'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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Attitudes of companions:

Umar ibn al-Khattab [AAH]

The joy was filling the victorious heroes who have returned back after a long absence away from their families and loved ones. They were like predacious lions in the field of Jihad. They conquered the countries and raised the flags of Islam on new areas of the land of Allah. They returned rejoicing with Allah's victory and wore the best clothes. They hurried to the prince of believers Umar ibn al-Khattab [AAH], as they were accustomed to be received by him [AAH] after coming back, also they were accustomed to his rejoicing in their meeting and his exaggerated honoring for them. However they were surprised this time that he [AAH] did not care about them as usual and turned his face away from them. As after he had replied their salute, he stopped talking, so the astonishment appeared on their faces.

They wanted to know the reason to nullify their wonder, so they hurried to Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab [AAH] and said to him "The Prince of believers has turned his face away from us and did not care about any one of us, so what is the reason of this alienation after what we had done of self-sacrifice and offering?!" It was expected from Abdullah ibn Umar , who grew up in Umar's home, to read his father's minds, as he knew quite well that his father was following the path of the Beloved al-Mustafa [the Chosen one] [PPBUH] and never drifted away from it not even one bit.

Abdullah looked at their quality clothes that they came with from Persia and said to them "The prince of believers saw on you clothes that were never worn by the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] nor the caliph Abo-bakr as-Seddiq [AAH] after Him [PPBUH]".

The Mujahidin heroes knew the reason and did not argue, but they adorned themselves with the Holy Prophetic good manners, so they hurried to their homes and changed their clothes, then they returned to the prince of believers wearing their normal clothes that he [AAH] used to see them wearing. When he saw them, he rejoiced for their coming and welcomed them well. He saluted and embraced each of them, man by man, as if he never saw them before. He [AAH] believed that their faith and Jihad are the most beautiful garment and the best embellishments.

They presented to the Prince of believers the spoils that they brought back from the land of Jihad, then he [AAH] divided the spoils among them. It was in these spoils, baskets of Khabis Khabis is a sweet food made of dates and butter. The prince of believers extended his hand and tasted that food and found it so delicious with a good smell. So he said to those around him describing its delicious taste "By Allah, O, Muhajerin and Ansar, a son would kill his father and his brother for this food". He ordered them to carry this food to the martyrs' sons from Mujahidin and Ansar who martyred during their Jihad with the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH].

The prince of believers Umar ibn al-Khattab [AAH], the prince of the greatest state at that time, stood and walked covered by the gravity and dignity with a face surmounted with faith and a tall body in an old garment made of camel hair and had twelve patches! Some companions were walking behind him, they looked at his old garment and said to each other "what do you think of the asceticism of this man? Allah has conquered the countries of Chosroes and Caesar, and from east to west by his hands. Delegations of Arabs and non-Arabs come to him from everywhere, yet he still meets them wearing this old garment with the many patches".

Some Companions suggested that some senior companions who had Jihad with the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH], go to Umar [AAH] trying to persuade him to change this old garment with another new better one and to bring for him a bowl of good food in the morning and evening. Others said "No one dare to talk to him about that matter except sayydi Ali ibn Abi-Talib [AHHF] or Umar's daughter, Hafsah [AAH], as she has a high position in her father's heart as she is the wife of the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] and one of the mothers of believers. They went to sayydi Ali ibn Abi-Talib [AHHF] and introduced that matter to him. He Said "I will not do this, but if you will, you should go to the Prophet's wives [PPBUH], as they are the mothers of believers and can introduce that matter to him". When they heard the opinion of sayydi Imam Ali [AHHF], they thought about it decided that both mothers of believers sayyda Aisha and sayyda Hafsah [AAT] would do that task.

Sayyda Aisha and sayyda Hafsah [AAT] went to the prince of believers sayydi Umar ibn al-Khattab [AAH], he brought them close and greeted them well, then sayyda Aisha [AAH] started talking saying "O, prince of believers, would you allow me to speak?". He said "talk, O, mother of believers!" She said what means "The Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] has passed away to Allah's acceptance, contentment and paradise, he [PPBUH] never desired the worldly life and it never desired him, as well as Abo-Bakr [AAT] who went after him [PPBUH]. But, Allah has conquered with your hands, the treasures of Chosroes and Caesar and their homes, and carried to you their monies. The land from East to West submitted to you. We hope for more from Allah, and in Islam is the support. The non-Arabs and Arabs are sending their messengers and delegations to you from every where, yet you still meet them in that old garment with the twelve patches. So if you change it with another soft one  that makes your look fearful. Also if they are to bring you a bowl of good food in the morning and another one in the evening, so that you can eat from it with whoever with you of Muhajerin and Ansar".

The prince of believers was affected to a much extent untill he wept heavily. Then he asked the mother of believers sayyda Aisha [AAH], saying "did you know or see that the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] was satiated at any time from a bread of wheat for ten days, five days, three days, or he even combined in one day between a dinner and lunch till he passed away to his Lord?" She said "No". Umar [AAH] continued in his speech to them saying "You are the wives of the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] and you have a right on the all believers in general and especially on me, but you came to make me desire the worldly life. And I know that the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] wore a garment of wool and maybe he had to itch his skin from its roughness, did you know that?" They said "Yes".

