Rabiah ibn Kab was a

companion of Muhammad The Companions of the Prophet () were the Muslim disciples and followers of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who saw or met him during his lifetime. The companions played a major role in Muslim battles, society, hadith narration, and governance ...

Biography

He was a poor man from the

tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide use of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. The definition is contested, in part due to conflict ...

Banu Aslam Banu Aslam () were an Arabian tribe during the Islamic prophet Muhammad's era. During the Invasion of Hamra al-Asad, Muhammad sent 3 spies belonging to this tribe to track the departing Meccan Army. During the Battle of the Trench also known as t ...

and he converted to

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

at an early age, requesting of his own accord to be a servant of

Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...

so as to be in his company as much as possible. He resided in ''

Suffah Al-Ṣuffah (), or ''Dikkat Ashab As-Suffah'' () was a sheltered raised platform that was available at the rear side of the Prophet's Mosque during the Medina period (622-632) of early Islam. It was initially available at the northeastern corner ...

'' of the

mosque A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard. Originally, mosques were si ...

with other poor Muslims, who were called the ''"guests of Islam"'' and received charity from Muhammad. Muhammad arrived in Madina on Friday, 12th of Rabiul Awwal, 1AH. The first task upon his arrival was the construction of Muhammad’s mosque- at the site of the camel’s kneeling. The site belonged to two orphan boys- it was previously a graveyard of the polytheists. The Muslims began the construction of the Mosque (Masjidun Nabi). The mosque contained Muhammad's house. It also had a place for the Muslims who had neither family nor home (As-Sufa). Rabi’ah Ibn Ka’b Al Aslami was amongst the companions who lived in As-Sufa. Rabi’ah Ibn Ka’b Al Aslami was a young, poor companion who lived in Suffa (part of the Masjid in Madina reserved for the poor homeless companions). He devoted himself to the service of Muhammad. He used to pour the water for Muhammad's wudu and do other services. He was so eager to serve Muhammad that he would sleep by the front door of his house so if Muhammad called him, he could rush to his service immediately. Once Muhammad called him and Rabi’ah replied with “Labaik Ya Rasool Allah wa Sa’daik”. Muhammad wished to reward and repay Rabi’ah for his services and asked him what he would like. Rabi’ah asked for some time to think over what he wanted. As he was poor, he thought of asking for wealth but then changed his mind. When Muhammad asked him what he wanted the second time, Rabi’ah said “Murafaqatuka fil Jannah Ya Rasool Allah” (I want your companionship in Paradise of Messenger of Allah). Muhammad asked him if he wanted anything else but Rabi’ah said no, that is all he wished for so Muhammad told him to help himself by increasing in prostration. Rabi’ah was always seen in prostration after that. Muhammad arranged his marriage to a good family and gave him land next to Abu Bakr’s land. Once, Rabi’ah and Abu Bakr got into an argument over a palm tree in their lands. Abu Bakr, in the heat of the argument, swore at Rabi’ah and felt immediate regret. He told Rabi’ah to say the swear word back to him as an act of retaliation but Rabi’ah refused. Abu Bakr demanded Rabi’ah swears at him with the same word but Rabi’ah still refused so Abu Bakr got angry and said he would go and complain to Muhammad. Rabi’ah’s people from Banu Aslam came to Rabi’ah’s defence and were shocked by Abu Bakr’s actions that he swears and then he goes to complain to Muhammad. Rabi’ah told them to go away and that if Abu Bakr sees them, he might get angry and as a result, Muhammad would get angry and therefore Allah would get angry and thus Rabi’ah would be destroyed. Rabi’ah followed Abu Bakr and arrived at Muhammad’s location. Muhammad asked Rabi’ah what the matter was. Rabi’ah said that Abu Bakr swore at him and wanted him to swear back to make it even but he refused. Muhammad said he did well and guided him to say to Abu Bakr “Ghafar Allahu Lak” (May Allah forgive you) instead. Abu Bakr began to cry. Muhammad ruled the palm tree belonged to Rabi’ah Ibn Ka’b.

References

{{unreferenced, date=December 2009 Companions of the Prophet