Abu Hurayrah Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports:
"Once Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam came out of his house at such a
time, that it was not his noble habit to do so at that time. Nor did anyone come
to meet him at that time. At that moment Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu came to
Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. He asked: 'What brought you here, O
Abubakr?' Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu replied: 'I came out to meet the Rasul of
Allah, and look at his noble face. (This was due to the complete relationship of
Abubakr Siddiqe Radiyallahu 'Anhu, that when Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam unexpectedly came out of his house, it had an effect on Abubakr
Radiyallahu 'Anhu. According to this humble servant, this is the best
explanation, and this complete relationship is the reason for the continuity of
the khilaafah of Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu with the nabawi period after the
death of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. If someone else had
been elected as a khalifah, then due to the incomplete relationship, there would
have been some changes in the laws of the time. It would have been an additional
sorrow after the demise of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam for
the Sahaabah, and would have been unacceptable to them, whereas, Abubakr
Radiyallahu'Anhu had such a close and deep relationship with Sayyidina
Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam that on many aspects Abubakr Siddiqe
Radiyallahu 'Anhu had the same thoughts as that of Sayyidina Rasulullah
Sallallahu'Alayhi Wasallam. The incident of Hudaybiyyah is a testimony to this,
which has already been mentioned in the book: 'Stories of the Sahaabah'. The
Muslims felt so much humilation in accepting the harsh conditions of the
non-believers that many among the Sahaabah could not bear it. 'Umar Radiyallahu
'Anhu anxiously came to Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam and
said: 'O Messenger of Allah, are you not the truthful Nabi of Allah?' Sayyidina
Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam replied: 'Indeed, I am'. 'Umar
Radiyallahu 'Anhu said: 'Are we not on The Haq (True Path) and the enemy on
falsehood?' Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam replied: 'Truly
indeed'. 'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu said: 'Why are we being degraded in this manner
in our deen?' Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam replied: "I am
the Messenger of Allah, and I cannot disobey Him. Verily He is my protector'. 'Umar
Radiyallahu 'Anhu said: 'Did you not say to us that we are going to Makkah, and
are going to perform the tawaaf?' Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam said: 'Verily it is true, but did I say that we will go this year to
Makkah?' 'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu replied: 'No, you did not say this'. Sayyidina
Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam then said: 'We will surely go to Makkah
and perform tawaaf'. After this 'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu with the same zeal went
to Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anbu and said: 'O Abubakr, is this not the truthful Nabi
of Allah?' Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu replied: 'Verily, yes'. 'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu
asked: 'Are we not on the truth and the non-believers on falsehood?' Abubakr
Radiyallahu 'Anhu replied: 'Verily, true'. 'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu then said:
'Why are we being disgraced in this manner for our deen?' Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu
replied: 'O man, without doubt, he is the truthful nabi, and he does not disobey
Allah in the least, and only Allah is his protector. Hold fast unto his reigns'.
'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu replied: 'Did he not say to us that we will be going to
Makkah, and will be performing the tawaaf?' Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu replied:
'Did he promise you this that we will go this year?' 'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu
replied: 'No, he did not say this to us'. Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu said. 'You
will go to Makkah and will also perform tawaaf '. This incident has been
mentioned in detail in the Bukhaari.' There are many other similar amazing
incidents. Even when Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam committed
an ijtihaadi slip up, Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu would also in that instance have
the same opinion, as was the case with the prisoners of the Battle of Badr, the
incident of which is mentioned at the end of Suratul Anfaal.
In this case Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu presenting himself at an unusual moment
is the case of the soul of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam
having an influence on the heart of Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu, as if he was also
feeling hungry.
I remember everything of the Sorrow of separation O (beloved) Zaalim But I
forget everything after seeing your countenance.
Some of the 'ulama state the coming of Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu was due to
hunger, but after seeing Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam this
feeling of hunger vanished. Therefore on the inquiry of Sayyidina Rasulullah
Sallallahu'Alayhi Wasallam, he did not mention this.
Some of the 'ulama have written that Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu came due to the
hunger he experienced, but he did not mention this, because it may become
difficult for Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam, for the
difficulties of a friend supersedes the difficulties of one's self). A little
while passed, when 'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu presented himself. Rasulullah
Sallallahu'Alayhi Wasallam asked him the reason of presenting himself at such an
odd time. He replied: 'Because of hunger, O Messenger of Allah'. Rasulullah
Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said: 'I am also experiencing a bit of that'. All
then went to the house of Abul Haytham Ansaari Radiyallahu'Anhu. He was the
owner of many date palms, trees and sheep, and he did not have any servants.
