CHAPTER TWO : RELATIVES – PART 2
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was eager to guide his uncle Abu Taalib:
Sa’eed ibn Al-Musayyab (a scholar) narrated that his father said: “When Abu Taalib was near death the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came to him, and he found Abu Jahl and Abdullaah ibn Abu Umayyah ibn Al-Mugheerah sitting with his uncle. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to him: “O my uncle, say ‘None is worthy of being worshipped but Allah’, a statement that I will plead your case with in front of Allah,” Abu Jahl and ‘Abdullaah ibn Ummayah said: “Will you leave the religion of (your father) ‘Abd Al-Muttalib!” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, continued to try to guide his uncle, and the other two would keep repeating that same statement, until Abu Taalib made his last statement that he was on the religion of ‘Abd Al-Muttalib, and refused to bear witness to the oneness of Allah. So the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said when he died: “By Allah, I will continue to seek forgiveness for you as long as Allah does not forbid me to do so.” Allah then revealed (what means): «It is not [proper] for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire.» [Quran: 9:113] He also revealed to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, regarding Abu Taalib (what means): «Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.» [Quran: 28:56]” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (3884) and Muslim (24).)
In another narration: The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to him: “O my uncle, say ‘None is worthy of being worshipped but Allah’, I will bear witness to it for you in front of Allah.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (1360).)
Yet in another authentic narration mentioned by Ahmad, Abu Taalib said to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, “If it were not for the fact that Quraysh would criticise me and say that I only said it out of fear of death, then I would have made you happy by saying it.” (Reported by Ahmad (9237).)
Even though his uncle died as a disbeliever, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, still interceded for him for his punishment to be lightened. Thus, Abu Taalib will be the least punished person in the Hellfire due to the intercession of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The lightest punishment in Hell will be for Abu Taalib, and he will wear two shoes [of fire] that will cause his brain to boil.” (Reported by Muslim (211).)
Al-‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd Al-Muttalib (a Companion; the Prophet’s uncle) asked, “O Messenger of Allah, did you benefit Abu Taalib at all, for he used to care for you and become angry for your sake?” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “Yes, he is only up to his ankles in the Hellfire, and if it was not for me than he would be in the deepest part of Hell.“(Reported by Muslim (209).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took the advice and counsel of his uncle Al-‘Abbas:
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbas (a Companion and the Prophet’s cousin) narrated: “Al-‘Abbas came with Abu Sufyaan ibn Harb to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in the year of the conquest of Makkah, and Abu Sufyaan had accepted Islam at a place near Makkah. Al-‘Abbas said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, Abu Sufyaan is a man who likes honour and glory, so can you give him something?’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Yes, whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyaan will be safe, and whoever locks himself in his home will be safe.“”(Reported by Abu Dawood (3031).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, corrected their acts of worship:
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated: “I slept at my aunt Maymoonah’s home, (the wife of the Prophet of Allah,) so the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, relieved himself, then washed his hands and face and slept for a while. When he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, woke up he went to the container of water and opened it and performed ablution using little water, but it was sufficient, then he prayed. I got up (to pray with him) and stretched my body, so that he wouldn’t know I had been watching him, then I performed ablution and stood on his left side, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took me by my ear and made me stand aligned to him on his right side.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (6316) and Muslim (763).)
If one of them committed a sin the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would stop him:
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbas narrated that Fadhl (a Companion and the Prophet’s cousin) was riding behind the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and a woman from the tribe of Khath’am came, so Fadhl began to look at her, and she looked at him. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, turned Fadhl’s face away from her. The woman said: “O Messenger of Allah, the obligation of pilgrimage has reached my father while he is at a very old age, and he cannot ride on an animal. Should I perform a pilgrimage on his behalf?” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
“Yes.” This was during the farewell pilgrimage of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. (Reported by Al-Bukhaari (1513) and Muslim (1334).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would seek his relatives’ help in important matters:
In the story of the Pledge of ‘Aqabah that was narrated by Ka’b ibn Maalik (a Companion) he said:
“We left for pilgrimage, and the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, promised to meet us at ‘Aqabah in the middle of the days of Tashreeq (11, 12 and 13 of the month of Thul-Hijjah). So we gathered in that place waiting for the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, until he came to us with his uncle Al-‘Abbas, who had not yet become Muslim, but he wanted to attend to the affairs of his nephew and make sure he would be safe.
When we sat down Al-‘Abbas was the first to speak, and he said: “O Khazraj (from the Ansaar), Muhammad is from us, as you know. We have protected him from our people and he is well protected and honoured in his land. But he insisted to come to you and join you, so if you think that you will fulfil what you invited him for, and can protect him from his opponents, then you can have that. But if you think that you will turn him over and not support him after he comes to you, then leave him right now, for he is well protected from his people.” The Ansaar said: “We have heard what you said: so speak,
O Prophet of Allah, and take what pleases you and your Lord.” So he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, spoke, and read the Quran, and called to Allah, and enjoined the people to become Muslim…” (Reported by Ahmad (11944).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was good to his relatives:
There are many examples of his good treatment of his relatives. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was concerned about their affairs, and if one of them was unmarried he would strive to get them married.
