4. Quran Gem. The Middle Nation

Sahih al-Bukhari » Virtues of the Qur'an - كتاب فضائل القرآن
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
The Prophet said, "Your life in comparison to the lifetime of the past nations is like the period between the time of `Asr prayer and sunset. Your example and the example of the Jews and Christians is that of person who employed laborers and said to them, "Who will work for me till the middle of the day for one Qirat (a special weight)?' The Jews did. He then said, "Who will work for me from the middle of the day till the `Asr prayer for one Qirat each?" The Christians worked accordingly. Then you (Muslims) are working from the `Asr prayer till the Maghrib prayer for two Qirats each. They (the Jews and the Christians) said, 'We did more labor but took less wages.' He (Allah) said, 'Have I wronged you in your rights?' They replied, 'No.' Then He said, 'This is My Blessing which I give to whom I wish."
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دِينَارٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّمَا أَجَلُكُمْ فِي أَجَلِ مَنْ خَلاَ مِنَ الأُمَمِ كَمَا بَيْنَ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ وَمَغْرِبِ الشَّمْسِ، وَمَثَلُكُمْ وَمَثَلُ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسْتَعْمَلَ عُمَّالاً، فَقَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي إِلَى نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ فَعَمِلَتِ الْيَهُودُ فَقَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي مِنْ نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ إِلَى الْعَصْرِ فَعَمِلَتِ النَّصَارَى، ثُمَّ أَنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ مِنَ الْعَصْرِ إِلَى الْمَغْرِبِ بِقِيرَاطَيْنِ قِيرَاطَيْنِ، قَالُوا نَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ عَمَلاً وَأَقَلُّ عَطَاءً، قَالَ هَلْ ظَلَمْتُكُمْ مِنْ حَقِّكُمْ قَالُوا لاَ قَالَ فَذَاكَ فَضْلِي أُوتِيهِ مَنْ شِئْتُ ‏"‏‏.‏
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5021
In-book reference : Book 66, Hadith 43
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 61, Hadith 539
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Muwatta Malik » Hajj - كتاب الحج
Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa that Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr used to say, "Know that the whole of Arafa is a standing-place except for the middle of Urana, and that the wholeof Muzdalifa is a standing-place except for the middle of Muhassir." Malik said, "Allah, the Blessed and Exalted says, 'There is to be no rafath, no fusuq and no jidal during the hajj.' " (Sura 2 ayat 197). He added, "Rafath is sexual relations with women, and Allah knows best. Allah, the Blessed and Exalted says, 'Rafath with your women is permitted to you on the night of the fast.' (Sura 2 ayat 197). Fusuq are sacrifices made to idols, and Allah knows best. Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says, 'Or a fisq offered up to other than Allah.' (Sura 2 ayat 197) Jidal (arguing) during the hajj refers to when the Quraysh used to stand near the mashar al-haram at Quzah in Muzdalifa, while the Arabs and others would stand at Arafa, and they would argue about who was the more correct. Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says, 'And we appointed a method of sacrifice for every nation, which they followed, so let them not dispute with you about the matter, and call to your Lord. Surely you are on a straight guidance.' (Sura 22 ayat 67) This is what jidal refers to in our opinion, and Allah knows best. This I have heard from the people of knowledge."
وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ عَرَفَةَ كُلَّهَا مَوْقِفٌ إِلاَّ بَطْنَ عُرَنَةَ وَأَنَّ الْمُزْدَلِفَةَ كُلَّهَا مَوْقِفٌ إِلاَّ بَطْنَ مُحَسِّرٍ ‏.‏ قَالَ مَالِكٌ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى ‏{‏فَلاَ رَفَثَ وَلاَ فُسُوقَ وَلاَ جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ ‏}‏ قَالَ فَالرَّفَثُ إِصَابَةُ النِّسَاءِ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى ‏{‏أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَى نِسَائِكُمْ ‏}‏ قَالَ وَالْفُسُوقُ الذَّبْحُ لِلأَنْصَابِ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى ‏{‏أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ‏}‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَالْجِدَالُ فِي الْحَجِّ أَنَّ قُرَيْشًا كَانَتْ تَقِفُ عِنْدَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ بِالْمُزْدَلِفَةِ بِقُزَحَ وَكَانَتِ الْعَرَبُ وَغَيْرُهُمْ يَقِفُونَ بِعَرَفَةَ فَكَانُوا يَتَجَادَلُونَ يَقُولُ هَؤُلاَءِ نَحْنُ أَصْوَبُ وَيَقُولُ هَؤُلاَءِ نَحْنُ أَصْوَبُ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَ ‏{‏لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنْسَكًا هُمْ نَاسِكُوهُ فَلاَ يُنَازِعُنَّكَ فِي الأَمْرِ وَادْعُ إِلَى رَبِّكَ إِنَّكَ لَعَلَى هُدًى مُسْتَقِيمٍ‏}‏ فَهَذَا الْجِدَالُ فِيمَا نُرَى وَاللَّهُ ...
