. J '-Ɵ  (cont.)

Some scholars point out the relationship between this hadith and the previous hadith, "Verily, all actions are but driven by intention." The previous hadith has a position like the statement, "In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful," while this hadith has a position like surah al­ Faatiha. It is said that it is for this reason that scholars such as al-Baghawi began some of his works with the hadith about intention first and then this hadith in the same way that the Quran begins with the saying Bismillaah al­ Rahmaan al-Raheem followed by Surah al-Faatiha.3 According to ibn Hajr, this incident took place close to the Prophet's death. Some say that it was just before the Farewell Pilgrimage. Hence, it was as if the Prophet (peace be upon him), through the questioning of the angel Gabriel, was summarizing his mission and message. He summarized the essential concepts of imaan, islam and ihsaan. Then, at the end, he stated that the person was the Angel Gabriel who had come to teach them their religion.4 1 See Muhammad al-Sindi, Haashiyat al-Sindi ala Sunan al-Nasaai (Beirut: Daar Ihya al-Turaath al-Arabi, n.d.), vol. 8, p. 103. 2 Al-Qaadhi lyaadh al-Yahsoobi, Kitaab al-lmaan min Ikmaal al-Muallim (sic) bi-Fawaaid sahih Muslim (Riyadh: Daar al-Watn, 1417 A.H.), vol. 1 , p. 101. 3 Al-Baghawi did that in the beginning of his Sharh al-Sunnah as well as his Mishkat al-Sunnah ȋwhich was lȜter added on to and became Mishkat al-Masaabeeh). Cf., al-Qaan, vol. 1, p. 49. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi The Circumstances Behind the Hadith In one of the narrations in Sahih Muslim, this hadith of Gabriel begins in the following manner: Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "Ask me [about matters related to the religion]." However, the people abstained from doing so because they were overawed out of profound respect for him. In the meanwhile a man came there and sat near his knees and said, "Messenger of Allah, what is Islam?" ... 1 According to al-Ubayy, the reason the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Ask me," is because they were asking many questions and the Prophet (peace be upon him) realized that some were asking obstinately. Therefore, he became angry and said, "Ask me, ask me, for, by Allah, you will not ask me about anything except that I shall tell you about it as long as I am standing in this place."2 After hearing and seeing this, the people became fearful and refrained from asking any questions. When the people refrained from asking questions, Allah sent the angel Gabriel to put these important questions to the Prophet (peace be upon him).3 Al-Sanoosi adds that such questions do not go against the prohibition of asking questions. Actually, one must ask these types of questions because the answers to them are needed. Hence, this is an application of the Quranic verse, "So ask of those who know the Scripture, if you know not" (al-Nahl 43).4 In other words, there is a type of questioning that should be avoided and a type of questioning that is commanded. Questions of a useless nature or of a purely theoretical nature with no benefit to them are to be avoided. Questions for which answers are truly needed must be asked. Hence, Allah sent the angel Gabriel to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to ask him these questions and to demonstrate that important questions like these are to be asked of the people of knowledge. About The Narrator: Umar ibn al-Khattaab The narrator of this hadith is the same as the narrator of Hadith #1. Hence, his life was discussed earlier. 1 See Abdul Hameed Siddiqi, trans., Sahih Muslim, vol. 1, p. 4. 2 Actually, al-Ubayy is referring to another hadith in Sahih Muslim. 3 Abu Abdullah al-Ubayy, Sharh sahih Muslim (Riyadh: Maktaba Tabariyyah, n.d), vol. 1, pp. 77-78. 4 Muhammad al-Sanoosi, Sharh al-Sanusi, on the margin ofal-Ubayy, vol. 1, p. 77. I l I i j Hadith #2: The Hadith of Jibreel "One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) ... put his hands on his thighs. He said, 'O Muhammad ... '" The different narrations of the hadith, referred to earlier in the takhreej section, describe the appearance of the angel Gabriel who came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the appearance of a bedouin Arab. Bedouins were known for their coarse and rough nature. The Angel spoke from the back of the mosque, "Peace be upon you, o Muhammad, may I come forward?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) told him to come forward and he continued asking until he came directly to the Prophet (peace be upon him), walking over the people as he came to the front of the mosque. He then sat directly in front of the Prophet (peace be upon him), putting his hands on the Prophet's thighs. Then he began to ask the Prophet (peace be upon him) his questions.