As the chapters and verses of the Quran were sent down, the Prophet (pbuh) memorized them himself and made other people memorize them; in addition, he called one of the Companions and made him write down the revelation. Those people who wrote the revelation were called revelation scribes. The Prophet had a few revelation scribes. One of them was Zayd bin Thabit (r.a.). [1]
Zayd bin Thabit was from Madinah. His father was killed in a battle and he was an orphan. He was very intelligent. He became a Muslim before the Migration when he was a child. When he was 11, he could read 17 chapters of the Quran by heart. Upon the request of the Prophet (pbuh), Hz. Zayd recited the chapters he knew by heart. The Prophet became very pleased when he listened to Zayd and complimented him.[2]
Zayd bin Thabit wanted to take part in the Battle of Badr, which was the first battle between the Muslims and the polytheists, but he was not included in the army of mujahids by the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) since he was very young.[3]
In the Battle of Badr, the Muslims had a glorious victory. More than 70 polytheists were killed and more than 70 polytheists were captured. The Prophet said a slave would be freed if he taught ten Muslims to read and write. Zayd bin Thabit was one of the Companions who learned to read and write from one of the slaves captured during the Battle of Badr.[4]
After learning to read and write very well, Hz. Zayd bin Thabit started to write the revelation sent down to the Messenger of Allah. When Ubayy bin Ka'b, one of the revelation scribes, was absent, the Prophet would summon Zayd bin Thabit and dictate him the verses. Then, he made corrections if necessary.
Zayd bin Thabit narrates a spiritual state he witnessed while writing the revelation as follows:
"I was sitting next to the Messenger of Allah when some revelation was being sent down. Some heaviness fell on him. When the heaviness fell on him, his knees were on my knees. I swear by Allah that I had never seen anything heavier than the knees of the Messenger of Allah at that time. Then, this heaviness disappeared. He said to me, "Write O Zayd! I picked a scapula. I wrote verse 95 of the chapter of an-Nisa fully. When Ibn Umm Maktum, who was blind, heard the virtues of mujahids, he stood up and said, "O Messenger of Allah! What is the situation of those who are blind, etc and cannot fight in the way of Allah?" I swear by Allah that heaviness fell on the Messenger of Allah again as soon as Umm Maktum finished his sentence. This time his knees were heavier. Then, the heaviness disappeared. He said to me, "Read what you have written." When I read what I had written, he added the phrase "without any excuse". Then, I added that phrase to the verse."
Apart from revelation, Zayd bin Thabit also wrote the letters to be sent to kings and leaders of tribes. He also wrote the treaties.
Upon the encouragement of the Prophet, he also learned Hebrew and Assyrian.
He narrates how he learned Hebrew as follows:
"The Messenger of Allah said to me, 'O Zayd! Learn the language of Jews for me. I do not trust in Jews related to my written documents.' I learned it in two weeks. When it was necessary to write something to Jews, I wrote it."[5]
It is narrated that Hz. Zayd also learned Assyrian. We understand from this incidence that Islam gives importance to learning languages.
As it is known, the Hebrew letters that were sent to the Prophet were translated by Jewish translators. Or, the Prophet dictated the letters to be sent to them to Jewish translators.
Zayd bin Thabit felt very sorry that he could not take part in the Battle of Badr due to his age He wished to join the jihad army very much when it was possible. Eventually, he was given a duty during the Battle of Khandaq, where Islamic heroes worked very hard. He could not dig but he helped the mujahids by carrying the soil that was dug out. When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saw his efforts, he appreciated him by saying, "What a nice boy!"[6]After the task of digging the trench finished, the Prophet sent the children to their families but he did not send Abdullah bin Umar and Zayd bin Thabit. He allowed them to join the battle.
After the death of the Prophet, the election of the caliph was an urgent task. Ansar and Muhajirs showed different candidates. Zayd bin Thabit was 20 years old then. He was a very active person. He helped to unite the ideas and made the following offer:
"The Messenger of Allah was a muhajir. We were helpers of muhajirs. We will also be helpers of the one to be elected as the caliph"[7]
Soon, the Companions paid allegiance to Hz. Abu Bakr. Thus, this important issue was settled easily.
The biggest service of Zayd bin Thabit, who was a person of the Quran, was about the Quran. He exerted great efforts regarding the issue. The Quran was not compiled in the form of a book as it is today when the Prophet was alive. The biggest share in the compilation of the Quran belonged to Zayd.
The revelation that came to the Prophet was written on pieces of paper, tanned leather, flat white stones and the scapulas of camels by revelation scribes. However, these things, on which verses and chapters of the Quran were written, were not stored in a certain place. The Companions that wanted them were allowed to take them. There were a lot of Companions who had memorized the whole Quran; so there was not a need for its compilation. When a lot of Companions who had memorized the whole Quran died during the Battle of Yamama after the death of the Prophet, such a need occurred.
The first person to feel this need was Hz. Umar (r.a.). He was worried that the number of hafizes would decrease in the course of time, that the things on which verses were written could be lost and that some verses could be forgotten. He talked to the caliph Hz. Abu Bakr about the issue. He suggested bringing together the documents of the Quran that were in various places and putting them between two covers. Hz. Abu Bakr hesitated when he heard this offer because he was offered to do something that the Messenger of Allah had not done. However, he found it reasonable on second thought. They found Zayd bin Thabit appropriate for the task.
Hz. Zayd bin Thabit was about 20 years old then. There were several reasons why they chose him for that task. First of all, he was the revelation scribe of the Messenger of Allah in Madinah. He was one of the Companions that had memorized the whole Quran and was one of the best reciters of it. He was very intelligent. Besides, Hz. Zayd showed all of the verses that he had written to the Prophet in the year when he died like Jibril who read the whole Quran to the Prophet. Therefore, Hz. Zayd was perfectly suited for such a lofty task. Besides, knowledge and qualifications were more important than age for such issues.
Hz. Abu Bakr and Hz. Umar decided to give the duty of compiling the verses of the Quran to Zayd bin Thabit. Then, they called him. When Hz. Zayd came Hz. Abu Bakr told Zayd about the conversation between him and Hz. Umar and said,
"You are a young and intelligent person. We cannot say anything against you. You used to write the revelation that came to the Messenger of Allah. Will you compile the Quran and check the verses?"
Hz. Zayd hesitated when he heard this offer just as Hz. Abu Bakr did. He said, "How will you do something that the Messenger of Allah did not do?" Then, he was convinced that it would be useful and accepted the duty. Hz. Zayd stated the following to indicate the difficulty of this duty
"I swear by Allah that if they had offered me to carry a mountain, I would have not found it more difficult than compiling the Quran."[8]
He believed that it was necessary to fulfill such a holy duty though it was difficult. He started to seek the documents on which the verses of the Quran were written. He acted very cautiously. He did not accept the verses that were brought to him unless they proved that it had been written in the presence of the Messenger of Allah by two witnesses. He recorded them after that.
Thanks to the efforts of Companions, Hz. Zayd bin Thabit completed the task of compiling the Quran in one year, which was a very short time. Then, the Companions gathered. Hz. Zayd read the verses that he had compiled to them. They approved what he read and nobody objected. The pages of the Quran that were put between two covers were kept by Hz. Abu Bakr. After his death, they were kept by Hz. Umar; after Hz. Umar, his daughter Hz. Hafsa, who was also one of the wives of the Prophet kept them.
After fulfilling the duty of compiling the verses of the Quran during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr, Zayd bin Thabit taught people qiraah (how to read the Quran) during the caliphate of Hz. Umar. He also issued fatwas. Hz. Umar, who was very strict about fatwas, prohibited the people except Zayd bin Thabit and a few Companions from issuing fatwas.[9]
Whenever Hz. Umar went on an expedition, he left Zayd bin Thabit as his deputy. He appreciated his knowledge and virtues, saying, "The people find in Zayd what they cannot find in other people." He also advised the people who had questions about faraiz (how to divide inheritance) to ask Hz. Zayd. [10]
One of the important services of Zayd bin Thabit about the Quran was during the caliphate of Hz. Uthman.
The Quran (mushaf), which was compiled during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr did not meet the needs of the people because it was only one copy. As days passed, Islamic conquests increased and the land where the Quran was dominant extended. Therefore, the people in the conquered places needed the people that would teach them the Quran and the Islamic law. Therefore, the Companions that recited the Quran nicely went to various cities. For instance, Abdullah bin Mas'ud went to Kufa and Ubayy bin Ka'b went to Damascus. There were some differences in the qiraah style of these Companions.
Armenia was conquered by the Muslims of Iraq and Damascus. The people of Damascus read the Quran based on the qiraah of Ubayy bin Ka'b. The people of Iraq had not heard this style before. The people of Iraq read the Quran based on the qiraah of Abdullah bin Mas'ud. The people of Damascus had not heard this style before. There was not a resource they could refer to; therefore, the controversy between them could have increased and led to a conflict.
Hudhayfa al-Yamani who was present in the conquest of Armenia, witnessed this controversy. As soon as he arrived in Madinah, he informed Hz. Uthman, the caliph, about the situation. Hz. Uthman called the notables of the Companions to negotiate the issue. He consulted them. Consequently, they decided to reproduce a few copies of the Quran (mushaf) and send them to various cities. A committee of four people including Hz. Zayd bin Thabit was set up and given the duty of reproducing the only copy of the whole Quran. This committee reproduced seven - according to a narration - four copies. These copies were sent to big cities like Basra and Damascus. Thus, the controversies about the qiraah of the Quran were prevented. Zayd bin Thabit definitely had the biggest share in this service.[11]
Like during the caliphate of Hz. Umar, Zayd bin Thabit continued to serve as a fatwa issuer during the caliphate of Hz. Uthman, Hz. Ali and the first five years of the caliphate of Hz. Muawiya. Like Hz. Umar, they did not prefer anyone to Hz. Zayd regarding fatwa.
Hz. Zayd's method of fiqh and ijtihad was accepted in the period when he lived. Said bin Musayyab, a companion who was one of the seven fiqh scholars, did not accept what he heard from others before asking Zayd bin Thabit.
Thus, Zayd bin Thabit, who had great services in the sciences of the Quran and fiqh, also had great service in the science of hadith. He heard the hadiths that he reported directly from the Messenger of Allah and he learned hadiths from Hz. Abu Bakr, Hz. Umar and Hz. Uthman. Hz. Zayd reported 92 hadiths. One of them is as follows:
"I am leaving you two things. The first one is the book of Allah, which is like a rope between the sky and the earth. The second one is my Ahl al-Bayt (the people of my house), who will not leave me until I am given the Pool of Kawthar."[12]
Hz. Zayd did not only become famous for his science and knowledge but he also became the symbol of high ethics. He was also known for his love of the Messenger of Allah. He loved the Messenger of Allah so much that he went to the Messenger of Allah after the morning prayer every day and served him.[13]
Zayd bin Thabit did not fear anybody including governors about "advising the good and forbidding the evil" and always told the truth. Marwan, the governor of Madinah, invited him to his place in order to learn from his knowledge and merit; he made Zayd sit in his chair. Once, he called him again. After talking to Marwan for a while, the people approached him and asked him why the governor had called him. Hz. Zayd said, "He asked me about some things that we heard from the Prophet." Then, he added:
"The Messenger of Allah said, ‘May Allah Almighty brighten the face of a person who hears a hadith from me, memorizes it and informs other people about it! For, there are some people who are not fiqh scholars but who carry fiqh. They convey it to people who are better at fiqh. There are three things that every Muslim needs to do: (1) Not to leave sincerity and consent of Allah; (2) to give advice to administrators; (3) to maintain the spirit of congregation."‘[14]
Zayd bin Thabit was regarded to be the Companion that read the Quran in the best way but he expressed his modesty and wish to learn as follows:
"If I knew a person who read the Quran better than me, I would go to him as far as my camel reached."[15]
Zayd bin Thabit, who spent all of his life in the service of Islam, died in 45 (H). Everybody felt very sad when they heard his death. All Muslims were distressed by the death of this great scholar. Ibn Umar said, "The most knowledgeable person died today." Ibn Abbas stated that many scholars were buried with their knowledge and pointed to Hz. Zayd's grave by saying, "Knowledge is buried like this."[16]
May Allah be pleased with him!
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[1]Tabaqat, 2: 335.
[2]al-Isaba, 1: 561.
[3]ibid, 1: 550.
[4]Tabaqat, 2: 22.
[5]al-Isaba, 1: 561; Tabaqat, 2: 358.
[6]al-Isaba, 1: 551.
[7]Tabaqat, 3: 212.
[8]Bukhari, Fadailu'l-Qur'an: 2.
[9]Tabaqat, 2: 361.
[10]ibid, 2: 359.
[11]Bukhari, Fadailu'l-Qur'an: 2.
[12]Musnad, 5: 182.
[13]ibid, 5: 192.
[14]ibid, 5: 183.
[15]Tabaqat, 2: 344.
[16]ibid, 2: 360.
2-)
Dihyatul-Kalbi (r.a.)
Hz. Dihya was from Madinah. His real name was "Dihya bin Khalifa". However, he was famous for his name "Dihyatul-Kalbi". He was the person with the most beautiful face among the Companions. Gabriel (Jibril) came to the Prophet disguised as Dihya several times. When the Companions saw him, they could not tell whether he was Dihya or Jibril.
Dihya was engaged in trade. Before he became a Muslim, he loved the Messenger of Allah and would bring him a present whenever he came to visit him. However, the Prophet would say to him, "If you really want me to be pleased, be a Muslim and get rid of the fire of Hell." He invited him to Islam.
It was after the Battle of Badr. Jibril gave the Prophet the good news that Dihya would be a Muslim. Soon, Dihya arrived. The Prophet took off his cardigan and gave it to Dihya so that he would sit on it to compliment him. Dihya took the cardigan, kissed it, folded and put it on his head. Then, he became a Muslim by uttering kalima ash-shahada.
From then on, Dihya joined all of the battles with the Prophet. In the 7th year of the Migration, the Prophet sent him as an envoy to the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius. He invited this emperor to Islam. Dihya had the letter of invitation from the Prophet with him.
Dihya had already traveled to foreign countries several times before; so, he knew how to act in other countries very well. He was conscious of the importance of the duty given to him and he knew that he had to be very careful. It was up to him for many people to become Muslims or to reject Islam. For this reason, he had to act cautiously.
After a long and exhausting journey, Hz. Dihya arrived in Jerusalem, where the emperor lived. The people of Jerusalem gave him some advice before entering into the presence of the emperor: "As soon as you enter into the presence of the emperor and see him, prostrate before him and do not lift your head until he gives you permission."
Dihya prostrated only before Allah after he became a Muslim. It was impossible for him to prostrate before anyone except Him. "I can never do this! I will not prostrate before anyone but Allah. They said that the emperor would not accept his letter if he did not do so but Dihya did not agree to do it. Thereupon, they gave him the following advice: "Put your letter on the throne of the emperor. When the emperor takes the letter, he will call the owner of the letter." Hz. Dihya accepted it. He said, "It is all right." He did as they advised him. After a while, the emperor took the letter. When he saw that it was in Arabic, he summoned a translator and had it read. Then he called Abu Sufyan, who was there at that time, to his presence. He asked him several questions about the Prophet. Abu Sufyan had not become a Muslim at that time. However, he answered all of he questions of the emperor correctly. He stated the following regarding the issue later:
“By Allah! If I had not feared that my friends would talk about my lies outside I would definitely have told lies about him.”
After each answer he received to his questions, Heraclius said, "Prophets are like this." He definitely believed that the person who sent the letter was "the last prophet".
When Dihya saw that the heart of Heraclius warmed toward Islam, he became hopeful. He asked him to accept Islam. He knew the way of conveying the message well. Besides, the Messenger of Allah had appointed him due to his ability. He said:
"The one who sent me to you is better than you. Listen to my words humbly. Accept the advice given to you. If you do so, you will understand the advice. If you do not accept the advice, you will not be just."
Then he asked, "Did the Messiah Jesus pray?" The emperor said, "Yes." Dihya said, "Then, I invite you to believe in Allah, to whom the Messiah prayed. I invite you to believe in Allah, who created and governed the heavens and the earth before the Messiah was born of his mother. I invite you to believe in the illiterate Prophet, whose advent Moses and Jesus announced and gave glad tidings of his coming. If you know something regarding the issue and want to attain bliss in the world and the hereafter, remember them. Otherwise, you will lose your bliss in the hereafter. You will remain in the darkness of polytheism and denial in the world. Know it very well that Allah, who is your Lord, destroys dictators and changes boons."
Heraclius believed in the Prophet but he could not declare his belief because he was afraid that he would lose his reign. He expressed this with the following words:
“May Allah give you goodness and make you attain His mercy! I know well that the person who sent you here is a prophet sent by Allah. We were already waiting for him to come. We found his name and attributes written in our books. However, I fear from Greeks about my life! If I were sure of my people, I would follow him and serve him by enduring all kinds of difficulties. Go to Daghatir now. He is one of the greatest Christian scholars. Invite him to Islam.”
The Prophet had already written a letter addressing Usquf Daghatir. Dihya went to Daghatir without losing time. He gave the letter of the Prophet to Daghatir. The Prophet invited Daghatir to Islam in his letter and stated the following:
“Peace be upon those who believe! There is no doubt that Jesus, the son of Mary, is the spirit and word of Allah that He blew into Mary. I believe in Allah and the revelation given to us and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes and that given to Moses and Jesus and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord. We make no difference among them. We believe that all of them are prophets. We are Muslims who obey Allah’s orders. May peace be upon the guided ones!”[6]
Usquf Daghatir was a scholar and the chief bishop of Byzantium. He learned from his books that the last prophet would emerge; and he read his attributes. As soon as he read the letter, he believed without hesitation by saying, "I swear by Allah that your master is the prophet sent by Allah. We knew his name and his attributes." Then, he entered a room, took off his black clothes and put on a white garment. There was no room left for black clothes and black thoughts any more. It was necessary to wear white clothes and have bright ideas.
The bishop retired into his house and did not come out. Dihya did not leave him alone; he visited the bishop frequently. The chief bishop called "Usquf Daghatir" did not attend the service in the church that Sunday. In the meantime, the people became aware of this change in the bishop.
The angry and bigoted Greeks surrounded the bishop's house, urging him to address them by shouting with furiously and violently. However, Usquf Daghatir was no longer their bishop; he was a member of the ummah of the Prophet of the end of time. He was probably having his last talk with his close friends, Dihyatul-Kalbi.
Usquf gave the letter that he had written to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to Dihya:
"Take this letter, go to our master and give him my regards. Tell him that I have witnessed that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. I have believed in him; I have affirmed him, and I am subject to him. However, as you see, these people are denying this. Tell him exactly what you saw."
The angry crowd on the outside understood that Daghatir was talking to Dihya. They yelled:
"Either he will come out or we will come in. We have seen the change in you since this Arab came and we do not like you."
After sending Dihya, Usquf Daghatir appeared before the people wearing white clothes and holding his staff. He did not have any fear. Maybe he knew that he would be killed and martyred. However, it was no longer important. For, he became a member of the ummah of the Prophet of the end of time. He addressed the people as follows:
"O Greek congregation! We received a letter from Ahmad, the Prophet. He invites us to believe in Allah. I witness that there is no god but Allah and that Ahmad is His slave and Messenger."
The people attacked him all together like an arrow leaving the bow. And they did not leave that blessed man before martyring him. After that, Hz. Dihya went back to the emperor. He told him about the situation. The emperor said, "Did I not tell you that I fear them about our lives? I swear that Daghatir was more respectable than me in their eye." Then, he gave Dihya a lot of gifts and sent him.
On the way back to Madinah, Dihya was attacked by highwaymen. They grabbed everything that he had. Dihya entered Madinah empty-handed. He entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah immediately. He told him everything that had happened. He gave the letter of the Greek emperor to him. The Prophet read the letter and said,
"He will rule his country for a while. Their sultanate will continue as long as my letter is with them."
The emperor also understood that the continuation of his sultanate depended on that letter. He wrapped the letter of the Messenger of Allah in atlas silk and placed it in a pipe made of gold. He willed that those who came after keep it. Indeed, it happened like that. When the letter disappeared, this dynasty lost its sultanate.
Hz. Dihya continued to be in the service of the Messenger of Allah after that. After the death of the Prophet, he served Allah and His Messenger during the era of the Four Caliphs. He participated in the Expedition of Syria during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr. He took part in the Battle of Yarmuq during the caliphate of Hz. Umar. He fought heroically. He settled there after the conquest of Damascus. He died during the caliphate of Muawiya in 50 H.
The Emperor Heraclius wrote a letter to the Prophet (pbuh) after Dihya left. He sent a person who was reliable and who was known as "Tanuhi" to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and made him the following offer:
"Take this letter to that person. Listen to his words carefully. Memorize the words about three things that he will tell you. These are the three things: Will he mention the letter that he sent me? Will he remember the night when he reads my letter? Does he have anything that will make you suspicious on his back?"
Tanuhi took the letter of the emperor and set off. After a journey that took months, he found the Messenger of Allah in Tabuk. The Messenger of Allah was talking to his Companions at that time near some water. He went over to the Messenger of Allah and gave the letter of Heraclius to him; then, he sat down. Then, the following conversation took place between them:
“Who are you?”
“I am Tanuhi.”
“Are a member of the religion of Hanif, the religion of your ancestor Ibrahim?”
“I am an envoy of a nation and I belong to the religion of that nation. I will not abandon their religion unless I return to the nation that I represent.”
"Tanuhi brother! Allah guides whom He wishes to the right path. I wrote a letter to your emperor. He did not answer it."
Tanuhi realized that the Messenger of Allah had responded to one of the three things the emperor had asked him when he heard these words. He took an arrow out of his quiver and made a note on the sheath of his sword.
Then, the Messenger of Allah took the letter that came from the emperor from his breast, gave it to Muawiya, who was sitting on his left, and asked him to read it. The emperor wrote the following in his letter:
"You are calling me to a vast Paradise that was prepared for pious people and that covers the earth and the sky. Where is Hell? "
The Messenger of Allah replied:
"O my Allah! Where is night when it is daytime? "
With this statement, the Messenger of Allah mentioned the second issue that Heraclius asked. Tanuhi wrote this down immediately on the sheath of his sword.
After the reading of the letter was finished, the Messenger of Allah gave Tanuhi to Hz. Uthman, who would entertain him. While they were about to leave, the Messenger of Allah called: "O Tanuhi! Come here." The Messenger of Allah took off the garment on his back and showed him the seal of prophethood, which was between his two shoulder blades by saying, "Here is what you were asked about." Thus, the Prophet (pbuh) answered the three questions that the king had asked. Tanuhi went to the emperor and told him about what had happened.
Taking strength from what Tanuhi told him, Heraclius summoned the notables of Byzantium in his palace in Homs. He had all the doors shut and addressed them as follows:
"O notables of the Greek Land! Do you want to attain salvation, reach perfection and remain in the places that you have all the time? If so, come and be subject to this prophet."
The bigoted Greeks who heard these words began to growl and yell as if they were animals. They ran to the doors. In a sad and depressed manner, Heraclius ordered them to be taken to his presence again. He saw their hatred and gave up his hope that they might believe. The anxiety of protecting his sultanate and life prevented him from declaring his belief. He addressed the notables of the Greeks that gathered again as follows:
"I uttered the words that you heard a few minutes ago to see that whether you are adherent and loyal to your religion or not. I see that you are really adherent to your religion and be pleased with it."
Heraclius could not mention the Prophet and Islam again to the people around him. [1]
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[1]Tabaqat, 1: 258-259, 276. 4: 251; Musnad, 6: 262-263; Hz. Muhammed ve İslamiyet, 7: 38, 49.
3-)
Wahshi bin Harb (r.a.)
Long years passed after Hz. Hamza was martyred by Wahshi bin Harb. As the time passed, the polytheists got weaker day by day and Islam got stronger.
In the course of time, Wahshi started to feel the guilt and agony of killing an Islamic hero Hz. Hamza more and more. Eventually, Makkah was conquered by Muslims and Wahshi escaped to Taif.
After a while, a group of people from Taif was making preparations to go to the Messenger of Allah in order to accept Islam. When Wahshi heard about it, he started to feel terrible. This place was also going to be part of the Islamic land. He felt scared. He believed that Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) was going to punish the murderer of his uncle severely. He started to think, "Where shall I go? To Damascus or Yemen? Which one will Muslims conquer first?" While he was thinking like that, somebody from the group came to Wahshi and said,
"Shame on you! Do you not know that a person who becomes a Muslim is not killed and he is not questioned for his previous sins?"
These words relieved Wahshi. He decided to go to the Messenger of Allah with the group of people from Taif. However, he was not sure. How was Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) going to treat him?
When they went into the presence of the Messenger of Allah, Wahshi uttered kalima ash-shahada without introducing himself. He was nervous. How was the Messenger of Allah going to treat him? The Messenger of Allah raised his head and asked him "Are you not Wahshi?" Wahshi said, "Yes, I am." Without showing any signs of anger, the compassionate and tolerant prophet of Islam said, "Sit here." Then, the Prophet asked him to describe how he killed his uncle. When Wahshi finished talking, the Messenger of Allah said,
"O Wahshi! Keep away from me. Do not let me see you."
For, the Prophet was going to remember his uncle Hz. Hamza, who was a hero of Islam, whenever he saw Wahshi. It was not possible for his tender heart to put up with it. That is why he spoke to Wahshi like that.
Wahshi was no longer "wahshi (wild)"; he attained guidance. He became a Companion. He was going to be mentioned with respect by the phrase 'May Allah be pleased with him!' Belief makes people have so many things. It leads a person from being wild to being light.
After Wahshi bin Harb became a Muslim, he clung to it so much that he made his notoriety be forgotten. During the Battle of Yamama against Musaylima al-Kadhdhab, who was an impostor, Wahshi ran to the battlefield with enthusiasm. The enemies of Islam were standing against him. When he was an unbeliever, he killed a hero of Islam. He still felt a twinge of guilt about it. He had to do something to relieve it. Interestingly, Wahshi had the spear that had killed Hz. Hamza years ago in his hand.
He saw Musaylima al-Kadhdhab standing against him with his sword. He got ready to attack him. Just then, a Companion from Ansar also attacked him. Wahshi thrust his spear into his body and sent him to Hell. Thus, an important problem that disturbed Muslims was solved. Wahshi felt very happy. Referring to this incident, he spoke as follows later:
"During the period of my ignorance, I killed the best man; after I became a Muslim, I killed the worst man."[1]
[1]Usdu'l-Ghaba : 83-84.
4-)
Hanzala Ibn Abi Amir (r.a.)
Hanzala Ibn Abi Amir was a valiant man who longed to become a martyr. He got married one day before the Battle of Uhud and left home to fight the polytheists at Uhud the next morning. His dead body was washed by angels.
He was one of the notables of the Aws tribe. He was very strong and shrewd; he had high ethics. Before Islam, he used to live in seclusion and worship. He practiced the religion of Hanif. He liked living in seclusion. He hated worshipping idols.
Hanzala Ibn Abi Amir became a Muslim after the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) came to Madinah. His father, Abu Amir, was together with the enemies of the Prophet. When the Prophet came to Madinah, he went to Makkah and joined the polytheists. Therefore, he was given the nickname fasiq.
Hanzala (r.a.) was known as “Taqi” (pious) among his friends. He had high ethics. The belief in his heart became exuberant. He was always together with the Messenger of Allah. His father joined Makkan polytheists with a group of fifty people from his tribe and formed a front against the Messenger of Allah (pbuh).
Hanzala took part in the Battles of Badr and Uhud; he fought heroically. He was single when he took part in the Battle of Badr. A little while after this battle, he got engaged to Abdullah Ibn Ubayy Ibn Salul's daughter, Jamila, who became a Muslim. Their marriage took place one day before the Battle of Uhud. On the night of the marriage, the Messenger of Allah and his Companions were going to set off to go to Uhud. He asked permission from the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to spend the night at home. The prophet gave him the permission.
Hanzala, who had just got married, spent the night with his wife. He left home early in the morning and caught up with the Prophet at Uhud. When the Prophet arranged the ranks for the battle, he joined the Companions.
Hanzala, who displayed great heroism on the Day of Uhud, attacked the polytheists zealously like the other Companions. He attacked them with the desire of being a martyr. He attacked them with his sword without having a rest. He fought all day by shooting arrows and swinging his sword around. The polytheists started to run away. Abu Sufyan, the commander of the army of the polytheists was left alone When Hanzala saw him, he drew his sword and cut off the legs of his horse. Abu Sufyan fell down with his horse. Abu Sufyan, who was very afraid, did not know what to do. He started to shout as loudly as he could, "O Qurayshis! I am Abu Sufyan. Hanzala is going to kill me; save me!" At that moment, everybody was busy with saving himself. Nobody seemed to heed him. While Hanzala was preparing to attack him, Saddat Ibn Aswad approached him from behind and hit Hanzala on the back with his spear. Hanzala wanted to hit him but Saddat hit him again and martyred him.
Abu Sufyan, who organized the expedition of Uhud in order to take the revenge of the Battle of Badr, accepted the death of Hanzala in return for the death of his son, Hanzala, in the Battle of Badr. He regarded him to have been killed for his son. The polytheists started to cut off the organs of the martyrs with the feeling of revenge. Hanzala's father Abu Amir, who was a polytheist, prevented his dead body from being harmed.
When Hanzala was martyred, the Messenger of Allah said about him,
“I saw the angels wash Hanzala between the sky and the earth from a silver tray with rain water.” Abu Usayd Said said, “I went to see Hanzala and saw rain water dropping down from his head. I returned and told the Messenger of Allah about it. The Messenger of Allah sent somebody to his wife and asked her about it. His wife said Hanzala left home in a hurry without making ghusl to catch with the Muslims at Uhud. After this incident, he was called “Ghasilu’l-malaika = the person who was washed by angels”. The tribe of Aws took pride in him saying, “Hanzala, who was washed by angels, is from our tribe.”
Hanzala's wife, Jamila, saw a dream on the night of the wedding.In the morning, she called four family members of Hanzala and made them witnesses to the actualization of her wedding with Hanzala. She said if she had a baby, it would belong to Hanzala. The witnessed asked, “Why did you find this necessary?” Jamila told them about the dream she had. She said, “In my dream, I saw the sky open to Hanzala and it shut again after he had entered into it.” Her dream turned out to be true and Hanzala was martyred. She had a child called Abdullah. This child known as Abdullah Ibn Hanzala is the Abdullah that the people of Madinah paid allegiance against Yazid Ibn Muawiya. He was martyred during the time of Yazid.
We ask Allah Almighty to enable us to attain the intercession of both the father and his son. Amin.
5-)
Usama bin Zayd (r.a.)
Usama bin Zayd was a heroic Companion who spent about 20 years of his life very close to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and who inherited his high ethics.
His father was Zayd bin Haritha, who was the freed slave and loyal servant of the Messenger of Allah. His mother was Ummu Ayman, the nanny of the children of the Messenger of Allah. Therefore, Hz. Usama received special compassion, protection and education from the Messenger of Allah and spent his childhood with him.
Usama received a lot of compliments and praises from the Messenger of Allah. One of his nicknames was "Hubbi". He was given this name because the Prophet loved him a lot.
The clean spirit of Hz. Usama, who was born in the holy cradle of Islam, was not blackened by the dirtiness of unbelief, polytheism, ignorance and malice. This state enabled him to adopt and practice the high ethics of the Messenger of Allah and transfer it to the following generations.[1]
Thanks to his talents and prudence, he started to take part in battles when he was very young. He was only 14 or 15 years old when he was appointed as the commander of the Sariyya of Harqa set up in the 8th year of the Migration. He took part in the Conquest of Makkah and all of the battles and wars after that.
The incident in which his name is mentioned the most is the commandership of a sariyya (military expedition) that the Messenger of Allah gave him when he was very ill. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) called Usama and ordered him to attack the people of Ubna. He said, "Walk in the name of Allah!" He gave the big standard to Burayda bin Husayb and ordered him to plant it in front of Hz. Usama's house. This act indicated that he was appointed as the commander by the Messenger of Allah. Many Companions of Ansar and Muhajirs including Hz. Umar, Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas, Qatada bin Numan took part in the expedition under the command of Hz. Usama, who was only 20 years old then.
With this appointment, the Messenger of Allah appointed a young but prudent person as a commander, attracting attention to the fact that there is no drawback to many older Companions like Hz. Umar to be under the command of a young Companion; he also showed that a young freed slave could be a commander over many noble people. This appointment showed that greatness is not based on age, lineage but on belief, consciousness, prudence and competence.
However, some people who could not get rid of the customs and ideas of the Era of Jahiliyya yet said, "A child was appointed as a commander over Muhajirs and Ansar." When Hz. Umar heard these rumors, he answered them but he informed the Messenger of Allah immediately about it. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah ascended the pulpit and spoke as follows:
"O people! You object to Usama bin Zayd's command and before this you objected to the command of his father Zayd. By Allah, he was fit as the commander and he was one of the dearest people to me. I swear by Allah Usama bin Zayd is fit as the commander and he is one of the dearest people to me after his father. I recommend him to you because he is one of the righteous people among you."[2]
After that, the Muslims who would join the expedition with Hz. Usama including Hz. Umar visited the Messenger of Allah before they left. The Messenger of Allah said to them, "Make sure that Usama takes part in the expedition." After that, Hz. Usama's mother Umm Ayman visited the Messenger of Allah and asked him to send Hz. Usama to the expedition after he got strong but the Messenger of Allah told her that Usama had to take part in the expedition.
Those who would take part in the expedition under the command of Hz. Usama returned to their headquarters and made preparations. However, the illness of the Messenger of Allah got worse that evening. Hz. Usama visited the Messenger of Allah again. The Messenger of Allah was ill and a bit unconscious. Hz. Usama bowed in tears and kissed the hands of the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah raised his hands toward the sky and seemed to be praying for Usama. Hz. Usama, who returned to the headquarters that night, visited the Messenger of Allah again the next morning. The Messenger of Allah was better. He prayed for Usamah, saying, "May Allah help you!" Hz. Usama said, "Farewell" to the Messenger of Allah and left. When his army stopped in a place called Jurf, a messenger arrived and told them that the Messenger of Allah had died. The army returned to Madinah and took part in the funeral of the Prophet.
Hz. Usama took active part in the shrouding of the Prophet and the preparations for the funeral. He was one of the people who placed his blessed body into the grave. This scene was extraordinary for humanity. The son of the Prophet's freed slave placed him into the grave together with the Prophet's close relatives.
After the death of the Messenger of Allah, Hz. Abu Bakr resisted those who opposed the commandership of Hz. Usama using the issue of "Bedouin Arabs who exited from the religion of Islam" as an excuse and said, "How can I dismiss a person whom the Messenger of Allah appointed as a commander? I swear by Allah that I would not stop an army that the Messenger of Allah established from going on an expedition even if I knew that tigers would savage me."
Hz. Usama walked against the enemy leading his army. He returned to Madinah after defeating the enemy. A large group of people consisting of Ansar and Muhajirs welcomed him with enthusiasm and excitement. Hz. Usama went to the mosque directly and performed a prayer of two rak'ahs. Then, he went home.[3]
Hz. Umar, who knew that the Messenger of Allah loved Hz. Usama very much, always consulted him and appreciated him. Once, some money was distributed among the Companions and Hz. Umar's son Abdullah was given 200 dirhams but Usama bin Zayd was given 500 dirhams. Abdullah bin Umar asked his father the reason for it. Hz. Umar said,
"My son! The Messenger of Allah loved Usama more than you and his father more than your father."[4]
Hz. Usama was loyal to his mother and father a lot. After the death of his father, he sacrificed an animal for him every year. He had a lot of date trees during the caliphate of Hz. Uthman. He gave away all of their dates to the poor. When he was asked why he had given away all of his wealth to the poor, he said, "My mother is more valuable than trees.
Hz. Usama, who died in the 54th year of the Migration when he was 60, reported a few hadiths from the Prophet. Two of them are as follows:
"If a favor is done to a person and if he says to the person who does the favor, "May Allah reward you with goodness!", he will have said the best prayer for him."[5]
"A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown in hellfire and his intestines will pour forth in Hell and he will go round along with them, as an ass goes round the millstone. The denizens of Hell would gather round him and say: O, so and so, what has happened to you? Were you not enjoining us to do what was reputable and forbid us to do what was disreputable? He will say: Of course, it is so; I used to enjoin upon people to do what was reputable but did not practice that myself. I had been forbidding people to do what was disreputable, but practiced it myself."[6]
He is the son of our Prophet's paternal uncle Harith. Halima also breastfed him along with the Prophet (pbuh); therefore, they became foster brothers. He spent his childhood and adolescence together with the Prophet (pbuh) since they were peers. He loved the Prophet (pbuh) a lot but when Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) declared his prophethood, he supported the polytheists and became an enemy of the Prophet (pbuh). He was a poet. He disturbed the Prophet and the Companions with the poems he wrote. Then, he underwent a lot of trouble so as to be forgiven by the Prophet (pbuh). He applied to some notables of the Companions like Hz. Abu Bakr, Umar and Ali but they did not accept to intercede for him. His name is mentioned in Risale-i Nur Collection and a hadith reported by him is included there. His full name is Abu Sufyan bin Harith bin Abdulmuttalib al-Hashimi.
It is known that Abu Sufyan was born in Makkah but it is not certain when he was born. However, it is probable that he was born about 570s since he was a foster brother of the Prophet (pbuh) and he was breastfed by Halima. Since it is stated in resources that he and the Prophet (pbuh) were peers, it is probable that he was born in 571 or just before or after it. Although he is mentioned as Mughira in some resources, it is stated that Mughira is his brother.
Abu Sufyan and the Prophet (pbuh) grew together since they were peers. They spent their childhood and adolescence together. He loved the Prophet (pbuh) a lot but this love and closeness lasted until the advent of Islam. When Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) declared his prophethood Abu Sufyan left him and became his enemy for about 20 years. He wrote satiric poems criticizing the Prophet and his Companions. His words disturbed the Muslims a lot. He continued his satirical poems and his enmity against the Muslims together with the polytheists; therefore, the Prophet (pbuh) decreed that he be killed wherever he was seen.
One of the Companions, Hassan bin Thabit, who was a poet, was asked to write satirical poems to answer Abu Sufyan. However, Hassan said he could not satirize a person who was a cousin of the Prophet (pbuh) without the permission of the Prophet. When he asked permission from the Prophet, he did not accept his cousin to be satirized. It is stated that Hassan said he would satirize only Abu Sufyan without criticizing his other relatives, but the Prophet did not give permission at that time.
Afterwards, it is reported that when the Prophet (pbuh) was disturbed by the satirical poems of Abu Sufyan, he said, "Satirize the Qurayshis because satire is more harmful than shooting arrows." Upon this permission, Abdullah bin Rawaha satirized the polytheists. After that, Hassan bin Thabit was given the permission to satirize on condition that he would not hurry, he would be careful and he would take detailed information about Qurayshis from Hz. Abu Bakr. Then, Hassan started to write and recite poems that insulted Abu Sufyan.
A little while before the conquest of Makkah, Abu Sufyan started to be interested in Islam. He went to the Prophet with his son and wife with the intention of becoming a Muslim. Abdullah bin Abu Umayya, who was the son of Atika, the paternal aunt of the Prophet, also set off with them to go to Madinah. When they first met the Prophet, the Prophet turned his face away from him and did not want to talk to him. Abu Sufyan approached him from other sides but the Prophet did not look at him. When the other Muslims saw that the Prophet turned his face away from him, they did the same thing.
Abu Sufyan went to Hz. Abu Bakr and then to Hz. Umar to ask their help but they were not interested in him because of his previous deeds of this enemy of Allah that harmed the Prophet and his Companions. Hz. Abbas and Hz. Ali did not help him, either. Then, Umm Salama, one of the wives of the Prophet, decided to help Abu Sufyan. She asked the Prophet to accept to see and talk to her brother Abdullah bin Abu Umayya and Abu Sufyan. She said one of them was his foster brother and cousin and the other was his paternal aunt's son and asked the Prophet to forgive them.
Abu Sufyan, who did his best in order to be accepted by the Prophet and to become a Muslim, said that he regretted what he had done and expressed his feelings as a poet in a way that would attract the mercy of the Prophet. Thereupon, the Prophet forgave him. He became a Muslim there at once.
After becoming a Muslim, Abu Sufyan tried to serve the Prophet as much as he could and was loyal to him. He always regretted the words that he had uttered before and did not dare to look at the face of the Prophet. He took part in the conquest of Makkah. He also fought in the Battle of Hunayn. During this war, when there was a severe clash and when there were not many people around the Prophet, he did not leave the Prophet at all and tried to protect him. The Prophet prayed for him due to this act.
Abu Sufyan, tried not to leave the Prophet after he became a Muslim; when the Prophet died, he recited an elegy, expressing his feelings. Abu Sufyan was one of the people that resembled the Prophet the most among his relatives; he was a companion that felt very peaceful and that took great pleasure when he performed prayers.
Abu Sufyan's name is mentioned in Risale-i Nur Collection with a hadith that he reported. He was mentioned as Abu Sufyan ibn Harith ibn Abdulmuttalib, the cousin of the Prophet and the incident that he reported with a sound narration is given: "During the Battle of Badr, we saw people with white clothes and white horses between the sky and the earth." (Mektubat, 1994, p. 157)
Abu Sufyan died in Madinah in 641. He tried not to commit any sins after he believed. He prepared his grave three days before his death. He asked people not to cry after him after his death. His janazah prayer was led by Hz. Umar.
7-)
Uqba bin Amir (r.a.)
Uqba was a shepherd. He used to herd sheep on the meadows of Madinah. When he was on the mountain, he heard that the Prophet (pbuh) had migrated to Madinah. It was impossible for him to remain there any longer. He wanted to see the Prophet. He left the sheep there and went straight to Madinah. He asked where the Messenger of Allah was. As soon as he found about the house he was living in, he went into the presence of the Messenger of Allah.
When he saw the Messenger of Allah, he felt very relieved and his heart became full of light. He felt as if he was he was about to fly. He had never felt such excitement before and he had never been happier before. He himself could not believe in the changes in his spirit.
The Messenger of Allah told him some pearls of truth and taught him the principles of Islam. Uqba did not have any hesitation to become a believer. He became a Companion. He was a distinguished Companion among the People of Suffa.[1]
After that, Uqba started to learn religious sciences. He never missed the talks of the Prophet, which were full of life. He collected knowledge and information from the Prophet. The Prophet gave special care of to Uqba because he knew that Uqba had great enthusiasm for religious sciences.
Once, he addressed Hz. Uqba as follows:
“There are some chapters in the Quran. Allah Almighty did not reveal any chapters like that in the Torah, the Gospel and the Psalms. They are the chapters of al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas.”
Uqba, who always remembered those words, said,
“After that day, I never went to bed before reading those chapters.”[2]
Hz. Uqba never hesitated to ask the Prophet what he did not know and what he wanted to know. Thus, he was able to learn many things. Once, he approached the Prophet, held his blessed hands and said,
“O Messenger of Allah! Will you tell me about the best deed and worshipping?”
The Prophet gave him the following advice:
“Ask about the health of a person who does not ask about your health. Try to give something to a person who does not give you anything. Forgive the one who wrongs you.”[3]
Once, Hz. Uqba asked the Prophet, “O Messenger of Allah! What is the way of salvation?” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Control your tongue. Do not disclose the secrets of your house. Cry for your sins.”[4]
They were difficult deeds. They were things that were very hard for the soul but Paradise was not easy to reach. For, it was necessary to deserve Paradise in the world. Therefore, it was necessary to do the deeds that were difficult for the soul in order to attain the consent of Allah.
Once, Uqba (r.a.) set off with 12 of his friends in order to learn something from the Prophet. They had their camels with them. They did not want to leave the camels unattended. They said, “If one of us takes care of the camels, the others can go to the Messenger of Allah and talk to him. Then, we will tell him what the Messenger of Allah said when we return.” Hz. Uqba wanted to listen to the Prophet a lot but he believed that somebody had to look after the camels. He acted altruistically. He said, “You can go. I will take care of the camels.” Then, he narrated the rest of the incident as follows:
"A long time passed after my friends left. I said to myself, 'I think I made a mistake. My friends are hearing from the Messenger of Allah what I did not hear and learning what I did not learn.' I went to the city. I met a group of Companions on the way. One of them said, "the Prophet said, 'A person who makes wudu properly becomes free of his sins as if he has just been born.'" I was amazed by this hadith. When Umar bin Khattab noticed that I was amazed, he said, 'That is nothing. You should have heard the hadith before that.' I said,
'Please report it to me!' He said,
"The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, 'A person who dies without associating any partners with Allah, Allah opens the gates of Paradise for him. He enters Paradise through any gate he wishes. Paradise has eight gates.'"
Meanwhile, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) arrived. I sat in front of him and started to listen to him. However, he turned his face away from me. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! Why are you turning your face away from me?'
The Messenger of Allah said, 'Which one do you think is more important? One person or 12 people?'
I understood my mistake, stood up and left."[5]
Hz. Uqba’s efforts to learn enabled him to be one of the scholars among the Companions. Hz. Uqba reached the level of ijtihad when the Prophet was alive. Once, the Prophet left the decision to be made between two people who sued each other to him. Uqba (r.a.) said, “O Messenger of Allah! May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! You deserve it more to decide.” However, the Messenger of Allah said, “You decide!” Uqba asked, “According to what shall I decide?” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Decide based on your own ijtihad. If you are right, you will be given 10 rewards; if you are not right, you will be given 1 reward.”[6]
Hz. Uqba was very respectful to the Prophet (pbuh). He regarded it disrespect to ride a camel in the presence of the Messenger of Allah. Once, he was going somewhere with the Prophet (pbuh). The Prophet was riding a camel. He was going on foot. The Messenger of Allah wanted him to get on the camel. He said, “O Uqba! Do you not want to get on the camel? Hz. Uqba said, “O Messenger of Allah! I fear that it will be a sin for me.” When the Prophet insisted, he had to get on the camel.[7]
Uqba (r.a.) never revealed the mistakes of his believing brothers. He did not search the mistakes of others and he felt disturbed when somebody mentioned the mistakes of others in his presence. Once, his servant told him about a mistake of his neighbor. Hz. Uqba did not get angry with his servant. He gave him some advice and told him that it was something bad. Then, he told him the following hadith:
“If a person covers the mistake of a believer in the world, Allah will cover his mistake in the Day of Judgment.”[8]
Hz. Uqba had an exceptional position related to hadiths, division of inheritance and rhetoric. He was one of the Companions that recited the Quran nicely. Once, Hz. Umar said to him, “Read me the Quran.” When Uqba started to read the Quran, Hz. Umar wept.
Another property of Hz. Uqba was that he was interested in military art. He often reminded people the following hadiths of the Prophet: “None of you should stop practicing archery." "A person who learns how to shoot arrows and then abandons it though he knows that it is sunnah is not one of us." "Allah puts three people in Paradise due to one arrow: The artisan who makes it with the intention of using it in a good way, the one who shoots it and the one who helps the person who shoots it.” Thus, he wanted the spirit of jihad to be active and wanted the Muslims to give importance to training against the enemy.[9]
Uqba (r.a.) kept the glad tiding given by the Prophet about the conquest of Istanbul in his heart like a secret. He joined the army established by Hz. Muawiya in the 52nd year of the Migration for the conquest of Istanbul. He was the leader of the troops prepared in Egypt since he was the governor of Egypt then.[10]
Hz. Uqba, who died in the 58th year of the Migration, reported many hadiths. These hadiths are included in Bukhari, Muslim, Musnad and other hadith books.
A sermon of the Prophet reported by Uqba is as follows:
“O people! The truest word is the book of Allah. The best sunnah is my sunnah. The most valuable word is mentioning Allah (dhikr). The most valuable stories are in the Quran. The best deeds are fard deeds. The worst of everything is the one that appears later (bid'ahs). The best call is the call of the prophets. The most honorable death is the death of the martyrs. The worst blindness is to go astray after finding guidance. The hand that gives is better than the hand that takes. Little and adequate property is better than abundant property that leads man to bad ways. The worst repentance is the one on the Day of Judgment.
Some people perform prayers late. Some people remember Allah from time to time. The biggest mistake is to tell lies. The best wealth is the richness of the heart. The best food is taqwa. The essence of wisdom is fear of Allah. The best thing in the heart is real belief. Doubt and indecisiveness come from unbelief. To cry and to beat one's breast after dead people are customs of Jahiliyya. To steal from the state means to steal embers from Hell. To stock gold and silver and to pay zakah for them is equal to cauterizing one's body with hellfire. Alcohol is the root of all evil. Women are the trap of Satan. Youth is a kind of madness. The worst profit is interest. The worst food is the money of an orphan. A lucky person is the one who can take lessons from others.
All of you will rest in graves of a few meters. Every deed is evaluated by its results. What is valid regarding deeds is their outcomes. The worst informant is the one who spreads lies. What is bound to come is close even if it is far. It is a sin to curse a believer. To backbite a believer is to oppose Allah. It is haram to violate (harm) a believer's blood as well as his property. If a person swears by Allah in order to commit a bad deed, Allah will contradict him. Allah will forgive those who forgive. Allah will give rewards to those overcome their anger. If a person shows patience, Allah will replace what he has lost. If a person believes in rumors, Allah will disgrace him. If a person shows patience, Allah will give him a lot of rewards. If a person opposes Allah, he is punished.
O Allah! Forgive me and my ummah! O Allah! Forgive me and my ummah! I ask Allah to forgive me and you.”[11]
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[1]Usdu’l-Ghaba, 3: 417; Tabaqat, 4: 344.
[2]Musnad, 4: 158.
[3]ibid, 4: 148.
[4]Tirmidhi, Zuhd: 60.
[5]Hilyatu’l-Awliya, 9: 307.
[6]Mu’jamu’s-Sagghir, 1: 51.
[7]Musnad, 4: 144.
[8]ibid, 4: 159.
[9]Nasai, Hayl: 8; Musnad, 4: 144.
[10]Tirmidhi, Tafsiru’l-Qur’an: 3.
[11]Faydu’l-Qadir, 2: 175.
8-)
Abdullah bin Zayd (r.a.)
Hz. Abdullah was of Ansar. He took part in the Pledge of Aqabah. He was adherent to the Messenger of Allah with his whole heart. He took part in all battles with the Prophet. He fought heroically. He carried the flag of Sons of Harith of the tribe of Khazraj during the Conquest of Makkah
Abdullah is known as “Sahibul-Adhan”. This name was given to him because he saw adhan in his dream exactly before adhan was known as call to prayer. This incident took place as follows:
It was just after the Migration. People used to shout “As-Salatu Jami'ah” to call people to prayer. The Prophet talked to the Companions to find something more appropriate. He said, “I want all Muslims to perform prayers together.” He asked them their opinions about it. Some Companions suggested ringing bells but the Prophet rejected it saying, “It is the custom of Christians.” Others suggested blowing a horn but the Messenger of Allah said, “It is the custom of Jews.” They could not agree on anything.
Each of the Companions that were there thought about the issue that day. Sleeping with this idea in his mind, Hz. Zayd, saw a man wearing green garments in his dream. He had a bell in his hand. Hz. Zayd asked him to sell him the bell. The man said, “What are you going to do with it?” Zayd said, “I will use it to inform people about prayer times.” The man said, “I will describe you something better.” Then, he turned toward the qiblah, recited adhan in the same way as it is called to day. When he repeated it, he added the sentence, “Qad qamatis-salah”. Then, he disappeared.
Hz. Abdullah woke up in excitement. He was still under the influence of the dream. He waited for an appropriate time. Then, he entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah. He informed him about the dream he had. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “The dream is true. Teach those words to Bilal so that he will recite them.” Hz. Abdullah taught adhan to Hz. Bilal. Hz. Bilal ascended to a high place and called the first adhan. A few people who heard it came and said they had seen the same thing in their dreams. Then, revelation about adhan was sent down to the Messenger of Allah. The story of adhan that has been called since the first year of the Migration as a sign of Islam is like that. Today, adhan that is called five times a day is a memory of Hz. Abdullah bin Zayd.
Hz. Abdullah was famous for his generosity. He was together with the Prophet in the Farewell Hajj. He gave all of his property and animals away as sadaqah to the poor during this hajj. He preferred to live in financial difficulty. Hz. Abdullah died in 22 H during the caliphate of Hz. Uthman. [1]
May Allah be pleased with him!
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[1]Tabaqat, 1: 246-247; 3: 536; Musnad, 4: 42.
9-)
Jabir bin Abdullah (r.a.)
The preparations for the Battle of Uhud increased day by day. On the one hand, the Muslims were completing the preparations for the provisions under the supervision of the Prophet (pbuh); on the other hand, they exercised fighting with the sword and throwing arrows. In the meantime, the young and brave Muslims who could use a sword applied to the Prophet (pbuh) and asked for permission to join the battle.
A young man who was suffering from the agony and sadness of not being able to participate in the Battle of Badr also applied to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to participate in the battle. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) told him he could join the war if he went and got permission from his father. This young man, who went to his father in a slightly sad and excited way, was Jabir bin Abdullah, who paid allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in the Second Pledge of Aqaba with his father at a young age.
Hz. Jabir's father, Abdullah bin Amr, answered his son's request as follows:
"My dear child! If there were anyone else to look after and protect your seven sisters, I would like to see you being martyred in front of my eyes at Uhud." [1]
Jabir’s father could not see his son as a martyr at Uhud, but he was martyred in the same battle by fighting heroically.
After his father's death, Jabir, who took over the leadership of the family, became a Muslim at a young age and was praised by the Prophet (pbuh) several times due to his distinguished qualities. The Messenger of Allah often visited him in his house and ate dinner with him.
Jabir inherited a lot of debt from his father. The creditors were Jews and they constantly asked their money from Jabir. Abdullah bin Amr left only a small amount of money; Jabir had a small date palm orchard; it was impossible for the income from this orchard to pay for the debt of his father in several years.
Jabir, who was in a very difficult situation, went to the Prophet with the hope of finding a solution. He said,
"O Messenger of Allah! My father was martyred at Uhud. He left a large amount of debt. The creditors constantly ask the money from me. Help me so that some of the debt is postponed to next year."
The Prophet accepted Jabir's offer. The next day, Jabir began preparations. The Messenger of Allah was going to visit his house. He said to his wife, "The Messenger of Allah is going to come to us; do not disturb him!"
The next morning the Prophet went to Jabir's house. Jabir slaughtered a sheep. The Prophet, Hz. Abu Bakar and some Companions were at Jabir's house. Later, the Prophet told Jabir to call the creditors. When Jabir’s wife saw the Prophet, she said from behind the curtain, "O Messenger of Allah! Pray to Allah for me and my husband." The Prophet said, "May Allah forgive you and your husband!"
What happened after that is described as follows in the book called "Mektûbat":
“Jabir offered the creditors all his father’s possessions but they did not accept them. The fruit produced by his orchard over many years would have been insufficient to defray the debt. The Noble Messenger (pbuh) said: “Pick and gather in all the fruit in the orchard!” They did so; then the Noble Messenger (pbuh) walked around the crop and prayed. Then Jabir gave from the amount corresponding to his father’s debt. What was left was as much as the annual produce of the orchard. And according to another narration, it was equal to the amount he gave the creditors. The Jews were amazed and astounded at this.”[2]
Hz. When Jabir heard later that his wife asked the Prophet to pray for them, he said to her, "Did I not tell you not to disturb the Prophet?" His wife said, "How can it be possible for me not ask the Prophet to pray for us when he comes to our house? We got rid of our debt thanks to the help of the Messenger of Allah."
Jabir, who always felt the sorrow of not being able to fight in the Battle of Badr and Uhud, took part in all of the battles after the death of his father; he participated in 19 battles together with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh).
After his father was killed at Uhud, Hz. Jabir married a widow. When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was informed about this marriage, he asked Jabir, "Did you marry a virgin or a widow?" Jabir said,
"O Messenger of Allah! You know that I have seven sisters. I wanted to marry an experienced woman who would take care of them, comb their hair, nourish and raise them. Therefore, I chose a widow."
The Prophet liked this behavior of Jabir, who could have married any girl she wanted with his handsomeness and heroism. He said, "O Jabir! You did the right thing." [3] Suhayma bint Mas'ud, whom Jabir married, served Islam a lot afterwards. [4]
Hz. Jabir, who was one of the notables of Ansar, lived about two kilometers away from Madinah but participated in all daily prayers led by the Prophet in the mosque. The tribe of Sons of Salama, to which Jabir belonged, wanted to settle in an empty place near Masjid an-Nabawi but when the Messenger of Allah heard this, he said, "O Sons of Salama! Do not leave your homeland so that your thawabs will be abundant.” [5]
During the Battle of Khandaq, the Muslims experienced the most troubled days. On the one hand, the Muslims were digging trenches and on the other hand, they faced the danger of starvation. The incident reported by Jabir is a clear example of the hardships and sufferings of the Muslims in this battle.
The Companions who were busy with digging trenches came across with a piece of rock but they could not move it. The Messenger of Allah told them to sprinkle some water on the rock; then, he took the sledgehammer and hit the rock with it three times; the rock broke into pieces. Hz. Jabir says, "When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was breaking the rock, I noticed that he had tied a stone on his stomach to suppress his hunger." [6]
On one of those days of distress and suffering, there was some barley and a kid in Jabir's house. He talked to his wife and decided to treat them to the Messenger of Allah and a few Companions with him. Besides, they did not have enough food for more Companions. Jabir went to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and said, "I have some food. I invite you and a few people to my house." The Messenger of Allah said, "All right. Tell your wife not to take the food from the stove and not to remove the bread from the oven before I come."
After a while, Hz. Jabir left the place of Khandaq and returned home. Meanwhile, the Prophet put his two hands around his mouth and shouted so that all Ansar and Muhajirs would hear: "O people of Khandaq! Jabir has prepared a meal for us and invited us. Let us go."
Hundreds of Companions who were trying to suppress their hunger by the stones they had tied on their stomachs proceeded to Jabir's house. The Companions filled Jabir’s house and the area near his house in groups. In the meantime, Hz. Jabir looked at the food that was cooked and the number of the people that came to his house and did not know what to do due to his astonishment. He could not help saying, "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun."
Then, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) arrived and ordered them to put the food in the middle. He started to distribute it to the people. He took some bread, put some cooked meat on it, and handed it over to each of the Companions who were in line. Although hundreds of Companions filled their stomachs, the meal, which had been prepared only for a few people, did not run out. After everybody ate, the Messenger of Allah also ate some. And there was still some bread and meat left. Hz. Jabir said,
“About a thousand men ate from that barley, which was about one sa’ (about three kilos) and the meat of the kid. Then, they left. There was still some meat in the saucepan and bread in the oven. For, the Messenger of Allah prayed for that bread and meat with his blessed mouth.“ [7]
Jabir, who received such compliments from the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) several times, learned knowledge from the Messenger of Allah first, and from Hz. Abu Bakr, Hz. Umar, Hz. Ali, Abu Ubayda and Talha after him. He conveyed what he learned to others and taught them very generously; along with more than 500 hadiths that he narrated, he trained many valuable students who became scholars such as Imam Baqir, Muhammad bin Munkadir, Said bin Mina and Asim bin Umar bin Qatada.
He had a long lifespan. He acted very compassionately and mercifully toward all Muslims. He supported Hz. Ali related to the conflict between Hz. Ali and Muawiya but he did not support anybody in the conflicts that occurred after that. When conflicts between the Muslims were mentioned, he would report the following hadith:
"People entered into the religion of Allah in communities. They will come out again in communities in the future. "[8]
Toward the end of his life, he became very sad and got very weak due to the persecutions and inflictions by the governors of Hajjaj. He died at the age of 94 in 74 H. Thousands of Muslims including Hajjaj participated in his janazah prayer. May God Almighty not deprive us of the intercession Hz. Jabir, who caused the Muslims to come together both when he was alive and when he died!
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One of the lucky people that the Prophet saved from slavery, included among the most honorable people and regarded as of Ahl al-Bayt is Hz. Thawban (r.a.).
Hz. Thawban was from Yemen. He was sold as a slave in the market. The Prophet paid the necessary money and bought him. Then, he freed Thawban. However, Thawban warmed to the Messenger of Allah, who was a vast ocean of compassion, all of a sudden. He did not want to leave the Prophet. Noticing this, the Prophet made him the following offer:
“Return to your family and live with them if you wish. Or, stay with us here with Ahl al-Bayt.”
This was an offer that Thawban wanted very much. He decided to stay with the Messenger of Allah without thinking.[1]
Thus, Hz. Thawban attained the honor of serving the family of the Prophet. He was also the special servant of the Prophet. He was a clever, shrewd and intelligent person. He fulfilled every order of the prophet and did his duties perfectly.
Hz. Thawban narrates one of his reminiscences about the Prophet as follows:
When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) went on a journey, the last member of his family he saw was Fatima; when he returned, he would visit Fatima first. Once, he returned from an expedition. Hz. Fatima had hung up a cloth on her door. Hasan and Husayn had two silver bracelets on their arms. When the Prophet saw them, he went past her house without entering. Hz. Fatima understood that the Messenger of Allah did not enter her house because of the cloth she had hung up on the door. She removed the cloth, unfastened the bracelets from the boys, put them in their hands and sent them to their grandfather. Hasan and Husayn went to the Messenger of Allah crying. The Messenger of Allah took the bracelets and said to me,
“O Thawban! Take them to so and so family. Buy a necklace made of knucklebone for Fatima and two bracelets made of ivory. They are my Ahl al-Bayt. I do not like it when they have the boons of Paradise in this world.”[2]
Hz. Thawban respected the Prophet a lot and never tolerated any disrespect toward him; he would react suddenly. He sometimes had trouble due to this severe loyalty.
Once, a Jew came and wanted to talk to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). He addressed the Prophet as “Assalamu alayka ya Muhammad!” When Hz. Thawban heard the Jew address the Prophet with his name, he reprimanded him, "Why did you not say O Messenger of Allah?" Then, he started to fight with the Jew. He hurt the Jew. Thawban said, "I regard addressing the Messenger of Allah only with his name as a mistake." The Messenger of Allah calmed Thawban down and said, "My name is Muhammad in my family."[3]
Hz. Thawban, was a lover of the Prophet who could not put up with being separated from him. He sometimes remained away from the Prophet due to some duties. Once, he came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah in a terrible state. His face was pale, his body was weak and there was an expression of sorrow in his face.
When the Prophet saw him like that, he asked him, "O Thawban! What has happened? Are you ill? Thawban replied as follows:
"O Messenger of Allah! I am not ill nor have I any pain. When we come to your presence, we look at your face, sit next to you and listen to you. When I do not see you, my love toward you increases; I feel grievous until I rejoin you. Then, I remember the hereafter and fear that I will not be able to see you there. For, you will be in a higher station with the prophets in Paradise and I will be in a lower position. I am worried that I will not be able to see you there." [4]
The Prophet listened to Hz. Thawban and was about to answer him when Jibril came and read the following verse:
“All who obey Allah and the Messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah― of the Prophets (who teach) the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the Righteous (who do good): ah! How a beautiful fellowship!”[5]
When the revelation was completed, Hz. Thawban was so happy. He felt like a child due to his happiness. He received the reward of his love toward the Messenger of Allah in the world; he also received the glad tiding of seeing his blessed face in Paradise.
Once, the Prophet addressed his Companions as follows:
“If somebody promises me about something, I will promise him Paradise.”
Thereupon, Hz. Thawban acted very quickly and said, “I will.” The Prophet said to him, “Do not ask anything from anybody; do not ask questions!”
After that, Thawban did not ask anything from anybody. When his whip fell while he was riding, he would not ask it from anybody; he would get off and pick it up himself. [6]
Hz. Thawban served the Prophet until the Prophet died. He sacrificed his whole life for the Prophet. He was lucky enough to receive its reward in the world. He deserved Paradise as it is mentioned in the hadith above and he was regarded among Ahl al-Bayt.
The Prophet was praying for his family while Thawban was there. Thawban said, “O Messenger of Allah! I am of Ahl al-Bayt.” When he repeated it three times, the Prophet accepted it and said, “Yes, you are of us too as long as you do not go to the door of anyone and ask anything from anyone.”[7] For, to ask sadaqah from others and to be indebted to someone was something that did not fit Ahl al-Bayt.
When Hz. Thawban heard that he was regarded as one of the members of Ahl al-Bayt, he became very happy. He acted in accordance with this advice of the Prophet throughout his life.
Hz. Thawban memorized the hadiths he heard from the Prophet when he was with him and kept them in his memory. Thanks to this, he became a hadith scholar. There are 127 narrations of Thawban in hadith books.[8] He educated several students in hadith. He also had a deep knowledge of Islamic law.
When the Prophet died, Hz. Thawban could stay in Madinah only for three days. Wherever he looked, he remembered the Prophet. He could not put up with his separation. He left Madinah like Bilal al-Habashi. He went to the region of Damascus and settled in Ramla. Then, he took part in the conquest of Egypt. He spent the last days of his life in Homs. He died in the 54th year of the Migration.
May Allah be pleased with him!
One of the hadiths Hz. Thawban narrated is as follows:
"Imminently, there will come a time when the nations gather against you, just as people gather around a feast." We said, "O Messenger of Allah! Will it be because we are few at that time?"
The Prophet said, "No, you will be numerous in those times, but you will be as useless as the scum of the sea. Allah will remove the fear that your enemies used to posses from you from their hearts and He will place wahn in your hearts."
We said, "What is wahn?"
The Messenger of Allah said, "Love of life and hatred of death."[9]
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Umayr was the brother of Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas. He became a Muslim after Hz. Sa'd, when he was 13 or 14 years old. Hz. Umayr, who followed the right path despite the pressure of his mother, migrated to Madinah afterwards.
He wanted to take part in the Battle of Badr, which was the first battle against the polytheists. He was 16 years old then. When he saw that the Messenger of Allah did not accept those who were very young, he was worried that the Messenger of Allah would send him back. He tried to hide but the Messenger of Allah saw him. He asked Umayr to return. Umayr thought, "Maybe Allah will give me the honor of being a martyr." When he heard that the Messenger of Allah wanted him to return, he started to cry. This enthusiasm of his to fight the polytheists at such a young age moved the Messenger of Allah and he allowed Umayr to fight.
As soon as the battle started, Hz. Umayr started to attack the enemy heroically. He entered among them and caused great distress. After a while due to the wounds he received, he became a martyr and flew to Paradise. Thus, he became one of the martyrs of Badr at such a young age.
May Allah be pleased with him!
12-)
Urwa bin Mas’ud (r.a.)
Once, the Prophet (pbuh) left Makkah with Zayd bin Haritha secretly and went to Taif in order to convey the message of Islam to the notables of Taif. However, let alone accepting Islam, they insulted and mocked the Prophet. One of the notables of Taif said, "Did Allah not find anybody else but you to send as a prophet?" The Prophet was attacked by stones and sticks by some young people who were agitated by the notables.
