Abu Dharr al-Ghifari Embraces Islam

5. Abu Dharr al-Ghifari Embraces Islam.

     Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (radiyallahu 'anhu) is famous among the sahabah for his piety and knowledge. 'Ali (radiyallahu 'anhu) used to say : "Abu Dharr possesses such knowledge as other people are unable to learn." 

     When he first got news of Rasulullah 's nubuwwah, he sent his brother to Makkah to find out about the person who claimed to be receiving Divine revelation and news of the heavens. His brother returned after necessary enquiries, and told him that he found Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) to be a man of good habits and excellent conduct, and that his wonderful revelations were neither poetry nor the sayings of the magicians?

     This report did not satisfy him, and he decided to set out for Makkah and find out the facts for himself. On reaching Makkah, he went straight to the masjid of the ka'bah. He did not know Rasullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) and he did not consider it advisable (under the circumstances prevailing at that time) to enquire about him from anybody. When it became dark, 'Ali (radiyallahu 'anhu) noticed him, seeing a stanger, could not ignore him, as hospitality and care for the travellers, the poor and the strangers, were the sahabah's second nature. He, therefore, took him to his place. He did not ask him the purpose of his visit to Makkah, nor did Abu Dharr himself tell him.

     Next day, he again went to the masjid of the ka'bah and stayed there till nightfall without being able to learn who Rasulullah was. In fact everybody knew that Rasulullah and his companions were being opposed in Makkah, and Abu Dharr might have been afraid about the result of his search for the Nabi (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) not have any talk with him about the purpose of his visit to the city. On the third night, however, after 'Ali had entertained him as on the two previous nights, he asked him: "Brother, what brings you to this town?" 

     Before replying, Abu Dharr took an undertaking from 'Ali (radiyallahu 'anhu), that he would speak the truth, and then he enquired  from him about Muhammad (sallalahu 'alaihi wasallam). 'Ali (radiyallahu 'anhu) replied: "He is truly the Rasul of Allah. You accompany me tomorrow and I shall take you to him. But you have to be very careful,  lest people come to know of your association with me, and you get into trouble. When on our way I fear some trouble, I shall get aside pretending some necessity or adjusting my shoes, and you will proceed ahead without stopping, so that the people may not connect us."

     Next day, he followed 'Ali (radiyallahu 'alaihi wasallam). who took him before Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam). In the very first meeting, he embraced Islam. Rasulluallah (sallallahu'alaihi wasallam), fearing that the Quraysh might harm him, and asked not to disclose his acceptance of Islam, and told  him to go back to his clan and return when Muslims had gained power. Abu Dharr (radiyallahu 'anhu) replied: "O Rasul of Allah! By Him who is the Master of my soul, I must go and recite the kalimah in the midst of these nonbelievers."

     True to his word, he went straight to the masjid of the Ka'bah and, right in  the midst of the crowd and at the top of his voice, recited:

           "I bear witness that there is no god except Allah, and i bear witness that Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is the messenger of Allah."

      People fell upon him from all sides, and would have beaten him to death if 'Abbas (Rasulullah's uncle, who had not till then embraced Islam) had not fallen upon him to save him. 'Abbas said to the mob: "Do you know who he is? He belongs to the Ghifar clan, who live on the route of our caravans Syria. If he is killed, they will close the route  to Syria and we shall not be able to trade with that country." This appealed to their good sense and they left him alone. The next day,  Abu Dharr (radiyallahu 'anhu) repeated his declaration of iman and would have surely been beaten to death by the crowd, had not  'Abbas intervened once again and save him for the second time.

  

      Note: The action of Abu Dharr (radiyallahu 'anhu) was due to his great desire to proclaim the kalimah among the nonbelievers and the prohibition by Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) was due to his concern for Abu Dharr (radiyallahu 'anhu), so that he may not suffer hardships which might prove too much for him. There is not the slightest disobedience in this story. Since Rasulullah ( sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) himself was undergoing all sorts of hardships in spreading the message of Islam, Abu Dharr (radiyallahu 'anhu) also thought it fit to follow his example, rather than to accept his permission to avoid danger. It was this spirit of of the Sahabah that took them to the heights of worldy and spiritual progress. When a person once recited the kalimah and entered the fold of  Islam, no power on earth could trun him back and no oppression or tyranny could stop him from propagation of Islam.. . . . . . . . .

