Mukhtasar Muslim

Sayyiduna Ibrahim al-Taymi narrates from his father (Yazid bin Sharik al-Taymi) that he said: We were sitting with Sayyiduna Hudhayfah bin al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) when a man said: If I had been in the blessed time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I would have performed jihad with him and strived in fighting. Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Would you really have done so? (Meaning, your claim cannot be relied upon. Doing is one thing and saying is another. The efforts made by the Companions cannot be surpassed.) I see myself that we were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the night of the Battle of Ahzab, the wind was blowing very strongly and it was extremely cold. At that time, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Is there anyone who will go and bring news of the disbelievers? Allah Almighty will keep him with me on the Day of Resurrection. Hearing this, we remained silent and no one replied (no one had the courage to go to such a fearful place at night in such cold, even though the bravery and devotion of the Companions is well known). Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Is there anyone who will bring me news of the disbelievers? And Allah Almighty will grant him my companionship on the Day of Resurrection. No one replied, all remained silent. Finally, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: O Hudhayfah! Get up and bring news of the disbelievers. Now there was no choice because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had called me by name and ordered me to go. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Go and bring news of the disbelievers and do not provoke them against me. (Meaning, do not do anything that would make them angry with me and they might kill you or prepare for battle.) When I left the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it felt as if I was walking inside a bathhouse (meaning, the cold had completely vanished and it actually felt warm—this was the blessing of the Prophet’s supplication. Obedience to Allah and His Messenger at first seems difficult to the soul, but when one begins with readiness, instead of hardship, one finds pleasure and comfort.) Until I reached them and saw that Abu Sufyan was warming his back by the fire, so I placed an arrow on the bow and intended to shoot him. Then I remembered the command of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) not to do anything that would provoke them. If I had shot, I would surely have killed Abu Sufyan. Finally, I returned, and again it felt as if I was walking inside a bathhouse. When I came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and told him everything, only then did I feel the cold (this was a great miracle of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) covered me with one of his extra blankets, which he used to wear while praying. I wrapped myself in it and slept until morning. When morning came, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Get up, O you who sleep so much!