Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair

Who is that young man who is almost twenty four, walking along Makkah’s roads, preceded by his charming odor?!!...

He is the best of Makkah’s young men, most wealthy and most handsome... He is the beloved one amongst his parents who clothed him in the best, most fine, most expensive and beautiful clothes... His beauty was both external and internal...For he looked handsome and attractive, but he was also kind -hearted and good inside... For as soon as he heard about Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, he rushed to him in Al ’Arqam Ibn ’Abî Al ’Arqam’s house to give him the pledge of allegiance... He becomes a Muslim in the presence of Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, with the early men who became Muslims... He keeps it as a secret from his parents... He visits Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, secretly... He listens and learns from him...

One day, ‘Uthmân Ibn Talhah -one of Quraish’s men from Mus‘ab’s tribe Banû ‘Abdul Dâr sees him praying... He rushes to his parents to inform them... They are furious, they lock him up and tie him down... They also prevent him from eating... His people gather and try to convince him to give up Islam... They try persuading him in different ways, by tempting him, and by scaring him... The young man is strong, and continues clinging to his Islam, not caring about the suffering and deprivation, until he gets the chance and runs away immigrating to Ethiopia with the early immigrants...

Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, returns from Ethiopia with the men who had immigrated there, when they heard the rumor that the people in Makkah had become Muslims... But everyone is surprised to find that it was not true... On the contrary, the non-believers in Makkah increase their torture to the Muslims... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair in particular is badly tortured and hurt... Sa‘d Ibn ’Abî Waqqâs says: We were a tribe who suffered with Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, from a harsh life in Makkah... When we couldn’t take it anymore, we had to claim to be non-believers and suffer for that... But we were patient... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair was the finest of young men in Makkah and was living in great comfort amongst his parents... Yet when he became a Muslim, I saw that he suffered a lot... I have seen his skin peeling off, just like the serpent’s skin...

‘Alî Ibn ’Abî Tâlib, may Allah be pleased with him, says: while we were sitting with Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, in his mosque, Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair came wearing a cloak that was torn and botched with fur... When Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, saw him, he cried because he knew how Mus‘ab was in luxury previously in his life, and how he was degraded now... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “What would you say if one of you would come wearing a garment, and goes wearing another... And a tray is being put in front of him, while another is being taken away... And you have clothed your houses like the Ka‘bah is being clothed?!!”... They said: O Prophet of Allah... We would be better off then, than today, at least we would devote our time for worshipping and not worry about our provision... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “No... Now you are better off than how you would be then”[1]...

But Allah, Praise and Glory be to Him, relieves the Muslims, when some of the people of Al-Madînah come to Makkah during one of the high seasons... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, talks to them about Islam... Allah, Praise and Glory be to Him, opens their hearts to Islam and the first solemn pledge of Al-‘Aqabah takes place... Twelve men from Al-Madînah witness that pledge... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, sends Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair with them as a scholar and a guide... Mus‘ab reads them the Qur’ân and enlightens them to understand their religion... He was the first ambassador in Islam... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair stays at ’As‘ad Ibn Zurârah’s house... He shares with him his clothes... He walks in Al-Madînah roads, reading the Qur’ân to the people and asking them to worship the One and Only Allah... The news spreads, it even reaches the rulers and elite people in Al-Madînah... ’Usaid Ibn Hudair dashes angrily to As‘ad Ibn Zurârah’s house carrying his spear... He finds Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair sitting and the men are surrounding him while he is reading them from the Qur’ân...

’Usaid tells him: What do you want from us: You have come to us ridiculing our beliefs, and keeping away the people from our gods... Stay away from us if you want to stay alive.

The men surrounding Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair are frightened, and they consider moving away from him... Mus‘ab wisely, peacefully, and counting on his deep belief, tells ’Usaid Ibn Hudair: Sit down and listen... If you accept any of it, take it... And if you dislike it, do not take what you will dislike.. ’Usaid Ibn Hudair said: Fair enough ... He put down his spear, and sat listening to Mus‘ab who was explaining the creed of Islam and reading from the Qur’ân with his deep voice... ’Usaid Ibn Hudair finds himself unable to do anything except cry from the bottom of his heart the words of monotheism: There is none has the right to be worshipped but Allah... All the men present cry Allahu-Akbar.. (Allah is the Most Great).

