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A study companion for the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, drawn from Sheikh Yasir Qadhi’s lecture series and the classical sources it cites.

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Incident

The Prophet ﷺ and Zahir ibn Haram RA in the Marketplace

~Madinan period (exact date not recorded)

Original text & sources

Specialties of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Part 2) — Episode 2
View source ↗

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What happened

Zahir ibn Haram RA was a simple, sincere companion whom the Prophet ﷺ loved dearly, though little else is recorded of him. Once, the Prophet ﷺ saw him selling goods in the marketplace, calling out for buyers. The Prophet ﷺ came up quietly from behind and gave him a bear-hug, and, as a joke, called out that he was selling this "abd" (slave), meaning, in truth, "abd Allah," a slave of Allah, so that even in jest his words remained true.

Significance

Reported in Tirmidhi, the exchange is cited as an example of the Prophet ﷺ's playful affection toward ordinary companions and of how his humor never departed from truthfulness.

Around this time

Other events recorded around the same time. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.

ExpeditionGhazwa Badr al-Maw'id (the Battle That Did Not Take Place)~Sha'ban, 4 AH · 4 AH ExpeditionGhazwa Dhat al-Riqa~Sha'ban, 4 AH · 4 AH MarriageMarriage of the Prophet ﷺ and Hafsa bint Umar~Around the 4th year of the Hijrah · 4 AH MarriageMarriage of the Prophet ﷺ and Umm Salama~Around the 4th year of the Hijrah · 4 AH IncidentThe Night Commotion and Abu Talha RA's Horse~Madinan period (exact date not recorded)ExpeditionThe Siege and Expulsion of Banu Nadir~626 CE · 4 AH IncidentZayd ibn Thabit Learns Hebrew~Around 4 AH

Sayings & Actions1

Zahir ibn Haram RA

Saying · Madinan period (exact date not recorded)

Original text & sources

Specialties of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Part 2) — Episode 2
View source ↗
Jami at-Tirmidhi
“Who is going to buy this from me? ... Who is going to buy this abd from me? ... You are very expensive in the eyes of Allah SWT.”

Who is this?!

Said after someone crept up quietly from behind and pulled him into a tight embrace while he was busy selling goods in the marketplace.

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Muhammad ﷺTo Zahir ibn Haram RA

Saying · Madinan period (exact date not recorded)

Original text & sources

Specialties of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Part 2) — Episode 2
View source ↗
Jami at-Tirmidhi
“Who is going to buy this from me? ... Who is going to buy this abd from me? ... You are very expensive in the eyes of Allah SWT.”

Who is going to buy this abd (slave) from me?

Said in jest, meaning "abd Allah," a slave of Allah.

Zahir ibn Haram RA

Saying · Madinan period (exact date not recorded)

Original text & sources

Specialties of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Part 2) — Episode 2
View source ↗
Jami at-Tirmidhi
“Who is going to buy this from me? ... Who is going to buy this abd from me? ... You are very expensive in the eyes of Allah SWT.”

O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, in that case, you are going to get a very bad bargain: I am not going to sell very expensively.

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Muhammad ﷺTo Zahir ibn Haram RA

Saying · Madinan period (exact date not recorded)

Original text & sources

Specialties of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Part 2) — Episode 2
View source ↗
Jami at-Tirmidhi
“Who is going to buy this from me? ... Who is going to buy this abd from me? ... You are very expensive in the eyes of Allah SWT.”

You are very expensive in the eyes of Allah.

People involved2

Zahir ibn Haram RA
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Muhammad ﷺ

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