—nor may they be purchased; accordingly, the siwak vendor was duly cautioned.

Let me also note that there is a better term than al-masāwīk—the plural of sayyiʾ (“something bad”). Rather, say aʿwād al-arāk (arak twigs). Allah knows best.

1147 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The finest day upon which the sun has ever risen is Friday: on it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise, and on it he was expelled from it.” Recorded by Muslim.

Commentary

Al-Nawawī, may Allah have mercy on him, says in his book Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn, in the chapter on the virtue of Friday and what pertains to it, quoting Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The best day the sun has risen upon is Friday.” What is meant is that it is the best day of the week. We clarify this so it will not appear to conflict with the Prophet’s statement, “The best day the sun has risen upon is the Day of ʿArafah,” for the Day of ʿArafah is superior with respect to the entire year, while Friday is superior with respect to the week.

On Friday Adam was created. Adam is the father of humankind; Allah, exalted and majestic, fashioned him with His own Hand, creating him from dust and then saying to him, “Be!”—and he was. He was created on a Friday, and on that same day he was admitted into Paradise—the Garden of Abode to which human beings will return. Allah placed him there together with his wife and said, “Dwell, you and your wife, in the Garden; eat from it wherever you will, but do not approach this tree, lest you become wrongdoers.” He permitted them to eat from all the trees of Paradise as they wished and forbade them one specific tree as a test and a trial.