Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Every word, statement or action of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was filled with noor and barakah. It is on account of such noor and barakah granted to him by Allah Ta‘ala that people’s hearts were drawn to Islam by merely viewing his mubaarak character.
Any person who wished to see the truth of Islam with an open heart merely had to gaze at the blessed countenance of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), hear his words or look at his actions, and this was sufficient for him to see the truth and beauty of Islam.
In the books of Hadith, there are numerous incidents recorded of people who were staunch enemies of Islam, yet when they came into contact with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), heard his mubaarak words or saw his mubaarak lifestyle, then their hearts were completely transformed and they embraced Islam. Below is one such incident:
On one occasion, Hazrat Zaid bin Sa’nah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who was initially a Jewish rabbi, mentioned:
There was not a sign of the prophethood of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) (mentioned in the Towraat) which I had not found in him when looking at his blessed face, except for two signs. The first sign is that his tolerance and gentleness will overcome his anger, and the second sign is that the more one behaves foolishly towards him, the more he will forbear, tolerate and overlook the person’s ignorant conduct. Hence, I sought an opportunity to interact with him in order to test him and see whether he conducts himself with tolerance or with ignorance.
One day, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) came out of his home while Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was with him. Just then, a Bedouin mounted on a conveyance came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and said, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! My community have embraced Islam, and I told them, prior to embracing Islam, that if they become Muslims, they will receive abundant sustenance from Allah. Now we are going through such a time where drought has befallen us. I fear that on account of the difficulty they are experiencing, they will wish to leave Islam, just as they had happily embraced Islam. O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! If you are able to assist them by sending some wealth to them, then please do so!” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) looked towards the person beside him, who I think was Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) (to enquire whether they had anything to send to these people). However, he replied, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! We do not have anything.”
Hazrat Zaid bin Sa’nah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said:
I was present, so I went forward and said, “O Muhammed! If you wish I will advance the money, on condition that I be paid a certain amount of dates at a fixed time.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) agreed to this and we concluded the sale. I then opened my money bag and gave eighty mithqaal of gold to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to assist the Bedouin. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then gave the Bedouin the money and instructed him to spend it justly on his people and assist them.
When two or three days were left for the due date for me to receive the dates, I came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). At that time, I found that he had just returned from a funeral and was seated near a wall with some of the Sahaabah. Among the Sahaabah present with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) were Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
I came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), took hold of his kurta and shawl, and sternly and in a stern and disrespectful manner, addressed him saying, “O Muhammed! Why are you not paying me! By Allah! I swear that I know all the children of Abdul Muttalib very well. You all are known for procrastinating in settling your debts!”
Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) looked at me in anger in said, “O enemy of Allah! How dare you address Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in this manner and treat him like this? I swear by Allah that if I did not fear (the presence of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)), I would have severed your head!”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) looked at me with dignity and respect. Thereafter, with a smile on his face, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) addressed Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and said to him, “O Umar! Myself and this person deserve a better conduct from you. You should have advised me to ensure that I settle my debts in an excellent manner, and you should have advised him to request payment in a polite manner (though the debt was not yet due upon Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) still exercised tolerance and advised Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in this way).”
Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “Take this person and fulfill his rights on my behalf. When paying him, give him what is due to him, and also give him an additional twenty saa’ of dates for speaking to him in such a stern manner.”
Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) took me and paid me in full, and gave me an additional amount of twenty saa. I was surprised and asked Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “Why are you giving me this additional amount of twenty saa’?” Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “This is in compliance with the command of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). He instructed me to give you this additional amount in lieu of the harsh treatment which you received from me.”
I then asked Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “O Umar! Do you know who I am?” Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “No.” I replied, “I am Zaid bin Sa’nah?” Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked, “The learned scholar of the Jews?” I replied, “Yes, I am that very same person.”
Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said, “Being a man of knowledge, why did you conduct in such a hostile manner before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)?” I replied, “The reason I had conducted in this manner was that I had witnessed all the signs of prophethood in him which are recorded in our scriptures, with the exception of two signs. Without testing him, I was unable to ascertain whether these two signs are also found in him or not. The first sign is that his tolerance and gentleness supersedes his anger, and the second sign is that the more one behaves foolishly towards him, the more he will forbear, tolerate and overlook the person’s ignorant conduct. Now that I have ascertained that he also possesses these two signs, I make you a witness that I am pleased with Allah as my Rabb, with Islam as my deen, and with Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) as my Nabi. I also make you a witness that I am giving half of my entire wealth in charity to be spent upon the ummah of Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”
Thereafter, Hazrat Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) returned to the presence of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and said, “I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is His slave and Rasul.”
After bringing imaan upon Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and testifying to his message, Hazrat Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) pledged allegiance upon the hands of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and participated with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in some battles. He passed during the Expedition of Tabook. (Majma’uz Zawaa’id #13898)
