(Friday Sermon - April 5, 2019 )
Background and Participation in Battles
Hazrat Abdullah(ra) bin Zaid bin Tha‘labah(ra) was known as Abdullah Bin Zaid Ansari and his title was Abu Muhammad. His father’s name was Hazrat Zaid(ra) Bin Tha‘labah, who was also a companion of the Holy Prophet(sa). He belonged to the tribe Banu Jusham from the branch of Khazraj. He participated in the Bai‘at at Aqabah along with 70 Ansar. He participated in the battles of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq and all other battles along with the Holy Prophet(sa). During the conquest of Mecca, he was carrying the flag of Banu Harith bin Khazraj. Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(ra) was proficient in writing Arabic prior to his acceptance of Islam. This was at a time when writing was very uncommon among the Arabs and there were only a few people who knew how to write.
Family
The children of Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(ra) remained in Medina. One of his sons was called Muhammad, who was born to him from his wife, Sa‘dah bint Kulaib. One of his daughters was Umm-e-Humaid, whose mother was from Yemen.
His brother, Hurais bin Zahid, was amongst the Companions of Badr. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 248, Abdullah bin Zaid al-Ansari, Dar-ul-Kutub Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, pp. 405-406, Abdullah bin Zaid Huraith bin Zaid, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyya, Beirut, 1990)
The name of one of his sisters was Quraibah bint Zaid and she was also counted amongst the female companions. (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 8, pp. 271-272, Qareebatu bint Zaid, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyya, Beirut, 1990)
Revelation of the Call to Prayer
Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(ra) is that very companion, who was taught the words of the Adhan [Islamic call to prayer] in a dream. He informed the Holy Prophet(sa) about this, upon which the Holy Prophet(sa) instructed Hazrat Bilal(ra) to call the Adhan according to the words Hazrat Abdullah(ra) saw in the dream. This incident occurred in the first year of Hijra, after the Holy Prophet(sa) had constructed Masjid-e-Nabawi. (al-Isti’ab fi Ma’rifatis Sahaba, Vol. 3, p. 913, Abdullah bin Zaid, Dar-ul-Jeel, Beirut, 1992)
Some of the details are as follows. Hazrat Abu Umair bin Anas Ansari(ra) was from among the Ansar. He narrates on the authority of his paternal uncles that they said that the Holy Prophet(sa) deliberated as to how to gather Muslims for prayer. It was suggested to him that a flag should be hoisted at the time for prayer and when people observed it, they would inform each other. However, the Holy Prophet(sa) did not approve of this suggestion. The narrator says that the blowing of a horn was suggested to the Holy Prophet(sa), that is to adopt the method of the Jews by blowing loudly into a horn. However, the Holy Prophet(sa) disliked adopting this method of the Jews as well. The narrator further says that the use of a bell was mentioned to the Holy Prophet(sa). The Holy Prophet(sa) said that this was the method of the Christians. Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(ra) returned and felt anxious due to the concerns of the Holy Prophet(sa). He offered supplications and says that he was subsequently shown the words of the Adhan in a dream.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(ra) continues to narrate that he saw a person in a dream, who was holding a bell in his hand. He enquired, “O servant of God! Are you going to sell this?” The person replied, “What are you going to do with it?” I said, “We will use it to call people towards prayer.” He replied, “Shall I tell you of something that is better than this?” I said, “why not!” Hazrat Abdullah says that he then repeated the words of the Adhan:
اَللّٰہُ أَکْبَرُ اللّٰہُ أَکْبَرُ۔ اَللّٰہُ أَکْبَرُ اللّٰہُ أَکْبَرُ۔ أَشْھَدُ أَنْ لَّا اِلٰہَ اِلَّااللّٰہُ۔ أَشْھَدُ أَنْ لَّا اِلٰہَ اِلَّااللّٰہُ۔ أَشْھَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ۔ أَشْھَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ۔ حَيَّ عَلَی الصَّلَاۃِ۔ حَيَّ عَلَی الصَّلَاۃِ۔ حَيَّ عَلَی الْفَلَاحِ۔ حَيَّ عَلَی الْفَلَاحِ۔ اَللّٰہُ أَکْبَرُ اللّٰہُ أَکْبَرُ۔ لَآ إِلٰہَ أِلَّااللّٰہُ
I will also read its translation as it will prove beneficial for children as well as for Muslim converts. We hear the Adhan daily, however, I have observed that some people are not even aware of its translation. The translation is:
“Allah is the Greatest; Allah is the Greatest (this is to be repeated twice). I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah (this is to be repeated twice). I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger(sa) of Allah (this is also to be repeated twice). Come to prayer; come to prayer. Come to success; come to success. Allah is the Greatest (this is again to be repeated twice). There is none worthy of worship except Allah.”
