Sarbal of qiṭrān: a garment of molten copper with which the body is smeared until it clings like a shirt.

Dirʿ: a coat woven from iron, worn in battle.

Jarab: scabies—a contagious skin disease.

Overall meaning of the ḥadith: The Prophet ﷺ informs us that certain sins practiced before his mission will persist within this Ummah. They are four: 1) exalting oneself because of one’s forefathers, even though true honor is found only in piety; 2) belittling and finding fault with other people’s lineage; 3) attributing rainfall to the rising of stars and constellations; and 4) raising the voice in lamentation over the dead. He then warns that whoever persists in the last of these without repenting will come on the Day of Resurrection with his body smeared in molten copper so that it becomes like a garment—the Fire will ignite it, it will adhere to his flesh, and its stench will be repulsive.

Relevance of the ḥadith to this chapter: It provides clear evidence for the prohibition of seeking rain through the stars, identifying it as a practice of the Age of Ignorance.

Points derived from the ḥadith:
1- The prohibition of attributing rainfall to the stars; it is a remnant of the Age of Ignorance.
2- Not every person will abandon all the customs of that Age.
3- Every practice inherited from the Age of Ignorance is blameworthy in Islam.
4- Imitating the people of the Age of Ignorance is forbidden.
5- Boasting of one’s forefathers is prohibited and originates from that Age.
6- It is forbidden to disparage or belittle others’ lineage.
7- Wailing over the dead is prohibited; the ḥadith clarifies its punishment and counts it among the major sins.