Returning home early at night (61)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

 

Returning home early at night

     61.)  Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said: “The best time for returning to one’s family after a journey is the beginning portion of the night.”

[Hazrat Jaabir (RA)  - Mishkaat / Sunan Abu Dawud]

Note : When a person returns in the early part of the night, his family will be able to receive him appropriately.

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Returning Home (60)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

When would Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) return to his family?

60.)                Hazrat Anas Ibn Maalik (RA) narrates that Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) would not return to his family at night upon arriving in Madina. Instead, he would return in the morning or evening.

[Sahih Bukhari / Mishkaat]

Note : Returning late at night, after a journey, is inconvenient to one’s family members and it should be avoided. The Hadeeth discourages late night returns.

Sayyidina Ka`b Ibn Maalik (RA) narrates that Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) used to return from journeys at forenoon, and he would immediately proceed to the Masjid and perform two rakaats of Salaah. Thereafter, he would meet the people.

 [Mishkaat / Sahih Bukhari]

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Walima whilst traveling (59)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

Arranging a Walima whilst on a journey

59.)   Sayyidina Anas Ibn Maalik (RA) narrates that Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) spent three nights in Khaybar, in reception of his new bride, Sayyidah Safiyyah Bint Huyayy (RA). Sayyidina Anas (RA) says: “I called the Muslims (who were traveling with Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)) to attend the Walima ceremony. A leather tablecloth was laid, and ghee (clarified butter), dates and butter were placed upon it. This was the walima feast.”

[Sahih Bukhari].

-      Some reports mention that Hazrat Anas (RA) announced to the Sahabah (RA)  to bring whatever food they had with them. In the process, dates, cheese, ghee, etc. were brought. These were placed on the tablecloth and everybody attended the walima.

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Contracting a marriage while traveling (58)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

Contracting a marriage and receiving the bride whilst on a journey

58.)  Qatadah (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) narrates that when Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was proceeding for ‘Umrah, he contracted a marriage to Sayyidah Maymoona (RA).

-     Whilst in the traveling state, Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) proposed to Ummul Mu`mineen, Sayyidah Maymoona (RA) and Hazrat Abbas (RA) was the wakil (representative). Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was in the sate of Ihraam and Hazrat Abbaas had already finalized the marriage. After completing 'Umrah, Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) received Sayyidah Maymoona (RA) at a place called Sarif.

-        Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) married Sayyidah Safiyyah Bint Huyay (RA) after the conquest of Khaybar. The Walima was also arranged during the course of the journey.

  [Hazrat Anas (RA) - Sahih Bukhari]

-        Note : Islam is a simple religion and looks down upon undue formalities. The above Ahaadeeth teach us that Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) contracted marriages whilst traveling. Mention of the Walima is of special significance as it speaks volumes about the simplicity of our religion.

          Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

        [The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Service to one's companions (56 / 57)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

The reward of serving one’s companions whilst traveling

56.)  Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said : “A man has to give charity for every joint in his body daily, thus, helping somebody to get on to his conveyance, or assisting him in loading his goods thereupon is regarded as charity. Speaking a kind word is charity, taking every step towards Salaah is charity, and giving directions to somebody is charity as well.”

[Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA)- Sahih Bukhari]

57.)  Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said : “The true leader of a group of travelers is one who relentlessly serves his companions. He who takes a leading role in serving his companions cannot be surpassed by any action of theirs save martyrdom.”

[Hazrat Sahl Ibn Sa`d (RA)– Mishkaat]

-         The reward is so tremendous that it would require martyrdom to outclass the person.

-         Being of service means to provide any type of ease and convenience to a fellow traveler.

-      Allamah Ayni (Rahmatullah ‘alayh) has written that if a person cannot engage in optional Salaah or fast due to being in the service of his companions, he will still receive a greater reward due to being of service to others.

-     A few Sahaba who were not fasting during one journey, assisted and served those who were exhausted due to fasting. Seeing this, Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) remarked : ‘Those who were not fasting surely achieved great rewards today.’ [Sahih Bukhari]

          Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

          [The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Qurbaani (55)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

Offering Qurbaani whilst on a journey

55.)  Hazrat Thaubaan (RA) narrates that Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) offered Qurbaani and then said to him : “O Thaubaan, treat this meat for us.” Thaubaan (RA)  says : ‘We continued eating the meat during our journey, until we reached Madina Tayyibah’

[Sunan Abu Dawud]

-      In those times, people used to dry the meat and spice it so that it could be used after a period of time, without going bad.

-       A traveler is not obligated to offer Qurbaani. If he does so, he would be fulfilling the Sunnah, which is meritorious.

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Fasting whilst traveling (54)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

Fasting whilst on journey

54.)  Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) fasted as well as abstained from fasting whilst traveling. Hence whoever wishes to fast while traveling may do so, and whosever wishes not to, may do that as well. (In both cases, he will be adhering to the Sunnah).

 [Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (RA) narrates that Sahih Bukhari]

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Nafl (Optional) Salaah when traveling (52 / 53)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

Special method of performing Nafl Salaah when traveling

  

52.) Sayyidina Aamir Ibn Rabi`ah (RA) narrates from his father : ‘I saw Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) performing Tahajjud upon his conveyance, facing the direction being traveled by the animal.’

[Sahih Bukhari]

53.) Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) would perform the night Salaah on his conveyance, whichever direction it was heading. He would perform it by indicating to the various postures. These were non-fardh prayers.

 

[Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA)  - Sahih Bukhari]

-  Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) also used to do the same.

- Note : Whilst traveling, a person may perform Nafl Salaah in or on his conveyance or other mode of transport. Indications of the head suffice for the postures of ruku and sajdah. The Salaah can be performed in the direction being traveled instead of facing the Qiblah. This exception is only applicable to optional Salaah.

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Qira`at when traveling (51)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

Shortening the Qira`at when traveling

51.)  Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) narrates that Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) recited Surah Kaafiroon and Surah Ikhlaas in the two rakaats of Fajr Salaah, whilst they were traveling.

Hazrat Utbah Ibn Aamir (RA) also narrates that Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) performed the Fajr Salaah once on journey, and recited Surah Falaq and An-Naas therein. Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) thereafter advised him to recite these two Surahs often, at different times of the day and night.

-      The above bears testimony to the fact that it is Sunnah to shorten the Qira`ah when traveling.

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]