Mishkat al-Masabih

Umm 'Atiya al-Ansariya told that the Prophet said to a woman who used to perform circumcision (on girls) in Medina, “Do not cut severely, as that is better for a woman and more desirable to a husband.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, saying this is a weak tradition one of whose transmitters is an unknown man.

Karima daughter of Hammam told that a woman asked ‘A’isha about dyeing with henna and she replied, “There is no harm, but I do not like it. My beloved disliked its odour." Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

‘A’isha told that when Hind daughter of ‘Utba said, “Prophet of God, accept my allegiance," he replied, “Not till you make a difference to the palms of your hands ; for they look like the paws of a beast of prey." (A strong way of saying that a woman's hands with no henna on them are ugly) Abu Dawud transmitted it.

She told that a woman made a sign from behind a curtain to indicate that she had a letter for God's messenger. The Prophet closed his hand saying, “I do not know whether this is a man’s or a woman’s hand," and when she declared that it was a woman’s he said, “If you were a woman you would make a difference to your nails," meaning with henna. Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said the woman who supplies false hair and the one who asks for it, the woman who pulls out hair for other people and the woman who depilates herself, the woman who tattoos and the one who has it done when there was no disease to justify it were cursed. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said God’s messenger cursed the man who dressed like a woman and the woman who dressed like a man. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn Abu Mulaika told that when someone remarked to ‘A’isha that a woman was wearing sandals (in refrence to men’s footwear) she replied that God’s messenger cursed mannish women. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Thauban told that when God’s messenger went on a journey the last member of his family he saw was Fatima and the first he visited on his return was Fatima. Once when he returned from an expedition she had hung up a hair-cloth, or a curtain, at her door and adorned al-Hasan and al-Husain with silver bracelets, so when he arrived he did not enter. Thinking that he had been prevented from entering by what he had seen she tore down the curtain, unfastened the bracelets from the boys and cut them off them. They went weeping to God's messenger, and when he had taken them from them he said, “Take this to so and so’s family, Thauban. These are my family and I dislike their enjoying their good things in the present life. Buy Fatima a necklace of ‘asb( the meaning is not clear. It is suggested that it means the tendons of the joints of animals cut into beads, or the teeth or bones of the hippopotamus) , Thauban, and two ivory (Or, 'tortoise-shell’ (’aj) bracelets.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, “Apply antimony, for it clears the sight and makes the hair grow.” And he asserted that the Prophet had a collyrium-case from which he applied collyrium every night in each eye three times. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He said the Prophet used to apply antimony three times in each eye before going to sleep, and reported him as saying, “The best medicines you apply are those sipped at the corners of the mouth, those snuffed up the nose, cupping, purgatives; the best thing you apply to your eyes is antimony, for it clears the sight and makes the hair grow ; and the best days for cupping are the seventeenth, nineteenth and twenty-first.” When God’s messenger was taken up to visit heaven every company of angels he passed said, “Keep up the practice of cupping.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

‘A’isha said the Prophet forbade men and women from entering baths, but afterwards permitted men to enter them wearing lower garments. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abul Malih told that some women who belonged to Hims came to ‘A’isha and she asked where they were from. On their replying that they came from Syria she said, “Perhaps you come from the region whose women enter the baths.” They replied that that was so, and then she told them she had heard God’s messenger say, “A woman does not remoye her clothes elsewhere than in her husband’s house without tearing down the veil between her and her Lord.” A version has, "elsewhere than in her house without tearing down her veil between her and God who is great and glorious.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. 'Amr reported God’s messenger as saving, "The land of the foreigners will be conquered for you, and you will find in it houses called baths. Men must not enter them without lower garments. Keep women away from them, except those who are ill or in childbed.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, "He who believes in God and the last day must not enter a bath without a lower garment; he who believes in God and the last day must not bring his spouse into a bath ; and he who believes in God and the last day must not sit at a cloth where wine is being circulated.” Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it.

Thabit told that when Anas was asked whether the Prophet dyed his hair he replied, "If I had wanted to count the hoary hairs which were on his head I could have done so,” adding that he did not dye his hair. In a version he added that Abu Bakr dyed his hair with henna and katam, and ‘Umar dyed it with henna alone. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar used to make his beard yellow with a yellow dye so that his clothes were full of it. He was asked why he used the yellow dye and replied, "I saw God's messenger using it as a dye, and he liked nothing better than it. He used to dye all his clothes with it, even his turban.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

I went to visit Umm Salama and she brought out for us some hairs of the Prophet which had been dyed. Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that a mukhannath who had dyed his hands and feet with henna was brought to God’s messenger who asked, "What is the matter with this man?” On being told that he affected women’s get-up he ordered him to be banished to an-Naqi'. The people suggested that they should kill him, but he said, “I have been prohibited from killing people who pray.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

When God’s messenger conquered Mecca the people of Mecca began to bring their boys and he would invoke a blessing on them and rub their heads. I was brought, but as I had been perfumed with a mixture of saffron he did not touch me because of the perfume. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Qatada told that he said to God’s messenger, "I have locks coming down to the shoulders, so should I comb it ?” He replied, “Yes, and show honour to it.” Abu Qatada often greased it twice a day because God’s messenger said, “Yes, and show honour to it.” Malik transmitted it.

