Part 25

His father could not believe his ears and asked him if he preferred slavery to freedom. His son answered:

“Father, | would sacrifice a thousand freedoms for this slavery, please do not insist. I consider it the greatest honour to live in his house.”

Seeing this touching scene, the Prophet 38 said:

“You people are witness that Zaid is my son and he will be my heir, and | am his heir.”

After this all Muslims catied him Zaid bin Muhammad (38). This was stopped with the revelation of the Aydth in the Noble Quran, with the command that an adopted son should take the name of his father.

Usamah bin Zaid was an African and he was dark-skinned and had typical African features. But Islam strictly forbids distinctions based on colour or race. What matters is nobility which is measured by virtue in action and fear of Allah Almighty, and not by the mere accident of being born ina certain country or family. The Prophet 38 said:

“At times a person ina dirty state, covered in dust, appeals to Allah 3% and He listens to him and answers his supplication.”

One should not look at Usamah’s colour or his features, one should see his virtuousness, his intelligence, his firmness, his humility, his self-respect, his fear of Allah Almighty, his passion Jihad, his

hospitality, his love for the Prophet 3 and his desire to sacrifice his life for the glory of Islam. These are qualities, which exalt Usamah > to the most distinguished position. He had these praiseworthy attributes in mind when he said:

“O my Companions! Usamah is dearer to me than all others, it is my earnest desire that he be one among you good people; look after him and treat him well.”

Usamah bin Zaid .$ was barely twenty years old when the image incarnate of Kindness, the Prophet 38, made him Commander of a contingent which included among its numbers such respected Companions as Abu Bakr Siddiq and ‘Umar Farooq 4+ 4! 2). Many people in the army were sensitive on this issue that in the presence of many senior Companions such an inexperienced and fresh youth was being made Commander.

And even before the army set out, the Prophet 38 passed away, but it had been his dying wish that the army under Usémah :% should not be stopped on any account, and should set out for their destination as planned.

Abu Bakr Siddiq ordered the army to leave on its mission under the command of Usamah bin Zaid # as per the dying wish of the Prophet 38.

The Roman Emperor Harqal got the news of the passing away of the Prophet 3%. With this news he also received information that the Muslim army, under the command of Usamah bin Zaid 4%, was at the borders of Syria, ready to attack. He was amazed and overawed, and said that it was a strange nation, which was not deterred from an assault even by the death of its Prophet (3). This daring move scared the Roman army, and the morale of the Emperor of Rome took a downward plunge. Never again did he dare to plan an attack on Arabia via Syria, because the majesty and confidence of the Muslims had _ intimidated them. The army, which had left under the Command of Usamah bin Zaid - returned safe and sound. The enemy had sustained heavy losses but not a single Muslim Mujahid had suffered.

Two years before he passed away the Prophet 38 had sent Usamah bin Zaid 2 on an expedition, giving him Command over a regiment. He confronted the enemy, won the battle, returned to Al-Madinah and gave the good news to the Prophet 3. He was overjoyed at his success. He asked Usamah bin Zaid .# to sit next to him and tell him the details of the battle, and how he had fared. He answered:

“When the enemy was defeated and started to flee, I followed one of them and caught up with him. [ had just tuned my spear on him when he read the Kalimah (testimony of Faith) professing faith in Allah Almighty. But I killed him.”

The Prophet 38 was not happy to hear this. He said:

“You killed him even after he said ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’? What right did you have to kill a man who recited the testimony of Faith? What will you answer your Maker on the day of Judgement? Alas! Usamah I am really grieved to hear this.”

Usamah says he kept on repeating these words sorrowfully, and this really worried him. He felt as if all the good deeds he had ever done in his life were wasted. He swore he would never, after that day, attack a person who recited the testimony of Faith, whoever he might be. He remembered this lesson for the rest of his life, because this incident had left a very deep effect on his heart. This, in spite of the fact that the person he had killed had done his very utmost to harm the Muslims. And Usamah bin Zaid 4% believed that he had recited the testimony only to save his skin and get breathing space to renew his attack against the Muslims. He fixed this idea in his mind and heart that if one could not kill a person like this man, then one could never ever raise his sword against a Mo'min.' For the rest of his life he kept this image alive in his heart. When mischief broke out among the Muslims, and ‘Ali 4 and Amir Muawiya opposed each other, Usamah bin Zaid > went into seclusion. He loved ‘Ali 4 deeply but he refused to fight beside him in this battle and lift his sword against anyone, because the opponents were Muslims. He wrote a letter to ‘Ali 4 saying:

A true Muslim by name is, as well as in deed.

“Tf you had been in the jaws of a bloodthirsty lion I would have entered the fray and joined forces with you, but in this matter | beg you to excuse me. No Muslim can be the target of my sword; I still remember the lesson learnt by the Prophet 38 when he heard the news that [ had killed a man who had recited the testimony, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.”

“1 will definitely not fight against anyone who admits and acknowledges that ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.’ This is my final decision.”

One of his companions quoted the Ayath:

“And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah) and (all and every kind of) worship is for Allah (Alone). But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zdlimtin (the polytheists, and wrong-doers). (2:193)

He answered that this command of Allah Almighty was to fight against the Kuffar, and these all Muslims had practised and their fight should and would continue until the religion of Allah Almighty overcame all.

During the Battle of Uhud Usamah bin Zaid set out for Jihad with boys of his age. Some of them were accepted for jihad, but some were rejected due to being underage. He was one of among the latter. When he returned he was literally weeping because he had not been given a chance to fight under the flag of the Prophet 38.

In the Battle of Ahzab, when he set out to volunteer for Jihad, he started walking on his toes so as to appear taller and thus older. He feared that on this occasion too he would be rejected because of his

age. When the Prophet 38 saw this he smiled and allowed him to participate. When he first went into the battlefield for Jihdd he was only fifteen years old.

When the Muslims faced defeat in the Battle of Hunnain, some of the Companions like Usamah bin Zaid, Abbas, Abu Sufyan p+ i 2, and a few others remained steady and resolute in the battlefield. The Prophet % kept on repeating this message to the enemy.

“Tam the Prophet 38, and this is not a lie, Tam the son of ‘Abdul Muttalib.”

army was still preparing to leave when the Prophet 3 fell ill. When his condition became serious the army did not leave. Usamah bin Zaid +S says: “When he (38) became very ill a few of my companions and I went to look after him. He was very quiet due to the severity of his illness. He raised his hand and keep it on my shoulder; I understood that he was praying for me.”