(Friday Sermon - July 19, 2019 )

Background

Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) bin Suraqah belonged to the Banu Adiyy clan of the Quraish, which was the tribe of Hazrat Umar^(ra) bin al-Khattab. His lineage connects with Hazrat Umar^(ra) through a man called Ryaah in the fifth generation of his ancestors. His lineage connects with the Holy Prophet^(sa) through a man called Ka‘b in the tenth generation of his ancestors. Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) bin Suraqah’s father was Suraqah bin Mu‘tamir and his mother’s name was Amah bint Abdullah. His sister’s name was Zainab and his brother’s name was Amr^(ra) bin Suraqah.

Marriage, Progeny and Participation In Battles

Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) bin Suraqah’s wife was Umaimah bint Harith with whom he had his son called Abdullah. The majority of historians have mentioned that he participated in the Battle of Badr. However, some are of the opinion that he did not participate in Badr but participated in the Battle of Uhud and the subsequent battles. In any case, according to the majority of them, Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) and his brother, Amr^(ra) bin Suraqah had the honour of participating in the Battle of Badr. We find the names of Umar or Uthman bin Abdullah, Zaid and Ayyub bin Abdur Rahman among the progeny of Hazrat Abdullah^(ra). (al-Sirat al-Nabwai Li Ibn Hisham, p. 462, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2001) (al-Isaba Fi Tamyeez al-Sahaba, Vol. 4, pp. 91-92, Abdullah^(ra)  bin Suraqah, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2005) (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 256, Abdullah^(ra)  bin Suraqah, Vol. 4, p. 137, Umar^(ra) bin al-Khattab, Vol. 1, p. 121, Muhammad^(sa) Rasool Allah, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008)

Migration to Medina

Abdullah bin Abu Bakr narrates that Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) bin Suraqah migrated from Mecca to Medina alongside his brother, Amr. Both of them stayed at the home of Hazrat Rifa‘ah^(ra) bin Abdul Munzir. (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra, Vol. 4, p. 389, Abdullah^(ra) bin Suraqah, Dar-e-Ahya al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut, Lebanon, 1996)

Demise

Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) bin Suraqah passed away during the Khilafat of Hazrat Uthman^(ra) in 35 AH. (al-Badaya Wa al-Nahaya, Vol. 4, Pt. 7, p. 212, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2001)

Importance of Sehri

It is narrated by Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) bin Suraqah that the Holy Prophet^(sa) stated:

تَسَحَّرُوْا وَلَوْ بِالْمَاءِ

i.e. “Partake of the Sehri [meal taken early in the morning before fasting], even if it is only with water.” This meant that it is incumbent to partake of Sehri. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 256, Abdullah^(ra) bin Suraqah, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008)