The only book left by the prophet

When the companions of the prophet were asked if they had received any book from the prophet, their response was that the prophet left only the Quran and what was written on a piece of paper. For a detailed look at what this paper stated according to the Hadith, see the following article.

Here is a correct translation of what was written on this supposed paper:

"We do not have with us anything from the prophet except the book of God, and this writing: The Sacred City, what is between ‘Aer and such and such, whoever he narrates therein a Hadith (innovation) or sheltered a propagator of Hadith (innovator), then upon him is the curse of God, the angels, and all the people. Not He will accept from him an excuse and not a ransom. [And he said] The responsibility of the Muslim (Submitter) is one. Then whoever he violated (his responsibility with) a Muslim (Submitter), then upon him is the curse of God, the angels, and all the people. Not He will accept from him an excuse and not a ransom. And whoever he turned away a people without the permission of his master, then upon him is the curse of God, the angels, and all the people. Not He will accept from him an excuse and not a ransom."

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حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ التَّيْمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، خَطَبَنَا عَلِيٌّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَلَى مِنْبَرٍ مِنْ آجُرٍّ، وَعَلَيْهِ سَيْفٌ فِيهِ صَحِيفَةٌ مُعَلَّقَةٌ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا عِنْدَنَا مِنْ كِتَابٍ يُقْرَأُ إِلاَّ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ وَمَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ‏.‏ فَنَشَرَهَا فَإِذَا فِيهَا أَسْنَانُ الإِبِلِ وَإِذَا فِيهَا ‏"‏ الْمَدِينَةُ حَرَمٌ مِنْ عَيْرٍ إِلَى كَذَا، فَمَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِيهَا حَدَثًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ صَرْفًا وَلاَ عَدْلاً ‏"‏‏.‏ وَإِذَا فِيهِ ‏"‏ ذِمَّةُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَاحِدَةٌ يَسْعَى بِهَا أَدْنَاهُمْ، فَمَنْ أَخْفَرَ مُسْلِمًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ صَرْفًا وَلاَ عَدْلاً ‏"‏‏.‏ وَإِذَا فِيهَا ‏"‏ مَنْ وَالَى قَوْمًا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ مَوَالِيهِ فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ صَرْفًا وَلاَ عَدْلاً ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Ibrahim At Taimi's father: `Ali addressed us while he was standing on a brick pulpit and carrying a sword from which was hanging a scroll He said "By Allah, we have no book to read except Allah's Book and whatever is on this scroll," And then he unrolled it, and behold, in it was written what sort of camels were to be given as blood money, and there was also written in it: 'Medina is a sanctuary form 'Air (mountain) to such and such place so whoever innovates (spreads hadith) in it an heresy (hadith) or commits a sin therein, he will incur the curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people and Allah will not accept his compulsory or optional good deeds.' There was also written in it: 'The asylum (pledge of protection) granted by any Muslims is one and the same, (even a Muslim of the lowest status is to be secured and respected by all the other Muslims, and whoever betrays a Muslim in this respect (by violating the pledge) will incur the curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people, and Allah will not accept his compulsory or optional good deeds.' There was also written in it: 'Whoever (freed slave) befriends (takes as masters) other than his real masters (manumitters) without their permission will incur the curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people, and Allah will not accept his compulsory or optional good deeds. '

Sahih al-Bukhari 7300 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:7300

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حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَلِيٍّ هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ كِتَابٌ قَالَ لاَ، إِلاَّ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ، أَوْ فَهْمٌ أُعْطِيَهُ رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ، أَوْ مَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ قَالَ الْعَقْلُ، وَفَكَاكُ الأَسِيرِ، وَلاَ يُقْتَلُ مُسْلِمٌ بِكَافِرٍ‏.‏

Narrated Ash-Shu`bi: Abu Juhaifa said, "I asked `Ali, 'Have you got any book (which has been revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) apart from the Qur'an)?' `Ali replied, 'No, except Allah's Book or the power of understanding which has been bestowed (by Allah) upon a Muslim or what is (written) in this sheet of paper (with me).' Abu Juhaifa said, "I asked, 'What is (written) in this sheet of paper?' `Ali replied, it deals with The Diyya (compensation (blood money) paid by the killer to the relatives of the victim), the ransom for the releasing of the captives from the hands of the enemies, and the law that no Muslim should be killed in Qisas (equality in punishment) for the killing of (a disbeliever).