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 176
Arabic reference : Book 20, Hadith 877


Jami` at-Tirmidhi » Chapters on Parables - كتاب الأمثال عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
Narrated Ibn 'Umar:
that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "Your period in comparison to the periods of the previous nations, is like the period between Salat Al-'Asr until sunset. And you are in comparison to the Jews and Christians, like a man who employeed some workers and he said: 'Who will work for me until Midday for a Qirat each?' So the Jews worked for half a day for a Qirat each. Then he said: 'Who will work for me from the middle of the day until Salat Al-'Asr for a Qirat each?' So the Christians worked for a Qirat each. Then it is you who are doing the work from Salat Al-'Asr until the setting of the sun for two Qirats each. So the Jews and the Christians got angry and said: 'We did more work but were given less?' So He (Allah) says: 'Have I wronged you in any of your rights?' They said: 'No.' He says: 'Then it is my blessing that I give to whomever I wish.'"
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ‏ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنٌ، قَالَ‏ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّمَا أَجَلُكُمْ فِيمَا خَلاَ مِنَ الأُمَمِ كَمَا بَيْنَ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ إِلَى مَغَارِبِ الشَّمْسِ وَإِنَّمَا مَثَلُكُمْ وَمَثَلُ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى كَرَجُلٍ اسْتَعْمَلَ عُمَّالاً فَقَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي إِلَى نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ قِيرَاطٍ فَعَمِلَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ قِيرَاطٍ فَقَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي مِنْ نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ إِلَى الْعَصْرِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ قِيرَاطٍ فَعَمِلَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ قِيرَاطٍ ثُمَّ أَنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ إِلَى مَغَارِبِ الشَّمْسِ عَلَى قِيرَاطَيْنِ قِيرَاطَيْنِ فَغَضِبَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى وَقَالُوا نَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ عَمَلاً وَأَقَلُّ عَطَاءً ‏.‏ قَالَ هَلْ ظَلَمْتُكُمْ مِنْ حَقِّكُمْ شَيْئًا قَالُوا لاَ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَإِنَّهُ فَضْلِي أُوتِيهِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2871
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 14
English translation : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2871

Sahih Muslim » The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer - كتاب الْمَسَاجِدِ وَمَوَاضِعِ الصَّلاَةِ
Ibn Juraij reported:
I said to Ata': Which time do you deem fit for me to say the 'Isya' prayer, -as an Imam or alone, -that time which is called by people 'Atama? He said: I heard Ibn 'Abbas saying: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) one night delayed the 'Isya' prayer till the people went to sleep. They woke up and again went to sleep and again woke up. Then 'Umar b. Khattab stood up and said (loudly)" Prayer." Ata' further reported that Ibn 'Abbas said: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) came out, and as if I am still seeing him with water trickling from his head, and with his hand placed on one side of the head, and he said: Were it not hard for my Ummah, I would have ordered them to observe this prayer like this (i. e. at late hours). I inquired from 'Ata' how the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) placed his hand upon his head as Ibn Abbas had informed. So Ata' spread his fingers a little and then placed the ends of his fingers on the side of his head. He then moved them like this over his head till the thumb touched that part of the ear which is near the face and then it (went) to the earlock and the part of the heard. It (the bind) neither held nor caught anything but this is how (it moved oil). I said to Ata': Was it mentioned to you (by Ibn Abbas) how long did the Apostle (may peace be upon him) delay it (the prayer) during that eight? He said: I do not know (I cannot give you the exact time). Ali' said: I love that I should say prayer, whether as an Imam or alone at delayed hours as the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said that night, but if It is hard upon you in your individual capacity or upon people in the congregation and you are their Imam, then say prayer ('Isha') at the middle hours neither too early nor too late.