The attitude of the Messenger of Allah against this treatment was really exemplary. Although Jibril said, "I will destroy them if you want", he did not even curse them. He hoped that they would accept Islam in the future and prayed Allah to guide them.
Years passed after this incident. The prayer of the Messenger of Allah for the people of Taif was accepted. The people of Taif accepted Islam in groups. The sun of Islam illuminated the whole Arabia. It shed light to the world from there. Urwa bin Mas'ud, who was one of the notables of Taif, was among the first people of Taif that accepted Islam. With the love that Islam brought about in his heart, he set off from Madinah from Taif. After a journey that lasted for days, he arrived in Madinah. He found the Prophet and accepted Islam.
Urwa bin Mas'ud wanted to convey the message of Islam to others. He thought he had to spread the light of guidance to distant places. He thought of starting from his own tribe. He believed that he had to call them to Islam. He thought he could do it very well because he was a person that was loved by his tribe. They would obey him. They believed him so much that when the Messenger of Allah called them to Islam, they said, "If anyone were to be sent as a prophet, it would be Urwa." They were loyal to him so much and loved him so much.
Urwa bin Mas'ud (r.a.) told the Messenger of Allah about his thoughts. He explained them in detail. The Messenger of Allah was worried. He knew the characteristics of the people of Taif. He knew that they did not accept Islam due to their conceitedness. He told his worries to Urwa bin Mas'ud as follows:
"O Urwa! I am worried that they might kill you."
Hz. Urwa bin Mas'ud said, "O Messenger of Allah! They love me more than their own children. They would not wake me up if they saw me sleeping." When the Messenger of Allah saw that he was insistent, he said, "All right! You can go if you want but be very careful."[1]
Hz. Urwa set off. He arrived in Taif after a few days. Many people did not notice his arrival since he came at night. Those who saw him did not like it when they saw that he went home without visiting the idol Lat. However, they did not say anything thinking that he ignored visiting Lat because he was tired.
In the morning, his tribe came to visit him, who was away for a long time. They greeted him with the greeting of Jahiliyya. Urwa said he did not want the greeting of Jahiliyya and said, "Greet me by saying, ‘assalamu alaykum', the greeting of the people of Paradise. The situation was clear. However, he had to tell them why he had come. He said,
"O my tribe! Can you accuse me of anything bad?"
They all said, "No."
Then, Urwa continued: "The reason why I became a Muslim is the truth I found in Islam. I saw something that others did not see in it. Listen to my advice. Do not oppose me. I swear that no messenger brought to his tribe any truths superior to the ones that I brought to you."
The people of Taif were astounded when they heard these words because Urwa had changed completely. The Urwa that they knew was gone. There was an Urwa that was enlightened by the light of Islam.
They surrounded him and said, "We felt suspicious when you went directly home without visiting Lat." They opposed him.
However, Urwa continued to speak. When the polytheists saw that he was determined, they left. At dawn, Urwa bin Mas'ud went up to the roof of his house and called the adhan of the morning prayer. When the polytheists heard the adhan, they got crazy. They took their bows and shot arrows at him. Hz. Urwa was seriously wounded. Blood was coming out of his whole body. However, he shouted,
"This is an honor for me. Martyrdom is a grace of Allah. Allah is one and Muhammad is His Messenger. My belief in the Messenger of Allah got stronger because he told me about this. O my relatives! I want only one thing from you: Bury me near the Companions that fought together with the Messenger of Allah and that were martyred. I want to be with them."[2]
When the Messenger of Allah heard about his martyrdom, he felt very sorry. He likened his situation to a saint of Allah who called people to the truth in the past: "His situation is similar to the person described in the chapter of Yasin (Habib an-Najjar). He called the people of his tribe to Allah but was martyred by them. Praise be to Allah who created a person from my ummah who was like the person described in the chapter of Yasin."
May Allah be pleased with him!
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[1]Usdu'l-Ghaba, 1: 406.
[2]Tabaqat, 1: 312-313.
13-)
Jarir bin Abdullah (r.a.)
It was the 10th year of the Migration. Makkah had been conquered and Islam had spread to more places. The surrounding tribes came to Madinah in groups and became Muslims. The saving hand of Islam also reached Sons of Bajila. They were on the way to Madinah with a delegation of 150 people. Jarir bin Abdullah was the leader of this group. When the group approached Madinah, the Prophet (pbuh) was talking to his Companions. At one point, he said, a Yemeni will come from that door soon. There is a sign of a king and angel on his face. The Companions started to wait for that person with both ears and eyes. Hz. Jarir himself narrates what happened after that as follows:
"As soon as I arrived in Madinah, I changed my clothes and entered the mosque. The Messenger of Allah was talking to his Companions then. I greeted them and sat down. The Muslims were glancing at me. I asked the person sitting next to me, 'Did the Messenger of Allah mention me?' 'Yes,' he said, "He has just mentioned you in a nice way." When I heard that, I praised Allah Almighty. A little later, the Messenger of Allah asked me, 'O Jarir! Why did you come?' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! I want to be a Muslim in your presence.' I told him that I would pay allegiance to him as a Muslim and asked him to lay any conditions he wished. He said,
‘Pay allegiance to me that there is no god but Allah, that I am the Messenger of Allah, that you will worship Allah without associating any partners with Him, that you will perform prayers and fasting, that you will help Muslims, that you will obey your amir (leader) even if he is an Abyssinian slave and that you will leave the polytheists.’
I said, 'I will.' The Messenger of Allah extended his hand, and I paid allegiance to him regarding the issues he mentioned."
After Jarir, those who were with him became Muslims by paying allegiance one by one. [1]
Jarir bin Abdullah had a different place in the eye of the Prophet. He complimented Jarir by saying, "Jarir is from us, from Ahl al-Bayt." [2]. He always allowed Jarir to enter into his presence and go out. Whenever he saw Jarir, he would smile. When delegations entered into his presence, he would send a message to Jarir, and he would come wearing nice clothes. The Prophet would introduce him to the delegation and mention his service to Islam proudly.
Once, the Prophet was sitting with his Companions. Meanwhile, Jarir arrived. Somehow, nobody showed him a place to sit. The Prophet (pbuh) looked at his left and right. He looked for a place for him to sit. When he could not find a place, he took of his robe and said to Jarir, "Sit on this." Hz. Jarir took the robe, folded it and kissed; then, he returned it to the Messenger of Allah. He expressed his gratitude by saying, "May Allah treat you as you treated me." The Prophet said to his Companions, "When the leader of a tribe comes to you, treat him as he deserves." [3]
Hz. Jarir stayed with the Messenger of Allah in Madinah for a while. During this time, he learned a lot from the Messenger of Allah. When he returned to his hometown, he invited his people to Islam. He became a means of guidance for many people. At the same time, he occasionally went to Madinah to listen to the Messenger of Allah. Once, he was in Madinah again. The Prophet asked him what the condition of his tribe was. Jarir gave the good news to the Prophet, "O Messenger of Allah! Almighty Allah made Islam superior. Adhans are called in the mosques and areas of Sons of Balija. The tribes demolished the idols they had worshipped."
The Messenger of Allah was very happy to hear it. However, he asked, "What happened to Dhul-Khalasa?" When Jarir told him that it remained as it was, the Messenger of Allah felt sad. "By Allah! I will get rid of it too. O Jarir! Can you not save me from it? Can you not relieve me?"
Dhul-Khalasa was a temple in Yemen. It was called "Yemen's Kaaba". In this temple was an obelisk made of marble and embroidered with a stone crown. It was between Yemen and Makkah, about seven days away from Makkah. People sacrificed animals for it and showed great respect to it. In this respect, Hz. Jarir's mission was difficult. However, this great man devoted his life to the way of the Messenger of Allah. He was ready to fulfill all of his commands and wishes. He did not think about the difficulties he would face while doing this. He answered without hesitation, "O Messenger of Allah! I will definitely do it." He made preparations without losing time. He took 150 mujahids with him.
Hz. Jarir could not remain on horseback for a long time. Before he left, he said, "O Messenger of Allah! I cannot remain on horseback for a long time." The Prophet patted Jarir on the chest with his blessed hand. Then he said, "O Allah! Make him stable on horseback. Show him the right way. Make him among those who show the right way." After that, Hz. Jarir never fell of the horse.
When Jarir bin Abdullah arrived at Dhul-Khalasa, they did not allow him to demolish it. A battle took place. 200 polytheists were killed. Then the temple was demolished and burned. It was ruined in a short time. Fulfilling his duty successfully, Hz. Jarir returned to Madinah. He gave the good news to the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah prayed for them. [4]
After the Farewell Hajj, the Prophet sent Jarir to Yemen to invite Dhul-Kala and Dhu Amr to Islam. Hz. Jarir managed to do it too. He caused both of them to become Muslims. However, in the meantime, he heard that the Messenger of Allah passed away. He became very sad.
Hz. Jarir continued to convey the message of Islam and to teach it in the Era of the Four Caliphs. Hz. Umar admired him and complimented him due to the beauty of his face by saying, "Jarir bin Abdullah is the Yusuf (Joseph) of this ummah." One day, Hz. Umar was sitting with a group of Muslims including Jarir. He caught a bad smell. He said, "Whoever caused that smell should go and make wudu." Hz. Jarir did not want a Muslim to be embarrassed among his friends. He asked, "O leader of the believers! Would it not be better if everybody made wudu?" Somehow, Hz. Umar had not thought of it. He liked his proposal. He complimented Jarir by saying, "May Allah give you a long life! You were wise before being a Muslim; and you are wise now."
Jarir did not hesitate to give advice to people especially to administrators. He regarded the truth superior to everything and did not hesitate to tell the truth. Once, he wrote a letter to Muawiya and reminded him of the following hadith of the Prophet: "Allah will not show mercy to a person who does not show mercy to others." [5]
The Prophet (pbuh) advised Jarir not to deceive in trade, to tell everyone the truth and to give advice to people. Hz. Jarir acted in accordance with this advice throughout his life. When he sold something, he would inform the customer about all of the defects of it: "This is the commodity; this is the price; these are its defects. You are free to buy it or not." They said to him, "You cannot earn anything if you do like that." He said, "I promised the Messenger of Allah like that. I will not break my promise whether I earn money or not."
Jarir, who spent his entire life in service to Islam and died in the 51 H, narrated many hadiths. Two of them are as follows:
"Do not become like unbelievers who kill one another after my death." [6]
“If a person starts a good thing in Islam, he receives thawabs like those who do the same thing, without any decrease in their thawabs. If a person starts a bad thing, he receives sins like those who do the same thing, without any decrease in their sins.” [7]
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Another distinguished Companion that read the Quran, our holy book, beautifully was Ubayy bin Ka’b. In the words of the Prophet, “he was the one that read the Quran the most beautifully.”[1] He was also called “the Master of the Reciters of the Quran" and “the Master of Ansar”.
He became a Muslim before the Second Pledge at Aqaba and he confirmed his loyalty to the Messenger of Allah there. After the Migration, the Messenger of Allah made him brothers with Said bin Zayd, one of ashara al-mubashshara. Hz. Ubayy took part in all battles when he was with the Messenger of Allah.
When the order about zakah was sent down by Allah, the Messenger of Allah sent him to collect zakah from the tribes of Bani Huzaym, Bani Qudama, Bani Sa’d and Bani Uzra. He fulfilled this duty properly.
Hz.Ubayy, who received compliments and praises from the Prophet, was competent at the Torah, the Gospel and other heavenly books as well as the Quran.
Once, the Messenger of Allah asked him, “What is the greatest verse in the Quran?” He said, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” However, the Messenger of Allah asked again and again insistently. Finally, he said, “It is ayat al-kursiyy". The Messenger of Allah became very pleased when he heard this answer and said,
“How happy you are, O Ubayy! You have amazing knowledge. I swear by Allah that this verse has a tongue and lips that mention and sanctify Allah Almighty.”
Once, the Messenger of Allah went to see Ubayy and said to him, “O Ubayy! Allah ordered me to read the Quran to you.”
Ubayy said, “Did Allah mention my name?”
The Messenger of Allah said, “Yes, He did. He mentioned your name and family name in the High Council.”
Ubayy said, “Then, read me the Quran, O Messenger of Allah!” Then, he could not help cry and shedding tears due to this divine grace.
When he narrated this incident afterwards, his son asked him, “Dad, did you rejoice a lot at that time?” He answered his son by reading the following verse: “Say: "In the Bounty of Allah and in His Mercy― in that let them rejoice": that is better than the (wealth) they hoard.”[2]
After the death of the Messenger of Allah, he devoted himself to the service of the Quran. He taught the students who gathered around him to read the Quran in the best way and to understand it. Many distinguished Companions including Hz. Abu Bakr and Hz. Umar were among his students learning the Quran.
Hz. Umar appreciated Ubayy bin Ka’b. Hz. Ubayy did not accept any administrational duty despite the insistence of the caliph and did not give up teaching the Quran. In Madinah, he gave the same service that Hz. Abu’d-Darda gave in Damascus. Upon the request of Hz. Umar, he accepted to join the meetings of consultancy.
Hz. Ubayy was a Companion with exemplary ethics and virtues. He was honest and straightforward. Once, Hz. Umar read a verse in a wrong way when he was there. Hz. Ubayy told Hz. Umar to correct his reading. He said, “O Umar! I listened to this verse from the Messenger of Allah himself. When I listened to him, you were busy with trade in Baqi.”
Hz. Umar answered him as follows:
“You have told the truth. I wanted to try your sensitiveness about talking honestly. For, if the truth is not uttered in the presence of an administrator, he is not a good administrator.”
When different views regarding reading the Quran occurred during the caliphate of Hz. Uthman, a committee of 12 people from Qurayshis and Ansar was established and Hz. Ubayy was appointed as the head of this committee. He read the Quran and Zayd bin Thabit wrote it. He has an exceptional place in the history of Islam thanks to this service.
Ubayy bin Ka’b avoided unnecessary and meaningless words. He would not answer the unserious questions he was asked. He would answer serious and sincere questions very carefully and meticulously.
He did not sit at a different place from his students. He would sit at the same level as them when he taught them. He served greatly in both the science of reading the Quran and interpreting (tafsir) it. This service took place in two forms: The questions that he asked the Messenger of Allah regarding the verses of the Quran; the answers he gave to those who asked him questions about the reasons why the verses were sent down and the meaning of the verses.
Hz. Ubayy reported many hadiths from the Messenger of Allah. He is one of the witnesses and narrators of the miracle of “the crying of the log of the palm tree". The Prophet used to recite the sermons in Masjid an-Nabawi by leaning against a log of palm tree before a pulpit was built there. After the pulpit was built, the Prophet did not lean against the log any longer. Thereupon, the log moaned and cried in the presence of a group of people. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah said, “The reason why he cries is the fact that he was separated from the divine dhikr read in the sermons.” Then, the Messenger of Allah approached the log, hugged it and said something to it.
According to a narration, the log said to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), “Plant me in Paradise so that the beloved slaves of Allah Almighty will eat my fruits. Paradise is such a place that there is no decaying or drying there.”
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “All right, I will do so.” Then, he said, “It preferred the eternal world to the transient world.” Then, the log was placed under the pulpit. When the pulpit was later demolished in order to expand the mosque, Ubayy bin Ka’b (r.a.) took the log and kept it until it decayed.[3]
Ubayy, who spent his life serving the Quran had many aphorisms. Some of them are as follows:
“A believer is known by four characteristics: When he undergoes troubles and misfortunes, he shows patience. When he receives bounties and good things, he thanks. When he speaks, he tells the truth. When he decrees, he treats with justice.”
“A believer walks among five lights. That Allah Almighty mentions 'light upon light' indicates this. His word, knowledge, the place he enters, the place he exits and the place he will go on the Day of Judgment are all light.”[4]
Hz. Ubayy bin Ka’b died in Madinah in the 35th year of the Migration. His janazah prayer was lead by Hz. Uthman.
It was the time period when the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was signed. There was a worried and restless waiting in Hudaybiyyah. The Companions gathered under the tree of Ridwan and paid allegiance to the Messenger of Allah on their "lives". Salama bin Akwa, who was a strong and brave Companion, was among them. The Messenger of Allah said, “Where is Salama? Tell him to come and pay allegiance.” He rushed and paid allegiance. After a while, the Messenger of Allah said again, “Where is Salama? Tell him to come and pay allegiance” Salama paid allegiance again. This was repeated three times. Hz. Salama felt that his loyalty and love toward the Messenger of Allah increase after each allegiance. He promised three times that he would sacrifice his life for the Messenger of Allah.
The Companions moved away after the allegiance. Salama went to a distant tree and lay down under it. Meanwhile, a team of four people of the enemy came near him, and began to defame and speak ill of the Messenger of Allah. The brave Companion, who had promised to be loyal to the Messenger of Allah, could hardly control his rage. For, the Messenger of Allah prohibited Muslims from doing anything against the polytheists. He just went to the shade of another tree. The polytheists put their weapons on a tree and lay down.
Meanwhile, they heard a voice down the valley:
“O Muhajirs! Help! Ibn Zunayn was killed.”
Upon hearing this, Salama ibn Al-Akwa could not put up with it anymore. He took his sword and went quietly to the polytheists. He collected their swords from the tree. Then, he shouted, “If you move, I will cut off your head.”
The polytheists were astounded and they started to shiver out of fear. Salama shouted at them, “Stand up and walk in front of me without turning round!”
He took them to the presence of the Messenger of Allah. He was going to act according to the order of the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah did not want to violate the treaty about not fighting. He said, "Let all bad deeds belong to them. Release them.
Due to the terms of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the Muslims started to return to Madinah. In the evening they stopped somewhere near the tribe of Banu Lahyan, who were polytheists at that time, to spend the night. There was a hill, which was a bit high, between them. The Messenger of Allah asked a volunteer to watch the enemy at night and said he would ask forgiveness from Allah for him. Salama came to the fore and said, “O Messenger of Allah! I am ready for your orders.”
He kept watch all night on his own despite the danger of the attack of the enemy. He proved his courage and self-sacrifice again.
After returning to Madinah, Rabah, the servant of the Prophet, undertook the duty of taking the camels to the meadow to graze with a shepherd. However, Salama accompanied them thinking that the camels could be attacked by the enemy because there were a lot of tribes that were their enemies around. When they arrived at the meadow, they waited until morning without sleeping on the first night. When it was about morning they lay down in order to rest a bit. Meanwhile, some bandits from the tribe of Fazari launched an attack and killed the shepherd; they took the camels away.
When Salama saw what had happened in the morning, he sent Rabah to Madinah to inform people about the situation. He started to chase them without waiting for the help to come from Madinah. He was on foot but he ran very fast. He caught up with them and yelled,
“O bandits! Listen to me! I am son of Akwa. Today will be the day of your death.”
The camel thieves wanted to leave that place as soon as possible without heeding him. However, Salama did not want to let them go. He took his bow and started to shoot arrows at them. One of the arrows hit a bandit and he fell down. His friends continued running away, leaving their friend there. However, when they saw that Salama was still following them, and that they could not escape from him, one of them turned and rode his horse toward Salama in order to kill him. Salama did not panic. He squatted under a tree, took out an arrow, took aim and shot it. The arrow hit the polytheists and he fell off the horse.
The other bandits started to run away again and Salama chased them. While they were passing through a narrow valley, Salama climbed a hill quickly. He started to roll stones and rocks on them. When the polytheists realized that they would not be able to cope with him, they left the camels and ran away. However, Salama kept following them. When the bandits stopped to drink water near a well, he caught up with them. The polytheists who were really frightened by him left their spears and robes and ran away. Salama did not seem to be tired and followed them again.
Eventually, the cavaliers of the Messenger of Allah arrived. Hz. Akhram was at the front. Salama stopped him and said to him that the polytheists had weapons and that he should wait for the other Companions. However, Akhram wanted to make jihad very much.
“O Salama! Do not stop a person who believes in Allah and the hereafter. Do not prevent me from martyrdom.” He rode his horse toward the bandits recklessly. However, he was martyred by the arrows shot by the polytheists.
When the chase ended and they returned, they saw the Messenger of Allah and the Companions waiting near the well where Salama had found the polytheists. The things and camels were there too. The Messenger of Allah complimented on Salama saying,
“The best foot soldier today is Salama and the best cavalier is Abu Qatada.”
Then, he allocated two shares (one share of a foot soldier and one share of a cavalier) from the booty to Salama. Salama says, “I felt that I was hungry and tired only when I rejoined the Companions. When I drank a leather bottle of milk that was there and made wudu with water, I overcame my hunger and tiredness.”
Eventually, they set off to return to Madinah. The Messenger of Allah put Salama on his camel called “Adba” riding pillion. When the compliments of the Messenger of Allah were added to his joy of victory, Salama was over the moon. While the convoy was heading toward Madinah, somebody from Ansar started to shout,
"Is there anyone to race with me to Madinah?"
When Salama heard this, he could not put up with it despite his tiredness.
He said to the Messenger of Allah,
"O Messenger of Allah! Permit me to race him.'
When the Messenger of Allah permitted, he said to the Companion who wanted to race,
"Start running. I am coming."
Then, he jumped off the camel and started to run. Salama won this breathtaking race that lasted up to Madinah.
Salama displayed a lot of heroism in his life after that too. He took part in 14 battles, seven of which were with the Messenger of Allah. He showed great valor and heroism in all of them. This blessed Companion, who received many prayers and compliments from the Messenger of Allah, died in Madinah in the 74th year of the Migration, when he was 80 years old.
Finally, we will quote a hadith that he reported: Somebody was eating with his left hand in the presence of the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Eat with your right hand.” The man said, “I cannot eat with my right hand.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “May you not eat with it!” For, he did not want to eat with his right hand due to his pride and conceitedness; indeed, he was able to eat with his right hand. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah damned him. After that, the man could not use his right hand.[1]
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Although Abud-Darda became a Muslim the latest in his family, he became a distinguished Companion in a short time thanks to his efforts, self-sacrifice, piety and heroism in jihad.
His real name was "Uwaymir"; "Abud-Darda" was his nickname. The way he became a Muslim is very strange. Although everyone in his family including his wife became Muslims, he could not become a Muslim. Abdullah bin Rawaha, who tried very hard so that he would become a Muslim, was rejected mildly by him each time. Abdullah, however, hoped that one day Abud-Darda would become a Muslim one day and he believed that the cause of Abud-Darda’s delay was due to his researching a lot
One day, Abdullah saw Abu Darda leaving his house. He entered the house from the back door and broke the idol that he always worshipped. Abu Darda’s wife tried to prevent him but Abdullah was determined to break it into pieces. Abu Darda, who came home after a while, saw that all pieces of the idol had been scattered around. He became very angry but he started to think. After a while he said, "If the idol had been something useful, it would have defended itself." He immediately entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). Hz. Abdullah was there too. He became excited when he saw him. He prayed so that he would attain guidance. He became very happy when he saw that Abu Darda became a Muslim by uttering kalima ash-shahada. [1]
After entering Islam, Abud-Darda worked for Islam with such enthusiasm and zeal that many people envied him. Abud-Darda did not join the Battle of Badr because he had not yet become a Muslim at that time. However, after Badr, he participated in all of the wars and expeditions. Thanks to his heroism at Uhud, the Messenger of the Prophet (pbuh) complimented him by saying, "Uwaymir is a perfect cavalry man."
After Salman al-Farisi became a Muslim, he became very good friends with Abu Darda at once. The Prophet (pbuh) declared these two self-sacrificing companions, who loved each other very much, as brothers.
Abud-Darda was engaged in trade before becoming a Muslim. After being a Muslim, he gave up trade in order to learn more from the Prophet and to worship more. He started to attend the talks of the Prophet. From time to time, he asked the Messenger of Allah questions. Once, he asked the following question:
"O Messenger of Allah! The rich have earned the world and the hereafter. They perform prayers and fasting; in addition, they give sadaqa. However, we cannot give sadaqa because we are poor."
Thereupon, the Prophet (pbuh) said:
"Shall I tell you something? What you attain when you do it can be attained only by those who do it; those who do not do it cannot attain it by any other way. Say Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahuakbar 34 times after every prayer. "[2]
Hz. Abud-Darda took lessons from everything he saw. He did favors to everybody. He did not hurt anybody. He was good-humored. He smiled especially when he narrated hadiths. When he was asked why, he said, “When the Messenger of Allah said something, he would smile.”
He was generous. He always treated his visitors. He liked to mediate between people. Once, a person whose tooth was broken went to Muawiya and carried on a lawsuit. Muawiya insisted but he did not give up. Abud-Darda was also there. He said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah say, 'If a Muslim is harmed and forgives the person who harms him, Allah Almighty will elevate his rank and forgive one of his mistakes.'" When the man heard this hadith from Abud-Darda, he forgave the man who broke his tooth. [3]
Abud-Darda was an extraordinarily efficient, modest, knowledgeable man, with an ability of administration; he also did his best to serve Muslims but led a very simple life. Because of these qualities, Hz. Umar wanted to give him an important duty in the state. However, Abud-Darda rejected Hz. Umar’s offer each time.
After a while, Abu'd-Darda asked for permission from Hz. Umar to go to Damascus. Hz. Umar did not allow him by saying, "Unless you accept a duty in the government, I will not let you go to Damascus." However, Abud-Darda’s wish was to go to Damascus and tell the Muslims there about the truths of Islam. He went to Hz. Umar again and said, "Please let me go there and teach people the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, lead prayers and tell them the truths that I know!" Then, Hz. Umar allowed him to go to Damascus.
Although Abud-Darda had a deep knowledge in hadith, tafsir and fiqh, he specialized in the Quran. He was one of the rare Companions who memorized the entire Quran when the Prophet was alive. He became very happy when he went to Damascus. He led a plain life and lived in a plain house there. Whenever, he went to the mosque, people would surround him immediately and ask him questions about the Quran, hadith and fiqh; he would answer them with enthusiasm. His knowledge was really great. Muadh bin Jabal, one of the notables of the Companions, said the following when Abud-Darda was about to die:
"O Abud-Darda! The sky has not shadowed anyone more knowledgeable than you, and the earth did not carry anyone more knowledgeable than you."
When the students that Abud-Darda raised became knowledgeable enough, he would immediately form a new circle around them, and he would be busy inspecting all of them. The circles of knowledge (ilm) formed by the students of Abud-Darda after the morning prayer in the Mosque of Damascus had such a lofty view that many people who did not take part in these circles would watch them with pleasure from a corner. Abud-Darda would stand in a corner and answer the questions coming from various circles. There were many distinguished Companions in these circles too. It is reported that Abud-Darda raised approximately 2000 students who knew the Quranic sciences very well in this way.
While Abud-Darda continued his sacred scholarly service, both the governor of Damascus and Yazid Ibn Abi Sufyan led a luxurious life away without heeding the problems of Muslims. Hz Umar heard about it and decided to go to Damascus in order to see the sacred services of Abud-Darda there and to punish the governor. His servant Yarfa was also with him. Hz. Umar sent Yarfa inside in order to try them. After Yarfa entered the mansion of Yazid, Hz. Umar followed him. He ordered all of the velvet cushions, silk goods and other things that were extra to be collected and taken to the Treasury.
The situation of the governor was no different. After doing the same thing to the governor, Hz. Umar said, "Come on! Now let us go to our brother." They went to Abud-Darda 's house. When they entered from the unlocked door that could open when it was pushed, they saw that there was not even a lamp to illuminate the house. Abud-Darda was sitting on a piece of felt in the dark without noticing who the people who entered his house were. Finally, they found each other in darkness and embraced each other.
Abud-Darda could guess the reason for Umar’s unexpected arrival. He said,
"O Umar! You know what the Messenger of Allah said. 'Your share from the world should be as much as the lunch box of a traveler.'"
They chatted until the morning that night.
Hz. Umar put all of the Companions on salary during his caliphate. The salary of those who took part in the Battle of Badr was different. However, Hz. Umar, who was a just caliph, gave Abud-Darda the same salary as them though he had not taken part in the Battle of Badr.
Abud-Darda narrated about 100 hadiths from the Prophet (pbuh). Some of them are as follows:
"On the Day of Resurrection, the heaviest thing in man’s Mizan (Scales) will be high ethics.” [4]
“Whoever protects his brother's honor, Allah protects his face from Fire on the Day of Resurrection.”[5]
“Whoever was given his share of gentleness, then he has been given a share of good. And whoever has been prevented from his share of gentleness, then he has been prevented from his share of good.”[6]
“Whoever follows a path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. The angels lower their wings in approval of the seeker of knowledge, and everyone in the heavens and on earth prays for forgiveness for the seeker of knowledge, even the fish in the sea. The superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like the superiority of the moon above all other heavenly bodies. The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, for the Prophets did not leave behind a Dinar or Dirham, rather they left behind knowledge, so whoever takes it has taken a great share.” [7]
Abud-Darda died in Damascus in the 32 H. Let us mention some of his nice and significant statements:
“I love three things that are hateful to people: I love poverty, sickness, and death. I love them because poverty is humility, sickness is expiation for sins and death results in a meeting with Allah.”
"Man should not complain about the misfortunes that hit him; he should not tell others about his pains and sorrows; he should not try to acquit himself through his tongue."
"What I am most afraid of is to be asked, "O Uwaymir! Did you learn your religion or not?" on the Day of Resurrection. If I say I learned, I fear that the verses of the Quran that advise what is good and forbid what is evil will witness against me by saying, 'You did not do anything we told you to do and you did not give up the things we told you mot to do."
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When the Prophet (pbuh) migrated to Madinah, one of the children who welcomed him was Hz. Sahl. He was about five years old then. His father, Sa’d bin Malik, had become a Muslim before the Migration; therefore, Hz. Sahl, was brought up in a Muslim family. His real name was “Hanza” but it was changed by the Prophet as “Sahl”.
Hz. Sahl did not take part in any battles with the Prophet because he was very young. However, he helped to dig the ditch in the Battle of Khandaq by carrying soil away. He narrates an incident about it as follows:
“I was with the Prophet while the ditch was being dug. They were digging and we, children, were carrying away the soil. I heard the Messenger of Allah pray as follows: ‘O Lord! The real life is the life in the hereafter. Forgive Muhajirs and Ansar!’”
Sahl was very clever. He was always with the Prophet and served him. He made a lot of efforts to keep what he heard and saw in his memory. He continued like that for ten years until the Messenger of Allah died. He witnessed many incidents. He narrates one of them as follows:
A woman came to the Messenger of Allah and gave him a garment she brought with her. She said, “O Messenger of Allah! I weaved it for you with my own hands. Please accept it.” The Prophet needed something like that. He accepted it and put it on. After a while, one of the Companions saw it and said, “O Messenger of Allah! It is very nice. Will you give it to me as a present?” The Prophet took it off and gave it to him. The other Companions who were there reproved him. They said, “It was not good for you to do it. The Messenger of Allah needed something like that. Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah does not refuse those who want something from him?” Thereupon, that Companion spoke as follows:
“I did not want it to wear. I wanted it so that it will be my shroud when I die.”
As a matter of fact, it happened like that. He was enshrouded with that garment.
Hz. Sahl, who was with Messenger of Allah for ten years and who learned from the famous Companions after that, had a long life. He spent all his life serving Islam. He died in Madinah in the 91st year of the Migration when he was 96 years old. Almost no Companion was alive at that time.[1]
Hz. Sahl, who witnessed an important period of the history of Islam for 91 years, narrated 188 hadiths. Some of them are as follows:
“To act carefully and cautiously is of Allah and to act hastily is of Satan.”[2]
“If the world had as much value as the wing of a fly [compared to the hereafter], he would not give a sip of water to the unbeliever.”[3]
“If Allah gives guidance to somebody through you, it is better for you than possessing red camels.”[4]
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Sa’d bin Muadh spent only six years of his short worldly life as a Muslim but he was a fortunate Companion who attained the honor of being “the most beloved one among Ansar” for the Prophet by serving Islam greatly.
Hz. Sa’d was the chief of the Ashhal clan of the tribe of Aws but he was also the general leader of the tribe of Aws. He became a Muslim thanks to Mus’ab bin Umayr, whom the Prophet sent to Madinah to spread the light of Islam before the Migration; after that he became a means for the guidance of the whole tribe of Aws.
Mus’ab first settled in the house of As’ad bin Zurara, who was Sad’s cousin. Mus’ab used his house as his center of activity and increased the number of the Muslims in Madinah. Sa’d, who was not a Muslim then, was disturbed by it but he could not intervene because his cousin (his maternal aunt’s son) was involved in the issue. He did not find it appropriate for his rank and character to intervene in something happening in the house of one of his relatives. Finally, he talked to Usayd bin Khudayr, who was one of the notables of Sons of Ashhal, and asked him to do something to end the activities of Mus’ab. However, Usayd, who went to talk to Mus’ab in a threatening way, became a Muslim after listening to him. Then, he said to Mus’ab,
“I will send you somebody. If he follows you, every one of his people will follow him and accept Islam.”
Usayd returned to Sa’d as a Muslim. Sa’d noticed the change in him and asked,
“Usayd! What did you do?”
“I talked to them and I did not see anything bad about them.”
This answer infuriated Sa’d. He went to the place where As’ad and Mus’ab were directly. Hz. Mus’ab made Sa’d sit. He told Sa’d about Islam and recited the Quran to him. As Sa’d listened to the Quran, his heart softened and he became a Muslim.
Hz. Sa’d stood up and had a bath. Then, he uttered kalima ash-shahada and performed a prayer of two rak'ahs. Then, he called Usayd bin Khudayr, who had become a Muslim before him, and summoned his clan. When Sa’d saw that Sons of Ashhal gathered, he addressed them as follows:
“O Sons of Ashhal! How do you know me?”
“You are our master, our most farsighted and reliable man.”
“In that case, I am telling you that I will not speak with any of you, men and women, unless you believe in Allah and His Messenger like me.”
This speech of Sad affected his clan and all of the men and women of Sons of Ashhal became Muslims on the same day before the evening.
After becoming a Muslim, Sa’d’s honor and prestige increased; he became one of the notables of the Companions.
One of the Companions who made speeches related to altruism, self-sacrifice and courage in the consultation before the Battle of Badr was Sa’d bin Muadh. He spoke as follows:
“O Messenger of Allah! We believed in you and confirmed you. We witnessed that whatever you brought was right. We promised to listen to you and to obey you. O Messenger of Allah! Do whatever you want to do; we are together with you. I swear by Allah, who sent you with the true religion, that if you showed us this sea and jumped into it, we would jump with you! Not even one person from us will remain behind. We will not avoid fighting the enemy. We will not lag behind during the battle. Lead us with the blessing of Allah.
O Messenger of Allah! Allow us to build a bower for you. You sit there and we will fight the enemy. If Allah makes us victorious, it will be very good. That is what we ant. If we are defeated, you can get on your mount and return to Madinah.”
The Prophet became very pleased with the speech Sa’d b. Muadh and prayed for him.
Sa’d bin Muadh took part in the Battle of Uhud and fought heroically. He was among those who formed a wall of flesh around the Prophet in that battle. His son, Amr, was martyred at Uhud.
In the 5th year of the Migration, the polytheists of Quraysh besieged Madinah. The Muslims were trying to defend themselves with a big trench they had dug by working really hard and undergoing a lot of trouble. During the battle, a polytheist called “Ibnl-Araqa” was looking at Sa’d all the time by holding his bow. Finally, he shot an arrow at Sa’d and tore one of his veins in his arm. When Sa’d bin Muadh realized that his wound was severe, he opened his hands and prayed as follows
“O Lord! If the war between Quraysh and us is to continue, allow me to live. I do not like anything as much as I like fighting those men, who tortured and denied Your Prophet. If the war between us is to end, elevate me to the rank of martyrdom. O Lord! Do not remove my soul before showing me the end of Sons of Qurayza.”
The Messenger of Allah ordered a tent to be set up in the mosque and settled Sa’d bin Muadh there. He appointed Rafida from the tribe of Ashlam to cure him. The Prophet often visited him and asked about his health.
Sa’d had a sever wound but he would live more. There was an important service he would do for Islam.
Sons of Qurayza Jews had signed a treaty with the Muslims but they violated this treaty during the Battle of Khandaq by cooperating with the polytheists.
Sa’d bin Muadh was in good terms with Sons of Qurayza Jews before Islam. Therefore, the Jews proposed that Sa’d be the judge to decree about their violation of the treaty. The Messenger of Allah Sa’d to act as a judge. Sa’d got out of his bed though he was ill and wounded and set off to fulfill a great duty. When he approached Qurayza, the Messenger of Allah said,
“Your master is coming. Stand up and settle him.”
Then, he turned to Sa’d and said, “Decree about them.”
Sa’d decreed that their warriors would be killed and their children women would be taken as captives and their wealth to be distributed to the Muslims. This decree existed in the Torah too. The Prophet became pleased with this decree and said,
“You have given the same decree as Allah and His Messenger would give.”
Sa’d returned to the tent that the Messenger of Allah had set up. The Messenger of Allah, Hz. Abu Bakr and Hz. Umar were there too. His wound started to bleed again. However, he did not heed it. For, God Almighty showed him the defeat of the polytheists in the Battle of Khandaq and the destruction of Sons of Qurayza. He was about to die as a martyr. Hz. Aisha said, “Meanwhile, both Abu Bakr and Umar were lamenting. A Companion asked Hz. Aisha whether the Messenger of Allah wept or not. She said,
“He would not weep after the death of anyone. However, when he felt sorry for someone, he would hold his beard. He held his beard when Sa’d died.”
Sa’d bin Muadh died as a martyr after living as a Muslim for six years.
Upon the death of Sa’d, the Prophet said, “Sa’d’s death shook the Throne. 70,000 angels who had never come down to earth before came down for his janazah.”
When the janazah of Sa’d bin Mu’adh was being carried, the hypocrites said mockingly, ‘How light his janazah is.” When the Messenger of Allah was informed about it, he said, “The angels were carrying his janazah.”
Some time passed after the burial of Sa’d. Somebody took a piece of soil from his grave. He felt that the soil emitted a nice smell. When the Prophet saw it, he said, “Subhanallah, Subhanallah!”
It is narrated that the most beloved person for the Prophet among the Muhjairs was Hz. Abu Bakr and among Ansar was Sa’d bin Muadh.
Once the Messenger of Allah was given a garment as a present. The Companions said it was very soft. He said,
“Are you surprised by its softness. By Allah the handkerchiefs of Sa`d bin Mu`adh in Paradise are better and softer than this.”
The Messenger of Allah loved Sa’d bin Muadh very much. He mentioned his virtues and spiritual rank after his death.
May Allah be pleased with them!
19-)
Amr bin Thabit Uhayrim (r.a.)
Amr bin Thabit was known by the nickname “Uhayrim”. Amr was from Madinah. Although all members of his tribe became Muslims, he continued to oppose the Muslims on his own.
During the Battle of Uhud, Uhayrim, who remained in Madinah, started to think. What was the reason for the Muslims to work so hard for the cause they believed in and not to avoid any sacrifices? Uhayrim was thinking about it and as he thought, the light of belief started to illuminate his heart and face. Finally, he decided to become a Muslim. He uttered kalima ash-shahada.
Uhayrim was a mujahid of Islam from then on. It was impossible for him to remain in Madinah comfortably while his religious brothers fought against the ferocious polytheists and shed their blood. He girded himself with a sword and proceeded to Uhud. He arrived at Uhud at the most violent moment of the war. He fought heroically. Finally, he was severely injured and fell down.
The war was over. The Muslims had many martyrs. Those who were strong enough to walk wandered among the martyrs, trying to help the wounded. Meanwhile, they saw Uhayrim, who was about to breathe his last breath. They were very surprised because they knew him as a polytheist. Some of them even thought that he was there to help the polytheists. They approached him to find out and asked him, "O Amr! Why did you come here? Did you want to help your tribe or to help Islam?"
Uhayrim gave the following answer, which made them happy:
"I came here because of my desire for Islam. I became a Muslim. I believed in Allah and His Messenger. Then I took my sword and came here to fight against the polytheists in the way of Allah and His Messenger."
Uhayrim died a little while later and became a martyr.
The Companions informed the Messenger of Allah about him. The Prophet said, "He is a person of Paradise. He did very few things but he received a lot of rewards."
It was years after this incident. Hz. Abu Hurayra asked the people around him, "Who is the person who never performed a prayer but is a person of Paradise?" They kept silent; they could not answer. Abu Hurayra said, "He is Amr bin Thabit." Then he narrated his story. [1]
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[1]Usdul-Ghaba, 4: 90-91; Isaba, 2: 526-527.
20-)
Abdullah bin Umm Maktum (r.a.)
Hz. Abdullah, who became a Muslim in the first years of Islam, who was one of the muezzins of Prophet Muhammad, who was one of the first muhajjrs who migrated to Madinah and who was appointed as deputy 13 times by the Prophet during the expeditions and battles in Madinah to lead the prayers, was blind, but his heart and foresight were luminous.
Ibn Umm Maktum's real name was "Amr", but the people of Madinah called him "Abdullah". His father was Qays bin Zaida and his mother was Atika bint Abdullah. He was given the name "Ibn Umm Maktum" meaning "Son of Umm Maktum" in relation to his mother. He was also the son of Hz. Khadijah’s maternal uncle. [1]
We learn from the talk with the Prophet about when Ibn Umm Maktum lost his eyesight:
According to what Hz. Anas narrates, once Hz. Jibril (Gabriel) entered into the presence of the Prophet. Ibn Umm Maktum was also there. Jibril asked, "When did you lose your eyesight?" He said, “When I was a child.” Thereupon, Jibril gave him the following glad tiding:
"Allah says: 'When I remove the eyesight of a servant, I will give him Paradise as a reward.'"
Thus, Ibn Umm Maktum received the glad tiding of Paradise while he was in the world. [2]
Hz. Ibn Umm Maktum often went into the presence of the Messenger of Allah after he became a Muslim in order to listen to the Prophet. He memorized the verses of the Quran from the Prophet. Once, the Prophet was conveying the message of Islam to some notables of Quraysh like Utba bin Shayba, Umayya bin Khalaf, and Abu Jahl with the following thought: "Perhaps a few of them will believe and the power of Islam will increase; thus, many people will become Muslims seeing them." Meanwhile, Ibn Umm Maktum arrived and said to the Prophet, "O Messenger of Allah! Read me the Quran. Teach me what Allah taught you."
As the Prophet was busy with the notables of Quraysh, he could not pay attention to Umm Maktum. When Ibn Umm Maktum could not get an answer from the Prophet, he repeated his request a few times. Our Prophet did not heed him and pulled a face; he did not want to be interrupted and continued talking to them. He did not answer Ibn Umm Maktum so that the people there would not laugh sarcastically by saying, "Only weak, poor and blind people and slaves enter this religion." However, after a short time, divine warning was sent down when he finished talking and was about to get up: [3]
“The (Prophet) frowned and turned away. Because there came to him the blind man (interrupting). But what could tell thee but that perchance he might Grow (in spiritual understanding)? Or that he might receive admonition, and the teaching might profit him? As to one who regards himself as self-sufficient, To him dost thou attend; Though it is no blame to thee if he grow not (in spiritual understanding). But as to him who came to thee striving earnestly, And with fear (in his heart) Of him wast thou unmindful. By no means (should it be so)! For it is indeed a Message of instruction.” [4]
After this incident, the Prophet complimented Ibn Umm Maktum. Whenever he saw Umm Maktum, he said, "Hello my brother because of whom my Lord warned me!" Sometimes, he laid his cardigan on the ground, made Umm Maktum sit on it and asked him how he was. After that, he treated him like a member of his family. [5]
Hz. Ibn Umm Maktum was among the first people who migrated to Madinah. He taught people the Quran because he arrived there earlier than others. When the Prophet arrived in Madinah settled there and built the mosque, he gave Umm Maktum the duty of being one of the muezzins, which was regarded as the highest honor.
The Prophet had three muezzins in Madinah: Bilal, Abu Mahzura and Ibn Umm Maktum. When Bilal was not there, Abu Mahzura called adhan; when he was not present, Ibn Umm Maktum called adhan. Ibn Umm Maktum called adhan in Ramadan, telling people that the suhur ended. Therefore, the Prophet said, "Bilal calls adhan at night. Eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum calls adhan. "[6]
Hz. Ibn Umm Maktum came to the mosque in all prayers though his house was far away from the mosque and he was blind. Although the Prophet allowed him to perform prayers in his house, he said he would not leave the congregation so as not to miss the duty of calling adhan.
Hz. Umar often guided him when he went to the mosque and when he returned.
Hz. Ibn Umm Maktum was a hafiz of the Quran. He also memorized many hadiths he heard from the Prophet. He was a very pious man.
When jihad started after the Migration, all believers who could fight took part in battles. When verse 95 of the chapter of an-Nisa “Not equal are those Believers who sit (at home) and those who strive” was sent down, the Prophet told Zayd to bring a pencil and paper to write the verse. In the meantime, Hz. Ibn Umm Maktum was also there. He said to the Prophet, "O Messenger of Allah! I would fight if I could but I am blind." Hz. Zayd bin Thabit narrated what happened later as follows:
"Thereupon, Allah sent revelation to the Prophet. In the meantime, the thigh of the Prophet was on my thigh. The weight of the revelation pressed me so much that I was afraid that my knee would be crushed. Then, the traces of the revelation disappeared from the Messenger of Allah. Allah sent down the clause, ‘except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame).’”[7]
It was stated by this verse that jihad was not fard for the ones with excuses and disabilities. Despite this divine permission, Ibn Umm Maktum took part in some wars and frightened the enemy by shouting and yelling. However, the Prophet appointed him as his deputy and as the imam to lead the prayers in Madinah in many battles and expeditions.
Ibn Umm Maktum took part in the Battle of Qadisiyya, which took place during the caliphate of Hz. Umar. He had an armor on his back and a black flag in his hand. He was in a corner and encouraging the mujahids. He scared the enemy with his loud voice. When the war was over, Ibni Umm Maktum was among the martyrs. [8]
Little Zayd had to leave his hometown when he was only eight years old. He was captivated along with his mother when they were visiting the graves of their grandparents; they were put on sale in the Fair of Ukaz. Hakim Ibn Khuzam bought him for 400 dirhams for hz. Khadijah. The divine power started Zayd's life with problems when he was a child. However, great happiness was due to come after those problems.
Hz. Khadijah, who married Hz. Muhammad (pbuh), gave him Zayd as a slave and servant.
Zayd, who was brought up under the compassion and protection of Hz. Muhammad (pbuh), served the Prophet and tried not to hurt him. It looked as if his little spirit felt his prophethood. He regarded serving Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) as an honor and worshipping. As a matter of fact, when his father and uncle came after years, Hz. Prophet left him free to go with his father and uncle but he refused to go by them saying, "I am glad to be with the best man in the world and in this holy land." He preferred to stay with the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah freed him and adopted him as his son.[1]
When the divine call to Islam came, he accepted Islam after Hz. Khadijah and Hz. Ali and became the third Muslim. After that, he was more loyal to the Prophet and started to serve him with more enthusiasm and excitement. He ate and drank with the Prophet; he worshipped with him and spent his time with him. However, this honor and spiritual rank brought some hardships too. In the first years of Islam, he also received his share of the oppression and tortures inflicted upon the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). He went to the tribes and groups riding pillion with the Messenger of Allah . They were sometimes welcomed by those tribes and groups but they were usually stoned, rejected and driven away. When the cruel polytheists of Taif stoned the Prophet, he used his body as a shield to protect the Prophet from harms and injuries but he could not prevent the Prophet's feet from bleeding and his body from being injured. He himself was also injured but he was thinking of the Prophet.
When Hz. Hamza became a Muslim, the Prophet made him brothers with Zayd. When he reached the age of marriage, the Messenger of Allah married him off to Umm Ayman, who was the nanny of his children. She gave birth to Usama. Zayd was attached to Hz. Muhammad so much that his son Usama was called "Zayd bin Muhammad (Zayd, son of Muhammad)" up to the time when verse 5 of the chapter of al-Ahzab ordering Muslims that children should be attributed to their real fathers was sent down.[2]
Zayd bin Haritha, who migrated to Madinah with the Prophet, returned to Makkah with Abu Rafi, a young Muslim, after the construction of Masjid an-Nabawi; they took the wives and daughters of the Messenger of Allah to Makkah.
Hz. Zayd took part in all battles from the Battle of Badr to the Battle of Muta, in which he was martyred. His bravery, sacrifice and heroism were famous among the Companions. When the Messenger of Allah set off for Muraysi Expedition, he appointed Zayd as his deputy in Madinah. Thus, the Prophet appreciated his prudence and management ability; he also drew attention to the fact that being an administrator was not based on one's lineage but on taqwa, sacrifice and prudence. It was very significant that the Prophet left his freed slave as his deputy in a period when he tried to eliminate slavery gradually.
Apart from wars and battles, Hz. Prophet used Hz. Zayd as a leader of important small teams and delegations. He became successful in all of them.
In the 8th year of the Migration, the Prophet sent Harith bin Umayr as an envoy to the governor of Busra in order to inform him about Islam. However, Shurahbil, the Byzantine governor of Damascus, saw Harith on the way and killed him though he knew that he was an envoy. The Prophet was very distressed by this news and he prepared an army of 3 thousand soldiers in order to teach Byzantines, who violated the rule "Do not kill the messenger" a lesson; he appointed Zayd bin Haritha as the commander of this army. If Hz. Zayd were to be martyred, Hz. Jafar would replace him; if he were to be martyred, Hz. Abdullah bin Rawaha would replace him. All of them especially Zayd fought heroically in Muta. As the Prophet pointed out, he was martyred there.
Before the Islamic army returned to Madinah, the Messenger of Allah saw Zayd bin Haritha's daughter. This innocent child, who was the daughter of a martyr, was looking at the Messenger of Allah sadly. When the Messenger of Allah saw her, she could not bear it and started to weep due to his compassion. Sa'd bin Ubada, a Companion who was there, asked, "O Messenger of Allah! What is the matter?" The Prophet said,
"This is the longing of the darling for the darling."[3]
Hz. Zayd bin Haritha was an exceptional representative of the Prophet's high ethics. His son Usama, who was also brought up in the house of the Prophet, continued his father's altruism and sacrifice, becoming a good successor for his father.
May Allah be pleased with all of them!
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[1]Usdu'l-Ghaba, 2: 224-226.
[2]Muslim, Fadailu's-Sahaba: 62-64.
[3]Tabaqat, 3: 40-46.
22-)
Zayd bin Khattab (r.a.)
"My brother Zayd became superior to me in two aspects. He became a Muslim before me and he was martyred before me." Hz. Umar expressed the best witnessing for Zayd bin Khattab like that. Zayd bin Khattab was half brother of Hz. Umar.
Zayd bin Khattab was among the lucky people that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) loved very much. Zayd bin Khattab, who had the honor of being a student at Suffa school, was one of the first muhajirs. When the Messenger of Allah established brotherhood between Muhajirs and Ansar, he made Zayd bin Khattab brothers with Main bin Adiyy.
Hz. Zayd listened to the Prophet's lesson of "sacrifice and putting one's life at risk for a cause" very carefully. This lesson of heroism necessitated sacrificing one's property and life for the cause of Islam if necessary. Hz. Zayd was conscious of it.
Zayd (r.a.) took part in all of the wars that the Prophet (pbuh) joined like Badr, Uhud, Khandaq and Hudaybiya. He showed great heroism in the Battle of Uhud. His brother Hz. Umar also took part in this battle. During the battle, Hz. Umar wanted to give his armor to Zayd but he rejected his brother's offer by saying, "I want the rank of martyrdom as much as you do." Thus, both brothers fought without armors. Both wanted to be martyred.[1]
After the death of the (pbuh), in the 12th year of the Migration, his heroism he showed in the Battle of Yamama against the impostor Musaylima was an example set for mujahids.
Hz. Zayd was the standard-bearer of the Islamic army in this battle. He attacked the ranks of the enemy army with the standard in one hand and his sword in the other. At one moment, he saw that the Muslims were weak. He took refuge in Allah to be like them and prayed Allah for victory. He said, "O Allah! I take refuge in you from the defeat of Muslims."[2]
After that, Hz. Zayd attacked the ranks of the enemy again; he killed many enemy soldiers including the famous apostate, Nahar. Meanwhile, he was hit hard by Abu Maryam. He was martyred. While the standard he was holding was about to fall, Hz. Salim, another great Companion, ran and grabbed it.[3]
Hz. Umar envied his brother. However, his separation distressed him a lot. He said, "Whenever the morning wind blows, I feel the smell of Zayd."
It is interesting that Abu Maryam, who martyred Hz. Zayd, became a Muslim during the caliphate of Hz. Umar. Then, he went into the presence of Hz. Umar. He was the fiercest enemy of Hz. Umar since he killed Zayd but he became his closest friend after becoming a Muslim.
Once, Hz. Umar asked him, "Did you kill Zayd?"Abu Maryam said, "Yes, I did." Then, he added,
"Allah gave him the rank of martyrdom through me but He did not throw me into Hell through him."
Hz. Umar asked, "How many of your soldiers died during the Battle of Yamama?" Abu Maryam said, "They are terrible dead people. Praise be to Allah, who left me alive and made me a Muslim."
It is reported that Hz. Umar appointed him as the qadi (judge) of Basra.[4]
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[1]Tabaqat, 3: 378.
[2]Usdu'l-Ghaba, 2: 229.
[3]Usdu'l-Ghaba, 2: 229.
[4]Tabaqat, 3: 378.
23-)
Usayd bin Khudayr (r.a.)
The people of Madinah needed a person that would teach them the truths of Islam because the Prophet had not migrated to Madinah yet. Therefore, they needed somebody to teach them Islam. The Muslims of Madinah applied to the Prophet and told him about this need. The Prophet sent Mus'ab bin Umayr, a young Companion, to Madinah. When Hz. Mus'ab went to Madinah, he stayed in the house of As'ad bin Zurara. After that, the house of Hz. As'ad became a center of guidance for Muslims. It was also like a school. The Muslims of Madinah gathered there and learned the Quran from Hz. Mus'ab.
Once, Hz. Mus'ab and As'ad bin Zurara were talking near a well belonging to the tribe of Bani Zafar. Some Muslims were around them and listening to their talk. Usayd bin Khudayr and Sa'd bin Muadh had not become Muslims yet. When they saw the crowd, they felt disturbed. Sa'd bin Muadh said to his friend Usayd, "Go to these two men, who came here to misguide our young people, and tell them to go away. Tell them not to come here again. You know that As'ad bin Zurara is my cousin. If he were not there, I would settle this issue myself." Usayd took his spear and proceeded toward them.
When As'ad bin Zurara saw that Usayd was coming toward them, he said to Mus'ab bin Umayr, "He is one of the notables of his tribe. When he comes here, talk to him about belief."
As soon as Usayd arrived, he said, "What are you doing here? Do you want to misguide our young people? Go away if you do not want to die!"
Mus'ab bin Umayr was a gentle and kind man. He was also the representative of a lofty cause. He had to control his feelings and keep calm. He showed tolerance. He tried to overcome Usayd through his good manners and high ethics. He said, "Please sit down. We will tell you something. If you like it, you can accept it. Otherwise, you can do whatever you want."
When Usayd did not get a harsh answer, he calmed down. He did not want to act harshly and said, "By Allah, you speak fairly." He thrust his spear into the ground and sat down. Hz. Mus'ab told him about Islam and read some verses from the Quran. Usayd bin Khudayr listened to the Quran in awe. The light of Islam started to be manifest on his face.
"How nice! What do you need to do to accept this religion?" Hz. Mus'ab told him to make ghusl. After ghusl, he told him kalima ash-shahada. Usayd bin Khudayr uttered kalima ash-shahada without any hesitation and became a Muslim. Then, he went to Sa'd bin Muadh, who was waiting for him impatiently. He told Sa'd about Islam and he became a Muslim, too. The conversion of these two people had a positive effect on their tribe. Soon many people became Muslims.
Usayd bin Khudayr used all of his power, money and influence for the sake of Islam. He took part in the Second Pledge at Aqaba with 75 people from the Muslims in Madinah. One of the 12 representatives the Prophet chose among those Muslims was Usayd bin Khudayr.
Hz. Usayd also took part in the battles with the army of jihad, which was a means of conveying the true religion to the people who needed it. He devoted his life and property to this way. During the Battle of Uhud, Hz. Usayd held the standard of the tribe of Aws. He showed great bravery in this battle. He was wounded badly in seven parts of his body.
After the mujahids returned to Madinah, the Prophet wanted to take measures in case the polytheists returned and attacked Madinah. He told Hz. Bilal to announce: "The Messenger of Allah wants you to follow the enemy."[1]At that time, Usayd wanted his wounds to be treated. When he heard the call of the Messenger of Allah, he said, "I have heard the order of the Messenger of Allah. I will fulfill it." He took his equipment and went to the Prophet without heeding his wounds. He said he was ready. The call to jihad and the order of the Prophet made him forget about his troubles and wounds.
The polytheists prepared a big army in order to eliminate Islam and Muslims in the 5th year of the Migration and proceeded to Makkah. The Prophet found defense better. He had trenches of defense dug around Madinah. The polytheists were astounded when they saw the trenches. They besieged Madinah. This siege lasted for days. When the Prophet saw that the siege lasted for a long time and cold, shortage of food and famine increased, he thought of a precaution. He planned to demoralize the army of the polytheists, which consisted of various tribes. So, he sent the following message to Uyayna bin Hisn and Harith bin Awf, the commanders of the tribe of Ghatafans:
"If they lift the siege and return to their homeland, I will give them one-third of the yearly fruit harvest of Madinah."
However, they did not accept one-third and wanted half of the harvest. When the Prophet refused it, they finally accepted it. They came to the presence of the Prophet with a delegation of 10 people.
While they were negotiating with the Prophet, Usayd bin Khudayr came over. He saw that Uyayna bin Hisn was sitting disrespectfully, with his legs crossed. He could not tolerate this disrespectful act and addressed him harshly. "Sit properly! How can you sit cross-legged in the presence of the Messenger of Allah? I would hit you with this spear if you were not in the presence of the Messenger of Allah."
When he found out why the commander of Ghatafans had come, he addressed the Prophet respectfully, "O Messenger of Allah! If this is an order from Allah Almighty, fulfill it. If you have a lofty aim behind it, do as you wish. I cannot say anything about it. If you do it in order to protect us from harms, by Allah, we have nothing but our swords to give them. They have not been able to expect to get anything from us up to now; how can they expect to get anything from us now?"
With these words, Hz. Usayd indicated that he would readily accept anything that he did not want but that the Messenger of Allah wanted, showing his loyalty to the Prophet. On the other hand, these words expressed that he would face any risks in the way of Allah and His Messenger.
This speech of Usayd bin Khudayr pleased the Messenger of Allah and encouraged the Companions who were there. When the Companions from Ansar like Sa'd bin Muadh and Sa'd bin Ubada spoke like that, the Prophet gave up the idea of making a deal with Ghatafans.
Uyayna bin Hisn and Harith bin Awf left hopelessly and sadly. When they saw the sincerity, patience and determination of the Companions and that they would always act in accordance with the orders of the Prophet, they realized that they would never be able to conquer Madinah. They returned to their headquarters. They said the following to the people from their tribe who asked what had happened:
"We could not settle the issue. We saw very prudent and foresighted people who would sacrifice their lives for the Prophet willingly. We are ruined. Qurayshis are ruined. Qurayshis will return without being able to do anything to Muhammad. Muhammad will attack Bani Qurayza Jews. When we return, they will besiege Bani Qurayza Jews until they will stretch their hands and let their necks be tied."
After that, Harith stated the following about Jews. "Down with Jews! Hell with them! Muhammad is better than Jews for us." Thus, what the Prophet foresaw took place. The people of Ghatafan gave up the siege and returned home.
Usayd bin Khudayr took part in the conquest of Makkah. He was close to the Prophet with Hz. Abu Bakr. He was the standard-bearer of the tribe of Aws in the battles of Hunayn and Tabuk.
Hz. Usayd spent most of his time with the Messenger of Allah. Once, while he was listening to the talk of the Prophet, a Bedouin arrived. The Prophet became suspicious of him. He said, "This man has an evil intention. He wants to assassinate me." After a while, the Bedouin approached and asked, "Who is Abdulmuttalib's son?" The Prophet said, "I am." While the Bedouin was approaching the Messenger of Allah with the intention of attacking him, Usayd bin Khudayr held the tail of his garment and pulled it. The dagger he had hidden under his garment appeared. Hz. Usayd grabbed the man.[2]Then, the Prophet questioned the Bedouin. He confessed that he had been hired by the polytheists.
The Prophet, who was sent as mercy to the realms, said to the Bedouin, who had come to kill him, "I will let you free. You can go wherever you want or do the thing that is better for you." He called the Bedouin to Islam. When the Bedouin saw this nobility of the Prophet, he said without hesitation, "There is no god but Allah and you are definitely His Messenger." Thus, he became a Muslim.
The voice of Usayd bin Khudayr, who received the praise, "What a nice person he is!" [3], from the Prophet, was very nice. He adorned his voice by reciting the Quran. When he started to recite the Quran, he would enter another world.
One night, he was reciting the chapter of al-Baqara near his dates laid on the ground. Suddenly, his horse reared up. When Hz. Usayd stopped reciting, the horse calmed down. When he started reciting again, his horse reared up again. When he stopped reciting, the horse calmed down. When he started reciting again, his horse reared up again. He stopped reciting. When he went to his horse, he looked up. He was surprised because he saw a lot of gleams like candles over his head in mist. Then, they ascended to the sky with their light and disappeared.
In the morning, Hz. Usayd rushed to the Prophet and said to him,
"O Messenger of Allah! Last night at midnight, my horse suddenly reared up while I was reciting the Quran near my dates."
The Messenger of Allah said, "O son of Khudayr! Recite!" Usayd said, "I continued reciting. Then, the horse reared up. The Messenger of Allah said, "O son of Khudayr! Recite!" Usayd said, "I continued reciting. Then, the horse reared up. The Messenger of Allah said, "O son of Khudayr! Recite!" Usayd said, "I recited again but the horse reared up again. The Messenger of Allah said, "O son of Khudayr! Recite!" Then, Hz. Usayd continued:
"O Messenger of Allah! I had to stop reciting because my son Yahya was close to the horse. I feared that the horse would hit him. At that time, I looked up at the sky and saw a lot of gleams like candles over my head in mist. Then, they ascended to the sky with their light and disappeared. I could not see them any longer."
The Messenger of Allah said, "Do you know what they were?" Hz. Usayd said he did not. The Prophet said,
"O Usayd! They were angels. They came down to listen to your recitation. They were listening to you. If you had continued reciting, they would have listened to you until the morning and people would have seen them. They would not have hidden themselves."[4]
Yes, reading and reciting the Quran is a nice form of worshipping that attracts angels. It causes the angels, which were created only to do good deeds, to come down from the sky.
Usayd bin Khudayr sometimes talked to the Prophet until late hours in order to learn something from him. He would not rest until he learned an issue that came to his mind. Once, he listened to the talk of the Prophet with one of his friends. When they left the Messenger of Allah, it was quite dark. The walking sticks they had started to shed light. When they separated from each other, the light was divided into two. They walked in the light shed by their walking sticks. [5]
Hz. Usayd felt very peaceful when he recited and listened to the Quran and when he listened to the Messenger of Allah; they were virtually part of him. Once, he expressed his state as follows:
"My desire is to spend my life in three states and never leave them: My state when I recite or listen to the Quran, when I listen to the Messenger of Allah and when I see a funeral."[6]
Hz. Usayd died in the 20th year of the Migration, during the caliphate of Hz. Umar. His janazah prayer was led by Hz. Umar.[7]
May Allah be pleased with him!
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[1]Tabaqat, 2: 49.
[2]Tabaqat, 2: 94.
[3]Usdu'l-Ghaba, 1: 93; Tabaqat, 3: 65.
[4]Musnad, 3: 81.
[5]Tabaqat, 3: 606.
[6]Hayatu's-Sahaba, 3: 429-488.
[7]Tabaqat, 3: 306.
24-)
Abdullah bin Amr bin As (r.a.)
Hz. Abdullah, son of Amr bin As, was among the notables of Companions though he was very young. He would follow the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) like a shadow. He knew that all of his statements were right and true; so, he believed they had to be recorded. For this reason, he first tried to write hadiths. He requested permission from the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet had not allowed something like that before because it was possible for the hadiths to be mistaken for the verses of the Quran. Therefore, the Prophet wanted all Companions to make efforts to maintain, memorize and collect the verses of the Quran. However, after the Quran was completed, this possibility ended. Thus, the Prophet accepted Abdullah’s request. He allowed Abdullah to collect and record hadiths.
Abdullah bin Amr was definitely the most suitable person to gather the hadiths. This young Companion, who had a dynamic and powerful intelligence, was also a very pious person. He started to collect the hadiths he heard from the Messenger of Allah.
There were some occasional moments when the Prophet became angry as a human being. Hz. Abdullah, asked the Messenger of Allah,
“O Messenger of Allah! Shall I record everything you say when you are angry or happy?” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) answered as follows:
“Yes, I do not tell anything but the truth.” [1]
Upon this statement of the Messenger of Allah, Hz. Abdullah did his best to record all of what the Prophet said. He felt relieved. For, Allah Almighty stated in the Quran that the Messenger told nothing but the truth. [2]
Hz. Abdullah collected the hadiths he heard from the Messenger of Allah in his work called “Sadiqa”. When people asked him about this work, he would give them the following answer:
"The work I gave the name 'Sadiqa' includes what I heard directly from the Messenger of Allah (pbuh)."
Hz. Abdullah said for this, "I will not change it for the whole world." [3] This work called "Sadiqa" became a resource for all hadith scholars.
Hz. Abdullah's virtue and his service to the hadith book was appreciated. Abu Hurayra, who was a hadith sea, expresses this superiority of Abdullah as follows:
"There is nobody except Abdullah bin Amr bin As who has memorized and narrated more hadiths than me. However, Abdullah memorized more than me because he wrote the hadiths but I did not. "[4]
Hz. Abdullah, who heard and recorded thousands issues from the Messenger of Allah, was a real hadith teacher.
Hz. Abdullah was also distinguished with his worshipping. Most of the time, he spent the nights worshipping and the days fasting. His father, Amr bin As, had to complain to the Prophet about him:
"O Messenger of Allah! Abdullah fasts during the day and prays at night all the time." The Prophet gave Abdullah the following advice:
"Fast on some days and eat on some days. Worship in some part of the night and sleep in some part. And obey your father."
Abdullah also read the Quran a lot. Once, he went to our Prophet and asked,
"O Messenger of Allah! How often shall I read the whole Quran?" The Prophet said,
"Once a month." Abdullah said,
"O Messenger of Allah! I can read the whole Quran in a shorter time than this!" The Prophet said,
"In 20 days." Abdullah said,
"O Messenger of Allah! I can read the whole Quran in a shorter time than this!" Thereupon, the Prophet advised him to read the whole Quran in 10 days.
