النص المفهرس

141
The Life of Muhammad %
On the other end, Rasulullah # informed his Sahabah & that a
group of people who are very soft hearted are going to come.
When the Ash'arīyyin reached Madinah, Rasūlullah
addressed the Sahabah & saying: The people of Yemen have
come. They are very soft hearted people. (In other words, they
are free from hard-heartedness. They readily accept the truth.
They are not so hard that any admonition and wise words do
not affect them). It is for this reason that īman is Yemeni and
wisdom is also Yemeni. (In other words, the result of their soft
heartednes is that their hearts are store-houses of īman and
recognition [of Allah] and fountains of knowledge and wisdom.
How true these words of Rasulullah
are! It is soft-
heartedness alone that is the fountain of all good. And hard-
heartedness is the root of all evil.
Because the people of Yemen used to by and large tend to
sheep and goats, he said that peace, tranquillity, dignity and
humility are qualities that are found in people who tend to
sheep and goats. As for pride and haughtiness, these are
qualities that are found in people who tend to camels.
Rasūlullah ¿ was referring to the polytheists.
The delegates said to Rasulullah : "O Messenger of Allah!
We have come to gain a deep understanding of Islam and to
learn about the beginning of the creation of the universe."
Rasūlullah % said: "First of all, there was Allah. There was
nothing apart from Him. His throne was on water. (In other
words, the commencement of the universe was with water and
the throne. Water was created first and then the throne). The
heavens and the earth were then created. Everything was
recorded in the Preserved Tablet."
Ibn 'Asākir says that to speak about tauhid, the principles of
religion, the creation of the universe and to delve into such
matters was present from generation to generation among the
Ash'arīyyin. Eventually, these concepts were clearly explained

142
The Life of Muhammad
by Imam Abul Hasan Ash'arī (who was from the progeny of
Abū Mūsā Ash'arī). He is unanimously accepted by the Ahlus
Sunnah wal Jamā'ah as an imam in this field.1
9. The delegation of Azd
The delegation of the Azd tribe came to Rasulullah and
embraced Islam. This delegation had 15 delegates, among
whom was Surad ibn 'Abdullah Azdī. Rasūlullah # appointed
him as their leader and ordered him to wage jihad against the
polytheists that lived around them. He took a group of Muslims
and laid siege to a town called Jarsh. The siege lasted for one
month with no victory. He therefore turned to leave. The
residents of Jarsh assumed that his turning away was his defeat.
They therefore gave chase to him. When the Muslims reached
the Mt. Shakr, they turned around and attacked the people of
Jarsh. They were thus defeated.
In the meantime, the people of Jarsh had sent two
representatives to Madinah. Rasūlullah % informed them of the
defeat at Mt. Shakr on the very day that it took place. When
these representatives returned home and gave all the details to
them, a delegation went to Madinah and embraced Islam.
10. The delegation of Banu Harith
The Banu Harith was a respectable family of Najran. It was
either in Rabī' al-Ākhir or Jumādā al-Ula 10. A.H. that
Rasūlullah ¿ sent Khalid ibn Walid % to invite them towards
Islam for three days. If they do not embrace Islam within this
period, he should wage jihad against them. When Khalid
went there, they embraced Islam immediately. He also sent
others to the surrounding areas in order to invite the people
towards Islam. The people of these areas embraced Islam
1 Fath al-Bārî, vol. 8, p. 75.

143
The Life of Muhammad
willingly. Khalid 4% sent a letter to Rasūlullah % giving him
this good news. Rasulullah % replied, instructing him to return
with a delegation from there. Khalid 4% took a delegation to
Madīnah. Qays ibn Husayn, Yazīd ibn Mihjal and Shaddād ibn
'Abdullah were also among the delegates. When these people
presented themselves before Rasūlullah %, he asked:
من هؤلاء القوم الذين كأنهم رجال الهند
"Who are these people who look like Indians?"
They replied: "We are the Banu Harith. We bear witness that
you are the Messenger of Allah and that there is none worthy of
worship besides Allah."
These people were a very brave nation and were always
victorious over their adversaries. Rasulullah # therefore asked
them the basis for their victories and successes. They replied:
"We always remain united - we never differ with each other.
We are not envious of each other. We do not go on the
offensive. We remain patient during times of difficulty and
hardship." Rasūlullah % said: "You are correct." He then
appointed Qays ibn Husayn as their amir and sent 'Amr ibn
Hazm to collect the charities from them. Rasulullah ¿ had the
injunctions of zakāh and other charities written down and sent
them with him.
This delegation returned to its people in Shawwal or Dhul
Qa'dah. Within four months after their return, Rasūlullah
departed from this world.1
11. The delegation of Hamdan
The Hamdan is a big tribe of Yemen. Rasulullah _ sent Khalid
ibn Walid 4% to them in order to invite them towards Islam. He
1 Zurqānî, vol. 4, p. 33.

