(Friday Sermon - July 6, 2018 )

Recently I have been describing some of the Companions of the Holy Prophet^(sa), who took part in the Battle of Badr. Some of them are well described in history while many get only a brief reference. Nonetheless, they all occupy a great stature for having taken part in the Battle of Badr. Thus, they should be mentioned, even if only in a few lines. Many of the companions I will mention today will only be described very briefly.

There is Hazrat Marsad bin Abi Marsad.  He passed away during the month of Safar [second month of the lunar calendar] in the third year of Hijra. He was a companion who participated in the Battle of Badr. He was an ally of Hazrat Hamza bin Abd-il-Muttalib. He participated in the battle of Uhud along with his father. He accepted Islam in its initial stages and migrated to Medina prior to the Battle of Badr. The Holy Prophet^(sa) formed a bond of brotherhood between him and Hazrat Aus bin Samit. On the day of [the Battle of] Badr, he arrived on a horse, named Sabal. Ibn Ishaq has written that Hazrat Marsad, may Allah be pleased with him, was the leader of the group of soldiers, which the Holy Prophet^(sa) send to Raji‘. This incident took place during the month of Safar in the third year of Hijra. According to some, Hazrat ‘Asim bin Thabit was the leader of that group. (At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 35, Abu Marsad, Da-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, 1990, Beirut), (Usdul Ghaaba, Vol. 5, p. 133, Marsad bin Abi Marsad, Dar-ul-Kutub-ul-Ilmiyyah, Beirut)

The incident of his martyrdom is as follows. Banu ‘Azl and Qaarah pretended to have accepted Islam and requested the Holy Prophet^(sa) to send them some teachers in order to provide them with religious education. Upon this, the Holy Prophet^(sa) sent them a group of people. There is a difference of opinion found on this matter in the narrations as to whether it was sent in the leadership of Hazrat Marsad, may Allah be pleased with him, or Hazrat ‘Asim, may Allah be pleased with him. These people had barely reached the place of Raji’, when Banu Huzail approached them with bare swords and said that they do not wish to kill them. Rather, they wish to receive a ransom from the people of Mecca and will promise to protect their lives. Upon this, Hazrat Marsad, Khalid and ‘Asim, may Allah be pleased with them, said that they do not trust their promise. Hence, all three gave their lives fighting them. (Sira Al-Sahaba, Shah Muin-ul-din Ahmad Nadwi, Vol. 2, pt. 2, p. 555, Dar-ul-Isha’at, Karachi)