Riyad as-Saliheen, Book of Miscellany

Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him):
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention. So whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messenger, his emigration will be for Allah and His Messenger; and whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration would be for what he emigrated for".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

وعن أمير المؤمنين أبي حفص عمر بن الخطاب بن نفيل بن عبد العزى بن رياح بن قرط بن رزاح بن عدى بن لؤى ابن غالب القرشى العدوى. رضي الله عنه، قال: سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: " إنما الأعمال بالنيات، وإنما لكل امرىء ما نوى فمن كانت هجرته إلى الله ورسوله فهجرته إلى الله ورسوله، ومن كانت هجرته لدنيا يصيبها، أو امرأة ينكحها فهجرته إلى ما هاجر إليه" ((متفق على صحته. رواه إماما المحدثين: أبو الحسين مسلم بن الحجاج بن مسلم القشيرى النيسابورى رضي الله عنهما في صحيحهما اللذين هما أصح الكتب المصنفة)).

Narrated 'A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "An army will raid the Ka'bah and when it reaches a desert land, all of them will be swallowed up by the earth." She asked; "O Messenger of Allah! Why all of them?" He answered, "All of them will be swallowed by the earth but they will be raised for Judgement according to their intentions."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أم المؤمنين أم عبد الله عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: قال رسول الله ﷺ : "يغزو جيش الكعبة فإذا كانوا ببيداء من الأرض يخسف بأولهم وآخرهم". قالت: قلت: يارسول الله، كيف يخسف بأولهم وآخرهم وفيهم أسواقهم ومن ليس منهم!؟ قال: "يخسف بأولهم وآخرهم، ثم يبعثون على نياتهم" ((متفق عليه. هذا لفظ البخاري)).

A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said,
"There is no emigration after the conquest (of Makkah) but only Jihad [(striving and fighting in the cause of Allah) will continue] and good intention. So if you are summoned to fight, go forth."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت قال النبي ﷺ: " لا هجرة بعد الفتح، ولكن جهاد ونية، وإذا استفرتم فانفروا" ((متفق عليه)).

Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
We accompanied the Prophet ﷺ in an expedition when he said, "There are some men in Al-Madinah who are with you wherever you march and whichever valley you cross. They have not joined you in person because of their illness." In another version he said: "They share the reward with you."

[Muslim].

It is narrated by Bukhari from Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him): We were coming back from the battle of Tabuk with the Prophet ﷺ when he remarked, "There are people whom we left behind in Al- Madinah who accompanied us in spirit in every pass and valley we crossed. They remained behind for a valid excuse."

وعن أبي عبد الله جابر بن عبد الله الأنصارى رضي الله عنهما قال: كنا مع النبي ﷺ في غزاةٍ فقال: "إن بالمدينة لرجالاً ماسرتم مسيراً، ولا قطعتم وادياً إلا كانوا معكم حبسهم المرض" وفى رواية: "إلا شاركوكم في الأجر" ((رواه مسلم)). ((ورواه البخاري)) عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: رجعنا من غزوة تبوك مع النبي ﷺ فقال: " إن أقواماً خلفنا بالمدينة ما سلكنا شعباً ولا وادياً إلا وهم معنا، حبسهم العذر".

Ma'n bin Yazid bin Akhnas (May Allah be pleased with them) (he, his father and his grandfather, all were Companions) reported:
My father set aside some dinars for charity and gave them to a man in the mosque. I went to that man and took back those dinars. He said: "I had not intended you to be given." So we went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and put forth the matter before him. He said to my father, "Yazid, you have been rewarded for what you intended." And he said to me, "Ma'n, you are entitled to what you have taken."

[Al-Bukhari].

وعن أبي يزيد معن بن يزيد بن الأخنس رضي الله عنهم، وهو وأبوه وجده صحابيون، قال: كان أبي يزيد أخرج دنانير يتصدق بها فوضعها عند رجل في المسجد فجئت فأخذتها فأتيته بها، فقال: والله ما إياك أردت، فخاصمته إلى رسول الله ﷺ فقال: " لك ما نويت يا يزيد، ولك ما أخذت يامعن" ((رواه البخاري)).

Abu Ishaq Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) (one of the ten who had been given the glad tidings of entry into Jannah) narrated:
Messenger of Allah ﷺ visited me in my illness which became severe in the year of Hajjat-ul-Wada' (Farewell Pilgrimage). I said, "O Messenger of Allah, you can see the pain which I am suffering and I am a man of means and there is none to inherit from me except one daughter. Should I give two-thirds of my property in charity?" He ﷺ said, "No". I asked him, "Then half?" He said, "No". Then I asked, "Can I give away one-third". He said, "Give away one-third, and that is still too much. It is better to leave your heirs well-off than to leave them poor, begging people. You will not expend a thing in charity for the sake of Allah, but you will be rewarded for it; even the morsel of food which you feed your wife". I said, "O Messenger of Allah, would I survive my companions?" He said, "If you survive others and accomplish a thing for the sake of Allah, you would gain higher ranking and standing. You will survive them ... your survival will be beneficial to people (the Muslim) and harmful to others (the enemies of Islam). You will survive others till the people will derive benefit from you, and others would be harmed by you." Messenger of Allah ﷺ further said, "O Allah, complete for my Companions their emigration and do not cause them to retract." Sa'd bin Khaulah was unfortunate. Messenger of Allah ﷺ lamented his death as he died in Makkah.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي إسحاق سعد بن أبي وقاص مالك بن أهيب بن عبد مناف بن زهرة بن كلاب بن مرة بن كعب بن لؤى القرش الزهرى رضي الله عنه، أحد العشرة المشهود لهم بالجنة، رضي الله عنهم، قال: " جاءنى رسول الله ﷺ يعودنى عام حجة الوداع من وجع اشتد بى فقلت: يارسول الله إني قد بلغ بى من الوجع ما ترى، وأنا ذو مال ولا يرثنى إلا ابنة لي، أفاتصدق بثلثى ما لي؟ قال: لا، قلت: فالشطر يارسول الله؟ فقال: لا، قلت: فالثلث يا رسول الله؟ قال الثلث والثلث كثير- أو كبير- إنك أن تذر ورثتك أغنياء خير من أن تذرهم عالة يتكففون الناس، وإنك لن تنفق نفقة تبتغى بها وجه الله إلا أجرت عليها حتى ما تجعل في فيّ امرأتك قال: فقلت: يارسول الله أخلف بعد أصحابي؟ قال: إنك لن تخلف فتعمل عملا تبتغي بهوجه الله إلا ازددت به درجة ورفعةً، ولعلك أن تخلف حتى ينتفع بك أقوام ويضرّ بك آخرون. اللهم امض لآصحابى هجرتهم، ولا تردهم على أعقابهم، لكن البائس سعد بن خولة" يرثى له رسول الله ﷺ أن مات بمكة.((متفق عليه)).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah does not look at your figures, nor at your attire but He looks at your hearts and accomplishments".

[Muslim].

وعن أبي هريرة عبد الرحمن بن صخر رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله ﷺ: " إن الله لا ينظر إلى أجسامكم ، ولا إلى صوركم، ولكن ينظر إلى قلوبكم وأعمالكم" ((رواه مسلم)).

Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about who fights in the battlefield out of valour, or out of zeal, or out of hypocrisy, which of this is considered as fighting in the cause of Allah? He said:
"He who fights in order that the Word of Allah remains the supreme, is considered as fighting in the cause of Allah".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي موسى عبد الله بن قيس الأشعرى رضي الله عنه قال: سئل رسول الله ﷺ عن الرجل يقاتل شجاعة، ويقاتل حميةً، ويقاتل رياء، أى ذلك في سبيل الله؟ فقال رسول الله ﷺ: " من قاتل لتكون كلمة الله هى العليا فهو في سبيل الله" ((متفق عليه)).