144
The Life of Muhammad %
remained doing so for six months but no one embraced Islam.
Rasūlullah sent 'Alī > with a letter and told him to ask
Khalid % to return. 'Alī 4% went there, gathered everyone, and
read the letter to them. He invited them to Islam and they all
accepted in one day. 'Alī 4% wrote a letter to Rasulullah and
informed him of this. Rasulullah # immediately fell into
prostration and thanked Allah g. Out of extreme happiness, he
repeatedly said: "Peace be on the Hamdan."1
This incident took place in 8 A.H. when Rasūlullah
was
returning from Ta'if. A year after this, a delegation of Hamdan
came to meet Rasulullah . When they arrived, they were
wearing the embossed shawls of Yemen, the turbans of Aden
and riding on beautiful camels. They conversed with Rasūlullah
in a very beautiful and eloquent manner. He acceded to
whatever requests they made and gave them a letter and
appointed Malib ibn Namt, who was one of the delegates, as
their leader. 2 Hasan ibn Ya'qub Hamdanī says that this
delegation had 120 delegates.3
12. The delegation of Muzaynah
In 5 A.H. 400 people from the Muzaynah tribe came to
Rasūlullah and embraced Islam. When they were departing,
they said to Rasulullah % that they had no provisions for the
journey and that he should give them some. He ordered 'Umar
des to give them. He replied that he had very little dates and that
they will not be sufficient for these people. Rasūlullah % said:
"Go and give them some provisions." 'Umar 4% took them to
1 Narrated by Bayhaqî on the authority of Barra' ibn 'Āzib
with an
authentic chain of narrators.
2 Narrated by Ibn Hisham. This Tradition has a weak chain of narrators.
3 Zurqānî, vol. 4, pp. 34 and 37.

145
The Life of Muhammad
his home and each one took as much dates as he needed. At the
end, there was not a single date less in his sack of dates.1
Kathīr ibn 'Abdillah al-Muzanī narrates from his father who
narrates from his grandfather that the Muzaynah tribe was the
first to present itself before Rasulullah . This delegation had
400 delegates.
Hāfiz 'Irāqī says:
أول وفد وفدوا المدينة - سنة خمس وفدوا مزينة
"The first delegation to come to Madinah was the Muzaynah in
5 A.H."2
13. The delegation of Daus
About 70-80 delegates from this tribe came to Rasūlullah in
7 A.H. after the battle of Khaybar. Details in this regard were
given under the incident concerning Tufayl ibn 'Umar Dausī's
acceptance of Islam.
14. The delegation comprising the Christians of Najran
Najran was the name of a large city in Yemen. There were 73
districts and villages that were under it. Najran ibn Zayd was
the first person to come and settle in this place. The city was
therefore named after him. Ukhdud, a place that is mentioned in
Sūrah al-Burūj was a district that fell under Najran.3
In 9 A.H. a delegation of 60 delegates from the Christians of
Najran came to Madinah. Fourteen of these delegates were their
noblemen and leaders. 'Abdul Masih was their leader while
1 Ahmad, Tabarānî and Bayhaqî.
2 Zurqānî, vol. 4, pp. 34 and 37.
3 Sharh Mawāhib, vol. 4, p. 41.

