Toggle above to switch between keyword search and direct hadith lookup
المعجم الأوسط
Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat (Tabarani)
باب الألف
Names Beginning with the Letter Alif
مَنِ اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ
Those Named Ahmad
Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat 466 — he met Sayyiduna Bilal
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ خُلَيْدٍ قَالَ : نَا أَبُو تَوْبَةَ الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ قَالَ : نَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ سَلَّامٍ ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ سَلَّامٍ ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَلَّامٍ ، يَقُولُ : حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللهِ الْهَوْزَنِيُّ .
أَنَّهُ لَقِيَ بِلَالًا مُؤَذِّنَ رَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - يَتَسَوَّكُ بِحَلَبَ قَالَ : فَقُلْتُ : يَا بِلَالُ ، حَدِّثْنِي كَيْفَ كَانَ مِهْنَةُ رَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - ؟ فَقَالَ : مَا كَانَ لَهُ شَيْءٌ ، كُنْتُ أَنَا الَّذِي أَلِي ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ مُنْذُ بَعَثَهُ اللهُ حَتَّى تُوُفِّيَ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - . وَكَانَ إِذَا أَتَاهُ الْإِنْسَانُ الْمُسْلِمُ فَرَآهُ عَارِيًا ، يَأْمُرُنِي بِهِ ، فَأَنْطَلِقُ ، وَأَسْتَقْرِضُ فَأَشْتَرِي الْبُرْدَةَ ، فَأَكْسُوهُ ، وَأُطْعِمُهُ ، حَتَّى اعْتَرَضَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ، فَقَالَ لِي : يَا بِلَالُ ، إِنَّ عِنْدِي سَعَةً ، فَلَا تَسْتَقْرِضْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا مِنِّي ، فَفَعَلْتُ ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ تَوَضَّأْتُ ، ثُمَّ قُمْتُ لِأُؤَذِّنَ لِلصَّلَاةِ ، فَإِذَا الْمُشْرِكُ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ فِي عِصَابَةٍ مِنَ التُّجَّارِ . فَلَمَّا رَآنِي قَالَ : يَا حَبَشِيُّ ، قُلْتُ : لَبَّيْكَ . فَتَجَهَّمَنِي ، وَقَالَ قَوْلًا غَلِيظًا ، فَقَالَ : أَتَدْرِي كَمْ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ الشَّهْرِ ؟ قُلْتُ : قَرِيبٌ . قَالَ : إِنَّمَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ أَرْبَعٌ ، فَآخُذُكَ بِالَّذِي لِي عَلَيْكَ ، فَإِنِّي لَمْ أُعْطِكَ الَّذِي أَعْطَيْتُكَ مِنْ كَرَامَتِكَ ، وَلَا كَرَامَةِ صَاحِبِكَ عَلَيَّ ، وَلَكِنِّي إِنَّمَا أَعْطَيْتُكَ لِآخُذَكَ عَبْدًا ، فَأَرُدَّكَ تَرْعَى لِيَ الْغَنَمَ ، كَمَا كُنْتَ تَرْعَى قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ . فَأَخَذَ فِي نَفْسِي مَا يَأْخُذُ فِي أَنْفُسِ النَّاسِ . فَانْطَلَقْتُ ، ثُمَّ أَذَّنْتُ بِالصَّلَاةِ ، حَتَّى إِذَا صَلَّيْتُ الْعَتَمَةَ ، رَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - إِلَى أَهْلِهِ . فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَيْهِ ، فَأَذِنَ لِي . فَقُلْتُ : يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ الْمُشْرِكَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ ادَّنْتُ مِنْهُ قَالَ لِي : كَذَا وَكَذَا ، وَلَيْسَ عِنْدَكَ مَا تَقْضِي ، وَلَيْسَ عِنْدِي ، وَهُوَ فَاضِحِي ، فَأْذَنْ لِي أَنْ آتِيَ إِلَى بَعْضِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْأَحْيَاءِ الَّذِينَ قَدْ أَسْلَمُوا حَتَّى يَرْزُقَ اللهُ رَسُولَهُ مَا يَقْضِي عَنْهُ . فَخَرَجْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ مَنْزِلِي ، فَجَعَلْتُ سَيْفِي وَجِرَابِي وَنَعْلِي عِنْدَ رَأْسِي ، وَاسْتَقْبَلْتُ بِوَجْهِيَ الْأُفُقَ . فَلَمَّا نِمْتُ سَاعَةً انْتَبَهْتُ ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُ عَلَيَّ لَيْلًا نِمْتُ ، حَتَّى انْشَقَّ عَمُودُ الصُّبْحِ الْأَوَّلُ . فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَنْطَلِقَ ، فَإِذَا إِنْسَانٌ يَسْعَى يَدْعُو : يَا بِلَالُ أَجِبْ رَسُولَ اللهِ . فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ ، فَإِذَا أَرْبَعُ رَكَائِبَ مُنَاخَاتٌ ، عَلَيْهِنَّ أَحْمَالُهُنَّ ، فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - ، فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ ، فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - : أَبْشِرْ ، فَقَدْ جَاءَكَ اللهُ بِقَضَائِكَ . فَحَمِدْتُ اللهَ . فَقَالَ : I " أَلَمْ تَمُرَّ عَلَى الرَّكَائِبِ الْمُنَاخَاتِ الْأَرْبَعِ ؟ I " قُلْتُ : بَلَى . فَقَالَ : I " إِنَّ لَكَ رِقَابَهُنَّ وَمَا عَلَيْهِنَّ ، فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِنَّ كِسْوَةً ، وَطَعَامًا أَهْدَاهُ إِلَيَّ عَظِيمُ فَدَكَ ، فَاقْبِضْهُنَّ ، ثُمَّ اقْضِ دَيْنَكَ I " . فَفَعَلْتُ ، فَحَطَطْتُ عَنْهُنَّ أَحْمَالَهُنَّ ، ثُمَّ عَلَفْتُهُنَّ ، ثُمَّ قُمْتُ إِلَى تَأْذِينِ صَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ . حَتَّى إِذَا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - ، خَرَجْتُ إِلَى الْبَقِيعِ ، فَجَعَلْتُ إِصْبَعَيَّ فِي أُذُنَيَّ ، فَنَادَيْتُ : مَنْ كَانَ يَطْلُبُ رَسُولَ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - بِدَيْنٍ فَلْيَحْضُرْ . فَمَا زِلْتُ أَبِيعُ وَأَقْضِي ، حَتَّى لَمْ يَبْقَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - دَيْنٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ ، حَتَّى فَضَلَ فِي يَدِي أُوقِيَّتَانِ ، أَوْ أُوقِيَّةٌ وَنِصْفٌ . ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَقَدْ ذَهَبَ عَامَّةُ النَّهَارِ ، وَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - قَاعِدٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَحْدَهُ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ ، فَقَالَ لِي : I " مَا فَعَلَ مَا قِبَلَكَ ؟ I " فَقُلْتُ : قَدْ قَضَى اللهُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ كَانَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ ، فَلَمْ يَبْقَ شَيْءٌ ، فَقَالَ : I " أَفَضَلَ شَيْءٌ ؟ I " فَقُلْتُ : نَعَمْ ، فَقَالَ : I " انْظُرْ أَنْ تُرِيحَنِي مِنْهَا ، فَإِنِّي لَسْتُ بِدَاخِلٍ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي حَتَّى تُرِيحَنِي مِنْهُ I " . فَلَمْ يَأْتِنَا أَحَدٌ حَتَّى أَمْسَيْنَا ، فَلَمَّا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - الْعَتَمَةَ دَعَانِي فَقَالَ : I " مَا فَعَلَ مَا قِبَلَكَ ؟ I " قُلْتُ : هُوَ مَعِي لَمْ يَأْتِنَا أَحَدٌ ، فَبَاتَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ ، وَصَلَّى الْيَوْمَ الثَّانِي حَتَّى كَانَ فِي آخِرِ النَّهَارِ جَاءَهُ رَاكِبَانِ ، فَانْطَلَقْتُ بِهِمَا فَأَطْعَمْتُهُمَا ، وَكَسَوْتُهُمَا ، حَتَّى إِذَا صَلَّى الْعَتَمَةَ دَعَانِي فَقَالَ : I " مَا فَعَلَ الَّذِي قِبَلَكَ ؟ I " فَقُلْتُ : قَدْ أَرَاحَكَ اللهُ مِنْهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ، فَكَبَّرَ ، وَحَمِدَ اللهَ شَفَقًا مِنْ أَنْ يُدْرِكَهُ الْمَوْتُ وَعِنْدَهُ ذَلِكَ . ثُمَّ اتَّبَعْتُهُ حَتَّى جَاءَ أَزْوَاجَهُ ، فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى امْرَأَةٍ امْرَأَةٍ ، حَتَّى أَتَى مَبِيتَهُ ، فَهُوَ الَّذِي سَأَلْتَنِي عَنْهُ ، - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - .
لَا يُرْوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ بِلَالٍ إِلَّا بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ ، تَفَرَّدَ بِهِ : مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ سَلَّامٍ .
أَنَّهُ لَقِيَ بِلَالًا مُؤَذِّنَ رَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - يَتَسَوَّكُ بِحَلَبَ قَالَ : فَقُلْتُ : يَا بِلَالُ ، حَدِّثْنِي كَيْفَ كَانَ مِهْنَةُ رَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - ؟ فَقَالَ : مَا كَانَ لَهُ شَيْءٌ ، كُنْتُ أَنَا الَّذِي أَلِي ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ مُنْذُ بَعَثَهُ اللهُ حَتَّى تُوُفِّيَ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - . وَكَانَ إِذَا أَتَاهُ الْإِنْسَانُ الْمُسْلِمُ فَرَآهُ عَارِيًا ، يَأْمُرُنِي بِهِ ، فَأَنْطَلِقُ ، وَأَسْتَقْرِضُ فَأَشْتَرِي الْبُرْدَةَ ، فَأَكْسُوهُ ، وَأُطْعِمُهُ ، حَتَّى اعْتَرَضَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ، فَقَالَ لِي : يَا بِلَالُ ، إِنَّ عِنْدِي سَعَةً ، فَلَا تَسْتَقْرِضْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا مِنِّي ، فَفَعَلْتُ ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ تَوَضَّأْتُ ، ثُمَّ قُمْتُ لِأُؤَذِّنَ لِلصَّلَاةِ ، فَإِذَا الْمُشْرِكُ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ فِي عِصَابَةٍ مِنَ التُّجَّارِ . فَلَمَّا رَآنِي قَالَ : يَا حَبَشِيُّ ، قُلْتُ : لَبَّيْكَ . فَتَجَهَّمَنِي ، وَقَالَ قَوْلًا غَلِيظًا ، فَقَالَ : أَتَدْرِي كَمْ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ الشَّهْرِ ؟ قُلْتُ : قَرِيبٌ . قَالَ : إِنَّمَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ أَرْبَعٌ ، فَآخُذُكَ بِالَّذِي لِي عَلَيْكَ ، فَإِنِّي لَمْ أُعْطِكَ الَّذِي أَعْطَيْتُكَ مِنْ كَرَامَتِكَ ، وَلَا كَرَامَةِ صَاحِبِكَ عَلَيَّ ، وَلَكِنِّي إِنَّمَا أَعْطَيْتُكَ لِآخُذَكَ عَبْدًا ، فَأَرُدَّكَ تَرْعَى لِيَ الْغَنَمَ ، كَمَا كُنْتَ تَرْعَى قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ . فَأَخَذَ فِي نَفْسِي مَا يَأْخُذُ فِي أَنْفُسِ النَّاسِ . فَانْطَلَقْتُ ، ثُمَّ أَذَّنْتُ بِالصَّلَاةِ ، حَتَّى إِذَا صَلَّيْتُ الْعَتَمَةَ ، رَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - إِلَى أَهْلِهِ . فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَيْهِ ، فَأَذِنَ لِي . فَقُلْتُ : يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ الْمُشْرِكَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ ادَّنْتُ مِنْهُ قَالَ لِي : كَذَا وَكَذَا ، وَلَيْسَ عِنْدَكَ مَا تَقْضِي ، وَلَيْسَ عِنْدِي ، وَهُوَ فَاضِحِي ، فَأْذَنْ لِي أَنْ آتِيَ إِلَى بَعْضِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْأَحْيَاءِ الَّذِينَ قَدْ أَسْلَمُوا حَتَّى يَرْزُقَ اللهُ رَسُولَهُ مَا يَقْضِي عَنْهُ . فَخَرَجْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ مَنْزِلِي ، فَجَعَلْتُ سَيْفِي وَجِرَابِي وَنَعْلِي عِنْدَ رَأْسِي ، وَاسْتَقْبَلْتُ بِوَجْهِيَ الْأُفُقَ . فَلَمَّا نِمْتُ سَاعَةً انْتَبَهْتُ ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُ عَلَيَّ لَيْلًا نِمْتُ ، حَتَّى انْشَقَّ عَمُودُ الصُّبْحِ الْأَوَّلُ . فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَنْطَلِقَ ، فَإِذَا إِنْسَانٌ يَسْعَى