SUHAYB AR RUMI (the Roman)
About twenty years before the start of the Prophet's (saw - may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) mission, that is about the middle of the sixth century CE, an Arab named Sinan ibn Malik governed the city of al-Uballah on behalf of the Persian emperor. The city, which is now part of Basrah, lays on the banks of the Euphrates River. Sinan lived in a luxurious palace on the banks of the river. He had several children and was particularly fond of one of them who was then barely five years old. His name was Suhayb (ra - may Allah be pleased with him). He was blond and fair-complexioned. He was active and alert and gave much pleasure to his father.
One day Suhayb's (ra) mother took him and some members of her household to a village called ath-Thani for a picnic. What was to be a relaxing and enjoyable day turned out to be a terrifying experience that was to change the course of young Suhayb's (ra) life forever.
That day, the village of ath-Thani was attacked, by a raiding party of Byzantine soldiers. The guards accompanying the picnic party were overwhelmed and killed. All possessions were seized and a large number of persons were taken prisoner. Among these was Suhayb ibn Sinan (ra).
Suhayb (ra) was taken to one of the slave markets of the Byzantine Empire, the capital of which was Constantinople, there to be sold. Thereafter he passed from the hands of one slave master to another. His fate was no different from thousands of other slaves who filled the houses, the palaces and castles of Byzantine rulers and aristocrats.
Suhayb (ra) spent his boyhood and his youth as a slave. For about twenty years he stayed in Byzantine lands. This gave him the opportunity to get a rare knowledge and understanding of Byzantine/ire and society. In the palaces of the aristocracy, he saw with his own eyes the injustices and the corruption of Byzantine life. He detested that society and later would say to himself:
"A society like this can only be purified by a deluge." Suhayb (ra) of course grew up speaking Greek, the language of the Byzantine Empire. He practically forgot Arabic. But he never forgot that he was a son of the desert. He longed for the day when he would be free again to join his people's folk. At the first opportunity Suhayb (ra) escaped from bondage and headed straight for Makkah which was a place of refuge or asylum. There people called him Suhayb "ar-Rumi" or "the Byzantine" because of his peculiarly heavy speech and his blond hair. He became the khalif of one of the aristocrats of Makkah, Abdullah ibn Judan. He engaged in trade and prospered. In fact, he became quite rich.
One day he returned to Makkah from one of his trading journeys. He was told that Muhammad (saw) the son of Abdullah had begun calling people to believe in God alone, commanding them to be just and to do good works and prohibiting them from shameful and reprehensible deeds. He immediately enquired who Muhammad (saw) was and where he stayed. He was told.
"(He stays) in the house or' al-Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam. Be careful however that no Quraysh sees you. If they see you they would do (the most terrible things to you). You are a stranger here and there is no bond of asabiyyahi to protect you, neither have you any clan to help you."
Suhayb (ra) went cautiously to the house of al-Arqam. At the door he found Ammar ibn Yasir (ra) the young son of a Yemeni father who was known to him. He hesitated for a moment then went up to Ammar and said: "What do you want (here), Ammar? (ra)" "Rather, what do you want here'?" countered Ammar (ra). "I want to go to this man and hear directly from him what he is saying." "I also want to do that." "Then let us enter together, ala barakatillah (with the blessings of God)."
Suhayb and Ammar (ra) entered and listened to what Muhammad (saw) was saying. They were both readily convinced of the truth of his message. The light of faith entered their hearts. At this meeting, they pledged fealty to the Prophet (saw). declaring that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (saw). They spent the entire day in the company of the noble Prophet (saw). At night, under cover of darkness, they left the house of al-Arqam, their hearts aglow with the light of faith and their faces beaming with happiness.
Then the familiar pattern of events followed. The idolatrous Quraysh learnt about Suhayb's (ra) acceptance of Islam and began harassing and persecuting him. Suhayb (ra) bore his share of the persecution in the same way as Bilal, Ammar and his mother Sumayyah, Khabbab and many others who professed Islam (ra - may Allah be pleased with them all). The punishment was inhuman and severe but Suhayb (ra) bore it all with a patient and courageous heart because he knew that the path to Jannah (Paradise) is paved with thorns and difficulties. The teachings of the noble Prophet (saw) had instilled in him and other companions a rare strength and courage.
When the Prophet (saw) gave permission for his followers to migrate to Madinah, Suhayb (ra) resolved to go in the company of the Prophet (saw) and Abu Bakr (ra). The Quraysh however found out about his intentions and foiled his plans. They placed guards over him to prevent him from leaving and taking with him the wealth, the gold and the silver, which he had acquired through trade.
After the departure of the Prophet (saw) and Abu Bakr (ra), Suhayb (ra) continued to bide his time, waiting for an opportunity to join them. He remained unsuccessful. The eyes of his guards were ever alert and watchful. The only way out was to resort to a stratagem.
One cold night, Suhayb (saw) pretended he had some stomach problems and went out repeatedly as if responding to calls of nature. His captors said one to another:
"Don't worry. Al-Laat and al-Uzza (the names of the 2 main idols of Qurasysh) are keeping him busy with his stomach."
They became relaxed and sleep got the better of them. Suhayb (ra) quietly slipped out as if he was going to the toilet. He armed himself, got ready a mount and headed in the direction of Madinah.
When his captors awoke, they realized with a start that Suhayb (ra) was gone. They got horses ready and set out in hot pursuit and eventually caught up with him. Seeing them approach, Suhayb (ra) clambered up a hill. Holding his bow and arrow at the ready, he shouted: "Men of Quraysh! You know, by God, that I am one of the best archers and my aim is unerring. By God, if you come near me, with each arrow I have, I shall kill one of you. Then I shall strike with my sword." A Quraysh spokesman responded: By God, we shall not let you escape from us with your life and money. You came to Makkah weak and poor and you have acquired what you have acquired.."
"What would you say if I leave you my wealth?" interrupted Suhayb (ra). "Would you get out of my way?" "Yes," they agreed.
Suhayb (ra) described the place in his house in Makkah where he had left the money, and they allowed him to go.
He set off as quickly as he could for Madinah cherishing the prospect of being with the Prophet (saw) and of having the freedom to worship God in peace. On his way to Madinah, whenever he felt tired, the thought of meeting the Prophet (saw) sustained him and he proceeded with increased determination. When Suhayb (ra) reached Quba, just outside Madinah where the Prophet himself alighted after his Hijrah, the Prophet (saw) saw him approaching. He was over-joyed and greeted Suhayb (ra) with beaming smiles.
"Your transaction has been fruitful, O Abu Yahya. Your transaction has been fruitful." He repeated this three times. Suhayb's (ra) face beamed with happiness as he said: "By God, no one has come before me to you, Messenger of God (saw), and only Jibril (Angel Gabriel) could have told you about this." Yes indeed! Suhayb's (ra) transaction was fruitful. Revelation from on high affirmed the truth of this:
"And there is a type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of God. And God is full of kindness to His servants." (The Quran, Surah al-Baqarah, 2:2O7).
