In the name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Abu Hurairah literally means ‘Father of the Kitten’. His real name was Abdul Rahmân bin Sahr. He described how he got the nickname Abu Hurairah:[1]
One day I was carrying a kitten in my sleeve and the Messenger of Allah, upon him be peace, saw me and he said, ‘What is this?’
‘A kitten,’ I said.
And he said, ‘O Abu Hurairah!’, ‘O Father of the Kitten!’
He came to Madina and embraced Islam the year of Khaybar, a battle in which he fought. This was in 7H.
Although he only spent a relatively short time with the Messenger, upon him be peace, he grew very close to him. It was said of him that ‘he turned wherever the Messenger turned’. It has been related that the Messenger, upon him be peace, once said, ‘whoever lays out his cloth until I finish my discourse will never forget anything that they hear from me’. Abu Hurairah laid out his cloth and it is said that he laid out his ‘rida’, shawl and then he, upon him be peace, delivered his discourse. Abu Hurairah said, ‘by Allah, I never ever forget anything that I heard from him.’ Because of his prolific memory he gained the respect of the Companions and became an important teacher. More than 800 companions and followers related hadith from him. Although he related 5874 hadith and is known to be the most prolific narrator of hadith, he said, ‘I only narrated half of the traditions that I knew.’
The poorer members of the Community including migrants from other parts of the world had a special place in the mosque called the Suffa. They were called the Ahl al-Suffa, People of the Bench, and many of them had no possessions but the clothes on their back. Abu Hurairah was the most prominent of the Ahl al-Suffa. The Messenger, upon him be peace, used to send any charity that he received and shared with them gifts that had been given. Abu Hurairah related how he used to lie on the ground or tie a stone to his stomach due to the intense hunger. On one occasion, he waited outside the mosque and when Abu Bakr went by, he asked him about a verse of Qurân in the hope that he would notice his state and offer him something to eat. However, he answered the question and went on. Then he did the same with ‘Umar ibn al-Khattâb, who did the same as Abu Bakr. Then he waited for the Messenger, upon whom be peace, who invited him in to his house to see if there were any gifts of food. He felt fortunate as the Messenger, upon him be peace, had been given a cup of milk. To Abu Hurairah’s dismay, he was ordered to invite all the Ahl al-Suffa and then to pour out for each one of them. At this, he despaired of getting any milk because they were so numerous and the person pouring the milk is always the last to drink. To his surprise when everyone had drunk, the cup was still full. He drank his fill and when he had finished, the Messenger, upon him be peace, said ‘drink!’ Abu Hurairah obeyed. When he had drank until he could drink no more, the Messenger, upon him be peace, smiled and again said, ‘drink!’ Despite being sated, he drank. After he had finished, the Messenger smiled again and said, ‘drink!’ To this Abu Hurairah, said ‘O Messenger of Allah, there is no way I can drink any more.’ He realised that the Messenger, upon him be peace, was teaching him not to doubt the blessings of his Lord.
Among his daily practices was to seek forgiveness 12000 times in the day and 12000 at night. He would keep count using a string with a thousand knots tied into it.
He said that he witnessed three great tragedies; the death of the Messenger, upon him be peace, the murder of ‘Uthmân and the disappearance of the mizwad. When asked what the mizwad was, he explained that on one of the Messenger’s excursions he, upon him be peace, asked if anyone had any food. Someone said he had a mizwad, a small bag for keeping provisions. In it were some dates. The Messenger, called for them to be brought to him. He, upon him be peace, supplicated upon them and distributed them to everyone present. Abu Hurairah said that he ate from his portion during the life of the Messenger, upon him be peace, and throughout the reigns of Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthmân.[2]
‘Umar appointed him as ruler over Bahrain but after a short time, he decided he did not want to be involved in politics or ruling, resigned and went into recluse. He returned to Madina where he died in the year 57, 58 or 59 H, aged 78 years old.
(Sources: Ibn Hajr al-Asqalâni, al-Isâba fî Tamyîz al-Sahâba and Muhammad al-Jardâni al-Dimyâti, al-Jawâhir al-lu’luwiyya)
[1] Related by al-Hâkim, see al-Isâbah of Ibn Hajr.
[2] Related by al-Baihaqi and Qadi ‘Iyad in his Shifa.
In the name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Abû Dharr was so well known by his nickname that there is considerable difference of opinion about his actual name and the name of his father. The strongest opinion is that his real name was Jundub ibn Junâdah. There is a hadith related by Ibn Mâjah which says that the Messenger, upon him be peace, referred to him as ‘Junaydib’. However, this does not contradict the above mentioned opinion as this diminutive form is often used as a term of affection. And Allah knows best.
A ‘dharr’ is a small particle or thing of little or no significance. His nickname means ‘father of a dharr’. He was once weighing a loaf of bread and a small flying ant landed on it. He noticed that the scales did not move as the insect’s weight was too small to register. He said to those present, ‘look at this! This does not register on the worldly scales but the Scales of the Hereafter will be swayed by one of these.’ It was then said to him, ‘you are the father of a dharr.’
The Ghifâr tribe lived in the Waddan valley north of Makkah. They traditionally lived from the passing trade caravans moving between Makkah and Syria. When Islam began to emerge in Makkah, Abû Dharr was inquisitive to find out more about the one who had declared himself a prophet. He sent his brother Anîs to find out about him and his teaching. His brother returned saying:
‘I saw the one who says he has received revelation. He calls towards good character.’
‘What do the people say of him?’ asked Abû Dharr.
‘They call him a poet, a sorcerer, a liar,’ replied Anîs. ‘But I swear by God that he is truthful and they are liars.’
On hearing this, Abû Dharr set off for Makkah. When he entered the town, he asked about the Prophet, upon him be peace, but was immediately set upon and beaten to the ground. When he gained consciousness, he went to the well of Zamzam and drank and washed himself. He stayed in the Sacred Precinct for thirty days drinking nothing but Zamzam. He had no food or money.
Strangely, during this period he gained weight from the blessed water. One night, he decided to stay near the house and circumambulate the House, pray and hope that he would meet the Messenger, upon him be peace. As he greeted the Black Stone of the House, his prayer was answered and the Prophet, upon him be peace, approached. He greeted him with the words ‘al-salâmu alaykum, Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah.’ It is believed that this was the first time the phrase was used. It became the standard greeting among the Muslims. After greeting the Messenger, upon him be peace, he declared his faith. On hearing this, a group of Quraysh attacked him and beat him to the ground and continued beating him until the Prophet’s uncle, Abbâs, intervened and diplomatically said, ‘do you not know that this man is from the tribe of Ghifâr and your trade with Syria passes through his territory.’ This situation repeated itself for several nights with him being beaten and Abbâs intervening.
On his return to his tribe, a few of them embraced Islam. When the Messenger, upon him be peace, migrated to Madina, the remainder followed suit and the Prophet supplicated for the whole tribe saying 'Ghifâr, Ghafarallahu laha, May Allah forgive the tribe of Ghifâr.'
Abû Dharr was known for his asceticism and detachment from the world to the extent that he never kept more than a day’s provision in his house. The ruler, Mu’awiyya, wanted to test his piety by sending him a thousand gold dinâr. Abû Dharr immediately distributed it to the poor, keeping nothing for himself. Then the messenger who had brought the money came and explained that he had made a mistake and that he was supposed to have given it to someone else and was likely to be punished severely for his mistake. Abû Dharr told him not to worry as he would not sleep until he had gathered all the money back and returned it to him.
He was known for his deep knowledge and righteousness. The Messenger, upon him be peace, said, ‘there is no one more truthful in speech than Abû Dharr.’[1]
In his later life, he went into recluse in an area known as al-Rabadha. As he approached death, his wife began to cry and he asked her why. She said, ‘you are going to die in this barren distant land and I do not even have sufficient cloth to bury you with.’
