Mukhtasar Muslim

‘Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I participated in jihad with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He met me on the way, and my mount was a water-carrying camel that had become exhausted and could not walk at all. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked, “What happened to your camel?” I replied, “It is sick.” Upon hearing this, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) moved back, scolded the camel, and prayed for it. After that, it always walked ahead of all the other camels. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked, “How is your camel now?” I said, “It is well by the blessing of your supplication.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Will you sell it to me?” I felt shy, and we had no other camel to bring water, but finally I said, “Yes, I will sell it.” Then I sold the camel to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the condition that I would ride it until we reached Madinah. Then I said, “O Messenger of Allah! I have recently gotten married, so please allow me (to go to Madinah before the people).” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) granted me permission. I went ahead of the people and reached Madinah. There I met my uncle, who asked about the camel, so I told him the whole story. He reproached me (saying that you had only one camel and many family members, yet you sold it, and he did not know that Allah intended benefit for Sayyiduna Jabir). Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for permission, he asked, “Did you marry a virgin or a previously married woman?” I said, “A previously married woman.” He said, “Why did you not marry a virgin, so that she would play with you and you with her?” I said, “O Messenger of Allah! My father passed away or was martyred, leaving behind several young sisters, so I did not like to bring another young girl like them who would neither teach them manners nor discipline them. That is why I married a previously married woman, so that she would discipline them and teach them manners.” Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah, I brought the camel to him in the morning. He gave me its price and also returned the camel to me.