CHAPTER TWO : RELATIVES – PART 1
How the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, dealt with his relatives
Introduction:
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the kindest and most gentle of all people towards his relatives, as was testified to by those who were closest to him. For he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was described as: “The most dutiful of people and the best at upholding the ties of kinship.” (Reported by Muslim (1072) on the authority of ‘Abd Al-Muttalib ibn Rabee’ah.)
Family and relatives who make up one’s immediate environment always had special importance in pre-Islamic Arab society, which gave rise to a spirit of tribal loyalty amongst people from the same tribe and branch. Very often, this led to serious tribal wars and rivalry. Within such a context, the exemplary relationships that Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had with his tribe and family helped put aside the tribal prejudices and chauvinism and created a sound framework of relationships among family and relatives based on Islamic brotherhood, cooperation and standing up for the truth.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, taught his family, relatives and close Companions to be committed to the cause of freedom, truth and justice. The majority of the problems today arise from racism, ethnic rivalry, discrimination and social injustice. Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, decried anyone who claimed superiority on the basis of the color of skin and tribal pride. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, established a society based on One Creator and One Religion, which superseded all narrow considerations of clan or colour. The Quraysh leader Abu Sufyaan, the rich trader Abu Bakr, the Persian immigrant Salmaan Al-Farisi and the African slave Bilal became brothers in a family of the Muslim community.
This change of the ignorant, race-conscious, and tough Arab tribes into the civilised citizens of a new Islamic State was less imaginable to anyone than the magic of turning base metal into gold. Yet, it was made possible by the sublime personal example and guidance of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, which is the means by which his family and Companions tasted success.
The Prophet’s uncles and aunts:
Ibn Al-Qayyim enumerated his uncles to be the following (Zaad Al-Ma’ad (104/1).) :
1. The leader of all martyrs: Hamzah
2. Al-‘Abbas
3. Abu Taalib and his name is ‘Abd Manaaf
4. Abu Lahab and his name is ‘Abd Al-’Uzza
5. Az-Zubayr
6. ‘Abdul-Ka’bah
7. Al-Muqawwim
8. Dhiraar
9. Qutham
10. Al-Mugheerah, and his nickname was Hajal
11. Al-Ghaydaaq, and his name was Mus’ab.
Some biographers have mentioned Nawfal and Al-Haarith as his uncles. It was also said that Al-Harith and Al-Muqawwim are one person. The oldest of his uncles are Al-Harith, and the youngest was Al-‘Abbas.
Seven of his uncles passed away before the advent of Islam, except for four: Abu Taalib, Abu Lahab, Hamzah, and Al-’Abbas, and these last two became Muslim.
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also had six aunts(Zaad Al-Ma’ad (105/1).):
1. Safiyyah, the mother of Az-Zubayr ibn Al-’Awwaam
2. ‘Aatikah
3. Barrah
4. Arwah
5. Umaymah
6. Umm Hakeem Al-Baydhaa’.
Out of them, Safiyyah definitely became Muslim, and the scholars disagreed over whether ‘Aatikah and Arwah did or not.
The Prophet’s brothers and sisters from breastfeeding:
The prophet of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, had three brothers and two sisters from breastfeeding. His brothers were:
1. Hamzah ibn Abdul Muttalib.
2. Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdul Asad.
3. Abu Sufyan ibn Al-Haarith.
His sisters were:
1. Unaysah bint Al-Haarith
2. Shaymaa’ bint Al-Haarith.
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, called for the kind treatment of his relatives:
Zayd ibn Arqam (a Companion) narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stood up one day amongst us to give a speech at a river called Khumm between Makkah and Madinah. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, praised Allah, and advised and reminded us, then he said: “O people, I am only a human, and the time may be close that the messenger of my Lord will come, so I will respond [i.e. he will pass away]. I am leaving with you the two heavy things, the first is the Quran, which contains guidance and light, whoever adheres to it firmly will be on the guidance, and whoever does not will be misguided. And also my household [family and relatives], take care of my family and relatives [he repeated it three times].”
Abu Bakr (a Companion and the first Caliph) used to say, “Take care of Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in terms of his family.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (3713).) Ibn Hajar (a scholar) said: “Meaning not to harm them or act badly towards them.”(Fat-h Al-Baari (79/7).)
Husayn ibn Sabrah (a Companion) asked Zayd, “Who are his household? Are his wives included amongst them?” He said: “His wives are from his household, but what is meant here is those who are not allowed to accept charity after him.” He said: “Who are they?” Zayd answered, “The family of ‘Ali, the family of ‘Aqeel, the family of Ja’far, and the family of Al-‘Abbas.” (Reported by Muslim (2408).)
‘Aa’ishah (the wife of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) narrated that Abu Bakr said to ‘Ali, “By the One in whose Hand is my soul, I would rather fulfil the ties of kinship towards the relatives of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, more so than my own relatives.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (3712).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited the grave of his mother and cried there:
Abu Hurayrah (a Companion) narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited his mother’s grave, then he cried, and caused those around him to cry. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “I asked permission from my Lord to seek forgiveness for her, but He did not allow me. Then I asked Him permission to visit her grave, so He allowed me that. So visit graves, for it reminds one of death.” (Reported by Muslim (976).) The reason he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, cried from sadness that she did not reach his time to believe in him.
Buraydah (a Companion) narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, reached a marked grave, so he sat down and the people sat with him. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, moved his head as if he was speaking, then he cried. ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (a Companion; the second Caliph) said to him, “What is making you cry, O Messenger of Allah?”
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “This is the grave of Aaminah bint Wahb, I asked my Lord if I could visit her grave so He gave me permission, then I asked permission to seek forgiveness for her but He did not allow me, so I became sad for her and cried.” Buraydah then said: “I never saw more people crying than at that time.” (Reported by Al-Bayhaqi (189/1) in his book Dala’il Al-Nubuwwah.)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was eager to call his relatives to Islam:
Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stood up when Allah revealed His Saying (which means): «And warn, [O Muhammad], your closest kindred.» [Quran: 26:214] and he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O Quraysh, save yourselves, I can do nothing for you to protect you from Allah, O children of ‘Abd Manaaf, I can do nothing for you to protect you from Allah. O ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd Al-Muttalib, I can do nothing for you to protect you from Allah, O Safiyyah, the aunt of the Messenger of Allah, I can do nothing for you to protect you from Allah. O Faatimah bint Muhammad, ask me whatever you wish of my wealth, but I can do nothing for you to protect you from Allah.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (2753) and Muslim (206).)
An-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “The meaning of this is for them not to rely on their relation to the Messenger of Allah, for he cannot protect them from any harm that Allah has decreed for them.” (The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (80/3).)
In the narration mentioned in the book of Muslim, he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mentioned at the end: “But you have ties of kinship upon me that I will uphold in a good manner.” (Reported by Muslim (204).)
Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy upon him, said “The reason that Allah ordered the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to warn his close relatives first is that if the evidence of the truthfulness of Islaam has been established upon them, then it will also be established on others.” (Fat-h Al-Baari (503/8).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also called his cousin ‘Ali to Islam when he was young, and he responded and believed in him and was the first child to become Muslim. At-Tirmidhi (a scholar) said: “Some of the people of knowledge said that the first man to become Muslim was Abu Bakr, and ‘Ali became Muslim when he was only eight years old, and Khadeejah was the first woman to become Muslim.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi (642/5).)
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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