Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Haashim (continued)
During the days of Haj, Haashim would feed all the hujjaaj (pilgrims) with meat, bread, saweeq and dates and would also provide them with Zam Zam water. He would make similar provisions for them at Mina, Muzdalifah and ‘Arafaat.
Umayyah bin ‘Abdu Shams was very upset over Haashim’s generosity and influence over the Arabs. Umayyah thus also attempted to feed the pilgrims just as Haashim was feeding them. However, despite his excessive wealth, he was unable to compete with Haashim. This was the initial catalyst that sparked off the hostility which the Banu Umayyah expressed for the Banu Haashim.
On one occasion, Haashim accompanied a trade caravan which halted at Madinah Munawwarah. On reaching Madinah Munawwarah, his gaze fell on a woman in the market place who apart from being exceptionally beautiful, seemed to be a woman of nobility and keen intelligence. Haashim enquired as to whether she was married or single and learnt that she was married to Aseehah bin Jallaah from whom she had mothered two sons; ‘Amr and Ma‘bad. Aseehah later divorced her.
After her divorce, Haashim sent her a proposal of marriage. Due to his noble lineage and gracious character, she accepted and their Nikah was performed. The lady’s name was Salmaa bint ‘Amr and she was from the Banu Najjaar tribe. After the Nikah, Haashim held a feast to which all his co-travelers and a few people of the Khazraj tribe were invited.
Haashim remained in Madinah Munawwarah for a few days after the Nikah during which his son, ‘Abdul Muttalib, was conceived. When ‘Abdul Muttalib was born, he had a single strand of white hair on his head due to which he was named “Shaybah” (which refers to a person’s hair turning white). In the meantime, Haashim departed for Gaza with the trade caravan. He passed away in Gaza and is also buried there.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/32)
