Mishkat al-Masabih

Al-Miswar and Marwan said they agreed to abandon war for ten years during which the people would have security, on the basis that there should be sincerity between them and that there should be no theft or treachery. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Safwan b. Sulaim quoted the authority of a number of the sons of the Companions of God’s Messenger who told on the authority of their fathers that God’s Messenger said, “If anyone wrongs a man with whom a covenant has been made, or curtails any right of his, or imposes on him more than he can bear, or takes anything from him without his ready agreement, I shall be his adversary on the day of resurrection.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

I swore allegiance to the Prophet along with some women and he said to us, "As far as you are able and are capable.” I said, "God and His Messenger are more merciful to us than we are to ourselves.” I asked God's Messenger to ratify our covenant, meaning to shake hands with us, but he replied, "I say the same to a hundred women as I do to one.” …transmitted it. The name of the collection of traditions where this is found is omitted. Cf. Nasa’i, Bai'a, 18; Ibn Majah, Jihad, 43; Ahmad b. Hanbal, vi, p. 357; Malik, Muwatta', Bai'a, 1.

God’s Messenger went to perform an ‘umra in Dhul Qa'da, but the people of Mecca refused to let him enter Mecca till he had made an agreement with them to enter (i.e. in the following year) and stay three days. Then when on writing the document they wrote, "This is what Muhammad God’s Messenger has agreed,” the Meccans said, “We do not acknowledge it, for if we knew you were God’s Messenger we would not prevent you; but you are Muhammad b. ‘Abdallah.” He replied, "I am' both God's Messenger and Muhammad b. ‘Abdallah.” He then told ‘Ali b. Abu Talib to obliterate "Messenger of God”, and when he protested, "No, I swear by God, I will never obliterate it,” God's Messenger took it, and although he did not write well, he wrote, ‘‘this is what Muhammad b. ‘Abdallah has agreed. The only weapon with which he will enter Mecca will be a sword in the scabbard; if any of its people wishes to follow him he will not take him out; and if any of his companions wishes to stay in it he will not prevent him.” Then when he entered and the appointed period elapsed they went to 'Ali and told him to tell his friend to leave them for the appointed period had elapsed. So the Prophet went out. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

While we were in the mosque the Prophet came out and said, “Come on to the Jews.” So we went out with him and came to the house where they read their Scriptures, and the Prophet stood up and said, “If you Jews accept Islam you will be safe. Know that the land belongs to God and His Messenger, and I intend to deport you from this land; so if any of you has property he must sell it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn 'Umar told that 'Umar stood up to make a speech and said, “God’s Messenger employed the Jews of Khaibar to work their property and told them he would confirm them in it as long as God did; and I have now seen good to deport them.” When ‘Umar decided on that one of the B. Abul Huqaiq came to him and said, “Commander of the Faithful, are you expelling us when Muhammad has confirmed us in our property and employed us to work it?” 'Umar replied, “Do you think I have forgotten what God’s Messenger said when he asked how you would feel when you were expelled from Khaibar, your camel running along with you night after night?” He said, “This was a little joke on the part of Abul Qasim,” to which ‘Umar retorted, “You lie, enemy of God.” He then deported them, giving them the value of the fruits they possessed in money, camels and goods such as saddles, ropes, etc. Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas told that God’s Messenger gave three instructions saying, “Expel the polytheists from Arabia; reward deputations as I did.” Ibn 'Abbas said either that he did not mention the third, or that he* had been caused to forget it. *i.e. Ibn ‘Abbas. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir b. ‘Abdallah said he was told by ‘Umar b. al-Khattab that he had heard God’s Messenger say, “I will certainly expel the Jews and the Christians from Arabia so as to leave only Muslims in it.” Muslim transmitted it. A version has, “If I live, God willing, I will certainly expel the Jews and the Christians from Arabia.”

