Patience (Ahadith 2770 – 2776)

Bismillah.

Long time, I know. Let’s get to it.

To recap, we’re currently on Book 53 of Sahih al-Bukhari: Kitaab-ul-Khumus [Book of One-fifth of Booty for the Cause of Allah]. Lots of dry fiqh involved that most of us can hardly relate to, so I’ve tried to (and intend to) keep it light and breezy, touching moral and social aspects here and there. Picking up right where I left it in the last post. Not sure why I don’t feel like writing full sentences anymore. Did I ever, though? Enough of my banter, let’s do this.

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 373 :
Narrated by ‘Amr bin Taghlib (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) gave (gifts) to some people to the exclusion of some others. The latter seemed to be displeased by that. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “I give to some people, lest they should deviate from True Faith or lose patience, while I refer other people to the goodness and contentment which Allah has put in their hearts, and ‘Amr bin Taghlib is amongst them.” ‘Amr bin Taghlib (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “The statement of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) is dearer to me than red camels.” Narrated Al-Hasan: ‘Amr bin Taghlib told us that Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) got some property or some war prisoners and he distributed them in the above way (i.e. giving to some people to the exclusion of others).

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 374 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “I give to Quraish people in order to let them adhere to Islam, for they are near to their life of Ignorance (i.e. they have newly embraced Islam and it is still not strong in their hearts.”

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 375 :
Narrated by Anas bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu)
When Allah favored His Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) with the properties of Hawazin tribe as Fai (booty), he started giving to some Quarries men even up to one-hundred camels each, whereupon some Ansari men said about Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), “May Allah forgive His Apostle! He is giving to (men of) Quraish and leaves us, in spite of the fact that our swords are still dropping blood (of the infidels)” When Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was informed of what they had said, he called the Ansar and gathered them in a leather tent and did not call anybody else along, with them. When they gathered, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) came to them and said, “What is the statement which, I have been informed, and that which you have said?” The learned ones among them replied,” O Allah’s Apostle! The wise ones amongst us did not say anything, but the youngsters amongst us said, ‘May Allah forgive His Apostle; he gives the Quarish and leaves the Ansar, in spite of the fact that our swords are still dribbling (wet) with the blood of the infidels.’ ” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) replied, I give to such people as are still close to the period of Infidelity (i.e. they have recently embraced Islam and Faith is still weak in their hearts). Won’t you be pleased to see people go with fortune, while you return with Allah’s Apostle to your houses? By Allah, what you will return with, is better than what they are returning with.” The Ansar replied, “Yes, O Allah’s Apostle, we are satisfied’ Then the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said to them.” You will find after me, others being preferred to you. Then be patient till you meet Allah and meet His Apostle at Al-Kauthar (i.e. a fount in Paradise).” (Anas (radiallaahu `anhu) added:) But we did not remain patient.

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 376 :
Narrated by Jubair bin Mutim (radiallaahu `anhu)
That while he was with Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) who was accompanied by the people on their way back from Hunain, the bedouins started begging things of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) so much so that they forced him to go under a Samura tree where his loose outer garment was snatched away. On that, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) stood up and said to them, “Return my garment to me. If I had as many camels as these trees, I would have distributed them amongst you; and you will not find me a miser or a liar or a coward.”

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 377 :
Narrated by Anas bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu)
While I was walking with the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) who was wearing a Najrani outer garment with a thick hem, a bedouin came upon the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and pulled his garment so violently that I could recognize the impress of the hem of the garment on his shoulder, caused by the violence of his pull. Then the bedouin said, “Order for me something from Allah’s Fortune which you have.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) turned to him and smiled, and ordered that a gift be given to him.

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 378 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
On the day (of the battle) of Hunain, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) favored some people in the distribution of the booty (to the exclusion of others); he gave Al-Aqra’ bin Habis one-hundred camels and he gave ‘Uyaina the same amount, and also gave to some of the eminent Arabs, giving them preference in this regard. Then a person came and said, “By Allah, in this distribution justice has not been observed, nor has Allah’s Pleasure been aimed at.” I said (to him), “By Allah, I will inform the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) (of what you have said), “I went and informed him, and he said, “If Allah and His Apostle did not act justly, who else would act justly. May Allah be merciful to Moses, for he was harmed with more than this, yet he kept patient.”

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 379 :
Narrated by Asma bint Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhaa)
I used to carry the date stones on my head from the land of Az-Zubair (radiallaahu `anhu) which Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) had given to him, and it was at a distance of 2/3 of a Farsakh from my house. Narrated Hisham’s father: The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) (gave Az-Zubair a piece of land from the property of Bani An-Nadir (gained as war booty).

Most of these ahadith have been covered before and you’re probably familiar with them so I’ve put them all together in one post. Today’s angle is based on this statement of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) in number 378:

“If Allah and His Apostle did not act justly, who else would act justly. May Allah be merciful to Moses, for he was harmed with more than this, yet he kept patient.”