Although Abdullah said that he could read it in a shorter time, the Messenger of Allah did not allow him to do so. [5]
The Prophet was worried that this heroic Companion would fall into a decline and that it would hinder his services in the future. He advised him to act moderately. Hz. Abdullah saw the wisdom and correctness of this recommendation of the Prophet toward the end of his life. He confessed as follows:
"I wish I had accepted the recommendation of the Messenger of Allah. It was better than herds of red sheep for me. "[6]
One of the things that Abdullah did every day was that he did not sleep after the morning prayer. He also awakened those who slept. Once, he saw somebody sleeping after the morning prayer; he awakened him immediately and said,
"Do you not know that this is the time of divine manifestations? Allah will reward some of His creatures with Paradise at this time. "
With his words, Abdullah emphasized the importance of being awake during the early hours of the morning and the fertility and efficiency of the works done at that time.
Hz. Abdullah bin Amr bin As was one of the few Companions who could speak foreign languages. He could speak Syriac. He could easily read and understand the Torah, which was in Hebrew.
Hz. Abdullah was a real student of the Messenger of Allah. He would ask the Messenger of Allah the questions that came to his mind without hesitating. He received the answers to all his questions directly from the Messenger of Allah. Once, he asked the Messenger of Allah the following question:
"What are three good things and bad things?" The Messenger of Allah replied:
"Three good things are a tongue that tells the truth, a heart that is afraid of Allah and a religious woman ... Three bad things are a tongue that lies, a heart that is not afraid of Allah and a bad woman." [7]
Abdullah bin Amr could not join the Battle of Badr and the Battle of Uhud because he was too young. However, he joined all of the wars after them with the Prophet.
Abdullah bin Amr continued to spread the light of knowledge and wisdom around until his death. People came from distant places to learn hadiths from him. His students loved him very much. When they listened to the lesson from him, they did not want anyone to disturb them. This great Companion narrated more than 700 hadiths. Some of them are as follows:
"It is one of the greatest sins for a man to curse his parents." The Companions asked, "O Messenger of Allah! How does a man curse his own parents?" The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "'The man curses the father of another man and the latter curses the father of the former and curses his mother." [8]
"The best friend in the eye of Allah is the one who does favors to his friends, and the best neighbor is the one who does favors to his neighbors." [9]
"Eat and drink as long as it does not involve wasting and conceitedness; give sadaqah a lot." [10]
“Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people but He takes away knowledge by taking away the scholars so that when He leaves no learned person, people turn to the ignorant as their leaders; then, they are asked to deliver religious verdicts and they deliver them without knowledge, they go astray, and lead others astray.”[11]
Hz. Abdullah once said, "If you knew what I knew, you would not get up from prostration until your back became twisted." One of Abdullah's wise words is as follows:
"If a woman smiles at her husband when he is rich and turns her face away from him when he is poor, she is a woman of Hell."
Abdullah died in Damascus in 65 H.
May Allah be pleased with him!
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Abdullah was a young shepherd. He used to herd the sheep of Aqaba bin Abi Muit. One day, while he was with the sheep, two guests arrived. The guests told him they were thirsty and asked him for milk. The young shepherd said to them,
"Yes, there is milk but I cannot give you! These sheep have been entrusted to me. I cannot give you milk before I ask permission from the owner. Otherwise, I will have misappropriated."
Thereupon, the guests wanted from the shepherd, who was a child, a female goat that had never copulated with a male goat. The shepherd brought a goat like that to them. One of the guests held the goat and prayed. The other started to milk the goat. It looked as the udders became full of milk suddenly. They took a bowl and filled it with milk. They drank the milk and quenched their thirst; the person who milked the goat prayed again; the goat returned to its previous state.
The young shepherd, who did not know that one of them was the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the other was Abu Bakr, asked in excitement,
"Will you teach me what you read?"
The Messenger of Allah put his blessed hand on the shepherd and said,
"You are a taught young man."
And this child, who received prayer of the Messenger of Allah as soon as he entered Islam, became superior to all of the Companions in terms of reading the Qur'an and became famous as one of the "Six Abdullahs".
Yes, this innocent and sensitive shepherd was Abdullah bin Mas'ud. Thus, he received the honor of being one of the first Muslims.
When the pressure of the polytheists increased in Makkah, the Companions came together and started complaining that they could not read the Quran aloud in the presence of Qurayshis. Hz. Abdullah said,
"I will read the Quran aloud to them." The others said,
"We fear that they will do something bad to you." They said that they found it better if someone from a strong tribe read it. Abdullah said,
"Allow me to read. Allah will protect me." He went out and went to the place where the polytheists of Quraysh gathered near the Kaaba. He said Bismillah and started to read the beginning of the chapter of ar-Rahman.
The polytheists were astonished first; then, their astonishment was transformed into fury; they approached Abdullah and began to hit him on the face. However, Abdullah did not stop; he continued reading. Then, he returned to his friends. When his friends ran toward him anxiously, Abdullah said:
"By Allah! There are no people simpler than these among the enemies of Allah in my sight. If you want, I will go and do the same thing tomorrow. "
Abdullah, who was a young and weak shepherd but turned out to assume a spiritual power that could challenge the world after finding the secret of belief, clearly showed that he disregarded the so-called great leaders of Makkah and humiliated them all. Thus, the goal was attained. Therefore, the Companions did not consider it appropriate for Hz. Abdullah to go there again the next day and risk his life. [1]
Abdullah bin Mas'ud was one of the Companions who gained the virtue of migrating twice. When the tortures of the polytheists became unbearable, he migrated to Abyssinia. However, he missed the Prophet a lot and returned to Makkah after a while. When the permission to migrate was given, he migrated to Madinah. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) made him brothers with Zubayr bin Awwam.
The Prophet made Abdullah stay in a place next to the mosque. For this reason, he always served the Messenger of Allah. He always walked with the Prophet, helped him put on his shoes and carried his things like his staff, pillow, perfume and miswak. When the Prophet slept, Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud would wake him up. Therefore, the Companions called him "Sahibus-Sawad was-Siwak". Hz. Abdullah was together with the Messenger of Allah so frequently that the people who came to Madinah first thought he was from Ahl al-Bayt. The famous Companion, Abu Musa al-Ashari, who came to Madinah after the Conquest of Khaybar states the following regarding the issue:
"When my brother and I came to Madinah first, we thought that Abdullah and his mother were from Ahl al-Bayt because he entered the house of the Messenger of Allah so frequently." [2]
He was asked who was the closest person to him as a guide. He said, “The person closest to the Messenger of Allah in terms of being a guide and in terms of character is Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud.”
We learn another narration about his closeness to the Messenger of Allah from Abdurrahman bin Yazid. He states the following regarding the issue:
“Once, we asked Hudhayfa al-Yaman, ‘Who is the closest Companion to the Messenger of Allah in terms of living style? We want to accept him as a model.’ Hudhayfa said, ‘The Companion who is closest to the Messenger of Allah in terms of lifestyle and character is Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud. We do not know anybody else.’”
Hz. Abdullah read the Quran in a very nice way. The Prophet advised the Companions to learn the Quran from four people. One of them was Hz. Abdullah. [3]
According to a narration in Bukhari, the Prophet Muhammad asked Hz. Abdullah to read him the Quran. Thereupon, Ibn Mas'ud said,
"O Messenger of Allah! Shall I read you the Quran though it was sent down to you?" The Prophet said,
"Yes, I like to hear it from someone else!"
Ibn Mas'ud began to read. When he read up to the verse “How then if We brought from each people a witness, and We brought thee as a witness against these people?, the Messenger of Allah said,
"That is enough for now." Tears were coming from his eyes. [4]
Abdullah bin Mas’ud had a different place in the eye of the Prophet. Once, he said,
“Follow two people after me: Abu Bakr and Umar. Follow the way that Ammar shows. Follow the advice of Ibn Mas’ud fully.”[5]
Once, Hz. Abdullah climbed a tree to get something. Meanwhile, his legs, which were very thin, were seen. Some of the Companions laughed when they saw this. Our Prophet did not like their act and said,
"Why are you laughing? Abdullah's legs will be heavier than Mount Uhud on the Day of Judgment." [6]
Ibn Mas'ud participated in all wars with our Prophet. He fought heroically. He cut off the head of Abu Jahl, whom he found in a wounded state in the Battle of Badr and took it to the Messenger of Allah. He participated in the Battle of Yarmuk after the death of the Prophet.
Hz. Abdullah, who was one of the students of Suffa, who was in close terms with the Messenger of Allah, who did not leave the Prophet alone except for obligatory situations, who devoted his life to the Quran and who could enter into the presence of the Messenger of Allah without taking permission, had a unique understanding of ilm. He states the following regarding the issue:
"I swear by Allah that there is no chapter from the Book of Allah that I am not the one who knows the best where it was sent down! There is no verse that I am not the one who knows the best why it was sent down. If I knew that there was someone who knew the Book of Allah better than me in a place where I can go on a camel, I would mount my camel and go there. "[7]
Ibn Mas'ud (r.a.) was also famous in the ilm of hadith. He narrated 848 hadiths. When he narrated hadiths, he acted very cautiously. His face would fade and change color. He did not usually speak definitely by saying "the Messenger of Allah said." He feared that he would attribute lies to the Prophet. Some of the hadiths he reported are as follows:
“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, ‘He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise.’ Thereupon, somebody said, ‘Verily a person loves that his dress should be fine, and his shoes should be fine.’ The Messenger of Allah remarked, ‘Verily, Allah is Graceful and He loves Grace. Pride means disdaining the truth out of self-conceit and contempt for the people.’”. [8]
“Adhere to truthfulness. Truthfulness definitely leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Avoid telling lies because a man may keep on telling lies till he is recorded as a liar before Allah.” [9]
“Whoever suffers from destitution and he beseeches the people for it, his destitution shall not end. And whoever suffers from destitution and he beseeches Allah for it, Allah will send provisions to him, sooner or later.” [10]
“No Muslim is afflicted with harm because of sickness or some other inconvenience, but that Allah will remove his sins for him as a tree sheds its leaves.” [11]
Hz. Abdullah had an exceptional place in the science of fiqh. He issued many fatwas. A great scholar like Abu Musa al-Ash'ari respects his knowledge regarding the issue. He said, "Do not ask me anything when Ibn Mas'ud is with you." Hz. Umar complimented on him by saying, “Ibn Mas’ud is a leather bag filled with ilm."
Abdullah was both a good scholar and a good teacher. He taught what he knew to others in the best way. In an assembly where Hz. Ali was present, somebody said, "We have never seen a person having higher ethics than Abdullah, a person more compassionate about teaching, more pleasant in conversation, and more pious than Abdullah." Hz. Ali replied, "Yes. O Lord" Bear witness that I approve what they say and even more." [12]
Knowing his merits, Hz. Umar appointed him as a teacher in Kufa. He also wrote the following letter to the people of Kufa:
"I am sending you Ammar bin Yasir as an emir and Abdullah bin Mas'ud as a teacher. Both of them are among the distinguished ones of the Companions. Be subject to them, obey them and listen to their words. Know it that I preferred you regarding Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud."
With this last sentence, Hz. Umar said that he needed Abdullah often but he preferred the people of Kufa to his own self, stating that he gave him the opportunity to benefit from Ibn Mas’ud.
Fulfilling this duty in the best way, Ibn Mas'ud continued serving as a qadi and issuing fatwas during the caliphate of Hz. Uthman, too. In addition, he was an official of the Treasure. In those years, the needs of the mujahids who fought against the Byzantines were met by Kufa. Ibni Mas'ud fulfilled this duty very well too. When the movements of mischief became widespread during the last years of the caliphate of Hz. Uthman, he returned to Hejaz.
Hz. Abdullah was sick. Hz. Uthman visited him and asked if he had any complaints.
Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud said, "I have only one complaint; it is my sins!" Hz. Uthman asked Hz. Abdullah what he wanted. He said that he wanted Allah's mercy. Hz. Uthman said,
"Shall we get you something?" He gave a short answer:
"I do not need anything." Thereupon, Hz. Uthman said,
"You can leave it to your children." Abdullah said,
"Do you fear that my children will go hungry? I ordered them to read the chapter of al-Waqia every night. For, I heard the Messenger of Allah say, "Whoever reads the chapter of al-Waqia every night will not suffer from poverty in the world." [13]
Hz. Abdullah died at the age of 64 in 32 H. He was buried in the cemetery of Baqi.
Two of his noteworthy statements are as follows:
"It is better to prefer being poor to being rich through haram things. It is better to prefer being modest by obeying Allah to obtaining honor by disobeying Allah."
Abdullah said, "Never be an imma’a." They asked, "What is imma’a?" He gave the following response:
“An imma’a is a person who says, ‘I do not have a personal opinion. I do what people do. If they become Muslims, I will become a Muslim; if they become unbelievers, I will become an unbeliever, too.’ Say, 'Even if everybody becomes unbelievers, I am determined to remain a Muslim.'”
Hz. Zayd lost his father when he was very young and became an orphan. Abdullah bin Rawaha took care of him. He stayed with Abdullah bin Rawaha for a long time. When Abdullah bin Rawaha became a Muslim, he became a Muslim at a very young age.
Hz. Zayd could not take part in the Battle of Badr and Uhud because he was very young. However, he took part in all battles and wars after that. He fought heroically.
During the Battle of Bani Mustaliq, in which the Prophet also took part, Abdullah bin Ubayy started to talk against the Prophet and Muslims. Hz. Zayd was also there. When he heard those words that were full of mischief, he could not help intervening. He said to Abdullah bin Ubayy, "I swear by Allah that you are the mean and cursed one in your tribe. Muhammad (pbuh) was made honorable by Allah, who is the most gracious." When Abdullah bin Ubayy heard it, he got very offended and said to him, "I swear by Allah that I will not love you at all from now on." When Hz. Zayd said that he was going to tell the Messenger of Allah about what he heard, Abdullah bin Ubayy changed his attitude and said, "O my brother's son! Keep quiet! I was only joking!"
Zayd b. Arqam did not heed him. He regarded it as an important duty to tell the Messenger of Allah about this munafiq, who tried to cause mischief among Muslims. He went to the Prophet and told him whatever he heard from Abdullah b. Ubayy. The Prophet believed in Zayd but in order to search the issue he said to Zayd, "I hope you do not say so because of you are angry with Ibn Ubayy." Zayd said, "No! I swear by Allah that I heard them from him." The Messenger of Allah asked again, "You may have misheard."Zayd said, "No. O Messenger of Allah! I am telling the truth. It is not wrong." The Prophet continued asking, "Can somebody else have told you this about him?" Zayd said," No. I swear by Allah that I heard those words exactly from him.
There were many Companions with the Messenger of Allah at that time. They got very angry with Abdullah bin Ubayy due to his words. Some of them even offered the Prophet to kill him. The Prophet did not approve it. He sent for Abdullah bin Ubayy in order to listen to the issue from him. Meanwhile some Companions got angry with Zayd and asked him, "Why did you inform the Prophet about it?" Hz. Zayd said, "I swear by Allah that if I had heard those from my own father, I would have told the Messenger of Allah about it."
After a while, Abdullah bin Ubayy arrived. The Prophet asked him, "Did you utter those words?" Abdullah bin Ubayy did not confess; he denied it: "I swear by Allah, who sent you the book, that I did not utter any of those words. Zayd told you a lie. I do not know anybody closer than you among the people here who will be a means of Allah's putting into Paradise." After this talk, the Prophet ordered the army to set off.
The settlement of the issue like that embarrassed Hz. Zayd. He could not approach the Messenger of Allah due to his embarrassment. He said to those who wanted to speak to him about the issue, "I hope that Allah will send revelation to his Prophet and tell him who is lying." He also prayed Allah as follows: "O Allah! Send your Prophet the revelation that will confirm what I say!"
After a tiring journey, the mujahids arrived in Madinah. Allah Almighty sent down verses 1-8 of the chapter of al-Munafiqun. Those verses confirmed Zayd. The last verses of this revelation are as follows:
"They are the ones who say, "Spend nothing on those who are with Allah's Messenger, to the end that they may disperse (and quit Madinah). But to Allah belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the Hypocrites understand not. They say, "If we return to Madinah, surely the more honorable (element) will expel there from the meaner." But honor belongs to Allah and His Messenger, and to the Believers; but the Hypocrites know not."
When those verses were sent down the Messenger of Allah called Zayd, held his ear and said, "Here is the young man who fulfilled his duty in the way of Allah through his ear! O Zayd! Allah confirmed what you had said!"
After that, nobody believed in Abdullah bin Ubayy. When something like that happened, they scolded and condemned him. The Prophet said to those who wanted Ubayy to be killed, "If I had had him killed, there would have been chaos." For, he was the leader of his tribe. Everybody liked and respected him. If the Prophet had not migrated to Madinah, he would have been the ruler of Madinah.[1]
When Hz. Zayd became ill, the Prophet (pbuh) visited this young Companion and asked about his health. Once, Hz. Zayd's eye got ill. The Prophet visited him and prayed for him. When his eye got well, the Prophet asked Zayd, "What would you do if your eyes remained like that?" Hz. Zayd answered in reliance to Allah, "I would show patience and put up with its hardship." His reliance pleased the Messenger of Allah . The Prophet said, "If you died after your patience, you would definitely go to Paradise."
Hz. Zayd learned a lot of things from the Messenger of Allah. The Muslims applied to him about religious issues. He answered their questions and gave them advice.
Hz. Zayd, who narrated about 90 hadiths, died in Kufa in the 68th year of the Migration. One of the hadiths that he narrated is as follows:
"I am leaving you two things, each of which is more valuable than the other. If you cling to them, you will not go astray after me. They are the book of Allah, which is like a rope extending down from the sky to the earth and my progeny (Ahl al-Bayt). Those who cling to them will never leave the right path until they come to me near the Pool of Kawthar. Never turn your back on these two things."[2]
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[1]Sirah, 3: 303-305; Tabaqat, 2: 65; Hz. Muhammed ve İslamiyet, 5: 45-47.
[2]Tirmidhi, Manaqib: 32.
27-)
Shaddad bin Aws (r.a.)
When Madinah became "the city of the Prophet", it began to be called "Madinah al-Munawwarah" (the Illuminated City). For, Allah's mercy fell upon it like rain. There were almost no families that lived in the city of Madinah and did not embrace Islam. One of the happy families that embraced Islam was the family of Hz. Aws. The Prophet established brotherhood between Hz. Aws and Hz. Uthman after the Migration. Besides, Hz. Aws was the brother of Hz. Hassan, the poet of the Prophet. When Hz. Aws and his family became Muslims, his young son, Shaddad, was brought up in an Islamic environment. He did not take part in any battles with the Prophet since he was very young. He was about 15-16 years old during the Battle of Badr. However, he took lessons of knowledge and wisdom from the Prophet.
Once, the Prophet saw that Shaddad was distressed. He asked, “O Shaddad! What is the matter?” Shaddad said,
“O Messenger of Allah! The world seems to be gloomy to me.”
Thereupon, the Prophet consoled him by giving him the following glad tiding:
“Do not feel distressed! Damascus will be conquered; Jerusalem will be conquered. You and a group of your descendants will be there.”[1]
The best moments of Hz. Shaddad, who was known as “Abu Ya’la”, were when he was with the Prophet. He listened to the Prophet's talks whenever he had the opportunity. He learned and memorized the Prophet's hadiths. He tried to practice each hadith he learned.
He describes one of the talks of the Prophet as follows:
“Once, we were in the presence of the Messenger of Allah. He looked at us and asked, ‘Is there a stranger (i.e., People of the Book) among you?’ We said, ‘no.’ So, he told us to close the door and said, ‘Raise your hands and say La ilaha illallallah’. We raised our hands and said La ilaha illallallah like that for an hour. Then, he lowered his hands and said, ‘O Allah! Praise be to You! You have sent me with this word and ordered me with it and promised me Paradise with it. You do not break your promise.’ Then, the Messenger of Allah said: ‘I give you glad tidings that God Almighty has forgiven all of you.’”[2]
With this, the Prophet gave the believers who kept uttering kalima at-tawhid, believed in Allah truly and practiced their religion the glad tiding that Allah will show mercy to them and forgive them.
Hz. Shaddad lived in Jerusalem, Damascus and Homs after the death of the Prophet. He educated many students in hadith and fiqh. He guided Muslims. Hz. Abu’d-Darda (r.a.) states the following for him: “Every ummah has a fiqh expert; the fiqh expert of this ummah is Shaddad bin Aws.”[3]
Hz. Shaddad had a good command of hadith. He had superior ability in understanding hadiths. There are about 50 hadiths narrated by Hz. Shaddad in hadith books.
Along with his knowledge, Hz. Shaddad was also known for his lenience and good manners. He spoke softly, clearly and wisely. He did not get angry with anyone. Hz. Abu Hurayra (r.a.) stated the following while mentioning his character: “Shaddad spoke clearly; when he encountered something that would infuriate him, he would control himself at once.”[4]
Those who know Hz. Shaddad never heard any bad and unpleasant words from him. However, once, they heard an unexpected word from him. When the people who were around him said they never expected such a thing from him, Hz. Shaddad said,
“I always spoke very carefully after I became a Muslim. However, it escaped from my lips. Please forget it and memorize the following words that I heard from the Messenger of Allah:
Once, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to me, ‘O Shaddad! If you see people amassing gold and silver, say these statements a lot: O Allah. Verily I ask of You for strength of perseverance and patience in my affairs and thanking You for the boons You give me and worshipping you truly. And I ask of You for a heart which is purified in belief and a truthful tongue.’”[5]
An important aspect of Shaddad bin Aws that is appreciated is the fact that he was superior in asceticism and piety and that he feared Allah very much. According to what Asad bin Wada narrates, when Hz. Shaddad entered the bed to sleep, he would be like a grain on the frying pan. He never kept his legs straight. He would meditate for a long time; then, he would wake up by saying, “O Allah! Hellfire stood between me and my sleep.” After that, he would start worshipping and usually performed prayers until the morning.[6]
He would read the following hadith by despising the ugly face of the world and its aspects addressing man's desires:
“A clever person is the one who regards his soul as mean, questions it and does good deeds for the life after death. A weak person is the one who obeys his soul and fulfills its bad desires and then asks forgiveness from Allah.”[7]
Hz. Shaddad, who spent his life in the service of Islam, died in Homs in the 58th year of the Migration, when he was 75 years old.
May Allah be pleased with him!
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Salman was born among fireworshippers (Magians). He was a small child among fireworshippers. His father, Buzahshan was among big farmers in Iran. He loved his child a lot and never left him alone. He was afraid to let his son go out as if somebody would kidnap him.
When Salman grew up, he went to the temple of the fireworshippers and kept guard there voluntarily. He kept the fire that was regarded as holy burning.
There was an emptiness, longing, desire and sign in his heart. In the evening, he would stare into the horizon that got red and in the morning; he observed the rays of the sun as if he was attached to a distant sign of dream. He looked as if he was waiting for some news.
Once, his father sent Salman to the farm. On the way to the farm, Salman heard some sounds. When he turned toward the place where the sound came, he saw a church where Christians worshipped. He entered the church out of curiosity. Salman, who took part in the ritual without being aware of it, forgot about the farm and the village, and stayed there until the evening. He was virtually overwhelmed and found this pleasure more effective than that of his father's religion. He received some information from the Christians who took part in the ritual about their religion. He asked where the origin of this religion was. They indicated the direction of Damascus.
Time flew and it was evening soon. Salman returned home unwillingly. His father got angry because he was lost without permission but he became happy because he saw his son again. Salman told him about what had happened. He openly said that fireworshipping did not satisfy him and that he found Christianity superior. His father got furious and reprimanded him by saying, “How can you say such a thing?” However, Salman insisted on his idea. His father locked Salman up in the house by shackling his feet.
This act of his father's strengthened the idea of Salman, let alone changing it; it increased his desire to enter this new religion.
Once Salman managed to the break the fetters and escaped from home secretly. He joined a caravan going to Damascus. When he arrived in Damascus, he said he wanted to talk to the leading person in the Christian religion and was directed to the bishop. Salman said to the bishop that he accepted their religion and that he wanted to serve this religion by staying with them. However, the bishop was corrupt. He hoarded the money he collected from people for himself. He deceived people. The bishop died soon. Salman told people about him. When people found out that he hoarded gold, his dead body was stoned. Even such an ugly situation did not alienate Salman from his new religion. There was always longing for the better and truth in his spirit.
The new bishop that replaced the previous one was a person that Salman expected and adopted. He did not give importance to the world; he was engaged in worship day and night. This person, who was enraptured and overwhelmed with religious enthusiasm, got ill after a while. He gave Salman the following advice, which affected Salman very much:
“O my son! The world is heading toward destruction today. They have changed the true religion and overlooked most of the commands and prohibitions. I advise you to go such and such a person in Mosul after me because he is also in my way.”
After the death of this person, went to Mosul. He worked very hard, traveled a lot and did his best with the desire of finding the best and the truth.
When he arrived in Mosul, he found the priest. This priest was and indeed a religious person like the bishop that died. However, he was in his last years of his life. It looked as if it was the harvest season for the good people; they passed away one by one.
After Mosul, Salman went to Nusaybin and then to Ammuriyah —now Sivrihisar in Turkey. He went to the presence of the last virtuous priest of the true religion. Salman, who looked and longed for religious truths, regarded it as an honor to serve this man, who was overwhelmed with religious service. He also worked and obtained some sheep and cattle. He thought he might need some money in the future. The advice of the person in Ammuriyah was more instructional, thought-provoking and wiser than those of the previous priests:
“My son! I do not know anybody who follows our way in the world now. However, the prophet following the religion of Ibrahim will soon emerge. He will emerge in the Arab land. Then, he will migrate to a place between two stony areas. There are date groves between these two stony areas. There will be some signs on him. . He will eat food provided it is a gift and not eat if it is charity. Between his shoulder blades, there will be the Seal of the Prophethood. Go there after my death if you can."
Listening to the words of the priest very carefully, the good gleams of a brand new world, a world of belief and bliss were shining in Salman’s heart and brain.
Now, Salman was looking for a caravan going to Arabia. The rule "he who searches finds" occurred. He found a caravan and they agreed to take him to Arabia in return for money.
They traveled in the scorching desert for days and reached "Wadi al-Qura". The caravan stopped there for a break. Some cruel people of the caravan sold Salman to a Jew as a slave. From then on, Salman was going to live as a slave of a Jew.
However, Salman did not heed slavery; he lived with the excitement caused by the priest all the time. As he worked in the orchard of the Jew, he thought, “I wonder if this is the place between two stony areas.”
Salman worked all the time; he did nothing but what his master ordered. While working in the orchard one day, somebody from the tribe of Banu Qurayzah came. This person, who was very rich, bought Salman from the Jew. Nothing changed for Salman. He was the slave of another master now. However, his new master took him to Madinah. Salman recognized Madinah as soon as he saw it. "The palm groves between two stony areas", which he pursued for years and which he imagined in his mind, was there. Salman did not say anything to anybody though he was in great excitement of the things that took place.
Years followed years. Time flew and the light that was expected by all beings, people with heart and mind, all civilizations and the universe emerged. It was heard that Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) was given the duty of prophethood. Everybody and everything paid attention to it. Whenever two people came together, they would talk about the lofty prophet who declared his prophethood in Makkah and who prepared that holy and exalted revolution. As Salman listened to what people talked about, he believed that the secret in his heart and consciousness and the knot in his mind would be revealed. He longed to see that exalted prophet, to follow him and to be his servant and slave. In the eye of Salman, life was the expression of conquering something. He had lived with this desire of conquest since his childhood. This desire urged Salman more strongly and severely now. However, he was a slave of somebody and far away from Makkah.
Once, Salman was working in the orchard. His master was having a rest in the shade of a tree. He heard a relative of his master's come by uttering angry words: “God damn it! Do you know what happened?” Salman and his master listened to him carefully. His master asked, “What happened?” The man said, “The man who claimed to be a prophet in Makkah has come here. He is in Quba. A lot of people gathered around him. They were listening to what he said. There is no peace here for us from now on.”
Salman shivered like a person who had a fever. He fell down. He almost fell into the arms of his master. He asked in excitement, wonder and joy, “What did you say? What did you say?” he forgot that he was a slave. His master got furious and kicked him angrily by saying, “What does this matter to you? Why do you interfere leaving your work?" Salman fell down.
Salman did not feel anything. He did not know whether he was alive or not. He did not feel anything but the excitement in his heart, the glad tiding that he had been expecting for years and the longing for the exalted prophet. He wanted to go and see the secrets he kept in his heart be realized. He pinched and saved some money. In the evening when it got dark, he went to Quba secretly. He was in the presence of the Messenger of Allah.
He said to the Messenger of Allah, "I have heard that you are a righteous person. I have some money that I saved for charity (sadaqah). Will you accept it?"
The Messenger of Allah took it and gave it away to the Companions near him.
Salman did not have much time. He took permission and left. One of the knots in his heart was solved.
He started to save some money again. He found out that the Messenger of Allah had come to Madinah. He wanted to find out whether the Messenger of Allah, who did not eat something given as sadaqah, would eat something given as a gift. He had some time and went to the presence of the Messenger of Allah quickly. He said, “This food is a gift from me.” The Messenger of Allah said, “Bismillah” and ate some of the food he brought and gave the rest to his Companions.
Thus, another secret was solved. He felt himself closer and more attached to the Prophet each time he saw him. With this feeling, he heard a vast wave of joy babbling in him.
Now it was time for the third thing the priest had said: “the Seal of Prophethood”. How was he going to find out about it? How could he see between his two shoulder blades? While he was hesitant and worried, he heard that the Prophet was in the Cemetery of Baqi. He was there for the funeral of one of his Companions who died. Salman did not want to miss this opportunity. He rushed to the cemetery. He saw the Messenger of Allah talking to his Companions. The Messenger of Allah had a garment of two pieces. Salman greeted them and wanted to move to the back of the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah noticed the curious and panicky state of Salman; the Messenger of Allah let his cloak drop down and enabled Salman to see “the Seal of Prophethood” on his back. Salman threw himself down before the Prophet (pbuh) grabbed his feet and started to cry. The divine enthusiasm and excitement that boiled in his spirit, gurgled in his heart and surrounded his being started to drop on the ground as tears from his eyes, which were the windows of his spirit. He forgot his being in the presence of the Messenger of Allah. He came round when the Prophet addressed him, “Turn toward me.” He woke up from a sweet dream that looked as if it would never end. The nice and bright realm he entered got wider. He felt that the longing in his spirit ended, his questions were answered and his self calmed down. It looked as if the real world belonged to him; everything belonged to him.
His fleeing from his father's house into slavery, trouble and agony was transformed into a sweet and enjoyable pleasure. He attained real freedom and broke the chains in his spirit.
Hz. Salman attained real freedom after becoming a Muslim but his material slavery continued. The Prophet's heart did not want this lone Companion to spend his life as a slave. In that period, slaves could attain their freedom by making a deal with their masters in return for giving them a certain amount of money. The Prophet told Hz. Salman to make a deal like that and attain his freedom
Hz. Salman talked the Jew about the issue but he could not persuade him. Finally, he uttered a price that he believed Salman could not pay. He said he would free him if he grew 300 date trees that gave fruits and gave him 40 okes of gold. This was something that could not happen in a short time under normal circumstances. When the Prophet (pbuh) heard it, he said to his Companions, “Help your brother!” The Companions helped him as much as they could. They brought date seedlings and gave them to Salman. When 300 fide seedlings were completed, the Prophet (pbuh) said to Salman, “After you dig holes for them, let me know.”
The holes were prepared in a very short time with the help of the Companions. When they were completed, the Prophet (pbuh) was informed. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) planted each seedling with his own blessed hands. The seedlings gave fruit in the same year. Thus, one part of Hz. Salman’s debt was completed thanks to the help of the Muslims and the miracle of the Prophet. However, Salman had not been freed from slavery since the other part of his debt had not been paid. Another miracle took place for the other part of his debt.
Once, the Prophet was sitting with his Companions. A Companion came and gave him a piece of gold as big as an egg to give away to the poor. Stating that sadaqah given to a slave in order to free him is superior to sadaqah given to the poor, the Prophet asked his Companions to find Salman and bring him there. They found him and brought him to the presence of the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet gave the gold to Hz. Salman and said, “Take this gold and pay your debt. Hz. Salman said, “O Messenger of Allah! This gold is not as heavy as the Jew wants!” The Prophet said,
“Take this. Allah Almighty will surely pay your debt with it.”
Hz. Salman said, “By Allah! I weighed it and it was exactly the same amount as I owed. I took it to my master and was freed from slavery.”[1]
Allah Almighty granted these miracles to the Prophet as an advance payment due to the sincere intention of Hz. Salman and the service he would do for Islam in the future.
After Hz. Salman was freed from slavery, he started to serve the Prophet. He was included among “Ashab as-Suffa”, whose needs were met by Companions and who dedicated themselves to the talks of the Prophet and his lessons. The Prophet made Salman brothers with Abu ad-Darda.
Hz. Salman had a special place in the eye of the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet stated the following in a hadith:
“Allah told me that He loved four people among my Companions specially and ordered me to love them. They are Ali, Miqdad bin Aswad, Salman and Abu Dharr.”[2]
The polytheists could not have a decisive victory at the Battle of Uhud. They were determined to continue their enmity against Islam and Muslims. For, their eyes were covered with the darkness of the polytheism. They could not see the light of Islam. They prepared a crowded army in the 5th year of the Migration. This time, their aim was to eliminate all of the Muslims. It was difficult for the Muslims to stop this ferocious army of the polytheists. On the other hand, Madinah was a city that was open from three sides. Therefore, it was difficult to defend it.
The Prophet maintained his composure despite this situation. He did not lose his hope. For, he believed that Allah Almighty would help him. However, he did not ignore taking precautions and making preparations. He talked to the people he could talk and did everything that could be done. He talked to his Companions as he always did. They told him about their views one by one. When it was time for Hz. Salman, he expressed his idea as follows:
“O Messenger of Allah! When the cavaliers of the enemy attacked us in Iran, we would sometimes surround the place with a ditch. Can we do it now?”
This idea of Hz. Salman’s was liked by all of the Muslims primarily the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah determined all of the places where the ditches would be dug with Companions. Then, he divided the Muslims into groups and showed them where to dig the ditches. Everybody, Muhajirs and Ansar, young and old alike, took part in the digging.
While the ditches were being dug, the Prophet prayed as follows: “O Allah! There is no bliss except the bliss in the hereafter. Forgive Ansar and Muhajirs!”
All of the Muslims spoke as follows: “We promised to the Messenger of Allah to make jihad in the way of Allah as long as we lived.”
Salman al-Farisi was in the same group as Amr bin Awf, Hudhayfa bin Yaman, Numan bin Muqarrin and some other Companions in the act of digging ditches. He had a strong body and he was experienced. He could dig a place that 10 people could dig on his own.
The Muslims competed to adopt Salman since he offered such a form of defense when the ferocious polytheists attacked Madinah. Muhajirs regarded him as a Muhajir by saying, “Salman is one of us.” Ansar said, "Salman is one of us; we deserve it more to adopt him." When the Prophet heard this discussion between Ansar and Muhajirs, he stated the following, which pleased everybody:
“Salman is one of us. He is one of the People of the House (Ahl al-Bayt).”
When Hz. Salman heard this glad tiding, he became very happy. He was on the air. It was such a great bliss to be of Ahl al-Bayt.
While the Companions were digging ditches, the group in which Hz. Salman was confronted a big rock. The Companions tried very hard to break it but they could not do it. All of their tools were broken. Thereupon, Hz. Salman went to the presence of the Messenger of Allah and said, “O Messenger of Allah! May our fathers and mothers be sacrificed for you! We confronted a white rock in the middle of the ditch. We broke all of our axes and sledgehammers while trying to break it. We could not break it. What shall we do? Shall we change the line you drew? What do you order us to do?”
The Prophet asked Salman to show him the rock. They showed it. The Messenger of Allah took the sledgehammer of Salman al-Farisi and entered into the ditch. He hit the rock hard with the sledgehammer. One part of the rock was broken and a light (lightning) enlightened the two rocky areas of Madinah. The Prophet said, “Allahu Akbar!" The Companions also said, “Allahu Akbar!" The Messenger of Allah hit the rock again. One more part of the rock was broken and a light was emitted from it. Both the Prophet and Companions said, “Allahu Akbar!" When the Prophet hit the rock again, the rock was broken into pieces. A light appeared again. When the Prophet said, “Allahu Akbar!", the Companions also said, “Allahu Akbar!" Then, Salman held the Prophet's hand and helped him out of the ditch. Then, he asked the Prophet, "O Messenger of Allah! May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! I saw some lights coming out of the rock when you hit it. What were they?"
The Prophet explained it as follows:
"The light that came out of the rock and that you saw when I first hit it enlightened the manors of the city Hira and the city of Madayin of the Chosroes. Jibril told me that my ummah would dominate those cities. The light that came out of the rock when I hit it the second time enlightened the red manors of Byzantine. Jibril gave me the glad tiding that my ummah would dominate them. The light that came out of the rock when I hit it the third time enlightened the manors of Sana (Yemen). Jibril told me that my ummah would dominate them too. Feel joyful. My ummah will be helped and be victorious.
The Prophet repeated the last sentence three times. When the Companions heard this glad tiding, they said, “Praise be to Allah. He keeps His promise. He promises us help after the siege of the polytheists.” They became happy.
After giving this glad tiding, the Prophet described the white manor of the Chosroes (Persian King) in Madayin. Hz. Salman knew the properties of the manors since he was from Iran. Upon this description, Salman said, “O Messenger of Allah! You are right. I swear by Allah, who sent you with the true religion and book that the properties of the manor is exactly like your description. I witness that you are the prophet of Allah.”
Finally, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) stated the following:
“O Salman! Allah will enable you to conquer those countries after my death. Damascus will definitely be conquered. Heraclius, the Byzantine king, will retreat to the furthest place in his land. You will dominate the whole Damascus. Nobody will be able to resist you. Yemen will definitely be conquered. Then, the Chosroes will be killed.”
While the Prophet was giving the good news about the future to his Companions, the hypocrites (munafiqs) started to gossip. They tried to demoralize the Muslims by saying, “While you cannot fight in the battlefield out of fear and dig ditches, Muhammad promises you the manors of Hira and says he saw the city of Madayin of the Chosroes and that you will conquer those cities. Are you not surprised by his empty promises?”[3]
However, their gossiping did not affect the belief of the Companions in the honesty of the Prophet at all. For, they definitely believed that the Prophet saw the centuries ahead in the future with the light of the prophethood. [4] As a matter of fact, this glad tiding given by the Prophet at such a hard time took place during the caliphates of Hz. Umar and Hz. Uthman. The Muslims conquered the cities and countries mentioned by the Prophet. Several years after this glad tiding, Hz. Salman said, “I saw all of them to be conquered.” He thanked Allah Almighty for this boon.
The activity of digging trenches was completed after six days. Thus, the Muslims secured themselves. They started to wait for the polytheists to come. They arrived soon. They hurried in order to eliminate the Muslims as soon as possible. They were very confident. However, when they saw that Madinah was surrounded by ditches that were impossible to pass, they were astounded. The polytheists had never seen such a strategy. After a long siege, they had to return to Makkah in a terrible state.
Thus, thanks to the offer of Hz. Salman and help of Allah, the Muslims were saved from a big danger. Besides, the danger of the enemy was eliminated thanks to a decision made as a result of consultation; in addition, the glad tiding of the future conquests were given to them.
Hz. Salman was distinguished among the Companions due to his closeness to the Prophet. He served the Prophet all the time and frequently entered his house. He listened to the talk of the Prophet at night and learned from the Prophet.
Once, Hz. Salman went to visit the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah was reclining on a cushion. When Salman arrived, he gave the cushion on which he was reclining to Salman and said,
“O Salman! When a Muslim goes to visit his Muslim brother and he gives him a cushion as a gesture of hospitality, Allah Almighty forgives his sins.”[5]
Salman received the reward of being close to the Prophet in advance. He reached a high rank in knowledge. The Messenger of Allah praised him by saying, “Salman is definitely full of knowledge.”[6] Hz. Ali said, “The knowledge of the previous and future people is in Salman. He is an unending sea. On the other hand, when a great scholar like Hz. Muadh bin Jabal died, he advised his students to receive knowledge from Salman.[7]
As Hz. Salman visited the Prophet frequently, talked to him and served him, the Prophet also visited Salman from time to time to please him.
Once, Hz. Salman became ill. The Prophet visited him and prayed for him as follows: “O Salman! May Allah Almighty grant you cure, forgive your sins and give you health of religion and body as long as you live!”[8]
That a poor and lone person like Hz. Salman was so close to the Prophet and received compliments from him disturbed some people who were interested in Islam but who had not become Muslims yet. They felt them beneath them to be together with poor people with simple clothes. Once they made the Prophet the following offer by implying people like Hz. Salman and Abu Dharr:
“O Muhammad! Whenever we come to you, we see those poor people with you. We are the notables of the tribe of Mudar. Keep them away from you so that we will believe in you. We feel ashamed of being together with them; we cannot make our souls accept it. If we believe, the other tribes will believe too.”
After their offer, which was impossible to apply, the following verse was sent down:[9]
“And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life.”[10]
When the revelation was completed, the Messenger of Allah looked for Hz. Salman and Abu Dharr. He found them at a corner making remembrance of Allah Almighty. He gave them the following glad tiding:
“'Praise be to Allah Who did not take away my soul until He commanded me to restrain myself with men of my community. You should know that it is with you that I live and with you that I die.”
One of the properties of Hz. Salman was his hospitality. He always served his guests. He would offer the guests to eat anything he had in his house, whether it was a little or much. For, the Prophet stated the following in a hadith:
“If a guest despises the food the host brings him, he is destroyed; if a host avoids serving food to a guest despising the food he has, he is destroyed.”
Once, Shaqiq bin Salama and one of his friends were guests at Hz. Salman’s house. Salman prepared the table from the foods that he had in his house. They sat at the table. While eating, Shaqiq's friend said, "It would be nice if there was some pepper." Hz. Salman had no money to buy pepper but he wanted to please his guest. He pawned his water bottle to buy some pepper and brought it. After eating, the person who asked for pepper said, “Praise be to Allah Who has granted us contentment.” Hz. Salman said, “If you had been content with what you found on the table, my water bottle would not have been pawned.”[11]
Hz. Salman was a heroic mujahid of Islam. He joined the army that was prepared for the conquest of Iran. He did very important activities in the army because he was from Iran. He guided the Islamic army in the land that they did not know. He gave them information about the weapons they used and their war tactics. He taught them how to kill the elephants the Iranian army used in the war. He also worked hard to make the people of Iran accept Islam. He invited them to Islam using their own language. He told them about the beauties of Islam. He told them that they could pay jizyah (tax) if they did not accept Islam. However, they did not accept any of the offers. Eventually big wars took place between them. The Islamic army had great victories.
After the conquest of Iran, Hz. Umar appointed Salman as the governor of Madayin. He fulfilled this duty properly. The people of Madayin loved him.[12]
Hz. Salman had a simple and plain life. He wore and ate the same things both when he was a slave and when he was the governor of Madayin. He avoided all kinds of pomp and show off.
Hz. Salman treated the people under his command well; he did not give them hard work to do. He would help them in their work. He would even help his slave. Once, he was kneading dough. A person who came to visit him was surprised when he saw this. He asked, “What is the matter?” Hz. Salman said, “I sent the servant somewhere to do something; I did not want him to do also this.”
One of the greatest traits of Hz. Salman was his generosity. When he received the salary of governorship, which was five thousand dirhams, he would give it away to the poor. He met his needs by weaving baskets. He sold one basket for three dirhams; he would buy date leaves for one dirham of it, spend one dirham for his needs and give the remaining dirham to the poor.[13] He would not dine without guests. He would call the poor and lone people to his house and entertain them.
Hz. Salman gave great importance to visiting his friends only for the sake of Allah. Once, he went to visit his close friend Abu ad-Darda from Madayin to Damascus on foot.
Hz. Salman visited ill people, consoled them and advised them to show patience. Once, he went to visit a friend of his who was ill. He was suffering a lot. When Hz. Salman saw him, he gave him the following glad tiding:
“If Allah Almighty gives an illness to a believing person and cures him later, it becomes atonement for his previous sins if he shows patience. It will also be a means of atonement for the sins that he will commit in the future. If Allah gives an illness to a sinner and cures him later and if that person has not shown patience and has complained all the time, that person is like a camel that is tied from its foot by its owner and that is released after a while; this camel does not know why it is tied and why it is released.”
Hz. Salman would laugh at three things and cry for three things. He laughed at the following things:
(1) A person who stretches his hopes in this world though death seeks him, (2) a person who is heedless and unaware of his Lord though his Lord is aware of him (3) a person who laughs aloud though he does not know whether he has attained his Lord's consent or wrath.
The three things that he cried for were as follows:
(1) Being separated from the Prophet, (2) experiencing the throes of death at his deathbed, (3) not knowing whether he will go to Hell or Paradise when he leaves the presence of Allah on the Day of Judgment. [14]
Hz. Salman gave the following advice about worshipping:
“Perform five daily prayers regularly! They are atonement for minor sins as long as you do not commit major sins. If a person commits a sin making use of the darkness of the night and unawareness of people, he is at a loss, not profit. A person who sleeps after performing prayers is neither at a profit nor at loss. Avoid worshipping so much as to prevent you from worshipping; worship normally but regularly.”
Salman al-Farisi served a lot by helping the words of the Prophet reach us. One of the hadiths reported by him is as follows:
I was once sitting under a tree with the Messenger of Allah. He caught hold of a dry branch of the tree and shook it until its leaves fell off. He then said to me, "O Salman! Will you not ask me why I am doing this?" I said, "Why you are doing this?' Thereupon, he said, "When a Muslim performs wudu properly and then observes his prayers five times a day, his sins fall off just as these leaves have fallen off."[15]
Hz. Salman, who was a pious and ascetic person, became ill one day. Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas came to visit him. Hz. Salman was crying. Hz. Sa’d said, “Why are you crying? If you die, you will rejoin your friends. You will meet the Messenger of Allah at the Pond of Kawthar. The Prophet was pleased with you.”
Hz. Salman replied as follows:
“I am not crying because I am afraid of death or because I do not want to leave this world. What makes me cry is the following advice of the Messenger of Allah: ‘The wealth you own in this world should be as much as the food that a traveler carries with him.’ However, I look around me and see a lot of wealth.”
However, all of Hz. Salman’s things were worth 15 dirhams only. Then, Hz. Sa’d asked Salman to give him advice. Salman gave him the following exemplary advice:
“Remember Allah when you decide something or when you state your decree about an issue or when you divide goods among people.”[16]
Hz. Salman called his wife when he was at his deathbed and said to her,
“Open those doors. I expect guests today. I do not know which of the doors they will enter. Bring me the musk I had given you to keep. Mix it in water. Sprinkle the scent around my bed. For, my visitors will not eat but they like nice scent. Go downstairs after you have done what I said.”
His wife did exactly what he said. Then, she heard some whispers. When she went upstairs, she saw that Hz. Salman had died.[17]
Yes, Hz. Salman, who received the following glad tiding of the Prophet rejoined the Prophet and the other Companions in Paradise: “Paradise longs for three people. Ali, Ammar bin Yasir and Salman.”[18]
Makkan polytheists did their best to extinguish the light of Islam. They did not allow the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the Muslims to practice their religion freely. They even tried to interfere with them in Madinah. Their aim was to eliminate Islam.
However, Allah started that light. The roots of the tree of Islam were deep. There were mujahids who would sacrifice their property and lives in the way of Islam. What could the enemy do as long as they existed?
The polytheists arrived near the Well of Badr with about one thousand people. However, they found the lions of Allah, who did not fear anything, facing them. Their number was small but their belief was very strong. What could be done to those people, who went to death by smiling and who sacrificed not only their property but also their lives in the way of Allah? The believers stood against the polytheists like a castle made of steel. The Messenger of Allah ordered them: "Do not do anything unless I order you to do something." The Companions listened to the Messenger of Allah very carefully. They showed by their attitudes that they were ready for his orders. The polytheists approached them. The Messenger of Allah gave the following order: "Get ready to deserve Paradise, which is as wide as the earth and skies!"
The enemy did not have such an opportunity. It was not reasonable to risk and sacrifice their lives. However, for a believer, death, which an unbeliever feared, was the beginning of the endless bliss. To die in this way meant to revive. Was it possible for a believer to miss such an opportunity?
Was it possible for them to wait after hearing the words of the Messenger of Allah that excited and activated them? Besides, there was Paradise, which is as wide as the earth and skies, after that.
One of the Ansar rushed forward. It was Umayr bin Humam. What he heard caused waves of excitement in his heart. Was it a dream or did he mishear it?
He approached the Messenger of Allah and asked,
"O Messenger of Allah! Did you say Paradise, which is as wide as the earth and skies?" he said,
"Yes, I did."
He felt relieved. What he heard was not a dream. He said,
"How nice!"
The Messenger of Allah asked him why he spoke like that. He said,
"O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I spoke so because I wanted to be a person of Paradise."
The Messenger of Allah said, "You are already a person of Paradise."
Umayr had some dates in his hand. He had brought them in order to eat them and appease his hunger. However, as soon as he heard what the Prophet said, he took out his bow and arrows. He said,
"If I live long enough to eat these dates, I will be late."
Before finishing his words, he threw the dates away. He had no time to wait. He wanted to fight for Allah, kill a few unbelievers and then go to Paradise. Besides, the Messenger of Allah had given him the glad tiding.
Soon Umayr was martyred. He used Badr as a bridge for his eternal life. He was included among the heroes of Badr, showed the best example of sacrifice in the way of Allah and flew to Paradise.[1]
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[1]Tabaqat, 3: 565.
30-)
Tamim ad-Dari (r.a.)
He was from Palestine. He was one of the notable scholars of the Christians. He went to Madinah from Damascus with a delegation to see the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in the 9th year of the Migration; he became a Muslim after talking to the Prophet.
The Prophet asked them whether they wanted anything in order to make them love Islam. Tamim ad-Dari consulted his friends and they decided to ask the administration of the villages of Hebron, Mertum and Halilurrahman near Jerusalem. When they went into the presence of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), he told them about the decision they made as a miracle. Thus, their belief increased.
When Jerusalem was conquered during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr, the administration of those places was given to Tamim ad-Dari and his family in accordance with the decree of the Prophet.
Tamim ad-Dari and the other representatives of his tribe lived in Madinah until the death of the Prophet (pbuh). The Prophet (pbuh) decreed that 100 camel-loads of dates from the revenues of Khaybar be given to them.
Tamim ad-Dari had brought some oil candles and olive oil from Damascus to Madinah. Once, he asked his servants to put those candles in the mosque. When it became dark, he had the candles lit. When the Prophet (pbuh) came to the mosque and saw that it was enlightened with candles, he became very happy.
He asked, “Who did it?” They said, “Tamim ad-Dari did it.”
Thereupon, the Prophet (pbuh) said to Tamim ad-Dari, “You illuminated Islam and beautified the mosque. May Allah illuminate you in the world and the hereafter!” Expressing his gratitude, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) also said, “If I had a daughter, I would marry her off to you.”
Tamim ad-Dari narrated several hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). One of them is as follows:
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Islam will definitely reach everywhere having night and day. Allah will not leave any house and tent that Islam will not reach. Allah will honor those who want to be honored with this religion. He will despise those who want to be despised.”
Tamim ad-Dari (r.a.) died in Damascus.[1]
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[1] Tabaqat, 1: 343-344; Sirah, 368-369; Usdu'l-Ghaba, 2: 215; Hz. Muhammed ve İslamiyet, 9: 357-364; Musnad, 4: 103.
31-)
Wasila bin Asqa (r.a.)
Wasila, who had all of the pleasure and excitement of being a new Muslim, pushed for performing the morning prayer with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). After the prayer, the Messenger of Allah asked who that person whom he had never seen before was. Wasila introduced himself and said that he had come to make an agreement with the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah said, "Will you make an agreement with me based on everything that I want and I do not want?"
Wasila said, "Yes." He promised that he would obey all of the orders of the Prophet and that he would never object to him. Meanwhile, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was making preparations for the Expedition of Tabuk. Wasila was already ready but the journey was long and he had no animal to ride on. Ka'b bin Ujra found an animal for him and he joined the expedition with the army of Islam.[1]
After that, Hz. Wasila served the Messenger of Allah for three years; therefore, he is regarded among the closest Companions to the Prophet. He had many memories about Suffa School since he stayed there for a long time.
As a matter of fact, whenever the people of Suffa needed something, they sent Wasila to the Messenger of Allah to inform him about it. He narrates one of his memories as follows:
"I was one of the people of Suffa. The people of Suffa complained about hunger and asked me to go the Messenger of Allah and to ask for food from him. I went to the Messenger of Allah and told him that the people of Suffa complained about hunger. The Messenger of Allah asked Hz. Aisha if she had anything to eat. Hz. Aisha said she had only "tirit", which was a kind of gravy. They brought the gravy to the Messenger of Allah in a deep bowl. I invited the people of Suffa in groups of ten. The Messenger of Allah said to them, "Sit down. Help yourselves. Bismillah!" The people of Suffa ate from the gravy that was enough for only ten people but they saw that it remained the same. The Messenger of Allah said to me, ‘O Wasila! Take this bowl to Hz. Aisha as it is.'"[2]
Hz. Wasila narrates a similar incident as follows:
"While we were at Suffa in Ramadan, a different person from the people of Madinah invited us to iftar (Ramadan dinner) every evening. Nobody came and invited us one evening. We did not eat anything that evening. When nobody came the next evening, we went to the Messenger of Allah and told him about the situation. The Messenger of Allah asked his wives whether they had any food with them. They said they did not have any food. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah opened his hands and prayed as follows:
'O Allah! I want from your grace and mercy. Mercy belongs to you, not to anybody else.'
Once the Messenger of Allah finished his prayer, somebody came with grilled mutton and bread. The Messenger of Allah put it in front of us. We ate it until we became full. The Messenger of Allah said,
'We asked from Allah's grace and mercy. This is Allah's grace. He left mercy to the hereafter.'"[3]
Hz. Wasila expresses the deprivation of the students of the Messenger of Allah regarding clothes as follows: "I am one of the people of Suffa. None of us had full clothes."
The stars of the Era of Bliss that enlightened the world with their light and attraction up to this time were in poverty and deprivation like that. However, they were loyal to the Messenger of Allah so much that they forgot about everything when he was there.
Nevertheless, the Prophet informed them about the bounties that they would receive in the future as a miracle. The Messenger of Allah said,
"You will have plenty of wheat bread and olive oil after me. You will eat various kinds of food. You will wear nice clothes."
Wasila continued as follows: "Indeed, after a while, what the Messenger of Allah said came true. We ate various kinds of food, wore nice clothes and rode plenty of animals."[4]
According to a narration, Hz. Wasila stayed in Basra for a while. Then, he went to Damascus. He stayed around Humus and Damascus. He died at the age of 100 in the 83rd year of the Migration.
Lastly, we will quote a hadith that he reported: "I asked the Messenger of Allah, 'What is racism?' He said, "To help your nation in oppression and injustice.'"[5]
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[1]Usdu'l-Ghaba, 5: 77.
[2]Hilyatu'l-Awliya, 2: 22.
[3]ibid
[4]ibid, 2: 23.
[5]Abu Dawud, Adab: 113.
32-)
Walid bin Walid (r.a.)
He was the brother of Khalid bin Walid'in (r.a.), the famous Companion. He fought against Muslims with polytheists during the Battle of Badr, where he was captivated by Abdullah bin Jahsh (r.a.).
Khalid bin Walid and Hisham bin Walid, who had not accepted Islam yet, went to Madinah in order to save him from captivity. They gave their armor, sword and helmet that they had inherited from their father as ransom and saved him. After that, they went to Makkah together.
Khalid and Hisham were astonished on the way. Walid returned to Madinah when they reached Dhul-Hulayfa and became a Muslim there. Khalid and Hisham went there after him. Khalid got angry with Walid and asked him, "Why did you not become a Muslim before we gave our father's honorable things? Why did you do that? Hz. Walid said to him, "I did not want Qurayshis say, ‘He became a Muslim to avoid the ransom.'"
Khalid and Hisham were very angry but they did not do anything. They set off for Makkah. They arrived in Makkah after their journey. When the polytheists heard that Walid became a Muslim, they could not accept it. They went to Madinah and grabbed him. They chained him and locked him in. Walid (r.a.) was ready for it. When he became a Muslim, he expected these hardships. He showed patience when they tortured him.
The Prophet heard about the torture inflicted on him and felt very sorry. He included Walid's name in the prayer he made for the two Companions, Ayyash bin Abi Rabia and Abu Salama bin Hisham, who were captivated in Makkah like Walid.
Walid (r.a.) remained imprisoned in Makkah for a while. However, he escaped after a while and went to Madinah. He went into the presence of the Prophet. The Prophet asked him about Hz. Ayyash andAbu Salama. Walid said that they were being tortured. The Prophet became distressed. He gave Hz. Walid the duty of rescuing these two heroes of Islam, who were being tortured.
Hz. Walid was very tired but he set off for Makkah at once. He wanted to fulfill the order of the Messenger of Allah as soon as possible. After a tiring journey, he reached Makkah. He entered the city at night. He found the place where they were imprisoned. It was a place that was not covered. He jumped over the wall. They had been tied to a stone with a rope so that they would not escape. He took out his sword and cut off the rope. They jumped over the wall and escaped. They had to move away before the polytheists noticed that they had escaped. They walked without having a rest.
In the morning, the polytheists noticed that they had escaped and sent out men to find them. However, they could not find them. These three Muslims, who had been suffering for a long time, arrived in Madinah three days later. When they arrived, they were in a terrible position.
Hz. Walid died in the 8th year of the Migration. He was buried in the graveyard of Baqi in Madinah.
May Allah be pleased with him!
33-)
Rabi’ bin Amir (r.a.)
During the caliphate of Hz. Umar, the Muslims lived their golden age under the justice of Islam while the Islamic armies conquered new cities and countries, gained victories and expanded the Islamic land.
The Islamic army of 34 thousand soldiers under the command of Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas reached the Persian land. There was very little time left for the realization of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). As it is known, “Parwiz”, the Iranian ruler, tore the letter of the Messenger of Allah into pieces and the Messenger of Allah prayed against him as follows: “O Lord! Tear him and his land into pieces as he tore my letter into pieces!” This prayer came true and his son Shirwiya killed Parwiz with a dagger; now it was time for his land to be torn into pieces.
Rustam, the Iranian commander, did not want to fight the Islamic army due to some internal affairs and wanted to make peace. However, he made preparations for the war too. The Islamic army had 34 thousand soldiers but the Iranian army had 80 thousand soldiers along with 120 thousand reserves. 30 thousand soldiers had been chained to one another so that they would not escape. Despite this, Rustam was not very confident and demanded envoys frequently from Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas, the brave commander of the Islamic army, trying to stall for time.
The second envoy to go to Rustam was Rabi’ bin Amir. When he arrived, he saw a pompous scene he had never seen before. The place where Rustam stayed was embellished with embroidered pillows, velvet carpets, pearls and rubies and many other jewels. Rustam was sitting on a golden throne and the people around him served him like slaves.
Rabi had old clothes, a crooked sword, a somewhat bent shield and a shaggy horse. In fact, the pomp Rabi’ bin Amir saw did not appeal to him. In return for their pomp, he had an unshakable belief and indestructible courage.
When he arrived in the place covered with carpets, he dismounted from his horse and tied his horse. He had his weapon, armor and helmet on him. They said, “Leave your weapon.” He said, "I have not come here of my own accord. If you do not accept me like that, I shall return." The people there were astonished to hear such brave words from such a feeble person.
Rustam said, “Leave him!” Rabi’ proceeded and stuck his spear in the ground when he approached Rustam. There were silk pillows on the ground. The spear pricked the pillows. Those embellished pillows, which the people there gave great importance, were of no significance for Rabi’. The only thought in his mind was to fulfill his duty in a way that was suitable for the dignity of Islam.
Rustam said, “Start speaking.” Rabi’ started:
“Allah has sent us a prophet to save the people He wishes from worshipping people and to make them worship Him, to save people from the troubles of the world and to enable them to feel tranquil, to save them from the oppression of wrong religions and to enable them to attain the justice of Islam. If you accept Islam, you will become like us and we will return. If you do not accept Islam, we will fight you until we attain what Allah promised.
“What did Allah promise?”
“Paradise for those who die while fighting unbelievers and victory for those who survive.”
“I have listened to what you have said. Will you give us some time to think about this issue?”
“How many days?”
“One or two days.”
“No. This time is not enough for us to correspond with our scholars and leaders.”
“Our Prophet ordered us not to give respite to the enemy more than three days after facing them. Think, ask your men and choose one of the three options in that period: To accept Islam, to pay jizyah or to fight.”
"Are you their chief?"
"No. The Muslims are like one body, strengthening each other."
Thereupon, Rustam gathered his men and said, “Have you heard anything more valuable and acceptable than the words of this man?”
His men gave Rustam a harsh answer: “May God protect you from leaving your religion and tending to his religion. Have you not seen the clothes of that man? What can be the value of a man who wears such clothes?”
After a while, the Islamic army of 34 thousand soldiers consisting of people wearing clothes like Rabi’ beat the army of 200 thousand soldiers wearing embellished clothes and jewels. The Islamic army entered Madayin and witnessed the realization of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). Only 8 thousand people were martyred in the Islamic army and went to Paradise but 120 thousand people from the Iranian army were killed and the remaining ones escaped. [1]
________________________________________
[1]Isaba, 1: 503; Hayatus-Sahaba, 1: 157.
34-)
Salama bin Hisham (r.a.)
When the light of guidance that enlightened the horizons of Makkah was reflected on the hearts, a few people approached the lucid spring of Islam that cured people every day, drank that elixir of life and attained real relief and welfare by getting rid of the filth of ignorance and oppression that rusted their souls. At that time, humanity was in such a poor and ridiculous state that people did things that would disgust even animals and committed all kinds of mean deeds though they seemed to be human beings. The lofty Messenger, who removed some of them from the scary paw of the polytheism and placed them on the friendly and compassionate bosom and merciful arms of Islam, proved that he was the real savior of humanity.
Thanks to Islam, such a strong and eternal relationship and fraternity was established among people that the previous connection of kinship and relation between the unbelievers and believers disappeared. A polytheistic father regarded his believing son as his biggest enemy; a faithless brother regarded his brother who chose Islam as his most ferocious foe.
This exemplary situation was seen among the five sons of Hisham. Salama and Harith became Muslims but their brothers Abu Jahl, As and Khalid were the leaders of the faithless group.[1]
When Abu Jahl heard that his older brother Salama became a believer, his kinship was transformed into enmity; he could not put with the idea of one of his family members joining Hz. Muhammad (pbuh). He did everything to dissuade Salama but whatever he did was unfruitful. Was it possible for a person who experienced the lofty pleasure of belief to return and accept the poison of unbelief?
Hz. Salama could not put up with the acts of his cruel brother. He joined the group that migrated to Abyssinia. Although they were away from their houses and homeland, their lives and religion were safe.
When three months (the months of Rajab, Shaban and Ramadan) passed after their migration to Abyssinia, they heard some news: “Makkan people became Muslims. Walid bin Mughira also believed.”
They talked to one another: “If they became Muslims, who else remained as non-Muslims in Makkah?” Some of them decided to return. They said, “It is better to live in our own tribe and nation.” However, when they approached Makkah, they found out that the news they had heard was wrong; they became disappointed.
It was not possible to enter Makkah randomly. To enter Makkah means to accept the torture and suffering to be inflicted upon them in advance. Most of them thought of going under the protection of their relatives in Makkah in order to get rid of this danger. In that case, they would be accepted as a kind of "refugees". As a matter of fact, some of them did so. Others entered Makkah secretly; they did not make themselves noticed. However, some of those who were not under the protection of anyone hid themselves for a while but they were eventually captured by the polytheists. Among those Muslims who were imprisoned by the polytheists were Salama bin Hisham, Walid bin Rabia, Hisham bin As, Abdullah bin Suhayl and a few more Companions.[2]
Hz. Salama, Ayyash and Hisham, who were tortured by their relatives and who were exposed to all kinds of oppression for a long time, could not become free even when the order to migrate to Madinah was announced. Therefore, Salama could not take part in the battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq.
His full brother Abu Jahl tortured Hz. Salama bin Hisham again and again. He beat Salam until he got tired, insulted him and left him hungry and thirsty for days, agonizing him. His aim in oppressing and torturing him so much was this thought of his: “Maybe he will not be able to put up with it any longer and he will exit his religion.” However, Hz. Salama had such a strong belief as to challenge the universe and an endless love of the Messenger of Allah. He put up with the torture inflicted upon him for many years without showing any hesitation in his belief, in patience and determination.[3]
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh), who knew the grievous state of this believing mujahids and who felt their trouble in his heart, repeated the following prayer for a month after the morning prayer:
“O Allah! Rescue Walid bin Walid! O Allah! Rescue Salama bin Hisham! O Allah! Rescue Ayyash bin Rabia! O Allah! Rescue the weak believers!”[4]
These three Companions, who were imprisoned by Makkan polytheists, were cousins. Mughira was their grandfather. When Walid bin Walid became a Muslim and went to Makkah, he was imprisoned; Ayyash bin Rabia was deceived by Abu Jahl during migration, captured and tortured. These three Companions were held together. They tied them to one another. Hz. Walid managed to escape and went to Madinah. When the Prophet asked Walid about his cousins Salama and Ayyash, Hz. Walid said they were tied to each other from their feet and that they were under severe agony and torture.
The Prophet wanted these wronged Muslims to be saved from the polytheists. Once, he said to the Companions, “Who will save them and bring them to Madinah? Hz. Walid stood up at once and said, “O Messenger of Allah! I will save them and bring them to you.”
Hz. Walid went to Makkah and entered the city secretly. He found out the place where they were imprisoned from a woman who took them food. They were kept in a place with four walls but no ceiling. Walid got there at night and cut off the rope that they were tied with. He made them get on his camel and took them out of Makkah. The polytheists who noticed that they had escaped went after them but they could not find them. These three Muslims, who had been suffering for a long time, arrived in Madinah three days later. When they arrived, they were in a terrible position.
When Hz. Walid arrived in Madinah with his two friends, whom he had saved; their toes had been in pieces and blood. When the Prophet saw that these two distinguished Companions had been saved, he became very happy.[5]
Hz. Salama felt easy after that. He started to learn and to be illuminated by the luminous circle of the Messenger of Allah. He stayed in Madinah until the death of the Prophet. During the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr, he was among the mujahids who joined the Expedition of Syria. He was martyred in the Battle of Marj as-Sufr, which took place in the month of Muharram of the 14th year of the Migration, during the caliphate of Hz. Umar.[6]
May Allah be pleased with him!
