Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
On one occasion, Hazrat Zaid bin Thaabit (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) began to mount his conveyance. When Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) had seen him mounting his conveyance, he quickly rushed forward, held the stirrup of the animal and assisted him to mount the conveyance.
Out of respect for Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma), Hazrat Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) addressed him and said, “O cousin of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)! Don’t do this (i.e. don’t hold the stirrup of the animal).”
However, Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) continued to hold the stirrup of the animal and said to him, “This is how we have been taught (by Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)) to conduct with our Ulama and the seniors among us (i.e. we should go out of our way to respect them and serve them).”
Hazrat Zaid bin Thaabit (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” When Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) stretched out his hand towards him, Hazrat Zaid bin Thaabit (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) leaned forward, held the hand of Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) and kissed it, saying, “This is how we have been taught to conduct with the respected family of our beloved Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).” (Taareekh Ibn Asaakir 19/326)
From this incident, we see the high level of respect which Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhuma) accorded Hazrat Zaid bin Thaabit (radhiyallahu anhu) as he was among the Ulama of the Sahaabah.
Similarly, Hazrat Zaid bin Thaabit (radhiyallahu anhu) showed great honour to Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhuma), despite him being much younger than him in age, as Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhuma) belonged to the blessed household of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
