Part 26

“O Ibn Khattab, it is really a shame that you are advising me to dismiss Usamah bin Zaid who was appointed by the Prophet #. I swear by Allah Almighty that this can never be done!”

When ‘Umar Farooq 4% went back to the Companions they asked him what had the Caliph had said. He replied that there was no option but to accept Usamah bin Zaid -# as the Commander. He regretted that because of them the Caliph of the Prophet 3% had got annoyed with him.

“O Caliph of the Prophet 38 either you get on horseback or I get off and walk with you.”

Caliph Abu Bakr Siddiq answered:

“Neither will you get off your horse, nor will I get on horseback. Is it not an honour for me to walk along some part of Allah Almighty’s way and get dusty and dirty?”

“Follow the instructions given to you by the Prophet 38.” Then in a whisper he told him:

“If you do not take ‘Umar Farooq + with you it would be better, because it is very important for him to be here at the centre with me.”

Usamah bin Zaid 4 agreed with his opinion and left ‘Umar Farooq stayed back in Al-Madinah in order to assist him.

Usaémah bin Zaid - left with the Muslim army and made every possible effort that he had been instructed by the Prophet 3% to make. In the first stage they swept through the lands of Syria, and the areas of Balqa’a and Wardoom in Palestine. And the fear and awe of Rome that held sway in their hearts vanished.

As time passed Muslims started appreciating and valuing Usamah bin Zaid more and more. And all this grandeur and glory he achieved was due to his loyalty to the Prophet 38.

Caliph ‘Umar - fixed a larger stipend from the treasury for Usamah bin Zaid than for his own son. ‘Abdullah 4% objected and said Usamah bin Zaid <5 was getting five thousand dinar whereas he was

Whenever Caliph ‘Umar -& met him he would happily call out to him: “Welcome my leader!”

People questioned his behaviour, but he asked them if they did not know that he had been appointed commander of an army by the Prophet 38, in which, he himself had served as an ordinary soldier.

Bearing in mind the embarrassment, shame and anxiety of the Banu Makhzoom he approached the Prophet 3 and pleaded with him on behalf of the woman. Since this was a clear, explicit and daring interference in the penal code imposed by Allah Almighty, the Prophet 3% was furious and said:

“Usamah how did you dare to even dream of meddling with the penal laws of Allah 3%?” He continued, ‘This same defect was found in the Bani Israeel. If a prominent person was found guilty of any crime, it was ignored. And if any commoner was found guilty of a crime then penal laws would be imposed on

Even though the Prophet % loved Usamah 4 deeply, it was the love of Allah Almighty which, took precedence and overcame all other considerations.

If an expensive gift would given to the Prophet 38 he accept! it and then pass it on to Usamah 4s. As in the case of the very expensive robe given by Hakim [bn Hazzam to the Prophet 38; he accepted it, wore it, and then passed it on to Usamah bin Zaid 42.

Dahiya Kalbi presented a costly dress to the Prophet 38. This too he gave away to Usdmah bin Zaid 4%, who in this respect proved to be a very lucky man, in that he was the favourite of the Prophet 38. What greater honour could one wish for - to be loved by the Prophet 38 who himself was loved by the Allah Almighty?

“Plague is a punishment and a torment and was sent by Allah 38 on a certain group of Israelites. So, if you hear of any place afflicted by plague, avoid going there. And if you are already in a place altacked by plague do not try to escape from there.”

! It is a Sunnah to accept a gift as it increases mutual affection in the hearts of both.

On one occasion Usamah bin Zaid 4 cut off a date palm growing in his orchard and removed its pith. His companions were surprised that he had destroyed such an expensive tree. He told them his beloved mother had wanted the pith, and if she asked him for something he would always try to fulfil her request as long as it was in his power to do so. It did not matter if he had to bear heavy losses in the process. In comparison with her stature and_ the value of services rendered this date palm meant nothing to him.

Usamah bin Zaid 2 was a man who had gained the love of a man who himself had gained the love of the Creator and Sustainer of the world. In the very flower of his youth he had the honour to perform the worthy task of leading the forces of the Muslim Mujahideen. He was a man who had gained respect and prestige among his peers, both in the era of the Prophet #8 and during the era of the caliphates. This great General died at the age of sixty during the last days of the caliphate of Amir Mu’awiyah .é at a place near Al-Madinah called Jaraf, answering.

Here I come O Allah Almighty at the call to eternal life.

“Come back to your Lord, well-pleased (yourself) and wellpleasing (unto Him)!” (89:28)

‘Ikrimah bin Abi Hisham 2 The Prophet Eo said:

“Very soon ‘Ikrimah will arrive as a foreign Mo’min.”

‘Ikrimah bin Abi Hisham 2

A highly respected chieftain of the tribe of Ban Makhzoum, descended of a proud and noble lineage, ‘Ikrimah bin Abi Hisham was respected deeply for his magnificent personality and he led an enviable life from the point of view of affluence and wealth. Born fortunate, he was also skilled in the use of all kinds of weapons, whether it be the bow and arrow or the musket. He was such a fast runner that even the fastest of horses could not keep up with him. He was a bosom companion of Sa‘d_ bin Abu Wagqas and Mas’ab bin ‘Umeir ue 4! +, but the light of Islam had entered their hearts and irradiated them long before he pledged allegiance to Islam. The biggest hurdle in his path was his father. Do you know who his father was? He was the chieftain of the Quraish, ‘Umeir bin Hisham, who nurtured a deep-rooted enmity, resentment and hatred for Islam and Muslims. It was for this reason that he got the nickname of Abu Jahl. He had reached unparalleled heights of cruelty and tyranny in his arrogant loathing of Muslims. The new converts to Islam who were humble, unassuming, patient and sincere became the object of his new inventive experiments in the torturous punishments which were meted out to them. In arrogance, haughtiness and pride, cruelty and oppression, deceit and hypocrisy he seemed to excel the devil himself. He picked out the Muslims targeting them for his persecution and injustice, but could not succeed in turning them away from the worship of the Allah Alone. He would mercilessly drag Bilal 43 naked on the scorching sands and Khabbab bin Aratt < was made to lie on burning embers. The great and noble lady Somayyah was also tortured and oppressed because of her sincere love of the Allah.

The mastermind behind all these devilish schemes was Abu Jahl. When the Prophet 38 saw the _pitiable state of his loyal followers he ordered them to migrate. Faithful Companions, obeying their beloved leader travelled first towards Ethiopia. But Abu Jahl would not let them live in peace even there and sent his emissaries to the Emperor Najashi in order to turn him against the Muslims. And when these pure souls emigrated to Al-Madinah and tried to make it a haven of peace, he collected powerful armed troops and set out to decimate this small body of Muslims, and wipe them off the face of the earth.