Chapter of the Delegates of Tai': Zaid al-Khayl and 'Adi ibn Hatim

In this chapter, it is narrated that a delegation from Tai' came to the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Among them were Zaid al-Khayl and 'Adi ibn Hatim. The Prophet, peace be upon him, spoke to them about Islam, and they embraced it. Their Islam was praised, and the Prophet, peace be upon him, expressed his admiration for Zaid al-Khayl, stating that no Arab man had been mentioned to him for his virtues and then came to him except that he found him to be less than what was described, except for Zaid al-Khayl, as he lived up to his reputation.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, then renamed him Zaid al-Khayr, granted him certain privileges, expressed his satisfaction with him, and wrote a letter for him. Zaid al-Khayl left the Prophet, peace be upon him, returning to his people. The Prophet, peace be upon him, remarked: "Zaid has recovered from his fever."

Sources:

• Ibn Saad (1:321)
• Seerah of Ibn Hisham (4:188)
• Ayun al-Athar (2:301)
• History of al-Tabari (3:111)
• Nihayat al-Arab (18:76)
• al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah (5:63)
• Sharh al-Mawahib (4:25)

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

City Naming and Story of Adi ibn Hatim

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, named the city [une]Madina[/une] with a name other than [une]Humma[/une] and [une]Umm Miladham[/une], but did not confirm this name. When he reached a water source after leaving Najd, it was said to him, "[une]Qirdat[/une] inflicted him with [une]Humma[/une] and he died from it." After his death, his wife intentionally burnt the books that were with him.

Then Ibn Ishaq narrated the story of Adi ibn Hatim, his fleeing, and the Prophet Muhammad's taking possession of his horses, his sister, and their arrival with him. The Prophet Muhammad bestowed favors upon them, clothed them, provided for them, and they traveled with a caravan until they reached [une]Ash-Sham[/une]. They indicated their allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad, and he accepted it. [sup]2[/sup]

[sup]2[/sup] Narrated by Ibn Hisham in [une]Seerah[/une] (4:188) and quoted by Ibn Kathir in [une]Al-Tareekh[/une] (5:63).

The Detailed Account of Adi ibn Hatim

Ibn Hisham later detailed that Adi ibn Hatim used to say, as far as I know: "No man in Arabia was more hostile towards the Messenger of Allah when he heard about him from me. As for me, I was a noble person, a Christian, and a leader among my people. When I heard about the Messenger of Allah, I disliked him. I said to a servant who was an Arab and a camel herder for me: 'I do not care, prepare for me a submissive and well-fed camel herd and hide them close to me. When you hear about an army of Muhammad entering these lands, inform me.' He did as told. One morning, the servant came to me and said, 'O Adi, what will you do when the horses of Muhammad overtake you?' So I prepared myself as I had seen their banners. I asked about them, and they said, 'These are the armies of Muhammad.' Then I ordered my camels to be brought closer, loaded them with my family and children, and said, 'I will join my Christian compatriots in [une]Ash-Sham[/une].' I followed the [une]Hawshiyya[/une] route, leaving my daughter behind.

When I arrived in [une]Ash-Sham[/une], they separated me from the horses for the Messenger of Allah, which struck the daughter of Hatim. I presented her to the Prophet Muhammad among the captives taken in Tais. The news of my escape to [une]Ash-Sham[/une] reached the Messenger of Allah. He said, 'We placed the daughter of Hatim in a stable near the mosque where prisoners were held. The Prophet passed by her, and she stood up. She was an eloquent woman and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, my father is gone, and my protector is absent. Show me the kindness that Allah has conferred upon you.' He asked, 'Who is your protector?' She replied, 'Adi ibn Hatim.' He said, 'The one who flees from Allah and His Messenger?' She said, 'Yes.' The Prophet then left, and I remained until the next morning when he passed by me again, and I repeated what I had said. He replied as before. This continued until the following day, and when it seemed hopeless to me, a man behind him signaled to me to speak. When I approached, I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, my father has died, and my protector is away. Show me the kindness that Allah has bestowed upon you.' He replied, 'You have done well. Do not rush to leave until you find someone from your people who can look after you.'