___________________________________
One of the four people who were called “genius” by Arabs due to their minds, intelligence, reasoning and superior talents was Mughira bin Shu’ba. [1] Mughira was very skilled to settle big issues. No matter how complicated an issue was, he would definitely find a way to settle it. He would not be astonished even by the most terrifying issues and would find a solution in cold blood. He would act solemnly and calmly in international issues. Besides, his genius emerged from this virtue of his
Mughira bin Shu’ba was a well-built man like a wrestler. He became a Muslim in the 5th year of the Migration and migrated to Madinah.
Hz. Mughira was among the 1400 people of the caravan of the Companions that set off to perform umrah in the 6th year of the Migration with the Prophet.
When the polytheists found out that the Prophet was coming to the Kaaba with a crowded group of Companions, they made a decision: “Muhammad and those with him will not be allowed to enter Makkah. When the Prophet was informed about their decision, he sent a message to Makkans stating that their intention was only to visit the Kaaba. The polytheists sent Urwa bin Mas’ud as their envoy to talk to the Prophet. Meanwhile, Mughira bin Shu’ba was keeping guard next to the Messenger of Allah. Urwa bin Mas’ud, who entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), was both talking and touching the beard of the Messenger of Allah. Mughira could not put up with a polytheist’s touching the beard of the Prophet. Urwa bin Mas’ud was his paternal uncle but he was still a polytheist. He did not give importance to kinship. He said to his uncle, who touched the beard of the Messenger of Allah,
“Remove your hand from the beard of the Messenger of Allah before I cut your hand off. The hand of a polytheist cannot touch him.”
Upon this warning from his nephew, Urwa was shocked and removed his hand. [2]
After the Treaty of Hudaybiyya, Mughira bin Shu’ba took part in the Conquest of Makkah, the Expedition of Tabuk and the other battles. He was the nightmare of the polytheists. Nobody could resist against him. It was inevitable for the polytheists to fail when he drew his sword for Allah.
Hz. Mughira was so hostile to polytheism and idols that his belief could not put up with the existence of the idols. He could not understand worshipping the poor beings other than Allah. The Messenger of Allah knew about this severity of his Companion about the idols; therefore, he sent him with Abu Sufyan bin Harb to demolish the idols of the tribe of Sons of Thaqif. [3]
On the other hand, it was a twist of the fate that Abu Sufyan, who was the commander of the army of the polytheists before, challenged unbelief after becoming a believer.
Hz. Mughira was together with the Prophet until his death. When he learned that the Messenger of Allah passed away, he was shocked. However, he was also a human being; he was not immortal. He wanted to take active role in his burial very much. However, this duty was given to the relatives of the Prophet. Therefore, this duty was fulfilled by Hz. Ali, Hz. Abbas and Fadl bin Abbas. When the dead body of the Prophet (pbuh) was placed in the grave, Mughira bin Shu’ba was waiting next to the grave. However, he wanted to touch the body of the Prophet. His genius helped him in this issue. He threw his ring into the grave secretly and told Hz. Ali that he dropped his ring. Hz. Ali allowed him to take it. Mughira entered the grave and while taking his ring, he touched the blessed feet of the Prophet. Thus, he became the last Companion who touched the blessed dead body of the Messenger of Allah. [4]
Mughira was also in the army that was prepared during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr in order to suppress the people of Yamama that exited the religion of Islam.
Conquests increased a lot during the caliphate of Hz. Umar. He joined the army under the command of Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas established for the conquest of Iran. When the Islamic army proceeded to Qadisiyya, Rustam, the Iranian commander-in-chief, asked Sa’d to send him an envoy to negotiate. Sa’d sent a delegation headed by Mughira to him.
There was great pomp in the tent of the headquarters of the Iranians. There was carpet on the ground; everywhere was embellished. People were wearing ornamented silk clothes. They showed off. They aimed to discourage the Muslims by doing so. Mughira bin Shu’ba proceeded without heeding this pomp of the Iranians. The clothes he was wearing were plain and simple. He ignored the pomp and display. He even pricked the carpets with his spear while walking. Finally, he reached Rustam and sat next to him. The people of the palace got very angry with it. How could an envoy sit next to the commander of the army? They wanted to remove him from there but Rustam did not allow. He let Mughira sit next to him. The Iranians showed great respect to Rustam as if they were worshipping him. Thereupon, Mughira bin Shu’ba said,
“We heard that you were a sagacious people but now I see that none is more block-headed than you. We Arabs do not treat one another as slaves. There is no difference among us. We are equal. I presumed that you did not treat one another as slaves. However, I have understood now that your domination will not continue and that you will be defeated in the end. For, a nation that is based on such an unjust foundation cannot live.” [5]
Upon this talk of Mughira, Rustam said, “You are our neighbors. We have always treated you well and have not oppressed or wronged you. Go back to your country. Our gates are always open to you. You can come to our country whenever you want to do business and trade.”
Upon this talk of Rustam, Mughira said they had not come for worldly affairs but to spread the name of God Almighty. He explained in a nice way that God Almighty would make them victorious as they continued in this religion and that He would humiliate their enemies. When Rustam asked him to give information about Islam, he summarized Islam as follows:
“The most important pillar of this religion is to bear witness that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is His messenger and that whatever he brought is true and right. One of the purposes of this religion is to make people worship Allah instead of other people. According to this religion all human beings are brothers.” [6]
No result was obtained from this talk between Mughira bin Shu’ba and Rustam. Mughira returned to the headquarters. Hz. Sa’d sent Ribi bin Amr the next day. On the third day, the Iranians wanted another envoy. Sa’d appointed Mughira again. Rustam told Mughira that Arabs were a very bad nation, that they did not get on well even with one another and that they did not even wanted deal with them. He said, “If you have come here due to hunger, we will give you a lot of food and treat you a lot of things.”
Mughira listened to Rustam calmly. When he finished speaking, he spoke as follows:
“We were in such a bad state before Islam that there were no people worse than us. We were hungry. Our religion was to kill one another, to oppress and wrong one another. Some of us buried our daughters alive so that she would not share our food. However, God Almighty sent a person among us whose lineage was known and who belonged to the noblest family among us as a prophet. He invited us to a religion. He told us the truth but we denied him. He got stronger and we decreased. Whatever he told us came out to be true. Finally, God Almighty softened our hearts and we confirmed him and became subject to him. We did not come here for food. We came here to fight those who act as enemies of our religion” [7]
After this talk, Mughira laid three conditions for Rustam: “You will either be Muslims or bow down and pay jizyah; otherwise you will fight us.”
When Rustam heard this proposal, he could not sit due to his rage and his face turned red. He stood up from his throne adorned with pearls and ruby and said, “I swear by the sun that I will destroy your armies before the sun rises.” Despite Rustam’s fury, Mughira gave him the following answer without losing his temper:
“Then, he who dies from us will go to Paradise and the ones that we kill from among you will go to Hell. The ones who survive among us will conquer your land.” [8]
Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas appointed Mughira, who returned to the headquarters of the army as the commander of the left wing of the army. As a result of this war, the sultanate of Iran collapsed.
After the Conquest of Iran, Hz. Umar appointed Mughira bin Shu’ba as the governor of Basra. Mughira served as an administrator in a very nice way.
Mughira was among the Companions that were good in terms of hadiths. He reported 133 hadiths from the Prophet. The hadiths he narrated are included in Bukhari, Musnad and other hadith books. One of those hadiths is as follows:
“The Prophet performed prayers until his feet swelled. Somebody said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Did God Almighty not forgive your past and future sins?’ The Messenger of Allah gave the following answer: ‘Should I not be a slave who thanks Allah?’”[9]
Another hadith is as follows:
“There is nobody who loves his slaves as much as God Almighty does; therefore, He sent prophets that warn people and give them glad tidings. There is nobody who praises his slaves as much as God Almighty does; therefore, He promised them Paradise.” [10]
Mughira bin Shu’ba died when he was the governor of Kufa during the caliphate of Muawiya.
It was three years before the Migration of the Prophet to Madinah... There was a celebration in the house of his uncle, Hz. Abbas. A boy was born. They took the child to the Messenger of Allah. He gave the boy the name “Abdullah”. He put some palm paste in his mouth and said a prayer.
Little Abdullah was a member of the family of the Prophet. His aunt Hz. Maymuna was one of the wives of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). For this reason, Hz. Abdullah often went to the Prophet’s house and learned from him. He worshipped with the Messenger of Allah at night and served him. He won the affection of the Prophet with his hard work, practical intelligence and honesty.
Hz. Prophet wanted Abdullah to grow up as a scholar and a perfect Companion; he taught and educated him on every occasion. Once, Hz. Abdullah stopped a little away from the Prophet while praying. He thought that praying in the same line as the Prophet would be disrespect to him. The Prophet (pbuh) held his head lightly and moved him to his right. He told Abdullah that when there was one person in congregation, he had to stand on the right of the imam.
Ibn Abbas was constantly with the Messenger of Allah. Once, they were together again. He was riding pillion behind the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). The Prophet (pbuh) said to him, "Young man! I will teach you something:
Obey the commands and prohibitions of Allah so that you will always find His help with you. When you ask for something, ask from Allah. When you ask for help, ask help from Allah. And know it very well that if everybody come together to help you regarding an issue, they cannot help you more than what Allah allows. If they all come together to harm you, and they cannot harm you more than Allah allows. The pens were removed and pages dried. [Everything that will happen was decreed and predestinated beforehand.] [1]
When the Messenger of Allah died, Hz. Abdullah was a young man aged 14-15. However, thanks to the lessons he took from the Messenger of Allah and the Quran, he became an expert in the science of hadith. The following prayer uttered by the Prophet when he embraced Abdullah had a great share in it: "O Allah! Teach him the Book, the interpretation of the book and wisdom. O Allah! Give him a fine understanding in religion." On the other hand, after the death of the Prophet, Abdullah received lessons from the scholars of Companions. He made great efforts regarding the issue persistently. Consequently, Ibn Abbas reached the highest level in religious knowledge. Despite his young age, he participated in big lessons of ilm and settled the most difficult issues. Among the Companions, he was called "the Translator of the Quran," and "the Sea of Hadith".
The teaching circle of Abdullah bin Abbas was famous. His talks were rich and blessed. Everybody, young and old, took part in them and learned from Abdullah’s knowledge. There were two characteristics of his talk: deep knowledge and taqwa. These two characteristics united in Abdullah's teaching circles. He spoke sincerely and in a way that anyone could understand. Everyone listened to him very carefully. [2]
Everyone admired Abdullah's knowledge. He said, "It is Allah who gave me this boon. The Messenger of Allah asked Allah knowledge and wisdom for me; and Allah Almighty bestowed it." He never acted conceitedly. He always showed respect to older Companions. On one occasion, while Zayd bin Thabit was mounting his horse, Abdullah held the stirrup of the horse. Hz. Zayd said,
"O cousin of the Messenger of Allah! Please do not do this! You are embarrassing me." Hz. Abdullah said,
"We were commanded to show respect to our scholars." Hz. Zayd could not help kissing Hz. Abdullah's hands and said,
"We were also commanded to show respect to Ahl al-Bayt." [3]
After the death of the Messenger of Allah, he acted as the religious consultant of Hz. Abu Bakr and Hz. Umar. Hz Umar, referred the religious questions that he was asked to Abdullah and said,
"Only you can settle this." Once, a Yemeni person, who could not receive a satisfactory answer from anyone, received a satisfactory answer from Abdullah. Upon this, Hz. Umar became very happy and said,
"I witness that Abdullah was raised in the house of the Prophet." For this reason, he said about the difficult issues that he was asked, "Abdullah knows these issues better."
Hz. Abdullah participated in the conquest of Africa with Abdullah bin Sharh in 27 H. He met Jarjir, the king of Africa. Jarjir asked him a lot of questions, Hz. Abdullah answered all of them. That is why the king called him "the Arab genius".
Afterwards, Hz. Abdullah became the governor of Basra. He continued his religious talks there too. He always worked in order to be beneficial to Muslims. It is even narrated that Hz. Abdullah gave lessons at night in Ramadan. The people who attended his lessons in Ramadan became people with a good knowledge of religion and fiqh at the end of Ramadan.
There are many scholars who mentioned Abdullah's virtue and his deep knowledge. Abul-Lays said,
"I saw with my own eyes that Abdullah bin Abbas settled a question that 70 Companions expressed their views but could not settle."
Ubeydullah bin Abdullah stated the following related to the knowledge of Ibn Abbas:
"Some of the attributes of the Ibn Abbas were superior to the other Companions. He knew the past well. He made ijtihad about the issues that people asked him. He was lenient and generous. I have not seen anyone who knew the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah better than him. I have not seen anyone who knew the decrees made by Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman better than him. I do not know anyone more accurate than him in giving decrees. Everyone admired his profound knowledge of tafsir and fiqh. He talked about fiqh one day and tafsir the next day. One day he narrated wars in the past, the next day, he talked about Arab history. His knowledge never ended. I have not seen any scholars who met him and who did not accept his superiority in ilm." [4]
He always encouraged Muslims to earn halal money. He said,
"Fulfill the things that Allah rendered fard. Do not neglect the right of Allah. Allah gave sustenance to everybody from halal earnings. If believers show patience, their sustenance will come to them. If a person does not content himself with halal sustenance, halal sustenance will not be enough for him and he will fall into haram.
Ibn Abbas states the following about ilm and scholars:
"If scholars learned ilm (knowledge) truly and acted in accordance with their knowledge, Allah, angels and righteous people would love them. People would respect them. However, scholars used their knowledge to gain worldly benefits. Therefore, Allah sent their wrath on them. And they were humiliated in the eye of people."
Hz. Abdullah was the fifth of the seven companions who narrated the most hadiths from the Prophet with 1660 hadiths. Some of the hadiths he narrated are as follows:
"Do not argue with your brother. Do not make excessive jokes. Do not make promises that you cannot keep." [5]
"The right way, good manners and economy are among the 25 attributes of prophethood." [6]
"Allah Almighty will not accept the deeds and worshipping of a person of bid’ah until he abandons his bid'ah." [7]
"The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was the most generous man among people in terms of charity. The month in which he was the most generous was Ramadan. Gabriel (Jibril) met the Messenger of Allah in Ramadan every year, and the Messenger of Allah read him the whole Quran until the end of the month. When the Messenger of Allah met Jibril, he was more generous than the blowing wind in terms of charity." [8]
"On the Day of Judgment, one of the people who will regret the most will be someone who did not learn ilm though he had the opportunity. The other one will be a person who learned ilm but everyone except him benefited from it." [9]
The incident that distressed Hz. Abdullah toward the end of his life was the Incident of Karbala. The horrible things done to the grandson of the Prophet depressed Hz. Abdullah very much. His old heart became very sorry. He shed sincere tears. Afterwards, lost his eyesight. Abdullah thanked Allah for it. He said, "Allah took the light from my eyes, but my heart and my tongue were not left without light."
Hz. Abdullah died in 68 H. He rejoined his Lord and the beloved Prophet.
He repeated the following prayer frequently:
"O Allah! Make me contented. Make what You give to me good for me. Give me from the things that I do not know the good ones!"
Ubayda (r.a.) was one of the first Muslims. He was martyred at Badr.
When the Messenger of Allah passed by his grave years later, he said, “The nice smell you notice comes from Ubayda's grave.”
Ubayda (r.a.) became a Muslim in the first years of Islam and put up with all of the hardships he encountered. When the order for migration was sent by Allah, he left his hometown and migrated to Madinah.
The only aim of this fortunate mujahid, who joined the Battle of Badr, was "to become a martyr". When the two armies confronted, Utba, Shayba and Walid asked for three mujahids to fight. Three mujahids from Ansar proceeded. However, they said, “We do not want you. We want to fight three people from Children of Abdulmuttalib, our cousins.”
Thereupon, the (pbuh) Prophet said, “Stand up O Ubayda! Stand up O Hamza! Stand up O Ali!”
These three heroes rushed forward. When the polytheists saw them, they became happy. They said, “Yes, you are equal to us.”Then, they started to fight. Hz. Hamza killed Shayba and Hz. Ali killed Walid at once. Ubayda (r.a.) and Utba wounded each other and fell down. Hz. Hamza and Hz. Ali rushed to help Ubayda and killed Utba. They carried Ubayda to the Muslims' ranks.
Ubayda (r.a.) asked the Messenger of Allah “O Messenger of Allah! Am I not a martyr?”
The Prophet said, “Yes, you are.”
Hz. Ubayda became very happy and said, “If Abu Talib had been alive, he would have understood that I deserved to be the person he mentioned more than him and read the following couplet by Abu Talib:
“Do you think we will surrender him to you unless we fight around him by forgetting our families and we are knocked down?”
Thus, Hz. Ubayda sacrificed his life so that the Messenger of Allah would not be harmed; and he attained the rank of martyrdom. He was 63 years old then. He was buried in the place called Safra.
Years later, the Prophet was passing by Safra with his Companions. One of them asked, “O Messenger of Allah! I smell something very nice. What is it?”
The Prophet (pbuh) said, “The grave of Abu Muawiya (Ubayda bin Harith) is here. This smell comes from his grave.” [1]
May Allah be pleased with him!
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[1]Tabaqat, 2: 17; 3: 50-52; Istiab, 2: 444-445.
38-)
Abdullah bin Abdullah bin Ubayy (r.a.)
Hz. Abdullah was from Madinah. He became a Muslim before the Migration. His real name was Hubab. The Prophet changed his name to "Abdullah" because he did not like his name. Abdullah was adherent to the Prophet with all his heart. There was no sacrifice that he could not make for him. He participated in all wars.
Ironically, his father, Abdullah bin Ubayy, was a famous hypocrite. The reason why he did not believe was his hatred against the Messenger of Allah. For, he was one of the notables of the Khazraj tribe. He was rich and he was liked by his tribe very much. He was a knowledgeable and shrewd man. He was about to become the ruler of Madinah when the Migration took place and the Islamic State was established. This disturbed him a lot. He became an enemy of the Prophet. He did a lot of bad things to the Messenger of Allah and Muslims with the people around him. However, when they saw that the Prophet became stronger day by day, they had to say that they became Muslims. Nevertheless, they did not cease betraying Muslims when they found opportunities and demoralizing the Muslims.
For example, before the Battle of Uhud began, he returned to Madinah with his men, who constituted a third of the Islamic army. Eventually, the Islamic army was defeated.
Abdullah bin Ubayy's son, Hz. Abdullah, fought heroically in this battle and was wounded in a few places. Two of his teeth were broken. His father was very happy about it. He said,
"If you had obeyed me instead of obeying Muhammad, who acted in accordance with the views of young people, you would not have been wounded."
Hz. Abdullah was very sorry that his father was pleased with what had happened to him. He believed that there was something good in this outcome. He said to his father,
"There is certainly something good and wisdom in what Allah predestinated."
Abdullah bin Ubayy took part in Sons of Mustaliq Expedition too. His purpose was to cause mischief and disorder. He addressed the hypocrites (munafiqs) around him as follows:
“When we return to Madinah, the honored and strong ones will expel the mean and weak ones from the city. You brought them to your city; you shared your goods with them. If you had not done so and if you had treated them harshly, they would have gone somewhere else. You died for the Prophet and your children became orphans; your number decreased. Do not give zakah and sadaqah to the people around him so that they will go away.”
When Hz. Abdullah heard the statement of his father, he became very sorry. He went into the presence of the Prophet at once and said to him,
“O Messenger of Allah! If you want to kill my father for his words that I heard, order me to do it and I will bring his head to you. All of the people of Khazraj know that there is nobody among them who loves and respects their father more than I do. If you let somebody else kill him, I will not put up with it when I see the killer of my father around. I might kill a believer in return for an unbeliever and go to Hell.”
The Prophet did not allow him to do it lest it should cause some rumors. He said,
“No. We will treat your father leniently and act as friends as long as he is among us.”
Hz. Abdullah could not possibly forget the words of his father about the Messenger of Allah. He wanted to punish his father. He could not put up with it any more. He proceeded and stopped in the way of his father. He said,
“I will not let you go unless you say majesty and power belong to Allah and His Messenger!” His father was astonished. He said,
“You say you will not let me go to Madinah Is that right?” Hz. Abdullah said,
“I will kill you unless you say majesty and power belong to Allah and His Messenger.”
When the Abdullah bin Ubayy realized that his son was determined, he had to say,
“I witness that majesty and power belong to Allah, His messenger and believers.”
The Prophet became very pleased due to this attitude of Abdullah and prayed for him by saying,
“May Allah reward you with goodness!” Then, he ordered Abdullah to release his father.
Hz. Abdullah, who was a hero of belief, served Islam until he died. He took part in the Battle of Yamama in 12 H. He fought heroically there. He was wounded in a few places. Then, he became a martyr. May Allah be pleased with him! [1]
__________________________________________
He was a member of a lonely and poor Yemeni family. This family, which is known as "Family of Yasir" in Islamic history, was subjected to the biggest persecution and torture of the polytheists. There was only one reason for these tortures: The connection of the family of Yasir with Islam. As the number of the Muslims increased, the polytheists were worried more and more. The savage polytheists had nothing but torture to dissuade the believers. They turned mad when they could not dissuade the Muslims.
The heart of Hz. Ammar, the young son of the Yasir family, was full of with the desire of Islam. He wanted to go and see the Messenger of Allah and learn Islam from him. The Prophet Muhammad was in Darul-Arqam, the center of teaching Islam. He told the people about the truths of Islam and taught them the verses of the Quran that were sent down there. Hz. Ammar went directly to Darul-Arqam. He entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah. He became a Muslim immediately. At that time, the number of Muslims on the earth was no more than the number of the fingers of a hand. According to a narration, Hz. Ammar was one of the first seven Muslims. [1]
The entire family of Yasir became Muslims. However, they concealed it due to their fear from the polytheists. For, this family came to Makkah from outside. They had to be under the protection of a powerful tribe. The protectors of the family of Yasir were Sons of Mahzum, one of the strong tribes of the Makkan polytheists. This tribe never tolerated Yasir family being a Muslim. They inflicted unimaginable tortures on these people, whom they had agreed to protect. They could accept anything from the family of Yasir, but they could never accept their becoming Muslims. First, they tried to dissuade them by giving them rewards, but when they failed, they started to torture them. They became the first Muslims that were subjected to tortures in the history of Islam.
The three members of the family of Yasir, Hz. Yasir, Hz. Sumayya and Hz. Ammar, were made lie on hot sand in the scorching heat of Makkah and were left hungry and thirsty. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh), who saw these tortures but who could not prevent them, became very sorry and prayed to Allah as follows:
“O Allah! Show mercy on the family of Yasir and forgive them!”
When Hz. Yasir saw the Messenger of Allah, he could not help asking in tears: “O Messenger of Allah! How long will this torture go on?”
The Messenger of Allah consoled them by saying, “O family of Yasir! Be patient! The reward of your patience and perseverance will be Paradise.”
The family of Yasir really showed the example of the highest patience in the history of Islam. They never surrendered to the will of the polytheists.
They fell in love with the light of the Quran. Hz. Yasir protected Islam's glory under torture; he passed away, never surrendering to the oppressors. When his body was crushed under torture, his spirit flew to Paradise as a martyr.
His wife, Sumayya, was at the peak of perseverance in belief. The person who tortured her was Abu Jahl, the biggest enemy of Islam. However, Hz. Sumayya did not heed the pressure of Abu Jahl. Abu Jahl understood the reason for her insistence and perseverance. Finally, he used his spear and martyred her.
Thus, Hz. Yasir became the first male martyr of Islam. And Hz. Sumayya became the first female martyr of Islam. They passed this hard test and sacrificed their lives so that Islam would settle. They attained the eternal bliss by receiving the glad tidings from the Prophet.
Now, it was time for their son Ammar. His mother and father were martyred before his eyes. He felt weak under heavy torture. The polytheistic group wanted Ammar to speak against the Messenger of Allah. They wanted him at least to say that he had given up his belief and to state that Lat and Uzza idols were better than "the religion of Muhammad". Hz. Ammar did not lose his steadiness but there was no other way of being saved. He was either going to be killed or say what they wanted him to say. Hz. Ammar could not decide which one would be better for the elevation of Islam. To say what they wanted him to say was worse than death. He finally fulfilled their wish in order to rejoin the Messenger of Allah. He said with his tongue that he had given up his religion. The polytheists released him.
Hz. Ammar did not say it in his heart, but he was still worried. His heart shivered. As soon as he was released, he rushed to the Messenger of Allah and said, "O Messenger of Allah! I have been destroyed; I have denied my belief." Then, he narrated to the Messenger of Allah what had happened.
The Messenger of Allah asked him, "How is your heart?" He asked whether his heart approved what he had said.
Ammar answered, "My heart is full of belief."
The Messenger of Allah said, "Ammar is full of belief from head to toe. If you are tortured like that again, it is permissible for you to do the same thing in order to get rid of them."
Upon this statement of the Messenger of Allah, Hz. Ammar calmed down and felt relieved. A verse was sent down upon this incident that happened to Ammar. It was stated that a person who was forced to deny his belief though his heart was full of belief would not be held responsible. Thus, Hz. Ammar's belief was confirmed by the Quran. [2]
Afterwards, Hz. Ammar migrated to Madinah. The Messenger of Allah made him brothers with Hudhayfa bin Yaman from Ansar. Allah gave him Hudhayfa bin Yaman as the best friend and a heroic brother to him in return for Hudhayfa bin Mughira, who inflicted the heaviest tortures upon him in Makkah. This is the happiest thing. Ammar, who experienced this happiness, thanked Allah all the time.
The person who put forward the idea of masjid for the first time in the history of Islam was Hz. Ammar. When the Messenger of Allah migrated to Madinah, he made an offer by saying, "We need a place of worshipping and resting for the Messenger of Allah." The Mosque of Kuba originated from his idea. Hz. Ammar worked in the construction of this mosque, carrying stones on his shoulders.
Hz. Ammar participated in the battles of Badr and Khandaq. He fought heroically. He fought against the fake Prophet Musaylima. During the battle, he boosted the morale of Muslim mujahids.
One of the Companions that the Prophet loved the most was Ammar. Whenever the Messenger of Allah saw Ammar, his face shone brightly. The following hadiths are significant in that they show how much the Prophet loved Ammar: "He who is hostile to Ammar becomes an enemy of Allah. He who bears a grudge against him and makes him angry will make Allah angry." "Paradise desires Ali, Ammar, Salman and Bilal a lot."
The following incident is a good example showing it:
Once, an argument occurred between Hz. Khalid bin Walid and Hz. Ammar. Hz. Ammar was right. They complained each other to the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah asked Khalid not to annoy Ammar mentioning the hadiths above about Ammar. Hz. Khalid said, "I swear by Allah, when I left the Messenger of Allah, I could not think of anything other than how to please Ammar."
Ammar, who led a simple and ascetic life, died at the Battle of Siffin in 37 H.
Hz. Abdullah joined the Second Pledge of Aqabah and promised that he would protect the Messenger of Allah at the risk of his life. He did not like idols at all. He and Sahl bin Hunayf used to break the wooden idols belonging to the polytheists at night and take them to the Companions so that they would burn them.
Hz. Abdullah was a heroic mujahid of Islam. He was a good archer. He never disobeyed the Prophet. The Prophet knew this and appointed Abdullah ibn Jubayr as the commander of the fifty archers. He gave the archers the following advice:
“Protect us from behind and never leave your position. Even if you see us being killed, do not come to help us. Do not join us even if you see us collect the booty. Do not leave your position even if you see birds snatching us unless I inform you. If you do not stand there, we cannot win the battle.”
The Prophet repeated this order once more. Then he made Allah a witness that he had conveyed this order.
A little later, the war started. At the beginning, the Islamic army had a great victory. The polytheists began to escape, and some of the Muslims began to collect the booty. Some of the archers who saw this said,
"Why do you wait? Allah defeated the enemy. Your brothers are collecting the booty. Let us go and collect the booty."
Very few of them, including their commander Abdullah bin Jubayr, reminded them the order of the Messenger of Allah, told them that it was not appropriate and that they had to obey Allah and His Messenger. The others said,
"By Allah, we will go and get our share from the booty." They abandoned their duty and ran to get the booty. Ten people stayed there with Abdullah.
Khalid bin Walid had not become a Muslim yet at that time. He was a good commander. He was very successful in war tactics. He knew that they would not be able to succeed as long as the archers were there. He believed that the archers had to be completely silenced first. He moved to the back of the hill and started to look for a mistake of the archers. When he saw that most of them left the hill, he immediately took action.
When Abdullah bin Jubayr saw that the polytheist cavalrymen were coming toward them, he ordered the remaining ten Companions to move away from one another, spread and to encounter the enemy like that. The mujahids stood on the same line and shot arrows at the polytheists.
Hz. Abdullah shot arrows at the enemy feeling embarrassed. He felt the heavy responsibility of the archers that abandoned the hill on him. When he saw that there were no more arrows to throw at the enemy, he attacked them with his spear. He wounded a few a few of them. When his spear was broken, he took out his sword. He wanted to delay the polytheists until he shed last drop of his blood. Finally, the polytheists riddled him with holes. Thus, Abdullah bin Jubayr fulfilled the command of the Messenger of Allah at the cost of his life and attained the rank of martyrdom. [1]
May Allah be pleased with him!
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[1]Tabaqat, 2: 39-40; 3: 473; Musnad, 4: 293.
41-)
Safina (r.a.)
The people who attended the school of Suffa, which the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) established, had different social status and different nationalities. One of them was Safina, who was originally an Iranian slave.
He was put up for sale as a slave in Arabia. Umm Salama, one of the wives of the Prophet (pbuh), bought him. Her aim was to free him and make him serve the Messenger of Allah. She released him. Then, Safina became a believer and served the Messenger of Allah by regarding serving him as the holiest service.[1]
After that, Safina was no longer an Iranian slave but a servant of the Messenger of Allah. He was ready to sacrifice everything he had for the Messenger of Allah. On the one hand, he served the Messenger of Allah; on the other hand, he was one of the sincere students of the School of Suffa. He was liked by the Companions very much. The “characteristic of ithar“, which means “preferring one’s brothers over oneself” was fully manifest on him.
His real name was not Safina; the reason why he accepted that name was his altruism. There are several narrations about his real name. According to some, his real name is Umayr but according to others it is Muflih or Ahmad. The incident in which he was given the name “Safina”, which means ship, is very interesting.
When the Companions went on expeditions with the Messenger of Allah, some Companions complained about the plenitude of their loads. Hz. Safina, who displayed a great example of altruism, carried their loads too. As he himself stated, his load would be more than the load of a camel. When the Messenger of Allah saw him like that, he said, “Only a ship can carry so much load; you are a ship.” After this compliment of the Messenger of Allah, his name became “Safina”. When he was asked what his name was, he would not want to say his previous name. He would say, “The Messenger of Allah named me Safina. I do not want to say my previous name!”[2]
An important incident that happened about Hz. Safina was his encounter with a lion on the way to Yemen. He was going to Yemen upon the order of the Messenger of Allah to see the governor of Yemen, Muadh b. Jabal. All siyar books mentioning Safina include this incident. The incident was actually a miracle of the Messenger of Allah.
The incident is narrated by Badiuzzaman Said Nursi in his book called “Mektûbât” as an example showing how animals accepted his prophethood as follows:
“Safina, the servant of the Noble Prophet (Upon whom be blessings and peace), was commanded by him to go to the Governor of Yemen, Mu‘adh b. Jabal. He set off and on the way encountered a lion. Safina said to it: “I am the servant of God’s Messenger!” Upon which the lion made a sound as if saying something, and left without molesting him. According to another narration, Safina lost his way when returning, and met with a lion. Not only did the lion not molest him, it showed him the way.”[3]
When Safina narrated this incident, he said, “I realized that the lion was seeing me off.” Thus, he states that the lion was a guide for him and that it was an obedient being.”[4]
Thus, it was understood that the prophethood of the Messenger of Allah was known in the kingdom of animals and that he showed the lion this duty as a miracle through Hz. Safina. The miracle of the Messenger of Allah is clearly seen in this incident; in addition, the loyalty of Safina to the Messenger of Allah and the greatness of his belief in him are observed. It is really exemplary that when he encountered a wild animal, he reminded it of the Messenger of Allah and that he told the lion he was an envoy of the Messenger of Allah.
There is very little information about the life of Safina, who served the Messenger of Allah for 20 years, in the resources. However, his serving him for so many years shows that he was one of the closest Companions of the Messenger of Allah.
May Allah be pleased with Him!
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Islam had just started to win hearts. The verses sent down to the Prophet, who was the sun of bliss, called the whole humanity to the truth and true religion on the one hand and especially the people of the Book to this lofty religion on the other hand. Those who accepted this call were given the glad tiding of eternal bliss: “Not all of them are alike: of the People of the book are a portion that stand (for the right); they rehearse the signs of Allah all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration. They believe in Allah and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works; they are in the ranks of the righteous.”[1]
One of the righteous people indicated in the verse was Abdullah bin Salam. He was famous for his ilm and taqwa during the Era of Bliss and is one of the seven Abdullahs known as “Abadila as-Sab’a”.
Abdullah bin Salam’s becoming a Muslim, which is a cornerstone in his life, is exemplary. He narrates this incident as follows:
When I heard the prophethood of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), I became very happy. For, I knew his name, attributes and the time of emergence. However, I kept silent. Somebody informed me that he had come to Quba. I was at the top of a date tree then. My aunt, Khalida bint Harith was under that tree. As soon as I heard the news, I uttered takbir: “Allahu akbar!” When my aunt heard the takbir, she said, “Damn! I swear that you would not be happier if you heard that Musa bin Imran had come.” I said, “O my aunt! By Allah, he is Musa bin Imran’s brother. He has been sent with the same truth.” This time, my aunt spoke more mildly: “O my nephew! Is he the prophet we have been saying that will come near the end of time?” I said, “Yes, definitely.”
Abdullah bin Salam rushed to the Messenger of Allah as soon as he got this news. He entered among the people who had gathered to meet the Messenger of Allah, who would enter Madinah. When he saw the Messenger of Allah, he could not help shouting, "By Allah, there is no lie in this face!”[2]
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) asked him, "Are you Abdullah bin Salam?" When Abdullah said, "Yes", the Messenger of Allah said, "Come closer." He asked,
"O Abdullah, say for Allah. Have you seen my attributes in the Torah?"
Abdullah asked a question instead of answering this question:
"Would you tell me the attributes of Allah?"
After the Messenger of Allah waited for a few moments, Allah Almighty sent down the chapter of al-Ikhlas:
“Say: He is Allah the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth, not nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.”
When Abdullah bin Salam heard these verses, he could not help becoming a Muslim. He said,
“O Messenger of Allah! Yes, you are telling the truth. I witness that there is no god but Allah and that you are His Messenger.”[3]
After Abdullah bin Salam was honored by the light of Islam, he invited his family to Islam and became a means of their accepting Islam. In the meantime, his aunt Khalida also became a Muslim.
That Abdullah bin Salam became a Muslim infuriated the Jews. Although they regarded him as a great guide, they did not hesitate to say just the opposite when they heard that he accepted Islam. As a matter of fact, the Messenger of Allah asked the Jews in his house in the absence of Abdullah bin Salam how they knew him. The Jews, who had not yet heard of his being a Muslim, praised him using nice words. Thereupon, Abdullah bin Salam came out of the place he was hiding and said,
"O Jewish community! Fear Allah! Accept this truth which came to you. I swear that you know that this person is the Messenger of Allah. In the Torah you have, you will find both his name and his attributes. I witness that is the Messenger of Allah. I have believed in him, affirmed him and recognized him."
When the Jews heard these unexpected words from Abdullah bin Salam, they accused him denying their previous words a little while before. Thereupon, Abdullah bin Salam said to the Messenger of Allah, “O Messenger of Allah! Did I not tell you that the Jewish nation is a dishonest, calumnious, cruel and brutal nation?” [4]
It is expressed by tafsir scholars that the Quran witnesses the virtue of Abdullah bin Salam with two verses. In both verses, Allah shows him as a witness against the polytheists. The following is stated in one of them:
"If (this teaching) be from Allah, and ye reject it, and a witness from among the Children of Israel testifies to its similarity (with earlier scriptures), and has believed while ye are arrogant, (how unjust ye are!)?" [5]
It is stated in tafsir books that what is meant by “a witness from among the Children of Israel” is Abdullah bin Salam. [6]
The witnessing of Muadh bin Jabal, which shows his virtue, is also exemplary. This witnessing is important in that it expresses a secret of his being able to be included in the "seven Abdullahs". Zayd bin Umayra narrates:
"When Muadh was in his deathbed, he is asked, 'O Abu Abdurrahman! Will you give us advice?' They make Muadh sit up upon his request. He says, 'Ilm and belief are in their places. Learn ilm from four people: Abud-Darda, Salman al-Farisi, Abdullah bin Mas’ud and Abdullah bin Salam. For, I heard the Messenger of Allah say, 'Abdullah bin Salam is the 10th person of the 10 people in Paradise.'"[7]
Once, Abdullah bin Salam revealed the lies of the Jews who concealed the verses of stoning in the Torah from the Messenger of Allah by informing the Messenger of Allah about it in person [8]; he opposed those who wanted to kill Hz. Uthman. He stated that if Hz. Uthman were martyred, killing and fighting would continue among Muslims until the Day of Judgment.
Hz. Abdullah died in 43 H.
May Allah be pleased with him!
___________________________________
Wahb bin Qabus and his nephew Harith bin Uqba took some sheep to Madinah in order to sell them. When these two people, who were from the tribe of Muzani, saw that Madinah was almost empty, they asked, "Where are the people?" They said,
"They are in Uhud. They went there with the Messenger of Allah to fight Qurayshi polytheists." They said,
"Why are we staying here? We want to follow the Messenger of Allah, too. Let us go to Uhud." Then, they set off for Uhud.
When they arrived at Uhud, they found the Prophet. At that time, the polytheists had been defeated. They took out their swords and started to chase them.
However, the archers left the hill where they had been positioned. Then, the enemy army started to attack from behind. The Muslims did not know what to do and they panicked.
Wahb and his nephew were fighting heroically even at that time.
Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas narrates: The polytheists surrounded the Messenger of Allah and us at Uhud. The enemy was attacking from all sides and approaching us. When a group of polytheists started to come toward us, the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Who will protect us against this team?" Wahb proceeded and said, ‘I will, O Messenger of Allah!' Then, he started to shoot arrows at the enemy. After that, he attacked them with his sword and drove them back. The enemy attacked for the second and third time. Each time, Wahb proceeded saying, ‘I will encounter them O Messenger of Allah!' He drove the enemy back again. When Wahb stood up to resist the enemy, the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Stand up! I give you the glad tiding that you will go to Paradise.'
This time, the Messenger of Allah spoke differently. He said Wahb would go to Paradise. Wahb took out his sword and attacked the ranks of the enemy as if he was waiting for this glad tiding for years. He fought heroically. He reached the back ranks of the polytheists. When the polytheists saw him, they had to run away and go back. When the Messenger of Allah saw this situation, he prayed, ‘O Allah! Show mercy to him'.
Wahb attacked the polytheists again. However, this time, the polytheists surrounded him. There was a hard struggle and clash. After a hard fight, Wahb was martyred. He attained the glad tiding of the Prophet.
I approached Wahb so as not to leave him alone. There was a very severe clash. Allah knows that I also wanted to be a martyr like him. However, it was not my fate at that time. I could not attain it."
There were 20 wounds made by spears on Wahb's body. The polytheists not only speared him but also cut off parts of his body to take revenge.
When the battle ended, the Messenger of Allah walked among the martyrs. When he saw the shattered body of Wahb, he could not help weeping and said, "I am pleased with you. May Allah be pleased with you, too!"
Hz. Umar, who saw what happened, spoke like Hz. Sa'd: "I wanted to be in Wahb's shoes and to be a martyr like him very much."
44-)
Abu Jandal (r.a.)
The Prophet (pbuh) set off for the Kaaba for umrah with 1400 Companions upon a dream he saw. When the polytheists heard this, they decided not to allow the Muslims to enter the Kaaba. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) stopped over in Hudaybiyya. He said to the envoys coming from Makkah, "We did not come here to fight anyone. We have come only to perform umrah, to circumambulate the Kaaba." However, the polytheists insisted. They said that they were determined not to allow the Muslims to enter the Kaaba. After discussing and talking, they decided to make a treaty. The polytheists appointed Suhayl bin Amr for the treaty. Suhayl had not become a Muslim yet at that time, he was a ferocious enemy of Islam. He objected to writing Bismillah and mentioning the Prophet as "the Messenger of Allah". He said, "If we believed that you were the Messenger of Allah, we would not fight you." Suhayl's son Abdullah was also there. Hz. Abdullah became a Muslim in the early years of Islam and was thus subjected to the tortures by his father. This disrespectful behavior of his father against the Messenger of Allah made him very uncomfortable. He lowered his head due to embarrassment. (After the conquest of Makkah, Suhayl also became a Muslim)
Eventually, the terms of the treaty were determined and written. According to this, the polytheists and the Muslims would not fight each other for 10 years, the Muslims would return without circumambulating the Kaaba that year but they would be able to circumambulate the following year. The Prophet would not be able to take the Makkans who wanted to be Muslims with him and he would not prevent his Companions who wanted to live in Makkah. There were some other terms in the treaty.
The terms of the treaty were completed but it had not been signed yet. At that moment, something unexpected took place: A young man shackled from his feet came to the Messenger of Allah dragging the shackles. This man was Abu Jandal, the son of Suhayl bin Amr. Abu Jandal was chained by the polytheists because he had become a Muslim. Suhayl brutally tortured Abu Jandal as he had previously tortured his other son, Abdullah. He got very angry when he saw Abu Jandal. He walked up to his son. He began to hit his face with the prickly branch in his hand. Then he said, "O Muhammad! This is the first person you will give me back according to our treaty." The Prophet said that the treaty had not yet been signed and asked him to leave Abu Jandal out of this treaty. However, Suhayl did not accept it. He said he would not sign the treaty if he did not return his son to him. Then, the Prophet returned him. After that, the treaty was signed.
Suhayl held his son and began to drag him. Abu Jandal addressed the Muslims as follows: "O Muslims! Are you returning me to the polytheists though I came to you as a Muslim? Do you not know that I was tortured? O Muslims! Are you returning me to the polytheists so that they will torture me and make abandon my religion?" The Muslims could not stand his wailing and started to shed tears. The Prophet approached Abu Jandal and consoled him:
“O Abu Jandal! The writing of the peace treaty between us and them was completed. Be patient a bit more and expect its reward from Allah. There is no doubt that Almighty Allah will create a way out for you and for the weak and forbidden Muslims who are near you. We made a peace treaty with these people and we promised them in the name of Allah. We cannot break our promise to them.”
After that, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) asked Suhayl again to release Abu Jandal. When Suhayl refused it, the Prophet said, "Then, take him under your protection." Suhayl refused this wish of the Messenger of Allah too.
However, Mikraz bin Hafs and Huwaytib bin Abduluzza, who came with Suhayl, said, "O Muhammad! We will take him under our protection for your sake. We will not allow him to be tortured."
Then, Abu Jandal left with his father. After a while, the Prophet departed from Hudaybiyya with his Companions and proceeded to Madinah.
Doubtlessly, behind the things that seem bad, there are so many good things. However, those who could not see the manifestations of divine mercy behind the veil felt sad. As a matter of fact, the Treaty of Hudaybiyya brought about many good things. Abu Basir, who was exposed to torture because he was a Muslim and who found a way to escape, settled in Is Valley in Dhul-Hulayfa. Soon after, Abu Jandal and many other Companions that escaped from Makkah and joined him. These mujahids intercepted the route of Qurayshi trade and harmed the polytheists a lot. Finally, the polytheists sent a message to the Prophet and said, "For Allah's sake, for the sake of kinship, tell them that anybody who comes to you from now on will be safe and secure; he will not be returned." Thereupon, the Prophet wrote a letter to Abu Basir stating that they could return to their families and ordered him not to attack the caravans anymore. The letter of the Messenger of Allah reached Abu Basir while he was in his deathbed. After Abu Basir read the letter, he passed away. Abu Jandal returned to Madinah with the Muslims that were there. They were 70 people.
Abu Jandal, who spent his remaining life in the service to Islam, died in the 18 H during the caliphate of Hz. Umar.
May Allah be pleased with him! [1]
___________________________________
[1]Sirah, 3: 331, 337; Usdul-Ghaba, 5: 160; Hz. Muhammed ve İslamiyet, 6: 202-206.
45-)
Abu Sufyan bin Harb (r.a.)
Abu Sufyan Sahr b. Harb b. Umayya (d. 31 H/651-52 AD)
He was one of the leaders of the tribe of Quraysh; a Companion.
He was born in Makkah fifty-seven years before the Migration (565 AD). He is called Abu Hanzala due to his son Hanzala, who was killed in the Battle of Badr. His mother was Safiyya bint Hazn al-Hilaliyya, who was the maternal aunt of Maymuna, one of the wives of the Prophet. His father was Harb b. Umayya, one of the notables of Quraysh. He spent his childhood in Makkah in comfort. Abbas, The paternal uncle of the Prophet, was his most sincere childhood friend.
Abu Sufyan was engaged in trade like his father. He was one of the few Makkans who could read and write. In a short time, he became a person who was consulted and relied on; he became a notable of Quraysh who ruled the commercial affairs of his tribe. After the Messenger of Allah declared his prophethood, he sided against Islam like the other notables of Quraysh. The competition and enmity between the Umayyad family and Sons of Hashim, to which the Prophet belonged, played an important role in this attitude of Abu Sufyan’s.
Abu Sufyan was among the polytheists who were in the delegations sent to Abu Talib to dissuade his nephew from his cause and who decided to kill Muhammad (pbuh) by gathering in Darun-Nadwa when Islam spread rapidly in Makkah and Hamza and Umar became Muslims, which caused great worry in the tribe of Quraysh. However, he was not among those who persecuted the Prophet and the Muslims physically. The political influence that Abu Sufyan had in Makkah during the youth of Muhammad (pbuh) was not due to having an effective position or office but because of Umayyad's wealth and influence along with his personal talents.
Two years after the Migration, the Muslims wanted to grab a trading caravan coming from Syria under the command of Abu Sufyan upon the order of the Prophet. When Abu Sufyan was informed about it, he changed the route of the caravan, escaped from the Muslims and reached Makkah. However, this incident led to the Battle of Badr with the provocation of Abu Jahl, the leader of Quraysh. When Abu Jahl was killed in this battle, Abu Sufyan became the leader of the Makkan polytheists. Quraysh gave him the duty of taking the revenge of Badr defeat as soon as possible and they allocated the goods in the Syrian caravan, which caused this war, to the expenditures of the war against the Muslims.
Abu Sufyan, who vowed that he would not take a bath unless he took the revenge of Badr, took part in the Battle of Uhud, which took place in the middle of the month of Shawwal in the third year of the Migration (March, 625 AD) as the leader of the army of the polytheists. His wife, Hind bint Utba, played the tambourine with the other Qurayshi women in order to encourage the army to fight. The polytheists could not have a decisive victory in this battle but they took their revenge to a certain extent when Hamza, the paternal uncle of the Prophet, was martyred by Wahshi. Hind extracted the liver of Hz. Hamza and chewed it with the same feeling of revenge. Abu Sufyan was also the commander of Quraysh during the Battle of Khandaq. It is seen that this duty of leadership of Abu Sufyan’s continued until the Conquest of Makkah and that he played an important role in all of the actions against the Muslims.
When the Prophet sent Dihya b. Khalifa al-Kalbi to Syria to invite Heraclius, the Byzantine Emperor, to Islam (Muharram 7 H/May 628 AD), Abu Sufyan was in Syria with a trade caravan of thirty people. When Heraclius was in Jerusalem/Quds (according to some narrations, in Homs) and when he received the letter of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), he said he wanted to speak to someone belonging to his tribe. Abu Sufyan and his friends in the caravan, who were in Gaza then, were taken to Quds upon the request of the Emperor. Heraclius preferred to speak to Abu Sufyan since he belonged to a family that was close to that of the Messenger of Allah. He asked Abu Sufyan about the lineage and ethics of the Prophet, the social status of those who became Muslims, whether their number increase or not, whether any people exited from Islam after becoming Muslims, what he ordered, who won the battles that he joined, etc. It is narrated that Abu Sufyan wanted to give him wrong information but he had to tell the truth since he feared that it would be heard by others if he told lies.
When Makkans violated the treaty they made with the Muslims by helping Sons of Bakr, the Prophet promised to help the tribe of Khuzaa, his ally. This panicked the Qurayshis. They sent Abu Sufyan, their leader, to Madinah to renew the treaty. However, nobody was interested in Abu Sufyan in Madinah including his daughter Umm Habiba, who was one of the wives of the Prophet. This shook his prestige in the eye of the Qurayshis. When the Islamic army, which set off in order to conquer Makkah, established its headquarters in Juhfa, near Makkah, Abu Sufyan entered into the presence of the Prophet upon the insistence of Abbas b. Abdulmuttalib, his childhood friend, and had to become a Muslim. The Prophet rewarded him on the day when Makkah was conquered by declaring that those who took refuge in Abu Sufyan’s house would be forgiven. When Abu Sufyan himself informed Makkans about it, his wife showed a reaction against him before everybody else did.
That Abu Sufyan felt happy when the vanguards of the Muslims were beaten in the first phase of the Battle of Hunayn, in which he took part, (Ibn Hisham, II, 443) showed that he had not yet accepted Islam heartily. When the Prophet distributed the booty obtained in this battle to the mujahids, he gave Abu Sufyan, who was among muallafa al-qulub, 100 camels and forty uqiyyas of silver. His sons Yazid and Muawiyah were also regarded to have been in the same group and were given 100 camels each. This favor done to Abu Sufyan, who was once the leader of a city and then became an ordinary citizen, and his sons pleased them a lot.
Abu Sufyan took part in the Siege of Taif and lost one of his eyes there. Abu Sufyan, who was among the witnesses of the treaty made with the people of Najran in 9 H (630 AD), was appointed as the governor of Jurash city, which surrendered unconditionally according to Balazuri. (Futuh, p. 84). He was the governor of Najran during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr. (ibid, p. 150). When the Prophet died, Abu Sufyan was in Makkah. According to Ibn Ishaq, the Messenger of Allah gave him the duty of demolishing the idol Manat, which was in Qudayd. Abu Sufyan opposed to Hz. Abu Bakr’s being the caliph but paid allegiance to him afterwards. When he was seventy years old, he joined the army that was sent to conquer Syria. He made great efforts in the Battle of Yarmuk to encourage the soldiers under the command of Yazid, his son. Tabari states that he lost his eye in this battle. (Tarikh, I, 2101) According to Dhahabi, he lost one of his eyes in the Siege of Taif and the other in Yarmuk. (Alamun-Nubala, II, 106)
Abu Sufyan died in Madinah in 31 H (651-52 AD). They also say he died in 30 H (650-51 AD), 32 H (652-53 AD) or 34 H (654-55).
Abu Sufyan, who is reported to have been among the scribes of the Prophet (M. Mustafa al-A‘zami, p. 39), narrated some hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (see Wensinck, al-Mu’jam, VIII, 105). It is known that Muawiyah, his son, and Qays b. Abu Hazim narrated hadiths from him along with Ibn Abbas, who narrated his talk with Heraclius.
Sunni resources state that Abu Sufyan became a sincere Muslim after accepting Islam but Shiite writers claim the opposite. There are also some writers who claim that he was a munafiq (hypocrite) and an atheist, that he did not believe in the Prophet and that he adopted the madhhab of laadriyya (agnosticism) (Ali Sami an-Nashshar, I, 198). Suleman Essop Dangor states that some historians who give information about Abu Sufyan show hostility toward him and that they do not give objective information (al-Ilm, p. 60). That Abu Sufyan took part in the conquests in Syria despite his old age and that he tried to encourage the Muslim soldiers in Yarmuk are enough to show that the claims against him are deliberate. Besides, it does not seem possible for Sunni resources to write that a person who does not adopt Islam heartily is a sincere Muslim.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Wensinck, al-Mu’jam, VIII, 105; Bukhari, “Bad’ul-Wahy”, 6; Waqidi, al-Maghazi, see Index; Ibn Hisham, as-Sira, I, 147, 264, 295, 417; II, 50, 60, 67, 75-77, 93-94, 214, 215, 395-397, 400, 402-403, 443, 492-493, see also Index; Ibn Sa‘d, at-Tabaqat, WIII, 44, 99, 236; Zubayri, Nasabu Quraysh, p. 121-122; Jahiz, al-Uthmaniyya (published by Abdussalam M. Harun), Cairo 1374/1955, p. 60, 71, 72, see also Index; Ibn Qutayba, al-Ma’arif (Ukkasha), p. 342, 575, 586; Balazuri, Ansab, IW/I, p. 1 ff.; the same writer, Futuh (Fayda), p. 84, 150, see also Index; Tabari, Tarikh (de Goeje), I, 1345 ff., 1364, 1418, 1437 ff., 1458, 1533, 1633, 1827, 2101; Ibn Hazm, Jamhara, p. 274; Ibn Abdulbar, al-Isti’ab, II, 183-184; Ibnul-Athir, Usdul-Ghaba, III, 12-13; Ibn Hudayda, al-Misbahul-Mudiy (published by M. Azimuddin), Beirut 1405/1985, I, 108-109; Dhahabi, A’lamun-Nubala’, II, 105-107; the same writer, Tarikhul-Islam: ‘Ahdul-Khulafa’ir-Rashidin, p. 368-370; Ibn Hajar, al-Isaba, II, 178-180; the same writer, Tahdhibut-Tahdhib, IW, 411-412; L. Caetani, Islam Tarihi (translated by Hüseyin Jahid), Istanbul 1924-27, WII, 43, 103; Yahya Muhammad al-Harithi, Abu Sufyan b. Harb fil-Jahiliyya wal-Islam, Jizan 1973; Ali Sami an-Nashshar, Nash’atul-Fikril-Falsafi fil-Islam, Cairo 1977, I, 198; II, 31; Muhammad Khidr Husayn, Nakdu Kitab fish-shi’ril-Jahili (published by Ali Rıza at-Tunusi), [np] 1977 (Daru Hassan), p. 151-153; Badran, Tahdhibu Tarikhi Dimashq, Beirut 1379/1979, WI, 390-409; M. Mustafa al-A‘zami, Kuttabun-Nabi, Riyad 1401/1981, p. 39; Mustafa Fayda, İslâmiyet’in Güney Arabistan’a Yayılışı, Ankara 1982, p. 30, 64; Abbas al-Qummi, al-Kuna wal-Alqab, Beirut 1403/1983, I, 88-93; Muhammad Jasim al-Mashhadani, Mawaridul-Balazuri, Makkah 1986, I, 197-198; Suleman Essop Dangor, “Abu Sufyan: Study of the Sources”, al-’Ilm, IX, Westville 1409/1989, p. 54-60; W. Montgomery Watt, “Abu Sufyan b. Harb”, EI² (Ing.), I, 155-156.
Quoted from ‘Diyanet İslam Ansiklopedisi, Abu Sufyan B. Harb Item’
Author: İrfan Aycan
46-)
Utba bin Ghazwan (r.a.)
Utba bin Ghazwan, who was one of the people of Suffa School educated by the Prophet with great care and sensitivity, was one of the great mujahids of Islam.
Hz. Utba was among the Muslims who migrated to Abyssinia for the second time in order to practice their religion and get rid of the oppression of the polytheists. After staying in Abyssinia for a while, Utba returned to Makkah. He stayed with the Messenger of Allah. When the Muslims started to migrate to Madinah, he migrated with Hz. Miqdad.
Hz. Utba, who was one of the first Muhajirs, took part in the Battle of Badr. Utba bin Ghazwan (r.a.), who was known as one of the best archers among Muslims, fought heroically during the Battle of Badr. His son Habbab was also with him. They fought with might and main in order to elevate the religion and word of Allah. Hz. Utba fought together with the Messenger of Allah in the battles and wars after that.[1]
Hz. Utba was one of those who were sent to Nahla by the Prophet under the command of Abdullah bin Jahsh. They were about 10 muhajirs. A camel was allocated for every two mujahids. Hz. Utba and Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas shared one camel. Their camel got lost near Madin. While they were looking for the camel, they remained behind. Then, they followed the traces of the other mujahids but could not find them. Meanwhile, the mujahids attacked a caravan belonging to the polytheists, captivated two of them and grabbed some booty. They were worried about the two mujahids that were lost. They arrived in Madinah and told the Messenger of Allah about the situation. Meanwhile, the polytheists sent some ransom money to save their friends. However, the Messenger of Allah said he would not give them back until it became certain what happened to Utba bin Ghazwan and Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas. For, he was worried about these heroic Companions. When they returned to Madinah safe and sound, they released the captives in return for ransom. The other Companions became very happy when their friends returned. The trouble they had during this period is clear by their statement: "When we saw trees with thorns, we ate them and drank water after that."[2]
Utba bin Ghazwan, who served the Messenger of Allah for a while and who was a student at Suffa School, spent his most exciting days while making jihad around Iran and when he was the governor of Basra.
When Hz. Utba was given the duty of conquering Basra and the regions around, Hz. Umar attracted his attention to some principles: "Go with the people with you to the last boundaries of Arabs and the closest boundary of Iran. May Allah's bounties and aid be with you! Fear Allah. Know it very well that you are going to the most terrible place of war. May Allah help you! I am sending a letter to Ala bin Hadrami (who is near Bahrayn). He is a great mujahid that knows about war strategies. Consult him. Call the people to the religion of Allah. If they accept your call, accept them. Get jizyah (tax) from those who do not accept. If they do not accept to pay jizyah, fight them. Fear Allah and act very carefully. Encourage people to make jihad."[3]
When Hz. Umar gave Utba the duty of conquering Basra, he asked Ala bin Hadrami to help Utba and wrote him the following letter:
"O Ala! Know it very well that you will talk to one of the first Muhajirs. Allah promised him Paradise.[4] He is chaste, strong and persistent. I did not unseat him. However, in the region where you live, Muslims do not need much power. Then, act accordingly. I appointed someone to help him before you but he died before he arrived there. It is Allah who creates and does things."[5]
As is seen, Hz. Umar regards him as one of the first Muhajirs. Hz. Utba, who conquered Basra and the regions around, was appointed as the governor. When he worked as the governor, he led the prayers and preached the people. One of his sermons reported in sound hadith resources is very famous.
Some of this sermon is as follows:
"Verily, the world has been given the news of its end and that too quite early. Nothing would be left out of it but only water left in the utensil which its owner leaves, and you are going to shift to an abode which knows no end, and you should shift with the good before you. You must be knowing that I was the seventh amongst seven who had been with Allah's Messenger (pbuh) and we had nothing to eat but the leaves of the tree until the corners of the mouth were injured. We found a sheet which we tore in two and divided between myself and Sa'd b. Malik. I made the lower garment with halt of it and so did Sa'd make the lower garment with half of it and today there is none amongst us who has not become the governor of a city from amongst the cities and I seek refuge with Allah that I should consider myself great whereas I am insignificant in the eye of Allah."[6]
After setting the things right in Basra, Hz. Utba bin Ghazwan wanted to go to Hejaz. He appointed Mughira bin Shu'ba as his deputy in Basra and Mujashi bin Mas'ud in the region of Euphrates. When he arrived in Madinah, he talked to Hz. Umar. He told Hz. Umar that he wanted to resign from the duty of governorship. He was worried about the responsibilities of being an administrator. However, Hz. Umar did not accept his resignation. Hz. Utba insisted but Hz. Umar refused. He set off in order to go to Basra to resume his governorship. On the way to Basra, he fell of his horse and died. It was the 17th year of the Migration.[7]
May Allah be pleased with him!
_____________________________________
[1]Usdu'l-Ghaba, 3: 364.
[2]A. Köksal, İslam Tarihi, 2: 30.
[3]Usdu’l-Ghaba, 3: 364.
[4]at-Tawba, 100.
[5]Tabaqat, 4: 362.
[6]Muslim, Zuhd: 14.
[7]al-Isaba, 2: 455.
47-)
Hassan bin Thabit (r.a.)
Hassan bin Thabit, who was one of the greatest poets of Arabs, had just become a Muslim. At that time, the polytheistic poets criticized and disturbed the Muslims by their satiric language. The Muslims needed a poet to answer those poets. For, Arabs gave importance to poetry at that time. When Hassan bin Thabit heard that such a poet was needed, he entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah at once. He held his tongue with his hand and said, “O Messenger of Allah! I am ready to help you with my tongue. I will overcome them through satire.” [1]
However, the people he would satirize belonged to the tribe of Quraysh, to which the Prophet also belonged. It was possible to harm the Messenger of Allah while satirizing them. The Messenger of Allah pointed out this issue by saying,
“How will you satirize them? You know that I am a relative of them.”
Hassan bin Thabit answered him as follows:
“O Messenger of Allah! I will discriminate between you and the polytheists of Quraysh as easily and kindly as pulling a hair out of dough.” [2]
Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) allowed him. However, he told him to consult Hz. Abu Bakr in order to learn the lineage of the polytheists. For, the one who knew about lineage the best among the Companions was Hz. Abu Bakr. After that, Hassan started to attack the polytheists with his satire and relieved the Muslims. Not only did he satirize the polytheists but also praised the Prophet and Islam, giving great joy to the hearts of the believers. He wrote the following in a poem:
“When the clean forehead of the Messenger of Allah is seen in the dark, it looks like a lamp that sheds luminous light and eliminates darkness.”
Hassan bin Thabit, who became a Muslim during the Migration, was 60 years old then. He belonged to the tribe of Khazraj, one of the oldest tribes of Madinah. His ancestors had come from Yemen. On the other hand, he was a distant relative of the Prophet.
After becoming a Muslim, he gave up writing about non-Islamic issues and started to write and recite in Islamic issues. He was so successful in the poems that satirized the polytheists and defended the Messenger of Allah that he started to be called “the poet of the Messenger of Allah”.
The Messenger of Allah made a special place for him in the mosque. He sometimes recited poems there and made the believers happy. The Messenger of Allah would listen to his poems by smiling. Once, the Messenger of Allah asked him, “Do you have a poem about Abu Bakr?” He said,
“O Messenger of Allah! Yes.” Thereupon, the Prophet said, “I would like to hear it.”
Hassan bin Thabit recited the poem describing the moments Hz. Abu Bakr passed together with the Messenger of Allah and expressing the love of the Messenger of Allah toward Hz. Abu Bakr. After listening to the poem, the Messenger of Allah said, “O Hassan! You are right. He is as you have described.” [3]
The Prophet liked his defense through poems; he sometimes said,
“O Hassan! Answer on behalf of the Messenger of Allah. O Lord! Strengthen him with Ruh al-Qudus (Holy Spirit).”
Once, he prayed as follows due to his service to Islam with his tongue:
“O Allah! Strengthen him with Jibril.”[4]
After becoming a Muslim, some changes occurred in the poetry of Hassan bin Thabit. He no longer included lies and exaggeration in his poetry. Therefore, some people even said his poetry degraded compared to his previous poetry. He answered this claim as follows:
“I agree that my poetry is not as strong as it used to be because Islam does not allow telling lies. As a matter of fact, poetry becomes beautiful with lies, imagination and exaggeration.” [5]
Hassan bin Thabit, who pleased the Messenger of Allah with his poems throughout his life, expressed his sadness after his death through his elegies:
“Did soil cover your body?
I wish I were under soil instead of you.
Will I live among people in Madinah after your death?
I wish I had never been born.”
Abdullah bin Rawaha and Ka’b bin Malik were also famous poets of the Muslims along with Hassan bin Thabit. They also defended Islam. The Quran praises the struggle of those poets and distinguishes them from the poets of the polytheists as follows:
“Seest thou not that they wander distracted in every valley?- And that they say what they practice not?- Except those who believe, work righteousness, engage much in the remembrance of Allah, and defend themselves only after they are unjustly attacked. And soon will the unjust assailants know what vicissitudes their affairs will take!”[6]
Hassan bin Thabit lived for 120 years. 60 years of this 120 years passed in Jahiliyya and 60 years in Islam. It is strange that his father, grandfather and great-grandfather all lived for 120 years.
Hassan bin Thabit died at the age of 120 during the caliphate of Muawiya. The translations of some of his lines are as follows:
“Richness will not make me forget modesty.”
“The misfortunes of the world will not disturb my peace.”
“Man’s honor and dignity cannot put up with any blemish and wound.”
“A bottle cannot be repaired after it has been broken; neither can man’s honor and dignity.”
It was the 9th year of the Migration. Byzantines prepared an army consisting of 40 thousand people in order to eliminate Muslims. When the Prophet was informed about it, he started preparations.
The weather was very hot. It was time of harvest. Besides, there was famine. However, almost all Muslims joined the army. They did their best to support the army financially.
Some people who did not join the army had no excuses. However, some Muslims could not join the army because they were in financial difficulty. One of the Muslims who could not take part in the Expedition of Tabuk was Ulba bin Zayd (r.a.).
Hz. Ulba was poor. He could not even find food to eat on the way. However, he wanted to take part in this expedition very much. He went into the presence of the Messenger of Allah with his friends who were like him. He was very sad and in tears. He asked the Messenger of Allah to find an animal for him to ride. When the Prophet said, "I cannot find any animals for you to ride", he returned in tears. After a while, the following verse, which relieved him and the people like him, was sent down:
"Nor (is there blame) on those who came to thee to be provided with mount, and when thou saidst "I can find no mounts for you," they turned back, their eyes streaming with tears of grief that they had no resources wherewith to provide the expenses."[1]
Hz. Ulba could not sleep that night. He got up and performed prayers. After that, he prayed Allah as follows:
"O Allah! You ordered jihad. You encouraged us to make jihad. However, neither I nor the Messenger of Allah had any money or equipment to make me take part in jihad. O Allah! I forgive all Muslims who violated my property, life, honor and rights as sadaqah."
The next morning, the Messenger of Allah said, "The person who forgave everybody last night! Stand up!" Nobody stood up. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) repeated his words. This time, Hz. Ulba stood up and said, "O Messenger of Allah! It was me." The Prophet gave him the following glad tiding:
"I give you glad tidings. I swear by Allah that this sadaqah was included among the ones that were accepted."[2]
Hz. Ulba became very glad when he heard this glad tiding. Thus, he received the reward of his good intention.
One of the heroic and generous students of the Messenger of Allah educated by him was Haritha bin Numan.
Haritha bin Numan was a hero that could sacrifice all of his wealth and his life for the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) without any doubt and hesitation. When the news that the Muslims had been defeated spread during the Battle of Hunayn and a dangerous moment started, he never left the Messenger of Allah and used his body as a shield for him bravely.
