Regarding the phrase “waraʾ waraʾ,” it is pronounced with a fatḥa on both words. Others read it with ḍamma and without tanwīn. Its meaning is: “I am not of that lofty rank,” an expression used out of humility. I have explained it in detail in my commentary on Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim. Allah knows best.
207 – Abū Khubaib, ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them both), narrated:
When al-Zubayr took his position on the Day of the Camel (1), he called me and I stood beside him. He said, “My son, no one will be killed today except an aggressor or someone who is wronged (2), and I do not see myself but that I shall be killed while wronged. What troubles me most is my debt. Do you think our debts will leave us anything of our wealth?”
Then he said, “My son, sell our property and pay off my debts.” He arranged that a third—and a third of that third—be set aside for his children, meaning the sons of ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Zubayr: a third of the third.
He added, “If, after the debts are settled, anything of our wealth remains, then a third of it is for your children.”
Hisham said: Some of ʿAbd Allah’s children were the same age as some of al-Zubayr’s sons, Khubaib and ʿAbbād; on that day he had nine sons and nine daughters.
ʿAbd Allah continued: He kept urging me about his debts and said, “My son, if you find yourself unable to pay any part of it, seek help from my Master.” By Allah, I did not know whom he meant, so I asked, “Father, who is your Master?” He replied, “Allah.”
By Allah, I never encountered any difficulty with his debts except that I would say, “O Master of al-Zubayr, settle his debt,” and it would be settled.
He said: Al-Zubayr was killed and left not a single dinar or dirham, save two plots of land—one of them al-Ghābah (3)—eleven houses in Medina, two houses in Basra, one in Kufa, and one in Egypt.
His debt was only because a man would bring him money for safekeeping, and al-Zubayr would say, “No; rather, it is a loan, for I fear it might be lost” (4).
He never held a governorship, collected taxes, or assumed any office, except when on campaign with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, or with Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, and ʿUthmān (may Allah be pleased with them).
ʿAbd Allah said: