MUHAMMAD SAW THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM (515 pages, 21/41)
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nah.
Once in Madinah, he acquired a house for his descendants. Along with the house, he voiced his request, in that he wished to offer his services to the Prophet to come . He said, “Oh Prophet of Allah , I have heard of your qualities, and your excellence and power, and I have heard that your nation is to be the best of all nations of the People of the Scriptures, and the most highly honored in the sight of Allah. Without having seen you, I have fallen in love with you. I confirm your prophethood and your mission; I desire to be of your religion and to be accepted as one of your nation. However it is not possible for me to share your blessed lifetime, therefore I wish to dedicate my life to you and hope that my petition may be acceptable to you. I humbly ask that on the Day of Judgment I might find shelter under the Banner of Praise together with those belonging to your nation.” This petition he sealed in several places with seals of amber, wrapped it in layers of silk and placed it within a small box and said, “Oh my son, I have brought you and your family here from the Yemen. Remain here and make your home here, and take care of this box for as long as you live. When your end has come, pass it on to your son, and enjoin him to pass it on to his, and he to his, until the honored Arabian Prophet, the Hashimi Qurayshi Muhammad appears. After he has announced his prophethood, suffered from the injustice of his people and migrated from his home Mecca to this city of Madinah, then the time will come, for this box to be handed to him. This is my behest.”
Now Abu Ayyub ul-Ansari was the seventh generation since the time of this ancestor. He had kept the box, but everything else he owned had been lost in the course of time, and he had become a poor man. Being totally absorbed with his daily affairs, he had all but forgotten about the box that had been passed down to
him. When the Holy Prophet had entered Madinah, people wanted to entice the camel to come to rest before their houses by offering it food and by making noises to attract the animal, but the camel graced none of them with its attentions. In reality, the angel Jibra’il had descended and was leading it by its halter. When they reached the door of the house of Khalid bin Zayd (Abu Ayyub), the angel forced the camel to kneel, even though there was nothing special about the house. Khalid then spoke to his wife, saying, “The Holy Prophet’s camel has knelt down before you, you have attained this bliss.” From happiness both of them began to weep. With a show of great reverence he led the Holy Prophet into his house.
The Holy Prophet moved into the ground floor, saying, “This ground floor is suitable for all those who will come to visit us. Now go and bring us what you have held in safe-keeping for us.” Khalid thereupon asked, “What have we got in safe-keeping, oh Messenger of Allah ?” The Holy Prophet answered, “Go and bring the piece of paper contained in the box that has come to you from your forefather of the kings of Yemen.” Witnessing this manifest miracle of the Holy Prophet’s , Khalid remembered the box that he had inherited, and reciting Salat- wa-Salam he went to fetch it. Before the Holy Prophet even looked at the piece of paper, he said, “He wishes to enter my religion, and wishes to be of my nation. The Lord Almighty has accepted his ardent wish, and I too accept him into my nation.” In this way another miracle was manifested.
After they had eaten their meal in the lower room, the Holy Prophet wished to retire to rest. Khalid and his wife stood in front of the door to the upper room and said, “The Holy Prophet lies in the room below us, how can we step on top of him in the upper room?” From shyness and awe they remained in front of the door to the upper apartment, holding hands and not sleeping. In the morning they entreated the Holy Prophet to occupy the top floor, explaining to him that they had not slept all night for fear of failing him in reverence. The Prophet was very pleased with them, and prayed for him: “Oh Khalid,” he said, “may the Lord make you honored, blest and esteemed in this world and the next. ”
As a result of this supplication, the honor and blessings conferred on Abu Ayyub are manifested unchanged to this day. Known throughout Turkey as “Sultan Eyyop”, he lies buried at the walls of Istanbul where he breathed his last during a campaign against the city in the time of Yazid. His tomb has become a place of pilgrimage and visitation for many pious travelers ever since. May Allah grant us his intercession, and that of the many noble companions who lie buried in Asia Minor and neighboring lands. Amin.
The Holy Prophet remained in Abu Ayyub’s house for one month, or according to a different source, for seven months, until his mosque and the adjacent living quarters were completed. During this time, he sent one of his men back to Mecca with Zubayr bin Harith with two camels and five hundred dirhems in order to fetch his two daughters Fatima and Umm Kulthum, as well as his venerable wife Sauda. Abu Bakr sent for his son Abdullah, his young daughters Aisha and Asma, and their mother Umm Ruman. After the Holy Prophet had left Mecca, Hijra (migration) became incumbent on his companions who had stayed behind. These emigrants were named Muhajir, those who had left behind their homes and their families and fortunes for the sake of Allah. The Muslims of Madinah, the Ansar or Helpers welcomed them and took them into their houses. Whoever had more than one room in his house, housed one of the Muhajirin in the other room. If a person had only one room, he would set up a curtain dividing it in two, and take a Muhajir into his house, and share all his food and household goods with him. Because of the help they gave the Muhajirin, these Muslims of Madinah were named al-Ansar, the Helpers. On account of the help that the Ansar extended to the Muhajirin, they were rewarded with much mercy and forgiveness.
In the Holy Quran Allah Almighty says of those who will come after and who wonder as to the reward they will receive:
And as for those who came after them, they say, ”Oh our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in belief, and put Thou not into our hearts any rancor towards those who believe. Our Lord, surely Thou art the All-Gentle, the All-Compassionate.”
(The Mustering, 10)
In this holy verse lies the proof that he who prays for the noble companions of the Prophet and holds no envy or enmity against them in his heart, will receive of the recompense that they themselves have received. It is also proof that the Holy Prophet holds a higher station than all the other prophets because of the quality of his companions who pray for their deceased ancestors, forebears, teachers and brothers in faith. For this is expressed in the saying of the Holy Prophet , “You are the best of nations”, and he is the most highly honored of all Prophets of Allah.
Events of the First Year of the Hijra
In the first year of the Hijra the Holy Prophet’s daughter Ruqiyya died. Also the faithful companion As’ad bin Zurara passed away. During this first year he also took Aisha, the daughter of Abu Bakr to wife. Two years after the death of his wife Khadija he had asked for her hand in marriage, while still in Mecca. She was at the time a child of seven years of age. When the Holy Prophet moved to Madinah, she was nine. The Holy Prophet said to Abu Bakr, “Have your family come to Madinah,” and Abu Bakr sent for his wife, his son Abdullah and his young sisters to come.
