The subtle point in fixing the limit at one month is that never was there, between him—peace and blessings be upon him—and any of his enemies, a distance of more than a month.

– “Mosque” (masjid): linguistically the word is on the pattern mafʿil with a kasrah; al-Siqillī said it is also pronounced masyid. It is a locative noun derived from the triliteral root and denotes the place of prostration, without being restricted to any particular spot. In the Sharīʿah every place on earth is a masjid.

– “Its soil” (turbatuhā), with a ḍamma on the tā’, refers to the natural earth; one would say, “a piece of land with good turbah (soil).”

– “Purifier” (ṭahūran), with the ṭā’ pronounced open: it is itself pure (ṭahūr) and purifies other things.

– “Then let him pray” (fal-yuṣalli): this is the predicate; the prefixed fā’ appears because the subject clause carries an implicit condition, and the lām indicates the imperative.

– “Spoils” (al-ghanāʾim): plural of ghanīmah, that which is taken from the unbelievers in battle through the deployment of mounts and arms.

• Points derived from the ḥadīth:
  This ḥadīth contains abundant benefits and important rulings; we shall mention only the most prominent:

1 – The superiority of our Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—over all other prophets. His distinctive merits are many; books have been authored on the subject, the most extensive of which is perhaps al-Suyūṭī’s al-Khaṣāʾiṣ al-Kubrā.

2 – It is legislated to enumerate Allah’s favors upon a servant as an act of gratitude and a remembrance of His blessings, for such enumeration counts as worship, thanksgiving to Allah, and acknowledgment of His bounty, grace, and generosity toward His servant.

3 – Allah—exalted be His might—granted victory to His Prophet Muḥammad by means of awe; the enemy would be struck with fear even if a month’s march lay between them. This is one of the greatest forms of assistance and triumph over the enemy, for it powerfully undermines the enemy’s strength until he collapses and is disgraced. The limit of one month was mentioned because, during his campaigns, the distance between him and his adversary was never more than that.

4 – Allah Most High favored His Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—by making the spoils of war lawful for him; these are the lawful material gains of battle and the worldly benefits of striving against the enemy, whereas the prophets before him