What is money and what is gold and what is the entire world so long as faith remains! The Prophet (saw) loved Suhayb (ra) a great deal. He was commended by the Prophet (saw) and described as preceding the Byzantines to Islam. In addition to his piety and sobriety, Suhayb (ra) was also light-hearted at times and had a good sense of humor. One day the Prophet (saw) saw him eating dates. He noticed that Suhayb (ra) had an infection in one eye. The Prophet (saw) said to him laughingly: "Do you eat ripe dates while you have an infection in one eye?" "What's wrong?" replied Suhayb (ra), "I am eating it with the other eye."
Suhayb (ra) was also known for his generosity. He used to give all his stipend from the public treasury fi sabilillah(for the pleasure of God), to help the poor and those in distress. He was a good example of the Quranic verse: "He gives food for the love of God to the needy, the orphan and the captive." So generous was he that Umar (ra) once remarked:
"I have seen you giving out so much food that you appear to be too extravagant." Suhayb (ra) replied: "I have heard the Messenger of God (saw) say: 'The best of you is the one who gives out food.'"
Suhayb's (ra) piety and his standing among MusIims was so high that he was selected by Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) to lead the Muslims in the period between his death and the choosing of his successor.
As he lay dying after he was stabbed by a Magian, Abu Lulu (may Allah curse him), while leading the Fajr Salat, Umar (ra) summoned six of the companions: Uthman, Ali, Talhah, Zubayr, Abdur Rahman ibn Awf and Sad ibn Abi Waqqas (ra). He did not appoint anyone of them as his successor, because if he had done so according to one report "there would have been for a short time two Khalifahs looking at each other". He instructed the six to consult among themselves and with the Muslims for three days and choose a successor, and then he said:
"Wa-l yusalli bi-n nas Suhayb - Let Suhayb (ra) lead the people in Salat (prayer)."
In the period when there was no Khalifah (caliph), Suhayb (ra) was given the responsibility and the honor of leading the Salat and of being, in other words, the head of the Muslim community.
Suhayb's (ra) appointment by Umar (ra) showed how well people from a wide variety of backgrounds were integrated and honoured in the community of Islam. Once during the time of the Prophet (saw), a hypocrite named Qays ibn Mutatiyah tried to pour scorn and disgrace on sections of the community. Qays had come upon a study circle (halqah) in which were Salman al-Farsi, Suhayb ar-Rumi and Bilal al-Habashi, may God be pleased with them, and remarked:
"The Aws and the Khazraj have stood up in defence of this man (Muhammad). And what are these people doing with him'?" Muadh was furious and informed the Prophet (saw) of what Qays had said. The Prophet (saw) was angered. He entered the mosque and the Call to Prayer was given, for this was the method of summoning the Muslims for an important announcement. Then he stood up, praised and glorified God and said:
"Your Lord is One. Your ancestor is one. Your religion is one. Take heed. Arabism is not conferred on you through your mother or father. It is through the tongue (i.e. the language of Arabic), so whoever speaks Arabic, he is an Arab."
Showing posts with label Prophet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prophet. Show all posts
Friday, June 08, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
The blonde companion of the Prophet(saw)
SUHAYB AR RUMI (the Roman)
About twenty years before the start of the Prophet's (saw - may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) mission, that is about the middle of the sixth century CE, an Arab named Sinan ibn Malik governed the city of al-Uballah on behalf of the Persian emperor. The city, which is now part of Basrah, lays on the banks of the Euphrates River. Sinan lived in a luxurious palace on the banks of the river. He had several children and was particularly fond of one of them who was then barely five years old. His name was Suhayb (ra - may Allah be pleased with him). He was blond and fair-complexioned. He was active and alert and gave much pleasure to his father.
One day Suhayb's (ra) mother took him and some members of her household to a village called ath-Thani for a picnic. What was to be a relaxing and enjoyable day turned out to be a terrifying experience that was to change the course of young Suhayb's (ra) life forever.
That day, the village of ath-Thani was attacked, by a raiding party of Byzantine soldiers. The guards accompanying the picnic party were overwhelmed and killed. All possessions were seized and a large number of persons were taken prisoner. Among these was Suhayb ibn Sinan (ra).
Suhayb (ra) was taken to one of the slave markets of the Byzantine Empire, the capital of which was Constantinople, there to be sold. Thereafter he passed from the hands of one slave master to another. His fate was no different from thousands of other slaves who filled the houses, the palaces and castles of Byzantine rulers and aristocrats.
Suhayb (ra) spent his boyhood and his youth as a slave. For about twenty years he stayed in Byzantine lands. This gave him the opportunity to get a rare knowledge and understanding of Byzantine/ire and society. In the palaces of the aristocracy, he saw with his own eyes the injustices and the corruption of Byzantine life. He detested that society and later would say to himself:
"A society like this can only be purified by a deluge." Suhayb (ra) of course grew up speaking Greek, the language of the Byzantine Empire. He practically forgot Arabic. But he never forgot that he was a son of the desert. He longed for the day when he would be free again to join his people's folk. At the first opportunity Suhayb (ra) escaped from bondage and headed straight for Makkah which was a place of refuge or asylum. There people called him Suhayb "ar-Rumi" or "the Byzantine" because of his peculiarly heavy speech and his blond hair. He became the khalif of one of the aristocrats of Makkah, Abdullah ibn Judan. He engaged in trade and prospered. In fact, he became quite rich.
One day he returned to Makkah from one of his trading journeys. He was told that Muhammad (saw) the son of Abdullah had begun calling people to believe in God alone, commanding them to be just and to do good works and prohibiting them from shameful and reprehensible deeds. He immediately enquired who Muhammad (saw) was and where he stayed. He was told.
"(He stays) in the house or' al-Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam. Be careful however that no Quraysh sees you. If they see you they would do (the most terrible things to you). You are a stranger here and there is no bond of asabiyyahi to protect you, neither have you any clan to help you."
Suhayb (ra) went cautiously to the house of al-Arqam. At the door he found Ammar ibn Yasir (ra) the young son of a Yemeni father who was known to him. He hesitated for a moment then went up to Ammar and said: "What do you want (here), Ammar? (ra)" "Rather, what do you want here'?" countered Ammar (ra). "I want to go to this man and hear directly from him what he is saying." "I also want to do that." "Then let us enter together, ala barakatillah (with the blessings of God)."
Suhayb and Ammar (ra) entered and listened to what Muhammad (saw) was saying. They were both readily convinced of the truth of his message. The light of faith entered their hearts. At this meeting, they pledged fealty to the Prophet (saw). declaring that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (saw). They spent the entire day in the company of the noble Prophet (saw). At night, under cover of darkness, they left the house of al-Arqam, their hearts aglow with the light of faith and their faces beaming with happiness.
Then the familiar pattern of events followed. The idolatrous Quraysh learnt about Suhayb's (ra) acceptance of Islam and began harassing and persecuting him. Suhayb (ra) bore his share of the persecution in the same way as Bilal, Ammar and his mother Sumayyah, Khabbab and many others who professed Islam (ra - may Allah be pleased with them all). The punishment was inhuman and severe but Suhayb (ra) bore it all with a patient and courageous heart because he knew that the path to Jannah (Paradise) is paved with thorns and difficulties. The teachings of the noble Prophet (saw) had instilled in him and other companions a rare strength and courage.
When the Prophet (saw) gave permission for his followers to migrate to Madinah, Suhayb (ra) resolved to go in the company of the Prophet (saw) and Abu Bakr (ra). The Quraysh however found out about his intentions and foiled his plans. They placed guards over him to prevent him from leaving and taking with him the wealth, the gold and the silver, which he had acquired through trade.
