1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,220 --> 00:00:18,219 Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:18,219 --> 00:00:22,219 to present to you snapshots from the lives of the Companions, 4 00:00:22,219 --> 00:00:25,219 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,219 --> 00:00:27,260 may Allah have mercy on him. 6 00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:30,980 Zayd ibn Thabit, 7 00:00:30,980 --> 00:00:32,979 may Allah be pleased with him. 8 00:00:47,060 --> 00:00:50,060 We are in the second year of the Hijrah, 9 00:00:50,060 --> 00:00:54,090 and the city of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 10 00:00:54,090 --> 00:00:57,090 was surging with intense activity, 11 00:00:57,090 --> 00:00:59,090 in preparation for the Battle of Badr. 12 00:00:59,090 --> 00:01:01,090 The noble Prophet 13 00:01:01,090 --> 00:01:08,090 was casting his final glances over the first army moving under his command to strive in the cause of Allah 14 00:01:08,090 --> 00:01:11,219 and to establish His word upon the earth. 15 00:01:11,219 --> 00:01:15,219 Here, a young boy stepped forward toward the ranks, 16 00:01:15,219 --> 00:01:18,219 who had not yet reached thirteen years of age, 17 00:01:18,219 --> 00:01:20,219 glowing with intelligence and acumen, 18 00:01:20,219 --> 00:01:23,219 radiant with noble aptitude and zeal. 19 00:01:23,219 --> 00:01:26,219 In his hand was a sword equal to him in length, 20 00:01:26,219 --> 00:01:28,219 or perhaps slightly taller. 21 00:01:28,219 --> 00:01:33,219 He approached the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and said, 22 00:01:33,219 --> 00:01:36,219 "May I be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah! 23 00:01:36,219 --> 00:01:38,219 Grant me permission to join you 24 00:01:38,219 --> 00:01:41,219 and strive against the enemies of Allah beneath your banner." 25 00:01:41,219 --> 00:01:46,219 The noble Messenger looked at him with delight and admiration, 26 00:01:46,219 --> 00:01:49,219 patted his shoulder with gentleness and affection, 27 00:01:49,219 --> 00:01:51,219 comforted his heart, 28 00:01:51,219 --> 00:01:53,219 and turned him back due to his young age. 29 00:01:53,219 --> 00:01:58,280 The young boy returned, dragging his sword along the ground, sorrowful and grieving, 30 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:04,280 because he was deprived of the honor of accompanying the Messenger of Allah in the very first campaign he was to fight. 31 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,379 Behind him returned his mother, Al-Nuwar bint Malik, 32 00:02:08,379 --> 00:02:11,379 no less sorrowful and grieving than he was. 33 00:02:11,379 --> 00:02:16,379 She had longed for her eyes to be delighted by the sight of her young son 34 00:02:16,379 --> 00:02:20,379 marching with the men, striving in cause beneath the banner of the Messenger of Allah. 35 00:02:20,379 --> 00:02:27,379 She had hoped he would occupy the stature that his father had been expected to gain with the Prophet, 36 00:02:27,379 --> 00:02:30,379 had he remained alive. 37 00:02:30,379 --> 00:02:33,379 But the young Ansar boy, 38 00:02:33,379 --> 00:02:40,379 when he saw that he had failed to gain proximity to the Messenger of Allah in this realm due to his tender age, 39 00:02:40,379 --> 00:02:45,379 his acumen unlocked another realm that had no relation to age— 40 00:02:45,379 --> 00:02:49,379 one that would bring him close to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 41 00:02:49,379 --> 00:02:51,379 and draw him near to his side. 42 00:02:51,379 --> 00:02:55,379 That realm was the realm of knowledge and memorization. 