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَطَاءٍ أَىُّ حِينٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ الْعِشَاءَ الَّتِي يَقُولُهَا النَّاسُ الْعَتَمَةَ إِمَامًا وَخِلْوًا قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ أَعْتَمَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ الْعِشَاءَ - قَالَ - حَتَّى رَقَدَ نَاسٌ وَاسْتَيْقَظُوا وَرَقَدُوا وَاسْتَيْقَظُوا فَقَامَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالَ الصَّلاَةَ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ عَطَاءٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَخَرَجَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ الآنَ يَقْطُرُ رَأْسُهُ مَاءً وَاضِعًا يَدَهُ عَلَى شِقِّ رَأْسِهِ قَالَ ‏ "‏ لَوْلاَ أَنْ يَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لأَمَرْتُهُمْ أَنْ يُصَلُّوهَا كَذَلِكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَاسْتَثْبَتُّ عَطَاءً كَيْفَ وَضَعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ كَمَا أَنْبَأَهُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَبَدَّدَ لِي عَطَاءٌ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ شَيْئًا مِنْ تَبْدِيدٍ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ أَطْرَافَ أَصَابِعِهِ عَلَى قَرْنِ الرَّأْسِ ثُمَّ صَبَّهَا يُمِرُّهَا كَذَلِكَ عَلَى الرَّأْسِ حَتَّى مَسَّتْ إِبْهَامُهُ طَرَفَ الأُذُنِ مِمَّا يَلِي الْوَجْهَ ثُمَّ عَلَى الصُّدْغِ وَنَاحِيَةِ اللِّحْيَةِ لاَ يُقَصِّرُ وَلاَ يَبْطِشُ بِشَىْءٍ إِلاَّ كَذَلِكَ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ لِعَطَاءٍ كَمْ ذُكِرَ لَكَ أَخَّرَهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيْلَتَئِذٍ قَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي ‏.‏ قَالَ عَطَاءٌ أَحَبُّ ...
Reference : Sahih Muslim 642
In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 285
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1340
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Sunan an-Nasa'i » The Book of Salah - كتاب الصلاة
It was narrated from Anas bin Malik, from Malik bin Sa'sa'ah, that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
"While I was at the Ka'bah, in a state between sleep and wakefulness, three men came, and one of them who was in the middle came toward me. I was brought a basin of gold, filled with wisdom and faith, and he slit open from the throat to the lower abdomen, and washed the heart with Zamzam water, then - "it was filled with wisdom and faith. Then I was brought a riding-beast, smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey. I set off with Jibril, peace be upon him, and we came to the lowest heaven. It was said: 'Who is with you?' He said: 'Muhammad.' It was said: 'Has (revelation) been sent to him? Welcome to him, what an excellent visit his is.' I came to Adam, peace be upon him, and greeted him, and he said: 'Welcome to you! What an excellent son and Prophet.' Then we came to the second heaven and it was said: 'Who is this?' He said: 'Jibra'il.' [1] It was said: 'Who is with you?' he said: 'Muhammad.' And the same exchange took place. I came to Yahya and 'Eisa, peace be upon them both, and greeted them, and they said: 'Welcome to you! What an excellent brother and Prophet.' Then we came to the third heaven and it was said: 'Who is this?' He said: 'Jibra'il.' It was said: 'Who is with you?' He said: 'Muhammad.' And the same exchange took place. I came to Yusuf, peace be upon him, and greeted him, and he said: 'Welcome to you! What an excellent brother and Prophet.' Then we came to the fourth heaven and the same exchange took place. I came to Idris, peace be upon him, and greeted him, and he said: 'Welcome to you! What an excellent brother and Prophet.' Then we came to the fifth heaven and the same exchange took place. I came to Harun, peace be upon him, and greeted him, and he said: 'Welcome to you! What an excellent brother and Prophet.' Then we came to the sixth heaven and the same exchange took place. I came to Musa, peace be upon him, and greeted him, and he said: 'Welcome to you! What an excellent brother and Prophet.' What I passed him, he wept, and it was said: 'Why are you weeping?' He