The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHfR 369
Al-Bayhaqi quoted from the Kztab al-Macnfa (The Book ofKnomledge) of Abii
'Abd All& b. Munaddah, that 'Ali became engaged to Faema one year after the
hegira and that he consummated the marriage with her one year thereafter.
I would comment that by that account the consummation took place early in
the third year of the hegira. However, it is obvious that the anecdote relating to
the two camels must involve the period shortly after the battle of Badr, that is,
as we have related, at the end of the year 2 AH. But God knows best.
Section: Refience to a variety of events that occurred in the year 2 AH.
We have given details above about the marriage of the Messenger of God
(SAAS) to 'A'isha, mother of the believers, God bless her, and have already
referred to the famous engagements that had occurred; these accounts include
information on the deaths of famous men, both Muslim and polytheist.
Among those who died that year were the martyrs of the battle of Badr. These
numbered 14 including both Emigrants and Helpers. Their names have been
given above, as well as those of the chiefs of the Quraysh polytheists who numbered
70, as is widely known. Shortly after the battle, Abii Lahah 'Abd al-Wzzz
b. 'Abd al-Muttalib, God damn him, died. As is told above.
When the good news was brought to the Muslims of Medina by Zayd b.
Haitha and 'Abd Allah b. Rawaha concerning how God had afflicted the polytheists
and given victory to the believers, they found Ruqayya, daughter of the
Messenger of God (SAAS), had died and they were levelling the soil on her
grave.
Her husband Wthman b. 'Affm had stayed behind to nurse her, on the orders
of the Prophet (SAAS). This is why he was given a share of the spoils of Badr
and also assured his reward from God at Judgement Day.
Wthmm thereafter married her sister Umm Kulthiim, daughter of the
Messenger of God (SMS); this is why he was known as dhzi al-na~ayn,"he of the
two lights". It is said that no man but him was married consecutively to two
daughters of a prophet. May God be pleased with him and make him content.
That year the direction of prayer was changed, as we have related above. And
there was an addition made to the prayer performed when in residence, as
explained above.
That year fasting was prescribed, that of Ramadm, as related. The zakat dhat
al-nqab and the zakat al-ji~8~ were imposed at that time.
That year the polytheists and Jews of Medina, among the Banii Qaynuqz', the
Banii al-Nadir and the Bann Qurayza who lived there, along with the Jews of the
Bana Haitha, pretended co-operation with the Muslims. A large number of the
80. The zakat dhar nl-nuab (plural of a singular noun nkb) is a tax payable on certain
categories of possessions, provided them-payer possessed a defined minimum (nisab) value of
these. The zakat a(-& is an obligatory payment of provisions by all Muslims of means to the pmr
at the end of the fasting month of Ram&-.