After staying in Suffa School for a while, he married but he still wanted to be a neighbor of the Prophet very much. Finally, he became a neighbor of the Prophet. When the phrase “the neighbor of the Messenger of Allah” was used in Madinah, Haritha bin Numan would come to mind.
Pointing out this issue, Ibn Sa’d states that Hz. Haritha had a house close to the house of the Prophet and that when it was necessary, Haritha evacuated his house and lent it to the Messenger of Allah. [1]
Hz. Haritha, who often lent his house to the Messenger of Allah, built one more house so as not to be away from him. After living there for a while, he donated it to Hz. Ali and Hz. Fatima.
As it is known, the Prophet remained in the house of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari for about a year after coming to Madinah. Then, he moved to his own house. When Hz. Ali married Hz. Fatima, the Messenger of Allah ordered him to find a house. Hz. Ali started to look for a house but he could not find one near the house of the Prophet. He found a house in a far place in Madinah. They lived there for a while.
Once, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) went to visit them. He said, “I want you to live near my house. Hz. Fatima said, “Dad! If you speak to Haritha, he may evacuate the house near your house for us. The Messenger of Allah said to Fatima, “My dear daughter! Haritha gave us one house; I cannot ask another one.”
Hz. Haritha was informed about it somehow. Thereupon, he went to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and said, “O Messenger of Allah! I have heard that Fatima needed a house near yours. I have evacuated my house, which is one of the strongest houses of Sons of Najjar; tell them to come and live there. I and my wealth belong to Allah and His Messenger. I swear that what you take from me is more valuable than what you leave to me.”
Upon this sincere statement of Haritha, the Prophet (pbuh) said,
“O Haritha! You are telling the truth. May Allah’s blessing be on you!”[2]
Afterwards, Hz. Ali and Hz. Fatima moved to Haritha’s house.
It is narrated that Hz. Haritha also gave a house to Mariya, a wife of the Prophet. Besides, it is also stated that when Hz. Abu Bakr’s son, Abdullah migrated to Madinah with his family, they stayed in the house of Haritha.
This generosity of Haritha bin Numan continued after he lost his eyesight toward the end of his life. Hz. Haritha put a basket full of dates in front of his house and enabled the poor to take dates from it when they needed. [3]
Hz. Haritha states that he saw Hz. Jibril twice. According to the narration of Ibn Abbas, the following incident took place between the Prophet and Haritha related to Jibril:
Once, Hz. Haritha entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and did not greet him thinking that he was talking to somebody secretly. Then, Jibril asked the Messenger of Allah, “Why did he not greet you?” The Prophet asked Haritha, “Why did you not greet when you arrived? Haritha said, “I saw you speaking to somebody; I did not greet so as not to interrupt you.”
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Did you see him?” Haritha said, “Yes.” The Prophet said, “He was Jibril.” Jibril said, “If he had greeted us, I would have answered his greeting.” Then, he said, “He is from 80’s. When the Messenger of Allah asked who 80’s were, Jibril said,
“They are those who gather around you and show patience without being shaken by referring their lives, children and sustenance when people ran away in different directions.” [4]
With this statement, Jibril pointed to the Companions who did not leave the Prophet alone in Hunayn. Hz. Haritha was also there.
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “I heard a voice reciting the Quran in Paradise.” I asked, ‘Whose voice is it?’ They said, ‘It is Haritha bin Numan’s recital.’” As it is stated in the hadith above, Hz. Haritha, who received great praise and compliment from the Prophet, spent all of his life to serve Islam and died during the caliphate of Muawiyah.
Our Prophet had not migrated to Madinah yet. However, Islam was spreading rapidly in Madinah. The Messenger of Allah sent Mus'ab bin Umayr to Madinah to spread the light of Islam in Madinah and to teach Islam to Muslims. Fulfilling this duty in the best way with the help of Allah Almighty, Hz. Mus'ab came to Makkah with 75 Muslims, 2 of whom were women, in hajj season to visit the Prophet. Abdullah bin Rawaha was one of these 75 people.
The Prophet met with Muslims at Aqaba. Various conversations took place among them. At one point, Hz. Abu Haytham said, "O Messenger of Allah! There is an agreement and a contract between us and the Jews. We are acting contrarily to that agreement and contract by this act. What will happen to us if you return to your people in Makkah after Allah has made you triumphant and if you leave us alone?" The Prophet smiled and said,
"My blood is your blood. If you shed your blood, I will shed my blood. My property is your property and my honor is your honor. I am from you, and you are from me. I will fight against those whom you fight. I will make peace with the one you make peace with. "[1]
The conversations lengthened a lot. Hz. Abdullah did not want the Prophet to be depressed. The Messenger of Allah wanted to get rid of the torture of Makkan polytheists and to come to Madinah. Was there any point in lengthening the conversation? Was it not necessary to say, "O Messenger of Allah! Come to us. We accept all of your terms circumstances” and to please the Messenger of Allah? Soon, Hz. Abdullah expressed this desire of his. He said to Abu Haytham,
"We have accepted what came from Allah and His Messenger. O Abu Haytham! Move aside. We will pay allegiance to the Messenger of Allah."
Thereupon, the Muslims of Madinah started to pay allegiance to the Prophet one by one. When Abdullah bin Rawaha paid allegiance, he said, “O Messenger of Allah! I pay allegiance to you like the 12 apostles paid allegiance to Hz. Isa (Jesus).”
The Quran narrates as follows that the apostles always acted with Hz. Isa:
“When Jesus found unbelief on their part, he said: "Who will be my helpers to (the work of) Allah?" Said the Disciples: "We are Allah's helpers we believe in Allah and do thou bear witness that we are Muslims.
Our Lord! We believe in what thou hast revealed, and we follow the Messenger; then write us down among those who bear witness.”[2]
Thus, Abdullah bin Rawaha wanted to state that they would help the Messenger of Allah against the polytheists with their lives and wealth by paying allegiance to him as the disciples did.
Abdullah bin Rawaha served greatly in Madinah to spread Islam fast. He hated idols and could not understand why people worshipped lifeless trees and pieces of stones. He did his best to save them from these aberrations.
Hz. Abu Darda had not become a Muslim yet. He had an idol. He loved it very much. Abdullah bin Rawaha wanted Abu Darda to turn away from idols and to be a believer. Although he invited Abu Darda to Islam many times, he could not persuade him. There was sincerity and friendship between them more than biological brothers. He had to do something to save him. One day, he saw Abu Darda leaving his house. He took his axe and went into the room where the idol was. He broke the idol into pieces by reading a poem: "Everything that is worshipped besides Allah is wrong." When Abu Darda’s wife heard the noise and came, she saw that Hz. Abdullah had broken the idol into pieces. She said, "O Rawaha's son! What have you done? You have destroyed me!" Abdullah bin Rawaha continued breaking the idol without heeding her. He left after shattering it fully. When Abu Darda came home, he saw that she was crying. He asked why she was crying. She told him what had happened. Abu Darda became very angry at first. Then, he said, "If the idol had been something useful, it would have defended and protected itself." The light of guidance started to brighten in his heart. He went out to find Abdullah bin Rawaha and became a Muslim. [3]
Abdullah bin Rawaha was one of the distinguished and heroic poets of the Prophet. His poetry, which clearly showed the unbelief and ignorance of the polytheists and blamed them for worshipping idols that had no feelings and consciousness, won the approval of the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet complimented him as follows:
"I swear by Allah, in whose hand of power my existence is that his words are more powerful than throwing arrows at Qurayshi polytheists." [4]
With his poems, he not only condemned the polytheists but also recited very beautiful poems praising the Prophet. One of these poems is as follows:
"At dawn, when the earth starts to get bright, how happy we are because the Messenger of Allah is among us and the Quran is being read. He showed us the right path after our aberration and misguidance; and our hearts believed in him without hesitation. Whatever he conveyed to us from Allah took place. When the polytheists were asleep in their beds, he would spend the night away from his bed. "
Upon this poem of Abdullah bin Rawaha, the Prophet said, "Surely our brother does not say wrong things." [5] Thus, he appreciated Abdullah and mentioned the unerring criterion about poems. A poem should not describe what is wrong.
“And the Poets― it is those straying in Evil, who follow them.”[6] When the verse above was sent down, strong poets among the Companions like Abdullah bin Rawaha, Hassan bin Thabit and Ka’b bin Malik entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah and said,
“O Messenger of Allah! When Allah Almighty sent down this verse, He knew that we were poets.” The Prophet said,
“You are not among those straying in evil, who follow them.” Then, he read the following verse: “Except those who believe, work righteousness, engage much in the remembrance of Allah, and defend themselves after they are unjustly attacked.” [7] He said, “You are among these poets.” Then, they left happily.
Abdullah bin Rawaha was a Companion who immediately fulfilled all of the orders of our Prophet without hesitation. This was one of his most specific characteristics. Therefore, he reached an exceptional level in surrendering. For, the person he loved was the Messenger of Allah; there was a wisdom in every command of his, and there were great meanings in every act of his.
One day, he was going to the Prophet. Meanwhile, the Messenger of Allah was delivering a sermon in the mosque. Abdullah bin Rawaha approached the mosque but he had not entered it yet. He heard the Prophet say to the congregation, "Sit down." As soon as he heard this order, he sat down where he was immediately. He waited there until the Prophet finished his sermon. The Companions said to the Prophet:
“O Messenger of Allah! Do you see where Abdullah bin Rawaha is sitting? When he heard that you commanded your congregation, 'Sit down,' he sat down where he was.'”
The Prophet was very pleased with this act of Abdullah, which showed his submission and obedience and prayed for him as follows:
"May Allah increase your obedience to Him and His Messenger!" [8]
Hz. Abdullah tried to tell people the right path and the truth at every opportunity he found, conveyed to people what he had learned from the Messenger of Allah and tried to make them benefit from the truths of belief and the Quran.
One day, he was sitting with a few people in Madinah and talking with them. The people around him listened to him very carefully. There was virtually a table of knowledge and love there. The Prophet, who saw these happy moments of his Companions, complimented them as follows:
“You are such people that Allah Almighty ordered me to sit with you.” Then he read the following verse: “And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face.”[9] After that, he said,
“Know it that there are as many angels as your number sitting with you here. When you glorify Allah, they join you; when you praise Allah, they praise Him too. When you utter takbir, they utter takbir too.”[10]
Abdullah bin Rawaha was a person of taqwa. He worshipped a lot, followed the Sunnah and feared Allah a lot. Whenever he entered his house and left his house, he would perform a prayer of two rak’ahs. His wife narrated that he never abandoned this prayer. [11] Besides, he performed fasting in the expeditions in very hot weather when a person had to put his hand on his head due to the heat to shade his head. It is narrated that only the Messenger of Allah and he performed fasting during an expedition. [12]
Abdullah bin Rawaha took part in the battles of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq and Khaybar and joined the expeditions of Hudaybiyya and Umrah. He was sent as a vanguard to find out the situation of the Jews of Khaybar before the Battle of Khaybar; afterwards, he was appointed as the leader of a thirty-people delegation that was sent to negotiate with Usayr bin Zarim, the leader of the Jews of Khaybar. [13]
After Khaybar was conquered, the Prophet appointed Abdullah bin Rawaha to estimate the crops of the Jewish people. The Jews of Khaybar were allowed to remain in their places on condition that they would give half of their crops to the Muslims. The Jews wanted to gather up the jewelry of their wives and give them to Abdullah bin Rawaha so that he would estimate the amount of their crops less. Abdullah bin Rawaha became extremely angry when he heard this offer and said,
"O Jewish community! By Allah! You are the most unpleasant and disgusting creatures of Allah in my view! What you offer me is bribery. Bribery is forbidden. We never accept it." [14]
In spite of all this, Abdullah bin Rawaha did not trust his deeds; he never felt sure that he would not be punished by Allah. He cried as recalled the following verse: "Not one of you but will pass over it (Hell)." [15] He said, “I do not know whether I will be saved from Hell after going there.” [16]
The Battle of Muta, which took place in 8 H, was the last war that Abdullah bin Rawaha joined. The Prophet sent Harith bin Umayr with a letter to the Greek Kaiser. Harith bin Umayr was martyred by Shurahbil bin Amr, the governor of Damascus. The martyrdom of Umayr affected the Prophet a lot. He immediately prepared an army of 3000 people. He appointed Zayd bin Haritha as the commander of the army. If Zayd were to be martyred, Jafar bin Abi Talib would be the commander; and if he were to be martyred, the army would be commanded by Abdullah bin Rawaha.
The army that was prepared was seen off by the Messenger of Allah. The mujahids said goodbye to the other Muslims. They reached the place called “Thaniyyatul-Wada'”. Abdullah bin Rawaha started to cry while saying goodbye. When he was asked why he was crying, he gave the following answer:
“By Allah, I am not crying because of the love of the world or because I will miss you. What makes me cry is the following verse that I heard from the Messenger of Allah: ‘Not one of you but will pass over it (Hell): this is, with thy Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished.’ [17] I do not know how I will return from Hell after going there. I ask Allah, who is Rahman, to be martyred by the blow of a sword that makes the blood gush forth or by a spear that smash the lungs and intestines so that those who visit my grave will say, ‘Allah showed this warrior the true path and he found the true path.’” [18]
When his army was preparing to set off, Abdullah bin Rawaha entered into the presence of the Prophet. After saying goodbye to the Prophet, Abdullah said,
"May Allah continue His grace to you as He did it to Hz. Musa (Moses)! May He grant His help to you as he did to those whom He helped and made victorious!" Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah said to him,
"O Rawaha's son! May Allah make you steadfast and continuous in good deeds! "[19]
After the Prophet said goodbye to the mujahids and set off to return to Madinah, Abdullah bin Rawaha greeted him with these couplets:
"Peace be on the person who remained behind, whom I said goodbye at the date grove, the best utterer of goodbye and the best friend!" [20]
When Shurahbil bin Amr was informed that the Muslims were coming toward him, he gathered many soldiers. The number of the soldiers he gathered was over 100 thousands – according to another narration, 200 thousand. Besides, the army had plenty of horses and weapons. However, the Muslims were deprived of them.
When the mujahids were informed that Shurahbil had prepared a big army equipped with arms, they sat for two nights to discuss the situation. Zayd bin Haritha asked the mujahids about their opinions. Some mujahids suggested giving up confronting the Greeks and attacking their country; others suggested informing the Messenger of Allah about the situation and asking help from him.
Abdullah bin Rawaha kept silent and did not speak. When Zayd bin Haritha asked him about his thoughts, spoke as follows:
"O my people! By Allah, what you do not want now is martyrdom, which you desired to acquire when you started this journey. We do not fight because we have more men, weapons, horses or cavalries than enemy but because of the religious power that Allah has granted us. Go and fight! You will have one of the two good things: either victory or martyrdom. By Allah, during the Battle of Badr, we had only two horses, and only one horse during the Battle of Uhud. If it is written in qadar (destiny) that we will beat the enemy, it is Allah’s and the Prophet’s promise to us. Allah will not break His promise. If martyrdom is written in qadar, we will join our brothers in Paradise."
This speech of Abdullah bin Rawaha encouraged the mujahids. They said,
"Rawaha's son is telling the truth." Then, they continued on their way. Abdullah bin Rawaha said,
"I will probably not go back to my family. I hope that I will be a martyr."
Eventually, the two armies confronted at Muta and began to fight and struggle against each other. Zayd became a martyr; and Jafar grabbed the standard. When Jafar was martyred, Abdullah bin Rawaha grabbed the standard. As Abdullah bin Rawaha was holding the standard, he went toward the enemy on his horse. While doing so, he was trying to make his soul surrender to him, and to eliminate some hesitations:
“O my soul! I swore that I was going to make you surrender to me. You will either accept it willingly or I will force you to do it. As I understand it, you do not like Paradise very much. You have not been satisfied for years. O my soul! If you are not killed now, will you not ever be killed? The time of death has come. You will be given what you do not want. If you do what those two people did, if you prefer martyrdom, you will do the best thing. If you become late, you will be sorry.”
Abdullah bin Rawaha was fighting by speaking like that. Meanwhile, one of his fingers was wounded. He dismounted from his horse, stepped on the wounded finger and said,
"Are not you just a bleeding finger? This misfortune was sent by Allah.” Then, he cut the finger off. He had not eliminated the hesitation of his soul yet. Finally, he said:
"O my soul! What are the things that prevent you from being martyred? If you act shyly because of your wife, she has been divorced with three talaqs. If it is because of slaves, they have been freed. If it is because of the groves and orchards that have been neglected and uncared, they have been given to Allah and His Messenger."
Abdullah bin Rawaha, who started fighting with might and main, was wounded by a spear and fell down. Soon, he passed away in the place where he was taken.
Allah Almighty eliminated the notions of time and space, and showed the battlefield to His Messenger. The Prophet informed the Muslims that the commanders had been martyred before news about them came to Madinah. He ascended the pulpit and sat. When the people gathered, he addressed them as follows:
"They confronted the enemy. Zayd was martyred. He has entered Paradise now. He is running there. Then Jafar took the standard. He was also martyred. Now he is standing with two wings made of ruby. Abdullah bin Rawaha took the standard after Jafar."
The Messenger of Allah kept silent for a while. The color of the faces of Ansar changed. They thought Abdullah bin Rawaha made something wrong. The Prophet said,
"Abdullah bin Rawaha reinforced his two legs. He fought the enemies having the standard in his hand and was killed as a martyr. He entered Paradise with objection."
Ansar found it hard to accept that Abdullah bin Rawaha entered Paradise with objection. They asked the Messenger of Allah the reason for the objection. The Messenger of Allah answered them as follows:
"When he was wounded, he hesitated to fight the enemy. Then, he blamed his soul, became courageous and was martyred. They were shown to me on thrones in Paradise. I saw that Abdullah bin Rawaha's throne was lower than those of his friends. I asked why. I was given the following answer: 'Abdullah had some hesitations before fighting; then, he started to fight.' "[21]
May Allah be pleased with them!
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Hz. Abdullah was Hz. Abu Bakr's son and Prophet’s brother-in-law. He became a Muslim in the first years of Islam. He was a clever and skilled man. He played an important role in the Migration of the Prophet. The Prophet remained in the Cave of Thawr for three days during the Migration. Hz. Abdullah brought food to them at night and informed them about the news he gathered from the polytheists by walking around them as his father had wanted him to do. His servant, who was herding the sheep, erased the traces of Abdullah.
Hz. Abdullah obtained the merit of being a "muhajir" by migrating from Makkah. He joined the Conquest of Makkah. He participated in the Battle of Hunayn and the Siege of Taif. During the siege, he was wounded by an arrow that hit him. The wound did not heal. In the first year of his father's caliphate, his wound opened. He passed away. His janazah prayer was led by Hz. Abu Bakr.
Hz. Abu Bakr hid the arrow that wounded Abdullah. Afterwards, he showed this arrow to the delegation Thaqif from Madinah who became Muslims and said,
"Do you know this arrow?" Said bin Ubayd said,
"I made this arrow and I sharpened the tip. I put the feather on it and I threw it. "
Hz. Abu Bakr never wanted a person to die as a polytheist and go to Hell. If his son had killed son Said bin Ubayd, Said would have gone to Hell. However, his son, who was killed by Said, attained the rank of martyrdom. For this reason, Hz. Abu Bakr said to Said bin Ubayd,
"This arrow is the arrow that martyred my son. Praise be to Allah, who gave him martyrdom through your hand, and did not kill you through his hand as an unbeliever! His mercy and grace surrounded both of you. "
Hz. Said also was glad that he had not been killed in the battle as a polytheist. He thanked Allah. May Allah be pleased with them! [1]
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[1]Mustadrak, 3: 478; Bayhaqi, Sunan, 9: 98.
52-)
Suhayl bin Amr (r.a.)
At the Battle of Badr, the Muslims fought against the polytheists, who were three times more than their strength and number, and attained victory. Many polytheists including some of their notables died and the polytheists left the battlefield leaving many of them as slaves behind them. Meanwhile, Malik bin Duhshum, one of the Companions, enslaved somebody and brought him into the presence of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). The enslaved man stared at the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the people around him furiously and was wondering what would happen to him.
This slave was Suhayl bin Amr, an orator who was famous for the provocative speeches against the Muslims. Hz. Umar (r.a.), who was there, drew his sword and said,
“O Messenger of Allah! Let me extract his teeth lest he should speak against you. He encouraged the Qurayshi unbelievers to act against you with his influential speeches.”
The Prophet (pbuh) answered as follows:
“O Umar. Let him. It is hoped that he will be in such a place that will rejoice you in the future.”
Hz. Umar, who was loyal to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) with his spirit and soul, and who believed that this word would come true some day, said, “Yes. O Messenger of Allah!” He put his sword into its sheath and submitted.[1]
Suhayl bin Amr left the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and went to his troop happily.
Meanwhile, Suhayl’s son Abdullah joined the Muslims. Abdullah (r.a.) was one of the first Muslims. He was among the first group of Muslims who had to migrate to Abyssinia due to the oppression and torture of the polytheists. However, when he returned from Abyssinia, his father took him home and inflicted unbearable torture on him in order to force him to abandon Islam. Abdullah could not put up with the torture any longer. The Messenger of Allah told him that he could conceal his belief and tell his father that he had exited Islam. Abdullah managed to make his father believe that he had exited Islam. However, he did not give up his faith. He was eager to rejoin the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). He took part in the Battle of Badr with his father; he found a suitable opportunity and joined the Muslims. He became very happy.[2]
Many years passed after this incident. The polytheists and Muslims confronted at Hudaybiyya again. The Qurayshi polytheists wanted peace. The delegation of Qurayshis was headed by Suhayl bin Amr.
The Messenger of Allah and Suhayl made long negotiations and they reached a settlement. It was time to write the terms of the treaty. Hz. Ali (r.a.) was the scribe. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) told him to write: “Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful). To this, Suhayl bin Amr objected: “We do not accept it.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “How shall we write then?" Suhayl said, “Bismika Allahumma”. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “It is also nice. He ordered Hz. Ali to write so.
After the terms of the agreement were written, it was time for the signatures. The Prophet ordered Hz. Ali to write as follows: “These are the terms of the agreement that Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, and Suhayl bin Amr determined together and agreed upon to act in accordance with.” Suhayl, the leader of the Qurayshi delegates objected to it, too. He said, “By Allah, if we had accepted that you were the Messenger of Allah, we would not have prevented you from visiting the Kaaba and we would not have fought you.” Finally, they agreed to write, “Muhammad bin Abdillah”.
Abu Jandal (r.a.), the younger son of Suhayl bin Amr had also become a Muslim after his brother; and his father imprisoned him somewhere by chaining him. However, Abu Jandal managed to escape from the place he was imprisoned and wanted to join the Muslims at Hudaybiyya when the treaty was about to be signed. However, one of the terms of the treaty prevented people like Abu Jandal from joining the Muslims.
When Suhayl bin Amr saw his son standing there with chains, he said to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) furiously,
“This is the first person you need to return to us in accordance with the terms of the treaty.”
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) looked at Abu Jandal, who was waiting there sadly and worriedly. He turned to Suhayl and said,
“Forgive him this time and sign the treaty.”
Suhayl said, “I will never accept it.”
The compassion of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) did not want to return Abu Jandal to the polytheists because he was going to be oppressed and tortured again. However, the Messenger of Allah agreed in the treaty that he would return people like Abu Jandal; if he did not return him, the treaty would be annulled. Knowing that this treaty would completely be in favor of the Muslims in the future, the Messenger of Allah turned to Abu Jandal and said to him,
“Show patience a bit more. Bear the oppression for some more time. Allah will reward you for it. Allah will definitely help you and the people with you. We cannot break our promise.”[3]
Makkah was conquered by Muslims several years later. Suhayl bin Amr was among the Qurayshi notables that would be killed as soon as they were caught. His son, Abdullah, went to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and asked him to forgive his father. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) forgave Suhayl for the sake of his two self-sacrificing sons. Abdullah left happily and found Suhayl in the place where he was hiding and gave him the good news. When Suhayl heard this magnanimity of the Messenger of Allah's, he uttered kalima ash-shahadah and became a Muslim.
Suhayl bin Amr (r.a.) started to work for Islam with might and main. He became a tender-hearted and fine person. He sometimes remembered his previous life and cried. When the Quran was recited, he would often cry. He was very keen on worshipping; he was a person of taqwa.
Waqidi, who is the writer of Siyar, writes the following about him: “There is nobody among those who embraced Islam on the day of the Conquest of Makkah who served and practiced Islam like Suhayl bin Amr.”[4]
Suhayl’s son, Abdullah, was martyred at the Battle of Yamama in the 12th year of the Migration. Hz. Abu Bakr (r.a.) went to console him. Suhayl bin Amr, who oppressed and tortured his sons for years because they were Muslims, said,
“I wish I had been martyred, too.”[5]
Suhayl bin Amr (r.a.) was in Makkah when the Prophet (pbuh) died. Meanwhile, some people of Quraysh started to exit Islam. He gathered the people of Quraysh and addressed them as follows:
“O people of Quraysh! Do we want to be the ones who accepted Islam last and want to leave it first? I swear by Allah that this religion will spread to the west from the east and surround the whole world...”
With this long speech, Suhayl bin Amr prevented some people of Quraysh from exiting Islam. Thus, what the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to Hz. Umar at Badr came true. Suhayl bin Amr was in a position that that would rejoice Hz. Umar.
Suhayl left Makkah after the death of the Prophet (pbuh) and went to Damascus with his family in order to make jihad and serve Islam. According to a narration, he was martyred in Yarmuk in the 13th year of the Migration. According to another narration, he died of plague in the 18th year of the Migration.
May Allah be pleased with him!
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Bara bin Malik, who was the brother of Anas bin Malik, who was a distinguished student of the school of Suffa in ilm and hadith narration, was a Companion who had material and spiritual conquests that made him distinguished along with religious services under the patronage and teaching of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). Both brothers served Islam throughout their lives by receiving the rich gleams of the light of prophethood.
Bara bin Malik is an Islamic hero who repelled the enemy attacks in battlefields. When the Messenger of Allah saw his courage and heroism, he helped him develop these abilities. When we search his distinguished life, we see that he took part in almost all battles with the Messenger of Allah. Bara continued and developed his heroism after the death of the Messenger of Allah. He rushed to death bravely with the desire to rejoin the Messenger of Allah soon.
Although Hz. Umar knew about his courage and recklessness, he stated that he should not be appointed as the commander of an army. [1] For, he was worried that he could put the Muslims in a difficult situation by attacking into the ranks of the enemy recklessly due to his excitement. [1]
Indeed, he acted like that in most of the battles. He fought heroically in the wars that took place because of the incidents of fake prophets. Especially when he fought against Musaylima in Yamama, he drove the army of Musaylima into a corner. Musaylima and his soldiers took refuge in a castle. Bara bin Malik jumped over the wall of the castle and entered the castle alone. He fought heroically against Musaylima’s soldiers and managed to open the castle door from inside. The Islamic army that entered through the door defeated Musaylima and killed him. [2] We can understand from his address to the people of Madinah from what feeling the heroism of Bara bin Malik emerged:
"O people of Madinah! Suppose that you no longer have Madinah today. Suppose that you do not own your property. Today, there is only the consent of Allah and Paradise."
It is reported that Bara bin Malik, who participated in the war with courage and heroism with the speed and inspiration he received from the feeling of this enthusiastic belief, was wounded in more than 80 places in this war. Khalid bin Walid looked after his wounds for a month.
Hz. Bara always begged and prayed to Allah:
"O Lord! Do not allow me to die in my bed. I hope that Allah will not make me die in my bed. "
His voice was very nice and he recited poems from time to time; he got angry with his brother Anas when he said, "How long will you keep going like this?" He said to Anas, "Do you think I will die in bed?" The deep and enthusiastic meaning of martyrdom was so intertwined with his soul that he regarded dying in bed as a big misfortune for him.
Because the soul of Bara did not accept death in bed by seeking martyrdom with the strong motive of heroism, Allah gave him this highest rank. He took part in the conquest of Tustar. He fought heroically in the Battle of Tustar. At first, it looked as if the Muslims would be defeated of at the beginning. The mujahids were in a difficult situation. The Companions consulted each other, trying to find new battle strategies for victory. In the meantime, people watched Bara secretly. They looked at his eyes, which expressed his heroism very well. It looked as if what would bring victory and approach the conquest was a sign of courage from him. He had received the praise of the Messenger of Allah. He was a heroic student of the school of Suffa.
“There are so many people with disheveled hair, covered with dust; if they swear by Allah then He shall fulfill it. Among them is Al-Bara bin Malik.” [3] Thus, the Messenger of Allah expressed his high virtue. The Companions who knew this very well looked as if they were waiting for Bara to prove this praise of the Prophet.
In the meantime, Hz. Bara bin Malik looked as if he saw the silent signs of the high rank of martyrdom. And Bara attacked together with the Companions. Defeat was on the way for the Iranian army. The enemy commander was killed. Thus, the conquest of Tustar approached.
Living with the love of rejoining the Messenger of Allah, Bara bin Malik killed 100 people before he was martyred by the sword of an Iranian named "Hurmuzan". Thus, he flew to his real friends.
This symbol of heroism brought up by the school of Suffa spent his life to spread Islam until he breathed his last. Allah Almighty rewarded him by giving him the honor of the rank of martyrdom.
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Muadh bin Jabal became a Muslim in the Pledge of Aqaba when he was 18 years old. He was from Madinah and belonged to Sons of Salama clan of the tribe of Khazraj.
As the Messenger of Allah put it, the most merciful one to the ummah was Abu Bakr, the most severe of them concerning the order of Allah was Umar, the most truly modest of them was Hz. Uthman, the most knowledgeable of them concerning the laws of inheritance was Zayd bin Thabit, the best reciter of the Qur'an among them was Ubayy bin Ka'b and the most knowledgeable of them concerning haram and halal was Muadh bin Jabal. [1]
He was one of the three people that became distinguished among Ansar related to issuing fatwas. The other two were Ubayy bin Ka'b and Zayd bin Thabit.
He was also specialized in the Quran As a matter of fact, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Learn the Quran from four people: Abdullah bin Mas’ud, Ubayy bin Ka'b, Muadh bin Jabal and Abu Hudhayfa.” [2]
After the Migration, the Messenger of Allah established brotherhood between Muadh and Abdullah bin Mas’ud. He took part in all battles and wars including the battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq, and struggled in the first ranks. When the Prophet set off for the Expedition of Hunayn, he appointed him as his deputy in Madinah. He ordered him to teach people the Quran and tell them about religious issues.
One of the people who witnessed a bright miracle of the Messenger of Allah during the Expedition of Tabuk was Hz. Muadh.
They came across with a fountain with the army. Very little water was flowing from it. It was impossible for it to be enough for the whole army. The Messenger of Allah ordered them to get a little water from it. He washed his face and hands with that water. Then, he put that water into the fountain. The outlet of the fountain opened at once and water poured plentifully with a sound like thunder coming under the ground. The Messenger of Allah said to Muadh, who was near him,
“If you live long enough you will see that this water will flow like that and there will be orchards and vineyards here.”
In fact, Muadh saw that place years later and approved the blessed miracle of the Messenger of Allah related to water. [3]
Once, Muadh said, “O Messenger of Allah! Inform me about an act that will take me to Paradise and will keep me away from Hell.” The Prophet said, "You have asked me about an important and major matter. However, it is easy for whomever Allah makes it easy. Worship Allah, do not associate any partners with Him, perform prayers properly, give zakah, fast Ramadan and perform hajj.
Shall I show you the gates of goodness? Fasting is a shield; charity extinguishes sins as water extinguishes fire; praying in depths of the night is a sign of righteous slaves.” [4]
Once, the Prophet held Hz. Muadh’s hand and said,
“O Muadh! By Allah, I love you very much. I advise you this: Never abandon saying, "O Allah, help me in remembering You, in giving You thanks, and worshipping You well after prayers.’”[5]
The Prophet (pbuh) wanted to send someone to Yemen to guide the people there and to teach the Muslims their religion. One day, after leading the morning prayer, he addressed the congregation: “Who wants to go to Yemen?” Hz. Abu Bakr said, “O Messenger of Allah! I do.” The Prophet kept silent. Hz. Umar wanted to go but the Prophet kept silent again. Thereupon, Muadh said, “O Messenger of Allah! I will go.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “O Muadh! This is your duty.” Then, he wrapped his turban around Muadh’s head.
Hz. Muadh would be the judge in Yemen, teach people Islam and the Quran and receive zakah from zakah officials. His duty was hard. Therefore, the Prophet gave him some advice related to some basic issues: “You are going to a nation from the people of the book. When you arrive there, invite them to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If they accept it, tell them that Allah has enjoined on them, five prayers to be offered every day. And if they do it, tell them that Allah has enjoined zakah to be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor. And if they agree to do it, take from them zakah but avoid the best possessions of the people. Avoid the curse of an oppressed person because there is no veil between his prayer and Allah.”
Then, he asked Muadh, “When a case is brought to you to settle, based on what will you make your judgment?” Muadh said, “The book of Allah.” The Messenger of Allah asked, “If you cannot find it in the book of Allah, based on what will you make your judgment?” Muadh said, “The Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.” The Messenger of Allah asked, “What if you cannot find it in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah?” Thereupon, Muadh gave the following answer:
“Then, I will make ijtihad based on my view and make a judgment.”
This answer pleased the Prophet. He said, "Praise be to Allah Who has guided the messenger of the Prophet to that which pleases the Prophet."
Before setting off, Muadh wanted to learn some more things from the Prophet. He said, “O Messenger of Allah! Give me some advice.” The Prophet gave him the following advice:
“Fear Allah no matter where you are. If you commit a sin, do a good deed immediately after it so that it will eliminate the sin. Treat people in the best way.”
Before Muadh left, the Prophet gave him some news that distressed him a lot: “O Muadh! You will not be able to meet from now on. Maybe, you will visit this mosque and my grave when you return.” Thereupon, Muadh started to shed tears. The Prophet asked him not to weep. Then, they parted.
Muadh bin Jabal stayed in Yemen until the death of the Messenger of Allah and served Islam there. When he was there, the number of the Muslims increased day by day. New Muslims first paid allegiance to him and then went to Madinah to visit the Messenger of Allah. 100 people from the tribe of Naha became Muslims thanks to him and then went to Madinah to visit the Messenger of Allah. [6]
Muadh intended to go to Damascus in order to make jihad during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr. Hz. Umar knew that the Muslims in Madinah needed him and asked Hz. Abu Bakr not to send him. Hz. Abu Bakr said to Hz. Umar,
“How can I prevent a person who wants to be a martyr?” [7]
According to Jabir bin Abdullah, Muadh had a beautiful face and high ethics, and he was very generous.
He gave great importance to ilm (knowledge). This enabled him to gain the title “the person who knew harams and halals best in the ummah”. Some of his statements related to ilm are as follows:
“Learn ilm because it will increase your fear of Allah. To demand ilm is regarded as worshipping. To attend ilm negotiations is regarded as glorifying Allah. To mention ilm is regarded as jihad. To teach ilm to those who do not know is regarded as sadaqah. To teach ilm to those who deserve it will make a person approach Allah because ilm gives man the criteria about what is haram and halal.”
“Ilm is a candle in the way of the people of Paradise, a friend during loneliness and abroad, a companion in desolate places, a guide in happy and sad days, a weapon against the enemy and a virtue in the presence of friends.”
“Ilm enlightens the hearts that become black due to ignorance and becomes a candle for the eyes that do not see in the dark.”
“Fortunate people take inspiration from ilm and unfortunate people become deprived of it.” [8]
Muadh sometimes gave people advice. Once, somebody asked some advice from him. He said,
“I will advise you two things. Know that your share from the world will find you no matter where you are. In that case, you need your share in the hereafter more than your share in the world. Then, prefer your share in the hereafter to your share in the world.”
Once, he said to his son,
“O my son! When you perform a prayer, perform it like a person who is bidding farewell (to go to the hereafter).”
When somebody asked some advice from him, he said,
“Fast, but not every day. Pray during the night but you must get some sleep. Work for your sustenance but do not abandon honesty when you work. Try to die as a true Muslim. Avoid the supplication of those who have been wronged or oppressed.”
Hz. Muadh was a very pious man. He would get up for tahajjud prayer and pray as follows:
“O Lord! The eyes have been closed; the stars have disappeared. However, You are Hayy (the Ever Living One) and Qayyum (the Self-Existing One). Spare a gift for me to be given to me on the Day of Judgment. O Lord! You never break your promise.”
Hz. Muadh went to Damascus. He died there of plague in 18 H, when he was 38 years old. When he felt that his death was near, he said,
“Welcome O Death! Welcome my beloved visitor coming from my period of poverty.
O Lord, You know that I fear you. I did not desire the world and to satisfy my endless desires. The flow of the rivers and the swishing of the leaves of trees did not appeal to me. O Lord! You know them.”
Muadh started to weep after his words. The people around him said, “You are a Companion of the Messenger of Allah. You have so many virtues. Why do you weep like that?” He answered them as follows:
“Do you think I am weeping because I fear death or because I am leaving the world? I am weeping because I cannot be sure which direction (Paradise or Hell) I will go after death.” [9]
After those words, Muadh passed away. He had a separate place in the eye of Hz. Umar. When Hz. Umar was about to die, he was asked, “Who did you appoint as your caliph?” He said,
“If Muadh ibn Jabal were alive and I would make him my successor to the caliphate. When I joined my Lord if my Lord asked me, 'Whom did you assign as the caliph?', I would answer, 'I assigned Muadh ibn Jabal for whom your slave and Messenger said, ‘Muadh is a congregation on his own in front of scholars on the Day of Judgment.’”[10]
Muadh narrated many hadiths from the Prophet. Some of them are as follows:
The Messenger of Allah asked me, “Do you know what the rights of God Almighty on His slaves are? I said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “To worship Allah without associating anything with Him.” Then, he asked, “Do you know what God Almighty promise them when they fulfill this duty. I said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “Not to punish them.” [11]
“If a person clashes the enemy on his camel, Paradise becomes wajib for him. If a person wants to be a martyr sincerely and then dies or is killed, he will get the reward of a martyr. If a person is wounded in the way of Allah or suffers, he will come on the Day of Judgment in saffron color and smelling musk.” [12]
Hz. Bara was from Madinah. His father was a Muslim too. He became a Muslim at a young age. He learned the Quran from Mus'ab bin Umayr and Ibn Umm Maktum, whom the Prophet had sent to the people of Madinah to teach Islam. When the Prophet Muhammad migrated, he had memorized several chapters of the Quran. He was among those who welcomed the Messenger of Allah and cheered when he arrived in Madinah during the Migration. He stated the following regarding the enthusiastic welcoming and cheering of the people of Madinah when the Prophet arrived: "I have not seen the people of Madinah rejoice so much for anything before."
Hz. Bara never wanted to leave the Prophet; he always wanted to be with him. He regarded listening to the talk of the Messenger of Allah as "the greatest success in life". Therefore, he learned so many things from the Messenger of Allah. He shed light on Muslims through the hadiths that he narrated. Today we learn many historical incidents from his narrations. For example, we learn about the Migration, the changing of the qiblah from Jerusalem to the Kaaba and the important stages of the battles of Uhud and Hunayn from his narrations.
Bara (R.A.) was a heroic mujahid of the Islamic cause. Despite his young age, he joined the army preparing for the Battle of Badr with a few friends of his. However, the Messenger of Allah stopped the army on the way and inspected it. He sent him and a few people who were young back. Hz. Bara was very upset because of this. Nevertheless, he participated in all of the wars with the Prophet beginning from the Battle of Uhud. He fought heroically in those battles and wars. He narrates a memory of his as follows:
"There was a well in Hudaybiyya. When we arrived there, we extracted all of the water from the well. There was no water left. When the Messenger of Allah was informed about it, he came beside the well and sat. Then he wanted a container with some water in it. He made wudu and gargled with the water that was brought. Then, he prayed and poured the water into the well. We left the well as it was for a while upon the order of the Messenger of Allah. Then, as much water as we wanted accumulated in the well. We and our animals used that water." [1]
Hz. The Bara had a separate place in the eye of the Prophet. He loved Bara very much. He sometimes gave Bara advice. Once he gave him the following advice:
"Make wudu when you go to bed; Lie on your right side and pray as follows: 'O Allah! I surrendered to you. I referred my work to you. I rely on you because I love you and I fear you. I take refuge only in you. My salvation depends on you. I believed in the Book and the Prophet that you sent.' If you do so and die that night, you will die as a Muslim. Let them be your last words." [2]
Bara was adherent to the Sunnah very much like the other Companions. He based all of his deeds on the Sunnah. Once, he met someone. He shook his hand and smiled. Then, he asked, "Do you know why I smile?" When the man said that he did not know, he explained the reason for this as follows:
"One day, I met the Messenger of Allah. He held my hand with his blessed hand; then smiled. He asked me why he had smiled. I gave the same answer as you have just given. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "If two Muslims shake hands when they meet, praise Allah ask for forgiveness, Allah will forgive them." [3]
When Bara performed a prayer, he gave great importance to the straightness and order of the ranks and often mentioned the virtue of it. He explained why he did so as follows:
"When we stood up for a prayer, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would touch our chests with his hands straighten the ranks and say: 'Do not let your ranks be irregular. Otherwise, this disorder will enter your hearts! '"[4]
Bara wanted his children to act in accordance with the Sunnah as he himself did. He sometimes gathered his children and taught hadith to them. His son Yazid, who narrated many hadiths from him, narrates a memory about it as follows:
"One day, my father gathered us. He said, ‘Come here. I will teach you how the Messenger of Allah made wudu. For, I do not know how much I will be with you after this.’" [5]
Hz. Bara was among the scholars of the Companions. The Muslims asked him about the issues they could not understand. Bara knew not only the explanation of hadiths but also tafsir and fiqh. On one occasion, the verse that meant, "make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction" was in question. One of the people who were there asked, "Does a person who attacks polytheists not contribute to his destruction?" Bara gave him the following answer:
"No, because Allah Almighty orders us to fight in His way. For this reason, we are supposed to make jihad in the way of Allah. What is meant by destruction (danger) in the verse is to accumulate money and not to spend it in the way of Allah. "
Bara was extremely humble. He avoided answering the things that he did not know well; he could easily say, "I do not know." Or, he would refer the question to someone he believed to be more knowledgeable than him.
Once, he was asked a question. He referred the question to Zayd bin Arqam. He said, "Ask Zayd because he is better than me and he knows this issue better than me."
Hz. Bara (R.A.) narrated 305 hadiths from the Prophet. Some of them are as follows:
"The Prophet (pbuh) ordered us to do seven things and forbade seven things. He ordered us to (1) join the funeral and to go to the grave, (2) visit ill people, (3) accept invitations, (4) help a person who is wronged, (5) act in accordance with a vow, (6) answer greetings, (7) say, 'yarhamukallah' to anyone who sneezes and says 'alhamdulillah'.
He forbade us to (1) use silverware, (2) wear golden rings, (3) wear silk, (4) wear atlas, (5) wear clothes having twisted silk, (6) wear thick silk, (7) lie in silk bed.” [6]
“Allah shows mercy on those who fill the first rank in prayer; angels pray for them. There is no step closer to Allah than the step taken to fill the ranks in prayer.” [7]
We participated in the funeral of one of Ansar with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). We arrived at the cemetery when the dead body was about to be buried. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) sat down. We too sat down quietly and calmly as if we there was a bird on our heads. The Prophet (pbuh) drew something on the ground with a stick in his hand. He raised his head. He said, "I take refuge in Allah from the torture of grave" two or three times. Then, he said,
"When a believer is placed in the grave, two angels come as soon as his friends leave and when their footsteps are still heard. They make him sit and the following conversation takes place between them:
"Who is your Lord?"
"My Lord is Allah."
"What is your religion?"
"My religion is Islam."
"Who is the person sent by Allah to call you to the right path?"
"He is the Messenger of Allah."
"How did you learn this?"
"I read the Book of Allah and I believed in him; and I accepted his righteousness."
"This is the meaning of the verse of Allah: ‘Allah will establish in strength those who believe, with the Word that stands firm, in this world and in the Hereafter.’" (Ibrahim, 27)
"Then a voice will come from the sky: 'My slave has told the truth. Place him in a place that deserves Paradise. Dress him in clothes of Paradise. Open a door that overlooks Paradise for him!"
"If the person who dies is an unbeliever or a hypocrite, his soul is returned to his body when he is placed in the grave. Two angels come, make him sit and the following conversation takes place between them:
"Who is your Lord?"
"I do not know."
"What is your religion?"
"I do not know."
"Who is the person sent by Allah to call you to the right path?"
"I do not know."
"Then a voice will come from the sky: 'He has lied. Prepare for him a place that deserves Hell. Dress him in clothes of Hell. Open a door that overlooks Hell for him! '
"Then comes the heat of the fire of Hell and the scorching wind. His grave is narrowed until his ribs are interlocked. Then a blind and dumb angel of Hell is sent to him. This angel has a mallet made of iron; it could break a mountain into pieces. The angel blows him so badly with the mallet that all beings in the east, in the west, and all around the world except human beings and jinn hear it. And that person is transformed into dust. Then his soul is returned to his body. [The torture goes on and on]. "[8]
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Hz. Zayd (r.a.) is one of the two oppressed people who were caught together with Hz. Hubayb by the polytheists and taken to Makkah. When they arrived in Makkah, Safwan bin Umayya bought Hz. Zayd for 50 camels in order to take the revenge of his father, who was killed in Badr.
Safwan chained Hz. Zayd and locked him in. After torturing him for a while. Safwan took him to the place called Tan'im in order to hang him.
Hz. Zayd became a Muslim after the Migration. He was one of the notables of the tribe of Khazraj and Ansar; he was also a student of the Prophet at Suffa. After the Migration, the Prophet made Hz. Zayd brothers with Khalid bin Bukayr, one of the Muhajirs. Hz. Khalid was one of the members of the committee of guidance; he was one of the seven people that were martyred by the polytheists. Hz. Zayd took part in the Battles of Badr and Uhud; he fought heroically there.
The notables of the polytheists gathered there. They put up a palm trunk to hang Hz. Zayd. He asked permission for standing in the presence of Allah and performed a prayer of two rak'ahs. He was about to reach his Lord blamelessly, with a clean heart and a lucid spirit. The gallows was a means of reaching the hereafter for him. The hell-like affairs of unbelief blackened the faces of the polytheists so much that they did not look like human beings. Their eyes were bloody due to the feeling of revenge.
Then, they grabbed Hz. Zayd and tied him to the dry palm trunk.
The polytheists made the same disgusting proposal that they made to every Muslim that they executed to Hz. Zayd bin Dasinna: "Give up this religion, which emerged afterwards, and accept our religion so that we will set you free." Hz. Zayd shouted at the polytheists his insistent and serious decision: "No! I swear by Allah that I will never give up my religion and faith."
Abu Sufyan approached Hz. Zayd and asked him, "O Zayd! Tell me the truth if you love Allah. Would you not like Muhammad to be here to be hanged and yourself to live with your family?"
The Companions, who did not hesitate to sacrifice their most beloved things and people for the sake of the Prophet by saying, "My my mother and father be sacrificed for you!", filled their veins with the following hadith and showed it throughout their lives: "None of you will be a real believer unless you love me more than you children, father and everybody." Hz. Zayd answered the repeated proposal of Abu Sufyan as follows:
"I would never like to be relaxing with my family if Hz Muhammad (pbuh) were here instead of me and I would never like a thorn to prick his foot."
These silencing words astonished Abu Sufyan, who said. "I have never seen anybody who loves a person more than the Companions of Muhammad love him."
After these talks, the decision of the polytheists was certain. Safwan bin Umayya beckoned to his freed slave to kill Hz. Zayd. Nistas drove his spear into the chest of Hz. Zayd; it came out of his back. Thus, Hz. Zayd, a lover of the Prophet, was elevated to his rank in Paradise.
When the Prophet was informed about the martyrdom of Hz. Zayd, he prayed for Zayd.
Regarding the execution of the people in the committee of guidance as an opportunity, the hypocrites (munafiqs) tried to cause mischief. They started to walk among the people of Madinah saying, "It is a pity that they were killed by torture. They could not relax with their families; they could not fulfill the duty of guidance, either." They tried to pretend to pity them.
Upon this mischief of the hypocrites, Allah Almighty sent down the following verse:
"And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is full of kindness to (His) devotees."
Allah Almighty praised the sacrifice of those Companions.
May Allah be pleased with them!
57-)
Amir bin Fuhayra (r.a.)
It was a period when the most terrifying form of ignorance and oppression prevailed, and torture and brutality were committed in the most terrible way. At that time, helpless and weak people were enslaved; they were forced to work in jobs that even animals were not forced. It was the Era of Jahiliyya, when wealthy, noble and cruel people shed blood and when frightening clouds dominated the sky.
The true religion came to help people when they were hit by all kinds of misfortunes. The cloud of mercy dominated the sky and the sun of compassion rose. People ran to the light that this sun radiated. The majority of those who ran to that light consisted of the oppressed, despised, repressed and weak people and the slaves. These poor people took refuge in the compassion of Islam. They saw that they were also human beings and that they also had some rights.
One of the lucky people that joined Islam was Hz. Tufayl bin Abdullah's black slave, Amir bin Fuhayra. Tufayl was Hz. Aisha’s half brother. Hz. Amir became a Muslim when the Prophet was in Arqam's house.
The polytheists who heard that Amir bin Fuhayra became a Muslim found another victim for themselves. The increase in the number of those who gathered around the Prophet infuriated them. At that time, Hz. Bilal also believed. He faced a different kind of torture and infliction every day. The polytheists tortured him together with Amir bin Fuhayra.
One day, they tied a rope around Hz. Bilal and Hz. Amir bin Fuhayra and gave the rope to some naughty children. They were dragged in the streets of Makkah. [1] The polytheists inflicted all kinds of tortures upon them. However, the torture of the furious polytheists did not affect these lovers of the Prophet at all; the more the severity of the torture increased, the more their patience and perseverance increased.
Finally, Hz. Abu Bakr came to the rescue of these two oppressed people. He freed them by paying the money necessary for their freedom to their owners. Thus, they virtually received the first reward of their patience in the world; they attained freedom in both the world and the hereafter.
Abu Quhafa could not understand why his son, Hz. Abu Bakr, freed Muslim slaves by paying money. One day, he called his son and said, "O my Son! I see that you always buy weak slaves and free them. Would not it be better if you bought strong ones so that they would be your protectors and supporters?"
Hz. Abu Bakr explained his lofty purpose to his father as follows:
"O Dad! I do not want to benefit from them by doing so; I want to attain the consent of Allah."
Hz. Amir took part in the Battle of Badr and Uhud. He fought heroically in those battles.
Amir bin Fuhayra was from Ashab as-Suffa. He was one of the Companions who could read the Quran in a beautiful way. He was also among the scribes of the Prophet.
Four months after the Battle of Uhud, Abu Bara, the leader of the tribe of Sons of Amir living in the region of Najd, came to the Prophet and asked him to send a few Companions to teach his people about Islam. Abu Bara promised the Prophet that he would protect the Companions sent to him; thereupon, the Prophet sent a group of 40, or according to another narration 70, people from Ashab as-Suffa as a delegation of guidance. Amir bin Fuhayra was a member of this delegation.
When the delegation arrived at the region of Bi'r Mauna (Mauna Well), they stopped over. Abu Bara's nephew, Amir bin Tufayl, did not obey his paternal uncle; and he gathered men from the tribes around and attacked the Companions who were resting there. They martyred 39 Companions.
When the polytheist called Jabbar bin Sulma stuck his sword in Amir bin Fuhayra, he heard the phrase "By Allah, I have gained." When Hz. Amir became a martyr, he ascended to the sky. When Jabbar heard this phrase and saw the rise of Amir to the sky, he asked Hz. Dahhak about it. Dahhak told him that Amir attained Paradise. When Jabbar saw this, he became a Muslim. Thus, the martyrdom of one person became a means of belief for another person.
The author of the massacre, Amir bin Tufayl, took Hz. Amir bin Umayya, who survived the massacre, and wanted to learn the identities of the martyrs. Hz. Amir mentioned the names of the martyrs one by one; he said he could not see Amir bin Fuhayra. Amir bin Tufayl pointed to Jabbar and said, "Shall I inform you about him? That guy stuck his spear into him. After he pulled his speared out, the man rose up to the sky and disappeared. By Allah, I have not seen him again."
When the Prophet was informed about the state of Amir bin Fuhayra, he said, "The angels raised his body to the sky and buried him." [2] At that time, Amir was 40 years old.
May Allah be pleased with him!
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“Ayyash” is the name of a Companion who was close to the Prophet. This word, which means “having a nice state, living healthily and well-off”, is also used in the sense of “cereal seller and baker”.
Hz. Ayyash was one of the first lucky people who accepted the invitation to Islam. He was among those who participated in the luminous caravan of Islam in the first days when the Prophet proclaimed the divine religion. He was present with his wife Asma in the second group that migrated to Abyssinia because of the tortures of the polytheists. When they returned from Abyssinia, the second migration began: the journey to Madinah. [1]
The Prophet was still in Makkah. He allowed the believers to migrate to Madinah. Hz. Umar, who was one of the first people who left Makkah, performed a prayer of two rak'ahs in the Kaaba in front of the astonished polytheists. He set off by challenging them as follows: "If you want to make your mother cry, widow your wife and orphan your children, come and meet me behind that valley." Hz. Ayyash bin Abi Rabia and Hz. Hisham Bin As accompanied him. Later, they set off for Madinah with a group of 20 people including those who joined them afterwards.
When Abu Jahl, the leader of the unbelieving band, heard that Ayyash, his step maternal uncle, had left Makkah, he followed them with his brother Harith; he caught up with them in Madinah. With his insidious plan, he wanted to deceive Ayyash, persuade him to return to Makkah and torture him there.
Abu Jahl approached the migrating Muslims and found Ayyash. He provoked the sense of compassion of Ayyash. He said, "Your mother vowed that she would not combe her hair and would not sit in the shade until you returned. Go and save her"
Feeling that Ayyash started to relent, Hz. Umar intervened. He wanted to warn Ayyash. He said, "O Ayyash! I swear that they are trying to fool you! They want to take you to Makkah and make you abandon your religion. Do not believe them!"
Hz. Ayyash loved his mother very much. He also stated that he made ends meet with the help of Umar. He said,
"My mother vowed. I cannot contradict her. I am a friend of yours; I live based on your wealth." In fact, he had migrated in accordance with the order of Allah and His Messenger. The consent of Allah was obvious. The rights of parents came after that. Hz. Umar warned him again: "I am one of the rich people of my tribe. I will give you half of my wealth if you do not go with them." However, Ayyash was determined to go. When he insisted, Hz. Umar gave him his camel and said to him, "If you suspect them, get on the camel and escape from them."
The Muslims who were there did not want Ayyash to leave. Hz. Ayyash was going to face the trouble of not acting in accordance with consultation. He set off with Abu Jahl and his brother. When they approached Makkah, the trick of the polytheists began to appear. They asked Ayyash who was following them to ride in front of them. As soon as he started to ride at the front, they jumped on him and tied him tightly; then, they took him to Makkah. Abu Jahl began to torture him. At first, he hit him 100 times with a stick. Then, he imprisoned Ayyash without giving him bread and water. He wanted to intimidate the other Companions who intended to migrate.
Hz. Ayyash made a mistake. The other Muslims did not think good things about him. They were worried that he would return from his religion. However, it was stated in a verse that was sent down later that those who persecuted their own souls would be forgiven. [2]
The Prophet prayed every day after the morning prayer for the rescue of the Muslims who could not leave Makkah after migrating and who were persecuted by the polytheists: "O Allah! Save Salama bin Hisham, Ayyash bin Abi Rabia and the other weak Muslims who are tortured." [3]
On the other hand, the Prophet was looking for a way to save them. One day, he asked his Companions, "Who will save the Muslims who are under torture?" Walid bin Walid, who had just returned from Makkah said, "I will save them and bring them to you." When he arrived in Makkah, he learned from a woman where they were kept. He went there at night. He cut the rope that tied them and saved them. They traveled on foot uninterruptedly. They arrived in Madinah. Hz. Walid's fingers were torn. However, the joy of saving his brothers made him forget all of the troubles. [4]
The Islamic State was established in Madinah. The Prophet was the head of the first Islamic State. It was time for the relationships with other states. He wrote letters to invite the heads of other states and tribal chieftains to the true religion and sent one to each of them through envoys. He sent Ayyash to Masruh and Nuaym bin Abdil-Kulal, the heads of the Himyar tribe living in South Yemen.
The prophet chose the people whom he sent to the heads of state and tribe from among the Companions who were strong, knowledgeable and shrewd in foreign relations. He told and explained them what to do, how to behave and even what to wear in detail.
After giving Ayyash a letter to invite the people of Himyar to Islam, he gave Ayyash the following advice:
"Do not enter their land at night. Make wudu after waiting until the morning. Perform a prayer of two rak'ahs. Ask salvation and acceptance from Allah. Take refuge in Allah. Take my letter in your right hand, give them with your right hand and from the right side. When they accept you, read them the chapter of al-Bayyina. The evidence they will show you will be useless. The gilded books they will give you will have no light. When they read something to you in their own language, say 'translate it'. After saying 'Allah is enough for me', read the following verse: Now then, for that (reason), call (them to the Faith), and stand steadfast as thou art commanded nor follow thou their vain desires; but say: "I believe in the Book which Allah has sent down; and I am commanded to judge justly between you. Allah is Our Lord and your Lord. For us (is the responsibility for) Our deeds, and for you for your deeds. There is no contention between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him is (Our) final goal.'" [5]
With these words, the Prophet recommended "telling the truth", which is the first condition of conveying the message of Islam. He told Ayyash how to treat them when they became Muslims as follows:
"When they become Muslims, ask them to give you the three staffs before which they prostrate all together. [He told Ayyash from which they were made of.] They will bring them to you. Burn them in the middle of the market."
With these words, the Prophet wanted them to cut off all of their relationship with their previous religion. He stated that everything belonging to the wrong had to be destroyed when the truth came.
Hz. Ayyash went to Himyar. He acted according to the instructions of the Prophet. After Ayyash left, the leaders of Himyar stated that they became Muslims by sending a letter with an envoy.
Hz. Ayyash, who participated in the conquest of Syria and fought heroically during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr, died in Makkah after returning from Damascus.
May Allah be pleased with him!
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Before Islam, service to the Kaaba was regarded as a holy duty. This holy duty was fulfilled by the family of Abbas, one of the noble families of Quraysh. They repaired the Kaaba and gave water to those who visited the Kaaba. Serving the Kaaba was a tradition of this family.
When Abbas was a child, he got lost. His mother looked for him everywhere but she could not find him. She made a vow and said, “If I find Abbas, I will ornament the Kaaba with silk fabric. Then, Abbas appeared. After that, his mother kept her promise. Thus, the Kaaba was covered with silk fabric for the first time in history by the mother of Abbas. Continuing this nice custom of his family, Abbas did not allow anyone to utter bad words in the Kaaba.
Abbas loved his nephew, Muhammad (pbuh), before he became a Muslim, too. He protected Muhammad (pbuh) against Makkan polytheists. The Prophet (pbuh) would consult with him first when he made some important decisions. When Makkan polytheists disturbed the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) a lot, the people of Madinah invited him to their city. Abbas was with the Prophet (pbuh) during the famous Pledge of Aqabah and wanted the people of Madinah to do their best to protect the Messenger of Allah. He addressed the people of Madinah as follows:
"O people of Madinah!You know the position that Muhammad holds among us. We have protected him from his enemies in Makkah and will continue to do so. You invite him to Madinah. Take him there if you can protect him. If you are not sure that you will protect him, give up this attempt."
Thus, Hz. Abbas wanted to guarantee the protection of the Messenger of Allah. When the people of Madinah, Aws and Khazraj tribes, promised that they would protect him like their own lives, the anxiety of Abbas disappeared. Thus, the third Pledge of Aqabah ended with a good result.
During the Battle of Badr, Abbas was in the ranks of the polytheists. The Messenger of Allah gave instructions to all of his Companions not to kill him. He said,
"If you encounter Abbas, do not kill him! Abbas is one of us."
Hz. Abbas was enslaved in the Battle of Badr. The Prophet informed him that he had to pay the ransom like other prisoners of war in order to be saved from slavery. Hz. Abbas said,
"O Messenger of Allah! I am a Muslim. The Quraysh tribe forced me into this war." The Prophet said,
"Allah knows whether you are a Muslim or not. If what you say is true, Allah will give you thawabs. However, you were apparently against us. Try to pay ransom in order to be saved."
After the war, the money Abbas had was seized as booty. Hz. Abbas said to the Prophet,
“At least accept the money you seized from me as my ransom.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) did not accept this offer. He said,
“That money is booty that Allah took from you and gave to us.” Hz. Abbas said,
“O Messenger of Allah! I have no other wealth. Will you make me beg money from people in Makkah?” The Prophet (pbuh) said,
“O Abbas! Where are your gold coins?” Hz. Abbas was surprised. He asked the Messenger of Allah,
“What gold?” Thereupon, the Prophet (pbuh) said,
“The gold that you gave to Ummul-Fadl, your wife, on the day you left Makkah! There was nobody else with you then. You said to your wife, 'I do not know what will happen to me during this expedition. If something happens to me and I do not come back, this is for you, this for Fadl, this for Abdullah, this is for Ubaydullah and this is for Qusam.’”
The astonishment of Abbas increased. He said,
"Who told you this? By Allah, there was no one but me and Ummul-Fadl there!" The Prophet said,
"Allah informed me about it." Thereupon, Hz. Abbas said,
“I witness that there is no god but Allah. I also witness that you are the Messenger of Allah.” Thus, he revealed that he was a Muslim. [1]
The Prophet asked his uncle to return to Makkah, observe the movements of the polytheists and inform him about them. Hz. Abbas returned to Makkah and kept it a secret that he was a believer. He fulfilled very important duties. He conveyed all the details in Makkah to the Messenger of Allah and told him how Makkah could be conquered.
The polytheists knew about this. For this reason, they never loved Hz. Abbas. However, they could not say anything to him. On the other hand, Hz. Abbas felt disturbed when they pulled a face. He sometimes said to the Prophet,
"O Messenger of Allah! I am disturbed by the faces of the polytheists when they pull a face due to seeing me!" The Prophet consoled him by saying,
"They will not enter Paradise unless they love you." He drew attention to the punishment to be inflicted upon them in the hereafter.
Hz. Abbas sometimes thought about migrating and asked permission from the Prophet. However, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) wanted him to stay in Makkah and said to him,
"Allah will end prophethood with me and migration with you."
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) loved Hz. Abbas very much. He said the following about him, "He is the most generous one among Qurayshis." He prayed for him as follows: "O Allah! Forgive Abbas and his children, cleanse them from the dirt of sin and protect them!" [2]
When the Prophet addressed Hz. Abbas, he said, "O uncle of the Messenger of Allah!" Hz. Abbas liked this way of addressing very much. He often came to the Messenger of Allah and asked him to teach him prayer and knowledge. The Messenger of Allah taught him short and concise prayers, and told him to ask for happiness in the world and in the hereafter.
Although Abbas was older than the Messenger of Allah, he showed great respect to him. He did not want to say, "I am older than the Messenger of Allah." When they asked him, "Who is older, you or the Messenger of Allah?", he would say, "He is greater than me, and I am older than him."
Hz. Abbas served Islam a lot after the death of the Prophet too. It was the 18th year of the Migration. A catastrophe of drought and famine affected the entire Arabian Peninsula. All living things were in great trouble due to thirst. The caliph of the Muslims was Hz. Umar. He was desperate in this situation. There was no one to take refuge in except Allah. Hz. Umar took everybody including children and old people with him for the rain prayer. Among them was Hz. Abbas. The caliph of the Muslims Hz. Umar, took Hz. Abbas with him to the pulpit and begged Allah in tears as follows:
"O Lord! When the Messenger of Allah was alive, he would beg you at such times, and you would bestow rain on us. Now, we are begging you with the uncle of the Holy Prophet. Grant us rain."
After this prayer of Hz. Umar’s, Hz. Abbas said:
"O Allah! You are the one who watches and sees everything. You will neither leave a helpless creature alone, nor will you let a camel whose leg is broken die due to hunger. O Lord! Children became very weak. The elderly became skinny. Their cries are heard from the sky. You are the one who knows secret and the most secret things. Help your weak slaves. Show us mercy and help us. They hold me and beg You based on my affinity for Your Messenger. O Lord! Send us rain!"
This appeal reached Allah at once. The clouds became clustered, the sky got dark; thunders were heard. Divine mercy descended on the earth in the form of raindrops. Plants began to yield abundantly. The earth and the creatures became very happy.
May Allah be pleased with the uncle of the Prophet, Hz. Abbas, who died in 32 H at the age of 88!
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Abu Dujana was a brave companion. He was always ready to sacrifice his life in the way of Allah and His Messenger. He wrapped a red turban around his head as a sign of this in both the Battle of Badr and the Battle of Uhud. When the Ansar saw this, they said, "Abu Dujana wrapped the turban of death again." [1]
Hz. Abu Dujana started to proceed to the ranks of the enemy proudly, holding the sword that the Prophet gave him on condition that he would use it as it was necessary. [2]
In the meantime, the Companions did not like it when they saw that Abu Dujana walked proudly. They feared that he might be destroyed because of this deed. Thereupon, the Prophet stated the following indicating that it was permissible to walk proudly against the enemy:
"Allah does not like this kind of walking anywhere except in battlefields."
The sword that the Prophet gave to Abu Dujana destroyed the polytheists and killed them. Abu Dujana killed the polytheists that confronted him one by one and arrived at the place where the women who encouraged the polytheists to fight by playing the tambourine and singing were. He narrates it as follows:
"I saw someone from a distance. He was shouting at the polytheists and was angry. When I walked on him and raised my sword to hit him, he screamed. When I noticed that it was a woman, I thought of the honor of the sword of the Messenger of Allah and I did not hit a woman with it."
In the first phase of the Battle of Uhud, the Muslims attained a great victory thanks to the efforts Hz. Abu Dujana and the other Companions. Therefore, the mujahids began to collect the booty that the polytheists had left. In the meantime, the archers who had been ordered definitely not to leave their place left their places and pursued the booty. Things changed at that moment. The cavalrymen of the polytheists, who had been watching the archers and looking for an opportunity, started to attack the mujahids from behind. Thereupon, many mujahids were martyred; and some of them panicked, running to the right and left.
