From the Musnad of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It will be said to the companion of the Qur'an (one deeply attached to the Noble Qur'an) when he enters Paradise: Keep reciting and keep ascending (the ranks). So he will keep reciting and rise one rank for every verse."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "In the blessed time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) we used to give him a share of the inheritance," meaning the grandfather.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Prompt your dying (that is, those in the throes of death) with 'La ilaha illallah' (There is none worthy of worship in truth except Allah)."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "As for the people of Hell who are its permanent inhabitants (because of their disbelief), they will neither die there nor have (a life of ease). But there will be some people, or as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, whom the Fire will seize as a penalty for their sins, or he said: their faults." Abu Nadrah (may Allah have mercy on him) indicated (with a gesture of his hand): "Then the Fire will (in a way) cause them to die, until when they have been burnt into charcoal, permission will be given for intercession on their behalf. So they will be brought group after group and spread on (the banks of) the rivers of Paradise. Then the people of Paradise will be told: Pour water over them. So they will sprout as quickly as a seed sprouts in the silt and debris carried by a flood." At this a man in the gathering said: It is as if the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was well acquainted with the scenes of desert life (and the sprouting of seeds). Isma'il (may Allah have mercy on him) explained that "al-hibbah" is the seed that falls from a tree and then, lying on the ground, sprouts; the Arabs call it by this name.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The mercy of Allah Almighty has a hundred parts. He has distributed one of these parts among all creatures, by virtue of which they treat one another with compassion; among them are human beings, wild animals and birds."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): "O boy! O little one! (or he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: O little one! O boy!) Memorise from me some words." The narrator then mentioned the complete hadith in al-Mu'jam.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Taking a bath (ghusl) on Friday is obligatory upon every Muslim, and so is using perfume if it is available to him."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon to us after the Asr prayer which lasted until sunset; whoever remembered it remembered it, and whoever forgot it forgot it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) praised Allah Almighty and extolled Him, and then said: "To proceed: Indeed, this world is sweet and green, and Allah Almighty is going to make you successors in it and see how you act. Beware! Guard yourselves against the trials of the world and guard yourselves against the trials of women. Take heed! For every betrayer there will be a banner in proportion to his betrayal, and there is no betrayal greater than the betrayal of a ruler of the people. Listen! The best of men is the one whose anger comes slowly and ends quickly, and the worst of men is the one whose anger comes quickly and ends slowly. So if someone's anger comes quickly and also cools down quickly, then the one trait offsets the other (and they are equal), and if someone's anger comes slowly and also ends slowly, then this too is equal. Listen! The best trader is the one who is good in repaying and also good in demanding his due, and the worst trader is the one who is bad in repaying and also harsh in demanding. So if someone is bad in repaying but good in demanding, this is equal, and if someone is good in repaying but bad in demanding, this too is equal. Take heed! Anger is a burning ember kindled inside the son of Adam. Have you not seen the red eyes of the angry person and the swollen veins of his neck? So whoever feels any such state, let him cling to the ground. And let not the awe and fear of people prevent any of you from speaking the truth when he knows it. Listen! The best jihad is to speak a word of truth before a tyrannical ruler." Then, when the sun was about to set, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Take heed! The period of the world that has passed, compared with what remains of it, is like the part of this day of yours that has passed compared with the time that remains."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best of the rows of men is the front row and the worst is the last row, while the best of the rows of women is the last row and the worst is the first row."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that in the blessed time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), a man had intercourse with his wife from behind, so people said (in objection): "So-and-so has had intercourse with his wife from behind." Thereupon Allah Almighty revealed this blessed verse: "Your wives are a tilth for you, so approach your tilth however you wish."

