Unique Virtue of `Uthman ibn `Affan (Hadith No. 2756)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 359 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
‘Uthman (radiallaahu `anhu) did not join the Badr battle because he was married to one of the daughters of Allah’s Apostle and she was ill. So, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said to him. “You will get a reward and a share (from the war booty) similar to the reward and the share of one who has taken part in the Badr battle.”

Read this hadith in Arabic here.

This hadith is part of another longer narration which comes in Book 57 of Bukhari:

Narrated ‘Uthman (the son of Muhib):
An Egyptian who came and performed the Hajj to the Kaba saw some people sitting. He inquired, “Who are these people?” Somebody said, “They are the tribe of Quraish.” He said, “Who is the Shaikh among them?” The people replied, “He is ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar.” He said, “O Ibn Umar! I want to ask you about something; please tell me about it. Do you know that ‘Uthman fled away on the day (of the battle) of Uhud?” Ibn ‘Umar said, “Yes.” The (Egyptian) man said, “Do you know that ‘Uthman was absent on the day (of the battle) of Badr and did not join it?” Ibn ‘Umar said, “Yes.” The man said, “Do you know that he failed to attend the Ar Ridwan pledge and did not witness it (i.e. Hudaibiya pledge of allegiance)?” Ibn ‘Umar said, “Yes.” The man said, “Allahu Akbar!” Ibn ‘Umar said, “Come, let me explain to you. As for his flight on the day of Uhud, I testify that Allah has excused him and forgiven him; and as for his absence from the battle of Badr, it was due to the fact that the daughter of Allah’s Apostle was his wife and she was sick then. Allah’s Apostle said to him, “You will receive the same reward and share (of the booty) as anyone of those who participated in the battle of Badr.’ As for his absence from the Ar-Ridwan pledge of allegiance, had there been any person in Mecca more respectable than ‘Uthman (to be sent as a representative). Allah’s Apostle would have sent him instead of him. No doubt, Allah’s Apostle had sent him, and the incident of the Ar-Ridwan pledge of Allegiance happened after ‘Uthman had gone to Mecca. Allah’s Apostle held out his right hand saying, ‘This is ‘Uthman’s hand.’ He struck his (other) hand with it saying, ‘This (pledge of allegiance) is on the behalf of ‘Uthman.’ Then Ibn ‘Umar said to the man, ‘Go now with this with you.’
[Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 57, Number 48]

Not taking part in the battle of Badr and still getting a share in its booty and reward was a virtue unique to Uthman (radiallaahu `anhu). He had the intention to go and fight but Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked him to stay and look after his wife, Ruqayyah (radiallaahu `anhaa). She died before the army returned victorious. So on one hand, the Prophet was happy about the win over Quraysh, he grieved the loss of his daughter.

Words of wisdom.

Advertisement

Rest after Battle (Hadith No. 2697)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2692 – 2696 (below) are repeats. See linked text for related posts.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 295 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
A man came to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I have enlisted in the army for such-and-such Ghazwa, and my wife is leaving for Hajj.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Go back and perform Hajj with your wife.”

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 296 :
Narrated by Az-Zuhri (radiallaahu `anhu)
As follows in Hadith 297.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 297 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
We were in the company of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) in a Ghazwa, and he remarked about a man who claimed to be a Muslim, saying, “This (man) is from the people of the (Hell) Fire.” When the battle started, the man fought violently till he got wounded. Somebody said, “O Allah’s Apostle! The man whom you described as being from the people of the (Hell) Fire fought violently today and died.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “He will go to the (Hell) Fire.” Some people were on the point of doubting (the truth of what the Prophet had said) while they were in this state, suddenly someone said that he was still alive but severely wounded. When night fell, he lost patience and committed suicide. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was informed of that, and he said, “Allah is Greater! I testify that I am Allah’s Slave and His Apostle.” Then he ordered Bilal (radiallaahu `anhu) to announce amongst the people: ‘None will enter Paradise but a Muslim, and Allah may support this religion (i.e. Islam) even with a disobedient man.’

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 298 :
Narrated by Anas bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) delivered a sermon and said, “Zaid received the flag and was martyred, then Ja’far took it and was martyred, then ‘Abdullah bin Rawaha took it and was martyred, and then Khalid bin Al-Walid took it without being appointed, and Allah gave him victory.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) added, “I am not pleased (or they will not be pleased) that they should remain (alive) with us,” while his eyes were shedding tears.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 299 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
The people of the tribes of Ril, Dhakwan, ‘Usiya and Bani Lihyan came to the Prophet and claimed that they had embraced Islam, and they requested him to support them with some men to fight their own people. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) supported them with seventy men from the Ansar whom we used to call Al-Qurra'(i.e. Scholars) who (out of piety) used to cut wood during the day and pray all the night. So, those people took the (seventy) men till they reached a place called Bi’r-Ma’ana where they betrayed and martyred them. So, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) invoked evil on the tribe of Ril, Dhakwan and Bani Lihyan for one month in the prayer.
Narrated Qatada: Anas (radiallaahu `anhu) told us that they (i.e. Muslims) used to recite a Quranic Verse concerning those martyrs which was:– “O Allah! Let our people be informed on our behalf that we have met our Lord Who has got pleased with us and made us pleased.” Then the Verse was cancelled.

