3 Stories By Prophet Muhammad (saw)

Three Stories From

THE AUTHENTI C STORIES BYPROPEHT MUHAMMAD ( )

PROF. UMAR AL-ASHQAR

CONTENTS PUBLISHER’S NOTE.............................................................................. .3 SECTION ONE STORIES OF THE PROPHETS AND MESSENGERS.......................... ....4 Adam’s Denial and Forgetfulness........................................ .......................5 Death of Adam ( )........................................................................... ..........8 Ṣāliḥ, the Prophet of Allah ( )................................................ .................10 Documentation of Hadith.................................................. .......................13

PUBLISHER’S NOTE Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may the Blessings and Peace of Allah be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad ( ), his Family, and the Companions. Allah ( ) ordered His Prophet (r ) to convey the stories he knew to the people. From these stories of ancient people, Muslims could learn valuable lessons. Thus, if they heard stories about corrupt models of disbelievers, they would try to steer clear of committing similar mistakes; and if the stories were exemplary, they would try to emulate their example. Allah said, ‫ﭼ‬

‫ﯨ ﯩ‬

‫ﭽ… ﯧ‬

( …So relate the stories, perhaps they may reflect.) (Qur’an 7: 176)

Authentic Stories by Prophet Muhammad ( ), as its title suggests, is a collection of stories that have been proven and authenticated as originally narrated by Prophet Muhammad ( ) or by his Companions. These stories reveal many interesting facts about ancient nations and teach numerous lessons that could possibly encourage one to turn over a new leaf and strive for a life full of piousness and happiness. May Allah reward the author for his efforts to educate and entertain Muslims, boys and girls, as well as men and women with this collection of authentic stories. May Allah cause this book to be a source of beneficial instruction to all readers and may He ( ) guide us on His Straight Path. General Manager Al-Nafaes House for Publishing and Distribution, Amman, Jordan Tel: 009626-5353435 Fax:009626-5353434 E-Mail: [email protected]

SECTION ONE STORIES OF THE PROPHETS AND MESSENGERS

ONE Adam’s Denial and Forgetfulness Introduction Archeologists nowadays study the ruins of the ancient nations in an attempt to find out how they lived. Despite the knowledge they could attain, their discoveries remain inaccurate. Since it cannot delve deeper into ancient history, their science does not represent facts accurately. Allah’s Revelation, on the other hand, is an invaluable treasure since it gives the pure truth. It is the knowledge revealed by the All-Knower Who knows everything that is in earth and heaven. Some of this knowledge can only be attained through Revelation. Such is the story narrated by the Prophet (r ) in the hadith where he tells us about our father Adam ( ) and some of the traits that we have inherited from him.

Text of the Hadith At-Tirmidhī narrated from Abū Hurayrah that the Prophet (r ) said: “When Allah created Adam He wiped his back so each soul to be created from Adam’s descendants until the Judgment Day would be conceived from his back (Adam’s back). Allah created a glitter of light between the eyes of each human then He showed them to Adam who then asked: ‘O’ Lord! Who are these?’ Allah said, ‘These are your children.’ Then Adam saw a man and liked the glitter between his eyes so he asked, ‘O’ Lord, who is this?’ Allah said, ‘This is a man of the latest nations of your children called David (Dāwūd).’ Adam then asked, ‘Lord, how many years is he going to live?’ Allah said, ‘Sixty.’ Adam then said, ‘O’ Lord! Give him forty years of my age.’ When Adam’s days were over, the angel of death came to him. At this, Adam said, ‘I do have forty years left, don’t I?’ The angel said, ‘Didn’t you give these forty years for your son David?’ Adam denied and so did his children. He forgot and so did his children. He made mistakes and so did his children.” Tirmidhī also narrated that Abū Hurayrah said that the Prophet (r ) said, “When Allah created Adam and blew a soul into him, Adam sneezed so he praised Allah. Allah then said, ‘Allah has mercy on you Adam. Go to the angels sitting there and say: ‘As-salāmu ‘alaykum (peace be upon you).’ They said, ‘And Allah’s Peace and Allah’s Mercy be on you.’ Adam then came back to Allah Who told him that this was the greeting to be used by Adam and the angels. Allah then closed both of His Hands and said, ‘Choose anyone you want.’ Adam said, ‘I choose the right hand though both hands of my God are blessed.’ Allah then opened His Hand where Adam saw himself and his children. Adam then asked, ‘Lord! Who are these?’ Allah said, ‘your children’. Each one of them had his age written between his eyes. Among them, there was one whose face was glittering. Adam asked, ‘Lord! Who is this?’ Allah said, ‘This is your son David; he was destined to live for forty years.’ Adam then said, ‘My Lord, give him more years to live.’ Allah said, ‘He will get what he was destined for.’ Adam then said, ‘Lord! I give him sixty years of mine.’ Allah said, ‘You have what you asked for.’ Allah said, ‘Live in Heaven as long as Allah wants then go down from it.’ Adam had been counting his years so when the angel of death came, Adam said, ‘You came early since Allah said I would live one thousand years.’ The angel said: ‘Right, but you gave your son David sixty years.’ Adam forgot and denied giving sixty years to David and so did his children. Since then, Allah ordered for witnesses and documentation.”