After the departure of the Prophet (saw) and Abu Bakr (ra), Suhayb (ra) continued to bide his time, waiting for an opportunity to join them. He remained unsuccessful. The eyes of his guards were ever alert and watchful. The only way out was to resort to a stratagem.
One cold night, Suhayb (saw) pretended he had some stomach problems and went out repeatedly as if responding to calls of nature. His captors said one to another:
"Don't worry. Al-Laat and al-Uzza (the names of the 2 main idols of Qurasysh) are keeping him busy with his stomach."
They became relaxed and sleep got the better of them. Suhayb (ra) quietly slipped out as if he was going to the toilet. He armed himself, got ready a mount and headed in the direction of Madinah.
When his captors awoke, they realized with a start that Suhayb (ra) was gone. They got horses ready and set out in hot pursuit and eventually caught up with him. Seeing them approach, Suhayb (ra) clambered up a hill. Holding his bow and arrow at the ready, he shouted: "Men of Quraysh! You know, by God, that I am one of the best archers and my aim is unerring. By God, if you come near me, with each arrow I have, I shall kill one of you. Then I shall strike with my sword." A Quraysh spokesman responded: By God, we shall not let you escape from us with your life and money. You came to Makkah weak and poor and you have acquired what you have acquired.."
"What would you say if I leave you my wealth?" interrupted Suhayb (ra). "Would you get out of my way?" "Yes," they agreed.
Suhayb (ra) described the place in his house in Makkah where he had left the money, and they allowed him to go.
He set off as quickly as he could for Madinah cherishing the prospect of being with the Prophet (saw) and of having the freedom to worship God in peace. On his way to Madinah, whenever he felt tired, the thought of meeting the Prophet (saw) sustained him and he proceeded with increased determination. When Suhayb (ra) reached Quba, just outside Madinah where the Prophet himself alighted after his Hijrah, the Prophet (saw) saw him approaching. He was over-joyed and greeted Suhayb (ra) with beaming smiles.
"Your transaction has been fruitful, O Abu Yahya. Your transaction has been fruitful." He repeated this three times. Suhayb's (ra) face beamed with happiness as he said: "By God, no one has come before me to you, Messenger of God (saw), and only Jibril (Angel Gabriel) could have told you about this." Yes indeed! Suhayb's (ra) transaction was fruitful. Revelation from on high affirmed the truth of this:
"And there is a type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of God. And God is full of kindness to His servants." (The Quran, Surah al-Baqarah, 2:2O7).
What is money and what is gold and what is the entire world so long as faith remains! The Prophet (saw) loved Suhayb (ra) a great deal. He was commended by the Prophet (saw) and described as preceding the Byzantines to Islam. In addition to his piety and sobriety, Suhayb (ra) was also light-hearted at times and had a good sense of humor. One day the Prophet (saw) saw him eating dates. He noticed that Suhayb (ra) had an infection in one eye. The Prophet (saw) said to him laughingly: "Do you eat ripe dates while you have an infection in one eye?" "What's wrong?" replied Suhayb (ra), "I am eating it with the other eye."
Suhayb (ra) was also known for his generosity. He used to give all his stipend from the public treasury fi sabilillah(for the pleasure of God), to help the poor and those in distress. He was a good example of the Quranic verse: "He gives food for the love of God to the needy, the orphan and the captive." So generous was he that Umar (ra) once remarked:
"I have seen you giving out so much food that you appear to be too extravagant." Suhayb (ra) replied: "I have heard the Messenger of God (saw) say: 'The best of you is the one who gives out food.'"
Suhayb's (ra) piety and his standing among MusIims was so high that he was selected by Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) to lead the Muslims in the period between his death and the choosing of his successor.
As he lay dying after he was stabbed by a Magian, Abu Lulu (may Allah curse him), while leading the Fajr Salat, Umar (ra) summoned six of the companions: Uthman, Ali, Talhah, Zubayr, Abdur Rahman ibn Awf and Sad ibn Abi Waqqas (ra). He did not appoint anyone of them as his successor, because if he had done so according to one report "there would have been for a short time two Khalifahs looking at each other". He instructed the six to consult among themselves and with the Muslims for three days and choose a successor, and then he said:
"Wa-l yusalli bi-n nas Suhayb - Let Suhayb (ra) lead the people in Salat (prayer)."
In the period when there was no Khalifah (caliph), Suhayb (ra) was given the responsibility and the honor of leading the Salat and of being, in other words, the head of the Muslim community.
Suhayb's (ra) appointment by Umar (ra) showed how well people from a wide variety of backgrounds were integrated and honoured in the community of Islam. Once during the time of the Prophet (saw), a hypocrite named Qays ibn Mutatiyah tried to pour scorn and disgrace on sections of the community. Qays had come upon a study circle (halqah) in which were Salman al-Farsi, Suhayb ar-Rumi and Bilal al-Habashi, may God be pleased with them, and remarked:
"The Aws and the Khazraj have stood up in defence of this man (Muhammad). And what are these people doing with him'?" Muadh was furious and informed the Prophet (saw) of what Qays had said. The Prophet (saw) was angered. He entered the mosque and the Call to Prayer was given, for this was the method of summoning the Muslims for an important announcement. Then he stood up, praised and glorified God and said:
"Your Lord is One. Your ancestor is one. Your religion is one. Take heed. Arabism is not conferred on you through your mother or father. It is through the tongue (i.e. the language of Arabic), so whoever speaks Arabic, he is an Arab."
Taken from: www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/articles/
About twenty years before the start of the Prophet's (saw - may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) mission, that is about the middle of the sixth century CE, an Arab named Sinan ibn Malik governed the city of al-Uballah on behalf of the Persian emperor. The city, which is now part of Basrah, lays on the banks of the Euphrates River. Sinan lived in a luxurious palace on the banks of the river. He had several children and was particularly fond of one of them who was then barely five years old. His name was Suhayb (ra - may Allah be pleased with him). He was blond and fair-complexioned. He was active and alert and gave much pleasure to his father.
One day Suhayb's (ra) mother took him and some members of her household to a village called ath-Thani for a picnic. What was to be a relaxing and enjoyable day turned out to be a terrifying experience that was to change the course of young Suhayb's (ra) life forever.
That day, the village of ath-Thani was attacked, by a raiding party of Byzantine soldiers. The guards accompanying the picnic party were overwhelmed and killed. All possessions were seized and a large number of persons were taken prisoner. Among these was Suhayb ibn Sinan (ra).
Suhayb (ra) was taken to one of the slave markets of the Byzantine Empire, the capital of which was Constantinople, there to be sold. Thereafter he passed from the hands of one slave master to another. His fate was no different from thousands of other slaves who filled the houses, the palaces and castles of Byzantine rulers and aristocrats.
