(Friday Sermon - June 1, 2018 )

Background and the incident of Rajee

Another Companion of the Holy Prophet^(sa) was Mu‘attib^(ra) bin Ubaid. He had no offspring so his nephew Usair bin ‘Urwah was his sole inheritor. Hazrat Mu›attib bin Ubaid participated in the Battle of Badr and the Battle of Uhud and was martyred on the day of Rajee‘. (At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra, Vol. 3, p.240, Dar Ihya At-turath Al-Arabi, 1996, Beirut)

The incident of Rajee‘ is that in which ten Companions were martyred. Regarding this incident, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib^(ra) wrote:

“Those days were very perilous for the Muslims, and the Holy Prophet^(sa) was receiving highly alarming news from all directions, however the greatest danger posed to the Holy Prophet^(sa) was coming from the Quraish of Mecca who had become bold and daring after the Battle of Uhud. Perceiving this threat, the Holy Prophet^(sa) prepared a party of ten Companions in 4 Hijri during the month of Safar and appointed Ahsan bin Thabit as the leader.

“The Holy Prophet^(sa) gave them orders that they must quietly reach near Mecca and gather intelligence about what the Quraish were planning and to inform him of their intentions. However, the party had not yet departed when a few people from the tribes of ‘Adal and Qarah approached the Holy Prophet^(sa) stating that there were many people from among their tribes who are inclining towards Islam. Therefore, the Holy Prophet^(sa) should send some people back with them who will preach to them about Islam. When the Holy Prophet^(sa) came to know of their desire, he sent the same party of Companions which were preparing to leave, to gather information about the Quraish. However, as it was later discovered that these people were lying and had come to Medina due to the instigation of Banu Lihyan, who had plotted to take revenge on the killing of their chief, Sufyan bin Khalid, and had thus contrived the plan that when the Muslims come out of Medina on this pretence, they would attack them.

“In lieu of this service, the Banu Lihyan had promised the tribes of ‘Azal and Qarah many camels. When these treacherous people of ‘Adal and Qarah reached between Asfan and Mecca, they discreetly sent a message to the Banu Lihyan that the Muslims were accompanying them and so they should come forth. Upon this, two hundred young men of Banu Lihyan, among whom were one hundred archers departed in pursuit of the Muslims and subdued them at a place known as Rajee‘. (Rajee‘ is the name of a place.) How could ten men compete against two hundred soldiers? At the same time, the Muslims were taught not to throw in their arms. The Companions immediately ascended to a nearby hillock and prepared for battle. The disbelievers, who did not consider deception as being reprehensible, called out to them and said, ‘Come down from the mountain, we give you a firm promise that we shall not kill you.’ Asim^(ra) responded, ‘We have no confidence whatsoever in your treaties and agreements. We cannot descend on your guarantee.’ Then, he raised his head towards the heaven and said, ‘O God! You are witnessing our state. Do convey knowledge of our condition to Your Messenger.’ Hence, Asim^(ra) and his Companions stood and fought, and were finally martyred in battle. When seven Companions had been martyred, and only Khubaib^(ra)bin ‘Adiyy, Zaid^(ra) bin Dathinah, and one other Companion were left, the disbelievers whose actual desire was to capture these people alive, called out again and said, ‘There is still time. Come down and we promise not to cause you any harm.’ This time, these innocent Muslims fell into their trap and descended.”

“However, as soon as they stepped down, the disbelievers tied them with the strings of their arrow bows. Upon this, the Companion of Khubaib^(ra) and Zaid^(ra), whose name has been recorded in history as being Abdullah^(ra) bin Tariq, could not restrain himself and called out, ‘This is your first breach of agreement and who knows what you shall do hereafter,’ and Abdullah^(ra) refused to continue along with them. For some distance, the disbelievers dragged Abdullah^(ra) along, beating and assaulting him, after which they then killed him and left him there.

“Moreover, now that their revenge had been sought, in order to please the Quraish, and also out of greed for money, they took Khubaib^(ra) and Zaid^(ra) and made their way to Mecca; upon reaching there, they sold both of them to the Quraish. As such, Khubaib^(ra) was purchased by the sons of Harith bin Amir bin Naufal, because Khubaib^(ra) had slain Harith in the battle of Badr and Zaid^(ra) was purchased by Safwan bin Umayyah. They were also martyred.” (Sirat Khatam-un-Nabiyyeen, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib M.A., pp. 513-514)