Ka'b bin Malik said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'The likeness of the believer is that of a fresh, tender plant, which is bent by the wind; the wind bends it flat sometimes and pushes it upright sometimes, until his appointed time comes. And the likeness of the disbeliever is that of a stiff cedar, not shaken by anything, until it is uprooted in one go.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ بْنُ أَبِى زَائِدَةَ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَدَّثَنِى ابْنُ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ كَمَثَلِ الْخَامَةِ مِنَ الزَّرْعِ تُفِيئُهَا الرِّيحُ وَتَصْرَعُهَا مَرَّةً وَتَعْدِلُهَا أُخْرَى حَتَّى تَهِيجَ وَمَثَلُ الْكَافِرِ كَمَثَلِ الأَرْزَةِ الْمُجْذِيَةِ عَلَى أَصْلِهَا لاَ يُفِيئُهَا شَىْءٌ حَتَّى يَكُونَ انْجِعَافُهَا مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً ».

'Abdullah bin 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'Among the trees is one whose leaves do not fall, and it is like the Muslim. Tell me what it is.' The people started to name trees of the desert." 'Abdullah said: "It occurred to me that it was the date palm, but I felt too shy (to speak). Then they said: 'Tell us what it is, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'It is the date palm.' "I mentioned that to 'Umar and he said: 'If you had said, "it is the date palm," that would have been dearer to me than such and such."'

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ وَعَلِىُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِىُّ - وَاللَّفْظُ لِيَحْيَى - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ - يَعْنُونَ ابْنَ جَعْفَرٍ - أَخْبَرَنِى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دِينَارٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « إِنَّ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ شَجَرَةً لاَ يَسْقُطُ وَرَقُهَا وَإِنَّهَا مَثَلُ الْمُسْلِمِ فَحَدِّثُونِى مَا هِىَ ». فَوَقَعَ النَّاسُ فِى شَجَرِ الْبَوَادِى. قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَوَقَعَ فِى نَفْسِى أَنَّهَا النَّخْلَةُ فَاسْتَحْيَيْتُ ثُمَّ قَالُوا حَدِّثْنَا مَا هِىَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ « هِىَ النَّخْلَةُ ». قَالَ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِعُمَرَ قَالَ لأَنْ تَكُونَ قُلْتَ هِىَ النَّخْلَةُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ كَذَا وَكَذَا.

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said to his Companions one day: 'Tell me about a tree that is like the believer.' The people started to mention various desert trees." Ibn 'Umar said: "It occurred to me that it was the date palm, and I wanted to say it, but because the people were so much older than me, I felt shy to speak. When they fell silent, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'It is the date palm."'

حَدَّثَنِى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الْغُبَرِىُّ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ عَنْ أَبِى الْخَلِيلِ الضُّبَعِىِّ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَوْمًا لأَصْحَابِهِ « أَخْبِرُونِى عَنْ شَجَرَةٍ مَثَلُهَا مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ ». فَجَعَلَ الْقَوْمُ يَذْكُرُونَ شَجَرًا مِنْ شَجَرِ الْبَوَادِى. قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ وَأُلْقِىَ فِى نَفْسِى أَوْ رُوعِىَ أَنَّهَا النَّخْلَةُ فَجَعَلْتُ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَقُولَهَا فَإِذَا أَسْنَانُ الْقَوْمِ فَأَهَابُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ فَلَمَّا سَكَتُوا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « هِىَ النَّخْلَةُ ».

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "We were with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and he said: 'Tell me of a tree which is like a Muslim: Its leaves do not wither."' Ibrahim said: "Perhaps (Imam) Muslim said: 'It constantly bears fruit.' But I also found that someone else said: 'It does not constantly bear fruit."' Ibn 'Umar said: "It occurred to me that it was the date palm, but I saw Abu Bakr and 'Umar not saying anything so I did not want to say anything. Then 'Umar said: 'If you had said it, that would be dearer to me than such and such."' Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Sufyan, who reported the text from Imam Muslim.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ عَنْ نَافِعٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَالَ « أَخْبِرُونِى بِشَجَرَةٍ شِبْهِ أَوْ كَالرَّجُلِ الْمُسْلِمِ لاَ يَتَحَاتُّ وَرَقُهَا ». قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لَعَلَّ مُسْلِمًا قَالَ وَتُؤْتِى أُكُلَهَا. وَكَذَا وَجَدْتُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِى أَيْضًا وَلاَ تُؤْتِى أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍ. قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ فَوَقَعَ فِى نَفْسِى أَنَّهَا النَّخْلَةُ وَرَأَيْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ لاَ يَتَكَلَّمَانِ فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ أَوْ أَقُولَ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ لأَنْ تَكُونَ قُلْتَهَا أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ كَذَا وَكَذَا.

It was narrated that Jabir said: "I heard the Prophet (s.a.w) say: 'The Shaitan has despaired of being worshiped in the Arabian Peninsula, but he will sow seeds of discord among them."'