Abu Bakrah Ath-Thaqafi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said: "When two Muslims are engaged in a combat against each other with their sword's and one is killed, both are doomed to Hell". I said, "O Messenger of Allah! As to the one who kills, it is understandable, but why the slain one?" He ﷺ replied: "He was eager to kill his opponent".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي بكرة نفيع بن الحارث الثقفى رضي الله عنه أن النبي ﷺ قال: "إذ التقى المسلمان بسيفيهما فالقاتل والمقتول في النار" قلت يارسول الله، هذا القاتل فما بال المقتول؟ قال: "إنه كان حريصاً على قتل صاحبه" ((متفق عليه)).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The reward for Salat performed by a person in congregation is more than 20 times greater than that of the Salat performed in one's house or shop. When one performs Wudu' perfectly and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of performing Salat, then for every step he takes towards the mosque, he is upgraded one degree in reward and one of his sins is eliminated until he enters the mosque, and when he enters the mosque, he is considered as performing Salat as long as it is the Salat which prevents him (from leaving the mosque), and the angels keep on supplicating Allah for him as long as he remains in his place of prayer. They say: 'O Allah! have mercy on him; O Allah! forgive his sins; O Allah! accept his repentance'. This will carry on as long as he does not pass wind".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال رسول الله ﷺ : "صلاة الرجل في جماعة تزيد على صلاته في سوقه وبيته بضعاً وعشرين درجه وذلك أن أحدهم إذا توضأ فأحسن الوضوء ثم أتى المسجد لا يريد إلا الصلاة، لا ينهزه إلا الصلاة، لم يخط خطوة إلا رفع له بها درجة، وحط عنه بها خطيئة حتى يدخل المسجد، فإذا دخل المسجد كان في الصلاة ما كانت الصلاة هى تحبسه، والملائكة يصلون على أحدكم ما دام في مجلسه الذى صلى فيه، ما لم يحدث فيه" ((متفق عليه، وهذا لفظ مسلم)). وقوله ﷺ: (2)

'Abdullah bin 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that Allah, the Glorious, said: "Verily, Allah (Subhanahu-wa-Taala) has ordered that the good and the bad deeds be written down. Then He explained it clearly how (to write): He who intends to do a good deed but he does not do it, then Allah records it for him as a full good deed, but if he carries out his intention, then Allah the Exalted, writes it down for him as from ten to seven hundred folds, and even more. But if he intends to do an evil act and has not done it, then Allah writes it down with Him as a full good deed, but if he intends it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one bad deed".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

وعن أبي العباس عبد الله بن عباس بن عبد المطلب رضي الله عنهما، عن رسول الله، ﷺ، فيما يروى عن ربه، تبارك وتعالى قال: " إن الله كتب الحسنات والسيئات ثم بين ذلك: فمن همّ بحسنة فلم يعملها كتبها الله تبارك وتعالى عنده حسنة كاملة، وإن هم بها فعملها كتبها الله عشر حسنات إلى سبعمائه ضعف إلى أضعاف كثيرة، وإن هم بسيئة فلم يعملها كتبها الله عنده حسنة كاملة، وإن همّ بها فعملها كتبها الله سيئة واحدة " ((متفق عليه)).

'Abdullah bin 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with them) narrated that:
He heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: "Three men, amongst those who came before you, set out until night came and they reached a cave, so they entered it. A rock fell down from the mountain and blocked the entrance of the cave. They said: 'Nothing will save you from this unless you supplicate to Allah by virtue of a righteous deed you have done.' Thereupon, one of them said: 'O Allah! I had parents who were old, and I used to offer them milk before any of my children or slaves. One day, I went far away in search of grazing and could not come back until they had slept. When I milked as usual and brought the drink I found them both asleep. I hated to disturb them and also disliked to give milk to my children before them. My children were crying out of hunger at my feet but I awaited with the bowl in my hand for them to wake up. When they awoke at dawn, they drank milk. O Allah! If I did so to seek Your Pleasure, then deliver us from the distress caused by the rock'. The rock moved slightly but they were unable to escape. The next said: 'O Allah! I had a cousin whom I loved more than any one else (in another version he said: as a man can love a woman). I wanted to have sexual intercourse with her but she refused. Hard pressed in a year of famine, she approached me. I gave her one hundred and twenty dinars on condition that she would yield herself to me. She agreed and when we got together (for sexual intercourse), she said: Fear Allah and do not break the seal unlawfully. I moved away from her in spite of the fact that I loved her most passionately; and I let her keep the money I had given her. O Allah! If I did that to seek Your Pleasure, then, remove the distress in which we are.' The rock moved aside a bit further but they were still unable to get out. The third one said: 'O Allah! I hired some labourers and paid them their wages except one of them departed without taking his due. I invested his money in business and the business prospered greatly. After a long time, he came to me and said: O slave of Allah! Pay me my dues. I said: All that you see is yours - camels, cattle, goats and slaves. He said: O slave of Allah! Do not mock at me. I assured him that I was not joking. So he took all the things and went away. He spared nothing. O Allah! If I did so seeking Your Pleasure, then relieve us of our distress.' The rock slipped aside and they got out walking freely".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي عبد الرحمن عبد الله بن عمر بن الخطاب، رضي الله عنهما قال: سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: " انطلق ثلاثة نفر ممن كان قبلكم حتى آواهم المبيت إلى غار فدخلوه، فانحدرت صخرة من الجبل فسدت عليهم الغار، فقالوا: إنه لا ينجيكم من هذه الصخرة إلا أن تدعوا الله بصالح أعمالكم. قال رجل منهم: اللهم كان لي أبوان شيخان كبيران، وكنت لا أغبق قبلهما أهلاً ولا مالاً. فنأى بى طلب الشجر يوماً فلم أرح عليهما حتى ناما فحلبت لهما غبوقهما فوجدتهما نائمين فكرهت أن أوقظهما وأن أغبق قبلهما أهلاً أو مالاً، فلبثت- والقدح على يدى- أنتظر استيقاظهما حتى برق الفجر والصبية يتضاغون عند قدمى- فاستيقظا فشربا غبوقهما. اللهم إن كنت فعلت ذلك ابتغاء وجهك ففرج عنا ما نحن فيه من هذه الصخرة، فانفرجت شيئاً لا يستطيعون الخروج منه. قال الآخر: اللهم إنه كانت لي ابنة عم كانت أحب الناس إلىّ " وفى رواية: "كنت أحبها كأشد ما يحب الرجال النساء، فأردتها على نفسها فامتنعت منى حتى ألمّت بها سنة من السنين فجاءتنى فأعطيتها عشرين ومائة دينار على أن تخلى بينى وبين نفسها ففعلت، حتى إذا قدرت عليها" وفى رواية: "فلما قعدت بين رجليها، قالت: اتق الله ولا تفض الخاتم إلا بحقه، فانصرفت عنها وهى أحب الناس إلى وتركت الذهب الذى أعطيتها، اللهم إن كنت فعلت ذلك ابتغاء وجهك فافرج عنا ما نحن فيه، فانفرجت الصخرة غير أنهم لا يستطيعون الخروج منها. وقال الثالث: اللهم استأجرت أجراء وأعطيتهم أجرهم غير رجل واحد ترك الذى له وذهب، فثمرت أجره حتى كثرت منه الأموال، فجاءنى بعد حين فقال: يا عبد الله أدّ إلى أجرى، فقلت: كل ما ترى من أجرك: من الإبل والبقر والغنم والرقيق. فقال: يا عبد الله لا تستهزئ بى! فقلت: لا أستهزئ بك، فأخذه كله فاستاقه فلم يترك منه شيئاً، اللهم إن كنتُ فعلت ذلك ابتغاء وجهك فافرج عنا ما نحن فيه، فانفرجت الصخرة فخرجوا يمشون" ((متفق عليه)).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: "By Allah, I seek Allah's forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day."

[Al-Bukhari].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: "والله إني لأستغفر الله وأتوب إليه في اليوم أكثر من سبعين مرة " ((رواه البخاري)).

Al-Agharr bin Yasar Al-Muzani (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Turn you people in repentance to Allah and beg pardon of Him. I turn to Him in repentance a hundred times a day".

[Muslim].

وعن الأغر بن يسار المزنى رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ: " ياأيها الناس توبوا إلى الله واستغفروه فإنى أتوب في اليوم مائه مرة" ((رواه مسلم)).

Anas bin Malik Al-Ansari (MayAllah be pleased with him) the servant of the Messenger of Allah narrated:
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Verily, Allah is more delighted with the repentance of His slave than a person who lost his camel in a desert land and then finds it (unexpectedly)".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In another version of Muslim, he said: "Verily, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than a person who has his camel in a waterless desert carrying his provision of food and drink and it is lost. He, having lost all hopes (to get that back), lies down in shade and is disappointed about his camel; when all of a sudden he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its reins and then out of boundless joy blurts out: 'O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Rubb'.He commits this mistake out of extreme joy".

وعن أبي حمزة أنس بن مالك الأنصارى خادم رسول الله ﷺ، رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ : " لله أفرح بتوبة عبده من أحدكم سقط على بعيره وقد أضله في أرض فلاة " ((متفق عليه)). وفى رواية لمسلم: لله أشد فرحا بتوبة عبده حين يتوب إليه من أحدكم كان على راحلته بأرض فلاة، فانفلتت منه وعليها طعامه وشرابه فأيس منها، فأتى شجرة فاضطجع في ظلها، وقد أيس من راحلته، فبينما هو كذلك إذا هو بها، قائمة عنده ، فأخذ بخطامها ثم قال من شدة الفرح: اللهم أنت عبدي وأنا ربك، أخطأ من شدة الفرح".

Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah, the Exalted, will continue to stretch out His Hand in the night so that the sinners of the day may repent, and continue to stretch His Hand in the daytime so that the sinners of the night may repent, until the sun rises from the west".

[Muslim].

وعن أبي موسى عبد الله بن قيس الأشعرى رضي الله عنه عن النبي ﷺ قال: " إن الله تعالى يبسط يده بالليل ليتوب مسيء النهار، ويبسط يده بالنهار ليتوب مسيء الليل حتى تطلع الشمس من مغربها" ((رواه مسلم)).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "He who repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him".

[Muslim].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ : " من تاب قبل أن تطلع الشمس من مغربها تاب الله عليه" ((رواه مسلم)).

'Abdullah bin 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with them) reported that:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Allah accepts a slave's repentance as long as the latter is not on his death bed (that is, before the soul of the dying person reaches the throat)".

[At-Tirmidhi, who categorised it as Hadith Hasan].

وعن أبي عبد الرحمن عبد الله بن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنهما عن النبي ﷺ قال: " إن الله عز وجل يقبل توبة العبد ما لم يغرغر" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن)).

Zirr bin Hubaish reported:
I went to Safwan bin 'Assal (May Allah be pleased with him) to inquire about wiping with wet hands over light boots while performing Wudu'. He asked me, "What brings you here, Zirr?" I answered: "Search for knowledge". He said, "Angels spread their wings for the seeker of knowledge out of joy for what he seeks". I told him, "I have some doubts in my mind regarding wiping of wet hands over light boots in the course of performing Wudu' after defecation or urinating. Now since you are one of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, I have come to ask you whether you heard any saying of the Prophet ﷺ concerning it?". He replied in the affirmative and said, "He ﷺ instructed us that during a journey we need not take off our light boots for washing the feet up to three days and nights, except in case of major impurity (after sexual intercourse). In other cases such as sleeping, relieving oneself or urinating, the wiping of wet hands over light boots will suffice." I, then, questioned him, "Did you hear him say anything about love and affection?" He replied, "We accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in a journey when a bedouin called out in a loud voice, 'O Muhammad.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied him in the same tone, 'Here I am.' I said to him (the bedouin), 'Woe to you, lower your voice in his presence, because you are not allowed to do so.' He said, 'By Allah! I will not lower my voice,' and then addressing the Prophet ﷺ he said, 'What about a person who loves people but has not found himself in their company.' Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, 'On the Day of Resurrection, a person will be in the company of those whom he loves.' The Messenger of Allah then kept on talking to us and in the course of his talk, he mentioned a gateway in the heaven, the width of which could be crossed by a rider in forty or seventy years".

Sufyan, one of the narrators of this tradition, said: "This gateway is in the direction of Syria. Allah created it on the day He created the heavens and the earth. It is open for repentance and will not be shut until the sun rises from that direction (i.e., the West) (on Doomsday)".

[At-Tirmidhi, who categorised it as Hadith Hasan Sahih]

وعن زر بن حبيش قال: أتيت صفوان بن عسال رضي الله عنه أسأله عن المسح على الخفين فقال: ما جاء بك يازر؟ فقلت: ابتغاء العلم، فقال: إن الملائكة تضع أجنحتها لطالب العلم رضي بما يطلب، فقلت: من أصحاب النبي ﷺ ، فجئت أسألك: هل سمعته يذكر في ذلك شيئاً؟ قال: نعم، كان يأمرنا إذا كنا سفراً- أو مسافرين- أن لا ننزع خفافناً ثلاثة أيام ولياليهن إلا من جنابة، ولكن من غائط وبول ونوم. فقلت: سفر، فبينا نحن عنده إذ ناداه أعرابى بصوت له جهورى: يا محمد، فأجابه رسول الله ﷺ نحواً من صوته: "هاؤم" فقلت له: ويحك اغضض من صوتك فإنك عند النبي ﷺ ، وقد نهيت عن هذا! فقال: والله لا أغضض. قال الأعرابى: المرء يحب القوم ولما يلحق بهم؟ قال النبي ﷺ: " المرء مع من أحب يوم القيامة" فما زال يحدثنا حتى ذكر باباً من المغرب مسيرة عرضه أو يسير الراكب في عرضه أربعين أو سبعين عاماً. قال سفيان أحد الرواة قبل الشام خلقه الله تعالى يوم خلق السماوات والأرض مفتوحاً للتوبة لا يغلق حتى تطلع الشمس منه" ((رواه الترمذي وغيره وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Prophet of Allah ﷺ said: "There was a man from among a nation before you who killed ninety-nine people and then made an inquiry about the most learned person on the earth. He was directed to a monk. He came to him and told him that he had killed ninety-nine people and asked him if there was any chance for his repentance to be accepted. He replied in the negative and the man killed him also completing one hundred. He then asked about the most learned man in the earth. He was directed to a scholar. He told him that he had killed one hundred people and asked him if there was any chance for his repentance to be accepted. He replied in the affirmative and asked, 'Who stands between you and repentance? Go to such and such land; there (you will find) people devoted to prayer and worship of Allah, join them in worship, and do not come back to your land because it is an evil place.' So he went away and hardly had he covered half the distance when death overtook him; and there was a dispute between the angels of mercy and the angels of torment. The angels of mercy pleaded, 'This man has come with a repenting heart to Allah,' and the angels of punishment argued, 'He never did a virtuous deed in his life.' Then there appeared another angel in the form of a human being and the contending angels agreed to make him arbiter between them. He said, 'Measure the distance between the two lands. He will be considered belonging to the land to which he is nearer.' They measured and found him closer to the land (land of piety) where he intended to go, and so the angels of mercy collected his soul".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In another version: "He was found to be nearer to the locality of the pious by a cubit and was thus included among them". Another version says: "Allah commanded (the land which he wanted to leave) to move away and commanded the other land (his destination) to draw nearer and then He said: "Now measure the distance between them.' It was found that he was nearer to his goal by a hand's span and was thus forgiven". It is also narrated that he drew closer by a slight movement on his chest.

وعن أبي سعيد سعد بن مالك بن سنان الخدري رضي الله عنه أن نبي الله ﷺ قال: " كان فيمن كان قبلكم رجل قتل تسعة وتسعين نفساً، فسأل عن أعلم أهل الأرض، فدل على راهب، فأتاه فقال: إنه قتل تسعه وتسعين نفساً، فهل له من توبة؟ فقال: لا، فقتله فكمل به مائةً، ثم سأل عن أعلم أهل الأرض، فدل على رجل عالم فقال: إنه قتل مائة نفس فهل له من توبة؟ فقال: نعم، ومن يحول بينه وبين التوبة؟ انطلق إلى أرض كذا وكذا، فإن بها أناساً يعبدون الله تعالى فاعبد الله معهم، ولا ترجع إلى أرضك فإنها أرض سوءٍ، فانطلق حتى إذا نصف الطريق أتاه الموت، فاختصمت فيه ملائكة الرحمة وملائكة العذاب. فقالت ملائكة الرحمة: جاء تائبا مقبلا بقلبه إلى الله تعالى، وقالت ملائكة العذاب: إنه لم يعمل خيرا قط، فأتاهم ملك في صورة آدمي فجعلوه بينهم- أي حكماً- فقال: قيسوا ما بين الأرضين فإلى أيتهما كان أدنى فهو له، فقاسوا فوجدوه أدنى إلى الأرض التي أراد، فقبضته ملائكة الرحمة" ((متفق عليه)).

