Thabit ibn Qays, also named Abu Muhammad, was a man of immense eloquence. Not only this, but he also was a man of profound humility and selflessness. You could say he was the “official spokesperson” of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ! His life and character offer inspiration to all who strive to serve Allah and His Messenger ﷺ . His story as you will see was intertwined with verses of the Qur’an!
A Testament to Generosity and Sacrifice
The generosity of the Ansar (the Helpers of Madinah), among whom Thabit ibn Qays was prominent. One night, a man came to the Prophet ﷺ, saying, “O Messenger of Allah, I am overwhelmed with hunger and hardship.”
The Prophet ﷺ sent a message to his wives, but they had nothing to offer. He then turned to his companions and said, “Who will host this man tonight and show him mercy, so Allah will have mercy on him?”
Thabit ibn Qays stood up and said, “I will, O Messenger of Allah.” He took the guest home and instructed his wife, “Honour the guest of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and do not withhold anything from him.”
She replied, “By Allah, we have nothing except a small amount of food for the children.”
He told her, “Distract the children with sleep when they ask for food, then extinguish the lamp and let us pretend to eat so the guest does not feel embarrassed. Tonight, we will remain hungry.”
They did as planned, ensuring their guest ate his fill while they endured hunger.
The next morning, the man went to the Prophet ﷺ, who said, “Indeed, Allah was amazed-or laughed-with delight at the actions of you and your wife.” Allah then revealed the verse:
“وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ”
“They give [others] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation.” (Surah Al-Hashr: 9).
This act of selflessness was typical of the Ansar, among whom Thabit ibn Qays stood as a leading figure.
When Revelation Struck His Heart
Thabit ibn Qays’s naturally loud voice became a source of immense fear when the following verse was revealed:
“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ وَلَا تَجْهَرُوا لَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ.”
“O you who have believed, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet or be loud to him in speech like the loudness of some of you to others, lest your deeds become worthless while you perceive not.” (Surah Al-Hujurat: 2).
Thabit immediately felt the weight of these words. He feared his loud voice might have unintentionally caused his deeds to be nullified or, worse, that he will be thrown in the hellfire!
Consumed by this fear, Thabit sat weeping on the road, where he was noticed by his companion, Asim ibn Adi. Asim asked, “What makes you weep, O Thabit?”
He replied, “This verse—‘Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet’—I fear it was revealed about me. I have a loud voice, and I fear that my deeds are rendered void and that I am among the people of Hell.”
Asim ibn Adi immediately went to inform the Prophet ﷺ of Thabit ibn Qays’s distress. Meanwhile, overcome with emotion, Thabit ibn Qays retreated to his home, asking his wife, Jamila bint Abdullah ibn Ubayy, to lock him inside the stable of his horse. He instructed her, “Fasten the door with a nail, for I will not leave until Allah takes my soul or the Prophet ﷺ is pleased with me.”
The Prophet’s Reaction
When Asim relayed the message to the Prophet ﷺ, he instructed him to call for Thabit ibn Qays. Asim ibn Adi returned to find him in the stable. Breaking the lock, he brought Thabit to the Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ asked, “What makes you weep, O Thabit?”
Thabit replied, “I am a man of loud voice, and I fear this verse was revealed about me.”
The Prophet ﷺ, with his compassion, reassured him:
“Would you not be pleased to live a praiseworthy life, die as a martyr, and enter Paradise?”
Thabit, overjoyed, responded, “I am pleased with the glad tidings of Allah and His Messenger, and I will never raise my voice above yours again, O Messenger of Allah.”
It was then that Allah revealed:
“إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ عِندَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ امْتَحَنَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ”
“Indeed, those who lower their voices before the Messenger of Allah – they are the ones whose hearts Allah has tested for righteousness. For them is forgiveness and a great reward.” (Surah Al-Hujurat: 3).
An Eloquent Defender of Islam
Thabit ibn Qays was not only known for his humility but also for his eloquence. He was the official spokesperson of the Prophet ﷺ, a fact often overlooked when mentioning poets of his time like Hassaan ibn Thabit, Abdullah ibn Rawaha, and Ka’b ibn Malik. Thabit would respond to poets and spokespersons of rival tribes with speeches so compelling and impactful that they seemed pre-prepared. His words silenced opposition and uplifted the message of Islam. A skill that has proven rare in the 21st century!
The Prophecy Unfolding
Like Al Bara ibn Malik, Thabit ibn Qays fought alongside the Prophet ﷺ in every battle except Badr. Despite fighting in many battles he did not achieve martyrdom during the Prophet’s lifetime. His end came in the Battle of Yamama, one of the most intense and decisive battles for the Muslims. Thabit ibn Qays valiantly fought against the forces of Musaylimah the Liar. True to the prophecy of the Prophet ﷺ, Thabit ibn Qays died as a martyr, securing his place in Paradise.