Story of Adi bin Hatim

Abu Abdullah Al-Hafiz informed us that Ahmad bin Ja'far Al-Qatti'i told us that Abdullah bin Ahmad bin Hanbal said: My father informed us, that Muhammad bin Ja'far told us, who narrated from Shu'bah: [ ] Trust him until he takes you to your land, then give me permission. So, I inquired about the man that they mentioned. It was said: Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him. I remained until a caravan from Balib or Qada'ah arrived. I said: I intend to visit my brother in Sham. I went to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and said: O Messenger of Allah, a group from my people has arrived who are trustworthy and eloquent. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, dressed in a new garment, mounted his camel, provided me with expenses, and we set out until we reached Sham. Adi said, "By Allah, I was sitting with my family when I saw a woman approaching me with faith in her eyes." I asked, "Daughter of Hatim?" She replied, "Indeed." When she stood before me, she started accusing me of neglecting my responsibility towards my family and children, leaving the rest of my family suffering. I said to her, 'My sister, speak nothing but good. By Allah, I have no excuse, I have done as you mentioned.' Then she stayed with me, and being a resolute woman, I asked her, 'What do you think of this man's character?' She replied, 'By Allah, he is one you should follow swiftly. If he is a prophet, then it is better for the first to follow him, and if a king, you will not lose your honor and dignity as the ruler, you are.' I agreed and said, 'By Allah, your opinion is convincing.' I proceeded until I reached Medina and went to the Prophet's mosque. He was there, and I greeted him. He asked, 'Who is this man?' I replied, 'Adi bin Hatim.' The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, stood up and led me to his house. On the way, we met a weak elderly woman, who stopped him for a long time, telling him her needs. I thought to myself, 'This man can't be a king.' Finally, the Prophet, peace be upon him, reached his home, took a cushion stuffed with fibers, and threw it to me saying, 'Sit on this.' I replied, 'No, you sit on it.' He insisted, 'No, you sit on it.' So, I sat on it while the Prophet sat on the ground. I again thought to myself, 'This is not the act of a monarch.'

The Prophet then asked me, 'O Adi bin Hatim, were you not once a chief among your people?' I replied, 'Yes.' He then asked, 'Did you not used to ride amongst your people on a thoroughbred horse?' I replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'But that was not permissible in your religion.' I confirmed saying, 'Indeed, and I realized that he is a sent prophet who knows what others do not.' Then, the Prophet added, 'Perhaps what is preventing you from embracing this faith is what you see of their needs. By Allah, soon wealth will overflow amongst them to the extent that there will be nobody in need of it. Perhaps what is preventing you is the multitude of their enemies and the few number of their followers. By Allah, soon you will hear of a woman traveling alone from Qadisiyyah on a camel until she visits this House without fear. And perhaps what is deterring you is that you see kings and sultans amongst others. By Allah, soon you will hear that the white palaces of Babylon have been discovered to them.' Adi said, 'I embraced Islam and said, 'Two have passed and only one remains. By Allah, you will see: the white palaces of Babylon will be opened up to them, and you will see that woman arriving from Qadisiyyah on her camel until she visits this House without any fear. By Allah, you will see the third: wealth will overflow to the extent that there will be none to accept it.'

Saving a Soul and Earning Forgiveness

The Compassion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

In a profound account, Adi ibn Hatim narrates an incident where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) exemplified his compassion and understanding.

Adi's family had been seized by the Islamic army, causing him distress. When he approached the Prophet, concerned about the situation, he was met with kindness. The Prophet inquired about the individual who had sought him, showing genuine concern for his well-being.

Embracing Islam

Upon learning that Adi was the petitioner, the Prophet questioned him about his beliefs. In a heartwarming moment, Adi embraced Islam and expressed his newfound faith with joy. The Prophet, recognizing Adi's sincerity, remarked on the importance of faith in Allah and submission to His will.

Embracing Divinity

Adi's encounter with the Prophet led him to a deep reflection on the nature of divinity, realizing the unmatched greatness of Allah. He acknowledged the errors of the Jews and Christians, praising Allah for guiding him to the truth.

