Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) – The Treasurer of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)

Hazrat Abdullah Al-Hawzani (rahimahullah) mentions that he once met Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in Halab (a city in Shaam). On meeting Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), he asked him, “O Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)! Tell me of the manner in which Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would spend wealth (for the cause of deen).”

Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied:

“From the time Allah Ta‘ala appointed Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) as a Nabi until he left this world, Rasulullah’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) condition was such that (from the time I was with him,) whenever he would receive any wealth, he would entrust it to me.

“Whenever any Muslim would come to Rasulullah (sallalhu alaihi wasallam) and Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) noticed that the person did not have sufficient clothing (or food), he would instruct me to provide clothing (and food) for him. If Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did not have any wealth, I would take a loan through which I would purchase a shawl and whatever else was needed, after which I would clothe the person and provide him with food.

“This continued until, one day, a disbeliever approached me and said, “O Bilaal! I possess abundant wealth, so don’t take a loan from anyone else besides me.” Accordingly, I commenced going to him for loans and stopped taking loans from other people.

“One day, I had completed my wudhu and was about to call out the azaan for salaah, when I had seen the same disbeliever standing among a group of traders nearby. When he spotted me, he immediately called out to me saying, “O Abyssinian!” He then began speaking to me in a very rude and harsh manner. He asked me, “Do you know how much time you have left until the end of the month?” I replied, “The end of the month is close.” He then said, “There are only four nights left! If you do not repay my loan by month-end, I will take you as my slave in exchange of the money which you owe me. I have not loaned you wealth due to me having any respect for you or for your companion (i.e. Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam). I only loaned you wealth so that you will become my slave and I will make you graze goats once again (in your life), as you used to do before (when you were a slave).”

“When I heard these words from him, I was shocked and taken by surprise. Nevertheless, I called out the azaan for salaah and we then performed the Esha salaah.

“When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned home after the Esha salaah, I went to him and sought permission to enter his home in order to speak to him. When he granted me permission, I entered and said, ‘O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! The disbeliever regarding whom I had mentioned to you that I am taking loans from him – he has threatened to take me as his slave if I do not pay him by the end of the month. Neither you nor I have the means to pay him and he wishes to disgrace me (among the people). Give me permission to flee to some other locality where people have embraced Islam so that I will be able to stay among them until Allah Ta’ala provides you with the means to pay the money I owe to the disbeliever.’

“After mentioning this to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), I left his home and proceeded to my home. On reaching my home, I collected my sword, bag, spear and sandals and left them at my head side after which I lay down, facing the horizon. Such was my state of worry that I was initially unable to sleep. Whenever I fell asleep, I would instantly wake up with a shock. I eventually managed to fall asleep and only awoke shortly before subh saadiq.

“In the early morning, I was about to leave my home, when a person came running to me calling out, ‘O Bilaal! Come! Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is calling you!’ I immediately hastened towards Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and on reaching him, I found that near Rasullullah’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) home there were four animals which were fully laden with goods.

“Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to me, ‘Glad tidings (O Bilaal)! Allah Ta‘ala has created the means for you to pay off your debt.’ On hearing this good news, I immediately praised Allah Ta‘ala.

“Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked me, ‘Did you not pass by the four animals kneeling (nearby)?’ I replied, “Yes, I had seen them.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said, ‘Verily, the camels together with their loads are yours.’ When I looked, I saw that they were laden with clothing and food which the leader of Fadak (a place near Madinah Munawwarah) had gifted to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).

“Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to me, ‘Take these camels and their goods and settle your debts through it.’ I obeyed Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), took the camels and began offloading the goods. I then tied the camels and went to call out the azaan for the Fajr salaah.

“When we had completed performing the Fajr salaah, I made my way to Baqee’, and inserted my fingers into my ears (to assist me to raise my voice) and called out at the top of my voice, ‘Whoever wishes to collect the money which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) owes him should present himself!’

“I continued to sell the goods and pay the debts as the creditors arrived, bartering in exchange of the monies owed, until every single debt had been settled (including the debt owed to the disbeliever who had threatened to take me as a slave). After paying all the debts, I even had one and a half or two ooqiyah left.

“By this point, most of the day had already passed. I went to the musjid where I found Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) sitting alone. After greeting him with salaam, he asked me what I had done with the camels and the loads of goods. I replied, ‘Allah Ta‘ala has settled every debt of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) until no debt remains.’

“He then asked me, ‘Is there any wealth remaining?’ I said ‘Yes, two gold coins.’ Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to me, ‘(Give this wealth in charity and) relieve me of its burden! I will not go home to any of my wives until you have not relieved me of the two gold coins (by giving them in charity to the poor).’

“Since no person came with any need (to whom I could give the sadaqah), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not go home to any of his respected wives, and instead spent the entire night in the musjid.

“Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remained in the musjid until the second day was now coming to an end. Only then did two travellers arrive whom I took with me to feed and clothe. After we had performed the Esha salaah, Rasullullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) called me and asked me what I had done with the remaining money. I said to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), ‘O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), Allah Ta‘ala has relieved you of the wealth.’

“In happiness, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said ‘Allahu Akbar!’ and praised Allah Ta‘ala out of gratitude, as he had feared leaving this world while having wealth in his possession. I then followed him as he went to the homes of all his respected wives, greeting them one after the other, until he finally arrived at the home of the wife whose turn it was for him to spend the night with.”

Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said to Hazrat Abdullah Al-Hawzani (rahimahullah), “This is the answer to your question. This is how Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would spend the wealth he received in the path of Allah Ta‘ala.” (Sunan Abi Dawood #3055 & Dalaa’ilun Nubuwwah lil Baihaqi 1/348)