Book: Dalail an-Nubuwwah by Bayhaqi

باب نذر عبد المطلب

Chapter: The Chapter on the Vow of Abdul Muttalib

Volume: 1 (Page:98)

English:

The Vow of Abd Al Muttalib

We were informed by Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al-Hafiz, who said: Abu Al-Abbas, Muhammad ibn Yaqoub, informed us and said: Ahmed ibn Abd Al-Jabbar informed us, and said: Yunus ibn Bukair reported from Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Yasar: Abd Al Muttalib ibn Hashim had made a vow, as they recount [137], when he met Quraysh near the digging of Zamzam: If ten sons were born to him and they grew up to protect him -he would certainly sacrifice one of them for Allah, Glorious and Exalted be He, at the Kaaba. When his sons reached number ten: Al-Harith, Zubair, Hajl, Dirar, Muqawwam, Abu Lahab, Al-Abbas, Hamza, Abu Talib, and Abdullah and he knew they would prevent him - he gathered them together, then informed them of the vow he had made and called them to fulfill, the vow to Allah, Most High [140], accordingly [141], they obeyed.

[137] The story is in the biography of Ibn Hisham (1:164), also see Tabaqat Ibn Sa'd (1:88-89) and Al Bidayah wa Al Nihayah (2:248).

[138] In the biography of Ibn Hisham: "As they claim, and Allah knows best".

[139] "Then" is not in: (H).

[140] In (S) : without "Most High".

[141] Not in (H).

Arabic:

بَابُ نَذْرِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ* أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ: مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ [ (١٣٧) ] ، قَالَ:وَكَانَ عَبْدُ الْمُطَّلِبِ بْنُ هَاشِمٍ، فِيمَا يَذْكُرُونَ [ (١٣٨) ] ، قَدْ نَذَرَ حِينَ لَقِيَ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ عِنْدَ حَفْرِ زَمْزَمَ مَا لَقِيَ: لَئِنْ وُلِدَ لَهُ عَشَرَةُ نَفَرٍ، ثُمَّ [ (١٣٩) ] بَلَغُوا مَعَهُ حَتَّى يَمْنَعُوهُ- لَيَنْحَرَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ لِلَّهِ، عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، عِنْدَ الْكَعْبَةِ. فَلَمَّا تَوَافَى بَنُوهُ عَشَرَةً:الْحَارِثُ، وَالزُّبَيْرُ، وَحَجْلٌ، وَضِرَارٌ، وَالْمُقَوَّمُ، وَأَبُو لَهَبٍ، وَالْعَبَّاسُ، وَحَمْزَةُ، وَأَبُو طَالِبٍ، وَعَبْدُ اللهِ، وَعَرَفَ أَنَّهُمْ سَيَمْنَعُونَهُ- جَمْعُهُمْ، ثُمَّ أَخْبَرَهُمْ بِنَذْرِهِ الَّذِي نَذَرَ، وَدَعَاهُمْ إِلَى الْوَفَاءِ لِلَّهِ، تعالى [ (١٤٠) ] ، بذلك [ (١٤١) ] ، فأطاعوا[ (١٣٧) ] الخبر في سيرة ابن هشام (١: ١٦٤) ، وراجع طبقات ابن سعد (١: ٨٨- ٨٩) ، والبداية والنهاية (٢: ٢٤٨) .[ (١٣٨) ] في سيرة ابن هشام: «فيما يزعمون، والله أعلم» .[ (١٣٩) ] «ثم» ليست في: (هـ) .[ (١٤٠) ] في (ص) : بدون «تعالى» .[ (١٤١) ] ليست في (هـ) .

Volume: 1 (Page:99)

English:

Abdullah's Story

They asked him how they should make the selection? He instructed that each man should take a cup and inscribe his name on it, and then present them to him. They did as he asked and then presented the cups to him. The remainder of the narrative highlights the visit to the great idol Hubal. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Muttalib, the father of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was the youngest of his father's sons. He, along with Zubair and Abu Talib, were the guardians of Fatimah bint Amr ibn Id ibn Abd Allah ibn Amr ibn Makhzum. They claim that Abdullah was Abdul Muttalib's favorite son.