Posted   By   Azeem Ullah Shinwari

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The Tortures of Khabbab ibn al-Aratt

6. The Tortures of Khabbab ibn al-Aratt.

       Khabbab (radiyallahu 'anhu) is also one of those fortunate persons who offered themselves for sacrifice and suffering for the cause of Allah ta 'ala. He was the sixth  or seventh person to embrace Islam and, therefore, he suffered long. He was made to put on steel armour and lie in the sun to sweat. Very often he was made to lie flat on burning sand, which caused the flesh on his back to dissolve. He was the slave of a woman. When she came to know that he was visiting Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam), she used to brand his head with a hot iron rod. 'Umar (radiyallahu 'anhu) during his caliphate once asked him about the details of his sufferings after embracing Islam. He showed him his back, seeing which 'Umar (radiyallahu 'anhu) said, "I have never seen such a back before. "He said,  "My body was dragged over heaps of burning coal, and the blood and fat coming out of my back put out the fire."

       It is said that, when Islam spread and the Muslims conquered all the surrounding territory, he used to weep and say: "Allah ta'ala seems to be compensating us in this world for all our sufferings, and perhaps nothing would be left for us as reward in the akhirah."

       Khabbab (radiyallahu'anhu) narrates:"Rasullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) once preformed an unusually long rak'ah while leading a salah. When the sahabah asked him about it, he said,"This was a salah of hope and fear." I begged three favours from Allah ta'ala. I besought Him: "o Allah! Let not my ummah perish by famine; let not my ummah be destroyed by an enemy gaining the upper hand on them; and let not my ummah fight among themselves." Allah ta'ala granted the first du'as, but not the third one,"

       Khabbab (radiyallahu 'anhu died in 37 hijri. He was the first of the sahabah to be buried at Kufa. 'Ali (radiyallahu 'anhu) once passing by his grave said: "May Allah ta'ala bless and show mercy on Khabbab (radiyallahu 'anhu). He embraced Islam willingly. He migrated with great pleasure in Allah ta'ala's path, and spent his whole life in striving and suffering for Islam. Blessed is the person who is mindful of the day of qiyamah, prepares for presenting all his deeds before Allah ta'ala, remains contented with very little of this world, and is able to please his Allah."

Note:   To be abale to please Allah ta'ala was really the sahabah's greatest achievement, for this was the sole purpose of their lives.

Reference :-

                       Section  :-  

                                            Stories of the Sahabah.

                       Story No :-   

                                            Seven (6).

                       Chapter A :-

                                            Steadfastness in the Face of  Hardships.

                       Page No :-

                                            Twenty Five (24).
                       Book Name :-
                                             FADAAIL-E-A'MAAL.

Posted  By  Azeem Ullah Shinwari

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'Ammar and His Parents.

7. 'Ammar and His Parents.

           'Ammar (radiyallahu 'anhu) and his parents were also subjected to the severest punishments. They were tormented on the scorching sands of Makkah. Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) while passing by would advise patience, giving them glad news about jannah. 'Ammar father Yasir (radiyallahu 'anhu) died after prolonged sufferings at the hands of presecutors, and his mother Summayyah (radiyallahu 'anha) was killed by Abu Jahl, who put his spear through the private parts of her body, causing her death. She had refused to renounce Islam in the face of terrible torture in her old age. The blessed woman was the first to meet martyrdom in the cause of Islam.

          The first masjid in Islam was built by 'Ammar (radiyallahu 'anhu). When Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) migrated to Madinah, 'Ammar (radiyallahu 'anhu) offered to build a structure for him where he could sit, rest in the afternoon, and say his salah under its roof. He first collected the stones and then built the masjid in Quba.

           He fought against the enemies of Islam with great spirit and courage. Once he was fighting in a battle when he said rejoicingly:  "I am to meet my friends very soon, I am to meet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) and the sahabah."  He then asked for water. He was offered some milk. He drank it and said:  "I heard Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) saying to me,  Milk shall be the last drink of your worldly life'."  He then fought till the met his desired end. He was then aged about ninety-four.

Reference :-

                       Section  :-  

                                            Stories of the Sahabah.

                       Story No :-   

                                            Seven (7).

                       Chapter A :-

                                            Steadfastness in the Face of  Hardships.

                       Page No :-

                                            Twenty Five (25).
                       Book Name :-
                                             FADAAIL-E-A'MAAL.


