Abū Mālik, father of al-Ḥasan ibn Abī Mālik

Related to us: Ibrāhīm ibn ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥasan; he said: related to us: Muḥammad ibn Shujāʿ; he said: I heard: al-Ḥasan ibn Mālik saying: related to us: my father, from Abū Ḥanīfa, from Jawwāb al-Taymī, from al-Ḥārith ibn Suwayd, who said: A man from Yemen, one of Muʿādh ibn Jabal’s companions, came and sat with ʿAbd Allāh’s companions. They mentioned faith, and the man said: “I am a believer.” ʿAbd Allāh’s companions objected to him and mentioned it. The man said: “I am a believer.” ʿAbd Allāh’s companions objected to him and mentioned it to ʿAbd Allāh. ʿAbd Allāh said to them: “Why did you not ask him whether he is one of the people of Paradise?” While they were in that situation, the man arrived. They said: “This is he, Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān.” Ibn Masʿūd asked him: “Do you assert that you are a believer?” He said: “Yes.” He said: “Then do you say you are one of the people of Paradise?” He said: “No, but I hope so.” The man began weeping. ʿAbd Allāh asked: “What makes you weep?” He said: “What I heard from Muʿādh makes me weep.” He asked: “Did you accompany Muʿādh ibn Jabal?” He then mentioned the report to its end.

The repeated clause is retained. The final abbreviated reference is not reconstructed.

Related to us: Ibrāhīm ibn ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥasan; he said: related to us: Muḥammad ibn Shujāʿ; he said: related to us: al-Ḥasan ibn Abī Mālik, from his father, who said: A dispute, discord and complaint arose between Abū Jaʿfar, the Commander of the Faithful, and his freeborn wife over his turning away from her. She demanded fair treatment between herself and his other wives and the mothers of his children. He asked her: “Whom will you accept as arbitrator between us?” She said: “Abū Ḥanīfa.” The Commander of the Faithful also accepted him. He summoned Abū Ḥanīfa, and the freeborn wife came and sat with a curtain between them. The Commander of the Faithful spoke: “Abū Ḥanīfa, my freeborn wife is disputing with me, so do me justice against her.” Abū Ḥanīfa said: “Let the Commander of the Faithful speak.” He said: “[Abū Ḥanīfa], tell me how many women a man may lawfully marry at the same time.” He said: “Four.” He asked: “How many slave women are lawful?” He said: “As many as he wishes; there is no fixed number.” He asked: “May anyone say otherwise?” He said: “No.” The Commander of the Faithful said: “Listen, woman.” She said: “I have heard.” Abū Ḥanīfa said: “Commander of the Faithful, God has permitted this only for those who act justly. Someone who does not act justly, or fears that he will not, ought [to] restrict himself to one. God Most High said: ‘If you fear that you will not act justly, then one’ [al-Nisāʾ 3]. We ought to adopt the conduct God, mighty and majestic, teaches and heed His admonitions.” The Commander of the Faithful fell silent for a long time. Abū Ḥanīfa—may God have mercy on him—rose and left. When he reached his home, the freeborn wife sent a servant after him, entrusting him with five money bags containing fifty thousand, robes of honour, a beautiful slave girl and a fine Egyptian donkey. She said: “Tell him: ‘My lady conveys her greetings and thanks you for what you did and for speaking the truth in that setting.’” The servant arrived with what she had sent. He placed the money bags and robes before Abū Ḥanīfa, stood the slave girl and donkey before him and delivered the wife’s message. Abū Ḥanīfa said: “Convey my greetings to her and tell her: ‘I only defended my religion and spoke in that setting for God. I did not seek to draw near to anyone or seek worldly gain. [And] return what you brought to her, and tell her: May God bless what you have.’” He did not extend his hand to any of it or look at any of it until it was carried away from before him.

The amount “fifty thousand” has no stated monetary unit in the Arabic; none is supplied. Umm walad is rendered “mother of his children” within the historical household account.