CHAPTER TWO : RELATIVES – PART 3
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to ask about the health and affairs of his relatives:
Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave permission to the family of Hazm to perform Ruqyah (reciting words or the Quran for healing purposes) from a snakebite.
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said to Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays: “Why do I see the children of my brother weak and thin? Did poverty strike them?” She said: “No, but they have been afflicted with the evil eye” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Perform Ruqyah for them.” So I told him the Ruqyah I would say, so he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Perform Ruqyah for them.” (Reported by Muslim (2198).)
Umm Al-Munthir bint Qays (a Companion) who was from the Ansaar, said: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and ‘Ali entered my home, and we had some unripe dates, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, began to eat some. ‘Ali had recently partially recovered from a sickness, so he wanted to eat some dates also, but the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Do not, you have only recently recovered.”
She continued, “Then I made some food from barley and a kind of leafy vegetable and brought it to them, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O ‘Ali, eat from this, it is better for you.”” (Reported by Abu Dawood (3856), At-Tirmidhi (1960) and Ibn Maajah (3442).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sought the help of his relatives and would assign them duties:
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered ‘Ali to sleep in his place on the night of migration to Madinah. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also appointed ‘Ali as the leader of the army in Khaybar. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also delegated ‘Ali to slaughter the camels in the pilgrimage, and to give as charity the meat, skins and whatever saddles or cloths were on the sacrificial animals. (Reported by Al-Bukhari (1707) and Muslim (1317).)
‘Ali narrated: “The Prophet brought one hundred camels to be sacrificed during the pilgrimage, so he ordered me to distribute the meat, the skins, and the saddles and clothes that were on them.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (1718) and Muslim (2321).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, made his cousin Ja’far ibn Abu Taalib the leader of those who migrated to Habashah (Ethiopia), and he (Ja’far) was the first to bring a message to their leader, An-Najashi, and he explained to him the religion of Islam in a beautiful manner.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was overjoyed when Ja’far returned from Habashah:
Ja’far returned after the conquest of Khaybar, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stood up to hug him and kiss him between the eyes, and said: “I do not know what I am happier about, the return of Ja’far or the conquest of Khaybar.” (Reported by Al-Haakim (4249).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then gave him a place to stay next to the mosque, and gave him from the spoils of Khaybar. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then made him the leader of the army in the Battle of Mu’tah after Zayd ibn Haarithah.
When Ja’far was martyred in Mu’tah, he consoled his family and took care of them:
‘Abdullaah ibn Ja’far narrated:
“The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent an army with Zayd ibn Haarithah as the leader, and said: “If Zayd is killed or martyred, then Ja’far is the leader, and if Ja’far is killed or martyred, then ‘Abdullaah ibn Rawaahah is
the leader.” Then the news (of the battle) came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, so he stood up in front of the people, and praised Allah, then said: “Your brothers have met the enemy, and Zayd took the banner, then he fought until
he was killed or martyred. Then Ja’far ibn Abu Taalib took the banner, and he fought until he was killed or martyred. Then ‘Abdullaah ibn Rawaahah took the banner, and then he fought until he was killed or martyred. Then a sword from the swords of Allah, Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed, took the banner and was given victory.”
Then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came to the family of Ja’far after three days (allowing them to express their sorrow by crying), and told them: “Do not cry over my brother after today or tomorrow, call for me the children of my brother [Ja’far].” We came to him as if we were small birds, and the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Call the barber for me.” So the barber came and shaved our heads (because their mother was busy with the death of their father and was unable to clean their hair and take care of them, so shaving it was needed to protect it against lice and the like). The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “As for Muhammad, then he resembles our uncle Abu Taalib. And as for ‘Abdullaah, then he resembles my looks and character.” Then he took my hand and said: “O Allah, take care of the family of Ja’far, and bless ‘Abdullaah in his business dealings.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said this three times. Then our mother came to him and spoke about the fact
that we were now orphans, and she made him sad. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “Do you fear poverty for them, and I am their supporter and protector in this life and the next?” (Reported by Ahmad (1753).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would hold small children and wipe their heads and supplicate for them:
‘Abdullaah ibn Ja’far said: “If only you saw me and Qutham and ‘Ubaydullah, the two sons of Al-‘Abbas, while we were playing and the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, passed by us on his riding animal. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told the people to lift me up, and then placed me in front of him. Then he told them to raise Qutham, and he placed him behind him. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then wiped my head three times, every time saying: “O Allah, take care of the children of Ja’far.”(Reported by Ahmad (1763).)
