Sunan Abi Dawud — Fasting (Kitab Al-Siyam)

When one of you is invited (to a meal), and he is fasting, he should say that he is fasting.

When the people of Mecca sent about ransoming their prisoners Zaynab sent some property to ransom Abul’As, sending among it a necklace of hers which Khadijah had had, and (which she) had given to her when she married Abul’As. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw it, he felt great tenderness about it and said: If you consider that you should free her prisoner for her and return to her what belongs to her, (it will be well). They said: Yes. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made an agreement with him that he should let Zaynab come to him, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent Zayd ibn Harithah and a man of the Ansar (the Helpers) and said: Wait in the valley of Yajij till Zaynab passes you, then you should accompany her and bring her back.

‘Abd Allaah (bin ‘Umar) said “The Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) sent us along with a detachment. The share of each was twelve Camels. The Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) gave each one of us a Camel as a reward. Abu Dawud said “Burd bin Sinan narrated a similar tradition from Nafi’ as narrated by ‘Ubaid Allaah. Ayyub also narrated from Nafi’ a similar tradition, but his version goes “We were rewarded one Camel each. He did not mention the Prophet (ﷺ).

Malik ibn Aws al-Hadthan said: One of the arguments put forward by Umar was that he said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) received three things exclusively to himself: Banu an-Nadir, Khaybar and Fadak. The Banu an-Nadir property was kept wholly for his emergent needs, Fadak for travellers, and Khaybar was divided by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) into three sections: two for Muslims, and one as a contribution for his family. If anything remained after making the contribution of his family, he divided it among the poor Emigrants.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade the leasing of land. I asked: (Did he forbid) for gold and silver (i.e. dinars and dirhams)? He replied: If it is against gold and silver, then there is no harm in it.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone has property given him in life-tenancy for the use of himself and his descendants, it belongs to the one to whom it is given and does not return to the one who gave it, because he gave a gift which may be inherited.

May Allah have mercy on the early immigrant women. When the verse “That they should draw their veils over their bosoms” was revealed, they tore their thick outer garments and made veils from them.

I shall not pay blood-money or (he said) : I am not going to pay blood-money for him on whom I inflicted the prescribed punishment except for the one who drank wine, for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not prescribe anything definite. It is a thing which we have decided (by agreement) ourselves.

If anyone summons other to follow right guidance, his reward will be equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without their rewards being diminished in any respect on that account; and if anyone summons others to follow error the sin of which sins being diminished in any respect on that account.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: None of my Companions must tell me anything about anyone, for I like to come out to you with no ill-feelings.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: He who sees something which should be kept hidden and conceals it will be like one who has brought to life a girl buried alive.

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went to his bed at night, he would say: in the name of Allah, I have laid down my side for Allah. O Allah! forgive me my sin, drive away my devil, free me from my responsibility, and place me in the highest assembly. Abu Dawud said: Abu Hammam al-Ahwazi transmitted it from Thawr. He mentioned Abu Zuhair al-Anmari (instead of Abu al-Azhar).