64. THE DEPUTATION OF ZIYAD IBN AL-HARITH AS-SUDA‘I
On the authority of Ziyad Ibn Al-Harith As-Suda‘i who narrated: “I came to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and I gave him the pledge of Islam. I informed him that he had dispatched an army to fight my people so I said to him: ‘Allah’s Messenger, bring back the army and I give you the promise of my people’s aceptance of Islam and their obedience.’ So he said to me: ‘Go and bring them back.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, my camel is exhausted.’ Then Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, dispatched someone to bring them back. As-Suda‘i added: ‘I sent a letter (to my people) and their delegation came to declare their acceptance of Islam.’ Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to me: ‘Brother Suda’ you are indeed (someone who is) obeyed among your people. I said: ‘Rather, it is Allah who has guided them to Islam.’” The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Should I appoint you as their leader?’ I said: ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’ Then he wrote a document appointing me as the leader. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, order for me something from their alms.’ The Prophet agreed and he wrote yet another document for me (concerning that).”
As-Suda‘i added: This occurred during one of his journeys and Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, alighted at a place and its inhabitants came to complain about their representative. They said: “He is punishing us for a quarrel between us and his people during the period of ignorance.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, asked: “He did that?” and they replied in the affirmative. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, turned toward his Companions while I was among them and said: “There is no good in the position of authority for a believing Muslim.” As- Suda‘i said: “That (statement) settled in my heart.”
Someone else came to him and asked: “O Messenger of Allah, give me something.” Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Whoever begs from the people while he is rich, it will be a headache and a stomachache (for him).” The man then said: “Then give me the Zakah.” Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Allah does not permit Zakah (for anyone) by ruling a Prophet or other than him until He Himself gives His ruling on it. He has apportioned Zakah into eight categories, if you fall into any of the categories then I shall give you.” As-Suda‘i added: “That also sank into my heart given that I am rich and yet I had asked him from the Zakah.”
Thereafter, the Messenger felt thirsty in the first part of the night. I remained with him nearby, but all his Companions had left him with no one remaining other than myself. When it was time for Salat As-Subh he ordered me to call the prayer and I complied. I kept asking him: “O Messenger of Allah, may I announce the Iqamah?” and he would say: “No,” until dawn appeared and he alighted and lined up. Then he came to me, passing through his Companions and said to me: “Brother of Suda‘a, do you have any water (left) ?” I said: “No, except a very small quantity which will not be sufficient for you.” He said: “Pour it into a bowl and bring it to me.” I did as he ordered and he dipped his hand into the water and I saw water gushing out from between his fingers.
He said: “Were it not that I am shy of my Lord, the Exalted, I would have quenched our thirst and given us drink. Call those who have a need for water among my Companions.” I made the call to them and those who wanted took some of the water and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, stood up to pray. Bilal wanted to announce the Iqamah but Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to him: “It was the man of Suda‘a who made the call (Adhan) and he who gave the Adhan should announce the Iqamah.” As-Suda‘i said: “So I announced the Iqamah.”
When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, concluded the Salat, I went to him with the two documents (he had written for me) and I said: “Relieve me of these two (documents).” He asked: “What is the matter with you?” I said: “Messenger of Allah, I heard you say: ‘There is no good in the position of authority for a believing Muslim,’ and I believe in Allah and in His Messenger. I also heard you say:
‘Whoever begs from people while he is rich, it will be a headache and stomachache (for him),’ and I am rich.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “That is the case but if you wish you can take it or otherwise you can return it.” I said: “I return (them).” Then Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to me: “Then direct me to someone I may appoint as your leader.” So I directed him to a man among the delegation that came to him and he appointed him as the leader.
“Then we said to him: ‘O Messenger of Allah, we have a well in our town. During the winter, its water is ample for us and we all mill around it. But during the summer, its water recedes and we disperse in different directions to various wells around us. Now we have accepted Islam and all those around us are enemies. Please supplicate for our well so that its water becomes ample for us, and we will not have to disperse (anymore).’ He called for seven pebbles and scrubbed them with his own hands. He supplicated on them and then said: ‘Go with these pebbles. When you get to the well, throw the pebbles one after the other while mentioning Allah’s Name at each throw’.” As-Suda‘i added: “We did as we were told and thereafter, we were unable to see the bottom of the well again.” This Hadith has various corroborations in Sunan Abi Dawood, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.
By: Ibn Katheer
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