ALMISKEENAH

 

Banu Haraam.

The tribe of Banu Haraam had the honour of such a title indicating that their wealth and dignity were forbidden upon their enemy. They consisted of children from a man from the Bani Salamah tribe, who resided near the present day Masjid Qiblatain. The Banu Haraam was located on the western side of Mount Sal’a. (purple dot)

 

A short distance from where they resided, up the steep slopes of Mount Sal’a is an old dome construction marking a cave where Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would retreat during the nights of the Battle of Khandaq. (yellow dot) We have been told that he received a revelation at this place, but as yet have not learnt what it may have been. Our search is ongoing, Insha’Allah, we find the right Alim to enlighten us.

There are many inspiring incidents related to the Banu Haraam. Abdullah bin Haraam RadhiAllahu anhu was a prominent figure in this tribe. He was the father of Jabir RadhiAllahu anhu, who is the narrator of many Ahadith and who accompanied the Prophet on many expeditions.

Abdullah bin Haraam RadhiAllahu anhu was the first martyr of Uhud. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said to Jabir bin Abdullah RadhiAllahu anhu upon the death of his father, "Allah gave life to your father and openly conversed with him without a veil, and He has never conversed with any one except from behind a veil, and He said to him, ‘O Abdullah, desire and I shall grant thee.’ He asked, ‘Oh my Lord, return me to the world that I may again be martyred in your cause.’ Allah said, ‘I have decreed that none shall be returned.’ Abdullah then said, ‘So inform those whom I have left behind.’ Thus Allah revealed the following verse:

"Think not of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead. Nay, they live, with their Lord they have provision." (3:169)

Jabir bin Abdullah RadhiAllahu anhu once fell ill and he had seven sisters (some narrations say nine). The Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam came to him and blew on his face, reviving him. He asked Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, "O Apostle of Allah, may I not bequeath one-third of my property to my sisters?" He replied: "Do good." I asked: "Half?" He replied: "Do good." He then turned to leave me, and said: "I do not think, Jabir, you will die of this disease. Allah has revealed verses and described the share of your sisters. He appointed two-thirds for them." Jabir RadhiAllahu anhu used to say: This verse was revealed about me:

They ask you (O Prophet) for a ruling. Say: Allah gives you a ruling about inheritance from someone who dies childless with no surviving parents.  (4:176)

Jabir bin Abdullah RadhiAllahu anhu said, "I accompanied the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam on one of the expeditions. When we were returning the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, ‘Whoever wants to return earlier to his family, should hurry up.’ We set off and I was on a black red tainted camel having no defect, and the people were behind me. But then the camel stopped suddenly because of exhaustion. On that the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said to me, ‘O Jabir, wait!’ Then he hit it once with his lash and it started moving at such a fast pace that I had to hold it back from going ahead of Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. He then said, ‘Will you sell the camel?’ I replied in the affirmative. When we reached Medina, and the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam went to the Masjid along with his companions. I, too, went to him after tying the camel on the pavement at the Masjid gate. Then I said to him, ‘This is your camel.’ He came out and started examining the camel and saying, ‘The camel is ours.’ Then the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam sent an amount of gold with Bilal RadhiAllahu anhu saying, ‘Give it to Jabir.’ Then he asked, ‘Have you taken the full price of the camel?’ I replied in the affirmative. He said SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, ‘Both the price and the camel are for you.’ SubhanAllah!

Jabir ibn Abdullah RadhiAllahu anhu was the one to whom the Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, "Before you sleep, lock the door, tie the waterskin, turn the vessel over or cover it, and put out the lamp. Shaytan does not open a locked door or untie a tied knot, or uncover a vessel, but a mouse may set fire to people’s houses about them."

Jabir bin ‘Abdullah RadhiAllahu anhu also said, "Once a big pot containing cooked vegetables was brought. On finding unpleasant smell coming from it, the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam asked, ‘What is in it?’ He was told all the names of the vegetables that were in it. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam ordered that it should be brought near to some of his companions who were with him. When the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam saw it he disliked to eat it and said, ‘Eat. I don’t eat from it for I converse with those whom you don’t converse with (the angels).’ The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, ‘Whoever eats garlic or onion should keep away from our mosque or should remain in his house.’

