(Friday Sermon - July 26, 2019 )

Revelation of Surah al-Nisa, Verse 66

Hazrat Humaid^(ra) Ansari was a Badri companion. Hazrat Zubair^(ra) narrates that one day he had a dispute with one of the Ansar, who had taken part in the Battle of Badr, over a small watercourse in an arid region. In order to settle their dispute, they both presented their case to the Holy Prophet^(sa) because they both used this watercourse to irrigate their land. The Holy Prophet^(sa) said to Hazrat Zubair^(ra), “Zubair, you should water your land first (since it was his land) and then leave the water for your neighbour.” i.e., let the water run freely to reach the other companion’s land as well. Upon hearing this decision, the Ansari companion became upset and said, “O Prophet^(sa) of Allah! Are you passing this decision in his favour because he is the son of your paternal aunt?” The complexion of the Holy Prophet’s (sa) face became red and he said to Hazrat Zubair^(ra), “I gave my initial decision to also grant him some of the water as an act of benevolence but now it is a question of one’s actual right. Therefore, hold back the water till it reaches the ridge and give all the water to your land only.”

Thus, the Holy Prophet^(sa) granted Hazrat Zubair^(ra) what was rightfully his. Initially, the Holy Prophet^(sa) gave his decision in which there was some provision for the Ansar companion as well, but when the Holy Prophet^(sa) became displeased with this companion, he gave Hazrat Zubair^(ra) the full share of what was rightfully his. Urwah states that Hazrat Zubair^(ra) used to say, “By God, I believe that the following verse was revealed in relation to this very incident:

فَلَا وَ رَبِّکَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ حَتّٰی یُحَکِّمُوۡکَ فِیۡمَا شَجَرَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ

“But no, by thy Lord, they are not believers until they make thee judge in all that is in dispute between them…”

The full verse is as follows:

فَلَا وَ رَبِّکَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ حَتّٰی یُحَکِّمُوۡکَ فِیۡمَا شَجَرَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا یَجِدُوۡا فِیۡ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَیۡتَ وَ یُسَلِّمُوۡا تَسۡلِیۡمًا

“But no, by thy Lord, they are not believers until they make thee judge in all that is in dispute between them and then find not in their hearts any demur concerning that which thou decidest and submit with full submission.” [Surah al-Nisa: V.66]

It is mentioned in Al-Asaba, Usdul Ghaba and in the commentary of Sahih al-Bukhari that the name of the Ansar companion who had a dispute with Hazrat Zubair^(ra) was Hazrat Humaid Ansari^(ra); a companion who took part in the Battle of Badr. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 2, p. 76, Atiyyah bin Nuwairah(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008) (Al-Isaba Fi Tamyeez Al-Sahaba, Vol. 2, p. 112, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2005) (Irshad As Saari Li Sharah Sahih Al Bukhari, Kitabus Sulah, Hadith No. 2708, Darul Fikr, Beirut, 2010)

Satan, at times, can secretly incite people. In any case, God Almighty has already proclaimed to grant His forgiveness to those companions who took part in the Battle of Badr.