Part 44

“Why should you be surprised? Don’t you remember that before the Battle of Badr the Prophet 3 had asked what strategy we would adopt in the battle.”

‘Asim bin Thabit % had stood up with his bow in his hand and replied: “When the enemy is a hundred yards away we will use our bows and arrows; when the enemy comes closer we will fight with our spears; when the spears break we will have a hand to hand combat with our swords.”

When the Prophet 3% heard this he said:

“Doubtless this was the way to fight a battle. Whoever wishes to take part in a battle should adopt the strategy of ‘Asim bin Thabit .”

These Companions were just a short distance from Makkah when a group of the Banu Hatheel pursued them and ambushed them. ‘Asim bin Thabit > and his companions drew their swords out of their scabbards and got ready to fight them. Seeing this the Banu Hatheel said:

“Today you cannot fight with us. By god we do not intend to harm you; if you lay down your weapons we swear with Allah as witness that we will not do anything to you.”

The Companions looked at each other on hearing this, as if to consult each other. ‘Asim bin Thabit 4% looked at his companions and said:

“T will not lay down my weapons before the Mushrikeen.”

Then he remembered the announcement of the reward by Salafah bint Sa‘d and he prayed to Allah.

“O Allah! I protect and defend your faith and, have Mercy on me and protect my flesh and my bones; please do not allow them to fall into the hands of the enemy.”

After this supplication he attacked the enemy, with two of his companions joining in with him, They fought bravely and were martyred one by one. The other three surrendered; sure enough the Mushrkeen broke their promise and tied up these men who had surrendered. One of them committed suicide and the other two were sent to Makkah. These two were killed in revenge.

A few hours after the martyrdom of ‘Asim 4, the Quraish learnt of the whereabouts of his body which was lying in the area inhabited by the Banu Hatheel, near Makkah. Their leaders sent a messenger to them asking for the head of ‘Asim bin Thabit 4, so that Salafah bint Sa’d could drink wine from it and cool her temper and slake her thirst for revenge.

The Quraish gave a lot of money to their messenger so that he could give gifts and cash to the Banu Hatheel and succeed in getting the head of “Asim .

When some of the men of the Banu Hatheel went near his pure body to cut off the head they found a whole lot of bees, wasps and hornets surrounding his body and his head. As they neared the body the bees and wasps attacked them, so that they feared for their very lives. They finaily gave up after many attempts, saying to each other.

“Let us wait for the night; in the darkness these dangerous insects will leave the body and only then can we succeed in our aim.”

They went and sat some distance away to wait for nightfall and success in their mission. The sun had not yet set when suddenly dark dense clouds appeared on the sky. The very air seemed to tremble with the thunder. The elders said such heavy rain had never been seen before.

Soon the streets and roads took on the appearance of streams. The low-lying areas were filled, and there was water everywhere as ina flood. It rained heavily the whole night and the Banu Hatheel went back to their homes. Next morning people of the Banu Hatheel came out to get the head of ‘Asim bin Thabit 4s. They went towards the field, but the body was not there. The flood had washed it away to some unknown place. They searched high and iow, but it was nowhere to be found.

The truth was that Allah in His Divine Mercy had answered the supplications of ‘Asim bin Thabit 4 and protected his body. He did not allow his head that was worthy of reverence and respect to fall into the hands of his enemies to be used for such a devilish and sinful act as the drinking of wine. Allah did not allow the Mushrikeen to triumph over the Mu'mineen or true believers; this is how he protects his chosen subjects. The kuffar may plan anything against the Mo'min, but the Divine Plan overcomes all other plans.

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

Zaid bin Harithah 2 The Prophet ES said: “By Allah! Zaid bin Harithah 2s was worthy

of the position. of leadership, and was dearer to me than all others.”

Zaid bin Harithah 2

Sa‘da bint Thu‘labah traveled to meet her family with her son, Zaid bin Harithah. She had just reached the house of a relative on a visit when suddenly bandits of the Banu Qais raided the place and began to loot and plunder. They took away everything they had, stole all their cattle and kidnapped the children. Among these children was Zaid bin Harithah <. At the time he was just eight years old. They took him to the market at ‘Akkadh and sold him to a wealthy chieftain, Hakeem bin Hazam Khawaled, for four hundred dirhams. Hakeem had bought some other slaves as well and took them to Makkah along with him. When Umm-ul-Mo’mineen Khadijah y+ 4) 2, heard of his arrival she went to meet him as he happened to be her nephew.

Some time later Umm-ul-Mo’mineen Khadijah = 4 2, married the Prophet 3s. On this occasion she wished to give a gift to her husband, and she thought Zaid bin Harithah would be the best possible present she could give him. Thus this slave was fortunate enough to be brought up under the tutelage and guidance of the Prophet %, who was an exemplary role model and whose character and behaviour influenced him.

Meanwhile the parents of Zaid bin Harithah 4% were being tormented

by grief. His mother was crying continuously and her heart yearned for her favourite lost son. She was tortured by the uncertainty - was her beloved son alive, and should she wait for him to appear by some miracle? Or was he dead, and should she give up all hopes of ever meeting him again? His father meanwhile, had looked for him in every conceivable place. Had the earth swallowed him or had the heavens zoomed him up?

Sometimes in desperate grief he would start reciting verses which would affect the listeners so as to make them weep. Here are some examples : @ [shed tears for my darling Not knowing what he has undergone Is he alive and should I wait for him? Or have the cruel hands of death taken him? @ By god, I do not know my son What has happened to you Has the soft earth swallowed you Or has the tail hard mountain hidden you? @ The rising sun reminds me of my darling And it again revives memories when it sets in the evening. @ | wander everywhere on the earth, and search for you Mounted on my camel; I will never tire of this wandering. @ Myson my search will continue till I die Eventually all have to die, though false hopes may keep you alive.

One year on the occasion of Hajj some members of the family of Zaid bin Harithah 4 came to Makkah; they were going around the Ka’bah when one of them saw Zaid bin Harithah 4. They recognised him and he too recognised them. They exchanged news about each other’s welfare. When they returned home after performing Hajj, they informed his father that his son was alive and well in Makkah. They told him that they had seen him themselves, and had spoken to him.

As soon as Harithah heard this good news he got his camel ready, took some cash because he thought he may need to buy back his son, and asked his brother Ka‘b to accompany him. Both of them travelled towards Makkah as fast as they could. As soon as they reached Makkah, they went into the presence of the Prophet 3 and said,

“You are a neighbour of the House of Allah and are magnanimous. You feed the poor and assist the helpless. We have come into your presence for our son and for this purpose we have brought a lot of money. For God’s sake have mercy on us; we will be happy to pay you any price you ask for him.”

When the Prophet # heard this he asked,

“Who is the person whose release you are demanding?” They answered, “ Your slave, Zaid bin Harithah .&.” He asked

“Shall I show you a method that will be better than paying a price for him?”

Both of them asked in surprised tones, “What is this method?”

“I will call him here in front you. If he wishes to go with you then he is free to do so. You can take him gladly. I will not take any compensation for him. But on the other hand if he prefers to stay with me then I will not force him to go with you.”

Both the brothers were very happy on hearing this, and said, “Your decision is very just and we accept it.” The Prophet % sent for Zaid bin Harithah and asked him, “Who are these two men?” He answered,

“This is my father Harithah bin Sharjeel, and this is my uncle Ka‘b.”

The Prophet % told him that he had the freedom to either go with them or continue to stay with him.

Without a moment's hesitation he replied:

“T will stay with you.” When his father heard this he said, “This is very sad! Would you rather bea slave than stay with your parents?”