146
The Life of Muhammad
Ayham acted as their minister, consultant and organizer of the
delegation. Their chief bishop was Abū Harithah ibn 'Alqamah.
He was originally from the Arab tribe of Bakr ibn Wa'il. He
became a Christian. The kings of Rome respected him greatly
because of his knowledge, virtue, religious capabilities and
fortitude. They had given him many properties. He was also
appointed as the head of the church.
This delegation came to Madinah with much pomp and show.
Rasulullah % settled them into the Musjid-e-Nabawī. The ‘asr
salah had just been performed. When the time for their prayer
came, they wanted to perform it. The Sahabah & stopped them,
but Rasūlullah said to them that they may offer their salah.
They turned towards the east and did so.
In the course of their stay, various matters were discussed. First
of all, a discussion concerning the "divinity" of "Isa ] and his
being the "son of God" commenced.
The Christian delegation: "If 'Îsa hy is not the son of God, then
who is his father?"
Rasūlullah : "You know very well that the son looks like his
father."
The Christian delegation: "Of course. This is always the case."
We can thus conclude that if 'Isa is the son of God, he
would have been similar to and looked like Allah. Whereas we
know for a fact that there is absolutely nothing that is similar to
Him. Allāh % says in the Qur'an: "There is nothing similar to
Him." "There is no one equal to Him."
Rasūlullah : "Do you not know that our Allah is 'forever
living, He will never die'? And that 'Îsa tag is to die?"
The Christian Delegation: "Without doubt, this is correct."
Note: From this statement of Rasūlullah , it becomes clear
that 'Îsa hy is still alive. He will die at a later stage. Rasūlullah

147
The Life of Muhammad #
could have went on the offensive and asked them that
according to your claim and belief, 'Isa was killed and
crucified. Therefore, how could he be God? Can God be killed
and crucified? However, since the Prophets of Allah can only
utter the truth, Rasūlullah % therefore asked a question that was
the abosolute truth and totally in accordance with the facts -
that is, 'Isa stal will experience death in the future. He has not
experienced death as yet, he is still alive.
Rasūlullah : "Are you aware of the fact that our Allah is the
maintainer of everything, the protector and overseer of the
entire universe, and the sustainer of all. Does 'Îsa stall possess
any of these qualities?"
The Christian Delegation: "No."
Rasūlullāh : "Are you aware of the fact that nothing in the
heavens and the earth is concealed from Allah? Does 'Îsa (!
know anything more than that which Allah taught him?"
The Christian Delegation: "No."
Rasūlullah : "You know fully well that Allah s created 'Îsa
Jak in the womb of his mother as He willed. You also know for
a fact that Allah neither eats nor drinks, nor does He need to
relieve Himself."
The Christian Delegation: "Yes, without a doubt."
Rasūlullah : "You know very well that Maryam 'alayhas
salam fell pregnant with 'Isa stal like normal women. She gave
birth to him just like normal women do. She then fed him just
as normal babies are fed. He used to eat and drink, and also
relieve himself."
The Christian Delegation: "Without doubt, this is how it was."
Rasūlullah : "Then how did he become a God?"

148
The Life of Muhammad %
In other words, he who was created and formed in the womb of
a woman, who was in need of nourishment after birth, and who
was in need of relieving himself - how can such a person be
God?
The truth became obvious on the Christian delegation of
Najran. But they persisted in refusing to follow the truth. Allah
As revealed the following verses:
الَّ. اللّهُ لاَ إِلهَ إِلَّ هُوَ لا الْخِيُّ الْقَيُّوْمُ. نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتِبَ بِالْحُقِّ مُصَدِّفًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ
وَأَنْزَلَ الثَّوْرَةَ وَالإِنْجِيْلَ. مِنْ قَبْلُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَنْزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ ﴿ إِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا بِيتِ اللهِ لَهُمْ
عَذَابٌ شَدِيْدٌ ﴿ وَاللهُ عَزِيْزٌ ذُو انْتِقَاعِ. إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَخْفِى عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي
السَّمَآءِ. هُوَ الَّذِيْ يُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِي الأَرْحَامِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ ﴿ لا إِلهَ إِلَّ هُوَ الْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ.
"Alif Lām Mīm. Allah - there is no God other than Him, the
living, the sustainer of all. He sent down to you the true Book.
It confirms the previous books, and He sent down the Taurah
and the Injil prior to this Book, for the guidance of people. And
He sent down the criteria. Surely those who rejected the verses
of Allah, for them is a severe punishment. And Allah is mighty,
taker of revenge. Nothing is concealed from Allah in the earth
nor in the heaven. It is He who fashions you in the womb of the
mother as He wills. There is no worship for anyone other than
Him. He is mighty, wise." (Sūrah Al 'Imran, verses 1-6)
This entire conversation is quoted in Tafsir ad- Durr al-
Manthur, vol. 2, p. 3 on the authority of Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi
Hātim.
Rasulullah % presented Islam to the Christians of Najran. They
replied: "We are on Islam since before." He asked them: "How
can your Islam be valid when you believe that Allah has a son,
you worship the cross, and you consume pork?" They said:
"You claim that 'Isa y is a servant of Allah. Have you ever