The Draw

When the man who was to draw began to draw, Abdul Muttalib stood in front of Hubal, praying that the draw should not fall on Abdullah. The draw did fall on Abdullah. So, Abdul Muttalib held his hand and took the knife. Then he took Abdullah to the idols of Isaf and Naila, upon which Quraysh sacrificed their offerings, intending to sacrifice him there.

Just then, Quraysh and his own sons confronted him, asking what he intended to do. To which Abdul Muttalib replied, he was intending to sacrifice him.

Intervention

Ibn Ishaq mentioned that Abbas Ibn Abdul Muttalib managed to grab Abdullah from beneath his father's feet until Abdullah's face was scratched - a scar which remained on his face until he died. Quraysh and his sons then declared, "By Allah, you will not sacrifice him as long as we live unless we find an alternative for him. If you do this, every one of us will have to sacrifice his son. How can people keep living like that?"

The Mughirah ibn Abdullah ibn Umar ibn Makhzum intervened. Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib is his cousin from mother's side and he said, "By Allah, you will not sacrifice him as long as we live unless we find an alternative for him. If there's a ransom to be paid, we will pay it from our wealth."

Translation Notes

(142) Abdul Muttalib's son (143) The cup (144) They remembered (145) The engraved name of Abdul Muttalib; an incorrect inscription (146) The phrase should read, "bring forward his son"

Arabic:

لَهُ، وَقَالُوا: كَيْفَ نَصْنَعُ؟ قَالَ: يَأْخُذُ كُلُّ رَجُلٍ مِنْكُمْ قِدْحًا، فَيَكْتُبُ فِيهِ اسْمَهُ، ثُمَّ تَأْتُونِي. فَفَعَلُوا ثُمَّ أَتَوْهُ. فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ بِطُولِهِ فِي دُخُولِهِ عَلَى هُبَلَ:عَظِيمِ أَصْنَامِهِمْ.قَالَ: وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ، أَبُو رَسُولِ الله، صلى الله عليه وَسَلَّمَ، أَصْغَرَ بَنِي أَبِيهِ، وَكَانَ هُوَ وَالزُّبَيْرُ وَأَبُو طَالِبٍ لِفَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ عَمْرِو بن عائد بن عبد الله بن عمر ابن مَخْزُومٍ، وَكَانَ- فِيمَا يَزْعُمُونَ- أَحَبَّ وَلَدِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ [ (١٤٢) ] إِلَيْهِ. فَلَمَّا أَخَذَ صَاحِبُ القداح القداح [ (١٤٣) ] ، لِيَضْرِبَ بِهَا، قَامَ عَبْدُ الْمُطَّلِبِ عِنْدَ هُبَلَ، يَدْعُو: أَلَّا يَخْرُجَ الْقِدْحُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ، فَخَرَجَ الْقِدْحُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ، فَأَخَذَ عَبْدُ الْمُطَّلِبِ بِيَدِهِ وَأَخَذَ الشِّفْرَةَ، ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ بِهِ إِلَى إِسَافٍ وَنَائِلَةَ- الْوَثَنَيْنِ اللَّذَيْنِ تَنْحَرُ قُرَيْشٌ عِنْدَهُمَا ذَبَائِحَهُمْ- لِيَذْبَحَهُ، فَقَامَتْ إِلَيْهِ قُرَيْشٌ مِنْ أَنْدِيَتِهَا، فَقَالُوا: مَاذَا تُرِيدُ يَا عَبْدَ الْمُطَّلِبِ؟ قَالَ: أَذْبَحُهُ.قَالَ ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ: وَذَكَرُوا [ (١٤٤) ] أَنَّ الْعَبَّاسَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ اجْتَرَّهُ مِنْ تَحْتِ رِجْلِ أَبِيهِ حَتَّى خَدَشَ وَجْهَ عَبْدِ اللهِ [ (١٤٥) ] خَدْشًا لَمْ يَزَلْ فِي وَجْهِهِ حَتَّى مَاتَ. فَقَالَتْ قُرَيْشٌ وَبَنُوهُ: وَاللهِ لَا تَذْبَحُهُ أَبَدًا وَنَحْنُ أَحْيَاءٌ حَتَّى نُعْذَرَ فِيهِ، وَلَئِنْ فَعَلْتَ هَذَا لَا يَزَالُ رَجُلٌ مِنَّا يَأْتِي ابْنَهُ [ (١٤٦) ] حَتَّى يَذْبَحَهُ، فَمَا بَقَاءُ النَّاسِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ؟! وَقَالَ الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ مَخْزُومٍ- وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ ابْنَ أُخْتِ الْقَوْمِ-: وَاللهِ لَا تَذْبَحُهُ أَبَدًا حَتَّى نُعْذَرَ فِيهِ، فَإِنْ كَانَ فداء فديناه بأموالنا.[ (١٤٢) ] في (هـ) : «المطلب» .[ (١٤٣) ] في (ص) : «القدح» .[ (١٤٤) ] في (هـ) : «فذكروا» .[ (١٤٥) ] في (هـ) : «عبد المطلب» ، خطأ.[ (١٤٦) ] في (هـ) : «يأتي بابنه» .

