English translation
1186. Maḥmūd added that he had heard 'Ibān bin Mālik رضي الله عنه who was present with Allāh's Messenger ﷺ in the battle of Badr saying, "I used to lead my people at Banī Sālim in the Ṣalāt (prayer) and there was a valley between me and those people. Whenever it rained it used to be difficult for me to cross it to go to their mosque. So I went to Allāh's Messenger ﷺ and said, 'I have weak eye-sight and the valley between me and my people floods during the rainy season and it becomes difficult for me to cross it; I wish you would come to my house and offer Ṣalāt at a place so that I could take that place as (a Musalla place for offering Ṣalāt).'Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said, 'I will do so.' So Allāh's Messenger ﷺ and Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه came to my house the (next) morning after the sun had risen high. Allāh's Messenger ﷺ asked my permission to let him in and I admitted him. He did not sit before saying, 'Where do you want us to offer the Ṣalāt (prayer) in your house?' I pointed to the place where I wanted him to offer Ṣalāt (prayer). So, Allāh's Messenger ﷺ stood up for the Ṣalāt (prayer) and started the Ṣalāt (prayer) with Takbīr and we aligned in rows behind him; and he offered two Rak'ā (prayer), and finished them with Taslīm, and we also performed Taslīm with him. I detained him for a meal called Khazīr which I had prepared for him. (Khazīr is a special type of dish prepared from barley flour and meat soup). When the neighbours got the news that Allāh's Messenger ﷺ was in my house, they gathered till there were a great number of men in the house. One of them said, 'What is wrong with Mālik, for I do not see him?' One of them replied, "He is a hypocrite and does not love Allāh and His Messenger." On that Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said, 'Don't say this. Haven't you seen that he said Lā ilāha illallāh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allāh) for Allāh's Sake only.' The man replied, 'Allāh and His Messenger know better; but by Allāh, we never saw him but helping and talking with the hypocrites.' Allāh's Messenger ﷺ replied, 'No doubt, whoever says Lā ilāha illallāh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allāh), seeking the pleasures of Allāh, then Allāh will save him from Hell-fire.' Mahmūd added, "I told the above narration to some people, one of whom was Abū Ayyūb, the Companion of Allāh's Messenger ﷺ in the battle in which he (Abū Ayyūb) died and Yazīd bin Mu'āwiyya was their leader in Roman Territory. Abū Ayyūb denounced the narration and said, 'I doubt that Allāh's Messenger ﷺ ever said what you have said.' I felt that too much, and I vowed to Allāh that if I remained alive in that holy battle, I would (go to Al-Madīna and) ask 'Itbān bin Mālik رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ if he was still living in the mosque of his people. So when he returned, I assumed Ihram for Hajj or Umra and then I proceeded on till I reached Al-Madīna. I went to Banī Sālim and 'Itbān bin Mālik رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ who was by then an old blind man was leading his people in the Ṣalāt (prayer). When he finished the Ṣalāt (prayer), I greeted him and introduced myself to him and then asked him about that narration. He told that narration again in the same manner as he had narrated it the first time.” [See Ḥadīth No.425. Vol.I]