(Friday Sermon - February 8, 2019 )

Background

His title was Abu Abdullah. Hazrat Arqam’s^(ra) mother was Umaimah bint Harith. According to other narrations, her name was Tamazir bint Huzaim and Safia bint Harith as well. Hazrat Arqam^(ra) was from the Banu Makhzoom tribe. He was amongst the first companions to accept Islam. According to some sources, eleven people had entered the fold of Islam at the time of his acceptance of Islam. Some are of the opinion that he was the seventh person to accept Islam. Hazrat Urwa bin Zubair narrates: “Hazrat Arqam^(ra), Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah^(ra) and Hazrat Uthman bin Maz‘un^(ra) accepted Islam together at the same time.”

Dar-e-Arqam

Hazrat Arqam^(ra) owned a house outside of Mecca near the mountain of Safa which is well-renowned in history by the name of “Dar-e-Arqam” in which the Holy Prophet^(sa) and the early Muslims would perform worship. This was the place where Hazrat Umar^(ra) accepted Islam after which the total number of Muslims was forty. After Hazrat Umar’s^(ra) acceptance of Islam, Muslims began to practise their faith openly. This house remained under the ownership of Hazrat Arqam^(ra) and later his grandsons sold this house to Abu Ja‘far Mansoor. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 1, p. 187, Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (al-Isabatu Fi Tamyiz al-Sahaba, Vol. 1, p. 197, Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1995) (Mustadrak Ala al-Sahihain, Vol. 3, p. 574, Kitab Marifatu al-Sahaba, Dhikru Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam^(ra), Dar-ul-KutubIlmiyyah, Beirut, 2002)

Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad^(ra) has provided details about this in Sirat Khatamun Nabiyyin. As regards the first centre of Islam – Dar-e-Arqam – Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad^(ra) writes:

“Perhaps during these days, the Holy Prophet^(sa) thought that a centre for the propagation of Islam be established in Mecca, where Muslims could gather without any hindrance to offer their prayers, etc., and where the propagation of Islam could formally yet quietly take place with peace and calm. For this purpose, a location was required which could serve as a headquarters. Thus, the Holy Prophet^(sa) selected the house of a new Muslim named Arqam bin Abi Arqam^(ra), which was situated at the foot of Mount Safa. Thereafter, the Muslims would gather here, and it is here that they would offer their Salat. It is here that seekers of truth would come and where the Holy Prophet^(sa) would preach the religion of Islam to them (i.e. those who were in search of faith would come here in order to learn about Islam and understand the religion, or simply to derive blessings from the company of the Holy Prophet^(sa)). It is for this reason that this house has found reverence in the history of Islam, and is renowned by the name “Darul-Islam”. The Holy Prophet^(sa) worked in Dar-e-Arqam for approximately three years. (In other words, the Holy Prophet^(sa) made it the headquarters in the fourth year of his prophethood and remained here until the end of the sixth year of his prophethood.) Historians write that the last person to accept Islam in Dar-e-Arqam was Hazrat Umar^(ra), the acceptance of whom strengthened the Muslims to the extent that they left Dar-e-Arqam and began to preach openly.” (Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad^(ra), p. 129)

After the migration to Medina, the Holy Prophet^(sa) established a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Arqam^(ra) and Hazrat Abu Talha Zaid bin Sahl^(ra) (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 185, Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990).

Participation in Battles and Demise

Hazrat Arqam^(ra) participated in the Battle of Badr alongside the Holy Prophet^(sa) and the Holy Prophet^(sa) gave him a sword from the spoils of the war at Badr. Hazrat Arqam^(ra) fought in the battles of Badr, Uhud and all other battles with the Holy Prophet^(sa) and the Holy Prophet^(sa) also gave him a house in Medina. On one occasion, the Holy Prophet^(sa) appointed him to oversee the collection of Sadaqah [charity]. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 1, p. 198, Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (al-Isabatu Fi Tamyiz al-Sahaba, Vol. 1, p. 187, Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1995)

It is also noted in history that Hazrat Arqam^(ra) was among the participants of the Hilful Fudul (al-Isti‘aab Fi Ma’rifati al-Sahaba, Vol. 1, p. 131, Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam^(ra), Dar-ul-Jeel, Beirut, 1992), the pact made by certain prominent Meccans prior to Islam, in order to help the poor and in which the Holy Prophet^(sa) was also a part of. Uthman bin Arqam, the son of Hazrat Arqam^(ra), relates: “My father passed away in 53 AH at the age of 83.” Some have said that he passed away in 55 AH. There are conflicting views with regard to his age; some say he was 80 years of age or a little more.

Hazrat Arqam^(ra) instructed that his funeral prayer be led by Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas^(ra) who was a companion. However, at the time of his demise, Hazrat Sa‘d^(ra) was in Aqeeq, which was quite a distance away. Marwan then asked how a companion of the Holy Prophet^(sa) could not be buried due to someone not being present; in other words, how could a companion’s body be placed aside and not be buried until that particular person came. In saying this, he wanted to lead the funeral prayer himself, but Ubaidullah bin Arqam did not accept the proposal of Marwan and the funeral prayer of Hazrat Arqam^(ra) was led by Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas^(ra) upon his arrival and he was buried in Jannatul Baqi. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 1, p. 188, Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003)

There is another narration with regard to him that Hazrat Arqam^(ra) was preparing to travel to Baitul Maqdas and went to the Holy Prophet^(sa) to gain his permission to embark on this journey. The Holy Prophet^(sa) enquired, “Are you travelling to Baitul Maqdas for a necessary task or for business purposes?” Hazrat Arqam^(ra) replied, “O Messenger^(sa) of Allah, may my mother and father be sacrificed for you! I do not go there for something urgent, nor for any trade, I only wish to offer my prayers at Baitul Maqdas.” Thereupon the Holy Prophet^(sa) answered, “A prayer of mine here in this mosque [i.e. in Medina] is greater than a thousand prayers offered in any other mosques, except the Ka‘bah.” Upon this, Hazrat Arqam^(ra) changed his mind. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 1, p. 187, Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003)