Sahih Muslim Hadith 7518

English

[7518] (3012) (Jâbir continued) "'We traveled with the Messenger of Allah . until we halted in a spacious valley. The Messenger of Allah . went to relieve himself, and I followed him, bringing a bucket of water. The Messenger of Allah looked, but he did not see anything with which to conceal himself, then he saw two trees at the end of the valley. The Messenger of Allah went to one of them and took hold of one of its branches, and said: "Follow me, by Allah's Leave," and it came with him like a camel with a nose ring that follows its driver. Then he went to the second tree and took hold of one of its branches and said: "Follow me, by Allah's Leave," and it came with him in a similar manner. Then when he reached the middle of the space between them, he joined them together and said: "Come together and (conceal) me, by Allah's Leave," and they joined together.' "Jâbir said: 'I went away, lest the Messenger of Allah realize that I was nearby, and go even further away. I sat down, thinking to myself. Then I saw the Messenger of Allah coming, and the two trees had parted and each one was standing in its own place. I saw the Messenger of Allah stand still for a moment, then he did this with his head" – and Abü Ismâ'Il (a sub narrator) turned his head right and left – "then he came forward. When he reached me he said: "0 Jâbir, did you see where I was standing?" I said: "Yes, 0 Messenger of Allah." He said: "Go to the two trees and cut a branch from each one, and bring them here, then when you reach the place where I was standing, put one branch in your right hand and one in your left." "Jâbir said: 'I got up, picked up a stone and broke it and sharpened it, then I went to the two trees and cut a branch from each one. Then I came, dragging them, until I reached the place where the Messenger of Allah had stood. Then I held one branch in my right hand and one in my left. Then I caught up with him, and said: "I have done that, 0 Messenger of Allah; what was it for?" He said: "I passed by two graves (whose occupants) were being tormented, and I wanted to intercede so that the torment would be lessened for them so long as these branches remained fresh."