Suhayb (ra) spent his boyhood and his youth as a slave. For about twenty years he stayed in Byzantine lands. This gave him the opportunity to get a rare knowledge and understanding of Byzantine/ire and society. In the palaces of the aristocracy, he saw with his own eyes the injustices and the corruption of Byzantine life. He detested that society and later would say to himself:
"A society like this can only be purified by a deluge." Suhayb (ra) of course grew up speaking Greek, the language of the Byzantine Empire. He practically forgot Arabic. But he never forgot that he was a son of the desert. He longed for the day when he would be free again to join his people's folk. At the first opportunity Suhayb (ra) escaped from bondage and headed straight for Makkah which was a place of refuge or asylum. There people called him Suhayb "ar-Rumi" or "the Byzantine" because of his peculiarly heavy speech and his blond hair. He became the khalif of one of the aristocrats of Makkah, Abdullah ibn Judan. He engaged in trade and prospered. In fact, he became quite rich.
One day he returned to Makkah from one of his trading journeys. He was told that Muhammad (saw) the son of Abdullah had begun calling people to believe in God alone, commanding them to be just and to do good works and prohibiting them from shameful and reprehensible deeds. He immediately enquired who Muhammad (saw) was and where he stayed. He was told.
"(He stays) in the house or' al-Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam. Be careful however that no Quraysh sees you. If they see you they would do (the most terrible things to you). You are a stranger here and there is no bond of asabiyyahi to protect you, neither have you any clan to help you."
Suhayb (ra) went cautiously to the house of al-Arqam. At the door he found Ammar ibn Yasir (ra) the young son of a Yemeni father who was known to him. He hesitated for a moment then went up to Ammar and said: "What do you want (here), Ammar? (ra)" "Rather, what do you want here'?" countered Ammar (ra). "I want to go to this man and hear directly from him what he is saying." "I also want to do that." "Then let us enter together, ala barakatillah (with the blessings of God)."
Suhayb and Ammar (ra) entered and listened to what Muhammad (saw) was saying. They were both readily convinced of the truth of his message. The light of faith entered their hearts. At this meeting, they pledged fealty to the Prophet (saw). declaring that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (saw). They spent the entire day in the company of the noble Prophet (saw). At night, under cover of darkness, they left the house of al-Arqam, their hearts aglow with the light of faith and their faces beaming with happiness.
Then the familiar pattern of events followed. The idolatrous Quraysh learnt about Suhayb's (ra) acceptance of Islam and began harassing and persecuting him. Suhayb (ra) bore his share of the persecution in the same way as Bilal, Ammar and his mother Sumayyah, Khabbab and many others who professed Islam (ra - may Allah be pleased with them all). The punishment was inhuman and severe but Suhayb (ra) bore it all with a patient and courageous heart because he knew that the path to Jannah (Paradise) is paved with thorns and difficulties. The teachings of the noble Prophet (saw) had instilled in him and other companions a rare strength and courage.
When the Prophet (saw) gave permission for his followers to migrate to Madinah, Suhayb (ra) resolved to go in the company of the Prophet (saw) and Abu Bakr (ra). The Quraysh however found out about his intentions and foiled his plans. They placed guards over him to prevent him from leaving and taking with him the wealth, the gold and the silver, which he had acquired through trade.
After the departure of the Prophet (saw) and Abu Bakr (ra), Suhayb (ra) continued to bide his time, waiting for an opportunity to join them. He remained unsuccessful. The eyes of his guards were ever alert and watchful. The only way out was to resort to a stratagem.
One cold night, Suhayb (saw) pretended he had some stomach problems and went out repeatedly as if responding to calls of nature. His captors said one to another:
"Don't worry. Al-Laat and al-Uzza (the names of the 2 main idols of Qurasysh) are keeping him busy with his stomach."
They became relaxed and sleep got the better of them. Suhayb (ra) quietly slipped out as if he was going to the toilet. He armed himself, got ready a mount and headed in the direction of Madinah.
When his captors awoke, they realized with a start that Suhayb (ra) was gone. They got horses ready and set out in hot pursuit and eventually caught up with him. Seeing them approach, Suhayb (ra) clambered up a hill. Holding his bow and arrow at the ready, he shouted: "Men of Quraysh! You know, by God, that I am one of the best archers and my aim is unerring. By God, if you come near me, with each arrow I have, I shall kill one of you. Then I shall strike with my sword." A Quraysh spokesman responded: By God, we shall not let you escape from us with your life and money. You came to Makkah weak and poor and you have acquired what you have acquired.."
"What would you say if I leave you my wealth?" interrupted Suhayb (ra). "Would you get out of my way?" "Yes," they agreed.
Suhayb (ra) described the place in his house in Makkah where he had left the money, and they allowed him to go.
He set off as quickly as he could for Madinah cherishing the prospect of being with the Prophet (saw) and of having the freedom to worship God in peace. On his way to Madinah, whenever he felt tired, the thought of meeting the Prophet (saw) sustained him and he proceeded with increased determination. When Suhayb (ra) reached Quba, just outside Madinah where the Prophet himself alighted after his Hijrah, the Prophet (saw) saw him approaching. He was over-joyed and greeted Suhayb (ra) with beaming smiles.
"Your transaction has been fruitful, O Abu Yahya. Your transaction has been fruitful." He repeated this three times. Suhayb's (ra) face beamed with happiness as he said: "By God, no one has come before me to you, Messenger of God (saw), and only Jibril (Angel Gabriel) could have told you about this." Yes indeed! Suhayb's (ra) transaction was fruitful. Revelation from on high affirmed the truth of this:
"And there is a type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of God. And God is full of kindness to His servants." (The Quran, Surah al-Baqarah, 2:2O7).
What is money and what is gold and what is the entire world so long as faith remains! The Prophet (saw) loved Suhayb (ra) a great deal. He was commended by the Prophet (saw) and described as preceding the Byzantines to Islam. In addition to his piety and sobriety, Suhayb (ra) was also light-hearted at times and had a good sense of humor. One day the Prophet (saw) saw him eating dates. He noticed that Suhayb (ra) had an infection in one eye. The Prophet (saw) said to him laughingly: "Do you eat ripe dates while you have an infection in one eye?" "What's wrong?" replied Suhayb (ra), "I am eating it with the other eye."
Suhayb (ra) was also known for his generosity. He used to give all his stipend from the public treasury fi sabilillah(for the pleasure of God), to help the poor and those in distress. He was a good example of the Quranic verse: "He gives food for the love of God to the needy, the orphan and the captive." So generous was he that Umar (ra) once remarked:
"I have seen you giving out so much food that you appear to be too extravagant." Suhayb (ra) replied: "I have heard the Messenger of God (saw) say: 'The best of you is the one who gives out food.'"
Suhayb's (ra) piety and his standing among MusIims was so high that he was selected by Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) to lead the Muslims in the period between his death and the choosing of his successor.
As he lay dying after he was stabbed by a Magian, Abu Lulu (may Allah curse him), while leading the Fajr Salat, Umar (ra) summoned six of the companions: Uthman, Ali, Talhah, Zubayr, Abdur Rahman ibn Awf and Sad ibn Abi Waqqas (ra). He did not appoint anyone of them as his successor, because if he had done so according to one report "there would have been for a short time two Khalifahs looking at each other". He instructed the six to consult among themselves and with the Muslims for three days and choose a successor, and then he said:
"Wa-l yusalli bi-n nas Suhayb - Let Suhayb (ra) lead the people in Salat (prayer)."
In the period when there was no Khalifah (caliph), Suhayb (ra) was given the responsibility and the honor of leading the Salat and of being, in other words, the head of the Muslim community.