Abdullah bin Ka'b, who served as the guide of Ka'b bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) when he became blind, narrated:
I heard Ka'b bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) narrating the story of his remaining behind instead of joining Messenger of Allah ﷺ when he left for the battle of Tabuk. Ka'b said: "I accompanied Messenger of Allah ﷺ in every expedition which he undertook excepting the battle of Tabuk and the battle of Badr. As for the battle of Badr, nobody was blamed for remaining behind as Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Muslims, when they set out, had in mind only to intercept the caravan of the Quraish. Allah made them confront their enemies unexpectedly. I had the honour of being with Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the night of 'Aqabah when we pledged our allegiance to Islam and it was dearer to me than participating in the battle of Badr, although Badr was more well-known among the people than that. And this is the account of my staying behind from the battle of Tabuk. I never had better means and more favourable circumstances than at the time of this expedition. And by Allah, I had never before possessed two riding-camels as I did during the time of this expedition. Whenever Messenger of Allah ﷺ decided to go on a campaign, he would not disclose his real destination till the last moment (of departure). But on this expedition, he set out in extremely hot weather; the journey was long and the terrain was waterless desert; and he had to face a strong army, so he informed the Muslims about the actual position so that they should make full preparation for the campaign. And the Muslims who accompanied Messenger of Allah ﷺ at that time were in large number but no proper record of them was maintained." Ka'b (further) said: "Few were the persons who chose to remain absent believing that they could easily hide themselves (and thus remain undetected) unless Revelation from Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious (revealed relating to them). And Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out on this expedition when the fruit were ripe and their shade was sought. I had a weakness for them and it was during this season that Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Muslims made preparations. I also would set out in the morning to make preparations along with them but would come back having done nothing and said to myself: 'I have means enough (to make preparations) as soon as I like'. And I went on doing this (postponing my preparations) till the time of departure came and it was in the morning that Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out along with the Muslims, but I had made no preparations. I would go early in the morning and come back, but with no decision. I went on doing so until they (the Muslims) hastened and covered a good deal of distance. Then I wished to march on and join them. Would that I had done that! But perhaps it was not destined for me. After the departure of Messenger of Allah ﷺ whenever I went out, I was grieved to find no good example to follow but confirmed hypocrites or weak people whom Allah had exempted (from marching forth for Jihad). Messenger of Allah ﷺ made no mention of me until he reached Tabuk. While he was sitting with the people in Tabuk, he said, 'What happened to Ka'b bin Malik?' A person from Banu Salimah said: "O Messenger of Allah, the (beauty) of his cloak and an appreciation of his finery have detained him.' Upon this Mu'adh bin Jabal (MatAllah be pleased with him) admonished him and said to Messenger of Allah ﷺ: "By Allah, we know nothing about him but good.' Messenger of Allah ﷺ, however, kept quiet. At that time he (the Prophet ﷺ) saw a person dressed in white and said, 'Be Abu Khaithamah.' And was Abu Khaithamah Al- Ansari was the person who had contributed a Sa' of dates and was ridiculed by the hypocrites." Ka'b bin Malik further said: "When the news reached me that Messenger of Allah ﷺ was on his way back from Tabuk, I was greatly distressed. I thought of fabricating an excuse and asked myself how I would save myself from his anger the next day. In this connection, I sought the counsels of every prudent member of my family. When I was told that Messenger of Allah ﷺ was about to arrive, all the wicked ideas vanished (from my mind) and I came to the conclusion that nothing but the truth could save me. So I decided to tell him the truth. It was in the morning that Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived in Al-Madinah. It was his habit that whenever he came back from a journey, he would first go to the mosque and perform two Rak'ah (of optional prayer) and would then sit with the people. When he sat, those who had remained behind him began to put forward their excuses and take an oath before him. They were more than eighty in number. Messenger of Allah ﷺ accepted their excuses on the very face of them and accepted their allegiance and sought forgiveness for them and left their insights to Allah, until I appeared before him. I greeted him and he smiled and there was a tinge of anger in that. He then said to me, 'Come forward'. I went forward and I sat in front of him. He said to me, 'What kept you back? Could you not afford to go in for a ride?' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, if I were to sit before anybody else, a man of the world, I would have definitely saved myself from his anger on one pretext or the other and I have a gifted skill in argumentation, but, by Allah, I am fully aware that if I were to put forward before you a lame excuse to please you, Allah would definitely provoke your wrath upon me. In case, I speak the truth, you may be angry with me, but I hope that Allah would be pleased with me (and accept my repentance). By Allah, there is no valid excuse for me. By Allah, I never possessed so good means, and I never had such favourable conditions for me as I had when I stayed behind.' Thereupon, Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'This man spoke the truth, so get up (and wait) until Allah gives a decision about you.' I left and some people of Banu Salimah followed me. They said to me, 'By Allah, we do not know that you committed a sin before. You, however, showed inability to put forward an excuse before Messenger of Allah ﷺ like those who stayed behind him. It would have been enough for the forgiveness of your sin that Messenger of Allah ﷺ would have sought forgiveness for you.' By Allah, they kept on reproaching me until I thought of going back to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and retract my confession. Then I said to them, 'Has anyone else met the same fate?' They said, 'Yes, two persons have met the same fate. They made the same statement as you did and the same verdict was delivered in their case.' I asked, 'Who are they?' They said, 'Murarah bin Ar-Rabi' Al-'Amri and Hilal bin Umaiyyah Al- Waqifi.' They mentioned these two pious men who had taken part in the battle of Badr and there was an example for me in them. I was confirmed in my original resolve. Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited the Muslims to talk to the three of us from amongst those who had stayed behind. The people began to avoid us and their attitude towards us changed and it seemed as if the whole atmosphere had turned against us, and it was in fact the same atmosphere of which I was fully aware and in which I had lived (for a fairly long time). We spent fifty nights in this very state and my two friends confined themselves within their houses and spent (most of their) time weeping. As I was the youngest and the strongest, I would leave my house, attend the congregational Salat, move about in the bazaars, but none would speak to me. I would come to Messenger of Allah ﷺ as he sat amongst (people) after the Salat, greet him and would ask myself whether or not his lips moved in response to my greetings. Then I would perform Salat near him and look at him stealthily. When I finish my Salat, he would look at me and when I would cast a glance at him he would turn away his eyes from me. When the harsh treatment of the Muslims to me continued for a (considerable) length of time, I walked and I climbed upon the wall of the garden of Abu Qatadah, who was my cousin, and I had a great love for him. I greeted him but, by Allah, he did not answer to my greeting. I said to him, 'O Abu Qatadah, I adjure you in the Name of Allah, are you not aware that I love Allah and His Messenger ﷺ?' I asked him the same question again but he remained silent. I again adjured him, whereupon he said, 'Allah and His Messenger ﷺ know better.' My eyes were filled with tears, and I came back climbing down the wall.

As I was walking in the bazaars of Al-Madinah, a man from the Syrian peasants, who had come to sell food grains in Al-Madinah, asked people to direct him to Ka'b bin Malik. People pointed towards me. He came to me and delivered a letter from the King of Ghassan, and as I was a scribe, I read that letter whose purport was: 'It has been conveyed to us that your friend (the Prophet ﷺ) was treating you harshly. Allah has not created you for a place where you are to be degraded and where you cannot find your right place; so come to us and we shall receive you graciously.' As I read that letter I said: 'This is too a trial,' so I put it to fire in an oven. When forty days had elapsed and Messenger of Allah ﷺ received no Revelation, there came to me a messenger of the Messenger of Allah and said, 'Verily, Messenger of Allah ﷺ has commanded you to keep away from your wife.' I said, 'Should I divorce her or what else should I do?' He said, 'No, but only keep away from her and don't have sexual contact with her.' The same message was sent to my companions. So, I said to my wife: 'You better go to your parents and stay there with them until Allah gives the decision in my case.' The wife of Hilal bin Umaiyyah came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, Hilal bin Umaiyyah is a senile person and has no servant. Do you disapprove if I serve him?' He said, 'No, but don't let him have any sexual contact with you.' She said, 'By Allah, he has no such desire left in him. By Allah, he has been in tears since (this calamity) struck him.' Members of my family said to me, 'You should have sought permission from Messenger of Allah ﷺ in regard to your wife. He has allowed the wife of Hilal bin Umaiyyah to serve him.' I said, 'I would not seek permission from Messenger of Allah ﷺ for I do not know what Messenger of Allah might say in response to that, as I am a young man'. It was in this state that I spent ten more nights and thus fifty days had passed since people boycotted us and gave up talking to us. After I had offered my Fajr prayer on the early morning of the fiftieth day of this boycott on the roof of one of our houses, and had sat in the very state which Allah described as: 'The earth seemed constrained for me despite its vastness', I heard the voice of a proclaimer from the peak of the hill Sal' shouting at the top of his voice: 'O Ka'b bin Malik, rejoice.' I fell down in prostration and came to know that there was (a message of) relief for me. Messenger of Allah ﷺ had informed the people about the acceptance of our repentance by Allah after he had offered the Fajr prayer. So the people went on to give us glad tidings and some of them went to my companions in order to give them the glad tidings. A man spurred his horse towards me (to give the good news), and another one from the tribe of Aslam came running for the same purpose and, as he approached the mount, I received the good news which reached me before the rider did. When the one whose voice I had heard came to me to congratulate me, I took off my garments and gave them to him for the good news he brought to me. By Allah, I possessed nothing else (in the form of clothes) except these garments, at that time. Then I borrowed two garments, dressed myself and came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ On my way, I met groups of people who greeted me for (the acceptance of) repentance and they said: 'Congratulations for acceptance of your repentance.' I reached the mosque where Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sitting amidst people. Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah got up and rushed towards me, shook hands with me and greeted me. By Allah, no person stood up (to greet me) from amongst the Muhajirun besides him." Ka'b said that he never forgot (this good gesture of) Talhah. Ka'b further said: "I greeted Messenger of Allah ﷺ with 'As-salamu 'alaikum' and his face was beaming with pleasure. He ﷺ said, 'Rejoice with the best day you have ever seen since your mother gave you birth. 'I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Is this (good news) from you or from Allah?' He said, 'No, it is from Allah.' And it was common with Messenger of Allah ﷺ that when ever he was happy, his face would glow as if it were a part of the moon and it was from this that we recognized it (his delight). As I sat before him, I said, I have placed a condition upon myself that if Allah accepts my Taubah, I would give up all of my property in charity for the sake of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ!' Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'Keep some property with you, as it is better for you.' I said, 'I shall keep with me that portion which is in Khaibar'. I added: 'O Messenger of Allah! Verily, Allah has granted me salvation because of my truthfulness, and therefore, repentance obliges me to speak nothing but the truth as long as I am alive." Ka'b added: "By Allah, I do not know anyone among the Muslims who has been granted truthfulness better than me since I said this to the Prophet ﷺ. By Allah! Since the time I made a pledge of this to Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I have never intended to tell a lie, and I hope that Allah would protect me (against telling lies) for the rest of my life. Allah, the Exalted, the Glorious, revealed these Verses:

