The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXII No. 27 Page 29 Rabiah. When they lay mortally wounded on the battleground of Yarmuk, Harith asked for some water to drink. As it was brought to him, Ikrimah looked at him so Harith said, “Give it to him.” When they brought the water to Ikrimah, Ayyash looked at him, so Ikrimah said, “No, give it to him.” By the time they got to Ayyash, he had just breathed his last. When they returned to Harith and Ikrimah, they found that they too had passed away. Even in the throes of death, they exhibited the generosity towards one another that had characterized the Sahabah. May Allah, The Most High, bless them all and give them a drink from the waters of al-Kawthar, the pool of Paradise, so they’ll never be thirsty again, and may He give them the greenfields of the highest paradise (Firdaus). Wahshi ibn Harb’s Conversion Wahshi ibn Harb (literal defintion is the son of war) was the Ethiopian slave of Jubayr ibn Mut’im. He is best known for killing the Prophet Muhammad’s (S) uncle, Hamzah. The Holy Prophet (S) sent someone to Wahshi bin Harb to invite him to Islam. Wahshi sent a message to him: “O Muhammad! How do you invite me towards Islam, when you say that the murder, polytheist and the adulterer will enter the Hell, will be given double punishment on the Day of Judgment, and will abide there forever? I have committed all these sins. Is there anyway (of salvation) for me in spite of all this?” On this the following Quranic verse was revealed: “Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for them Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (25:70) Wahshi replied to this, “O Muhammad! This condition: “Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous…” is very hard for me.” Then Allah revealed the following verse: “Allah forgiveth not (the sin of) joining other gods with Him (I.e. polytheism); but He forgiveth Whom He pleaseth other sins then this…” (4: 116) Wahshi again said, “O Muhammad! It is purely at Allah’s Will. I’m not certain whether I will be forgiven or not. Tell whether there is any other way?” Then the following revelation came down: “Say: O my servants who have transgressed against their souls: Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (39:53) Hearing this Wahshi said, “This is good,” and he embraced Islam. Then the Muslims (i.e. the Companions) said, “We also had the same questions in our mind that was asked by Wahshi.” The Holy Prophet (S) said, “The above is a glad tiding for all Muslims.” May Allah (SWT) grant all of the Sahabah and their families the highest level in Jannah. IMPORTANT REMINDER The verses of the Holy Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet have been printed for the benefit of our readers. You are asked to ensure their sanctity. Therefore, they should be disposed of in the proper Islamic manner. What Others Have Said “My choice of Muhammad to lead the best of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels.” (The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History by Michael H. Hart) “I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission.” (Young India, Mahatma Ghandi)
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