‘Don’t worry and take glad tidings,’ he said. ‘I once heard the Messenger, upon him be peace, say to a group of people and I was amongst them that one of you will die in a barren valley and a group of the believers will witness the death and bury you.’ Every single one of that group has passed away and died in a village accept me and so I am the one who will die in the valley. I swear by Allah that I was not lied to, so go that hill and look out for them.’ The prophecy was realised as ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud and a group of pilgrims from Iraq were passing by. They buried him in al-Rabadha and announced his death when they arrived in Madina. May Allah be pleased with them all.
Abû Dharr died in the year 31H or 32H. He related 181 hadith.
(Sources: Ibn Hajr, al-Isâba fi Tamyîz al-Sahâba and Muhammad al-Jardâni al-Dimyâti, al-Jawâhir al-Lu’luwiyya)
[1] Al-Hâkim (3/342), Al-Tirmidhi (3801) and Ibn Majah (156).
In the name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful
He became Muslim as a young man after seeing a miracle of the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace, while tending the sheep of Uqba ibn Abi Mu’iyt. It is said that he was the sixth person to embrace Islam and Allah knows best.
He describes the incident:
'I was at the time a youth just grown into manhood when one day the Prophet and Abu Bakr passed by. The Prophet asked me if I had any milk to give them to drink. I replied that the flocks were not mine but entrusted to my care and I could not give them to drink. The Prophet said: ‘Hast thou a young ewe that no ram hath ever leaped? I said I had, and brought her to them. Having tethered her, the Prophet put his hand to her udder and prayed whereupon the udder swelled with milk, and Abu Bakr brought a boulder which was hollowed like a cup. The Prophet milked her into it and we all drank. Then he said to the udder: ‘Dry,’ and it dried.’[1]
Abdullah made Hijra, migration, to Ethiopia and later to Madina.
He offered to be a servant to the Messenger, upon him be peace, looking after his personal affairs and was called ‘keeper of the secret of the Messenger’ and ‘keeper of the shoes’.
It was said of him that he was the closest to the Messenger in mannerism.
He was the first to read the Qurân in public and was badly beaten as a result.
‘Abdullah was responsible for killing Abu Jahl, one of his tormentors and a staunch enemy of the Muslims, in the battle of Badr.
He was affectionately referred to as Ibn Umm ‘Abd , son of the mother of a slave. The Messenger, upon him be peace, gave him glad tidings of entering the Garden.
The Messenger said about him:
'I am content for my nation about whatever Ibn Umm ‘Abd is content for it.'
(al-Hâkim)
'If I were to appoint anyone over my nation without consultation, I would have appointed Ibn Umm ‘Abd.'
(Ahmed, al-Tirmidhi and al-Hâkim)
One night, the Messenger heard ‘Abdullah ibn Masud reading Quran and with him was Abu Bakr and Umar. They stood for long and then he said ‘whoever wishes to read Quran as it was revealed should read with the recitation of Ibn Umm ‘Abd .’
(Ahmed, al-Nasâi, al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)
He was a judge in Kufa during the time of ‘Umar and part of ‘Uthmân’s rule before he returned to Madina where he died in 32H, aged approximately 60.
On his death bed, ‘Uthmân offered him some money to ensure his daughters were not left to poverty but he refused it saying that he had left them with surah al-wâqiah , the fifty fifth chapter of the Qurân, which would be sufficient.
There are many wise sayings and pieces of advice attributed to him.
After having money stolen from him in the market place, he said, ‘O Allah, if the one who took the money was in need, then give him blessed increase and if he is one who often commits this sin, then make it his last sin.’
He said, ‘knowledge is not from the narration of masses (of information) but it is through fear of God.’
He said, ‘the Jama’at (group) is not having lots of people, rather the one who is with the truth is the true Jama’at.’
He related 848 hadith.
(Sources: Ibn Hajr al-Asqalâni, al-Isâba fî Tamyîz al-Sahâba and Muhammad al-Jardâni al-Dimyâti, al-Jawâhir al-lu’luwiyya)
[1] Muhammad by Martin Lings, Islamic Text Society: London, 1983 p48.
In the name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful
‘Abdullah was the son of the famous companion and the second khalifa of Islam, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattâb. He became Muslim with his father while still a child in Makkah and migrated with him to Madina. He was one of the most knowledgeable scholars from among the Companions and was renowned for his asceticism and worship. The Companions used to go to him for legal rulings especially in questions of the rites of pilgrimage. He performed sixty pilgrimages (hajj) and one thousand minor pilgrimages (‘umra).
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar was extremely charitable. He was once given twenty four dinar of gold and distributed the whole amount in charity before departing from the gathering. Despite his charitable nature, he remained modest and fearful of Allah. On one occasion, a beggar came to him and ‘Abdullah told his son to give the beggar a gold dinar. When the beggar left, his son, ‘Abdul Rahmân, said to his father, ‘may Allah accept it from you, O beloved father.’ He said to him, ‘if I knew that Allah had accepted one prostration or charity of a single dirham, death would be more beloved to me than any thing, but do you know from whom He accepts? He only accepts from the righteous ones.’
Like his father, he was brave and courageous. While on a journey, he saw a group of people gathered by the roadside. He approached them and asked why they had gathered. They explained that they were afraid to go any further as there was a lion ahead on the path. ‘Abdullah went ahead and approached the lion. He took it by its ear, spoke to it and walked it away from the path. When asked about such an act of bravery, he explained that one thing that he had learned from the Messenger, upon him be peace, was that if you fear no one and nothing but Allah, Allah will always protect you.
He tried to avoid political controversy but would speak out against injustice and religious malpractice. The ruler, Hajjaj, delivered an extremely long Friday sermon. As a result, he delayed the prayer. As the time for prayer was passing away, ‘Abdullah stood and rebuked him saying ‘surely the sun will not wait for you!’ An argument ensued and the ruler felt both embarrassed and insulted. The incensed Hajjaj then instructed one of his henchmen to stab him with a poisoned spear. ‘Abdullah was murdered during the circumambulation of the Sacred House, dying as a result of having the poisoned spear poked into his foot.
He related 1630 hadith. He died aged 83 years old and is buried on the outskirts of Makkah.
(Taken from al-Jawâhir al-lu’luwiyya by Muhammad al-Jardâni al-Dimyâti)
In the name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful
His name and family
He is known as ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās, although at birth he was named al-‘Ās, which means the disobedient one. When he embraced Islam, in the seventh year of the Hijra, the Messenger, upon him be peace, renamed him ‘Abdullah. He was from the Sahm branch of the tribe of Quraish. His nickname (kunya) was Abu Muhammad although some called him Abu Abdul Rahmân. His mother was Riâtah bint Manbah. His father was the famous companion ‘Amr ibn al-Ās, the celebrated conqueror of Egypt. His father was very young when ‘Abdullah was born, according to most sources, he was only twelve years old. ‘Abdullah became Muslim before his father. It is reported that the Messenger, upon him be peace, used to show preference to the son over the father because of his superior knowledge and intense worship.
His ability to read and write
‘Abdullah memorised the whole Qurân and was able to read and write. He was known to have read the pre-Islamic scriptures before he embraced Islam and it is reported that he continued after becoming Muslim. He was one of the few companions who wrote down the words of the Messenger, upon him be peace, during his lifetime. He sought the Messenger’s specific permission asking , ‘May I write down everything I hear from you in the states of contentment and anger?’ He, upon him be peace, replied, ‘Yes, for I speak nothing but the truth.’ The other great narrator of the sayings of the Messenger, upon him be peace, Abu Hurairah, used to say, ‘there is no one more knowledgeable of the sayings of the Messenger, upon him be peace, than me, except ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr. He used to preserve them in his heart and I used to preserve them in my heart; but, he used to write them down and I did not.’ It is reported that ‘Abdullah used to say that he memorised one thousand sayings from the Messenger, upon him be peace. He reported 700 hadith. Eighteen were agreed upon by Muslim and Bukhâri, eight can be found in Bukhâri alone and twenty in Muslim alone. Although it is commonly understood that he was more knowledgeable of hadith than Abu Hurairah; as he resided in Egypt where there were less people to relate from him than in Madina, the number of traditions related by him is less than some of the other great companions including Abu Hurairah and ‘Aisha bint Abu Bakr, Mother of the Believers, may Allah be pleased with them all.