'Allah has forgiven the Prophet ﷺ, the Muhajirun (Muslim Emigrants who left their homes and came to Al-Madinah) and the Ansar (Muslims of Al- Madinah) who followed him (Muhammad ﷺ) in the time of distress (Tabuk expedition), after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated (from the Right Path), but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of kindness, Most Merciful. And (He did forgive also) the three who did not join [the Tabuk expedition and whose case was deferred (by the Prophet ﷺ) for Allah's Decision] till for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their ownselves were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He forgave them (accepted their repentance), that they might beg for His Pardon [repent (unto Him)]. Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful. O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in word and deeds)." (9:117,118).

Ka'b said: "By Allah, since Allah guided me to Islam, there has been no blessing more significant for me than this truth of mine which I spoke to Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and if I were to tell a lie I would have been ruined as were ruined those who had told lies, for Allah described those who told lies with the worst description He ever attributed to anybody else, as He sent down the Revelation:

They will swear by Allah to you (Muslims) when you return to them, that you may turn away from them. So turn away from them. Surely, they are Rijsun [i.e., Najasun (impure) because of their evil deeds], and Hell is their dwelling place - a recompense for that which they used to earn. They (the hypocrites) swear to you (Muslims) that you may be pleased with them, but if you are pleased with them, certainly Allah is not pleased with the people who are Al- Fa'siqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)". (9:95,96)

Ka'b further added: "The matter of the three of us remained pending for decision apart from the case of those who had made excuses on oath before Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he accepted those, took fresh oaths of allegiance from them and supplicated for their forgiveness. The Prophet ﷺ kept our matter pending till Allah decided it. The three whose matter was deferred have been shown mercy. The reference here is not to our staying back from the expedition but to his delaying our matter and keeping it pending beyond the matter of those who made their excuses on oath which he accepted".

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim]

Another version adds: "Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out for Tabuk on Thursday. He used to prefer to set out on journey on Thursday." Another version says: "Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to come back from a journey in the early forenoon and went straight to the mosque where he would perform two Rak'ah prayer. Afterwards he would seat himself there".

