Book 19: Jihad

Ka'b b. Malik said that the Prophet (ﷺ) set out on a Thursday in the expedition to Tabuk and that he used to like to set out on a Thursday. Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If people knew what I know about the dangers of being alone, no rider would travel alone at night." Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The angels do not go along with a travelling company in which there is a dog or a bell." Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The bell is the devil’s pipes.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Bashir al-Ansari told that when he was with God's Messenger on one of his journeys God’s Messenger sent one to say, “No necklace of bowstring or anything else must be left on a camel’s neck, but must be cut off.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When you travel in fertile country give the camels their due from the ground, and when you travel in time of drought make them go quickly. When you encamp at night keep away from the roads, for they are where the beasts pass and are the resort of insects at night." A version has, “When you travel in time of drought hasten with them while they have their marrow." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said: While we were on a journey with God’s Messenger a man came on a riding beast and began to turn right and left,* whereupon God’s Messenger said, “He who has an extra mount should lend it to him who has none, and he who has extra provision should give it to him who has none.” He said that he mentioned various kinds of property till they began to think none of them had a right to anything extra. * The camel was evidently tired, and the man seems to have been looking around to see whether he could get any help. Another suggestion is that the man was walking with his goods loaded on the camel, but the wording hardly supports this. Cf. Mirqat, iv, 213 f. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Travel is a piece of punishment which deprives a man of his sleep, food and drink; so when he accomplishes his purpose where he has gone he should hasten to his family.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. Ja'far said: When God’s Messenger arrived after a journey he was met by the children of his household. Once when he arrived after a journey I was the first to meet him and he lifted me in front of him. Then one of Fatima’s two sons was brought along and he set him behind him, and we were brought into Medina, three on one beast. Muslim transmitted it.

Anas told that he and Abu Talha arrived with God’s Messenger who had Safiya riding behind him on his mount. Bukhari transmitted it.

He said that God’s Messenger did not come to his family during the night, but was accustomed to enter only in the morning or in the evening. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you has been away from home for a long time he must not come to his family during the night.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “When you arrive during the night do not go in to your family till the woman whose husband has been away cleans herself and the dishevelled woman combs herself.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He told that when the Prophet (ﷺ) came to Medina he slew a camel or a cow.* * There seems to be no certainty as to whether this refers to the arrival at the time of the Hijra, or whether the tradition means to indicate a general practice. It is said that the sunna requires one who returns from a journey to provide such entertainment as is within his means. If the use of "or” in the tradition does not indicate a doubt on the part of the transmitter as to which word is correct, but is a real alternative, this would justify the view that the tradition speaks of a practice of the Prophet. But the Arabic construction really suggests one occasion rather than any time the Prophet (ﷺ) came back to Medina. Bukhari transmitted it.

Ka'b b. Malik said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to arrive from a journey only in the daytime during the forenoon, and that when he arrived he went first to the mosque where he prayed two rak'as, after which he sat in it and gave audience to the people. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir said: I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) on a journey, and when we came to Medina he said to me, "Enter the mosque and pray two rak'as in it." Bukhari transmitted it.