(For this reason he did all the work himself). They did not find him there. They
asked his wife, 'Where is your companion?' She replied: 'He has gone to bring
sweet water for us'. A little while had not passed, when Abul Haytham
Radiyallahu 'Anhu experiencing difficulty arrived carrying the water bag. He put
it down. He then came and honoured Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam, his
noble guest, and was pleased by the honour of meeting Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam, (and proud of his good fortune, reciting and embracing him).
O companion when my benevolent moments will come. Without invitation you will
come away to my home.
and began to sacrifice on Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam his father and
mother. (i.e. He was saying, may my father and mother be sacrificed on you).
After that he requested them to come to his palm grove. He spread out for them a
mat, then went to a palm and brought a,whole bunch (which had ripe, half ripe
etc. kinds of dates on it), and put it before them. Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam said: 'Why did you not only pick the ripe ones'. (rather than bringing
the whole bunch). He (the host) said. 'Eat what pleases you from it'. They ate
from it, and drank water. Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said there
after, (of which every moment of his life was a means of education for the ummah),
I swear an oath by the Being in whose hands lies my life, this is also included
among those blessings of which one will be asked on the day of qiyaamah, (which
Allah Ta'aala has mentioned at the end of Surah Takathur. It will be asked
regarding gratitude. He then counted the blessings of that moment), the cool
shadow, good fresh dates, and cold water. Thereafter the host started going to
prepare meals, whereupon Rasulullah Sallallahu'Alayhi Wasallam said to him, in
happiness do not just slaughter any animal, but slaughter an animal that does
not give milk. The host slaughtered for them a female or male young goat. (He
quickly prepared the food), and presented it before them. They partook of it' (Sayyidina
Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam noticed that he was doing all the work by
himself, and at the beginning he had brought the sweet water himself too).
Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam inquired: 'Have you not any
servants?' He replied: 'No' Whereupon Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam
said: 'When slaves shall arrive, remind us. Incidentally only two slaves were
brought to Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. Abul Haytham Radiyallahu 'Anhu
came to remind Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam of his promise. Rasulullah
Sallallahu'Alayhi Wasallam said: 'Choose any one of them'. (Where will such a
Sahaabi who has sacrificed himself for Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam put forward his own desire in the presence of Sayyidina Rasulullah
Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. Therefore,) He said: 'O Nabi of Allah, you choose
one for me'. (Besides piety, there could have been no other reason for liking
and choosing a slave) Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said: 'An adviser
is trustworthy (and by me being the trustworthy person) I choose this slave for
you, as I had seen him perform his salaah. Remember my one advice, and that is
to treat him well'. (First Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam
mentioned the rule an adviser must adopt. Then reminded that my choice will be a
responsible and trustworthy one. He then chose one and gave his reason for it,
that the slave is one that upkeeps the salaah, therefore this slave was given
preference. In our times, for an employee to be punctual with the salaah is a
fault,' as it hinders the work of the employer). Abul Haytham Radiyallahu 'Anhu
went (happily home, that he had someone to help him in his chores) to his wife,
and told her what Rasulullah Sallallahu'Alayhi Wasallam had said. His wife said:
"You will not be able to fulfil exactly that which Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam had commanded. It is difficult for us to truly carry out that noble
advice, therefore free him, for by this it will be possible to fulfil the
commands of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam'. The husband then said,. 'He
is free'. (He did not care the least for his troubles and difficulties. When
Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam came to know about this
honourable sacrifice) Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said: 'For every
nabi and his successors Allah Ta'aala creates two concealed advisers. One of
which induces to do good and saves from committing evil. The other advises not
to care the least in ruining and destroying a person. The one that is saved from
this persons wickedness, is being saved from all ruin and destruction".
