'They are people with high status prestige' (qasida 15:48)

This is the motto of this section, which is for talking about the companions and beloved ones to our prophet Mohammad [PPBUH].

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Musab ibn Omayr [AAH]

The most scented of the people of Mecca- Musab of the Goodness

This is one of the companions of the Prophet [PPBUH]. He was the most shining young man in Quraish and one of the most handsome and youthful of them all. Historians described his youth as: He was the most scented of the people of Mecca; he was born, fed, and grew up on wealth and grace. His parents spoiled him until he became the most spoiled child in Mecca. He, who, was the center of conversations between all others in Mecca; could he turn into a legend of faith and redemption?

Musab of the goodness, as it was his title among Muslims, he was one of those who were shaped by Islam, and brought up by the Prophet [PPBUH]. The story of his life is an honor to all human beings.

He, just like the rest of the people of Mecca, has heard one day about the Prophet [PPBUH] and his message, Him being sent from Allah as a Herald and a Warner and His call to worship Allah, the one and only God. That was when Mecca used to busy day and night with the talk and concern about the Messenger [PPBUH] and his new religion. Indeed, Musab used to hear all that the most, because, and in spite of his young age, he was the ornament of all Quraish’s meetings and clubs, where his presence was extremely valued by the attendees, for his elegant appearance and his smartness.

He heard that the Prophet [PPBUH] was meeting with his believers at al-Arqam’s house, which was far from Quraish’s curiosity and harm. Musab did not hesitate for long. One night he took himself to al-Arqam’s house, preceded by his visions and longing. There the Messenger [PPBUH] used to meet his companions to recite Qur'an to them, pray with them to Allah, Almighty, and teach them. As soon as he heard Qur'an coming from the heart of the Prophet [PPBUH] through his lips to the ears of the hearts of his believers, his heart immediately became the promised heart of a true believer. His happiness and joy were indescribable, that he could not stay still, so the Prophet [PPBUH] put his right hand on the youth’s glowing chest and he became calmed, and his tranquility was as deep as the ocean. In a blink of an eye the young Muslim was given enough wisdom and insistence to change the whole world. Musab decided to conceal his conversion, only because he feared no one but his powerful mother, Khanas Bent Malek, who had a unique force of character, and her angriness was intolerable for Musab. Until the day came when a man named Osman ibn Talha once saw Musab secretly entering al-Arqam’s house and praying the same prayers as the Prophet’s. The man then ran like a wind to Khanas Bent Malek to tell her the news about her son. It was time for Musab to face his mother and his clan when he stood in front of them reciting the Holly Qur'an, with which the Prophet [PPBUH] used to wash people’s hearts and fill them with truth, wisdom, honor, and piety.

His mother almost slapped him on the face, but she could not do that because of the light that cover that handsome face with more glory that imposed his respect, and more quietness that imposed convincing. Her motherhood prevented her from hurting him; instead, she imprisoned him in a remote room in the house. Musab remained there until a few believers migrated to Habasha [Abyssinia]. He escaped from his mother’s house and followed them. He stayed with his fellow immigrants in Abyssinia then he returned back with them to Mecca, and then migrated to Abyssinia for the second time after the Prophet [PPBUH] has told his companions to do so, and they obeyed him.

Musab’s new life as a Muslim was reconstructed according to the new model, that the Prophet [PPBUH] gave to all the companions. He was assured that his life then became worthy to be offered as a sacrifice to Allah, his Great Creator. He gave up everything in order to be with the Prophet [PPBUH]. One night, he came out to join some of the Muslims who were gathering around the Prophet [PPBUH], but as soon as they saw him coming, they bowed their heads and compared him to what he used to be, because his clothes were old and ragged. They thought of his old image when he was back in Mecca before his conversion when he used to be all dressed up in fancy and perfumed outfits. But the Prophet [PPBUH] stared at him with a smile on his lips and said (When I saw Musab, he was the most graced boy with his parents in Mecca, then he left it all for the love of Allah and his Messenger). His mother stopped all what she used to give him of grace and gifts. She refused even to give him her food after he left and cursed her gods.

