(Friday Sermon - March 1, 2019 )

Background

Hazrat Sa‘ib^(ra) bin Maz‘un was the brother of Hazrat Uthman^(ra) bin Maz‘un. He was amongst the very first companions who migrated to Abyssinia, and had the honour of partaking in the battle of Badr (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 2, p. 399, Sa‘ib^(ra) bin Maz‘un, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003). When the Holy Prophet^(sa) left for the expedition to Bawaat, according to some narrations, he appointed Hazrat Sa‘d^(ra) bin Mu‘az and according to others, Hazrat Sa‘ib^(ra) bin Uthman as the Amir to look after the affairs in his absence. Thus, one of the narrations mentions Hazrat Sa‘ib bin Maz‘un’s name. (Al-Sirat Al-Halabiyya, Vol. 2, p. 174, Zikr Maghazia Ghazwa-e-Bawaat, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2002)

Partner in Business with the Holy Prophet^(sa)

Hazrat Sa‘ib also had the honour of being involved in trade with the Holy Prophet^(sa). Hence, a narration in Sunan Abi Dawood states that Hazrat Sa‘ib^(ra) relates, “On one occasion, I presented myself before the Holy Prophet^(sa), and the companions started offering compliments about me to the Holy Prophet^(sa). The Holy Prophet^(sa) stated, ‘I know him better than you do.’

I submitted:

صَدَقْتَ بِاَبِیْ اَنْتَ وَاُمِّیْ ۔کُنْتَ شَرِیْکِیْ فَنِعْمَ الشَرِیْکُ۔ کُنْتَ لَا تُدَارِیْ وَلَا تُمَارِیْ

‘May my parents be sacrificed for your sake O Prophet – you have indeed said the truth! You were my partner in business, and what an excellent business partner you were! You never used to oppose nor cause any dispute.’” (Sunan Abi Dawood, Kitab-ul-Adab, Hadith no. 4836)

In the book, Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin [The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets] this incident has been described in the following manner:

“Numerous trade caravans would leave Mecca for diverse regions. Towards the south in Yemen and to the north in Syria formal trade had been established. In addition to this, commerce also took place with Bahrain. The Holy Prophet^(sa) travelled to all of these places for the purpose of trade. Every time the Holy Prophet^(sa) would fulfil his obligations with remarkable honesty, trust, elegance and skill. In Mecca also, everyone who dealt with the Holy Prophet^(sa) would frequently praise him. Accordingly, Sa‘ib was a companion of the Holy Prophet^(sa) (whose account is being mentioned). When he accepted Islam, people praised him before the Holy Prophet^(sa) and the Prophet^(sa) said, ‘I am more acquainted with him than you,’ at which Sa‘ib responded, ‘Indeed, O Holy Prophet^(sa), may my father and mother be an offering! You were once my partner in business, and you were moral and pure in all your dealings.’” (Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad^(ra), p. 106)