31 OCTOBER 2003

.: THE FAMILY OF THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH SALLALLAHU `ALAYHI WA SALLAM :.

1. This individual will be the first from the family of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam to join him in the hereafter. Name this person.

Fatimah Bint Muhammad, radhiallahu `anha, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam.

`Aishah radhiallahu `anha, the Prophet's sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam wife, said, "The Prophet, in his fatal illness, called his daughter Fatimah radhiallahu `anha and told her a secret because of which she started weeping. Then he called her and told her another secret, and she started laughing. When I asked her about that she replied, 'The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam told me that he would die in his fatal illness and so I wept, but then he told me that from amongst his family, I would be the first to join him, and so I laughed. [Bukhari & Muslim]

She is also one of the best women - The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) drew four lines and said, "Do you know what these are?" They said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "The best women of Paradise are Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, Faatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint 'Imraan and Aasiyah bint Muzahim, the wife of Fir'awn." [Silsilat al-Hadith as-Saheehah, 4/13, no. 1508, from Ahmad at-Tahhaawi, al-Haakim from Ibn 'Abbaas, saheeh]

2. This wife of the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam often boasted to the other wives that that while they had been given by their families in marriage, she had been given by Allah from above the seven heavens. Who was she?

She was Zaynab bint Jahsh, radhiallahu `anha, as indicated by the hadeeth of Anas radhiallahu `anhu, who said: "Zaynab used to boast (to her co-wives) about how she had got married to the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, saying: 'Your families arranged your marriages but Allah arranged my marriage from above the seven heavens.'" ([Bukhari]

She was from Bani Asad bin Khuzaimah and was also the Prophet's sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam's cousin - her mother was the Prophet's paternal aunt, Umaimah. Zainab was first married to Zaid bin Harithah radhiallahu `anhu whom the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam had adopted before Islam. When Zaid divorced Zainab, Allah gave her in marriage to the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam.

Allah says in the Qur`an (transl.): "... So when Zaid had accomplished his desire from her, We gave her to you in marriage so that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the believers in respect of (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no desire to keep them (they have divorced the). And Allah's Command must be fulfilled." [Surah al-Ahzab 33:37]

3. This female relative of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam killed a Jewish spy during the Battle of the the Confederates (al-Ahzab), also known as the Battle of the Ditch (Khandaq). Who was she?

Safiyyah bint `Abd al-Muttalib, radhiallahu `anha, the aunt of the Prophet sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam.

Ibn Ishaq stated: "Yahya bin `Abbad bin `Abd Allah bin al-Zubayr related to me quoting his father `Abbad as having said, 'Safiyya, daughter of `Abd al-Muttalib, was in Fari`, the castle of Hassan bin Thabit and she said, "Hassan was there along with the women and children. A Jew passed by and began circling around the castle. Banu Qurayzah had begun fighting and had cut off its relations with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam. There was no one to protect us while the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam and the Muslims were so engaged with the enemy that there was no one who could leave them and come to us if someone should attack us. So I said, 'Hassan, as you can see, that Jew is circling the castle and I concerned that he might inform the Jews over behind us of where our weakness lies, now that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam and his men are so busy. Go down to him and kill him!' He replied, 'Allah forgive you, daughter of `Abd al-Muttalib! You must know that I could never do such as thing as that.'"

"She went on, 'When he said this to me and I saw I could expect nothing from him, I put on a waist wrapper, then took a cudgel and went down from the fort towards him. Then I struck him with the cudgel till I had killed him. When I had finished with him, I returned to the fort and said, 'Hassan, now you go down and plunder him; the only thing that prevented me doing it was his being a man.' He replied, 'I don't need to plunder him, daughter of `Abd al-Muttalib!'"'"
 

4. The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam had made supplication that this relative of his be given wisdom and understanding of the deen. He was widely acknowledged as the most knowledgeable of the ummah concerning the Revelation. Who was this relative?

He was `Abdullah ibn `Abbas, radhiallahu `anhuma, the son of Al-`Abbas (the uncle of the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) and Umm al-Fadhl radhiallahu `anha. His aunt, Maymunah radhiallahu `anha, was a wife of the Prophet.

As a boy, he used to accompany and serve the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, tending to his needs such as fetching water for his wudhu' and so on. It is said that he memorised some 1,660 sayings of the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, recorded and authenticated in the saheeh books of al-Bukhari & Muslim.