149
The Life of Muhammad
heard or seen anyone being born like him?" The following
verse was revealed:
إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيْسِى عِنْدَ اللهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ ط خَلَقَهُ مِنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُوْنُ. الْحَقُّ مِنْ
رَّبِّكَ فَلاَ تَكُنْ مِّنَ الْمُمْتَرِيْنَ. فَمَنْ حَاجَّكَ فِيْهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا
نَدْعُ أَبْنَآءَنَا وَأَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمْ وَأَنْفُسَنَا وَأَنْفُسَكُمْ قَفَ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَلْ لَّعْنَتَ اللهِ
عَلَى الْكَذِبِيْنَ.
"Surely the similitude of 'Îsa in the sight of Allah is like that of
Adam - He created him from dust and then said to him: "Be!"
and he became. The truth is that which your Sustainer says, so
you do not be of the doubters. Thereafter, whoever disputes
with you about this story [of 'Îsa] after the true facts have come
to you, then you should say: "Come! Let us call our sons and
your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and
yourselves; then let us all earnestly pray and invoke the curse
of Allah on those who are liars." (Sūrah Al 'Imran, verses 59-
61)
Mubāhalah
After the revelation of these verses, Rasulullah # got ready for
the mubahalah. The following day he appeared with Hasan 4%,
Husayn
%, Fatimah radiyallāhu 'anhā and 'Alī 4%. On seeing
these illuminated and blessed faces, the Christians were over-
awed and asked Rasūlullah % for a respite so that they could
confer with each other. They would return to Rasulullah
thereafter. They therefore went aside and began conferring with
each other. Ayham said to the bishop, 'Abdul Masih: "By
Allah, you know very well that this person is a Prophet sent by
Allah. If you were to engage in mubāhalah with him, you will
be totally destroyed. By Allah, I am seeing such blessed faces
[referring to the family of Rasulullah ] that if they were to ask
the mountains to move, they will move from their places. By

150
The Life of Muhammad
Allah, you have clearly recognized his prophet-hood. Whatever
he said about 'Îsa sch is the absolute truth. By Allah, whoever
engaged in a mubāhalah with a Prophet never succeeded.
Therefore, do not destroy yourself by engaging in a mubāhalah
with him. If you really want to remain on your religion, make
peace with him and return."
They eventually retracted from the mubahalah and agreed to
pay the jizyah on an annual basis. Rasūlullah % said: "I take an
oath in the name of that being in whose control is my life, the
punishment [of Allah] was already hovering over the people of
Najran. Had they engaged in the mubahalah, they would have
been transformed into monkeys and pigs. Their entire valley
would have turned into a fire and rained upon them. All the
people of Najran would have been destroyed. No birds would
have even remained on the trees."1
The following day, Rasulullah % ordered a peace treaty to be
written. The essence of this treaty was:
1. The people of Najran will have to give 2000 garments
annually. 1000 in the month of Rajab and 1000 in the
month of Safar. The value of each one will have to be
40 dirhams.
2. The envoy that is sent by Rasulullah % to them will
have to be accommodated by them for one month.
3. If there are any hostilities or uprisings in Yemen, the
people of Najran will have to lend 30 coats of armour,
30 horses, 30 camels. These will be returned to them
later on. If any of these items are lost or destroyed, the
Muslims will pay for them.
1 Sharh al-Mawāhib, vol. 4, p. 43.

