Ibn Ishaq states: Abdullah bin Abi Bakr told me that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had sent an expedition which seized the property of Sayyiduna Abu al-As bin al-Rabi' (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This man is one of us, as you know, and you have taken his property. If you do good and give him back his property, we would like that; and if you decline, then it is the fay' (spoils) of Allah Almighty which He has granted you as fay', and you have the greater right to it." The people said: "O Messenger of Allah! We will return it." So the people returned his property to him, so much so that one man brought back an old waterskin, another brought a vessel, and one of them even brought a shizaz (a small wooden peg), until they had returned all of his property to him with nothing missing. He carried all that property to Makkah and returned to every man of Quraysh who had given him goods his property. Then he said: "O people of Quraysh! Does any one of you still have any property with me that he has not received?" The people said: "No! May Allah Almighty reward you with good; we have found you chaste and honourable." Sayyiduna Abu al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah Almighty, and I also bear witness that (Sayyiduna) Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and His Messenger. Nothing kept me from accepting Islam in the presence of (Sayyiduna) Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) except my fear that you would think I had intended to seize your wealth. Now that Allah Almighty has had it delivered to you and I am free of that responsibility, I accept Islam." Then he set out from there until he came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Al-Tabarani recorded it, and its chain is munqati' (broken).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب المناقب / 15236
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ منقطع
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الطبراني فى المعجم الكبير (430/2)»