Before his second immigration to Abyssinia, his mother tried to order her servants to imprison him once again, but he warned that he would kill anyone who would try to touch him. His mother left him because she knew that he would do what he says, and she told him that she would no longer consider herself his mother. Before Musab said good-bye to his mother, he told her “O, mother, I have pity for you, I’m asking you to testify that there is no God but Allah, and that Mohamed is his slave and messenger!” But his mother became angry and told him “I swear by the statues, I will never convert into your religion, and become low opinioned and weak minded”. Musab chose to give up the grace that he used to have in Mecca, and he was no longer the chic, perfumed young man. He then wore nothing but old worn clothes and he would go hungry for days. But his soul was full of faith and dignity and his face with glory and beauty made him another man who was surly a sight for the people’s eyes. This qualified him to be chosen by the Prophet [PPBUH] for the greatest mission at that time. He become the ambassador for the Prophet [PPBUH] to Medina, to teach those who believed and pledged allegiance to the Prophet [PPBUH] at Aqabah, and to bring the others into the religion of Allah, and prepare Medina for the great migration day. Among the companions at that time, there were older and more prestigious than Musab, and there were closer related to the Prophet [PPBUH] than him. But the Prophet [PPBUH] surely chose Musab and assigned to him the most serious issue at that time, and he put the fate of Islam in Medina in his hands. This Medina that was to be the home of immigration and the starting point of advocacy, preachers, missionaries, and invaders after a short time. Musab used the gifts of Allah to him of wisdom, smartness, and manners in this mission. He invaded the hearts of the people of Medina with his sincerity and asceticism, so they converted to Islam in regiments. There were only twelve Muslims in Medina at the time Musab was sent to them, and those were the people who pledged allegiance to the Prophet [PPBUH] in the allegiance of Aqaba. Only a few months later, many more people have converted to Islam. During the pilgrimage season following the allegiance of Aqaba, a group of seventy Muslims lead by Musab came to Mecca to meet the prophet [PPBUH].

Musab proved, in this mission, that the Prophet [PPBUH] knew where to put his trust to guide the people to the right path. Musab understood his mission and abided by it. While he was in Medina, he stayed as a host for Asaad ibn Zararah, who joined him on his mission. They were introducing Islam to the tribes, households, and gatherings, explaining the Holly Qur'an and saying that there was no God but Allah. He face some situations that could have resulted in a fatal endings, for him and those with him, if it was not for his smart mind and great soul. One day, while Musab and Asaad were sitting with a group of people advising them to convert to Islam, suddenly came Osaid ibn Hodair, the master of Bany Abdel-Ashhal in Medina, carrying his spear with anger to kill that person who attracted his people to another religion and convinced them to abandon their gods and to worship only one unseen god. The people of Medina used to think that their gods did everything for them and that they were there for them because whenever they needed them they knew where to find them. So it was illogically to leave all of their physically seen gods and to believe in the only one god, whom they can not find or see. But in this specific situation, as all of the men who were sitting around Musab were in fear of Osaid who reached them in anger, Musab stayed still, firm, and cheerful as ever. Osaid said to him and to Asaad "What brought you to our neighborhood, to play with our weak people? You should leave us if you want to live". Musab politely and cheerfully but firmly asked him, with his very sweet talk, to calm down and listen to his talk, and he said "will you sit down and listen to our talk, and if you like it, you accept it, and if you do not, we would stop what you hate".

Osaid was a man of reason and mind, so he said "Fair enough". He agreed to sit and listen. He put his spear down on the ground. As soon as Musab started reciting Qur'an, and explaining the Message of the Prophet, Mohammad ibn Abdullah, [PPBUH], Osaid's face shined with delight and changed with the words. Immediately after Musab finished his words, Osaid asked him “What a great and truthful saying! If someone wants to convert to Islam, what should he do?” Musab told him “he has to cleanse his body and clothes and to [testify that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah]”. So Osaid did what he was told and came back with water dripping from his hair to testify that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. The news spread, Osaid’s embracing Islam spread so fast. Then Saad ibn Moaaz followed by Saad ibn Ebadah came to Musab to learn about Islam and to embrace it, and with their conversion to Islam the rest of the people in Medina said to themselves: If Osaid ib Hodair, Saad ibn Moaaz and Saad ib Ebadah have embraced Islam, then why do not we? So they went to Musab successively to convert to Islam. And his mission was a total success.

