It is narrated from Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he heard a reciter reciting this verse: "O you who believe, fear Allah and seek the means (wasilah) to Him" [Surah al-Ma'idah: 35] . He said: (Wasilah means) al-qurbah, "nearness to Allah". Then he said: "Those of the Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) who preserve (knowledge) know that Ibn Umm Abd (Abdullah bin Mas'ud) is the nearest of them all to Allah in terms of means."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that two verses of Surah al-Ma'idah are abrogated. One is: "So judge between them or turn away from them (as you wish)" [Surah al-Ma'idah: 42] . Then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed (in its place) this verse: "And judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their desires" [Surah al-Ma'idah: 49] . Its chain is authentic (sahih), but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

It is narrated from Hammam that he said: We were sitting with Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) when the people mentioned this verse: "And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, then it is they who are the disbelievers" [Surah al-Ma'idah: 44] . A man said: "This verse is about the Children of Israel." Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "What excellent brothers the Children of Israel are for you, that the sweet (the ease) should be for you and the bitter (the hardship) for them! Never! By the One in whose hand is my soul! You too will follow (in their footsteps) exactly as one feather of an arrow matches the other (that is, the same ruling will apply to you as well)." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) concerning this verse: "And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, then it is they who are the disbelievers" [Surah al-Ma'idah: 44] that he said: "This is not the disbelief that these people (the Khawarij and others) take it to be. It is not a disbelief that takes one out of the religion; rather it is kufrun duna kufr, 'a disbelief lesser than disbelief'." This hadith has an authentic (sahih) chain of narration, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Iyad al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that when this verse was revealed: "Allah will bring a people whom He will love and who will love Him" [Surah al-Ma'idah: 54] , the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Abu Musa! They are your people (the people of Yemen)," and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) pointed with his hand towards Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him). This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of Imam Muslim, but the two Shaykhs did not record it.