We all know the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) to be extremely patient and restrained. Imagine how hurt he must have felt to say these words out loud. It’s one thing to not have your people believe in the message you brought, but to have your fellow comrades, supporters and brothers doubt your decisions after everything you’ve been through together.. it must’ve hurt.

People still continue to throw such allegations at him, “he bribed people to accept Islam”, for example (see number 374). Would he really bribe someone and come out in public to tell everyone he bribed them for such and such reason? Really? His reasons were not personal, any monetary assistance he gave to people was to help strengthen Islam, be it on an individual level as regards one’s faith, or on a much broader level helping leaders bring their tribes towards the truth.

Patience. It’s what he urged the Ansar to when he told them others will be preferred over them. It’s what he preached and practiced all his life. It’s what we must hold on to if we wish to succeed in the trials of this life. People will say things, do things to hurt you and bring you down. Just remember, patience. No one’s had it easy.

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Distribution of War Booty: Justice (Ahadith 2759 – 2763)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 362 :
Narrated by Nafi from Ibn Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) sent a Sariya towards Najd, and Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) was in the Sariya. They gained a great number of camels as war booty. The share of each one of them was twelve or eleven camels, and they were given an extra camel each.

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 363 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) used to give extra share to some of the members of the Sariya he used to send, in addition to the shares they shared with the army in general.

Because some people need more encouragement than others?

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 364 :
Narrated by Abu Musa (radiallaahu `anhu)
We got the news of the migration of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) while we were in Yemen, so we set out migrating to him. We were, I and my two brothers, I being the youngest, and one of my brothers was Abu Burda and the other was Abu Ruhm. We were over fifty (or fifty-three or fifty two) men from our people. We got on board a ship which took us to An-Najashi in Ethiopia, and there we found Ja’far bin Abu Talib (radiallaahu `anhu) and his companions with An-Najaishi. Ja’far (radiallaahu `anhu) said (to us), “Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) has sent us here and ordered us to stay here, so you too, stay with us.” We stayed with him till we all left (Ethiopia) and met the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) at the time when he had conquered Khaibar. He gave us a share from its booty (or gave us from its booty). He gave only to those who had taken part in the Ghazwa with him. but he did not give any share to any person who had not participated in Khaibar’s conquest except the people of our ship, besides Ja’far and his companions, whom he gave a share as he did them (i.e. the people of the ship).

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 365 :
Narrated by Jabir (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said (to me), “If the property of Bahrain had come to us, I would have given you so much and so much.” But the Bahrain property did not come till the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) had died. When the Bahrain property came. Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) ordered somebody to announce, “Any person who has money claim on Allah’s Apostle or whom Allah’s Apostle had promised something, should come to us.” So, I went to him and said, “Allah’s Apostle had promised to give me so much an so much.” Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) scooped up money with both hands thrice for me.” (The sub-narrator Sufyan illustrated this action by scooping up with both hands and said, “Ibn Munkadir, another sub-narrator, used to illustrate it in this way.”)
Narrated Jabir (radiallaahu `anhu): Once I went to Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) and asked for the money but he did not give me, and I went to him again, but he did not give me, so I went to him for the third time and said, “I asked you, but you did not give me; then I asked you (for the second time) and you did not give me; then I asked you (for the third time) but you did not give me. You should either give me or allow yourself to be considered a miser regarding my case.” Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “You tell me that I am a miser with regard to you. But really, whenever I rejected your request, I had the inclination to give you.” (In another narration Jabir added:) So, Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) scooped up money with both hands for me and asked me to count it. I found out that It was five hundred. Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) told me to take twice that amount.

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 366 :
Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
While Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was distributing the booty at Al-Ja’rana, somebody said to him “Be just (in your distribution).” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) replied, “Verily I would be miserable if I did not act justly.”

Injustice that Leads to Hell (Hadith No. 2744)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 347 :
Narrated by Khaula Al-Ansariya (radiallaahu `anhaa)
I heard Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) saying, “Some people spend Allah’s Wealth (i.e. Muslim’s wealth) in an unjust manner; such people will be put in the (Hell) Fire on the Day of Resurrection.”

This specifically talks about distribution of war booty, as it’s mentioned in the chapter of Khumus in Bukhari. Those in charge of the wealth must see to the fair distribution among the poor and the weak.

Ibn Al-Jawzi said:

“Injustice necessitates two sins: usurping others’ rights and defying Allaah The Exalted with disobedience. The sin of doing injustice is more evil than other sins because it is usually committed against the weak, who are powerless to fend for themselves. The cause of injustice is the darkness of the heart; a man whose heart is lit with guidance would not commit injustice.”

Further reading: Dire Consequences of Injustice

Excellence of Sharing Food (Ahadith 2162 – 2163)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 44, Number 665:
Narrated Rafi bin Khadij (radiallaahu `anhu):
We used to offer the ‘Asr prayer with the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and slaughter a camel, the meat of which would be divided in ten parts. We would eat the cooked meat before sunset.