The unbelievers of Madinah started a rumor, saying, “We have made a magic charm that will make anyone who believes in Muhammad childless.” When the unbelievers among the Arabs heard of this, they felt glad. The Prophet however told his followers not to worry, there was nothing to worry about, for Allah Almighty had promised His Prophet that his nation would survive until the Day of Judgment. That very year Abdullah bin Zubayr of the Muhajirin and Nu’man bin Bushr of the Ansar were born. These births made the Muslims glad and they greeted them with Takbirs of gratitude, and the unbelievers were seen to have been lying. Also Dihya ibn Abi ‘Ubayda bin Mas’ud as-Saqafi was born that same year.
Referring to her marriage to the Holy Prophet , Aisha later said, “I have a higher standing than any of the other wives of the Holy Prophet because of these events: I came to his house a virgin; when the angel Jibra’il came with a revelation, I was listening; when the hypocrites told a lie about me, a holy verse was revealed on my behalf; I saw the angel Jibra’il; and, when the Holy Prophet fell ill and died, his grave was made in my house.”
During that first year of the Hijra the prayer was changed to four Rak’ats while it had hitherto consisted of two Rak’ats.
The Beginning of the Islamic Calendar
When the Holy Prophet came to Madinah, he ordered the counting of a new calendar beginning with the date of the Hijra. Thereafter the year of the Hijra
was taken as the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Before this time there had been no regular count of the years. The years were only remembered by certain important events that had taken place in them, such as a great famine, or a flood, or by the ascension to the throne of a certain king or ruler, or by his death.
In the time of the Prophet Ibrahim a new calendar was begun with the building of the Kaba. In the time of Qusa bin Kilab a great war between the Bani Nadir and Bani Ma’bed was fought, which was called by the Arabs “Ayyam-al-Qatl”, and the years were counted from that event onwards. Then the Kaba was destroyed and re-erected, and again the years were numbered after that event. The Prophet Muhammad ordered the years to be counted from the Hijra onwards. Some factions later counted the years from the killing of Hussayn bin Ali, while others counted from the death of Mu’awiya who was the enemy of Ali. Some even take the death of Yazid as the starting point of their calendar. It is reported that the Holy Prophet said, “Every nation must have a way of counting its years in order to relate and know its own history.”
The Command to Fight the Idolators
When the Holy Prophet moved to Madinah, the people of Mecca said, “Now at last we are rid of him.” Allah Almighty then revealed the following verses:
Leave is given to those who fight because they were wronged – surely God is able to help them – who were expelled from their habitations without right, except that they say, “Our Lord is God.” (The Pilgrimage: 39, 40)
With the revelation of this verse, all the verses enjoining patience and tolerance were repealed, and the Holy Prophet began sending out his men on various raids. They began to attack the caravans of the unbelievers and confiscating their goods. When they began raiding in the vicinity of Mecca, the Meccans were unable to leave their city, and the caravan routes were interrupted. This interfered with their trade and after a time they began to feel the squeeze.
The first year of the Hijra was filled with such raids. At times the Holy Prophet would go out himself, at other times he would send out his men. All of these smaller raids led up to the Battle of Badr.
When this verse was revealed, the Holy Prophet sent his uncle Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib out with thirty riders of the Muhajirin towards the seashore on the seventh day of Ramadan in the seventh month of the Hijra. This was the first raid the Muslims undertook. The Holy Prophet on this occasion gave Hamza a
white piece of cloth to be their flag and himself gave it to Hamza. He commanded Hamza to go to the seashore and to intercept the Quraysh caravan coming from Sham (Damascus) which was laden with goods. He commanded him to take possession of the caravan and to confiscate their goods. Hamza set out for the seashore and arrived there before the caravan did. But Abu Jahl had also come to the shore with three hundred men, ahead of the caravan. Majdi bin ‘Amr al-Juhani was one the chiefs of that area and he was at peace with both parties. He intervened between the two sides, and implored Hamza to turn back for the sake of their friendship, and saying to his men, “Safety is better than spoils of war”, he turned back. Abu Jahl returned to Mecca with the caravan.
The Expedition of ‘Ubayda bin al-Harith
During the month of Shawwal the Holy Prophet received news of a troupe of armed men were leaving Mecca headed for Madinah. He sent against them Abu ‘Ubayda ibn al-Harith with sixty or eighty riders from the Muhajirin.
That same day the caravan of Abu Jahl arrived at Mecca, and he told the people there that Muhammad was making preparations for war against them. The Meccan chiefs therefore gathered and decided to send a fighting force towards Madinah, intending to take prisoner any Muslims they should encounter.
At the well of Ahya the two parties met. No fighting took place that day, except for one arrow shot by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas. A few persons left the company of the unbelievers and joined up with the Muslims. That had been their intention from the outset, to link up with the Muslim army when they encountered them. In this way the Muslims emerged strengthened, without having engaged in battle.
The Raid of Kharrar
In the same month, the Holy Prophet sent a party of eight men of the Muhajirin out with Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas after a caravan from Mecca. They went as far as Kharrar in the Hijaz, but again they found the caravan had already passed.
The Raid of Abwa
In the month of Safar, the Holy Prophet set out with a company of men of the Muhajirin and Ansar. He appointed one of the companions to be in charge of the city of Madinah in his absence, and on this occasion he appointed Sa’d bin ‘Ubada, and he gave his uncle Hamza the white banner mounted on a lance.
Abwa was a place situated between Mecca and Madinah. The chief of the Bani Damra, Nahis bin ‘Amr, rode out to meet the Holy Prophet and reached an agreement of peace with him. It was here that the Holy Prophet’s mother was buried, so he visited her grave and after remaining there until the end of the month of Safar, he returned to Madinah.
The Raid on Buwat
In the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal the Prophet had news of the return of the Meccan caravan from Sham. He gathered a company of two hundred men and led them out of Madinah, leaving Sa’d bin Mu’adh in charge of the city. The flag was carried by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas. They rode as far as Buwat, which was near a mountain, named Radwa. The information about the caravan proved to be imprecise, and they had already missed it. They returned to Madinah without an encounter.
