bringing two or three strands at a time, they would put them into water and stir it so that the water might carry the blessing. Yet this seeking of blessing was something confined solely to the Prophet, peace be upon him.

The second benefit of the date with which the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, would rub a newborn’s palate is that dates themselves are wholesome, blessed, and beneficial to the stomach. When the very first thing to reach a child’s stomach is a date, it is of great advantage to the digestive system.

Thus the Messenger, peace be upon him, rubbed the child’s palate and invoked blessing for him.

The point to be learned from this ḥadīth is that Umm Sulaym said to Abū Ṭalḥah, “Seek reward for your son,” meaning: be patient over what has befallen you in losing him and expect your recompense from Allah. Allah alone grants success.

45 – Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The strong man is not the one who can throw others in wrestling; rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he is angry.” (Agreed upon)

al-ṣurʿa, with a ḍamma on the ṣād and a fatḥa on the rāʾ, originally referred among the Arabs to a person who repeatedly overpowers others in wrestling.

46 – Sulaymān ibn Ṣurad, may Allah be pleased with him, said: I was sitting with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when two men began insulting one another, and one of them became so angry that his face turned red and the veins of his neck swelled. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “I know a word which, if he were to say it, what he feels would depart from him. If he would only say: I seek refuge in Allah from …”