Book: Dalail an-Nubuwwah by Bayhaqi

باب قصة ثعلبة بن حاطب وما ظهر فيها من الآثار.

Chapter: Chapter: The Story of Tha'laba bin Haatib and the Evident Signs Within it.

Volume: 5 (Page:289)

English:

Story of Tha'labah ibn Hatib and its Historical Significance

Abu Abdullah Al-Hafiz informed us, Ahmad ibn Kamil Al-Qadi narrated to us, Muhammad ibn Sa'd Al-Awfiyy informed us, my father narrated to us, saying: My uncle, Al-Husayn ibn Al-Hasan ibn Atiyyah, narrated to us, saying: My father narrated to us, from his father, Atiyyah ibn Sa'd, from Ibn Abbas, regarding the verse: "And among them are those who made a covenant with Allah, saying, 'If He gives us of His bounty, we will surely give to charity and be among the righteous.'" (Qur'an, 9:75). There was a man known as Tha'labah from the Ansar, who came to his gathering and made an oath to them, saying: 'If Allah gives me from His bounty, I will give every rightful person their due, I will give charity from it, and will uphold family ties.' So, Allah tested him, and He bestowed His bounty upon him. However, he did not fulfill his promise, which angered Allah, and thus Allah revealed his story in the Qur'an.

Abu Abdur-Rahman, Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Sulamiyy informed us, Abu Al-Hasan Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Ibrahim ibn Abdah informed us, Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Saeed Al-Abdiyy informed us, Al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn Shu'aib Al-Harrani narrated to us, Muskin ibn Bukayr narrated to us, from Mu'adh ibn Rafi'a Al-Sulamiyy, from Ali ibn Yazid, from Al-Qasim Abu Abdur-Rahman, who was the servant of Abdur-Rahman, Abu Yazid ibn Mu'awiya, from Abu Umamah Al-Bahiliyy, saying: 'The noble verse (75) from Surah At-Tawbah.'

Arabic:

بَابُ قِصَّةِ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ حَاطِبٍ وَمَا ظَهَرَ فِيهَا مِنَ الْآثَارِ.أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ كَامِلٍ الْقَاضِي، حَدَّثَنَا محمد ابن سَعْدٍ الْعَوْفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَمِّي: الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ أَبِيهِ: عَطِيَّةَ بْنِ سَعْدِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ عاهَدَ اللَّهَ لَئِنْ آتَانَا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ [ (١) ] ، وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ رَجُلًا كَانَ يُقَالُ: لَهُ ثَعْلَبَةُ مِنَ الأنصار أتى مجلسه فَأَشْهَدَهُمْ، فَقَالَ: لَئِنْ آتَانِي اللهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ آتَيْتُ كُلِّ ذِي حَقٍّ حَقَّهُ، وتصدقه مِنْهُ، وَوَصَلْتُ مِنْهُ الْقَرَابَةَ، فَابْتَلَاهُ اللهُ فَآتَاهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ، فَأَخْلَفَ مَا وَعَدَ، فَأَغْضَبَ اللهَ بِمَا أَخْلَفَهُ بِمَا وَعْدَهُ فَقَصَّ اللهُ شَأْنَهُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ.وحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ: مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى السُّلَمِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ [] شُعَيْبٍ الْحَرَّانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مِسْكِينُ بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا معاذ بن رفاعة السّلاميّ.عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَهُوَ الْقَاسِمُ مَوْلَى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبِي يَزِيدَ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ الْبَاهِلِيِّ، قال:[ (١) ] الآية الكريمة (٧٥) من سورة التوبة.

Volume: 5 (Page:290)

English:

Story of Tha'labah ibn Hatib

Tha'labah ibn Hatib came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Ask Allah to provide me with wealth." The Prophet replied: "O Tha'labah! A little that you can be thankful for is better than a lot that you cannot bear to be grateful for." Tha'labah repeated his request three times, and finally, the Prophet asked Allah to grant him wealth.

Tha'labah then acquired some sheep, which started to multiply rapidly. The city became too small for his growing herd, so he moved to the outskirts. He would pray with the Prophet during the day but not at night. Eventually, his herd grew excessively again, so he withdrew further. Tha'labah would only join the Friday prayers with the Prophet, and he became known for his wealth.