يَدْعُو : يَا بِلَالُ أَجِبْ رَسُولَ اللهِ . فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ ، فَإِذَا أَرْبَعُ رَكَائِبَ مُنَاخَاتٌ ، عَلَيْهِنَّ أَحْمَالُهُنَّ ، فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - ، فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ ، فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - : أَبْشِرْ ، فَقَدْ جَاءَكَ اللهُ بِقَضَائِكَ . فَحَمِدْتُ اللهَ . فَقَالَ : I " أَلَمْ تَمُرَّ عَلَى الرَّكَائِبِ الْمُنَاخَاتِ الْأَرْبَعِ ؟ I " قُلْتُ : بَلَى . فَقَالَ : I " إِنَّ لَكَ رِقَابَهُنَّ وَمَا عَلَيْهِنَّ ، فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِنَّ كِسْوَةً ، وَطَعَامًا أَهْدَاهُ إِلَيَّ عَظِيمُ فَدَكَ ، فَاقْبِضْهُنَّ ، ثُمَّ اقْضِ دَيْنَكَ I " . فَفَعَلْتُ ، فَحَطَطْتُ عَنْهُنَّ أَحْمَالَهُنَّ ، ثُمَّ عَلَفْتُهُنَّ ، ثُمَّ قُمْتُ إِلَى تَأْذِينِ صَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ . حَتَّى إِذَا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - ، خَرَجْتُ إِلَى الْبَقِيعِ ، فَجَعَلْتُ إِصْبَعَيَّ فِي أُذُنَيَّ ، فَنَادَيْتُ : مَنْ كَانَ يَطْلُبُ رَسُولَ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - بِدَيْنٍ فَلْيَحْضُرْ . فَمَا زِلْتُ أَبِيعُ وَأَقْضِي ، حَتَّى لَمْ يَبْقَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - دَيْنٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ ، حَتَّى فَضَلَ فِي يَدِي أُوقِيَّتَانِ ، أَوْ أُوقِيَّةٌ وَنِصْفٌ . ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَقَدْ ذَهَبَ عَامَّةُ النَّهَارِ ، وَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - قَاعِدٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَحْدَهُ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ ، فَقَالَ لِي : I " مَا فَعَلَ مَا قِبَلَكَ ؟ I " فَقُلْتُ : قَدْ قَضَى اللهُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ كَانَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ ، فَلَمْ يَبْقَ شَيْءٌ ، فَقَالَ : I " أَفَضَلَ شَيْءٌ ؟ I " فَقُلْتُ : نَعَمْ ، فَقَالَ : I " انْظُرْ أَنْ تُرِيحَنِي مِنْهَا ، فَإِنِّي لَسْتُ بِدَاخِلٍ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي حَتَّى تُرِيحَنِي مِنْهُ I " . فَلَمْ يَأْتِنَا أَحَدٌ حَتَّى أَمْسَيْنَا ، فَلَمَّا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - الْعَتَمَةَ دَعَانِي فَقَالَ : I " مَا فَعَلَ مَا قِبَلَكَ ؟ I " قُلْتُ : هُوَ مَعِي لَمْ يَأْتِنَا أَحَدٌ ، فَبَاتَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ ، وَصَلَّى الْيَوْمَ الثَّانِي حَتَّى كَانَ فِي آخِرِ النَّهَارِ جَاءَهُ رَاكِبَانِ ، فَانْطَلَقْتُ بِهِمَا فَأَطْعَمْتُهُمَا ، وَكَسَوْتُهُمَا ، حَتَّى إِذَا صَلَّى الْعَتَمَةَ دَعَانِي فَقَالَ : I " مَا فَعَلَ الَّذِي قِبَلَكَ ؟ I " فَقُلْتُ : قَدْ أَرَاحَكَ اللهُ مِنْهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ، فَكَبَّرَ ، وَحَمِدَ اللهَ شَفَقًا مِنْ أَنْ يُدْرِكَهُ الْمَوْتُ وَعِنْدَهُ ذَلِكَ . ثُمَّ اتَّبَعْتُهُ حَتَّى جَاءَ أَزْوَاجَهُ ، فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى امْرَأَةٍ امْرَأَةٍ ، حَتَّى أَتَى مَبِيتَهُ ، فَهُوَ الَّذِي سَأَلْتَنِي عَنْهُ ، - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - .
لَا يُرْوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ بِلَالٍ إِلَّا بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ ، تَفَرَّدَ بِهِ : مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ سَلَّامٍ .
It is narrated from Abdullah al-Hawzani (may Allah have mercy on him) that he met Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) (the muezzin of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)) in Aleppo while he was using the tooth-stick (miswak). He said: I said: "O Bilal! Tell me, how were the (financial) affairs and livelihood of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?" He said: "He (peace and blessings be upon him) had nothing (of his own in wealth). From the time Allah sent him (peace and blessings be upon him) until his death (peace and blessings be upon him), I was the one in charge of these matters. The situation was that whenever a Muslim came to him (peace and blessings be upon him) and he (peace and blessings be upon him) saw him unclothed (destitute), he would command me, and I would go, borrow, buy a cloak, clothe him and also feed him. Then a man from among the polytheists came before me and said: 'O Bilal! I have plenty of means, so do not borrow from anyone except me.' So I began doing just that.
Then one day it happened that I performed ablution and stood up to call the adhan for the prayer, and suddenly that same polytheist arrived with a group of merchants. When he saw me, he called out: 'O Abyssinian!' I said: 'Here I am (labbayk).' Then he met me with a frown and said harsh words. He asked: 'Do you know how much time remains until the end of the month?' I said: 'It is near.' He said: 'Only four days remain; then I will seize you in return for the debt that you owe me. What I lent you, I did not lend because of any honour that you or your companion have in my eyes; rather, I lent it to you so that I may make you a slave again, and you will herd goats for me as you used to herd them before this.'
Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: That grief and anxiety came over my heart which comes over people. Then I called the adhan for the prayer, until, when I had prayed the Isha prayer and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had returned to his home, I sought permission to come in to him (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) gave me permission.
I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! The polytheist from whom I had borrowed has said such-and-such to me. You (peace and blessings be upon him) have nothing with which to repay, nor do I, and he will disgrace me. So permit me to go to those tribes who have accepted Islam, until Allah grants His Messenger the wealth with which he can repay the debt.'
Then I went out and came to my house. I placed my sword, my bag and my sandals by my head and lay down facing the horizon. When I had slept a while and woke up, I saw that the night still remained, so I slept again until the first light of true dawn appeared.
I was just about to set out when suddenly a man came running and calling: 'O Bilal! Answer the call of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).' I set off until I reached him (peace and blessings be upon him), and I saw four mounts kneeling, with their loads on them. I came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and sought permission, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Rejoice, Allah Almighty has brought you the means to pay off your debt.' I praised Allah.
He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Did you not see those four kneeling mounts?' I said: 'Yes, I saw them.' He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'These mounts and all the goods on them are yours. On them are clothes and food which the chief of Fadak has sent to me as a gift. Take possession of them and pay off your debt.'
I did just that: I took the loads off them, fed them fodder, then stood up to call the adhan for the morning prayer. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had prayed, I went out to al-Baqi', put my two fingers in my ears and called out: 'Whoever has any debt owed to him by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), let him come forward.'
I kept selling those goods and paying off debts until no debt owed by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) remained anywhere on the face of the earth, and two uqiyahs or one and a half uqiyahs were left over with me.
Then I went to the mosque, when most of the day had passed, and there was the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sitting alone in the mosque. I greeted him (peace and blessings be upon him) with salam, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: 'What became of the wealth that was with you?' I said: 'Allah has paid off everything that was owed by the Messenger of Allah; nothing remains now.' He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: 'Is anything left over?' I said: 'Yes.' He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'See that you relieve me of it, for I will not go to any of my family until you free me of it.'
