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AMMAAR IBN YAASIR
A Man of Paradise!
If there were people born in Paradise, reared and brought to maturity there, and then brought to earth
to adorn and enlighten it, then `Ammaar, his mother Sumaiyah and his father Yaasir would be of them!
But why do we say "if" and why do we make that condition when Yaasir's family were really of
Paradise? Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was not merely pacifying them when he said, "Patience, O Yaasir's
family. Verily, your meeting place will be in Paradise." He was declaring a fact which he knew and
reiterating an actuality perceived by him.
`Ammaar's father, Yaasir lbn Aamir, left his native place in Yemen seeking a brother of his. In
Makkah he found an appealing place, so he settled there and was in alliance with Abu hudhaifah Ibn Al-
Mughirah, who married him to one of his slave women, Sumaiyah Bint khaiyaat. Out of this blessed
marriage Allah granted the parents a son, Ammaar. Their embracing of Islam was early, like that of the
righteous ones guided by Allah. And like the early righteous Muslims as well, they had their good share
of the Quraish's persecution and terror.
The Quraish used to waylay the believers to attack them. If the believers were among the honorable
and noble people in their community, the Quraish would pursue them with threats and menace. Abu Jahl
would meet one of the believers and tell him, " You abandoned your forefathers' religion and they were
better than you. We will spoil your character, degrade your honor, reduce your trade, and exhaust your
money." They would then launch a heated war of nerves upon him.
If the believers were among the weak, poor, or slaves of Makkah, then the Quraish would burn them
with the fire of persecution.
Yaasir's family belonged to that class. The order for their persecution was handed to Bani
Makhzuum. They used to take them all - Yaasir, Sumaiyah and `Ammaar - to the burning desert of
Makkah, where they would pour upon them different kinds of the hell of torture.
Sumaiyah's share of that torment was colossal and terrible. We shall not elaborate about her now,
since we shall have - Allah willing - another encounter with her and her likes during those immortal days
to talk about the grace of sacrifice and the glory of her firmness. Suffice it to mention now, without any
exaggeration, that Sumaiyah, the martyred one, maintained a firm stance that day which gives the whole
of humanity an everlasting honor and an ever glorious dignity. Her stance made of her a great mother to
believers in all ages, and to the honorable people of all times.
The Messenger (PBUH) used to go where he knew Yaasir's family were tortured. He did not have at
that time any means of resistance or keeping harm from them. This was Allah's will, because the new
faith - the faith of lbraahiim Al-Hanufan (Abraham the true) - which was revealed to Muhammad was not
a casual and passing reform movement. It was a way of life for the whole humanity of believers who had
to inherit along with the religion all its history of heroism, sacrifices, and risks. These abundant noble
sacrifices are the cement and the foundation that grant an everlasting firmness and immortality to the
faith and the creed. It is the fragrance that fills the hearts of believers with loyalty, joy, and happiness. It
is the lighthouse that guides the coming generations to the reality of religion, to its truth and greatness.