He then continues to narrate that after repeating these words, this individual distanced himself somewhat from him and then said, When you are standing, ready to pray, you should say the following. He then repeated the words of the takbir [iqamah]:
اَللّٰہُ أَکْبَرُ اللّٰہُ أَکْبَرُ۔ أَشْھَدُ أَن لَّا إِلٰہَ إِلَّااللّٰہُ۔ أَشْھَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ۔ حَيَّ عَلَی الصَّلَاۃِ۔ حَيَّ عَلَی الْفَلَاحِ۔ قَدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلَاۃُ۔ قَدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلَاۃُ۔ اَللّٰہُ أَکْبَرُ اللّٰہُ أَکْبَرُ۔ لَآ إِلٰہَ إِلَّا اللّٰہُ
These are the same words of the Adhan with the addition of the words, “Qad qamat-is-Salah” i.e. “The prayer has begun; prayer has begun.” Following this, the same words of “Allah is the Greatest; Allah is the Greatest” are repeated.
Hazrat Abdullah(ra) further says, “The next morning, I presented myself before the Holy Prophet(sa) and informed him of my dream. The Holy Prophet(sa) said, ‘If Allah wills, this is a true dream. Stand with Bilal and tell him what you saw, so that he may call the Adhan according to those words, as his voice is louder than yours.’ Hence, I stood with Bilal and continued to tell him the words and he continued to call the Adhan accordingly.”
The narrator further states, “Hazrat Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, was in his home when he heard the Adhan. He left his home, dragging along his cloth which he used as an outer garment and said, ‘O prophet(sa) of Allah! I swear by Him, Who has sent you with the truth! I saw exactly what he saw in his dream.’ Hearing this, the Holy Prophet(sa) said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah the Exalted.’” (Sunan Abi Daud, Kitab al-Salat, Bab Bad’ul Adhan, Hadith 498, Bab Kaifal Adhan, Hadith 499)
In another narration, it states that the Holy Prophet(sa) said, “To Allah belongs all praise; this indeed is the truth.” (Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, Kitabus Salat, Bab ma Jaa’a fi Bad’il Adhan, Hadith 189)
History of the Call to Prayer
Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad(ra) has written further details to this account in Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, using various sources of Islamic history. He writes:
“Until now there was no arrangement for a call to Salat, or Adhan etc. The Companions would generally congregate in the mosque at the approximate time themselves. These state of affairs, however, were not satisfactory. Upon the construction of Masjid-e-Nabawi, the question as to how Muslims would be congregated at the appropriate time was felt even more. One Companion proposed the use of a bell, like the Christians. Someone proposed the use of a trumpet, like the Jews; and others made other suggestions. However, Hazrat Umar(ra) proposed that an individual be appointed to announce that it was time for Salat at the appointed time. The Holy Prophet(sa)approved this proposal, and appointed Hazrat Bilal(ra) to perform this duty (this was prior to the formal establishment of the Adhan). As such, after this, when the time for Salat would arrive, Hazrat Bilal(ra) would announce in a loud voice:
اَلصَّلَاۃُ جَامِعَۃٌ
and people would congregate for the Salat. As a matter of fact, the very same call would be made if it was necessary to congregate the Muslims in the mosque for a purpose other than the Salat as well. Sometime afterwards, the words of the current Adhan were taught to a Companion named Abdullah bin Zaid Ansari(ra), in a dream. He presented himself before the Holy Prophet(sa) and mentioned this dream saying, ‘I saw an individual in my dream call out such and such words as if calling the Adhan.’ The Holy Prophet(sa) said, ‘This dream is from Allah,’ and instructed ‘Abdullah(ra) to teach these words to Bilal(ra). A strange coincidence was that when Bilal(ra) called out the Adhan in these words for the very first time, upon hearing them, Hazrat Umar(ra) made haste to the Holy Prophet(sa) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Today, the words in which Bilal(ra)called out the Adhan were exactly those which I also saw in my dream.’ In one narration it has also been related that when the Holy Prophet(sa) heard these words of the Adhan, he said, ‘Revelation has already been sent down as such.’” (Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad(ra), pp. 271-272)
Zeal for Spending in the Way of Allah
Bashir bin Muhammad relates from his father:
“Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(ra), (i.e. the companion who saw a dream about the Adhan), offered his entire wealth in charity and nothing remained with him. The wealth they had was their only means of provisions for him and his son. When Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(ra) handed everything to the Holy Prophet(sa), his father approached the Holy Prophet(sa) and requested: ‘O Messenger(sa) of Allah! Abdullah bin Zaid(ra) has offered his wealth towards charity. However, that wealth was serving as a means of our provisions.’ When the Holy Prophet(sa) heard this, he called for Abdullah bin Zaid(ra) and stated, ‘Allah has accepted the charity that you offered. However, return this to your parents as an endowment.’” Thus, his father states that they acquired this wealth as an inheritance and their future generations were able to obtain a share from it later. (Ma‘rifatis Sahaba Li Abi Na’eem al-Asbahani, Vol. 3, p. 149, Abdullah bin Zaid…, Hadith 4172, Darul Kutub al-Ilmiyya, Beirut, 2002)
A Gift From the Holy Prophet(sa)
On one occasion, the Holy Prophet(sa) bestowed his nails to Hazrat Abdullah(ra) bin Zaid as a blessed gift. The details of this incident are that Muhammad, the son of Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(ra) narrates that on the occasion of Hajjat-ul-Wida, his father was with the Holy Prophet(sa) in the plain of Mina at the Manhar, i.e. the place where the sacrifices are offered. There was another person from the Ansar who was present there as well. When the Holy Prophet(sa) distributed the sacrificed animals, Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(ra) and his Ansari companion did not receive any share of the sacrifice. Thereafter, the Holy Prophet(sa) had his hair cut and placed his hair on a piece of cloth and distributed this among the people. Then he had his nails cut and granted them to Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(ra) and his Ansari companion. (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 406, Abdullah bin Zaid, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilimiyya, Beirut, 1990)
Attaining Prophethood Through Complete Obedience to the Holy Prophet(sa)
Hazrat Aisha(ra) narrates, “A person came to the Holy Prophet(sa) and requested, ‘O Messenger of Allah! By God, you are undoubtedly more beloved to me than my own self, my family and my children. I was at home thinking about you, and I could not hold myself back to the point that I just had to come and meet you and now I am looking at you. When I thought about the idea of you and I passing away, I realised that after entering paradise, you shall be exalted along with other prophets. So I became afraid that when I enter paradise, I will not be able to find you.’ The Holy Prophet(sa) did not respond to this person until the angel Gabriel descended with the revelation of the following verse:
وَ مَنۡ یُّطِعِ اللّٰہَ وَ الرَّسُوۡلَ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ مَعَ الَّذِیۡنَ اَنۡعَمَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ مِّنَ النَّبِیّٖنَ وَ الصِّدِّیۡقِیۡنَ وَ الشُّہَدَآءِ وَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ
‘And whoso obeys Allah and this Messenger of His shall be among those on whom Allah has bestowed His blessings, namely, the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous. And excellent companions are these.’” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.70) (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 2, p. 311, al-Nisa: 69, Darul Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1998)
We present this verse to support the argument that one can attain the status of a non-law bearing prophet through one’s devotion and subservience to the Holy Prophet(sa). And through one’s complete obedience to the Holy Prophet(sa), one can progress from being at the stage of righteousness to the status of a prophet. In any case, the status of a non-law bearing prophet, which can only be achieved through one’s subservience to the Holy Prophet(sa), is indeed of a lofty status and God Almighty can grant this status to whomsoever He wills. Moreover, in relation to the Promised Messiah, the Holy Prophet(sa) himself has used the word Nabiullah i.e. that he would be a prophet of God. (Sahih Muslim, Kitabul Fitan Wa Ashraat al-Saa‘ah, Bab Dhikr al-Dajjal Wa Sifatihi Wa ma Ma’ahu, Hadith 2937)
For this reason, we accept the Promised Messiah(as) as a non-law bearing prophet who came in the complete servitude of the Holy Prophet(sa). This does not cause any blemish on the finality of his prophethood. Rather it elevates his status further, making the blessing of prophethood attainable, but only through the servitude of the Holy Prophet(sa). We are not alone in holding this interpretation; previous scholars have presented it as well. For instance, Imam Raghib has also stated that a non-law bearing prophet can come after the Holy Prophet(sa) but only through complete obedience to him. (Tafsir al-Bahrul Muheet, Vol. 3, p. 299, al-Nisa:69, Darul Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2010)
However, I have mentioned this as an additional point in light of this verse so that the matter is properly clarified.