151
The Life of Muhammad #
4. Allah g and His Messenger % are responsible for the
protection of their lives and belongings. Their wealth,
their possessions, their properties, their rights, their
religion, their covenants, their priests, their families and
those who follow them - nothing will be changed or
altered. There will be no demands for blood money for
what had passed. No army will enter their land.
5. If anyone demands any right from them, justice will be
meted out to both parties.
6. The person who devours interest does not fall under this
responsibility.
7. If a person commits an act of transgression and
oppression, someone else will not be taken to task.
[Rather, the actual perpetrator will be taken to task].
This is the guarantee of Allah s and His Messenger % as long
as they remain steadfast on all this. This peace treaty was
signed by Abū Sufyan ibn Harb, Ghaylān ibn 'Amr, Malik ibn
'Auf, Agra' ibn Habis and Mughirah ibn Shu'bah.1
This delegation then took this peace treaty and made
preparations to return. When they were departing, they asked
Rasūlullah % to send a trustworthy person with them so that he
could take the goods that were agreed upon in the treaty.
Rasūlullah % said to to them that he will send an extremely
trustworthy person with them. He then ordered Abū 'Ubaydah
ibn al-Jarrah
with them. He was given the title of Amin
hadhihil ummah - the trustworthy person of this ummah.2
These people then departed for Najran. When they were on the
last stage of their journey, the priests and noblemen of Najran
Zād al-Ma 'ād, vol. 3, p. 40.
1
2 Sharh al-Mawāhib, vol. 4, p. 43.

152
The Life of Muhammad %
came out to welcome them. The delegation handed the treaty to
their chief priest and he became engrossed in reading it. In the
meantime, the donkey on which Abū Harithah was sitting,
slipped and fell. His cousin, Kurz ibn 'Alqamah, cursed and
said: "May that wretched one be destroyed." He was actually
cursing Resulullah . Abu Harithah said: "You are the
wretched one. By Allah, he is a Messenger of Allah. He is the
same person whose glad tidings are given in the Injil and the
Taurāh." Kurz asked: "Then why do you not bring īman?" Abū
Harithah replied: "The kings will take back all the wealth that
they gave us." Abū Harithah said: "By Allah, I am turning
around and I will only free my camel in Madinah [i.e. I will not
stop till I reach Madinah]." He then headed towards Madinah
with much enthusiasm. He was repeating these lines while
going towards Madinah:
إليك تعدو قلقا وضينها - معتركا في بطنها جنينا
مخالفا دين النصارى دينها
"This camel is hastening towards you [O Muhammad!]. It's
young [that is in its belly] is bridged. It is moving about in it's
womb [because my camel is moving so swiftly]. It's religion is
now opposed to the religion of the Christians."
He then presented himself before Rasulullah % and embraced
Islam. He remained in his company and was martyred in a
battle. A few days later, Ayham and 'Abdul Masih also came to
Madinah and embraced Islam. Rasulullah % accommodated
both of them in the house of Abu Ayyub Ansarī
Je .
1
An important clarification: There were two groups in Najran:
the Ummiyyin and Christians. The first group had embraced
Islam, as was explained under the delegation of Banu Harith.
1 Sharh al-Mawāhib, vol. 4, p. 43.

