The Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ were an example of goodness. They set a standard that sometimes will be hard to follow in our times. We would be lucky if we can get even a part of their character. One of their beautiful qualities was sacrificing for others. Allah Ta’ala mentions this in the Noble Qur-aan.
Translation: “They choose others over themselves, even though they themselves are poor.” (Surah Hashr - Aayah 9)
A Sahaabi رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ came to Nabi ﷺ and complained of hunger and suffering. At that time Nabi ﷺ had nothing on himself or at his home to feed him. He asked the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ : “Who will take him home as a guest for me tonight?” One Ansaari Sahaabi رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ said: “O, Nabi of Allah! I will do that.” The Ansaari Sahaabi رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ took the person to his house and instructed his wife: “Look, this man is a guest of Nabi ﷺ . We will feed him as best as we can.”
The wife replied: “By Allah! I have no food in the house, except very little which is just enough for the children.” The Sahaabi رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ said: “You put the children to sleep without feeding them, while I sit with the guest for the small meal. When we start eating put out the lamp by pretending to set it right, so that the guest will not know that I did not eat.” The plan worked out nicely and the whole family, including the children, stayed hungry so that the guest could eat properly. It was over this incident that Allah Ta’ala sent down the aayah:
Translation: “They choose others over themselves, even though they themselves are poor.” (Surah Hashr - Aayah 9)
There are quite a number of similar stories about the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ . The next story is one of them.
One of the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ was keeping fast after fast, as he could not get anything to eat. Hadhrat Saabit رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ came to know of this. He told his wife: “I shall bring a guest tonight. When we sit for the meal, put out the lamp, pretending to set it right and you must not eat anything until the guest has finished eating to his fill.” The plan worked out as in the last story. The husband and wife sat with the guest and he never suspected in the least that neither of them had eaten, though their hands and jaws seemed to be moving. When Hadhrat Saabit رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ went to Nabi ﷺ the next morning, he was greeted with the happy news; “O, Saabit! Allah Ta’ala has tremendously liked your action of looking after the guest last night.”
Hadhrat Ubay bin Ka’ab رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says: “Nabi ﷺ once sent me to collect Zakaat from a locality. I went to a person there and asked about the details of his belongings. A baby camel, one year old, was due from him in Zakaat. When he heard this, he said, ‘Of what use is a one year old baby camel? You can neither milk it, nor ride it. Here is a fine grown up she-camel. You had better take this instead.’ I replied, ‘My job does not allow me to take more than what is actually due from you. Therefore, I cannot accept what you offer. Nabi صَلّ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلّمَ is visiting this locality and he will be camping tonight at a place not very far from here. It is better that you go and place your offer before him. If he does not object, I would gladly accept your offer, otherwise you shall have to give me exactly what is due from you.’ The man then took the she-camel to Nabi ﷺ and pleaded with him: ‘O Nabi of Allah! Your collector came to receive Zakaat from me. By Allah! I have never had the honour of paying anything to Nabi ﷺ or his collector before. I therefore placed before him everything that I owned. He decided that a one year old baby camel was due from me. O Nabi of Allah! This baby camel is of no use. It can neither give milk nor carry a load. I therefore asked him to accept a fine grown up she-camel. Instead, he refused to accept without your permission. I have now come to you with the she-camel.’ Nabi ﷺ replied, ‘No doubt only that much is due from you which he has worked out, but if you are willing to give more than that from your own side, it would be accepted.’ I then presented the she-camel to Nabi ﷺ , which he accepted and made dua of barkat for the man.” Look with what generosity of heart the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ gave away their best things for the sake of Allah Ta’ala. On the other hand, we also claim to be the true followers of Islam and those who love Nabi ﷺ , but leave alone the giving of charity in general to the poor and the needy, we find it hard to pay the actual fardh amount. Zakaat, as a pillar of Islam, is not even known to our rich people. Of the middle classes, those who think themselves to be the pious people of our community, pay their Zakaat in such a way that even what they spend on their own relatives and friends and all other donations which they are forced to give out of necessity, are given with the intention of zakaat.
Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says: “Once Nabi ﷺ asked us to spend in the path of Allah Ta’ala. At that time I had some money. I thought to myself that, every time Hadhrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ beats me in spending for the sake of Allah Ta’ala. By the grace of Allah Ta’ala I shall beat him today because I have some money. I went home happy with the idea. I divided all my wealth into exactly two equal parts. I left one half for my family and I presented the other half to Nabi ﷺ . Nabi ﷺ asked me: ‘Did you leave anything for your family, ‘Umar?’ ‘Yes, O Nabi of Allah,’ I replied. ‘How much ‘Umar?’ asked Nabi ﷺ . ‘Exactly one-half,’ I replied.
In the meantime, Hadhrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ came along with his contribution. He had brought everything that he owned. Nabi ﷺ asked Hadhrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ : ‘What did you leave for your family, Abu Bakr?’Hadhrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ replied: ‘I have left Allah and His Nabi ﷺ for them.’” Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says that on that day he told himself that he could never compete with Hadhrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ . Allah Ta’ala says in the Noble Qur-aan,
Translation: “Compete with one another in good works.” (Surah Maa’idah - Aayah 48)
Such healthy competition in sacrifice is, therefore, quite desirable and welcome. This incident happened at the time of Tabuk, when the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ , in response to Nabi’s ﷺ appeal for help, contributed beyond their means. This has already been mentioned in Chapter two.
Translation: May Allah Ta’ala reward them with the best reward on our behalf and on behalf of all the Muslims. Aameen
Hadhrat Abu Jahm bin Huzayfah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says: “During the battle of Yarmuk, I went out to look for my cousin, who was right in the front of the battlefield. I also took some water with me for him. I found him in the middle of the battle, about to pass away. I went forward to help him with the little water I had but, as I reached him, another badly wounded soldier next to him gave a groan. My cousin turned his face and directed me to take the water to that person first. I went to the other person with the water. He was Hishaam bin Abil Aas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , but I had just reached him, when I heard the groan of yet another person lying not very far away. Hishaam رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ pointed me in his direction. Unfortunately, before I could reach him, he had breathed his last. I hurried back to Hishaam رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and found him dead as well. I hurried as fast as I could to my cousin and, in the meantime, he had also passed away.
Translation: “Surely we belong to Allah Ta’ala and to Him is our return”
Many an incident of such self-denial and heroic sacrifice is recorded in the books of Hadith. This is the last word in self-sacrifice, that each dying person would forego quenching his own thirst in favour of his needy brother. May Allah Ta’ala bless their souls with His choicest favours for their sacrifice for others even at the time of death, when a person has seldom the sense to make a choice.
Hadhrat Hamzah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , who was the dear uncle of Nabi ﷺ and one of his earliest supporters, became shaheed in Uhud. The cruel enemy cut off his nose, ears and organs. He was ripped open and his heart, lungs and liver were torn out and the whole body was thoroughly disfigured. While Nabi ﷺ was making arrangements for the burial of the dead, he saw the body of Hadhrat Hamzah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and was shocked to find it in that condition. He covered the body with a sheet of cloth. Hadhrat Hamzah’s رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ sister Safiyyah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا also came to see her martyred brother for the last time. Nabi ﷺ , fearing that the sight might be too much for her to bear, asked her son Hadhrat Zubair رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ to stop her from seeing the body. She however, said: “Yes, I have heard that they have disfigured my dear brother’s body. It is not too much in the path of Allah Ta’ala and we should accept it. I will bear all this patiently and may Allah Ta’ala in His Grace have mercy on us all.” Hadhrat Zubair رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ informed Nabi ﷺ of his mother’s words. Nabi ﷺ gave her permission to see the body. When she saw what they had done to it, she simply said, ‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raaji-oon’ and made dua for him. In another Hadith, Hadhrat Zubair رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ himself narrates what happened. He says: “We saw a woman coming to the place where the Shuhadaa of Uhud had been gathered. As she came near to us, I recognised her to be my own mother. I tried to stop her, but she was too strong for me. She pushed me aside, saying, ‘Leave me alone,’ When I told her that Nabi ﷺ had stopped her from seeing the body, she immediately stopped and explained, ‘On hearing the news of my brother’s death, I have brought a couple of sheets for his kaffan. Take these sheets and use them.’ When we took the sheets and began covering the body, we noticed the corpse of an Ansaari named Suhail رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ lying close by in the same condition. We felt ashamed to cover the body of Hadhrat Hamzah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ in two sheets, while the body of another Muslim brother lay bare. We, therefore, decided to use one sheet for each of the two bodies. We discovered that one sheet was bigger than the other, so we drew lots and the bigger sheet came to Hadhrat Suhail رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and the smaller one to Hadhrat Hamzah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ . We found that the sheet meant for Hadhrat Hamzah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was too small and would not cover his body. When we covered the head, the feet were exposed and when we pulled it down to cover the feet, the head was exposed. Nabi ﷺ said, ‘Cover the head with the sheet and the feet with leaves from the tree.’”
