Al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah - Ibn Kathir - (6/67)

Al-Bidayah wa an-NihayahIbn Kathir

As he did on the Day of Ḥunayn, he (1) divided the abundant spoils of camels, sheep, gold, and silver among those whose hearts he sought to reconcile, yet he gave nothing to the Anṣār or to the majority of the early Emigrants. Instead, he spent upon those he hoped to attract to Islam, leaving the others because of the richness and goodness Allah had placed in their hearts. To console the one who asked about the wisdom behind such an allocation—after some of the Anṣār had voiced objection—he said:

“Are you not pleased that people depart with sheep and camels while you depart with the Messenger of Allah, taking him back to your homes?”

They replied, “We are pleased, O Messenger of Allah.” (2)

Likewise, after his uncle al-ʿAbbās had embraced Islam, he gave him a large sum when the tribute from Bahrain arrived. The money was poured out before him in the mosque. Al-ʿAbbās came and said, “Messenger of Allah, give me, for I ransomed myself on the Day of Badr and I ransomed ʿAqīl.” He replied:

“Take.”

Al-ʿAbbās removed his cloak, spread it out, and began filling it with the money. He then tried to lift it but could not. He said to the Messenger of Allah, “Lift it onto me.” He replied, “I will not.” He said, “Then order someone to lift it onto me.” He answered, “No.” Al-ʿAbbās therefore put some of it back, tried again, and still could not carry it. He asked again that it be lifted onto him or that someone be ordered to do so, but he refused. So he put more of it back, then managed to hoist what remained and left the mosque with it, while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ watched him, amazed at his eagerness!

I say: Al-ʿAbbās—may Allah be pleased with him—was a tall, strong, noble man; the least he carried away must have been nearly forty thousand, and Allah knows best.

Al-Bukhārī records this report in several places of his Ṣaḥīḥ in emphatic, muʿallaq form. It is cited among the virtues of al-ʿAbbās in light of Allah’s words: “O Prophet, say to the captives in your hands: If Allah knows any good in your hearts, He will give you better than what was taken from you and will forgive you; for Allah is All-Forgiving, Merciful” (al-Anfāl 8:70).

It has already been related from Anas ibn Mālik, the Prophet’s servant, that he said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the most generous of people and the most courageous of people …” (3). And how could it be otherwise, when he is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, fashioned upon the most perfect qualities and trusting in what lies in Allah’s hand? Allah revealed to him in His Mighty Book: “And why should you not spend in the path of Allah, when to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth?” (al-Ḥadīd 57:10) and His words: “Whatever you spend, He will replace it, and He is the best of providers” (Sabaʾ 34:39).

He ﷺ also said to his muʾadhdhin Bilāl—whose promise and speech are ever true:

“Spend, Bilāl, and do not fear that the Lord of the Throne will give you less.” (4)

(1) As in manuscript A and in the printed edition: ḥīna qassama (when he divided…). (2) This hadith is narrated by Ahmad in his Musnad (vol. 4, p. 42), by al-Bukhari in his Sahih (no. 4330) under the Kitab al-Maghazi, and by Muslim in his Sahih (no. 1061) in the Book of Zakat, chapter “Giving to those whose hearts are to be reconciled to Islam.” (3) The hadith has been cited above. (4) A fragment of a hadith narrated by al-Bazzar in his Musnad (no. 3653) and by al-Tabarani in al-Kabir (no. 10300). It is classified as hasan.

فعل يوم حُنين، قسم (١) تلك الأموال الجزيلة من الإبل والشاء والذهب والفضة في المؤلفة، ومع هذا لم يُعط الأنصارَ وجمهور المهاجرين شيئًا، بل أنفقَ فيمن كان يحبُّ أن يتألَّفه على الإسلام، وترك أولئك لما جعل الله في قلوبهم من الغنى والخير، وقال مُسلِّيًا لمن سأل عن وجه الحكمة في هذه القسمة لمن عتَب من جماعة الأنصار: "أما ترضون أن يذهب الناس بالشاء والبعير، وتذهبون برسول الله تحوزونه إلى رِحَالكم؟ " قالوا: رضينا يا رسول الله (٢) . وهكذا أعطى عمَّه العباس بعدما أسلم حين جاءه ذلك المال من البحرين، فوُضع بين يديه في المسجد وجاء العباسُ فقال: يا رسولَ الله أعطني فقد فاديتُ نفسي يوم بدر وفاديتُ عقيلًا، فقال: "خذ" فنزع ثوبَه عنه وجعل يضعُ فيه من ذلك المال، ثم قام ليُقِلَّه فلم يقدر، فقال لرسول الله: ارفعه عليَّ، قال: "لا أفعل" فقال: مر بعضَهم ليرفعَه عليَّ، فقال: "لا" فوضع منه شيئًا، ثم عاد فلم يقدر، فسأله أن يرفعَه أو أن يأمرَ بعضَهم برفعه فلم يفعل، فوضع منه، ثم احتمل الباقي وخرجَ به من المسجد، ورسولُ الله ﷺ يُتبعه بصرَه عجبًا من حرصه!. قلت: وقد كان العباسُ (رضي الله عنه) رجلًا شديدًا طويلًا نبيلًا، فأقلّ ما احتمل شيء يُقارب أربعين ألفًا، والله أعلم. وقد ذكره البخاري في "صحيحه" في مواضع معلَّقًا بصيغة الجزم، وهذا يُورد في مناقب العباس؛ لقوله تعالى: ﴿يَاأَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِمَنْ فِي أَيْدِيكُمْ مِنَ الْأَسْرَى إِنْ يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ خَيْرًا يُؤْتِكُمْ خَيْرًا مِمَّا أُخِذَ مِنْكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ﴾ [الأنفال: ٧٠] . وقد تقدم عن أنس بن مالك خادمه (رحمهم الله) أنه قال: كان رسول الله ﷺ أجودَ الناس، وأشجعَ الناس … الحديث (٣) . وكيف لا يكون كذلك وهو رسولُ الله ﷺ المجبول على أكمل الصفات، الواثق بما في يدي الله – Exalté soit-Il – ، الذي أنزل الله عليه في محكم كتابه العزيز: ﴿وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تُنْفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ﴾ الآية [الحديد: ١٠] وقال تعالى: ﴿وَمَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ﴾ [سبأ: ٣٩] . وهو (رحمهم الله) القائل لمؤذنه بلال، وهو الصادق المصدوق في الوعد والمقال: "أنفق بلال ولا تخش من ذي العرش إقلالًا" (٤) .

(١) كذا في (أ) وفي المطبوع: حين قسم … (٢) الحديث رواه أحمد في المسند (٤/ ٤٢) والبخاري في صحيحه رقم (٤٣٣٠) في المغازي، ومسلم في صحيحه رقم (١٠٦١) في الزكاة، باب إعطاء المؤلفة قلوبهم على الإسلام. (٣) تقدم الحديث. (٤) قطعة من حديث رواه البزار في مسنده رقم (٣٦٥٣). والطبراني في الكبير رقم (١٠٣٠٠) وهو حديث حسن.