Volume: 1 (Page:100)

English:

The Consultation of Quraysh and the Oracle

The verses recount their discussions until it mentioned: Quraysh and his sons said to him, "Do not do it. Go to Hejaz, for there is a seeress named Saja with a follower. Ask her, then you can make your decision." He agreed.

They journeyed until they reached her in a place believed to be Khaybar. They asked her, and she responded, "Leave me today until my follower comes, then I will ask him." At that engagement, Abdul-Muttalib prayed to God.

The Oracle Speech

Then the next day they went to her, and she said, "Yes, my follower has brought me the news. What is your blood-wit?" To which they replied, "ten camels" (which was the standard then). She then advised: "Return to your homeland, present your companion, and present ten camels. Perform a divination, and if the divining arrows point to your companion, then add more camels until you appease your Lord. If the arrows point to the camels, then your Lord is pleased; sacrifice them and your companion will be saved."

The Return and Act

They returned to Mecca, fulfilling her instructions. It mentioned in full length the narration of Abdul-Muttalib’s poetic invocations and prayers, the casting of the arrows on Abdullah, and the increase of ten camels each time the arrow pointed at him until the number of camels reached one hundred.

Final Act and Reaction

Abdul-Muttalib stood praying to the Almighty, then they divined again. The arrow pointed to the camels. Quraisy and those present said: "Your Lord's contentment is achieved, and your obligation is fulfilled."

Arabic:

وَذَكَرَ أَشْعَارَهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ، إِلَى أَنْ قَالَ:فَقَالَتْ لَهُ قُرَيْشٌ وَبَنُوهُ: لَا تَفْعَلْ، وَانْطَلِقْ إِلَى الْحِجَازِ، فَإِنِّ بِهِ عَرَّافَةً يُقَالُ لَهَا: سَجَاحُ، لَهَا تَابِعٌ، فَسَلْهَا، ثُمَّ أَنْتَ عَلَى رَأْسِ أَمْرِكَ. فَقَالَ: نَعَمْ.فَانْطَلَقُوا حَتَّى جَاءُوهَا، وَهِيَ، فِيمَا يَزْعُمُونَ، بِخَيْبَرَ، فَسَأَلُوهَا، فَقَالَتِ:ارْجِعُوا عَنِّي الْيَوْمَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَنِي تَابِعِي، فَأَسْأَلَهُ. فَخَرَجَ عَبْدُ الْمُطَّلِبِ يَدْعُو اللهَ.قَالَ [ (١٤٧) ] : ثُمَّ غَدَوْا إِلَيْهَا، فَقَالَتْ: نَعَمْ قَدْ جَاءَنِي تَابِعِي بِالْخَبَرِ، فَكَمِ الدِّيَةُ فِيكُمْ؟ فَقَالُوا: عَشْرٌ [ (١٤٨) ] مِنَ الْإِبِلِ- وَكَانَتْ كَذَلِكَ- قَالَتْ: فَارْجِعُوا إِلَى بِلَادِكُمْ، فَقَدِّمُوا صَاحِبَكُمْ، وَقَدِّمُوا عَشْرًا مِنَ الْإِبِلِ، ثُمَّ اضْرِبُوا عَلَيْهَا بِالْقِدَاحِ، فَإِنْ خَرَجَتِ الْقِدَاحُ عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ فَزِيدُوا مِنَ الْإِبِلِ حَتَّى يَرْضَى رَبُّكُمْ، فَإِذَا خَرَجَتِ الْقِدَاحُ عَلَى الْإِبِلِ فَقَدْ رَضِيَ رَبُّكُمْ، فَانْحَرُوهَا، وَنَجَا صَاحِبُكُمْ. فَخَرَجُوا حَتَّى قَدِمُوا مَكَّةَ وَفَعَلُوا.وَذَكَرَ [ (١٤٩) ] الْحَدِيثَ بِطُولِهِ فِي سَجْعِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ ودَعَوَاتِهِ، وَخُرُوجِ السَّهْمِ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ، وَزِيَادَةِ عَشْرٍ عَشْرٍ، مِنَ الْإِبِلِ كُلَّمَا خَرَجَ السَّهْمُ عَلَيْهِ، حَتَّى بَلَغَتِ الْإِبِلُ مِائَةً.وَقَامَ عَبْدُ الْمُطَّلِبِ يَدْعُو اللهَ تَعَالَى [ (١٥٠) ] ، ثُمَّ ضَرَبُوا، فَخَرَجَ السَّهْمُ عَلَى الْإِبِلِ، فَقَالَتْ قُرَيْشٌ وَمَنْ حَضَرَهُ: قَدِ انْتَهَى رِضَا [ (١٥١) ] رَبِّكَ، وَخَلُصَ لك[ (١٤٧) ] ليست في (ح) .[ (١٤٨) ] في (هـ) : «عشرة» .[ (١٤٩) ] في (هـ) : «وذكروا» .[ (١٥٠) ] «تعالى» : ليست في (ص) .[ (١٥١) ] في (ص) : رسمت «رضى» .

