A Worldly Dispute in his Favour

Hazrat Zubair (ra) relates that once he had a dispute in the presence of the Holy Prophet (sa) with an Ansari companion who had taken part in the Battle of Badr, in regard to the tributary they both used to irrigate their fields with. Whilst resolving the matter, the Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “Zubair, water your field and leave the rest of the water for your neighbour.” The Ansari companion was displeased with this response and said, “O Messenger of Allah (ra), you have issued this verdict only because he is your cousin.” Upon hearing this, the expression of the blessed countenance of the Holy Prophet (sa) changed and he said to Hazrat Zubair (ra), “Control the flow of water so it only irrigates up to your boundary edge [of the land].” Hence, the Holy Prophet (sa) granted Hazrat Zubair (ra) his full rights, whereas previously, the advice of the Holy Prophet (sa) was such that it allowed for both Hazrat Zubair (ra) and the Ansari companion to derive benefit. However, when the Ansari expressed his discontentment at the decision of the Holy Prophet (sa), he then issued the verdict according to what was the actual due right of Hazrat Zubair (ra).

Hazrat Zubair (ra) relates, “By God, my impression is that the following verse of the Holy Quran was revealed with regards to this incident:

فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُواْ فِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيۡتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا

‘But no, by thy Lord, they are not believers until they make thee judge in all that is in dispute between them and then find not in their hearts any demur concerning that which thou decidest and submit with full submission.’”

(Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.66) (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 1, p. 453, Musnad Zubair bin al-Awwam, Hadith 1419, ‘Alam al-Kutub, Beirut, 1998)

Hazrat Zubair (ra) narrates that when the following verse was revealed:

ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ عِندَ رَبِّكُمۡ تَخۡتَصِمُونَ

“Then surely on the Day of Resurrection you will dispute with one another before your Lord” (Surah al-Zumar, Ch.31: V.32), he asked, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah, does this refer to our worldly disputes?”, to which the Holy Prophet (sa) answered, “Yes”.

Then, when the following verse was revealed:

ثُمَّ لَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ یَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِیْمِ

“Then, on that day you shall be called to account about the [worldly] favours’ (Surah al-Takathur, Ch.102: V.9), Hazrat Zubair (ra) asked the Holy Prophet (sa), “Which bounties shall we be called to account for when we only possess water and dates?” The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, “Beware, the era of bounties and wealth is well-nigh. Today there may be this restraint, but God-willing, the time of abundance is to come.”

(Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 1, p. 449, Musnad Zubair bin al-Awwam, Hadith 1419, ‘Alam al-Kutub, Beirut, 1998)