Thabit ibn Qays ibn Shammas

Thabit ibn Qays ibn Shammas al-Ansari al-Khazraji, the “orator of the Ansar.” He was known as Abu Ahmad, and it is also said Abu Abd al-Rahman. ¹.

Ibn al-Sakan reports from Anas that Thabit gave a sermon when the Messenger of God arrived in Medina. He said, “We will protect you from what we protect ourselves, our children from. So what is for us?” The Prophet said, “Paradise.” They said, “We are content.” ¹.

The writers on the campaigns do not list him among the men of Badr. They said his first battle was Uhud, and he took part in what came after. The Prophet gave him the good news of Paradise in a well-known story transmitted by Musa ibn Anas from his father. The original hadith is in Muslim. ¹. In al-Tirmidhi, with a fair chain of transmission from Abu Hurayra (may God be pleased with him), the Prophet said, “What a fine man is Thabit ibn Qays.” ¹.

Al-Bukhari, in an abridged report, and al-Tabarani, in a longer one, transmit from Anas that when the people broke ranks on the day of Yamama, he found Thabit preparing himself for death with perfume. Thabit said, “This is not how we fought with the Messenger of God. How bad a habit you have taught your fellows! O God, I disown before You what these people have brought.” He then fought until he was killed. ¹.

Ibn Hajar reports that he had a precious coat of mail, and a Muslim man who passed by took it. Then a man saw him in a dream, and Thabit asked him to tell Khalid where the coat of mail was. He also asked him to tell Abu Bakr that he had a debt, and that a certain man was freed. The man woke up and told Khalid, and the coat was brought. He told Abu Bakr about his dream, and Abu Bakr allowed the bequest. ¹.

When Utarid ibn Hajib (may God be pleased with him) gave a speech boasting of Banu Tamim in their delegation in the year 9 AH, the Prophet said to Thabit ibn Qays ibn al-Shammas, brother of the Banu al-Harith ibn al-Khazraj, “Stand up and answer the man's speech.” ² He stood up and praised God, who created the heavens and the earth. He said that among His power is that He made people into kings. God chose from the best of His creation a Messenger, the most noble in lineage, the most truthful in speech, and the most excellent in standing. He sent down His Book to him and entrusted him with His creation. The Muhajirun of his people and his kin believed in him. Then the Ansar were the first of creation to answer: “We are the helpers of God and the ministers of His Messenger.” They fight people until they believe. Whoever believes has his property and blood protected, and whoever disbelieves they fight. ³ After the poetry, al-Aqra ibn Habis said that the orator of the Muslims was more eloquent than the orator of Tamim. ⁴