Imam Abu ‘Ali al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Qadi informed us; al-Sayyid Abu al-Hasan Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Dawud al-‘Alawi informed us; Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Dallawayh al-Daqqaq informed us; Muhammad ibn Isma‘il al-Bukhari informed us; Isma‘il ibn Abi Uways informed us; my brother informed me, from Sulayman ibn Bilal, from ‘Ubayd Allah ibn ‘Umar, from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Ansari, that ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar came to them and said:

“The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, supplicated in a mosque and asked Allah for three things. He granted him two and withheld one. He asked Him not to set over his nation an enemy from outside themselves who would overcome them, and He granted him that. He asked Him not to destroy them through years of famine, and He granted him that ⦗119/b⦘. And he asked Him not to make some of them turn their violence against others, but He withheld that from him.” (1)

The words of Allah, glorified and exalted is He: “See how We set forth the signs in various ways, so that they may understand.”

“And your people have denied it, although it is the truth. Say: ‘I am not appointed as a guardian over you.’ For every report is an appointed time of fulfilment, and you will come to know. Whenever you see those who engage in discourse concerning Our signs, turn away from them until they engage in some other conversation. And if Satan causes you to forget, then, once you remember, do not remain with the wrongdoing people.” (66–68)