In the meantime, the rumor that the Prophet died spread. The mujahids were demoralized; many of them stopped fighting and sat in a secluded place. However, the polytheists had martyred Mus'ab bin Umayr, who was carrying the standard of the army, not the Messenger of Allah. They thought the person they killed was the Prophet and started to shout, "We have killed Muhammad." At that time, our Prophet (pbuh) was throwing arrows and stones at the enemy, and he remained where he was. Meanwhile, 14 mujahids, 7 of them from Muhajirs and 7 from Ansar, surrounded the Messenger of Allah, protecting him from the attacks of the polytheists. These reckless believers were determined not to leave the Prophet alone at the cost of sacrificing their lives. Abu Dujana was one of them. None of these Companions, who received the prayer of the Messenger of Allah, was martyred there. They used their bodies as shields to protect the Prophet.
Abu Dujana leaned over the Messenger of Allah, protecting him from the arrows. The arrows hit his back and fell without hurting. In the meantime, Abdullah bin Humayd, one of the ferocious polytheists, saw that the Prophet was alive and that his Companions protected him. He drove his horse in that direction without losing time.
"I am Zuhayr's son. Show me Muhammad. By Allah, either I will kill him or I will die." He was wearing armor from head to toe. . He predicted that no Muslim would be able to face him. He proceeded slyly. Suddenly he was astonished to see Abu Dujana facing him. As soon as Abu Dujana saw him, he said, "Come on to me. I am using my body as a shield to defend the Messenger of Allah." Then, he swung his sword at the legs Ibn Humayd’s horse. When the horse collapsed, he said, "Here! This is from the son of Harasha." He killed Ibn Humayd with one blow of his sword. When the Prophet saw this effort of Abu Dujana to protect him, he prayed for him as follows:
"O Allah! Be pleased with the son of the Harasha as I am pleased with him.
Thus, Abu Dujana received his spiritual reward in advance.
As a result of the efforts of the heroic Companions like Abu Dujana, the polytheists had to retreat without giving much harm. When the war was over, the Prophet took back the sword he had given to Abu Dujana. He gave it to his daughter Fatima so that she would erase the blood of the polytheists on the sword. In the meantime, Hz. Ali gave his sword to Fatima and said, "Take this; it worked very well in this battle." Thereupon, the Prophet said, “You worked very hard in this battle. Sahl bin Harith and Abu Dujana also became very successful." Thus, he appreciated and praised them. [3]
Along with his courage and heroism Abu Dujana was also known for his superior virtue; he never kept busy with unnecessary things and never had any bad thoughts about anyone. One day, he got sick. Despite being seriously sick, there was no trace of disease on him. His face was bright and sparkling. One of those who came to visit him asked, "What is the reason for your face being like this?" Hz. Abu Dujana gave him the following response:
"There are two deeds of mine in which I can trust and which save me. One is not being busy with useless things; the other is not having any bad thoughts in my heart about any Muslims." [4]
Abu Dujana was martyred at the Battle of Yamama, which happened during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr.
May Allah be pleased with him!
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There is no doubt that all of the Companions made great efforts to value the Sunnah and to be subject to it. However, some of them were more adherent and devoted to the Sunnah than others. One of them was so adherent to it that he worked meticulously to follow the Messenger of Allah exactly. He imitated the Prophet in not only matters concerning worshipping but also human affairs. For example, when he went somewhere that the Messenger of Allah went, he would follow the same route, stop in the same places, made wudu and performed prayers in the same place as the Messenger of Allah did. The Muslims knew this and they did whatever he did as sunnah without hesitation.
Once, he had all of his hair cut. While he was having his hair cut, he said to the people around, "O people! It is not sunnah. I am having my hair cut because it gives me pain." For, he was worried that people would do so thinking that it was sunnah. This Companion was Abdullah, Hz. Umar's son.
Hz. Abdullah was a child aged about five years old when his father became a Muslim. Therefore, he never worshipped idols. When he became old enough to understand Islam, he became a Muslim at once. Then he migrated to Madinah.
When Abdullah became a youth, he wanted to join the army prepared for the Battle of Badr but the Prophet did not allow him and a few more youths to join the army. This distressed Abdullah a lot. He stated the following regarding the issue:
"He did not allow me to join the war because he found me small. I do not remember any other night when I did not sleep a wink until the morning, and tossed and turned by weeping. "
Hz. Abdullah could not join the Battle of Uhud because he was too young. However, after this battle, he joined all of the wars with the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah appreciated him due to his great heroism. [1]
Abdullah joined Ashab as-Suffa, who devoted themselves to learning Islam only and who were not engaged in any other work, after the Migration. He started to sleep in the mosque with them. Thus, beginning from a very young age, he learned from both the Prophet and the Companions he stayed with. He increased his knowledge. He soon became one of the distinguished people of Ashab as-Suffa. He participated in the circles of learning (ilm). He acquired deep knowledge related to Islamic affairs.
The Prophet loved Abdullah a lot; he gave Abdullah some advice from time to time. Once, he held Abdullah, who was still very young at that time, on the shoulder and said, to him,
“O Abdullah! Accept yourself as a lonely passenger in the world and as a person in the grave. O son of Umar! There is neither dinar nor dirham in the hereafter; goodness and evil are compared there. Allah will not look at the faces of those who drag their clothes with prides.” [2]
After that, Hz. Abdullah lived in accordance with this advice throughout his life.
When Hz. Abdullah was sleeping in the mosque, he saw a dream. Two angels took him to Hell. He started to say, “I take refuge in Allah from Hell. I take refuge in Allah from Hell. I take refuge in Allah from Hell.” Meanwhile, another angel joined them. He said to Abdullah, “Do not fear!” Abdullah narrated this dream to Hafsa, his sister and asked her to ask the Prophet about it. The Messenger of Allah said, “Abdullah is a very good man. If only he would perform prayers at night.” After that, Abdullah slept very little at night. He performed tahajjud prayer at night. [3]
Abdullah loved the Messenger of Allah a lot. His heart, his soul, his whole being was filled with his love. Due to this love, he never left the Messenger of Allah for a moment except for his necessary affairs. He learned a lot from the school of the prophethood. The Prophet died like all of the ephemeral beings. This separation distressed Hz. Abdullah a lot. Whenever the Messenger of Allah was mentioned, he could not help shedding tears. Whenever he set out on a journey and returned from a journey, he would first visit the tomb of the Prophet.
During the caliphate of Hz. Umar, his father, Abdullah took part in the conquest of Egypt, North Africa, Khorasan and Tabaristan. He helped his father in administrative issues. He settled the complicated issues that Muslims confronted. The most obvious characteristic of Abdullah, who was one of the Companions (stars) that would guide the Muslim generations up to the Day of Judgment, in following the Sunnah was his generosity. This lucky Companion acted in accordance with the following verse: “By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love.”[4] His exemplary attitudes are given as examples in the narrations about it.
Once, he got on his camel. He liked the way his camel walked.
He said, "How nice! How nice!" Then, he made the camel stop and sit. He told Hz. Nafi, who was with him, to remove the saddle from the camel. When the saddle was removed, he said to Nafi,
"Have you ever seen a camel with such a beautiful head?" Now, it was clear that he would sacrifice this beautiful camel in hajj. Nafi said to him,
"It would be a pity. If you sold this camel, you could buy a few camels to sacrifice with the money." However, Abdullah ignored what he said and told him to mark the camel and put it among the camels to be sacrificed. For, it was basic principle in his life to sacrifice the things that he liked most in the way of Allah. [5]
Abdullah bin Umar's most famous characteristic is his taking care of the poor, the orphans, and the people without any friends or relatives. Hz. Abdullah always made sure that there was an orphan or a poor person at the table when he had a meal. When he sat at the table for lunch and dinner, he immediately informed the orphans living around and started eating after they arrived. When he walked out of the mosque, he would take the poor he met on the way to his house and feed them. His wife often felt sorry for him because he would often go hungry due to this custom because Hz. Abdullah gave all his food to the poor. Therefore, once, his wife informed the poor waiting at the exit of the mosque that she would give them food. When Hz. Abdullah came out of the mosque, he could not find anyone on the way. When he got home, he said,
"Call me such and such people." His wife, said, “I sent food to them.” He said, “Your aim is probably not to make me eat a meal.” He did not eat lunch and dinner that day. [6]
An exemplary anecdote for us from his exemplary and harmonious life is mentioned in the book called “Lem’alar”.
One day while shopping in the market, in order to be economical and to preserve the confidence and integrity on which trade depends, Hz. Abdullah disputed hotly over something worth a few kurush. One of the Companions saw him, and imagining the Illustrious Successor of the Prophet on Earth, the Caliph ‘Umar’s son’s wrangling over a few kurush to be an extraordinary stinginess, he followed him in order to understand his conduct.
Next, he saw that ‘Abdullah was entering his blessed house and had spotted a poor man at the door. He chatted with him for a bit, and the man left. Then he came out of the second door of the house and saw another poor man. He chatted with him for a while too, and the man left. The Companion, who was watching from the distance, was curious. He went and asked the poor men: “‘Abdullah paused a while with you. What did he do?” Each of them replied: “He gave me a gold piece.” “Glory be to Allah!,” exclaimed the Companion, and thought to himself: “How is it that he wrangled like that over a few kurush in the market, then was completely happy to give away two hundred kurush in his house without letting anyone know?” He went to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar and said: “O Imam! Solve this difficulty for me! In the market you did that, while in your house you did this.” ‘Abdullah replied to him saying:
“What I did in the market was not stinginess, but arose from frugality; it was perfectly reasonable, and to preserve confidence and honesty, which are the basis and spirit of commerce. And what I did by my house arose from the heart’s compassion and the spirit’s perfection. Neither was the first stinginess, nor the second immoderateness.”[7]
Abdullah, whose compassion, mercy, balance and reasoning are clearly seen in the examples we have given, had a heartfelt and brave character that could utter the truth aloud in the face of oppression without hesitation. His harsh reaction against Hajjaj in the last years of his life indicates this.
On one occasion when Hajjaj, the Oppressor, lengthened the sermon of Friday too much, he shouted from the place where he was sitting,
"The sun will not wait for you!" Hajjaj said,
"I would like to cut your head!" Abdullah said,
"I know you would because you are a debauched person."
Hz. Abdullah would not accept to be an administrator because he was afraid of its responsibilities. He refused the offer Hz. Uthman made insistently each time.
Abdullah bin Umar, who was one of the “Four Abdullahs” famous in the history of ilm, had a distinguished place in tafsir, fiqh and especially hadith. He narrated 2 thousand and 630 hadiths, becoming the second person who narrated the most hadiths after Abu Hurayra.
While Abdullah narrated hadiths, he scrutinized them carefully. He would pay attention to words and even letters in the hadiths he narrated. Even if the meaning was the same, he would not use a word that was not used by the Messenger of Allah. He pronounced the words very clearly when he narrated hadiths. His listeners admired him. Some of the hadiths he narrated are as follows:
“A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection.” [8]
“Whoever has the following four characteristics will be a pure hypocrite. Whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. Whenever he makes a promise, he breaks it. Whenever he makes a contract, he gives it up. When he becomes an enemy, he exceeds the limits and commits evil deeds more…”[9]
Once, the Prophet saw somebody blaming a person due to his modesty. He said,
“This modesty will harm you.” Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,
“Leave him. Modesty is part of belief.” [10]
Although Hz. Abdullah had a very good command of hadith, tafsir and fiqh, he acted meticulously when he issued fatwas. He would act modestly and say, "I do not know this issue" if he did not know something very well or if he hesitated. Many people were amazed by his sincere admission. Once, they wanted a fatwa from Abdullah. He said, "I do not know this issue." When the person asking about the issue insisted, Hz. Abdullah said, "I cannot build a bridge to Hell because of you."
Hz. Abdullah passed away in 73 H when he was 86 years old. The following word of his is indeed a guide to those who are in the way of knowledge (ilm):
“A person cannot be a real scholar unless he has the following qualities: He should not be jealous of anyone superior to him. He should not look down on anybody below him. He should not seek a worldly interest for his ilm.”
Hz. Amir was the brother of Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas, who was one of the ten Companions who were given the glad tiding of Paradise. He became a Muslim in the first years of Islam through Hz. Sa'd. His mother was disturbed when he became a Muslim as she did when Sa'd became a Muslim. She vowed that she would not sit in the shade, not to eat and drink anything unless he left his religion. Amir was very young at that time but he had a strong belief. He did not pay attention to these words of his mother’s because his mother had done the same thing for his older brother Sa'd before. Sa'd did not obey his mother and did not make any concessions about his belief though he respected his mother. Thereupon, the verse stating that it was not permissible to obey a person even if it was one’s mother or father if it necessitated disobedience to Allah was sent down. Knowing this, Hz. Amir did not obey his mother.
However, his mother disturbed Amir a lot. Hz. Amir could not bear it any more; he migrated to Abyssinia. Then, he migrated to Madinah, receiving two thawabs of migration.
Amir, who participated in the Battle of Uhud passed away during the caliphate of Hz. Umar in Damascus. [1]
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[1]Tabaqat, 4: 123.
63-)
Abdullah bin Zubayr (r.a.)
Abdullah was the son of Hz. Abu Bakr's daughter Asma and Zubayr bin Awwam, who was one of the ten Companions that were given the glad tidings of Paradise. He was the first child born out of muhajirs after the Migration. He was born in the 1st year of the Migration. His birth made all Muslims very happy. The Muslims celebrated it as if it was a feast day. They uttered "Allahu akbar!" Their joy was due to revealing the lies of the Jews. For, they said to muhajirs, "We cast a spell over you; you will not have children anymore."
The Prophet gave him the name "Abdullah". Then, he wanted a date fruit. He chewed him and put it into Abdullah's mouth. Thus, the first food to enter the stomach of this beloved baby was the date from the blessed mouth of the Messenger of Allah. Then, the Prophet prayed for the blessing of Abdullah.
Both Hz. Zubayr and Asma did their best to raise him in the best way. When he was seven, they took him to the Prophet for allegiance. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) accepted his allegiance by smiling.
Hz. Abdullah ended the period of childhood and became a youth during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr. He proved himself during the caliphate of Hz. Umar. He fought heroically during the caliphate of Hz. Umar and Hz. Uthman.
Abdullah did not expect any worldly interest or return for his service. He always based his deeds solely on the consent of Allah.
During the caliphate of Hz. Uthman, the Islamic armies were conquering cities and towns in various places. The conquests in North Africa were led by Abdullah bin Abi Sarh, the Governor of Egypt with 40 thousand mujahids. The Islamic armies reached Tripoli with magnificent triumphs; they confronted the resistance of the Byzantine army of 120,000 people. The Muslims continued their heroic struggle against the Romans in the battle that lasted for days. The battles continued violently. The battle that started every day at dawn lasted only until noon; then, the soldiers of both sides returned to their tents in a weak and exhausted way.
Gregorias, the commander of the Byzantine army, was very sad because he could not defeat the Muslims or make them retreat in spite of having more soldiers. Suddenly, a clever idea came to his mind. He would marry his daughter off to a person who would kill Abdullah bin Abi Sarh, the commander of the Muslims. In addition, he would give to that person a reward of 100 thousand gold coins. Meanwhile, his daughter was fighting with him.
This news of reward encouraged Greek youths. They attacked Abdullah bin Abi Sarh. They could not kill him but they inflicted many casualties. Meanwhile, Abdullah bin Zubayr, who came to help Abdullah bin Abi Sarh with a small unit, said to the commander,
"Promise the same thing to your soldiers. Promise 100 thousand gold coins, the daughter of Gregorias and the governorship of North Africa to the soldier who would kill Gregorias."
The commander of the Islamic army found this offer appropriate.
The next day Abdullah bin Zubayr became the commander. Hz. Abdullah was a good commander. He practiced a nice strategy. He divided the soldiers into two groups. While one group continued fighting, the other group would rest in their tents.
The plan was put into practice. The first group continued until noon. When they retreated, the second group, who were fit and energetic, came to the battlefield. The Romans were very tired. They could not resist the mujahids and were defeated. Meanwhile, Abdullah bin Zubayr captured Gregorias and killed him. He enslaved his daughter.
After the war was over, it was time to share the booty. The daughter of Gregorias and 100 thousand gold coins were going to be given to Abdullah bin Zubayr, who deserved them. Abdullah did not accept them. He said, "No. I made jihad for my religion, not for worldly possessions. I expect my reward from Allah."
Abdullah bin Abi Sarh, the commander, sent Abdullah bin Zubayr to Hz. Uthman to give him the glad tidings of victory and to deliver the booty. After a tiring journey, Hz. Abdullah arrived in Madinah; he told to the Caliph of Islam and other Muslims about the victory of Islam with all its splendor, but he did not speak of himself even in one word. However, they later found out about the self-sacrificing and heroic deeds of Abdullah in this battle. The fact that he did not mention himself elevated his rank more in the eyes of the Muslims. [1]
Abdullah bin Zubayr did not want to change the service of holy jihad with temporary and ephemeral pleasures and worldly things and ranks; he did not sacrifice the eternal fruits of the hereafter for the pleasures of the world. He found it contrary to the principles of sincerity to expect to be appreciated, liked and applauded by people let alone obtaining some worldly benefits and interests for the material and spiritual jihad, which needs to be done for the sake of Allah.
Hz. Abdullah was a scholar of the Companions. He was one of the famous "Four Abdullahs". He narrated a few hadiths from the Prophet. One of these hadiths is as follows:
“If man were to be given a valley full of gold, he would desire to have another. If he were given two, he would seek the third. Nothing can fill his mouth except the earth (dust). Allah Almighty accepts the repentance of a person who turns to Him.”[2]
Hz. Abdullah offered advice to the public at every opportunity. In a season of Hajj, he made the following speech:
"O people! You come from various countries as guests of Allah. Allah entertains His guests in the best way. Whoever comes with the purpose of obtaining rewards should know that Allah will not turn away a person who is at His door. Confirm your words with your deeds. For, what is essential is what you have done. The intention is also the intention of the heart. Avoid opposing Allah in this blessed day because these days are the days when sins are forgiven. "[3]
Hz. Abdullah fulfilled the duty of conveying the message of Islam by both speaking and sending letters. He wrote the following letter to a friend:
"My brother! There are some signs of pious people. People know them from those signs. Those signs are patience in the face of misfortunes, consent to qadar (destiny), thanking for boons, and obeying the commands of the Quran and avoiding its prohibitions. "[4]
Everything he saw reminded him of Allah. When he heard the thunder, he would say, "I glorify Allah, whom clouds and angels glorify out of fear, and acquit Him of all incomplete qualities.” He said it was a great threat to the people of the earth.
In addition to these virtues, Hz. Abdullah was a good administrator. After Yazid's death, he was chosen the caliph in Makkah when most of the Muslims paid allegiance to him. The Muslims of Hejaz, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt and Khorasan regarded him worthy of this duty and paid allegiance to him. He ruled in Makkah with justice for a few years.
However, Abdulmalik bin Marwan, who captured the Umayyad government, sent Hajjaj, who became known with the name “the Oppressor” in history, against Abdullah with an army in 72 H. Hajjaj set up a catapult on Mount Abu Qubays and threw stones at the Kaaba. Hz. Abdullah defended the Kaaba heroically. However, many of his men were deceived by Hajjaj through various promises. Finally, they martyred Hz. Abdullah. Hajjaj, the oppressor, did not find it enough and hanged Abdullah. He stood against this martyr and insulted him. Then, he cut off his head and sent it to Damascus.
In the Era of Jahiliyya, the keys to the Kaaba were kept by the tribe of Uthman bin Talha. The last person who had this duty was his father. When Talha, Uthman’s father, was killed in the Battle of Uhud, this duty was transferred to Uthman.
When the Prophet was in Makkah, he invited Uthman bin Talha to Islam. Uthman said, “You act contrarily to the religion of your tribe and have introduced a new religion.” Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,
“O Uthman! I hope that you will see me in a position one day when I will be able to put this key wherever I wish and give it to whomever I wish.”
Uthman could not understand the fact in that statement and said, “If this happens, Quraysh will be all uprooted and disgraced.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “No, Quraysh will then be all established and very honorable indeed.”
Years passed. Uthman bin Talha’s heart warmed toward Islam. He became a Muslims in the 8th year of the Migration, before the Conquest of Makkah.
After Makkah was conquered, the Prophet sent Uthman to his mother to bring him the key. When he returned, the Prophet said, “Did what I had told you not take place?” Uthman said, “Yes, I witness that you are the Messenger of Allah.” Then, the Prophet recited the verse “Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due…” and gave the key back to Uthman bin Talha. Uthman bin Talha died in 42 H. His descendants fulfilled the duty of keeping the key to the Kaaba for a long time. [1]
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[1]Usdul-Ghaba, 3: 372; Mustadrak, 3: 429; Hz. Muhammed ve İslamiyet, 8: 298-299.
65-)
Tufayl bin Amr (r.a.)
The scorching desert sun continued burning the land and the people as usual. A small piece of shade, a handful of water and slight coolness gave great happiness to people.
The most terrible thing was that the Arab land and Arabs were burned by unbelief, polytheism and savagery. However, the people started to attain coolness, elixir of life and happiness. For, there was Hz. Muhammad (pbuh). Despite all kinds of trouble and tortures, he continued emitting his light.
One day, when the scorching sun was dominant and it was extremely hot, somebody came to Makkah. He was walking toward the Kaaba on his attractive horse with his smart clothes and chivalrous looks. He was the poet Tufayl bin Amr, one of the notables of the Daws tribe.
A group of people including Abu Lahab, Abu Sufyan and Abu Jahl surrounded him in excitement. Tufayl answered those who welcomed him and tried to understand why they were so excited.
When Allah protected His Messenger from the oppression of the polytheists, they started to prevent the people coming from other towns from meeting the Messenger of Allah. They wanted to isolate him and prevent him from talking to others. It was possible for Tufayl bin Amr to talk to him and to be influenced by him. Therefore, the notables of Quraysh surrounded him and tried to dissuade him from talking to the Messenger of Allah.
Unbelief was in fear; polytheism was wincing; injustice was shivering. Finally, one of them started to speak: “O Tufayl! Welcome to our city! You know the man who emerged among us. Do not meet and speak to him. His words are like magic. They cause division between fathers and sons, between brothers and sisters and between husband and wife. If you do not want what happened to us happen to you and your tribe, do not speak to him and do not listen to him.”
Tufayl was a polytheist and he was there to visit the Kaaba and worship the idols. He was not expected to think differently from the other polytheists. He said,
“I swear that I will not listen to him and speak to him. My decision is definite. Should I meet him in the Kaaba, I will turn a deaf ear to him. I do not want to listen to him.”
Tufayl bin Amr left them and went to the Kaaba alone. He saw that the Messenger of Allah was performing a prayer there. He remembered the words he had just heard. The words of the polytheists rang in his ears. However, the Messenger of Allah was worshipping aloud and Tufayl heard him. What nice words he uttered! They did not sound like any Arabic poems he had heard. Were they really magic as the polytheists said? No, it was impossible. He heard so many magic words. This did not resemble any of them. Tufayl started to think: “I am one of the notables of the Daws tribe. I am a poet. I can distinguish between what is good and bad. Are there any signs of evil and bad things in his words? Why should I not listen to him from a closer place? If his words are nice, I will accept them. If they are bad, I will refuse them.”
When the Messenger of Allah finished his prayer, he headed toward his house. The poet of Daws could not help following him. When the Messenger of Allah arrived his house, Tufayl entered his house and said,
“O Muhammad! By Allah, they told me terrible things about you. I even plugged my ears so as not hear your words. However, I liked the words that I heard from you. Tell me about your religion.”
The Messenger of Allah read some verses from the Quran to Tufayl and told him about Islam. Tufayl accepted Islam at once. Then, he said to the Messenger of Allah,
“O Messenger of Allah! My people obey me so I want to return to my tribe and invite them to Islam.Pray to Allah to grant me a sign which will increase my influence on them.”
Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah said, “O Lord! Give him light.”
After leaving the Messenger of Allah, Tufayl set off in order to invite his tribe to Islam. He wanted to transmit the elixir of life he had to others. When he reached the place called "Saniyya", where his tribe could see him, a light radiated appeared on his forehead. He got very excited and prayed Allah Almighty as follows:
"O Lord! Put this light somewhere else, not on my forehead. I fear that my people will think that this is a form of illness because I left their religion.”
'The light then moved to the top of Tufayl’swhip. Therefore, he was given the nickname “Dhunnur [Owner of Light]”.
Tufayl bin Amr summoned his people and told them about Islam. However, they did not accept the invitation of Tufayl. Tufayl was excited and angry. He expected the people to accept Islam at once. He returned to Makkah, to the Messenger of Allah, hopelessly and sadly. He said,
“O Messenger of Allah! The people of Daws did not accept my call. Pray against them.”
The Messenger of Allah did not pray against those who could accept the true path. He prayed as follows: “O Lord! Guide the tribe of Daws.” Then, he turned to Tufayl and said,
“Now return to your tribe and call them to Islam. Do not treat them harshly. Use soft words to tell them about Islam.”
Obeying the order of the Messenger of Allah, Tufayl bin Amr stayed in the land of Daws for a long time and called people to Islam. During this period, the Messenger of Allah migrated to Madinah and the battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq were over. When he told people about Islam in the way that the Messenger of Allah told him, his call was accepted by some people and the number of people from his tribe that accepted Islam reached to 70-80.
As years passed, Tufayl’s desire to see the Messenger of Allah increased. He could not put up with it any longer and went to Madinah with the Muslims from his tribe to see the Messenger of Allah. He rejoined the Messenger of Allah. He took part with his tribe in the Battle of Khaybar.[1] Afterwards, he did not leave the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) until he died.[2]
He fought heroically in the wars against apostates during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr. In his dream, he saw that he himself and his son Umar would be martyred in the Battle of Yamama. After a while, he was martyred in Yamama and his son Umar was martyred at the Battle of Yarmuk.
May Allah be pleased with him!
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[1] Tabaqat, 4: 237.
[2] Isaba, 2: 225.
66-)
Thumama bin Uthal (r.a.)
It was after the Migration. The struggle between belief and unbelief was going on severely. The sun of Islam was enlightening more and more people as days went by. The Prophet (pbuh) sent envoys to the tribes living around Madinah and invited them to Islam. He accepted the envoys sent by them and entertained them.
Once, Thumama bin Uthal came to visit the Messenger of Allah. Thumama was the chief of the tribe of Yamama living near the Persian Gulf. The purpose of Thumama in his visit was to kill the Messenger of Allah.
When he was in the presence of the Messenger of Allah, he tried to attack the Messenger of Allah. However, the Companions of the Prophet prevented Thumama. During the tumult, Thumama managed to run away. The Messenger of Allah gave a decree that Thumama be killed where he was found. He also prayed Allah so that he would be caught.
A long time passed after that incident. Once, Thumama set off to go to Makkah for umrah, which was a religious practice during the Era of Ignorance. He was going to pass near Madinah. When he approached Madinah, he was caught by the Islamic cavalrymen who were patrolling. They did not know who Thumama, about whom there was a decree to be killed, was; so, they took him to the presence of the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah recognized Thumama as soon as he saw him. He turned to the Companions around him and asked them,
"Do you know who he is? He is Thumama bin Uthal. Treat him as a good captive. Do not hurt him.”
By treating Thumama, who had wanted to kill him, well, the Messenger of Allah showed his vast compassion and mercy. Then, he went home and said to his family,
"Get what food you can and send it to Thumama ibn Uthal." When the Messenger of Allah passed by him, he asked,
“O Thumama! What do you have to say for yourself?” he said,
“O Muhammad! I have goodness in my heart. If you kill me, you will kill a bloody-minded person. If you do me a favor, you will do a favor to a person who appreciates a favor. If you want money in compensation, I shall give you whatever amount you ask.”
The Messenger of Allah visited Thumama three days on end and asked the same question. He received the same answer. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah showed his mercy and did something that Thumama could not dream of. He forgave Thumama and said, "Set him free."
Upon this order, the Companions set him free. All of the hatred and enmity in the heart of Thumama were replaced by gleams of love and belief when he saw that he was forgiven though he was expecting to be killed. He ran to the palm grove near the mosque. He washed himself and his clothes there. After being cleaned from material dirt, he went into the presence of the Messenger of Allah, ready for spiritual cleaning. He uttered kalima ash-shahadah and spoke as follows in tears:
"By Allah, there was never on this earth a face more detestable than yours. Now, yours is the dearest face of all to me. I swear that there was never on this earth a religion more detestable than yours. Now, yours is the dearest religion of all to me. There was never on this earth a land more detestable than yours. Now, yours is the dearest land of all to me."
Thus, a ferocious polytheist of yesterday became a mujahid of Islam today thanks to the vast mercy of the Messenger of Allah. Thumama asked permission from the Messenger of Allah to perform umrah in the Islamic way. When he gave permission, he set off for Makkah. When he was about to enter Makkah, he began shouting "Labbayk Allakumma labbayk. (Here I am at Your command O Lord, Here I am.)" Thus, he declared that he had become a Muslim. The polytheists got very angry. They grabbed him and wanted to kill him without thinking that he was the leader of Yamama. However, some polytheists intervened and said, “We need Yamama for food. Set him free.” They set Thumama free. However, Thumama was not afraid of them. He said,
“I have decided to follow the best religion. I follow the religion of Muhammad. I became a Muslim. I swear by Allah that I will not give you any grains of wheat without the permission of Muhammad (pbuh)."
When Thumama returned to his land, he did what he had said. His people embraced Islam thanks to him. He prevented the polytheists from taking any cereals from Yamama. The polytheists started to undergo a great difficulty. They wrote a letter to the Messenger of Allah and told him that they were in trouble and hungry. They even sent Abu Sufyan to him. Abu Sufyan went into the presence of the Messenger of Allah and said, "Did you not say that you were sent as mercy for all realms?" He asked the Prophet to help lift the boycott. The polytheists, who once applied a boycott of food and drinks against the Messenger of Allah and Muslims because they opposed their wrong religion, now asked mercy from him.
The Messenger of Allah showed that he was really mercy for all realms. He did not treat them in retaliation. He wrote a letter to Thumama:
"Lift the boycott of food and drinks. Do not prevent the polytheists from taking supplies Makkah."
Upon this order of the Messenger of Allah, Thumama lifted the boycott.
One of the greatest services of Thumama was his struggle against Musaylima, who was an impostor that emerged in Yamama, after the death of the Messenger of Allah. He preached to his people and prevented them from going astray by following Musaylima. According to some narrations, Thumama was martyred by polytheists.[1]
May Allah be pleased with him!
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Life is full of tests, from cradle to grave. Especially believers face the hardest tests. Therefore, there is no guarantee that a believer who spent most of his life in a straightforward way serving Islam will not be deceived by the tricks of his soul one day. It will be a big mistake to think that a person completed the test of life successfully by looking at his previous life and service. For, the test does not end unless a person dies. Even if a believer spends most of his life serving Islam, he should not think that his responsibility ended until he dies with the same consciousness. Even the Companions, who are the best people after prophets, are not exceptions. However, repentance and asking for forgiveness after a mistake will eliminate such a danger. An example of this issue is seen in the life of Ka’b bin Malik, one of the Companions.
Hz. Ka’b was from Ansar. He took part in the Second Pledge of Aqaba. He took part in all battles with the Prophet except the Battle of Badr. The Prophet established brotherhood between him and Talha bin Ubaydullah. Ka’b fought heroically in the Battle of Uhud and received 11 wounds.
Hz. Ka’b was well-off. The Muslims would take part in the Expedition of Tabuk. The Prophet (pbuh), who had not told the Companions the place of expedition before, summoned the Muslims this time and told them that there would be an expedition to Tabuk. It was very hot and the fruits had ripened. Everybody was making preparations but Ka’b was busy with his own affairs thinking, “I can get ready in a wink.” When the Prophet (pbuh) set off, Ka’b left his house to make preparations but he returned without being able to do anything. He narrates the incident as follows:
“I thought of setting of and catching up with them. I wish I had done so. However, it was not possible. It made me depressed to see the people that were munafiqs and weak people who were regarded as excused by Allah around after the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) set off for this expedition.
The Prophet did not mention Ka’b’s name until he reached Tabuk. He asked people what Ka’b did. One of the Muslims said, “His looking at his garment and his height with pride prevented him from jihad. Mu’adh bin Jabal intervened at once and said that they knew nothing about him but good. Upon this reply, the Prophet kept silent.
When the expedition ended and the Muslims headed for Madinah, Ka’b became very worried and panicked. He was thinking of what to say to the Messenger of Allah when he returned. A lot of false excuses came to his mind but he did not want to lie to the Messenger of Allah. As a matter of fact, when he heard that the Messenger of Allah arrived in Madinah, he decided to enter into the presence of the Prophet and tell him the truth. He greeted the Messenger of Allah when he arrived. The Messenger of Allah asked him why he did not take part in the expedition with an expression as if he was cross with him. Ka’b gave the following answer:
“O Messenger of Allah! I swear by Allah that if I were sitting before any person from among the people of the world other than you, I would have avoided his anger with an excuse. For, I have been bestowed with the power of speaking fluently and eloquently. By Allah, I know well that if today I tell you a lie to seek your favor, Allah will surely make you angry with me in the near future. If I tell you the truth, you will get angry with me but I will tell the truth and expect a good result from Allah. I swear by Allah that there was no excuse for me not to join the expedition. I had never been stronger or wealthier than I was when I remained behind you”
However, about 80 people offered false excuses in the presence of the Prophet. He accepted their excuses, asked for Allah’s Forgiveness for them and left the secrets of their hearts to Allah to judge. However, Ka’b told the truth in the presence of Allah and His Messenger
After this answer, the Messenger of Allah told him to wait until Allah’s decree was revealed. Two more Companions were told the same thing along with him. When the news about those three people spread, the Companions started to treat them as if they were strangers. The other two Companions preferred to remain at home while Ka’b continued performing prayers in congregation. However, nobody talked to him. He tried to sit in places near the Messenger of Allah and look at his face. However, the Prophet turned his face away from him whenever he looked at him. Being tired of this state, Ka’b went to Abu Qatada, who was his paternal uncle’s son. He said, “O Abu Qatada! I am asking for Allah: Do you know how much I love Allah and His Messenger?” He did not answer. He repeated his question a few times. Abu Qatada gave a short answer: “Allah and His Messenger know it better.” Thereupon, Ka’b left in tears and sadly.
Days and weeks passed. Nobody talked to him. Ka’b did not know how it would end. Meanwhile, something that made Ka’b’s test harder occurred: He received a letter from the Coptic leader in Ghassan during this distressing period of waiting that lasted for 50 days. The following was written in the letter:
“I have been informed that your friend has treated you harshly. Allah will not let you live at a place where you feel inferior, and your right is lost. So, join us, and we will help you.”
On the one hand, a prophet who has not even looked at him for a week and his friends who did not bother to talk to him; on the other hand, an invitation offering him honor, entertainment and dignity. The enemy wanted to benefit from this weak moment of Ka’b. Who could say no to such an attractive offer coming at a hard time? However, Ka’b preferred the Messenger of Allah without any hesitation. He tore the letter of the Coptic leader and threw it away.
Meanwhile, another order that made things more difficult for Ka’b came. The Prophet sent him an envoy to tell him that he should keep away from his wife. Ka’b was not asked to divorce her but to live away from her.
The trouble deteriorated instead of ending. The same order was given to the other two Companions too. However, this order did not harm the loyalty of Ka’b and his friends to the Messenger of Allah. They begged Allah and asked for forgiveness heartily due to their regret for the mistake they made. However, they never thought of leaving the congregation of the believers and abandoning the Messenger of Allah. Their belief did not allow such a deed. Ka’b narrates what happened after that as follows:
“50 nights after the people were prohibited from talking to us, I performed the morning prayer in the morning. I was sitting in a tired and bothered way. It seemed as if I had been squeezed between the earth and the sky and I had nowhere to go. Just then, I heard a voice: ‘O Kab bin Malik! Be happy! Glad tidings!’ It was time of salvation. I prostrated at once.
The Prophet announced people after the morning prayer that the repentance of those three Companions had been accepted. Thereupon, the Companions ran to give the good news to their brothers. They sent bringers of glad tidings to Ka’b and the other two Companions.
When Ka’b heard the news, he ran to the Messenger of Allah. Meanwhile, the Companions that he met on the way congratulated him happily. They said, “May Allah’s pardoning be blessed for you!” When I went to the Prophet and greeted him, his face was bright with joy; he said
“Be happy with the best day that you have got ever since your mother delivered you!”
Then, Ka’b said that he was prevented from joining the expedition due to his wealth and that he wanted to give away all of his wealth as sadaqah to complete his repentance. Thereupon, verse 103 of the chapter of at-Tawba was sent down. The Prophet was ordered to take zakah from their wealth and it was stated that Ka’b and his two friends would be purified and that their wealth would increase. Thus, the Prophet, whose face was bright with joy like the moon, advised Ka’b to keep some of his wealth. Thereupon, Ka’b said he would keep his land in Khaybar. Then, he added:
“Allah saved me because I told the truth. My complete repentance is to tell the truth as long as I live.”
As it is seen, one of the greatest Companions faced the risk of offending Allah and His Messenger because of not taking part in an expedition in which all of the believers took part. As a matter of fact, the Messenger of Allah did not look at their faces for almost two months and the believers did not talk to them during that period. A small neglect brought Ka’b to the brink of a terrible ending like losing all of the thawabs and respect he attained in the previous battles and expeditions. But for his sincerity and honesty with the feeling of regret in the depths of his heart and his repentance, his previous service would probably have been useless and he might have been led to destruction.
Hz. Ka’b, who was one of the poets of the Prophet (pbuh), died in 50 H, during the caliphate of Muawiya when he was 77 years old. [1]
The Prophet conveyed the message of the truth wherever he saw a group of people: He was in Uqaz, then in Majanna and then in Dhul-Majaz. He visited the tribes and conveyed the truth and belief to them. He was sometimes dismissed and sometimes insulted but he did not give up. Maybe these attempts would yield fruit years later. He fulfilled the duty of conveying the truth to people.
He told an old man aged 120 in the land of Muharib bin Sons of Hafsa the orders of his Lord. The man said, “I cannot say anything to you but you see that Abu Lahab is here.”
The Prophet was sad and distressed. Abu Lahab, the black crow, followed him like a black spirit and threatened the people that he conveyed the message of Islam. They called the Prophet “al-Amin (the Trustable One)” yesterday but now they called him a “Liar”. That was the paradox of unbelief.
The Prophet believed in his mission so much that he said the kisras (shahs) would decline and that Byzantine would be conquered even in those troubled and painful days. Whatever he said came out to be true afterwards.
He continued conveying the message of his high mission in an unyielding manner, with the power of belief, determination and perseverance.
He was in Mina, where Sons of Abasa settled. Zayd bin Haritha, his loyal servant, was riding pillion as usual. He was inviting Sons of Abasa to Islam by making a concise speech.
Maysara bin Masruq, who was among them, felt the heat of belief in his heart. He addressed his tribe as follows:
“I swear by Allah that it will be very nice if we confirm this person and accept him among us.”
His tribe said to him, “Leave him. Do not offer us what we cannot do.”
The Prophet talked to Maysara and offered him to be a Muslim. Maysara said, “Your words are so nice and so bright. However, my tribe opposes me. If a person is not helped by his tribe, it will be bad for him.”
When the Messenger of Allah left, Maysara felt that something broke from his heart. He stared at the Prophet with longing and enthusiasm until he disappeared.
Maysara took his tribe to Fadak Jews. The Jews recited the qualities of the Messenger of Allah from the Torah:
“An unlettered Arab prophet who rides a camel, is satisfied with a small piece of bread for food, neither tall nor short, with hair that is neither curly not flat, and eyes that have some reddishness.”
The Jews said,
“If this is the man that invites you, follow him and accept his religion. We, the Jews, will envy him and refuse to follow him. There will be some encounters between him and us which will bring us much grief. All the Arabs will either follow him or fight him. If you become among his followers, you will win.”
Maysara’s eyes brightened. He said:
“O my tribe! It is clear. Let us go and follow him.” His tribe said, “We will go next year in hajj season and meet him.” However, the notables of his tribe insisted on not going to the Messenger of Allah next year. They could not attain guidance.
Years went by, and the unfortunate living dead people got old and died.
Maysara rejoined the Messenger of Allah in the year of Farewell Hajj. He ran to the Messenger of Allah and held his hand in tears. He said,
“O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I began to follow you when we first met. Some things occurred after that. Allah delayed our rejoining. Praise be to Allah; I have rejoined you.” [1]
Maysara was very happy because he was with the Messenger of Allah. How fortunate are those who join this caravan of fortunate people and appreciate it!
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[1]Usdul-Ghaba, 4: 427; Isaba, 1: 295.
69-)
Ubada bin Samit (r.a.)
One of the notables of Ansar, who showed the greatest hospitality of human history to the Prophet and the distinguished group of people and who were his friends in his cause, is Ubada bin Samit (r.a.).
Hz. Ubada was among the Muslims of Madinah who were present in the First and Second Pledges of Aqaba, which took place before the Migration and who promised that they would be together with the Prophet in any case, that they would sacrifice their lives for him and they would prevent him from all kinds of danger. He was one of the 12 people who talked the Prophet personally by representing more than 70 people in the Second Pledge of Aqaba. Ubada bin Samit was also among the distinguished people who vowed that they would never oppose the orders of the Prophet and that they would obey him unconditionally in the Pledge of Ridwan, which was one of the unique incidents of the Era of Bliss.[1]
When the muhajirs arrived in Madinah, the Prophet established brotherhood between them and the Muslims of Madinah. He made Hz. Ubada brother of Abu Mursad, who was one of the first Muslims. Ansar made their muhajir brothers their partners in their fields and orchards. They worked in the fields of Ansar and had half of the crops as partners. This cooperation continued until the conquest of Khaybar. When Khaybar was conquered, the Muslims obtained ample land and there was no need for partnership.
Hz. Ubada became a Muslim when he was 35 years old. The Prophet appointed him as a teacher for the students of Ashab as-Suffa since he could read and write. Masjid an-Nabawi, the house of the Prophet and the school of Ashab as-Suffa were close to one another. All of them were built at the same time. The Prophet dealt with the issues of all Muslims in the mosque and he took care of all of the issues, from the food to the education, of about 100 students in the adjacent school.
Once, somebody from Ashab as-Suffa whom Hz. Ubada taught how to read and write and the Quran gave him a bow as a present. He asked the Prophet about it. The Prophet said it would not be permissible for him to accept that present.[2]
In the first years of Islam accepting money for teaching the Quran was not regarded appropriate since there were a lot of people who taught the Quran; however, when the number of the people who carried out the religious duties in the centuries that followed decreased, mujtahids regarded it permissible to accept money for teaching the Quran.
Ubada bin Samit took part in all of the battles with the Prophet. The duty of driving Qaynuqa Jews away from Madinah was given to Hz. Ubada.[3]
Hz. Ubada was a shrewd and talented person. During his caliphate, Hz. Abu Bakr sent Hashim bin As and Ubada bin Samit as envoys to Heraclius, the Byzantine king. After they visited Damascus and had a long journey, they arrived in Istanbul. They approached the palace of the king, with their swords hanging around their necks. The people of Istanbul watched them in surprise and with admiration. They saw that the palace was shaken like a date tree when the visitors dismounted their animals by shouting, “Lailaha illallahu wallahu akbar! (There is no god but Allah; Allah is the greatest!)”
They went into the presence of the king. The king asked them several questions about the Prophet and Islam:
“What is your greatest word?”
“Lailaha illallahu wallahu akbar.”
“When you utter this in your hometown, do your houses not shake and your floors not collapse on you?”
“No, we have never seen it do something like that. We saw it here with you. It is nothing but advice for us.”
“If my soul liked it to leave my land, I would be subject to you and want to be a slave of yours.”
After this confession, the king sent the envoys to their homeland with valuable presents.[4]
When Amr bin As asked for help during the conquest of Egypt, Hz. Umar said to him, “I am sending you four people. Each of them is equivalent to one thousand people.” One of them was Ubada bin Samit.[5] Hz. Ubada, who worked as the governor of Palestine afterwards, spent the rest of life in the region of Damascus.
Hz. Ubada was among the scholars of the Companions. He had very good knowledge of hadith and fiqh. When he stayed in Damascus, he taught people hadith and fiqh. He worked hard to make that region a place of knowledge. He narrated more than 80 hadiths.
One of the hadiths narrated by him is as follows:
Once, I was ill. The Prophet (pbuh) came to visit me with some people from Ansar. When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) mentioned martyrs, he asked, “Do you know who are martyrs?” Everybody kept silent. The Messenger of Allah repeated the question three times. The people there still kept silent. I told my wife to make me sit up. She lifted me. I answered as follows:
“A martyr is a person who became a Muslim, migrated and died in the way of Allah.”
Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah said,
“In that case, the number of the martyrs of my ummah would be very small. A person who dies in the way of Allah is a martyr. Those who are drowned in the sea are martyrs. Those who die of tummy ache are martyrs. A woman who dies in the puerperum period is a martyr.”[6]
Hz. Ubada bin Samit died in Ramla, which is near Damascus, in the 34th year of the Migration when he was 72 years old. He was buried there.[7]
May Allah be pleased with him!
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The real name of Abu Talha, who is one of the notables of Ansar is Zayd Ibn Sahl al-Busari. He became a Muslim when he was an active young man at the age of 20. He took part in Aqaba Pledge. He became one of the most beloved Companions of the Prophet soon. The Messenger of Allah established brotherhood between him and Abu Ubayda bin Jarrah, who was one of the 10 Companions that were given the glad tiding of Paradise and a Muhajir, after the Migration.
Hz. Abu Talha, who was a heroic warrior of the cause of Islam, took part in all battles and wars with the Prophet (pbuh) and fought heroically.
Abu Talha was distinguished for his loyalty to the Messenger of Allah. There was no self-sacrifice he could make for the sake of the Prophet. He regarded to die for his sake as the greatest boon. He proved it in the battles that he joined.
During the Battle of Uhud, the ferocious polytheists were attacking the place where the Messenger of Allah was with might and main. Their purpose was to martyr the Prophet, for whom the realms had been created. However, the Companions who used their bodies as shields to protect the Messenger of Allah did not allow them to approach him. One of those Companions was Hz. Abu Talha. On the one hand, he shouted, “O Messenger of Allah! My body is to be sacrificed for your body.” On the other hand, he shot arrows at the polytheists. Abu Talha was a very good archer. The Prophet knew this. Therefore, whenever he saw a person carrying a quiver full of arrows, he would say to him, “Give your quiver to Abu Talha.” The polytheists could not approach the Prophet due to Abu Talha’s shooting and the efforts of the other Companions. The Prophet would raise his head over Abu Talha’s shoulders to see whether the arrows he shot would hit the target. When Abu Talha saw it, he said, "O Messenger of Allah! May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! Do not raise your head lest an arrow of the enemy should hit you. Let my life be sacrificed for you. Let my chest be a shield for your chest. They cannot do anything to you unless they martyr me."
It was impossible for the polytheists to harm the Prophet because God Almighty was protecting him. However, Abu Talha’s words and the self-sacrifices of the Companions pleased the Messenger of Allah very much.
Yes, the Companions did not hesitate to sacrifice their bodies for the Messenger of Allah. They were ready to die lest even a thorn should prick his foot.
Thanks to their self-sacrifice, the polytheists had to retreat without harming the Prophet very much in the Battle of Uhud.
Hz. Abu Talha wanted to keep something that belonged to the Messenger of Allah for tabarruk. Once, the Prophet had a haircut. Abu Talha collected the hair, took it to his wife and asked her to keep that blessed hair carefully.
Abu Talha and his wife Umm Sulaym had a different place in the eye of the Prophet. He sometimes visited this family and pleased them. They would treat him whatever they had in their house. On the other hand, when a nice meal was cooked in their house, they would keep some of it for the Messenger of Allah. [1]
One of the most obvious characteristics of Abu Talha was to fulfill the orders of Allah and His Messenger immediately. He would fulfill every order at once without looking for any reason. He was among the rich ones of the Companions. Very few Companions had as much wealth as he did. He knew why the boon of richness was given very well. Therefore, he always gave away his wealth. His wealth did not prevent him from serving the way of Allah.
Abu Talha had many date orchards in Madinah. He liked the date orchard called “Bayraha” the most. It was near Masjid an-Nabawi. The Prophet often visited it, watched its nice scenery and drank its famous water. When the verse “By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love” [2] was sent down, Abu Talha went to the Messenger of Allah at once and said,
“O Messenger of Allah! God Almighty says, ‘By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love.’ The most beloved of my property is Bayraha date orchard. I give it away now as in the way of Allah. I hope it will be accepted by Allah. O Messenger of Allah! Give it to the places and people that Allah orders.”
The Prophet (pbuh) was very pleased by this kind act and said,
“I have heard what you said, and I think that you should divide it among your relatives.”
Abu Talha said, “O Messenger of Allah! I will do so.” He divided it among his relatives as sadaqah. [3]
Abu Talha, who was always around the Prophet and who used his body as a shield for him against dangers, could not put up with the death of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). He left Madinah like the other Companions who could not bear the pain caused by the Prophet’s death and settled in Damascus. He wanted to visit the tomb of the Prophet for a long time but he could not go to Madinah until just before the martyrdom of Hz. Umar.
Hz. Umar liked Abu Talha very much and relied on him. When he was wounded, he appointed the six Companions who had given the glad tiding of Paradise to choose the caliph after him. He gave an important duty to Abu Talha about it. Hz. Umar called Abu Talha and said to him:
“O Abu Talha! God Almighty has given honor to Islam through you; serve Islam now. The members of the consultation committee to choose the caliph will gather in a house. Take 50 people from Ansar and keep guard. Do not allow anybody in.”
Abu Talha fulfilled this duty successfully. He waited at the door and prevented those who wanted to enter. When the election delayed, he warned the members of the committee since he feared that mischief would occur:
“In my opinion, it is more dangerous for you to act timidly than to compete one another to be chosen as the caliph. By Allah, all Muslims were affected by the death of Umar.” He wanted them to choose the new caliph as soon as possible. Finally, the committee chose Hz. Uthman as the third caliph.
After the death of the Prophet, Abu Talha spent his days worshipping. Once, he was reading the Quran. When he read the verse, “Go ye forth, (whether equipped) lightly or heavily, and strive and struggle, with your goods and your persons, in the cause of Allah” [4], the love of martyrdom in him was aroused. He said, “This verse orders us to make jihad whether we are young or old. My children! Prepare my war equipment! I will make jihad.” He was 70 years old then. His children did not want to accept his request and said,
“May Allah be pleased with you! You fought together with the Messenger of Allah until he died. Then, you fought together with Hz. Abu Bakr and Hz. Umar. We will fight instead of you now.”
However, Abu Talha insisted to make jihad. He joined an army. However, he died during the sea expedition. They could not find any land to bury him for a week. They saw that his body had not undergone any change; it had not rotted either. [5]
This great Companion, who spent his life protecting and spreading Islam, narrated 92 hadiths. Some religious issues, wars and the deeds that have many thawabs are included in the hadiths he narrated. One of those hadiths is as follows:
“Once, the Messenger of Allah was very cheerful and happy. He said, ‘I received the following news from my Lord. If anyone from my ummah utters salawat for me, God Almighty will give him 10 thawabs, forgive 10 sins of him, elevate his rank 10 levels and show mercy to him as many times as the salawat he utters.’” [6]
May Allah be pleased with him!
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It was the 13th year of the prophethood. A lot of people of Madinah accepted Islam through Hz. Mus’ab bin Umayr, who had been given the duty of conveying the message of Islam. When it was hajj season, a group of 75 people, two of whom were women, went to Makkah with Mus’ab. The whole caravan consisted of 500 people. The polytheists were in majority. They also went to the Kaaba in the season of hajj and worshipped the idols there; they regarded it as hajj.
The Muslims of Madinah agreed to meet the Prophet at night. However, they concealed it from the polytheists. Ka’b bin Malik and a few Muslims talked to Abdullah bin Amr, who was still a polytheist, and invited him to Islam. For, he was one of the notables of the tribe of Khazraj. If he believed, he could be a means of saving a lot of people from his tribe. They made him the following offer:
“O Jabir’s father! You are our master and one of our notables. You are a respectable person and are known by everybody. We do not want an honorable person like you who has a certain place in his tribe to be wood in Hell.”
After these words, they offered him to become a Muslim. When he did not oppose and when they felt that his heart felt warm toward Islam, they told him that they would meet the Messenger of Allah. Abdullah bin Amr, who naturally had a clean spirit and who was a cute person became a believer. [1]
That night, all of the Muslims of Madinah met the Prophet at Aqabah. The Prophet wanted them to choose 12 people among them as representatives. One of the nine people representing the tribe of Khazraj was Abdullah bin Amr. Hz. Abdullah was a person with strong will; he was knowledgeable and shrewd. He could read and write. When Hz. Abdullah became a believer in this journey, he became a perfect person. The Prophet gave those who took part in the pledge the glad tidings of Paradise. Thus, Abdullah felt the happiness of eternal peace as soon as he became a Muslim.
After the arrival of the Prophet in Madinah, Abdullah attended most of his holy talks to learn ilm and wisdom from him. Hz. Abdullah was the head of a big family and he was poor but he did not miss the talks of the Prophet. He was also among the students of Suffa School. Abdullah, who received the praise of Allah and compliments of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) by being one of the special students of the Prophet, went to the battlefront when jihad was declared for the struggle between belief and unbelief against the polytheists at Badr. He became one of the lucky soldiers of the lofty religion.
A year later, while Prophet (pbuh) was gathering mujahids for the Battle of Uhud, Abdullah also wanted to join the army of the Prophet. He had a son and seven daughters in his house. His son, Jabir, who had become a Muslim with him in the Second Pledge of Aqabah, also wanted to fight the polytheists. However, he did not want to leave his daughters alone. Who would look after them if they both joined the war and were martyred? Hz. Abdullah persuaded his son to remain at home as follows:
"O my son Jabir! If I did not think about these girls being left alone, I would like you to be martyred in front of my eyes. However, I want you to stay at home and look after your sisters. "[2]
Hz. Jabir could not oppose his father and looked after the family. Hz. Abdullah took part in the Battle of Uhud.
Hz. Abdullah attacked the crowd of polytheists at Uhud; whenever he attacked them with his sword, he caused a lot of casualties. He fought heroically. He struggled for his belief with might and main. Neither his family nor his young daughters prevented him from fighting next to the Prophet. The aim of the war was to wave the flag of oneness and to spread the lofty name of Allah in the world.
In a fiery moment of the battle, Usama, one of the polytheists, martyred Abdullah with his sword. Abdullah bin Amr’s prayer was accepted by Allah; he became the first person to be martyred at Uhud.
After the battle, those were in Madinah went to Uhud. The relatives of the martyrs were looking for them. Hz. Jabir had also come. He narrates his encounter with his father's body as follows:
"On Uhud day, my father was brought with his face covered. I removed the cover. The polytheists had cut off his nose and his ear; he was in an unrecognizable state. I could not help crying. At that time, my paternal aunt, Fatima also came. She began to cry and scream. In order to console her, the Messenger of Allah said: 'Why are you crying? The angels kept shading him with their wings until that martyr was taken away. "[3]
Then the Prophet ordered Abdullah to be buried with Amr bin Jamuh. He said,
"They were two best friends who loved each other when they were alive." [4]
Once, Prophet Muhammad saw Jabir bin Abdullah in a gloomy state. He said,
"O Jabir! What happened to you? I see you sad and heartbroken." Hz. Jabir said,
"O Messenger of Allah! My father was martyred. He left behind a crowded family and a big debt."
Thereupon, the Prophet gave him the following good news and consolation:
"When your father was martyred, Allah revived him and took him in His presence. He asked your father, 'O my slave! Make your wish. I will grant to you whatever you want.' Your father said, 'O Lord! I have not worshipped you properly. Send me back to the world. I want to fight together with the Prophet and be martyred in your way again.’ Allah said, 'I decreed that martyrs would not return to the world.' Then your father said, 'O Lord! Inform the people in the world about it.’ Thereupon, Allah Almighty sent down the following verses:
“Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay they live finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord. They rejoice in the Bounty provided by Allah: and with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve. They glory in the Grace and the Bounty from Allah, and in the fact that Allah suffereth not the reward of the Faithful to be lost (in the least).”[5]
When Hz. Jabir heard this news, he became very happy…[6]
46 years passed… Hz. Abdullah's grave was on the way where rain waters flowed. The flowing water eroded the ground and opened graves of the martyrs. When they had to be transported to somewhere else, they had to open the graves. The martyrs seemed as if they had just died. The corpses had not changed and had remained intact. When the graves were opened, a musky smell was felt. They looked as if they were sleeping. Abdullah had put his hand on his wound when he was wounded. When the grave opened and they wanted to remove his hand from the wound and stretch it, his wound started to bleed. Finally, they left it as it was. Then, the bleeding stopped… [7]
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Abu Humayd (R.A.) was from Ansar. He became a Muslim after the Migration. He participated in all battles with the Prophet beginning from the Battle of Uhud.
Hz. Abu Humayd loved the Prophet very much. He served the Messenger of Allah with heart and soul. He was one of those who knew best how the Prophet performed prayers. He was proud of it. He would say, "I am the one who knows the prayer of the Messenger of Allah best."
Abu Humayd narrated 36 hadiths from the Prophet. He acted very cautiously while narrating hadiths. He would say, "I heard it from the Messenger of Allah with my own ears." Or, he would say, "Ask Zayd bin Thabit." The following hadith, which he narrated, is a criterion to recognize and understand the blessed words of the Messenger of Allah:
"When you hear a hadith narrated from me, your hearts will recognize it. You will feel that your heart softens toward it, your soul accepts it, and it is very close to you. If your hearts hates a statement when you hear it, if you shiver and if your mind does not accept it, that statement is away from me." [1]
A hadith narrated by Abu Humayd (R.A.) is as follows:
The Messenger of Allah appointed a man from the tribe of Azd called Ibn al-Utbiyya, as a tax collector. When he returned to Madinah by completing his duty, he showed what he brought and said, ‘This is for you and this is a gift presented to me.’ Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) stated the following on the pulpit:
“What about when a state official whom I sent to collect zakah comes and says: ‘This is for you and this is a gift presented to me’? Why did he not remain in the house of his father and his mother and his gift came to him, if he was truthful? I swear by Allah in whose hand is the life of Muhammad that any one of you will not take anything from it but will bring it on the Day of Judgment, carrying on his neck a camel that will be growling, or a cow that will be bellowing or an ewe that will be bleating.’
After this statement, he raised his two hands so high that whiteness of his armpits could be seen. Then, he said twice: ‘O Allah! Have I conveyed Your commandments?’ I heard this hadith with my own ears heard and saw the Messenger of Allah with my own eyes. Ask Zayd bin Thabit.” [2]
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The Expedition of Tabuk was an expedition in which the Muslims were exposed to great hardships and troubles. We understand from some verses and hadiths that they had big financial difficulties. Hz. Uthman gave one thousand dinars for the equipment of the army. This pleased the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) very much and prayed for him as follows: “O Lord! I am pleased with him; You be pleased with him too.” [1] Some Muslims wanted to take part in the expedition very much but they could not take part because there were not enough clothes, mounts and weapons. They shed tears because of it. Those Companions are mentioned as follows in the Quran:
“Nor (is there blame) on those who came to thee to be provided with mounts, and when thou saidst, ‘I can find no mounts for you,’ they turned back, their eyes streaming with tears of grief that they had no resources wherewith to provide the expenses.” [2]
Ibn Ishaq narrates the following while explaining that verse:
“Some Muslims came to the Messenger of Allah. They were poor. They wanted mounts from the Messenger of Allah. He did not have any mounts to give them. They return by shedding tears because they did not have anything to spend in the way of Allah.” [3]
Ibn Ishaq writes that six of them were from Ansar and that Irbad bin Sariya, one of the oldest Companions of Suffa School, was among them.
This heroic Companion, who was educated about the truth by the Messenger of Allah in Suffa School, was praised by the Quran along with the other Companions who could not take part in the Expedition of Tabuk. They could not take part in the expedition but we understand from the statements of the Prophet that they received as many thawabs as those who took part in it. The Messenger of Allah states the following about them:
“In Madinah, there are people who were with you as you traveled and crossed valleys.”
Thereupon, the Companions said, “O Messenger of Allah! Even though they were in Madinah?” The Messenger of Allah said,
“Yes, even though they were in Madinah. For, they were kept behind by legitimate excuses.” [4]
Irbad bin Sariya was one of the oldest Companions of the Messenger of Allah. God Almighty granted him a long life. He often prayed to Allah to join Him: “O Allah! I have become old; my bones have weakened. Take me into Your presence.” [5]
Irbad bin Sariya was a loyal student who always attended the talks of the Messenger of Allah. Irbad bin Sariya sometimes narrated his memories with the Messenger of Allah. He said one day after the morning prayer, the Prophet turned toward the Companions and gave them some emotional advice and that the Companions wept due to fear.
Irbad continued as follows:
One of the Companions said, “O Messenger of Allah! It is as if this was a farewell sermon. What do you advise us?” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,
“I enjoin you to have fear of Allah and that you listen and obey even if an Abyssinian slave is made a ruler over you. He among you who lives long enough will see many differences. So, for you is to observe my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-guided caliphs, holding on to it with your molar teeth. Beware of newly-introduced matters (bid’ahs), for every new matter is an innovation (bid’ah) and every innovation is a misguidance.” [6]
This great Companion, who died in 75 H, spent most of his life in Damascus and the last part of his life in Homs. Despite his old age, he regarded it his purpose to spread the truths and beauties of the religion until he died.
One of the Companions who tried to announce and spread the cause of Allah all over the world with his sword in battlefields of jihad and with his knowledge and intellect at other times was Abdullah bin Abi Awfa. Hz. Abdullah was among the well-known scholars of the Companions known as "Abadila as-Sab'a [seven Abdullahs]".
Abdullah, who listened to the blessed talks of the Messenger of Allah with his father, Abu Awfa, entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah in order to give him the zakah of their goods. The Prophet always appreciated and prayed for this self-sacrificing family due to their sincerity and loyalty to Islam. The Prophet generally prayed for the Companions themselves who brought their zakah but he prayed for Abdullah as follows: "O Lord! Grant mercy and grace to the family of Abu Awfa!" [1]
This prayer was worth the whole world for Abdullah. He remembered this moment and the Prophet’s words as the sweetest and most memorable memory of his life. Finally, the prayer of the Messenger of Allah about Abu Awfa family was accepted and Hz. Abdullah had the honor of spreading the lofty cause of the Messenger of Allah to the world.
Abdullah both studied ilm (knowledge) and participated in wars. [2] He joined seven expeditions with the Messenger of Allah. He fought heroically at the battles of Hunayn and Khaybar. In Hunayn, where many people were trapped and escaped and when the Muslims faced the risk of defeat, Abdullah was among the Companions who used their bodies as a shield in order to protect the Messenger of Allah. The horror and severity of the war did not frighten him. He resisted against the dangers that could harm the Messenger of Allah. Finally, he was wounded in Hunayn. The scars of these wounds remained as a sign of Hunayn until the end of his life.
While the Messenger of Allah was circumambulating the Kaaba during the Umrah of Qada, Hz. Abdullah was a guardian of the Prophet. He said, "While the Prophet walked between Safa and Marwa, we protected him against the polytheists." Hz. Abdullah was the guardian of the Messenger of Allah. In fact, the Messenger of Allah was always under the protection of Allah but but he acted in accordance with the law of cause and effect in order to serve as a model to his ummah.
Abdullah bin Abi Awfa, who was one of the important figures in the ilm of hadith, narrated 95 hadiths from the Messenger of Allah. Most of them are about jihad. For example, the following hadith was narrated by Abdullah: "Paradise is under the shadow of swords."
Abdullah bin Abi Awfa was a very patient person. He would always advise patience to his family and the people around him in the face of the misfortunes that occurred. Once, his beloved little daughter passed away. His wife was crying loudly. Hz. Abdullah did not approve of her crying like this and warned her as follows:
"You can feel sorry with your heart and shed tears, but do not cry out loud!"
He practiced exactly what the Messenger of Allah did. When Ibrahim, the son of the Messenger of Allah, died he acted in the same way.
Hz. Abdullah remained in Madinah until the death of the Messenger of Allah. He was enlightened by the light of the prophethood of the Messenger of Allah. After his death, he went to Kufa and settled there. Hz. Abdullah is the last Companion who died in Kufa in 86 H. Abu Hanifa was born before Hz. Abdullah died. When Abdullah passed away, Abu Hanifa was six years old.
May Allah be pleased with him!
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[1]Bukhari, Fadail, 5.
[2]Musnad, 4: 381, 383.
75-)
Abbad bin Bishr (r.a.)
Hz. Abbad was one of the notables of Ansar. He became a Muslim through Mus’ab bin Umayr. He took part in all battles with the Prophet along with the battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq. He fought heroically in battlefields.
Some Companions kept guard near the Prophet during battles and protected him against a possible danger. Abbad bin Bishr was one of the guardians of the Prophet (pbuh). He kept guard near the Messenger of Allah voluntarily even when he was asleep and tired.
The Prophet sent Abbad for some important duties. He fulfilled the orders of the Messenger of Allah fully and performed the service he undertook with great care. During the expedition of umrah, the Messenger of Allah sent him as the leader of a cavalry unit to observe and explore the actions and movements of the polytheists. Once, he gave him the duty to teach the Quran to the tribe of Sons of Mustaliq and to collect zakah. Hz. Abbad stayed for 10 days with the tribe of Sons of Mustaliq. He read and taught the Quran and the principles of Islam to them. He collected their zakah and returned to the Prophet happily. [1]
Hz. Abbad worshipped until the morning at some nights. Once, the Prophet heard the voice of Abbad bin Bishr while praying at night in Hz. Aisha’s house. Hz. Abbad was busy with worshipping in the mosque. When the Prophet saw his desire of worshipping, he prayed for him by saying, "O Allah! Show mercy on Abbad bin Bishr!" [2]
Abbad bin Bishr performed his prayers in awe. When he performed a prayer, he thought that this prayer would be "his last prayer".
While returning from Dhatur-Riqa Expedition, Hz. Abbad was right beside the Prophet. It was nighttime. The Messenger of Allah ordered the mujahids to take a break to rest. He found it appropriate to have some people on guard. He was looking for two volunteers for this duty. He asked his Companions,
“Who would like to keep guard tonight?”
Ammar bin Yasir, from Muhajirs and Abbad bin Bishr from Ansar stood up. They came to the front at the same time by saying,
“O Messenger of Allah! We would.” The Prophet said to them,
“Wait at the entrance of the valley and look around carefully.”
Both heroes proceeded toward the valley. Abbad asked Ammar,
“Would you like to keep guard first or later?”
Ammar agreed to keep guard first. He started to keep guard. Abbad started to perform prayers. Meanwhile, Ammar, who was very tired, fell asleep. Abbad bin Bishr did not know that his friend was sleeping.