However, he was separated from the Prophet due to his expansive livestock, and the Prophet asked about him. Tha'labah had purchased more sheep causing congestion in the city, and news of his situation reached the Prophet. The Prophet exclaimed: "Woe to Tha'labah ibn Hatib! Woe to Tha'labah ibn Hatib!"

Eventually, Allah commanded the Prophet to take charity from Tha'labah and purify him with it.

Arabic:

جَاءَ ثَعْلَبَةُ بْنُ حَاطِبٍ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ! ادْعُ اللهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي مَالًا، قَالَ: وَيْحَكَ يَا ثَعْلَبَةُ! قَلِيلٌ تُطِيقُ شُكْرَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ كَثِيرٍ لَا تُطِيقُهُ، قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ! ادْعُ اللهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي مَالًا، قَالَ: وَيْحَكَ يَا ثَعْلَبَةُ! قَلِيلٌ تُؤَدِّي شُكْرَهُ، خَيْرٌ مِنْ كَثِيرٍ لَا تُطِيقُهُ. قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ! ادْعُ اللهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي مَالًا، قَالَ: وَيْحَكَ يَا ثَعْلَبَةُ أَمَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِثْلِي فَلَوْ شِئْتُ أَنْ يُسَيِّرَ رَبِّي هَذِهِ الْجِبَالَ مَعِي ذَهَبًا لَسَارَتْ، قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ! ادْعُ اللهَ أَنْ يرزقني مالا، فو الذي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنْ آتَانِي اللهُ [عَزَّ وَجَلَّ] [ (٢) ] مَالًا لَأُعْطِيَنَّ كُلَّ ذِي حَقٍّ حَقَّهُ، قَالَ: وَيْحَكَ يَا ثَعْلَبَةُ! قَلِيلٌ تُطِيقُ شُكْرَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ كَثِيرٍ لَا تُطِيقُهُ، قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ادْعُ اللهِ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: اللهُمَّ ارْزُقْهُ مَالًا.قَالَ فَاتَّخَذَ أَوِ اشْتَرَى غَنَمًا فَبُورِكَ لَهُ فِيهَا وَنَمَتْ كَمَا يَنْمُو الدُّودُ، حَتَّى ضَاقَتْ بِهِ الْمَدِينَةُ فَتَنَحَّى بِهَا، فَكَانَ يَشْهَدُ الصَّلَاةَ بِالنَّهَارِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.وَلَا يَشْهَدُهَا بِاللَّيْلِ، ثُمَّ نَمَتْ كَمَا يَنْمُو الدُّودُ، فَتَنَحَّى بِهَا، وَكَانَ لَا يَشْهَدُ الصَّلَاةَ بِاللَّيْلِ وَلَا بِالنَّهَارِ إِلَّا مِنْ جُمُعَةٍ إِلَى جُمُعَةٍ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.[ثُمَّ نَمَتْ كَمَا يَنْمُو الدُّودُ، فَضَاقَ بِهِ مَكَانُهُ فَتَنَحَّى بِهِ فَكَانَ لَا يَشْهَدُ جُمُعَةً وَلَا جِنَازَةً مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ] [ (٣) ] فَجَعَلَ يتَلَقَّى الرُّكْبَانَ وَيَسْأَلُهُمْ عَنِ الْأَخْبَارِ، وَفَقَدَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَسَأَلَ عَنْهُ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ أَنَّهُ اشْتَرَى غَنَمًا، وَأَنَّ الْمَدِينَةَ ضَاقَتْ بِهِ، وَأَخْبَرُوهُ خَبَرَهُ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: وَيْحَ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنَ حَاطِبٍ! وَيْحَ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنَ حَاطِبٍ!.ثُمَّ إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى أَمَرَ رَسُولَهُ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي أَنْ يَأْخُذَ الصَّدَقَاتِ وَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِها الْآيَةَ [ (٤) ] فَبَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسلم[ (٢) ] الزيادة من (ح) ، وفي (ك) : «تعالى» .[ (٣) ] ما بين الحاصرتين سقط من (ح) .[ (٤) ] الآية الكريمة (١٠٣) من سورة التوبة.

