IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA?L IBN KATHIR 189Ahmad also stated, "Ibrzhim b. Khalid related to us, quoting Rab*, from
Macmar, from Muhammad b. Muslim b. Shiiab al-Zuhri, from Abii Salama,
from some other scholars, that the Messenger of God (SAAS) said, while he was
in the market place of al-Hazwara, 'By God, I swear that of all God's earth you
are the best, and the dearest to me; and had I not been forced out of you, I would
never have left."'
Al-Tabrxni related it from &mad b. Khulayd al-Halabi, from al-Humaydi,
from Ibn Akh al-Zuhri, from Muhammad b. Jubayr b. Mutcim, from 'Abd Allah
b. 'Adi b. al- ham^".
These are the various lines of transmission of this hadith but the most reliable
is the one given above. But God knows best.The events of the first year of the hegira: An Account of the major
events and happenings in the fist year following the emigration of the
Messenger of God ($'AAY).The ~ahaba, the "Companions", God be pleased with them, agreed in the year
16 AH - or some say 17 or 18 AH - during the Caliphate of Wmar, on having the
Islamic era begin with the year of the emigration.
This came about because a contractual document or agreement was referred
to Wmar by one man complaining against another. In it was stated that it came
into effect in the month of Sha'bim. Wmar asked, "Which Sha'ban? That of this,
last or next year?"
'
He then assembled the Companions and discussed the need for a calendar
whereby contracts concerning debts and other matters should come into effect.
One speaker suggested, "Date as the Persians do." But this met no favour. For
the Persians used to date by the reigns of their kings, one following the other.
Another man suggested, "Use the same dating system as the Byzantines."
They used to date by the reign of Alexander, son of Phillip, the Macedonian. But
this met no favour.
Another man suggested, "Date from the birth of the Messenger of God
(SAAS)."
Another suggested, "No, date from his receiving the Mission."
Another suggested, "No, from his emigration."
Others suggested by the date of his death.
'Umar, God be pleased with him, preferred the date of his emigration, because
it was so definite and well known, and the others agreed with him.
In his ~ahih collection al-Bukhari stated, under the heading: The dating system
and when it was established. '"Ahd Allzh b. Muslim related to us, quoting 'Abd
alLCAziz, from his father, from Sahl b. Sa'd, who said, 'They did not have the
dating system start after the beginning of the mission of the Prophet (SAAS), nor
after his death, but after his arrival in Medina."'