The Millionaire Sahaabi Who Died in Debt (Hadith No. 2755)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2751 – 2754 (below) are repeats. See linked text for related posts.

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 354 :
Narrated by Aslam
‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “Were it not for those Muslims who have not come to existence yet, I would have distributed (the land of) every town I conquer among the fighters as the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) distributed the land of Khaibar.”

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 355 :
Narrated by Abu Musa Al-Ashari (radiallaahu `anhu)
A bedouin asked the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), “A man may fight for the sake of booty, and another may fight so that he may be mentioned by the people, and a third may fight to show his position (i.e. bravery); which of these regarded as fighting in Allah’s Cause?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “He who fights so that Allah’s Word (i.e. Islam) should be superior, fights for Allah’s Cause.”

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 356 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin Abu Mulaika (radiallaahu `anhu)
Some silken cloaks with golden buttons were presented to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). He distributed them amongst his companions and kept one for Makhrama, bin Naufal. Later on Makhrama came along with his son Al-Miswar bin Makhrama (radiallaahu `anhumaa), and stood up at the gate and said (to his son). “Call him (i.e. the Prophet) to me.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) heard his voice, took a silken cloak and brought it to him, placing those golden buttons in front of him saying, “O Abu-al-Miswar! I have kept this aside for you! O Abu-al Miswar! I have kept this aside for you!” Makhrama was a bad-tempered man.

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 357 :
Narrated by Anas bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu)
People used to give some of their datepalms to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) (as a gift), till he conquered Bani Quraiza and Bani An-Nadir, whereupon he started returning their favors.

Today’s Hadith:

This hadith talks about Zubair ibn al-Awwam (radiallaahu `anhu), one of the earliest converts to Islam, how he owed a lot of debt to people when he died and how his son, Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr (radiallaahu `anhu), paid it all off within a short period of time by selling Zubair’s highly-valued properties. It’s just an interesting account that kept surprising me.. if millionaires are considered rich today, what would be their rank in society in those days? Yet, the Sahaaba were not afraid to give everything up for Allah, treat the poor and rich, slave and free, dark and fair alike. Is it humility that we’re missing today, or Imaan?