Suhayb's (ra) appointment by Umar (ra) showed how well people from a wide variety of backgrounds were integrated and honoured in the community of Islam. Once during the time of the Prophet (saw), a hypocrite named Qays ibn Mutatiyah tried to pour scorn and disgrace on sections of the community. Qays had come upon a study circle (halqah) in which were Salman al-Farsi, Suhayb ar-Rumi and Bilal al-Habashi, may God be pleased with them, and remarked:
"The Aws and the Khazraj have stood up in defence of this man (Muhammad). And what are these people doing with him'?" Muadh was furious and informed the Prophet (saw) of what Qays had said. The Prophet (saw) was angered. He entered the mosque and the Call to Prayer was given, for this was the method of summoning the Muslims for an important announcement. Then he stood up, praised and glorified God and said:
"Your Lord is One. Your ancestor is one. Your religion is one. Take heed. Arabism is not conferred on you through your mother or father. It is through the tongue (i.e. the language of Arabic), so whoever speaks Arabic, he is an Arab."
Taken from: www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/articles/
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Assassin of the Prophet (saw) to an Upright Believer
Umayr ibn Wahb al-Jumahi returned safely from the Battle of Badr. His son, Wahb, was left behind, a prisoner in the hands of the Muslims. Umayr feared that the Muslims would punish the youth severely because of the persecution he himself had meted out to the Prophet (saw- may the peaace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the torture he had inflicted on his companions (ra - may Allah be pleased with them all).
One morning Umayr went to the Sacred Mosque to make tawaf (circumambulation) around the Kabah and worship his idols. He found Safwan ibn Umayyah sitting near the Kabah, he went up to him and said:
Im Sabahan (Good Morning), Quraysh chieftain."
"Im Sabahan, Ibn Wahb," replied Safwan. "Let us talk for some time. Time only goes by with conversation."
Umayr sat next to him. The two men began to recall Badr, the great defeat they had suffered and they counted the prisoners who had fallen into the hands of Muhammad and his companions. They became deeply distressed at the number of great Quraysh men who had been killed by the swords of the Muslims and who lay buried in the mass grave at al-Qalib in Badr.
Safwan ibn Umayyah shook his head and sighed, "By God, there can be no better after them."
"You are right," declared Umayr. He remained silent for a while and then said, "By the God of the Kabah, if I had no debts and no family whose loss I fear after me, I would go to Muhammad (saw) and kill him, finish off his mission and check his evil." He went on in a faint, subdued voice, "And as my son Wahb is among them, my going to Yathrib would be beyond doubt."
Safwan ibn Umayyah listened intently to the words of Umayr and did not wish this opportunity to pass. He turned to him and said:
"Umayr, place all your debt in my hands and I will discharge it for you whatever the amount. As for your family, I shall take them as my own family and give them whatever they need. I have enough wealth to guarantee them a comfortable living."
"Agreed," said Umayr. "But keep this conversation of ours secret and do not divulge any of it to anyone."
"That shall be so," said Safwan.
Umayr left the Masjid al-Haram with the fire of hatred against Muhammad (saw) blazing in his heart. He began to count what he needed for the task he had set himself. He knew that he had the full support and confidence of the Quraysh who had members of their families held prisoner in Madinah .
Umayr had his sword sharpened and coated with poison. His camel was prepared and brought to him. He mounted the beast and rode in the direction of Madinah with evil in his heart.
Umayr reached Madinah and went directly towards the mosque looking for the Prophet (saw). Near the door of the mosque, he alighted and tethered his camel.
At that time, Umayr was sitting with some of the Sahabah (ra) near the door of the Mosque, reminiscing about Badr, the number of prisoners that had been taken and the number of Quraysh killed. They also recalled the acts of heroism shown by the Muslims, both the Muhajirun (Emigrators) and the Ansar (Helpers) gave thanks to God for the great victory He had given them.
At that very moment Umar (ra - may Allah be pleased with him) turned around and saw Umayr ibn Wahb alighting from his camel and going towards the Mosque brandishing his sword. Alarmed, he jumped up and shouted. "This is the dog, the enemy of God, Umayr ibn Wahb. By God, he has only come to do evil. He led the Mushrikeen (pagans) against us in Makkah and he was a spy for them against us shortly before Badr. Go to the Messenger of God (saw), stand around him and warn him that this dirty traitor is after him."
Umar (ra - may Allah be pleased with him) himself hastened to the Prophet (saw) and said, "O Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah), this enemy of God, Umayr ibn Wahb, has come brandishing his sword and I think that he could only be up to something evil." "Let him come in," said the Prophet (saw).
Umar (ra - may Allah be pleased with him) approached Umayr, took hold of him by the tails of his robes, pressed the back of his sword against his neck and took him to the Prophet (saw).
When the Prophet (saw) saw Umayr in this condition he said to Umar (ra - may Allah be pleased with him): "Release him.' He then turned to Umayr and said: "Come closer." Umayr came closer and said, "Im Sabaha" (the Arab greeting in the days of Jahiliyyah)."
"God has granted us a greeting better than this, Umayr," said the Prophet (saw). "God has granted us the greeting of Peace--it is the greeting of the people of Paradise ie. As-salaamu A'laykum Wa Rahmatuallah Wa Barakaatuh - may the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you." "What have you come for?" continued the Prophet (saw).
"I came here hoping to have the prisoner in your hands released, so please oblige me." "And what is this sword around your neck for?" quizzed the Prophet (saw). "Tell me the truth. What have you come for, Umayr?" prodded the Prophet. "I have only come to have the prisoner released," insisted Umar.
"No. You and Safwan ibn Umayyah sat near the Kabah recalling your companions who lie buried at al-Qalib and then you said, 'If I had no debt or no family to look after, I would certainly go out to kill Muhammad.' Safwan took over your debt and promised to look after your family in return for your agreeing to kill me. But God is a barrier between you and your achieving your aim."
Umayr stood stupefied for a moment, then said: "I bear witness that you are the messenger of God." "O messenger of' God." he continued, "we used to reject whatever good you had brought and whatever revelation came to you. But my conversation with Safwan ibn Umayyah was not known to anyone else. By God, I am certain that only God could have made this known to you. Praise be to God Who has led me to you that He may guide me to Islam.' He then testified that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah and became a Muslim. Thereupon, the Prophet instructed his companions: "instruct your brother in his religion. Teach him the Quran and set free his prisoner."
The Muslims were extremely happy with Umayr's (ra - may Allah be pleased with him) acceptance of Islam. Even Umar (ra) who once said of him, "A pig is certainly dearer to me than Umayr ibn Wahb" came up to the Prophet (saw) and exclaimed "Today, he is dearer to me than some of my own children."
Thereafter Umayr (ra) spent much time increasing his knowledge of Islam and filling his heart with the light of the Quran. There, in Madinah, he spent the sweetest and richest days of his life away from what he had known in Makkah .
Back in Makkah, Safwan was filled with hope and would say to the Quraysh, "I will soon give you some great news that would make you forget the events of Badr." Safwan waited for a long time and then gradually became more and more anxious. Greatly agitated, he would go out and ask travelers what news they had of Umayr ibn Wahb (ra) but no one was able to give him a satisfactory reply. Eventually a rider came and said "Umayr (ra) has become a Muslim."