Explanation of the Hadith Allah created Adam as a perfect human, not as is claimed by ignorant people that man evolved from animals or plants. From the first moment, Allah created Adam to be rational with the ability to speak, to comprehend what is said to him, and to answer properly. He sneezed after Allah had given him life and then praised Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted. Then Allah told him that He had mercy on him. After that, He asked Adam to go and greet a group of angels who were sitting. They greeted him properly, and Allah then told him that this was the greeting to be used among his children. Adam could walk, hear, speak, sneeze, think and understand speech. In this hadith, one can notice the great concern Allah has towards His worshipper Adam. When Adam sneezed and praised Him, Allah said He had mercy on him. As a result, anyone who has Allah’s Mercy has His Care and Protection. For this reason, Allah accepted his repentance and forgave him for his negligence. He gave him the power of faith, support, and protection from his enemies. Allah has decreed for Adam and his children when sneezing to praise Him and to have mercy on the one who sneezed by answering his supplication by anyone who is present at that time and supplicating Him. As-salām has also been legislated as the greeting between Adam and his offspring. The Prophet (r ) told us that Allah had wiped Adam’s back and all the children to be created until the Day of Judgment would be conceived from Adam’s back. Then, Allah took them all in His Right Hand. Adam was then asked to choose between either of Allah’s Hands. Although he believed both Hands were blessed, he chose the Right. When Allah opened His Hand, it had Adam and his children inside. So Adam had seen his children who would be created after him. Allah had placed light between their eyes. Adam saw the age of death of each one of his children written between his eyes. He then saw a man with a distinguished light, so he asked about him. Allah told him that that man was his son David and that he would live for sixty years. The second hadith tells us he will live for forty years, although the first one is more accurate. Adam felt that David’s life was too short and asked Allah to let him live longer. Allah told him that the age of David was predestined; therefore Adam gave David forty years from his own life span. This made the life span of David one hundred years. This hadith shows that Allah had informed Adam of his destined age and that he was going to live for one thousand years. When Adam was 960 years, the angel of death came to take his soul. Adam protested and told the angel of death that he still had forty years left. It seems that Adam was counting his days and years. The angel of death reminded him of his gift to his son David. Adam had forgotten this fact and denied giving David forty years. His children inherited their father’s traits. Thus, they denied as he did and forgot as he forgot. Therefore, Allah had ordered that everything to be done by Adam and his children should be documented and witnessed as proof to those who deny or forget.

Lessons of the Hadith 1. Allah’s creation of Adam was complete; not as ignorant people claim. They say his creation was partial, then evolved towards completion over long periods of history. Prophet Muhammad told us that Adam’s height was 60 yards when he was in Heaven. The height of Adam’s offspring continued to decrease until it is as we see today. On the Judgment Day, true believers will enter Heaven as tall as Adam was. 2. Bukhārī and Muslim narrated in their books that the Prophet said, “Allah created Adam with a height of sixty yards then He said, ‘Go and greet the angels. Listen to the way they greet you since this will be the greeting for you and your offspring.’ Adam said, ‘Assalāmu ‘alaykum (peace be upon you).’ The angels replied, ‘As-salāmu ‘alaykum waraḥamtullah (Allah’s peace and mercy be upon you).”’ As a result, they added mercy to