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 300 :
Narrated by Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu)
Whenever the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) conquered some people, he would stay in their town for three days.

As per the rights of the guest, three days of hospitality is the minimum, hence the habit of Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). And this gave enough time to let the fighters and their animals recuperate from battle and prepare for the journey home.

Importance of First Aid (Hadith No. 2530)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 135 :
Narrated by Abu Musa (radiallaahu `anhu)
Abu ‘Amir (radiallaahu `anhu) was hit with an arrow in his knee, so I went to him and he asked me to remove the arrow. When I removed it, the water started dribbling from it. Then I went to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and told him about it. He said, “O Allah! Forgive ‘Ubaid Abu ‘Amir.”

Concept of the Human Body & Human Rights in Islam

Islam invokes respect for the body as a gift from Allah; a Muslim does not assume absolute “ownership” of his or her body, but only cares for it as a precious gift while he/she lives until it is returned to its Creator upon death. Muslims are required to take good care of their health and that of other Muslims as much as humanly possible. They’re also required to respect nature, the environment, and the physical well being of all living things, including humans of other faiths. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) conveyed to Muslims that they will be asked in front of Allah on Judgment Day about how they used the gift of healthy bodies in life. Contrary to some other faiths, a Muslim is prohibited from terminating his own life, is not allowed to abuse or destroy his body, nor is he required to humiliate it to achieve excellence in worship or closeness to the Creator. The Qur’an says what means:

*{And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to [your] destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good.}* (Al-Baqarah 2:195)

Islam teaches that every living being has an equal right to life-sustaining elements, and humans get the greatest share of respect as the deputies of Allah on earth. Muslims are instructed to study the functions of their own bodies in order to appreciate Allah’s magnificence and to be able to save precious lives. The Qur’an says what means:

*{As also in your own selves: will ye not then see?}* (Adh-Dhariyat 51:21)

For example, in the Qur’an, Allah speaks about the stages of man’s embryonic development to invoke curiosity for learning among Muslims. The Qur’an says what means:

*{We created Man from an extract of clay. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We made the drop into a `alaqah [leech, suspended thing, or blood clot], then We made the `alaqah into a mudghah [chewed substance]…}* (Al-Mu’minun 23:12-14)

According to these rules, seeking medical help to “repair” affected or impaired physical functions becomes a priority for a good Muslim to maintain a body healthy enough to fulfill his Islamic duties on earth.

Islam, a Religion of Healing

Islam is a religion of healing for humans on all levels of their being: mind, body, and soul. Seeking medical help is advised in many prophetic traditions asserting that “there is a remedy for every malady and it’s excellent to get treatment.” (Narrated by Muslim.)

In addition to seeking medical assistance from a professional to cure the body on emergencies or chronic cases, Islam offers the sick and the ailing cure for their souls and minds through an array of Qur’anic verses and supplications called ruqyah. A Muslim believes that Allah is the Creator of everything in the universe, including germs, illness, accidents, natural disasters, etc. So, after seeking medical assistance, Muslims are instructed to turn to Allah to seek complete and comprehensive healing for the marvelous miracle that is the human body.

The healing philosophy is taken a step further as Islam looks at the Muslim nation as one healthy human body; if one member is sick, the rest of the body suffers, as Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) teaches in his tradition. Consequently, Muslims worldwide are supposed to offer assistance, first aid, and life sustenance to their Muslim brethren in other lands affected with natural disasters or epidemics—thus the creation of international organizations such as Islamic Relief and the Red Crescent.

Islamic Ethical System Refines Arabs’ First Aid Skills

Before Islam, Arabs lived in a very rough environment. Desert life resulted in an array of accidents and injuries that required all levels of medical skills to treat, whether those injuries were from domestic chores, child rearing, work, travel, hunting, war, or contracted diseases and infections. Cuts, burns, bruises, bone fractures, dehydration, sunstrokes, animal and insect bites, wounds and infections were all common problems for the native Arabs, who had a wide knowledge of the healing properties of animal extracts, medical plants, and various first aid materials suitable for each case.

As Islam spread, a comprehensive ethical system was introduced into all aspects of the daily lives of its followers, capitalizing on existent skills while refining them into a model example for civilized social systems. The Qur’an elaborates on being kind and humane to others, even to prisoners, captives, and enemies during wars. The Qur’an says what means:

*{If one amongst the pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah; and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they are men without knowledge.}* (At-Tawbah 9: 6)

Respect was granted to all, even to dead bodies, which were recommended for prompt burial out of protection and respect. Torture, mutilation, dismembering of dead bodies, or any kind of physical humiliation was prohibited. Even hitting the face in fury was prohibited, even between parent and child, to prevent humiliation, which is not suitable for a dignified Muslim.

