic contains the urgent pre-dawn warning call ‘ya sabahah’ and Abu Lahab’s rebuke; it then quotes the opening of Surah 111. The English witness smooths the call as ‘O people! Come at once!’
Chapter 92
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ الإِخْلاَصِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ahmad ibn Mani‘ narrated to us: Abu Sa‘d—the Saghanian—narrated to us, from Abu Ja‘far al-Razi, from al-Rabi‘ ibn Anas, from Abu al-‘Aliyah, from Ubayy ibn Ka‘b: The polytheists said to the Messenger of Allah, ‘Describe your Lord’s lineage to us.’ Then Allah revealed, ‘Say: He is Allah, One; Allah, the Self-Sufficient’ (112:1–2). The Self-Sufficient is the One who neither begets nor is begotten, because nothing that is born but will die, and nothing that dies but will be inherited from; but Allah, Mighty and Majestic, neither dies nor is inherited from. ‘And there is none comparable to Him’ (112:4). He said, ‘There is none like Him, none equal to Him, and nothing is like Him.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic explanation uses the idea of inheritance: created beings die and are inherited from, whereas Allah neither dies nor is inherited from. The next report gives a variant chain without Ubayy ibn Ka‘b and is preferred by the compiler.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
‘Abd ibn Humayd narrated to us: ‘Ubaydullah ibn Musa narrated to us, from Abu Ja‘far al-Razi, from al-Rabi‘, from Abu al-‘Aliyah, that the Prophet mentioned the idols of the polytheists, and they said, ‘Describe your Lord’s lineage to us.’ Jibril then came to him with this surah: ‘Say: He is Allah, One’ (112:1). He mentioned something similar, but this report does not include the link from Ubayy ibn Ka‘b. This is more accurate than the report of Abu Sa‘d. Abu Sa‘d’s name was Muhammad ibn Muyassar; Abu Ja‘far al-Razi’s name was ‘Isa; and Abu al-‘Aliyah’s name was Rufay‘. He had been a slave whom a Sabian woman emancipated.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The compiler prefers this route over the one in the previous report and notes that it omits Ubayy ibn Ka‘b from the chain. He identifies the narrators and gives the biographical note about Abu al-‘Aliyah.
Chapter 93
وَمِنْ سُورَةِ الْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna narrated to us: ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Amr al-‘Aqadi narrated to us, from Ibn Abi Dhi’b, from al-Harith ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman, from Abu Salamah, from ‘A’ishah, that the Prophet looked at the moon and said: ‘‘A’ishah, seek refuge in Allah from the evil of this, for this is “the darkness when it settles”’ (113:3). Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic is an instruction to seek refuge from the evil of the moon, identifying it with the Qur’anic phrase ‘the darkness when it settles.’ The English witness renders this as a question.
Interpretation of ‘the darkness when it settles’ can depend on context; this translation retains the wording of the cited verse without supplying an external gloss.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Muhammad ibn Bashshar narrated to us: Yahya ibn Sa‘id narrated to us, from Isma‘il ibn Abi Khalid, who said: Qays—namely Ibn Abi Hazim—narrated to me, from ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir al-Juhani, from the Prophet, who said: ‘Allah has revealed to me verses the like of which have never been seen: “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind” (114:1), through the end of the surah, and “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak” (113:1), through the end of the surah.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic lists Surah al-Nas first, followed by Surah al-Falaq, and says that comparable verses had not been seen. The English witness preserves the same order.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Muhammad ibn Bashshar narrated to us: Safwan ibn ‘Isa narrated to us: al-Harith ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Dhi’bab narrated to us, from Sa‘id ibn Abi Sa‘id al-Maqburi, from Abu Hurayrah, who said that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘When Allah created Adam and breathed the spirit into him, Adam sneezed and said, “Praise belongs to Allah.” Thus, by Allah’s permission, he praised Allah. His Lord said to him, “May Allah have mercy on you, Adam. Go to that group of angels sitting there and say, ‘Peace be upon you.’” He went and said, “Peace be upon you.” They replied, “And upon you be peace and Allah’s mercy.” Then he returned to his Lord, who said, “This is your greeting and the greeting your descendants will exchange among themselves.”’
He said: ‘Allah’s two hands were closed, and He said to Adam, “Choose whichever of them you wish.” Adam said, “I choose my Lord’s right hand; both of my Lord’s hands are right and blessed.” Then He opened it, and there were Adam and his descendants in it. Adam said, “My Lord, who are these?” He said, “These are your descendants.” Every person’s lifespan was written between his eyes. Among them was a man who was the brightest of them—or one of the brightest. Adam said, “My Lord, who is this?” He said, “This is your son Dawud. I have written forty years for him.” Adam said, “My Lord, increase his lifespan.” He said, “That is what I have written for him.” Adam said, “My Lord, I give him sixty years of my own lifespan.” He said, “That is yours to give.”’”
He said: ‘Then Adam dwelt in Paradise for as long as Allah willed, and afterward he was sent down from it. Adam began counting his own years. The Angel of Death came to him, and Adam said, “You have come too soon; a thousand years were written for me.” He said, “Indeed, but you gave sixty years to your son Dawud.” Adam denied it, and so did his descendants; he forgot, and so did his descendants. From that day onward, writing and witnesses were prescribed.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan gharib by this route. It has also been transmitted by other routes from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet, through Zayd ibn Aslam, from Abu Salih, from Abu Hurayrah.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The account says Adam first chose the right hand, then adds that both of Allah’s hands are right and blessed. It preserves the uncertainty over whether Dawud was the brightest or one of the brightest. The conclusion links Adam’s denial and forgetfulness with those of his descendants, and reports that writing and witnesses were prescribed from then on.