Surah Sad

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he said: "A long period of time passed over us in which we did not know the true meaning and intent of this verse: 'They glorified (Allah) in the evening and after sunrise' [Surah Sad: 18], until we saw people performing the forenoon prayer (Salat al-Duha) (then its meaning became clear to us)."
Ahmad bin Mani' said: Abu Ahmad al-Zubayri informed us through Hanzalah bin Abd al-Hamid; he (transmitted it) from al-Dahhak bin Qays, and he from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) concerning the explanation of this saying of Allah Almighty: "gently, wherever he directed" [Surah Sad: 36], that he said: "The word 'al-rukha'' refers to a wind that is completely submissive and obedient. As for the divine words 'haythu asab,' their meaning is: wherever he (Sayyiduna Sulayman, peace be upon him) intended and wished."
Abu Ya'la narrated this report in his Musnad. In its chain, Muhammad bin al-Sa'ib al-Kalbi is weak, but such reports are used in chapters of exegesis.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he said: "Indeed, the Commander of the Believers, Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), performed the prostration of recitation (at the place of prostration) while reciting Surah 'Sad' [Surah Sad: 1]."
The chain of this hadith is sahih, and Musaddad bin Musarhad narrated it in his Musnad.

It is narrated from Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) concerning this noble saying of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: "And the chiefs among them went forth, (saying): Continue, and be patient over (the worship of) your gods" [Surah Sad: 6], that he said: "It refers to Uqbah bin Abi Mu'ayt."
[Takhrij: This report is sahih; Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated it in al-Musannaf (3697).]

It is narrated from Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) concerning this noble saying of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: "We have not heard of this in the latest religion" [Surah Sad: 7], that he said in explaining it: "(It refers to) Christianity."
[Takhrij: Its chain is sahih, and Ibn Jarir al-Tabari narrated it in his Tafsir.]

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him), the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), that he said: I came into the noble presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) after the Fajr prayer, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, last night my Lord came to me in the most beautiful form." Then the narrator mentioned the complete long hadith, and at its end he added these words, that (he, peace and blessings be upon him, made this supplication): "Allahumma inni as'aluka hubbak, wa hubba man yuhibbuk, wa hubban yuballighuni hubbak" (O Allah, I ask You for Your love, and for the love of whoever loves You, and for a love (or deed) that will bring me to Your love).
Ahmad bin Mani' narrated this hadith. Its basis is found in Jami' al-Tirmidhi [Hadith: 3235], and al-Tirmidhi declared it hasan sahih; moreover, the words of this supplication are also established by other sahih corroborating reports.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The manifestation of my Lord came to me in the most beautiful form, and Allah Almighty said: O Muhammad! I said: O my Lord! Here I am, ever ready to obey You. Allah Almighty asked: Do you know what the Highest Assembly (the angels brought near) are disputing about? I said: I do not know. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then Allah Almighty placed His Hand upon my chest, and I felt its coolness between my shoulders, or he said: He placed His Hand between my shoulders, and I felt its coolness in my chest. Then Allah Almighty said again: O Muhammad! I said: O my Lord! Here I am, present and ready. Allah Almighty asked again: Do you know what the Highest Assembly are disputing about? I said: They are disputing about the raising of ranks and the deeds that wipe out sins (expiations). As for the ranks, they are: performing ablution thoroughly and well even in disliked and difficult conditions, walking on foot to the congregational prayer, and waiting for the next prayer after a prayer. And the expiations (deeds that become an expiation for sins) are: feeding people, spreading the greeting of peace, and praying at night when people are asleep. So whoever does these deeds will live in goodness and will be as pure of his sins as on the day his mother gave birth to him. And Allah Almighty said to me: O Muhammad! Say: 'Allahumma inni as'aluka amal al-hasanat, wa tark al-sayyi'at, wa hubb al-masakin, wa idha aradta bi-qawmin fitnatan wa ana baynahum fa-tawaffani ilayka ghayra maftun' (O Allah, I ask You for the doing of good deeds, the leaving of evil deeds and the love of the poor; and when You intend to put a people to trial while I am among them, then take me to You without being put to trial)."
Abu Ya'la narrated this hadith in his Musnad, and there are corroborating reports for it in other books of hadith that strengthen its text.