said: 'O Lord, this young man whom You have sent after me, more of his Ummah will enter Paradise than from my nation, and they will be more virtuous than them.' Then we came to the seventh heaven and a similar exchange took place. I came to Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and greeted him, and he said: 'Welcome to you! What an excellent son and Prophet.' Then I was taken up to the Oft-Frequented House (Al-Bait al-Ma'mur) and I asked Jibra'il about it, and he said: 'This is Al-Bait al-Ma'mur in which seventy thousand angels pray everyday, and when they leave it they never come back.' Then I was taken up to Sidrah Al-Muntaha (the Lote-Tree of the Utmost Boundary). Its fruits were like Qilal [2] of Hajar and its leaves were like the ears of elephants. At its base were four rivers: Two hidden rivers and two manifest rivers. I asked Jibril (About them) and he said: 'The two hidden ones are in paradise, and the two manifest ones are the Euphrates and the Nile.' Then fifty prayers were enjoined upon me. I came to Musa and he said: 'What happened?' I said: 'Fifty prayers have been enjoined upon me.' He said: 'I know more about the people than you. I tried hard with the Children of Israel. Your Ummah will never be able to bear that. Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce it for you.' So I went back to my Lord and asked Him to reduce it, and He made it forty. Then I went back to Musa, peace be upon him, and he said: 'What happened?' I said: 'He made it forty.' He said to me something similar to what he said the first time, so I went back to my Lord and He made it thirty. I came to Musa, peace be upon him, and told him, and he said to me something similar to what he said the first time, so I went back to my Lord and he made it twenty, then ten, then five. I came to Musa, peace be upon him, and he said to me something like he had said the first time, but I said: 'I feel too shy before my Lord to go back to Him.' Then it was called out: 'I have decreed (the reward for) My obligation, and I have reduced the burden for My slaves and I will give a ten-fold reward for each good deed.'" [1] It is like this here, while it is Jibra'il the first time it appears in this narration, and Jibra'il is often used in the Hadith literature. [2] Plural of Qullah
أَخْبَرَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ الدَّسْتَوَائِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ صَعْصَعَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ بَيْنَا أَنَا عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ بَيْنَ النَّائِمِ وَالْيَقْظَانِ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ أَحَدُ الثَّلاَثَةِ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلَيْنِ فَأُتِيتُ بِطَسْتٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ مَلآنَ حِكْمَةً وَإِيمَانًا فَشَقَّ مِنَ النَّحْرِ إِلَى مَرَاقِّ الْبَطْنِ فَغَسَلَ الْقَلْبَ بِمَاءِ زَمْزَمَ ثُمَّ مُلِئَ حِكْمَةً وَإِيمَانًا ثُمَّ أُتِيتُ بِدَابَّةٍ دُونَ الْبَغْلِ وَفَوْقَ الْحِمَارِ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْتُ مَعَ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَأَتَيْنَا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا فَقِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ ‏.‏ قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ ‏.‏ قِيلَ وَقَدْ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَرْحَبًا بِهِ وَنِعْمَ الْمَجِيءُ جَاءَ فَأَتَيْتُ عَلَى آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِكَ مِنِ ابْنٍ وَنَبِيٍّ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ أَتَيْنَا السَّمَاءَ الثَّانِيَةَ قِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ ‏.‏ قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ فَمِثْلُ ذَلِكَ فَأَتَيْتُ عَلَى يَحْيَى وَعِيسَى فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِمَا فَقَالاَ مَرْحَبًا بِكَ مِنْ أَخٍ وَنَبِيٍّ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ أَتَيْنَا السَّمَاءَ الثَّالِثَةَ قِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ ‏.‏ قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ فَمِثْلُ ذَلِكَ فَأَتَيْتُ ...