This is how Hadhrat Hamzah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , the dear uncle of Nabi ﷺ , was buried. Look at the spirit of the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ , who could not tolerate Hadhrat Hamzah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ being covered in two sheets and another Muslim brother remaining without a sheet. Although Hadhrat Hamzah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ deserved the bigger sheet because of his position, his body was covered with a smaller sheet that had come to him. Can there be a better example of equality and self-sacrifice? Is it not shameful on our part, that we, who call ourselves the followers of these noble people, do not have any of their qualities?
Hadhrat Ibn ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says: “One of the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ received a goat’s head as a present. He thought of a neighbour who had a bigger family and was more in need of it than himself and presented it to him. This brother, after receiving the present, remembered yet another person who he thought was more deserving than himself and sent the head to him. In this way the goat’s head changed hands seven times and finally came back to the first person. From this story we learn that although the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ were poor and needy, they chose others over themselves.
During the time of his Khilaafat, Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , used to walk around the streets of Madinah during the night to keep watch. One night he noticed a camel-hair tent pitched in an open space. He had never seen this particular tent before. When he came close to the tent, he found a person sitting outside and heard a sort of groan coming from inside the tent. Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ greeted the stranger with “Assalaam-u-Alaikum” and sat down beside him. Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ asked him: “From where are you brother?” The person replied: “I am from the desert and a stranger to this place. I have come to request Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen for some help in my need.”
Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ asked: “Who is groaning like this inside the tent?” The person angrily replied: “Please mind your own business.” Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ said: “Do tell me please. Maybe I can help you.” The person replied: “If you must know, then inside the tent is my wife groaning with the pains of childbirth.” Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ asked: “Is there anybody else to help her?” “No one,” replied the person. Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ got up and hurried to his house. He told his wife Hadhrat Ummu-Kulsum رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ : “Allah Ta’ala has given you a chance to earn a lot of thawaab.” “What is it, O, Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen?” asked his wife. Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ replied: “Out there, is a poor woman of the desert in child birth, with nobody to help her.” His wife offered herself saying: “I am ready to help her, if it pleases you.” Hadhrat Ummu-Kulsum رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was, after all the daughter of Hadhrat Faatimah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا and the grand-daughter of Nabi ﷺ . How could she hesitate to help a desperate sister at the time of need? Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ told her: “Then you should hurry up. Also take a pan, some butter, food and other things needed during the child birth.” Hadhrat Ummu-Kulsum رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا did so and left for the place where the tent was pitched. Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ followed her closely. She entered the tent while Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ made a fire and began cooking something which those people could eat. After some time, Hadhrat Ummu-Kulsum رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا called out from inside the tent, “O, Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen, congratulate your friend on the birth of a son.” The person was embarrassed when he heard her saying Ameerul-Mu’mineen’ and realised the high position of the person who had been serving him, but Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ put him at ease, saying: “That is all right, there is nothing to worry about.”
He then placed the pan near the tent and asked his wife to take it and feed the woman. She fed her and returned the pan. Then Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ asked the Bedouin to have some food, as he had been awake the whole night. Hadhrat ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ then returned home with his wife, telling the person, “Come to me tomorrow and I shall see what I can do for you.” Is there any king, or even a small chief, or even an ordinary middle class person of our time, who will take his wife out in the middle of the night, to help a poor strange woman while he himself makes a fire and cooks food? Leave alone the worldly rich people, how many of the pious people would do that? We should realize that unless we really follow in the footsteps of those Allah fearing people, whom we claim to be our role models, we cannot wish for the special blessings that Allah Ta’ala gave them.