153
The Life of Muhammad
Peace was made with the second group in return for jizyah.
Rasūlullah % sent 'Alī 4% to collect the sadaqat (compulsory
dues) from the first group and jizyah from the second group. He
was not sent to collect both forms of taxation from a single
group. Therefore, such an objection cannot be made.1
15. Farwah ibn 'Amr Judhāmī
Farwah ibn 'Amr Judhamī was the governor of Syria on behalf
of the Roman king. When Rasulullah % sent him a letter
inviting him towards Islam, he embraced Islam. He sent an
envoy with some gifts to Rasulullah . When the Romans
heard that he embraced Islam, they ordered that he be hanged.
When he was about to be hanged, he said the following lines:
بلغ سراة المسلمين بأنني - سلم لربي أعظمي ومقامي
"Convey this message to the leader of the Muslims that my
bones and my place of stay have all submitted before my
Sustainer."
16. Dimām ibn Tha'labah comes to Madīnah
In 9 A.H. Dimam ibn Tha'labah came to Rasulullah # on
behalf of the Banu Sa'd. He tied his camel near the door of the
musjid, entered and called out: "Who is Muhammad?"
Rasūlullāh ¿ was leaning against something in his assembly at
that time. The Sahabah & said: "This blessed person who is
leaning down." The person said: "O son of 'Abdul Muttalib!"
Rasūlullah said: "I have heard your call." He said: "I wish to
ask you a few questions. I will be stern and strict in my
questions. You should therefore not become angry." Rasūlullah
: "You may ask whatever you like." He said: "I take an oath
in the name of Allah and ask you, did He really send you as a
1 Zād al-Ma 'ād, vol. 3, p. 44.

154
The Life of Muhammad
Messenger to all people?" Rasūlullah * replied: "Yes. O Allah!
You are witness to this." The person then asked the following
questions separately: did Allah command you to offer five
times salah in a day, did He order you to fast in one month of
the year, did He order you to take zakah and other charities
from the rich and distribute them among the poor? Rasūlullah
replied to all these questions: "Yes. O Allah! You be witness
to this."
This person said: "I believe in everything that you have brought
from Allah. I am an envoy on behalf of my people. My name is
Dimām ibn Tha‘labah."
The above is the narration of Sahih Bukhari. The narration of
Sahīh Muslim states: This person said: "I take an oath in the
name of that being who sent you with the truth that I will not
add or subtract what you just said to me." Rasulullah said:
"If this person is true to his word, he will certainly enter
paradise."
Note: It is learnt from this Hadith that it is permitted for an
'ālim or respectable person to sit in an assembly while lying
down and leaning against something.1
When Dimam left Rasulullah % and returned to his people, he
gathered all of them and delivered a speech to them. The first
words that he uttered were: "Lat and 'Uzza2 are extremely
evil." When the people heard this they said to him: "O Dimām!
Do not utter such words. You might become mad and a leper."
He replied: "How sad and sorrowful. By Allah, Lat and 'Uzza
can neither harm you nor benefit you in any way. Allah % sent
a Messenger and revealed a Book to him which freed you from
these fabrications. I bear witness that there is none worthy of
1 Fath al-Bārî, vol. 1, p. 139.
2 Names of two idols that were worshipped by the Arabs.

155
The Life of Muhammad %
worship besides Allah , and that Muhammad * is the
Messenger of Allah. I have learnt these injunctions from him."
By the evening, all the members of this tribe embraced Islam.
'Umar 4% and Ibn 'Abbas 4% used to say: "We have not come
across an envoy and delegate of a tribe who was better than
Dimām ibn Tha'labah 4%."1
17. The delegation of Tariq ibn 'Abdillah Muharibī and the Banī
Muhārib
Tariq ibn 'Abdillah says: "I was in the market of Dhul Majaz
when I saw a person saying: 'O people! Say that there is none
worthy of worship except Allah and you will find success.' I
saw another person behind him, throwing stones and saying: 'O
people! He is a liar. Do not believe him.' I asked: 'Who is this
person?' Some people replied: 'He is from the Banū Hashim
who claims that he is the Messenger of Allah, and the person
who is throwing stones at him is his uncle, Abū Lahab.""
Tariq ibn 'Abdillah says: "When the people began embracing
Islam and Rasūlullah % emigrated to Madinah, we left Zubdah
and went to Madinah in order to buy dates from there. When
we were near Madinah, we were planning to stop over at an
orchard. A person wearing two old shawls approached us,
greeted us and asked us where we were coming from. We
replied that we are from Zubdah. He asked us where we were
going. We replied that we were going to Madinah. He asked us
for the reason and we said, to purchase dates. We had a red
camel with us. He asked us if we would give him this camel in
exchange for a certain amount of dates. We agreed to this. He
also agreed to the price and did not say anything about reducing
the price. He took the camel and proceeded. We began
speaking among ourselves and said: 'How could we have given
1 Sharh al-Mawāhib, vol. 4, p. 47.