the greeting. Anyone who enters Heaven will have Adam’s original height. All humans created since Adam have been decreasing in height.1 3. From the moment of his creation, Adam was created perfectly. This is proven in the hadith,“ Allah had created Adam as Adam looked.”Adam did not evolve from other creatures nor was he created from other creatures like his sons who were created in their mothers’ wombs as clots of congealed blood, and then flesh that has a soul. 4. Knowledge of some events that happened with our father Adam such as his sneezing, his praise of Allah, Allah’s Saying to him: ‘Allah bless you,’ his greeting of the angels and their reply, and Allah wiping Adam’s back. 5. Anyone who sneezes should praise Allah by saying: Al-ḥamdulillāh (All praise be to Allah), and anyone close to him should say: Yarḥamukallāh, (may Allah have mercy on you). The greeting, As-salāmu ‘alykum, is an international greeting that applies to all nations since they all inherited it from their father Adam. 6. This hadith proves that fate is predestined by Allah who has known since the beginning of ancient times the life span of each of His creatures. This is written between the eyes of each human and this was revealed to Adam. 7. Allah has hands. He opens and closes them whenever and however He wants, but He doesn’t resemble anything that humans can relate to. He is the All-Knower and the AllSeer. 8. The strong faith of David is proven by the strong light between his eyes. 9. Adam had the ability to count the years of his age. He knew how many years were left and argued with the angel of death when he came to take Adam’s soul. 10. This hadith shows that Adam lived for one thousand years. This corrects what is stated in the Torah in the fifth Chapter of Genesis, which says that he lived for 930 years. 11. Denial and forgetfulness are a part of the nature of Adam and his offspring. 12. It is encouraged to document and witness transactions to offset humans’ forgetfulness and denial.

1

See Al-Bukhārī, 11, hadith no. 6277; and Muslim, 4\2183, hadith no. 2841.

TWO Death of Adam ( ) Introduction This story tells us about the last moments in Adam’s life and what happened to him during the agony of death. It also shows how the angels took the responsibility of bathing and shrouding him. In addition, it illustrates how they dug his grave and prayed for him, and how they placed him in the grave and scattered dust over him. The angels did that to teach Adam’s sons how to bury their dead in the future.

Text of the Hadith ‘Utayy2 said that he saw an old man in Medina speaking. He asked about him and was told that he was called Ubayy bin Ka‘b who said: “When Adam ( ) was about to die, he said to his sons, ‘My sons, I do desire to eat from Heaven’s fruits.’ As his sons were going to get him what he wanted, they were received by angels who were carrying axes and spades. The angels asked, ‘Sons of Adam, what do you want and where are you going?’ The sons of Adam said, ‘Our father is sick and desires the fruits of Heaven.’ The angels said, ‘Go back; your father had been fated to die.’ When Eve saw the angels, she recognized them so she tried to seek Adam’s protection. Adam said, ‘Go away from me, it was you who weakened me; leave me with my Lord’s angels.’ Angels then took his soul, bathed him, shrouded him, dug his grave, and prayed for him. Then, they entered his grave and placed him in it. They left the grave and scattered dust over him and said, ‘Sons of Adam, this is how you bury your dead.’”

Explanation of the Hadith This hadith tells us the story of our father Adam ( ) when he was about to die. His desire for Heaven’s fruits shows how much he loved Heaven and how much he longed to go back. How could he not long for the Garden he lived in while enjoying its grace for a period of time! He might have felt that his end was coming so he longed for Heaven. Some hadith show that he knew how many years he was going to live and that he used to count his years. It seems that he knew that his days were over and that he was about to die. No doubt, he knew that his sons could not fulfill his desire; they also knew that, but their love for their father motivated them to go and search for what he wanted. No sooner had they left their father, than they were met by a group of angels in the shape of men carrying with them all that was needed for interment. They presented what Muslims do nowadays when someone dies. Angels were carrying shrouds, along with axes and spades needed to dig the grave. When Adam’s sons told them about their destination, the angels asked them to go back to their father whose days in life were fated to end. When the angels came, Eve recognized them so she took refuge with Adam. She might have been trying to persuade him to choose life over death since Prophets’ souls are not taken until they are given the choice to live or to die, as we were told by our Prophet (r ). Adam did not listen to her and blamed her saying: “Go away from me, it was you who weakened me.” He was implying Eve’s tempting him to eat the forbidden fruit. The angels took Adam’s ( ) soul and prepared for his burial while his sons were watching. They bathed him, shrouded him, dug his grave and placed him in it. They put bricks over him, got out and scattered dust on him. Then they addressed his sons saying, “Sons of Adam, this 2

He is Abū Ḍamrah as-Sa‘dī.

is how you bury your dead.” This was prescribed by Allah. Consequently, this burial process applies to all prophets and all believers throughout history. Any process that is different is a violation of Allah’s Guidance. Anyone familiar with the Muslims’ burial process will find it identical to how the angels buried Adam ( ). Many nations have buried their dead differently. For example, some cremate their dead while others build huge mausoleums such as the pyramids. Other nations, on the other hand, put their dead in sarcophagi or stone. They also bury their dead with many worldly possessions such as food, drink, and jewelry All these methods are expensive and a waste of efforts. Most importantly, such methods do not agree with Allah’s Legislation.

