Chapter 8: The rebuilding of the Ka`bah, the Prophet’s ﷺ

upbringing, Allaah’s protection over him (even before the Revelation) and how he was provided refuge when he was an orphan and made sufficient when he was poor Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullaah: When the Ka`bah was built, the Prophet ﷺ and `Abbaas went to bring stones (for its construction). Al-`Abbaas said to the Prophet: “Take off your waist sheet and put it on your neck so that the stones may not hurt you.” (But as soon as the Prophet ﷺ took it off) he fell unconscious on the ground with his eyes open towards the sky. When he ﷺ came to his senses, he said: ❝My waist sheet! My waist sheet!❞ Then he covered himself with it. 39 Al-Baihaqee reported that Zaid Ibn Haarithah رضي اهلل عنه said: There was an idol made of copper, known as “Isaaf” or “Naa’ilah”. 40 The Mushriks (polytheists) used to wipe (or rub) it (for blessings) when they used to do the Tawaaf (circumambulation around the Ka`bah). (One day) the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ was doing the Tawaaf (around the Ka`bah) and I was along with him also doing the Tawaaf. When I passed by the idol, I wiped it. The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Don’t touch it.❞ Zaid said: We continued doing the Tawaaf and I said to myself: “I will touch it again and see what happens.” When I wiped it (the second time), the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Will you not stop?❞ Zaid said: By the One Who has honored him and revealed to him the Book! He ﷺ never ever submitted to an idol till Allaah تعاىل honored him with He had honored him and revealed to him (the Book). 41 It has been authentically reported in a hadith that he would not stay in al-Muzdalifah on the night (prior to the Day) of `Arafah. Rather, (on the Day of `Arafah) he would stay with the people in `Arafah, has what Muhammad Ibn Is-haaq had reported…on the authority of Naafi` Ibn Jubair Ibn Mut`im, that his father Jubair رضي اهلل عنه said: I had seen the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ, and he was upon the Deen (religion) of his people 39 sahih al-Bukhaaree (1582, 3829) and sahih Muslim (340-76) 40 [TN: In the narration of al-Nasaa’ee in Sunan al-Kubraa (8132), it is mentioned that there were two idols made of copper, known as “Isaaf” and “Naa’ilah”.] 41 Dalaail al-Nubuwwah (2/34); I (al-Albaanee) say: The chain of this narration is “Hasan”. It was also reported by al-Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer (4663). [TN: The complete hadith is mentioned at the end of this chapter]

(Ibraaheem and Ismaa`eel عليهم السالم). 42 He used to stay on his camel in `Arafah along with the people till he would march out with them (to Muzdalifah after the sunset). This was the guidance and help from Allaah عز وجل to him. 43 Al-Baihaqee said: The phrase, “the religion of his people” means: ❝Whatever was remaining from the legacy of Ibraaheem and Ismaa`eel عليهم السالم; and he ﷺ never ever committed Shirk (associating partners with Allaah in worship). May the peace and blessings of Allaah be continuously upon him!❞ I (Ibn Katheer) say: And from this statement of his (i.e. of Jubair) it is understood that he ﷺ used to stay in `Arafah even before he received the Revelation. This is indeed guidance and success from Allaah to him. Imaam Ahmad and al-Tabaraanee reported from the route of Muhammad Ibn Is-haaq and the wording (of Jubair) are: I had seen the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ – and this was before the Revelation was sent to him – that he would stay on his camel along with the people in `Arafah (till they would march), and he would march with them. And this was the guidance and help from Allaah. 44 And it has a supporting chain from the hadith of Rabee`ah Ibn `Abbaad, reported by al-Tabaraanee (4592). From another route, Imaam Ahmad reported that Jubair Ibn Mut`im رضي اهلل عنه said: My camel was lost and I went in search of it on the day of `Arafah, and I saw the Prophet 42 (Shaikh al-Albaanee said): This is how it is mentioned here with the wording: “The Deen of his people”, but in “al-Seerah” of Ibn Hishaam the wording are: “before the Revelation was sent to him”, and this is in accordance to the narration reported by Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad which will be mentioned next. 43 Al-Tabaraanee in “al-Kabeer” (1577) 44 Musnad Ahmad (16757), and al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak (1772) and said it is “sahih” as per the condition of Imaam Muslim. (Shaikh al-Albaanee said): Al-Haakim reported a more detailed narration that Jubair Ibn Mut`im رضي اهلل عنه said: The Quraish used to depart from al-Muzdalifah. They used to say: “We are al-Hums and we will not leave the sanctuary. They had abandoned the staying in `Arafah (on the day of `Arafah).” He (Jubair) said: I saw the Prophet ﷺ in the Jaahiliyyah (the period prior to Islaam) and he was staying with the people in `Arafah on his camel. Then he went with his people to al-Muzdalifah and stayed there. He then departed from there when they departed. [Mustadrak al-Haakim (1704)] and he said it is “sahih” as per the conditions of Imaam Muslim and alDhahabee agreed with him, and it has supporting chain in al-Majma` (3/251).