The Raid on al-‘Ushayra
Three months later there was news of another rich caravan coming from Sham. The Holy Prophet set out with a group of riders, Hamza being given the white flag. They rode as far as ‘Ushayra in the valley of Yanbu’, which opens out on to the Red Sea southwest of Madinah. There the caravan was expected to pass, but it so happened that again they had missed it, and it had already passed.
On the way the Holy Prophet stopped to pray beneath a tree at a place called Dhatul-Saq. Later a mosque was built in this place and it is a place of pilgrimage. He also drank from a well called “al-Mushayrib”.
It was on this raid that the Holy Prophet gave Ali his nickname Abu Turab, father of dust. The Prophet was looking for Ali and could not find him. He looked all around for him, and finally came upon him, fallen fast asleep amidst some young palm trees; his face embedded in the fine dust. The Prophet stirred him with his foot, saying, “Wake up, ya Aba Turab, (oh Father of Dust).”
According to a different narration, Ali was praying at the foot of a tree, and rubbing his face in the dust in supplication. He waited until he had concluded his prayer, then the Holy Prophet is supposed to have said to him, “Oh Father of Dust, your worship is very good, for you are of the lineage of the Pride of Both Worlds, Muhammad.” Ali was proud of this epithet.
‘Ammar bin Yasir relates: We were sleeping at the foot of a palm tree. The Holy Prophet came to awaken Ali, and he touched his face lightly with his blessed
cloak and said, “Oh Ali, there are no more wretched creatures on earth than these two: Uhaymir of Thamud who slaughtered the camel of Allah, and he who shall strike your blessed face and make your blood flow down your beard.”
This happened before Ali’s marriage to Fatima. They were married in the second year of the Hijra during the month of Safar. There is another tradition that claims that the real reason why the Holy Prophet called Ali “Abu Turab” was that whenever Ali was angry at his wife Fatima he would not speak to her. He would not argue with her, but he used to sprinkle dust on his head. Whenever the Holy Prophet saw that Ali’s head was dusted, he knew that he was angry at Fatima, and he would ask him, “What is your trouble, oh Abu Turab?” But Allah Almighty knows the truth of the matter.
The Raid on Safawan, the First Expedition to Badr
The Holy Prophet stayed in Madinah only a few nights after he returned from the Raid on ‘Ushayra. News was brought to him that Kurz bin Jabir al-Fihri had raided pasturing camels belonging to Madinah at a distance of three days’ journey. The Holy Prophet set out to pursue him at once, and rode till he reached the valley of Safawan, in the neighborhood of a well-named Badr. But Kurz had escaped and he could not catch up with him. He remained there for three days, then he returned to the city, and stayed there for the remaining months Ramadan.
The Expedition of Abdullah bin Jahsh (The Raid on Nakhla)
It was toward the end of the month of Rajab when the Holy Prophet called Abdullah bin Jahsh and gave him ten men each of the Muhajirin and the Ansar. He gave him a letter, ordering him to open it only after having traveled a distance of three days, and to tell his companions about it. If any of them wished to turn back then, he should not pressure them to stay.
When they had been on the road for three days, Abdullah opened the letter and read it. It instructed him to go on to the valley of Nakhla, which lies, between Mecca and Ta’if, and to find out what the Quraysh were up to. He told his companions about the message and said, “I will stay here at all costs, and whoever wishes for martyrdom, let him proceed, but whoever wishes to turn back, he is free to do so.” None of his companions backed out. They reached Nakhla and waited there. Before long a caravan of Quraysh came by, carrying loads of dried grapes and leather and other merchandise. They deliberated amongst themselves, “If we attack the caravan, we will have disobeyed the
Prophet , for he gave us no orders to fight. If, however, we don’t attack them, they will reach Quraysh and give news of us.” Further they reflected that this was one of the holy months in which fighting is forbidden, this being the very last day of Rajab. If they waited until nightfall, it would be the beginning of Sha’ban, but by then the caravan would have entered the protection of the sacred precincts. So they were hesitant and undecided. In the end they decided to make the attack, and one of their number shot a man of Kindah. The others surrendered, so they made two prisoners, and returned to Madinah.
News of this spread far and wide. In Mecca people were horrified that the Prophet’s men fought in the sacred months. The Holy Prophet himself was also aggrieved at the incident, saying, “I did not order you to fight in the sacred month.” He held the two prisoners and the goods of the caravan, and waited for Divine Guidance as to what to do in this matter. The remaining Muslims in Mecca wrote a letter, saying that Quraysh made them feel shame for that their Prophet had violated the holy months, and asking for the prisoners to be sent back. The Holy Prophet was very disturbed by this, until a verse was revealed to him:
They will question thee concerning the holy month and fighting in it. Say: “Fighting in it is a heinous thing, but to bar from God’s way and disbelief in Him, and the Holy Mosque, and to expel its people from it
– that is more heinous in God’s sight; and persecution is more heinous than slaying.” (The Cow, 217)
With the revelation of this verse, the Prophet’s heart was relieved and he gave orders for the booty to be distributed and the prisoners to be ransomed.
The Changing of the Qibla
Up until this time, the Jews, the Christians and now the Muslims had all turned in prayer toward the Holy House in Jerusalem, which was now destroyed, but still served as the Qibla, the direction of prayer. In the same month of Sha’ban a revelation came changing this direction of prayer for the Muslims. From now on they would turn towards the Kaba in Mecca, and this was to be the new Qibla for all times.
We have seen thee turning thy face about in the heavens; now We shall surely turn thee to a direction that will satisfy thee. Turn thy face towards the Holy Mosque; and wherever you are, turn thy face
towards it. (The Cow, 144)
The Fasting of Ramadan
When the Holy Prophet came to Madinah, he saw that the Jews fasted on the tenth day of Muharram. Asked why they fasted on that day, they explained that it was the day on which Fir’aun had been drowned and the Prophet Musa with the Children of Israel had been saved. Therefore their Prophet had enjoined fasting in them on that day.
The Prophet Muhammad then called his Companions and ordered them to fast on that day as well. Later the Holy Prophet wished for the Muslims to also have fasting days of their own, and before long this verse was revealed to the Prophet, making fasting obligatory on them:
O believers, prescribed for you is the Fast, even as it was prescribed for those that were before you – haply you will be godfearing. (The Cow, 183)
After the revelation of this verse, the Prophet prayed for the time of fasting to be made more specific, and he received a revelation concerning the month of Ramadan.
