Malik bin Sinan (r.a.)

He was leading a hard life in order to make a living for his family. He could hardly meet his essential needs. When he lost all of his worldly possessions, he became very poor and needy. It was really difficult for a father to find a handful of dates and a piece of bread to satisfy the hunger of his children. Once, he could not find food for three days on end.

Although he was so needy, he did not tell anybody about his problem. He had not asked anything from anybody up to that time. He did not want to beg and ask anything from anybody. Those who saw him could not guess that he was in need; they thought he was rich.

However, there was one who knew: “(Charity is) for those in need, who, in Allah´s cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land, seeking (For trade or work): the ignorant man thinks, because of their modesty, that they are free from want. Thou shalt know them by their (Unfailing) mark: They beg not importunately from all the sundry...”[1]

God Almighty informed His beloved Messenger about those believers in trouble that He praised in His Book. However, almost all Muslims were in a similar situation at that time. Hundreds of Muhajirs from Makkah had come to Madinah and Ansar had shared their wealth with their new guests. It was not easy to find a solution for this problem in a short time.   

He went to Masjid an-Nabawi. He would be consoled when he saw his friends in religion. He sat quietly in a corner. Meanwhile, he caught the eye of the Messenger of Allah. When the Prophet saw this Companion who relied on Allah, he said to his Companions, 

“If you want to see a person who is honorable and chaste, look at Malik bin Sinan.”

Hz. Malik was a self-sacrificing and pious Companion of the Prophet of guidance. He was a fortunate person who welcomed the Prophet when he came to Madinah, who accepted Islam with his family members and who was with him in war and peace. His wife, Anisa, supported him an all aspects. She accepted Islam with him and prepared things for him so that he will serve Islam and make jihad, and encouraged him.   

There was a consultation meeting for the Battle of Uhud. Malik bin Sinan experienced jihad in Badr. He wanted to confront those who wanted to put out Allah’s light again. He expressed his view as follows:

“We are between two good things. Either Allah will make us victorious – only the polytheists who escape will be saved in that case – or He will grant us martyrdom. O Messenger of Allah! I swear by Allah that both of them are the same for me. No matter which one occurs, it will be good for us.”

Abu Said al-Khudri, his eleven-year-old son, had such an enthusiastic belief in his little heart that he wanted to be with the Prophet, to listen to his luminous talk and to experience moments of Paradise. Besides, he tried to do anything that the Prophet showed without taking his age and power into consideration. When Masjid an-Nabawi was built, he carried the stones of that holy mosque. He wanted to take part in the Battle of Badr very much but he was not allowed due to his young age.  

Abu Said, who was 13 years old, felt very excited. He trained himself for war a lot. Although he was only as tall as a sword, he was sure that he could carry it and fight the polytheists with it. He was not allowed to fight in Badr but he was more insistent this time. He entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah and begged him. He wanted to be the youngest member of the jihad army. His heroic spirit could not accept to stay in Madinah. The Prophet accepted this sincere wish of his and allowed him to join the army. The father and the son would fight together in the Islamic army.

The army left Madinah. They settled in the foot of Mount Uhud. The luminous Prophet and his mujahids confronted the polytheists. The polytheists were defeated in a very short time. However, when the archers of the Islamic army did not obey the instruction given to them, the army of the enemy gathered strength again. The situation was grave. They targeted the Messenger of Allah. All of the warriors of the polytheists started to head toward the tent where the Messenger of Allah was. Some of the Muslims panicked and abandoned their positions. However, a group of brave Companions gathered around the Prophet and formed a wall of flesh around him.   

Meanwhile, the face of the Prophet started to bleed due to a blow he received from the polytheists. Malik bin Sinan was there. When he saw that the face of the Prophet was wounded, he approached the Prophet at once to prevent his blood from falling onto the ground. He licked the blood on his face. He himself was also wounded but he decided to put up with it. A momentary neglect could cost the life of the Messenger of Allah. However, his body was in blood. A sword blow by a polytheist called “Ghurab bin Sufyan” sent Malik to Paradise.

When the martyrs were being buried, the Prophet was there. When it was time for Malik, the Prophet turned toward the Companions before he was put in the grave and addressed them as follows:

“Hellfire will not touch a person whose blood is mixed with my blood.”

Yes, Malik attained the degree of martyrdom and he was protected from hellfire thanks to it. [2]

May Allah be pleased with him!

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[1]al-Baqara, 273.
[2]Usdul-Ghaba, 4: 281; al-Isaba, 3: 345-346; Sirah, 3: 85.