The same thing happens with Sa‘d Ibn Mu‘âdh who is keen in quickly announcing his becoming a Muslim, which makes his tribe also become Muslims... Then Sa‘d Ibn ‘Ubâdah becomes a Muslim too... The two tribes; Al-’Aws and Al-Khazraj compete in entering that new religion that has lightened and brightened all the corners of Al Madînah Al Munawwarah... There was no house left in Al-Madînah without good talk about Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him,... It is time for the Hajj[2] in the following year... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, comes to Makkah accompanied by 73 (Seventy three) men and 2 (Two) women, coming to give the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, the second solemn pledge of Al-‘Aqabah...

Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, returns to Al-Madînah to teach its people Islam and the Qur’ân... He prays as Imâm to them in the first Jumm‘ah (Friday) prayer in Islam... Later, other men join him: ‘Abdullah Ibn ’Um Maktûm, ‘Ammâr Ibn Yâsir, Sa‘d Ibn ’Abî Waqqâs, ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ûd and Bilâl Ibn ’Abî Rabâh... Then ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb joined with forty other weak Muslims on their horses, may Allah be pleased with them,.

All the people of Al-Madînah are waiting anxiously for the arrival of Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, after Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair has overwhelmed its people, its families, even its mountains and valleys with the Qur’ân, his wisdom, and his guidance... When Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, arrives to Al Madînah Al Munawwarah, all its people -young and old- cry in one voice:

It is time for the battle of Badr, in the second year of Hijrah... Just as Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, has chosen Mus‘ab to be the first ambassador of Islam in Al-Madînah, He, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, also chose him to carry the banner of the battle that they were granted victory in...

Quraish comes back once more insisting to take revenge for its men who were killed in Badr... The two parties meet in ’Uhud... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, gives the banner to Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair who fights with great courage... The Muslims almost win the battle, had it not been for the disobedience of some of the archers who leave their positions, presuming that the battle is over, and rushing to take their share of the booty... Things would have turned against the Muslims... The people turn away from Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, each trying to save himself and not caring for anything else... A rumor spreads amongst the Muslims’ lines in war that the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, has been killed... This increases the anguish and panic amongst them...

Only a few men stay solid around the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, they are from the early Muslims... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair fights with one hand and carries Allah’s Prophet’s Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, banner with the other hand... Ibn Qami’ah Al Laithî hits him with his sword on the hand that is carrying the banner... He cuts off his hand... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair carries the banner with his other hand and before falling on the ground... He says: [Muhammad, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him] ... This Ayah (Verse) was not revealed yet... Ibn Qami’ah Al Laithî still hitting him cuts off his other hand... Mus‘ab holds the banner with his upper arms... Then, he finally digs it into the ground... He receives the final blow in his chest and falls on his face to the ground... His sacred blood spreads on the sand of ’Uhud, and the battle is over.... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, goes out inspecting the dead bodies of his companions... He, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, stands beside Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair, lowering his face and relating Allah’s words: (Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allâh [i.e. they have gone out for Jihâd (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers]; of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred); and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed [i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allâh] in the least). (Al-Ahzâb “The Confederates”,23).

He, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, says: “Allah’s Prophet, shall be your witness -on the Judgment Day- that you are martyrs in the sake of Allah”... He, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, then approaches the people and says: “O you people... Later on, come and visit them and greet them... For I swear, by Him in Whose Hands my soul is, whenever any man will greet them, from now onwards, till the Day of Judgment, they will answer back his greeting”...

Days pass by, and Khabbâb Ibn Al ’Arat, may Allah be pleased with him, relates to us saying: We migrated with Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, for Allah’s Cause, so our reward became due with Allah... Some of us passed away (i.e. died) without enjoying anything from their reward, but some amongst us have got the fruits of their labour ripened, and they are collecting them... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair who was killed (i.e. martyred) on the day of ’Uhud. He did not leave behind except a sheet of striped woolen cloth. If we covered his head with it, his feet became naked, and if we covered his feet with it, his head became naked...

Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said to us: “Cover his head with it and put Idhkhir[4] over his feet”[5]...

Peace be on you, you who carried Allah’s Prophet’s Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, banner...

[1] Tohfat Al-Ahwazi.

[2] Hajj: Pilgrimage to Makkah.

[3] Thaniyyâtil Wadâ‘: A place in Al-Madînah.

[4] Idhkhir: It is a kind of grass which is used in the process of melting of the metals. The same is laid down on the roofs and floors of houses, and is also used in spreading in the graves.