Lessons of the Hadith 1. The legislation of the process of preparing and burying the dead as mentioned in hadith. 2. This process applies to all the prophets sent to mankind. 3. Angels taught Adam’s sons practically and theoretically. 4. Any burial process that differs from the one mentioned in the hadith is a violation of Allah’s Guidance. 5. The hadith shows the high status of our father Adam whose burial was performed by the angels. 6. The ability of the angels to appear as human beings and to do any task humans can do. 7. Some tools such as axes, spades and shovels have existed since ancient times. 8. A believer must be wary of anyone who could tempt him to deviate from the Right Path.

‫ﭼ‬

… ‫ﮑ ﮒﮓ‬

‫ﭽ…ﮌ ﮍ ﮎ ﮏ ﮐ‬

( …Among your spouse [both men and women] and children there are enemies for you, therefore beware from them…)

(Qur’an 64: 14)

THREE Ṣāliḥ, the Prophet of Allah ( ) Introduction Once Prophet Muhammad (r ) passed by the place where Thamūd used to lived but were destroyed by Allah when they killed the she-camel. The Prophet (r ) stopped by the well that the she-camel used to drink from and told his Companions the story while showing them all the places where the she-camel used to come from and go to. Then, he warned them not to ask for a miracle as Ṣāliḥ’s people did. Allah gave them the she-camel as a miraculous sign, but they did not believe it and killed her. As a result, Allah destroyed them as a punishment.

Text of the Hadith Imam Aḥmad narrated in Al-Musnad that Jābir had said that when the Prophet (r ) passed by al-Ḥijr (a place in the way to Tabūk) he said: “Do not ask for miracles as Ṣāliḥ’s people did. They asked for a sign. Consequently, Allah sent them a she-camel and warned them against hurting it. It used to come from this way and go that way. Ṣāliḥ’s people disobeyed Allah and killed it. Thus Allah, as a punishment, overtook them all except one who was in the Great Mosque of Mecca. The Prophet’s Companions asked, ‘Who was that man, Prophet of Allah?’ He ( ) said, ‘Abū Righāl, but when he exited the Great Mosque of Mecca, he faced the same fate as his people.’”

Explanation of the Hadith Allah told us the story of His Prophet Ṣāliḥ ( ) and his people Thamūd in full details. This story is not mentioned in the Torah. People of the book do not know the stories of Thamūd, Ṣāliḥ or ‘Ād, although we are told in Qur’an that Moses mentioned these two nations.

‫ﮌ ﮍ ﮎ‬

‫ﮆ ﮇ ﮈ ﮉ ﮊ ﮋ‬ ‫ﭽﭺ ﭻ ﭼ ﭽ ﭾ ﭿ ﮀ ﮁ ﮂ ﮃ ﮄ ﮅ‬ ‫ﮏ ﮐ ﮑﮒ ﮓ ﮔ ﮕﮖ ﮗ ﮘ ﮙ ﮚﮛ… ﮂ ﭼ‬

( And Mūsā [Moses] said: ‘If you disbelieve you and all on earth together, then verily!

Allah is Rich [Free of all wants], Owner of All Praise. Has not the news reached you, of those before you, the people of Nūh [Noah], and ‘Ād, and Thamūd? And those after them? None knows them but Allah…’) (Qur’an 14: 8-9) The man who believed among the people of the Pharaoh said to his people:

‫…ﭿﭼ‬

‫ﯥﯥﯥ ﯦ ﯧ ﯨ ﯩ‬

‫ﯠ ﯡ ﯢ ﯣ‬

‫ﭽ… ﯟ‬

( ‘…O’ my people! I fear for you a fate like that Day of [disaster] of the Confederates; something like the fate of the people of Noah, ‘Ād and Thamūd…’)

