In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Treasures of the Prophetic biography (Seerah).
The conversion of ‘Adi ibn Hatim.
May Allah be pleased with him.
A man once said to ‘Adi ibn Hatim:
"A hadith has reached me concerning you,"
"and I would love to hear it from you directly."
‘Adi replied:
"Very well."
"When news reached me of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) emergence,"
"I detested his mission with an intense hatred."
"I left and traveled until I reached the Roman territories,"
"and I arrived at the court of Caesar."
"Yet, I found my situation there even more detestable than his emergence."
Then I said to myself:
"By Allah, if I go to this man,"
"if he is a liar, it will not harm me,"
"and if he is truthful, I will know."
So I went to him, and when I arrived, the people began saying:
"‘Adi ibn Hatim! ‘Adi ibn Hatim!"
I entered upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him),
and he said to me:
"O ‘Adi ibn Hatim,"
"embrace Islam and you will be safe."
He said:
"I replied, 'I already follow a religion.'"
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"I know your religion better than you do."
I asked:
"You know my religion better than I do?"
He said: "Yes."
"Are you not of the Rakusiyyah sect?"
"And do you not consume a fourth of your people’s spoils?"
I said: "Yes."
He said:
"That is not permissible for you in your religion."
He said:
"No sooner had he said it,"
"than I humbled myself before the truth of it."
Then he said:
"I know what is preventing you from embracing Islam."
"You say:"
"'Only the weak among the people follow him,'"
"'and those who have no power.'"
"'And the Arabs have cast them aside.'"
"Are you familiar with al-Hirah?"
I said: "I have not seen it, but I have heard of it."
He said:
"By Him in whose hand is my soul,"
"Allah will surely bring this matter to completion,"
"until a woman travels alone from al-Hirah,"
"and circumambulates the Ka'bah, fearing no one but Allah."
"And the treasures of Khosrow ibn Hormuz shall certainly be opened."
He said:
"I asked, 'Khosrow ibn Hormuz?'"
He said: "Yes,"
"Khosrow ibn Hormuz."
"And wealth will be given so freely,"
"that no one will accept it."
‘Adi said, some time after the death of the Prophet (peace be upon him):
"This woman has indeed traveled from al-Hirah,"
"circumambulating the House with no one to fear."
"And I was among those who opened the treasures of Khosrow ibn Hormuz."
"And by Him in whose hand is my soul, the third prophecy will surely come to pass,"
"because the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said it."
Then ‘Adi said:
"I am a monotheist, a Muslim."
The face of the Prophet (peace be upon him) beamed with joy.
He then assigned a man from the Ansar to him,
meaning to host him.
He began visiting the Prophet (peace be upon him) at both ends of the day,
until he fully embraced Islam,
and followed the Prophet (peace be upon him).
In the ninth year of the Hijrah,
news reached the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he was in Madinah,
that the Romans were preparing to fight him,
and that Heraclius had assembled a massive army,
numbering forty thousand fighters.
He had also incited the tribes of Lakhm, Judham, and other Arab Christians to join him,
and they had reached a place called al-Balqa’.
So, the Prophet (peace be upon him) decided to launch a decisive campaign,
for the Muslims to engage the Romans on their own borders,
rather than waiting for them to march into the heart of the lands of Islam.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) announced to the Companions that they should prepare for battle,
and he sent word to the Arab tribes and the people of Makkah to mobilize.
He rarely intended a campaign without hinting at a different destination,
but for this campaign, he did not use such misdirection due to the gravity of the situation.
He openly declared that he intended to fight the Romans.
When the Muslims heard the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him),
they raced to obey his command and prepared for battle.
Tribes began pouring into Madinah from every direction.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered the people to prepare.
A man named al-Jadd ibn Qays, who was among the hypocrites, stood up,
and the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him:
"O Jadd, would you like to fight the Byzantines?"
He replied: "O Messenger of Allah, permit me and do not put me to trial."
"By Allah, my people know that no man is more infatuated with women than I am,"
"and I fear that if I see the Byzantine women, I will not be able to restrain myself."
The Prophet (peace be upon him) turned away from him and said:
"I have granted you permission."
Then Allah, Blessed and Exalted be He, revealed:
“Of them is he who saith: Grant me leave (to stay at home) and tempt me not. Surely it is into temptation that they (thus) have fallen. Lo! hell verily is all around the disbelievers.” (9:49)
“Of them is he who saith: Grant me leave (to stay at home) and tempt me not. Surely it is into temptation that they (thus) have fallen. Lo! hell verily is all around the disbelievers.” (9:49)
"And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers."
A group of hypocrites said to one another: "Do not march forth in the heat."
Then Allah, Blessed and Exalted be He, revealed:
“Those who were left behind rejoiced at sitting still behind the messenger of Allah, and were averse to striving with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way. And they said: Go not forth in the heat! Say: The fire of hell is more intense of heat, if they but understood.” (9:81)
“Those who were left behind rejoiced at sitting still behind the messenger of Allah, and were averse to striving with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way. And they said: Go not forth in the heat! Say: The fire of hell is more intense of heat, if they but understood.” (9:81)
Then the Messenger (peace be upon him) commanded the people to prepare,
and urged them to spend in charity.
‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) with a thousand dinars in his garment,
when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was equipping the Army of Hardship.
He poured them into the lap of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) began turning them over in his hand, saying:
"Nothing ‘Uthman does after today will harm him."
Reported by al-Tirmidhi with a hasan (good) chain of narration.
‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Khabbab al-Sulami said:
"I witnessed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him),"
"while he was urging the people to equip the Army of Hardship."
‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan stood up and said:
"O Messenger of Allah,"
"I pledge one hundred camels with their saddles and equipment for the sake of Allah."
Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) urged them again to equip the army.
‘Uthman said:
"O Messenger of Allah,"
"I pledge two hundred camels with their saddles and equipment."
The Prophet (peace be upon him) urged them again,
and ‘Uthman stood up and said:
"I pledge three hundred camels with their saddles and equipment for the sake of Allah."
‘Abd al-Rahman says:
"I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) descending from the pulpit saying:"
"'Nothing ‘Uthman does after this will harm him.'"
"'Nothing ‘Uthman does after this will harm him.'"
In contrast to the hypocrite al-Jadd ibn Qays,
there was ‘Ulbah ibn Zayd,
who would pray at night, weeping and saying:
"O Allah, You have commanded jihad and encouraged it,"
"yet You have not provided me with the means to accompany Your Messenger (peace be upon him),"
"nor have You placed in the hands of Your Messenger what would enable me to join him."
"I hereby forgive every Muslim for any wrong they have done me, whether regarding wealth, body, or honor."
This man was among the poor,
who had come to the Messenger (peace be upon him) wanting to fight alongside him.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to them:
“Nor unto those whom, when they came to thee (asking) that thou shouldst mount them, thou didst tell: I cannot find whereon to mount you. They turned back with eyes flowing with tears, for sorrow that they could not find the means to spend.” (9:92)
“Nor unto those whom, when they came to thee (asking) that thou shouldst mount them, thou didst tell: I cannot find whereon to mount you. They turned back with eyes flowing with tears, for sorrow that they could not find the means to spend.” (9:92)
The next morning, this man was with the people.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) stood before the people and asked:
"Where is the one who gave charity last night?"
No one stood up.
"Where is the one who gave charity?"
"Let him stand."
‘Ulbah ibn Zayd stood up,
and informed him of what had happened.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Rejoice,"
"for by Him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad,"
"it has been recorded as an accepted zakat."
Allah the Almighty said:
“Not unto the weak nor unto the sick nor unto those who can find naught to spend is any fault (to be imputed though they stay at home) if they are true to Allah and His messenger. Not unto the good is there any road (of blame). Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (9:91)
“Not unto the weak nor unto the sick nor unto those who can find naught to spend is any fault (to be imputed though they stay at home) if they are true to Allah and His messenger. Not unto the good is there any road (of blame). Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (9:91)
"When they are sincere to Allah,"
“Not unto the weak nor unto the sick nor unto those who can find naught to spend is any fault (to be imputed though they stay at home) if they are true to Allah and His messenger. Not unto the good is there any road (of blame). Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (9:91)
“Not unto the weak nor unto the sick nor unto those who can find naught to spend is any fault (to be imputed though they stay at home) if they are true to Allah and His messenger. Not unto the good is there any road (of blame). Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (9:91)
"And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."
“Nor unto those whom, when they came to thee (asking) that thou shouldst mount them, thou didst tell: I cannot find whereon to mount you. They turned back with eyes flowing with tears, for sorrow that they could not find the means to spend.” (9:92)
“Nor unto those whom, when they came to thee (asking) that thou shouldst mount them, thou didst tell: I cannot find whereon to mount you. They turned back with eyes flowing with tears, for sorrow that they could not find the means to spend.” (9:92)
“Nor unto those whom, when they came to thee (asking) that thou shouldst mount them, thou didst tell: I cannot find whereon to mount you. They turned back with eyes flowing with tears, for sorrow that they could not find the means to spend.” (9:92)
During this period,
he appointed Muhammad ibn Maslamah as his deputy over Madinah,
though some say it was Siba‘ ibn ‘Arfutah.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib to stay behind with his family,
meaning with the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him),
his daughter Fatimah,
and his children, al-Hasan and al-Husayn,
and those of his household who were left behind, to look after them.
Some hypocrites spoke ill of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him),
and said:
"He only left him behind because he found him a burden and wanted to be rid of him."
So ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) took his weapon,
and went out until he reached the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he was camped at al-Jurf,
waiting for those who had been delayed from the army.
He said: "O Prophet of Allah,"
"the hypocrites claim that you only left me behind because you found me a burden."
He replied: "They lied."
"Rather, I left you behind to look after those I left behind."
"Go back and represent me among my family and yours."
"Are you not pleased to be to me as Aaron was to Moses,"
"except that there is no prophet after me?"
Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
From ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him),
that he came to the Messenger (peace be upon him) and said:
"Are you leaving me behind with the women and children?"
