Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 9876

Urwah narrates: When the season of Hajj came, some people of the Ansar from Banu Mazin bin al-Najjar came for Hajj, among them Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Afra (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna As'ad bin Zurarah (may Allah be pleased with him); from Banu Zurayq, Sayyiduna Rafi' bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Dhakwan bin Abd al-Qays (may Allah be pleased with him); from Banu Abd al-Ashhal, Sayyiduna Abu al-Haytham bin al-Tayyihan (may Allah be pleased with him); and from Banu Amr bin Awf, Sayyiduna Uwaym bin Sa'idah (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to these men and told them that Allah Almighty had chosen him for His prophethood and honor. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited the Noble Qur'an before them. When they heard the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), they listened in silence, and their hearts were reassured by the call of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). They realized that the attributes of the one whom they used to hear mentioned by the People of the Book were found in him. They affirmed his truthfulness regarding what he was calling to, they believed in him, and they became among the means of good. Then they said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "You know that there is enmity between the Aws and the Khazraj. We would love that, when Allah Almighty brings your matter to success, we should be among those who strive for Allah Almighty and for you. We settle with you whatever you consider appropriate. Remain here with the name of Allah; we will go to our people, tell them about you and invite them to Allah and His Messenger. Perhaps Allah Almighty will bring about reconciliation between us and unite our affair. Today we are separated from one another and hold enmity towards one another; if you were to come to us now while we have not reconciled among ourselves, we would not be able to support you collectively. We will meet you again at the Hajj season next year." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was pleased with what they said, and they returned to their people. They kept inviting them secretly, telling them about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and about the teachings with which Allah Almighty had sent him, and they kept inviting them to the Qur'an, until in almost every quarter of the Ansar some people became Muslims. Then they sent a message to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Send to us someone from among your people who will invite the people according to the Book of Allah, for that is more likely to be followed." So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent to them Sayyiduna Mus'ab bin Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him), who belonged to Banu Abd al-Dar. He stayed in the area of Banu Ghanm with Sayyiduna As'ad bin Zurarah (may Allah be pleased with him) and began inviting people secretly; Islam began to spread and its followers increased. While these people were still living in concealment on account of their call, on one occasion Sayyiduna As'ad bin Zurarah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Mus'ab bin Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the well of "Mirri", or near it, and sat there. They had sent a message to some people, who came to them secretly. While Sayyiduna Mus'ab bin Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him) was talking with them and telling them about the Qur'an, Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) was informed about them. He came to them at once wearing his armor and carrying a spear. He came and stood by Sayyiduna Mus'ab (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: "Why has this stranger, alone and far from his homeland, come into our area? So that he may make fools of our weak people through falsehood and invite them to falsehood? After this, let me not see you in our area." So they went back. Then they came again to the well named "Mirri" or near it, and Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) was informed about them a second time. He threatened them severely again, but it was less than the first time. When Sayyiduna As'ad bin Zurarah (may Allah be pleased with him) saw softness from him, he said: "O my maternal cousin! Listen to what he says. If you hear anything objectionable from him, reject it; and if you hear something good, accept the word of Allah Almighty." Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "What does he say?" So Sayyiduna Mus'ab bin Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him) recited these verses before them: "Ha Mim. By the clear Book, We have made it an Arabic Qur'an so that you may understand." Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I hear nothing but what I recognize (as true)." Then he went back, and Allah Almighty had granted him guidance, but he did not disclose the matter of Islam until he returned. Then he went back to his people and invited Banu Abd al-Ashhal to Islam and made his Islam public. He said about this: "Whoever, young or old, man or woman, has any doubt about this, let him bring us something more rightly guided than it, and we will adopt it. By Allah! A matter has come concerning which necks will be grieved." So Banu Abd al-Ashhal accepted Islam at the time Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) accepted Islam and called them, except for someone not worth mentioning. This was the first clan of the Ansar that became Muslim in its entirety. Then Banu al-Najjar expelled Sayyiduna Mus'ab bin Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him) and dealt harshly with Sayyiduna As'ad bin Zurarah (may Allah be pleased with him). So Sayyiduna Mus'ab bin Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him) moved to the home of Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) and continued inviting, and Allah Almighty guided so many people at his hands that in every clan of the Ansar some individuals became Muslims; their nobles became Muslims, Sayyiduna Amr bin al-Jamuh (may Allah be pleased with him) became a Muslim, and their idols were broken. So the Muslims became the most prominent of its inhabitants and their affair was set right. Then Sayyiduna Mus'ab bin Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him) returned to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); he used to be called "the Reciter" (al-Muqri).
Al-Tabarani recorded it as a mursal narration; its chain contains a narrator, Ibn Lahi'ah, in whom there is weakness, but he is hasan al-hadith (fair in hadith); the rest of its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).