Ibn ‘Umar told that ‘Umar b. al-Khattab deported the Jews and the Christians from the land of the Hijaz and when God’s Messenger got supremacy over the people of Khaibar he intended to expel the Jews from it, for when the land was conquered it belonged to God, His Messenger and the Muslims. But the Jews asked God’s Messenger to leave them on condition that they should do all the cultivation and have half the produce, and he replied, “We shall confirm you on that condition as long as we wish.” So they were confirmed till ‘Umar deported them during his period of rule to Taima and Jericho. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Malik b. Aus b. al-Hadathan reported "Umar b. al-Khattab as saying that God appointed His Messenger a special portion in this fai’* which He gave to no other. He then recited, “What God has bestowed on His Messenger from them . . . omnipotent" (Al-Qur’an; 59:6). This was purely for God’s Messenger who used to give his family their annual contribution from this property, then take what remained and deal with it as he did with God’s property. *Fai’ is the term used for tribute from territory the Muslims have conquered. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Umar said that the properties of the B. an-Nadir were part of what God bestowed on His Messenger from what the Muslims had not ridden on horses or camels to get; so they belonged specially to God’s Messenger who gave his family their annual contribution, then applied what remained for weapons and horses as equipment in God’s path. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When the fai’ came to God's Messenger he divided it that day, giving two portions to a married man and one to a bachelor. I was summoned and he gave me two portions, for I had a family; then ‘Ammar b. Yasir was summoned after me and given one. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar told that he saw the first thing God’s Messenger did immediately anything came to him was to give something to those who had been set free. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘A’isha said the Prophet was brought a pouch containing beads and divided it among freewomen and slave women. She said her father used to divide things between freemen and slaves. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

I have no more right to this fai’ than you, and none of us has more right to it than another, except that we occupy our positions fixed by the Book of God who is great and glorious and the division made by His Messenger, people being arranged according to their precedence in accepting Islam, the hardships they have endured, their having children, and their need. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He told that ‘Umar b. al-Khattab recited, “Alms are for the poor and needy…Knowing, Wise," (Al-Qur’an; 9:60) and said that this verse applies to such. He then recited, “Know that a fifth of whatever booty you acquire goes to God and the Messenger . . . the traveller," (Al-Qur’an; 8:41) and said that this verse applies to such. He then recited, “What God has bestowed on His Messenger from the people of the towns ... to the poor" (Al-Qur’an; 59:7 f. The last word mentioned is the first word of verse 8. It may mean that he recited the whole of verse 8). He then recited, “And those who came after them," (Al-Qur’an; 59:10) saying that this includes all the Muslims, and adding that if he lived the herdsman in the sarw* of Himyar would certainly get his share which he had not earned by the sweat of his brow. * The word means a hill slope above a valley, not right upon the mountain. When associated with Himyar it is said to mean their settlement, cf. Yaqut, Mu'jam, iii, 82. The Himyarites were a famous South Arabian people. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

the B. an-Nadir, Khaibar and Fadak.1 The B. an-Nadir property was kept wholly for his own purposes,2 Fadak for travellers, and Khaibar was divided by God’s Messenger into three sections, two for the Muslims and one as a contribution for his family. If anything remained after making the contribution to his family, he divided it among the poor Emigrants. 1. Fadak was near Khaibar. It capitulated without fighting. 2. This would include, besides personal needs, the cost of entertaining guests, providing weapons and animals, etc. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Fadak belonged, to God’s Messenger, and he made contributions from it, showing repeated kindness to the poor members of the B. Hashim from it and supplying: from it the cost of marriages for those of them who were unmarried. Fatima asked him to give it to her, but he refused. That is how matters stood during the lifetime of God’s Messenger till he went his way (i.e. he died). When Abu Bakr was made ruler he administered it as God's Messenger had done in his lifetime till he went his way. Then when ‘Umar b. al- Khattab was made ruler he administered it as they had done till he went his way. Then Marwan took it for himself and it afterwards came to ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, but I consider that I have no right to something which God’s Messenger refused to Fatima, and I call you to witness that I have restored it to its former condition; meaning in the time of God’s Messenger, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Adi b. Hatim told that God’s messenger said to him, “When you set off your dog mention God's name, and if it catches anything for you and you come up to it while it is still alive cut its throat; if you come up to it when the dog has killed it but not eaten any of it eat it; but if it has eaten any of it do not eat, for it has caught it only for itself. If you find another dog with yours and a kill has been made, do not eat, for you do not know which of them killed the animal. When you shoot your arrow mention God’s name and if the game goes out of your sight for a day and you find in it only the mark of your arrow eat if you wish, but if you find it drowned in water do not eat.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said he told God’s messenger that he set off trained dogs, and he replied, “Eat what they catch for you.” He asked if that applied even if they killed the game, and he replied that it did. He told him that he shot featherless arrows (mi'rad)* and he replied, “Eat what they pierce, but what they strike with the middle part and kill is beaten to death, so do not eat it.” *The mi'rad was thick in the middle and slender at the ends. It was liable to strike the animal with its middle part. (Bukhari and Muslim.)