Hadhrat Anas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “Abu Talhah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ owned the best gardens in Madinah and they were more in number than those of any other Ansaari. One of his favourite gardens was known by the name of ‘Bi’r Haa’. It was close to Nabi’s ﷺ Masjid and the water of its well was sweet and plentiful. Nabi ﷺ often visited that garden and drank its water. When Allah Ta’ala sent down the verse,
Translation: “You shall never reach righteousness/ piety until you spend of that which you love.” (Surah Aale I’mraan - Aayah 92)
Hadhrat Abu Talhah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ came to Nabi ﷺ and spoke out from his heart, “O, Nabi of Allah! I love Bi’r Haa very much. As Allah Ta’ala wants us to spend that which we love, I give that garden to be spent in the path of Allah Ta’ala as you please.” Nabi ﷺ was very pleased and said: “What a fine present (to Allah)! I think it would be best if you share it among your own heirs (close family).”Hadhrat Abu Talhah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ did as Nabi ﷺ suggested. After reading an Aayat of the Qur-aan or listening to a good bayaan, are we prepared to give away any of our belongings so quickly for the sake of Allah Ta’ala? Even when we wish to give something in charity, we usually do it from our death-beds only, or else when we are so displeased with some of our relatives that we decide to disinherit them. But, at the time of weddings, we are ready to show off and spend thousands even if we have to take a loan on interest.
Hadhrat Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was well known for his piety and simplicity. He kept no money with him and did not like others to hoard it. He was always scolding the rich. Therefore, Hadhrat Usmaan رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , during his caliphate, advised him to shift to Rabzah (a small village in the desert). He had a few camels to live on and an old servant to look after them. A tribesman from Banu Sulaim once came to him and said: “I wish to stay with you to benefit from your knowledge of Allah Ta’ala’s commandments and Nabi’s ﷺ sunnats. I shall also help your servant in looking after the camels.” Hadhrat Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ replied: “I cannot keep a person with me who does not listen to me, but if you will always do as I tell you, then you can stay with me, otherwise I wish you good-bye.” The person asked: “In what way would you like me to obey you?” Hadhrat Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ replied: “When I ask you to spend from my belongings, you must spend the best of them.” The person says, “I accepted Hadhrat Abu Zarr’s رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ condition and stayed with him. One day, somebody told him that there were some poor people camping near the spring close-by and were in need of food. He asked me to fetch a camel. I went and intended to choose the best of the lot, as I had promised to do. It was a very kind and obedient animal which was good for riding, so I decided to leave it and chose the second best. After all, it was only going to be slaughtered and eaten and for this it was just as good as the other. The other one was very good for riding and much more useful to Hadhrat Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and his family, while the poor would find this one just as tasty as the other. I, therefore, led the other camel to Hadhrat Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ . He shouted: ‘So, after all you have broken your promise.’ Knowing well what he meant, I went back and fetched the best camel instead. He requested the people around him, ‘I want two persons to do a job for Allah Ta’ala.’ Two people came forward. He asked them to go and slaughter the camel and distribute the meat equally among the families camping near the water, including his own, saying, ‘My family will also share equally with the rest.’ Those two people carried out his instructions. He then sent for me and asked: ‘Did you intentionally ignore my instructions about spending the best out of my belongings, or did you just happen to forget about it?’ I replied: ‘I did not forget your instructions, but thought it better to keep the good camel for riding, while the other was just as good for eating.’ Abu Zarr ارضى الله عَنه asked: ‘Did you leave it for my personal needs?’ ‘Yes,’ I replied. Then Hadhrat Abu Zarr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ advised me: ‘Come; let me tell you about my needs. That is the day when I shall be left alone in the darkness of the grave. Remember, there are three partners in your wealth-: firstly your fate (taqdeer), which does not wait to take away its share, good or bad. It will take away all that it has to take. Secondly, your heirs who are waiting for the day of your death, so that they may take over their share, and thirdly yourself. If you can manage, don’t be the most helpless of the three partners. Take your full share, while you can. Allah Ta’ala says:
Translation: “You shall never reach righteousness/ piety until you spend of that which you love.” (Surah Aale I’mraan - Aayah 92)
I, therefore, think it best to send things which I love in advance (to the Aakhirat), so that they may be kept safely for me over there.’”
The worst loser of the three partners is that man who does not spend his wealth in the path of Allah Ta’ala, and keeps delaying till at last fate (taqdeer) takes it away from him, or he dies and his heirs distribute amongst themselves. Very seldom do heirs give away the wealth, inherited from another person, in the path of Allah Ta’ala so that his soul may benefit by it. Nabi ﷺ once said: “Man loves his worldly belongings, hugging them to his soul, and boasting, ‘My wealth, my wealth,’ but in reality only that much of his wealth belongs to him, which he either enjoys in the form of food and clothes or that which he spends in the path of Allah Ta’ala, which will be stored up for him in the hereafter. The remainder of his wealth belongs to others; he is acting only as a guardian.” Once Nabi ﷺ asked the Sahaabah ﷺ , “Which of you would like to see his wealth in the hands of his heirs rather than keeping it himself?” They replied, “Who would like to be such a person, O Nabi of Allah Ta’ala?” Nabi ﷺ explained: “Whatever you send in advance by spending it in the path of Allah Ta’ala is yours, and whatever is left behind belongs to your heirs.”
Hadhrat Ja’far Tayyaar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ is a cousin of Nabi ﷺ and a brother of Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ . His whole family is famous for justice, generosity, bravery and heroism, but Hadhrat Ja’far رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ had a special love for the poor and often mixed with them. When the Quraish were persecuting the Muslims, he emigrated to Abyssinia with the other Muslims, and was the spokesman who so successfully defended the Muslims in the court of the Negus. This story has already been given in Chapter one. After returning from Abyssinia, he emigrated to Madinah and was martyred in Mootah. When Nabi ﷺ heard about his death, he went to his house to comfort the family. He called his sons Abdullah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , Aun رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and Muhammad ﷺ , comforted them and blessed them with his duas. All his sons were exactly like their father, but Hadhrat Abdullah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was so generous and big-hearted that people called him “Qutbus Sakhaa” (the chief of the generous). He accepted Islam at the hands of Nabi ﷺ when he was just seven years old. Once he asked his uncle Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ to help someone in his need. The person sent four thousand Dirhams as a present to Hadhrat Abdullah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , but he returned the whole lot saying: “We people don’t sell our good deeds.” On another occasion, somebody sent him two thousand Dirhams as a present, all of which he spent in charity immediately. A businessman once brought a large amount of sugar for sale in the market, but unfortunately, there was no demand for sugar just then and this grieved him very much. Hadhrat Abdullah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ bought the whole lot and gave it free of charge to the people. He always looked after all the strangers who were stranded in the city during the night. In one battle, Hadrat Zubair رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ called his son Abdullah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and told him that he had a strong feeling that this was going to be his last battle and that he would pass away in battle. If he did really pass away, then Abdullah رضى اللهُ عَنهُ must pay off all his debts. He then told him that if he had any problem in paying the debts, he should ask his ‘Master’ for help. Abdullah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was confused and asked who his ‘Master’ was? Allah Ta’ala, replied Hadrat Zubair رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ .That very same day Hadrat Zubair رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ passed away. When Abdullah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ checked his father’s books, he saw that the debts amounted to over Two million dirhams. Having the reputation of being an honest and trustworthy person, people came to him for the safe keeping of their money. He always addressed them like this: “Dear brothers, I have no vaults for the safe keeping of your monies. I will treat them as loans to me, and you may take them back when you please.” He would then spend the money on the poor and the needy. However, Abdullah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ cleared all his father’s debts.
He says: “Whenever I had any difficulty, I would make dua (to Allah Ta’ala) ‘O, Master of Zubair, help me,’ and the difficulty would be removed.” Once he went to Hadhrat Abdullah bin Ja’far رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and the following conversation took place. Abdullah bin Zubair رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ : “I find from my father’s accounts that you owe him one million Dirhams.” Abdullah bin Ja’far للّهُ عَنه : “All right. You can have the money whenever you please.” However, after checking the accounts again, he found that it was his mistake, and in fact this amount of money was owed to Hadhrat Abdullah bin Ja’far رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ by his father. He, therefore, went to him and said: “Forgive me. It was my mistake. In fact my father owed you that amount of money.” Abdullah bin Ja’far رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ : “If that is the case, then I free you of the debt.” Abdullah bin Zubair رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ : “No, I must pay it.” Abdullah bin Ja’far رَضَ اللّهُ عَنْه : “All right. You may pay it whenever you can.” Abdullah bin Zubair رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ : “Will you accept a piece of land for the debt?” Abdullah bin Ja’far رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ : “Yes, if that is easier for you.” Abdullah bin Zubair رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “I gave him a piece of waterless land. He asked his slave to spread his musallah on that land. He then went and read two rakaats of Salaah, spending a long time in sajdah. After finishing the Salaah, he pointed out a certain spot to his slave and ordered him to dig at that spot. After a little digging, water gushed out from there.” The qualities of the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ mentioned here was part of their everyday life. In fact, these things were not considered to be anything strange.