[5] Narrated by Al Bukhâri

	The Carrier Of The Banner Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair May Allah be pleased with him
	Back To Main Page Back To Amongst The Prophet’s Companions
	Who is that young man who is almost twenty four, walking along Makkah’s roads, preceded by his charming odor?!!... He is the best of Makkah’s young men, most wealthy and most handsome... He is the beloved one amongst his parents who clothed him in the best, most fine, most expensive and beautiful clothes... His beauty was both external and internal...For he looked handsome and attractive, but he was also kind -hearted and good inside... For as soon as he heard about Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, he rushed to him in Al ’Arqam Ibn ’Abî Al ’Arqam’s house to give him the pledge of allegiance... He becomes a Muslim in the presence of Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, with the early men who became Muslims... He keeps it as a secret from his parents... He visits Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, secretly... He listens and learns from him... One day, ‘Uthmân Ibn Talhah -one of Quraish’s men from Mus‘ab’s tribe Banû ‘Abdul Dâr sees him praying... He rushes to his parents to inform them... They are furious, they lock him up and tie him down... They also prevent him from eating... His people gather and try to convince him to give up Islam... They try persuading him in different ways, by tempting him, and by scaring him... The young man is strong, and continues clinging to his Islam, not caring about the suffering and deprivation, until he gets the chance and runs away immigrating to Ethiopia with the early immigrants... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, returns from Ethiopia with the men who had immigrated there, when they heard the rumor that the people in Makkah had become Muslims... But everyone is surprised to find that it was not true... On the contrary, the non-believers in Makkah increase their torture to the Muslims... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair in particular is badly tortured and hurt... Sa‘d Ibn ’Abî Waqqâs says: We were a tribe who suffered with Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, from a harsh life in Makkah... When we couldn’t take it anymore, we had to claim to be non-believers and suffer for that... But we were patient... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair was the finest of young men in Makkah and was living in great comfort amongst his parents... Yet when he became a Muslim, I saw that he suffered a lot... I have seen his skin peeling off, just like the serpent’s skin... ‘Alî Ibn ’Abî Tâlib, may Allah be pleased with him, says: while we were sitting with Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, in his mosque, Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair came wearing a cloak that was torn and botched with fur... When Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, saw him, he cried because he knew how Mus‘ab was in luxury previously in his life, and how he was degraded now... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “What would you say if one of you would come wearing a garment, and goes wearing another... And a tray is being put in front of him, while another is being taken away... And you have clothed your houses like the Ka‘bah is being clothed?!!”... They said: O Prophet of Allah... We would be better off then, than today, at least we would devote our time for worshipping and not worry about our provision... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “No... Now you are better off than how you would be then”[1]... But Allah, Praise and Glory be to Him, relieves the Muslims, when some of the people of Al-Madînah come to Makkah during one of the high seasons... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, talks to them about Islam... Allah, Praise and Glory be to Him, opens their hearts to Islam and the first solemn pledge of Al-‘Aqabah takes place... Twelve men from Al-Madînah witness that pledge... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, sends Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair with them as a scholar and a guide... Mus‘ab reads them the Qur’ân and enlightens them to understand their religion... He was the first ambassador in Islam... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair stays at ’As‘ad Ibn Zurârah’s house... He shares with him his clothes... He walks in Al-Madînah roads, reading the Qur’ân to the people and asking them to worship the One and Only Allah... The news spreads, it even reaches the rulers and elite people in Al-Madînah... ’Usaid Ibn Hudair dashes angrily to As‘ad Ibn Zurârah’s house carrying his spear... He finds Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair sitting and the men are surrounding him while he is reading them from the Qur’ân... ’Usaid tells him: What do you want from us: You have come to us ridiculing our beliefs, and keeping away the people from our gods... Stay away from us if you want to stay alive. The men surrounding Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair are frightened, and they consider moving away from him... Mus‘ab wisely, peacefully, and counting on his deep belief, tells ’Usaid Ibn Hudair: Sit down and listen... If you accept any of it, take it... And if you dislike it, do not take what you will dislike.. ’Usaid Ibn Hudair said: Fair enough ... He put down his spear, and sat listening to Mus‘ab who was explaining the creed of Islam and reading from the Qur’ân with his deep voice... ’Usaid Ibn Hudair finds himself unable to do anything except cry from the bottom of his heart the words of monotheism: There is none has the right to be worshipped but Allah... All the men present cry Allahu-Akbar.. (Allah is the Most Great). The same thing happens with Sa‘d Ibn Mu‘âdh who is keen in quickly announcing his becoming a Muslim, which makes his tribe also become Muslims... Then Sa‘d Ibn ‘Ubâdah becomes a Muslim too... The two tribes; Al-’Aws and Al-Khazraj compete in entering that new religion that has lightened and brightened all the corners of Al Madînah Al Munawwarah... There was no house left in Al-Madînah without good talk about Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him,... It is time for the Hajj[2] in the following year... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, comes to Makkah accompanied by 73 (Seventy three) men and 2 (Two) women, coming to give the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, the second solemn pledge of Al-‘Aqabah... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, returns to Al-Madînah to teach its people Islam and the Qur’ân... He prays as Imâm to them in the first Jumm‘ah (Friday) prayer in Islam... Later, other men join him: ‘Abdullah Ibn ’Um Maktûm, ‘Ammâr Ibn Yâsir, Sa‘d Ibn ’Abî Waqqâs, ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ûd and Bilâl Ibn ’Abî Rabâh... Then ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb joined with forty other weak Muslims on their horses, may Allah be pleased with them,. All the people of Al-Madînah are waiting anxiously for the arrival of Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, after Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair has overwhelmed its people, its families, even its mountains and valleys with the Qur’ân, his wisdom, and his guidance... When Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, arrives to Al Madînah Al Munawwarah, all its people -young and old- cry in one voice: The full moon has come to us... From Thaniyyâtil Wadâ‘[3]... We owe gratitude and thanks... Whenever someone invites to the way of Allah... Oh you who has been sent to us... You have come with what must be obeyed... You arrival is an honour to Al-Madinah... Welcome to the best of all who invite to Allah... It is time for the battle of Badr, in the second year of Hijrah... Just as Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, has chosen Mus‘ab to be the first ambassador of Islam in Al-Madînah, He, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, also chose him to carry the banner of the battle that they were granted victory in... Quraish comes back once more insisting to take revenge for its men who were killed in Badr... The two parties meet in ’Uhud... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, gives the banner to Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair who fights with great courage... The Muslims almost win the battle, had it not been for the disobedience of some of the archers who leave their positions, presuming that the battle is over, and rushing to take their share of the booty... Things would have turned against the Muslims... The people turn away from Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, each trying to save himself and not caring for anything else... A rumor spreads amongst the Muslims’ lines in war that the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, has been killed... This increases the anguish and panic amongst them... Only a few men stay solid around the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, they are from the early Muslims... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair fights with one hand and carries Allah’s Prophet’s Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, banner with the other hand... Ibn Qami’ah Al Laithî hits him with his sword on the hand that is carrying the banner... He cuts off his hand... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair carries the banner with his other hand and before falling on the ground... He says: [Muhammad, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him] ... This Ayah (Verse) was not revealed yet... Ibn Qami’ah Al Laithî still hitting him cuts off his other hand... Mus‘ab holds the banner with his upper arms... Then, he finally digs it into the ground... He receives the final blow in his chest and falls on his face to the ground... His sacred blood spreads on the sand of ’Uhud, and the battle is over.... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, goes out inspecting the dead bodies of his companions... He, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, stands beside Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair, lowering his face and relating Allah’s words: (Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allâh [i.e. they have gone out for Jihâd (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers]; of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred); and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed [i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allâh] in the least). (Al-Ahzâb “The Confederates”,23). He, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, says: “Allah’s Prophet, shall be your witness -on the Judgment Day- that you are martyrs in the sake of Allah”... He, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, then approaches the people and says: “O you people... Later on, come and visit them and greet them... For I swear, by Him in Whose Hands my soul is, whenever any man will greet them, from now onwards, till the Day of Judgment, they will answer back his greeting”... Days pass by, and Khabbâb Ibn Al ’Arat, may Allah be pleased with him, relates to us saying: We migrated with Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, for Allah’s Cause, so our reward became due with Allah... Some of us passed away (i.e. died) without enjoying anything from their reward, but some amongst us have got the fruits of their labour ripened, and they are collecting them... Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair who was killed (i.e. martyred) on the day of ’Uhud. He did not leave behind except a sheet of striped woolen cloth. If we covered his head with it, his feet became naked, and if we covered his feet with it, his head became naked... Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said to us: “Cover his head with it and put Idhkhir[4] over his feet”[5]... Peace be on you, you who carried Allah’s Prophet’s Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, banner... Peace on you, O Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair... Back To Main Page Back To Amongst The Prophet’s Companions [1] Tohfat Al-Ahwazi. [2] Hajj: Pilgrimage to Makkah. [3] Thaniyyâtil Wadâ‘: A place in Al-Madînah. [4] Idhkhir: It is a kind of grass which is used in the process of melting of the metals. The same is laid down on the roofs and floors of houses, and is also used in spreading in the graves. [5] Narrated by Al Bukhâri

May Allah be pleased with him