A Generous and Honorable man

The Holy Prophet (sas) instructed Hazrat Zainab (ra) to take good care of Abul-‘As (ra) and to treat him with respect. However, he instructed that they should live in separate houses until Hazrat Abul-‘As (ra) accepted Islam. After that Hazrat Abul-‘As (ra) took his possessions, kissed his children, bid farewell to his wife and left.1

Upon his return to Makkah Hazrat Abul-‘As (ra) cleared all his accounts and one day gathered the Quraish together and asked them if anyone had any claim on him. They replied, “Indeed, now we have no claim concerning you. May God reward you in an excellent manner. You are indeed an honourable and generous person.”

At this moment Hazrat Abul-‘As (ra) declared that he had become a Muslim, and openly recited the Kalimah. He swore by God that the only thing that had kept him from the companionship of the Holy Prophet (sas) was that the people might think he had accepted Islam in order to be freed from any monetary obligations. Now that he had fully discharged all his obligations, nothing could keep him from becoming a Muslim.

This incidence shows the greatness of his character. Hazrat Abul-‘As (ra) was the son-in-law of the most trustworthy person in the world, the Holy Prophet (sas) and he was exemplary in his loyalty to that relationship.

In the seventh year after the Hijrah, during the month of Muharram, Hazrat Abul-‘As (ra) accepted Islam and migrated from Makkah to Madinah. After his arrival in Madinah the Holy Prophet (sas) sent Hazrat Zainab (ra) to live with him.2