131 / 255
More info and Downloads at
gawaher.comPage 131 of 255
(24)
UMAIR IBN WAHB
The Satan of Paganism and Disciple of Islam
On the Day of Badr, he was one of the leaders who took up their swords to put an end to Islam. He was
sharp-sighted and a perfect estimator, so his people delegated him to determine the number of Muslims
who set forth with the Messenger and to see if the Muslims had ambushers or reinforcements behind
them. `Umair Ibn Wahb Al-Jamhii galloped on his horse round the camp of the Muslims, then returned to
his people and told them that there were about 300 men, and his estimation was right.
They asked him if they had reinforcements behind them. He said, "I found nothing. But O you
Quraish, I saw horses carrying veritable death. They have neither fortitude nor refuge except their
swords. By Allah! I see if one of them is killed, one of you will be killed also. If they killed the same
number as you, what would be the benefit of life after that? Think wisely."
Some of the leaders of the Quraish were affected by his opinion and what he had said and were
about to gather their men and return to Makkah without fighting, were it not for Abu Jahl who altered
their opinion and ignited the fire of spite and war, in which he was its first victim.
The Quraish gave him the epithet "The Satan of Quraish". On the Day of Badr, the Satan of Quraish
fought fiercely and wildly, but the forces of the Quraish returned to Makkah completely beaten and
`Umair Ibn Wahb left a part of himself at Al-Madiinah, as the Muslims had taken his son as a prisoner of
war.
One day, he joined his cousin Safwaan Ibn Umaiyah who was chewing his enemies in deadly
bitterness because his father Umaiyah Ibn Khalaf had been killed at Badr and his bones buried at Al-
Qaliib.
Safwaan and `Umair sat together ruminating on their enemies. Let `Urwah Ibn Az- Zubair tell us
their long dialogue:
Safwaan, mentioning those who were killed at Badr said, "By Allah, there isn't any good in life after
them." `Umair said, "That's true. By Allah, were it not for debts that I'm unable to repay and my children
who I fear might be vagabonds after me, I would ride to Muhammad and kill him. I have a plausable
reason to give him. I'll say that I have come for the sake of my son, a prisoner of war." Safwaan seized
the chance and said, "I'll repay your debts and maintain your children with mine and comfort them as
long as they live." `Umair agreed and said, "Keep it secret." Then he ordered his sword to be sharpened
and poisoned and set out.
When he arrived at Al-Madiinah, `Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab was sitting among some of the Muslims
talking about the Day of Badr. `Umar looked and saw `Umair Ibn Wahb, girded with his sword, making
his camel kneel at the door of the mosque. `Umar said, "That dog, the enemy of Allah, `Umair Ibn
Wahb! By Allah, he has come for nothing but evil. It is he who provoked us on the Day of Badr." `Umar
entered and said to the Messenger (PBUH), "O Prophet of Allah , here is the enemy of Allah, `Umair Ibn
Wahb come girded with his sword."
The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Let him in." `Umar came and took him by the scabbard of his sword
round his neck and said to some of the men, "Enter and sit with the Prophet (PBUH) and be cautious of
that fellow, he is dishonest." Then `Umar entered holding the scabbard of his sword round his neck and
when the Prophet saw him, he told `Umar to let him alone and said to `Umair, "Draw nearer. Umair
approached and said, "Good morning." That was the salutation in the period of Jahiliyah.