While he was praying, a polytheist who was following the mujahids saw him. He wanted to make use of this opportunity. He took out an arrow and threw it. The arrow hit Abbad. Abbad was in divine presence. He was so enchanted that what stuck into his body felt as if it was a thorn, not an arrow. He did not care it. He removed the arrow and put it on the ground. He continued praying. When the third arrow stuck into his body, he removed it like the others and put them on the ground. Then, he bowed down and prostrated. After that, he saluted. He was very weak. He awakened his friend and said to him in a low voice.
“Sit up. I have been wounded. I cannot move.”
When Ammar opened his eyes, he saw blood coming out of Abbad’s body. He realized the situation. He said,
“Subhanallah! Why did you not awaken me when the polytheist threw the first arrow?” Abbad said,
“I started to read a long chapter in the prayer. I did not want to cut it short. When the arrows started to come one after another, I stooped reading in order to inform you and bowed down. By Allah, if I had not feared to lose the entrance of the valley the Messenger of Allah ordered me to guard, I would have died before finishing the chapter.” [3]
Making use of their conversation, the polytheist ran away.
Abbad received the following praise from the Prophet: “Three people among Ansar are very good people: Sa’d bin Muadh, Usayd bin Khudayr and Abbad bin Bishr.” [4] He visited the Prophet frequently and took great pleasure and knowledge from the talk of the Prophet.
Once, he went to visit the Prophet with Usayd bin Khudayr. They listened to his luminous talk until late at night. When they left the Prophet, it was very dark. Suddenly their staffs started to shed light on the way. When they left each other, the light was divided into two. Each of them went home in the light of their own staffs. [5]
Abbad bin Bishr wanted to be a martyr in the way of Allah. Allah Almighty accepted his wish. He became a martyr at the Battle of Yamama.
One day before his martyrdom, Abbad said to Abu Said al Khudri,
“O Abu Said! I saw in my dream last night the skies open and close again. I hope it indicates my martyrdom.”
When the battle started that day, he came to the front heroically and addressed Ansar as follows:
“O Ansar! Break the sheaths of your swords and move to one side.” He wanted to tell them that they should fight until they were martyred.
Upon his call, 500 Companions from Ansar left the other Companions. Abbad proceeded to the garden of Musaylimatul-Kadhdhab with these Companions. A very severe clash took place. Many Companions were martyred. Abbad was among them. He had a lot of wounds on his body. It was almost impossible to recognize him. They recognized him from a sign on his body. [6]
May Allah be pleased with him!
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Abu Said, whose real name was “Sa’d bin Malik” was from Madinah. His father Malik bin Sinan, became a Muslim in the first years of Islam. Abu Said was a small child then. Thus, he found himself in a Muslim family when he had just started to know life.
The belief in Abu Said’s little heart was so enthusiastic that he tried to be together with the Prophet (pbuh), listen to his blessed talk and experience the atmosphere of Paradise. He wanted to do everything that the Prophet showed people without taking his strength into consideration. He carried stones when Masjid an-Nabawi was built.
He wanted to take part in the Battle of Badr very much but he was not recruited since he was very young. When the army was preparing for the Battle of Uhud, he was 13 years old. He wanted to make jihad very much. He trained for the war. He was sure that he would stand against the polytheists with a sword though his height was barely equal to a sword. He had self-confidence. He asked his father to take part in the Battle of Uhud. His father held his hand and took him to the Prophet (pbuh). He narrates what happened after that as follows:
“When my father held my hand and took me to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), I was 13. When we saw the Messenger of Allah, my father told him that I wanted to make jihad. My father said, “his bones are big” and put forward some other arguments but the Messenger of Allah did not accept because I was young.” [1]
Abu Said’s father took part in the Battle of Uhud and fought heroically. Finally, he was martyred. When the martyrs were being buried, the Prophet stated the following when he was next to Malik:
“Hellfire will not touch a person whose blood is mixed with my blood.”
Once Malik saw that the blessed face of the Messenger of Allah was bleeding; he sucked the blood of the Prophet though he was severely wounded and did not allow it to fall onto the ground. [2]
Abu Said was waiting with his mother on the way of Uhud in order to see the Prophet and to meet his father. He approached the Messenger of Allah, who was on a horse, and started to kiss his blessed knees. The Prophet told him that his father had been martyred. He said, “May Allah reward your father!”
Islam became a kind of castle for those who studied ilm and for the poor. The Muslims forgot about their worldly poverty in the face of the otherworldly richness, which was the real richness. The Companions who were enlightened by the light of the belief of the Messenger of Allah saw that all of their agonies and troubles were turning into beauty in the Prophet. One of those fortunate people were Abu Said al-Khudri.
Abu Said’s father was poor. He could hardly make ends meet. After he was martyred, his family was in financial difficulty. Once, Abu Said’s mother sent him to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to ask for something. Abu Said did not want to go at first but when his mother insisted, he had to. He entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). He was delivering a sermon:
“O believers! It is time for you to have chastity and not want anything from others. Allah will give to those who are chaste and will make those who are contented rich. I swear by Allah, in whose hand of power my soul is, that a person has not been given a greater sustenance than patience. If you want from me, I can give you only what I have.”
The reason for the delivery of this sermon by that was that some people insistently wanted some things from him. [3]
Abu Said gave up the idea of wanting anything from the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) after hearing those words. He returned and told his mother about it. Afterwards, he stated the following:
“After I returned without wanting anything from the Messenger of Allah, God Almighty sent us our sustenance. Things went so well that we became among the rich people of Ansar.”
Abu Said, who could not take part in the Battle of Badr and Battle of Uhud due to his young age, took part in all of the battles and wars after that. He said, “When I took part in Sons of Mustaliq Expedition with the Messenger of Allah, I was 15 years old. [4] At the most terrible moment of the Battle of Khandaq, Abu Said went to the Prophet and said, “O Messenger of Allah! We are having great difficulty. Is there not a prayer that we can say?” The Prophet said, “Yes, there is.” Then, he said, “O Lord! Close all of our open places through which the enemy can attack! Secure us from all of the things that we fear.” All of the Companions said that prayer. After a while, a severe storm broke out and turned the headquarters of the enemy upside down. The polytheists had to end the siege and return to Makkah. [5]
Abu Said experienced the excitement of both material and spiritual jihad together. On the one hand, he made jihad and on the other hand, he attended Suffa School, memorizing hadiths and learning. He spent most of his time in Suffa. He sometimes received compliments from the Messenger of Allah thanks to it. He narrates a memory related to it as follows:
“I was sitting in a circle with the members Ansar. Some of us were sitting together because of lack of clothing while a reader was reciting the Quran to us. All of a sudden, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) came along and stood beside us as if he was one of us. Thereupon, the reader stopped. The Messenger of Allah asked, ‘What are you doing?’ We said we were listening to the Quran. The Messenger of Allah made a gesture, wanting us to form a circle. We formed a circle. I saw that the Messenger of Allah did not recognize any of us except me. He addressed us as follows: ‘Rejoice, you group of poor people! You will enter Paradise half a day before the rich; and that is five hundred years.’”[6]
Abu Said would not act without asking the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) when he encountered a new issue. Once, the Prophet sent them somewhere for a duty. They wanted to spend the night in the land of an Arab tribe but they did not allow them. After a while, a scorpion stung the chief of the tribe. They could not find a cure no matter what they did. They came to the Companions and asked them if they knew anything about it. Abu Said said, “I know but you did not entertain though we asked you. I will not read unless you give us something.” The Arabs agreed. They went to the chief all together. Abu Said read the chapter of al-Fatiha seven times. After a while, the chief recovered. The Bedouins gave them a herd of sheep in return. They wanted to share the sheep but Abu Said said, “No. We cannot do it without asking the Messenger of Allah. We will tell him about what happened and give the sheep to him. We will do whatever he tells us to do. They agreed. When they returned to Madinah, Abu Said narrated the incident to the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah told them that they could share the sheep. [7]
Abu Said became interested in hadith and fiqh after the death of the Prophet (pbuh). He taught many students. Abu Said, who was educated by the Messenger of Allah, narrated 1170 hadiths. Thus, he became “the seventh Companion who narrated the most hadiths”. Some of the hadiths he narrated are as follows:
“Those who love one another for Allah will see that their rooms in Paradise will be bright like the stars that rise in the east and west. It will be asked in Paradise, ‘Who are they?’ The following answer will be given: ‘They are those who love one another for Allah.”[8]
“He who eats halal food, acts in accordance with the Sunnah and does not wrong and harm people will enter Paradise.”[9]
“You will tread the same path as was trodden by those before you inch by inch and step by step so much so that if they entered into the hole of the lizard, you would follow them in this also. We said, “Do you mean Jews and Christians by your words? He said, “Who else can they be?” [10]
“A believer will not find good words and wisdom enough until he attains Paradise.” [11]
Abu Said al-Khudri, who died in 74 H, when he was 86, never feared people related to telling the truth and did not mind if people would oppose him when he applied something that he knew to be right. His criterion regarding the issue was the following hadith of the Messenger of Allah: “Do not be dissuaded by the fear of people related to saying what you know to be true and what you have seen.”
The Prophet carried out the duty of conveying the message of Islam to people secretly at first; he also worshipped secretly. For this reason, the way of Islam’s worshipping had not been known very well. Once, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was performing a prayer with Hz. Ali. Jafar, Hz. Ali’s brother, saw them and wondered. Then, he found Hz. Ali and asked him what they were doing. Hz. Ali said that this was worshipping Allah Almighty. He gave Jafar some information about Islam. Jafar liked his words very much and immediately became a Muslim by uttering kalima ash-shahada.
At that time, there were very few Muslims and they were not very strong. Therefore, Jafar suffered incredible inflictions and tortures of the polytheists. However, he did not make concessions about his belief.
These inhumane tortures inflicted by the polytheists upon the Muslims distressed the Prophet and made him think. Finally, it was decided for a group of Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia under the leadership of Hz. Jafar. Consequently, 92 muhajirs left their homeland and migrated to Abyssinia.
However, the polytheists did not leave them alone. They prepared valuable gifts for the Negus of Abyssinia and his notable statesmen. They sent Amr bin As and Abdullah bin Abi Rabia to Abyssinia. When they arrived in Abyssinia, they first gave many gifts to the statesmen and made sure that they would support them. Then, they entered into the presence of the Negus and gave him many gifts. They spoke as follows in order to influence the king:
“O King! We warn you about these men, who emerged from us and disturbed our affairs, and who now try to destroy your religion, nation and people. They are some foolish fellows from our people. They abandoned our religion and they did not accept your religion either. They emerged with a new religion that we and you did not know. They do not recognize Jesus, the Son of Mary, as god. They do not prostrate before they enter into your presence. Give them back to us; we will punish them.”
The notables of the people of Abyssinia, who had received gifts from them, confirmed them. "They are telling the truth. They definitely know their fellow people better than others do."
However, the Negus, the Abyssinian ruler, was a prudent man. He was not fooled by their words. He wanted to search and know the issue. He invited the muhajirs to his presence. The Muslims chose Jafar as their representative. They asked him to give answers to the questions of the Negus; they soon entered into his presence. They greeted the Negus but they did not prostrate before him.
The king asked them why they had come to his country and asked for information about the Prophet. He also asked them why they did not prostrate. Hz. Jafar was a clever person. His rhetoric was very good. He asked the Negus to allow only one of the polytheists to speak as their representative. Then he asked the polytheists the following questions:
"Are we slaves who escaped from their masters? Did we shed someone else's blood unjustly since they want us? Did we borrow any goods and we did not pay? Are we in debt?"
Amr bin As, who took over the duty of answering Jafar’s questions, said that they were not slaves and that they were free, that they did not shed anyone’s blood and that they did not owe any money to anyone. He said, "We demand them because they left our religion and accepted Muhammad's religion."
Upon this answer, Hz. Jafar took the floor and made the following eloquent speech, which convinced and satisfied the Negus and which became a means of his accepting Islam:
“O King! We were ignorant people worshipping idols. We used to eat the flesh of dead animals and commit all sorts of evil deeds. We used to break off our relationships with our relatives and wrong our neighbors. The strong ones among us used to wrong the weak ones. We were in such a situation. Almighty Allah sent us from among us a prophet whose ancestors, honesty, reliability chastity and cleanliness we knew. He invited us to believe in Allah and His unity, to worship Him, and to leave the idols that we and our ancestors had been worshipping. He commanded us to be honest, to return the things entrusted to us, to get along well with neighbors, to avoid committing sins and shedding blood. He prohibited us from all kinds of immorality, telling lies, appropriating the goods of orphans and slandering chaste women.”
After this speech, which contained the ethical principles of a society, Hz. Jafar explained why they did not prostrate when they entered into the presence of the Negus as follows: "We seek refuge in Allah from prostrating before anyone except Allah."
After this conversation, the Negus asked Jafar, "Do you have anything that came from Allah with you?" Thereupon, Jafar read a few verses from the chapter of Maryam. The sun of guidance of rose in the heart of the Negus after these verses. He could not help speaking as follows:
"I would like to congratulate you and the person you mention. I bear witness that he is the Messenger of Allah. By Allah, if he were in my country, I would carry his shoes and wash his feet."
The Negus later said that he did not need the gifts the polytheists brought as bribery and ordered them to be returned.
The muhajirs lived peacefully in Abyssinia after the Negus became a Muslim and protected them by saying, "I will not agree if one of you is harmed even if I am offered to have gold as big as a mountain. Go and live in my country in peace and security." They tried to spread Islam in Abyssinia. After a while, they migrated to Madinah.
When the muhajirs returned, the mujahids had conquered Khaybar. The Prophet became very happy when they, especially Jafar, returned. He embraced him, hugged him, kissed his forehead and expressed his joy as follows:
"I do not know to be happy for which one: the conquest of Khaybar, or Jafar's arrival.” [1]
The Companion who resembled the Prophet in terms of ethics and body structure was, Jafar, Ali's brother. He had a different place in the eye of the Prophet. Hz. Jafar was called “the father of the poor”. Jafar protected all of the poor but he protected and met the needs of especially Ashab as-Suffa, the Muslims who were busy with learning knowledge and service of belief. The following statement of Abu Hurayra, who was a prominent figure of Ashab as-Suffa, expresses this very well:
"We addressed Jafar bin Abu Talib as 'the father of the poor'. Whenever we went to him, he would treat us what was ready. Many people say to me, 'You narrate too many hadiths.' I always found it enough to have some food and be together with the Messenger of Allah all the time. I never wanted to find delicious food or new clothes. I would not want anyone to serve me. I sometimes tied a stone on my stomach to suppress my hunger. Jafar bin Abu Talib, who was the person who helped the poor the most, would often pick us up, take us to his house and treat us food." [2]
Hz. Jafar was not only a good orator and a philanthropist who protected the poor but also a heroic mujahid in the way of Allah. His heroism in the Battle of Muta against the Byzantines was recorded as a golden page in history. After Zayd bin Haritha was martyred, he held the standard upon the instruction of the Messenger of Allah. However, his soul was trying to show him the world lovable and the world ugly. Hz. Jafar silenced the voice of his soul by saying, "You want me to love the world but now it is time to strengthen the belief in the hearts of the believers."
He attacked the ranks of the enemy heroically. He continued swinging his sword around though he knew that he was going to be martyred. On the one hand, he was swinging his sword and on the other hand, he was encouraging the mujahids by saying, "Paradise is good and approaching Paradise is also good. Its sherbets are sweet and cold." Hz. Zayd's martyrdom demoralized the mujahids and demotivated them a bit. However, thanks to the courage and heroism of Jafar, they became strong again. They started to attack again like eagles.
However, the hostile eyes were constantly on Jafar and looking for ways of martyring him. Finally, a soldier approaching him slyly cut off his hand with his sword. He started to hold the standard with his left hand at once. When his left hand was also cut off, he held the standard with his amputated arms. He did not drop the standard until he was martyred. Finally, he became a martyr.
Abdullah bin Umar stated that there were more than 90 wounds of sword and spear on Jafar’s body.
While the Battle of Mute was taking place, the Prophet (pbuh) was giving advice to the believers on the pulpit in Madinah. Allah Almighty showed him scene of the battle exactly. He informed his Companions that Jafar had also been martyred along with the other commanders. He said, "Allah gave him two wings in return for his two hands that had been cut off. He flew to Paradise with them." [3] After this, Hz. Jafar, was mentioned as "Dhuljanahayn (the one having two wings)" and "Tayyar (flier)" among the Companions.
May Allah be pleased with him!
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Madinah was getting ready to welcome its master. Everybody, young and old alike, was in the streets. There was a wave of joy and excitement that had never been seen before. A group of people were waiting for their guest outside the city. The children were running around happily and the old people were talking in excitement. Everybody was waiting for the beloved guest to come from Makkah. When the Prophet (pbuh) was seen in the horizon, a few children ran to the city to give the good news. One of those children was Anas, a lovely boy who was eight or nine years old.
The mother of Anas became a Muslim in the first Pledge of Aqaba. Her husband, Malik died before the Migration. Abu Talha, who was one of the rich people of Madinah and who was not a Muslim yet, wanted to marry this woman called “Umm Sulaym”. She said she would not accept his offer unless he became a Muslim. Abu Talha accepted this condition and became a Muslim; then, he married the mother of Anas. Thus, Anas became a bit happy to have a father. After a while, his family sent Anas to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to serve him.
Thus, this togetherness lasted until the Messenger of Allah died. Hz. Anas served the Messenger of Allah until the death of the Messenger of Allah. He became a loyal confidant of the Messenger of Allah. He narrates an incident regarding the issue as follows:
“I was playing with some children. The Messenger of Allah came along and greeted us. Then, he sent me somewhere to do something. He sat and waited in the shade of a wall. I returned and informed him about the result. Then, I went home. My mother asked me why I was late. I told her that the Messenger of Allah sent me somewhere to do something. She asked me what I did. I told her that it was a secret and could not tell her. She liked this deed of mine and said, ‘O my son! Continue keeping the secrets of the Messenger of Allah!’” [1]
Hz. Anas liked the Messenger of Allah very much and felt peaceful and pleased when he served the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). He got up before everybody else in the morning, went to the mosque and served the Messenger of Allah. If the Messenger of Allah intended to fast, he would prepare suhur food and perform the morning prayer with him after suhur. Besides, Hz. Anas performed the morning prayers with the Messenger of Allah every day after starting to serve him.
The Messenger of Allah liked this lovely boy who served him and prayed for him and treated him something all the time. Once, Umm Sulaym, his mother, asked the Messenger of Allah to pray for Anas so that he would have a lot of wealth and children. The Prophet prayed for him as follows: “O Allah! Increase his wealth and children! Give abundance to what You give him.” It is clearly seen in the life of Anas that this prayer was accepted. Hz. Anas, who had a long life, buried about 100 children and grandchildren of his when he was alive.
The Prophet loved Anas very much and gave him advice from time to time. Once, he addressed him as follows:
“O my son! Try to live without having any bad thoughts about anyone in your heart. My son! This is my Sunnah. He who practices my Sunnah loves me; he who loves me is with me in Paradise.” [2]
On another day, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to him, “O my son! When you enter your house, greet. It will be abundance (blessing) for you and your household.” [3]
Hz. Anas, who knew the Sunnah very well since he was together with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) for many years, practiced the sunnah in the best way. He imitated the Messenger of Allah in everything he did. He narrated the following from the Prophet: “It is more thirst-quenching, healthier and more wholesome to drink water with three breaths.” He expressed his loyalty to the Sunnah by saying, “I also breathe three times when I drink water.” [4]
Hz. Anas narrates that he served the Prophet for 10 years and that the Prophet never said to him “Why did you do it like this?” for something that he did and “Why did you not do it?” for something that he did not do. [5]
Hz. Anas took part in all wars with the Messenger of Allah. When he took part in the Battle of Badr, he was only 12 years old.
Hz. Anas, who did not leave the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) even for a moment when he was alive, fulfilled important duties in the period of Four Caliphs too. He was appointed to collect zakah in the region of Bahrayn during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr and fulfilled this duty perfectly. He became specialized in fiqh during the caliphate of Hz. Umar. He settled in Basra and taught the students that gathered around him. He was also a member of the consultation committee of Hz. Umar.
He did not join the mischief that were caused and incited by the munafiqs during the caliphate of Hz. Uthman and Hz. Ali and he tried to keep people away from them. He spent his time learning and teaching. He educated hundreds of students among which there were caliphs. His own children also attended his lessons. They also became respectable scholars.
Although Anas was very rich, he led a plain and ascetic life. He did not like luxury and worldly possessions. He spent his wealth on the poor people and especially students. He performed prayers very carefully and in awe; when people asked how the Messenger of Allah performed prayers, the prayer of Anas was shown as a model.
One of his distinguished characteristics was his honesty and his braveness in the face of oppression and injustice. He never hesitated to tell the truth in the presence of the oppressors. As a matter of fact, Hajjaj, the famous oppressor, avoided oppressing him because he knew this characteristic of Anas; Hajjaj even attended his lessons to please him.
Hz. Anas, who was one of the notable scholars among the Companions, narrated 2 thousand and 286 hadiths; thus, he was honored to be “the third Companion that narrated the most hadiths”. Some of those hadiths are as follows:
“He who does not show compassion to the young ones and respect to the elderly is not one of us.” [6]
“If a young person shows respect to an old person, Allah will create people that will show respect to him.” [7]
“When I was taken up to heaven (in Miraj), I passed by people who had nails of copper and were scratching their faces and their breasts. I said, ‘O Jibril! Who are these people?’ He replied, ‘They are those who were given to backbiting and who aspersed people's honor.” [8]
“Whoever makes the Hereafter his goal, Allah makes his heart rich, and organizes his affairs, and the world comes to him whether he wants it or not. And whoever makes the world his goal by forgetting the hereafter, Allah puts his poverty right before his eyes, disorganizes his affairs, and the world does not come to him, except what has been decreed for him.” [9]
“When Allah wants good for his slave, He hastens his punishment in the world. And when He wants bad for His slave, He withholds his sins from him until he appears before Him on the Day of Judgement.” [10]
“None of you should wish to die due to a misfortune that hits him. Those who are forced to feel like wishing to die should pray as follows: ‘O Lord! Let us live as long as life is good for us. Remove our souls if life is not good for us.’” [11]
Hz. Anas was a well-known scholar in fiqh. He made ijtihads on fiqh issues based on the ilm he established and answered difficult questions.
Hz. Anas, who was given the nickname “Khadim an-Nabawi [the Servant of the Prophet]”, went to more than 100 towns. He told the Muslims what he saw and heard from the Prophet. He died in Basra in 93 H, when he was more than 100 years old. Thus, he became the last Companion who died there.
Those who were saved from the darkness of polytheism, unbelief and oppression in the Era of Bliss had a completely different life after attaining the luminous light of Islam and they abandoned everything related to their old days. Anything that reminded them of their life before Islam caused them great suffering. This mood also affected Asim bin Thabit, who was a person from Madinah and who became a Muslim before the Pledge of Aqaba, in a different way.
After becoming a Muslim, Asim decided not to touch any polytheists and not to allow any polytheists to touch him. He always prayed to Allah Almighty to continue this decision.
Hz. Asim joined the Battle of Badr and killed many of the notables of the polytheists. After the Battle of Uhud, a congregation from the tribes of Adal and Qara came to the Messenger of Allah and asked him to send a delegation to them to teach them Islam. The Messenger of Allah sent a delegation headed by Asim to them. However, the people that came to the Messenger of Allah had evil intentions. They planned to trap the Muslims and sell them to Makkan polytheists; thus, they would get a lot of money from them. When they arrived in Raji, they revealed their plan and the Muslim delegates were surrounded by Bedouins with swords.
They said, "We do not want to kill you. Our intention is to sell you to Makkans and to get some rewards from them. Surrender!"
How could Hz. Asim and his friends who saw this betrayal with their own eyes could trust these cruel polytheists? Asim answered them as follows:
"I swore beforehand that I would never accept the protection of polytheists. By Allah, I will never believe in the protection and promise of the unbelievers and I will never surrender to unbelievers"
Then, he started to throw arrows at the polytheists by saying, "O Allah! Inform the Prophet about our situation!" When he threw arrows, he recited poems: "Death is true; life is empty and ephemeral / Whatever is written in fate (qadar) will happen / People will go to Allah sooner or later. / If I do not fight you, let me die!"
Asim bin Thabit had seven arrows in his quiver. He killed one polytheist with each arrow. When he ran out arrows, he hit the polytheists with his spear. When his spear was broken, he drew his sword. He broke the sheath of his sword and prayed as follows:
"O Allah! I protected your religion at the beginning of today. Now protect my body at the end of today! "Do not allow the polytheists to touch my body."
Finally, he was wounded in two legs and fell down.
Sons of Lihyan martyred seven Companions including Asim bin Thabit by arrows.
The polytheists wanted to cut off his head; they wanted to take his head to Shuhayd's daughter and receive a reward from him. For, Hz. Asim had killed her father, who was a polytheist, at Badr. His daughter called "Sulafa" promised that she would give a reward to the person who cut off Asim's head and brought it to her.
The polytheists of Huzayl rushed in order to cut off Asim's head. However, a group of bees suddenly appeared around Asim. The bee community resembled a dark cloud and they clung to the faces of those approaching Asim’s dead body; they disturbed the polytheists and prevented them from approaching the dead body. The bees were protecting Asim's body. No matter how hard the polytheists tried, they could not cut off even a small part of the body of Asim. They said, "Let us wait for the evening. We will come and cut off his head after bees leave." However, Allah Almighty sent unexpected rain in the evening and it rained all the time; the flood caused by the rain took the body of Asim bin Thabit away. The polytheists could not reach their goal.
Allah Almighty protected the blessed body of Asim from the polytheists after his martyrdom by His mercy as He protected his body from the fury of the polytheists when he was alive. He had not touched the polytheists; and the polytheists could not touch him. Allah accepted his prayer. [1]
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[1]Usdul-Ghaba, 3: 73-74: Isaba, 2: 244-245.
80-)
Anas bin Nadr (r.a.)
Anas bin Nadr was from Madinah. He was the paternal uncle of the famous Companion Anas bin Malik. He became a Muslim in Madinah in the first years when Islam emerged. He had a different place in the eye of the Prophet. The Prophet loved him very much and complimented on him from time to time.
Once, his sister broke a few teeth of a woman. Despite the request of Anas bin Nadr, they insisted on retaliation. They informed the Prophet about the issue. The Prophet also decreed that retaliation be applied. Anas said to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), “O Messenger of Allah! I swear by Allah, who sent you with the truth, that and I hope from Allah that my sister’s tooth will not be broken.” As a matter of fact, the complainants gave up retaliation and accepted blood money. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,
“There are some slaves of Allah; if they swear an oath by Allah, He accepts it.”
Anas bin Nadr could not take part in the Battle of Badr. Therefore, he felt guilty. He felt ashamed toward Allah and His Messenger. He prayed to his Lord as follows:
“O Lord! Give me an opportunity to make jihad so that I will be forgiven and I will pay my debt.”
Having this feeling in mind, he entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah. He said, “O Messenger of Allah! I could not take part in the first battle against the polytheists. If Allah enables me to fight them, Allah knows what I will do to them.”
Finally, what Anas bin Nadr expected took place. Allah opened the door of Uhud to him. He was very happy. He was planning how to struggle against the enemy. He said, “We should not give any opportunity to the enemies of Islam. This young sapling of Islam should not be cut off. We can be cut off but this sapling should not be cut off. We all exist for it.”
In fact, nobody heard those words from him but his state showed loftier meanings.
The battle was going on severely. Anas was fighting self-sacrificingly. He wanted to make up for his absence at the Battle of Badr. The enemy soldiers looked for places to hide when they saw him. The polytheists were scattered thanks to him and brave soldiers like him. It was time to be joyful.
However, this joy did not last long. The archers that the Messenger of Allah had placed in the valley forgot the order of the Prophet, left their places and started to collect the booty thinking that the enemy had been defeated. When the enemy soldiers who were waiting in ambush saw that the archers left their places, they attacked from behind. The Muslims could not understand what happened and they scattered. Meanwhile, Mus’ab bin Umayr, who looked exactly like the Prophet (pbuh), was martyred by the polytheists. The false news that the Messenger of Allah had been killed spread. The Muslims were very sad.
Hz. Anas was running toward the enemy with his sword in his hand. He saw a group of Muslims sitting in a place. He asked, “Why are you sitting here?” They said, “The Messenger of Allah was martyred.” Anas said, “If the Messenger of Allah was martyred, what will you do if you remain alive without him? If Muhammad is dead, his Lord is alive. Get up and sacrifice your lives for what the Messenger of Allah sacrificed his life.” Then, he pointed the Muslims that were scattering and said, “O Lord! I ask forgiveness from you for what they do.” Then, he pointed to the polytheists and said, “O Lord! I take refuge in you from what they do.”
He felt that the duty belonged to him now. He decided to fight until he was martyred and not to return. He might not have found such an opportunity again.
He met Sa’d bin Muadh while walking toward the enemy. He said to Sa’d, ‘O Sa’d! I swear by the Lord of Nadr that Paradise is here. I am feeling its fragrance from the side of Mount Uhud.”
It was observed that Anas bin Nadr attacked the enemy with that excitement. Nobody saw him after that until the battle ended. They could not find him after the battle either. However, there was a dead body whose ears and nose were cut off, lips were broken off, eyes were scratched out and who had about 80 wounds of caused by swords, bayonets and arrows among the martyrs. Nobody knew whose dead body it was. Finally, her sister identified that it was Anas bin Nadr from his toes.
Anas bin Malik said, “We think the verse ‘Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah: of them some have completed their vow (to the extreme)…’ [al-Ahzab, 23] was sent down for my uncle Anas bin Nadr and similar people.”
When Sa’d bin Muadh looked at the lofty martyr in blood, he could not help crying and saying,
“O Messenger of Allah! I could not do what Anas bin Nadr did.” [1]
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[1]Usdul-Ghaba, 1: 131-132; Musnad, 3: 201.
81-)
Tulayb bin Umayr (r.a.)
Hz, Tulayb (r.a.) was an active, fiery and brave young man. His spirit was not blemished by polytheism. When he was 14-15 years old, his common sense helped him and he believed in the Prophet.
During the first years of Islam, the Prophet invited people to Islam secretly in the house of Hz. Arkam. Hz. Tulayb went to the house where the Messenger of Allah stayed without fearing anyone. He surrendered himself to the Prophet and became a believer.
Hz. Tulayb was excited. His heart became enlightened with the holy light of belief. The vast compassion of the Prophet illuminated his heart. He became very impatient and wanted to give this glad tiding to his mother. However, he did not know how his mother would react. Was she going to get angry with him? For, he became a Muslim without informing her about it.
He arrived home. As soon as he saw his mother, he said, “O Mum! I have become a Muslim. I accepted the religion of Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) and became subjected to him.
His mother Arwa, who belonged to a noble family and who was an aunt of the Prophet, shared his joy. After congratulating her son, Arwa spoke as follows:
“O my son! There is no doubt that your cousin deserves your help more than anybody else does. If we, women, had the power to protect him from men, we would definitely resist all kinds of attacks and protect him.”
When Hz. Tulayb saw that his mother understood him, his courage increased. His mother had not become a Muslim yet but she did not want her nephew to be harmed. Making use of this nice atmosphere, Hz. Tulayb wanted his mother to be a Muslim, too. He said, “Mum! What prevents you from being a Muslim? Look! Your brother, Hamza, became a Muslim too.”
When she heard this offer, she softened a bit but it was not easy to abandon one's previous belief. She said, “I will wait a bit. I will do what my sisters do; I will be one of them.”
When Tulayb saw that his mother hesitated, he had nothing to do but to pray for her. Then, he said,
“O Mum! In that case, I will pray Allah for you until you accept Islam and utter witnessing by saying, ‘There is no god but Allah’.”
Arwa bint Abdulmuttalib did not want to disappoint his son and she acted in accordance with his wish; she uttered kalima ash-shahada and became a Muslim.[1]
Hz. Tulayb struggled against the polytheists bravely though he was very young. He tried to silence the polytheists who defamed and talked against the Messenger of Allah. Once, he went to Abu Jahl, who resorted to anything to harm and trouble the Prophet, and gave him a blow that wounded his head. The polytheists who were theregrabbed hold of Hz. Tulayb. Abu Lahab, who was his maternal uncle, freed him.
After that, some people went Hz. Arwa and complained to her about her son's behavior: “Do you not see what your son, Tulayb, does? He devoted himself to the way of Muhammad.”
Hz. Arwa gave them the following answer:
“His best days are the days when he helps Muhammad (pbuh) because Muhammad (pbuh) was sent as a prophet by Allah.”
The polytheists were astonished. In order to be sure, they asked her, “Did you believe in Muhammad, too?” She said, “Yes, I did.”
They went to Abu Lahab and told him that his sister had become a Muslim.
When Abu Lahab was told that his sister had accepted Islam, he went to her house. He reproached her and condemned her for leaving her ancestors' religion.
Thereupon, Arwa said to him, “Stop reproaching me and go to your nephew. Help him and support him. Accept his religion.”
Thereupon ,Abu Lahab said, “Do we have the power to oppose all Arab tribes because of the religion he introduced?” He insisted on being an unbeliever and went away.[2]
Hz. Arwa answered those who spoke against the Prophet and tried to prevent him from possible dangers. She also encouraged her son to do so. She told her not to leave the Messenger of Allah. Both the mother and the son struggled against polytheism as much as they could.
Once, Hz. Tulayb heard that Awf bin Sabra, one of the polytheists, uttered bad words about the Prophet. He found a jawbone of a camel and hit Awf on the head, wounding him. When they went to his mother to complain, she said, “Tulayb helps his cousin. He sacrifices his life and property for him.” Thus, she rejected the polytheists.[3]
Once, Hz. Tulayb, who walked around Makkah freely since he was very young, heard from the polytheists that Abu Ihab bin Uzayr would organize an assassination to kill the Prophet by making a deal with Qurayshis. When he found out that Abu Ihab set off to kill the Prophet, he confronted Abu Ihab and wounded him on the head by throwing a stone at him. When Abu Ihab understood that his intention was heard, he gave up the idea of the assassination.”[4]
Hz. Tulayb’s heroic acts broke the resistance of the polytheists. The polytheists, who could not resist the expansion of Islam through their ideas, were astonished when they encountered such physical resistance.
Hz. Tulayb, who was taken under custody by Qurayshis, migrated to Abyssinia with the first caravan of muhajirs. He stayed there for three months. When they heard the rumor that Makkan polytheists had become Muslims, they returned to Makkah. However, the news they heard was not true. When migration to Madinah started, Hz. Tulayb migrated to Madinah. He stayed as a guest in the house of Abdullah bin Salama in Madinah. Then, the Prophet established brotherhood between Tulayb and Mundhir bin Amr.[5]
When the order to make jihad against the polytheists was given, Hz. Tulayb joined the army of the Prophet. He fought heroically at the Battle of Badr and protected the religion of Allah from His enemies. He took part in many battles after that.
After the death of the Prophet, Hz. Tulayb was among the mujahids in the War of Ajnadin against the Byzantines. The Muslims won a victory but about three thousand Muslims were martyred. Hz. Tulayb was among the martyrs, too. It was the month of Jumadal-Awwal in 13th year of the Migration. Hz. Tulayb was 35 years old then. [6]
May Allah be pleased with him!
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Abu Musa, whose real name is “Abdullah bin Qays” is from Yemen. When he was in Yemen, he heard that the last prophet emerged and that he migrated from Makkah to Madinah; he became a Muslim without hesitation. He did his best to spread Islam in Yemen. In the course of time, the number of Muslims in Yemen increased. The tribes organized caravans of migration to Makkah.
Abu Musa made preparations in order to migrate to Madinah with a group of Ash’aris from his tribe. He narrates this incident as follows:
“When we, Ash’aris, were in Yemen, we heard that the Messenger of Allah was sent as a prophet and that he migrated to Madinah. We (me and my brothers Abu Burda and Abu Ruhm) set off from Yemen as 53 people to go to the Messenger of Allah as migrants. We got on a ship. However, due to adverse weather conditions, our ship took us to the land of the king of Abyssinia.” [1]
In Abyssinia, Ash’aris met Hz. Jafar and other Muslims who had to migrate to Abyssinia due to the unbearable, severe tortures of the polytheists in Makkah. After remaining in Abyssinia for a while, they migrated to Madinah.
Meanwhile, the Muslims got stronger and gained several victories in the battles they fought against the polytheists and Jews. When the migrants who came from Abyssinia arrived in Madinah, they found out that the Muslims had gone to the Castle of Khaybar, which was owned by Jews, in order to conquer it. They wanted to make jihad very much. Therefore, they did not want to lose time; they set off for Khaybar without remaining in Madinah. However, when they arrived there, they saw that Khaybar had been conquered.
The Prophet became very glad that they had returned. He welcomed the migrants from Abyssinia and gave them shares from the booty as if they had taken part in the war. [2]
The victorious army was returning from Khaybar. The Prophet was on his mount, Abu Musa riding pillion. Once, the Prophet addressed him as follows:
“O Abdullah! Shall I tell you a word from the treasures of Paradise?”
Abu Musa, “My mother and father be sacrificed for you! Tell me, O Messenger of Allah!” The Prophet said, “Say, ‘La hawla wala quwwata illa billah’.” [3]
Ash’aris settled in Madinah. Once, the Messenger of Allah gave them the following glad tiding:
“O passengers of the ship! You definitely have two thawabs of migration.” [4]
No word pleased Ash’aris more than this blessed statement of the Prophet. That was not the only reason for their happiness. When the Prophet said, “Ash’aris are from me and I am from them” [5], their happiness increased.
Abu Musa al-Ash’ari also took part in the Battle of Tabuk, the Conquest of Makkah and the Battle of Hunayn. It was observed that some of the people of Hawazin who were defeated by mujahids gathered in the Valley of Awtas. The Prophet gave a standard to Abu Amir al-Ash’ari and sent him with some mujahids against the enemy that gathered there. The enemy that deployed in Awtas started to defend themselves.
Hz. Abu Amir, the commander, beat down many people from Hawazin in one-on-one fights. When fight with spears started, Abu Amir was wounded. He gave the standard to Abu Musa and appointed him as the commander.
When Abu Musa became the commander, he fought hard and managed to scatter the enemy forces. He also killed the polytheist that wounded Abu Amir. When the polytheists ran away, he went to see Abu Amir. The arrow that hit him was still on him. Abu Musa removed it upon the request of Abu Amir. Blood started to gush from the place he removed the arrow. Abu Amir realized that he would be martyred. He said,
“Give my regards to the Messenger of Allah and tell him that I want his prayer.”
After a while, he passed away due to the effect of the wound.
Hz. Abu Musa went to the Prophet to inform him about what had happened. The Messenger of Allah was lying on a coach made of ropes. There were marks of the ropes on his back and sides. When Abu Musa told him that his cousin Abu Amir had died, he got up and made wudu. He raised his hands and prayed as follows: “O Lord! Forgive Abu Amir.” When Abu Musa asked the Prophet to pray for him too, the Prophet prayed as follows:
“O Allah! Forgive the sins of Abdullah bin Qays. Enable him to attain an acceptable rank on the Day of Judgment.” [6]
Abu Musa served the Prophet throughout his life. He followed that blessed light like a shadow. Abu Musa had a separate place in the eye of the Prophet. He was famous for his nickname “the friend of the Prophet”. The Prophet sometimes gave him glad tidings due to his sacrifices, determination, will and keenness on ilm and worshipping in order to encourage him. One of those glad tidings is as follows:
One evening, Abu Musa went to the mosque to perform the night prayer with the Prophet. However, the Prophet came later than usual. Abu Musa waited until the Prophet came. After leading the night prayer for the people who waited, the Prophet gave them the following glad tiding:
“Do not hurry to leave. I have glad tidings for you. It is a boon of Allah to you that there is nobody except you who performs a prayer at this time.” [7]
Abu Musa al-Ash’ari saw the Prophet after the Conquest of Khaybar but he never left him after that except for his essential needs. He wanted to learn something from the Prophet any time he listened to him.
Abu Musa, who was a nightingale of the Quran, used all opportunities to learn the Quran. He tried to read the word of Allah in the best way. He was one of the Companions who decorated the Quran with their voice. Once, the Prophet (pbuh) complemented on him as follows when he read the Quran:
“You were give one of the tunes of Hz. Dawud.” [8]
As it is known, Hz. Dawud recited the Psalms very beautifully.
Many tribes became honored with Islam in the 9th year of the Migration. Many regions came under the rule of Islam. It was necessary to teach Islam to the people of those regions. To this end, the Prophet sent governors to all of the cities where Islam became dominant in the month of Muharram of the 9th year of the Migration. One of the Companions he appointed like that was Abu Musa. The Prophet sent him as a governor to the regions of Zabid, Aden and Sahil. Abu Musa’s duty was to teach people about their religious duties, to carry out the administrative affairs and to try the settle the issues that occurred between people based on Islamic decrees. When the Prophet saw Muadh bin Jabal and Abu Musa, he gave them the following advice:
“Make things easy, not difficult. Give good news; do not make people hate.”[9]
Hz. Abu Musa went to Makkah in the 10th year of the Migration and talked to the Messenger of Allah during Farewell Hajj.
Hz. Abu Musa, who lived in Madinah during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr, joined the army of mujahids prepared for the conquest of Iraq under the command of Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas. He became very successful there. Hz. Sa’d gave him the duty of conquering Nusaybin and Harran. Hz. Abu Musa conquered Nusaybin and Harran. It was Abu Musa who enabled the land of Iran including the cities Isfahan and Khuzistan to be conquered.
When the conquest of Iraq was completed, Hz. Umar appointed him as the governor of Basra. He wrote the following letter to the people of Basra:
“I am sending Abu Musa to you as the governor so that he will take the right of the weak from the strong, struggle against your enemies with you and ensure law and order in your land.”
When Hz. Abu Musa went to Basra, he expresses his most important duty by saying, “Umar bin Khattab, the leader of the believers, sent me here to teach you the book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet.” [10]
When Abu Musa remained in Basra, he spent all of his time teaching the Quran. Once, Hz. Umar asked Anas bin Malik, who had come from Basra, what Abu Musa was doing. Anas told him that he was busy with teaching people the Quran. [11]
Hz. Umar wrote the following letter to his governors: “Send me list of those who could read the Quran in your town to me. I will send them to other places to teach the Quran.” Abu Musa turned out to be the governor that taught the most people the Quran. The number of the Muslims he taught the Quran was more than 300.
On the one hand, Abu Musa taught the people of Basra the Quran and the Sunnah; on the other hand, he preached them. His preaching affected the people very much. Those who listened to him could not help shedding tears.
Hz. Abu Musa also worked to improve the city of Basra. Upon the order of Hz. Umar, he had a canal made to bring drinking water to the people of Basra. This canal was named “Abu Musa Canal”. Before the canal was made, the people used to carry water from a distance of six miles. Everybody benefitted from that canal. Every house started to use this water. [12]
After working as the governor of Basra for a while, he was appointed as the governor Kufa upon the request of the people of Kufa.
Abu Musa followed the Sunnah closely. The best guide and model for him was the life of the Prophet. He imitated the Messenger of Allah in all of his words and deeds. He regarded the Prophet as his model even in trivial issues. “I follow the trace of the Messenger of Allah and try to do whatever he did.” [13] The statement above expresses his adherence to the Sunnah. The incident below is a very good example:
Once, his son sneezed. He did not say “Yarhamukallah.” Somebody else sneezed. He said “Yarhamukallah” to him. When he was asked about the reason, he said,
“The Prophet said, ‘If somebody sneezes and says ‘Alhamdulillah”, say ‘Yarhamukallah’, If he does not say ‘Alhamdulillah”, do not say ‘Yarhamukallah’.” [14]
Once Hz. Abu Musa went to visit Hz. Umar, the Caliph. He asked permission to enter into his presence. When he did not receive an answer, he returned. When Hz. Umar saw that he returned, he asked the reason. Abu Musa gave the following answer:
“I asked permission from you three times but you did not give permission. Thereupon, I returned. For, I heard the Messenger of Allah say, ‘When you want to enter somewhere ask for permission three times. If you are not given permission, you should return.’”[15]
Hz. Abu Musa was a very chaste and pure person; he tried to keep away from all kinds of sins. Piety and virtue were observed in all of his deeds. The feeling that settled in his heart was “fear of Allah”. He was very merciful. He thought of the hereafter a lot and remembered death a lot. For, there was no preacher more effective than death.
Once, Abu Musa said to Anas bin Malik, “O Anas! How behind are the people of today related to the hereafter! They do not think of the hereafter at all.” Hz. Anas said, “Their sensual desires and Satan led them to this heedlessness and sleep.” Abu Musa said,
“No. The world was shown to them in advance and the hereafter was veiled. If they saw the hereafter as they saw the world, they would not turn their faces away from the hereafter and they would not love the world so much.” [16]
Abu Musa was among the scholars of the Companions. The Prophet allowed him to issue fatwas. He was one of the four Companions that issued fatwas during the caliphate of Hz. Umar. Hz. Ali praised Abu Musa as follows: “This person is ilm from head to foot.” However, he was very humble. His purpose in learning ilm was “Allah’s consent”; therefore, he would say, “I do not know” regarding something that he did not know. If he heard a more appropriate fatwa than his, he would accept the truth by saying, “This is right.”
One of the most valuable characteristics of Abu Musa was his reliance on Allah. No danger would intimidate him; no trouble or difficulty made him worried. He would show consent to whatever happened to him and would think about the nice outcomes behind the veil of qadar.
Hz. Abu Musa was among the Companions that were advanced in the science of hadith. He narrated 360 hadiths from the Prophet. Those hadiths are included in Bukhari, Muslim, Musnad and other hadith books. Two of them are as follows:
“Verily, the parable of a good friend and a bad friend is that of a seller of musk and a blacksmith. The seller of musk will give you some perfume, you will buy some, or you will notice a good smell. As for the blacksmith, he will burn your clothes or you will notice a bad smell.”[17]
Another hadith is as follows:
“The Prophet interlaced his fingers and said, ‘Verily, the believers are like a building, each part strengthening the other. They hold one another firmly.’” [18]
When Abu Musa was about to die, he asked some young people to dig a grave for him. After they dug the grave and returned, he uttered the following exemplary words:
“I swear by Allah that it will soon come to one of two conclusions. Either my grave will expand to form angles stretching up to 40 yards wide, and then a doorway to Paradise will open to reveal my house, family, stations, blessings and honors Allah has reserved for me. And I will then know my way to my dwellings therein better than I know the road to my house in this world; and I will smell the fragrance of Paradise and perceive the happiness of that station up to the Day of Resurrection. 2) Or if I am a bad person – God forbid – , my grave will stiffen down to be smaller than the bushing of a spearhead, and then a doorway to hell-fire will open to reveal my chains, and shackles and like prisons reserved of men who dwell in Hell, and I will immediately know the way to my seat of punishment therein better that I know the road to my house today; moreover I will smell the cursed stench of its poisons and experience the magnitude of its flames up to the Day of Resurrection.” [19]
Hz. Abu Musa died in Makkah when he was 63 years old.
Bilal was an Abyssinian slave. He was a slave of Umayya bin Khalaf. Bilal was looking for a high truth. What he was looking for was nothing but Islam. When the Prophet started to spread the religion of Islam, Bilal Habashi became one of the first Muslims. He met the eternal need of his soul with Islam. From time to time, he went to the Messenger of Allah to listen to his blessed talk without disrupting the work of his master. His master, Umayya bin Khalaf, was against Islam. He would never allow Bilal to become a Muslim. When he heard that Bilal had become a Muslim, he went crazy. He resorted to all kinds of pressures to dissuade him from his new religion. He applied unimaginable tortures. He tied his hands and feet, putting him on the hot sand; then, he put big stones on his stomach. He left Bilal like that for days without giving him food and water. He said, "If you do not deny Muhammad and if you do not worship our idols, you will remain like this until you die."
If Bilal had abandoned his religion and if he had spoken against the Prophet, all of the tortures would have ended and he would even have been freed. However, Hz. Bilal, the hero of patience, did not surrender to this cruel master. He never fulfilled his wished. He said "Allah," and "the Prophet." He did not forget Allah even for a moment even when he groaned due to the severity of the tortures. He always expressed the unity of Allah aloud by saying, "Ahad, Ahad (One, One)!" Umayya, the ferocious polytheist, did not regard these tortures enough. He increased his cruelty. He put a rope around Bilal's neck and gave him to the hands of the mad people of Makkah. They took him to the mountains around Makkah and tortured him. Umayya thought he was going to overcome his belief with force, but he was wrong. Bilal's faith increased. As he increased the severity of the tortures, Bilal always said, "Ahad, Ahad!"
These tortures were of no significance in the eye of Bilal. What distressed him was to remain away from the Messenger of Allah, for whom he wanted to sacrifice his life. He could not put up with the longing for the Prophet. [1]
One day, while he was under such torture, Hz. Abu Bakr passed by. He became very sad when he saw Bilal's agonies. He could not help saying, "Umayya! Fear Allah! How long will you continue this cruelty?" In a shameless and insolent manner, Umayya said, "You deceived him. You alienated him from our idols! If you feel pity for him, come and save him."
Hz. Abu Bakr thought for a while. Then he said, "Of course, I will save him. I have a non-Muslim slave. If you want, we can exchange them. Besides, he is stronger than Bilal." After a long bargaining, Umayya finally accepted his offer. Thus, Hz. Abu saved Bilal from these tortures and freed him for Allah.
After thanking Abu Bakr, who freed him, Bilal said to him,
"If you have freed me for the sake of Allah, let me go so that I will work in the way of Allah. If you have done this favor to make me your servant, show me where I will work so that I will work."
Hz. Abu Bakr, who was moved by these words, said,
"Yes, I have freed you only for Allah's sake. It is for Allah's sake. It is enough for me if I attain His consent." [2]
The Messenger of Allah and the Companions were discussing about how to call the believers to prayer. Finally, upon a dream seen by several Companions, the present form of was adopted. And the duty to call adhan was given to Bilal. The call to prayer we hear five times a day was first read by Bilal. The adhan of Muhammad called by Bilal with a touching voice early in the morning left deep traces in the hearts. A woman from Sons of Najjar narrates a memory related to Bilal's adhan as follows:
"Our house was the highest one around the mosque. Bilal came here early every morning, waiting for the dawn to break. When the dawn broke, he would call adhan."
With his adhan, the believers would flock to the mosque to pray. Bilal always called adhan from the day it was ordered to the death of the Messenger of Allah.
One of the things that Bilal loved the most was when the Messenger of Allah said to him, "O Bilal! Get up and call adhan!" The Messenger of Allah expressed his love for Bilal by saying, "Lucky is Bilal! He is the master of muezzins." Bilal has always been remembered as "Sayyid al-Muezzinin (Master of Muezzins)" in the history of Islam.
That the Prophet gave Bilal the duty of calling adhan infuriated the enemies of Islam. Someone who used to be their slave started to call people to Allah by adhan openly. After the conquest of Makkah, when Hz. Bilal called adhan on the Kaaba, the ferocious enemies of Islam showed their insolence by saying, "Did Muhammad not find anyone else other than this black crow to call adhan?" They could not accept it when they saw that the poor gained such honor and were elevated by Islam. They even said to the Prophet, “If you drive the poor and lonely people like Bilal away, we will believe in you. We cannot be equal to them."
Hz. Bilal, who attained the love of the Messenger of Allah and his blessed praise against the grudge and hatred of the enemies of Islam, did not mind the words of the polytheists. The pleasure of belief and the love of the Messenger of Allah were his source of happiness. He did not have any wealth. He was usually hungry like the Prophet (pbuh). His heart and spirit were in peace and tranquility. He reflected this pleasure in the adhans he called.
One day, the Messenger of Allah said to Hz. Bilal, "O Bilal! On the night of Miraj, I heard footsteps at the back while I was entering Paradise with Jibril. I asked Jibril, 'Whose footsteps are these?' Jibril said to me, 'Bilal'. What good things do you do to attain such a high rank?" Hz. Bilal said,
"O Messenger of Allah! I fulfill the fard deeds. And I always try to have wudu."
These were some of the characteristics that elevated the spiritual rank of Hz. Bilal: To fulfill the fard deeds, to avoid harams and try to have wudu, which is the spiritual weapon of believers.
The Prophet’s praise and compliments about Bilal did not cause him to feel conceited. He was always in modesty and humbleness. When he was reminded of his virtues and Prophet’s praise and compliments he would say, "Was I not an Abyssinian slave yesterday?" Allah Almighty elevated his spiritual rank because of his humbleness. He made him a neighbor of the Messenger of Allah in Paradise.
Hz. Bilal took part in many battles with the Messenger of Allah such as Badr, Khandaq and Uhud. He made jihad to elevate the word of Allah.
The death of the Messenger of Allah opened a deep wound in his spirit. He could not stay in Madinah any longer. For, the mountains of Madinah reminded him of the Messenger of Allah. Hz. Abu Bakr insisted that he should stay, but he could not convince him. Hz. Bilal went to Damascus. He made all mujahids cry with the adahn he called when Hz. Umar arrived in Damascus.
Upon a dream he saw in Damascus, he visited Madinah. He saw Hasan and Husayn next to the grave of the Messenger of Allah. He recollected his memories. He had not called adhan in Madinah after the death of the Messenger of Allah. He could not call adhan after that great Prophet left this ephemeral world. He was so accustomed to receive the order "O Bilal! Get up and call adhan!" from the Messenger of Allah that he could not call adhan after his death. However, he finally he decided to call adhan once again in Madinah. The mountains and stones in Madinah remembered the Messenger of Allah when Bilal started to call adhan for the morning prayer. The streets became full of human beings. Everybody was outside. They recalled the Era of the Messenger of Allah and they were crying. It sounded as if the Messenger of Allah got up and made Bilal call adhan. There was not a single person who did not cry in Madinah that day. Everyone fulfilled their longing for the Messenger of Allah to a certain extent.
Hz. Bilal returned to Damascus. He passed away in Damascus in 20 H.
May Allah be pleased with him!
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Bara bin Ma'rur was one of the twelve representatives chosen among the participants of the Second Pledge of Aqaba. Hz. Bara spoke as follows when he paid allegiance to the Prophet in Aqaba:
"Praise be to Allah, who honored us with Muhammad and made us beloved. We are not the first to be invited to Allah and His Messenger. However, we are the first to respond. We have heard and obeyed the invitation of Allah and His Messenger. O people of Aws and Khazraj! Allah has honored you with His religion. If you have accepted to listen to and obey willingly, obey Allah and His Messenger.
Praise be to Allah, who sent you with the true religion that we will protect you from the things that we protect ourselves and our families. By Allah, we are people who know how to fight well."
Hz. Bara worked very hard to spread Islam in Madinah. He caused a lot of people to become Muslims.
In the first years of Islam, Muslims used to pray by turning toward Jerusalem. Qiblah had not been changed to the Kaaba yet. This saddened Bara a lot. He desired to pray by turning toward the Kaaba. Once, he even performed a prayer by turning toward the Kaaba on the way to Makkah. The other Companions did not welcome his behavior. When they arrived in Makkah, Hz. Bara asked the Messenger of Allah about it: "O Messenger of Allah! I regarded it appropriate to perform the prayer by turning toward the Kaaba; I did not want the Kaaba to remain behind me. However, my friends oppose me. What would you say about it?" The Messenger of Allah said, "You have a qiblah now. I wish you had been a little patient." Thereupon, Hz. Bara turned toward Jerusalem like other Muslims in prayer after that.
Hz. Bara got sick just before the Messenger of Allah migrated to Madinah. He realized that he could not get rid of this illness. He willed that one third of his wealth be given to the Prophet to spend as he wished, one third be spent in the way of Allah, and one third be left to his children. He died before seeing the Prophet’s migration to Madinah.
Bara had promised the Prophet that he would come to the Kaaba during hajj season. When he got sick, he said, "Turn me toward the Kaaba due to my promise to the Messenger of Allah. For, I promised him that I would come." His relatives did as he wished.
When the Prophet migrated to Madinah, he went to the grave of Bara with the Companions. He performed his janazah prayer there. He said, "O Allah! Forgive him, show him mercy, and be pleased with him!"
Thus, Hz. Bara attained the honor of being the Companion who first turned toward the Kaaba in prayer, buried turning toward the Kaaba for the first time and whose janazah prayer was performed on his grave first.
May Allah be pleased with him! [1]
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[1]Tabaqat, 3: 618-620; Sirah, 2: 82-83.
85-)
Ala bin Hadrami (r.a.)
The Islamic state established in Madinah was growing day by day. The people who flocked to Madinah in tribes and clans listened to the talk of the Prophet and the lofty truths of Islam; then, they became Muslims. On the one hand, the Prophet was busy with the delegations arriving in Madinah; on the other hand, he sent envoys to the neighboring states and rulers and invited them to Islam. Ala bin Hadrami was one of these Companions who were appointed as envoys. The Prophet sent him to Bahrain, a seaside country in the western part of the Gulf of Basra in 8 H. He also wrote a letter to a Mundhir bin Sawa, the ruler of Bahrain who was a fire-worshipper. The Prophet advised Ala to take Hz. Abu Hurayra with him and to treat his comrade well. [1]
Hz. Ala bin Hadrami was one of the first Muslim. He listened to the talks of the Prophet for a long time, and learned many things from him. He was a good speaker. His ability to persuade was very good and he spoke softly. He spoke taking the state of his addressee into consideration and did his best not to hurt him. That was the reason why he was appointed to do such an important service.
Ala bin Hadrami set off without wasting time. On the one hand, he proceeded on his way, and on the other hand, he was thinking. For, hundreds of people would accept or reject Islam based on his way of conveying the message. Besides, the person he would visit was a king. Therefore, he had to be careful. In fact, the community he would visit worshipped fire. Instead of Allah, they worshipped fire, which Allah created. However, no matter who the addressee was, he had to invite them using soft language. For, Allah Almighty stated the following in a verse regarding the issue:
“Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious...”[2]
Finally, he reached Bahrain. The ruler of Bahrain heard that a prophet had emerged in Makkah. However, he did not have any information about Islam. He accepted the envoy of the Prophet into his presence at once. Thus, he wanted to show that he gave importance to the Messenger of Allah.
Hz. Ala, who was educated in the school of prophethood, entered into the presence of the king in a mature way. He was wearing plain but clean clothes. He gave the letter of the Prophet to the king. The king received the letter in a respectful manner, gave it to his interpreter and wanted him to read it. While the letter was being read, Ala bin Hadrami was thinking about what to speak. He looked around. Almost all of the notables of the king were there. Then, he decided that he should not use expressions that would disdain the king and the religion they followed in front of them. On the contrary, he had to consider the position of the ruler in his nation and invite him to Islam accordingly. After the letter was read, he made the following speech:
"O Mundhir! You definitely have a great mind regarding worldly affairs. Think well! Does it fit you not to approve a person who never tells lies, not to rely on a person who never breaks his promise and not to believe in him? This illiterate prophet is such a person that no sane person wants what he orders to be forbidden, and wants what he forbids to be ordered."
Mundhir was a really clever person. He thought a little bit about the Prophet's letter and Ala's speech. Then, he asked Ala to give him some more information about Islam. As Ala spoke, the light of belief started to shine on the face of Mundhir. Finally, he did not find it convenient to wait longer to accept Islam. He expressed his thoughts as follows:
"I looked at the sultanate in my hand; I found it appropriate for the world only, not for the hereafter. I looked at your religion; I saw that it considered both the world and the hereafter. What can prevent me from accepting such a religion that has a comfortable life in the world and an eternal life in the Hereafter? Then, he became a Muslim by uttering kalima ash-shahada. After Mundhir became a Muslim, Sibuht, a fire-worshipping monk also became a Muslim, which caused many people of Bahrain to accept Islam. [3]
Ala bin Hadrami wrote a letter to the Prophet, informing him about the good news. He wanted the instructions of the Prophet about how he should act after that.
The Prophet (pbuh) was very pleased to receive this letter. He congratulated and appreciated Ala bin Hadrami for this success. As a reward, he appointed Ala as the governor of Bahrain since that region became an Islamic country. He wrote Ala a letter ordering him to teach Islam to the people of Bahrain, to collect zakah from rich Muslims and jizyah from non-Muslims, to distribute them to the poor people and to send the extra money and goods to Madinah. [4]
Hz. Ala bin Hadrami was a model personality in rhetoric and communication as well as in administration. He made a great effort to make Islam a system of life. He made himself loved by the people of Bahrain in a short time. He ensured the settlement of Islam in Bahrain with the help of Mundhir and the monk. He distributed the zakah and jizyah that he had collected to the poor people in Bahrain; and he sent the rest to Madinah. At that time, the Muslims in Madinah were in financial difficulties. They became very happy when so much money arrived at an unexpected time; they thanked Allah Almighty for this blessing. [5]
Ala bin Hadrami continued his duty after the death of the Prophet during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr and Hz. Umar. For, the Prophet gave him this position because of his skill and competence.
Hz. Ala was also a Companion known for his courage and heroism. He was a good commander. Hz. Umar appointed him as the commander of the army in charge of the conquest of that region. In addition, he wrote him a letter, reminding him some issues:
"Allah Almighty informed us about the purpose of the creation of people. Work for the thing that you were created for and give up other things. For, the world is temporary, and the hereafter is permanent. Do not let the ephemeral pleasures of the world prevent you from seeing the eternal pleasures of the hereafter. Avoid doing the things that Allah forbade. It is Allah Almighty who gives superiority to whomever He wishes with knowledge and wisdom. May Allah make us and you obey Him and saved from His punishment. "[6]
This great companion fulfilled the duty of being a commander very well.
Some karamahs also were seen in Hz. Ala, who was known as a Companion whose prayer is accepted by Allah Almighty. Hz. Abu Hurayra, who was often with him, said his love for him increased because of the spiritual things he saw about Ala.
While the army under the command of Ala bin Hadrami was proceeding on the territory of Iran, the mujahids ran out of water. The enemy soldiers shut down all of the wells in that region in order to weaken the Muslims. It was not possible to find water. The weather was very hot. Hz. Ala prayed two rak'ahs with the mujahids. Then, he opened his hands and prayed to Allah Almighty. Soon, Allah helped them. The water started spring from under the sand. The mujahids drank from that water, made wudu and filled their water containers. Then, they left. One of the soldiers forgot some of his possessions in the place where they had stopped. When he returned to take them, he saw that the water spring had been lost.
Hz. Abu Hurayra narrates another memory about Hz. Ala as follows:
"I set off to go to Basra with Ala. When we arrived at Liyas, Hz. Ala passed away. We did not have enough water to wash him. Allah Almighty sent rain at that moment. We washed him with rainwater. We dug a grave with our swords and buried him. Then we left."
It was before the Migration... The Prophet (pbuh) sent Mus’ab bin Umayr, a young Companion, to Madinah so that he would spread Islam and teach the Muslims there. Hz. Mus’ab was a person who could speak well and could explain what he meant without offending people. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah sent him there with such an important duty. In fact, Hz. Mus’ab fulfilled this duty very well. He came to Aqabah with 75 people, 73 of whom were men and 2 of whom were women in the 13th year of the prophethood. He met the Prophet there.
One of those 75 people who went there in order to pay allegiance to the Prophet was Abbas bin Ubada. He could speak fluently. He made a very nice speech there:
“You will in fact avow that you will fight Arabs and non-Arabs. You will face many dangers. You may die, lose your property and be scattered. Pay allegiance if you want to take the risk. If you think of leaving the Messenger of Allah to the hands of the enemy, give this up now. If you promise and cannot keep your promise, it will be disgrace for you in both the world and the hereafter. If you protect him against all kinds of dangers, it will be good for you in both the world and the hereafter.”
Upon this speech, the people who were in Aqabah said all together,
“We are ready to face any danger to protect him.” Then, they paid allegiance to the Messenger of Allah one by one. This pleased the Messenger of Allah very much.
While the pledge continued at Aqabah, the polytheists were informed about it. The Prophet said to the Muslims of Madinah,
“Go back to the places where you stopped over.” Hz. Abbas bin Ubada spoke sincerely:
“O Messenger of Allah! We swear by Allah, who sent you with the true religion, we will attack the people in Mina and kill them if you give us permission.” However, the Prophet said,
“We were not ordered to do so yet.”
After the Pledge of Aqabah, Hz. Abbas settled in Makkah. He wanted to be near the Prophet. Meanwhile, the polytheists increased the torture and pressure on the Muslims. However, Hz. Abbas was ready to take any risks in order to be near the Prophet. As a matter of fact, when he was in Makkah, he encountered many problems. When the order to migrate was given, he migrated to Madinah. Thus, he received the honor of being both a Muhajir and an Ansar. He was given the name “the Muhajir of Ansar”. The Prophet established brotherhood between him and Osman bin Ma'zun, one of the notables of Muhajirs.
Hz. Abbas did not join the Battle of Badr because of his excuse. However, he suffered its agony. He was one of the first people to join the army the Prophet prepared for the Battle of Uhud. One of those who persevered when the army was defeated due to the disobedience of the archers for the order of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was Abbas. He swung his sword on the enemy and shouted as follows:
"O Muslims! This misfortune that you are suffering is the result of your disobedience to your Prophet. He promised you that you would be helped if you showed patience and perseverance. If we are not among those who protect the Messenger of Allah and if he is harmed, we will have no excuse to present to our Lord. "
Hz. Abbas broke the sheath of his sword after completing his speech. He took off his armor and helmet. He remained among the polytheists. Despite receiving many wounds, he tried to stand up and swing his sword at the enemy lest the polytheists should harm the Messenger of Allah. Finally, he was exhausted. He was martyred with the happiness of protecting the Messenger of Allah until he breathed his last. May Allah be pleased with him! [1]
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[1]Usdul-Ghaba, 3: 108-10; Sirah, 2: 90; Hz. Muhammed ve İslamiyet, 3: 154.
87-)
Abdurrahman bin Abi Bakr (r.a.)
Hz. Abdurrahman was Hz. Abu Bakr’s son. He was also the Prophet's brother-in-law. Hz. Abdurrahman did not become a Muslim though all of Abu Bakr’s family became Muslims. He took part in the battles of Badir and Uhud in the ranks of the polytheists. He even demanded a warrior to fight one on one. Hz. Abu Bakr wanted to fight his son who transgressed the limits, but the Prophet said to him, "Put your sword in the sheath. We need you."
Abdurrahman became a Muslim after the Treaty of Hudaybiyya and migrated to Madinah.
Abdurrahman's real name was "Abduluzza". The Prophet changed this name, which was the name of an idol and which meant "Uzza's slave", to "Abdurrahman".
When Hz. Abdurrahman became a Muslim, he started to listen to the talk of the Prophet and learn from him.
Hz. Abdurrahman was a mujahid of Islam. He took part in all of the wars and battles that took place after the Treaty of Hudaybiyya. He fought heroically. He fought enthusiastically in the Battle of Yamama, which was against the apostates. He destroyed the ranks of the enemy. He killed Muhkam bin Tufayl, one of the commanders of the enemy.
