English Translation

Abu Jamrah narrated: Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to seat me on his bed. He said: When the delegation of Abd al-Qays came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), he asked: "Who are these people?" or "Who is this delegation?" They said: We are from Rabi'ah. He said: "Welcome to the delegation" — or "the people" — "neither disgraced nor regretful." They said: O Messenger of Allah, we cannot come to you except during the sacred month, for between us and you is this tribe of the disbelievers of Mudar. So command us with a decisive matter that we may convey to those behind us and by which we may enter Paradise. They also asked him about drinks. He commanded them with four things and forbade them from four things: He commanded them to have faith in Allah alone. He said: "Do you know what faith in Allah alone means?" They said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: "To testify that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish the prayer, to pay the zakat, to fast Ramadan, and to give one-fifth of the war spoils." He forbade them from using al-hantam (green-glazed jars), al-dubba' (gourds), al-naqir (hollowed tree trunks) — and perhaps he said: al-muqayyar (pitch-coated vessels) and al-muzaffat (tar-coated vessels). He said: "Memorize these and convey them to those behind you."