No one (in need) came to us until evening. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had prayed the Isha prayer, he called me and asked: 'What became of the wealth that was with you?' I said: 'It is still with me; no one has come.' So he (peace and blessings be upon him) spent the night in the mosque, and on the second day too he stayed in the mosque until evening; then two riders came. I took them, fed them and clothed them. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) had prayed the Isha prayer, he called me and asked: 'What became of the wealth that was with you?' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Allah has relieved you of it.' Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said Allahu akbar and praised Allah, for he (peace and blessings be upon him) feared that death might come to him while that wealth was still with him (peace and blessings be upon him). Then I followed behind him (peace and blessings be upon him) until he (peace and blessings be upon him) came to his wives and greeted each one of them with salam, until he reached his resting place. (O questioner!) This is what you asked me about."
This hadith is narrated from Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) only through this chain, and Mu'awiyah bin Sallam (may Allah have mercy on him) is alone in narrating it.
Then one day it happened that I performed ablution and stood up to call the adhan for the prayer, and suddenly that same polytheist arrived with a group of merchants. When he saw me, he called out: 'O Abyssinian!' I said: 'Here I am (labbayk).' Then he met me with a frown and said harsh words. He asked: 'Do you know how much time remains until the end of the month?' I said: 'It is near.' He said: 'Only four days remain; then I will seize you in return for the debt that you owe me. What I lent you, I did not lend because of any honour that you or your companion have in my eyes; rather, I lent it to you so that I may make you a slave again, and you will herd goats for me as you used to herd them before this.'
Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: That grief and anxiety came over my heart which comes over people. Then I called the adhan for the prayer, until, when I had prayed the Isha prayer and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had returned to his home, I sought permission to come in to him (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) gave me permission.
I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! The polytheist from whom I had borrowed has said such-and-such to me. You (peace and blessings be upon him) have nothing with which to repay, nor do I, and he will disgrace me. So permit me to go to those tribes who have accepted Islam, until Allah grants His Messenger the wealth with which he can repay the debt.'
Then I went out and came to my house. I placed my sword, my bag and my sandals by my head and lay down facing the horizon. When I had slept a while and woke up, I saw that the night still remained, so I slept again until the first light of true dawn appeared.
I was just about to set out when suddenly a man came running and calling: 'O Bilal! Answer the call of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).' I set off until I reached him (peace and blessings be upon him), and I saw four mounts kneeling, with their loads on them. I came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and sought permission, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Rejoice, Allah Almighty has brought you the means to pay off your debt.' I praised Allah.
He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Did you not see those four kneeling mounts?' I said: 'Yes, I saw them.' He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'These mounts and all the goods on them are yours. On them are clothes and food which the chief of Fadak has sent to me as a gift. Take possession of them and pay off your debt.'
I did just that: I took the loads off them, fed them fodder, then stood up to call the adhan for the morning prayer. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had prayed, I went out to al-Baqi', put my two fingers in my ears and called out: 'Whoever has any debt owed to him by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), let him come forward.'
I kept selling those goods and paying off debts until no debt owed by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) remained anywhere on the face of the earth, and two uqiyahs or one and a half uqiyahs were left over with me.
Then I went to the mosque, when most of the day had passed, and there was the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sitting alone in the mosque. I greeted him (peace and blessings be upon him) with salam, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: 'What became of the wealth that was with you?' I said: 'Allah has paid off everything that was owed by the Messenger of Allah; nothing remains now.' He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: 'Is anything left over?' I said: 'Yes.' He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'See that you relieve me of it, for I will not go to any of my family until you free me of it.'
No one (in need) came to us until evening. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had prayed the Isha prayer, he called me and asked: 'What became of the wealth that was with you?' I said: 'It is still with me; no one has come.' So he (peace and blessings be upon him) spent the night in the mosque, and on the second day too he stayed in the mosque until evening; then two riders came. I took them, fed them and clothed them. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) had prayed the Isha prayer, he called me and asked: 'What became of the wealth that was with you?' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Allah has relieved you of it.' Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said Allahu akbar and praised Allah, for he (peace and blessings be upon him) feared that death might come to him while that wealth was still with him (peace and blessings be upon him). Then I followed behind him (peace and blessings be upon him) until he (peace and blessings be upon him) came to his wives and greeted each one of them with salam, until he reached his resting place. (O questioner!) This is what you asked me about."
This hadith is narrated from Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) only through this chain, and Mu'awiyah bin Sallam (may Allah have mercy on him) is alone in narrating it.
