Mishkat al-Masabih

a man who gave a promise in my name then acted faithlessly; a man who sold a free man and enjoyed the price he received for him; and a man who hired a servant and, after receiving full service from him, did not give him his wages.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn 'Abbas said some of the Prophet's companions passed a watering-place where there was one who had been stung by a scorpion or bitten by a snake. One of the inhabitants of the watering-place accosted them and asked whether anyone among them could apply a charm, for at the watering-place there was a man who had been stung by a scorpion or bitten by a snake. One of them went and recited Fatihat al-Kitab in return for some sheep, and he was cured; but when he brought the sheep to his companions they disapproved of that saying, “You have taken payment for God’s Book.” When they came to Medina and told God’s Messenger that he had taken payment for God's Book, he replied, “The most worthy thing for which you have taken payment is God’s Book." Bukhari transmitted it. In a version he said, “You have done right. Divide them and give me a share along with you."

We came to a clan of the Arabs after leaving God's Messenger and they said, “We have been told that you have brought what is good from this man. Have you any medicine, or a charm, for we have a lunatic in chains?" When we replied that we had, they brought a lunatic in chains and I recited Fatihat al-Kitab over him three days morning and evening, collecting my saliva and then spitting it out, and he seemed as if he were set free from a bond. They gave me some payment, but I refused to accept it till I had asked the Prophet. When I did so he said, “Accept it*, for by my life, some accept it for a worthless charm, but you have done so for a genuine one." Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Literally "eat”.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Give the hireling his wages before his sweat dries." Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Al-Husain b. ‘Ali reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The beggar has a right, even if he comes on a horse*." *This tradition means that one must not accuse a beggar of making false pretenses of being in need, even when circumstances suggest that that is so. Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it. In al-Masabih it is given in mursal form.

‘Utba b. al-Mundhir said that once when they were with God’s Messenger he recited Ta’ Sin Mim (Al-Qur’an 28. The passage about Moses hiring himself is verses 26 to 28) till he came to the story of Moses and said, “Moses hired himself for eight or ten years in return for preserving his chastity and receiving his food." Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Ubada b. as-Samit told that he said, “Messenger of God, one of those whom I have been teaching the Book and the Qur’an has presented me with a bow, and as it cannot be reckoned property may I shoot with it in God's path?" He replied, “If you want to have a necklace of fire put on you, accept it." Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘A’isha reported the Prophet as saying, “He who develops land which has no owner has the best right to it.” ‘Urwa said that ‘Umar gave decision accordingly during his caliphate. Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that as-Sa‘b b. Jath’thama told of hearing God’s Messenger say, “There is no preserve except what belongs to God and His Messenger.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Urwa said az-Zubair had a dispute with one of the Ansar about streamlets in the lava plain, and the Prophet said, “Water your ground, Zubair, then let the water run to your neighbour.” The Ansari said, “It is because he is your cousin.” Thereupon his face changed colour and he said, “Water your ground, Zubair, then keep back the water till it returns to the embankment, and afterwards let it run to your neighbour.” So the Prophet paid regard to az-Zubair’s right by the clear decision when the Ansari made him angry and he had given them advice which would have made matters easy for both of them. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Do not withhold excess water to prevent thereby extra herbage growing.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

a man who swears falsely about some merchandise that he has previously received a larger offer than he has now been given; a man who swears a false oath after the afternoon prayer to deprive thereby a Muslim of his property; and a man who withholds excess water. God will say, ‘Today I am withholding from you my grace*as you withheld excess water which was not produced by the efforts of your hands’." (Bukhari and Muslim.) *The word for grace (fadl) is the same as the word for excess.

Al-Hasan said that Samura reported the Prophet as saying, “If anyone puts a wall round land*, it belongs to him.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Mirqat, iii, 369 says the reference is to barren land.

Asma' daughter of Abu Bakr said that God’s Messenger assigned some palm-trees to az-Zubair. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that the Prophet assigned to az-Zubair the land his horse could cover at a run. He made his horse run, and when it stopped he threw his whip. He then said, “Give it to him up to the spot his whip has reached.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Alqama b. Wa’il reported his father as saying that the Prophet assigned him land in Hadramaut, sending Mu'awiya with him and telling him to give it to him. Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

Abyad b. Hammal al-Ma’ribi said that he came to God’s Messenger and asked him to assign him the salt which was in Ma’rib*, which he did. When he turned away a man said, “Messenger of God, you have assigned him the perennial spring water,” so he took it back from him. He asked for the land which had arak trees (Thorny trees on which camels feed) growing in it, and he said he could have such as was beyond the region to which camels went. Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it. * This town was the capital of the Sabæans in the Yemen, famous for its dam.

water, herbage and fire.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Asmar b. Mudarris told that when he came and swore allegiance to the Prophet he said, “If anyone comes to water, no Muslim having come to it before him, it belongs to him.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Tawus, in mursal form, reported God's Messenger as saying, “If anyone cultivates barren land it belongs to him, but ancient property belongs to God and His Messenger and then comes to you from me.” Shafi‘i transmitted it.