Abd al-Rahman bin Abi Sa'id (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates: I heard my father, Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), say: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "The example of one who plays nard (backgammon) and then stands up to pray is like the example of one who performs ablution with pus and the blood of a pig." (The narrator) said: (Meaning) his prayer is not accepted.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "In the last era, when generations have passed one after another and time is drawing to its close, there will be an imam (leader) who will be the most generous of people in giving. A man will come to him and he will pour wealth into his lap by handfuls. That man will be worried about who, between him and his family, will accept the charity of that wealth from him, because of the (great abundance of) good and goodness that people will then have."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The example of the believer and of faith is like a horse tied to its peg: it roams about the surroundings but eventually returns to its peg. Likewise, the believer (at times) falls into forgetfulness and error, but then he returns to faith. So feed your food to the pious and God-fearing, and make the believers the recipients of your kindness and good deeds."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Is any one of you unable to recite a third of the Qur'an in one night?" The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said: "Who could possibly have the strength for that?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Let him recite 'Say: He is Allah, the One,' for it is equal to a third of the Qur'an." Imam al-A'mash (may Allah have mercy on him) also narrated this report through Hilal bin Yasaf (may Allah have mercy on him) from Ibn Abi Layla, and Imam Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) transmitted it in mursal form.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood (for Tahajjud) at night, he would begin the prayer with the takbir, then recite: 'Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruka' (O Allah, You are glorified with Your praise, blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god besides You). Then he would say three times 'La ilaha illallah' (There is no god but Allah), and three times 'Allahu akbaru kabira' (Allah is the Greatest, greatly so). Then he would recite: 'A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim, min hamzihi wa nafthihi wa nafkhihi' (I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed, from his whispering (and madness), his blowing (that is, magic and vile poetry) and the pride (he instils)). After that he would begin the recitation.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever humbles himself one degree for the sake of Allah, Allah Almighty raises him one degree, until He grants him a place in 'Illiyyin; and whoever displays arrogance one degree against Allah, Allah Almighty lowers him one degree, until He brings him to the lowest of the low."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Some people will remember Allah Almighty in this world while lying on soft, comfortable beds, and Allah Almighty will admit them (by virtue of this remembrance) into the lofty, high ranks."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whichever Muslim feeds a Muslim who is hungry, Allah Almighty will feed him from the fruits of Paradise; whichever Muslim clothes his brother who is unclothed, Allah Almighty will clothe him with the green silk garments of Paradise; and whoever gives water to a thirsty Muslim, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, will give him to drink from al-Rahiq (the pure, sealed drink)."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When a man wakes up at night and offers two rak'ahs of prayer, he is recorded among 'the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember (Him)'."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Give those who frequently walk to the mosques in the darkness the glad tidings of complete light on the Day of Resurrection."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever sleeps without praying Witr, or forgets it, should pray Witr when he wakes up or when he remembers it."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A time will surely come upon the people when foolish and ignorant rulers will be over you. They will bring the worst of people close (to themselves) and show (oppression and hostility) towards your best and righteous people, and they will delay the prayers from their appointed times. So whoever among you lives to see that time, let him by no means become their overseer, policeman, tax collector or treasurer."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade two kinds of sale and two kinds of dress. The two sales are mulamasah (settling a sale merely by touching, without seeing) and munabadhah (concluding a sale by throwing a cloth to each other, without seeing). Of the two kinds of dress, one is ishtimal al-samma' (wrapping a single sheet around the whole body so that the hands cannot come out). He (peace and blessings be upon him) also forbade ihtiba' (sitting on one's buttocks with both legs drawn up against the stomach) in a single garment when there is nothing (no covering) between one's private parts and the sky.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Prompt your dying ones (those in the throes of death) with 'La ilaha illallah' (There is no god worthy of worship but Allah)."

Abu Harun (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates: We said to Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him): "Have you retained anything from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite after giving the salam?" He said: "Yes, he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite: 'Glorified is your Lord, the Lord of Might, above what they describe, and peace be upon the Messengers, and all praise is for Allah, the Lord of the worlds'."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Visit the sick and follow the funerals, (for) they remind you of the Hereafter."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in explaining the saying of Allah Almighty, "When the matter will be decided while they are in heedlessness," said: "That is, they were sunk in heedlessness in the life of this world."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade praying after the Asr prayer and after the Fajr prayer.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever does not thank people is not grateful to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, either."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) praying in a single garment, wrapping it around his blessed body."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade folding back the mouths of water-skins and drinking from them (directly).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The key to prayer is ablution, its tahrim (by which the prayer begins and other things become forbidden) is saying the takbir, and its tahlil (by which the prayer is completed and the forbidden things become permissible again) is giving the salam."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "We used to estimate the length of the standing of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Zuhr and Asr prayers. We estimated his standing in the first two rak'ahs of Zuhr to be the equivalent of thirty verses, each rak'ah being as long as the recitation of Surah Tanzil al-Sajdah. We estimated his standing in the first two rak'ahs of Asr to be equal to the last two rak'ahs of Zuhr, and we estimated his standing, that is, in the last two rak'ahs of Asr, to be half of that."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Taking a ritual bath (ghusl) on Friday is obligatory upon every adult (one who has reached puberty)."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A man from my household will surely rule over my Ummah, with a high-bridged nose and a broad forehead. He will fill the earth with justice and fairness just as it had been filled with oppression and tyranny, and he will remain in power for seven years."

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: We fell into severe poverty, so my family told me to go to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and ask him for something. So I went, and the very first thing I heard the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say was: "Whoever seeks to be self-sufficient, Allah makes him self-sufficient; whoever seeks to refrain from asking, Allah keeps him from it; and whoever asks us, if we have something, we will not hold anything back from him," or as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said. I said to myself: I will certainly be self-sufficient so that Allah makes me self-sufficient, and I will certainly refrain from asking so that Allah keeps me from it. So I did not ask the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for anything.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him); he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "The people of the high ranks will be seen by those below them just as you see the brilliant shining star on the horizon of the sky, and indeed Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) are among them, and how excellent they are!"

It is narrated from Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Ali (may Allah have mercy on him): I asked Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) about this noble saying of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: "Indeed, He who has made the Qur'an obligatory upon you will surely return you to a place of return," and he said: "What is meant by it (the place of return) is his (peace and blessings be upon him) Hereafter."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered fasting on the day of Ashura, while he (peace and blessings be upon him) himself did not fast it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade sawm al-wisal (fasting continuously without breaking the fast). Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) said (describing the situation in his household): "Here is my sister who keeps the wisal fast; I forbid her from it, but she refuses (to stop)."