The prince of believers said to sayyda Aisha [AAH] "Do not you know that the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] used to lay down on a cloak which was as a carpet for him during the morning, and as a bed for him at night, and when we were to enter to him we would see the traces of straw mats on his side?" Then he said to sayyda Hasfah [AAH] "Do not you remember, O, Hafsah when you said to me that you had folded the bed double for the Prophet [PPBUH] one day, then he felt its softness and slept and did not wake up that night until he heard the Adhan of Bilal. Then the Prophet [PPBUH] said to you (O, Hafsah, What have you done? you have folded the bed for me till I slept to the morning? what do I do the worldly life! you preoccupied me with the softness of the bed)".

And Finaly, sayydi Umar [AAH] said to his daughter sayyda Hafsah [AAH] "O, Hasfah! The previous and future sins were forgiven for the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH], yet he used to stay hungry till night, he laid down prostrating, and kept worshiping: kneeling down, prostrating, weeping, and supplicating during the day and night until Allah had taken his soul with His Mercy and Acceptance". Then He [AAH] said "Umar will never eat good food nor wear soft clothes, but he will follow the role model and good example of his two companions". Umar [AAH] took a convenant on himself, that he will never combine two foods on one time, except the salt and oil, and will not eat meat except once a month. Then sayyda Aisha and sayyda Hafsah [AAT] told the companions about what had happened. sayydi Umar [AAH] remained following his path until he met his Lord as a martyr and a blessed one.

Taken from a narration of al-Hasan al-Basri from some companions of the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH].

Edited by Samir Gamal

Translated by Fatima az-Zahra'

Attitudes of companions:

Abdullah ibn Huzafah [AAH]

An attitude of an honorable companion from the first generation who were raised by the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH]. He is Abdullah ibn Huzafah ibn Quays as-Sahmy [AAH].

After the state of Islam in ash-Sham (Syria) have settled, and Mu'aweyah ibn Abo-Sufian was inaugurated on ash-Sham by sayydi Umar ibn al-Khattab [AAH] who was the caliph then, he [AAH] wrote a book to Mu'aweyah ordering him to conquer the Romans, also ordering him to entrust Abdullah ibn Huzafah with the army. Mu'aweyah did what he was ordered to do. The army went to conquer the Romans. They invaded them and defeat them, however Abdullah and a small group with him were captured in an ambush by the Romans and were taken as  prisoners of war.

So what do you think Hercules will do with a man from the close companions of the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH]? Those companions whom Hercules has long heard about them and wondered of their positions. Those who did what they did with his army in ash-Sham. He always liked to see some of them to test them himself, and see what kind of men they are! So let's see what Hercules did

Hercules handed over Abdullah to one of his men, he entrusted that man to starve Abdullah, then feed him pork. The man did starve Abdullah and used to bring him pork every day and put it in front of him to eat. However Abdullah used to turn away from it and never ate, saying "It is not lawful for us to eat it". Days passed on that case untill Abdullah was about to perish. The man told Hercules about that, then Hercules said to him "let him eat what he wants then make him thirsty and give him wine to drink instead of water". The man did so, but, do you think the companion of the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] will let the Romans rejoice over his misfortune? He used to turn away from the wine and never drank, saying "this drink is not lawful for us to to drink". Until he was about to perish. The man told Hercules about that, saying to him "If you need that man alive, feed him what he wants and let him drink what he wants before he dies". So Hercules said "let him eat and drink what he wants, as I tried him with the harm and I will try him with the luxury. So send him the best food, drink and clothes". The man did so, however Abdullah never paid attention to any of that. He never eat except what kept him alive, never drank except what was sufficient, and he never changed his clothes except when it became dirty. At that time, Hercules sent for Abdullah and said to him "I have tried you with the harm and luxury, however you were patient, so would you kiss my head to save your self?" Abdullah said "No, I will not kiss your head to just save my self!" Hercules said to him "will you kiss my head if I gave you back all the Muslim prisoners I have?" He said "Yes". Abdullah ibn Huzafah [AAH] did kiss Hercules' head, then Hercules gave him back all Muslim prisoners he had, and they were eighty men.

Abdullah returned the Muslim prisoners back to sayydi Umar ibn al-Khattab [AAH]. When Abdullah told that story to sayydi Umar, he [AAH] stood up and kissed Abdullah's head and said to him "May Allah give you His Mercy, what prevented you from eating the pork or drinking the wine when you had all that excess fatigue". Abdullah said "By Allah, O, prince of believers, I knew that it was lawful for me to do that, but I hated to let the Romans and Hercules rejoice on a misfortune of Islam or its people".

So who is Abdullah ibn Huzafah as-Sahmy?

He is an honorable companion from Muhajerin, he embraced Islam early and emigrated to Habashah. The Prophet [PPBUH] sent him to Caesar with his [PPBUH] letter when he was sending letters to the kings of the countries around him [PPBUH] to call them to Islam.

Abdullah witnessed the conquest of Egypt and passed away there on 33H, at the time of Osman ibn Affan [AAH].

Written by Samir Gamal

Translated by Fatima az-Zahra'

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

Editors Team