Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/32

12 hypocrite he will say, 'I heard men saying a certain thing, and I said the same; I do not know.' Then the angels will say, 'We knew that thou wouldst speak thus.' And it will be said to the earth, 'Close in upon him,' and it will close in upon him, and its sides will change about; and he will continue therein suffering punishment until God raises him up from his resting-place."'—At Tirmidhí.

It is related from ʿOthmán that, 'When the Prophet completed the interment of a corpse he stood over it and said, "Do ye ask forgiveness for your brother, and then pray for him that he continue firm, for verily he is now being questioned."'—Abú Dáud.

It is related from Abú Saʿíd that, 'The Apostle of God said, "There are certainly appointed over the infidel in his grave ninety-nine serpents to bite and sting him until the hour (of resurrection) comes. If one of such serpents should breathe upon the earth, no green thing would bud forth."—''Al Dárimi. At Tirmidhí'' relates the same, but substitutes 'seventy' for 'ninety-nine'.

It is related from Jábir that, 'The Apostle of God said, "Verily the best word is the Book of God, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muḥammad; and the worst thing is a new invention, and all innovation is a going astray."'—Muslim.

It is related from Ráfiʿ bin Khadíj that, 'The Prophet of God came to Madína when they were artificially pollenising the dates. Therefore he said, "What are you doing?" They replied, "We were wont to do this (before the coming of Islám)." He said, "Perhaps it would be better if you did not do it." So they abandoned it; but the crops grew less. Then they mentioned the matter to him. He replied, "I am only a man. When, therefore, I command you anything concerning your religion, then accept it; but when I command you anything as a matter of my own opinion then verily I am only a man."'—Muslim.

It is related from Abú Hurairah that he said, 'The people of the Book were reading the Taurát in Hebrew and explaining it in Arabic to the people of Islám, Then the Apostle of God