Allama Zurqani writes that the aforementioned incident is found in various books of Quranic commentaries and records the name of Hazrat Thoban(ra), who was a servant of the Holy Prophet(sa). Whereas in Tafsir Yanbu’ Al Hayaat, Muqatil bin Sulaiman relates that the aforementioned incident was in relation to Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid Al Ansari(ra) – i.e. the companion who had seen the words of the Adhan in his dream.
However, Allama Zurqani writes that if this is the case, it is likely that both may have mentioned it to the Holy Prophet(sa) upon which this Quranic verse was revealed. This particular narration has been linked to many companions of the Holy Prophet(sa). (Sharh Zurqani Alaa al-Mawahib al-Deeniyyah, Vol. 12, pp. 417-418, Khatimah, Darul Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1996)
Aside from the aforementioned incident, various commentaries have also mentioned Hazrat Thoban’s(ra) incident and what he said to the Holy Prophet(sa). Its details are as follows:
Hazrat Thoban(ra) had intense love for the Holy Prophet(sa) and could not bear to be away from him for too long. One day when he presented himself before the Holy Prophet(sa), he seemed to be greatly perturbed and looked to be in a state of great sorrow. The Holy Prophet(sa) enquired of the cause of why he was overcome with such a state. Hazrat Thoban(ra) replied that he suffered from neither ailment nor disease except that he had not been able to see the Holy Prophet(sa). Meaning, the only reason for this downed and distressed expression was the result of not having seen the Holy Prophet(sa) for such a long time.
He states:
“I remained in this state until I finally met you. Similarly, when I thought of the Day of Judgment, I again was overcome with a state of fear as I realised I would not be in your blessed presence for you would have been exalted to a higher station in paradise with the other prophets. Then, even if I am granted entry into paradise, my status would be far too insignificant to yours; and if I am not granted entry, I would forever be left bereft of seeing you.” (Tafsir al-Baghwi, Vol. 1, p. 450, al-Nisa:69, Idarah Ta’leefaat Ashrafiyyah, Multan, Pakistan, 1424A.H.)
Allama Zurqani writes that Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(ra) was once working in his garden. (The account of Hazrat Abdullah(ra) continues) and it states that his son came, informing him of the demise of the Holy Prophet(sa). Upon this he said:
للّٰھُمَّ اَذْھِبْ بَصَرِیْ حَتّٰی لَا اَرٰی بَعْدَ حَبِیْبِیْ مُحَمَّدً اَحَدًا
That is, “O Allah take from me my sight so that after the departure of my beloved Muhammad(sa), I may not have to see another individual again.”
It is written in the commentary of Zurqani that after this incident, his eyesight gradually weakened until he completely lost his sight. (Sharh Zurqani Alaa al-Mawahib al-Deeniyyah, Vol. 9, pp. 84-85, Fi Wujoob Mahabbatihi Wa Ittiba’ Sunnatihi, Darul Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1996)
Demise
There is a difference in opinion with regard to the demise of Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid(ra). Some have written that he passed away after the Battle of Uhud. However, the majority have written that he took part in all battles alongside the Holy Prophet(sa) and passed away much later in the year 32 AH in Medina, during the caliphate of Hazrat Uthman(ra). Likewise, the incident regarding the loss of his eyesight – if accepted to be accurate – also points to his passing away in the time of Hazrat Uthman(ra) at the age of 64. His funeral prayer was led by Hazrat Uthman(ra). (al-Mustadrak Ala al-Sahihain Lil-Hakim, Vol. 5, p. 266, Kitab al-Fara’idh, Hadith 8187, Dar-ul-Fikr, 2001) (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 406, Abdullah bin Zaid, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilimiyya, Beirut, 1990)