(Friday Sermon - September 20, 2019 )

Background

Hazrat Nu‘man^(ra) bin Malik’s name has also been mentioned as Nu‘man bin Qauqal. Imam Bukhari has recorded his name as Ibn Qauqal. Allama Badr-ul-Din Aini, who is a scholar, writes in the commentary of Bukhari that the complete name of Ibn Qauqal was Nu‘man^(ra) bin Malik bin Thalaba bin Asram and Qauqal was the title of Thalaba or Asram. Since Hazrat Nu‘man bin Malik^(ra) was known by his grandfather, hence he was called Nu‘man bin Qauqal. (Sahih Bukhari, Kitabun Nikah, Kitab-ul-Jihad Wa al-Sair, Bab al-Kafir Yaqtulu al-Muslim, Hadith no. 2827), (Umdatul Qari, Vol. 14, pp. 182-183, Dar Ihyaa al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut, 2003)

Hazrat Nu‘man bin Malik^(ra) walked with a slight limp. (Marifat-ul-Sahaba Li Ibn Naeem, Vol. 4, p. 317, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2002)

Hazrat Nu‘man bin Malik’s^(ra) father was Malik bin Thalaba and his mother was Amrah bint Ziyad and she was the sister of Hazrat Mujazir bin Ziyad^(ra). Hazrat Nu‘man^(ra) belonged to the Banu Ghanam branch of the Khazraj tribe from among the Ansar. This tribe was popularly known as Quaqal. According to Ibn Hisham, Hazrat Nu‘man bin Malik^(ra) was more commonly known by the name, Nu‘man Qauqal. Moreover, Ibn Hisham has mentioned that he belonged to the Banu Da‘ad tribe.

Why were they referred to as Qauqal? It has been explained that whenever someone sought protection from a leader in Medina, he would be told that he was free to ascend the mountain as he wished – in other words, he had now been granted peace and he was free to live as he wished and could return in a state of comfort and security without any fear or adversity. The individuals who would grant protection were known as Qawaqilah. Ibn Hisham, a historian, states that when these leaders granted refuge to someone, they would hand them an arrow and say they were free to go wherever they desired with the arrow. Hazrat Nu‘man’s grandfather, Thalaba bin Da‘ad, was referred to as Qauqal as he was from among those who would grant security and protection. Similarly, Ghanam bin Auf, who was the leader of the Khazraj tribe, was also referred to as Qauqal, and Hazrat Ubadah bin Samit^(ra) was also known by the title of Qauqal. Banu Salim, Banu Ghanam and Banu Auf bin Khazraj were all known as Qawaqilah. The leader of the Banu Auf tribe was Hazrat Ubadah bin Samit^(ra).

Participation in Battles and Martyrdom

Hazrat Nu‘man bin Malik^(ra) participated in the Battle of Badr and Uhud, and was martyred during the Battle of Uhud by Safwan bin Umayyah. According to another narration, Hazrat Nu‘man bin Malik^(ra) was martyred by Aabaan bin Saeed. On the day of Uhud, Hazrat Nu‘man bin Malik^(ra), Hazrat Mujazzar bin Ziad^(ra) and Hazrat Ubadah bin Hishaas^(ra) were all buried in one grave. (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 414, al-Nu‘man bin Malik^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2012) (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, pp. 158-159, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008) (al-Sirat al-Nabawiyyah li Ibn Hisham, p. 560 & p. 468 , Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2001) (Umdatul Qari, Vol. 14, p. 182, Dar Ihyaa al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut, 2003)

When the Holy Prophet^(sa) left for the Battle of Uhud and had conferred with Abdullah bin Abi Salool, Hazrat Nu‘man bin Malik^(ra) said, “O Prophet^(sa) Allah! By God, I will certainly enter paradise.” The Holy Prophet^(sa) asked how? Hazrat Nu‘man^(ra) replied, “Because I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and you are the Messenger of Allah^(ra). I will certainly never turn away from the battle.” Upon this the Holy Prophet^(sa) stated that indeed what he said was the truth. Subsequently, Hazrat Nu‘man bin Malik^(ra) attained martyrdom that same day. (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 5, p. 322, al-Nauman bin Malik al-Khazraji^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008)

Khalid bin Abu Malik Jadi relates that he found the following narration in his father’s book that Hazrat Nu‘man bin Qauqal Ansari^(ra) supplicated, “My Lord, I swear by Your name that I will be walking with my limp in the lush green gardens of paradise before the sun will have set.” Subsequently, he was martyred that very day. Upon this, the Holy Prophet^(sa) stated, “God Almighty accepted his prayer for I have seen him walking in heaven without any sort of limp or hindrance.” God Almighty informed the Holy Prophet^(sa) about him through a vision. (Marifat-ul-Sahaba Li Ibn Naeem, Vol. 4, p. 317, Nauman bin Qauqal^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2002)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra) relates that he went to the Holy Prophet^(sa) while he was in Khaybar when the Companions^(ra) had already conquered it. He requested the Holy Prophet^(sa) to also grant him some share [from the spoils of the battle]. One of the sons of Saeed bin Aas said, “O Prophet of Allah^(ra)! Do not give him any share from it.” Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra) replied that ibn Saeed bin Aas was the one who was responsible for martyring Nu‘man bin Qauqal^(ra). Ibn Saeed bin Aas replied, “I am astounded that he shows such arrogance towards us yet he himself has just come from grazing his sheep from the mount Zaan” (Mount Zaan was situated in Tahaamah and was one of the mountains situated where the tribe Dos lived, which was Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra)’s tribe; they were on the top of this mountain). Ibn Saeed bin Aas further said with great astuteness, “He has come while grazing his sheep and now levels an allegation against me that I killed a Muslim, whom Allah the Almighty granted honour through my hands and did not allow me to perish by his hands.” Sufyan states that he is not aware whether or not the Holy Prophet^(sa) granted him a share. (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Jihad Wa al-Sair,  Bab al-Kafir Yaqtulu al-Muslim, Hadith 2827), (Mu’jamul Buldan, Vol. 2, p. 223)

Hazrat Jabir^(ra) relates that Hazrat Nu‘man bin Qauqal^(ra) came to the Holy Prophet^(sa) and asked, “O Prophet of Allah^(ra)! If I observe the obligatory prayers; observe the fasts in the month of Ramadan; declare all that which is unlawful as unlawful and all that which is lawful as lawful, and do nothing more than this, will I enter paradise?” The Holy Prophet^(sa) replied, “Yes”. Upon this he said, “By God, I will not do anything more than this.” (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 23, p. 78, Musnad Jabir bin Abdullah, Muasisat-ul-Risala, 2008)

Offering Sunnah on Friday

Hazrat Jabir^(ra) relates that Nu‘man bin Qauqal^(ra) entered the mosque on Friday and the Holy Prophet^(sa) was delivering his sermon. The Holy Prophet^(sa) stated to him, “O Nu‘man! Offer two Rakats of prayer.”

The concept of offering Sunnah on Friday has also been explained here. Hazrat Nu‘man^(ra) entered the mosque while the Holy Prophet^(sa) was delivering his sermon and told him to offer two Rakats of prayer, and to not prolong them. Since the Friday Sermon had already started, therefore he told him to offer them but to keep them short. Thereafter, the Holy Prophet^(sa) stated, “If any of you arrive [at the mosque] and the Imam is delivering the sermon, you should offer two Rakats of prayer and keep them brief.” (Marifat al-Sahaba li ibn Naeem, Vol. 4, p. 317, Nauman bin Qauqal al-Ansari^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2002)