The Book of Virtues

The above hadith was likewise narrated with another chain of transmitters.

Hammam b. Munabbih reported:

Abu Huraira reported us some ahadith from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) amongst many, (and) one is this that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: A person lit fire and when the atmosphere was aglow, moths and insects began to fall into the fire, but I am there to hold them back, but they are plunging into it despite my efforts, and he further added: That is your example and mine. I am there to hold you back from fire and to save you from it, but you are plunging into it despite my efforts.

Jabir b. Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying. My example and your example is that of a person who lit the fire and insects and moths began to fall in it and he would be making efforts to take them out, and I am going to hold you back from fire, but you are slipping from my hand.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

The similitude of mine and that of the Messengers (before me) is that of a person who constructed a building and he built it fine and well and the people went round it saying: Never have we seen a building more imposing than this. but for one brick, and I am that brick (with which you give the finishing touch to the building).

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

The similitude of mine and that of the Messengers before me is that of a person who built a house quite imposing and beautiful and he made it complete but for one brick in one of its corners. People began to walk round it, and the building pleased them and they would say: But for this brick your building would have been perfect. Muhammad (ﷺ) said: And I am that final brick.

Abu Hurairh reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

The similitude of mine and that of the Messengers before me is that of a person who built a house quite imposing and beautiful, but for one brick in one of its corners. People would go round it, appreciating the building, but saying: Why has the brick not been fixed here? He said: I am that brick and I am the last of the Messengers.

Abu Sa'id reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

The similitude of mine and that of the Messengers; the rest of the hadith is the same.

Jabir reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

The similitude of mine and that of the Messengers is like that of a person who built a house and he completed it and made it perfect but for the space of a brick. People entered therein and they were surprised at it and said: Had there been a brick (it would have been complete in all respects). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: I am that place where the brick (completing the building is to be placed), and I have come to finalise the chain of Messengers.

This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording.

Abu Musa reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

When Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, intends to show mercy to an Umma from amongst His servants He calls back His Messenger to his eternal home and makes him a harbinger and recompense in the world to come; and when He intends to cause destruction to an Umma, He punishes it while its Messenger is alive and He destroys it as he (the Messenger) witnesses it and he cools his eyes by destruction as they had belied him and disobeyed his command.

Jundab reported:

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: I shall be there at the Cistern before you.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Jundab through another chain of transmitters.

Sahl (b. Sa'd) reported:

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: I shall go to the Cistern before you and he who comes would drink and he who drinks would never feel thirsty, and there would come to me people whom I would know and who would know me. Then there would be intervention between me and them. Abu Hazim said that Nu'man b. Abu 'Ayyash heard it and I narrated to them this hadith, and said: Is it this that you heard Sahl saying? He said: Yes, and I bear witness to the fact that I heard it from Abu Sa'id Khudri also, but he made this addition that he (the Prophet) would say: They are my followers, and it would be said to him: You do not know what they did after you and I will say to them: Woe to him who changes (his religion) after me.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri through another chain of transmitters.

`Abdullah b. `Amr al-`As, reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

My Cistern (is as wide and broad that it requires) a month's journey (to go round it) all, and its sides are equal and its water is whiter than silver, and its odour is more fragrant than the fragrance of musk, and its jugs (placed around it) are like stars in the sky; and he who would drink from it would never feel thirsty after that. Asma', daughter of Abu Bakr said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: I would be on the Cistern so that I would be seeing those who would be coming to me from you, but some people would be detained (before reaching me). I would say: My Lord, they are my followers and belong to my Ummah, and it would be said to me: Do you know what they did after you? By Allah, they did not do good after you, and they turned back upon their heels. He (the narrator) said: lbn Abu Mulaika used to say (in supplication): O Allah, I seek refuge with You that we should turn back upon our heels or put to any trial about our religion.

'A'isha reported:

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say in the company of his Companions: I would be on the Cistern waiting for those who would be coming to me from amongst you. By Allah, some persons would be prevented from coming to me, and I would say: My Lord, they are my followers and people of my Umma. And He would say,: You don't know what they did after you; they had been constantly turning back on their heels (from their religion).

Umm Salama, the wife of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), said I used to hear from people making a mention of the Cistern, but I did not hear about it from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). One day while a girl was combing me I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say:

" O people." I said to that girl: Keep away from me. She said: He (the Prophet) has addressed the men only and he has not invited the attention of the women. I said: I am amongst the people also (and have thus every right to listen to the things pertaining to religion). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: I shall be your harbinger on the Cistern; therefore, be cautious lest one of you should come (to me) and may be driven away like a stray camel. I would ask the reasons, and it would be said to me: You don't know what innovations they made after you. And I would then also say: Be away.

Umm Salama reported that she heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying this as he was sitting on the pulpit and she was getting her hair combed. (He uttered these words):

" O people." And she said to one who was combing: Leave my head; the rest of the hadith is the same.

Uqba b. 'Amir reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) one day went out and he offered prayer over the martyrs of Uhud just as prayer is offered over the dead. He then came back and sat on pulpit and said:

I shall be present there (at the Cistern) before you. I shall be your witness and, by Allah, I perceive as if I am seeing with my own eyes my Cistern at this very state and I have been given the keys of the treasures of the earth or the keys of the earth and, by Allah, I am not afraid concerning you that you would associate anything (with Allah after me), but I am afraid that you would be vying with one another (for the possession of) the treasures of the earth.

Uqba b. 'Amir reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered prayer over those who had fallen matyrs at Uhud. He then climbed the pulpit as if someone is saying good-bye to the living and the dead, and then said: I shall be there as your predecesor on the Cistern before you, and it is as wide as the distance between Aila and Juhfa (Aila is at the top of the gulf of 'Aqaba). I am not afraid that you would associate anything with Allah after me, but I am afraid that you may be (allured) by the world and (vie) with one another (in possessing material wealth) and begin killing one another, and you would be destroyed as were destroyed those who had gone before you. 'Uqba said that that was the last occasion that he saw Allah's Massenger on the pulpit.