...the month of Ramadan, wherein the Quran was sent down to be a guidance to the people, and as clear signs of the Guidance and the Salvation... (The Cow, 185)
When the moon of Ramadan was seen, the Muslims were to fast, and when the moon of Shawwal appeared they are to break their fast and give their Sadaqat-al- Fitr. The fast on the tenth of Muharram is also recommended. Some of the Muslims fasted on this day, and attained divine reward, but whoever did not fast incurred no blame.
The Great Battle of Badr
In the second year of the Hijra, on the first day of Ramadan, news came that Abu Sufyan was approaching with a great and richly laden caravan, accompanied by ‘Amr ibn ‘As. The angel Jibra’il brought this message to the Holy Prophet : “Go out and fight them, the victory will be yours.” The Prophet thereupon informed his Companions, saying, “Make ready and know that Allah has promised you victory.” The Companions made their preparations. Sa’d bin Khaysana and his father made ready to go, but the Prophet said to them, “Let
one of you go and one of you stay.” They threw lots and Sa’d drew his lot. “Oh Sa’d,” pleaded his father, “will you not cede your lot to me, and let me go in your stead?” Sa’d replied, “Father, had you not brought me up to seek the honor of fighting for Truth, I would leave it to you.” He was martyred in this battle, and his father was later martyred at Uhud.
The Holy Prophet left Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum to lead the prayers in his absence and himself set out with three-hundred and ten men towards Badr. Two riders were on horseback, seventy on camels, the remaining men were on foot. The Prophet went on his own camel, Qaswa. After a two days’ journey they heard that Abu Sufyan’s caravan had not yet arrived and the Prophet looked out for it. The angel Jibra’il came to the Prophet and informed him that Allah Almighty would make the Muslims victorious over the unbelievers. The Prophet was very happy for that.
Basbas bin ‘Amr al-Juhani and ‘Adiy bin Abi Zaghba al-Juhani were sent to scout out the area and bring news of the approach of the caravan. They came to a well and met two men there who had come to sell food and drink to the passing caravan, as was the custom of the time. One of them said to the other, “Tomorrow the caravan will pass by here, and I will sell them something, so I will be able to repay my debt to you.” When they heard these words, they asked no further questions, drank water from the well, and returned with the news. Not long after this, Abu Sufyan came to that same well with ‘Amr ibn al-‘As, asking them whether they had any news of Muhammad and the men of Madinah. “No,” they replied. “Has nobody passed by here then?” asked Abu Sufyan. “Only two men who came and watered their camels and rode on,” replied the Arabs. Hearing this, Abu Sufyan quickly turned around and followed the tracks of the two riders. They picked up some camel droppings and discovered in it pieces of date stones. From this they concluded that the riders must have come from Madinah, for, “No camel eats dates except the camels of Madinah,” they said. “Muhammad is on our trail.” They speedily turned the caravan back in its tracks.
Abu Sufyan sent a hired scout, Damdam bin ‘Amr al-Ghifari by name, to ride to Mecca at top speed and to call out from the mountaintop that anybody interested in his property should grab even an old broomstick and come forth to its defense. There was not a person in Mecca who had not invested in that caravan. Abu Jahl said to ‘Ubada, “You are related to Muhammad; should we win this battle, we will expel the Bani Hashim from the city.” They picked up the Prophet’s uncle ‘Abbas and forced him to accompany the army. Abu Jahl stood at the gates of the city and watched the thousand armed men pass by, and was very proud and
happy. “All the nobles of Mecca have taken to arms,” he said, “let Muhammad and his men not think that this caravan is like the caravan of Ibn Hadrami! Soon they will know that it is not so!”
Abu Sufyan and ‘Amr ibn al-‘As turned around to the well of Dhat-al-Qarn and led the caravan to the road by the seashore. They rode back five halts and came to Jiddah by way of the coastal road. From there they reached Mecca. The armed men had already left the city, headed for Badr. The angel Jibra’il informed the Holy Prophet that the caravan had changed its route and was headed for Mecca via Badr. The Holy Prophet had been informed of victory, but he had hoped that this would mean taking possession of the rich caravan, rather than fighting a pitched battle:
And when God promised you one of the two parties should be yours, and you were wishing that the one not accoutered should be yours; but God was desiring to verify the truth by His words, and to cut off the unbelievers to the last remnant, and that He might verify the truth and prove untrue the untrue, though the sinners were averse to it.
(The Spoils, 7)
When Abu Sufyan reached Mecca, he felt himself in safety. But two of his sons had gone out with the Meccan army. He sent a message back to the army, saying, “God has saved your property and delivered us; now there is no point in going to war without profit, so turn back.” This message was delivered to the army at Wadi Rauha. Opinions were divided, as to whether they should advance or retreat. Abu Jahl however said, “By Allah, we will not turn back until we have been to Badr and spend three days there and feast and drink wine, and listen to the girls play for us.” But two hundred armed riders of the Bani Zuhra turned back, and there were nine-hundred and fifty men who continued on with Abu Jahl.
The Holy Prophet wanted to hold a council, for he had not brought out his men to make war, but rather to take hold of the caravan and its goods. The first to speak was Abu Bakr, “Oh Messenger of Allah ,” he said, “Those who are coming to fight us are our relatives. Nevertheless we will do whatever you command us to do, we will sacrifice our souls in your way.” Then ‘Umar spoke up and said, “Oh Prophet of Allah , may our souls be your ransom, we will not deviate from this way, as long as even one of us is left.”
The Holy Prophet then said, “Be seated; of you I am certain,” and from his words it became clear that he wished to hear how the Ansar felt about joining in
the fight. Sa’d ibn Mu’adh got up and said, “Oh Prophet of Allah , is it us whom you are calling?” The Prophet answered, “Yes, it is you whom I wish to hear from, for I have migrated from my home and come to live with you.” Sa’d answered, “Oh Prophet of Allah , may our lives and souls and all our possessions be ransom in your way.” The Prophet was happy to hear these words, and calling Sa’d to himself he kissed his face and said to him, “Oh Sa’d, may Allah reward you well.”
Then the army began to move towards Badr. At a certain distance they began scouting out for movements of the Qurayshi troops. The next day, the Holy Prophet mounted his camel and went to the well. There he came upon an old man whom he asked for news of the caravan of Quraysh. The old man told him that the caravan had reached Mecca in safety, but that an army of Quraysh was headed towards Badr to f
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nah.
