Mishkat al-Masabih

Abu-d Darda’ said that when the Prophet passed a woman who was near the time to be delivered of a child he asked about her and was told that she was so and so’s slave woman. He asked whether he was having sexual intercourse with her, and when he was told that he was, he said, “I am inclined to invoke a curse on him which will enter his grave with him. How can he take the child into his service when that is not lawful for him, or how can he make it an heir when that is not lawful for him?”* * The reason for the curse is said to be because he did wait the prescribed period after acquiring the woman and so could not know whether the child was his or not. If he treated the child as a slave he might be enslaving his own son, and if he treated it as an heir he might be doing this to one who was not his son. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khurdi traced to the Prophet the following statement regarding the captives taken at Autas, “There must be no intercourse with a pregnant woman till she gives birth to her child, or with one who is not pregnant till she has had one menstrual period.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Ruwaifi' b. Thabit. reported God’s Messenger as saying on the day of Hunain, “It is not lawful for a man who believes in God and the last day to water what another has sown with his water (meaning intercourse with women who are pregnant); it is not lawful for a man who believes in God and the last day to have intercourse with a captive woman till she has had a menstrual period; and it is not lawful for a man who believes in God and the last day to sell spoil till it is divided.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted it up to “what another has sown with his water.”

Malik said he heard that God's Messenger used to command that no intercourse be had with slave women till they had had a menstrual period if they were of the number who had such periods, or till three months had passed in the case of those who did not, and forbid watering another man's water. Razin transmitted.

Ibn ‘Umar said that when a girl with whom intercourse might be had was given as a present, or sold, or set free, it was necessary to wait till she had had a menstrual period, but that this was unnecessary in the case of a virgin. Razin transmitted.

‘A’isha told that Hind daughter of ‘Utba said, “Messenger of God, Abu Sufyan is a niggardly man who does not give me and my son enough; except what I take from him without his knowledge.” He replied, “Take what is enough for you and your son to the extent recognised by the law.”* * Bil ma’roof.This is what is generally recognised as reasonable. The amount would vary according to the circumstances of the people. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir b. Samura reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When God prospers any of you he should spend first on himself and his family.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A slave is entitled to his food and clothing, and he should have imposed on him only such work as he is capable of doing.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Dharr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God has put your brethren under your authority, so he who has his brother put under his authority by God must feed him from what he eats, clothe him from what he wears, and not impose on him work which is too much for him, but if he does so he must help him with it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr told that a steward of his came to him and he asked him whether he had given the slaves their food. When he replied that he had not, he told him to go and give it to them, for God’s Messenger had said, “It is a serious enough fault for a man to withhold his food from one whom he possesses.” A version has, “It is a serious enough fault for a man to destroy one he is bound to sustain.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When anyone’s servant prepares his food and brings it to him after being near its heat and smoke, he should make him sit down with him and eat; but if the company is large* and the food small in quantity he should put one or two mouthfuls of it in his hand.” * Mashfuhan qalil'an. The word mashfuhan is applied either to food which is small in quantity, or to food which is being partaken of by a number of people. The latter meaning obviously applies here as it is followed by qalil (small in quantity); but some people understand mashfuh here as 'small in quantity’ followed by qalil expressing the same meaning. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When a slave acts sincerely towards his master and worships God well, he has a double reward.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “How excellent it is for a slave to be taken in death by God when worshipping his Lord well and obeying his master! How excellent it is for him!” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jarir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When a slave runs away his prayer is not accepted.” In a version on his authority he said, “If any slave runs away protection does not apply to him.” In another version on his authority he said, “If any slave runs away from his masters he has become an infidel till he returns to them.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that he heard Abul Qasim (i.e. the Prophet) say, “If any one reviles his slave when he is innocent of what he said, he will be beaten on the day of resurrection, unless it is as he said.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “If anyone beats a servant for an offence he did not commit, or slaps him, the atonement due from him is to set him free.” Muslim transmitted it.

When I was beatinig a servant of mine I heard a voice behind me saying, “Know, Abu Mas'ud, that God has more power over you than you have over him.” On turning round and seeing that it was God’s Messenger, I said, “Messenger of God, he is free for God’s sake.” He replied, “If you had not done it the fire would have burned you,” or, “the fire would have touched you.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, said his grandfather told of a man coming to the Prophet and saying, “I have property and my father is in need of my property.” He replied, “You and your property belong to your father. Your children are among the finest things you acquire. Eat of what your children acquire.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

On his father’s authority he said his grandfather told of a man coming to the Prophet and saying, “I am poor with no possessions and I have an orphan to care for.” He replied, “Eat from your orphan’s property, provided you are not extravagant, or take anything before you need it, or store up any of it.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Umm Salama told that the Prophet was saying during his illness, “Maintain the prayer and care for your slaves.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman, and Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted something similar on the authority of ‘Ali.

Abu Bakr as-Siddiq reported the Prophet as saying, “One who treats badly those under his authority will not enter paradise.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Rafi‘ b. Makith reported the Prophet as saying, “Treating those under one’s authority well produces prosperity, but an evil nature produces evil fortune.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, but only in al-Masabih have I seen the additional words, “Sadaqa guards against an evil type of death and kindness lengthens life.”

Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you beats his servant and he makes mention of God, you must stop beating him.” Tirmidhi and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it, but the latter has, “he should stop” instead of “you must stop beating him.”

