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Despite his young and tender age, he was a firm believer and a staunch Muslim fulfilling all the
duties of his faith with deep loyalty and an unbreakable will. With great intellect and humility, limits to
his devotion to Allah and His Prophet (PBUH) could not found. Furthermore, he represented the victims
of all kinds of discrimination who were saved by Islam. How could this dark- skinned, snub-nosed fellow
attract the heart of the Prophet (PBUH) and Muslims to such an elevated rank! This could only be
possible when Islam corrected human norms and values dealing with discrimination against people: "
Surely the most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious of you" (49-13).
On the day of the Conquest of Makkah, the Prophet's Companion who was riding behind him on
horseback was that dark- skinned, snub-nosed Usaamah Ibn Zaid. Among the most victorious days of
Islam was the day of the Conquest of Makkah. On that day, on the Prophet's right and left were Bilaal
and Usaamah, two dark-skinned men; however Allah's word which they carried in their pure, virtuous
hearts made them deserving of all kinds of merit and elevated position.
Usaamah had not yet reached the age of 20 when the Prophet (PBUH) ordered him to be head of an
army which had among its soldiers Abu Bakr and `Umar. A growl spread around among a group of
Muslims who were distressed by this matter and who found it too much for a youth such as Usaamah Ibn
Zaid to command an army which included a large number of Muhaajiruun and elderly Ansaar. Their
whispers reached the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), so he ascended the pulpit, thanked and praised Allah
and then said, "Some people criticized Usaamah's army command; they criticized his father's command
before him. His father deserved to be the commander as well as Usaamah. He is the most beloved to me
next to his father, and I hope he is among the virtuous ones. I request you to treat him well."
The Prophet (PBUH) died before the army set off towards its destination; however the Prophet had
left his wise testament to his Companions: "Fulfill Usaamah's commission. Fulfill Usaamah's
commission."
Despite the new circumstances created by the Prophet's death, Abu Bakr As-siddiiq, the first caliph,
insisted upon fulfilling the Prophet's testament. Usaamah's army set off to its destination; the caliph only
requested Usaamah to allow `Umar to stay behind to be with him in Al-Madiinah.
At the same time, the Roman (Byzantine) emperor heard the news of the Prophet's death and that an
army headed by Usaamah Ibn Zaid was attacking the borders of Syria. He could not hide his
astonishment and wonder about the strength of the Muslims, whose plans and potential were not affected
by the Prophet's death. Consequently, the Romans abstained from utilizing the Syrian borders as a
leaping point upon Islam's center in the Arabian Peninsula, and thereby their power began to shrink.
Usaamah's army returned safely without any causalities so that the Muslims said, "We've never seen
a safer army than Usaamah's."
It was by the Prophet (PBUH) himself that Usaamah had been taught the lesson of his life, a very
wise lesson. Usaamah lived according to its wisdom from the Prophet's death until he himself left our
world during the latter phase of Mu'aawiyah's caliphate.
Two years before the Prophet's death, Usaamah was sent by the Prophet (PBUH) to lead a
detachment which was meeting some polytheists attacking Islam and its followers. It was the first time
for Usaamah to be appointed head of a detachment. He accomplished his duty successfully and
victoriously. News of his victory preceded his arrival and the Prophet (PBUH) was indeed glad.
Let us leave the rest of the story to be narrated by Usaamah himself: When I reached the Prophet
(PBUH) the proclamation of good news had already reached him. The Prophet's face beamed jubilantly.
He asked me to sit closer to him and said, "Tell me." I went on telling and narrating. I mentioned to him
that at one point the polytheists were defeated and I could reach a man, at whom I pointed my spear. The
man said, "There is no god but Allah. Nevertheless I pierced and killed him with my lance. The Prophet's
attitude changed. He said, "Woe unto you! How dare you do that when he said, There is no god but
Allah. Woe unto you! How dare you do that when he said, There is no god but Allah." He continued