disapproved of it and held themselves aloof from it. When this reached him, he stood to address the people and said the words quoted above.

I say: The concession in which the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—availed himself was kissing while fasting, contrary to what some may be led to assume. The evidence is the following hadith:

“I am the most God-fearing of you and the most knowledgeable of you concerning the limits set by Allah.”

329 — “I am the most God-fearing of you and the most knowledgeable of you concerning the limits set by Allah.”

Imam Ahmad narrated it (5/434): Abd al-Razzaq narrated to us: Ibn Jurayj informed us: Zayd ibn Aslam informed me, from Ata ibn Yasar, from a man of the Ansar, who told Ata that he had kissed his wife during the time of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—while he was fasting. He told his wife to ask the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—about it, so she did. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “The Messenger of Allah does that.” When his wife informed him, he said: “The Prophet is granted concessions in certain matters. Go back to him and tell him.” So she returned to the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—and said: “He says that the Prophet is granted concessions in certain matters.” He then said the words quoted above.

I say: This is an authentic report with a continuous chain.

330 — “Whenever we came to the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—each of us would sit wherever he came to a stop.”

Zuhayr ibn Harb narrated it in al-Ilm (no. 100, edited by me); al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (1141); Abu Dawud (4825); al-Tirmidhi (2/121); and Ahmad (5/91, 98, 107–108), through Sharik, from Simak ibn Harb, from Jabir ibn Samurah, who said: He then mentioned it.

Al-Tirmidhi said: “This is a good, authentic, singular hadith. Zuhayr also narrated it from Simak.”