Chapter 1

Chapter: The virtues of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ

باب فَضَائِلِ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:"Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "A time will come upon the people, when a group of people will wage a holy war and it will be said, 'Is there amongst you anyone who has accompanied Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?' They will say, 'Yes.' And so victory will be bestowed on them. Then a time will come upon the people when a group of people will wage a holy war, and it will be said, "Is there amongst you anynone who has accompanied the companions of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?' They will say, 'Yes.' And so victory will be bestowed on them. Then a time will come upon the people when a group of people will wage a holy war, and it will be said, "Is there amongst you anyone who has been in the company of the companions of the companions of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ?' They will say, 'Yes.' And victory will be bestowed on them."

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ فَيَغْزُو فِئَامٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَيَقُولُونَ فِيكُمْ مَنْ صَاحَبَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ‏.‏ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ فَيَغْزُو فِئَامٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَيُقَالُ هَلْ فِيكُمْ مَنْ صَاحَبَ أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ، ثُمَّ يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ فَيَغْزُو فِئَامٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَيُقَالُ هَلْ فِيكُمْ مَنْ صَاحَبَ مَنْ صَاحَبَ أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ ‏" ‏‏.‏

Chapter 2

Chapter: The virtues of the emigrants (i.e., Muhajirin)

باب مَنَاقِبِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَفَضْلِهِمْ

Narrated `Imran bin Husain:"Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'The best of my followers are those living in my generation (i.e. my contemporaries). and then those who will follow the latter" `Imran added, "I do not remember whether he mentioned two or three generations after his generation, then the Prophet (ﷺ) added, 'There will come after you, people who will bear witness without being asked to do so, and will be treacherous and untrustworthy, and they will vow and never fulfill their vows, and fatness will appear among them."

حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي جَمْرَةَ، سَمِعْتُ زَهْدَمَ بْنَ مُضَرِّبٍ، سَمِعْتُ عِمْرَانَ بْنَ حُصَيْنٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ عِمْرَانُ فَلاَ أَدْرِي أَذَكَرَ بَعْدَ قَرْنِهِ قَرْنَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا ‏ ثُمَّ إِنَّ بَعْدَكُمْ قَوْمًا يَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ، وَيَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُؤْتَمَنُونَ، وَيَنْذُرُونَ وَلاَ يَفُونَ، وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ ‏ ‏.‏

Chapter 3

Chapter: "Close the gates (in the Mosque), except the gate of Abu Bakr."

باب قَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: «سُدُّوا الأَبْوَابَ إِلاَّ بَابُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ»

Narrated `Abdullah:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best people are those living in my generation, and then those who will follow them, and then those who will follow the latter. Then there will come some people who will bear witness before taking oaths, and take oaths before bearing witness." (Ibrahim, a sub-narrator said, "They used to beat us for witnesses and covenants when we were still children.")

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَبِيدَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ، ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ ‏" ‏‏.‏ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ وَكَانُوا يَضْرِبُونَا عَلَى الشَّهَادَةِ وَالْعَهْدِ وَنَحْنُ صِغَارٌ‏.‏

Chapter 4

Chapter: The merits of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه

باب فَضْلِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم

Narrated Al-Bara':Abu Bakr bought a (camel) saddle from `Azib for thirteen Dirhams. Abu Bakr said to `Azib, "Tell Al- Bara' to carry the saddle for me." `Azib said, "No, unless you relate to me what happened to you and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) when you left Mecca while the pagans were in search of you." Abu Bakr said, "We left Mecca and we traveled continuously for that night and the following day till it was midday. I looked (around) searching for shade to take as shelter, and suddenly I came across a rock, and found a little shade there. So I cleaned the place and spread a bed for the Prophet (ﷺ) in the shade and said to him, 'Lie down, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).' So the Prophet (ﷺ) lay down and I went out, looking around to see if there was any person pursuing us. Suddenly I saw a shepherd driving his sheep towards the rock, seeking what we had already sought from it. I asked him, 'To whom do you belong, O boy?' He said, 'I belong to a man from Quraish.' He named the man and I recognized him. I asked him, 'Is there any milk with your sheep?' He said, 'Yes.' I said, 'Will you then milk (some) for us?' He said, 'Yes.' Then I asked him to tie the legs of one of the sheep and clean its udder, and then ordered him to clean his hands from dust. Then the shepherd cleaned his hands by striking his hands against one another. After doing so, he milked a small amount of milk. I used to keep for Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) a leather water-container, the mouth of which was covered with a piece of cloth. I poured water on the milk container till its lower part was cold. Then I took the milk to the Prophet (ﷺ) whom I found awake. I said to him, 'Drink, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).' So he drank till I became pleased. Then I said, 'It is time for us to move, O Allah's Apostle!' He said, 'Yes.' So we set out while the people (i.e. Quraish pagans) were searching for us, but none found us except Suraqah bin Malik bin Ju`shum who was riding his horse. I said, 'These are our pursuers who have found us. O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)!' He said, 'Do not grieve, for Allah is with us."

