[13] Some Extraordinary Personalities of The First Three Generations

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Merc y.

Rajaa Ibn Haywah, may Allah have mercy upon him

He was an Imam and one considered a role model, a just minister, Abu Nasr al-Kindi al-Azdi- and it is also said, al-Filastini (the Palestinian) and a jurist among the prominent of the Tabi‘in. It is said that his grandfather, Jarwal ibn al-Ahnaf, was a companion (of the Prophet).

Rajaa narrated from Mu‘adh Ibn Jabal, Abu Ad-Darda, Ubadah ibn al-Samit, and a group (of other people). He transmitted from these and others through Mursal reports and other than them. He also narrated from Abdullah Ibn Amr, Mu’aawiyah, Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, Jabir, Abu Umamah al-Bahaili, Mahmud Ibn al-Rabee, Umm Ad-Darda, Abd al-Malik Ibn Marwan, his father Haywah, Abu Idrees, and many others. He was narrated from by Mak’hool, Az-Zuhri, Qatadah, Abdul Malik Ibn ‘Umayr, Ibraaheem Ibn Abee Ablah, Ibn Awn, Humayd at-Taweel, Ash’ath ibn Abee Ash- Sha’tha, Muhammad ibn Ajlaan, Muhammad Ibn Jahadah, Urwah Ibn Ruwaym, Rajaa ibn Abee Salamah, Thawr ibn Yazeed, and others.

Ibn Sa’d said: “He (Rajaa) was trustworthy, knowledgeable, virtuous, and possessed a lot of knowledge.” An-Nasaa’ee and other than him said: “He was trustworthy.”

It was narrated from Rajaa that he said: “Whoever befriends only those who have no faults will have few friends. Whoever is not satisfied with his friend unless he is completely committed to him, his displeasure will last forever. And whoever rebukes his brothers for every mistake will have many enemies”.

Whenever Abdullah Ibn Awn mentioned someone he admired, he would mention Rajaa ibn Ḥaywah. Al-Aṣma’ee said: I heard Ibn Awn say, “I have seen three men, and I have not seen anyone similar to them: Muḥammad ibn Seereen in Iraq, Al-Qaasim Ibn Muḥammad in the Ḥijaaz, and Rajaa Ibn Ḥaywah in Shaam.”

Al-Ansari narrated from Ibn Awn, who said: Ibraaheem, Ash-Sha’bee, and Al-Hasan (Al-Basri) used to convey ḥadeeth by meaning, while al-Qaasim, Ibn Seereen, and Rajaa used to do so to the letter”.

Abdur-Raḥmān ibn Yazīd ibn Jābir said: Once we were with Rajāʾ ibn Ḥaywah, then we began reminding one another about showing gratitude for (Allah’s) blessings, so he said: ‘There is no one who can truly fulfill gratitude (to Allah) due to blessings’. And behind us there was a man with a cloak over his head, who said: ‘Not even the Amīr al-Muʾminīn)?’ We said: ‘We said: ‘The Amīr al-Muʾminīn has not been mentioned (specifically) here, rather, we are speaking in general — about any person!’ He (Abdur Rahman) said: ‘Our attention was diverted from him, then Rajā turned to notice his presence but could not see him, so he said, ‘The one who was wearing the cloak came to you. If you are called to swear by Allah, swear by Allah (truthfully)’.

He (Abdur Rahman) said: ‘It was not long before a guard of his (i.e. the Amīr al-Muʾminīn) approached him’. He (the Amīr al-Muʾminīn) said: ‘O Rajā! The Amīr al-Muʾminīn is mentioned, and you did not defend him (or support him)?’ He (Rajā) said: ‘O Amīr al-Muʾminīn! What is the matter about?’ He said: ‘You mentioned showing gratitude for (Allah’s) blessings and said: ‘: ‘There is no one who can truly fulfill gratitude (to Allah) due to blessings’ and it was said to you, ‘Not even the Amīr al-Muʾminīn?’ And you said: ‘Amīr al-Muʾminīn is just a man like others!’ Rajāʾ replied: ‘That did not happen'(i.e. you were not specified as the one intended regarding this discussion). He said, ‘By Allah'(i.e. you did not mean this?)

Rajāʾ said: ‘By Allah’. So, he (Amīr al-Muʾminīn) commanded that the man who transmitted the (rumour) be whipped seventy lashes. Then I exited and the man was covered in his own blood. Then he said: ‘You are Rajā ibn Ḥaywah and this happens because of you?!’ He (Rajā) said: ‘Seventy lashes on your back are better than (spilling) a believer’s blood’. Ibn Jābir said: ‘Thereafter, whenever Rajā sat in a gathering, he would say while looking around, ‘Beware of the man who wore the cloak'”.

Yaḥyah Ibn Ma’een said: “Rajaa Ibn Ḥaywah lived to witness (the era of) Mu’aawiyah, and he died at the beginning of the rule of Hishām.” Abu Ubayd and Khaleefah ibn Khayyaat said: “He died in the year 112 AH”.

Siyar A’lam An-Nubulaa 4/558-561