Even during wars, medical help and first aid was systematically offered to everyone in equal measure, Muslim soldiers as well as prisoners of war. Muslim women volunteered as nurses at war, and Rufaida, the first female doctor in Islam was personally appointed by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). She was given a spacious tent to serve as a makeshift battleground hospital. As a result, many captives embraced Islam after sampling superior humane treatment from their Muslim captors.

Many may not know that the modern international laws of the UN in use today for treating prisoners of war (POWs) were based on the impeccable conduct of the great Muslim conqueror Salah Ad-Din (Saladin) and his armies, who fought to liberate occupied Muslim lands in the Middle East in the Middle Ages.

Islam also takes into consideration the special conditions of the Muslim sick and wounded when performing acts of worship. They’re given the benefit of special rulings in Islamic fiqh (jurisdiction) to allow for their weakness. Other Muslims are expected to assist them and support them whenever possible. For example, senior citizens and severely ill Muslims can perform their five daily prayers sitting instead of standing, or even lying down in their beds if they can’t get up. Proper food, healthy living conditions, and tender loving care are detailed in many Qur’anic verses and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Muslim ethics and medical knowledge were spread through many other ways besides wars. Travel was required to perform Hajj and to fulfill the duty of da`wah (spreading the word of Allah) to all corners of the earth; thus, all Muslims, both men and women, found it necessary to learn some level of first aid in order to offer life-saving help whenever needed. Men and women excelled in medical practice and could treat each other in emergencies. Even the great Caliph `Umar ibn Al-Khattab on his nightly rounds personally offered first aid to poor people on various occasions—without revealing his identity so as not to intimidate them.

Consequently, Muslims were sought after as skilled first aid and medical experts when they traveled across the world. People came to them for advice and information. Many such stories are recorded in history and travel books in Europe, Asia, and Africa. In a few decades from the dawn of Islam, Muslims built the firm foundations of the science of modern medicine, anatomy, and surgery. The work of the great Muslim scientist Ibn Sina (Avicenna) is still taught at top international universities to this present day.

Taken from OnIslam.Net

How to Treat Servants (Hadith No. 2422)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 29 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
When Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) came to Medina; he did not have any servant. Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) (Anas’ step-father) took me to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Anas is a wise boy, so let him serve you.” So, I served him at home and on journeys. If I did anything, he never asked me why I did it, and if I refrained from doing anything, he never asked me why I refrained from doing it.

This hadith gives evidence for employment of an orphan and showing kindness to servants. We treat our servants as if they owe us their lives, belittling them and scolding them for every little thing. Look at the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), he wouldn’t even ask him questions like ‘Why didn’t you do this?’, or ‘Why did you do it?’. I’m sure there must have been incidents where he fell short, he was just a ten-year-old boy when he started and spent all his teen years with the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). There must have been times when he didn’t complete a task or committed mistakes etc. But he was never rebuked by the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam).

And isn’t it amazing how he mentions this specific trait of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) when narrating this hadith? He could’ve said something more general, like “He was extremely nice to me”, or “He never scolded me”, or “He was the best”. You get the point. But when he recalls his time with the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), he remembers specifically what we could call “forgiveness”. Imagine what our servants would recall their time with us ten, twenty years down the line. Would they remember our pleasantness or the constant insults we throw at them?

Interesting fact about Anas (radiallaahu `anhu):

His mother once asked the Prophet, upon him be peace, to supplicate for Anas. He, upon him be peace, said,
‘O Allah, increase him in wealth and sons, give him long life and forgive him his sins.’
Anas would recollect that he had 125 offspring in his lifetime and only two of them were girls, his garden gave fruit twice a year and had basil which smelt like musk and he had lived long and had even survived poison and he hoped for the fourth part of the supplication. He was the last companion to die in Basra in the year 93H aged 103 years old. [Abdul Aziz Ahmed]

Read more on his life here.

Rights of a non-Muslim Mother (Hadith No. 2287)

Bismillah.

Hadith no. 2286 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 788:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu):
Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) saw a silken cloak over a man for sale and requested the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) to buy it in order to wear it on Fridays and while meeting delegates. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “This is worn by the one who will have no share in the Hereafter.” Later on Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) got some silken cloaks similar to that one, and he sent one to ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu). ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) said to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), “How can I wear it, while you said about it what you said?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “I have not given it to you to wear, but to sell or to give to someone else.” So, ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) sent it to his brother at Mecca before he embraced Islam.

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 789:
Narrated Asma’ bint Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhaa):
My mother came to me during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and she was a pagan. I said to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) (seeking his verdict), “My mother has come to me and she desires to receive a reward from me, shall I keep good relations with her?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Yes, keep good relation with her.”

One must continue to do good to the non believing mother and remember that her disbelief does not justify disobedience by the son or daughter and that doing her good does not contradict with their innocence of her as a non believer, on the contrary as it is stated in Verse 31:15 below, Allah has commanded us to treat the non believing parents kindly even if they strive to make their child a polytheist because of their rights as parents hoping that they will embrace Islam.

“But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that if which you have no knowledge, then obey them not; but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do.” (31:15)

Read more here.