Part 64

crowd of people listening carefully to the rational words with which Mus’ab Ibn “Umair was calling them to Allah. Usaid surprised them with his anger and outburst. Mus‘ab said to him, "Won't you sit down and listen? If our matter pleases you, accept it, and if you hate it, we'll stop calling you to what you hate."

Usaid was an enlightened and intelligent man whom the people of Al-Madiinah called "Al Kaamil" (The Perfect), a nickname that his father used to bear before him. So, when he found Mus‘ab appealing to logic and reason, he stuck his spear in the ground and said to him, “You're right, tell me what you have."

Mus‘ab started reciting the Holy Qur'aan to him and explaining to him the call of the new religion, the true religion whose standard Muhammad (PBUH) was ordered to spread. Those who attended this assembly said, "By Allah, we saw Islam in Usaid's face before he spoke. We knew it because of his brilliance and easiness."

No sooner did Mus*ab finish his words than Usaid was overwhelmed and he shouted, "How good these words are! What do you do if you want to embrace this religion?" Mus*ab said, "Purify your body and clothes, and bear true witness, then pray.”

Usaid's character was straight, strong, and clear. He would not hesitate a second in face of strong opposition, if he knew his own

So Usaid got up quickly to welcome the new religion which was penetrating his heart and overwhelming his soul. He washed, purified himself, and prostrated to Allah the Lord of the Worlds in worship, announcing his embracement of Islam and abandonment of paganism.

Usaid had to go back to Sad Ibn Mu‘aadh to give him the news of the task which had been assigned to him to deter and expel Mus’ab Ibn “Umair. He went back to Sa‘d, but as he approached Sa‘d said to those around him, "Usaid's face is changed. I swear it."

Yes. He went with a challenging, angry face and came back with a face full of mercy and light.

Usaid decided to use his intelligence. He knew that Sa‘d Ibn Mu’aadh was well known for his pure nature and keen determination. He knew that Islam was not far from him. He only needed to hear what he himself had heard of Allah's word, which the Messenger's envoy to them, Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair, was good at reciting and explaining. But if he said to Sa‘d, I've embraced Islam; go and embrace it, the outcome would not have been ensured. He had to prompt Sa‘d in a way that would push him to Mus‘ab's gathering in order to see and listen. How could he do this?

As we said before, Mus'ab was a guest at As‘ad Ibn Zuraarah's house. As‘ad Ibn Zuraarah was Sa‘d Ibn Mu‘aadh's cousin. So Usaid said to Sad, " I was told that the Haarithah tribe went out to kill As‘ad Ibn Zuraarah and they know he is your cousin.”

Angry and heated, Sa‘d took his spear and ran fast to where Sa‘d, Mus*ab, and the Muslims with them were sitting. When he came near the gathering, he found nothing but quiet overwhelming them while Mus‘ab Ibn “Umair sat in the middle of them reciting Allah's verses humbly, and they carefully listened to him.

Just then he realized the trick that Usaid had played on him to make him go to this gathering and listen to what the envoy of Islam, Mus*ab Ibn “Umair was saying. So, Usaid's insight into his friend's character proved to be accurate.

Sa'd had hardly heard the Qur'aan when Allah opened his heart to Islam, and soon he took his place among the first believers.

Usaid bore a strong, bright belief in his heart and mind, and his belief made him full of patience, discernment, and sound appraisal that made him a trustworthy man.

During the expedition against Bani Al-Mustaliq, “Abd Allah Ibn Ubaiy was so furious that he said to the people of Al-Madiinah around him, " You've let them enter your town and share your money. By Allah, if you cease giving them what you have, they'll turn to another place. By Allah, if we return to Al-Madiinah, indeed the more honorable will expel the meaner from there.”

The venerable Companion, Zaid Ibn Arqam heard these poisoned hypocritical words, so he had to inform the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). The Messenger (PBUH) was much hurt. When he met Usaid he said, "Don't you know what your friend has said?" Usaid asked, "Which friend, O Messenger of Allah?" The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) answered, "Abd Allah Ibn Ubaiy.” Usaid said, "What did he say?" The Messenger said, "He claimed that if he returned to Al-Madiinah, the more honorable will expel the meaner from there." Then Usaid said, “By Allah, you, O Messenger of Allah, will expel him from there, by Allah's permission. By Allah, he is the meaner and you are the more honorable."

He added, "O Messenger of Allah, treat him gently. By Allah, Allah brought you to us while the people of “Abd Allah were preparing to crown him king of Al-Madiinah. He sees that Islam has deprived him of kingship."