وعن عبد الله بن كعب بن مالك، وكان قائد كعب رضي الله عنه من بنيه حين عمي قال: سمعت كعب بن مالك رضي الله عنه يحدث بحديثه حين تخلف عن رسول الله ﷺ في غزوة تبوك. قال كعب: لم اتخلف عن رسول الله، ﷺ ، في غزوة غزاها قط إلا في غزوة تبوك، غير أني قد تخلفت في غزوة بدر، ولم يعاتب أحد تخلف عنه، إنما خرج رسول الله ﷺ والمسلمون يريدون عير قريش حتى جمع الله تعالى بينهم وبين عدوهم على غير ميعاد. ولقد شهدت مع رسول الله ﷺ ليلة العقبة حين تواثقنا على الإسلام، وما أحب أن لي بها مشهد بدرٍ، وإن كانت بدر أذكر في الناس منها. وكان من خبري حين تخلف عن رسول الله، ﷺ، في غزوة تبوك أني لم أكن قط أقوى ولا أيسر مني حين تخلفت عنه في تلك الغزوة، والله ما جمعت قبلها راحلتين قط حتى جمعتهما في تلك الغزوة، ولم يكن رسول الله ﷺ يريد غزوة إلا ورى بغيرها حتى كانت تلك الغزوة، فغزاها رسول الله ﷺ في حر شديد، واستقبل سفراً بعيداً ومفازاً، واستقبل عدداً كثيراً، فجلى للمسلمين أمرهم ليتأهبوا أهبة غزوهم فأخبرهم بوجههم الذي يريد، والمسلمون مع رسول الله كثير ولا يجمعهم كتاب حافظ "يريد بذلك الديوان" قال كعب: فقل رجل يريد أن يتغيب إلا ظن أن ذلك سيخفى به مالم ينزل فيه وحي من الله، وغزا رسول الله ﷺ تلك الغزوة حين طابت الثمار والظلال فأنا إليها أصعر فتجهز رسول الله ﷺ والمسلمون معه، وطفقت أغدو لكي أتجهز معه، فأرجع ولم أقض شيئاً، وأقول في نفسي: أنا قادر على ذلك إذا أردت، فلم يزل يتمادى بي حتى استمر بالناس الجد، فأصبح رسول الله ﷺ غادياً والمسلمون معه، ولم أقض من جهازي شيئاً، ثم غدوت فرجعت ولم أقض شيئاً، فلم يزل يتمادى بي حتى أسرعوا وتفارط الغرو، فهممت أن أرتحل فأدركهم، فياليتني فعلت، ثم لم يقدر ذلك لي، فطفقت إذا خرجت في الناس بعد خروج رسول الله ﷺ يحزنني أني أرى لي أسوة، إلا رجلاً مغموصاً عليه في النفاق، أو رجلاً ممن عذر الله تعالى من أسوة، إلا رجلاً مغموصاً عليه في النفاق، أو رجلاً ممن عذر الله تعالى من الضعفاء، ولم يذكرني رسول الله ﷺ حتى بلغ تبوك، فقال وهو جالس في القوم بتبوك: ما فعل كعب بن مالك؟ فقال له معاذ بن جبل رضي الله عنه بئس ما قلت! والله يارسول الله ما علمنا عليه إلا خيراً ، فسكت رسول الله ﷺ فبينا هو على ذلك رأى رجلا مبيضا يزول به السراب فقال رسول الله ﷺ: كن أبا خيثمة، فإذا أبو خيثمة الأنصاري وهو الذي تصدق بصاع التمر حين لمزه المنافقون، قال كعب: فلما بلغني أن رسول الله ﷺ قد توجه قافلاً من تبوك حضرني بثي، فطفقت أتذكر الكذب وأقول: بم أخرج من سخطه غداً وأستعين على ذلك بكل ذي رأى من أهلي، فلما قيل: إن رسول الله ﷺ قد أظل قادماً زاح عني الباطل حتى عرفت أني لم أنج منه بشيء أبداً، فأجمعت صدقه، وأصبح رسول الله ﷺ قادماً، وكان إذا قدم من سفر بدأ بالمسجد فركع فيه ركعتين ثم جلس للناس، فلما فعل فعل ذلك جاءه المخلفون يعتذرون إليه ويحلفون له، وكانوا بضعا وثمانين رجلاً فقبل منهم علانيتهم وبايعهم واستغفر لهم ووكل سرائرهم إلى الله تعالى حتى جئت. فلما سلمت تبسم تبسم المغضب ثم قال: تعال، فجئت أمشي حتى جلست بين يديه، فقال لي: ما خلفك؟ ألم تكن قد ابتعت ظهرك! قال قلت: يارسول الله إني والله لو جلست عند غيرك من أهل الدنيا لرأيت أني سأخرج من سخطه بعذر، لقد أعطيت جدلاً، ولكنني والله لقد علمت لئن حدثتك اليوم حديث كذب ترضي به ليوشكن الله يسخطك علي، وإن حدثتك حديث صدق تجد علي فيه إني لأرجو فيه عقبى الله عز وجل، والله ما كان لي من عذر، والله ما كنت قط أقوى ولا أيسر مني حين تخلفت عنك. قال: فقال رسول الله ﷺ " أما هذا فقد صدق، فقم حتى يقضي الله فيك" وسار رجال من بني سلمة فاتبعوني، فقالوا لي: والله ما علمناك أذنبت ذنبا قبل هذا، لقد عجزت في أن لا يكون اعتذرت إلى رسول الله ﷺ بما اعتذر إليه المخلفون فقد كان كافيك ذنبك استغفار رسول الله ﷺ لك. قال: فوالله ما زالوا يؤنبونني حتى أردت أن أرجع إلى رسول الله ﷺ فأكذب نفسي، ثم قلت لهم: هل لقي هذا معي من أحد؟ قالوا: نعم لقيه معك رجلان قالا مثل ما قلت، وقيل لهما مثل ما قيل لك، قال قلت: من هما؟ قالوا: مرارة بن الربيع العمري، وهلال بن أمية الواقفي؟ قال: فذكروا لي رجلين صالحين قد شهدا بدراً فيهما أسوة. قال: فمضيت حين ذكروهما لي. ونهى رسول ﷺ عن كلامنا أيها الثلاثة من بين من تخلف عنه، قال: فاجتنبنا الناس- أو قال: تغيروا لنا- حتى تنكرت لي في نفس الأرض، فما هي بالأرض التي أعرف، فلبثنا على ذلك خمسين ليلة. فأما صاحباي فاستكانا وقعدا في بيوتهما يبكيان، وأما أنا فكنت أشب القوم وأجلدهم، فكنت أخرج فأشهد الصلاة مع المسلمين، وأطوف في الأسواق ولا يكلمني أحد، وآتي رسول الله ﷺ فأسلم عليه، وهو في مجلسه بعد الصلاة، فأقول في نفسي : هل حرك شفتيه برد السلام أم ؟ ثم أصلي قريباً منه وأسارقه النظر، فإذا أقبلت على صلاتي نظر إلي، وإذا التفت نحوه أعرض عني، حتى إذا طال ذلك علي من جفوة المسلمين مشيت حتى تسورت جدار حائط أبي قتادة وهو ابن عمي وأحب الناس إلي، فسلمت عليه فوالله ما ردّ علي السلام، فقلت له: يا أبا قتادة أنشدك بالله هل تعلمني أُحب الله ورسوله ﷺ ؟ فسكت، فعدت فناشدته فسكت، فعدت فناشدته فقال: الله ورسوله أعلم. ففاضت عيناي، وتوليت حتى تسورت الجدار، فبينما أنا أمشى في سوق المدينة إذا نبطى من نبط أهل الشام ممن قدم بالطعام ببيعه بالمدينة يقول: من يدل على كعب بن مالك؟ فطفق الناس يشيرون له إلي حتى جاءنى فدفع إلي كتاب من ملك غسان، وكنت كاتباً. فقرأته فإذا فيه: أما بعد فإنه قد بلغنا أن صاحبك قد جفاك، ولم يجعلك الله بدار هوان ولا مضيعة، فالحق بنا نواسك، فقلت حين قرأتها، وهذه أيضاً من البلاء فتيممت بها التنور فسجرتها، حتى إذا مضت أربعون من الخمسين واستلبث الوحى إذا رسول رسول الله ﷺ يأتينى، فقال: إن رسول الله ﷺ يأمرك أن تعتزل امرأتك، فقلت: أطلقها، أم ماذا أفعل؟ قال: لا، بل اعتزلها فلا تقربنها، وأرسل إلى صاحبي بمثل ذلك. فقلت لامرأتي: ألحقي بأهلك فكوني عندهم حتى يقضي الله في هذا الأمر، فجاءت امرأة هلال بن أمية رسول الله ﷺ فقالت له : يا رسول الله إن هلال بن أمية شيخ ضائع ليس له خادم، فهل تكره أن أخدمه؟ قال : لا، ولكن لا يقربنك. فقالت: إنه والله ما به من حركة إلى شيء، ووالله ما زال يبكي منذ كان من أمره ما كان إلى يومه هذا. فقال لي بعض أهلي: لو استأذنت رسول الله ﷺ في امرأتك، فقد أذن لامرأة هلال بن أمية أن تخدمه؟ فقلت: لا أستأذن فيها رسول الله ﷺ، وما يدريني ماذا يقول رسول الله ﷺ، إذا استأذنته فيها وأنا رجل شاب! فلبثت بذلك عشر ليالٍ، فكمل لنا خمسون ليلة من حين نهى عن كلامنا. ثم صليت صلاة الفجر صباح خمسين ليلة على ظهر بيت من بيوتنا، فبينما أنا جالس على الحال التى ذكر الله تعالى منا، قد ضافت علي نفسي وضاقت علي الأرض بما رحبت، سمعت صوت صارخ أوفى على سلع يقول بأعلى صوته: يا كعب بن مالك أبشر فخررت ساجداً، وعرفت أنه قد جاء فرج. فآذن رسول الله ﷺ الناس بتوبة الله عز وجل علينا حين صلى صلاة الفجر فذهب الناس يبشروننا، فذهب قبل صاحبي مبشرون، وركض رجل إلي فرساً وسعى ساع من أسلم قبلي وأوفى على الجبل، فكان الصوت أسرع من الفرس، فلما جاءني الذى سمعت صوته يبشرني نزعت له ثوبي فكسوتهما إياه ببشراه، والله ما أملك غيرهما يومئذ، واستعرت ثوبين فلبستهما وانطلقت أتأمم رسول الله ﷺ يتلقانى الناس فوجاً فوجاً يهنئوني بالتوبة ويقولون لي: لتهنك توبة الله عليك، حتى دخلت المسجد فإذا رسول الله ﷺ جالس حوله الناس، فقام طلحة بن عبيد الله رضي الله عنه يهرول حتى صافحني وهنأني، والله ما قام رجل من المهاجرين غيره، فكان كعب لا ينساها لطلحة. قال كعب: فلما سلمت على رسول الله ﷺ قال: وهو يبرق وجهه من السرور : أبشر بخير يوم مرّ عليك مذ ولدتك أمك، فقلت: أمن عندك يا رسول الله أم من عند الله؟ قال : لا ، بل من عند الله عز وجل، وكان رسول الله ﷺ إذا سر استنار وجهه حتى كأن وجهه قطعة قمر، وكنا نعرف ذلك منه، فلما جلست بين يديه قلت: يا رسول الله إن من توبتي أن أنخلع من مالي صدقة‎ إلى الله وإلى رسوله. فقال رسول الله ﷺ : أمسك عليك بعض مالك فهو خير لك، فقلت: إني أمسك سهمي الذى بخيبر. وقلت: يا رسول الله إن الله تعالى إنما أنجاني بالصدق، وإن من توبتي أن لا أحدثَ إلا صدقاً ما بقيت ، فو الله ما علمت أحداً من المسلمين أبلاه الله في صدق الحديث منذ ذكرت ذلك لرسول الله ﷺ أحسن مما أبلاني الله تعالى ، والله ما تعمدت كذبة منذ قلت ذلك لرسول الله ﷺ إلى يومي هذا، وإني لأرجو أن يحفظني الله تعالى فيما بقي، قال: فأنزل الله تعالى: {لقد تاب الله على النبي والمهاجرين والأنصار الذين اتبعوه في ساعة العسرة) حتى بلغ: {إنه بهم رؤوف رحيم . وعلى الثلاثة الذين خلفوا حتى إذا ضاقت عليهم الأرض بما رحبت} حتى بلغ : {اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين} ((التوبة 117، 119)) قال كعب : والله ما أنعم الله علي من نعمة قط بعد إذ هداني الله للإسلام أعظم في نفسي من صدقي رسول الله ﷺ أن لا أكون كذبته، فأهلك كما هلك الذين كذبوا، إن الله تعالى قال للذين كذبوا حين أنزل الوحي شر ما قال لأحد، فقال الله تعالى : {سيحلفون بالله لكم إذا انقلبتم إليهم لتعرضوا عنهم فأعرضوا عنهم إنهم رجس ومأواهم جهنم جزاء بما كانوا يكسبون يحلفون لكم لترضوا عنهم فإن ترضوا عنهم فإن الله لا يرضى عن القوم الفاسقين} ((التوبة: 95،96)) .قال كعب : كنا خلفنا أيها الثلاثة عن أمر أولئك الذين قبل منهم رسول الله ﷺ حين حلفوا له ، فبايعهم واستغفر لهم، وأرجأ رسول الله ﷺ أمرنا حتى قضى الله تعالى فيه بذلك، قال الله تعالى : {وعلى الثلاثة الذين خلفوا} وليس الذي ذكر مما خلفنا تخلفنا عن الغزو، وإنما هو تخليفه إيانا وإرجاؤه أمرنا عمن حلف له واعتذر إليه فقبل منه. متفق عليه.وفى رواية "أن النبي ﷺ خرج في غزوة تبوك يوم الخميس، وكان يحب أن يخرج يوم الخميس"وفى رواية: "وكان لا يقدم من سفر إلا نهاراً في الضحى، فإذا قدم بدأ بالمسجد فصلى فيه ركعتين ثم جلس فيه" .