The intensity of his worship and abstinence from the world
‘Abdullah was one of the most intense worshippers, fasting for days without a break and going many nights without sleep, until the Messenger, upon him be peace, forbade him from fasting without breaks and abstaining from intimacy with his wife. He said, ‘surely your eyes have rights upon you, your family have rights upon you, so sleep and break your fast. Fast the three days in the middle of the month for that is the eternal fast.’ When ‘Abdullah said, ‘but I can do more than that,’ and he continued with his intense fasting; the Messenger, upon him be peace, told him, ‘there is no fast better than the fast of David, that is, to fast one day and eat one day.’ Then he limited him to fasting every other day.
He was also told not to read so much Qurân but to limit his completion of the whole Qurân to only once a month. ‘Abdullah said that he can do more than that and was then told ‘complete it every seven days’, which he did. He had a very emotional relationship with the Qurân. He used to say that to shed tears out of fear of Allah was more beloved to him than to spend a thousand dinâr in charity. He lost his sight in the later years of his life.
He fought in several battles during the lifetime of the Messenger, upon him be peace, and accompanied his father on many conquests including the conquest of Egypt and Syria. He remained with his father until his father’s death.
He carried the banner at the battle of Yarmuk and attended the civil war battle of Siffin but did not throw an arrow or participate in any fighting. He said that he only attended the battle because his father wanted him to and recalled the Messenger’s command to ‘obey your father!’ Up until that point he had avoided being involved in any internal politics. After the death of the Khalifa Uthmân, he went into recluse in order to avoid disputes.
His death and burial place
There is some difference of opinion about the date of his death and about his burial place. After the conquest of Egypt, he resided in Syria and returned to the Hijaz area (Makkah and Madina). Ahmed ibn Hanbal said he died on the nights of al-Harra where Yazîd’s army attacked the city of Madina. This took place on the last Wednesday of Dhul Hijja 63H. Others say he went on to Makkah after that and died there in 67H aged 72 years. Some say he died in Syria, others say in Tâif and it is also reported that he died in Egypt and is buried where the current library of the mosque of his father now stands. And Allah knows best.
(Sources: Ibn Hajr al-Asqalâni, al-Isâba fî Tamyîz al-Sahâba and Muhammad al-Jardâni al-Dimyâti, al-Jawâhir al-lu’luwiyya)
In the name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful
‘Aisha, along with all the other wives of the Prophet, upon him be peace, are known as the Mothers of the Believers. This is based on the verse of Quran in which Allah describes the Messenger and his wives, saying, ‘The Prophet is closer to the Believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers.’ Although she had no children of her own, she was known as Umm ‘Abdullah, the mother of Abdullah because of her closeness to her nephew ‘Abdullah bin Zubayr whose mother, ‘Asmâ, was ‘Aisha’s sister. May Allah be pleased with them all.
She was the daughter of the Prophet’s best friend, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. The Prophet’s servant, Anas, related that the Messenger, upon him be peace, was once asked, ‘who is the most beloved person to you?’
‘’Aisha,’ he replied.’ He was then asked, ‘and from among the men?’
‘Her father,’ he replied.
As her grandfather also embraced Islam, the family of Abu Bakr was the only family to have four generations of Companions.
There are several features which distinguish her from the other wives of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them. She was the only wife that was not previously married and she was the only one upon whose bed the Messenger, upon him be peace, received revelation.
‘Aisha was born in a state of Islam, eight years before the Migration to Madina.