With this calm, profound thinking, Usaid used to solve problems using his presence of mind.

On the Day of As-Saqiifah, just after the death of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), a group of the Ansaar headed by Sa‘d Ibn “Ubaadah announced their right to succession and debated furiously. Usaid, who was a prominent Ansaar, as we know, took a positive attitude in settling the matter and his words were like the dispelling of shadows on the course of events. He stood to address the group of Ansaar: “You know that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH)

was one of the Muhaajiruun. His successor, then, should be one of the Muhaajiruun. We used to be the Ansaar of the Messenger of Allah. Today we have to be the Angaar of his successor."

And his words brought peace and safety.

Usaid Ibn Hudair (May Allah be pleased with him) spent his life as a humble worshipper, sacrificing his energy and money in the cause of goodness, and putting the advice of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) to the Angaars in his mind: "Be patient until you meet me in the realm of Paradise."

He was the object of honor and love by As-Siddiiq because of his religiosity and noble manners. He also had the same status in the heart of the Commander of the Faithful ~*Umar and in the hearts of all the Companions.

Listening to his voice while reciting Qur'aan was one of the greatest honors that the Companions aspired to. His voice was so humble and resonant that the Messenger (PBUH) said about it that the angels came near its possessor one night to hear it.

In the month of Shaaban A.H. 20, Usaid died. The Commander of the Faithful ‘Umar insisted on carrying his bier on his shoulders. Under the earth of Al-Baqii', the Companions buried the body of a great believer. They went back to Al-Madiinah remembering his virtues and repeating the noble Messenger's words about him: "What an excellent man Usaid Ibn Hudair is!"

(40) “ABD AR-RAHMAN IBN ‘AWE What Makes You Cry, Abu Muhammad?

One day while Al-Madiinah was calm, heavy dust was accumulating near it till it covered the horizon. The wind pushed these quantities of yellow dust coming from the soft sand of the

desert so that they came near the gates of Al-Madiinah, blowing strongly over the streets.

People thought it was a raging storm, but soon they heard beyond the dust the noise of a great caravan. After a while, 700 heavily laden camels were crowding the streets. People were calling

each other to see the festive scene and rejoicing at the provisions the caravan might be carrying.

The Mother of the Faithful ‘Aa'ishah, (May Allah be pleased with her) heard about the coming caravan and asked, "What's going on in Al-Madiinah?" She was answered, “It's a caravan of “Abd ArRahman Ibn *Awf coming from Syria carrying his goods.”

The Mother of the Faithful said, "But can one caravan make all this tremor?” "Yes, Mother of the Faithful. There are 700camels."

The Mother of the Faithful nodded and looked away as if searching for the memory of a scene she had witnessed or a conversation she had heard, then she said, " I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, ‘I saw ~Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn *Awf crawling into Paradise."

“Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn “Awf crawling into Paradise! Why does he not jump or hurry into it with the first ones to embrace Islam among the Companions of the Messenger? When some of his friends informed him of what ~Aa'ishah said, he remembered that he heard the Prophet (PBUH) say this hadith more than once in various forms.

Before unloading the camels, he hastened to ‘Aa'isha's house and told her, "I call you to witness that this caravan with all its loads is in the cause of Allah Almighty." And the loads of 700 camels were distributed among the people of Al-Madiinah and the places around it in a great charity festival.

This incident alone represents the complete image of the life of “Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn *Awf, Companion of the Messenger of Allah. He was very much a successful merchant and rich man. He was the wise believer who refused that his portion of this life would sweep away his portion of religion, or that his fortune would make him lag behind the caravan of belief or the reward of Paradise. He (May Allah be pleased with him) would generously sacrifice his fortune and feel satisfied.

When and how did this great man embrace Islam? He did so very early in the first hours of the mission. He had done so even before the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) entered Daar Al-Argam's house and took it as a seat to meet his faithful Companions. He was one of the eight who were the first to embrace Islam. When Abu Bakr preached Islam to him together with ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan, AzZubair Ibn Al--Awaam, Talhah Ibn “Ubaid Allah, and Sa*d Ibn Abi Waqgaaas, they did not grudge or doubt the matter. On the contrary, they hastened with As-Siddiiq to the Messenger of Allah, acknowledging him as Allah's Messenger and carrying his standard.

From the time he embraced Islam till he died at 75, he was a splendid model of a great believer, which made the Prophet (PBUH) count him among the ten to whom he gave glad tidings of inheriting

Paradise. This also made ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) count him among the six advisers whom he assigned for succession after himself. He said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) died while pleased with them."