We went in to visit Anas b. Malik, and my sister al-Mughira told me that at that time I was a youth with two plaits of hair (The text mentions qarnan or qussatan. The former would mean two side plaits and the latter two plaits over the forehead. The alternative is given evidently because the transmitter is not sure which was the correct word), and he wiped my head, invoked a blessing on me and said, “Shave these two, or clip them, for this is the style of the Jews.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Ali said God's messenger forbade that a woman should shave her head. Nasa'i transmitted it.

‘Ata’ b. Yasar told that when God’s messenger was in the mosque a man whose head and beard were dishevelled entered, and God’s messenger pointed his hand at him as though he were ordering him to arrange his hair and his beard. When he had done so and returned, God's messenger said, “Is this not better than that one of you should come with his head dishevelled, as though he were a devil ?” Malik transmitted it.

“God is good and likes what is fragrant (Tayyib is ‘good’ and tib is ‘perfume’, or ‘fragrance.’); clean and likes cleanliness; generous and likes generosity; munificent and likes munificence; so cleanse (I think he said, your courtyards), and do not imitate the Jews.” I mentioned that to Muhajir b. Mismar and he said he had been told by ‘Amir b. Sa‘d, on his father’s authority, that the Prophet had said something similar, but he said, “Cleanse your courtyards.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abraham, the friend of the Compassionate One, was the first man to entertain a guest, the first man to be circumcised, the first man to clip his moustache, and he first man to notice grey hairs, so he said, “What is this, my Lord?” The Lord who is blessed and exalted replied, “Dignity, Abraham.” He said, “My Lord, give me more dignity.” Malik transmitted it.

Abu Talha reported the Prophet as saying, “The angels do not enter a house which contains a dog or pictures.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas told on Maimuna’s authority that one morning God’s messenger was silent with grief, and said, “Gabriel promised to meet me last night, but he did not do so. I swear by God that he has never broken his promise before.” He then thought of a puppy which he had seen under a (Fustat Mirqat, iv, 484 considers that here it means a couch) tent of his, and when he had given orders and had it put out he took some water in his hand and sprinkled the place where it had been. In the evening Gabriel met him and he said, “You promised to meet me yesterday,” to which he replied, “Yes, but we do not enter a house which contains a dog or a picture.” So next morning God’s messenger ordered that dogs should be killed, even to the extent of ordering that dogs which guarded small gardens should be killed, but leaving out of account those which guarded large gardens. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A’isha told that the Prophet never left in his house anything containing figures of a cross without destroying it. Bukhari transmitted it.

She told that she bought a cushion on which were pictures, and when God’s messenger saw it he stopped at the door and did not enter. Seeing the signs of disapproval in his face she said, “Messenger of God, I repent towards God and His messenger. What have I done wrong ?” He asked, “What is the meaning of this cushion ?” and when she replied that she had bought it for him to sit and recline on he said, “The people who make these pictures will be punished on the day of resurrection and be told to bring to life what they have created,” adding, “The angels do not enter a house which contains a picture.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She told that she had screened a store-room of hers with a curtain on which there were figures and the Prophet tore it down ; so she made two cushions out of it and had them in the house for sitting on.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

The Prophet went out on an expedition and I got a carpet which I hung as a screen at the door, but when he came and saw the carpet he pulled it and tore it down, saying, “God has not commanded us to clothe stones and clay.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She reported the Prophet as saying, “Those who will receive the severest punishment on the day of resurrection will be they who imitate what God has created.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira told of hearing God’s messenger state that God most high says, “Who is more in the wrong than he who sets about creating things like what I have created ? Well, let such people create an atom, let them create a grain, or a grain of barley.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

'Abdallah b. Mas'ud told that he heard God’s messenger say, “Those who will receive the severest punishment from God will be the people who make representations of things.” (Al-musawwiruna. There is a difference of opinion as to whether this refers to those who make snch representations as idols to be worshipped, or whether the reference is to representations of living creatures in general.) (Bukhari and Muslim.)

If you must do it, make pictures of trees and of things which do not possess a soul. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He told that he heard God’s messenger say, “If anyone pretends to have had a dream which he did not see he will be given the task of joining two barley-seeds, but will be unable to do so ; if anyone listens to other people’s talk when they do not want him to hear, or try to avoid him, lead will be poured into his ears on the day of resurrection; and he who makes a representation of anything will be punished and given the task of breathing into it, but will be unable to do so.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Buraida reported the Prophet as saying, "He who plays backgammon is as though he had dipped his hand in a pig’s flesh and blood.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said God's messenger told that Gabriel came to him and said, "I came to you last night and was prevented from entering simply by the fact that there were images at the door, for there was a figured curtain with images on it and there was a dog in the house. So order that the head of the image which is at the door of the house be cut off so that it may become like the form of a tree; order that the curtain be cut up and made into two cushions spread out on which people may tread; and order that the dog be put out.” God’s messenger then did so. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

everyone who is proud and obstreperous, everyone who invokes another god along with God, and those who make representations of things.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, "God most high has made wine, maisir and the kuba unlawfuland he said, "Every intoxicant is unlawful.” The kuba is said to be the drum. Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu’ab al-iman.

Ibn ‘Umar said the Prophet prohibited wine, maisir, the kuba,/i>, and ghubaira’ which is an intoxicating drink made by Abyssinians from millet. It is called sukruka. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari reported God’s messenger as saying, "He who plays backgammon has disobeyed God and His messenger." Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that God’s messenger saw a man following a pigeon and said, "A devil is following a she-devil." Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu’ab al-iman, transmitted it.