96. ALLAH’S MESSENGER SENT AMEERS TO THE PEOPLE OF YEMEN PRIOR TO THE FAREWELL PILGRIMAGE
Al-Bukhari says in the chapter of the dispatch of Abu Moosa and Mu’adh Ibn Jabal to Yemen that on the authority of Abu Burdah, who narrated that the Prophet, (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), sent Mu’adh and Abu Moussa to Yemen. He sent each of them to administer a province as Yemen consisted of two provinces. He said to them: “Treat the people with ease and do not be hard on them; give them glad tidings and do not fill them with aversion.” In another narration, he added: “And love each other, and do not differ.” Thus, each of them went to carry out his job. So when any one of them toured his province and happened to come near (the border of the province of) his companion, he would visit him and greet him. Once Mu’adh toured that part of his state which was near (the border of the province of) his companion Abu Moosa.
Mu’adh came riding his mule until he reached Abu Moosa and saw him sitting, and the people had gathered around him. There was a man tied with his hands behind his neck. Mu’adh said to Abu Moosa: “‘Abdullah Ibn Qais, what is this?” Abu Moosa replied: “This man has reverted to polytheism after embracing Islam.” Mu’adh said: “I will not dismount until he is killed.” Abu Moosa replied: “He has been brought for this purpose, so dismount.” Mu’adh said: “I will not dismount until he is killed.” So Abu Moosa ordered that he be killed, and he was killed. Then Mu’adh dismounted and said: “O ‘Abdullah (Ibn Qais) ! How do you recite the Qur’an?” Abu Moosa said: “I recite the Qur’an regularly at intervals and piecemeal.” He asked: “How do you recite it, O Mu’adh?” Mu’adh said: “I sleep in the first part of the night and then get up after having slept for the time devoted for my sleep and then recite as much as Allah has written for me. So I seek Allah’s reward for both my sleep as well as my prayer (at night).”
On the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas who narrated that Allah’s Messenger, (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), said to Mu’adh when he sent him to Yemen: “You are going to the People of the Scripture, so when you reach them, invite them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger. If they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers to be performed every day and night. If they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them Sadaqah (i.e. Zakah) to be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor among them. If they obey you in that, then be cautious! Don’t take their best properties (as Zakah) and be afraid of the curse of an oppressed person as there is no screen between his invocation and Allah.”
It is narrated that Mu’adh used to say: “Allah’s Messenger sent me to Yemen and said: ‘Perhaps you will (come back and) pass by my grave and my Mosque. I have sent you to a people whose hearts are soft and they fight upon the truth (saying that twice). So fight along with those who follow you from among them against those who disobey you until they return to Islam, and the woman hastens to her spouse, son to his father, brother to his brother and until tranquility prevails between two lovers.”
This Hadith contains a clear indication and prophecy that Mu’adh would not meet Allah’s Messenger, (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), and this is exactly what happened. He remained in Yemen until the time of the Farewell Pilgrimage and
then the Messenger of Allah’s death occurred 81 days after the Farewell Hajj.
Ubayy Ibn Ka‘b Ibn Malik narrated that Mu’adh Ibn Jabal was a handsome and big-hearted young man from the best of the youth of his people. He was never asked anything except that he gave it until his debt overwhelmed his wealth. He asked Allah’s Messenger, (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), to intervene with his creditors on his behalf and he did. If someone were to be let off based on the statement of another, it should have been Mu’adh. He would have been left because of the statement of Allah’s Messenger. So Allah’s Messenger, (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), supplicated for him and continued to distribute his wealth and portions among his
creditors. Eventually, Mu’adh became penniless. When Allah’s Messenger, (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), performed the last pilgrimage, he sent Mu’adh to Yemen to improve his condition. The first person to be restored with this wealth was Mu’adh.
The sub-narrator added: He came to Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, from Yemen when Allah’s Messenger, (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), had died. ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, came to Mu’adh and said to him: “Do you have any desire to follow me so that you may return this wealth to Abu Bakr? If he leaves it for you then you may take it.” Mu’adh replied: “Why should I return it to him when Allah’s Messenger, (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), sent me in order to improve my condition?” When Mu’adh objected, ‘Umar went to Abu Bakr and said: “Send for this man and take from him (his wealth) and let him go.” Abu Bakr said: “I shall not do such (a thing). Allah’s Messenger, (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), sent him to Yemen to improve his condition and I shall not take away anything from him.” In the morning, Mu’adh went to ‘Umar and said: “I have no other choice but to follow your advice. I saw myself in a dream being dragged into the Hellfire while you were pulling me away from it.” Thus, he went to Abu Bakr with all that he came back with from Yemen until he even brought a whip. He swore to him that he did not hide anything. Abu Bakr, mayAllah be pleased with him, said: “It is for you, I shall not take anything from you.”
Then Al-Baihaqi mentioned a corroboration for the Hadith of Mu’adh’s sleep on the authority of ‘Abdullah and that all that he brought (from Yemen) were slaves and he brought them to Abu Bakr. When all of them were returned to him, he went back with them. One day, he stood up to pray and they all stood up and prayed with him. When he concluded the prayer, he asked them: “To whom were you praying?” They responded: “To Allah.” So he said: “Then you are free for His sake,” and so he set them free.
By: Ibn Katheer
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