Mu'jam Kabir Tabarani 13968 — When Allah intended to guide Zayd bin

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Salam (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When Allah intended to guide Zayd bin Sa'nah, Zayd bin Sa'nah said (later): "There was no sign of prophethood that I did not recognise in the face of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) when I looked at him, except for two things that I did not yet know: first, that his forbearance overtakes the ignorance (and anger shown to him), and second, that intense ignorance only increases him in forbearance. So I began trying gently to come close to him until I increased my dealings with him, so that I could recognise his forbearance in the face of ignorance." Zayd bin Sa'nah said: One day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came out of the chambers, and with him was Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him). A man like a Bedouin came to him on his mount and said: "O Messenger of Allah, the people of the village of such-and-such a tribe have accepted Islam and entered into Islam, and I had told them that if they accepted Islam, abundant provision would come to them. But drought and hardship have befallen them, and the rain has stopped. So, O Messenger of Allah, I fear that they will leave Islam out of the same greed with which they entered it. If you see fit, send them something to help them." So he (peace and blessings be upon him) looked at a man standing at his side, I think it was Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: "O Messenger of Allah, nothing of it remains." Zayd bin Sa'nah said: I went close to him and said: "O Muhammad, will you sell me a specified quantity of dates from the orchard of such-and-such a tribe, (on credit) until such-and-such a term?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No, O Jew. Rather, I will sell you a specified quantity of dates until such-and-such a term, but do not name the orchard of such-and-such a tribe." I said: "Very well." So he (peace and blessings be upon him) concluded the sale with me. I opened my purse and gave him (peace and blessings be upon him) 80 mithqals of gold in exchange for specified dates until that specified term. He (peace and blessings be upon him) gave that gold to a man and said: "Deal justly with them and inform them (about it)." Zayd bin Sa'nah said: Then, when two or three days remained before the term was due, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) went out, and with him were Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with them) and a group of the Companions. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) had offered the funeral prayer and came near a wall to sit down, I went to him, seized his shirt and his cloak, looked at him with a harsh face, and said: "O Muhammad, will you not pay me my due? By Allah, I know you, the Banu Abd al-Muttalib, to be nothing but procrastinators; I have experience of dealing with you people." Then I looked at Umar, and his eyes were rolling (in anger) like a spinning orbit. Then he cast his gaze upon me and said: "O enemy of Allah! Do you say to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) what I am hearing, and treat him the way I am seeing? By the One who sent him (peace and blessings be upon him) with the truth, were it not that I fear losing something else, I would have struck off your head with my sword." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was looking at Umar calmly and gently. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) smiled and said: "O Umar, he and I were more in need of something other than this: you should have told me to repay in a good manner, and told him to demand his due in a good manner. O Umar, take him, give him his due, and give him twenty sa' of dates more in return for the fright you gave him." Zayd said: Umar took me, gave me my due and gave me twenty sa' of dates more. I said: "O Umar, what is this extra?" He said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered me to give you more in return for the fright I gave you." I said: "O Umar, do you know me?" He said: "No. So what made you treat the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) the way you did?" I said: "O Umar, there was no sign of prophethood that I did not recognise in the face of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when I looked at him, except for two things that I did not yet know: first, that his forbearance overtakes the ignorance, and second, that intense ignorance only increases him in forbearance. Now I have come to know these two as well. So, O Umar, I make you my witness that I am pleased with Allah as Lord, with Islam as religion, and with Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as Prophet. And I make you my witness that half of my wealth, and my wealth is very great, is charity for the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)." Umar said: "Or for some of them, for your wealth cannot suffice them all." I said: "Or for some of them, then." Then Umar and Zayd returned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and Zayd said: "I bear witness that there is no true god except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and His Messenger." So he believed in him, affirmed him and followed him, and took part with him in many battles. Then he died in the Battle of Tabuk, advancing and not retreating. May Allah have mercy on Zayd.