Abdurrahman did not accept the caliphate of Yazid. When he was offered money, he replied as follows: "We do not sell our religion for the world." Then he went to Makkah from Madinah. He lived in Habashi, a place near Makkah. He passed away in 53 H. [1]
May Allah be pleased with him!
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[1]Mustadrak, 3: 473-477.
88-)
Abdullah bin Jahsh (r.a.)
Hz. Abdullah was the son of Umayma, the son of the paternal aunt of the Prophet. He became a believer in the first days of the call to Islam. Thus, he became vulnerable to attacks and he accepted to face all kinds of torture and inflictions from the polytheists beforehand. When he became a Muslim, he received the greatest reaction from his relatives. Makkans, who were attached to their belief and customs blindly and became severely hostile to those who abandoned their ancestral religion. Abdullah bin Jahsh was exposed to the attacks of the polytheists. He was ready for all kinds of troubles for his belief. However, when the oppression became too unbearable, he joined the Muslim group who went to Abyssinia. He also had his family, two brothers and nurses with him. After having stayed there for a while, he returned to Makkah when he heard the Migration to Madinah.[1]
Hz. Abdullah was an intelligent, shrewd and courageous person who became a self-sacrificing soldier of belief at a young age. The Prophet sent Hz. Abdullah for some important duties.
It was the second year of the Migration. The Messenger of Allah gave Abdullah the following order:
"Come to me tomorrow morning with your arrow, bow, sword and equipment."
Hz. Abdullah made his preparations started to wait in front of the door of the Prophet after the morning prayer early in the morning.
The Prophet put a group of soldiers under Hz. Abdullah's command. He gave Abdullah a letter and told him to open it two days later when he arrived at the place that he was told. Hz. Abdullah set off toward Makkah and opened the letter when he arrived at "Nahla". What to do and how to act was written in the letter. The Prophet had sent him to discover and investigate the situation of Qurayshis.
After a while, they saw a caravan belonging to Quraysh. This caravan carried materials and provisions to Qurayshis, who were making preparations for war. Hz. Abdullah attacked the caravan and seized all the goods. The booty obtained in this expedition was the first booty that Muslims obtained. [2]
The only aim of Abdullah was to please the Messenger of Allah, to attain his love and consent. This love was superior to everything. When the Prophet sent him for this service, he asked "Abdullah! What is the thing you miss the most in the world?" Abdullah had only one thought. He replied, "My greatest aim in the world is the love of Allah and His Messenger. There is nothing else in my mind." The secret that elevates him lies here.
Abdullah bin Jahsh served the true religion a lot during the time of peace; he was a mujahid and hero in the battlefield. When preparations for the Battle of Uhud started, Hz. Abdullah was one of the first ones who joined.
The army set off and reached a place called "Shaykhayn". Umm Salama, one of the wives of the Prophet, brought grape juice to the Prophet in a bowl. The Prophet drank some of it and gave the rest to Abdullah. Hz. Abdullah drank all of the grape juice. Meanwhile, a friend of his approached him and asked, "Do you know where the water you will drink in the morning is?" Abdullah desired to be a martyr very much. He said, "I will quench my thirst only when I meet my Lord. Meeting him is better than drinking plenty of water when I feel very thirsty." [3]
He begged Allah to attain this desire and asked for martyrdom. The battle began and he attacked the polytheists like a lion. Meanwhile, his sword was broken. When the Prophet saw this, he took a date palm branch from the ground, gave it to him, and told him to fight with it. Hz. Abdullah continued fighting with that branch. A ferocious and strong polytheist stood against him. It was difficult for Abdullah to resist him. The time was due and his prayer was accepted. The polytheist hit Abdullah and he flew to Paradise.
The war was over. The Muslims were determining the dead and wounded soldiers. The polytheists had put Abdullah into an unrecognizable state. They had cut off all of his organs put him into a miserable state. This upset the Prophet. Then the Prophet buried Hz. Abdullah, his uncle Hz Hamza. At that time, Hz. Abdullah was 40 years old. May Allah be pleased with him! [4]
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Years passed after Islam rose in Makkah. The neighboring city of Madinah was full of the news of guidance. The people of Madinah who wanted to enlighten their ways with the light of the sun of Islam traveled to Makkah. The Prophet went out of Makkah to meet them in a secure place. For, Makkah was full of polytheists who oppressed and tortured the Muslims. The Prophet met the delegates at Aqabah, outside Makkah. Therefore, these negotiations were recorded as Pledges of Aqaba in history.
Among the people who were present in the Second Pledge of Aqaba and who paid allegiance to the Prophet was Khalid bin Zayd, who was known as “Abu Ayyub al-Ansari”. Hz. Khalid belonged to the clan of Sons of Najjar of the tribe of Khazraj, which was one of the two leading tribes of Madinah. He was the leader of his clan.
When Abu Ayyub al-Ansari returned to Madinah, he began to spread Islam. First, he started from his family, relatives and friends, and told them about the loftiness of the new religion. Soon, all of the members of his tribe became Muslims.
At that time, Makkah became a place of unbearable torture for Muslims. The pressures of the polytheists increased day by day, putting the Muslims in a situation where they could not continue their lives. Thereupon, the permission to migrate to Madinah was given. All of the Muslims started to migrate to Madinah in groups. The last people who had not migrated yet were the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and his loyal Companion, Hz. Abu Bakr. When the people of Madinah heard that they also set off, the people of Madinah started to wait for them with great joy and excitement. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari went out of Madinah every day and wanted to meet these saintly guests.
Finally, the exciting and joyful waiting became something indescribable when these two saintly guests were seen in the horizon. The news spread all over Madinah. Young and all alike, the people of Madinah were in the streets. Sons of Najjar recited poems and played the tambourine to welcome them.
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was traveling on his camel, Qaswa. All people of Madinah wanted to entertain this most honorable guest of Allah in their houses. Who would attain this honor?
The Prophet, who was sent as a mercy to the realms, did not want to break anyone's heart. He made an offer that would please everybody. He said, "Leave that animal alone; we will be guests of the people in front of whose door it will crouch."
Everybody was looking at Qaswa. This blessed animal, which traveled with slow steps, sat down in front of Abu Ayyub's house. The prayer of Abu Ayyub, who had gone out of Madinah for days, prayed and waited for this day with sincere wishes, was accepted. No one objected to this. Abu Ayyub immediately ran and put the loads on the camel down; then, he carried them to his house and placed them.
The Messenger of Allah first settled on the ground floor of this house so that it would be easy for him to meet with his visitors. However, Abu Ayyub and his wife were not comfortable at all. They could not sleep when they thought that the most honorable guest of the universe lived downstairs. Abu Ayyub could not stand saying, "O Messenger of Allah! It is not appropriate for me to be above you and you to be below me." The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "It is better for us to live downstairs." However, when Abu Ayyub and his wife insisted, he agreed to move upstairs. [1]
From that day on, this blessed house, in which they stayed for seven months, became a house of happiness and a classroom that distributed luminous light.
This house of happiness also earned a distinct honor with a miracle of the Prophet: It was one of the first days of the Prophet's (pbuh) staying in the house of Abu Ayyub. Abu Ayyub made dinner that would be enough for his two guests. When the meal was put in front of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), he said to Abu Ayyub said, "Invite 30 people from the notables of Ansar." Acting upon the order of the Prophet, Abu Ayyub invited 30 people from the notables of Ansar. They all came and ate from that meal. Then he said, "Invite 60 more people." They also came and ate. Later, he said, "Invite 70 more people." Abu Ayyub called them too. They also came and ate. Moreover, there was still food left in the saucepan. When they saw this miracle, all of them became Muslims and paid allegiance. [2]
As a reward for the hardships they experienced in Makkah and during the Migration, God Almighty fed 160 people with the food that was enough only for two people as a miracle, honoring them with Islam. Thus the fact "There is ease after every difficulty" [3] occurred again.
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) established a relationship of brotherhood between the Ansar of Madinah and the Muhajirs of Makkah. Abu Ayyub became the brother of Musab bin Umayr, one of the notables of Muhajirs. [4]
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari was referred to as "the Host of the Prophet" after that. He became one of the distinguished people among the Companions. From then on, he was together with the Messenger of Allah during the times of peace and war. He took part in all battles, whether big or small, including the battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq.
His jihad for the sake of Islam did not take place when the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was alive only. He took part in all of the battles after the death of the Messenger of Allah and encouraged mujahids.
Once, Abu Ayyub, who was adherent to the Messenger of Allah with infinite love, went to visit his holy grave after his death. He entered Rawda al-Mutahhara put his head on the grave of the Prophet and cried. Someone who saw him like that thought what he was doing was disrespect to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and shouted: "Do you know what you are doing?" Abu Ayyub, who understood that the voice belonged to Marwan, turned toward him and said "Yes." And he continued as follows:
"O Marwan! I did not come to the stones of this tomb. I heard the Messenger of Allah say, 'If this religion's affairs are in the hands of the competent and qualified people, do not cry. However, if this religion religion's affairs are handled by unqualified people, then cry.'" [5]
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, was very advanced in terms of taqwa. Almost all of the companions learned lessons of religious sciences and wisdom from him. They applied to him to understand the Quran and hadiths correctly. He was shown great respect wherever he went as "the Host of the Prophet".
During the caliphate of Hz. Ali, he went to visit the Governor of Basra, Ibn Abbas. When Ibn Abbas saw him, he showed Abu Ayyub great respect and allocated his mansion to his family.
Hz. Abu Ayyub, who also visited Egypt during the caliphate of Muawiya, was welcomed there with great respect and interest. The governor of Egypt was Uqba bin Amir. The following incident took place between him and the governor:
The governor was late for the evening prayer one day. The congregation waited for him for a long time. Finally, he came to the mosque and led the prayer. Abu Ayyub was among the congregation. After the prayer, Abu Ayyub said to the governor,
"O Uqba! Did you not hear what the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said about the people who delayed the evening prayer? "My ummah are on good deeds or their nature unless they delay the evening prayer until the stars cover the sky."
Uqba said, "Yes, I did." Abu Ayyub asked, "Why did you delay the evening prayer so much then?" When Uqba said he delayed because he was busy, Abu Ayyub said, "I swear by Allah I fear that when people see you do like that, they may think the Messenger of Allah did like that." Thus, he warned and guided the governor. [6]
The real reason for his trip to Egypt was to confirm a hadith by asking the governor about it. Only Uqba was alive among those who heard that hadith personally from the Prophet. When Abu Ayyub told him about the situation and said that he wanted to hear the hadith from him, Uqba said,
“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, ‘If a person covers the mistake of a believer, God Almighty will cover his mistake on the Day of Judgment.” [7]
Thus, Abu Ayyub returned to Madinah with the comfort of confirming a hadith. For this Companion, it was a holy duty to cover long distances for a hadith as well as to go to the battlefront for jihad.
Hz. Abu Ayyub lived long enough to reach the Era of the Four Caliphs. He even joined the army that Muawiya formed for the conquest of Istanbul. He had the glad tiding given by the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) for the conquest of Istanbul somewhere in the depth of his heart. Despite his old age, he was full of the honor and excitement of attaining this glad tiding.
It was 52 H. Hz. Abu Ayyub joined this army in Egypt but he fell ill during the clashes. He was in bed when the army approached Istanbul. He watched the war from his bed and wanted to get well and fight as soon as possible. Yazid bin Muawiya, the commander of the army, visited him personally and wished him good health. Abu Ayyub, who was pleased with the visit of Yazid, felt that he was going to die. He said to Yazid,
"If I die here, do not bury my body immediately. Take my body to the farthest point where the army can go and bury me there."
It seems that the Host of the Prophet spiritually saw the place where he would be buried and wanted to approach the conquest of Istanbul, which was the dream of the Muslims, one more step. Indeed, after a while, Hz. Abu Ayyub passed away.
As he had willed, the soldiers carried his dead body to the farthest point the army reached on their hands. They buried him there by uttering takbir and saying prayers. [8]
Hz. Abu Ayyub wanted to watch this conquest, which he could not see when he was alive, from his grave after his death. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, who is regarded as "the spiritual conqueror of Istanbul" has honored and enlightened this land for centuries.
After his burial, the commander of the army, Yazid, sent an envoy to the Byzantine emperor so that his grave would not be harmed. He told the emperor that the person lying there was the Host of the Prophet and warned him that the slightest harm done to him would cause all of the churches in the Islamic world to be destroyed. Partly due to this threat and partly because he was a great companion of the Prophet, the Christians did not harm his grave. However, in the course of time, the Byzantines could not appreciate the value of this blessed person and did not care when the grave was left on its own and when its place became unknown.
After that, 11 more expeditions were arranged on Istanbul. However, the city protected with strong castles could not be conquered; Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror and his soldiers received the honor of conquering Istanbul.
After the conquest, Akşemseddin, who was the teacher of the Conqueror and a saint, discovered the place of the grave by meditation. Since then, Abu Ayyub has always been visited as a "spiritual sultan of Istanbul".
Hz. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari narrated many hadiths We quote some of them here in order to beatify his spirit:
One day Hz. Abdurrahman, the son of Khalid bin Walid, commanded the four slaves he captured during a battle to be killed. He wanted all of them to be killed by arrows. Abu Ayyub warned Abdurrahman when he heard this and reported a hadith. He said, "I heard that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) prohibited killing by torture." [9]
Another narration of him is as follows:
"A man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Will you give me advice concisely?' Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah said to him, 'When you perform a prayer, perform it as if you are leaving the world; do not say a word about which you will apologize tomorrow; give up hope of the things that others own. ’"[10]
We ask Allah to forgive this valuable and honorable guest of Istanbul, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, the Host of the Prophet, that is Khalid bin Zayd, and pray for Him so that that his spiritual help and blessing will be continuous for this beautiful city.
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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]
Hz. Abdullah bin Suhayl became a Muslim in the first years of Islam. He was subjected to unbearable tortures of the polytheists. Upon the permission of the Prophet, he migrated to Abyssinia. He stayed there for a while. He was fine there. Nobody prevented him from worshipping. However, like all muhajirs, he experienced the agony of being separated from the Messenger of Allah. He could not put up with it anymore. He returned to Makkah risking all sorts of suffering and torture.
Suhayl’s father, who was a polytheist then, became very offended and angry when his son became a Muslim and especially when he migrated. He became very happy when his son returned. Now, he had the opportunity. He planned to punish Abdullah and to make him give up his religion. He took action immediately. First, he beat him violently; then, he tied him to a pole. He increased torture so much that Abdullah had to pretend to be a polytheist though he believed in the heart. Thus, he got rid of his father's cruelty.
Suhayl untied his son. He gave his son many things. He became very happy that he returned to idols. Days passed like that. The polytheists prepared an army for the Battle of Badr. Suhayl himself joined this army and he took his son with him. He did not think that he could still be a Muslim. However, Hz. Abdullah was still a Muslim. He did not give up his religion; he only said that he was a polytheist. He had a strong belief in his heart.
Hz. Abdullah had always looked for an opportunity to rejoin the Prophet since that day but he had not been able to rejoin him. He thought this would be a good opportunity for him. On the other hand, he prayed to Allah Almighty and asked for help.
The two armies confronted at Badr. Although Abdullah was among the polytheists bodily, he was with the Muslims spiritually. In his inner world, he was planning to rejoin the Messenger of Allah and to fight against the polytheists. The number of the polytheists was much more than that of the Muslims. He thought it was necessary to go to the side of the Muslims as soon as possible. He finally found an opportunity. He made a move and joined the mujahids. The dream he had had for months came true. He would not be sorry even if he died now.
His father became very angry when he saw his son among the Muslims; he uttered bad words. However, Abdullah did not heed them. He said to his father, "Allah Almighty made it good for me." Then he attacked the polytheists with all his might. He had always waited for this moment. He fought heroically in this battle. He was appreciated by the Prophet. He was 27 years old then.
Hz. Abdullah joined all of the battles with the Prophet. He was also present in the Expedition of Umrah. During this expedition, he experienced an incident that deeply saddened him: The polytheists did not want to allow the Prophet to enter Makkah. However, they wanted peace. They appointed Suhayl bin Amr to make peace. Suhayl objected to Bismillah being written at the beginning of the treaty and the Prophet being mentioned as "the Messenger of Allah". He said, "If we believed that you were the Messenger of Allah, we would not fight against you!" The Prophet accepted all the terms of Suhayl in this agreement. He showed some of the Muslims as witnesses. One of the witnesses was Abdullah.
This impudent act of his father’s saddened Abdullah a lot. He lowered his head out of embarrassment.
However, a little later something that saddened Hz. Abdullah more than this occurred: Hz. Abdullah's brother, Abu Jandal, had been chained by the polytheists because he was a Muslim. However, he managed to escape and took refuge in the Prophet. Suhayl bin Amr was surprised to see his son suddenly. He held Abu Jandal’s neck. The branch with thorns in in his hand hit Abu Jandal’s his face. He said, "O Muhammad! This is the first person you have to return to me in accordance with our treaty." The Prophet did not want to accept this demand first. However, Suhayl insisted, "I will not sign the treaty!" The Prophet had to accept it. He handed Abu Jandal to his father. He said to Abu Jandal, “Be patient. Ask Allah for a thawab for this. Allah will soon show you a way.” Abu Jandal accepted the request of the Messenger of Allah willingly. He returned to Makkah with his father, taking the risk of all kinds of difficulties. This incident saddened all of the Companions deeply there. However, Hz. Abdullah was even more distressed but he was patient. He believed that Allah Almighty would create a solution.
Hz. Abdullah was also present in the Conquest of Makkah. Like some ferocious polytheists, his father, Suhayl, was among the polytheists to be killed when captured. He asked the Prophet to forgive his father. The Messenger of Allah forgave him for the sake of Abdullah and his brother Abu Jandal. Hz. Abdullah became very happy about it. He immediately rushed and found his father in the place where he was hiding; he gave his father the good news. Suhayl bin Amr did not even think that he would be forgiven despite all of his hostility against the Muslims. Due to this kindness of the Prophet, he became a Muslim by uttering kalima ash-shahadah. After that, he started to work for Islam with might and main. From time to time, he cried, remembering his previous life
Hz. Abdullah made great efforts to suppress the movements of apostasy that occurred after the death of the Prophet. He made jihad heroically. Finally, he attained the rank of martyrdom. At that time, he was 38 years old.
During hajj, Hz. Abu Bakr expressed his condolences to Abdullah's father, Suhayl bin Amr. Suhayl, who had tortured his sons years ago because they were Muslims, said, "I wish I had been martyred too!" Then, he said:
"The Messenger of Allah informed me that a martyr would intercede for 70 of his relatives. I hope that my son will not intercede for anyone before me. "[1]
A dark-colored man of medium height with a beard was passing by the Messenger of Allah. He looked at the Messenger of Allah, who was sitting in front of his house, and smiled. He attracted the attention of the Prophet and wanted to talk to him. The following conversation took place between them:
“'Will you not sit a bit?”
“I will.” He sat opposite the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) started to talk. When he talked, he looked upward for a while. Then, he brought his gaze down slowly on his right hand side. The man stared at him and said,
“O Muhammad! I have never seen you do something like that before.”
“'And what did you see me do?”
“You turned your face away from me, stared at the sky, and lowered your gaze down slowly on your right hand side. I saw that you looked as if you were trying to understand something which was said to you.”
“Gabriel (Jibril), the Messenger of Allah, came to me while I was sitting with you.”
“The Messenger of Allah?”
“Yes, the Messenger of Allah.”
“What did the Messenger of Allah tell you?”
“He brought me an order from Allah. Here is the order: Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition.”[1]
The person who witnessed the revelation of this verse, which imposed the three principles of the system of the world, was Uthman bin Maz’un. This short talk with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) formed the beginning of a great change. Having listened to carefully what the Messenger of Allah told him a few minutes ago, Uthman paid allegiance to him by witnessing that he was a prophet. Then, he declared that he became a Muslim. Thus, the number of the believers became 13.
Uthman bin Maz’un knew that the polytheists would react against him and that they would change their attitude toward him when he became a Muslim. They would do what was expected from them. In fact, the polytheists started to torture the Muslims since they were few in number. They tried to dissuade the Muslims from Islam and belief. However, their love of Islam and the Prophet ignored the torture of the polytheists. However, after a while the Prophet advised some Companions to migrate to Abyssinia in order to practice their belief a bit easily. Uthman bin Maz’un was among those migrants.
After a few years, the news that Qurayshis became Muslims spread. Thereupon, Uthman bin Maz’un set off from Abyssinia with a group of Muslims to return to Makkah. He was happy because he would rejoin his homeland and his beloved Prophet that he had been away for a long time. When they approached Makkah, they found out that there was not much change. The polytheists had even increased their pressure and torture. However, he did not want to go to Abyssinia again. There was only one thing to do: To take refuge in the protection of one of the polytheists. According to the custom of that time, a person who was under the protection of a notable person or a chief of a tribe would not be harmed by others.
Finally, Uthman bin Maz’un took refuge in Walid bin Mughira. He found it very difficult to be under the protection of a polytheist. He could not find anything else to do. If he did not do it, he would accept death and he would not be able to serve Islam. He did not want to pass away by leaving the Messenger of Allah alone. Therefore, he did his best to put up with it. Walid did not leave him unattended. He started to intervene in his Islamic life. He could not put up with it any longer. One day, he made the following decision:
“My fellow believers are exposed to torture and pressure in the way of Allah every day; it is not right for me to live in safety under the protection of a polytheist.”
After this decision, he went to Walid bin Mughira at once. He said, “O Walid! I am returning your protection about me to you.” Thus, he rejected Walid’s protection. Walid said, “Then, go to the Kaaba and return my protection to me there openly.” They went to the Kaaba together. The polytheists had gathered there and they were talking. Walid said, “Uthman came to me and is rejecting my protection.” Uthman said, “Yes, he is right. I do not like being under the protection of anyone but Allah. Therefore, I am rejecting his protection."
Soon after this incident, Uthman bin Maz’un was in a meeting of the polytheists. The famous poet, Labid, was reciting a poem: He said, "Everything but Allah is falsehood." Uthman said, "You have told the truth." Labid continued: Every boon will end.” Uthman bin Madhun said "You are wrong. The boon of Paradise will not end." Labid got angry and said, "O Quraysh! By Allah, you have depressed and cursed me. There was no insane man among you. When did this man emerge?” The polytheists said, “He is a young Qurayshi who is insane. He opposes the religion of his tribe. He left our religion due to his insanity.” They tried to soften him by saying, “Ignore him.” Meanwhile, a polytheist called Abdullah bin Abu Umayya punched Uthman’s face severely. He blackened his eye. Walid bin Mughira was also there. When he saw that his face was blackened, he said, “O my nephew! Your eye would not have been like that if you had stayed under my protection." Thereupon, Uthman gave him the following answer, which fit a Muslim:
"By Allah, I would not heed it if my other eye would be like that in the way of Allah. I am under the protection of God Almighty. Allah will reward me for the slap that hit my eye. He with whom Allah is pleased is fortunate. Even if they say that I have deviated and gone astray, I am in the religion of Muhammad. I will be on this way no matter how much they oppress and torture me.”
Those words of his nephew’s affected Walid. He said, “Come and be under my protection again.” However, Uthman rejected him by saying, “I cannot accept the protection of anyone but Allah.”
Uthman became a heroic soldier of Islam. He spent his life struggling against the polytheists. He sacrificed everything he had for the Messenger of Allah. He worked very hard to spread Islam. He migrated to Madinah from Makkah when it became necessary. Thus, he became a muhajir for the second time in the way of Allah.
Uthman was a very modest and shy person. He led an ascetic life. He wanted to marry but the Prophet did not allow. He worshipped a lot. He spent the nights by performing prayers and the days by fasting. The Prophet was informed about it. The following conversation occurred between them:
“O Uthman! Am I not a good model for you?”
“May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! O Messenger of Allah! What is the reason for this question?”
“They say you spend the days by fasting and the nights by performing prayers.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Do not do like that. Your eyes have rights on you. Your body has rights on you. Your family has rights on you. Perform prayers and sleep. Perform fasting on some days and eat on other days. O Uthman! Allah sent me with a religion that is the best, the most realistic and the easiest to apply, not with monkhood.”
Uthman died in the 2nd year of the Migration. The Prophet (pbuh) himself dealt with his funeral.
When the Prophet buried Uthman bin Maz’un, who was the first Companion to be buried in the Cemetery of Baqi, he stated the following:
“How happy you are that you did not leave any worldly possessions! Uthman bin Maz’un is the best predecessor of us.” [2]
In the first years of Islam, those who started to receive the lofty message of belief started to be Muslims one by one by breaking the chains of ignorance and to be so fortunate as to attain happiness in both the world and the hereafter. Abu Salama went to the Prophet with Abu Ubayda bin Harith, Arqam bin Abil-Arqam and Uthman bin Maz’un. Their intention was to listen to the Prophet (pbuh) and to enter his luminous circle. The Prophet told them about the principles of Islam and read some verses from the Quran. Those friends, in whose hearts the sun of guidance rose, became believers at once. [1]
The real name of Hz. Abu Salama was “Abdullah bin Abdulasad”. He had a child called “Salama”. Therefore, he was given the name “Abu Salama”, meaning “Salama’s father”. He was a close relative of the Prophet. He was the son of Barra, the paternal aunt of the Prophet. Abu Salama was also the milk brother of the Prophet. He was also breastfed by Lady Suwayba.
The life of Abu Salama, who put up with all kinds of hardship for belief, was full of struggle and efforts. When the oppression and pressure of the polytheists increased, and migration to Abyssinia started, Abu Salama joined the caravan of migration with his wife Umm Salama (Hind). They lived there for a long time. Finally, the migrants returned to Makkah. When Abu Salama returned to Makkah, he was oppressed by the polytheists again. Thereupon, the Prophet advised him to migrate to Madinah.
When Abu Salama was about to set off, he wanted to take his family with him. He placed his son Salama and his wife on a camel and he rode another camel. When they set off for Madinah, some relatives of his wife opposed it. They did not allow him to take Umm Salama to another city and took her with them. Abu Salama continued his journey alone in a sad and distressed way. After a year that passed with suffering and agony, Umm Salama also migrated to Madinah. Thus, the family reunited. [2]
Hz. Abu Salama was among the first muhajirs. After the Migration, the Prophet declared him as the brother of Sa’d bin Haythama of Ansar. [3] Abu Salama continued serving Islam and the Quran in Madinah too. He was among the Companions that could read and write. Thus, he served Islam with both his sword and pen. Abu Nuaym, the writer of “Hilya” lists Abu Salama among Ashab as-Suffa. [4] Abu Salama taught the Companions how to read and write since he was literate.
The Prophet loved Abu Salama a lot. Once, he appointed Abu Salama as his proxy in Madinah when left Madinah for the Expedition of Ushayra. This expedition took place 16 months after the Migration. [5]
Hz. Abu Salama was together with the mujahids who took part in the battles of Badr and Uhud. During a hot moment of fighting at the Battle of Uhud, he was hit by Abu Usama al-Jushani with a long and flat iron and was wounded in the biceps. After the battle, the Prophet followed the polytheists. All of the Companions that took part in this Expedition called “Hamraul-Asad” including the Prophet were wounded. When Abu Salama heard about this expedition of the Prophet, he got on his donkey and caught up with the Islamic army on the way. The love of jihad in his spirit could not stop him. Was it possible for him to remain behind when the Prophet was on an expedition though he was wounded? When the expedition ended and the army returned to Madinah, Abu Salama returned home. He took care of his wound for a month and recovered. [6]
However, after that, it was time for another duty. Sons of Asad, who lived in Qatan in the region of Najd, persuaded and encouraged the tribes around to fight against the Prophet. When the Prophet was informed about it, he called Abu Salama; he gave Abu Salama a standard and addressed him as follows:
“I appoint you as the commander. Take this military unit and enter the land of Sons of Asad before they catch you. Attack them and grab their property.”
Then, the Prophet told him not to act contrarily to Allah’s orders and advised him to treat the soldiers under his command well.
There were some notables of the Companions like Abu Ubayda bin Jarrah and Sa’d bin Abu Waqqas in the 150-people army of Abu Salama. All of them were from Ansar and Muhajirs. The army proceeded through desolate and off roads, and reached a watering place near Qatan where Sons of Asad gathered. They grabbed the people and their animals there. Those who escaped told their tribe that a big Islamic army was coming.
When they arrived in Qatan, they met the tribe. Abu Salama besieged them before the sun rose in the morning. He told his soldiers to be careful and to allow anyone to escape. Then, they attacked. When Sons of Asad saw that the Islamic mujahids were coming, they scattered. Abu Salama followed them for a while.
After the tribe scattered, Abu Salama established his headquarters next to Qatan water. The Islamic soldiers spread to the area and collected a lot of camels and sheep. Abu Salama returned to Madinah with booty, having fulfilled the duty given to him and having followed the advice of the Prophet. This expedition took place in the month of Muharram in the 4th year of the Migration. [7]
When Abu Salama returned from this expedition, the wound he got in Uhud got worse. He had to lie in bed. Five months later, at the end of the month of Jumadal-Awwal, he died.
When Abu Salama died, his eyes were fixedly open. According to what Umm Salama, his wife, narrates, the Prophet came, sat next to this self-sacrificing Companion and closed his eyes. Then, he said,
“When the soul is taken away, the sight follows it.”
Meanwhile, some of the people of Abu Salama’s family wept and wailed. The Messenger of Allah did not like the women’s wailing and warned them as follows: “Do not want for yourselves anything but good because angels say "Amin" to what you say.” Then, he prayed as follows:
“O Allah! Forgive Abu Salama! Raise his degree among those who are rightly guided. Become a successor for his descendants who remain. Forgive us and him. O Lord of the Universe! Make his grave spacious, and increase his light in it.” [8]
When her husband died, Hz. Umm Salama became a widow. She was waiting for her iddah. It was necessary for a woman to wait until she gave birth if she was pregnant or four months and ten days if not in order to marry again.
Umm Salama would attain the honor of being a "mother of the believers". The greatest happiness for a woman Companion was to be a wife of the Messenger of Allah. Umma Salama herself narrates how that happened as follows:
“Once, Abu Salama listened to the talk of the Messenger of Allah. He was very happy when he came home. After stating that he had heard something from the Messenger of Allah and expressing his joy, he narrated the following hadith:
"If any one of the Muslims is hit by a misfortune and says, ‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un (To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return)’ and then prays as follows, ‘O Allah! Give me the reward of this misfortune and enable me to attain something better’, Allah will definitely accept his prayer.”
I memorized this prayer from Abu Salama. I read it when Abu Salama died: ‘O Allah! Give me the reward of this misfortune and enable me to attain somebody better than Abu Salama.’ Then, I started to think, ‘Who could be better than Abu Salama?" When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) wanted to marry me after my iddah ended, I realized that my prayer was accepted. [9]
____________________________________
Abu Quhafa, Hz. Abu Bakr’s father. Although all of the family members of had become Muslims, Abu Quhafa became a Muslim later, after the conquest of Makkah.
When Makkah was conquered, Hz. Abu Bakr held his father’s had and took him to the Prophet. He was very old and he could not see. The Prophet did not want him to be tired. He said to Hz. Abu Bakr, “May Allah show mercy to you! Why did you not leave your father at home? Why did you tire him? I would have gone and visited him. Hz. Abu Bakr said, “O Messenger of Allah! It is better for him to come to you instead of your visiting him.” The Prophet made Abu Quhafa sit in front of him and said, “O Abu Quhafa! Be a Muslim and attain peace.” Abu Quhafa uttered kalima ash-shahada and became a Muslim at once. Thus, there were no non-Muslims left in Hz. Abu Bakr’s family.
Abu Quhafa remained in Makkah. When he found out that people paid allegiance to his son Hz. Abu Bakr after the death of the Prophet, he said, “It is a fact that there is no one who can prevent what Allah gives. There is no one who can give what Allah does not give.” Thus, he thanked Allah.
Hz. Abu Quhafa died in H 14, when he was 97 years old, after the death of Hz. Abu Bakr.
May Allah be pleased with him![1]
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[1]Usdul-Ghaba, 3: 374; Tabaqat, 3: 184.
95-)
Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (r.a.)
Abu Dharr, whose real name was “Jundub bin Junada” was a combative and brave member of his tribe. He was famous for waylaying cavaliers. Therefore, the tribes around Madinah felt disturbed by Abu Dharr al-Ghifari.
Once, he heard some news from Makkah: “Somebody emerged and opposed the religion of Qurayshis. He introduced a new religion. Qurayshis opposed him.”
Abu Dharr, who had a strange nature, sent his brother Unays to Makkah to search this news, which piqued his interest, and to find out about this new Prophet.
Unays went to Makkah and searched it. When he returned, he told his brother that this person, who was called “Muhammad al-Amin”, claimed to be a prophet and that he advised high ethics and wanted to keep away from bad deeds. Some Makkans called him a “poet” while others called him a “soothsayer”. However, Unays himself was a poet. He said, “I know poets and soothsayers very well. I compared his words to the words of soothsayers and types of poetry; they do not resemble any of them.”
Abu Dharr’s curiosity increased. He was not satisfied with his brother’s words. He said, “You have not satisfied me with this little information.” So, he prepared some food for the journey and set off to go to Makkah. After travelling for days, he arrived in Makkah. He secretly started to look for the person who claimed to be a prophet. He walked around Makkah during the day and slept next to the Kaaba at night. He ran out of food and kept on drinking zamzam water.
Once, Hz. Ali was passing by the Kaaba and noticed Abu Dharr. He realized from his state that he was a stranger. He asked,
“Are you a stranger?”
“Yes.”
“Come with me and be my guest.” Abu Dharr agreed.
Hz. Ali was also as cautious as Abu Dharr. They did not talk about the prophet that day. For, the oppression of the polytheists was so strong that when they found out that a person was a Muslim, they would swoop down on him and beat until he fainted.
In the morning, Abu Dharr went straight to the Kaaba. He thought, “Maybe I will see the new prophet.”
Ali passed by him again just before the evening. He asked,
“Have you not found a dwelling place yet?”
“No. In fact, I do not intend to stay here.”
Hz. Ali invited him to his house again. They went together. When they arrived home, Hz. Ali asked him,
“Tell me the truth. Something has brought you here. You seem to be looking for something.”
“If you keep it a secret, I will tell you.”
“You can be sure of it.”
“'We have heard that a person appeared here, claiming to be a prophet. I sent my brother to bring me some news about him. He did not bring a satisfactory report and this increased my curiosity. So, I thought of meeting him personally and talking to him.”
“You have reached your goal; I am going to him just now. Follow me. You can reach him by following me. If I see something that may cause you trouble, I will stand near a wall pretending to mend my shoes and you should go away then.”
Abu Dharr became very happy when he heard it. He became very excited. He found what he had been searching for days. His curiosity increased. He followed Hz. Ali. They approached the house of the Messenger of Allah. Hz. Ali proceeded and Abu Dharr followed him. They entered the house.
Abu Dharr’s excitement increased. When he saw the Prophet, he looked at him admiringly and said, “Tell me about your religion immediately.” The Prophet told him about this lofty religion in brief.
He felt very excited. Abu Dharr wanted to challenge the world. He wanted to declare this truth and tell it to everybody he met. The Prophet advised him to act cautiously: “O Abu Dharr! Keep this a secret. Return to your hometown. When you hear of our emergence, return to us.”
However, Abu Dharr said, 'By Allah Who has sent you with the truth, I will announce this truth in the middle of the polytheists.”
Abu Dharr, who was very brave, did not think of avoiding declaring that he became a Muslim.
He went to the Kaaba, where the polytheists had gathered. He shouted, “O folk of Quraysh! Listen to me. I, Abu Dharr, testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is Allah's Slave and Messenger.”
When the ferocious polytheists heard this challenge, they attacked Abu Dharr with the stones and canes that they found. Abu Dharr struggled against them but he could not cope with them; he fainted and fell down. When Abbas, the paternal uncle of the Prophet, saw them, he said, “What are you doing? This person, whom you are beating is from the tribe of Ghifar, on the way of your trade caravans. Then, they released him.
After that, Abu Dharr returned to Ghifar, which was near Madinah. His mother, brother and half of his tribe became Muslims thanks to him. [1]
After a while, he migrated to Madinah too. He was one of the closest Companions of the Messenger of Allah. He served the Prophet. He would stay with him until late hours and listen to his talks. One of the Companions who were with the Messenger of Allah throughout his last illness and at the time of his death was Abu Dharr. [2] He was so close to the Messenger of Allah that he sometimes mentioned him as “my friend” He was so loyal to the Messenger of Allah he said to him, “I wonder how one can be full of love to his beloved one. My heart is full of the love of God Almighty and His Messenger.” He showed this love with unconditional obedience. Once, he asked the Messenger of Allah to appoint him to a public office.
The Prophet said he was weak for an administrator: “The burden of administration is heavy. It is necessary to perform it truly. Otherwise, it will be a cause of humiliation on the Day of Judgment. Thereupon, Abu Dharr gave up his request. [3] Once, the Messenger of Allah said to him,
“Your service to Islam is not less than the administrators. You do with your mind and ideas what they do with sword.” [4]
The Prophet stated the following about him: “He will walk alone, live alone and die alone.” His life confirmed this statement.
It was a hot summer day. Abu Dharr was also getting ready for the Expedition of Tabuk.
However, his camel was very old. He was left behind the army. No matter what he did, he could not make the camel go faster and could not catch up with the army. The distance between him and the army increased. By the way, some people did not join the expedition due to various excuses.
The army settled in a place near Tabuk. Abu Dharr could not be seen. The Companions started to criticize those who did not join the expedition. When it was mentioned that Abu Dharr was absent, the Messenger of Allah said, “Leave him. If there is something good in him, Allah will make him catch up with you.” The Messenger of Allah knew how loyal to Islam he was and how he made sacrifices.
At noontime, a guard said, “Somebody is coming toward here alone.” The Messenger of Allah said, I wonder if he is Abu Dharr. I hope he is.”
The Companions gathered and started to watch the person coming toward them. Some of them said, “By Allah, it is Abu Dharr.”
It was really Abu Dharr. When his camel had no strength to walk, he released the camel and loaded the provisions on his own back. He managed to catch up with the army of Islam with difficulty. When the Messenger of Allah saw Abu Dharr, he became pleased. He said, “May Allah show mercy to Abu Dharr! He will walk alone, live alone and die alone.” [5]
Abu Dharr was very tired. The Messenger of Allah praised him by the following prayer:
“O Abu Dharr! May Allah forgive a sin of yours for every step that you took in order to reach me!”
They put the load of Abu Dharr down and gave him water to quench his thirst.
The Prophet sometimes gave advice to Abu Dharr. Sometimes Abu Dharr himself also asked the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to give him advice. Once, he asked the Prophet to give him advice. The Prophet said:
“I advise you the fear of Allah, for indeed it is the pinnacle of all affairs. Cling to reciting the Quran and remember Allah, for indeed it is light for you in the life of this world and it is preserved for you in the heavens. Beware of laughing excessively, for indeed it kills the heart and removes light from the face. Make jihad. Try not to speak very much because speaking a little will drive Satan away from you and help you to protect your religion. Love the poor and sit with them. Look to those who are lesser than you and do not look to those who are above you in terms of boons. If you do so, you will not look down with disdain at Allah’s blessings upon you. Speak the truth even if it is bitter. If you regard yourself as bad, it will prevent you from criticizing others. When others commit the bad deeds that you commit, do not get angry with them. There cannot a bigger mistake than not seeing your mistake and criticizing others for the same mistake, and blaming others for a sin though you commit that sin.
“O Abu Dharr! There is no intellect like caution, no taqwa like avoiding harams and no honor like high ethics.” [6]
Abu Dharr obeyed this advice of the Prophet fully in the remaining part of his life.
Abu Dharr was a benevolent person. He was ready to risk his life to do others favors.
Once, Hz. Umar was talking to some Companions. Two young men entered into his presence. They brought another young man who had clean clothes and who looked solemn and chivalrous. They told Hz. Umar why they had come as follows:
“We are two brothers. Our father, who was loved and respected by everyone, was killed by this young man today in his orchard while he was picking fruits. We did not want to punish him ourselves and came here to surrender him to you.”
After listening to the complainants, Hz. Umar asked the young man they brought, “What do you say about their claim? Are they telling the truth?”
The young man started to narrate what happened in cold blood:
“O leader of the believers! Yes, they told the truth. However, let me narrate the incident in detail: I am a Bedouin living in an oasis in the middle of a desert. I came here with my family to travel. On my way, I was passing through orchards. My horses and mares were with me. One of them was very beautiful. I loved it a lot. It was impossible not to admire its walking. The horse saw a branch hanging from the wall of an orchard, reached for it and snatched a piece from it. I withdrew my horse as soon as I saw it. Suddenly, an angry and furious old man came out of the orchard; he was coming toward me holding a stone. He threw the stone at the horse without saying anything. I saw my horse lying dead on the ground. When I saw my beloved horse like that, I picked the stone and threw it at the man. He screamed and died. Then, these two young men grabbed me and brought me here to your presence.”
Hz. Umar liked it when the young man confessed frankly what he had done. He decreed:
“You have confesses your crime. Retaliation is necessary.”
The young man accepted the decree without objection. However, he said he had an excuse:
“Since this is the decree of the religion, I accept it. However, I have a young brother. My father passed away and left some money behind for my young brother. He said to me, ‘My son. This money is for your younger brother. Keep it until he grows up.’ I hid the money somewhere. Nobody knows the place except me. If you kill me now, the money will remain where it is and the right of the orphan will be lost. If you give me permission, I will go and give the money to a reliable person to keep. Then, I will return. I will surrender to you to be killed. I will find a guarantor for me.”
After listening to the young man, Hz. Umar thought for a while and said,
“Who will be a guarantor for this young man?”
The young man looked at the people sitting there. Then, he pointed to Abu Dharr al-Ghifari and said, “This man will be a guarantor for me.”
Hz. Umar turned to Abu Dharr and asked, “O Abu Dharr! Will you be a guarantor for this young man?”
Due to the chivalrous act of the young man, he said without hesitation, “Yes. I guarantee that he will return in three days.”
The two young men found the promise of Abu Dharr, who had a high rank among the Companions, to be a guarantor enough.
The young man was released as he was given the guarantee. He went home. Three days passed. The complainants went to Hz. Umar when the deadline was about to end. Abu Dharr was there but the young man had not come yet.
The complainants said to Abu Dharr, “O Abu Dharr! Where is the man that you guaranteed to return? Would such a person ever return? We want you to be executed. This is the result of being a guarantor.”
Abu Dharr, who never broke his promise, said,
“Do not hurry. Wait for the deadline. If he does not return by then, I agree to be executed.”
Having listened to this conversation, Hz. Umar said to the complainants and Abu Dharr, “If the young man does not come, by Allah, I will execute Abu Dharr.”
Abu Dharr had high ethics and taqwa; he was a person that the Companions liked best. The Companions were weeping in hopelessness. They offered blood money to the young people but they did not accept it. They wanted him to be executed.
Finally, the time expired. The Companions were very nervous. They did not even want to think of the execution of Abu Dharr before their eyes. Just then, the young man arrived. He was exhausted. He was in sweat. He did not have strength to speak. He started to explain why he was late by panting:
“I entrusted by brother to his maternal uncle. I showed him the place where I hid the money. I did my best to come here on time. I am a bit late because the place I live is very far away. You can execute me now. ”
The Companions who listened to the young man carefully appreciated him for keeping his promise. They asked Abu Dharr how he knew this young man, who acted chivalrously and why he became a guarantor for him. He answered them as follows:
“I had seen this young man for the first time like you. I do not know him. However, I did not regard it appropriate to reject his request in your presence. I did not want people to say, ‘There are no good men left in the world.’”
The complainants were moved by this scene and forgave the young man.
Afterwards, Abu Dharr settled in Damascus. He led a plain life. He never showed off and he did not like those who showed off. He wanted to be away from pomp. He was very contented. He was put on a salary of 4000 dinars. However, he spent a very little amount of that money for himself. He gave most of it away to the poor. For, he believed that believers had to spend their money in the way of Allah. He believed that it was not appropriate to save more money than what was necessary for the sustenance of his family. He defended his views bravely. Finally, the rich people complained to Muawiyah, the governor of Damascus, of him.
Muawiyah, the governor, sent one thousand gold coins to Abu Dharr one night. He wanted to test his sincerity. He wondered if he acted differently from what he preached people.
As soon as Abu Dharr received the money, he gave it away to the poor. After the morning prayer the next day, the governor called his servant and ordered him to go to Abu Dharr and say to him, ‘The governor sent the money to somebody else but I misunderstood it and gave it to you. Give it back to me or I will be punished by the governor.’ When the servant told Abu Dharr about it, Abu Dharr said to him, “I gave away all of the money. Tell the governor to give you some time and I will collect the money from the people I gave.”
That was enough for Muawiyah. He understood that Abu Dharr was sincere. He informed Hz. Uthman about the issue and sent him to Madinah.
Abu Dharr never hesitated to tell the truth regarding any issue and continued telling people what was right.
Due to some disturbances, the caliph prohibited him from issuing fatwas. When somebody reminded him of it when he was speaking, he said,
“I swear by Allah that I will definitely say what I heard from the Messenger of Allah before you cut my head off even if you place your sword on my neck.”
Finally, upon the request of the caliph and his agreement, he went to the village of Rabdha outside Madinah on the way of Makkah. He spent the last years of his life there.
He was ready for death in 31 H. When he was told he needed a new garment, he said, “I need a shroud, not a garment.” He said he would rejoin the Messenger of Allah soon. Only his wife and his servant were with him. He said to them, “When I die, wash me and enshroud me. Then, place me in the middle of the road.”
His wife started to weep: Would they bury him without anyone knowing about it? Thereupon, Abu Dharr said, “Do not weep. We were with the Messenger of Allah one day. He said, ‘One of you will die in a desolate place. A small group of believers will be present in his janazah prayer.’ All of the people there died in the presence of a group of people. Only I was left from that people. Watch the road and do exactly as I told you.” Then, he died.
His wife and servant did as they were told and put his dead body on the road. The servant started to wait next to the body. Meanwhile, a caravan from Iraq arrived; Abdullah bin Mas’ud was among them. The dead body on the road frightened them. The camels shied and almost walked over the dead body. The servant stood up and said, “This is Abu Dharr, the Companion of the Messenger of Allah. He wanted you to bury him. Please help.”
Abdullah bin Mas’ud could not help crying. He remembered the old days and said,
“The Messenger of Allah told the truth when he said, ‘You will walk alone, live alone and die alone.”
He performed Abu Dharr’s janazah prayer with his friends and buried him there. [7]
Abu Dharr narrated 281 hadiths. The reason why the number of the hadiths he narrated is not very much is the fact that he liked to live in seclusion. Some of the hadiths that he narrated are as follows:
“Your smiling in the face of your brother is sadaqah (charity). Commanding good and forbidding evil is sadaqah. Your giving directions to a man lost in the land is sadaqah for you. Your seeing for a man with bad sight is sadaqah for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone from the road is sadaqah for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your brother is sadaqah for you.” [8]
“The best deed is to love what (whom) you love for Allah and to dislike what (whom) you dislike for Allah.” [9]
“I never met the Messenger of Allah without his shaking hands with me. One day, he sent for me when I was not at home. When I came, I was informed that he had sent for me. I came to him and found him on a couch. He embraced me and that was very good for me.”[10]
Hz. Abu Rafi is an embodied example of the boon of freedom and equality introduced by Islam. Abu Rafi was an Egyptian slave. He was enslaved in a war and was brought to Makkah. Hz. Abbas, the paternal uncle of the Prophet, bought him. Hz. Abu Rafi started to serve Hz. Abbas and do what he ordered him to do. He was sometimes sent for important duties since he was in the tribe of Quraysh because he was a clever person. He fulfilled the duties given to him in the best way. His real name was “Salim” but he became famous for his nickname Abu Rafi.
Qurayshis sent Abu Rafi to the Prophet regarding an issue. Abu Rafi was an ordinary slave but he underwent an experience that caused a revolution in his spiritual realm. He narrates it as follows:
“As soon as I saw the Messenger of Allah, the light of Islam dropped into my heart. I said to him, ‘O Messenger of Allah! I do not want to return to those polytheists again.’ The Messenger of Allah did not show consent. He said, ‘I cannot break my promise. I always keep my promise. You may have become a Muslim now but return to the people who sent you here.’”[1]
The Prophet regarded him as an envoy. Therefore, he did not want him to stay with him. Hz. Abu Rafi became a Muslim but he concealed his belief. He acted like that for a long time because he was a slave and he could not do whatever he wanted.
Abu Rafi was among the Muslims that remained in Makkah after the Migration. When the battle of Badr took place, he was in Makkah. Abu Lahab, who was one of the ferocious polytheists, did not take part in the Battle of Badr. He sent somebody else to fight on behalf of him. When the battle ended, the Muslims became victorious. Makkans who had gathered around the Kaaba were waiting for the news impatiently. When Abu Lahab saw that Abu Sufyan returned, he approached him and asked what the battle was like. Abu Sufyan started to narrate:
“They captured and killed many of our men; they also enslaved of our men. During the battle, a regimen of cavaliers with white faces on grey horses appeared. It was impossible to resist them. They knocked all of us down.”
Meanwhile, Abu Rafi was sitting near Zamzam Well. When he heard what was told, he became happy and excited. He could not help saying, “By Allah, they are angels.” When Abu Lahab heard it, he became wild. He slapped Abu Rafi and knocked him down. He started to beat him. Umm Fadl, the wife of Hz. Abbas was also there. When she saw that their slave was being beaten, he picked a tent pole and hit Abu Lahab on the head with it. Abu Lahab, whose head was broken, left that place in a terrible state. He died of grief before a week passed. [2]
Abu Rafi migrated to Madinah after the Battle of Badr. Hz. Abbas, who became a Muslim but concealed his belief, gave Abu Rafi to the Prophet to serve him. Abu Rafi rejoined the Prophet, whom he had missed for years. It was great happiness for him.
The Prophet became very glad that his uncle had become a Muslim. He freed Abu Rafi. However, Abu Rafi started to weep when he was freed. They asked him why he was weeping. He said,
“Once, the Messenger of Allah said, ‘When a slave obeys his Lord and his master, there are two thawabs for him.’ However, since I am free now, I will not be able to gain one of those thawabs.” [3]
When he was freed, he did not want to leave the Prophet. The Prophet accepted his wish. Abu Rafi served the Messenger of Allah throughout his life. He attained the honor of being close to the Prophet though he was an ordinary slave. This happiness could be attained by very few people.
Hz. Abu Rafi was a clever, prudent and insightful person. He was one of those who knew the habits of the Prophet very well. He would correctly guess what he would do when. Due to this loyalty of his, the Prophet complemented on him:
The Prophet appointed a person from the tribe of Mahzum to collect zakah. This person went to Hz. Abu Rafi and asked him to accompany him.
He told Abu Rafi that he could also get his share from zakah. For, those who collected zakah could get zakah. Thereupon, Abu Rafi asked the Prophet about it. The Prophet addressed him as follows, which was a great complement for him:
“To receive sadaqah is not permissible for my Ahl al-Bayt; a freed slave of a tribe is regarded as one of them.” [4]
With this statement, the Prophet included Hz. Abu Rafi among his Ahl al-Bayt.
As a matter of fact, the Prophet gave Abu Rafi some special duties. He appointed Abu Rafi and Zayd bin Haritha to bring his daughters and Hz. Aisha, who were in Makkah, to Madinah. [5] When the Prophet (pbuh) married, Hz. Maymuna, he sent Abu Rafi as his deputy to ask her hand in marriage. [6] He married Salma, one of the freed female slaves, off to Abu Rafi, enabling him to establish a family. Salma, Abu Rafi’s wife, was the midwife during the birth of Ibrahim, the son of the Prophet, from Hz. Mariya, the wife of the Prophet. When Ibrahim was born, Salma called Abu Rafi and told him that Ibrahim was born. Abu Rafi rushed to the Prophet to give him the good news. The Prophet became very happy and gave him some gifts. [7]
Hz. Abu Rafi narrated that the Prophet took Hasan, his grandson, on his lap when he was born, called adhan and iqamah to his ear and named him. [8]
It is understood from the following incident that Abu Rafi knew about some private states of the Prophet:
One night, the Prophet went to the Cemetery of Baqi with Abu Rafi. He asked for forgiveness for the people in the cemetery. Then, he said to Abu Rafi,
“O Abu Rafi! God Almighty asked me to prefer between staying in the world with the treasures of the world and rejoining Him and Paradise. I preferred Allah’s consent and rejoining Him.” [9]
Abu Rafi, who served the Prophet until he died, took part in all battles except the Battle of Badr. He fought heroically in Khaybar with Hz. Ali. [10]
Hz. Abu Rafi narrated 68 hadiths about the Prophet. One of them is in Bukhari, three of them are in Muslim and 19 of them are in Musnad. He trained many students in hadith.
This person, who was a Coptic slave and raised to the level of being a private servant of the Prophet, is one of the symbols of equality recorded in the history of Islam.
Hz. Abu Rafi, who served Islam during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr, Hz. Umar and Hz. Uthman, died in the first days of the caliphate of Hz. Ali. [11]
There was sensational news all around Makkah. People were mentioning something in the street, at home and in the market. Everybody was talking about the cause brought by Muhammad (pbuh). Some people were astonished by what they heard and accepted his cause while others increased their grudge and obstinacy against him. Those who found the right way gathered around him. The circle was expanding day by day. The ferocious polytheists were worried about it and they understood that they could not watch the fall of polytheism.
How could they prevent this person, who alienated them from the idols of their ancestors and who introduced a new religion? It was no laughing matter. Those who thought "This thing will not go on; it will end somehow" were mistaken because the most unexpected people sided with him.
One day, the notables of Makkah came together in a street and started to chat. They were talking about how to stop the light of Muhammad (pbuh) and how to stop this movement.
Abu Jahl was one of the leading people who were determined to extinguish the sun of guidance. This ferocious polytheist always supported and led all kinds of hostile plans. There were also two famous enemies of Islam like Utba bin Rabia and Umayya bin Khalaf with him. Abu Jahl started to talk. Abu Jahl, the father of ignorance, said:
"This man broke our unity. He eliminated our hopes. He accused our dead people of heresy. He condemned and insulted our gods."
These words, which provoked those around him, were also a manifestation of the disturbance felt in the face of the divine cause.
Umayya, who was angry, took the floor:
"This guy is really mad."
In fact, this statement was a declaration of weakness mixed with hatred.
Dimad, the famous warlock, heard this conversation as he passed by. When he heard Umayya say, "he is mad", he felt pity for Muhammad (pbuh) rather than hostility. He thought he was really mad and he thought his duty was to heal people like that. Besides, Muhammad (pbuh) was an old friend of his; He regarded it a duty of loyalty to save him from this trouble.
Dimad decided to find Muhammad (pbuh), to learn his problem and to heal him. For, he was the only psychiatrist in Makkah and the regions around it. He started to look for Muhammad (pbuh) until the evening but could not find him.
The next day, he looked for him again. Finally, he found him praying in the Kaaba. He was sitting for at-tahiyyat at Maqam Ibrahim. When he finished his prayer, Dimad approached him. He walked toward him cautiously because it could not be estimated what a mentally ill person would do. He said,
"O Abdulmuttalib's grandson! Turn toward me!"
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) turned and said, "What do you want?"
He said, "I treat mental illnesses. If you want, I will to find a solution to your problem. Do not let your disease deteriorate. I healed those who were more seriously ill. Your tribe is talking about some bad traits in you. They say that they have abandoned hope about you, that you have broken their unity, that you have accused their dead people of heresy and that you have condemned their gods. Only a person who has gone mad does so."
The Messenger of Allah listened to Dimad patiently and silently. For, he would always listen to the speaker first and then would say or do what was necessary in the best way. He addressed Dimad, who was still in the in the swamp of ignorance and had the belief of idols in his mind.
The Messenger of Allah started his words as follows: "Praise be to Allah. I praise only Him and I ask help from Him. Nobody can mislead a person whom Allah guides. If He misleads somebody, nobody can guide him. I witness that there is no god other than Allah, who has no partners." Then, he answered the charges made against him.
Dimad was surprised. For, the words he listened to were not the work of insanity; they were so concise and beautiful that even the most intelligent man in the world could not utter them. He was shocked. How did the notables of Quraysh dare to accuse him of "madness"? Or, was Dimad himself mad since Muhammad’s word sound perfect? He could not help saying,
"Please repeat what you said once again!"
The Prophet, whose duty was to tell people about his cause, did not mind repeating them. He repeated the same truths to Dimad once more in the same concise style. Dimad could not put up with it any longer and he began to speak loudly as follows:
"I have heard the words of the soothsayers, sorcerers and poets. I swear that I have never heard something like your words. Your words have penetrated into the vastness of the ocean. These words cannot be uttered by a mad person, a sorcerer or a poet. Extend your hand; I will pay allegiance to you to become a Muslim."
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) extended his hand; Dimad caught his hand. Thus, the party of the polytheists lost a person and the Muslims won one more person.
Dimad bin Tha'laba was a person who was loved and respected by the people around him and by his tribe. He cured the most hopeless disorders and mental illnesses. Knowing the properties of Dimad, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to Dimad when he extended his hand, "Shall I accept this allegiance also on behalf of your tribe?" Dimad answered without hesitation, "Yes, also on behalf of my tribe."
Dimad, who stayed with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) for a while and learned the Quran from him, returned to his tribe called Azdu Shanua joyfully and happily. [1]
(We have not come across any information about the life of Dimad after this in our resources.)
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[1]Muslim, Jumua: 13, 46; Usdul-Ghaba, 3: 41.
98-)
Shayba bin Uthman (r.a.)
Shayba was yearning for revenge. His father, Uthman bin Abi Talha, his most beloved being, was killed at the Battle of Uhud by the Muslims. The killer was one of the close relatives of the Messenger of Allah.
Shayba was doing his best to take his father's revenge. He made some plans and looked for some tricks. His greed could only be soothed if the Messenger of Allah was killed. He decided to do it. He felt the uneasiness of not being able to do anything at the Battle of Uhud.
During the Battle of Hunayn, the Muslims were undergoing hard times. Shayba, who was looking for somebody eagerly, found Safwan at last. Safwan's father, Umayya, had also been killed at the Battle of Badr. They came together and made a plan. According to their plan, they were going to attack the Prophet if the Muslims were defeated at the battle.
The battle was very fierce. Shayba repeatedly said, “I will take my revenge from Muhammad today.” He was also watching the Messenger of Allah and looking for an opportunity to kill him. When he saw that the Messenger of Allah dismounted from his mule, he drew his sword out of the sheath and advanced toward the Prophet. When he saw Hz. Abbas, he gave up. Then, he wanted to approach the Prophet from the left side. He saw Abu Sufyan bin Harith, the Prophet’s cousin. He was looking for an opportunity. When he saw the Messenger of Allah alone, he approached from behind quietly. He was just about to give the blow of his sword to the Prophet when a fierce flame like lightning appeared. He feared that the fire would burn him and could not do anything.
Shayba narrated what happened there as follows:
“I ambushed to kill the Messenger of Allah. I lifted my sword; just as I was going to hit him, something came toward me. It covered my heart and could not use my sword. I realized that it was impossible to kill him.”[1]
The Messenger of Allah turned toward him, smiled and said, 'Oh Shayba! Come near to me."
Shayba, who dared to kill the Messenger of Allah a minute ago, was shivering from fear now. His heart was pounding with fear; he felt too weak to walk. Then, he pulled himself together and approached the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet put his blessed hand on Shayba’s chest and prayed as follows: “O Allah! Please do save Shaybah from the evil of Satan!”
With this prayer, the feelings of polytheism and revenge in Shayba’s heart were replaced by the light of guidance. The polytheistic Shayba was replaced by the faithful Shayba.
Hz. Shayba (r.a.) describes that happy moment, which was a milestone in his life for his eternal bliss as follows:
“By Allah, when the Messenger of Allah put his hand on my chest, there was nobody more beloved than him to me in the world.”
The Messenger of Allah caused such sudden revolutions sometimes by a glance, sometimes by a smile and sometimes by a touch; he transformed soil into gold and coal into diamond. This holy truth is expressed as follows in the book “Sözler”:
“Sometimes one look transforms coal into diamonds. Sometimes a touch transmutes stone into elixir. A single glance of God's Messenger in an instant transformed an ignorant nomad into an enlightened man of knowledge. If you want an example, 'Umar before Islam, and 'Umar after Islam. Compare the two: a seed, a tree. It instantaneously produced fruit, that look of Muhammad, the Prophetic effulgence. Of a sudden he changed the coal-like natures of the Arabian people into diamonds, with their morals as black as gunpowder, they all became luminous lights.”[2]
Since Shayba became a believer, he was to fight against the polytheists. The Messenger of Allah said, “O Shayba! Fight against the unbelievers!” Hz. Shayba went forward with his sword and plunged into the tribe of Hawazin, for whom he had fought. He was fighting with such enthusiasm and excitement that nobody could stop him. From then on, he was fighting in order to protect the Messenger of Allah.
Hz. Shayba describes that moment as follows:
“I was fighting in front of the Messenger of Allah with my sword. By Allah, I wanted to protect him by sacrificing my soul. If my father had been alive and come in front of me I would have killed him with my sword as well.”
What a belief it was! It gave Shayba such a feeling that he wanted to kill his polytheistic father, after being a believer, for the Messenger of Allah, whom he had wanted to kill for revenge a little while ago.
To attain the love of the Prophet was something that Shayba would not trade for the world. The terrible greed of revenge in him was transformed into love of serving Islam. He felt sorry whenever he remembered his situation in the Era of Ignorance and asked the Messenger of Allah to pray for him: “O Messenger of Allah! Ask for forgiveness from Allah for me.” The Messenger of Allah prayed for him and gave him the following glad tiding: “Islam eliminates the previous mistakes and sins of a person when he becomes a Muslim.”
Hz. Shayba was later known as “Hajib al-Kaaba” because he was given the keys to the Kaaba. He became the guard of the Kaaba.[3]He was assigned this holy duty by the Prophet.
His mother was the sister of Hz. Mus’ab bin Umayr, the great Companion. Hz. Mus’ab served Islam until he died; similarly, Shayba served Islam and struggled in the way of Islam until he died in the 59th year of the Migration, following the path of his maternal uncle.
One of the hadiths narrated by him is as follows:
The Messenger of Allah said,
“When one of you enters a room, he should sit in an empty seat or place; if there is not an empty place, he should look for an appropriate place (without disturbing others).”[4]
May Allah’s mercy be upon him!
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[1]Sirah, 4: 87.
[2]Sözler (Words), p. 662-663.
[3]Sirah, 2: 300.
[4]Usdu'l-Ghaba, 3: 7-8; Isaba, 2: 161; Mektûbât (Letters), p. 147.
99-)
Abu Mas’ud al-Badri (r.a.)
Abu Mas’ud al-Badri was from Madinah. He was among those who were present in the Pledge of Aqabah and promised that they would protect the Messenger of Allah at the cost of their lives. He took part in all battles with the Prophet. He fought heroically. [1]
There is not much information about the life of Abu Mas’ud. He served to enable many hadiths to reach us. He narrated 102 hadiths. Two of those hadiths are as follows:
“Somebody came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘My camel died. Will you find me a camel?’ The Prophet (pbuh) said, ‘I have no camel.’ Somebody who was there said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Let me take him to a person who will give him an animal to mount.’ The Prophet said, ‘He who enables a good deed to be done receives as many rewards as the one who does that good deed.’”[2]
“One of the statements reaching us from the previous prophets is as follows: Do whatever you wish if you do not feel ashamed.”[3]
The spread of the light of Islam worried the Jews along with the polytheists of Makkah. In particular, the Jews of Sons of Nadr could not accept the prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh). They nurtured hatred, jealousy and enmity against the Messenger of Allah. They wanted to put him into a difficult situation by sending their scholars to him. However, the Quran silenced them.
The most ferocious on among the Jews of Sons of Nadr and the one who nurtured enmity against the Messenger of Allah the most was Sallam bin Abi Huqayq. He often disturbed the Messenger of Allah, threatened the Muslims and attempted to kill the Messenger of Allah by instigating the people around the Messenger of Allah against him.
The Companions of the Messenger of Allah could not bear his persecution and threats anymore. Once, they were talking to one another. They listed the enemies of the Messenger of Allah. Sallam bin Abi Huqayq was among them. He was the most ferocious one. It was necessary to kill him. For, he was trying to kill the Messenger of Allah. They talked to the Messenger of Allah regarding the issue and asked permission from him. The Messenger of Allah gave them the permission.
This fierce enemy was killed by Abdullah bin Atik. Abdullah bin Atik, who was one of the heroes of the Companions, belonged to the tribe of Khazraj. Once, he went to Khaybar, the castle and city of the Jews, with four Companions. Their aim was to kill the enemy of the Prophet. They were five people: Abdullah bin Anis, Abu Qatada, Aswad bin Khuzay, Mas'ud bin Sinan and Hz. Abdullah himself.
They entered Khaybar at night. They locked all of the houses in the area where Sallam bin Abi Huqayq was from outside. The house where Sallam stayed was in a high place. It was possible to go there only through stairs. They went up and knocked on the door. When Sallam’s wife asked them who they were, they said, "We are a group of Arabs, we want to see the landlord." They entered the house. They started to fight Sallam and killed him. They did not do anything to his wife and children.
Abdullah bin Atik fell down the stairs when he left Sallam’s house because he could not see very well. His ankle was twisted. His friends carried him on their shoulders, took him outside the city and hid him.
However, they were not sure if Sallam was really dead. He might have been wounded. One of them returned. He entered the crowd that had gathered. She heard that Sallam's wife say, "He died." He returned with joy and gave his friends the good news. [1]
When Abdullah bin Atik entered into the presence of the Messenger of Allah, he complimented Abdullah. He spread his blessed hand on Abdullah’s twisted ankle. Abdullah’s leg healed as if it had not been twisted at all. [2]
Abdullah was among the 150 people under the command of Hz. Ali that the Prophet sent in the 9th year of the Migration to the tribe of Tayy so that they would break their idols. The Prophet assigned him the duty to provide weapons and equipment for the soldiers.
His heroism in the Battle of Yamama is famous. This battle happened during the time of Abu Bakr. Musaylima, the fake prophet, started to disturb the Muslims. An army under the command of Hz. Khalid bin Walid was sent against him. For, he encouraged the apostate movement and disturbed the Muslims. It was necessary for Muslims to be saved from him. There were fierce clashes between the army of Khalid bin Walid and the army of Musaylima. Hz. Abdullah fought heroically in this battle. He did not leave his sword though he was wounded severely and blood gushed forth from his body. Eventually, he became a martyr.
Thus, this great companion, who spent his life in the service of Islam, attained the rank of martyrdom, which he had desired very much, in 12 H. [3]
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