Sahih al-Bukhari 111 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:111

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حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ مَا عِنْدَنَا شَىْءٌ إِلاَّ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ، وَهَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ الْمَدِينَةُ حَرَمٌ، مَا بَيْنَ عَائِرٍ إِلَى كَذَا، مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِيهَا حَدَثًا، أَوْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا، فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ ‏"‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ ذِمَّةُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَاحِدَةٌ، فَمَنْ أَخْفَرَ مُسْلِمًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ، وَمَنْ تَوَلَّى قَوْمًا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ مَوَالِيهِ، فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated `Ali: We have nothing except the Book of Allah and this written paper from the Prophet (wherein is written: ) Medina is a sanctuary from the 'Air Mountain to such and such a place, and whoever innovates in it an heresy or commits a sin, or gives shelter to such an innovator in it will incur the curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people, none of his compulsory or optional good deeds of worship will be accepted. And the asylum (of protection) granted by any Muslim is to be secured (respected) by all the other Muslims; and whoever betrays a Muslim in this respect incurs the curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people, and none of his compulsory or optional good deeds of worship will be accepted, and whoever (freed slave) befriends (take as masters) other than his manumitters without their permission incurs the curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people, and none of his compulsory or optional good deeds of worship will be accepted.

Sahih al-Bukhari 1870 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1870

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حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مُطَرِّفٌ، أَنَّ عَامِرًا، حَدَّثَهُمْ عَنْ أَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَلِيٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ شَىْءٌ مِنَ الْوَحْىِ إِلاَّ مَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ قَالَ وَالَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَبَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ مَا أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ فَهْمًا يُعْطِيهِ اللَّهُ رَجُلاً فِي الْقُرْآنِ، وَمَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ‏.‏ قُلْتُ وَمَا فِي الصَّحِيفَةِ قَالَ الْعَقْلُ وَفَكَاكُ الأَسِيرِ، وَأَنْ لاَ يُقْتَلَ مُسْلِمٌ بِكَافِرٍ‏.

Narrated Abu Juhaifa: I asked Ali, "Do you have the knowledge of any Divine Inspiration besides what is in Allah's Book?" Ali replied, "No, by Him Who splits the grain of corn and creates the soul. I don't think we have such knowledge, but we have the ability of understanding which Allah may endow a person with, so that he may understand the Qur'an, and we have what is written in this paper as well." I asked, "What is written in this paper?" He replied, "The understanding, releasing of the captive, and that a Muslim should not be killed by a disbeliever.

Sahih al-Bukhari 3047 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3047

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حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ خَطَبَنَا عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ مَا عِنْدَنَا كِتَابٌ نَقْرَؤُهُ إِلاَّ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ، وَمَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ فَقَالَ فِيهَا الْجِرَاحَاتُ وَأَسْنَانُ الإِبِلِ، وَالْمَدِينَةُ حَرَمٌ مَا بَيْنَ عَيْرٍ إِلَى كَذَا، فَمَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِيهَا حَدَثًا أَوْ آوَى فِيهَا مُحْدِثًا، فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ، وَمَنْ تَوَلَّى غَيْرَ مَوَالِيهِ فَعَلَيْهِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ، وَذِمَّةُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَاحِدَةٌ، فَمَنْ أَخْفَرَ مُسْلِمًا فَعَلَيْهِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ‏.‏

Narrated Ibrahim at-Tamimi's father: `Ali delivered a sermon saying, "We have no book to read except the Book of Allah and what is written in this paper which contains verdicts regarding (retaliation for) wounds, the ages of the camels (given as Zakat or as blood money) and the fact that Medina is a sanctuary in between Air mountain to so-and-so (mountain). So, whoever innovates in it an heresy (hadith) or commits a sin or gives shelter in it, to such an innovator (spreader of Hadith) will incur the Curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people, and none of his compulsory or optional good deeds of worship will be accepted. And whoever (freed slave) takes as his master (i.e. befriends) other than his real masters will incur the same (Curse). And the asylum granted by any Muslim is to be secured by all the other Muslims, and whoever betrays a Muslim in this respect will incur the same (Curse).

