Adiy ibn Hatim (RA)
Opposition to Islam and Early Enmity:
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ first announced Islam to the Arabs, the regions in Arabia started to accept his teachings.
Adiy ibn Hatim saw the Prophet’s call as a threat to his leadership.
Hatred for the Prophet:
Adiy ibn Hatim hated the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ even though he never met him personally.
Adiy remained against Islam for several years until Allah SWT opened his heart to the truth, later on in his life.
Adiy ibn Hatim on the Prophet:
Adiy ibn Hatim said: There was no man among the Arabs who detested the Messenger of Allah, more than I. When I heard about him, I was a man of status and nobility. I was a Christian. When I heard of the Messenger of Allah, I hated him. When his mission grew in strength and when his power increased and his armies and expeditionary forced dominated east and west of the land of the Arabs, I said to a servant of mine who looked after my camels: Get ready a fat camel for me which is easy to ride and tether it close to me. If you hear of an army of Muhammad coming towards the land, let me know.
Adiy said: One evening, my servant came to me and said: what you intended to do on the approach of Muhammad’s army coming to your land, do it now. I have seen scouts searching close to the habitations. I asked about them and was told that they belonged to the army of Muhammad.
Adiy replied to his servant: Bring the camel which I had ordered you to get ready.
Fleeing to Syria and Separation from his Sister:
Adiy ibn Hatib then said: I got up and summoned my household to evacuate the land we loved. We headed in the direction of Syria to join people of our own faith among the Christians and settle among them.
Because of how quickly Adiy gathered his family, he realised that some of his family were still missing, and he left his sister in the Najd area with the rest of the people from Ta’if.
Adiy ibn Hatib narrated that whilst he was in Syria, the Muslim army of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ entered their land and took his sister along with other captives to Yathrib (Madinah).
Captivity and Release of Adiy’s Sister:
Adiy ibn Hatim’s sister and the rest of the captives were placed near the door of the Masjid and after some time, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed by her.
She stood up before the Prophet and said: My father is dead and my guardian is not here, be gracious to me and Allah will be gracious to you.
The Prophet asked: who is your guardian? The woman replied: Adiy ibn Hatim.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then left and walked away. On the following day, the same incident occurred and the Prophet replied in the same manner.
On the third day, Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was behind the Prophet, indicated that she should stand up and talk to him.
Adiy’s Sister Meets the Prophet:
The woman said once again: O Messenger of Allah, my father is dead and my guardian is absent, be gracious to me and Allah will be gracious to you.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ agreed and said: Let her go for her father loved noble ways and Allah loves them.
Adiy’s sister replied: I want to join my family in Syria.
The Prophet said: Don’t leave in a hurry until you find someone you can trust from your people who would accompany you to Syria. If you find a trustworthy person, let me know.
Release of Adiy’s Sister and Her Counsel:
She stayed in Yathrib (Madinah) until a group arrived where she knew someone she could trust.
She then went to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and said: O Messenger of Allah, a group of my people have come to me and among them is one I can trust who could take me to my family.
The Prophet gave her clothes and an adequate amount of money, and he also gave her a camel.
When Adiy ibn Hatim was reunited with his sister, she informed him about the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and what had happened.
Adiy ibn Hatim asked: what do you think of the mission of this man? His sister replied: I think, by Allah, you should join him quickly, if he is a Prophet, the one who hastens towards him would enjoy his grace. And if he is a king, you would not be disgraced in his sight while you are as you are.
Adiy ibn Hatib’s Journey to Madinah:
Adiy then left to meet with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Madinah.
Adiy ibn Hatim’s Interaction with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
Adiy ibn Hatib went up to the Prophet at the Mosque and greeted him.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked: who is this man? Adiy replied: Adiy ibn Hatim.
The Prophet stood up, took the hand of Adiy and left for his house.
Signs of the Prophet’s Humility:
As they were walking to the house, the Prophet stopped by and started talking to a weak old woman about a problem. After witnessing this, Adiy thought to himself: By Allah, this is no king!
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ took Adiy to his house, where there was a leather cushion filled with palm fibre, which he gave to Adiy and said: Sit on this.
Adiy felt embarrassed and said: Rather you sit on it, but the Prophet refused and sat on the floor because there was no other cushion.
Adiy said to himself again: By Allah, this is not the manner of a king!
Conversation and Recognition of Prophethood:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then turned to Adiy and said: Haven’t you been a ‘Rukusi?’
This was a religion between Christianity and Sabeanism.
Adiy ibn Hatib replied: Yes I am. The Prophet asked: Did you not operate among your people on the principle of exacting from them a fourth, taking from them what your religion does not allow you?
Adiy was shocked that the Prophet knew this and he replied: Yes I did.
Adiy ibn Hatim had now realised that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a Prophet sent from Allah SWT.
Prophecies to Remove Adiy’s Doubts:
Addressing Poverty of Muslims:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then said: Perhaps, O Adiy, the only thing that prevents you from entering this religion is what you see in the destitution of the Muslims and their poverty. By Allah, the time is near when wealth would flow among them until no one could be found to take it.
Small Number of Muslims and Women Travelling Across Arabia Safely:
The Prophet continued: Perhaps, O Adiy the only thing that prevents you from entering this religion is what you see of the small number of Muslims and their numerous foes. By Allah, the time is near when you would hear of the woman setting out from Qadisiyah on her camel until she reaches the house, not fearing anyone except Allah.
Addressing Worldly Power:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Perhaps what prevents you from entering this religion is that you only see that sovereignty and power rest in the hands of those who are not Muslims. By Allah, you will soon hear of the white palaces of the land of Babylon opening up for them and the treasures of the Chosroes, the son of Hormuz, fall.
Adiy asked: The treasures of Chosroes, the son of Hormuz? The Prophet replied: Yes, the treasures of Chosroes, the son of Hormuz.
Acceptance of Islam:
After this conversation, Adiy ibn Hatim accepted Islam.
Honourable Treatment:
Some people observed the Prophet’s treatment of Adiy and said to him: O Prophet of Allah, we have seen you do something which you have not done to any other.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ replied: Yes, this is a man of stature among his people. If such a person should come to you, treat him honourably.
Fulfilment of Prophecies:
Adiy ibn Hatim later said: Two of the things the Messenger of Allah spoke of, came to pass and there remained a third. By Allah, it will certainly come to pass.
Prophecy of the Woman at Qadisiyah:
Adiy ibn Hatib said: I have seen the woman leaving Qadisiyah on her camel fearing nothing until she arrived at this house (of the Prophet) in Madinah.
Prophecy of the Treasures of Chosroes:
Adiy ibn Hatib said: I myself was in the vanguard of the cavalry which descended on the treasures of Chosroes and took them. And I swear by Allah, that the third event will be realised.
The third statement of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ occurred during the time of Umar ibn Abd al-‘Aziz, where wealth flowed among the Muslims just like he prophesied.
The Muslims had so much wealth to the point where they would call people throughout the Muslim lands to come and collect Zakat, but no one was found in need to respond.
Hadiths Narrated by Adiy ibn Hatim:
Adiy ibn Hatim said: I came to the the Messenger of Allah whilst I had a cross of gold around my neck. The Prophet ﷺ said: O Adiy. Remove this idol from yourself. (Tirmidhi)
Adiy ibn Hatim narrated that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity. (Bukhari, Muslim)
Adiy ibn Hatim stated that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: The Jews are those whose Allah’s wrath is with and the Christians have strayed. (Tirmidhi)