156
The Life of Muhammad %
our camel to a person whom we do not even know and without
even obtaining its value [of dates] as yet?' One of the woman
who was sitting in the haudaj said: 'I have seen the face of that
person. By Allah, his face is like a piece of the 14th moon. It is
not the face of a liar and treacherous person. Do not worry, I
guarantee the price.' We were still busy in this conversation
when a person came and said: 'I am the messenger of
Rasūlullah . He has given these dates. You may eat from
there and weigh them.' We ate to our fill and then weighed
them. We found them to be exact."
"The following day we entered Madinah. Rasūlullah
de was
standing on the pulpit and delivering a sermon (it was probably
a Friday). We heard these words from him: "Give in charity.
Surely the upper hand is better than the lower hand. Be
particular about giving to your mother, your father, your sister,
your brother and your near relatives." (Narrated by Bayhaqī,
Hakim and others)1
18. The delegation of Tujib
The Tujib is a branch of the Kindah tribe of Yemen. Thirteen
people from Tujib came to Rasulullah % with the wealth of
sadagāt. Rasūlullah % asked them to take it back and to
distribute it among the poor of that area. They replied that they
actually brought the remainder after distributing among the
poor. Abu Bakr 4% said: "O Messenger of Allah! Till now, no
delegation like the Tujīb has come to you." Rasūlullah _ said:
"Without doubt, guidance is in the hand of Allah. When Allah
wills good for anyone, he opens his chest for īman. These
people asked several questions to Rasulullah . He had them
written for them and emphasised upon Bilal 4% to be very
hospitable to them.
1 Zād al-Ma 'ād, vol. 3, p. 46.

157
The Life of Muhammad
A few days later, they requested permission to leave.
Rasulullah asked them the reason for their hurry. They
replied: "O Messenger of Allah! Our hearts desire that the
blessings that we gained by seeing your illuminated
countenance and the benefits that we acquired from your
company should also be conveyed to our people." Rasūlullah
bid farewell to them after giving them some gifts. When they
were departing, he asked them if anyone of them was not left
behind. They replied that one youngster, whom they had
appointed to take care of the goods, was left behind. Rasūlullah
asked them to call him. He came and said: "O Messenger of
Allah! You have fulfilled the needs of my people. Now I have
one request." Rasūlullah % aske him: "What is it?" He replied:
"The only reason why I left home and came to you is that you
may supplicate on my behalf to Allah % that He forgives me,
that He showers His mercy on me, and that He makes me rich
of heart." Rasūlullah % made this supplication:
اللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَاجْعَلْ غِنَاهُ فِيْ قَلْبِهِ
"O Allah forgive him, have mercy on him, and make him rich
in his heart."
In 10 A.H. some people of this tribe came for hajj. When
Rasūlullah met them in Mina, he asked them about the
youngster. They replied: "O Messenger of Allah! The condition
of his asceticm and contentment is amazing. We have not come
across anyone more ascetic and content than him. Irrespective
of how much wealth is distributed before him, he does not even
look at it. When some people of Yemen began reneging from
Islam, this youngster addressed them in such a manner that
everyone remained steadfast on Islam and no one turned away.
When Abu Bakr
became the caliph, he would periodically
inquire from the people about this youngster. When he heard of
this incident [of how he addressed the people and how they

158
The Life of Muhammad
remained steadfast on Islam], he sent a message to Ziyad ibn
Walīd to be particularly considerate towards this youngster.1
19. The delegation of Hudhaym
When this delegation reached Musjid-e-Nabawī, Rasulullah
was busy in a janāzah salāh. These people sat down to one
side. When Rasūlullah # was over, he called them and asked
them: "Are you not Muslims?" They replied that they were
Muslims. He asked them: "Then why did you not join the
janāzah salah of your fellow Muslim brother?" They replied:
"We did not know whether it was permissible for us to join in
since we have not pledged our allegiance to you as yet." He
replied: "You become Muslims wherever you may be [once
you embrace Islam, you are Muslims, there is no need to wait
to pledge allegiance to me]."
Later, the people pledged allegiance to Rasūlullah ¿ and were
departing. They had left a youngster to take care of their
possessions. He called these people back. This youngster came
forward and pledged allegiance to Rasūlullah . These people
said: "O Messenger of Allah! He is the youngest amongst us
and he is our servant." Rasulullah said: "The youngest
person is the servant of the people. May Allah shower you with
His blessings."
By the blessing of this supplication, this youngster became the
most knowledgeable of the Qur'an from this tribe. Rasūlullah
eventually appointed him as their leader and imām. Rasūlullah
instructed Bilāl 4% to give these people some gifts. When
they returned to their homes, the entire tribe embraced Islam.2
1 Zād al-Ma 'ād. Also 'Uyûn al-Athar, vol. 2, p. 246.
2 Zād al-Ma 'ād, vol. 3, p. 47.

