The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions some of the merits of fasting. One of these is that God assumes rewarding it without telling anyone what reward He gives for it. Another is that fasting is a shield protecting a person from indulging in sin. The mouth smell of a fasting person is fine in God’s estimation, even though people may find it different. The Prophet also states that a person who attends to the worship of fasting will rejoice on the Day of Judgement when he sees the reward God has prepared for His fasting servants, and he is pleased in this life that God has enabled him to fast.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) says that whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan believing that it is a duty incumbent on him, dedicating his worship to God, (limitless He is in His glory), shall have all his past sins forgiven. Likewise, the one who spends the Night of Power in worship, out of faith and in dedication, shall have his past sins forgiven. The same applies, even in a greater degree, to one who attends to night worship throughout the month of Ramadan. He is also forgiven all his past sins.
The purpose of fasting is to maintain the path of being God-fearing, specifically restraining one’s tongue and organs from doing what is forbidden. If this purpose is not achieved and a person indulges in what is forbidden during fasting, then such a fast is worthless in God’s sight.
A perfect hajj wipes away all past sins. Whoever performs the hajj, committing nothing of the sins that spoil the hajj, returns home with his slate clean, like it was on the day of his birth.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) informed his companions that pilgrimage is a duty incumbent on them. One of them asked whether the hajj was a duty to be performed every year? The Prophet did not answer him. So the man repeated his question three times, getting no answer from the Prophet. Then the Prophet told them that they should learn what he tells them and that they should not ask too many questions that may make things harder for them. He further told them that this was the cause that earlier communities were ruined.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) did the duty of stoning at the grand Jamrah at Aqabah and was riding his she-camel as he did it. He ordered his companions to learn their rituals of pilgrimage from him. He told them that he might not perform the hajj a second time. This was what actually happened.
Security, health and available provisions are great blessings, but many people do not appreciate them properly.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) tells us that if we are sincere in our reliance on God, truly observing it as it should be observed, He would have given us our provisions as He gives it to birds: they are hungry in the morning and well fed by the evening.
In this hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions several things that are forbidden to sell. He makes it clear that when God’s forbids the consumption of something, he also forbids its usage and its price, if sold. When he mentioned that carrion is forbidden, his companions asked him about its fat, which may be used in painting and lighting. He told them that this is also forbidden to use. He further mentioned that the Jews incurred God’s wrath for their trickery. When God forbade them the use of the fat of dead animals, they melted it down and sold it.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) checked the goods of a shopkeeper and found that the product was wet underneath. He told him that this was not permissible, and that cheating was forbidden in all cases.
The Prophet cursed usury: whoever takes it or gives it, and the one who writes its contract or acts as a witness. The Prophet further says that they all incur the same sin.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) prohibited certain sales that may involve cheating or ignorance of one of the two elements of sale, i.e. the goods or the price. One of these prohibited sales used to be that the buyer would cast a stone, and if it fell on an article, he must buy it. Other prohibited sales involved some ignorance which made the sale contract flawed. For example, buying something placed in a bag, and where its contents are unknown to the buyer
The Prophet (peace be upon him) advises young men to get married, because marriage helps them to lower their gaze at women and helps them to maintain their chastity. The advice to a young man who cannot afford marriage is to fast, because fasting is a great help in keeping a person away from what is forbidden.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) states the fact that people choose their wives for one or more of four reasons: her wealth, family lineage, beauty and faith. He advises everyone who wants to get married to choose the woman with faith, because this is best for him.
ꜤĀʼishah, Mother of the Believers, heard a man seeking permission to enter the home of another of the Prophet’s wives, Ḥafṣah bint ꜤUmar. When she mentioned this to the Prophet, he said that he thought the man to be Ḥafṣah’s uncle through breastfeeding. The Prophet told ꜤĀʼishah that breastfeeding blocks marriages in the same way as birth.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) tells us that Satan sets his throne on water and despatches his troops to lead people astray. Whoever does more evil to mankind gains a higher rank with him. The one whom he praises most is the one who causes a schism between a man and his wife.
Ibn ꜤUmar divorced his wife when she was having her period. The Prophet ordered him to divorce her during a period of cleanliness from menses, provided that no sexual intercourse had taken place between them then. Such is the proper divorce.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions that it is not permissible for any Muslim woman to be in mourning for anyone’s death more than three days, except for her husband when her mourning extends to four months and ten days. During this period she may not wear coloured clothing, apply kohl or wear perfume, except when she finishes her period, when she may use some good scent to remove the smell of menses.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) orders anyone who is in charge of the division of a deceased person’s estate to start by giving the heirs who are entitled to specified shares the shares due to them. Whatever is left is given to the deceased’s nearest relatives.
The problem with alcoholic drinks is that they influence the mind and intoxicate. Therefore, every substance that influences a person’s mind, whether made from grapes or any other article, is forbidden in Islam.
