a story to tell.” Bilal then gave the call to prayer, and they performed the two units of prayer before Fajr, followed by the Fajr prayer. Then he mounted, and we mounted. Some of them said to one another, “We have missed our prayer.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, then repeated the statement cited above. We said, “O Messenger of Allah, we have missed our prayer.” He replied, “There is no negligence in sleep; negligence is only while awake. If this happens, then perform it, and offer tomorrow’s prayer at its proper time.”

He then said, “What do you suppose has become of the people?” They replied, “Yesterday you said, ‘If you do not reach water tomorrow, you will become thirsty,’ and the people are at the water.” At daybreak, the people found that their Prophet was no longer with them. Some said to one another, “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is at the water.” Abu Bakr and Umar were among the people, and they said, “People, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would not go ahead of you to the water and leave you behind. If the people obey Abu Bakr and Umar, they will be rightly guided.” They said this three times.

When the midday heat became intense, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came into view. They said, “O Messenger of Allah, we are perishing from thirst; our necks are nearly broken.” He said, “You will not perish.” Then he said, “Abu Qatadah, bring the water-container.” I brought it to him. He said, “Unfasten my cup for me,” referring to his cup. So I unfastened it and brought it to him. He began pouring into it and giving the people to drink. The people crowded around him, so the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “People, take your fill in an orderly manner, for every one of you will leave fully quenched.”

The people drank until no one remained except me and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He poured some out for me and said, “Drink, Abu Qatadah.” I said, “You drink, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “The one who serves the people drinks last.” So I drank, and he drank after me. About as much water remained in the water-container as had been in it before. There were three hundred of them that day.”

I say: This is an authentic chain of transmission according to Muslim’s criteria. Muslim also recorded it in his Sahih, though without the portion relevant to the point at issue; this wording is found in Ahmad’s narration.

2226 — “The sun was never held back for any human being except Joshua son of Nun, during the nights of his march toward Jerusalem.”

Ahmad recorded it (2/325), as did al-Khatib (9/99), and Ibn ‘Asakir (7/157/2) through him, by way of Abu Bakr ibn ‘Ayyash, from Hisham, from Ibn Sirin, from Abu Hurayrah, as a report attributed to the Prophet.