(Friday Sermon - December 28, 2018 )

Background and Participation in Battles

Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) bin Humayyar al-Ashja‘i. He belonged to the tribe of Banu Duhman, who had a treaty with the Ansar. He participated in the Battle of Badr alongside his brother, Hazrat Kharijah. He also participated in the battle of Uhud. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, pp. 218-219, Abdullah bin Humayyar, Dar-ul-Kutb Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003)

His wife’s name was Hazrat Umm-e-Thabit bin Haritha^(ra) and she also accepted the Holy Prophet^(sa). (Al-Asaba, Vol. 8, p. 366, Umm-e-Thabit bin Haritha^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutb Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1995)

Martyrdom

Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) bin Humayyar was among the few companions who stood resolutely on the mount alongside Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) bin Jubair on the occasion of the Battle of Uhud. When the other companions^(ra) witnessed the scenes of victory and started to descend [from the mount] in order to join the rest of the army, Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) bin Humayyar stood up in order to advise them. He first praised God Almighty and then advised them to obey God and the Holy Prophet^(sa). However, they did not listen to him and descended from there. Along with Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) bin Jubair, no more than ten companions remained on the mount. Meanwhile, Khalid bin Waleed and Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl saw the mount empty and attacked the remaining companions^(ra). This small group fired arrows at them, but eventually they got them and martyred all of them in an instant. (Imta-ul-Isma, Vol. 9, p. 229, Dar-ul-Kutb Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1999)

Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad^(ra) Sahib has written about this incident of Uhud in further detail in Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin [The Life and Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa)]:

“Putting his trust in God, the Holy Prophet^(sa) marched forward and set up camp on a plain at the foot of mount Uhud, in such a manner that the mountain range fell behind the Muslims, and Medina was positioned in front of them, as it were. In this manner, the Holy Prophet^(sa) managed to secure the rear of the army. There was a mountain pass in the valley to the rear from where an attack could be made. Thus, the plan which was devised by the Holy Prophet(sa) in order to secure it was that he positioned fifty archers from among his Companions at this location under the command of Abdullah bin Jubair^(ra), and emphatically instructed them not to leave this place under any circumstances, and that they should continue to shower the enemy with arrows. The Holy Prophet^(sa) was so greatly concerned for the security of this mountain pass that he repeatedly instructed Abdullah bin Jubair^(ra):

“‘Look here, this mountain pass should not be left empty under any circumstances. Even if you see that we have become victorious, and the enemy has fled in defeat, do not leave this place; and if you see that the Muslims have been defeated, and the enemy has prevailed upon us, do not move from this place.’

“This instruction was so emphatic that in one narration, the following words have been related:

“‘Even if you see that vultures are tearing away at our remains, do not budge from this place until you receive an order to leave’,” (i.e. an order from the Holy Prophet^(sa)).

“In this manner, after completely fortifying his rear, the Holy Prophet^(sa) began to arrange the Muslim army in battle array, and appointed separate commanders for the various sections of the army.

“When the companions of Abdullah bin Jubair^(ra) saw that victory had been secured, they said to their Amir, Abdullah, ‘Now victory has been secured and the Muslims are collecting spoils of war. Permit us to join the army as well.’ Abdullah^(ra) restrained them and reminded them of the strict order of the Holy Prophet^(sa), but they were becoming heedless in the joy of victory, and therefore, did not abstain, and left their positions saying, ‘All that the Holy Prophet^(sa) inferred was that the mountain pass should not be left empty until security fully prevailed, and now that victory has been clinched, there is nothing wrong with proceeding forward.’ Hence, except for Abdullah bin Jubair^(ra) and five or seven companions, there remained no one to secure the mountain pass. When the sharp eye of Khalid bin Waleed caught sight of the mountain pass from afar, he found it to be an empty field, upon which he quickly gathered his riders and immediately proceeded towards it. Behind him, Ikramah bin Abu Jahl also followed suit with whatever was left of the detachment, and quickly reached there. Both of these detachments instantly martyred Abdullah bin Jubair^(ra) and the few companions which stood by his side and suddenly attacked the Muslim army from the rear.” (Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad^(ra) Sahib, pp. 487-488, 491)