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 448
In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 1
English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 449


Sahih al-Bukhari » Oneness, Uniqueness of Allah (Tawheed) - كتاب التوحيد
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
The night Allah's Apostle was taken for a journey from the sacred mosque (of Mecca) Al-Ka`ba: Three persons came to him (in a dreamy while he was sleeping in the Sacred Mosque before the Divine Inspiration was revealed to Him. One of them said, "Which of them is he?" The middle (second) angel said, "He is the best of them." The last (third) angle said, "Take the best of them." Only that much happened on that night and he did not see them till they came on another night, i.e. after The Divine Inspiration was revealed to him. (Fath-ul-Bari Page 258, Vol. 17) and he saw them, his eyes were asleep but his heart was not----and so is the case with the prophets: their eyes sleep while their hearts do not sleep. So those angels did not talk to him till they carried him and placed him beside the well of Zamzam. From among them Gabriel took charge of him. Gabriel cut open (the part of his body) between his throat and the middle of his chest (heart) and took all the material out of his chest and `Abdomen and then washed it with Zamzam water with his own hands till he cleansed the inside of his body, and then a gold tray containing a gold bowl full of belief and wisdom was brought and then Gabriel stuffed his chest and throat blood vessels with it and then closed it (the chest). He then ascended with him to the heaven of the world and knocked on one of its doors. The dwellers of the Heaven asked, 'Who is it?' He said, "Gabriel." They said, "Who is accompanying you?" He said, "Muhammad." They said, "Has he been called?" He said, "Yes" They said, "He is welcomed." So the dwellers of the Heaven became pleased with his arrival, and they did not know what Allah would do to the Prophet on earth unless Allah informed them. The Prophet met Adam over the nearest Heaven. Gabriel said to the Prophet, "He is your father; greet him." The Prophet greeted him and Adam returned his greeting and said, "Welcome, O my Son! O what a good son you are!" Behold, he saw two flowing rivers, while he was in the nearest sky. He asked, "What are these two rivers, O Gabriel?" Gabriel said, "These are the sources of the Nile and the Euphrates." Then Gabriel took him around that Heaven and behold, he saw another river at the bank of which there was a palace built of pearls and emerald. He put his hand into the river and found its mud like musk Adhfar. He asked, "What is this, O Gabriel?" Gabriel said, "This is the Kauthar which your Lord has kept for you." Then Gabriel ascended (with him) to the second Heaven and the angels asked the same questions as those on the first Heaven, i.e., "Who is it?" Gabriel replied, "Gabriel". They asked, "Who is accompanying you?" He said, "Muhammad." They asked, "Has he been sent for?" He said, "Yes." Then they said, "He is welcomed.'' Then he (Gabriel) ascended with the Prophet to the third Heaven, and the angels said the same as the angels of the first and the second Heavens had said. Then he ascended with him to the fourth Heaven and they said the same; and then he ascended with him to the fifth Heaven and they said the same; and then he ascended with him to the sixth Heaven and they said the same; then he ascended with him to the seventh Heaven and they said the same. On each Heaven there were prophets whose names he had mentioned and of whom I remember Idris on the second Heaven, Aaron on the fourth Heavens another prophet whose name I don't remember, on the fifth Heaven, Abraham on the sixth Heaven, and Moses on the seventh Heaven because of his privilege of talking to Allah directly. Moses said (to Allah), "O Lord! I thought that none would be raised up above me." But Gabriel ascended with him (the Prophet) for a distance above that, the distance of which only Allah knows, till he reached the Lote Tree (beyond which none may pass) and then the Irresistible, the Lord of Honor and Majesty approached and came closer till he (Gabriel) was about two bow lengths or (even) nearer. (It is said that it was Gabriel who approached and came closer to the Prophet. (Fate Al-Bari Page 263, 264, Vol. 17). Among the things which Allah revealed to him then, was: "Fifty prayers were enjoined on his followers