43 00:02:55,379 --> 00:02:58,469 The boy mentioned the idea to his mother, 44 00:02:58,469 --> 00:03:02,469 and she was delighted, overjoyed, and eagerly set out to realize it. 45 00:03:02,469 --> 00:03:06,469 Al-Nuwar spoke to men from their tribe about the boy's desire 46 00:03:06,469 --> 00:03:08,469 and mentioned his idea to them. 47 00:03:08,469 --> 00:03:13,469 So they took him to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 48 00:03:13,469 --> 00:03:15,469 and said, "O Prophet of Allah! 49 00:03:15,469 --> 00:03:18,469 This is our son, Zayd ibn Thabit. 50 00:03:18,469 --> 00:03:21,469 He has memorized seventeen surahs of the Book of Allah, 51 00:03:21,469 --> 00:03:25,469 reciting them correctly just as they were revealed to your heart. 52 00:03:25,469 --> 00:03:30,469 Moreover, he is skilled and proficient in reading and writing, 53 00:03:30,469 --> 00:03:35,469 and he wishes to draw closer to you through this and to remain in your company. 54 00:03:35,469 --> 00:03:37,469 So listen to him if you wish." 55 00:03:37,469 --> 00:03:42,500 The noble Messenger listened to the young boy, Zayd ibn Thabit, recite some of what he had memorized, 56 00:03:42,500 --> 00:03:46,500 and found his performance radiant and his pronunciation crystal clear. 57 00:03:46,500 --> 00:03:49,500 The words of the Qur'an glistened upon his lips 58 00:03:49,500 --> 00:03:53,500 just as the stars glisten across the face of the sky. 59 00:03:53,500 --> 00:03:58,729 Furthermore, his recitation reflected deep emotion for what he was reciting, 60 00:03:58,729 --> 00:04:03,729 and his pauses demonstrated mindfulness of what he read and excellent comprehension. 61 00:04:03,729 --> 00:04:05,729 The noble Messenger was delighted with him, 62 00:04:05,729 --> 00:04:08,729 finding him to be even beyond what they had described. 63 00:04:08,729 --> 00:04:10,729 His joy in him was further increased 64 00:04:10,729 --> 00:04:12,729 by his mastery of writing. 65 00:04:12,729 --> 00:04:15,889 So the noble Prophet turned to him and said, 66 00:04:15,889 --> 00:04:17,889 "O Zayd, 67 00:04:17,889 --> 00:04:19,889 learn for me the writing of the Jews, 68 00:04:19,889 --> 00:04:22,889 for by Allah, I do not trust them regarding what I say." 69 00:04:22,889 --> 00:04:23,889 He replied, 70 00:04:23,889 --> 00:04:26,889 "At your service, O Messenger of Allah!" 71 00:04:26,889 --> 00:04:31,949 He immediately devoted himself to Hebrew until he mastered it in a short time. 72 00:04:31,949 --> 00:04:36,949 He began writing it for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 73 00:04:36,949 --> 00:04:39,949 whenever he wished to write to the Jews, 74 00:04:39,949 --> 00:04:42,949 and reading it to him whenever they wrote to him. 75 00:04:42,949 --> 00:04:48,079 Then he learned Syriac at his command, peace and blessings be upon him, 76 00:04:48,079 --> 00:04:50,079 just as he had learned Hebrew. 77 00:04:50,079 --> 00:04:53,079 Thus, the youth Zayd ibn Thabit became 78 00:04:53,079 --> 00:04:57,269 the translator for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 79 00:04:57,269 --> 00:05:03,269 Once the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was fully assured of Zayd's sound judgment, trustworthiness, 80 00:05:03,269 --> 00:05:05,269 precision, and understanding, 81 00:05:05,269 --> 00:05:09,269 he entrusted him with the revelation from heaven to earth, 82 00:05:09,269 --> 00:05:12,269 appointing him as a scribe of Allah's revelation. 83 00:05:12,269 --> 00:05:16,430 Whenever any part of the Qur'an was revealed to his heart, 84 00:05:16,430 --> 00:05:18,430 he would send for him and say, 85 00:05:18,430 --> 00:05:20,430 "Write, O Zayd!" 86 00:05:20,430 --> 00:05:22,430 And he would write it down. 87 00:05:22,430 --> 00:05:28,430 Thus, Zayd ibn Thabit was receiving the Qur'an directly from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 88 00:05:28,430 --> 00:05:30,430 moment by moment, 89 00:05:30,430 --> 00:05:32,430 growing along with its verses, 90 00:05:32,430 --> 00:05:35,430 receiving it fresh and pristine from his noble mouth, 91 00:05:35,430 --> 00:05:37,430 connected to the very contexts of its revelation. 