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَجَاءٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ، قَالَ اشْتَرَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ مِنْ عَازِبٍ رَحْلاً بِثَلاَثَةَ عَشَرَ دِرْهَمًا فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لِعَازِبٍ مُرِ الْبَرَاءَ فَلْيَحْمِلْ إِلَىَّ رَحْلِي‏.‏ فَقَالَ عَازِبٌ لاَ حَتَّى تُحَدِّثَنَا كَيْفَ صَنَعْتَ أَنْتَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ خَرَجْتُمَا مِنْ مَكَّةَ وَالْمُشْرِكُونَ يَطْلُبُونَكُمْ قَالَ ارْتَحَلْنَا مِنْ مَكَّةَ، فَأَحْيَيْنَا أَوْ سَرَيْنَا لَيْلَتَنَا وَيَوْمَنَا حَتَّى أَظْهَرْنَا وَقَامَ قَائِمُ الظَّهِيرَةِ، فَرَمَيْتُ بِبَصَرِي هَلْ أَرَى مِنْ ظِلٍّ فَآوِيَ إِلَيْهِ، فَإِذَا صَخْرَةٌ أَتَيْتُهَا فَنَظَرْتُ بَقِيَّةَ ظِلٍّ لَهَا فَسَوَّيْتُهُ، ثُمَّ فَرَشْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِيهِ، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُ اضْطَجِعْ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ‏.‏ فَاضْطَجَعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْتُ أَنْظُرُ مَا حَوْلِي، هَلْ أَرَى مِنَ الطَّلَبِ أَحَدًا فَإِذَا أَنَا بِرَاعِي غَنَمٍ يَسُوقُ غَنَمَهُ إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ يُرِيدُ مِنْهَا الَّذِي أَرَدْنَا، فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لِمَنْ أَنْتَ يَا غُلاَمُ قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ سَمَّاهُ فَعَرَفْتُهُ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ هَلْ فِي غَنَمِكَ مِنْ لَبَنٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَهَلْ أَنْتَ حَالِبٌ لَبَنًا قَالَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ فَأَمَرْتُهُ فَاعْتَقَلَ شَاةً مِنْ غَنَمِهِ، ثُمَّ أَمَرْتُهُ أَنْ يَنْفُضَ ضَرْعَهَا مِنَ الْغُبَارِ، ثُمَّ أَمَرْتُهُ أَنْ يَنْفُضَ كَفَّيْهِ، فَقَالَ هَكَذَا ضَرَبَ إِحْدَى كَفَّيْهِ بِالأُخْرَى فَحَلَبَ لِي كُثْبَةً مِنْ لَبَنٍ، وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِدَاوَةً عَلَى فَمِهَا خِرْقَةٌ، فَصَبَبْتُ عَلَى اللَّبَنِ حَتَّى بَرَدَ أَسْفَلُهُ، فَانْطَلَقْتُ بِهِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَوَافَقْتُهُ قَدِ اسْتَيْقَظَ، فَقُلْتُ اشْرَبْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏.‏ فَشَرِبَ حَتَّى رَضِيتُ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ قَدْ آنَ الرَّحِيلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏ بَلَى ‏ ‏.‏ فَارْتَحَلْنَا وَالْقَوْمُ يَطْلُبُونَا، فَلَمْ يُدْرِكْنَا أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ غَيْرُ سُرَاقَةَ بْنِ مَالِكِ بْنِ جُعْشُمٍ عَلَى فَرَسٍ لَهُ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ هَذَا الطَّلَبُ قَدْ لَحِقَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏ لاَ تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ‏ ‏.‏

Chapter 5

Chapter: "If I were to take Khalil ..."

باب قَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً ‏ قَالَهُ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ

Narrated Abu Bakr:I said to the Prophet (ﷺ) while I was in the Cave. "If any of them should look under his feet, he would see us." He said, "O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two (persons) the third of whom is Allah?"

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا فِي الْغَارِ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ نَظَرَ تَحْتَ قَدَمَيْهِ لأَبْصَرَنَا‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏ مَا ظَنُّكَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ بِاثْنَيْنِ اللَّهُ ثَالِثُهُمَا ‏" ‏‏.‏