Sayyiduna Dimam bin Tha'labah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ

Shining Stars

Sayyidunā Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ

Mawlana Adnan Ahmad Attari Madani

Sayyidunā Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was a Companion of Allah’s Messenger. He possessed a host of admirable character traits. His ability to deeply understand and comprehend matters commended by the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم himself.^[1]

He never wasted words, always speaking clearly and concisely. Regarding this, ꜤUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ extolled, “I have not heard anyone ask questions as well as Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba.”^[2] He never delayed in accepting the truth when seeing it. He was trustworthy to a tee, as he accurately conveyed the words of the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to others. He spread Islam bravely, undeterred by threats or danger. This led to his entire tribe becoming Muslim.  

Ibn ʿAbbās رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمَا announced, “I have not heard of a nation’s representative being better than Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba.”^[3] In another narration, he said, “I have not heard a nation’s ambassador say anything ill of Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba.”^[4]

Entering the blessed Court of the Prophet ﷺ

The following occurred in the year 9 AH.^[5]

The Banū Sʿad sent Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba (who was not yet Muslim at this time) as their representative to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. At the doors of Masjid al-Nabawi, he climbed off his camel, tied it in place, and entered the masjid. He beheld the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with his Companions رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُم.^[6]

He asked, “Who is the descendant of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib?” Indicating towards the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the Companions explained, “He is; the personality there sat leaning, fair in complexion.” Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba came close to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and began to speak.^[7] “I wish to ask you some questions”, he said, “My tone may be bold, so I kindly ask you not to mind.” The Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “I shall not think unfavourably of you. Ask what you will!”^[8]

Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba asked, “Who created the heavens?” The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “Allah.”

“Who created the earth?”

“Allah.”

“Who made the mountains stand where they do and hid beneficial things in them?”

“Allah.”^[9]

“By Allah! I ask: did He send you as a messenger to us?”

“Yes.”

“By Allah! I ask: did He command you not to worship anyone besides Him?”

“Yes.”^[10]

“By your Lord and the Lord of those before you! I ask: did Allah send you to all of mankind?”

“Yes.”

“By Allah! I ask: did He command you to tell us to offer salah five times a day?”

“Yes.”^[11]

“By Allah! I ask: did Allah ordain for you to tell us to fast in Ramadan?”

“Yes.”^[12]

“By Allah! I ask: did He instruct you to take charity from the rich and distribute it amongst the poor?”

“Yes.”^[13]

“By Allah! I ask: did He command you to tell us to perform ḥajj if we can do so?”

 “Yes.”^[14]

Finishing his questions, he finally said, “I accept your faith. I am a representative from my tribe, the Banū Sʿad, and my name is Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba”.^[15]

Another narration describes how during this incident, the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم answered questions regarding salah, fasting, zakat and ḥajj, and then explained what is haram in Islam.^[16] Hearing this, Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba said, “We already refrain from these matters.”^[17]

He then recited the testimony of faith and submitted, “I will do as you commanded. I will not lessen or add to these statements (and convey them to others).”^[18] As he left, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم proclaimed, “He is an intelligent person.”^[19] Another narration says he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم declared, “If this man with long hair has spoken the truth, he shall enter Paradise.”^[20]

Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ returned to his camel, untied it, and rode back to his tribe.^[21]

Returning to his tribe

Returning to the Banū Sʿad, they flocked around him and asked what transpired. Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ began insulting their false gods, Lāt and ʿUzza. so the tribe responded, “Do not speak ill of them!”, the tribe shouted, “lest you begin suffering from vitiligo, leprosy, and lunacy.” The Companion رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ declared:

May you fall into ruin! You are upon nothing but misguidance. By Allah! These idols cannot harm or benefit you. Without any shadow of doubt, Allah sent a messenger, a guide for the universe, made it necessary for us to follow a religion He chose. I bring to you that religion’s teachings, as explained to me by that very Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.^[22]

Allah revealed a book to His Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, who wishes to save us from the evils we are indulged in. I testify there is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His ʿabd and Messenger. I have brought to you teachings pertaining what he ordains and prohibits.”

The narrator of this incident said, “By Allah! That day, every man and woman had accepted Islam before night set in.”^[23] They began building masjids and giving azan for salah.^[24] If a dispute or disagreement emerged, they would say, “Stay firm to the words of our representative.”^[25]

As for the passing away of this illustrious Companion, Ḍimām b. Thaʿlaba رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ, historical works shed no light on this.^[26]