ﷺ staying (along with his people) in `Arafah. I said to myself: By Allaah, he is from the Hums. 45 What has brought him here? 46 [Shaikh al-Albaanee’s addition] Narrated `Abdullaah Ibn `Umar رضي اهلل عنهما: The Prophet ﷺ met Zaid bin `Amr Ibn Nufail in the bottom of (the valley of) Baldah 47 before any Divine Inspiration came to the Prophet ﷺ. A meal was presented to the Prophet ﷺ but he refused to eat from it and said: ❝I do not eat of what you slaughter on your stone altars (Ansabs) nor do I eat except that on which Allaah’s Name has been mentioned at the time of slaughtering.❞ 48 Reported by Imaam Ahmad (5369, 5631, 6110) and its chain is authentic according to the conditions of al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. See also, “al-Seerah” by al-Dhahabee. It also has a supporting chain from the hadith of Sa`eed Ibn Zaid which is more complete than this, which was reported by al-Tabaraanee in “al-Kabeer” (350), and from him alDhahabee in “al-Seerah”; and also from the narration of Zaid Ibn Haarithah by alTabaraanee in al-Kabeer (4663, 4664), and al-Haakim in his Mustadrak (3/216-217). See also Majma` al-Zawaaid (9/418). 49 45 [TN: “Hums” (singular: Ahmas) means: “strictly religious”. Quraish were so called because of the traditions of the Jaahiliyyah that they were upon, as they used to say: “We are the people of Allaah, we shall not go out of the sanctuary.” So they would not go to `Arafah because it was outside the boundaries of Makkah. More on al-Hums will be mentioned in chapter 12.] 46 Musnad Ahmad (16737), sahih al-Bukhaaree (1664) and sahih Muslim (1220-153) 47 [TN: Baldah is a valley near Makkah, to the West of it on the way to Jeddah. See al-Fath (1/89)] 48 sahih al-Bukhaaree (5499) [TN: Narrated `Abdullaah Ibn `Umar رضي اهلل عنهما: The Prophet ﷺ met Zaid bin `Amr Ibn Nufail in the bottom of (the valley of) Baldah before any Divine Inspiration came to the Prophet ﷺ. A meal was presented to the Prophet ﷺ but he refused to eat from it. (Then it was presented to Zaid) who said: “I do not eat anything which you slaughter in the name of your stone idols. I eat none but those things on which Allaah’s Name has been mentioned at the time of slaughter.” Zaid bin ‘Amr used to criticize the way Quraish used to slaughter their animals, and used to say: “Allaah has created the sheep and He has sent the water for it from the sky, and He has grown the grass for it from the earth, yet you slaughter it in other than the Name of Allaah.” He used to say so, for he rejected that practice and considered it as something abominable. [sahih al-Bukhaaree (3826)]] 49 Zaid Ibn Haarithah رضي اهلل عنه narrated: The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ went and I were riding behind him in the direction of one of the idols. We had slaughtered for him a lamb and had placed it in an oven (for cooking). When

it was cooked, we took it out and wrapped it (for the trip). Then the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ rode on his camel and I was sitting behind him. When we were on one of the high points of Makkah, he ﷺ met Zaid Ibn `Amr Ibn Nufail. Then one of them greeted the other with the greetings of al-Jaahiliyyah. The Prophet ﷺ said to him: ❝ Why is it I see that your people are in enmity with you and hate you?❞ He (Zaid Ibn `Amr) said: By Allaah! This is from them without any hostility from my side towards them, except that I saw that they are upon misguidance. So I went searching for the (true) religion, till I met with one of the rabbis of Khaibar (in another narration: Yathrib). I saw that they were worshiping Allaah as well as associating partners with Him in worship. I said: By Allaah! This is not the religion I am looking for. I went till I met one of the rabbis of al-Shaam (in another narration: Ailah). I saw that they were worshiping Allaah as well as associating partners with Him in worship. I said: By Allaah! This is not the religion I am looking for. Then one of the rabbis of al-Shaam said to me: You are seeking for a religion about which we do not know anyone who worships Allaah (alone) except for an old man on an island. I went till I reached him. I informed him about the purpose of my journey towards him. He said to me: “All those whom you have met (or seen) are upon misguidance, and you are asking about the religion, the religion which Allaah (had legislated) and the religion which the Angels (follow), whereas a prophet has emerged or will soon emerge in your land, and he will be calling towards it. So return to your land and believe in him, and follow him, and believe in what he is sent with.” So I returned, but nothing has happened since then. The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ made the camel he was riding to kneel down. Then the meal was spread out [and was presented to the Prophet ﷺ but he refused to eat from it.] Then it was presented to Zaid, who said: What is this? I (Zaid Ibn Haarithah) said: This was lamb which was slaughtered near such-and-such an idol. Zaid Ibn `Amr said: “I do not eat that which is slaughtered for anyone other than Allaah.” Then we departed. (Zaid Ibn Haarithah) said: There was an idol made of copper, known as “Isaaf” or “Naa’ilah”. The Mushriks (polytheists) used to wipe (or rub) it (for blessings) when they used to do the Tawaaf (circumambulation around the Ka`bah). (One day) the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ was doing the Tawaaf (around the Ka`bah) and I was along with him also doing the Tawaaf. When I passed by the idol, I wiped it. The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Don’t touch it.❞ Zaid said: We continued doing the Tawaaf and I said to myself: “I will touch it again and see what happens.” When I wiped it (the second time), the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Will you not stop?❞ Zaid said: By the One Who has honored him and revealed to him the Book! He ﷺ never ever submitted to an idol till Allaah تعاىل honored him with He had honored him and revealed to him (the Book). (Zaid Ibn Haarithah) added: Zain Ibn `Amr Ibn Nufail died before the Revelation was sent to the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝He will be raised on the Day of Judgment as a nation by himself.❞ [al-Tabaraanee in Mu`jam al-Kabeer (4663), al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak (4956) and said: “it is “sahih” as per the condition of Imaam Muslim”, and al-Nasaa’ee in Sunan al-Kabeer (8132), and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh alAlbaanee. Narrated Ibn ‘Umar رضي اهلل عنهما: Zaid bin `Amr bin Nufail went to Sham, inquiring about a true religion to follow. He met a Jewish religious scholar and asked him about their religion. He (Zaid) said: “I intend to embrace your religion, so tell me something about it.” The Jew said: “You will not embrace our religion unless you receive your share of Allaah’s Anger.” Zaid said: “I do not run except from Allaah’s Anger, and I will never bear a bit of it if I have the power to avoid it. Can you tell me of some other religion?” He said: “I do not know any other religion except the Haneef.” Zaid inquired: “What is Haneef?” He said: “Haneef is the religion of (the prophet) Ibraaheem who was neither a Jew nor a Christian, and he used to worship none but Allaah (Alone).” Then Zaid went and met a Christian religious scholar and told him the same as before. The Christian said: “You will not embrace our religion unless you get a share of Allaah’s Curse.” Zaid replied: “I do not run except from Allaah’s Curse, and I will never bear any of Allaah’s Curse and His Anger if I have the power to avoid them. Will you tell me of some other religion?” He replied: “I do not know any other religion except Haneef.” Zaid inquired: “What is Haneef?” He replied: “Haneef is the religion of (the prophet) Ibraaheem who was neither a Jew nor a Christian and he used to worship none but

[End of Shaikh al-Albaanee’s addition] Allaah (Alone).” When Zaid heard their Statement about (the religion of) Ibraaheem عليه السالم, he left that place, and when he came out, he raised both his hands and said: “O Allaah! I make You my Witness that I am on the religion of Ibraaheem.” [sahih al-Bukhaaree (3827)] Narrated Asmaa’ bint Abi Bakr رضي اهلل عنهما: I saw Zaid Ibn `Amr Ibn Nufail standing with his back against the Ka`bah and saying: “O people of Quraish! By Allaah, none amongst you is on the religion of Ibraaheem except me.” He used to preserve the lives of little girls. If somebody wanted to kill his daughter he would say to him: “Do not kill her for I will feed her on your behalf.” So he would take her, and when she grew up nicely, he would say to her father: “Now if you want her, I will give her to you, and if you wish, I will feed her on your behalf.” [sahih alBukhaaree (3828)]]