Muwatta Malik (Yahya)

Benefit:

In these blessed hadiths, the prayer referred to is the Zuhr prayer, and cooling the prayer does not mean delaying it until Asr or even later. Rather, it simply means that the intensity of the heat should subside. Thus, when the sun is directly overhead, its heat and intensity are at their peak. As soon as it begins to decline, its heat and burning sensation immediately start to decrease—just like when milk in a pot is boiling and about to overflow, it has become extremely hot, and when you turn off the stove, it immediately stops boiling because its heat begins to decrease. Although in that state it is not yet drinkable, it has started to cool down moment by moment.

In some narrations, after mentioning these two breaths, the following words are also reported: «فَهُوَ أَشَدُّ مَا تَجِدُونَ مِنَ الْحَرِوَاشَدُّ مَا تَجِدُونَ مِنَ الزَّمْهَرِيرِ» “So this (breath) is the most intense heat that you feel (in the summer), and that is the most intense cold that you feel (in the winter).” [بخاري: 537، مسلم: 617]

Regarding the nature of the two breaths, the preferred opinion is that Hell (Jahannam) emits one hot and one cold breath during the heat and cold, because in Hell there is both types of punishment: extremely hot and extremely cold. The second opinion is that Hell exhales during the summer and inhales during the winter. [والله اعلم]

It should be remembered that Allah Ta’ala sometimes combines various causes for the creation and manifestation of a single thing. Therefore, for the intensity of heat, the earth’s slight nearness to the sun and, on the other hand, the exhalation of Hell’s hot breath have been made causes—just as the earth’s distance from the sun and Hell’s cold breath are causes for the intensity of cold.

Hadith Commentary:
These are inner (esoteric) causes.
It is necessary for the believers to accept them exactly as the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has stated, without probing further. Those who wish to measure inner matters by the limited scale of their intellect gain nothing but loss and the ruin of their faith.
The deniers of hadith, due to their inner blindness, have especially targeted such ahadith for criticism. They fail to understand that such metaphors have themselves been used in many places in the Noble Qur’an, as in the statement:
﴿وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَكِنْ لَا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ﴾ (: Bani Isra’il: 44)
That is, every thing in the universe glorifies Allah with His praise, but you do not understand their glorification.
Or as in the verse:
﴿يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ امْتَلَأْتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِنْ مَزِيدٍ﴾ (: Qaf: 30)
in which the speech of the Fire of Hell is mentioned.
The deniers of hadith, who claim to believe only in the Qur’an, what criticism will they make regarding such Qur’anic metaphors?
It is thus established that the realm of Barzakh (the intermediate world), the realm of the Hereafter, the realm of Hell, the realm of Paradise—all the descriptions and the words in which they have been mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadith—should be accepted to the extent of their apparent meanings, and to refrain from further inquiry is the hallmark of the believers. These are the people who are firmly grounded in knowledge (rasikhun fi al-‘ilm), and these are the ones who are, in the sight of Allah, truly intelligent.
May Allah make us among them.
Amin.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
In the aforementioned hadiths, there is mention of the heat and cold of Hell.
From this, Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has established the chapter heading that Hell already exists.

➋
In the hadith, "fire" refers to Hell, and in it are both types of punishments: extremely hot and extremely cold. Besides these, there are other types of punishments as well.

➌
From this hadith, it is understood that there is perception and consciousness in Hell, which the deniers of hadith have made a target of criticism.
However, metaphors of this kind have themselves been mentioned by the Qur’an.
The statement of Allah, the Exalted, is:
"Everything in the universe glorifies Allah, but you do not understand their manner of glorification." ( Bani Isra’il 44:17)
Also, in the Qur’an it is stated: "On the Day of Resurrection, We will ask Hell, 'Are you filled?' and it will reply, 'Are there any more?'" ( Qaf: 30)
What answer will those who mock the hadiths give to these verses? ﴿قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ ۖ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ﴾

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues:
The actions that pertain to cleanliness, purification, and hygiene, and through which beauty, refinement, or dignity and honor are expressed, in general, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would begin them from the right side. In some instances, however, he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) began from the left side, such as when removing footwear, he would remove the left shoe first; when exiting the mosque, he would step out with the left foot first; and when entering the toilet, he would enter with the left foot first.

Commentary:
Benefits and Issues:

➊
All of Allah Ta'ala's creations possess awareness of their Creator.
Therefore, they worship Him and comply with His commands.

➋
Paradise (Jannah) and Hellfire (Jahannam) are also sentient creations. In the Noble Qur'an, the anger of Hellfire is mentioned. See: (Surah Al-Mulk: 67:8)

➌
The heat of Hellfire is so intense that it is unbearable even for Hell itself.
Therefore, it has been granted permission to release hot and cold air twice a year, thereby reducing this intensity to some extent.

➍
On the earth, the wave of severe heat during the summer season and the wave of severe cold during the days of winter is a well-known and perceptible reality.
There are some apparent causes for this, which scientists are aware of.
But there are also some inner and immaterial causes for this,
knowledge of which has only been attained through the information given by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

➎
Along with the apparent and scientific causes of events that occur in the world, there are also some spiritual and inner causes, which cannot be discerned from the apparent causes.
For example, giving charity (sadaqah) increases wealth;
in trade, lying and deception cause a lack of blessing in wealth;
the greeting of salam creates love, etc.—it is necessary to have faith in these.