Volume: 5 (Page:291)

English:

Two Men Seeking Charity

In the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), there were two men, one from Juhaynah and one from the Banu Salimah tribe, who were seeking charity. They were given some teeth of camels and sheep that had been collected as alms. They were instructed to go to Tha‘labah ibn Hatib and a man from the Banu Sulaym, who were known for their charity.

The Generosity Test

When they met Tha‘labah, they asked for charity. He asked to see their letter of recommendation, looked at it, and said it was merely a tax. They left and Tha‘labah observed their reaction.

The True Test of Generosity

On their return, Tha‘labah took out the best of his camels and said to the men that what he was giving them was less than what he usually gave. The men, moved by his generosity, told him that they only sought to please Allah and accepted his gift happily.

The Prophet's Recognition of True Generosity

When the Prophet Muhammad saw the men, he praised Tha‘labah's generosity and prayed for blessings upon the Banu Sulaym tribe. The Prophet also recited verses regarding the sincerity of some individuals in giving charity.

Tha‘labah's True Test of Generosity

Tha‘labah, upon hearing about the sincerity of the two men, presented his own charity to the Prophet. However, the Prophet declined, stating that Allah had prevented him from accepting this particular charity. Tha‘labah was deeply moved by this response and acknowledged his mistake. Only after seeking forgiveness did he find absolution.

Seeking Redemption

Tha‘labah then sought Abu Bakr, asking him to accept his charity. Despite knowing that the Prophet had declined it, Abu Bakr's profound understanding of charity and compassion led him to accept the gift, demonstrating true generosity and forgiveness.

Arabic:

رَجُلَيْنِ رَجُلًا مِنْ جُهَيْنَةَ، وَرَجُلًا مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ يَأْخُذَانِ الصَّدَقَةَ، وَكَتَبَ لَهُمَا أَسْنَانَ الْإِبِلِ وَالْغَنَمِ كَيْفَ يَأْخُذَانِهَا عَلَى وُجُوهِهَا وَأَمَرَهُمَا أَنْ يَمُرَّا عَلَى ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ حَاطِبٍ، وَرَجُلٍ مِنْ بَنِي سُلَيْمٍ.فَخَرَجَا فَمَرَّا بِثَعْلَبَةَ فَسَأَلَاهُ الصَّدَقَةَ، فَقَالَ: أَرِيَانِي كِتَابَكُمَا، فَنَظَرَ فِيهِ، فَقَالَ: مَا هَذَا إِلَّا جِزْيَةٌ، انْطَلِقَا حَتَّى تَفْرُغَا، ثُمَّ مُرَّا بِي.قَالَ: فَانْطَلَقَا وَسَمِعَ بِهِمَا السُّلَمِيُّ، فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُمَا بِخِيَارِ إِبِلِهِ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ دُونَ هَذَا، فَقَالَ: مَا كُنْتُ أَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَى اللهِ إِلَّا بِخَيْرِ ما لي فَقَبِلَا.فَلَمَّا فَرَغَا مَرَّا بِثَعْلَبَةَ، فَقَالَ: أَرِيَانِي كِتَابَكُمَا، فَنَظَرَ فِيهِ، فَقَالَ: مَا هَذَا إِلَّا جِزْيَةٌ انْطَلِقَا حَتَّى أَرَى رَأْيِي.فَانْطَلَقَا حَتَّى قَدِمَا الْمَدِينَةَ، فَلَمَّا رَآهُمَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَهُمَا: وَيْحَ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنَ حَاطِبٍ، وَدَعَا لِلسُّلَمِيِّ بِالْبَرَكَةِ، وَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ عاهَدَ اللَّهَ لَئِنْ آتَانَا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ الثَّلَاثَ الْآيَاتِ [ (٥) ] .قَالَ: فَسَمِعَ بَعْضُ أَقَارِبِ ثَعْلَبَةَ، فَقَالَ: وَيْحَكَ يَا ثَعْلَبَةُ أَنْزَلَ [اللهُ] [ (٦) ] فِيكَ كَذَا وَكَذَا، قَالَ: فَقَدِمَ ثَعْلَبَةُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ هَذِهِ صَدَقَةُ مَالِي، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى الله عليه وسلم: إِنَّ اللهَ قَدْ مَنَعَنِي أَنْ أَقْبَلَ مِنْكَ، قَالَ:فَجَعَلَ يَبْكِي وَيَحْثِي التُّرَابَ عَلَى رَأْسَهُ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: هَذَا عَمَلُكَ بِنَفْسِكَ أَمَرْتُكَ فَلَمْ تُطِعْنِي، فَلَمْ يَقْبَلْ مِنْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسلم حَتَّى مَضَى.ثُمَّ أَتَى أَبَا بَكْرٍ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا بَكْرِ! اقْبَلْ مِنِّي صَدَقَتِي، فَقَدْ عَرَفْتَ مَنْزِلَتِي مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ، فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: لَمْ يقْبَلْهَا رَسُولُ الله صلى الله عليه وَسَلَّمَ، وَأَقْبَلُهَا. فَلَمْ يَقْبَلْهَا أبو بكر.[ (٥) ] (٧٥، ٧٦، ٧٧) من سورة التوبة.[ (٦) ] من (ك) فقط.

