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Fatwa CenterBiography of Balʻaam ibn Baʻooraa’
Question
Who was Balʻaam?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Balʻaam ibn Baʻooraa’ was an ancient scholar who was said to belong to Canaanites. It was also said that he belonged to the Jabaabirah (the Amalekites) in Jerusalem. Some scholars stated that he was from Yemen, and some said that he was from Balqaa’ (in Jordan), and others said that he was one of the scholars of Banu Israa'eel (Children of Israel) and that his supplication was answered. Moosa (Moses) 
used to ask him to lead in supplication in times of difficulty, and Moosa would say “Aameen” to his supplication. There were also other views about his identity.
Al-Haafith Ibn ʻAsaakir 
wrote in Tareekh Dimashq (History of Damascus), “His name was Balʻam or Balʻaam ibn Baʻooraa’ .... He lived in a village in Balqaa’ (a province of Jordan). He knew the Greatest Name of Allaah but reverted from the religion of Moosa. There is a reference to him in the Quran...” [Taareekh Dimashaq]
Imaam Ahmad wrote in Kitaab Az-Zuhd:
“Prophet Moosa sent Balʻaam ibn Baʻooraa' to the King of Madyan to call him to Allaah. He was one of the scholars of the Children of Israel and his supplication was answered. Moosa used to seek his lead in supplication in times of difficulty and Moosa would say 'Aameen' to his supplication. The King (of Madyan) appeased him and gave him land and gifts, so he reverted from the religion of Moosa and followed the king's religion. Allaah, The Exalted, revealed about him the following verse: {And recite to them (O Muhammad) the news of him to whom we gave (knowledge of) Our signs, but he detached himself from them; so Satan pursued him, and he became of the deviators.} [Quran 7:175]...” [Az-Zuhd]
It is also said that the verse was revealed about Umayyah ibn Abi As-Salt Ath-Thaqafi, who had studied the Scriptures and knew that Allaah was about to send a messenger at that time and hoped to himself be that messenger. When Allaah sent Muhammad 
he envied him resentfully and disbelieved in him. The Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, said about him, “His poetry believes, but his heart does not.” Hadeeth scholars criticized the chain of narration of this hadeeth.
The Hanafi scholar Al-Khaadimi wrote:
“It has been narrated that the people of Balʻaam asked him to supplicate Allaah against Moosa. He said, 'Woe to you! How can I supplicate against Kaleemu-Allaah (i.e. the one whom Allaah spoke to), with whom the angels are?!' They kept luring and persuading him until he was tempted by his own inclination and supplicated against Moosa, who remained with his soldiers in the wilderness (for forty years). Allaah caused him to be cast out, the parable of whom was the parable of a deserted dog. He lured him into misguidance and deprived him of his knowledge.” [Bareeqah Mahmoodiyyah]
In any case, the story of Balʻaam and the likes of him is intended to be an example one would deduce lessons from to reflect and learn. Whoever is endowed with knowledge but failed to act upon it and chose to yield to his sinful urges and worldly desires is like Balʻaam or whoever follows his example. As-Saʻdi commented on the verse, saying:
“The verse encourages people to act upon the knowledge that they acquire and indicates that knowledge is a great honor conferred by Allaah upon the person and a shield against the Devil. It also warns against failure to act upon the knowledge that one obtains and that this constitutes subjecting oneself to the lowest possible debasement, causing the Devil to overpower and control him. It also constitutes following one's sinful desires and urges, which may lead one to be abandoned by Allaah and have a foul final stage of life...” [Tafseer As-Saʻdi]
We seek refuge with Allaah from being abandoned by Him and from a foul final stage of life.
Allaah knows best.
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