She used to worship intensely, fasting the ‘perpetual fast’, that is, fasting every day except the feast days on which it is prohibited to fast. She had little concern for this temporal world or wealth. Whenever she received presents, she would either distribute among the wives of the Messenger, upon him be peace, as she did with a gift of gold coins from the Khalifa Mu’âwiyya or among the whole community as she did with a large gift from ‘Abdullah bin Zubayr.
She was very knowledgeable, eloquent and succinct in her speech. ‘Urwa said that he did not know anyone more knowledgeable about poetry than ‘Aisha. The ruler, Mu’âwiyya, once asked her to write some advice on which to base his system of government. She wrote:
Whoever holds to the pleasure of people while angering Allah, Allah will leave him to them. Whoever holds to the pleasure of Allah while angering people, He will save him from their ploys.
Abû Musa said that there was no saying of the Messenger that was problematic to any one of us except that when we referred it to ‘Aisha she knew about it. Atâ said she was the most knowledgeable person in our community and always had the best and most learned opinion of all people. When Marwân used to relate hadith from her, he would say ‘the Truthful One, daughter of the Truthful One, the Beloved of the Beloved of Allah relayed to us …’ She related 1210 hadith.
She died in the month of Ramadan in the year 58H. Abû Hurairah led the prayers over her and her nephews buried her in the Baqî cemetery in Madina.
(Sources: Ibn Hajr, al-Isâba fi Tamyîz al-Sahâba, al-Qurtubi, al-Istiâb fi ma’rifatul ashâb and Muhammad al-Jardâni al-Dimyâti, al-Jawâhir al-Lu’luwiyya)
Surah al-Ahzâb 33:6.
In the name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful
‘Abdullah ibn Abbâs
‘Abdulllah ibn Abbâs was the cousin of the Messenger, upon him be peace. He was born three years before the Prophet’s migration from Makkah to Madina, prayers and salutations upon him. It is reported that his mother, Umm Fadl, brought him to the Messenger, upon him be peace, shortly after he was born and the Messenger, upon him be peace, read the adhân, call to prayer, in his right ear and the prayer announcement, the iqama, in his left ear. He, upon him be peace, then said to her, ‘you may leave with the father of the Caliphs’ His father, Abbâs was the Prophet’s uncle and was born two years before him, upon him be peace, and although he became Muslim he was instructed to keep his conversion quiet and continue to reside in Makkah after the other Muslims had migrated to Madina. The Messenger, upon him be peace, said of him, ‘whoever harms Abbâs has harmed me.’
He had a number of titles including Ibn Abbâs, the son of Abbâs. He was Abbâs’ eldest son, may Allah be pleased with them both. He was also called ‘Turjumân al-Qurân’, Interpreter of the Qurân and ‘the Ocean’ because of the depth of his knowledge.
His vast knowledge and understanding of the subtleties of the Qurân was a result of a special supplication that the Messenger, upon him be peace, made for him. He used to say, ‘O Allah, make him understand the religion and teach him the interpretation.’ Ibn Sâlih mentioned that he saw a huge congregation of people gathered outside the door of Ibn Abbâs. It was impossible to pass because of the congestion in the street. He entered the house and informed Ibn Abbâs who requested water for ablution. Once he had performed his ablution, he told them to allow in anyone who wanted to know about the Qurân, its meanings and intentions. They entered and filled his house and courtyard. Each one of them asked him questions and he answered every one of them to their satisfaction. Once their questions were answered they would leave to be replaced by others. Once all those who had questions about Qurân were satisfied, he then said, ‘whoever has questions about jurisprudence should enter’ and again the house and courtyard were full. This continued with groups coming in to ask about inheritance and then language and poetry. Ibn Sâlih said that he never saw anyone else who could do that.
Ibn Abbâs died in Tâif in the year 68H. When Jâbir ibn Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with them, heard the news, he placed one hand upon the other on his chest and said, ‘today, the most knowledgeable and gentle of all people has died.’
(Sources: Ibn Hajr, al-Isâba fi Tamyîz al-Sahâba, Abu Nuaym Hilyatul ‘Awliya and Muhammad al-Jardâni al-Dimyâti, al-Jawâhir al-Lu’luwiyya)
Related by al-Khatîb on the authority of Ibn Abbâs, (Kanz ul-‘Amâl 33587)
Related by Al-Hâkim (3/534).