in a day and a night." Then the Prophet descended till he met Moses, and then Moses stopped him and asked, "O Muhammad ! What did your Lord en join upon you?" The Prophet replied," He enjoined upon me to perform fifty prayers in a day and a night." Moses said, "Your followers cannot do that; Go back so that your Lord may reduce it for you and for them." So the Prophet turned to Gabriel as if he wanted to consult him about that issue. Gabriel told him of his opinion, saying, "Yes, if you wish." So Gabriel ascended with him to the Irresistible and said while he was in his place, "O Lord, please lighten our burden as my followers cannot do that." So Allah deducted for him ten prayers where upon he returned to Moses who stopped him again and kept on sending him back to his Lord till the enjoined prayers were reduced to only five prayers. Then Moses stopped him when the prayers had been reduced to five and said, "O Muhammad! By Allah, I tried to persuade my nation, Bani Israel to do less than this, but they could not do it and gave it up. However, your followers are weaker in body, heart, sight and hearing, so return to your Lord so that He may lighten your burden." The Prophet turned towards Gabriel for advice and Gabriel did not disapprove of that. So he ascended with him for the fifth time. The Prophet said, "O Lord, my followers are weak in their bodies, hearts, hearing and constitution, so lighten our burden." On that the Irresistible said, "O Muhammad!" the Prophet replied, "Labbaik and Sa`daik." Allah said, "The Word that comes from Me does not change, so it will be as I enjoined on you in the Mother of the Book." Allah added, "Every good deed will be rewarded as ten times so it is fifty (prayers) in the Mother of the Book (in reward) but you are to perform only five (in practice)." The Prophet returned to Moses who asked, "What have you done?" He said, "He has lightened our burden: He has given us for every good deed a tenfold reward." Moses said, "By Allah! I tried to make Bani Israel observe less than that, but they gave it up. So go back to your Lord that He may lighten your burden further." Allah's Apostle said, "O Moses! By Allah, I feel shy of returning too many times to my Lord." On that Gabriel said, "Descend in Allah's Name." The Prophet then woke while he was in the Sacred Mosque (at Mecca).
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ، عَنْ شَرِيكِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ مَالِكٍ، يَقُولُ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ مَسْجِدِ الْكَعْبَةِ أَنَّهُ جَاءَهُ ثَلاَثَةُ نَفَرٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ وَهْوَ نَائِمٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ، فَقَالَ أَوَّلُهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ هُوَ فَقَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ هُوَ خَيْرُهُمْ‏.‏ فَقَالَ آخِرُهُمْ خُذُوا خَيْرَهُمْ‏.‏ فَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ، فَلَمْ يَرَهُمْ حَتَّى أَتَوْهُ لَيْلَةً أُخْرَى فِيمَا يَرَى قَلْبُهُ، وَتَنَامُ عَيْنُهُ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبُهُ وَكَذَلِكَ الأَنْبِيَاءُ تَنَامُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ وَلاَ تَنَامُ قُلُوبُهُمْ، فَلَمْ يُكَلِّمُوهُ حَتَّى احْتَمَلُوهُ فَوَضَعُوهُ عِنْدَ بِئْرِ زَمْزَمَ فَتَوَلاَّهُ مِنْهُمْ جِبْرِيلُ فَشَقَّ جِبْرِيلُ مَا بَيْنَ نَحْرِهِ إِلَى لَبَّتِهِ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْ صَدْرِهِ وَجَوْفِهِ، فَغَسَلَهُ مِنْ مَاءِ زَمْزَمَ بِيَدِهِ، حَتَّى أَنْقَى جَوْفَهُ، ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِطَسْتٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فِيهِ تَوْرٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ مَحْشُوًّا إِيمَانًا وَحِكْمَةً، فَحَشَا بِهِ صَدْرَهُ وَلَغَادِيدَهُ ـ يَعْنِي عُرُوقَ حَلْقِهِ ـ ثُمَّ أَطْبَقَهُ ثُمَّ عَرَجَ بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَضَرَبَ بَابًا مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا فَنَادَاهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ مَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ جِبْرِيلُ‏.‏ قَالُوا وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مَعِي مُحَمَّدٌ‏.‏ قَالَ وَقَدْ بُعِثَ قَالَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ ...
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7517
In-book reference : Book 97, Hadith 142
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 93, Hadith 608
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