(Qur’an 40: 30-31). Books of Sunnah have told us that the Prophet (r ) passed by the country of Thamūd, which was called al-Ḥijr, on his way to the battlefield of Tabūk. People accompanying the Prophet took rest in al-Ḥijr, drank from its wells, kneaded flour using its water, and put their pots on the fire. The Prophet (r ) ordered them to pour out all that was in their pots. They did so feeding the dough to their camels. Then he took them to the well that people of Thamūd used to drink from. It was the well where the people of Thamūd disobeyed Allah by killing the shecamel. The Prophet ( ) asked his Companions to cry whenever they passed by people who were tortured by Allah. He justified that by saying, “I am afraid that you might have the same

fate of these people.”3 When people pass by a place that witnessed a great event in their time or in the past, they feel curious about that event. A thoughtful Muslim should seize such an opportunity and remind people of what happened to those people in the past and warn against following their suit. That was what the Prophet (r ) did. He informed his Companions about all that Allah had told him. He showed them the path followed by the she-camel explaining that she used to share the drinking water with the people of Prophet Ṣāliḥ on alternating days. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:

…‫ﭽ‬

‫ﭼ‬

( …Here is a she-camel: It has a right to drink [water] and you have right to drink [water] [each] on a day known.) (Qur’an 26: 155)

‫ﭘ ﭙ ﭚ ﭼ‬

‫ﭽ ﭑ ﭒ ﭓ ﭔ ﭕﭖ ﭗ‬

( And inform them that the water is to be shared between her and them, each one’s right to drink being established [by turns]. )

(Qur’an 54: 28) The Prophet (r ) informed us about other wonders of that she-camel. The day the she-camel used to drink from the well, Ṣāliḥ’s people would take as much as they wanted from her milk. They compensated their need for water by drinking her milk without exerting any effort. Despite the great benefits they had obtained from her, they despised her and killed her. The Qur’an tells us that the killer of the she-camel was a wicked man: ‫ﭼ‬ …‫ﭽ ﭾ ﭿ ﮀ ﮁ ﮂ ﮃ ﮄ ﮅ ﮆ ﮇ ﮈ ﮉ ﮊ ﮋ‬ ( When the most wicked man among them went forth to kill the she–camel, the

Messenger of Allah [Ṣāliḥ] said to them: ‘Be cautious, [Fear the evil end].That is the she-camel of Allah! [Do not harm it] and prevent it not from having its drink.’ Then they denied him and killed it… ) (Qur’an 91: 12-14) The Prophet (r ) described the killer to us in one of his hadith as red. He said to ‘Alī bin Abī Ṭālib and ‘Ammār, “Would you like me to tell you about the most wicked of men?” They answered, “Sure.” The Prophet (r ) then said, “The red man of Thamūd who killed the she – camel and the one who will beat you on this ‘Alī, pointing at his head until this gets wet, pointing at his beard.4 In another hadith, he was described as a master among his people like Abī Zam‘ah.5 When the people of Thamūd killed the she-camel, Ṣāliḥ promised that they would incur Allah’s Torture after three days saying:

‫ﮀ ﮁﮂ ﮃ ﮄ ﮅ ﮆ ﮇ ﭼ‬

‫ﭽ… ﭽ ﭾ ﭿ‬

( …Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days; this is a promise, [i.e. a threat] that will not be belied.) (Qur’an 11: 65)

On the third day, a stunning punishment of thunder or lightening overtook them. Allah says:

‫ﭯ ﭰ ﭼ‬

‫ﭮ‬

‫ﭭ‬

‫ﭽﭧ ﭨ ﭩ ﭪ ﭫ ﭬ‬

( But if they turn away, then say [O’ Muhammad (r )]: ‘I have warned you of a ṣā‘iqah [a destructive awful shriek, thunderbolt] like that which took ‘Ād and the Thamūd.’)

(Qur’an 41: 13)

‫ﭼ‬ 3 4 5

‫ﯥﯥﯥ ﯦ ﯧ ﯨ ﯩ‬

…‫ﭽ‬

See Ṣaḥīh Al-Bukhārī, 6\378, hadiths no. 3378-3381. Aḥmad narrated this in his Musnad, 4\263. Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Bukhārī, 6\378, hadith no. 3377. See also hadiths no. 4942, 5204, 6042; and Muslim, 4\2191, hadith no. 2855.

…So a destructive awful shriek [thunderbolt], of a disgracing torment seized them because of what they used to earn.)

