Trader companions
(Part 12)
Bilal Husayn Attari
Sayyiduna Zaahir Bin Haram رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ
Sayyiduna Zaahir Bin Haram رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ lived in a village, away from the bustling city of Madinah. He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ would bring exquisite fruits from his village as gifts for the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. The Generous Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would reciprocate his kindness with gifts from the city of Madinah. He had a warm and distinguished relationship with Allah’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم who would remark, ‘Zaahir is our brother from the village, and we are his brothers from the city…every city dweller has a brother from the village, and the village dwelling brother of Muhammad’s family is Zaahir Bin Haram.’
One day, seeing Sayyiduna Zaahir Bin Haram رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ selling goods in the city, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went behind him and placed his blessed hands over his eyes. Sayyiduna Zaahir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ cried out, ‘Who is it? Leave me!’ Looking back and realising it is the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ immediately pushed his back firmly against the chest of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, hoping to take blessings from the sacred body of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.
The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم lovingly said, ‘Who will buy this slave from me?’ Sayyiduna Zaahir Bin Haram رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ humbly answered, ‘Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! You will find me to be of little value,’ to which the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم responded, ‘But you are very valuable in the sight of Allah Almighty,’ (Mu’jam Al-Sahabah lil-Baghawi, vol. 2, pp. 518-519)
Sayyiduna Abi Al-Laham Ghifari رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ
Hailing from the prominent Ghifari tribe, his actual name was ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abdul Malik, but he was commonly referred to by his sobriquet, Abi Laham – ‘dealer of Meat.’ The exact reason for this title is unclear, but it is likely a reference to his total abstinence from meat or because he refused to consume the meat of the animals that were sacrificed in the name of idols during the Age of Ignorance. Despite this, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ actually sold meat for a living along with his assistant, the companion Sayyiduna ‘Umayr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, (Usd-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 1, p. 57; Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 3, p. 130). A brave soul, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ participated in the Expedition of Badr and was martyred in the Expedition of Hunayn.
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