He replied:
"Are you not pleased to be to me as Aaron was to Moses,"
"except that there is no prophet after me?"
This is a high status for the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him).
Treasures of the Seerah.
Be like Abu Khaythamah.
Abu Khaythamah returned to his family on a hot day,
after the Messenger (peace be upon him) had been marching for days.
He found his two wives in their huts in his garden,
and each of them had sprinkled water in her hut and cooled it for him,
and had prepared food for him there.
When he entered his hut to sit down,
he stood at the doorway of the hut,
and looked at his two wives and what they had prepared for him.
Then he said:
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is out in the sun, the wind, and the heat,"
"while Abu Khaythamah is in a cool shade,"
"with food prepared,"
"and a beautiful wife in his own property."
"This is not fair."
Then he said,
"By Allah, I will not enter the shade of either of your homes,
until I catch up with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him."
"So prepare some provisions for me."
They did so.
He then brought his camel forward,
mounted it, and set out in pursuit of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
He eventually caught up with him at Tabuk.
On the way, he met 'Umayr ibn Wahb al-Jumahi.
Abu Khaythama said,
"I have committed a sin,
so do not mind if you lag behind me until I reach the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him."
He did so.
When Abu Khaythama drew near to the Prophet, peace be upon him, while he was encamped at Tabuk,
the people said,
"There is a rider approaching on the road."
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said,
"Be Abu Khaythama."
They said, "O Messenger of Allah,
by Allah, it is Abu Khaythama."
When he made his camel kneel,
he came forward and greeted the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said to him,
"Woe to you, O Abu Khaythama."
He then informed the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, of his situation,
and the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, spoke kindly to him and prayed for his well-being.
Treasures of the Seerah: A virtue of Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him.
Likewise, among those who lagged behind the Prophet, peace be upon him, was Abu Dharr al-Ghifari.
This was because Abu Dharr’s camel was lagging behind.
When it became slow, he took his belongings onto his back and set out walking on foot,
following the tracks of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, on foot.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, had stopped at one of the waystations.
A Muslim observer looked out and said, "O Messenger of Allah, this man is walking on the road alone."
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, "Be Abu Dharr."
When the people looked closely, they said, "O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, it is Abu Dharr."
He, peace be upon him, said, "May Allah have mercy on Abu Dharr; he walks alone, dies alone, and will be resurrected alone."
This hadith was classified as hasan by al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, even though there is some discussion regarding its chain of narration.
In reality, a part of this prophecy has occurred, and it consists of three parts.
The first is that he walks alone, and this incident shows us that he did indeed walk alone, may Allah be pleased with him.
The second is that he dies alone, and this also occurred.
When Abu Dharr went out to al-Rabadha, no one was with him except his wife and his servant.
'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud arrived with a group of people from Iraq who were performing 'Umrah, passing through the area.
They were suddenly startled by the funeral, and the servant stood up to them and said, "This is Abu Dharr,
the companion of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, so help us bury him."
'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, wept and said, "The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, spoke the truth:
'You walk alone, you die alone, and you will be resurrected alone.'" Then he and his companions descended and buried him.
His wife said, "When death approached Abu Dharr, I wept."
He asked me, "What makes you weep?" I replied, "Why should I not weep when you are dying in a desolate land,
and I do not have a garment large enough to shroud you, nor do I have the means to bury you?"
He said, "Rejoice and do not weep, for I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say to a group I was among:
'One of you will die in a desolate land, and a group of believers will witness his death.'
Everyone from that group has died in a village among a crowd, so I am that man.
By Allah, I have not lied, nor have I been lied to; so keep watch on the road."
Umm Dharr said, "How can I, when the pilgrims have gone and the roads are cut off?"
He said, "Go and keep watch." She said, "I would lean against a sand dune to watch, then return to nurse him."
While I was doing that, I saw men on their mounts, their camels moving quickly.
I signaled to them, and they hurried toward me until they stood before me and said, "O handmaiden of Allah, what is the matter?"
She said, "A man of the Muslims is dying; will you shroud him?"
They asked, "Who is he?" She replied, "Abu Dharr."
They asked, "The companion of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him?" She said, "Yes."
They sacrificed their fathers and mothers for him and hurried to him until they entered upon him.
He said to them, "Rejoice, for I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say to a group I was among:
'One of you will die in a desolate land, and a group of believers will witness his death.'
There is not a man from that group who has not died among a crowd. By Allah, I have not lied, nor have I been lied to."
"If I had a garment large enough to shroud me or my wife,
I would be shrouded in nothing but a garment that belongs to me or her.
I adjure you by Allah,
let no man shroud me who was an amir, a chief, a courier, or a leader."
Everyone from that group had held some such position,
except for a young man from the Ansar.
He said, "I will, O uncle; I will shroud you in this cloak of mine,
and in two garments from my saddlebag made from my mother's spinning."
He said, "You, then; shroud me."
The Ansari shrouded him, and they stood over him after he died.
They buried him, and they were all from the people of Yemen.