Posted  By  Azeem Ullah Shinwari

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Suhayb Embraces Islam

8. Suhayb Embraces Islam.

               Suhayb and 'Ammar (radiyallahu 'anhuma) became Muslims at the same time. The Nabi (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) was staying at Arqam's place, when they both came separately with the same intention of embracing Islam and meet each other at the door of the house. Suhayb (radiyallahu 'anhu) also suffered very much at the hands of his masters, like other poor Muslims of that time. At last he decided to migrate to Madinah. The Quraysh would not tolerate this and, soon after his departure, a party went in pursuit to bring him back to Makkah. As the party drew near, he told them: "You know that I am a better than all of you. So long as I have a single arrow left with me, you will not be able to come close to me and, when I finish all my arrows, I shall fight you with my sword, as long as it is in my hand. If you like you can get my money which I have left in Makkah and my two women slaves, instead of me."

             And they agreed. He told them where his money was, and they allowed him to go to Madinah. For such people was revealed the following ayah of the Quran to Raslullah (sallallahu'alaihi wasallam):

            "And of mankind is he who would buy himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah, and Allah has compassion on His bondsmen"
{al-baqarah 207}

         Raslullah (sallallahu'alaihi wasallam) was at that time at Quba. When he saw Suhayb (radiyallahu 'anhu) coming, he said: "A good bargain, Suhayb!"

           Suhayb (radiyallahu 'anhu) narrates: "Raslullah (sallallahu'alaihi wasallam) was eating dates at that time. I also joined him in eating. One of my eyes was sore. He said, 'Suhayb, you are eating dates when your eye is sore. But I am eating them from the side of the other eye, which is not sore, O Rasulullah, I replied Rasulallah (sallallahu'alaihi wasallam) was highly amused with my reply."

           Suhayb (radiyallahu 'anhu) was very generous and he spent his money  on others most lavishly. 'Umar (radiyallahu 'anhu) once told him that he was rather extravagant. He replied: "But I spend only where it is right."

          When 'Umar (radiyallahu 'anhu) was about to die, he expressed the wish that his funeral salah be led by Suhayb (radiyallahu 'anhu) .


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'Umar Embraces Islam

9. 'Umar Embraces Islam.

'Umar (radiyallahu 'anhu), of whom all the Muslims are justly proud, and whom the nonbelievers still fear, was most active in opposing Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) and very prominent in hearing the Muslims beforehe embraced Islam. One day, the Quraysh in a meeting called for somebody to volunteer himself for the assassination of Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam). 'Umar (radiyallahu 'anhu) offered himself for this task, at which every body said: "Surely, you only can do it, 'Umar!" With sword hanging from his neck, he set out straight away on his mission.

          On his way he met Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas of the Zuhrah clan. Sa'd asked: " When to, 'Umar?" 'Umar said, "I am after finishing Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam)." Sa'd said, "But do you not see that Banu Hashim, Banu Zuhrah and Banu 'Abd Manaf are likely to kill you in relation?" 'Umar, upset at the warning, said , "It seems that you also have renounced the religion of your forefathers. Let me settle with you first."

          So saying, 'Umar drew out his sword, Sa'd announcing his conversion to Islam, also took out his sword. They were about to start a duel when Sa'd said: "You had better first set your own house in order. Your sister and brother-in-law both have accepted Islam." Hearing this, 'Umar flew into a great rage and turned his steps towards his sister's house. The door of the house was bolted from inside and both husband and wife were receiving lessons in the Quran Khabbab (radiyallahu 'anhu). 'Umar knocked and had his sister open the door. Khabbab (radiyallahu 'anhu) hearing the voice of 'Umar hid himself in some inner room, forgetting to take the handwritten pages of the Quran with him. When his sister opened the door, 'Umar hit her on the head, saying: "O enemy of yourself, you too have given up your religion."

          Her head began to bleed. He then went inside and asked, "What were you doing? And who was the stranger I heard from outside?" His brother-in-law replied, "We were taking to each other." 'Umar said to him, "How you also given up the faith of your forefathers and gone over to the new religion?" The brother-in-law replied, "But what if the new religion be better and the true one ?" 'Umar full of anger and fell on him, pulling his beard and beating him most savagely. When his sister intervented, he hit her so violently on her head that it started bleeding. She was, after all,'Umar's sister; she burst out: '''Umar! We are beaten only because we have become Muslims. Listen! We are determined to die as Muslims. You are free to do whatever you like."

