CHAPTER 3: THOSE DISTINGUISHED BY CERTAIN QUALITIES – PART 1
The Dealings of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with those distinguished by certain qualities
Introduction:
Among the Companions of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, there were many who were distinguished with excellence, distinction, and superiority in certain matters.
Some of them were excellent at poetry, such as Hassaan ibn Thaabit.
Others were excellent in understanding and comprehending, such as Ibn `Abbas.
Others were excellent at solving disputes, such as `Ali and Mu’adh ibn Jabal.
Others were excellent at studying and learning new skills, such as Zayd ibn Thaabit.
Others were excellent in their memory, such as Abu Hurayrah.
Others were excellent in their sophistication when it came to military strategies, such as Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed.
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took these skills and talents possessed by his distinguished Companions into consideration, and would deal with them in a way that suited them, based on their abilities and excellence.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, tasked each of them with whatever they excelled at:
Al-Baraa’ ibn `Aazib (a Companion) said: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to Hassaan (a Companion who was a renowned poet): ‘Satirize them, and [angel] Gabriel is with you.’”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (3213) and Muslim (2486).)
Sa’eed ibn Al-Musayyib (a Follower; belonging to the generation following the Companions) said: “`Umar (a Companion and the second Caliph) passed by the mosque while Hassaan was reciting some poetry. Hassaan said: ‘By Allah, I used to recite poetry in the mosque during the time that he who was better than you was present.’ Then he looked at Abu Hurayrah (a Companion) and said: ‘By Allah, did you hear the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, say: ‘Respond to them on my behalf; O Allah, aid him through [angel] Gabriel’?’ Abu Hurayrah responded, ‘Yes, I did.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (3212) and Muslim (2485).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, tasked Zayd ibn Thaabit with learning Hebrew:
Khaarijah ibn Zayd (a Follower; belonging to the generation following the Companions) reported that his father, Zayd ibn Thaabit (a Companion) informed him that he was taken to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when he entered Madinah, and the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was impressed by him.
The people said: “O Messenger of Allah, this young man from Banu An-Najjaar has memorized between thirteen and nineteen chapters from what Allah has revealed to you.”
Zayd said: “So he told me to recite, and I recited chapter Qaaf, and he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was impressed. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to me: ‘O Zayd, learn Hebrew, because I do not trust the Jews with my writings.’(Meaning, not when reading it nor writing it; the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, feared that if he were to order a Jew to write for him to the Jews, that the Jew would add or remove as he willed, and he feared that if a letter came from a Jew, that the Jewish person reading it would add or subtract from it. Tuhfat Al-Ahwathi (7/413).) So I learned their language, and before fifteen nights had passed, I had mastered it. Thus, I used to write for him when he wanted to write a letter, and read for him when a letter came to him.’”(Reported by At-Tirmidhi (2715) and Abu Dawood (3645).)
That is what Ibn Katheer (a scholar) said about him, “Zayd ibn Thaabit was one of the most intelligent of people. He learned to speak and write Hebrew in fifteen days, and learned Persian from a messenger from their king (Kisraa) in eighteen days. He also learned the Ethiopian language, as well as that of the Byzantines, and Copts from the other servants of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who spoke those languages.”(Al-Bidayah wa An-Nihayah (8/33).)
That is why the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, made him one of those who would write the revelation:
Al-Baraa’ ibn `Aazib (a Companion) said: “When the verse (which means): «Those believers who sit are not equal to those who fight in Allah’s Cause,» was revealed, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Call Zayd to me, and let him bring the tablet, inkpot, and scapula, or the scapula and inkpot.’ Then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Write: «Those who sit are not equal.»’ and behind the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was Ibn Umm Maktoom, who said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, then what do you order me to do, for I am a blind man?’ Then Allah revealed in its place (the verse which means): «Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] other than the disabled and the Mujahideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allah.» [Quran: 4:95]” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (4990) and Muslim (1898).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, tasked Mu’adh ibn Jabal to be the judge over the people of Yemen:
Due to My`aath’s excellence in knowing what is Islamically lawful and unlawful, the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, made him the judge over the people of Yemen.
Al-Aswad ibn Yazeed (a Companion) said: “Mu’adh ibn Jabal came to us in Yemen as a teacher and a leader, so we asked him about a man who died and left a sister and daughter behind, and gave his daughter half of his inheritance, and his sister the other half.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (6734).)
Some people from the city of Hims who were the companions of Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported that when the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent Mu’adh to Yemen, he said: “How will you judge if you are faced with having to make a judgment?” He replied: “I will judge with Allah’s Book.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “And if you do not find it in Allah’s Book, then what?” He said: “Then I will judge with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.” The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “What if you do not find it in the Book of Allah nor the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah?” He said: “I will spare no effort in making a judgment based on my opinion and understanding.” Then the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, struck him in his chest and said: “All praise for Allah who has directed the messenger of the Messenger of Allah to that which pleases the Messenger of Allah.” (Reported by Abu Dawood (3592) and At-Tirmidhi (1327).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent Mus`ab ibn `Umayr to Madinah to call people to Allah:
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, chose Mus’ab ibn `Umayr and sent him to be a teacher in Madinah, and to be his first ambassador. He was to teach the Muslims the basics of the religion, as well as the tenets of Islam, teach the Quran to them, and call to the path of Allah The Glorious, The Praiseworthy. That is why he was nicknamed, Al-Muqri’ (the one who teaches the Quran). (As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah (1/434) by Ibn Hishaam.)