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَبِى سُفْيَانَ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَقُولُ « إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ قَدْ أَيِسَ أَنْ يَعْبُدَهُ الْمُصَلُّونَ فِى جَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِ وَلَكِنْ فِى التَّحْرِيشِ بَيْنَهُمْ ».

It was narrated that Jabir said: I heard the Prophet (s.a.w) say: "The throne of Iblis is upon the sea, and he sends out his troops to tempt the people, and the greatest of them in his view is the one who causes the greatest amount of Fitnah (tribulation or temptation)."

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَبِى سُفْيَانَ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَقُولُ « إِنَّ عَرْشَ إِبْلِيسَ عَلَى الْبَحْرِ فَيَبْعَثُ سَرَايَاهُ فَيَفْتِنُونَ النَّاسَ فَأَعْظَمُهُمْ عِنْدَهُ أَعْظَمُهُمْ فِتْنَةً ».

It was narrated that Jabir said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'Iblis places his throne over the water, then he sends out his troops, and the one who is closest in status to him is the one who causes the greatest amount of Fitnah (tribulation or temptation). One of them comes and says: 'I have done such and such,' and he says: 'You have not done anything.' Then one of them comes and says: 'I did not leave him until I separated him and his wife.' Then he draws him close to him and says: 'How good you are."' Al-A'mash said: "I think he (s.a.w) said: 'And he embraces him."'

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِى كُرَيْبٍ - قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ عَنْ أَبِى سُفْيَانَ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « إِنَّ إِبْلِيسَ يَضَعُ عَرْشَهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ سَرَايَاهُ فَأَدْنَاهُمْ مِنْهُ مَنْزِلَةً أَعْظَمُهُمْ فِتْنَةً يَجِىءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ فَعَلْتُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَيَقُولُ مَا صَنَعْتَ شَيْئًا قَالَ ثُمَّ يَجِىءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ مَا تَرَكْتُهُ حَتَّى فَرَّقْتُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ امْرَأَتِهِ - قَالَ - فَيُدْنِيهِ مِنْهُ وَيَقُولُ نِعْمَ أَنْتَ ». قَالَ الأَعْمَشُ أُرَاهُ قَالَ « فَيَلْتَزِمُهُ ».

It was narrated from Jabir that he heard the Prophet (s.a.w) say: "The Shaitan sends out his troops and they tempt the people, and the greatest of them in status with him is the one who causes the greatest amount of Fitnah (tribulation or temptation)."

حَدَّثَنِى سَلَمَةُ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْقِلٌ عَنْ أَبِى الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَقُولُ « يَبْعَثُ الشَّيْطَانُ سَرَايَاهُ فَيَفْتِنُونَ النَّاسَ فَأَعْظَمُهُمْ عِنْدَهُ مَنْزِلَةً أَعْظَمُهُمْ فِتْنَةً ».

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'There is no one among you but Allah has appointed a companion for him from among the jinn.' They said: 'Even you, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'Even me, but Allah helped me with him, and he became Muslim, so he only tells me to do good."'

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ أَبِى الْجَعْدِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ وَقَدْ وُكِّلَ بِهِ قَرِينُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ ». قَالُوا وَإِيَّاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ « وَإِيَّاىَ إِلاَّ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَانَنِى عَلَيْهِ فَأَسْلَمَ فَلاَ يَأْمُرُنِى إِلاَّ بِخَيْرٍ ».

It was narrated from 'Urwah that 'Aishah, the wife of the Prophet (s.a.w), told him that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) left her house one night. She said: "I felt jealous about him, then he came and saw what I was doing." He said: "What is the matter with you, O 'Aishah? Are you jealous?" I said: "Why wouldn't one such as me feel jealous about one such as you?" The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "Has your devil come to you?" I said: "O Messenger of Allah, is there a devil with me?" He said: "Yes." I said: "Is there a devil with every person?" He said: "Yes." I said: "Even with you, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Yes, but my Lord helped me with him until he became Muslim."

حَدَّثَنِى هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِىُّ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِى أَبُو صَخْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ قُسَيْطٍ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ عُرْوَةَ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِىِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- حَدَّثَتْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهَا لَيْلاً. قَالَتْ فَغِرْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَجَاءَ فَرَأَى مَا أَصْنَعُ فَقَالَ « مَا لَكِ يَا عَائِشَةُ أَغِرْتِ ». فَقُلْتُ وَمَا لِى لاَ يَغَارُ مِثْلِى عَلَى مِثْلِكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « أَقَدْ جَاءَكِ شَيْطَانُكِ ». قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَوَمَعِىَ شَيْطَانٌ قَالَ « نَعَمْ ». قُلْتُ وَمَعَ كُلِّ إِنْسَانٍ قَالَ « نَعَمْ ». قُلْتُ وَمَعَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ « نَعَمْ وَلَكِنْ رَبِّى أَعَانَنِى عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى أَسْلَمَ ».