          When 'Umar had cooled down and felt a bit ashamad over his sister's bleeding, his eyes fell on the pages of the Quran left behind by Khabbab (radiyallahu 'anhu). He said, "All right show me, what are these?" "No," said the sister, "you are unclean and no unclean person can touch it." He insisted, but his sister was not prapared to allow him to touch the pages unless he washed his body. 'Umar at last gave in. He washed his body and then began to read the pages of Quran. It was surah ta ha. He started from the beginning of the surah, and he was a changed man altogether when he came to the ayah:

          "Lo! I, indeed I am Allah. These is none worthy of worship except Me. So serve Me and establish salah for My remembrance"
{taha 14}

           He said: "All right, take me to Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam)." On hearing this, 'Khabbab (radiyallahu 'anhu) came out from inside and said: "O 'Umar! Glad news for you. Yesterday (on Thursday night) Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) made a du'a to Allah ta 'ala, O Allah strengthen Islam with either 'Umar or Abu Jahal, whomsoever you like.' It seems that his du'a has been answered in your favour."

          'Umar then went to Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) and embraced Islam on Friday morning. 'Umar's accepting Islam was a terrible blow to the morale of the non believers, but still the Muslims were few in number and the whole country was against them. The non believers intensified their efforts to completely eliminate the Muslims and Islam. With 'Umar on their side, the Muslims now started saying their salah in the masjid of the Ka'bah,'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud says:'''Umar's Islam was a big victory, his migration to Madinah a tremendous help, and his accession to the caliphate a great blessing for the Muslims."


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The First Migration to Ethiopia and Confinement in The Valley of Abi Talib

10. The First Migration to Ethiopia and Confinement in The Valley of Abi Talib

The hardships and sufferings borne by Muslims were ever on the increase. Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi' wasallam) at last permitted them to migrate to some other place. Ethiopia at that time was ruled by a Christian king (who later on embraced Islam) famous for his mercy and justice. In the month of rajab of the fifth year of nubuwwah, the  first group comprised about twelve men and five women. The Quraysh followed them to the port capture them, but their boats had left the shore.
             
               When the group reached Ethiopia, they heard the rumour that the whole tribe of the Quraysh had accepted Islam. They were naturally very pleased at the news and returned to their country.On approaching Makkah they learnt that the rumour was false and the Muslims were suffering as before. Some of them decided to return to Ethiopia and the rest entered Makkah, seeking the protection of a few influential people. This is known as the first migration to Ethiopia. Later on, a bigger group of eighty-three men and eighteen women migrated to Ethiopia (separately). This is called the second migration. Some sahabah took part in both the migrations. The Quraysh did not like the migrations, and the thought of peace, enjoyed by the refugees, gave them no rest.

               They sent a delegation to Ethiopia with handsome presents for the king, his nobles and the priests. The delegation first met the chiefs and the priests and, by offering them presents, succeded in winning the court officials to their side. Having thus made their way to the royal court, they did sajdah in front of the king and then presenting the gifts put their case before him.

             They said, "O king! A few foolish lads of our community renounced their fore fathers' faith, and have joined an absolutely new religion, which is opposed to our religion as well as yours. They have come and settled in your country. The nobility of Makkah, their own parents and relatives have sent us to take them back to their country. We request you to hand them over to us." The king replied, "We cannot hand over to you the people who have sought our shelter, without proper investigation. Let us call them and hear what they have to say about this. If your accusation that they have left the faith of their fore fathers is true, we shall hand them over to you."

            The king there upon called the Muslims to his court. They were at first greatly worried and did not know what to do, but Allah ta'ala gave them courage, and they decided to go and place the true facts before the king. On appearing before him, they greeted him with salam. Some one from the courtiers objected that they had not done sajdah in front of the  king according to the rules of the land. They explained, "Our Nabi (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) has forbidden us from doing sajdah in front of anyone except Allah ta 'ala." The king then asked them to reply to the accusation made by the delegation from Makkah.

              Ja'far (radiyallahu 'anhu) rose and addressed the king thus: "O King ! We were an ignorant people. We neither knew Allah ta 'ala nor his anbiya. We worshipped stones. We used to eat meat of dead animals and commit all sorts of sins. We were not good to our relatives. The strong amongst us would destroy the weak. At last, Allah ta'ala sent the Nabi for our guidance.

              His noble descent, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and piety are only too well known amongst us. He called upon us to worship Allah ta'ala, and stopped us from idolatry and stone-worship. He advised us to do good and stopped us from vices and sins. He taught us to tell the truth, to be trustworthy, to have regard for our relatives, and to be good to our neighbours.

