English Translation

It is narrated from al-Qasim ibn Mukhawwal al-Bahzi that he said: I heard my father — and he had witnessed the time of Jahiliyyah and Islam — say: I set up traps at al-Abwa', and a gazelle fell into my rope and escaped with it. I went out in pursuit of it and found a man who had taken it. We disputed over it to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and we found him encamped at al-Abwa' under a tree, seeking shade with a mat. We brought our dispute to him, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) judged between us in two halves. I said: O Messenger of Allah, we come across camels with milk-giving she-camels that are tied up, and they (the owners) are in need. He said: «Call the owner of the camels three times. If he comes, then well and good; otherwise, untie their tying, then drink, then tie them again and leave the causes for the milk.» I said: O Messenger of Allah, if stray animals come to us, is there reward for us if we give them water? He said: «Yes, in every moist liver there is reward.» Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) began to narrate to us. He said: «There will come upon people a time when the best wealth in it will be sheep between the two mosques, eating from the trees and drinking water. Its owner will eat from its meat, drink from its milk, and wear from its wool» — or he said: «from its hair. And tribulations will be striking among the tribes of the Arabs, by Allah.» I said: O Messenger of Allah, advise me. He said: «Establish the prayer, give the charity, fast Ramadan, perform Hajj to the House, perform 'Umrah, be dutiful to your parents, maintain family ties, honor the guest, enjoin good and forbid evil, and move with the truth wherever it moves.»