30/3. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3636 — Jabir Pays His Father’s Debts
Bequeathing One-Third
Paying Debts in Islam: Jabir’s Date Harvest
Sunan an-Nasai : 3636
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3636
أَخْبَرَنَا الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ دِينَارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ شَيْبَانَ، عَنْ فِرَاسٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، اسْتُشْهِدَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ وَتَرَكَ سِتَّ بَنَاتٍ وَتَرَكَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنًا فَلَمَّا حَضَرَ جُدَادُ النَّخْلِ أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ وَالِدِي اسْتُشْهِدَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ وَتَرَكَ دَيْنًا كَثِيرًا وَإِنِيِّ أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَرَاكَ الْغُرَمَاءُ. قَالَ " اذْهَبْ فَبَيْدِرْ كُلَّ تَمْرٍ عَلَى نَاحِيَةٍ ". فَفَعَلْتُ ثُمَّ دَعَوْتُهُ فَلَمَّا نَظَرُوا إِلَيْهِ كَأَنَّمَا أُغْرُوا بِي تِلْكَ السَّاعَةَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى مَا يَصْنَعُونَ أَطَافَ حَوْلَ أَعْظَمِهَا بَيْدَرًا ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " ادْعُ أَصْحَابَكَ ". فَمَا زَالَ يَكِيلُ لَهُمْ حَتَّى أَدَّى اللَّهُ أَمَانَةَ وَالِدِي وَأَنَا رَاضٍ أَنْ يُؤَدِّيَ اللَّهُ أَمَانَةَ وَالِدِي لَمْ تَنْقُصْ تَمْرَةً وَاحِدَةً.
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
Jabir bin 'Abdullah narrated that his father was martyred on the Day of Uhud, and he left behind six daughters, and some outstanding debts. When the time to pick the dates came, I went to the Messenger of Allah and said: "You know that my father was martyred on the Day of Uhud and he left behind a great deal of debt. I would like the creditors to see you." He said: "Go and pile up the dates in separate heaps." I did that, then I called him.When they saw him, it was as if they started to put pressure on me at that time. When he saw what they were doing, he went around the biggest heap three times, then he sat on it then said: "Call your companions (the creditors)." Then he kept on weighing them out for them, until Allah cleared all my father's debts. I am pleased that Allah cleared my father's debts without even a single date being missed.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3636In-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 26English translation : Vol. 4, Book 30, Hadith 3666
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3636
This hadith tells how Jabir dealt with his father’s outstanding debts after his father was martyred at Uhud, leaving six daughters. When the dates were ready to be picked, Jabir asked the Messenger of Allah to meet the creditors. The Prophet told him to arrange the dates in separate heaps. After the creditors gathered and pressed Jabir, the Prophet walked around the largest heap three times, sat on it, and told Jabir to call them. He then kept measuring dates for the creditors until all the debt was cleared. Jabir says he would have been satisfied simply to pay the debt, yet not even a single date was missing. The hadith centers on paying debts, careful preparation, and the blessing shown in the harvest.
What we learn from this hadith
- Outstanding debts were treated as a serious duty to settle.
- Jabir followed the Prophet’s instruction to arrange the dates in separate heaps.
- The creditors received what they were owed.
- Jabir reported that the dates were not reduced by even one date.
