(1) The hadith is in al-Bukhārī, 1/88–89 (Book of Prayer, chapter “Mosques in Homes”): Ibn Shihāb said: Mahmūd ibn al-Rabī al-Ansārī informed me that Itbān ibn Mālik—one of the Ansār Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, who witnessed Badr—came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: “O Messenger of Allah, my eyesight has deteriorated. I lead my people in prayer, but when the rains come, the valley between us floods and I am unable to reach their mosque to lead them in prayer. O Messenger of Allah, I wish that you would come and pray in my house so that I may designate that spot as a place of prayer.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, “I will do so, if Allah wills.” Itbān said: “The following morning, when the day was well advanced, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came with Abū Bakr. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, asked permission to enter, and I admitted him. He did not sit down upon entering the house, but asked, ‘Where in your house would you like me to pray?’ I pointed out a part of the house to him. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, stood and pronounced the takbīr (‘Allah is the Greatest’). We stood and formed a row, and he prayed two units, then concluded the prayer with the salutation. We kept him with us for a meat-and-flour stew that we had prepared for him. A considerable number of men from the neighborhood then gathered in the house. One of them asked, ‘Where is Mālik ibn al-Dukhayshin—or Ibn al-Dukhshun?’ Some replied, ‘He is a hypocrite who does not love Allah or His Messenger.’ The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘Do not say that. Do you not see that he has declared, “There is no deity except Allah,” intending thereby Allah’s Countenance?’ The man replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best. Yet we see his inclination and loyalty directed toward the hypocrites.’ The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘Allah has indeed forbidden the Fire from touching anyone who declares, “There is no deity except Allah,” seeking thereby His Countenance.’” The hadith occurs in two other places in al-Bukhārī: 7/73 (Book of Foods, chapter “Meat-and-Flour Stew”) and 9/18 (Book of Calling Apostates to Repentance, chapter “Reports Concerning Those Who Acted on an Interpretation”). It is also narrated from Itbān ibn Mālik—may Allah be pleased with him—in Muslim, 1/455–456 (Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer, chapter “The Concession Allowing One to Miss Congregational Prayer for a Valid Excuse”); al-Musnad (al-Halabī ed.), 5/449–450. See also the earlier discussion in this volume, p. 334. (2) S and B read: “in the two Sahih collections.” (3) B reads: khammāran (“a wine seller”), which is an error.