Sahih al-Bukhari 3172 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3172

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حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ مَا كَتَبْنَا عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلاَّ الْقُرْآنَ، وَمَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ، قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ الْمَدِينَةُ حَرَامٌ مَا بَيْنَ عَائِرٍ إِلَى كَذَا، فَمَنْ أَحْدَثَ حَدَثًا، أَوْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا، فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ عَدْلٌ وَلاَ صَرْفٌ، وَذِمَّةُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَاحِدَةٌ يَسْعَى بِهَا أَدْنَاهُمْ‏.‏ فَمَنْ أَخْفَرَ مُسْلِمًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ، وَمَنْ وَالَى قَوْمًا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ مَوَالِيهِ فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated `Ali: We did not, write anything from the Prophet (ﷺ) except the Qur'an and what is written in this paper, (wherein) the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Medina is a sanctuary from (the mountain of) Air to so and-so, therefore, whoever innovates (in it) an heresy or commits a sin, or gives shelter to such an innovator, will incur the Curse of Allah. the angels and all the people; and none of his compulsory or optional good deeds of worship will be accepted And the asylum granted by any Muslim Is to be secured by all the Muslims even if it is granted by one of the lowest social status among them. And whoever betrays a Muslim in this respect will incur the Curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and his compulsory and optional good deeds of worship will not be accepted. And any freed slave will take as masters (befriends) people other than his own real masters who freed him without taking the permission of the latter, will incur the Curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and his compulsory and optional good deeds of worship will not be accepted."

Sahih al-Bukhari 3179 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3179

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حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ـ رضى الله عنه مَا عِنْدَنَا كِتَابٌ نَقْرَؤُهُ إِلاَّ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ، غَيْرَ هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ‏.‏ قَالَ فَأَخْرَجَهَا فَإِذَا فِيهَا أَشْيَاءُ مِنَ الْجِرَاحَاتِ وَأَسْنَانِ الإِبِلِ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِيهَا الْمَدِينَةُ حَرَمٌ مَا بَيْنَ عَيْرٍ إِلَى ثَوْرٍ، فَمَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِيهَا حَدَثًا، أَوْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا، فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ، وَمَنْ وَالَى قَوْمًا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ مَوَالِيهِ، فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ، وَذِمَّةُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَاحِدَةٌ، يَسْعَى بِهَا أَدْنَاهُمْ فَمَنْ أَخْفَرَ مُسْلِمًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ‏.‏

Narrated Ali: We have no Book to recite except the Book of Allah (Qur'an) and this paper. Then Ali took out the paper, and behold ! There was written in it, legal verdicts about the retaliation for wounds, the ages of the camels (to be paid as Zakat or as blood money). In it was also written: 'Medina is a sanctuary from Air (mountain) to Thaur (mountain). So whoever innovates in it an heresy (something new in religion) or commits a crime in it or gives shelter to such an innovator, will incur the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and none of his compulsory or optional good deeds will be accepted on the Day of Resurrection. And whoever (a freed slave) takes as his master (i.e. be-friends) some people other than hi real masters without the permission of his real masters, will incur the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and none of his compulsory, or optional good deeds will be accepted on the Day of Resurrection. And the asylum granted by any Muslim is to be secured by all the Muslims, even if it is granted by one of the lowest social status among them; and whoever betrays a Muslim, in this respect will incur the curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people, and none of his Compulsory or optional good deeds will be accepted on the Day of Resurrection."

Sahih al-Bukhari 6755 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6755

See also: https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6915

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وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ حَامِدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمٌ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَحَرَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ قَالَ نَعَمْ مَا بَيْنَ كَذَا إِلَى كَذَا فَمَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِيهَا حَدَثًا - قَالَ - ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي هَذِهِ شَدِيدَةٌ ‏ "‏ مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِيهَا حَدَثًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صَرْفًا وَلاَ عَدْلاً ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَقَالَ ابْنُ أَنَسٍ أَوْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا ‏.‏

'Asim reported: I asked Anas b. Malik whether Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had declared Medina as sacred. He said: 'Yes. (the area) between so and so. He who made any Hadith in it, and further said to me: It is something serious to make any Hadith in it (and he who does it) there is upon him the curse of Allah, and that of the angels and all the people, Allah will not accept from him on the Day of Resurrection either obligatory acts or the supererogatory acts. Ibn Anas said: Or he accommodates a propagator of Hadith.

Sahih Muslim 1366 https://sunnah.com/muslim:1366

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