Volume 3, Book 44, Number 666:
Narrated Abu Musa (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet said (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), “When the people of Ash’ari tribe ran short of food during the holy battles, or the food of their families in Medina ran short, they would collect all their remaining food in one sheet and then distribute it among themselves equally by measuring it with a bowl. So, these people are from me, and I am from them.”

You see, just because they shared food with each other when they ran short, Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) honored them with this statement: “these people are from me, and I am from them”. Meaning, they’re close to him and he’s close to them, like family. Wow. <3

Borrowing Money (Hadith No. 2069)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2063 – 2066 (below) are repeats. Related posts are linked.

Volume 3, Book 40, Number 566 :
Narrated by Zaid bin Thabit (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) permitted selling the dates of the ‘Araya for ready dates by estimating the amount of the former (as they are still on the trees).

Volume 3, Book 40, Number 567 :
Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) forbade the sales called Al-Mukhabara, Al-Muhaqala and Al-Muzabana and the selling of fruits till they are free from blights. He forbade the selling of the fruits except for money, except the ‘Araya.

Volume 3, Book 40, Number 568 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) allowed the sale of the dates of the ‘Araya for ready dates by estimating the former which should be estimated as less than five Awsuq or five Awsuq. (Dawud, the sub-narrator is not sure as to the right amount.)

Volume 3, Book 40, Number 569 :
Narrated by Rafi ‘bin Khadij and Sahl bin Al Hathma (radiallaahu `anhumaa)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) forbade the sale of Muzabana, i.e. selling of fruits for fruits, except in the case of ‘Araya; he allowed the owners of ‘Araya such kind of sale.

Kitaab-ul-Musaaqaat [Book of Distribution of Water] ends here.

Kitaabun fil-Istiqraadh [Book of Loans & Bankruptcy] starts today..

Ahadith 2067 – 2068 (below) are also repeats, talking about the permissibility of buying stuff on credit. Related posts are linked.

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 570 :
Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
While I was in the company of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) in one of his Ghazawat, he asked, “What is wrong with your camel? Will you sell it?” I replied in the affirmative and sold it to him. When he reached Medina, I took the camel to him in the morning and he paid me its price.

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 571 :
Narrated by Al-Amash
When we were with Ibrahim, we talked about mortgaging in deals of Salam. Ibrahim narrated from Aswad that ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) had said, “The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) bought some foodstuff on credit from a Jew and mortgaged an iron armor to him.“

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 572 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever takes the money of the people with the intention of repaying it, Allah will repay it on his behalf, and whoever takes it in order to spoil it, then Allah will spoil him.”

Note that the key point here is intention. No matter how impossible the circumstances are, if you intend to repay your debt, Allah will help you with it. Some of us have experienced such miracles, and some of us have witnessed them.. how out of nowhere someone comes to help the indebted, or for some reason the lender waives off the debt etc. If this is not Allah’s help, then what is? Remember the incident about the man from Bani Israel who borrowed a thousand dinars and couldn’t find the lender at the time of repayment? Read the full story:

Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu), the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said,

An Israeli man asked another Israeli to lend him one thousand Dinars. The second man required witnesses. The former replied, ‘Allah is sufficient as a witness.’ The second said, ‘I want a surety.’ The former replied, ‘Allah is sufficient as a surety.’ The second said, ‘You are right,’ and lent him the money for a certain period. The debtor went across the sea. When he finished his job, he searched for a conveyance so that he might reach in time for the repayment of the debt, but he could not find any. So, he took a piece of wood and made a hole in it, inserted in it one thousand Dinars and a letter to the lender and then closed (i.e. sealed) the hole tightly. He took the piece of wood to the sea and said. ‘O Allah! You know well that I took a loan of one thousand Dinars from so-and-so. He demanded a surety from me but I told him that Allah’s Guarantee was sufficient and he accepted Your guarantee. He then asked for a witness and I told him that Allah was sufficient as a Witness, and he accepted You as a Witness. No doubt, I tried hard to find a conveyance so that I could pay his money but could not find, so I hand over this money to You.’ Saying that, he threw the piece of wood into the sea till it went out far into it, and then he went away. Meanwhile he started searching for a conveyance in order to reach the creditor’s country. One day the lender came out of his house to see whether a ship had arrived bringing his money, and all of a sudden he saw the piece of wood in which his money had been deposited. He took it home to use for fire. When he sawed it, he found his money and the letter inside it. Shortly after that, the debtor came bringing one thousand Dinars to him and said, ‘By Allah, I had been trying hard to get a boat so that I could bring you your money, but failed to get one before the one I have come by.’ The lender asked, ‘Have you sent something to me?’ The debtor replied, ‘I have told you I could not get a boat other than the one I have come by.’ The lender said, ‘Allah has delivered on your behalf the money you sent in the piece of wood. So, you may keep your one thousand Dinars and depart guided on the right path.’
[Bukhari, Vol 3, Book 37, No. 48]