(Qur’an 41: 17) Our Prophet (r ) told us that the thunderbolt seized all members of that tribe including the ones who were away except one man. He was in the Ka‘ba which prevented him from torture. Even so, as soon as he left he fell to the same fate as his tribe. Our Prophet (r ) told us that that man was called Abū Righāl. The Prophet (r ) also warned his Companions not to ask for signs as Ṣāliḥ’s people did so as not to incur the same fate.

Lessons of the Hadith 1. Warning against asking for signs or miracles. Ancient people continually asked their messengers for signs, but did not believe in them when they got them. Consequently, they were destroyed. 2. Warning against Allah’s Revenge and Wrath on those who do not believe in His Messengers and Books. 3. The she-camel that Allah gave to His Prophet Ṣāliḥ was a great sign with its unique creation and features. 4. The acceptability of staying at places that had witnessed great calamities so that a Muslim may learn lessons from it. This was done by the Prophet (r ) when he stood by the well of Thamūd. Allah orders us in His Book to travel, ponder what happened to ancient people, and learn from their fate:

‫ﭼ‬

‫ﭲﮜ‬

‫ﭱ‬

‫ﭽﭩ ﭪ ﭫ ﭬ ﭭ ﭮ ﭯ ﭰ‬

Say [O’ Muhammad] ‘Travel in the land and see the end of those who rejected truth.’)

(Qur’an 6: 11)

‫ﭼ‬

‫ﮠ ﮡ ﮢﮙ‬

‫ﮛ ﮜ ﮝ ﮞ ﮟ‬

‫ﭽﮖ ﮗ ﮘ ﮙ ﮚ‬

Many were the ways of life that have passed away before you, so travel through the

earth and see what was the end of those who rejected truth [disbelieved in the Oneness of Allah and disobeyed Him and His Messengers].) (Qur’an 3: 137) The accuracy of the Prophet’s information. He identified for his Companions the path followed by the she-camel and the well she used to drink from. This is not strange since he was taught by Allah, Who knows everything. Al-Ḥaram (al-Masjid al-Ḥarām), the Great Mosque of Mecca, protects anyone who seeks its refuge as happened with Abū Righāl who remained intact as long as he was in al-Ḥaram. Al-Ḥaram’s protection for Abī Righāl occurred before Abraham’s time since Ṣāliḥ and his people were born before him. Ṣāliḥ is an Arab who belonged to people of Noah. What proves the sanctity of Mecca is proven by what is said by Abraham ( ):

‫ﮎ… ﰊ ﭼ‬

‫ﮅ ﮆ ﮇ ﮈ ﮉ ﮊ ﮋ ﮌ ﮍ‬

‫ﭽﮃ ﮄ‬

( O’ our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House…) (Qur’an 14: 37)

Documentation of Hadith Story number 1: This hadith was narrated by Tirmidhī in “The Book of Tafsīr” in the chapter on: “Sūrat alA‘rāf”, 4\267. You can also find it in Ṣaḥīḥ Sunan At-Tirmidhī, 3\52, hadith no. 3282. The second hadith was narrated by At-Tirmidhī in “The Book of Tafsīr”, in the chapter on: “Sūrat al-’Ikhlāṣ and Sūrat al-Falaq”, 4\453, and Ṣaḥīḥ Sunan At-Tirmidhī, 3\137, hadith no. 3607. Story number 2: This hadith was narrated by ‘Abdullah bin Imam Aḥmad in his book Zawā’id al-Musnad, 5\136. Ibn Kathīr commented in his book Al-Bidāyah wan Nihāyah,1\98, on this hadith saying that it was narrated by Ubayy bin Ka‘b. Haythamī said that this hadith was narrated by ‘Abdullah bin Aḥmad and his students, who were all proven to be honest. Majma‘ Az-Zwā’id: 8\199. Though this hadith is narrated by Ubayy bin Ka‘b. It is considered as being narrated from the Prophet since it is not something that expresses opinion. Story number 3: This hadith was narrated by Imam Aḥmad in his Musnad, 3\296. Ibn Kathīr commented on this hadith after he mentioned it saying, “This hadith is mentioned in accordance with Imam Muslim. It is not mentioned in the six books of hadith.” Al-Bidāyah wan Nihāyah, 1\137. Haythamī said, “This hadith was narrated by Al-Bazzār and Aṭ-Ṭabarānī in al-Awṣaṭ in “Explanation of Sūrat Hūd” and Aḥmad is known for his true and accurate narration.” Majma‘ az-Zawā’id, 6\194.