Saheeh Seerah Al Albaanee English

Ibn Is-ḥaaq said 96 : `Aaṣim Ibn `Umar Ibn Qataadah informed us that a Shaikh (an elderly
man) from Banee Quraiẓhah (a Jewish tribe) said to him: “Do you know what led to the
acceptance of Islaam by Tha`labah Ibn Sa`yah, Usaid Ibn Sa`yah, and Asad Ibn `Ubaid –
who were from the tribe of Banee Hadl, and they were the brethren of the tribe of
Banee Quraiẓhah, with whom they lived in the Jaahiliyyah (days of ignorance) but who
then became their masters after Islaam?” `Aaṣim replied: ‘No, By Allaah! (I do not
know)!’ He (the elderly man) continued: “Years before Islaam, a Jewish man, whose
name was Ibn Hayyibaan, from the land of Syria, had come to us and settles amongst
us. By Allaah! We had never seen a (Kaafir) man – from among those who did not pray
five times (a day) - better than him. So he dwelled us. Whenever there was drought due
to lack of rainfall, we said to him: ‘O Ibn Hayyibaan! Come out and pray for rain for us.’
He used to say: ‘No, by Allaah! I will not do that until you send me some of your produce
to me as charity.’ We asked him: ‘How much?’ He said: ‘Saa` of dates or two Mudd of
barley.’” 97 The elderly man said: “We used to give it to him and he would come out
with us and he would beseech Allaah for rain for us. By Allaah! We would not disperse
from the gathering except that clouds would gather and it would rain. He did that not
once, or twice, or thrice, (but many times).” (The elderly man) continued: “Then death
approached him while he was still living amongst us. When he realized that he is going
to die, he (gathered everyone) and said: ‘O group of Jews! What do you think it was
that made me to leave the land of wine and fermented bread and come to this land of
poverty and hunger?’ We said: ‘You know better!’ He said: ‘I only came to this land
expecting the arrival of the (promised) Prophet. The time for his emergence is near, and
this is the land where he would emigrate to. I had hoped that when he comes I would
follow him. But the time of his emergence has dawned upon you, so do not lag behind!
O group of Jews! When he comes, he will shed blood of those who will oppose him and
will take their women and children as captives. This should not prevent you from
(believing) in him.’” (The elderly man) continued: “When the Prophet ﷺ emerged, he
besieged (the fortress of) Banee Quraiẓhah, these (three) youths, who were very young
at that time, said: ‘O Banee Quriaẓhah! By Allaah! He is the awaited Prophet about
whom Ibn Hayyibaan took a solemn oath from you (that you should follow him).’ They
said: ‘He is not the one.’ They (the youths) said: ‘Indeed! By Allaah! He is the one as
described (by Ibn Hayyibaan).’ So they came down the fortress and accepted Islaam. So
they were able to safeguard their own blood, wealth and families.” 98
96 Abu Is-ḥaaq in his “al-Seerah” (226-227) and from him Abu Nu`aim in “al-Dalaa’il” (1/19)
97 [TN: One Saa` is approx. 3 liters; and one Mudd is approx. 0.75 liters (or 75ml). A Prophetic Saa` ‏(صاع)‏ is not a
weight measurement. It was and still is a measurement of volume, similar to the size of a large salad bowl. It is
made up of four Mudds, and a Mudd ‏(مد)‏ is a smaller container, close to the size of a small salad bowl.]
98 I (al-Albaanee) say: The chain of this narration is “Ṣaḥeeḥ”
Ilm4all.blogspot Page 69