What is sensitivity towards the rights of others?
The spoils of Khaybar were distributed among those present at Hudaybiyah, irrespective of whether they were at Khaybar or not, as Allah, glory unto Him, had promised the riches of Khaybar to Muslims present at Hudaybiyah through the 20th ayah of surah al-Fath.[1]
Omar ibn Khattab -Allah be well-pleased with him- explains the following:
“It was on the day of the Battle of Khaybar. A group from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah came and began announcing those who had been martyred. Then walking past another casualty, they said, ‘so and so has also been martyred.’
‘No!’ intervened the Messenger of Allah. ‘I saw him in Hellfire in a mantle he had unjustly seized from the spoils!’” (Muslim, Iman, 182)
Despite being one of the highest ranks attainable which compensates for the majority of the sins a person may bear, even martyrdom cannot atone for intruding on the rights of other human beings by usurping common property. Informing that the Companion announced as a martyr would be punished in Hellfire for a mantle he had seized without right, the Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace- thereby taught his ummah that usurping common property and intruding on the rights of others is an unforgivable offense.
There was a black slave by the name of Midam, presented as gift by Rifaa ibn Zayd, who used to see to the service of the Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace-. He was struck and killed by a strayed arrow while unloading the baggage of the Prophet of Allah -upon him blessings and peace-. The Believers naturally rejoiced Midam’s death; after all he looked to be martyred. They were told otherwise by the Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace-:
“No, it is not what you think. By Allah, in whose Hand of Might my life resides, a rug he seized on the day of Khaybar before the spoils were distributed is going up in flames on him as we speak!”
The Believers were terrified. A man came to the Noble Messenger -upon him blessings and peace- and handing him one or two shoe laces, said, in embarrassment:
“I had seized these, Messenger of Allah, for my shoes, before the spoils were distributed…”
“Then one or two shoelaces of Hellfire for you…” responded the Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace-. (Bukhari, Ayman, 33; Muslim, Iman, 183)
On the day Khaybar fell, a man came to the Blessed Messenger -upon him blessings and peace- and claimed to have made “…a profit greater than what the dwellers of this valley could never imagine.”
“Is that so? What did you make?” asked the Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace-.
‘I just kept on buying and selling without break, until I was able to make a profit of three-hundred uqiyya!”
“Should I tell you of the best of profits?” then ask the Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace-.
“Yes, Messenger of Allah, do tell…”
“A salat of two rakahs right after the obligatory (fard) salat…!” (Abu Dawud, Jihad, 168/2785)
Upon receiving the commodities and date fields of Khaybar that fell to their lot, the Muhajirun were able to improve their conditions financially, owing to which the Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace- returned to the Ansar the date fields and trees they had previously either given or lent for use to the Muhajirun.[2]
[1] Waqidi, II, 684.
[2] Ibn Qayyim, III, 359.
Source: Osman Nuri Topbaş, The Prophet Muhammed Mustafa the Elect II, Erkam Publications
