Ibn ʿAbbās said: “This was the first sign of prophethood that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw: he was told, ‘Cover yourself.’ From that day onward, his private parts were never seen.” Al-Ḥākim said: “Its chain of transmission is authentic!” Al-Dhahabī rebutted him, saying: “I say: al-Naḍr was declared weak.”
However, it is corroborated by the hadith of ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUthmān ibn Khuthaym, from Abū al-Ṭufayl, who mentioned the rebuilding of the Kaaba in the pre-Islamic period. He said: “Quraysh demolished it and began rebuilding it with stones from the valley, which they carried upon their necks. They raised it to a height of twenty cubits. While the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was carrying stones from Ajyād and wearing a striped cloak, the cloak became too tight for him. He went to place it upon his shoulder, and his private parts became visible because of the cloak’s small size. Then he was called out to: ‘O Muhammad, cover your private parts!’ In another narration: ‘Do not uncover your private parts.’ Thereafter, he was never seen naked.”
Aḥmad recorded it (5/455), and this is his wording. Al-Ḥākim also recorded it, as did the other wording, and he said: “Its chain of transmission is authentic.” Al-Dhahabī agreed with him. I say: It is as they both said.
This account has also been narrated in the hadith of Jābir, but it does not contain the command to cover himself. Al-Bukhārī recorded it (1/103), as did Muslim (1/184) and Aḥmad (3/310 and 333).
- “Do not strike him, for I have been forbidden from striking those who pray.”
Al-Bukhārī recorded it in al-Adab al-Mufrad (163), through Abū Ghālib, from Abū Umāmah, who said: “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, came with two young servants. He gave one of them to ʿAlī—may Allah’s blessings be upon him—and said: ‘Do not strike him, for I have been forbidden from striking those who pray. I have seen him praying ever since we arrived.’ He gave Abū Dharr a young servant and said: ‘Treat him kindly,’