(Friday Sermon - July 26, 2019 )

Background

Hazrat Zuhair^(ra) bin Rafay was the brother of the companion, Hazrat Muzahir^(ra). Hazrat Zuhair^(ra) belonged to the Banu Haritha bin Harith branch of the Aus tribe of the Ansar. (al-Sirat al-Nabawiyyah li Ibn Hisham, p. 209, Dar Ibn Hazm, Beirut, 2009)

Hazrat Zuhair^(ra) bin Rafay had a son named Usaid, who also had the good fortune of being a companion of the Holy Prophet^(sa). Hazrat Zuhair^(ra) was the paternal uncle of Rafay bin Khudaij, whose account I have already mentioned. Hazrat Zuhair’s wife was Fatima bint Bishar, who belonged to the Bani Adiyy bin Ghanam tribe. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 103, Zuhair bin Raafi’, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008) (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 1, pp. 243-244, Usaid bin Zuhair, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008)  (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 4, p. 273, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)

Hazrat Muzahir^(ra) bin Rafay and Hazrat Zuhair^(ra) bin Rafay were brothers and both brothers had the opportunity of participating in the Battle of Badr. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 103, Zuhair bin Raafi’, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008) (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitabul Maghaazi)

Participation in Battles

Majority of the historical sources state that they were both present during the Battle of Badr. Hazrat Zuhair^(ra) was present during the Second Bai‘at at Aqabah and participated in all Battles alongside the Holy Prophet^(sa), including the Battles of Badr and Uhud. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 103, Zuhair bin Raafi’, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008)

Advice of the Holy Prophet^(sa) for His Crop Fields

Hazrat Rafay^(ra) bin Khudaij narrates on the authority of his uncle – Hazrat Zuhair^(ra) – that his uncle once said, “The Holy Prophet^(sa) forbade us from something which later proved to be better for our own good.” “I [Hazrat Rafay^(ra) bin Khudaij] replied, ‘Whatever the Holy Prophet^(sa) had commanded was indeed the best advice.’ Hazrat Zuhair^(ra) then stated, ‘The Holy Prophet^(sa) called me and asked, “What do you do with your crop fields?” I answered that we lease our land to others, on the condition that we can take the crops that grow near the furrow.’”

This means that they would take those crops that grow near the water, which were of a better quality. These were a few wasq of dates and barley. One wasq consists of 60 saa and one saa is equivalent to approximately 2.5 kilograms. Having listened to all of this, the Holy Prophet^(sa) stated, “Refrain from doing this. You ought to harvest those crops yourselves, or get those crops harvested by someone else for you, or else, leave it uncultivated.” Hazrat Rafay^(ra) replied, “Indeed, I have understood and will act according to this in the future.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol 4, Hadith No. 2339) (Lughaat Al Hadith, Vol 4, p.51)

Hazrat Rafay^(ra) then said that subsequently, they would harvest the crops themselves or obtain the crops in a manner whereby everyone received their due share.