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 358 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin Az-Zubair (radiallaahu `anhu)
When Az-Zubair (radiallaahu `anhu) got up during the battle of Al-Jamal, he called me and I stood up beside him, and he said to me, “O my son! Today one will be killed either as an oppressor or as an oppressed one. I see that I will be killed as an oppressed one. My biggest worry is my debts. Do you think, if we pay the debts, there will be something left for us from our money?” Az-Zubair (radiallaahu `anhu) added, “O my son! Sell our property and pay my debts.” Az-Zubair (radiallaahu `anhu) then willed one-third of his property and willed one-third of that portion to his sons; namely, ‘Abdullah’s sons. He said, “One-third of the one third. If any property is left after the payment of the debts, one-third (of the one-third of what is left) is to be given to your sons.” (Hisham, a sub-narrator added, “Some of the sons of ‘Abdullah were equal in age to the sons of Az-Zubair e.g. Khubaib and ‘Abbas. ‘Abdullah had nine sons and nine daughters at that time.” (The narrator ‘Abdullah added:) My father (Az-Zubair) went on drawing my attention to his debts saying, “If you should fail to pay part of the debts, appeal to my Master to help you.” By Allah! I could not understand what he meant till I asked, “O father! Who is your Master?” He replied, “Allah (is my Master).” By Allah, whenever I had any difficulty regarding his debts, I would say, “Master of Az-Zubair! Pay his debts on his behalf .” and Allah would (help me to) pay it. Az-Zubair was martyred leaving no Dinar or Dirham but two pieces of land, one of which was (called) Al-Ghaba, and eleven houses in Medina, two in Basra, one in Kufa and one in Egypt. In fact, the source of the debt which he owed was, that if somebody brought some money to deposit with him. Az Zubair would say, “No, (i won’t keep it as a trust), but I take it as a debt, for I am afraid it might be lost.” Az-Zubair was never appointed governor or collector of the tax of Kharaj or any other similar thing, but he collected his wealth (from the war booty he gained) during the holy battles he took part in, in the company of the Prophet, Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthman. (‘Abdullah bin Az-Zubair added:) When I counted his debt, it turned to be two million and two hundred thousand. (The sub-narrator added:) Hakim bin Hizam met Abdullah bin Zubair and asked, “O my nephew! How much is the debt of my brother?” ‘Abdullah kept it as a secret and said, “One hundred thousand,” Hakim said, “By Allah! I don’t think your property will cover it.” On that ‘Abdullah said to him, “What if it is two million and two hundred thousand?” Hakim said, “I don’t think you can pay it; so if you are unable to pay all of it, I will help you.” Az-Zubair had already bought Al-Ghaba for one hundred and seventy thousand. ‘Abdullah sold it for one million and six hundred thousand. Then he called the people saying, “Any person who has any money claim on Az-Zubair should come to us in Al-Ghaba.” There came to him ‘Abdullah bin Ja’far whom Az-Zubair owed four hundred thousand. He said to ‘Abdullah bin Az-Zubair, “If you wish I will forgive you the debt.” ‘Abdullah (bin Az-Zubair) said, “No.” Then Ibn Ja’far said, “If you wish you can defer the payment if you should defer the payment of any debt.” Ibn Az-Zubair said, “No.” ‘Abdullah bin Ja’far said, “Give me a piece of the land.” ‘Abdullah bin AzZubair said (to him), “Yours is the land extending from this place to this place.” So, ‘Abdullah bin Az-Zubair sold some of the property (including the houses) and paid his debt perfectly, retaining four and a half shares from the land (i.e. Al-Ghaba). He then went to Mu’awlya while ‘Amr bin ‘Uthman, Al-Mundhir bin Az-Zubair and Ibn Zam’a were sitting with him. Mu’awiya asked, “At what price have you appraised Al-Ghaba?” He said, “One hundred thousand for each share,” Muawiya asked, “How many shares have been left?” ‘Abdullah replied, “Four and a half shares.” Al-Mundhir bin Az-Zubair said, “I would like to buy one share for one hundred thousand.” ‘Amr bin ‘Uthman said, “I would like to buy one share for one hundred thousand.” Ibn Zam’a said, “I would like to buy one share for one hundred thousand.” Muawiya said, “How much is left now?” ‘Abdullah replied, “One share and a half.” Muawiya said, “I would like to buy it for one hundred and fifty thousand.” ‘Abdullah also sold his part to Muawiya six hundred thousand. When Ibn AzZubair had paid all the debts. Az-Zubair’s sons said to him, “Distribute our inheritance among us.” He said, “No, by Allah, I will not distribute it among you till I announce in four successive Hajj seasons, ‘Would those who have money claims on Az-Zubair come so that we may pay them their debt.” So, he started to announce that in public in every Hajj season, and when four years had elapsed, he distributed the inheritance among the inheritors. Az-Zubair had four wives, and after the one-third of his property was excluded (according to the will), each of his wives received one million and two hundred thousand. So the total amount of his property was fifty million and two hundred thousand.

Read this hadith in Arabic here.

Before anybody gets ideas as to how he acquired all this wealth, it must be noted that he was alive till the Battle of the Camel and he participated in most of the battles fought from Badr till Camel, if not all. Fighters had shares in war booty and wealth was pouring in from all sides after Conquest of Makkah. So it does seem very likely that a fighter of the Muslim army, and a commander at that, would accumulate this much with the passage of time. Even property worth 50 million plus? Yup!

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Paradise is for the Simple Ones (Hadith No. 2532)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 137 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Let the slave of Dinar and Dirham of Qatifa and Khamisa (i.e. money and luxurious clothes) perish for he is pleased if these things are given to him, and if not, he is displeased!”
Narrated Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, ” Let the slave of Dinar and Dirham, of Qatifa and Khamisa perish as he is pleased if these things are given to him, and if not, he is displeased. Let such a person perish and relapse, and if he is pierced with a thorn, let him not find anyone to take it out for him. Paradise is for him who holds the reins of his horse to strive in Allah’s Cause, with his hair unkempt and feet covered with dust: if he is appointed in the vanguard, he is perfectly satisfied with his post of guarding, and if he is appointed in the rearward, he accepts his post with satisfaction; (he is so simple and unambiguous that) if he asks for permission he is not permitted, and if he intercedes, his intercession is not accepted.”

Two kinds of attitudes have been compared in this narration – one is the person who is slave to wealth and luxury, dependent on others, pleased if given and displeased if taken from; and the other is simple, contented with his circumstance and so common that you wouldn’t recognize him in a crowd. His words won’t have much value and his promises won’t mean much to you as his credibility is not established. Of these two, it’s no surprise that the latter is Jannah material. He’s patient and thankful in all situations and doesn’t expect much from this world or the people. He’s the simple one.

