CHAPTER 28 – OFFERING WHAT ONE DOES NOT POSSESS
It is narrated on the authority of Imran bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:
Adbā was a female camel belonging to a man from Banu Akil. Adbā used to outpace the camels carrying pilgrims. The man, along with his camel, was captured and brought to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was mounted on a riding animal with velvet spread over it.
The man said: “O Muhammad! Why do you detain me? Why do you take my camel that carries the pilgrims?”
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "We have taken you as retaliation for what the people of Ta’if did.” The narrator says that they had captured two companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
The narrator further states: “The man said between his words, ‘I am a Muslim.’ Or he said, ‘I have become a Muslim.’ After the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by.”
Abu Dawud says: I narrated from the narration of Muhammad bin Isa that the man called out to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), “O Muhammad! O Muhammad!” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was merciful and gentle. He turned towards his call and said, "What do you want? What is your need?" The man said, "I am a Muslim." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) then said to him:
"If you had become Muslim while you were free, you would have attained complete liberation.”
Abu Dawud says: Then I turned to the narration related by Suleyman bin Harb. The man said: “O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), I am hungry, feed me; I am thirsty, give me water.”
Suleyman says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "This is what you need," or "That is his need [fulfill it]."
The man was released in exchange for the release of two Muslim men held captive by the people of Ta’if. But the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) kept the camel named Adbā belonging to the man, for riding.
The narrator says: The polytheists raided the pastures of Medina and took away Adbā. When they took Adbā, they had captured a Muslim woman. At night, they would let their camels lie down in their courtyards. One night, they all slept. The woman got up and put her hand on one camel after another until it brayed; then she reached Adbā, which was an obedient camel accustomed to being ridden. She immediately mounted her. Then she vowed that if Allah saved her, she would slaughter this camel for His sake.
When the woman arrived in Medina, it was discovered that the camel was Adbā, the Messenger of Allah’s (peace and blessings be upon him) camel. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was informed about it. He sent a man to bring her.
He said: “You have given her a terrible punishment or you have inflicted a terrible penalty on her. If Allah saves her through this, she will surely be slaughtered!” It is not permissible to fulfill vows made in disobedience to Allah and concerning things that are not within the power of human beings.”
Abu Dawud says: This woman was the wife of Abu Zarr. [168]