Thus, we know through this that Madinah was conquered with the Quran rather than the sword.
Al-Baraa’ ibn `Aazib said: “The first to come to us was Mus’ab ibn `Umayr, and Ibn Umm Maktoom, and they both used to teach the people the Quran.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (3925).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, chose outstanding individuals to carry out hard tasks:
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, tasked `Ali with staying in his bed the night he wanted to migrate:
When the Quraysh gathered at the house of their council, and decided that they wanted to kill the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and rid themselves of him, Allah revealed to His Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to migrate. Thus, he ordered `Ali ibn Abu Taalib (the Prophet’s cousin and the fourth Caliph) to sleep in his bed that night, while the enemies surrounded his home and were waiting for him in order to kill him. `Ali slept in the bed of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam, fully aware of the dangers that surrounded him, and fully knowing that they would not be able to differentiate between him and the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when he was in bed. He knew that perhaps they would kill him, thinking that it was the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. (As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah (1/482) by Ibn Hishaam.)
Only the bravest of men and heroes would take up such a task, which is why the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, chose `Ali ibn Abu Taalib to take up that hard task, and tasked him with that adventure, being fully aware of his skills and abilities
During the Battle of the Confederates, he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, chose Huthayfah ibn Al-Yamaan to infiltrate the ranks of the enemies and bring intelligence on their situation:
Ibraaheem At-Taymi (a Follower; belonging to the generation following the Companions) reported from his father who said:
“We were with Huthayfah (a Companion) when a man said: ‘O Abu `Abdullaah, did you see the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as well as accompany him?’ He replied: ‘Yes, O nephew.’ He said: ‘By Allah, if we met him, we would not have allowed him to walk on the earth; we would have carried him on our necks. I would have fought for him and would have proven myself brave.’ Huthayfah replied: ‘You would have done that? By Allah, I saw us with the Messenger of Allah during the Battle of Confederates when we were taken by a very strong and cold wind. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, prayed for a long time at night. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then turned to us and said: ‘Who will bring me the news of the enemy, in exchange with Allah putting him with me on the Day of Resurrection?’
But we all remained silent and no one answered him. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, prayed for a long time at night, then turned and said again: ‘Who will bring me the news of the enemy, in exchange for Allah putting him with me on the Day of Resurrection?’ But we all remained silent, and none of us answered him, then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said again: ‘Who will bring me the news of the enemy, in exchange with Allah putting him with me on the Day of Resurrection?’ But we all remained silent, and no one answered him due to the fear, tiredness, and coldness we were experiencing. Then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘O Huthayfah, stand and bring us the news of the enemy.’ When he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, called me by my name, I found no other alternative to standing and doing as he said. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘O Huthayfah, go and infiltrate the enemy, and see what they are doing, but do not do anything until you come back to us.’
When I left, I was walking and not feeling the cold that everyone else felt, until I reached them. I infiltrated the enemy and found that the wind and cold were doing what they were doing; they could not set up a pot, fire, or structure due to the wind.
Abu Sufyaan ibn Harb stood and said: ‘O Quraysh, make sure who is sitting next to you.’
I took the hand of the man beside me, and said: ‘Who are you?’ He said: ‘I am so-and-so the son of so-and-so.’
Then Abu Sufyaan said: ‘O Quraysh, you are not in an area that is suitable to stay in. The cattle have died, Banu Quraythah (the Jews) have betrayed the promise they gave us, and we were informed that Banu Quraythah did things that are not pleasing.’
Then he stood to mount the camel, mounted his camel, hit it, and the camel stood on three limbs, and jumped, and he did not release the reins until the camel was fully standing.
I placed an arrow in the middle of my bow in order to shoot him, but remembered the statement of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when he said: ‘Do not do anything until you come back to us.’ Had I shot him, I would have hit him.
Then I went back to the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, while walking and I was warm as I was in the first instance. After I got back, told him about the enemy, and was done with my mission, I became cold again. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave me a part of a cloak that he was praying in, and I slept until Fajr time (dawn). At Fajr time, he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Wake up, O sleepy one.’”(Reported by Muslim (1788) and Ahmad (22823); this narration is a combination from both their
narrations.)
An-Nawawi said: “The reason that he was not cold was because Allah protected him through the blessing of his obeying the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, doing as he told him, and the Prophet’s, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, supplication for him. The warmth continued until he returned to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and when he did, he became cold again just as the others were cold. This is one of the miracles of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.”(The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (12/146).)
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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