The news hit Safwan like a thunderbolt. He was certain that Umayr (ra) would never become a Muslim and if he ever did then everyone on the face of the earth would become Muslim also. "Never shall I speak to him and never shall I do anything for him," he said.
Umayr meanwhile kept on striving to gain a good understanding of his religion and memorize whatever he could of the words of God. When he felt he had achieved a certain degree of confidence, he went to the Prophet (saw) and said:
"O Rasulullah (saw), much time has passed since I used to try to put out the light of God and severely tortured whoever was on the path of Islam. Now, I desire that you should give me permission to go to Makkah and invite the Quraysh to God and His Messenger (saw). If they accept it from me, that will be good. And if they oppose me, I shall harass them as I used to harass the companions (ra - may Allah be pleased with them all) of the Prophet (saw)."
The Prophet (saw) gave his consent and Umayr (ra) left for Makkah. He went straight to the house of Safwan ibn Umayyah and said: "Safwan, you are one of the chieftains of Makkah and one of the most intelligent of the Quraysh. Do you really think that these stones you are worshiping and making sacrifice to, deserve to be the basis of a religion? As for myself, I declare that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (saw) is the Messenger of Allah." At Umayr's (ra) hands, many Makkans became Muslims, but Safwan did not.
Later, during the liberation of Makkah, Safwan ibn Umayyah attempted to flee from the Muslim forces. Umayr (ra), however, obtained an amnesty from the Prophet (saw) for him and he too became a Muslim and distinguished himself in the service of Islam.
One morning Umayr went to the Sacred Mosque to make tawaf (circumambulation) around the Kabah and worship his idols. He found Safwan ibn Umayyah sitting near the Kabah, he went up to him and said:
Im Sabahan (Good Morning), Quraysh chieftain."
"Im Sabahan, Ibn Wahb," replied Safwan. "Let us talk for some time. Time only goes by with conversation."
Umayr sat next to him. The two men began to recall Badr, the great defeat they had suffered and they counted the prisoners who had fallen into the hands of Muhammad and his companions. They became deeply distressed at the number of great Quraysh men who had been killed by the swords of the Muslims and who lay buried in the mass grave at al-Qalib in Badr.
Safwan ibn Umayyah shook his head and sighed, "By God, there can be no better after them."
"You are right," declared Umayr. He remained silent for a while and then said, "By the God of the Kabah, if I had no debts and no family whose loss I fear after me, I would go to Muhammad (saw) and kill him, finish off his mission and check his evil." He went on in a faint, subdued voice, "And as my son Wahb is among them, my going to Yathrib would be beyond doubt."
Safwan ibn Umayyah listened intently to the words of Umayr and did not wish this opportunity to pass. He turned to him and said:
"Umayr, place all your debt in my hands and I will discharge it for you whatever the amount. As for your family, I shall take them as my own family and give them whatever they need. I have enough wealth to guarantee them a comfortable living."
"Agreed," said Umayr. "But keep this conversation of ours secret and do not divulge any of it to anyone."
"That shall be so," said Safwan.
Umayr left the Masjid al-Haram with the fire of hatred against Muhammad (saw) blazing in his heart. He began to count what he needed for the task he had set himself. He knew that he had the full support and confidence of the Quraysh who had members of their families held prisoner in Madinah .
Umayr had his sword sharpened and coated with poison. His camel was prepared and brought to him. He mounted the beast and rode in the direction of Madinah with evil in his heart.
Umayr reached Madinah and went directly towards the mosque looking for the Prophet (saw). Near the door of the mosque, he alighted and tethered his camel.
At that time, Umayr was sitting with some of the Sahabah (ra) near the door of the Mosque, reminiscing about Badr, the number of prisoners that had been taken and the number of Quraysh killed. They also recalled the acts of heroism shown by the Muslims, both the Muhajirun (Emigrators) and the Ansar (Helpers) gave thanks to God for the great victory He had given them.
At that very moment Umar (ra - may Allah be pleased with him) turned around and saw Umayr ibn Wahb alighting from his camel and going towards the Mosque brandishing his sword. Alarmed, he jumped up and shouted. "This is the dog, the enemy of God, Umayr ibn Wahb. By God, he has only come to do evil. He led the Mushrikeen (pagans) against us in Makkah and he was a spy for them against us shortly before Badr. Go to the Messenger of God (saw), stand around him and warn him that this dirty traitor is after him."
Umar (ra - may Allah be pleased with him) himself hastened to the Prophet (saw) and said, "O Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah), this enemy of God, Umayr ibn Wahb, has come brandishing his sword and I think that he could only be up to something evil." "Let him come in," said the Prophet (saw).
Umar (ra - may Allah be pleased with him) approached Umayr, took hold of him by the tails of his robes, pressed the back of his sword against his neck and took him to the Prophet (saw).
When the Prophet (saw) saw Umayr in this condition he said to Umar (ra - may Allah be pleased with him): "Release him.' He then turned to Umayr and said: "Come closer." Umayr came closer and said, "Im Sabaha" (the Arab greeting in the days of Jahiliyyah)."
"God has granted us a greeting better than this, Umayr," said the Prophet (saw). "God has granted us the greeting of Peace--it is the greeting of the people of Paradise ie. As-salaamu A'laykum Wa Rahmatuallah Wa Barakaatuh - may the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you." "What have you come for?" continued the Prophet (saw).
"I came here hoping to have the prisoner in your hands released, so please oblige me." "And what is this sword around your neck for?" quizzed the Prophet (saw). "Tell me the truth. What have you come for, Umayr?" prodded the Prophet. "I have only come to have the prisoner released," insisted Umar.
"No. You and Safwan ibn Umayyah sat near the Kabah recalling your companions who lie buried at al-Qalib and then you said, 'If I had no debt or no family to look after, I would certainly go out to kill Muhammad.' Safwan took over your debt and promised to look after your family in return for your agreeing to kill me. But God is a barrier between you and your achieving your aim."
Umayr stood stupefied for a moment, then said: "I bear witness that you are the messenger of God." "O messenger of' God." he continued, "we used to reject whatever good you had brought and whatever revelation came to you. But my conversation with Safwan ibn Umayyah was not known to anyone else. By God, I am certain that only God could have made this known to you. Praise be to God Who has led me to you that He may guide me to Islam.' He then testified that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah and became a Muslim. Thereupon, the Prophet instructed his companions: "instruct your brother in his religion. Teach him the Quran and set free his prisoner."
The Muslims were extremely happy with Umayr's (ra - may Allah be pleased with him) acceptance of Islam. Even Umar (ra) who once said of him, "A pig is certainly dearer to me than Umayr ibn Wahb" came up to the Prophet (saw) and exclaimed "Today, he is dearer to me than some of my own children."
Thereafter Umayr (ra) spent much time increasing his knowledge of Islam and filling his heart with the light of the Quran. There, in Madinah, he spent the sweetest and richest days of his life away from what he had known in Makkah .
Back in Makkah, Safwan was filled with hope and would say to the Quraysh, "I will soon give you some great news that would make you forget the events of Badr." Safwan waited for a long time and then gradually became more and more anxious. Greatly agitated, he would go out and ask travelers what news they had of Umayr ibn Wahb (ra) but no one was able to give him a satisfactory reply. Eventually a rider came and said "Umayr (ra) has become a Muslim."
