Shining Stars
Sayyidunā Thawbān ibn Bujdud رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ
Adnan Ahmad Attari
Once, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم supplicated for Sayyidunā ʿAlī, Sayyidatunā Fāṭima, and other members of the Prophet’s family (ahl al-bayt) رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم. A Companion, Sayyidunā Thawbān ibn Bujdud رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ requested, “Dear Messenger of Allah! Am I not from the Prophet’s family?” The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “Yes! For as long as you do not ask for anything from a chief or a wealthy person.”[1]
His teknonym is “Abū ʿAbd Allah,” and he hailed from Sarrāh, an area between Makkah and Yemen. Initially a captive,[2] the Final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم freed him, giving him the choice of either returning to his people or becoming a part of the Prophet’s family. He chose the latter and remained in the Prophet’s company for the rest of his life.[3]
Virtues:
Sayyidunā Thawbān رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ has the honorific title “The Servant of Allah’s Messenger”. He is from the special eight Companions revered as the Prophet’s muezzins. Once, he sought the Prophet’s permission to call the azan for Fajr. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم responded, “Do not call the azan until dawn.” When he sought permission for the third time, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم taught him how to recognise true dawn when Fajr begins.[4]
Character:
He was content with Allah’s decree, godly, and pure-natured. Living under the Prophet’s care, he was responsible for managing the living expenses of the Prophet’s household.[5] He states: “The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم slaughtered his sacrificial animal during his farewell Hajj and said to me, ‘Thawbān! Keep this meat safe.’ I did so and served the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with it, until we returned to Madina.”[6]
The Final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم addressed him, “Dear Thawbān! Buy Fatima a coral (ʿasab) necklace and two ivory bracelets.”[7]
ʿAsab refers to the bones of aquatic creatures, which resemble small shells in appearance. They are dried out and fashioned into the beads of a necklace.[8]
Acquiring Paradise:
Once, the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Who will pledge allegiance to me?” Sayyidunā Thawbān humbly asked, “Messenger of Allah! We have already pledged allegiance to you. On which matter would you like us to do so again?” The Final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم explained, “Upon this matter that you will not ask people for anything.” When Sayyidunā Thawbān asked what he will receive for acting on this, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Paradise.” Sayyidunā Thawbān pledged allegiance[9] and honoured it so much that even if he dropped the riding whip from his horse, he would not ask anyone to get it for him. Rather, he would dismount and get it himself.[10]
What will suffice from the world?
Sayyidunā Thawbān asked, “Dear Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! What will suffice for me in this world?” He replied, “That which satisfies your hunger and covers your body. It is good if you have a house which covers you, and particularly good if you have an animal to ride.”[11]
Respect for the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
A Jew once came to the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and called him by his name. Sayyidunā Thawbān was standing with the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and pushed the Jew with great force. When the Jew asked Sayyidunā Thawbān why he pushed him, he retorted, “Why did you not say ‘O Messenger of Allah?’”[12]
Love for the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
He loved the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم immensely and would long to be in his company. One day, he went to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Noticing his pale complexion and fatigued look, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked why he was upset. He replied, “Not because of pain or illness, but because I could not see you, I become restless and felt anxious. Visiting you brings comfort to my heart. As I then think about the affairs of the Hereafter, a fear consumes me; I may not see you there, as you will be at an elevated station with the other prophets. Even if I enter Paradise, I will be at a rank below yours. If I am not allowed in Paradise, I will never see you again.” This verse of the Holy Quran was then revealed, (translation of Kanz al-Iman) : “And the one who obeys Allah and His Messenger, so he will be with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favour i.e. the Prophets, and the (exceptionally) truthful ones, and the martyrs and the virtuous; and what excellent companions they really are.”[13]
Entering Syria:
After the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed away, Sayyidunā Thawbān رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ went to Ramla, Syria. From there, he went to Homs where he built a traveller’s lodge.[14],[15] He continued to serve as a mujahid in military expeditions.[16]
His unique advice:
He once said to someone, “If you have a goat and some of its milk is leftover, you should distribute it.”[17] He would also say, “Keep your swords sharpened.” Someone asked the reason for this, to which he said, “Your fear and awe has left the hearts of the enemies and laziness and weakness has entered your hearts.” “Why has this happened?” the people asked, so he answered, “This is because you have chosen to love the world and dislike death. Glad tidings are for the one who safeguards his tongue, stays at home and weeps over his mistakes.”[18]
Inviting visitors towards goodness:
Sayyidunā Thawbān رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ fell ill, and the governor of Homs did not visit him. He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ had a letter written to him: “If any servant of Sayyidunā Mūsā and ʿIsā عَـلَـيْهِمَا السَّلَام was amongst you, you would have certainly visited him.” As soon as he read this letter, the governor became worried and went to visit Sayyidunā Thawbān رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. When the governor was about to leave, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ sat him down and narrated a hadith.[19]
Death:
He passed away in 45 or 54 AH.[20] His grave is either in ʿAmwās, six miles from Ramla, or in the famous Bab al-Saghir cemetery in Damascus.[21] Great Followers such as Abū Idrīs al-Khawlānī and Maʿdān ibn Abū Ṭalḥa studied hadith under him.[22] He reported 127 hadith, ten of which are in Ṣaḥiḥ Muslim.[23]
[1] Mu’jam Awsat, vol. 2, p. 85, Hadith 2607
[2] Al-Istee’aab, vol. 1, p. 290
[3] Usd al-Ghaabah, vol. 1, p. 67
[4] Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq, vol. 1, p. 365, Hadith 1891, Al-Tarateeb al-Idaariyyah, vol. 1, p. 125
[5] Al-Ansab lil Sam’aani, vol. 1, p. 516
[6] Muslim, p. 840, Hadith 5110,5112
[7] Abu Dawud, vol. 4, p. 118, Hadith 4213
[8] Mirat ul Manajeeh, vol. 6, p. 178
[9] Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir, vol. 8, p. 206, Hadith 7832
[10] Ibn Majah, vol. 2, p. 400, Hadith 1837
[11] Al-Mu`jam al-Awsat, vol. 6, pg. 445, Hadith 9343
[12] Muslim, p. 142 , Hadith 716
[13] Tafsir al-Tha’labi, Para 5, Surah al-Nisa, Ayat, 69, vol. 1, p. 341
[14] Al-Istee’ab, vol. 1, p. 291
[15] Siyar al-Salaf al-Saliheen, p. 140
[16] Al-Ansab lil Sam’aani, vol. 1, p. 516
[17] Hilya tul Awliya, vol. 1, p. 238
[18] Al-Zuhd Abi Dawud, p. 317, Raqm 378
[19] Musnad Ahmad, vol. 8, p. 331, Hadith 22481
[20] Tahdheeb al-Asma, vol. 1, p. 148
[21] Ansab lil Sam’aani, vol. 1, p. 516
[22] Al-Istee’ab, vol. 1, p. 291
[23] Tahdheeb al-Asma, vol. 1, p. 148
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