Hadith 5070

Commentary

1. 'Perhaps': This was in fact a prediction that 'you would live for a long time after my passing away'. And that was the case. Ruwayfa' died in the year 53 H. and he was the last of the Prophet's Companions who died in Africa. 2. 'One who knots the beard': 'Knotting' means knotting the hair of the beard into a tangle so that it appears small. This is an unnecessary and unrealistic contrivance. It is, therefore, forbidden. Or it means denotes tying the knots out of arrogance and pride, as proud and overweening people used to tie knots in battles. Or they probably tied knots so that they might not face any hindrance while fighting. So to speak, tying the knots was synonymous with fighting a battle. And Allāh knows best. Some have understood it to mean that one should not fiddle with one's beard while performing the ritual prayer. Or one should not tie knots in one's beard before commencing the prayer with a view to protecting it from dust, as Allāh's Messenger ﷺ has forbidden one's tying the hair of the head and collecting one's clothes during prayer. In other words, one should not merely continue to worry about saving one's body, etc., from dust. One should rather pay heed to praying the Salāh. 3. 'Hangs an amulet': It is 'wearing a bow string as a necklace. Watar signifies the hip sinew or the vein of the sacrificial animal. It happens to be extremely strong. The bow is stringed with it, so that it could discharge the arrow afar [1] To make braids or to make it curly. due to its flexibility. During the period of Jahiliyyah, people would get this vein-string sufflated or blown upon by a soothsayer and then wear it round the neck, so that they could guard themselves against evil eye. Since the soothsayers used to recite polytheistic phrases, it was forbidden. Or a bell, etc., used to be strung round the necks of animals. It was forbidden because it was a means to caution the enemy. Or it was forbidden to tie the necks of animals with the string, because it used to be very hard and sharp. There was likelihood of the animal getting suffocated or his neck being slit, and they say it was all done for protection; hence, it involves Shirk! 4. Cleansing (Istinja) after defilement by various types of bodily discharge with the dung or bone of animals. Such things do not cleanse. It was, therefore, forbidden to use it as a means of cleansing. Moreover, it is the food of Jinn. Dung is nevertheless like filth. 5. 'Has nothing to do with': This is a rebuke and reprimand, because these are evil deeds, and some of them can be considered Shirk.