The Kitaba Sahabah Series
In the name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Thâbit bin Qays
There are at least two companions named Thâbit bin Qays.
Thâbit bin Qays bin al-Khatîm
One was Thâbit bin Qays bin al-Khatîm al-Zafri al-Ansâri. The Messenger of Allah, upon him be peace, talked to his father, Qays bin al-Khatîm, before his migration to Makkah. He asked for his support when he migrated. Qays died before the migration but his two sons Thâbit and Yazîd were strong supporters and close companions.
During one of the military campaigns he received twelve wounds and from that day on he was given the nickname ‘al-Hâsir, the exhausted one. He went on to fight in several battles after that event.
He was appointed to the government in Kufa during the time of the khilâfat of Uthmân ibn Affân. The Khalifa, Ali, also appointed him governor over several cities. Many of the companions from the Ansâr, the people of Madina who aided the Messenger after his migration, were unhappy about the rule of Muawiya and decided to write an open letter signed by all of them to highlight some of his injustices. However, Thâbit advised against it and suggested only one person wrote as it would lead to repercussions for the Ansar and strife within the community. His advice is thought to have prevented a possible civil war. Once Muawiya conquered Iraq and appointed Mughira as governor over Kufa, Thâbit left political life and went into recluse. He died in Kufa, in Iraq.
Thâbit bin Qays bin Shammâs
The companion who shared the name Thâbit bin Qays was Thâbit bin Qays bin Shammas bin Zahîr al-Ansâri. He is also referred to as Abu Muhammad or Abu Abdul Rahmân, meaning the father of Muhammad or the father of Abdul Rahmân. Both his sons were killed in the battle of Harra while defending Madina. Thâbit bin Qays was known as the Speaker of the Ansâr (Khatîb al- Ansâr) as he would eloquently address the Ansâr on behalf of the Messenger, upon him be peace. He was also known as Khatib al-Rasûl, the one who gave the sermon for the Messenger, upon him be peace.
There were several verses of Qurân revealed about him. One of the verses related to divorce was revealed after his wife complained to the Messenger that ‘although she did not complain about his character or religion’, she did not want to remain married to him. The Messenger, upon him be peace, then asked her if she were willing to return the garden that he had given her in dowry. She agreed and the Messenger, upon him be peace, instructed him to ‘accept the garden and pronounce the divorce’.
Another verse was revealed with regard his generosity. When his fruit was ripe he decided he would give anyone that came to him that day some dates as a gift. By the end of the day he had no dates left for himself or his family and Allah revealed the verse, “It is He Who produces gardens, with trellises and without, and dates, and tilth with produce of all kinds, and olives and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in variety): eat of their fruit in their season, but render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered. But waste not by excess: for Allah loves not the wasters” (6:141).
There were two verses that were revealed about other people that he feared were about him. The first was where some companions were told ‘O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk, as you may speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds become vain and you perceive not (49:2). He had a loud voice and was fearful that the verse was a direct rebuke to him. He hid away for some days until the Messenger; himself went to see what was wrong with him. Thâbit explained that he has a loud voice and was afraid that he would be one whose ‘deeds become vain’. The Messenger, upon him be peace, comforted him saying ‘you live well and you will die well’.
He also went into hiding after Allah revealed that He ‘loves not any arrogant boaster’ (39:18). On this occasion, the Messenger, upon him be peace, told him ‘you are not one of them, you live a praised life and you will die a martyr and enter the Garden.’ He was killed in the battle of Yamâma during the period of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq.
He was a man of great character and worship. On one occasion, the Messenger, upon him be peace saw a light emanating from a house and said ‘perhaps someone is reading surat Surat al-Baqara (the second chapter of the Quran)’. The next morning some of the companions went to the house and asked Thâbit what he was doing that night and he confirmed that he was indeed reading Surat al-Baqara.