20. THE RETURN OF THE PROPHET FROM TA’IF AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE BOOTY GAINED FROM THE BATTLE OF HUNAIN
Ibn Ishaq related that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, withdrew from Ta’if and proceeded to Ji‘ranah accompanied by the Muslims who were with him, along with a considerable number of the captives of Hawazin. A man from his Companions said to him when they were retreating from the Thaqeef: “O Messenger of Allah, curse them.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, instead said: “O Allah guide Thaqeef and bring them (to Islam).”
Ibn Ishaq added that the delegates of the Hawazin came and met the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, at Ji‘ranah and he had with him from the captives of Hawazin, 6,000 of their children and women as well as sheep and camels, the number of which I could not count.
Al-Bukhari related on the authority of Al-Miswar Ibn Makhramah and Marwan Ibn Al-Hakam that when the delegates of the tribe of Hawazin came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, they requested him to return their properties and captives. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, stood up and said to them: “I have other people with me in this matter (as you see), and the most beloved statement to me is the true one; you may choose either the properties or the prisoners as I have delayed their distribution.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had waited for them for about ten days since his arrival from Ta’if. So, when it became evident to them that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was not going to return to them no more than one of the two, they said: “We choose our prisoners.” Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, got up among the people, glorified and praised Allah as He deserved and said: “These brethren of yours have come to us in repentance, and I see it logical to return to them the captives. So, whoever amongst you likes to do that asa favor, then he can do it, and whoever of you likes to stick to his share until we recompense him from the very first war booty which Allah will give us, then he can do so (i.e. give up the present captives).” The people unanimously said: “We (return the captives) willingly.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “We do not know which of you has agreed to it and which have not, so go back and let your leaders forward to us your decision.” So, all the people then went back and discussed the matter with their leaders who returned and informed the Prophet that all the people had willingly given their consent to return the captives. This is what has reached us about the captives of Hawazin.
Al-Bukhari did not contradict the objection to Al-Aqra’ and Uyainah and their people; rather he was silent concerning them and affirmation takes precedence over negation, how much more this is true of a silent situation.
Abu Wajzah Yazeed Ibn Ubaid As-Sa’di related that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, gave ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib a slave-girl named Raitah Bint Hilal Ibn Hayyan Ibn Umairah. He gave to ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan a slave-girl called Zainab Bint Hayyan Ibn ‘Amr Ibn Hayyan and he gave to ‘Umar another slave-girl whom he in turn gave as a gift to his son ‘Abdullah. The import of this is that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, returned to the Hawazin their captives after he had apportioned them as clearly indicated by this and other statements. The apparent importance of the Hadith of ‘Amr Ibn Shu‘aib which Muhammad Ibn Ishaq cited from him through his father from his grandfather is that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, returned to the Hawazin their captives before their distribution. Therefore, when he returned the captives and set out on his mount, the Arab tribesmen snatched his garment saying: “Distribute to us our booty of camels and herds.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, snatched his garment and said: “Return my garment! O people, by Him in Whose Hands is my soul, if your sheep were as many as the trees of Tihamah, I would share it among you and you would not find me to be niggardly, cowardly or a liar.” It is related by AlBukhari on the authority of Jubair Ibn Mut‘im.
It was as if he was wary of returning to the Hawazin their properties as he returned their women and children. Thus they asked about the distribution and he shared (amongst them) as Allah, the Exalted, has commanded. He gave preference to some people in the distribution and consequently people gathered among the leaders and chiefs of the tribes. Some of the Ansar made apparent their displeasure and the Prophet addressed them explaining the wisdom behind his action, in such a way that they were pleased with it. Some ignorant fellows among the Khawarij like Dhul-Khuwaisirah, may Allah disfigure him, and his likes remained critical of the Prophet’s action.
