Abdullah bin Urwah bin al-Zubayr narrates: Once a year of drought overtook al-Nabighah of Banu Ja'dah. He came to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was sitting in Madinah, and recited these verses:
"When you became our governor, you related to us (the ways of) Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Umar al-Faruq (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), and the one who had nothing found relief. You treated people with equality according to the truth, so they became upright, and the dark night turned into morning. Abu Layla has come to you, whom the darknesses - the darknesses of the night - have driven about; he is a sturdy camel crossing the wastelands, so that you may treat him well; the changes of the nights and the cruel age have cast him adrift."
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "Easy, O Abu Layla! For with us poetry is the least of your means. As for the choicest of our wealth, it is for the family of al-Zubayr, and as for its best portions, Banu Asad and Tamim keep them from you. But you have two rights in the wealth of Allah Almighty: one right because you saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and one right because you share in Islam with the rest of the people of Islam." Then he gave orders concerning al-Nabighah, and he was taken into the house of livestock. He ordered for him seven young she-camels, provisions and horses, and loaded the mounts for him with wheat and dates. Al-Nabighah began hastily eating the plain grain, so Sayyiduna Abdullah bin al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "Poor Abu Layla! Hardship has reached him severely." Sayyiduna al-Nabighah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I bear witness that I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say:
'Whenever Quraysh govern and act with justice, are asked for mercy and show mercy, make a covenant and fulfil it, and make a promise and keep it, then I and the other prophets will be the forerunners of the thronging multitude.'"
Al-Tabarani recorded it; its chain contains a narrator whom I do not know, and it has narrators about whom there is a difference of opinion.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب المناقب / 16448
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الطبراني فى المعجم الكبير “ (364/18)»