              From him we learnt to observe salah, fast, charity and good conduct. He forbids adultery, indecency, tellin of lies, misappropriating the orphan's heritage, bringing false accusations against others, and all indecent thingd of that sort. He taught us the Quran; so we believed in him, followed him and acted upon his teachings. There upon our people became our enemies and they put us to torture, thinking that we might give up our faith and start worshipping idols again. When, however, their tortures exceeded all all limits, we took shelterin your country by the permission of our Nabi (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam)."

             The king said, "Let us hear something from the Quran that your Nabi (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) has taught you ." Ja'far (radiyallahu'anhu) recited a few ayat from the beginning of surah maryam, which touched the hearts of the king and the priests so much that tears flowed down their cheeks and their beards became wet. The king said, "By Allah, these words and the words revealed to Musa ('alayhis-salam) are the rays of one and the same nur." He told the Quraysh delegation that he would by no means hand over the refugees to them. Then, disappointed and disgraced, they held a counsel. One of them said, "I have thought of a plan that is sure to make the king very angry at the Muslims." Although the others did not agree to such a drastic step (for after all they were their own relatives), yet he would not listen. The next day, they excited the king by telling him that those refugees insulted 'Isa (alayhis-salam) and did not believe him to be God. The Muslims were again called to the court. They were much more worried this time.

             When the king asked about their belief in 'Isa (alayhis-salam), they said, "We believe in what Allah ta'ala has revealed about him to our Nabi (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam): i.e. he is a slave and Rasul of Allah ta'ala, and is His word, which He conveyed to the virgin and pure Maryam." Negus said, "Isa (alayhis-salam) himself does not say anthing beyond that." The priests then began to murmur in protest, but the king would not listen to them. He returned to the delegation the presents they had brought for him, and said to the Muslims, "Go and live in peace. If anybody ill-treats you, he will have to pay heavily for it." A royal declaration was also issued to that effect. This increased the respect for the Muslims in the country, and the Quraysh delegation had to return disappointed.

             This failure of the Quraysh delegation to Ethiopia, and the triumph of the Muslims over them, led to a tremendous increase in the idolater's anger. 'Umar's embracing Islam added fuel to fire. They grew more and more angry, until things came to a stage that a large number of the Quraysh chiefs conspired to kill Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) outright and settle the whole problem.
.

             But this was not so easy. Banu Hashim, to which clan Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) belonged, were strong in number and still stronger in influence. Although all of them were not Muslims, yet even the non-Muslims among them would not agree to, or tolerate the murder of Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam).

             The Quraysh, therefore, decided to place a social ban on the Banu Hashim, and their chiefs drew up a document to the effect that none of them or their clans would associate with, buy from or sell to those who sided with the Banu Hashim, unless and untill they surrendered Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) for the death penalty. All of them signed this document on first day of the month of Muharram of the seventh year of the nubuwwah, and the declaration was hung up in the ka'bah in order to give it full sanctity.

             Then, for three long years, Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) was confined with all his relatives in a subsection of one of the valleys that runs down to Makkah. For three long years, nobody could see them nor could they see anybody. They could not buy anything from the people of Makkah nor could meet any trader coming from outside. If any of them went outside the valley he was beaten mercilessly and if he asked for anything it was flatly refused .

              Soon their food was finished and they had to face famine. Their women and, more specially, the children and suckling babies would cry with hunger, and this was harder on them than their own starvation.

              At last by the mercy of Allah ta'ala, after three years the document hanging on the ka'bah was eaten up by white-ants and the ban was removed. The severity of the hardships which they bore, during this period of boycott, cannot be imagined. But the sahabah  (radiyallahu'anhum) not only remained steadfast in their faith, but also kept busy in spreading the light of Islam.

              Note: Look! How much the sahabah have suffered in the path of Allah ta'ala and for the cause of Islam. We claim to follow their footsteps, and dream of the material progress and spiritual elevation which was theirs, but how much we suffered in the true cause? What sacrifice have we offered for the sake of Allah ta'ala in His path?

              Success is always proportionate to sacrifice. We wish to live in luxury and comfort, and are eager to race shoulder to shoulder with the non-Muslims in enjoying the good things of this world, forgetting the akhirah, and then at the same time we expect to receive the same help from Allah ta'ala which the sahabah received in their time. We cannot deceive anybody but ourselves by working like this. As the poet has said:

              O,innocent desert resident! I fear that you won't be able to reach the Ka'bah; for the path you follow leads to Turkistan. 


Posted  By  Azeem Ullah Shinwari

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