218 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMADHe is alone in giving this hadith.
'Abd al-Rabiin h. Zayd b. Aslam said, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) told
the Helpers, 'Your brothers have left behind their wealth and their children and
have come forth to you.' They commented, 'Our property is to be divided up
between us then.' The Messenger of God (SAAS) asked, 'Well, is there some
alternative?' 'What could there be, 0 Messenger of God?' they asked. He
replied, 'These are people who don't mind hard work; provide some for them
and share the fruits.' 'We will,' they agreed."
We have previously mentioned the reports and references made concerning
the virtues of the Helpers and their fine qualities confirmed by God's words,
"And those who made their abode in the town and in the faith before them"
(siirat al-Hashr; LIX, v.9).Chapter: On the death ofAbii Umama As'ad b. Zurcira.He was Ihn 'Adas b. 'Ubayd b. Tha'laba h. Ghanm b. Mdii h. al-Najjiir, one of
the 12 leaders on the night of the pledge made by his people the Banii al-Najjar
at alLCAqaba. He was present at all 3 meetings there, and was the first to make a
verbal pledge of his allegiance to the Messenger of God (SAAS) at the second.
He was a young man and was the first to bring the men together in Medina, at
Naqi' al-Kbadamat in the plain of the Nabit. This has been discussed above.
Ibn Ishaq stated, "Abn Umm As'ad b. Zuraa died in these months, while
the mosque was being built. He died from diptheria or from coughing."
Ibn Jarir stated in his history, "Muhammad b. 'Abd al-A'13 informed us,
Yazid h. Zuray' related to us, from Ma'mar, from al-Zuhri, from Anas, that the
Messenger of God (SAAS) cauterized As'ad h. Zuriira in the tongue."
The men in this chain of authorities are considered reliable.
Ibn Ishaq stated, "'Abd AUah h. Aha Bakr b. Muhammad b. 'Amr b. Hazm
related to me, from Y*y h. 'Ahd All& b. 'Abd al-wmiin h. As'ad b. Zuriira,
who said, 'The Messenger of God (SAAS) stated, "The death of Abii Umana is
a great pity with respect to the Jews and the Arab hypocrites. They will say, 'If
he were a prophet, his companion would not have died.' But I have no power
from God over this for myself or for my friends."'"
This means that he has to have been the first man to die after the arrival in
Medina of the Prophet (SAAS).
Ahii al-Hasan h. al-Athir has claimed in al-Ghdba (TheJungle) that he died in
the month of Shawwd, seven months following the arrival of the Messenger of
God (SAAS) in Medina. But God knows best.
Muhammad Ibn Ishiiq related, from 'Aqim b. Wmar b. Qatitda, that the Bann
al-Najjiir asked the Messenger of God (SAAS) to appoint a leader for them to
succeed Abn Umaa As'ad b. Zuma. He replied, "You are my uncles and I am
here among you; I will he your leader." He disliked the idea of singling out any