It was the 17th year of the Hijri calendar. Four years had passed since Hazrat Umar (ra) took over the leadership of Medina.
This was a beautiful era when the pristine message of Islam was gradually spreading to neighboring countries. Realizing that the Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque) was severely overcrowded with local and visiting Muslims, the Commander of the Faithful, Umar (ra), decided to expand it.
He understood that to expand the mosque, it would be necessary to demolish the houses of the Prophet’s Companions located around the mosque and include that land into the structure.
Surrounding the mosque were the homes of the beloved wives of the Prophet (pbuh), as well as the residences of prominent Companions such as Hazrat Usama (ra), Zayd ibn Harithah (ra), Abdullah ibn Ja’far ibn Abi Talib (ra), Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (ra), Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (ra), Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (ra), Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra), Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Bakr (ra), and Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr (ra).
The Compensation Proposal
Hazrat Umar (ra) decided to leave the homes of the Prophet’s wives untouched but purchase the houses and lands of the other Companions. He summoned all the property owners and said:
“If you sell your homes to the state, you can either receive a replacement house in another part of Medina, or accept its full monetary value. Alternatively, if you wish, you may donate it as a gift; Allah is sufficient to grant the best reward.”
Upon hearing this, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Ja’far ibn Abi Talib (ra) and the two sons of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (ra) donated their homes and lands for the sake of Allah. Some of the other Companions accepted monetary compensation, while others took land in different parts of Medina, handing over their current properties to the state.
The Dispute and Court Case
At the time of this event, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) was out of town. When he returned from his journey, Hazrat Umar (ra) met him and presented the same proposal he had offered to the other homeowners.
However, Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) refused to give up his property. To this, Hazrat Umar (ra) replied:
“If you do not give up the land willingly, the state will use its authority to acquire it!”
As the argument between the two escalated, Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) filed a lawsuit in court regarding the matter. The judge, Hazrat Ubayy ibn Ka’b (ra), listened to the arguments of both sides. He then turned to Hazrat Umar (ra) and said:
“O Umar! I heard the Prophet (pbuh) say that God commanded Prophet Dawud (as) (David) to build Bayt al-Muqaddas (Jerusalem). Initially, Prophet Dawud (as) began selecting the site. Spotting a piece of land belonging to an Israelite that was ideal for the house of worship, he negotiated to buy it.
However, the owner refused to sell. Prophet Dawud (as) thought to himself, ‘What if you refuse? I shall take it anyway.’
Immediately, God revealed to Prophet Dawud (as) via Wahy (revelation): ‘A sanctuary built to worship Me must be on pure land, entirely free from oppression, usurpation, and fraud.’
Consequently, Prophet Dawud (as) paid fair compensation, purchased the land legally, and began the construction of Bayt al-Muqaddas. Therefore, O Umar, be cautious and deliberate before making your decision.”
The Resolution
Hearing this, Hazrat Umar (ra) immediately relented and said:
“O Ibn Abbas! I need neither your house nor your land. I will never seize them by utilizing state authority.”
To this, Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) replied to Hazrat Umar (ra):
“O Umar! I only did this to demonstrate the extent of the rights Islam guarantees to an individual. Furthermore, I care about the expansion of Masjid an-Nabawi even more than you do. Therefore, without seeking any compensation or reward, I hereby donate my house and land to you for the mosque.”