(179) On the authority of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) arrived in Medina and found the Jews observing fast on the day of 'Ashura. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to them: What is the significance of this day that you observe fast? They said: It is the day of great significance when Allah delivered Moses and his people, and drowned the Pharaoh and his people, and Moses observed fast out of gratitude and so we observe it. Upon this, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to the Jews: "We have more right, and we have a closer connection with Moses than you have" so Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed fast (on the day of 'Ashura), and gave orders that it should be observed.

(Bukhari and Muslim)

Note: In Arabic they call the Prophet Moses (may peace be upon him) Moosa. The name Moosa (Moses) is a common name among Muslims, because Moses (may peace be upon him) is loved and very respected by Muslims.

Note 1: "Observing fast" means to follow the fast, which is abstinence from eating and drinking.

Note 2: "Pharaoh" is the king of Egypt. The word "Pharaoh" is a dynastic title for the kings of Egypt.

Note 3: If you are interested in more detailed information about the Prophet Moses, (may peace be upon him), please refer to the following passages in the Holy Koran: (XX, 9-98), (VII, 103-155), (XXVI, 10-69), and (XXVII, 3-48).

(180) On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "I am most akin to Jesus Christ among the whole of mankind, and all the Prophets are of different mothers, but belong to one religion. No Prophet was born between my time and Jesus".

(Bukhari and Muslim)

Note: In Arabic they call the Prophet Jesus (may peace be upon him) Eesa. The name Eesa (Jesus) is a common name among Muslims, because Jesus (may peace be upon him) is loved and very respected by Muslims.

Note: "I am the most akin to Jesus" means "I am the closest one to Jesus."

(181) On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The son of Mary (may peace be upon him) will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break crosses, kill swine and abolish Jizya (taxes). Wealth will pour froth to such an extent that no one will accept it or need it." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Note 1: "Will pour forth" menas will be abundant.

Note 2: This Hadith is predicting the Second Coming of Jesus.

Note 3: We the Muslims do not believe in the crucifixion of Jesus.

(182) On the authority of Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The Dajjat (Impostor) will appear in my Ummah (people) and he will stay (in the world) for forty (I cannot say whether he meant forty days, forty months or forty years). And Allah will then send Jesus, son of Mary, who will resemble 'Urwa bin Mas'ud. He (Jesus Christ) will chase him and kill him. People will then live for seven years peacefully, and there will be no hatred between any two people."

(Muslim)

Note: Urwa bin Mas'ud is one of the Prophets Companions.

Note: This Hadith is predicting the Second Coming of Jesus (may peace be upon him).

Note: If you are interested in more detailed information about the Prophet Jesus, (may peace be upon him), please refer to the following passages in the Holy Koran:

(XIX, 16-35), (III, 42-60), and (V, 110-119)

(183) On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Every one is born to his true nature. It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian (fire worshipper) quite as beasts produce their young with their limbs perfect. Do you see anything deficient in them?"

(Bukhari and Muslim)

Note 1: This Hadith also means that children usually follow the religion of their parents.

Note 2: Everyone is born to his true nature" means that everyone is born innocent, good, and kind-hearted. Also, everyone is born believing that there is only one God (Allah).

Note 3: To believe in only one God is to believe in Allah, as Muslims do. It is not the same as believing that God has a son, as Christians do; or believing, as the Jewish do, that they are the chosen people.

(184) On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "He who amongst the community of Jews or Christians hears about me, does not affirm his belief in what I have been sent and dies in this state (of disbelief), shall be but one of the inmates of Hell-Fire."