159
The Life of Muhammad
20. The delegation of Banī Fazarah
On Rasūlullah's % return from Tabuk, about 14 people from
the Bani Fazarah came to Rasulullah . He asked them about
their land. They replied that they were suffering from a severe
drought which was causing much destruction. He supplicated
for rain for them.1
21. The delegation of Bani Asd - 9 A.H.
Ten people from this tribe came to Rasulullah %. He was sitting
in the musjid at that time. They greeted him and one of them
said: "O Messenger of Allah! We bear witness that Allah is
one, He has no partner, and that you are His Messenger. We
have come to you without your calling us." The following verse
was revealed:
يَمْثُوْنَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ أَسْلَمُوْا قُلْ لاَّ تَمُوْا عَلَيَّ إِسْلاَمَكُمْ بَلِ اللهُ يَمُّ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ هَدَكُمْ لِلإِْمَانِ
إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِيْنَ.
"They consider it a favour to you that they have embraced
Islam. Say: 'Do not consider your Islam a favour to me. Rather,
Allah has done you a favour by guiding you to the path of
īman, if you are saying the truth."" (Sūrah al-Hujurat, verse 17)
These people then asked Rasulullah % about fortunetelling and
divination. Rasūlullah % prohibited them from this.2
22. The delegation of Bahra'
Thirteen people from the Bahra' tribe of Yemen came to
Rasūlullah . They stayed at the house of Miqdad ibn Aswad
Before their arrival, Miqdad prepared a special dish for
them [prepared with dates and cheese]. When these guests
1 Zurqānî, vol. 4, p. 52.
2 'Uyûn al-Athar, vol. 2, p. 25.

160
The Life of Muhammad
arrived, he presented it to them. They all ate to their fill.
Miqdad 4% sent the remainder to Rasulullah & with his slave-
woman, Sidrah. Rasūlullah ate thereof and also gave his
entire family. He then returned the bowl in which it had come.
As long as the guests remained, they continued eating twice a
day from that bowl. One day, one of the guests asked in
surprise: "O Miqdad! We heard that the people of Madinah eat
very simple food. Yet you are providing us with such delicious
food everyday which we cannot eat daily at our homes."
Miqdad 4% replied: "All this is through the blessed hand of
Rasūlullah ." He then informed them of how it remained for
so long [i.e. through the blessing of Rasulullah ]. These
people's īman and conviction increased even more. They
remained in Madinah for a few days, learning the injunctions
and tenets of Islam. They then returned to their homes. When
they were departing, Rasūlullah % gave them some gifts and
provisions for the journey.1
23. The delegation of 'Udhrah
This is a tribe of Yemen. Twelve people from this tribe came to
Rasūlullah in Safar, 9 A.H. They asked him: "What do you
invite towards?" Rasūlullah replied: "That you worship
Allah, who is one and has no partner, and that you bear
testimony that I am the Messenger of Allah to the entire
mankind." The people then inquired about the compulsory acts
of Islam and Rasulullah % informed them thereof. They then
said: "We bear testimony that there is none worthy of worship
beside Allah and that you are certainly Allah's Messenger. You
invited us and we accepted. We are your helpers and supporters
with all our heart. O Messenger of Allah! We go to Syria for
our business. That is where Heraclius is. Has any revelation in
this regard been sent to you?" Rasūlullah % replied: "Syria will
1 Zād al-Ma 'ād, vol. 3, pp. 48-49.