Once in Madinah, he acquired a house for his descendants. Along with the house, he voiced his request, in that he wished to offer his services to the Prophet to come . He said, “Oh Prophet of Allah , I have heard of your qualities, and your excellence and power, and I have heard that your nation is to be the best of all nations of the People of the Scriptures, and the most highly honored in the sight of Allah. Without having seen you, I have fallen in love with you. I confirm your prophethood and your mission; I desire to be of your religion and to be accepted as one of your nation. However it is not possible for me to share your blessed lifetime, therefore I wish to dedicate my life to you and hope that my petition may be acceptable to you. I humbly ask that on the Day of Judgment I might find shelter under the Banner of Praise together with those belonging to your nation.” This petition he sealed in several places with seals of amber, wrapped it in layers of silk and placed it within a small box and said, “Oh my son, I have brought you and your family here from the Yemen. Remain here and make your home here, and take care of this box for as long as you live. When your end has come, pass it on to your son, and enjoin him to pass it on to his, and he to his, until the honored Arabian Prophet, the Hashimi Qurayshi Muhammad appears. After he has announced his prophethood, suffered from the injustice of his people and migrated from his home Mecca to this city of Madinah, then the time will come, for this box to be handed to him. This is my behest.”
Now Abu Ayyub ul-Ansari was the seventh generation since the time of this ancestor. He had kept the box, but everything else he owned had been lost in the course of time, and he had become a poor man. Being totally absorbed with his daily affairs, he had all but forgotten about the box that had been passed down to
him. When the Holy Prophet had entered Madinah, people wanted to entice the camel to come to rest before their houses by offering it food and by making noises to attract the animal, but the camel graced none of them with its attentions. In reality, the angel Jibra’il had descended and was leading it by its halter. When they reached the door of the house of Khalid bin Zayd (Abu Ayyub), the angel forced the camel to kneel, even though there was nothing special about the house. Khalid then spoke to his wife, saying, “The Holy Prophet’s camel has knelt down before you, you have attained this bliss.” From happiness both of them began to weep. With a show of great reverence he led the Holy Prophet into his house.
The Holy Prophet moved into the ground floor, saying, “This ground floor is suitable for all those who will come to visit us. Now go and bring us what you have held in safe-keeping for us.” Khalid thereupon asked, “What have we got in safe-keeping, oh Messenger of Allah ?” The Holy Prophet answered, “Go and bring the piece of paper contained in the box that has come to you from your forefather of the kings of Yemen.” Witnessing this manifest miracle of the Holy Prophet’s , Khalid remembered the box that he had inherited, and reciting Salat- wa-Salam he went to fetch it. Before the Holy Prophet even looked at the piece of paper, he said, “He wishes to enter my religion, and wishes to be of my nation. The Lord Almighty has accepted his ardent wish, and I too accept him into my nation.” In this way another miracle was manifested.
After they had eaten their meal in the lower room, the Holy Prophet wished to retire to rest. Khalid and his wife stood in front of the door to the upper room and said, “The Holy Prophet lies in the room below us, how can we step on top of him in the upper room?” From shyness and awe they remained in front of the door to the upper apartment, holding hands and not sleeping. In the morning they entreated the Holy Prophet to occupy the top floor, explaining to him that they had not slept all night for fear of failing him in reverence. The Prophet was very pleased with them, and prayed for him: “Oh Khalid,” he said, “may the Lord make you honored, blest and esteemed in this world and the next. ”
As a result of this supplication, the honor and blessings conferred on Abu Ayyub are manifested unchanged to this day. Known throughout Turkey as “Sultan Eyyop”, he lies buried at the walls of Istanbul where he breathed his last during a campaign against the city in the time of Yazid. His tomb has become a place of pilgrimage and visitation for many pious travelers ever since. May Allah grant us his intercession, and that of the many noble companions who lie buried in Asia Minor and neighboring lands. Amin.
The Holy Prophet remained in Abu Ayyub’s house for one month, or according to a different source, for seven months, until his mosque and the adjacent living quarters were completed. During this time, he sent one of his men back to Mecca with Zubayr bin Harith with two camels and five hundred dirhems in order to fetch his two daughters Fatima and Umm Kulthum, as well as his venerable wife Sauda. Abu Bakr sent for his son Abdullah, his young daughters Aisha and Asma, and their mother Umm Ruman. After the Holy Prophet had left Mecca, Hijra (migration) became incumbent on his companions who had stayed behind. These emigrants were named Muhajir, those who had left behind their homes and their families and fortunes for the sake of Allah. The Muslims of Madinah, the Ansar or Helpers welcomed them and took them into their houses. Whoever had more than one room in his house, housed one of the Muhajirin in the other room. If a person had only one room, he would set up a curtain dividing it in two, and take a Muhajir into his house, and share all his food and household goods with him. Because of the help they gave the Muhajirin, these Muslims of Madinah were named al-Ansar, the Helpers. On account of the help that the Ansar extended to the Muhajirin, they were rewarded with much mercy and forgiveness.
In the Holy Quran Allah Almighty says of those who will come after and who wonder as to the reward they will receive:
And as for those who came after them, they say, ”Oh our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in belief, and put Thou not into our hearts any rancor towards those who believe. Our Lord, surely Thou art the All-Gentle, the All-Compassionate.”
(The Mustering, 10)
In this holy verse lies the proof that he who prays for the noble companions of the Prophet and holds no envy or enmity against them in his heart, will receive of the recompense that they themselves have received. It is also proof that the Holy Prophet holds a higher station than all the other prophets because of the quality of his companions who pray for their deceased ancestors, forebears, teachers and brothers in faith. For this is expressed in the saying of the Holy Prophet , “You are the best of nations”, and he is the most highly honored of all Prophets of Allah.
Events of the First Year of the Hijra
In the first year of the Hijra the Holy Prophet’s daughter Ruqiyya died. Also the faithful companion As’ad bin Zurara passed away. During this first year he also took Aisha, the daughter of Abu Bakr to wife. Two years after the death of his wife Khadija he had asked for her hand in marriage, while still in Mecca. She was at the time a child of seven years of age. When the Holy Prophet moved to Madinah, she was nine. The Holy Prophet said to Abu Bakr, “Have your family come to Madinah,” and Abu Bakr sent for his wife, his son Abdullah and his young sisters to come.