Incidents showing his care for his relatives:
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would become sad if one of them was struck with a calamity. When his uncle Hamzah was martyred and mutilated, he became extremely sad at what had happened to him and at his demise.
Abu Hurayrah narrated:
“The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stood by Hamzah when he was martyred, and he had been mutilated, so he looked at a scene that was very painful to his heart, and said to him: “May Allah have mercy upon you, you were very good at
maintaining the ties of kinship, and you did many good deeds. Were it not for the sadness of those you left behind, I would have left you to be resurrected from different places. By Allah, I will mutilate 70 of them in your place.”
Then Archangel Gabriel revealed while the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was still standing there the Saying of Allah (which means): «And if you punish, punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are
patient, it is better for those who are patient.» [Quran: 16:126] So the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave expiation for his oath, and left what he had planned to do (of mutilation.)” (Reported by Al-Haakim (4894) and At-Tabaraani (143/3) in his book Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer.)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, supplicated to Allah for his relatives:
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, supplicated for Al-‘Abbas and his children. Ibn ‘Abbas narrated: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to Al-’Abbas: “Tomorrow on Monday come to me with your children, so that I may supplicate Allah for you and them. Allah will benefit you and your children by my supplication.” So we came back the next day, and the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, put a cloth on us and said: “O Allah, forgive Al-‘Abbas and his children a forgiveness of their apparent and hidden sins, a forgiveness that will leave no sins, O Allah, protect and take care of him regarding his children.”” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi (2762).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited him when he was sick:
Umm Al-Fadhl (a Companion and the wife of Al-‘Abbas) narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited Al-’Abbas when he was so sick that he wished he would die. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to him: “O ‘Abbas, O uncle of the Prophet of Allah, do not wish for death. If you are a good doer, then you can do more good deeds so it will be better for you. And if you are an evildoer, then you are given a chance to seek Allah’s pleasure so it will be better for you. So do not wish for death.” (Reported by Ahmad (26333).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would not be biassed in religious affairs, even though they were his relatives:
Anas ibn Maalik narrated that some of the Ansaar said to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, “Give us permission so that we will not ask for the ransom of the son of our sister, Al-‘Abbas (when he was captured in the Battle of Badr by the Muslims).” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, (did not allow that, and) replied: “Do not leave any of his ransom money.”” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (2537).)
Ibn Hajar said: “They said regarding Al-‘Abbas “the son of our sister” because they are the maternal uncles of his father, ‘Abd Al-Muttalib, for the mother of ‘Abd Al-Muttalib was from Madinah. Her name was Salma bint ‘Amr ibn Uhayhah, and she was from the tribe of An-Najjaar.
The reason they called ‘Abbas, “the son of our sister” is so that it would seem that they were doing the favour of setting him free because of his relation to them. They did not say, “Your uncle,” so that it would not seem that they were doing a favour upon the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This choice of wording shows their intelligence and good manners in speech.” (Fat-h Al-Baari (168/5).)
Ibn Hajar also said: “Ibn ‘Aa’ith narrated that when ‘Umar was put in charge
of restraining the captives, he tightened the restraints of Al-‘Abbas. When the
Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, heard him moaning out of pain,
he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was unable to sleep. When the Ansaar heard
about that, they released him from the ropes. When they realised the Prophet of
Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was pleased with their action, they wanted
to set Al-‘Abbas free with no ransom to increase his pleasure, but the Prophet of
Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not allow that.” (Fat-h Al-Baari (322/7).)
Ibn Hajar further said: “The reason he did not allow them to do it is so there would be no bias or favouritism in the religion.” (Fat-h Al-Baari (168/5).)
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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