Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) deputed me to keep Sadaqat (al-Fitr) of Ramadan. A
comer came and started taking handfuls of the foodstuff (of the
Sadaqa) (stealthily). I took hold of him and said, "By Allah, I will
take you to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ." He said, "I am needy and have many
dependents, and I am in great need." I released him, and in the
morning Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked me, "What did your prisoner do
yesterday?" I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! The person complained of being
needy and of having many dependents, so, I pitied him and let him go."
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Indeed, he told you a lie and he will be coming
again." I believed that he would show up again as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had
told me that he would return. So, I waited for him watchfully. When he
(showed up and) started stealing handfuls of foodstuff, I caught hold
of him again and said, "I will definitely take you to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).
He said, "Leave me, for I am very needy and have many dependents. I
promise I will not come back again." I pitied him and let him go.
In the morning Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked me, "What did your prisoner do."
I replied, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! He complained of his great need and of
too many dependents, so I took pity on him and set him free." Allah's
Apostle said, "Verily, he told you a lie and he will return." I waited
for him attentively for the third time, and when he (came and) started
stealing handfuls of the foodstuff, I caught hold of him and said, "I
will surely take you to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as it is the third time you
promise not to return, yet you break your promise and come." He said,
"(Forgive me and) I will teach you some words with which Allah will
benefit you." I asked, "What are they?" He replied, "Whenever you go
to bed, recite "Ayat-al-Kursi"-- 'Allahu la ilaha illa huwa-l-Haiy-ul
Qaiyum' till you finish the whole verse. (If you do so), Allah will
appoint a guard for you who will stay with you and no satan will come
near you till morning. " So, I released him. In the morning, Allah's
Apostle asked, "What did your prisoner do yesterday?" I replied, "He
claimed that he would teach me some words by which Allah will benefit
me, so I let him go." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked, "What are they?" I
replied, "He said to me, 'Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi
from the beginning to the end ---- Allahu la ilaha illa
huwa-lHaiy-ul-Qaiyum----.' He further said to me, '(If you do so),
Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no
satan will come near you till morning.' (Abu Huraira or another
sub-narrator) added that they (the companions) were very keen to do
good deeds. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He really spoke the truth, although he
is an absolute liar. Do you know whom you were talking to, these three
nights, O Abu Huraira?" Abu Huraira said, "No." He said, "It was
Satan."
وَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ الْهَيْثَمِ أَبُو عَمْرٍو حَدَّثَنَا عَوْفٌ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ وَكَّلَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِحِفْظِ زَكَاةِ رَمَضَانَ، فَأَتَانِي آتٍ فَجَعَلَ يَحْثُو مِنَ الطَّعَامِ، فَأَخَذْتُهُ، وَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لأَرْفَعَنَّكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَ إِنِّي مُحْتَاجٌ، وَعَلَىَّ عِيَالٌ، وَلِي حَاجَةٌ شَدِيدَةٌ. قَالَ فَخَلَّيْتُ عَنْهُ فَأَصْبَحْتُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ مَا فَعَلَ أَسِيرُكَ الْبَارِحَةَ ". قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ شَكَا حَاجَةً شَدِيدَةً وَعِيَالاً فَرَحِمْتُهُ، فَخَلَّيْتُ سَبِيلَهُ. قَالَ " أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ كَذَبَكَ وَسَيَعُودُ ". فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيَعُودُ لِقَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّهُ سَيَعُودُ. فَرَصَدْتُهُ فَجَاءَ يَحْثُو مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَأَخَذْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لأَرْفَعَنَّكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَ دَعْنِي فَإِنِّي مُحْتَاجٌ، وَعَلَىَّ عِيَالٌ لاَ أَعُودُ، فَرَحِمْتُهُ، فَخَلَّيْتُ سَبِيلَهُ فَأَصْبَحْتُ، فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، مَا فَعَلَ أَسِيرُكَ ". قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ شَكَا حَاجَةً شَدِيدَةً وَعِيَالاً، فَرَحِمْتُهُ فَخَلَّيْتُ سَبِيلَهُ. قَالَ " أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ كَذَبَكَ وَسَيَعُودُ ". فَرَصَدْتُهُ الثَّالِثَةَ فَجَاءَ يَحْثُو مِنَ الطَّعَامِ، فَأَخَذْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لأَرْفَعَنَّكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، وَهَذَا آخِرُ ثَلاَثِ مَرَّاتٍ أَنَّكَ تَزْعُمُ لاَ تَعُودُ ثُمَّ تَعُودُ. قَالَ دَعْنِي أُعَلِّمْكَ كَلِمَاتٍ يَنْفَعُكَ اللَّهُ بِهَا. قُلْتُ مَا هُوَ قَالَ إِذَا أَوَيْتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَاقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ {اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىُّ الْقَيُّومُ} حَتَّى تَخْتِمَ الآيَةَ، فَإِنَّكَ لَنْ يَزَالَ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَافِظٌ وَلاَ يَقْرَبَنَّكَ شَيْطَانٌ حَتَّى تُصْبِحَ. فَخَلَّيْتُ سَبِيلَهُ فَأَصْبَحْتُ، فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا فَعَلَ أَسِيرُكَ الْبَارِحَةَ ". قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يُعَلِّمُنِي كَلِمَاتٍ، يَنْفَعُنِي اللَّهُ بِهَا، فَخَلَّيْتُ سَبِيلَهُ. قَالَ " مَا هِيَ ". قُلْتُ قَالَ لِي إِذَا أَوَيْتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَاقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا حَتَّى تَخْتِمَ {اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىُّ الْقَيُّومُ} وَقَالَ لِي لَنْ يَزَالَ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَافِظٌ وَلاَ يَقْرَبَكَ شَيْطَانٌ حَتَّى تُصْبِحَ، وَكَانُوا أَحْرَصَ شَىْءٍ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَكَ وَهُوَ كَذُوبٌ، تَعْلَمُ مَنْ تُخَاطِبُ مُنْذُ ثَلاَثِ لَيَالٍ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ". قَالَ لاَ. قَالَ " ذَاكَ شَيْطَانٌ ".
Sahih al-Bukhari 2,223
Ubayy b. Ka'b said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Abu al-Mundhir, which verse of Allah's Book that you have is creates ? I replied: Allah and His Apostle know best. He said: Abu al-Mundhir, which verse of Allah's that you have is greatest ? I said: Allah, there is no god but He, the Living, the Eternal. Thereupon he struck me on the beast and said: May knowledge be pleasant for you, Abu al-Mundhir.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ إِيَاسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي السَّلِيلِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَبَاحٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ أَىُّ آيَةٍ مَعَكَ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ أَعْظَمُ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ . قَالَ " أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ أَىُّ آيَةٍ مَعَكَ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ أَعْظَمُ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ { اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىُّ الْقَيُّومُ } قَالَ فَضَرَبَ فِي صَدْرِي وَقَالَ " لِيَهْنِ لَكَ يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ الْعِلْمُ " .
Sunan Abi Dawud 1,461
Narrated Ibn al-Asqa':
The Prophet (ﷺ) came to them in the swelling place of immigrants and a man asked him: Which is the greatest verse of the Qur'an ? The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: Allah, there is no god but He - the Living, the Self-Subsisting Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep."
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ عَطَاءٍ، أَنَّ مَوْلًى، لاِبْنِ الأَسْقَعِ - رَجُلَ صِدْقٍ - أَخْبَرَهُ عَنِ ابْنِ الأَسْقَعِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَاءَهُمْ فِي صُفَّةِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ فَسَأَلَهُ إِنْسَانٌ أَىُّ آيَةٍ فِي الْقُرْآنِ أَعْظَمُ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " { اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىُّ الْقَيُّومُ لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ } " .
Sunan Abi Dawud 4,004
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) put me in charge of charity of Ramadan (Sadaqat-ul- Fitr). Somebody came to me and began to take away some food-stuff. I caught him and said, "I must take you to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." He said, "I am a needy man with a large family, and so I have a pressing need." I let him go. When I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) next morning, he asked me, "O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do last night?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah! He complained of a pressing need and a big family. I felt pity for him so I let him go." He (ﷺ) said, "He told you a lie and he will return." I was sure, according to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that he would return. I waited for him. He sneaked up again and began to steal food-stuff from the Sadaqah. I caught him and said; "I must take you to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." He said, "Let go of me, I am a needy man. I have to bear the expenses of a big family. I will not come back." So I took pity on him and let him go. I went at dawn to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who asked me, "O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do last night?" I replied, "O Messenger of Allah! He complained of a pressing want and the burden of a big family. I took pity on him and so I let him go." He (ﷺ) said, "He told you a lie and he will return." (That man) came again to steal the food-stuff. I arrested him and said, "I must take you to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and this is the last of three times. You promised that you would not come again but you did." He said, "Let go of me, I shall teach you some words with which Allah may benefit you." I asked, "What are those words?" He replied, "When you go to bed, recite Ayat-ul- Kursi (2:255) for there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah, and Satan will not be able to approach you till morning." So I let him go. Next morning the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked me, "What did your prisoner do last night." I answered, "He promised to teach me some words which he claimed will benefit me before Allah. So I let him go." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, "What are those words that he taught you?" I said, "He told me: 'When you go to bed, recite Ayat- ul-Kursi from the beginning to the end i.e.,.
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: وكلني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بحفظ زكاة رمضان، فأتاني آتٍ، فجعل يحثو من الطعام، فأخذته فقلت: لأرفعنك إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إني محتاج، وعلي عيال، وبي حاجة شديدة، فخليت عنه، فأصبحت، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم :" يا أبا هريرة، ما فعل أسيرك البارحة؟" قلت: يا رسول الله شكا حاجة وعيالا، فرحمته، فخليت سبيله. فقال: " أما إنه قد كذبك وسيعود" فعرفت أنه سيعود لقول رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فرصدته، فجاء يحثو من الطعام، فقلت: لأرفعنك إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: دعني فإني محتاج، وعلي عيال لا أعود، فرحمته فخليت سبيله، فأصبحت فقال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "يا أبا هريرة، ما فعل أسيرك البارحة؟" قلت: يا رسول الله شكا حاجة وعيالا فرحمته، فخليت سبيله، فقال: "إنه قد كذبك وسيعود" فرصدته الثالثة. فجاء يحثو من الطعام، فأخذته، فقلت: لأرفعنك إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وهذا آخر ثلاث أنك تزعم أنك لا تعود، ثم تعود! فقال: دعني فإني أعلمك كلمات ينفعك الله بها، قلت: ما هن؟ قال: إذا أويت إلى فراشك فاقرأ آية الكرسي، فإنه لن يزال عليك من الله حافظ، ولا يقربك شيطان حتى تصبح، فخليت سبيله فأصبحت، فقال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "ما فعل أسيرك البارحة؟ " قلت: يا رسول الله زعم أنه يعلمني كلمات ينفعني الله بها، فخليت سبيله. قال: "ما هي؟" قلت: قال لي: إذا أويت إلى فراشك فاقرأ آية الكرسي من أولها حتى تختم الآية: {الله لا إله إلا هو الحي القيوم} وقال لي: لا يزال عليك من الله حافظ، ولن يقربك شيطان حتى تصبح، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "أما إنه قد صدقك وهو كذوب، تعلم من تخاطب منذ ثلاث يا أبا هريرة " ؟ قلت: لا، قال: "ذاك شيطان" ((رواه البخاري)).
Riyad as-Salihin 341