The news hit Safwan like a thunderbolt. He was certain that Umayr (ra) would never become a Muslim and if he ever did then everyone on the face of the earth would become Muslim also. "Never shall I speak to him and never shall I do anything for him," he said.
Umayr meanwhile kept on striving to gain a good understanding of his religion and memorize whatever he could of the words of God. When he felt he had achieved a certain degree of confidence, he went to the Prophet (saw) and said:
"O Rasulullah (saw), much time has passed since I used to try to put out the light of God and severely tortured whoever was on the path of Islam. Now, I desire that you should give me permission to go to Makkah and invite the Quraysh to God and His Messenger (saw). If they accept it from me, that will be good. And if they oppose me, I shall harass them as I used to harass the companions (ra - may Allah be pleased with them all) of the Prophet (saw)."
The Prophet (saw) gave his consent and Umayr (ra) left for Makkah. He went straight to the house of Safwan ibn Umayyah and said: "Safwan, you are one of the chieftains of Makkah and one of the most intelligent of the Quraysh. Do you really think that these stones you are worshiping and making sacrifice to, deserve to be the basis of a religion? As for myself, I declare that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (saw) is the Messenger of Allah." At Umayr's (ra) hands, many Makkans became Muslims, but Safwan did not.
Later, during the liberation of Makkah, Safwan ibn Umayyah attempted to flee from the Muslim forces. Umayr (ra), however, obtained an amnesty from the Prophet (saw) for him and he too became a Muslim and distinguished himself in the service of Islam.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Companions of the Prophet: Julaybib
His name was unusual and incomplete. Julaybib "small gown" being the diminutive form of the word "Jalbab". The name is an indication that Julaybib was small and short, even of dwarf-like stature. More than that, he is described as being "damim" which means ugly, deformed, or of repulsive appearance.
Even more disturbing, for the society in which he lived, Julaybib's lineage was not known. There is no record of who his mother and father was or to what tribe he belonged. This was a grave disability in the society in which he lived. Julaybib could not expect any compassion or help, any protection or support from a society that placed a great deal of importance on family and tribal connections. In this regard, all that was known of him was that he was an Arab and that, as far as the new community of Islam was concerned, he was one of the Ansar. Perhaps he belonged to one of the outlying tribes beyond Madinah and had drifted into the city or he could even have been from among the Ansar of the city itself.
The disabilities under which Julaybib lived would have been enough to have him ridiculed and shunned in any society and in fact he was prohibited by one person, a certain Abu Barzah of the Aslam tribe, from entering his home. He once told his wife:
"Do not let Julaybib enter among you. If he does, I shall certainly do (something terrible to him)." Probably because he was teased and scoffed at in the company of men, Julaybib used to take refuge in the company of women.
Was there any hope of Julaybib being treated with respect and consideration? Was there any hope of his finding emotional satisfaction as an individual and as a man? Was there any hope of his enjoying the relationships which others take for granted? And in the new society emerging under the guidance of the Prophet, peace be upon him, was he so insignificant as to be overlooked in the preoccupation with the great affairs of state and in the supreme issues of life and survival which constantly engaged the attention of the Prophet, peace be upon him?
Just as he was aware of the great issues of life and destiny, the Prophet of Mercy, peace be upon him, was also aware of the needs and sensibilities of his most humble companions. With Julaybib in mind, the Prophet, peace be upon him, went to one of the Ansar and said:
"I want to have your daughter married."
"How wonderful and blessed, O Messenger of God and what a delight to the eye (this would be)," replied the Ansari man with obvious joy and happiness.
"I do not want her for myself," added the Prophet, peace be upon him.
"Then for whom, O Messenger of God?" asked the man, obviously somewhat let down.
"For Julaybib," said the Prophet, peace be upon him.
The Ansari man must have been too shocked to give his own reaction and he merely said:
"I will consult with her mother." And off he went to his wife.
"The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, wants to have your daughter married," he said to her.
She too was thrilled.
"What a wonderful idea and what a delight to the eye (this would be)," she said.
"He doesn't want to marry her himself but he wants to marry her to Julaybib," he added.
She was flabbergasted.
"To Julaybib! No, never to Julaybib! No, by the living God, we shall not marry (her) to him," she protested.
As the Ansari was about to return to the Prophet, peace be upon him, to inform him of what his wife had said, the daughter who had heard her mother's protestations, asked:
"Who has asked you to marry me?"
Her mother told her of the Prophet's request, peace be upon him, for her hand in marriage to Julaybib. When she heard that the request had come from the Prophet, peace be upon him, and that her mother was absolutely opposed to the idea, she was greatly perturbed and said:
"Do you refuse the request of the Messenger of God? Send me to him for he shall certainly not bring ruin to me."
This was the reply of a truly great person who had a clear understanding of what was required of her as a Muslim. What greater satisfaction and fulfillment can a Muslim find than in responding willingly to the requests and commands of the Messenger of God! No doubt, this companion of the Prophet, whose name we do not even know had heard the verse of the Quran:
"Now whenever God and His Apostle have decided a matter, it is not for a believing man or a believing woman to claim freedom of choice in so far as they themselves are concerned. And he who disobeys God and His Prophet has already, most obviously, gone astray." (The Quran, Surah al-Ahzab, 33:36)
This verse was revealed in connection with the marriage of Zaynab bint Jahsh and Zayd ibn al-Harithah which was arranged by the Prophet, peace be upon him, to show the egalitarian spirit of Islam. Zaynab at first was highly offended at the thought of her marrying Zayd, a former slave, and refused to do so. The Prophet, peace be upon him, prevailed upon them both and they were married. The marriage however ended in divorce and Zaynab was eventually married to the Prophet himself, peace be upon him.
It is said that the Ansari girl read the verse to her parents and said:
"I am satisfied and submit myself to whatever the Messenger of God deems good for me."
The Prophet, peace be upon him, heard of her reaction and prayed for her:
"O Lord, bestow good on her in abundance and make not her life one of toil and trouble."
Among the Ansar, it is said that there was not a more eligible bride than she. She was married by the Prophet, peace be upon him, to Julaybib and they lived together until he died.
And how did Julaybib die? He went on an expedition with the Prophet, peace be upon him, and an encounter with some mushrikin ensued. When the battle was over, the Prophet, peace be upon him, asked his companions:
"Have you lost anyone?"
They replied giving the names of their relatives or close friends who were killed. He put the same question to other companions and they also named the ones they lost in the battle. Another group answered that they had lost no close relative whereupon the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"But I have lost Julaybib. Search for him in the battlefield."
They searched and found him beside seven mushrikin whom he had struck before meeting his end. The Prophet, peace be upon him, stood up and went to the spot where Julaybib, his short and deformed companion, lay. He stood over him and said:
"This (man) is of me and I am of him."
He repeated this two or three times. The Prophet, peace be upon him, then took him in his arms and it is said that he had no better bed than the forearms of the Messenger of God, peace be upon him. He then dug for him a grave and himself placed him in it. He did not wash him for martyrs are not washed before burial.
Julaybib and his wife are not usually among the companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, whose deeds are sung and whose exploits are recounted with reverence and admiration as they should be. But in the meagre facts that are known about them and which have here been recounted we see how humble human beings were given hope and dignity by the Prophet, peace be upon him, where once there was only despair and self-debasement.
