16 – Muhammad ibn Ismaʿil ibn Abi Sumaynah al-Basri related to me; Makki ibn Ibrahim narrated to us; Kathir ibn Zayd narrated to us, from ʿAmr ibn Tamim, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“By the One by Whom oaths are sworn! A month has loomed over you—no month has ever come upon the Muslims that is better for them than it, nor has any month ever visited the hypocrites that is more injurious to them than it. Allah surely records its supererogatory deeds and their reward before the month even begins. In it the believer musters strength for worship, whereas the hypocrite readies himself for heedlessness. Thus it is pure gain for the believer and a burden upon the hypocrite.” — or words to that effect.