Part 32

It is true. It was injured in the cause of Allah on the Day of Yamaamah, which was one of “Ammaar's glorious days. This giant set out in stormy courage to annihilate the soldiers in the army of

Musailamah the Liar, offering death and destruction. When he perceived a lack of enthusiasm among the Muslims, he sent his quaking shouts which pushed them as shot arrows.

Abd Allah Ibn “Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I saw “Ammaar Ibn Yaasir on the Day of Yamaamah on a rock shouting, "O you Muslim people, are you running away from Paradise? I am ~Ammaar Ibn Yaasir, come to me.” When I looked at him, I found his ear cut off and swinging while he was fighting fiercely.

If there is anyone who has his doubts concerning Muhammad (PBUH), the truthful Messenger and the perfect teacher, let him halt

in front of these examples of his disciples and Companions and ask

himself, "Is it possible for anyone to produce that refined style except a noble messenger and a great teacher?" If they were involved in a fight for Allah's cause, they hastened as if they were looking for death, not only for victory. If they were caliphs and rulers, the caliph went himself to milk the orphans’ sheep and make their bread, as Abu Bakr and ‘Umar did. If they were governors, they carried their food on their backs, tied with a rope, as “Ammaar did, or gave up their pay and set to making baskets and vessels out of plaited palm leaves, as Salmaan did . Should we not bow in salutation and respect to the faith that produced them and to the Messenger who raised them, and before all that to Almighty Allah Who chose them for that, guided them to it, and made them pioneers to the best nation of people on earth?

Hudhaifah Ibn Al-Yammaan, the expert in the inner language, the language of the heart, was preparing to meet Allah and suffering from the agony of death when his companions surrounding him asked, "To whom should we go, if people differ?" Hudhaifah answered in his last words, "You should turn to Ibn Sumaiyah because he will not part from truth until death."

Yes, “Ammaar would turn with the truth wherever it went. Now while we trace his blessed direction and follow the landmarks of his great life, let us approach a momentous scene. But before watching that grand and graceful scene in its glory and perfection, in its sincerity and persistence, let us watch another scene preceding, foreshadowing, and preparing for it.

That scene was following the Muslims’ settlement in AlMadiinah. The honest Messenger (PBUH) rose, surrounded by his righteous Companions, with unkempt hair and full of dust. They were establishing Allah's house and building His mosque. Their faithful hearts were filled with joy, glowed with delight, and murmured their thanks to Allah.

All were working in happiness and hope, carrying stone, mixing mortar, and erecting the building. There was a team here, another team over there. The happy horizon echoed the singing with which they raised with overjoyed voices: "If we stayed while the Prophet worked, it would be misguided work of ours." They sang in that manner, then their voices were raised in another song: "O Allah, living is but in the next world, then have mercy on the Ansaar and the Muhaajiruun!" Then a third song was raised:

He who frequents the mosques, Remaining there standing and sitting, Is not equal to the one who keeps away from dust.

They were cells working, Allah's soldiers, carrying His banner and erecting His building. The honest and kind Messenger was with them, carrying the heaviest of the stones and performing the hardest work. Their singing voices reflected the delight of their satisfied souls. Heaven above them filled the earth that bore them with delight, and bright life was witnessing its best celebrations.

*Ammaar Ibn Yaasir was there amidst the celebration, carrying the heavy stones from their quarries to their positions. When the guided mercy, Muhammad the Messenger of Allah saw him, he sympathized greatly with him. He approached him and removed the dust from his head with his kind hand. With looks filled with the light of Allah, he contemplated his innocent, faithful face and said in front of all the Companions. “Alas for Ibn Sumaiyah, killed by the tyrant group."

The foretelling was repeated once again when a wall ~Ammaar was working beneath fell, and some brethren believed he was dead. They went to offer condolences to the Messenger (PBUH), and the Companions were shocked by the news, but the Messenger (PBUH) said reassuringly and confidently, ""Ammaar is not dead. The tyrant party will kill ~Ammaar."

Who was this party? And where? When?

“Ammaar listened to the prophecy in a way that showed he knew the great Messenger's truth of perception. Yet, he was not horrified. Since becoming a Muslim he had been expecting death and martyrdom every moment of the day and night.

Days and years passed. The Messenger (PBUH) went to the Supreme Companion, followed by Abu Bakr and then‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with them). ~Uthmaan Ibn “Affaan, "The Man of Two Lights", became caliph. Conspiracies against Islam were doing their best, trying to gain by treachery and sedition what they lost in war. ~Umar's death was the first success achieved by these conspiracies blowing on Al-Madiinah as a breeze of poison from those countries whose sovereignty and thrones Islam had destroyed. They were tempted by “Umar's martyrdom to continue their efforts, so they followed and awakened seditions in most Islamic countries.