Volume: 5 (Page:292)

English:

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

Meeting with Umar Ibn Al-Khattab:

Umar Ibn Al-Khattab went to him and said, "O Abu Hafs! O Commander of the Believers! Accept my charity." He replied, "And burden yourself with the emigrants, the Ansar, and the wives of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him." Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not accept it, nor did Abu Bakr, but I will accept it." He refused to accept it. Uthman then took charge, and he met his end during Uthman's caliphate. This incident led to the revelation of the Quranic verses criticizing those who found fault with the voluntary givers among the believers in their charities.

Significance of the Hadith:

This is a well-known hadith among scholars of tafsir (Quranic exegesis). It is narrated with weak chains, as the refusal to accept his repentance and charity is preserved. This refusal seemed to indicate his longstanding hypocrisy, followed by an increase in deception until his death. Allah then revealed an Ayah, not considering him among the people deserving of charity, and Allah knows best.

[Explanation: Ibn Kathir referenced this incident in his history book (5:35) and narrated it in the interpretation of Surah At-Tawbah, in the explanation of the verse "And among them are those who made a covenant with Allah.”]

Arabic:

ثُمَّ وَلِيَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَأَتَاهُ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا حَفْصٍ! يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! اقْبَلْ مِنِّي صَدَقَتِي، قال: وتثقل عليه بِالْمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَالْأَنْصَارِ، وَأَزْوَاجِ رَسُولِ الله صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: لَمْ يَقْبَلْهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَلَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، أَقْبَلُهَا أَنَا! فَأَبَى أَنْ يَقْبَلَهَا، ثُمَّ وَلِيَ عُثْمَانُ، فَهَلَكَ فِي خِلَافَةِ عُثْمَانَ، وَفِيهِ نَزَلَتْ الَّذِينَ يَلْمِزُونَ الْمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الصَّدَقاتِ [ (٧) ] قَالَ: وَذَلِكَ فِي الصَّدَقَةِ [ (٨) ] .هَذَا حَدِيثٌ مَشْهُوَرٌ فِيمَا بَيْنَ أَهْلِ التَّفْسِيرِ وَإِنَّمَا يُرْوَى مَوْصُولًا بِأَسَانِيدَ ضِعَافٍ، فَإِنْ كَانَ امْتِنَاعُهُ مِنْ قَبُولِ تَوْبَتِهِ وَقَبُولِ صَدَقَتِهِ مَحْفُوظًا فَكَأَنَّهُ عُرِفَ نِفَاقُهُ قَدِيمًا ثُمَّ زِيَادَةُ نِفَاقِهِ وَمَوْتُهُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الآية حديثا فلم ير كونه مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّدَقَةِ فَلَمْ يَأْخُذْهَا مِنْهُ وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ.[ (٧) ] [٧٩- التوبة] .[ (٨) ] أشار إليه ابن كثير في التاريخ (٥: ٣٥) ، ورواه في تفسير سورة التوبة، في تفسير آية: وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ عاهَدَ اللَّهَ.

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

Chapters