16. Ramzan Quiz

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتة 

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِٱلرَّحِيمِ

16. Do you know who is "one man Umma"?

Answer: Zaid ibn Amr ibn Nufayl

Zaid bin Amr was a Quraish. He was not a muslim but a "Haneef" (a monotheist). He was the cousin of Umar bin Khattab (RA). He was much elder to Prophet ﷺ lived at Makka, before his Prophet hood. He was the father of Sa’id bin Zaid (RA), one of the ten to whom Paradise was promised. 

Before the advent of Islam a group of four monotheists hated paganism and idol worship of Arab Quraish, decided to follow the religion of Ibrahim (AS). They are Uthman ibn al-Huwaytath, Ubaidullah ibn Jahsh. Waraka ibn Nufal and Zaid ibn Amr. The first three left Makka in search of monotheism and became Christians. Ubaidullah ibn Jahsh became Muslim migrated to Abyssinia and died as a Christian. Waraka ibn Nufal leant Hebrew become well versed in the Scriptures and returned to Makka and became the first Muslim. Whereas Zaid ibn Amr stayed in Makkah itself started showing strong opposition to Arab’s religious attitude.

Against idol worship:

He never worshipped idols in his lifetime. Standing in front of Kaba Zaid bin Amr stretching his hands made dua, “Ya Allah, I bear witness that I am on the religion of Ibrahim (AS) “. “Ya Allah only if I knew which of the ways are most pleasing to you, I would worship you following that way but I don’t know. But I worship you like this Ya Rabb, so I am going to do Sujud and hope that I am right.” He strongly advised many, not to worship idols.

Against killing of daughters:

Narrated Asma bint Abi Bakr(RA): I saw Zayd ibn Amr ibn Nufayl standing with his back against the Kaaba and saying, “O people of Quraysh! By Allah, none amongst you is on the religion of Abraham except me.” He used to preserve the lives of little girls: If somebody wanted to kill his daughter he would say to him, “Do not kill her for I will feed her on your behalf.” So he would take her, and when she grew up nicely, he would say to her father, “Now if you want her, I will give her to you, and if you wish, I will feed her on your behalf.” [Bukhari]. thus he was much against female infanticide.

Against sacrificing animals to idols:

Watching the sacrificial animals to slaughter before the Quraish idols, Zaid bin Amr could not remain silent. He shouted: "O people of Quraysh! It is Allah, Who has created the sheep. He it is Who has sent down rain from the skies of which they drink and He has caused fodder to grow from the earth with which they are fed. Then even so you slaughter them in names other than His. Indeed, I see that you are an ignorant folk."

Once when Prophet ﷺ as a boy gave the meat sacrificed to idol, he never accepted that meat and he advised Prophet ﷺ not to be involved in all those rituals involving idols and not to eat that meet. From that time onwards the Prophet ﷺ never touched the meat sacrificed to idols.

He was persecuted by Quraish:

He tried hard to teach Ibrahim’s principles during Hajj season. The pagan Arabs found him more annoying and started beating him. The one who tortured him the most was none other than his uncle, Khattab, father of Umar (RA), made his life extremely uncomfortable. He was driven away from Makkah.

In search of the true monotheism:

He travelled widely in search of the true monotheism. He said, “After wandering in the four big cities, I returned back to Sham. I wandered in the city in search of someone who could talk and inform me about pure Monotheism till I reached Balkan where I spotted a church. I went close and saw a monk coming out. He inquired about me and I informed him that I was in search of the religion of Ibrahim (AS) but could not find anywhere. He responded, “You will not find a teacher of the pure monotheism because each of them have died one after another. I do not know anyone who is upon the true religion. I have a suggestion that a man, born in your own city Makkah, whose name is Muhammad (ﷺ) will revive the religion of Ibrahim (AS) so you better return to Makka and meet him”.

His Death:

But on his way to Makka, near to the Holy City he was caught by highway robbers and murdered.

Before his last breath, he prayed to Allah: “Ya Allah, if You have prevented me from attaining this good, do not prevent my son from achieving so.” And his dua was accepted and Sa‘id Ibn Zaid (RA), who was one of alʿAshara Al-Mubashsharūn.

His status in the Hereafter:

Sa‘id Ibn Zaid (RA) asked, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ Zaid bin Amr was as you have seen. He had heard the reports about you and if he had reached you he would have accepted faith. Shall we pray for his forgiveness?” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: "Yes, you must pray for his forgiveness. On the Judgment Day he will be raised as a complete community. He had belief (in me) and was in search of the true religion; and he died while in pursuit for it.”

In other narration, the Messenger ﷺ said, “I entered Paradise and I saw two gardens for Zayd ibn Amr. And he will be gathered as a nation on his own, between me and Isa ibn Maryam.”

Somebody asked the Prophet ﷺ, “What do you say about Zaid bin Amr bin Nufail?” He replied, “My Lord has informed me that Zaid had been wandering all around the world in search of the religion of Ibrahim (AS) and he was told to return to Makka to meet me. Therefore, when Allah sends a prophet, the people of the place to whom he is sent is called Ummah. Allah is pleased with Zaid, so he would arise (on the Day of Judgement) as an entire Ummah in himself”. This is a great honour! Zaid would be among those people who would be arising not as a person, but as an Ummah.

 الحمدلله