(Friday Sermon - February 8, 2019 )

Background

Hazrat Harith bin Asimmah^(ra) belonged to the Banu Najjar tribe of the Ansar and was martyred during Bir-e-Ma‘unah. (Al-Isti‘aab Fi Ma’rifati Al-Sahaba, Vol. 1, p. 292, Harith bin Asimmah(ra), Dar-ul-Jeel, Beirut, 1992)

The Holy Prophet^(sa) established a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Harith^(ra) and Hazrat Suhaib^(ra) bin Sinan. (Al-Isabatu Fi Tamyiz Al-Sahaba, Vol. 1, p. 673, Harith bin Simmah(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1995)

Given Spoils of War From the Battle of Badr Despite Not Physically Participating

Hazrat Harith^(ra) bin Asimmah departed with the Holy Prophet^(sa) on the day of Badr, however, when they reached al-Rauha, he did not have the strength to proceed further. Consequently, the Holy Prophet^(sa) sent him back to Medina, yet, he was granted the same amount from the spoils of war as those who had participated in the Battle of Badr. Despite not physically participating in the Battle of Badr, he had the desire to do so and left for Badr accordingly. However, his health did not permit him, or his illness worsened and therefore was sent home. Considering his intention and devotion, the Holy Prophet^(sa) counted him among the companions who took part in the Battle of Badr. He was present during the Battle of Uhud and on the day when some of the people left their posts, Hazrat Harith^(ra) remained steadfast.

Participation in the Battle of Uhud

Hazrat Harith^(ra) had pledged to the Holy Prophet^(sa) to sacrifice his life [for the sake of Islam]. Hazrat Harith^(ra) killed Uthman bin Abdullah bin Mughira Makhzumi and took his armour which included his body armour, helmet and sword. The Holy Prophet^(sa) later granted him these same items from the spoils of war. When the Holy Prophet^(sa) learnt of Uthman bin Abdullah’s death, he praised God Almighty for causing him to perish (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 386, Harith bin Simmah^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 1, p. 615, Harith bin Simmah^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003). This was because he was an extremely hostile and dangerous enemy of Islam. He was a mushrik [idolater] and came fully equipped with his weapons, in order to inflict harm upon the Holy Prophet^(sa). On the day of the Battle of Uhud, the Holy Prophet^(sa) enquired as to what happened to his uncle, Hamza^(ra). Hazrat Harith^(ra) went to search for him and after some time had elapsed, Hazrat Ali^(ra) then went to enquire and when he came to Hazrat Harith^(ra), he saw that Hazrat Hamza^(ra) had been martyred. Both of the companions returned and informed the Holy Prophet^(sa) of his martyrdom. Hazrat Harith^(ra) relates:

“On the day of the Battle of Uhud, while the Holy Prophet(sa) was in a narrow valley of a mountain, he asked me, ‘Have you seen Abdul Rahman bin Auf^(ra)?’ In reply to the Holy Prophet^(sa), I said, ‘I had seen him on the side of the mountain and the army of the idolaters was attacking him. I initially turned towards him in order to save him, but I then saw you and therefore came to you.’ The Holy Prophet^(sa) said, ‘The angels are protecting him (i.e. Abdul Rahman bin Auf^(ra)).’”

In another narration, it states that the Holy Prophet^(sa) said that the angels were fighting along with him. Hazrat Harith^(ra) states, “Once the battle had finished, I went to Abdul Rahman bin Auf^(ra) and I saw that seven people had been killed and were lying dead in front of him. I asked him whether he had killed all of them and Abdul Rahman bin Auf^(ra) replied that he had killed three of them but did not have knowledge of who killed the others. Upon this I said that indeed how true was the word of God and His Messenger (sa), in that the angels were aiding him.” (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 1, p. 615, Harith bin Simmah^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003)

Delegation to Bir-e-Ma‘unah

Hazrat Harith^(ra) was part of the delegation that went to Bir-e-Ma‘unah. At the time when the incident of Bir-e-Ma‘unah took place and the companions^(ra) were martyred, Hazrat Harith^(ra) and Amr bin Umayyah^(ra) had gone to graze the camels. According to Sirat ibn Hisham, these two companions were Amr bin Umayyah and Hazrat Munzir bin Muhammad, however in other narrations, it was Hazrat Harith^(ra) and Amr bin Umayyah^(ra) who went to graze the camels. Nonetheless, according to the narration which specifies these two names, when they returned to their camp, they saw that the birds had congregated there and from this they understood that their companions had been martyred.

Hazrat Harith^(ra) enquired from Hazrat Amr^(ra) as to what they should do. Amr^(ra) replied, “I think we should go back and inform the Holy Prophet^(sa).” However, Hazrat Harith^(ra) said, “I will not turn away from the place where Munzir^(ra) was martyred.” And so, he went ahead and was martyred whilst fighting against them. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 1, p. 615, Harith bin Al-Simmah(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (Sirat ibn Hisham, p. 439, Hadith Bi’r Ma’unah, Dar ibn Hazm, Beirut, 2009)

Martyrdom

Hazrat Abdullah bin Abi Bakr^(ra) relates that Hazrat Harith^(ra) was martyred as a result of the continuous spears that were thrown at him by the enemy which had penetrated his body. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 1, p. 615, Harith bin Al-Simmah(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003)