The attitude of the unknown and unnamed Ansari girl who readily agreed to be the wife of a physically unattractive man was an attitude which reflected a profound understanding of Islam. It reflected on her part the effacement of personal desires and preferences even when she could have counted on the support of her parents. It reflected on her part a total disregard for social pressures. It reflected above all a ready and implicit confidence in the wisdom and authority of the Prophet, peace be upon him, in submitting herself to whatever he deemed good. This is the attitude of the true believer.
In Julaybib, there is the example of a person who was almost regarded as a social outcast because of his appearance. Given help, confidence and encouragement by the noble Prophet, peace be upon him, he was able to perform acts of courage and make the supreme sacrifice and deserve the commendation of the Prophet, peace be upon him:
"He is of me and I am of him."
Excerpted from Companions of the Prophet by Abdul Wahid Hamid
Even more disturbing, for the society in which he lived, Julaybib's lineage was not known. There is no record of who his mother and father was or to what tribe he belonged. This was a grave disability in the society in which he lived. Julaybib could not expect any compassion or help, any protection or support from a society that placed a great deal of importance on family and tribal connections. In this regard, all that was known of him was that he was an Arab and that, as far as the new community of Islam was concerned, he was one of the Ansar. Perhaps he belonged to one of the outlying tribes beyond Madinah and had drifted into the city or he could even have been from among the Ansar of the city itself.
The disabilities under which Julaybib lived would have been enough to have him ridiculed and shunned in any society and in fact he was prohibited by one person, a certain Abu Barzah of the Aslam tribe, from entering his home. He once told his wife:
"Do not let Julaybib enter among you. If he does, I shall certainly do (something terrible to him)." Probably because he was teased and scoffed at in the company of men, Julaybib used to take refuge in the company of women.
Was there any hope of Julaybib being treated with respect and consideration? Was there any hope of his finding emotional satisfaction as an individual and as a man? Was there any hope of his enjoying the relationships which others take for granted? And in the new society emerging under the guidance of the Prophet, peace be upon him, was he so insignificant as to be overlooked in the preoccupation with the great affairs of state and in the supreme issues of life and survival which constantly engaged the attention of the Prophet, peace be upon him?
Just as he was aware of the great issues of life and destiny, the Prophet of Mercy, peace be upon him, was also aware of the needs and sensibilities of his most humble companions. With Julaybib in mind, the Prophet, peace be upon him, went to one of the Ansar and said:
"I want to have your daughter married."
"How wonderful and blessed, O Messenger of God and what a delight to the eye (this would be)," replied the Ansari man with obvious joy and happiness.
"I do not want her for myself," added the Prophet, peace be upon him.
"Then for whom, O Messenger of God?" asked the man, obviously somewhat let down.
"For Julaybib," said the Prophet, peace be upon him.
The Ansari man must have been too shocked to give his own reaction and he merely said:
"I will consult with her mother." And off he went to his wife.
"The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, wants to have your daughter married," he said to her.
She too was thrilled.
"What a wonderful idea and what a delight to the eye (this would be)," she said.
"He doesn't want to marry her himself but he wants to marry her to Julaybib," he added.
She was flabbergasted.
"To Julaybib! No, never to Julaybib! No, by the living God, we shall not marry (her) to him," she protested.
As the Ansari was about to return to the Prophet, peace be upon him, to inform him of what his wife had said, the daughter who had heard her mother's protestations, asked:
"Who has asked you to marry me?"
Her mother told her of the Prophet's request, peace be upon him, for her hand in marriage to Julaybib. When she heard that the request had come from the Prophet, peace be upon him, and that her mother was absolutely opposed to the idea, she was greatly perturbed and said:
"Do you refuse the request of the Messenger of God? Send me to him for he shall certainly not bring ruin to me."
This was the reply of a truly great person who had a clear understanding of what was required of her as a Muslim. What greater satisfaction and fulfillment can a Muslim find than in responding willingly to the requests and commands of the Messenger of God! No doubt, this companion of the Prophet, whose name we do not even know had heard the verse of the Quran:
"Now whenever God and His Apostle have decided a matter, it is not for a believing man or a believing woman to claim freedom of choice in so far as they themselves are concerned. And he who disobeys God and His Prophet has already, most obviously, gone astray." (The Quran, Surah al-Ahzab, 33:36)
This verse was revealed in connection with the marriage of Zaynab bint Jahsh and Zayd ibn al-Harithah which was arranged by the Prophet, peace be upon him, to show the egalitarian spirit of Islam. Zaynab at first was highly offended at the thought of her marrying Zayd, a former slave, and refused to do so. The Prophet, peace be upon him, prevailed upon them both and they were married. The marriage however ended in divorce and Zaynab was eventually married to the Prophet himself, peace be upon him.
It is said that the Ansari girl read the verse to her parents and said:
"I am satisfied and submit myself to whatever the Messenger of God deems good for me."
The Prophet, peace be upon him, heard of her reaction and prayed for her:
"O Lord, bestow good on her in abundance and make not her life one of toil and trouble."
Among the Ansar, it is said that there was not a more eligible bride than she. She was married by the Prophet, peace be upon him, to Julaybib and they lived together until he died.
And how did Julaybib die? He went on an expedition with the Prophet, peace be upon him, and an encounter with some mushrikin ensued. When the battle was over, the Prophet, peace be upon him, asked his companions:
"Have you lost anyone?"
They replied giving the names of their relatives or close friends who were killed. He put the same question to other companions and they also named the ones they lost in the battle. Another group answered that they had lost no close relative whereupon the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"But I have lost Julaybib. Search for him in the battlefield."
They searched and found him beside seven mushrikin whom he had struck before meeting his end. The Prophet, peace be upon him, stood up and went to the spot where Julaybib, his short and deformed companion, lay. He stood over him and said:
"This (man) is of me and I am of him."
He repeated this two or three times. The Prophet, peace be upon him, then took him in his arms and it is said that he had no better bed than the forearms of the Messenger of God, peace be upon him. He then dug for him a grave and himself placed him in it. He did not wash him for martyrs are not washed before burial.
Julaybib and his wife are not usually among the companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, whose deeds are sung and whose exploits are recounted with reverence and admiration as they should be. But in the meagre facts that are known about them and which have here been recounted we see how humble human beings were given hope and dignity by the Prophet, peace be upon him, where once there was only despair and self-debasement.
The attitude of the unknown and unnamed Ansari girl who readily agreed to be the wife of a physically unattractive man was an attitude which reflected a profound understanding of Islam. It reflected on her part the effacement of personal desires and preferences even when she could have counted on the support of her parents. It reflected on her part a total disregard for social pressures. It reflected above all a ready and implicit confidence in the wisdom and authority of the Prophet, peace be upon him, in submitting herself to whatever he deemed good. This is the attitude of the true believer.
In Julaybib, there is the example of a person who was almost regarded as a social outcast because of his appearance. Given help, confidence and encouragement by the noble Prophet, peace be upon him, he was able to perform acts of courage and make the supreme sacrifice and deserve the commendation of the Prophet, peace be upon him:
"He is of me and I am of him."
Excerpted from Companions of the Prophet by Abdul Wahid Hamid
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)