Trust: A Story from the Ibadhi Literature

This story was narrated by Abu Sufyan about Abu Al-Hurr Ali ibn Al-Hussain, one of the Ibadhi scholars and has participated with Abu Hamza.

It was reported from Essa ibn 'Ulqama that he said:

Abu Al-Hurr was wealthy (a rich man), and his yield comes to him from Basrah to Makkah as gold in one knock. So he divides it into two halves. Then he distributes one half between poor Muslims, and one quarter for his expenditure, and one quarter he keeps it ready for those Muslims who pass by him and their help.

A Muslim young man kept company with him, and he was his attendant and the one who looks after his needs. His yield came to him once and he gave the half to the poor Muslims. Then he was in need of its price, that is, the second half. So he called the young man and commanded him to sell it (i.e. the second half).

The young man was slow in coming. Then he said to him: "What detained you?" He replied: "The piece got lost." Abu Al-Hurr said: "Indeed, Allah recompenses everything that is doomed to destruction." And he didn't ask him about anything.

One day, he went out to the mosque. Abu Al-Hurr went out to the mosque one day, and lo, the piece was placed between the hands of an artisan; and he recognized it.

So Abu Al-Hurr said to the artisan: "From where did it come to you?" He replied: "People from Banu Makhzum. They gave it to me to fashion it, for them into ornaments."  The artisan passed by him again. He said to him: "I asked the people and they said that the young man, who is serving you, sold it to them.

So, Abu Al-Hurr sought confirmation of the news from the Makhzumis. And Abu Al-Hurr used to have a gathering, where he sits for remembrance on Mondays and Thursdays. Thus he commanded the young man to call an assembly of Muslim sheikhs to attend his gathering; and he did.

Abu Al-Hurr said to sheikhs: "Let most of your speech be about honoring Trust because some of your companions were tried." And they did.

And when it came to Abu Al-Hurr's turn, he honored it as Allah willed; and the youth was sitting, immersed in sweat.

The people went out and no one remained in the house except Abu Al-Hurr. The youth said: "By Allah, I am ruined! I betrayed you about the piece."

Abu l-Hurr said: "Allah is the Greatest. That's what I wanted. By Allah, it is for you and I have no need of it. And seek forgiveness of Allah."

And he was with Abu Al-Hurr at his best state of being.

Translated by: Bint Ibadh

I strongly encourage you to listen to the story from Dr. Nasser Al-Sabi