Holy Prophet’s ﷺ Benevolent Manners with the Bedouin

The Revered and Blessed Manners of My Beloved Prophet ﷺ

The Holy Prophet’s ﷺ Benevolent Manners with the Bedouin

Mawlana Nasir Jamal Attari Madani

What can be said about the benevolent conduct of Allah Almighty's Final Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ? His noble generosity extends to all of creation, dispelling sorrow and bestowing comfort. Thus, those who come under the embrace of his mercy experience ease, peace, and tranquillity.

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  showed immense kindness towards the Bedouin. Let us read a few hadith regarding this:

(1) The Manner of Supplication in response to a Bedouin’s Plea:

During the blessed era of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , people were afflicted by a severe drought. One Friday, while the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was delivering a sermon, a Bedouin stood up and pleaded: "O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ! Our possessions have perished, and children are dying of hunger. Please supplicate to Allah Almighty to send rain upon us." Sayyidunā Anas رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم raised his blessed hands in supplication. At that moment, there were no clouds in the sky, but (as soon as he raised his blessed hands), clouds like mountains appeared immediately. The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had not yet descended from the pulpit when raindrops were seen dripping from his blessed beard.

Rain continued that day, the next day, and until the following Friday. Then the same Bedouin or another man stood up and pleaded: "O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ! Houses have collapsed, and property has been submerged. Please supplicate to Allah Almighty for us (that the rain may cease)." The Holy Prophet     صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  immediately raised his blessed hands and supplicated: "O Allah! Send rain around us, not upon us." Wherever he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم pointed with his blessed hand, the clouds dispersed, until Madinah Munawwarah appeared like a plate—surrounded by clouds, yet the sky directly above Madinah remained clear. Everyone who came would certainly mention the benefit of this rain.[1]

(2) The Final Prophet’s صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  Humour with a Bedouin:

Sayyidunā Zāhir b. Ḥarām رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ belonged to a village. He would bring fine fruits, flowers, herbs, medicines, and other items from there and present them to the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .  Upon his return, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would bestow upon him things from the city of Madinah that were not available in the village. On one occasion, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  said about Sayyidunā Zāhir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ : "Zāhir is our countryside, and we are his city."[2] Meaning, Zāhir continuously fulfils our rural needs, and we continuously fulfil Zāhir's urban needs—as if Zāhir is our 'village' and we are Zāhir's 'city'. These are noble manners, to honour one's servants and the humble with such titles.[3]

Sayyidunā Zāhir b. Ḥarām رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ used to sell goods brought from the village in the market of Madinah. One day, as the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was passing through the market, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saw Sayyidunā Zāhir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ selling goods. The Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  approached him from behind and put his blessed hands over Zāhir's eyes.  Sayyidunā Zāhir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ asked: "Who is this? Let me go." When he turned and recognised the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , Sayyidunā Zāhir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ tried to keep his back pressed against the Prophet’s blessed chest. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  asked: "Who will buy this slave from me?" Sayyidunā Zāhir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ replied: "O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ! Then you will find me worthless." The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: "But you are not worthless in the sight of Allah." [4]

(3) Display of Kindness towards a Devoted Bedouin:

A Bedouin came to the blessed court of the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , embraced Islam, expressed his resolve to remain obedient and loyal to him, and said: "I wish to emigrate and live with you." So, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  instructed some noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم concerning him.

When the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  acquired spoils of war during a battle, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم distributed them and assigned the Bedouin's share to the noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم . The Bedouin Companion used to guard behind them. When the Companions gave him his share, he asked: "What is this?" The noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم replied: "This is your share which the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  has granted you."

The Bedouin took this wealth, went to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , and asked: "O Messenger of Allah          صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ! What is this?" The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  replied: "This is your share from my distribution." He responded: " I did not follow you for the acquisition of this wealth. Rather, I followed you so that an arrow might strike me here so that I may become a martyr and enter Paradise." And he pointed towards his neck.

The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  said: "If you are truthful, Allah Almighty will surely fulfil this wish of yours." After some time, when a battle took place against the enemies, the Bedouin was brought to the Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . He had been struck by an arrow in the very place he had pointed to. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  asked: "Is this him?" It was replied: "Yes." The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  said: "He was truthful to Allah Almighty, so Allah Almighty fulfilled his word." Then the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  shrouded him in his blessed cloak. [5]

Sayyidunā Abdullāh b. ꜤUmar رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم ا narrates: The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  passed near a Bedouin's tent. The Bedouin lifted a corner of the tent and asked: "Who are these people?" It was said: "The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  and his Companions رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم , who intend to go to war." The Bedouin asked: "Will they also gain worldly wealth?" It was said: "Yes! They will gain spoils which will then be distributed among the Muslims." Hearing this, the Bedouin approached his camel, tied it with a rope, and started walking with them.

He began to bring his camel closer to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , while the noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم tried to keep the camel away from him. Then, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  said: "By the One who is in control of my life! This man is from the kings of Paradise." Later, when the battle with the enemies occurred, the Bedouin fought and was martyred. When the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  was informed of his martyrdom, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came to his body, sat beside his head, and smiled with joy. Then he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم turned his blessed face away.  We asked: "O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ! We saw you smiling with joy; why did you turn your face away?" The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  replied: "I was joyful due to seeing his status in the court of Allah Almighty, and the reason I turned away is that one of his wives from among the heavenly maidens is now sitting beside his head." [6]