Sayyiduna Nawfal Bin Haaris رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ
Among the trader companions was Sayyiduna Abul Haaris Nawfal Bin Haaris Bin Abdul Muttalib Haashimi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.
He was the paternal cousin of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and one of the wealthy, generous and brave people of the Quraysh tribe. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم established brotherhood between Sayyiduna Abbas and Sayyiduna Nawfal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما and these two individuals were also business partners in the era of ignorance. He used to trade in spears. Before accepting Islam, he fought on behalf of the polytheists against the Muslims in the Battle of Badr. He did not want to go to war, but his people forcibly sent him. Then, when the polytheists were defeated in Badr and seventy of the survivors were taken as prisoners, he was amongst them. Sayyiduna Abbas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ paid the ransom for his release after which he accepted Islam. According to one narration, he paid for the release himself. Therefore, his son states that when his father was taken as a prisoner in the Battle of Badr, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Pay your ransom’. So he said: ‘I do not have anything by which to pay the ransom.’ The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Pay your ransom with the spears which are in Jeddah (a city on the shores of the Yemen Sea).’ He was surprised to hear this and said: ‘By Allah, no one but me knew that I had spears in Jeddah, thus, I testify that you are the Messenger of Allah.’ Thus, he gave one thousand spears for his ransom. In the Battle of Hunayn, he offered three thousand spears. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘O Abul-Haaris! It is as if I see that your spears are breaking the backs of the polytheists.’ (Al-A'lam lil-Zarkali, vol. 8, p. 54; Al Isti’aab fi Ma’rifah-til-Ashaab, vol. 4, p. 75; Al-Tarateeb-ul-Idariyyah, vol. 2, p. 55)
Sayyiduna Simawayh Balqaawi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ
Among the trader companions, there was also Sayyiduna Simawayh Balqaawi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. He was initially a follower of the Christian faith. He came to Madinah for trade (with wheat) and became a Muslim. He narrates that we brought wheat from Balqaa` to Madinah and we wanted to sell it and buy dates, but we were prevented from doing so. So, we took this issue to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said to those who prevented (the sale): ‘Is it not enough for you that these people are buying dates from you at an expensive price and giving grain in return at a lower price?’ He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ went on to live a long life of 120 years. (Al-Isaabah, vol. 3, p. 197)
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