For example, in the narration of ‘Abd Al-Muttalib ibn Rabi’ah ibn Al-Harith he narrated:
“Rabi’ah ibn Al-Haarith, the cousin of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and Al-‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd Al-Muttalib met and said: ‘How about we send these two (meaning ‘Abd Al-Muttalib ibn Rabi’ah and Fadhl ibn ‘Abbas) to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, so that they may speak to him and place them in charge of the Zakah (obligatory alms), so they will give what the people give, and receive (in return as fees from Zakah) what the people receive.’ So while they were speaking, ‘Ali ibn Abu Taalib came to them, so they mentioned this to him, and he said: ‘Do not send them, for the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, will not do that.’ Rabi’ah said to him, ‘You only say this out of jealousy of us, and you have married the daughter of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and we did not become jealous of you.’
‘Ali said: ‘Then send them.’ So they sent them, and ‘Ali took off his coat and lay on it, saying: ‘I am the father of Al-Hasan, the leader, and by Allah I will not move from this place until your two sons come back to you with (a negative) answer from the Prophet
of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.’ Abd Al-Muttalib said: ‘So when the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, finished praying the Dhuhr prayer (noon) we hurried to his home to wait for him, and he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took us by our ears and said: “Tell me what is in your hearts.” That day he was at the home of Zaynab bint Jahsh, so we entered his home with him. Each one of us wanted the other to speak, until one of us said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you are the most righteous of people, and the best at maintaining the ties of kinship. We have reached the age of marriage so we came to ask that we be placed in charge of the charity, so that we may give to you what the people give, and receive what the people receive.’
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stayed silent for a long time when we said that, and we wanted to speak, but Zaynab motioned behind her curtain for us to stay silent. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then said: “Zakah is not suitable for the family of Muhammad, it is only the waste(Meaning, it cleanses people’s wealth and souls from all filth and waste.) of the people, and it is not permissible for Muhammad nor for the family of Muhammad. Call for me Mahyamah ibn Jaz’, and Nawfal ibn Al-Haarith ibn ‘Abd Al-Muttalib.” Mahyamah was a man from the tribe of Asad that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, placed in charge of dividing the one fifth of the war booty.
When they came to him, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told Mahyamah: “Marry your daughter to this young man” referring to Fadhl ibn ‘Abbas, so he married him to her. Then the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said
to Nawfal: “Marry your daughter to this young man” meaning me (‘Abd Al-Muttalib ibn Rabi’ah), so he married her to me.
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then said: “Give the brides such and such amount from the one fifth of the war spoils as their dowry.””(Reported by Muslim (1072).)
An-Nawawi (a scholar) said: “The meaning of this could be referring to the portion of the one fifth of the spoils of war which goes towards the relatives of the Prophet of Allah, since they were considered as such. Or he could be referring to the portion of it that goes to him, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.” (The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (180/7).)
From his kindness to his relatives:
When his uncle Al-‘Abbas was captured as a prisoner in the Battle of Badr, he did not have a garment to wear, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, looked for one to give to him.
Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah (a Companion) narrated that when the prisoners of the Battle of Badr were brought, amongst them Al-’Abbas, he was not wearing a garment. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, looked for a suitable garment, so they found one with ‘Abdullah ibn Ubayy (the chief of the hypocrites) that fit him, so the Prophet of Allah,sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave it to Al-’Abbas. That is why the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, wrapped ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy in
his garment when ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy died.
When some money came from Bahrain, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave a portion to his uncle:
Anas ibn Maalik narrated:
“Some money came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, from Bahrain, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Leave it in the mosque.” It was the largest amount of money that came to him. When he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went to pray in the mosque he did not even glance at the money. Then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, finished the prayer and went by the money and started distributing it, and he did not see anyone except that he gave him some of it.
Then Al-‘Abbas came and said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me some, because I ransomed myself and ‘Aqeel (they had both been taken prisoner in the Battle of Badr.)” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “Take from it.” So Al-‘Abbas put some in his garment, and tried to lift it but it was too heavy for him. He said: “O Messenger of Allah, order someone to help me lift this.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “No.” He then said: “Then help me yourself.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “No.”
Then he took out some of the money, and tried to lift it again but it was too heavy for him. He said: “O Messenger of Allah, order someone to help me lift this.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “No.” He then said: “Then help me yourself.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “No.”
Then he dropped some more money, until he was able to lift it on his shoulders, and then he left. So the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not leave the money until it was completely distributed.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (3165). Fat-h Al-Baari (516/1).)
Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali said: “This narration shows the generosity of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and that he would not turn to it no matter how much it was. Also, Al-‘Abbas was a very large and strong man, and he took a huge amount of money, but the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not stop him. Perhaps the reason is that the Prophet did not help his uncle lift it or order someone to help him so that he would only take what he was able to lift, not that he wanted to stop him from taking any money.” (Fat-h Al-Baari (178/3).)
Al-‘Abbas was considered one of the richest of the Quraysh, but he had incurred a large debt because he had to ransom himself and his nephew ‘Aqeel when they were captured in Badr.
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was eager for his relatives to perform pilgrimage with him:
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, tried to convince theone who did not intend to perform pilgrimage to perform it, such as in the story of Dhubaa’ah (the cousin of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, entered upon her and said: “Do you want to go on a pilgrimage?” She said: “I feel I may become even sicker.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “Go to pilgrimage, but stipulate a condition, saying: O Allah, I will stop wherever You keep me [due to any sickness or other hindrances You Decree upon me].”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (5089) and Muslim (1207). The wording is by Muslim.)
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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