Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/176

 156 It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'The Apostle of God said, "God Most High said, 'There are three classes of people whose adversary I shall be on the day of resurrection: the man who makes a promise in my name, and afterwards breaks it; the man who sells a free man, and eats his price; and the man who engages a labourer, and receives full labour from him, but does not pay him his wages.'"'—Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Ibn ʿAbbás that, 'A party of the companions of the Prophet passed by some water, and amongst them (i.e. the people camping there) was one who had been bitten by some poisonous scorpion or snake. And a man from the people living near the water came to them and said, "Have you a charmer amongst you; for amongst those living near the water is a man who has been bitten by some poisonous scorpion or snake." Then a man of their number went and recited the opening chapter of the Book, on condition of receiving some goats in payment. Then the man recovered, and he (who had recited) brought the goats to his companions. But they were displeased thereat, and said, "Thou hast taken a reward for reciting the Book of God," until they came to Madína and said to the Apostle of God, "He took a reward for reciting the Book of God?" The Apostle of God replied, "Verily the most proper thing for which you can take a reward is the Book of God."'—Al Bukhárí. And in another tradition it runs, 'You have acted righty. Divide them; and allot me a share with you.'

It is related from Khárija binuʾṣ-Ṣalt, from his paternal uncle, that he said, 'We came from the Apostle of God to some Arabs. They said, "Verily we have been informed that God has brought blessings from this man (Muḥammad). Have you any medicine or charm, for verily we have here a madman in fetters." We replied, "Yes." Then they brought the madman in fetters, and I recited over him morning and evening for three days the opening chapter of the Book, collecting the spittle in my mouth, and then spitting it on him. Khárija said, "And it was as if a rope were unbound from an animal's leg!" Then they gave me payment. But I said, "No, not until I ask the Prophet." He replied, "Take it, for by my life! certainly whoever takes a reward for a false charm (has sinned), but thou hast taken it for a true one,"'—Aḥmad, Abú Dáud.