(Friday Sermon - September 13, 2019 )

Background

Hazrat Nuaiman’s name is recorded as Nu‘man as well as Nuaiman. His father’s name was Amr bin Rifa‘ah and his mother’s name was Fatima bint Amr. Among the children of Hazrat Nuaiman^(ra), we find the following names: Muhammad, Aamir, Sabrah, Lubabah, Kabshah, Maryam, Ummi Habeeb, Amatullah and Hakimah. According to Ibn Ishaq, Hazrat Nuaiman^(ra) participated in the second Bai‘at at Aqabah along with 70 Ansar. Hazrat Nuaiman^(ra) participated in all of the battles alongside the Holy Prophet^(sa), including the Battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq. According to a narration, the Messenger of Allah^(sa) said, “Say anything but good about Nuaiman^(ra) for he loves Allah and His Messenger^(sa).” Hazrat Nuaiman^(ra) passed away in 60 AH during the rule of Hazrat Amir Muawiyyah^(ra). (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 257 Dar-ul-Haya Al-Turath Al-Arabiy, Beirut, Lebanon, 1996) (Al-Kamil Fi Al-Tarikh, Vol. 3, p. 405, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon 2006).

Lighthearted Moment

Hazrat Ummi Salama^(ra) narrates that Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) went to Basra a year before the demise of the Holy Prophet^(sa). Basra is a historical and famous city of Syria. During a trade journey to Syria, the Holy Prophet^(sa) along with his uncle, stayed in this city. Likewise, when the Holy Prophet^(sa) took the trade goods of Hazrat Khadija^(ra) to Syria, he also stayed at this place. Maisarah, the servant of Hazrat Khadija^(ra), also accompanied the Holy Prophet^(sa) on that journey.

In any case, [she narrates that] Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) undertook a trade journey to that place before the demise [of the Holy Prophet^(sa)], and was also accompanied by Nuaiman^(ra) and Suwaibit bin Harmalah^(ra). Both of these men participated in the Battle of Badr. In this journey with Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra), Nuaiman^(ra) was entrusted with the provisions. It was during this journey that in a lighthearted moment, Hazrat Nuaiman’s^(ra) companion sold him off to a tribe.

I have mentioned this incident once before whilst narrating the account of the life of Hazrat Suwaibit^(ra). However, I will briefly narrate it again.

Suwaibit^(ra), who was his companion, had a lighthearted nature. We find in the narrations that both Hazrat Nuaiman^(ra) as well as Hazrat Suwaibit^(ra) had a very frank and informal relationship and would often have a lighthearted conversation with one another. During the journey, Hazrat Suwaibit^(ra) asked Nuaiman^(ra) to give him some food. However, he replied, “As long as Abu Bakr^(ra) does not return (as he had gone somewhere), I will not give you any food.” Upon this, Saiwaibit^(ra) replied, “If you do not give me anything to eat then what I will say may infuriate you.” The narrator of this tradition states that in the meantime, they passed by a tribe. Upon this, Suwaibit asked them if they would purchase a slave from him. Either this particular incident took place a few days later or perhaps occurred at that time, as they were walking along on their journey. In any case, it was soon after their initial conversation. Hazrat Suwaibit^(ra) asked the tribe if they would purchase a slave from him. The tribe replied that they would do so. Upon this, Suwaibit^(ra) informed them, “He talks a lot and he will continuously repeat that he is a free man. Thus, when he says this to you and asks you to release him, do not do so lest you ruin my slave.” They replied, “We will not do so and we wish to purchase him from you.” Hence, they bought him in exchange for ten camels. Following this, these people came to Nuaiman^(ra) and wrapped [the cloth of] a turban or a rope around his neck in order to take him as a slave. Nuaiman^(ra) said to them that he was in fact joking with them and protested that he was a free man, not a slave. However, they replied that they had already been informed about him. Nevertheless, they forcefully took him with them. When Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) arrived, people informed him about this. He went after the people of this tribe, returned their camels, and brought Nuaiman^(ra) back. The narrator of this tradition further states that when these individuals returned to the Holy Prophet^(sa) and informed him about this, the Holy Prophet^(sa) and his companions enjoyed listening to this and continued to enjoy this lighthearted moment among them for almost a year. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab-ul-Adab, Baab-ul-Mazaah, Hadith no. 3719) (Mujam-ul-Buldan, Vol. 2, p. 348) (Farhang-e-Sirat, p.58, Busra)

In certain other books, this incident is described as Hazrat Nuaiman^(ra) who was the one who sold Hazrat Suwaibit^(ra) and not the other way around. (Usdul Ghaba Fi Marifat Al-Sahaba, Vol. 2, p. 354, Suwaibit bin Harmalah^(ra), Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2003)

Nevertheless, this narration is found in reference to both of them. In relation to Hazrat Nuaiman^(ra), it is stated that he also had a very lighthearted nature, and the Holy Prophet^(sa) would greatly enjoy listening to him.

Incident of the Slaughtered Camel

Rabi‘ah bin Uthman narrates that a Bedouin once came to the Holy Prophet^(sa) and having entered the mosque, he sat his camel in the courtyard. Upon this, some companions said to Hazrat Nuaiman^(ra) that if he slaughtered this camel, they would eat its meat as they really desired to have some meat. They also said that since this was the camel of the Bedouin, he would subsequently complain to the Holy Prophet^(sa), however, once the complaint would be made to the Holy Prophet^(sa), he would compensate for it. The narrator of this tradition states that having been persuaded by them, Hazrat Nuaiman^(ra) slaughtered the camel. When the Bedouin came outside and saw his camel in this state, he raised a hue and cry saying, “O Muhammad!^(sa) My camel has been slaughtered.” The Holy Prophet^(sa) came outside and enquired as to who was responsible. The people replied that it was Nuaiman^(ra). Upon this, the Holy Prophet^(sa) went to look for him. Having committed this act, Nuaiman^(ra) had left the place and was hiding somewhere. Nevertheless, the Holy Prophet^(sa) went to look for him and found him hiding at Hazrat Zuba’ah bint Zubair bin Abd-il-Muttalib’s^(ra) house. A person at the place he was hiding, indicated towards his direction with his finger and loudly proclaimed, “O Prophet of Allah!^(sa) I cannot see him anywhere.” The Holy Prophet^(sa) took him out from there and asked why he did this. Upon this, Nuaiman^(ra) replied, “O Prophet of Allah!^(sa) The people who told you that I slaughtered it, they were the ones who in fact encouraged me and told me to do so. They also said that the Holy Prophet^(sa) would compensate for it and pay for it later.” Having heard this, the Holy Prophet^(sa) touched Nuaiman’s^(ra) face with his hand and began to smile. The Holy Prophet^(sa) then paid the Bedouin the value of the camel. (Usdul Ghaba Fi Marifat Al-Sahaba, Vol. 4, p. 332, Suwaibit bin Harmalah^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008) (Al-Fukaha Wa Al-Mazaah, Zubair bin Bukkar, pp. 24-25, 2017)

The Holy Prophet’s^(sa) Compassion

In his book, Kitabul Fukaaha wa Al-Mazaah, Zubair bin Bukkar relates an incident regarding Hazrat Nuaiman^(ra). He writes that whenever a travelling salesman or merchant would enter Medina, Hazrat Nuaiman^(ra) would always purchase something from them and present the items to the Holy Prophet^(sa) as a gift from himself. Since he was familiar to them, therefore he would tell them where he lived and they would retrieve the cost later. Therefore, when the owner would come to Hazrat Nuaiman^(ra) to retrieve the cost, Hazrat Nu‘man^(ra) would bring him to the Holy Prophet^(sa) and ask him to pay for the item he gave him. He would request the Holy Prophet^(sa) to pay for the item that he had purchased and brought for him. The Holy Prophet^(sa) would reply, “Did you not gift this to me?” To which Hazrat Nu‘man^(ra) would answer, “O Messenger of Allah^(sa)! By God, I did not have anything to pay for them at the time, but it was my desire for you to eat it if it was something edible, and that you keep it if it was something to keep.” The Holy Prophet^(sa) would smile and would instruct for the merchant to be paid for his item. (Al-Fukaha Wa Al-Mazaah, Zubair bin Bukkar, p. 27, 2017)

Thus, these are examples of the gatherings which were filled with such extraordinary love, affection and light-heartedness; and it was not the case that they were always strictly formal and without any lighthearted moments.