92 00:05:37,430 --> 00:05:40,430 His soul shone with the lights of its guidance, 93 00:05:40,430 --> 00:05:43,430 and his mind was illuminated by the secrets of its divine law. 94 00:05:43,430 --> 00:05:47,430 Suddenly, this fortunate youth became a specialist in the Qur'an, 95 00:05:47,430 --> 00:05:51,430 becoming the primary authority in it for the Ummah of Muhammad 96 00:05:51,430 --> 00:05:55,430 after the passing of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 97 00:05:55,430 --> 00:06:00,620 He was the head of those who gathered the Book of Allah during the era of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, 98 00:06:00,620 --> 00:06:04,620 and the foremost among those who standardized its copies during the time of 'Uthman. 99 00:06:04,620 --> 00:06:09,620 Is there, after such a rank, any rank to which high aspirations could aspire? 100 00:06:09,620 --> 00:06:13,620 Is there above this glory any glory to which souls could yearn? 101 00:06:13,620 --> 00:06:17,850 It was among the blessings of the Qur'an upon Zayd ibn Thabit 102 00:06:17,850 --> 00:06:23,850 that it illuminated for him the paths of truth in situations where men of intellect would be bewildered. 103 00:06:23,850 --> 00:06:25,980 On the Day of Saqifah, 104 00:06:25,980 --> 00:06:31,980 the Muslims differed as to who should succeed the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 105 00:06:31,980 --> 00:06:34,139 The Emigrants said, 106 00:06:34,139 --> 00:06:36,139 "The succession of the Messenger of Allah lies among us, 107 00:06:36,139 --> 00:06:38,139 and we are most entitled to it." 108 00:06:39,139 --> 00:06:41,139 Some of the Ansar said, 109 00:06:41,139 --> 00:06:43,139 "Rather, the succession shall be among us, 110 00:06:43,139 --> 00:06:45,139 and we are most worthy of it." 111 00:06:45,139 --> 00:06:47,230 Others among them said, 112 00:06:47,230 --> 00:06:51,230 "Rather, the succession shall be shared between us and you together, 113 00:06:51,230 --> 00:06:55,230 for whenever the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 114 00:06:55,230 --> 00:06:58,230 appointed one of you to an office, 115 00:06:58,230 --> 00:07:00,230 he would pair him with one of us." 116 00:07:00,230 --> 00:07:03,230 A great tribulation was on the verge of erupting, 117 00:07:03,230 --> 00:07:07,230 while the Prophet of Allah was still shrouded among them, 118 00:07:07,230 --> 00:07:09,230 not yet buried. 119 00:07:09,230 --> 00:07:14,230 A decisive, wise word was imperative— 120 00:07:14,230 --> 00:07:16,230 one radiant with the guidance of the Qur'an, 121 00:07:16,230 --> 00:07:18,230 to nip the tribulation in the bud 122 00:07:18,230 --> 00:07:21,230 and illuminate the path for those who were confused. 123 00:07:21,230 --> 00:07:26,230 That word came forth from the mouth of Zayd ibn Thabit al-Ansari, 124 00:07:26,230 --> 00:07:28,230 as he turned to his people 125 00:07:28,230 --> 00:07:31,230 and said, "O assembly of the Ansar! 126 00:07:31,230 --> 00:07:34,230 Indeed, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 127 00:07:34,230 --> 00:07:36,230 was from the Emigrants; 128 00:07:36,230 --> 00:07:39,230 therefore, his successor must be an Emigrant like him. 129 00:07:39,230 --> 00:07:43,230 And we were the supporters (Ansar) of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him; 130 00:07:43,230 --> 00:07:47,230 so we shall be supporters to his successor after him, 131 00:07:47,230 --> 00:07:49,459 and his helpers upon the truth." 132 00:07:49,459 --> 00:07:53,459 Then he extended his hand to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and said, 133 00:07:53,459 --> 00:07:56,459 "This is your successor, so give him your allegiance!" 134 00:07:56,459 --> 00:08:01,620 By virtue of the Qur'an, his deep understanding of fiqh within it, 135 00:08:01,620 --> 00:08:05,620 and his long companionship with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, Zayd ibn Thabit became 136 00:08:05,620 --> 00:08:08,620 a beacon for the Muslims. 