The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam had prayed for Ibn `Abbas, for he said, "O Allah! Give him the knowledge of the Book, and of Wisdom!" and in another narration, "O Allah! Give him the knowledge of the religion, and interpretation." [Bukhari]

Ibn `Abbas was held in great esteem by the Companions, despite his age (he was only 13 when the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam passed away). `Umar used to let Ibn `Abbas enter into the meetings of the older Companions, so some of them complained, "Why is it that you let him enter, even though we have sons the same age as him (whom you do not allow to enter)?"

`Umar answered, "Since he is amongst the most knowledgeable of you!" So he called them one day, to prove to them this statement, and he asked them, "What do you think of the verse, When the help of Allah comes, and the Conquest [110:1]?

Some of them did not reply, while others said, "We have been commanded to thank Allah and ask for His forgiveness whenever we are helped and aided to victory." `Umar asked Ibn `Abbas, "And do you think the same also, O Ibn `Abbas?"He answered, "No!" `Umar asked, "Then what do you say?"

He replied, "This is an indication to the Prophet from Allah that his life is about to end. The verse means, When the help of Allah comes, and the Conquest then this is a sign of your approaching death, therefore, Glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask for Forgiveness, for verily He is ever accepting repentance! [110:3]

'Umar said, "I don't know any other meaning to this except what you have said!" [Bukhari]

His students, who went on to become authorities in tafseer, included Saeed bin Jubayr, Mujaahid bin Jabr, `Ikrimah, Taawoos and `Ataa bin Rabaah.

5. His daughter was the most beloved to the Prophet of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam while he was the most loved among the men. The Messenger of Allah testified that no one among the people had been more generous to him, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, with his life and his property. Who was this man?

He was Abu Bakr as-Siddiq radhiallahu `anhu (`Abdullah bin Abi Quhafah `Uthman bin `Amir bin `Amr bin Ka`b bin Sa`d bin Taym bin Murrah bin Ka`b bin Lu`ayy bin Ghalib, al-Qurayshi, at-Tayyimi), the father-in-law and much-loved companion of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam.

Amr ibn Al-Aas radhiallahu `anhu narrated: The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam sent me to the army during the battle of Dhat Al-Salaasil. When I returned to him sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, I asked him sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam: "Who is most beloved to you?" He said: "Aisha." I said: "What about among men?" He said: "Her father." I said: "And then who?" He said: "Then Umar ibn Al-Khattab." And then he listed some other men. [Bukhari]

Ibn Abbas radhiallahu `anhuma reported: The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam came out during his illness from which he died his head bound with a cloth. He sat on the minbar, thanked Allah, praised Him and said: "There is no one among the people who has been more generous to me with his life and his property than Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhaafa and if I was to take a bosom friend, I would take Abu Bakr as my bosom friend. But, the friendship of Islam is better. Block off every door in this Masjid except the door of Abu Bakr." [Bukhari]

This narration illustrates his great generosity in the cause of Allah - Umar ibn Al-Khattab said: The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam ordered us to give sadaqa. It happened to coincide with some wealth I had just acquired and I said to myself: "If I will every surpass Abu Bakr, this is the day I will surpass him." And so I came to the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam with half of my wealth and he sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said to me: "What have you left for your family?" I said: "The same amount." Then Abu Bakr came with all of his wealth. The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said to him: "What have you left for your family?" He said: "I have left them Allah and His Messenger." I said: "I will never surpass you in anything." [Abu Daud, "hassan"]

Also, narrated Abu ad-Darda radhiallahu `anhu: While I was sitting with the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, Abu Bakr came, lifting up one corner of his garment uncovering his knee. The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "Your companion has had a quarrel." Abu Bakr greeted the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam and said, "O Allah's Messenger! There was something (i.e., a quarrel) between me and the son of Al-Khattab. I talked to him harshly and then regretted that and requested him to forgive me, but he refused. This is why I have come to you." In the meanwhile, `Umar regretted (his refusal of Abu Bakr's excuse) and went to Abu Bakr's house and asked if Abu Bakr was there. They replied in the negative. So he came to the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam and greeted him but signs of displeasure appeared on the face of the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam till Abu Bakr pitied `Umar, so he knelt and said twice, "O Allah's Messenger! By Allah! I was more unjust to him (than he to me)." The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "Allah sent me (as a Prophet) to you (people) but you said (to me), 'You are telling a lie,' while Abu Bakr (believed in me and) said (to the people), 'He has said the truth' and consoled me with himself and his money.'" He then said twice, "Won't you then give up harming my companion?" After that, nobody harmed Abu Bakr. [Bukhari]

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