English translation
3055. 'Abdullāh Al-Hawzanī said: "I met Bilāl, the Mu'adh-dhin of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ in Ḥalab (Aleppo), and said: 'O Bilāl, tell me how the spending of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ was.' He said: 'He did not have anything. I was the one who dealt with that on his behalf, from the time his Mission began, until the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ died. If a Muslim came to him, and he saw he was poorly clothed, he would order me to go and borrow money, and buy a Burdah for him, and I would clothe him and feed him. Then an idolater
man met me, and said: "O Bilāl, I am well off, so do not borrow from anyone but me." So I did that. One day, I performed Wudū' and stood up to call the Adhān for the prayer, and I saw that the idolator had come with a group of merchants. When he saw me he said: "O Ethiopian!" I said: "Here I am." He frowned at me, and spoke harshly to me, and said to me: "Do you know how many days are left until the end of the month?" I said: "A few." He said: "There are only four, then I shall take you back (into slavery) in return for what you owe me, and you will go back to tending sheep as you did before." I got distressed, as anyone would in such a situation. I prayed Al-'Atamah ('Īshā') and the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ went back to his family, then I asked for permission to enter upon him, and he gave me permission. I said: "O Messenger of Allāh, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you. The idolater from whom I used to borrow money said such and such to me, and neither you nor I have anything with which to pay him, and he will disgrace me. Give me permission to run away to one of these tribes who have accepted Islam, until Allāh provides His Messenger ﷺ with something with which he can pay it off on my behalf." I left for my house and I put my sword, water-skin, shoes and shield by my head, intending to leave as soon as dawn broke. But a man came running and said: "O
Bilāl, go and see the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ.” So I went to him, and there were four camels kneeling with their loads on their backs. I asked permission to enter, and the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said to me: “Be of good cheer, for Allāh has send something with which to pay off your debt.” Then he said: “Do you not see these four camels kneeling?” I said: “Yes.” He said: “They and their loads are for you; they are carrying clothing and food that was given to me by the ruler of Fadak; take them, and pay off your debt.” So I did that. Then I went to the Masjid and saw the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ sitting in the Masjid. I greeted him with Salām and he said: “How was the wealth you had (i.e., was it enough to pay off the debt)?” I said: “Allāh, Exacted is He, has paid off everything that was due from the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, and there is nothing left to pay.” He said: “Is there anything left over?” I said: “Yes.” He said: “See if you can relieve me of it, for I will not enter upon any of my family until you relieve me of it.” When the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ had prayed Al-'Atamah (Īshā'), he called me and said: “What happened to the wealth you had with you?” I said: “It is (still) with me; no one has come to me.” The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ spent the night in the Masjid, then when he had prayed Al-'Atamah (Īshā') the following night, he called me, and said: “What happened to the wealth you had with you?” I said:
"Allāh has relieved you of it, O Messenger of Allāh." He exclaimed the greatness of Allāh, and praised Him, fearing that death would come upon him while he still had that wealth. Then I followed him, and he went to his wives and greeted each of them, one by one, until he came to the place where he was to spend the night. This is what you asked me about."
(Hasan)