Volume: 1 (Page:101)

English:

Abdulmuttalib's Ritual

"Your son." Abdulmuttalib replied, "No, by Allah, not until I strike it three times." They struck [152], and he went out to the camels for the three times, it was slaughtered and then left with no one drive away from it [153].

Annotations

[152] In (ح): "They struck".

[153] On the margin of the manuscript (ه) at the plate (13/ب) it is written: "Our lord and master Abul Iqbal: Mustafa bin Muhammad Al-Ta'i Al-Hanafi has read to me from the beginning to this point, and it has been established on Wednesday, the thirteenth of the past Ramadan (1191), at my home.”

"And wrote Muhammad Murtada, may he be forgiven."

Follow up Notations

Then another margin comes as follows: "The group has heard from me, and they are: Abdulrahman Muhammad bin Halwat, Abdullah bin Ahmad Al-Maqri, and Uthman bin Ibrahim Al-Rouznjani. It was correct and established by the reading of Sayyid Abu Al-Salah: Hussein bin Abdul Rahman Al-Sheikhouni on Wednesday, the sixth of the month of Ramadan of the year (1191)."

Muhammad Murtada al-Husseini wrote this, may he be forgiven.

Arabic:

ابْنُكَ. فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الْمُطَّلِبِ: لَا وَاللهِ حَتَّى أَضْرِبَ عَلَيْهَا ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ.فَضَرَبُوا [ (١٥٢) ] ، فَخَرَجَ عَلَى الْإِبِلِ فِي الْمَرَّاتِ الثَّلَاثِ، فَنُحِرَتْ، ثُمَّ تُرِكَتْ لَا يُصَدُّ عَنْهَا أحد [ (١٥٣) ] .[ (١٥٢) ] في (ح) : «فضرب» .[ (١٥٣) ] جاء في هامش نسخة (هـ) عند اللوحة (١٣/ ب) ما يلي:«بلغ سيدنا وشيخنا أبو الإقبال: مصطفى بن محمد الطائي الحنفي قراءة عليّ من أوله إلى هنا، وثبت في يوم الأربعاء لثلاث عشرة مضين من رمضان (١١٩١) بمنزلي» .«وكتب محمد مرتضى غفر له» .ثم جاء تحتها هامش آخر كما يلي:«بلغ سماع الجماعة عليّ وهم: عبد الرحمن محمد بن حلوات، وعبد الله بن أحمد المقري، وعثمان بن إبراهيم الروزنجاني. وصح وثبت بقراءة السيد أبي الصلاح: الحسين بن عبد الرحمن الشيخوني في يوم الأربعاء سادس شهر رمضان سنة (١١٩١) » وكتب محمد مرتضى الحسيني- غفر له-.

Vols: Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Chapters