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ بْنُ أَبِي
إِيَاسٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا
عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ
أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فِي سَاعَةٍ
لا يَخْرُجُ فِيهَا، وَلا يَلْقَاهُ فِيهَا أَحَدٌ، فَأَتَاهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، فَقَالَ:
مَا جَاءَ بِكَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ؟، قَالَ: خَرَجْتُ أَلْقَى رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى
الله عليه وسلم وَأَنْظُرُ فِي وَجْهِهِ، وَالتَّسْلِيمَ عَلَيْهِ، فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ
أَنْ جَاءَ عُمَرُ، فَقَالَ: مَا جَاءَ بِكَ يَا عُمَرُ؟، قَالَ: الْجُوعُ
يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، قَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم: وَأَنَا قَدْ وَجَدْتُ بَعْضَ
ذَلِكَ، فَانْطَلَقُوا إِلَى مَنْزِلِ أَبِي الْهَيْثَمِ بْنِ التَّيْهَانِ
الأَنْصَارِيِّ، وَكَانَ رَجُلا كَثِيرَ النَّخْلِ وَالشَّاءِ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ
خَدَمٌ، فَلَمْ يَجِدُوهُ، فَقَالُوا لامْرَأَتِهِ: أَيْنَ صَاحِبُكِ؟ فَقَالَتِ:
انْطَلَقَ يَسْتَعْذِبُ لَنَا الْمَاءَ، فَلَمْ يَلْبَثُوا أَنْ جَاءَ أَبُو
الْهَيْثَمِ بِقِرْبَةٍ يَزْعَبُهَا، فَوَضَعَهَا ثُمَّ جَاءَ يَلْتَزِمُ النَّبِيَّ
صلى الله عليه وسلم وَيُفَدِّيهِ بِأَبِيهِ وَأُمِّهِ، ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ بِهِمْ
إِلَى حَدِيقَتِهِ فَبَسَطَ لَهُمْ بِسَاطًا، ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ إِلَى نَخْلَةٍ
فَجَاءَ بِقِنْوٍ فَوَضَعَهُ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: أَفَلا
تَنَقَّيْتَ لَنَا مِنْ رُطَبِهِ؟ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، إِنِّي أَرَدْتُ
أَنْ تَخْتَارُوا، أَوْ تَخَيَّرُوا مِنْ رُطَبِهِ وَبُسْرِهِ، فَأَكَلُوا
وَشَرِبُوا مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْمَاءِ فَقَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم: هَذَا وَالَّذِي
نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مِنِ النَّعِيمِ الَّذِي تُسْأَلُونَ عَنْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
ظِلٌّ بَارِدٌ، وَرُطَبٌ طَيِّبٌ، وَمَاءٌ بَارِدٌ فَانْطَلَقَ أَبُو الْهَيْثَمِ
لِيَصْنَعَ لَهُمْ طَعَامًا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: لا تَذْبَحَنَّ
ذَاتَ دَرٍّ، فَذَبَحَ لَهُمْ عَنَاقًا أَوْ جَدْيًا، فَأَتَاهُمْ بِهَا فَأَكَلُوا،
فَقَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم: هَلْ لَكَ خَادِمٌ؟، قَالَ: لا، قَالَ:
فَإِذَا أَتَانَا، سَبْيٌ، فَأْتِنَا فَأُتِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم
بِرَأْسَيْنِ لَيْسَ مَعَهُمَا ثَالِثٌ، فَأَتَاهُ أَبُو الْهَيْثَمِ، فَقَالَ
النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: اخْتَرْ مِنْهُمَا فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ،
اخْتَرْ لِي فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: إِنَّ الْمُسْتَشَارَ
مُؤْتَمَنٌ، خُذْ هَذَا، فَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ يُصَلِّي، وَاسْتَوْصِ بِهِ
مَعْرُوفًا فَانْطَلَقَ أَبُو الْهَيْثَمِ إِلَى امْرَأَتِهِ، فَأَخْبَرَهَا
بِقَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ: مَا أَنْتَ
بِبَالِغٍ حَقَّ مَا، قَالَ فِيهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلا بِأَنْ
تَعْتِقَهُ، قَالَ: فَهُوَ عَتِيقٌ، فَقَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم: إِنَّ اللَّهَ
لَمْ يَبْعَثْ نَبِيًّا وَلا خَلِيفَةً إِلا وَلَهُ بِطَانَتَانِ: بِطَانَةٌ
تَأْمُرُهُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَاهُ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ، وَبِطَانَةٌ لا تَأْلُوهُ
خَبَالا، وَمَنْ يُوقَ بِطَانَةَ السُّوءِ فَقَدْ وُقِيَ.