Imran bin Al-Husain Al-Khuza'i (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
A woman from the tribe Juhainah came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ while she was pregnant from (Zina) adultery and said to him: "O Messenger of Allah! I have committed an offense liable to Hadd (prescribed punishment), so exact the execution of the sentence." Messenger of Allah ﷺ called her guardian and said to him, "Treat her kindly. Bring her to me after the delivery of the child." That man complied with the orders. At last the Prophet ﷺ commanded to carry out the sentence. Her clothes were secured around her and she was stoned to death. The Prophet ﷺ led her funeral prayers. 'Umar submitted: "O Messenger of Allah! She committed Zina and you have performed funeral prayer for her?" He replied, "Verily, she made repentance which would suffice for seventy of the people of Al-Madinah if it is divided among them. Can there be any higher degree of repentance than that she sacrificed her life voluntarily to win the Pleasure of Allah, the Exalted?".

[Muslim].

وعن أبي نجيد- ضم النون وفتح الجيم - عمران بن الحصين الخزاعى رضي الله عنهما أن امرأة من جهينة أتت رسول الله ﷺ وهى حبلى من الزنى، فقالت: يا رسول الله أصبت حداً فأقمه علي، فدعا نبي الله ﷺ وليها فقال: أحسن إليها، فإذا وضعت فأتني، ففعل فأمر بها نبي الله ﷺ، فشدت عليها ثيابها، ثم أمر بها فرجمت، ثم صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم عليها. فقال له عمر: تصلى عليها يا رسول الله وقد زنت، قال: لقد تابت توبة لو قمست بين سبعين من أهل المدينة لوستعتهم، وهل وجدت أفضل من أن جادت بنفسها لله عز وجل ؟! " رواه مسلم.

Ibn 'Abbas and Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "If a son of Adam were to own a valley full of gold, he would desire to have two. Nothing can fill his mouth except the earth (of the grave). Allah turns with mercy to him who turns to Him in repentance".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: " لو أن لابن آدم وادياً من ذهب أحب أن يكون له واديان، ولن يملأ فاه إلا التراب، ويتوب الله على من تاب" ((متفق عليه)) .

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah, the Exalted, smiles at two men, one of them killed the other and both will enter Jannah. The first is killed by the other while he is fighting in the Cause of Allah, and thereafter Allah will turn in mercy to the second and guide him to accept Islam and then he dies as a Shaheed (martyr) fighting in the Cause of Allah."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: "يضحك الله سبحانه وتعالى إلى رجلين يقتل أحدهما الآخر يدخلان الجنة، يقاتل هذا في سبيل الله فيقتل، ثم يتوب الله على القاتل فيسلم فيستشهد" ((متفق عليه)) .

Abu Malik Al-Harith bin Asim Al-Ash'ar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Wudu' is half of Salah; the utterance of (Al-hamdu lillah - all praise belongs to Allah) fills the Scales of good actions; the utterance of (Subhan Allah wa Al-hamdu lillah) (Allah is far removed from every imperfection and all praise belongs to Allah) fills the space between the heavens and the earth, and Salat (prayer) is light; and charity is the proof of Faith; and endurance is light, and the Qur'an is a plea in your favour or against you. Every person departs; he either ransoms it or puts it into perdition".

[Muslim].

وعن أبي مالك الحارث بن عاصم الأشعري رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ : "الطهور شطر الإيمان، والحمد لله تملأ الميزان، وسبحان الله والحمد لله تملآن -أو تملأ- ما بين السماوات والأرض، والصلاة نور، والصدقة برهان، والصبر ضياء، والقرآن حجة لك أو عليك. كل الناس يغدو، فبائع نفسه فمعتقها، أو موبقها" ((رواه مسلم)).

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that:
Certain people of the Ansar asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he gave them; then they again asked him and he gave them until all what he possessed was exhausted. Then the Prophet ﷺ said, "Whatever wealth I have, I will not withhold from you. Whosoever would be chaste and modest; Allah will keep him chaste and modest and whosoever would seek self-sufficiency, Allah will make him self-sufficient; and whosoever would be patient, Allah will give him patience, and no one is granted a gift better and more comprehensive than patience".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي سعيد سعد بن مالك بن سنان الخدري رضي الله عنهما: "أن ناساً من الأنصار سألوا رسول الله ﷺ فأعطاهم، ثم سألوه فأعطاهم ، حتى نفد ما عنده، فقال لهم حين أنفق كل شيء بيده : "ما يكن عندي من خير فلن أدخره عنكم ، ومن يستعفف يعفه الله، ومن يستغن يغنه الله، ومن يتصبر يصبره الله. وما أعطي أحد عطاءً خيراً وأوسع من الصبر" ((متفق عليه)) .

Abu Yahya Suhaib bin Sinan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him".

[Muslim].

وعن أبي يحيى صهيب بن سنان رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ "عجبا لأمر المؤمن إن أمره كله له خير، وليس ذلك لأحد إلا للمؤمن : إن أصابته سراء شكر فكان خيراً له، وإن أصابته ضراء صبر فكان خيراً له" ((رواه مسلم)).

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
When the last illness of Messenger of Allah ﷺ made him unconscious, Fatimah (May Allah be pleased with her) exclaimed: "Ah, the distress of my dear father." He ﷺ said, "There will be no distress for your father after today". When he died she said: "My father, Allah has called you back and you have responded to His Call. O father! Garden of Firdaus is your abode. O father! We announce to Jibril your death." When he was buried, she said: "Are you satisfied now that you put earth over (the grave of) Messenger of Allah ﷺ?"

[Al-Bukhari].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: لما ثقل النبي ﷺ جعل يتغشاه الكرب فقالت فاطمة رضي الله عنها: واكرب أبتاه. فقال : "ليس على أبيك كرب بعد اليوم" فلما مات قالت : يا أبتاه أجاب رباً دعاه، يا أبتاه جنة الفردوس مأواه، يا أبتاه إلى جبريل ننعاه، فلما دفن قالت : فاطمة رضي الله عنها: أطابت أنفسكم أن تحثوا على رسول الله ﷺ التراب؟ ((رواه البخاري)).

Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with them) narrated:
The daughter of the Prophet ﷺ sent for him as her child was dying, but the Prophet ﷺ returned the messenger and sent her good wishes saying, "Whatever Allah takes away or gives, belongs to Him, and everything with Him has a limited fixed term (in this world), and so she should be patient and anticipate Allah's reward." She again sent for him adjuring him for the sake of Allah to come. The Messenger of Allah, accompanied with Sa'd bin 'Ubadah, Mu'adh bin Jabal, Ubayy bin Ka'b, Zaid bin Thabit and some other men went to see her. The child was lifted up to the Messenger of Allah while his breath was disturbed in his chest. On seeing that, the eyes of the Prophet ﷺ streamed with tears. Sa'd said, "O Messenger of Allah! What is this?" He replied, "It is compassion which Allah has placed in the hearts of His slaves, Allah is Compassionate only to those among His slaves who are compassionate (to others)".

Another version says: Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah shows compassion only to those among His slaves who are compassionate".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي زيد أسامة بن زيد بن حارثة مولى رسول الله ﷺ وحبه وابن حبه، رضي الله عنهما، قال: أرسلت بنت النبي ﷺ : إن ابني قد احتضر فاشهدنا، فأرسل يقرئ السلام ويقول: "إن لله ما أخذ، وله ما أعطى، وكل شيء عنده بأجل مسمى، فلتصبر ولتحتسب" فأرسلت إليه تقسم عليه ليأتينها. فقام ومعه سعد بن عبادة، ومعاذ بن جبل، وأبي بن كعب، وزيد بن ثابت، ورجال رضي الله عنهم، فرفع إلى رسول الله ﷺ الصبي فأقعده في حجره ونفسه تقعقع، ففاضت عيناه، فقال سعد: يا رسول الله ماهذا؟ فقال: "هذه رحمة جعلها الله تعالى في قلوب عباده" وفى رواية : "في قلوب من شاء من عباده وإنما يرحم الله من عباده الرحماء" ((متفق عليه)) .