Seeking Forgiveness and Fearing Hellfire

The Prophet's words were a call to humility and reflection, urging people to recognize the blessings bestowed upon them by Allah. He emphasized the importance of fearing Hellfire, even if it meant as much as the weight of a date seed. Ultimately, he encouraged seeking forgiveness with sincerity, reassuring that Allah's mercy and generosity surpass all fears.

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

Between al-Hira and Yathrib, or the majority, she feared theft on her pasture. Abu Abdullah al-Hafiz told us:

Abu Bakr narrated to us: Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Yusuf al-Umani informed us; Abu Saeed Ubayd ibn Kathir ibn Abd al-Wahid al-Kufi told us; Dirar ibn Surad informed us; Aasim ibn Humaid reported from Abu Hamza and Humaim the Thumali, from Abdul Rahman ibn Jundub, from Kumayl ibn Ziyad al-Nakha'i, who said, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him said:

"Glory be to Allah! How strange it is that many people are not truly disinterested in goodness. For a man who is approached by his Muslim brother in need, and he does not see himself deserving of good. If he neither hopes for reward nor fears punishment, it would be fitting for him to hasten towards noble characters, for they pave the way to success. A man stood up to him and said, 'May my parents be sacrificed for you, O Commander of the Faithful, did you hear it from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him? He said, 'Yes, and what is better than it? When he brought captives, a fair, freckled red-complexioned girl stood out, with delicate wrists, balanced stature and poise, with dark, framed eyes, slender calves, plump thighs and tiny waist, hennaed palms, scented like perfume, and he said: When I saw her, I was captivated and said: I shall ask the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, to grant her to me. But when she spoke, I forgot her beauty due to her eloquence.

She said, 'O Muhammad, if you release me and do not treat me as the living girls of the Arabs, know that I am the daughter of a chief of my people. My father used to protect the disgraced, free the captive, feed the hungry, clothe the unclothed, honor the guest, serve food, and spread peace. He never turned away a seeker of need. I am the daughter of Hatim al-Tai.' The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, 'O girl, these are truly the characteristics of believers. If your father were a Muslim, we would have shown mercy to him, leave her, for her father loved noble characters, and Allah loves noble characters.' Abu Burdah ibn Dinar stood up and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, does Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, love noble characters?' The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, 'By the One in whose Hand is my soul, no one will enter Paradise except through good character.'"

Hadith of Adi ibn Hatim

Abu Al-Hasan narrated to us that Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Abdan reported to us that Ahmad ibn Ubayd Al-Saffar informed us that Isma'il ibn Ishaq Al-Qadi narrated to us that Sulaiman ibn Harb told us that Hammad ibn Zaid reported from Ayyub, from Muhammad ibn Sirin, who said: Abu Ubaydah ibn Hudhayfah said, a man said: "I used to ask people about the tradition of Adi ibn Hatim while he was beside me and I never asked him. So, I went to him and he said, 'Allah sent Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and I disliked him more intensely than I have ever disliked anything. So, I travelled until I reached the farthest point of the Arab lands beyond the Byzantines. Then I disliked my place more intensely than I have ever disliked my first place. So, I said, 'If I went to him and heard from him, I went to him and arrived at Al-Madinah. People eyed me suspiciously and said, 'Adi ibn Hatim At-Tai is here.' So he said, "O Adi ibn Hatim, embrace Islam and you will be safe." I said, 'I am upon a religion.' He said, 'I know more about your religion than you.' I said, 'You know more about my religion than me?' He said, 'Yes.' He said, 'Do you not recline when seated?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'Do you not sit at the head of your people?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'Do you not take the fourth of the spoils?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'Then this is not permissible for you in your religion.' He said, 'I felt humiliated.' Then he said, 'Perhaps it will prevent you from embracing Islam, that you see amongst us a select few, while the people are treated equally. Did you see Al-Hira?' I said, 'I have not seen it, but I know its location.' He said, 'Indeed, the ornaments will depart from Al-Hira, circling the Ka'bah without any oppressor, and the treasures of Khosrau bin Hurmuz will be opened to us.' I said, 'The treasures of Khosrau bin Hurmuz?' He said, 'The treasures of Khosrau bin Hurmuz.' He said, 'And wealth will flow so abundantly that a man will come, offering his charity, but none will accept it. I indeed saw the ornaments departing from Al-Hira without any oppressor, and I was among the first riders that raided the towns. By Allah, you will certainly be the third, for it is the tradition of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.' (In Arabic, Al-Rukusiya refers to a group having a religion between that of Christians and Sabians, and Al-Mirba refers to a quarter of the spoils.)