Once Jabir ibn Abdullah RadhiAllahu anhu was sitting in his mosque. He said: The Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam came to us in this mosque and he had a twig of date-palm of the kind of Ibn Tab. He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam looked and saw phlegm on the wall towards qiblah. He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam turned to it and scraped it with the twig. He then said: Who of you likes that Allah turns His face from him? He further said: When any of you stands for praying, Allah faces him. So he should not spit before him, nor on his right side. He should spit on his left side under his left foot. If he is in a hurry, needs to spit immediately, he should do with his cloth in this manner. He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam then placed the cloth on his mouth and rubbed it off. He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam then said: Bring perfume. A young man of the tribe stood and hurried to his house and returned with perfume in his palm. The Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam took it and put it at the end of the twig. He then rubbed the mark of phlegm with it. Jabir RadhiAllahu anhu said: This is the reason you use perfume in your mosques.

The blue circled area indicates the main command centre during the time of the digging of the trench in preparation for the battle against the Qureysh. I find it fascinating pondering on the relationship between this command area, the position of Banu Haraam and the cave. It truly is awe-inspiring to attempt to imagine the struggles our Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhu went through. They were so overcome with difficulties during this unique trench digging exercise; starving, under pressure, surrounded, exhausted, facing the unknown, concerned for their women and children gathered in refuge places back in Madinah. They could easily have resorted to falling into despair. But through the optimistic leadership of the Best of Creation, and the signs Allah Ta’ala kept giving them, all hardships were born with a winning attitude. SubhanAllah, may the Ummah relearn from these times. Ameen.

More details on Khandaq later in another post, Insha’Allah.

The following touching story is took place in the house of Jabir bin Abdullah RadhiAllahu anhu, at the site of the present day Masjid Banu Haraam, and travel between this place and the main command area of the digging.

When the Trench was almost ready dug narrated Jabir bin Abdullah RadhiAllahu anhu, I saw the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in the state of severe hunger. So I returned to my wife and said, "Have you got anything to eat, for I have seen Allah’s Apostle in a state of severe hunger." She brought out for me, a bag containing one Sa’ of barley, and we had a domestic kid goat which I slaughtered then, and my wife ground the barley and she finished at the time I finished my job of slaughtering. Then I cut the meat into pieces and put it in an earthenware cooking pot, and returned to Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. My wife said, "Do not disgrace me in front of Allah’s Apostle and those who are with him." So I went to him and said to him secretly, "O Allah’s Apostle! I have slaughtered a kid goat of ours, and we have ground a Sa’ of barley which was with us. So please come, you and another person along with you." The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam raised his voice and said, "O people of Trench! Jabir has prepared a meal so let us go." Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said to me, "Don’t put down your earthenware meat pot from the fireplace or bake your dough till I come." So I returned to my house with Allah’s Apostle proceeding before the people. When I came to my wife, she said, "May Allah do so-and-so to you." I said, "I have told the Prophet of what you said." Then she brought the dough to the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and he spat in it and invoked for Allah’s Blessings in it. Then he proceeded towards our earthenware meat-pot and spat in it and invoked for Allah’s Blessings in it. Then he said to my wife, "Call a lady-baker to bake along with you and keep on taking out scoops from your earthenware meat-pot, and do not put it down from its fireplace." They were one-thousand (some narrations say 1,500, and Almighty Allah Ta’ala knows best) who took their meals, and by Allah they all ate, and when they left the food and went away, our earthenware pot was still bubbling, full of meat as if it had not decreased, and our dough was still being baked as if nothing had been taken from it.

SubhanAllah, all these events happened in or around, or about the Companions of this most Mubarak tribe. The present day Masjid built on the site of the original place of Banu Haram is in the midst of a very poor suburb, hugging near to the side of Mount Sal’a. However I find visiting this area to be more than exhilarating. It is as though the essence of the deeds and actions of the Prophet and his noble Sahabah still fills the air and one is able to breathe in this blessedness by the Will of Allah Ta’ala.

I have also included on the image Thaniyyatul Wadaa (red) Masjid Sabaq (lime) and Saqeefa (pink) from yesterdays post, as well as the blue dot indicating the far north eastern corner of the courtyard of Haram, Insha’Allah to reiterate the relationships between the places we are discussing. May these squiggles and dots be clear, and the information of benefit, Insha’Allah.  

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.