137 00:08:08,620 --> 00:08:11,620 Their caliphs consulted him in complex dilemmas, 138 00:08:11,620 --> 00:08:14,620 the general populace sought his legal verdicts in difficult matters, 139 00:08:14,620 --> 00:08:18,620 and they referred to him in inheritance law in particular, 140 00:08:18,620 --> 00:08:20,620 for there was no one among the Muslims 141 00:08:20,620 --> 00:08:23,620 at that time who was more knowledgeable than him concerning its rulings, 142 00:08:23,620 --> 00:08:26,620 or more skilled in its distribution. 143 00:08:26,620 --> 00:08:30,620 Indeed, 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, addressed the Muslims on the Day of al-Jabiyah, 144 00:08:30,620 --> 00:08:33,620 saying, "O people! 145 00:08:33,620 --> 00:08:35,620 Whoever wishes to ask about the Qur'an, 146 00:08:35,620 --> 00:08:38,620 let him come to Zayd ibn Thabit. 147 00:08:38,620 --> 00:08:40,620 Whoever wishes to ask about fiqh, 148 00:08:40,620 --> 00:08:43,620 let him come to Mu'adh ibn Jabal. 149 00:08:43,620 --> 00:08:45,620 And whoever wishes to ask about wealth, 150 00:08:45,620 --> 00:08:47,620 let him come to me, 151 00:08:47,620 --> 00:08:51,620 for Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has made me its custodian 152 00:08:51,620 --> 00:08:53,940 and its distributor." 153 00:08:53,940 --> 00:08:56,940 The seekers of knowledge among the Companions and the Tabi'un recognized 154 00:08:56,940 --> 00:08:58,940 Zayd ibn Thabit's true worth; 155 00:08:58,940 --> 00:09:00,940 they honored and revered him 156 00:09:00,940 --> 00:09:03,940 for the knowledge settled in his chest. 157 00:09:03,940 --> 00:09:06,940 Here was the ocean of knowledge, 'Abd Allah ibn 'Abbas, 158 00:09:06,940 --> 00:09:10,940 seeing Zayd ibn Thabit about to mount his riding beast; 159 00:09:10,940 --> 00:09:12,940 he stood before him, 160 00:09:12,940 --> 00:09:14,940 held his stirrup for him, 161 00:09:14,940 --> 00:09:17,940 and took hold of the reins of his mount. 162 00:09:17,940 --> 00:09:19,940 Zayd ibn Thabit said to him, 163 00:09:19,940 --> 00:09:22,940 "Do not do that, O cousin of the Messenger of Allah!" 164 00:09:22,940 --> 00:09:24,940 Ibn 'Abbas replied, 165 00:09:24,940 --> 00:09:27,940 "Thus were we commanded to treat our scholars." 166 00:09:27,940 --> 00:09:29,940 Zayd then said to him, 167 00:09:29,940 --> 00:09:31,940 "Show me your hand." 168 00:09:31,940 --> 00:09:33,940 Ibn 'Abbas extended his hand to him, 169 00:09:33,940 --> 00:09:36,940 whereupon Zayd leaned over it and kissed it, 170 00:09:36,940 --> 00:09:37,940 saying, 171 00:09:37,940 --> 00:09:41,940 "Thus were we commanded to treat the household of our Prophet." 172 00:09:41,940 --> 00:09:46,350 When Zayd ibn Thabit passed on to the proximity of his Lord, 173 00:09:46,350 --> 00:09:50,350 the Muslims wept over his death, lamenting the knowledge that was buried with him. 174 00:09:50,350 --> 00:09:52,379 Abu Hurayrah said, 175 00:09:52,379 --> 00:09:55,379 "Today, the learned scholar of this Ummah has died; 176 00:09:55,379 --> 00:09:59,379 perhaps Allah will make Ibn 'Abbas a successor to him." 177 00:09:59,379 --> 00:10:03,509 The poet of the Messenger of Allah, Hassan ibn Thabit, eulogized him, 178 00:10:03,509 --> 00:10:06,509 eulogizing himself along with him, saying: 179 00:10:06,509 --> 00:10:10,639 "Who is left for poetry after Hassan and his son? 180 00:10:10,639 --> 00:10:14,639 And who is left for deep meanings after Zayd ibn Thabit?" 181 00:10:14,639 --> 00:10:20,690 "Who is left for poetry after Hassan and his son? 182 00:10:20,690 --> 00:10:25,039 And who is left for deep meanings after Zayd ibn Thabit?" 183 00:10:25,039 --> 00:10:28,649 Hassan ibn Thabit. 184 00:10:32,970 --> 00:10:38,129 O poetry, excuse me as I pour forth in their praise—shall we excel?