Hadith Narrations

First Narration:

Abu Abdullah Al-Hafiz and Abu Sa'id ibn Amr told us, they said: Abu Al-Abbas informed us that Muhammad ibn Ya'qub said: Ahmad ibn Abd Al-Jabbar narrated to us, saying: Yunus ibn Bukayr reported from Sa'id ibn Abd Al-Rahman, from Muhammad ibn Sirin, from Abu Ubaydah ibn Hudhayfah ibn Al-Yaman, from a man with two names, that he entered upon Adi ibn Hatim and mentioned the hadith with its meaning.

Second Narration:

Abu Nasr ibn Qatadah informed us, Abu Al-Hasan Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Ibrahim ibn Abdah told us, Abu Abdullah Al-Busnaji narrated to us, Abu Salih Al-Farra' narrated to us, from Mahbub ibn Musa, from Mukhlad ibn Al-Husayn, from Hisham ibn Hassaan, from Muhammad ibn Sirin, from Abu Ubaydah ibn Hudhayfah, from Adi ibn Hatim Al-Ta'i, who mentioned this hadith while adding and subtracting from it. He said: "I went to the Messenger of Allah while he was sitting on the ground with a mat of animal skin. When he saw me, he stood up, took the mat and offered it to me. I sat on it while he sat on the ground. When I saw what he did, a feeling of discomfort arose within me, realizing that he does not seek superiority or corruption in this world."

Third Narration:

Abu Amr Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al-Adib informed us, Abu Bakr Al-Ismailiy told us, Al-Hasan ibn Sufyan narrated to us, Is-haq ibn Ibrahim reported to us, and Al-Nadr ibn Shumayl narrated on the authority of Abu Bakr. Al-Qasim ibn Zakariya also told me, that Ahmed ibn Mansur Zaj narrated, and Nadr ibn Shumayl narrated to us that Israel reported to them, on the authority of Saad Al-Ta'i, who reported from Mu'hil ibn Khalifah, from Adi ibn Hatim, saying: "While I was with the Prophet, a man came to him complaining of poverty, and another complained about interrupted paths. The Prophet asked me, 'O Adi ibn Hatim, have you seen the city of Hullā? I said, 'No.' and I had already been informed about the additions from 'ka'. The missing part is found in the biography of Ibn Hisham in the previous place."

Reflections on Life and Faith

In this text, Abu Bakr narrates a conversation highlighting the transient nature of life and the importance of faith and devotion to God. The passage underscores the idea that one's life span, no matter how long, will ultimately lead to encounters with the divine and the reality of the afterlife. The mention of Khusrau bin Hurmuz and the imagery of empty-handed individuals seeking acceptance for their wealth further emphasizes the fleeting nature of worldly possessions.

The Warning of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

The text also contains a warning from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to fear the consequences of one's actions, even if it is as small as a piece of date. The imagery of facing judgment without an intercessor and gazing upon Hell from all directions serves as a stark reminder of the accountability that awaits every individual in the hereafter.

The Prophecy of the Coming of Dajjal

In response to a question about the coming of Dajjal, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ foretells a time when a mysterious figure will emerge, causing unrest and chaos. When asked about the whereabouts of Dajjal's belongings and followers, the Prophet reassures that God's protection will be sufficient for the believers.

[Narrated by Imam al-Bukhari in Al-Adab al-Mufrad, Hadith #3595]

The Prophet's Saying on Trust in God

Bayan ibn Bishr narrated from Al-Sha'bi, from 'Adi ibn Hatim, from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم who said: "Fear none but Allah or a wolf regarding its sheep." 'Adi commented: "I testify that I saw a deer leaving Sana'a and reaching Al-Hira, fearing nothing but Allah the Most High."