Suhaib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "There lived a king before you and he had a court magician. As he (the magician) grew old, he said to the king:
'I have grown old, so send me a young boy in order to teach him magic.' The king sent him a young boy to serve the purpose. And on his way (to the magician) the young boy met a monk to whom he listened to and liked it. It became his habit that on his way to the magician, he would meet the monk and sit there and would come to the magician (late). The magician used to beat him because of this delay. He complained about this to the monk who said to him: 'When you feel afraid of the magician, say: Members of my family detained me. And when you fear your family, say: The magician detained me.' It so happened that there came a huge beast and it blocked the way of the people, and the young boy said: 'I will know today whether the magician or the monk is better.' He picked up a stone and said: 'O Allah, if the way of the monk is dearer to You than the way of the magician, bring about death to the animal so that the people be able to move about freely.' He threw that stone at it and killed it and the people began to move about freely. He then came to the monk and told him the story. The monk said: 'Son, today you are superior to me. You have come to a stage where I feel that you would be soon put to a trial, and in case you are put to a trial, do not reveal me.' That young boy began to heal those born blind and the lepers and he, in fact, began to cure people from all kinds of illnesses. When a courtier of the king who had gone blind heard about him, he came to him with numerous gifts and said, 'If you cure me, all these things will be yours.' He said, 'I myself do not cure anyone. It is Allah, the Exalted, Alone Who cures; and if you affirm faith in Allah, I shall also supplicate to Allah to cure you.' This courtier affirmed his faith in Allah and Allah cured him. He came to the king and sat by his side as he used to sit before. The king said to him, 'Who restored your eyesight?' He said, 'My Rubb.' Thereupon he said, 'Do you have another lord besides me?' He said, 'My Rubb and your Rubb is Allah.' So the king kept torturing him untill he revealed the young boy. The young boy was thus summoned and the king said to him, 'O boy, it has been conveyed to me that you have become so much proficient in your magic that you cure the blind and the lepers and you do such and such.' Thereupon he said, 'I do not cure anyone; it is Allah Alone Who cures,' and the king took hold of him and began to torture him until he revealed of the monk. The monk was summoned and it was said to him: 'You should turn back from your religion.' But he refused. The king sent for a saw, placed it in the middle of his head and cut him into two parts that fell down. Then the courtier of the king was brought forward and it was said to him: 'Turn back from your religion.' He, too, refused, and the saw was placed in the midst of his head and he was torn into two parts. Then the boy was sent for and it was said to him: 'Turn back from your religion.' He refused. The king then handed him over to a group of his courtiers, and said to them: 'Take him to such and such mountain; make him climb up that mountain and when you reach its peak ask him to renounce his Faith. If he refuses to do so, push him to his death.' So they took him and made him climb up the mountain and he said: 'O Allah, save me from them in any way you like,' and the mountain began to shake and they all fell down (dead) and that young boy came walking to the king. The king said to him, 'What happened to your companions?' He said, 'Allah has saved me from them.' He again handed him to some of his courtiers and said: 'Take him and carry him in a boat and when you reach the middle of the sea, ask him to renounce his religion. If he does not renounce his religion throw him (into the water).' So they took him and he said: 'O Allah, save me from them.' The boat turned upside down and they all drowned except the young boy who came walking to the king. The king said to him, 'What happened to your companions?' He said, 'Allah has saved me from them,' and he said to the king: 'You cannot kill me until you do what I command you to do.' The king asked, 'What is that?' He said, 'Gather all people in one place and tie me up to the trunk of a tree, then take an arrow from my quiver and say: With the Name of Allah, the Rubb of the boy; then shoot me. If you do that you will be able to kill me.' 'The king called the people in an open field and tied the young boy to the trunk of a tree. He took out an arrow from his quiver, fixed in the bow and said, 'With the Name of Allah, the Rubb of the young boy,' he then shot the arrow and it hit the boy's temple. The young boy placed his hand upon the temple where the arrow had hit him and died. The people then said: 'We believe in the Rubb of this young boy.' The king was told: 'Do you see what you were afraid of, by Allah it has taken place; all people have believed.' The king then commanded that trenches be dug and fire lit in them, and said: 'He who would not turn back from his (the young boy's) religion, throw him in the fire' or 'he would be ordered to jump into it.' They did so till a woman came with her child. She felt hesitant in jumping into the fire. The child said to her: 'O mother! Endure (this ordeal) for you are on the Right Path".

[Muslim].

وعن صهيب رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: " كان ملك فيمن كان قبلكم، وكان له ساحرٌ، فلما كبر قال للملك : إني قد كبرت فابعث إلى غلاماً أعلمه السحر؛ فبعث إليه غلاماً يعلمه، وكان في طريقه إذا سلك راهبٌ، فقعد إليه وسمع كلامه فأعجبه، وكان إذا أتى الساحر مر بالراهب وقعد إليه، فإذا أتى الساحر ضربه، فشكا ذلك إلى الراهب فقال: إذا خشيت الساحر فقال: حبسني أهلي، وإذا خشيت أهلك فقل: حبسني الساحر. فبينما هو على ذلك إذ أتى على دابةٍ عظيمةٍ قد حبست الناس فقال: اليوم أعلم آلساحر أفضل أم الراهب أفضل؟ فآخذ حجراً فقال: اللهم إن كان أمر الراهب أحب إليك من أمر الساحر فاقتل هذه الدابة حتى يمضي الناس، فرماها فقتلها ومضى الناس، فأتى الراهب فأخبره. فقال له الراهب: أي بني أنت اليوم أفضل مني، قد بلغ أمرك ما أرى، وإنك ستبتلى، فإن ابتليت فلا تدل علي؛ وكان الغلام يبرئ الأكمه والأبرص، ويداوي الناس من سائر الأدواء. فسمع جليس للملك كان قد عمي، فأتاه بهدايا كثيرةٍ فقال: ما هاهُنا لك أجمع إن أنت شفيتنى، فقال: إني لا أشفي أحداً إنما يشفى الله تعالى، فإن آمنت بالله دعوت الله فشفاك، فآمن بالله تعالى فشفاه الله تعالى، فأتى الملك فجلس إليه كما كان يجلس فقال له الملك: من ردّ عليك بصرك؟ فقال: ربي قال: ولك رب غيري ؟( قال: ربي وربك الله، فأخذه فلم يزل يعذبه حتى دل على الغلام، فجئ بالغلام فقال له الملك: أى بني قد بلغ من سحرك ما تبرئ الأكمه والأبرص وتفعل وتفعل فقال: إني لا أشفي أحداً، إنما يشفي الله تعالى، فأخذه فلم يزل يعذبه حتى دل على الراهب؛ فجيء بالراهب فقيل له: ارجع عن دينك، فأبى ، فدعا بالمنشار فوضع المنشار في مفرق رأسه، فشقه حتى وقع شقاه، ثم جيء بجليس الملك فقيل له: ارجع عن دينك فأبى، فوضع المنشار في مفرق رأسه، فشقه به حتى وقع شقاه، ثم جيء بالغلام فقيل له ارجع عن دينك فأبى، فدفعه إلى نفر من أصحابه فقال: اذهبوا به إلى جبل كذا وكذا فاصعدوا به الجبل فقال: اللهم اكفنيهم بما شئت، فرجف بهم الجبل فسقطوا، وجاء يمشي إلى الملك، فقال له الملك: ما فعل أصحابك؟ فقال: كفانيهم الله تعالى، فدفعه إلى نفر من أصحابه فقال : اذهبوا به فاحملوه في قرقور وتوسطوا به البحر، فإن رجع عن دينه وإلا فاقذفوه، فذهبوا به فقال: اللهم اكفنيهم بما شئت، فانكفأت بهم السفينة فغرقوا، وجاء يمشي إلى الملك. فقال له الملك : ما فعل أصحابك؟ فقال: كفانيهم الله تعالى. فقال الملك إنك لست بقاتلي حتى تفعل ما آمرك به. قال : ما هو؟ قال : تجمع الناس في صعيد واحد، وتصلبني على جذع ، ثم خذ سهماً من كنانتي، ثم ضع السهم في كبد القوس ثم قل: بسم الله رب الغلام ثم ارمني، فإنك إن فعلت ذلك قتلتني . فجمع الناس في صعيد واحد، وصلبه على جذع، ثم أخذ سهما من كنانته، ثم وضع السهم في كبد القوس، ثم قال: بسم الله رب الغلام، ثم رماه فوقع السهم في صدغه، فوضع يده في صدغه فمات. فقال الناس آمنا برب الغلام، فأتى الملك فقيل له: أرأيت ما كنت تحذر قد والله نزل بك حذرك. قد آمن الناس. فأمر بالأخدود بأفواه السكك فخدت وأضرم فيها النيران وقال: من لم يرجع عن دينه فأقحموه فيها أو قيل له : اقتحم ، ففعلوا حتى جاءت امرأة ومعها صبى لها، فتقاعست ان تقع فيها، فقال لها الغلام: يا أماه اصبري فإنك على الحق" ((رواه مسلم)).