Abu Ayyub told of hearing God’s Messenger say, “If anyone separates a mother from her child, God will separate him from his friends on the day of resurrection.” Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

God’s Messenger presented me with two youths who were brothers, and when I sold one of them God’s Messenger asked me, “What has happened to your young man, ‘Ali?” When I told him he said, “Get him back, get him back.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

He said he separated a slave girl from her child, but when the Prophet forbade him to do that he cancelled the transaction. Abu Dawud transmitted it with a break in the isnad.

gentleness towards the weak, affection towards parents, and kindness to slaves.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Abu Umama told that God’s Messenger gave ‘Ali a youth and said, “Do not beat him, for I have been prohibited from beating people who observe the prayer, and I have seen him praying.” This is the wording in al-Masabih.

In al-Mujtaba by Daraqutni ‘Umar b. al-Khattab is reported as saying, “God’s Messenger forbade us to beat people who observe the prayers.”

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar told that a man came to the Prophet and said, “Messenger of God, how often shall I forgive a servant?” He gave no reply, so the man repeated what he had said, but he still kept silence. When he asked a third time he replied, “Forgive him (The verb is in the plural) seventy times daily.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, but Tirmidhi transmitted it from 'Abdallah b. ‘Amr.

Abu Dharr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Feed those of your slaves who please you from what you eat and clothe them from what you clothe yourselves, but sell those who do not please you and do not punish God’s creatures.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Sahl b. al-Hanzaliya told of God’s Messenger coming upon an emaciated camel and saying, “Fear God regarding these dumb animals. Ride them when they are in good condition and let them free when they are in good condition.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

When the words of God most high came down, “Do not come near an orphan’s property except to improve it,” (Al-Qur’an 6:152) and “Those who devour unjustly the property of orphans. . .” (Al-Qur’an 4:10) those who were in charge of an orphan went and separated their food and drink from his, and if any of the orphan’s food or drink was left over they kept it for him until he ate it or it went bad. Finding that a burden, they mentioned the matter to God’s Messenger, and God most high sent down, “And they ask you about orphans. Say, to set things right for them is good, and if you intermix with them they are your brethren” (Al-Qur’an 2:220). They then mixed their food and their drink with theirs. Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.

Abu Musa said that God's Messenger cursed those who separated a parent from his child and a brother from his brother. Ibn Majah and Daraqutni transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said that when captives were brought to the Prophet he gave families together through dislike of separating them. Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Let me tell you who your evil ones are. They are those who eat alone, beat their slaves, and withhold their help.” Razin transmitted it.

Abu Bakr as-Siddiq reported God’s Messenger as saying, “One who treats badly those under his authority will not enter paradise.” He was asked whether he had not told them that this people had more slaves and orphans than any other, and replied, “Yes, so treat them as generously as you treat your children and give them food out of what you eat.” They then asked what benefit they got out of the world, and he replied, “A horse which you equip to fight on it in God’s path, and a slave who serves you sufficiently; and when he prays he is your brother.” Ibn Majah transmittted it.

I was brought before God’s Messenger in the year of Uhud when I was fourteen and he sent me back. Then I was brought before him in the year of the Trench when I was fifteen and he gave me permission to fight.* ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz said this represents the difference between fighting men and children. * Ajazani. It may be translated as above or it may mean “he gave me a fighting man's permission”. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

that if any of the polytheists came to him he should send them back to them; that if any of the Muslims went to them they should not send them back; and that he should be allowed to enter the following year and stay in it for three days. When he entered it and the period had passed he went out, and Hamza’s daughter followed him calling, “Uncle, uncle.” ‘Ali took her and held her by the hand, and ‘Ali, Zaid and Ja'far disputed about her. ‘Ali said, “I have taken her, and she is the daughter of my paternal uncle.” Ja'far said, “She is the daughter of my paternal uncle and her maternal aunt is my wife.” Zaid said, “She is my brother’s daughter.” The Prophet then gave decision about her in favour of her maternal aunt, saying, “The maternal aunt is in the position of the mother.” To ‘Ali he said, “You pertain to me and I pertain to you;” to Ja'far, “You resemble my form and nature;” and to Zaid, “You are our brother and client.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, said his grandfather,‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr, told of a woman who said, “Messenger of God, my womb was a vessel to this son of mine, my breasts a water-skin for him, and my lap a guard for him, yet his father has divorced me and wants to take him away from me.” God’s Messenger replied, “You have more right to him as long as you do not marry.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said God’s Messenger gave a boy a choice between his father and his mother. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He told of a woman who came to God's Messenger and said, “My husband wants to take away my son, and he has provided drink and other benefits for me.” The Prophet said, “This is your father and this is your mother, so take whichever of them you wish by the hand.” He took his mother’s hand and she went off with him. Abu Dawud, Nasa'i and Darimi transmitted.it.

While I was sitting with Abu Huraira a Persian woman came, to him along with a son of hers. She had been divorced by her husband and they both claimed him. She addressed him in foreign speech telling him that her husband wished to take her son away, and Abu Huraira told them to cast lots for him, saying that to her in foreign speech. Then her husband came and asked who was disputing with him about his son, and Abu Huraira assured him in God's name that the only reason why he said what he had said was because once when he was sitting with God’s Messenger a woman came to him and said, “Messenger of God, my husband wants to take away my son, and he had benefited me and drawn water for me from the well of Abu ‘Inaba.” (Nasa’i has “from sweet water.”) God’s Messenger replied, “Cast lots for him.” Her husband asked, “Who is disputing with me about my son?” and God’s Messenger said, “This is your father and this is your mother, so take whichever of them you wish by the hand,” and he took his mother’s hand. * Mirqat, iii, 536 says that while Sulaiman appears in all texts of the Mishkat, the correct form is Salman. Abu Dawud, Talaq, 35 (in the 2-vol. edn. Cairo, 1348 A.H.) has Salma (or Sulma). See further Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, xii, 253. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it, but Nasa’i mentioned the version which was traced back to the Prophet. Darimi transmitted it on the authority of Hilal b. Usama.