The unbelievers of Madinah started a rumor, saying, “We have made a magic charm that will make anyone who believes in Muhammad childless.” When the unbelievers among the Arabs heard of this, they felt glad. The Prophet however told his followers not to worry, there was nothing to worry about, for Allah Almighty had promised His Prophet that his nation would survive until the Day of Judgment. That very year Abdullah bin Zubayr of the Muhajirin and Nu’man bin Bushr of the Ansar were born. These births made the Muslims glad and they greeted them with Takbirs of gratitude, and the unbelievers were seen to have been lying. Also Dihya ibn Abi ‘Ubayda bin Mas’ud as-Saqafi was born that same year.
Referring to her marriage to the Holy Prophet , Aisha later said, “I have a higher standing than any of the other wives of the Holy Prophet because of these events: I came to his house a virgin; when the angel Jibra’il came with a revelation, I was listening; when the hypocrites told a lie about me, a holy verse was revealed on my behalf; I saw the angel Jibra’il; and, when the Holy Prophet fell ill and died, his grave was made in my house.”
During that first year of the Hijra the prayer was changed to four Rak’ats while it had hitherto consisted of two Rak’ats.
The Beginning of the Islamic Calendar
When the Holy Prophet came to Madinah, he ordered the counting of a new calendar beginning with the date of the Hijra. Thereafter the year of the Hijra
was taken as the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Before this time there had been no regular count of the years. The years were only remembered by certain important events that had taken place in them, such as a great famine, or a flood, or by the ascension to the throne of a certain king or ruler, or by his death.
In the time of the Prophet Ibrahim a new calendar was begun with the building of the Kaba. In the time of Qusa bin Kilab a great war between the Bani Nadir and Bani Ma’bed was fought, which was called by the Arabs “Ayyam-al-Qatl”, and the years were counted from that event onwards. Then the Kaba was destroyed and re-erected, and again the years were numbered after that event. The Prophet Muhammad ordered the years to be counted from the Hijra onwards. Some factions later counted the years from the killing of Hussayn bin Ali, while others counted from the death of Mu’awiya who was the enemy of Ali. Some even take the death of Yazid as the starting point of their calendar. It is reported that the Holy Prophet said, “Every nation must have a way of counting its years in order to relate and know its own history.”
The Command to Fight the Idolators
When the Holy Prophet moved to Madinah, the people of Mecca said, “Now at last we are rid of him.” Allah Almighty then revealed the following verses:
Leave is given to those who fight because they were wronged – surely God is able to help them – who were expelled from their habitations without right, except that they say, “Our Lord is God.” (The Pilgrimage: 39, 40)
With the revelation of this verse, all the verses enjoining patience and tolerance were repealed, and the Holy Prophet began sending out his men on various raids. They began to attack the caravans of the unbelievers and confiscating their goods. When they began raiding in the vicinity of Mecca, the Meccans were unable to leave their city, and the caravan routes were interrupted. This interfered with their trade and after a time they began to feel the squeeze.
The first year of the Hijra was filled with such raids. At times the Holy Prophet would go out himself, at other times he would send out his men. All of these smaller raids led up to the Battle of Badr.
When this verse was revealed, the Holy Prophet sent his uncle Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib out with thirty riders of the Muhajirin towards the seashore on the seventh day of Ramadan in the seventh month of the Hijra. This was the first raid the Muslims undertook. The Holy Prophet on this occasion gave Hamza a
white piece of cloth to be their flag and himself gave it to Hamza. He commanded Hamza to go to the seashore and to intercept the Quraysh caravan coming from Sham (Damascus) which was laden with goods. He commanded him to take possession of the caravan and to confiscate their goods. Hamza set out for the seashore and arrived there before the caravan did. But Abu Jahl had also come to the shore with three hundred men, ahead of the caravan. Majdi bin ‘Amr al-Juhani was one the chiefs of that area and he was at peace with both parties. He intervened between the two sides, and implored Hamza to turn back for the sake of their friendship, and saying to his men, “Safety is better than spoils of war”, he turned back. Abu Jahl returned to Mecca with the caravan.
The Expedition of ‘Ubayda bin al-Harith
During the month of Shawwal the Holy Prophet received news of a troupe of armed men were leaving Mecca headed for Madinah. He sent against them Abu ‘Ubayda ibn al-Harith with sixty or eighty riders from the Muhajirin.
That same day the caravan of Abu Jahl arrived at Mecca, and he told the people there that Muhammad was making preparations for war against them. The Meccan chiefs therefore gathered and decided to send a fighting force towards Madinah, intending to take prisoner any Muslims they should encounter.
At the well of Ahya the two parties met. No fighting took place that day, except for one arrow shot by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas. A few persons left the company of the unbelievers and joined up with the Muslims. That had been their intention from the outset, to link up with the Muslim army when they encountered them. In this way the Muslims emerged strengthened, without having engaged in battle.
The Raid of Kharrar
In the same month, the Holy Prophet sent a party of eight men of the Muhajirin out with Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas after a caravan from Mecca. They went as far as Kharrar in the Hijaz, but again they found the caravan had already passed.
The Raid of Abwa
In the month of Safar, the Holy Prophet set out with a company of men of the Muhajirin and Ansar. He appointed one of the companions to be in charge of the city of Madinah in his absence, and on this occasion he appointed Sa’d bin ‘Ubada, and he gave his uncle Hamza the white banner mounted on a lance.
Abwa was a place situated between Mecca and Madinah. The chief of the Bani Damra, Nahis bin ‘Amr, rode out to meet the Holy Prophet and reached an agreement of peace with him. It was here that the Holy Prophet’s mother was buried, so he visited her grave and after remaining there until the end of the month of Safar, he returned to Madinah.
The Raid on Buwat
In the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal the Prophet had news of the return of the Meccan caravan from Sham. He gathered a company of two hundred men and led them out of Madinah, leaving Sa’d bin Mu’adh in charge of the city. The flag was carried by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas. They rode as far as Buwat, which was near a mountain, named Radwa. The information about the caravan proved to be imprecise, and they had already missed it. They returned to Madinah without an encounter.
The Raid on al-‘Ushayra
Three months later there was news of another rich caravan coming from Sham. The Holy Prophet set out with a group of riders, Hamza being given the white flag. They rode as far as ‘Ushayra in the valley of Yanbu’, which opens out on to the Red Sea southwest of Madinah. There the caravan was expected to pass, but it so happened that again they had missed it, and it had already passed.
On the way the Holy Prophet stopped to pray beneath a tree at a place called Dhatul-Saq. Later a mosque was built in this place and it is a place of pilgrimage. He also drank from a well called “al-Mushayrib”.
It was on this raid that the Holy Prophet gave Ali his nickname Abu Turab, father of dust. The Prophet was looking for Ali and could not find him. He looked all around for him, and finally came upon him, fallen fast asleep amidst some young palm trees; his face embedded in the fine dust. The Prophet stirred him with his foot, saying, “Wake up, ya Aba Turab, (oh Father of Dust).”
According to a different narration, Ali was praying at the foot of a tree, and rubbing his face in the dust in supplication. He waited until he had concluded his prayer, then the Holy Prophet is supposed to have said to him, “Oh Father of Dust, your worship is very good, for you are of the lineage of the Pride of Both Worlds, Muhammad.” Ali was proud of this epithet.
‘Ammar bin Yasir relates: We were sleeping at the foot of a palm tree. The Holy Prophet came to awaken Ali, and he touched his face lightly with his blessed
cloak and said, “Oh Ali, there are no more wretched creatures on earth than these two: Uhaymir of Thamud who slaughtered the camel of Allah, and he who shall strike your blessed face and make your blood flow down your beard.”
This happened before Ali’s marriage to Fatima. They were married in the second year of the Hijra during the month of Safar. There is another tradition that claims that the real reason why the Holy Prophet called Ali “Abu Turab” was that whenever Ali was angry at his wife Fatima he would not speak to her. He would not argue with her, but he used to sprinkle dust on his head. Whenever the Holy Prophet saw that Ali’s head was dusted, he knew that he was angry at Fatima, and he would ask him, “What is your trouble, oh Abu Turab?” But Allah Almighty knows the truth of the matter.
The Raid on Safawan, the First Expedition to Badr
The Holy Prophet stayed in Madinah only a few nights after he returned from the Raid on ‘Ushayra. News was brought to him that Kurz bin Jabir al-Fihri had raided pasturing camels belonging to Madinah at a distance of three days’ journey. The Holy Prophet set out to pursue him at once, and rode till he reached the valley of Safawan, in the neighborhood of a well-named Badr. But Kurz had escaped and he could not catch up with him. He remained there for three days, then he returned to the city, and stayed there for the remaining months Ramadan.
The Expedition of Abdullah bin Jahsh (The Raid on Nakhla)
It was toward the end of the month of Rajab when the Holy Prophet called Abdullah bin Jahsh and gave him ten men each of the Muhajirin and the Ansar. He gave him a letter, ordering him to open it only after having traveled a distance of three days, and to tell his companions about it. If any of them wished to turn back then, he should not pressure them to stay.
When they had been on the road for three days, Abdullah opened the letter and read it. It instructed him to go on to the valley of Nakhla, which lies, between Mecca and Ta’if, and to find out what the Quraysh were up to. He told his companions about the message and said, “I will stay here at all costs, and whoever wishes for martyrdom, let him proceed, but whoever wishes to turn back, he is free to do so.” None of his companions backed out. They reached Nakhla and waited there. Before long a caravan of Quraysh came by, carrying loads of dried grapes and leather and other merchandise. They deliberated amongst themselves, “If we attack the caravan, we will have disobeyed the
Prophet , for he gave us no orders to fight. If, however, we don’t attack them, they will reach Quraysh and give news of us.” Further they reflected that this was one of the holy months in which fighting is forbidden, this being the very last day of Rajab. If they waited until nightfall, it would be the beginning of Sha’ban, but by then the caravan would have entered the protection of the sacred precincts. So they were hesitant and undecided. In the end they decided to make the attack, and one of their number shot a man of Kindah. The others surrendered, so they made two prisoners, and returned to Madinah.
News of this spread far and wide. In Mecca people were horrified that the Prophet’s men fought in the sacred months. The Holy Prophet himself was also aggrieved at the incident, saying, “I did not order you to fight in the sacred month.” He held the two prisoners and the goods of the caravan, and waited for Divine Guidance as to what to do in this matter. The remaining Muslims in Mecca wrote a letter, saying that Quraysh made them feel shame for that their Prophet had violated the holy months, and asking for the prisoners to be sent back. The Holy Prophet was very disturbed by this, until a verse was revealed to him:
They will question thee concerning the holy month and fighting in it. Say: “Fighting in it is a heinous thing, but to bar from God’s way and disbelief in Him, and the Holy Mosque, and to expel its people from it
– that is more heinous in God’s sight; and persecution is more heinous than slaying.” (The Cow, 217)
With the revelation of this verse, the Prophet’s heart was relieved and he gave orders for the booty to be distributed and the prisoners to be ransomed.
The Changing of the Qibla
Up until this time, the Jews, the Christians and now the Muslims had all turned in prayer toward the Holy House in Jerusalem, which was now destroyed, but still served as the Qibla, the direction of prayer. In the same month of Sha’ban a revelation came changing this direction of prayer for the Muslims. From now on they would turn towards the Kaba in Mecca, and this was to be the new Qibla for all times.
We have seen thee turning thy face about in the heavens; now We shall surely turn thee to a direction that will satisfy thee. Turn thy face towards the Holy Mosque; and wherever you are, turn thy face
towards it. (The Cow, 144)
The Fasting of Ramadan
When the Holy Prophet came to Madinah, he saw that the Jews fasted on the tenth day of Muharram. Asked why they fasted on that day, they explained that it was the day on which Fir’aun had been drowned and the Prophet Musa with the Children of Israel had been saved. Therefore their Prophet had enjoined fasting in them on that day.
The Prophet Muhammad then called his Companions and ordered them to fast on that day as well. Later the Holy Prophet wished for the Muslims to also have fasting days of their own, and before long this verse was revealed to the Prophet, making fasting obligatory on them:
O believers, prescribed for you is the Fast, even as it was prescribed for those that were before you – haply you will be godfearing. (The Cow, 183)
After the revelation of this verse, the Prophet prayed for the time of fasting to be made more specific, and he received a revelation concerning the month of Ramadan.
...the month of Ramadan, wherein the Quran was sent down to be a guidance to the people, and as clear signs of the Guidance and the Salvation... (The Cow, 185)
When the moon of Ramadan was seen, the Muslims were to fast, and when the moon of Shawwal appeared they are to break their fast and give their Sadaqat-al- Fitr. The fast on the tenth of Muharram is also recommended. Some of the Muslims fasted on this day, and attained divine reward, but whoever did not fast incurred no blame.
The Great Battle of Badr
In the second year of the Hijra, on the first day of Ramadan, news came that Abu Sufyan was approaching with a great and richly laden caravan, accompanied by ‘Amr ibn ‘As. The angel Jibra’il brought this message to the Holy Prophet : “Go out and fight them, the victory will be yours.” The Prophet thereupon informed his Companions, saying, “Make ready and know that Allah has promised you victory.” The Companions made their preparations. Sa’d bin Khaysana and his father made ready to go, but the Prophet said to them, “Let
one of you go and one of you stay.” They threw lots and Sa’d drew his lot. “Oh Sa’d,” pleaded his father, “will you not cede your lot to me, and let me go in your stead?” Sa’d replied, “Father, had you not brought me up to seek the honor of fighting for Truth, I would leave it to you.” He was martyred in this battle, and his father was later martyred at Uhud.
The Holy Prophet left Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum to lead the prayers in his absence and himself set out with three-hundred and ten men towards Badr. Two riders were on horseback, seventy on camels, the remaining men were on foot. The Prophet went on his own camel, Qaswa. After a two days’ journey they heard that Abu Sufyan’s caravan had not yet arrived and the Prophet looked out for it. The angel Jibra’il came to the Prophet and informed him that Allah Almighty would make the Muslims victorious over the unbelievers. The Prophet was very happy for that.
Basbas bin ‘Amr al-Juhani and ‘Adiy bin Abi Zaghba al-Juhani were sent to scout out the area and bring news of the approach of the caravan. They came to a well and met two men there who had come to sell food and drink to the passing caravan, as was the custom of the time. One of them said to the other, “Tomorrow the caravan will pass by here, and I will sell them something, so I will be able to repay my debt to you.” When they heard these words, they asked no further questions, drank water from the well, and returned with the news. Not long after this, Abu Sufyan came to that same well with ‘Amr ibn al-‘As, asking them whether they had any news of Muhammad and the men of Madinah. “No,” they replied. “Has nobody passed by here then?” asked Abu Sufyan. “Only two men who came and watered their camels and rode on,” replied the Arabs. Hearing this, Abu Sufyan quickly turned around and followed the tracks of the two riders. They picked up some camel droppings and discovered in it pieces of date stones. From this they concluded that the riders must have come from Madinah, for, “No camel eats dates except the camels of Madinah,” they said. “Muhammad is on our trail.” They speedily turned the caravan back in its tracks.
Abu Sufyan sent a hired scout, Damdam bin ‘Amr al-Ghifari by name, to ride to Mecca at top speed and to call out from the mountaintop that anybody interested in his property should grab even an old broomstick and come forth to its defense. There was not a person in Mecca who had not invested in that caravan. Abu Jahl said to ‘Ubada, “You are related to Muhammad; should we win this battle, we will expel the Bani Hashim from the city.” They picked up the Prophet’s uncle ‘Abbas and forced him to accompany the army. Abu Jahl stood at the gates of the city and watched the thousand armed men pass by, and was very proud and
happy. “All the nobles of Mecca have taken to arms,” he said, “let Muhammad and his men not think that this caravan is like the caravan of Ibn Hadrami! Soon they will know that it is not so!”
Abu Sufyan and ‘Amr ibn al-‘As turned around to the well of Dhat-al-Qarn and led the caravan to the road by the seashore. They rode back five halts and came to Jiddah by way of the coastal road. From there they reached Mecca. The armed men had already left the city, headed for Badr. The angel Jibra’il informed the Holy Prophet that the caravan had changed its route and was headed for Mecca via Badr. The Holy Prophet had been informed of victory, but he had hoped that this would mean taking possession of the rich caravan, rather than fighting a pitched battle:
And when God promised you one of the two parties should be yours, and you were wishing that the one not accoutered should be yours; but God was desiring to verify the truth by His words, and to cut off the unbelievers to the last remnant, and that He might verify the truth and prove untrue the untrue, though the sinners were averse to it.
(The Spoils, 7)
When Abu Sufyan reached Mecca, he felt himself in safety. But two of his sons had gone out with the Meccan army. He sent a message back to the army, saying, “God has saved your property and delivered us; now there is no point in going to war without profit, so turn back.” This message was delivered to the army at Wadi Rauha. Opinions were divided, as to whether they should advance or retreat. Abu Jahl however said, “By Allah, we will not turn back until we have been to Badr and spend three days there and feast and drink wine, and listen to the girls play for us.” But two hundred armed riders of the Bani Zuhra turned back, and there were nine-hundred and fifty men who continued on with Abu Jahl.
The Holy Prophet wanted to hold a council, for he had not brought out his men to make war, but rather to take hold of the caravan and its goods. The first to speak was Abu Bakr, “Oh Messenger of Allah ,” he said, “Those who are coming to fight us are our relatives. Nevertheless we will do whatever you command us to do, we will sacrifice our souls in your way.” Then ‘Umar spoke up and said, “Oh Prophet of Allah , may our souls be your ransom, we will not deviate from this way, as long as even one of us is left.”
The Holy Prophet then said, “Be seated; of you I am certain,” and from his words it became clear that he wished to hear how the Ansar felt about joining in
the fight. Sa’d ibn Mu’adh got up and said, “Oh Prophet of Allah , is it us whom you are calling?” The Prophet answered, “Yes, it is you whom I wish to hear from, for I have migrated from my home and come to live with you.” Sa’d answered, “Oh Prophet of Allah , may our lives and souls and all our possessions be ransom in your way.” The Prophet was happy to hear these words, and calling Sa’d to himself he kissed his face and said to him, “Oh Sa’d, may Allah reward you well.”
Then the army began to move towards Badr. At a certain distance they began scouting out for movements of the Qurayshi troops. The next day, the Holy Prophet mounted his camel and went to the well. There he came upon an old man whom he asked for news of the caravan of Quraysh. The old man told him that the caravan had reached Mecca in safety, but that an army of Quraysh was headed towards Badr to f
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