In addition, ‘Uthmaan might not have given the matter the attention, care, and response it deserved, so the incident happened and “Uthmaan was martyred and the doors of seditions were opened on the Muslims. Mu‘aawiyah started fighting the new caliph, *Aliy (May Allah glorify his face) for his right in the matter and for the caliphate. The Companions had different stances. Some of them washed their hands of the whole matter and went home, making Ibn “Umar's words their motto :

To the one who says, "Come to prayer," I will respond.

To the one who says, "Come to success," I will respond.

But to the one who says, "Come to kill your Muslim brother and to take his money,” I will say, "No."

Some Muslims were partial to Mu‘aawiyah, others were partial to ~Aliy, the one who demanded the pledge of allegiance to him as the Muslims’ caliph. Where do you think “Ammaar would stand? Where should he stand, the man about whom the Messenger of Allah said, "Follow the guidance of ~“Ammaar," and, "Whoever antagonizes *Ammaar, will be antagonized by Allah"?

The man who, if he approached the house of Allah's Messenger (PBUH), the latter would say, "Welcome the good-scented, kind man, allow him to come in"?

He stood by “Aliy Ibn Abi Taalib, not as a prejudiced, biased person, but as one complying with the truth and keeping his promise. *Aliy was the Caliph of the Muslims and had the pledge of allegiance to be its leader (Imam). He took the caliphate and he was worthy of it. Above all, “Aliy had the qualities that made his place to the Messenger of Allah as that of Haaruun (Aaron) to Muusaa (Moses).

*Ammaar, who always turned towards the truth wherever it was to enlighten his insight and loyalty to the possessor of truth in that fight, turned to “Aliy on that day and stood by him. *Aliy (May Allah be pleased with him) was overjoyed with “Ammaar's pledge and trusted that he was right in his demand because the great man of truth, ~Ammaar Ibn Yaasir, approached and went with him.

The terrible Day of Siffiin arrived. Imam “Alii came out to face the serious rebellion which he felt he had to curb, ~Ammaar came out with him, and he was 93 years old then. Imagine, a man of 93 going to - fight! It is true, as long as he believed that fighting was his responsibility and duty. In fact, he fought more strongly and better than a man of 30. He was the man who was constantly silent, who spoke little. When he moved his lips, he moved them to supplicate, "I seek Allah's protection from sedition. I seek Allah's protection from sedition."

And after the passing away of the Messenger of Allah, these words remained his constant supplication. As days passed, he used to seek Allah's protection more, as if his pure heart felt the coming danger as the days went on. When it did happen and the sedition occurred, Ibn Sumaiyah knew his place, so he stood in Siffiin carrying his sword, aman of 93 to support a right which he believed should be supported.

He declared his opinion about that fighting: O people, let us be directed to the people who claim they are avenging-Uthmaan. By Allah, their intention is not revenge, but they have tasted worldly things and are pleased with them. They know that truth keeps them away from what they enjoy of lust and their world. Those people had no precedent in the past to keep Muslims in obedience to them or in their support. Their hearts have not felt awe towards Allah to

force them to follow the truth. They deceive the people by claiming they are avenging ~Uthmaan's death. They seek nothing but to be

He then took the standard in his hand, raised jt high and fluttering above their heads and shouted, "By Allah in Whose hands my soul lies, I fought with this standard with the Messenger of Allah, and here I am fighting with it today. By Allah, if they defeat us until they reach the palm trees of Hajar, I would still believe we are in the right and they are following the wrong.” People followed ~Ammaar and trusted his words.

~Abu ‘Abd Ar-Rahman As-Sulamiy reported: " We witnessed with “Aliy (May Allah be pleased with him) the Battle of Siffiin, and I saw *Ammaar (May Allah be pleased with him) not taking one turn nor one of its valleys but the Companions of Muhammad (PBUH) would follow him as if he were their standard!"

When *Ammaar was engaged in the battle he knew he was one of its martyrs. The Messenger's prophecy was illuminated in big letters in front of his eyes, "The tyrant party will kill ~Ammaar.” For that reason his voice was ringing over the horizon of the battle with the following tune, "Today, I meet the dear ones, Muhammad and his Companions." He would then rush like a high arrow towards Mu‘aawiyah's position and surround him, singing loudly :

We hit you at its first revelation,

Now we hit you again for its interpretation;