Biographies (of Famous Figures)
3 hadiths
Are you not aware that Islam wipes out all (sins) that preceded it, and that Hijrah wipes out all (sins) that preceded it, and that Hajj wipes out all (sins) that preceded it?
Ibn Shumāsah al-Mahri reported: We went to ‘Amr ibn al-Āas (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was on his death bed. He wept for long and turned his face to the wall. His son kept saying: "O Father, didn't the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) give you the glad tidings of such-and-such? Didn't the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) give you the glad tidings of such-and-such?" He turned his face and said: "The best thing that we can prepare is the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Verily, I have passed through three stages. I remember myself when I hated the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) more than anyone else and I wished for nothing more than killing him. Had I died in that state, I would have surely been from the dwellers of the Fire. When Allah instilled the love for Islam in my heart, I went to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: 'Stretch out your right hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you.' He stretched out his right hand, but I withdrew my hand. He said: 'What is the matter, ‘Amr ?' I replied: 'I wish to stipulate a condition.' He asked: 'What is your condition?' I said: 'That I would be forgiven.' He said: 'Are you not aware that Islam wipes out all (sins) that preceded it, and that Hijrah wipes out all (sins) that preceded it, and that Hajj wipes out all (sins) that preceded it?' Thereafter, no one was dearer to me than the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) nor was there anyone more revered in my eyes than him. I could never bring myself to catch a full glimpse of his face out of respect for him. If I were asked to describe his features, I would not be able to because I have never fully looked at him. Had I died in that state, I could have hoped to be from the dwellers of Paradise. Thereafter, we were made responsible for many things and in the light of which I am unable to know what is in store for me. When I die, let neither wailing woman nor fire accompany me. When you bury me, throw the earth gently over me, then stand around my grave for the time within which a camel is slaughtered and its meat is distributed so that I may find relief in your company and prepare what answer I can give to the messengers of my Lord."
We were given of this world what we were given. I am afraid that the reward of our good deeds has been hastened to us in this world
Ibrahīm ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf reported that food was brought to his father, ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) and he was fasting (that day), so he said: "Mus‘ab ibn ‘Umayr was martyred and he was better than me, but only one garment was available to shroud him. It was so small that if his head was covered, his feet remained uncovered, and if his feet were covered, his head remained uncovered. Then the bounties of this world were bestowed upon us generously. Or he said: We were given of this world what we were given. I am afraid that the reward of our good deeds has been hastened to us in this world.” Upon saying this he started crying and left the food untouched.
The story of the death of Az-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwām (may Allah be pleased with him) and paying off his debt
Abu Khubayb ‘Abdullāh ibn Az-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When Az-Zubayr got up during the battle of Al-Jamal, he called me and I stood up beside him, and he said to me: "O my son, today one will be killed either as an oppressor or as an oppressed one. I see that I will be killed as an oppressed one. My biggest worry is my debts. Do you think that anything will be left of our property after the debts are settled?" Then he said: "O my son, sell our property and pay my debts." He then willed (bequeathed) one-third of his property and willed one-third of that portion to ‘Abdullāh's sons. He said: "One-third of the one third. If any property is left after the settlement of the debts, one-third (of the one-third of what is left) is to be given to your sons." (Hisham, a sub-narrator, said: "Some of the sons of ‘Abdullāh were equal in age to the sons of Az-Zubayr, like Khubayb and ‘Abbād. ‘Abdullāh had nine sons and nine daughters at that time.") ‘Abdullāh added: "He (Az-Zubayr) went on advising me regarding his debts, saying: 'If you should fail to settle part of the debts, appeal to my Master to help you.' By Allah! I could not understand what he meant till I asked, 'O father, who is your Master?' He replied: 'Allah (is my Master).' By Allah, whenever I had any difficulty regarding his debts, I would say: 'O Master of Az-Zubayr, settle his debts on his behalf,' and Allah would (help me to) settle it. Az-Zubayr was martyred leaving no dinar or dirham except for land and property, including a land which was (called) Al-Ghāba, and eleven houses in Madīnah, two in Basra, one in Kufa and one in Egypt. The source of the debt which he owed was, that if somebody brought some money to deposit with him, Az-Zubayr would say: 'No, (I won't keep it as a trust) but I take it as a debt, for I am afraid it might be lost.' Az-Zubayr was never appointed governor or collector of the tax of Kharaj or any other similar thing, but he collected his wealth (from the war booty he gained) during the holy battles he took part in, in the company of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthmān (may Allah be pleased with them). When I counted his debt, it turned out to be two million and two hundred thousand." (The sub-narrator added:) Hakīm ibn Hizam met ‘Abdullāh ibn Az-Zubayr and asked him: "O my nephew, how much is the debt of my brother?" ‘Abdullāh did not reveal the exact amount and said: "One hundred thousand." Hakīm said: "By Allah! I don't think your property will cover it." Upon that, ‘Abdullāh said to him: "What if I told you that it is two million and two hundred thousand?" Hakīm said: "I don't think you can repay it; so if you are unable to repay all of it, I will help you." Az-Zubayr had bought Al-Ghāba for one hundred and seventy thousand. ‘Abdullāh sold it for one million and six hundred thousand. Then he called out to the people saying: "Any person who has any money claim on Az-Zubayr should come to us in Al-Ghāba." There came to him ‘Abdullāh ibn Ja‘far whom Az-Zubayr owed four hundred thousand. He said to ‘Abdullāh, "If you wish I will forgo the debt." ‘Abdullāh said: 'No.' Then Ibn Ja‘far said: "If you wish you can defer repayment if you are going to defer the repayment of any debt." ‘Abdullāh said: 'No.' Ibn Ja‘far said: "Then give me a piece of the land." ‘Abdullāh said (to him): "Yours is the land extending from this place to this place." So, ‘Abdullāh sold most of the land and settled the debt perfectly, with four and a half shares remaining unsold from the land of Al-Ghāba. He then went to Mu‘āwiyah while ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthmān, Al-Mundhir ibn Az-Zubayr and Ibn Zam‘ah were sitting with him. Mu‘āwiyah asked: "At what price have you appraised Al-Ghāba?" He said: "One hundred thousand for each share." Mu‘āwiyah asked: "How many shares are left?" ‘Abdullāh replied: "Four and a half shares." Al-Mundhir ibn Az-Zubayr said: "I would like to buy one share for one hundred thousand." ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthmān said: "I would like to buy one share for one hundred thousand." Ibn Zam‘ah said: "I would like to buy one share for one hundred thousand." Mu‘āwiyah said: "How much is left now?" ‘Abdullāh replied: "One share and a half." Mu‘āwiyah said: "I would like to buy it for one hundred and fifty thousand." ‘Abdullāh ibn Ja‘far then sold his share to Mu‘āwiyah for six hundred thousand. When ‘Abdullāh ibn Az-Zubayr had paid all the debts, Az-Zubayr's other sons said to him, "Distribute our inheritance among us." He said: "No, by Allah, I will not distribute it among you till I announce in four successive Hajj seasons: 'Would those who have money claims on Az-Zubayr come so that we may repay them." So, he started to announce that in public in every Hajj season, and when four years had elapsed, he distributed the inheritance among the heirs. Az-Zubayr had four wives, and after the one-third of his property was excluded (according to the will), each of his wives received one million and two hundred thousand. So the total amount of his property was fifty million and two hundred thousand.