Days and years passed, then the Prophet [PPBUH] migrated to Medina with his companions. People of Quraish continued to chase the righteous people of Allah. Then came the battle of Badr, where the Muslims have taught them a rough lesson. But they decided to seek revenge in the battle of Ohud. During the battle of Ohud, the Prophet [PPBUH] stood between the Msulims' lines to chose who carries the banner, and he chose Musab to do so. It was a terrible battle because Muslims' victory turned into defeat after the shooters have disobeyed the Prophet’s command [PPBUH] which was to stay in their positions on the top of the mountain no matter what happened. But, the shooters left their positions after they saw the enemy’s fighters losing and withdrawing. However, Quraish’s fighters came back to surprise them and attack them from behind. Down they came to them from the top of the mountain and surrounded them.

When Quraish’s fighters saw the chaos and the panic in the Muslims’ lines, they aimed towards the Prophet [PPBUH] to kill him, but Musab realized the danger and raised the banner high and roared "Allah Akbar". He kept going back and forth between the lines to get their attention and to distract them from following the Prophet [PPBUH]. And he bravely started fighting the enemies alone with his sword in one hand and the flag in the other. He made a whole army out of himself. But the number of enemies multiplied and they wanted to run over his body to reach the Prophet [PPBUH]. 

Ibn Saad, a witness who described the last scene in Musab’s life, said:

Mussab was carrying the flag during Ohud’s battle, when a fighter cut his right hand; he said [Mohammad is not but a messenger, with no other messenger before him]. Later, the fighter killed him with a spear and he fell to the ground with his flag. Indeed, he became one of the martyrs of this battle. He was killed after fighting in a great battle of faith and redemption. He was thinking that if he fell, the way to the Prophet [PPBUH] would become free of defenders and protectors for the killers to kill him [PPBUH]. So, for his excessive love to the Prophet [PPBUH], he was giving condolence to himself with every sword strike by saying [Mohammad is not but a messenger, with no other messenger before him]. Before he died, he was trying to make it easy on himself and accept the fact that the Prophet [PPBUH] may not be killed. He kept repeating this verse which will be later revealed and completed and recited in the Holly Quran.

After the battle was finished, Musab’s body was found on the ground and his face was covered with dust and blood, as if he was afraid that the Prophet [PPBUH] would be hurt by seeing his lifeless body, or as if he was ashamed that he was killed before he assured the survival of the Prophet [PPBUH]. And here came the Prophet [PPBUH] with his companions to the battlefield for the farewell of the martyrs, and when he [PPBUH] saw Musab’s body, he [PPBUH] shed worm heavy tears.

Khabab ibn al-Aratt also said “We have immigrated with the Prophet [PPBUH] for the sake of Allah, and we did not expect any rewards. Some of us have passed away without getting any rewards during their lives, and Musab was one of them. He was killed in the battle of Ohud and we could not even find something to shroud his body with, except for a mantle that was made of wool, which was not big enough to cover his whole body, so if we covered his face, his feet became bare and if we covered his feet, his face became bare. So the Prophet [PPBUH] told us to cover his face with it and his feet with the lemon grass”.

In spite of the great heart pain and sadness of the Prophet [PPBUH] for his uncle’s death, in which his body was mutilated by the enemy, and in spite of his great sadness [PPBUH] for the death of so many companions each of whom meant so much to him [PPBUH], but he stopped by Musab’s body, his first ambassador, to say goodbye and his [PPBUH] eyes were full of pity, kindness, and love. He [PPBUH] said [Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah] al-Ahzab 23, and he [PPBUH] sadly looked at Musab’s wool mantle that covered him and said (I saw you in Mecca, when there were no fancier outfit than yours, and now you are shaggy in a mantle). Then the Prophet [PPBUH] looked at all the bodies in the battlefield and said (The Messenger of Allah testifies that you are the witnesses for Allah on the day of resurrection).  Then he [PPBUH] turned to his companions and said (O, people, come visit them, and greet them, and salute them. I swear, by He who has my soul, that they greet back for every Muslim greeting them, until the day of resurrection).

Peace be upon you Musab, peace be upon you martyrs and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon you Musab of the Goodness, the sweetest young man in Mecca.

Edited by Samir Gamal

Translated by Shayma Bassyoni.

Whoever wants to read more about the great companions, can browse the companions pages in al-Ahbab site.

Editors Team