(Friday Sermon - October 12, 2018 )

Background, Participation in Battles and Demise

His full name is Hazrat Amr bin Suraqah bin al-Mu‘tamir. As has been mentioned previously, he passed away during the Khilafat of Hazrat Uthman^(ra). His mother’s name was Qudamah bint Abdullah bin Umar. According to some narrations, his mother’s name was Aminah bint Abdulllah bin Umair bin Uhaib. Hazrat Amr bin Suraqah was from the Banu Adiyy tribe and his brother was Hazrat Abdullah bin Suraqah. Hazrat Amr bin Suraqah migrated with his brother, Hazrat Abdullah bin Suraqah, to Medina and Hazrat Rifa‘ah bin Abdul Munzir Ansari provided them accommodation at his home. (al-Tabkaat-ul-Qubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 295, Amr bin Suraqah, Dar-ul-Kutub al-ilmiyya, Beirut, 1990), (al-Asaba Fi Tameez al-Sahaba, Vol. 4, p. 523, Amr bin Suraqah, Dar-ul-Kutb al-ilimiyya, Beirut, 2005).

The Holy Prophet^(sa) established a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Amr bin Suraqah and Hazrat Sa‘d bin Zaid. (Usdul Ghaba Marifat-ul-Sahaba, Vol. 2, p. 436, Sa’d bin Zaid, Dar-ul-Kutub al-ilmiyya, Beirut).

Hazrat Amr bin Suraqah fought in all the Battles alongside the Holy Prophet^(sa), including the Battle of Badr, Uhud and the Ditch. Hazrat Aamir bin Rabi‘ah narrates, “The Holy Prophet^(sa) sent us on an expedition to Nakhla and Hazrat Amr bin Suraqah was also with us. His physique was slim and he was tall in height. During the journey, Hazrat Amr bin Suraqah sat down holding his stomach as there was nothing there to eat and drink. He could not carry on walking due to extreme hunger and thirst. So we tied a rock tightly to his stomach after which he was able to continue walking with us. We then reached an Arab tribe where they accommodated and provided for us. Thereafter he was able to carry on. The companions enjoyed light-hearted comments as well, and so after completing their meal there, once they had set off, Hazrat Amr bin Suraqah said, ‘At first I thought that both legs of a man support his stomach but today I have realised that the stomach is the one which is supporting the legs.’” If a man is empty-stomached, he cannot walk. Hazrat Umar^(ra) granted him a plot of land in Khaybar. Hazrat Amr^(ra) bin Suraqah passed away, as I have stated, during the Khilafat of Hazrat Uthman^(ra). (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 723, Amr bin Suraqah, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2003), (al-Asaba, Vol. 4, p. 523, Amr bin Suraqah, Dar-ul-Kutb al-ilimiyya, Beirut, 1995)