English translation
٣٣٥٨. Narrated Abū Hurairah رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: Ibrāhīm (Abraham) did not tell a lie except on three occasions. Twice for the sake of Allāh عز وجل when he said, "I am sick," and he said, "(I have not done this but) the big idol has done it."(1) The (third was) that while Ibrāhīm (Abraham) and Sārah (his wife) were going (on a journey), they passed by (the territory of) a tyrant from amongst the tyrants. Someone said to the tyrant, "This man [i.e., Ibrāhīm (Abraham)] is accompanied by a very charming lady." So, he sent for Ibrāhīm and asked him about Sārah saying "Who is this lady?" Ibrāhīm (Abraham) said, "She is my sister." Ibrāhīm (Abraham) went to Sārah and said, "O Sārah! There are no believers on the surface of the earth except you and I. This man asked me about you and I have told him that you are my sister, so don't contradict my statement." The tyrant then called Sārah and when she went to him, he tried to take hold of her with his hand, but (his hand got stiff and) he was confounded. He asked Sārah, "Pray to Allāh for me, and I shall not harm you." So Sārah asked Allāh to cure him and he got cured. He tried to take hold of her for the second time, but [his hand got as stiff as (or stiffer than) before and] was more confounded. He again requested Sārah, "Pray to Allāh for me, and I will not harm you." Sārah asked Allāh again and he became alright. He then called one of his guards (who had brought her) and said, "You have not brought me a human being but have brought me a devil." The tyrant then gave Hājar as a girl-servant to Sārah. Sārah came back [to Ibrāhīm (Abraham)] while he was offering Ṣalāt (prayer). Ibrāhīm (Abraham) gesturing with his hand, asked, "What has happened?" She replied, "Allāh has spoiled the evil plot of the infidel (or immoral person) and gave me Hājar for service." (Abū Hurairah then addressed his listeners saying, "That (Hājar) was your mother, O Banī Mā'-is-Samā' (i.e., the Arabs).(1)