3 Options for the Wounded (Hadith No. 2364)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 49, Number 866 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Ar-Rabi, the daughter of An-Nadr broke the tooth of a girl, and the relatives of Ar-Rabi’ requested the girl’s relatives to accept the Arsh (الأَرْشَ) (compensation for wounds etc.) and forgive (the offender), but they refused. So, they went to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) who ordered them to bring about retaliation. Anas bin An-Nadr (radiallaahu `anhu) asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! Will the tooth of Ar-Rabi’ be broken? No, by Him Who has sent you with the Truth, her tooth will not be broken.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “O Anas! Allah’s law ordains retaliation.” Later the relatives of the girl agreed and forgave her. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “There are some of Allah’s slaves who, if they take an oath by Allah, are responded to by Allah i.e. their oath is fulfilled). Anas (radiallaahu `anhu) added, “The people agreed and accepted the Arsh.”

There was another post about breaking someone’s teeth a while ago in which Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) ruled in favor of the defender since he broke the other’s tooth while fending for himself.

In this case, however, the defender was given the choice to either forgive Rabi` (offender), accept Arsh (compensation) or to get qisaas (retaliation). Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) would have made sure that qisaas took place had they not forgiven Rabi`. Allah’s laws are just and perfectly fit to be implemented.

Abu Shurayh al-Khuzaa’i said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever is killed or is wounded, has the choice of three things, and if he wants the fourth then restrain him. He may kill (the killer), or forgive him, or take the diyah (blood money).” Narrated by Abu Dawood.

Blood Money (Hadith No. 2363)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 49, Number 865 :
Narrated by Sahl bin Abu Hathma (radiallaahu `anhu)
Abdullah bin Sahl and Muhaiyisa bin Mas’ud bin Zaid (radiallaahu `anhumaa) went to Khaibar when it had a peace treaty (with the Muslims).

Here’s the complete story (narrations found elsewhere in Bukhari):

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 398 :
Narrated by Sahl bin Abi Hathma (radiallaahu `anhu)
‘Abdullah bin Sahl and Muhaiyisa bin Mas’ud bin Zaid (radiallaahu `anhumaa) set out to Khaibar, the inhabitants of which had a peace treaty with the Muslims at that time. They parted and later on Muhaiyisa came upon ‘Abdullah bin Sahl (radiallaahu `anhu) and found him murdered agitating in his blood. He buried him and returned to Medina. ‘Abdur Rahman bin Sahl, Muhaiyisa and Huwaiuisa (radiallaahu `anhum), the sons of Mas’ud came to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and ‘Abdur Rahman (radiallaahu `anhu) intended to talk, but the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said (to him), “Let the eldest of you speak.” as ‘Abdur-Rahman was the youngest:. ‘Abdur-Rahman kept silent and the other two spoke. The Prophet said, “If you swear as to who has committed the murder, you will have the right to take your right from the murderer.” They said, “How should we swear if we did not witness the murder or see the murderer?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Then the Jews can clear themselves from the charge by taking Alaska (an oath taken by men that it was not they who committed the murder).” The!y said, “How should we believe in the oaths of infidels?” So, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) himself paid the blood money (of ‘Abdullah).

Volume 9, Book 83, Number 36:
Narrated by Sahl bin Abi Hathma (radiallaahu `anhu)
(a man from the Ansar) That a number of people from his tribe went to Khaibar and dispersed, and then they found one of them murdered. They said to the people with whom the corpse had been found, “You have killed our companion!” Those people said, “Neither have we killed him, nor do we know his killer.” The bereaved group went to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! We went to Khaibar and found one of us murdered.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Let the older among you come forward and speak.” Then the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, to them, “Bring your proof against the killer.” They said “We have no proof.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Then they (the defendants) will take an oath.” They said, “We do not accept the oaths of the Jews.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) did not like that the Blood-money of the killed one be lost without compensation, so he paid one-hundred camels out of the camels of Zakat (to the relatives of the deceased) as Diya (Blood-money).

Since there was no proof, Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) could not take an action against the Jews without getting an oath from them. But the bereaved ones were not going to accept the oath of Jews assuming they’d repeat the same story: “Neither have we killed him, nor do we know his killer”. So Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) arranged for the blood money to close the case.

