Trader Companions
Sayyiduna ‘Abbas Bin Abdul Muttalib رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما
Bilal Husayn Attari
Introduction
The Beloved Prophet’s uncle, Sayyiduna Abul Fadl ‘Abbas Bin ‘Abdul Muttalib رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما, was born before the Incident of the Elephants. Although he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ had accepted Islam prior to the Expedition of Badr, he kept it hidden. As he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was forced into the Expedition of Badr by the disbelievers of Makkah, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم announced, ‘Nobody should kill Abbas, because he is here under coercion.’ It was in this battle that he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was taken captive but later freed after paying the ransom.
The noble companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم acknowledged his excellence and would consult him in important matters. Passing away at the age of 88 years, his funeral was led by Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen, Sayyiduna Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ before being laid to rest in Al-Baqi’ Cemetery. (Akmal Ma’ Mishkat, p. 606; Usd-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 3, p. 166, Al-Asabah, vol. 3, p. 512)
As a businessman
Trading primarily in perfume and clothing, his reputation as a fair businessman was well known. Sayyiduna ‘Afeef Al-Kindi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ stated, ‘I needed to purchase some clothing and perfume from Makkah for my family, so I went to the trader of Makkah, Abbas,’ (Tareekh Ibn-e-‘Asakir, vol. 8, p. 313).
When the delegation of Daarayn visited the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, they presented several gifts to him, including a silk garment adorned with gold. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gifted it to Sayyiduna Abbas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ who responded, ‘What will I do with this?’ alluding to the proscription of silk and gold for men. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Extract the gold from it to make jewellery for your women or spend it upon your family. As for the silk, sell it and make use of the proceeds.’ He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ promptly complied, selling the garment to a Jew for eight thousand dirhams. (Subul-ul-Huda wal Rashad, vol. 6, p. 334; Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, p. 365)
His generosity
He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ emancipated seventy slaves (Usd-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 3, p. 166) and donated his house for the expansion of Al-Masjid An-Nabawi, (Tabqat Ibn-e-Sa’d, vol. 4, p. 15). The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم himself noted Sayyiduna ‘Abbas’ generosity and altruism. Once when the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was preparing a battalion, Sayyiduna Abbas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ arrived. Seeing him, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم remarked, ‘This is the uncle of your Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He is the most generous soul in Arabia and someone who maintains family relations. (Tareekh Ibn-e-‘Asakir, vol. 26, p. 324)
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