It was a settled principle with the Prophet that he always kept to the fore his own kith and kin and those who were nearer to him in facing a risk or hazard but allotted them the last place in distributing favors and rewards and spoils of war. When the three well-known swordsmen of Quraysh, 'Utba b. Rabia, Shayba b. Rabi'a and Walid b. 'Utba, challenged the Muslims to a single combat at Badr, the Prophet sent forward Hamza, 'Ali and 'Ubayda although he knew about the velour of enemy combatants and also had a number of veterans among the Muhajirin and the Ansar who could have successfully tilted with the Qurayshite battlers. All the three, Hamza, 'Ali and 'Ubayda, belonged to the Prophet's own clan, Banu Hashim, and were his nearest relatives.
They were also held dear by him but the Apostle disliked to imperil others for the sake of keeping his kindreds out of danger. God helped the three to emerge successful in the combat; Hamza and 'Ali came back safe and triumphant while 'Ubayda was brought back mortally wounded.
Again, when the Prophet disallowed usury and abolished blood vengeance belonging to the pre-Islamic period on the occasion of Farewell Pilgrimage he declared, “Everything pertaining to the Days of Ignorance is under my feet completely abolished. Abolished are also the blood-revenges of the Days. of Ignorance. The first claim of ours on blood-revenge which I abolish is that of the son of Rabi'a b. al-Harith, who was nursed among the tribe of Sa'd and killed by Hudhail. And the usury of the pre-Islamic period is abolished, and the first of our usury I abolish is that of 'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib, for it is all abolished.” [Reported by Muslim]
«ألا كل شيء من أمر الجاهلية تحت قدمي موضوع. ودماء الجاهلية موضوعة. وإن أول دم أضع من دمائنا دم ابن ربيعة بن الحارث. كان مسترضعا في بني سعد فقتلته هذيل. وربا الجاهلية موضوع. وأول ربا أضع ربانا. ربا عباس بن عبدالمطلب. فإنه موضوع كله» رواه مسلم
Unlike the kings, rulers and political leaders the Prophet of God always kept his kins and kindreds in the background, giving preference to others in giving out gifts and rewards. 'Ali relates that Fatima had to work hard in grinding corn. So, when she got the news that some slave girls had been brought to the Prophet, she went to him but did not find him. Aisha was present there to whom she told (of her desire for a servant).
When the Prophet came, Aisha informed him about Fatima's visit. Relating this incident 'Ali says: “The Apostle of God visited us when we had gone to bed. We were about to get up but he told us to stay where we were. He then sat down near me and I felt the coldness of his feet on my chest. He then said, 'Let me guide you to something better than what you have asked. When you go to bed, say Subhan Allah (Glory be to God) thirty-three time, Alham-du lilah (Praise be to God) thirty-three times, and Allah-o-Akbar (God is most great) thirty-four times. This will be better for you than a servant.” [Agreed upon]
«أن فاطمة اشتكت ما تلقى من الرحى في يدها، وأتى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم سبي، فانطلقت فلم تجده ولقيت عائشة فأخبرتها. فلما جاء النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، أخبرته عائشة بمجيء فاطمة إليها. فجاء النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إلينا وقد أخذنا مضاجعنا. فذهبنا نقوم. فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: على مكانكما، فقعد بيننا حتى وجدت برد قدمه على صدري. ثم قال: ألا أعلمكما خيرا مما سألتما؟ إذا أخذتما مضاجعكما، أن تكبرا الله أربعا وثلاثين وتسبحاه ثلاثا وثلاثين وتحمداه ثلاثا وثلاثين. فهو خير لكما من خادم» متفق عليه
Abdul-Rahim Ammar