On the authority of Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri who narrated: When Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, obtained booty of livestock in Hunain, he gave a large portion to those whose hearts needed to be reconciled (to Islam) among the Quraish and other Arab tribes, and he allotted nothing to the Ansar. A group from the Ansar felt so uneasy about it that a lot of ill-statements against the Prophet were spread among them to the extent that one of them said: “By Allah, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was ill-spoken of by his folksmen!” Those ill statements went on spreading until Sa’d Ibn ‘Ubadah went to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “O Messenger of Allah, this group of the Ansar are unhappy with you.” Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, asked: “Concerning what?” Sa’d replied: “About the distribution of the booty that you have won. You have allotted shares to your own kinsmen and allotted lots of gifts to the Arab tribes. But they (the Ansar) have received nothing.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, then asked Sa’d: “Sa’d, what is your opinion of this matter?” Sa’d replied: “O Messenger of Allah. I am no more than a member of my people.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Call out to your people and bring them forth to me and when they have gathered, let me know.”
So Sa’d went out and summoned them and when they gathered, an Emigrant came, he let him in but debarred others. None of the Ansar remained without being in attendance. When they were all gathered together, he informed the Prophet saying: “The Ansar have gathered where you have commanded me.” Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went out to address them. After he thanked Allah and praised Him, as is due, he said: “O Ansar, did I not come to you when you were astray and Allah guided you? You were poor and Allah gave you wealth. Were you not foes and Allah reconciled your hearts?” They said: “Yes.” Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “What prevents you from replying to me?” They said: “What should we say? With what should we reply to you, O Messenger of Allah, while to the Lord and to his Messenger belong all benevolence and grace.”
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, again said: “But, by Allah, you might have answered and answered truly, for I would have testified to its truth myself: ‘You came to us belied and rejected and we accepted you; you came to us helpless and we helped you; a fugitive, and we granted you asylum; poor and we comforted you’.”
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, also added: “O Ansar, do you feel anxious for the things of this world, with which I have sought to incline these people to the Faith, which is already established in you? O Ansar, are you not satisfied that the people go with ewes and camels while you return with the Messenger of Allah to your homes. By Him in Whose Hands is my life, had there been no migration, I would have been one of the Ansar. If the people would go through a valley and passage, and the Ansar were to go through another valley and passage, I would go through the valley and passage of the Ansar. O Allah! Have mercy on the Ansar, their children and their children’s children.” The audience wept until tears moistened their beards as they said: “Yes, we are satisfied, O Messenger of Allah with our lot and share.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, then left the gathering and the people also dispersed.
On the authority of Abu Moosa who narrated: “I was with the Messenger of Allah when he was camping at Ji‘ranah (a place) between Makkah and Madinah and Bilal was with him. A Bedouin came to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and said: ‘Will you not fulfill what you have promised me?’ The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: ‘Rejoice (at what I will do for you).’ The Bedouin said: ‘(You have said to me) rejoice too often.’ Then the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, turned to me and Bilal in an angry mood and said: ‘The Bedouin refused the good tidings, so you both accept them.’ Bilal and I said: ‘We accept them.’ TheMessenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, then asked for a drinking bowl containing water and washed his hands and face in it, and then took a mouthful of water and threw it therein saying (to us): ‘Drink (some of) it and pour (some) over your faces and chests and be happy at the good tidings.’ So they both took the drinking bowl and did as instructed. Umm Salamah called from behind a screen: ‘Keep something (of the water) for your mother.’ So they left some of it for her.”
On the authority of Anas who narrated: “I was once walking with Allah’s Messenger while he was wearing a Najrani Bird with a thick margin. A Bedouin caught up with him and tugged at his Burd so violently that I noticed the side of the shoulder of Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, which was bruised by the violent pull of the Bird. The Bedouin said: ‘Order that I be given from Allah’s wealth that is with you.’ Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, turned to look at him and smile and then he orders that he be given Something.”
In an authentic Hadith on the authority of Safwan Ibn Umayyah who narrated: “Even when he was the most detestable person to me, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, never ceased to give me from the booty of Hunain until he became the most beloved person to me.”
By: Ibn Katheer
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