Source of Income of Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam

Brief introduction

Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was the first one to draw his sword in defence of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. ‘Kunyah’ of this blessed companion ‘Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ’ was ‘Abu Abdullah’. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was the son of Sayyidatuna Safiyyah رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا who was the paternal aunt of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was also the nephew of Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا and the son-in-law of Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ.

Amongst those who embraced Islam earlier, Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was the 4^th or 5^th person to embrace Islam and he is also one of those ‘Asharah Mubashsharah’, i.e. 10 fortunate blessed companions, who have been given the glad tidings of being Jannati (Jannah dweller) by the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

On 11^th Jumadal Ukhra 36 AH, when he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was going back after a war, a man named ‘Amr Bin Jurmooz’ [جُرْمُوْز] martyred him by deceiving him at a place called Safwan. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was 64 at the time of martyrdom. The blessed shrine of Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ is situated at Madina-tuz-Zubayr (province of Basra) Iraq. (Karamaat Sahabah, pp. 120, 121; Tahzeeb-ul-Asma wal-Lughaat, vol. 1, pp. 192; Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 3, pp. 26)

Source of income

Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was (Jazzar) i.e. a meat trader (Talbees Iblees, pp. 345). In the era of Sayyiduna Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, there was only one slaughterhouse in the Baqi’ Bazar of blessed Madinah. This slaughterhouse was owned by Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ from where people used to buy meat. (Al Tabqat Ibn-e-Sa’ad, vol. 3, pp. 81)

The blessed son of ‘Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam’ and the Taabi’i pious person, ‘Sayyiduna ‘Urwah رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه’ said, ‘Sayyiduna Zubayr رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ had properties in Egypt, Alexandria, Kufa and Basra (these properties were his source of income); moreover, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would also receive income from the small residential areas of Madinah.’ (At-Tabqat li Ibn Sa’d, vol. 3, pp. 81)

‘Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Zubayr رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ’, the blessed son of Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said, ‘The properties Sayyiduna Zubayr رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ left as an inheritance include a piece of land in Ghaabah, eleven houses in Madinah, two houses in Basra, one house in Kufa and one house in Egypt.’ (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 351, Hadees 3129)

Key to success in business

Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was a successful trader. Once he was asked about the key to success in business. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said, ‘I never bought any faulty goods and never rejected little profit. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ grants blessings whom He wills.’ (Ar-Riyad-un-Nadarah, Juz: 4, vol. 2, pp. 286)

Sadaqah and charity

Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ had one thousand slaves who used to collect income of properties from people for him. Upon receiving money, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would spend all night long in distributing and when he would return his house; he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would have nothing with him. (Hilya-tul-Awliya, vol. 1, pp. 133, Raqm 284)

Once Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ sold his house for 600000 dirhams. Someone humbly asked him, ‘O honourable blessed companion! You have been deceived in this deal.’ He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ replied, ‘Not at all! By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! You will learn that I have not suffered loss because I have spent this wealth in the way of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.’ (‘Umda-tul-Qaari, vol. 10, pp. 464, Taht-al-Hadees: 3129)

Honesty

Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was an extremely reliable and honest person. It was for the reason, the seven glorious blessed companions رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم, in which Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani, ‘Sayyiduna Miqdad’, ‘Sayyiduna ‘Abdur Rahman Bin ‘Awf and Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Mas’ood رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم are included, made a will to Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ to look after their children. So, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ used to spend his wealth for the children of these blessed companions whereas he used to keep their wealth safe. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 18, pp. 397)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ grant us Taufeeq to act upon the blessed Seerah of Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin ‘Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ.

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Every Muslim is a preacher at his position no matter which field he belongs to i.e., be him an Islamic scholar, student, businessman, customer, boss, employee, officer or labour. In short, wherever one lives or works, he should keep trying to shape his surrounding environment according to Sunnah as per his capabilities with good intention for the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, and continue carrying out the noble act of calling people to righteousness. Regrettably, people have become extremely lazy regarding this important act whereas our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی were incredibly active for this important cause. Read the following parable in this connection:

Eagerness for calling people towards righteousness in market

Once returning after performing Hajj, Imam (Abu Bakr Muhammad Maliki) Turtooshi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه travelled past a market in Egypt. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه saw the condition of people and observed that they were totally ignorant about ‘Ilm-e-Deen [Islamic knowledge]. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه let his travel fellows depart and sent Salam and a message to his son living in a city of the west: ‘Dear son! As there is a prevalence of ignorance amongst the people living in the cities of Egypt, so, it is not permissible for me to leave these cities.’

He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would visit every shopkeeper and teach him Islamic rulings of his Hajaat (needs) such as ‘Islamic beliefs’, ‘Faraaid, Sunnahs and excellence of Wudu’, ‘rulings about Tayammum, Ghusl and Salah’, etc. Thereafter he رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would teach the shopkeeper obligatory commandments regarding the existing goods at his shop, ‘business dealing’, ‘sale and purchase’ etc. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would also inform the shopkeepers about the factors carrying the risk of usury interest and give them awareness about how to remain safe from such possibilities of usury. When he رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would become free from teaching the Islamic rulings to any shopkeeper, he would ask the shopkeeper to teach the Islamic rulings to his neighbouring shopkeeper and then he would visit some other shop. So, he رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه visited people shop to shop and kept teaching Islamic rulings to the shopkeepers until the light of knowledge prevailed amongst the people of the market and darkness of ignorance remained no longer.

Giving call to righteousness visiting people shop to shop

Having delivered this parable, ‘Allamah Ibn-ul-Haaj [اِبْنُ الْحَاجّ] Makki رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, while giving Madani pearls to the blessed Islamic scholars and preachers, said: ‘The blessed act of visiting people at their shops and teaching them Islamic rulings became a source of prevalence and spreading of ‘Ilm-e-Deen in the market.’

If Imam Turtooshi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would stay at his home assuming somebody himself will approach him requesting him for learning ‘Ilm from him then nobody would obtain benefit from him; so, it is compulsory for the Islamic scholars and [preachers] to approach the people who have gotten away from the Islamic teachings, and impart Islamic knowledge and guidance to them, even if these people talk to them rudely because the Islamic scholars are the heirs of the blessed Ambiya عَلَيْهِمُ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَام. Our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would also go to the Arab tribes when people were avoiding him so that they would follow and help him.

(He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه further stated:) Whoever does trade in the market and does not go to the ‘Islamic scholars and righteous people’ and nor is he from them; on the other hand, he is happy being living in this miserable state, there is no doubt that such person is heedless of [the remembrance of] his Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ, and it becomes compulsory for an Islamic scholar to guide him until the Islamic scholar brings that man to the Door of Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ.‎

(He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه further states:) Ponder over the mentioned parable that when the intention of Islamic scholars was correct, they used to devote their time and sit with the traders in the markets and reform those who were badly overwhelmed by the darkness of ignorance. They (Islamic scholars) used to mould those who were away from the blessed court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ into the individuals of high rank through bringing the light of knowledge into their lives. Undoubtedly, people kept obtaining benefits from the blessed scholars, and the blessings of these scholars kept showering upon the people of the market and others as long as these blessed scholars kept following this blessed method. (Al-Madkhal li Ibn-ul-Haaj, vol. 1. pp. 289, 290; summarised)

We make Du’a to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ to remove our laziness and grant us strong eagerness for calling people to righteousness.

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم