Home Hadith Hadith 3002
`Uthman did not join the Badr battle because he was married to one of the daughters of Allah's
Apostle and she was ill. So, the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him. "You will get a reward and a share (from the war
booty) similar to the reward and the share of one who has taken part in the Badr battle."
Sahih al-Bukhari Book 57, Hadith 39
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When Az-Zubair got up during the battle of Al-Jamal, he called me and I stood up beside him, and he
said to me, "O my son! Today one will be killed either as an oppressor or as an oppressed one. I see
that I will be killed as an oppressed one. My biggest worry is my debts. Do you think, if we pay the
debts, there will be something left for us from our money?" Az-Zubair added, "O my son! Sell our
property and pay my debts." Az-Zubair then willed one-third of his property and willed one-third of
that portion to his sons; namely, `Abdullah's sons. He said, "One-third of the one third. If any property
is left after the payment of the debts, one-third (of the one-third of what is left) is to be given to your
sons." (Hisham, a sub-narrator added, "Some of the sons of `Abdullah were equal in age to the sons of
Az-Zubair e.g. Khubaib and `Abbas. `Abdullah had nine sons and nine daughters at that time." (The
narrator `Abdullah added:) My father (Az-Zubair) went on drawing my attention to his debts saying,
"If you should fail to pay part of the debts, appeal to my Master to help you." By Allah! I could not
understand what he meant till I asked, "O father! Who is your Master?" He replied, "Allah (is my
Master)."
By Allah, whenever I had any difficulty regarding his debts, I would say, "Master of Az-Zubair! Pay
his debts on his behalf ." and Allah would (help me to) pay it. Az-Zubair was martyred leaving no
Dinar or Dirham but two pieces of land, one of which was (called) Al-Ghaba, and eleven houses in
Medina, two in Basra, one in Kufa and one in Egypt. In fact, the source of the debt which he owed
was, that if somebody brought some money to deposit with him. Az-Zubair would say, "No, (i won't
keep it as a trust), but I take it as a debt, for I am afraid it might be lost." Az-Zubair was never
appointed governor or collector of the tax of Kharaj or any other similar thing, but he collected his
wealth (from the war booty he gained) during the holy battles he took part in, in the company of the
Prophet, Abu Bakr, `Umar, and `Uthman. (`Abdullah bin Az-Zubair added:) When I counted his debt,
it turned to be two million and two hundred thousand. (The sub-narrator added:) Hakim bin Hizam
met `Abdullah bin Zubair and asked, "O my nephew! How much is the debt of my brother?"
`Abdullah kept it as a secret and said, "One hundred thousand," Hakim said, "By Allah! I don't think
your property will cover it." On that `Abdullah said to him, "What if it is two million and two hundred
thousand?"
Hakim said, "I don't think you can pay it; so if you are unable to pay all of it, I will help you." Az-
Zubair had already bought Al-Ghaba for one hundred and seventy thousand. `Abdullah sold it for one
million and six hundred thousand. Then he called the people saying, "Any person who has any money
claim on Az-Zubair should come to us in Al-Ghaba." There came to him `Abdullah bin Ja`far whom
Az-Zubair owed four hundred thousand. He said to `Abdullah bin Az-Zubair, "If you wish I will
forgive you the debt." `Abdullah (bin Az-Zubair) said, "No." Then Ibn Ja`far said, "If you wish you
can defer the payment if you should defer the payment of any debt." Ibn Az-Zubair said, "No."
`Abdullah bin Ja`far said, "Give me a piece of the land." `Abdullah bin AzZubair said (to him),
"Yours is the land extending from this place to this place." So, `Abdullah bin Az-Zubair sold some of
the property (including the houses) and paid his debt perfectly, retaining four and a half shares from
the land (i.e. Al-Ghaba). He then went to Mu'awlya while `Amr bin `Uthman, Al-Mundhir bin Az-
Zubair and Ibn Zam`a were sitting with him. Mu'awiya asked, "At what price have you appraised Al-
Ghaba?" He said, "One hundred thousand for each share," Muawiya asked, "How many shares have
been left?" `Abdullah replied, "Four and a half shares."
Al-Mundhir bin Az-Zubair said, "I would like to buy one share for one hundred thousand." `Amr bin
`Uthman said, "I would like to buy one share for one hundred thousand." Ibn Zam`a said, "I would
like to buy one share for one hundred thousand." Muawiya said, "How much is left now?" `Abdullah
replied, "One share and a half." Muawiya said, "I would like to buy it for one hundred and fifty
thousand." `Abdullah also sold his part to Muawiya six hundred thousand. When Ibn AzZubair had
paid all the debts. Az-Zubair's sons said to him, "Distribute our inheritance among us." He said, "No,
by Allah, I will not distribute it among you till I announce in four successive Hajj seasons, 'Would
those who have money claims on Az-Zubair come so that we may pay them their debt." So, he started
to announce that in public in every Hajj season, and when four years had elapsed, he distributed the
inheritance among the inheritors. Az-Zubair had four wives, and after the one-third of his property
was excluded (according to the will), each of his wives received one million and two hundred
thousand. So the total amount of his property was fifty million and two hundred thousand.
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When the Hawazin delegation came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) after they had embraced Islam and requested
him to return their properties and war prisoners to them, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "To me the best talk is
the truest, so you may choose either of two things; the war prisoners or the wealth, for I have delayed
their distribution." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had waited for them for over ten days when he returned from Ta'if.
So, when those people came to know that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was not going to return to them except one
of the two things the said, "We choose our war Prisoners 'Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood up amongst the
Muslims, and after glorifying Allah as He deserved, he said, "Now then, these brothers of yours have
come to us with repentance, and I see it logical that I should return their captives to them, so whoever
of you likes to do that as a favor then he can do it, and whoever amongst you likes to stick to his
share, let him give up his prisoners and we will compensate him from the very first Fai' (i.e. war booty
received without fight) which Allah will give us." On that, all the people said. 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)s We
have agreed willingly to do so (return the captives)" Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to them "I do not know
who amongst you has agreed to this and who has not. You should return and let your leaders inform
me of your agreement." The people returned and their leaders spoke to them, and then came to Allah's
Apostle and said, "All the people have agreed willingly to do so and have given the permission to
return the war prisoners (without Compensation)" (Az-Zuhri, the sub-narrator states) This is what has
been related to us about the captives of Hawazin.