men_around_the_prophet

17 / 255

More info and Downloads at Page 17 of 255
There and then blessings came with their entering Islam. The people of Al-Madiinah came together
asking one another, "If Usaid lbn Hudair, Sa`d Ibn Mu`aadh and Sa`d Ibn `Ubaadah have embraced
Islam, what are we waiting for? Go straight to Mus`ab and believe. By Allah, he is calling us to the truth
and the straight path!"
The first envoy of the Prophet (PBUH) succeeded without comparison. It was a success which he
deserved and to which he was equal.
The days and years passed by. The Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions emigrated to Al-Madiinah,
and the Quraish were raging with envy and their ungodly pursuit after the pious worshippers. So the
Battle of Badr took place, in which they were taught a lesson and lost their strong hold. After that they
prepared themselves for revenge, and thus came the Battle of Uhud. The Muslims mobilized themselves,
and the Prophet (PBUH) stood in their midst to sort out among their faithful faces and to choose one to
bear the standard. He then called for Mus`ab the Good, and he advanced and carried the standard.
The terrible battle was raging, the fighting furious. The archers disregarded the orders of the Prophet
(PBUH) by leaving their positions on the mountain when they saw the polytheists withdrawing as if
defeated. But this act of theirs soon turned the victory of the Muslims to defeat. The Muslims were taken
at unawares by the cavalry of the Quraish at the mountain top, and many Muslims were killed by the
swords of the polytheists as a consequence.
When they saw the confusion and horror splitting the ranks of the Muslims, the polytheists
concentrated on the Prophet of Allah to finish him off. Mus`ab saw the impending threat, so he raised the
standard high, shouting, "allahu Akbar! Allah is the Greatest!" like the roar of a lion. He turned and
jumped left and right, fighting and killing the foe. All he wanted was to draw the attention of the enemy
to himself in order to turn their attention away from the Prophet (PBUH). He thus became as a whole
army in himself. Nay, Mus`ab went alone to fight as if he were an army of giants raising the standard in
sanctity with one hand, striking with his sword with the other. But the enemies were multiplying on him.
They wanted to step on his corpse so that they could find the Prophet (PBUH).
Let us allow a living witness to describe for us the last scene of Mus`ab the Great. Ibn Sa`d said:
Ibraahiim lbn Muhammad lbn Sharhabiil Al-'Abdriy related from his father, who said: Mus`ab lbn
`Umair carried the standard on the Day of Uhud. When the Muslims were scattered, he stood fast until he
met lbn Qumaah who was a knight. He struck him on his right hand and cut it off, but Mus`ab said, "and
Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him " (3:144). He carried the
standard with his left hand and leaned on it. He struck his left hand and cut it off, and so he leaned on the
standard and held it with his upper arms to his chest, all the while saying, "And Muhammad is but a
Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him". Then a third one struck him with his spear, and
the spear went through him. Mus`ab fell and then the standard.
Nay, the cream of martyrdom had fallen! He fell after he had struggled for the sake of Allah in the
great battle of sacrifice and faith. He had thought that if he fell, he would be a stepping stone to the death
of the Prophet (PBUH) because he would be without defense and protection. But he put himself in harm's
way for the sake of the Prophet (PBUH). overpowered by his fear for and love of him, he continued to
say with every sword stroke that fell on him from the foe, "and Muhammad is but a Messenger.
Messengers have passed away before him "(3:144). This verse was revealed later, after he had spoken it.
After the bitter battle, they found the corpse of the upright martyr lying with his face in the dust, as if
he feared to look while harm fell on the Prophet (PBUH). So he hid his face so that he would avoid the
scene. Or perhaps, he was shy when he fell as a martyr, before making sure of the safety of the Prophet
of Allah, and before serving to the very end, guarding and protecting him.
Allah is with you, O Mus`ab! What a great life story!
The Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions came to inspect the scene of the battle and bid farewell to
its martyrs. Pausing at Mus`ab's body, tears dripped from the Prophet's eyes. Khabbaab lbn Al-Arat