Allaah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Al-Qisaas (the Law of Equality in punishment) is prescribed for you in case of murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But if the killer is forgiven by the brother (or the relatives) of the killed against blood money, then adhering to it with fairness and payment of the blood money to the heir should be made in fairness. This is an alleviation and a mercy from your Lord. So after this whoever transgresses the limits (i.e. kills the killer after taking the blood money), he shall have a painful torment”

[al-Baqarah 2:178].

The great scholar ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa’di said in his Tafseer: Allaah reminds His believing slaves that He has enjoined qisaas upon them in the case of murder, i.e., there should be equal recompense in that, and that the killer should be killed in the way in which he killed his victim, so as to establish justice and fairness among people. End quote.

Qisaas by killing the killer can only be in cases of deliberate killing, according to scholarly consensus. Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni (8/214): The scholars are unanimously agreed that qisaas is not required except in the case of deliberate killing, and we do not know of any difference of opinion with regard to qisaas being required for deliberate killing if all conditions are met. This is indicated by the general meaning of the verses and reports. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And whoever is killed wrongfully (Mazlooman intentionally with hostility and oppression and not by mistake), We have given his heir the authority [to demand Qisaas, __Law of Equality in punishment __or to forgive, or to take Diyah (blood money)]. But let him not exceed limits in the matter of taking life (i.e. he should not kill except the killer)” [al-Isra’ 17:33]

“Al-Qisaas (the Law of Equality in punishment) is prescribed for you in case of murder”

[al-Baqarah 2:178] 

“And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al-Qisaas”

[al-Baqarah 2:179]

What is meant – and Allaah knows best – is that the requirement of qisaas deters the one who wants to kill from doing do, out of compassion towards himself so that he will not killed, and so that the one whom he wanted to kill will remain alive. And it was said that the killer would generate enmity between himself and the tribe of the one whom he killed, so he wants to kill them for fear of them and they want to kill him and his tribe in revenge. If he is executed as a punishment according to sharee’ah, that will prevent the reason for fighting between the two tribes. And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And We ordained therein for them: Life for life, eye for eye”

[al-Maa’idah 5:45].

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If a person’s relative is killed, he has the choice of two options: either (the killer) may be killed or the fidyah (ransom, blood money) may be paid.” Agreed upon. Abu Shurayh al-Khuzaa’i said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever is killed or is wounded, has the choice of three things, and if he wants the fourth then restrain him. He may kill (the killer), or forgive him, or take the diyah (blood money). Narrated by Abu Dawood. According to another version: “Whoever has a relative killed after what I have said, his family has two options: to accept the diyah or kill (the killer).” And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is qisaas for deliberate killing, unless the heir of the slain lets him off.” End quote.

There was no difference of opinion among the scholars that it is valid for the heirs of the victim to forego qisaas and accept the diyah. This is what is indicated by the ahaadeeth quoted above.

In that case, the killer may be set free and he should be obliged to pay the diyah.

Taken from IslamQA

Borrowing Bridal Dresses: Setting New Trends (Hadith No. 2294)

Bismillah.

Today’s narration is of much benefit, especially in our ‘desi’ society. If only we were to act upon it..

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 796:
Narrated Aiman:
I went to ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) and she was wearing a coarse dress costing five Dirhams. ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) said, “Look up and see my slave-girl who refuses to wear it in the house though during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) I had a similar dress which no woman desiring to appear elegant (before her husband) failed to borrow from me.”

To summarize, Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) is upset and sort of astonished at her slave girl’s behavior when she refuses to wear that ‘coarse’ dress. According to her, it was similar to another dress that she had which brides used to borrow from her to wear on their weddings during the time of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). While it is understandable that times had changed and Muslims had access to more wealth now so obviously slaves had better standards too.. but the point I’d like to reiterate is that of borrowing the bridal dress.

Without going in to statistical details, we know how much an average bridal dress costs these days.. and the number of times it’s worn by the owner is less than two in most cases. They probably don’t give it away because of some ’emotional attachment’ to it, and those in need don’t borrow it from them for fear of ‘what will people say?’. The amount of money spent (read: wasted) on these dresses is just sad. Really. We need to bring about a change in our society.. for the better. It’ll start with us. It’ll start with me.

Having said that, if anyone wants to borrow my bridal dress (worn only once), they may feel free to contact me. :D

Spread the word, let’s inspire some positive change inshaAllah. :)