Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

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One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

My child got assignment from her school that ”Find out the reason of selling Prophet’s (SAW) armor to a jew” I searched the net and found the following answer. Could you please confirm that the following story about Dhat al-Fudua is correct or not?

The Prophet had seven pieces of armor: Dhat al-Fudul, which he later pawned with Abu ash-Shahm - a Jew - in return for some thirty sa` (weights pertaining to food) of barley for his family. The debt was for a year. Dhat al-Fudul was made of iron. The Prophet also had Dhat al-Wishah, Dhat al-Hawashi, as-Sa`diyyah, Fiddah, al-Batra`, and al-Khirniq.

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Answer:

Why prophet(saws) took loan from Jew

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.453 Narrated by Aisha

Allah's Messenger (saws) bought some foodstuff (barley) from a Jew on credit and mortgaged his iron armor to him.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.165 Narrated by Aisha

Allah's Messenger (saws) died while his (iron) armor was mortgaged to a Jew for thirty ‘Sa’s’ of barley.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.283 Narrated by Qatada

Hadrat Anas bin Malik (r.a.) went to the Prophet (saws) with barley bread having some dissolved fat on it. The Prophet (saws) had mortgaged his armor to a Jew in Medinah and took from him some barley for his family. Hadrat Anas (r.a.) heard him saying, "The household of Muhammad (saws) did not possess even a single Sa of wheat or food grains for the evening meal, although he has nine wives to look after."

Your Question: …..Could you please confirm that the following story about Dhat al-Fudua is correct or not?

Although it cannot be accurately confirmed which amongst the Prophet’s (saws) armors was kept as a guarantee, it is reported that the Noble Prophet (saws) died in a state when one of his armors was pledged with a Jew as a guarantee for the foodstuff which the Prophet (saws) had taken from him to feed his family.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan