(Friday Sermon - August 17, 2018 )

Background

His family was a confederate of Khattab, the father of Hazrat Umar^(ra), who had adopted Hazrat Amir^(ra). That is the reason why he used to be known as Amir bin Khattab. However, when the Holy Quran commanded all to refer to their actual forefathers, he was, from then on, referred to as Amir Bin Rabi‘ah instead of Amir bin Khattab, i.e. by the name of his actual father Rabi‘ah, as per the patrilineal relationship.

It was said that he had a confederate and due to this relationship, there were friendly terms between Hazrat Umar^(ra) and Hazrat Amir^(ra) till the end. He accepted Islam right at the outset. The Holy Prophet^(sa) had not yet sought refuge at Dar-e-Arqam when he believed. (Sirat-ul-Sahaba, Vol. 2, p. 333, Dar-ul-Isha‘at, Karachi)

The Holy Prophet^(sa) formed a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Amir and Hazrat Yazid^(ra) bin Munzir. (Al-Tabkaat-ul-Qubra, Vol. 3, p. 296, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)

Hazrat Amir bin Rabi‘ah passed away a few days following the martyrdom of Hazrat Usman^(ra). (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 119, Amir Bin Rabi‘ah, Dar-ul-Kutb Ilmiyah, Beirut, 1990)

A clarification on adoption

Here, a clarification has been provided to those people who have adopted the children of their relatives and loved ones and those children do not even know who their actual fathers are until they grow older. The identity cards and official documents also bear the names of the adoptive fathers instead of the actual fathers. When later this practice leads to certain difficulties, people write letters requesting that such and such changes should be made. Therefore, one should always act in accordance with the Quranic injunctions, except in the case of such children, who are received or adopted and taken by certain authorities and one is not told about their parent’s information.

Migration to Abyssinia

Hazrat Amir^(ra) migrated to Abyssinia along with his wife Laila bint Hathmah. Later, he returned to Mecca, and from there, he migrated to Medina along with his wife. The wife of Hazrat Amir^(ra) bin Rabi‘ah has the honour of being the first woman to have emigrated to Medina. He participated in Badr and all other battles along with the Holy Prophet^(sa). He passed away in the 32nd year of Hijra. He came from the Ans tribe.

A narration on funerals

Hazrat Amir^(ra) bin Rabi‘ah narrated that the Holy Prophet^(sa) said to him, “When one of you witnesses a funeral procession and does not join it, he should keep standing until the procession has passed or the [coffin] is laid down.”

The fitna during Hazrat Usman’s^(ra) era and a dream of Hazrat Amir^(ra) bin Rabi‘ah

Abdullah bin Amir^(ra) narrates from his father, Hazrat Amir^(ra), that he once stood up to perform his prayer. It was the time when people were arguing regarding Hazrat Usman^(ra). That particular fitna [revolt] had started and people used to revile Hazrat Usman^(ra). He further states that he fell asleep after the prayer and he saw in a dream that he was being ordered to get up and pray that he may be saved from that evil from which God Almighty had saved His pious people from. Thus, Hazrat Amir^(ra) bin Rabi‘ah got up and offered Salat and then supplicated in this regard. After this, he fell ill and never left his home after that until his funeral procession left his home. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, pp. 118-119, Amir Bin Rabi‘ah, Dar-ul-Kutb Ilmiyah, Beirut)

This is how God Almighty saved him from that evil.

Asking to repair the Prophet’s shoelace

Hazrat Amir^(ra) bin Amr narrated that, “I was with the Holy Prophet^(sa) during a Tawaf [performing circuit of the Ka‘bah] while a shoelace of the Holy Prophet’s^(sa) shoe broke. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Give it to me so that I may repair it!’ The Holy Prophet^(sa) replied, ‘This is termed as preferential treatment and I do not like to be given preferential treatment.’” (Sharah Zarqani, Vol. 6, p. 49, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-ilmiyyah, 1996, Beirut)

This is the extent to which the Holy Prophet^(sa) was particularly mindful regarding doing his work himself.

Distance from wordly riches

A person once came to Hazrat Amir bin Rabi‘ah as a guest. He was very hospitable and respectful towards him and even put in a favourable recommendation for him to the Holy Prophet^(sa). Thus, after having gone to the Holy Prophet^(sa), this person went to Hazrat Amir^(ra) and said, “I requested the Holy Prophet^(sa) to grant me a valley as a freehold, which would have no equivalent throughout the whole of Arabia. Hence, the Holy Prophet^(sa) granted me this. I now desire to give a piece of that valley to you, which will belong to you during your lifetime and to your children after you have passed away. Hazrat Amir^(ra) replied, “I am in no need of this piece of land from you as today, a Surah [chapter of the Holy Quran] has been revealed, which has entirely made us forget the world and that is:

اِقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُہُمْ وَہُمْ فِیْ غَفْلَۃٍ مُعْرِضُوْنَ

(Hiyat-ul-Sahaba, Muhammad Yousaf, Vol. 2, Baab Infaaq fi Sabeelillah, Mu’assisat-ul-Risala, 1999)

That is, ‘Nigh has drawn for men their reckoning, yet they turn away in heedlessness.’” (Surah Al-Anbiya, Ch.21: V.2)

Such was the state of fear of God Almighty of these shining stars and these were the very people, who truly gave precedence to faith over the world.

Narration of a prophecy about the Holy Prophet^(sa)

Hazrat Amir bin Rabi‘ah relates that Zaid bin Amr said, “I opposed my nation and instead, followed the religion of Abraham^(as). I was awaiting for a prophet to appear from the progeny of Ishmael^(as) whose name would be Ahmad. However, it seems that I will not be able to witness him. I believe in him, testify to his truth and affirm that he is a prophet. If you will be alive during the era of his advent, then convey my salam [greetings of peace] to him. I will mention such signs of his to you as a result of which he will not remain hidden from you. He is neither tall nor short. He will neither have a lot of hair, nor little. There will always remain a redness in his eyes. Between his shoulders, you will find the seal of prophethood. His name will be Ahmad. This city of Mecca will be the place of his birth as well as the place where he will take the pledge of initiation. Following this, his nation will drive him out of here. They will dislike his message. He will then migrate to Yathrib [Medina]. Following this, those who oppose will gain ascendency but do not by deceived by them. I have looked through every city in search of the religion of Abraham^(as). I enquired from the Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians and they told me that this religion will come after you have passed. They told me the same signs I have mentioned to you. They said that no prophet will come after him.” Hazrat Amir said, “When the Holy Prophet^(sa) was appointed [as a Prophet], I informed him of Zaid upon which he said, ‘I saw him in paradise while he was pulling along his garment.’” (Subul-ul-HudaWa Al-Rushd, Vo. 1, p. 116, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1993)

In this narration, where it states that no prophet shall come after him does not mean that the prophecy of the Holy Prophet^(sa) regarding a prophet from within his people to appear is incorrect. It means that he is the last law-bearing prophet and any prophet who appears after him will not bring any new law. The [prophet] to appear will be subordinate to the Holy Prophet^(sa). This is exactly what we find in the Ahadith [sayings of the Holy Prophet^(sa)] and the Holy Quran.