(Friday Sermon - August 31, 2018 )

Background

He was from among the Ansar [natives of Medina]. He was the son of Aamir bin Hadidah. He passed away during the Caliphate of Hazrat Usman^(ra). His mother’s name is Zainab bint Amr. Hazrat Qutbah’s wife’s name was Hazrat Umme Amr. He had one daughter called Hazrat Umme Jameel. He participated in both, the first and second Bai‘ats at Aqabah. He is among those six companions from among the Ansar, who accepted the message of the Holy Prophet^(sa) while he was still in Mecca. No one from among the Ansar had converted to Islam before them. (Al-Tabkaat-ul-Qubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 294, Qutbah bin Aamir, Dar-e-Ihyaa, Al-Turath Al-Arabi, Beirut, 1996)

Acceptance of Islam

Narrating the incident of his acceptance of Islam, it is written in Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin:

“In Rajab [seventh month of the Islamic calendar], 11 Nabawi, the Holy Prophet^(sa) happened to meet the people of Yathrib [Medina] once again. When the Holy Prophet^(sa) enquired as to their genealogy, he found that they belonged to the Khazraj, and had come from Yathrib [Medina]. In an extremely loving tone, the Holy Prophet^(sa) said to them, ‘Can you people listen to a few things I have to say?’ They said, ‘Yes, what do you say?’ The Holy Prophet^(sa) took a seat and invited them to Islam, recited a few verses of the Holy Quran and informed them of his mission. These people looked at each other and said, ‘This is our opportunity, lest the Jews excel us,’ and saying this, they all became Muslim. These were six people, whose names are as follows:

1. Abu Umamah Asad bin Zurarah^(ra) who was from the Banu Najjar, and was the very first in his affirmation
2. Auf bin Harith^(ra) who was also from the Banu Najjar, which was the tribe of the maternal kindred of Abdul Muttalib, the grandfather of the Holy Prophet^(sa)
3. Rafi‘ bin Malik^(ra) who was from the Banu Zariq. On this occasion, the Holy Prophet^(sa) bestowed the entirety of the Holy Quran to him, which had been revealed thus far
4. Qutbah bin Aamir^(ra) who was from the Bani Salamah
5. Uqbah bin Aamir^(ra) who was from the Bani Haram
6. Jabir bin Abdullah bin Riaab^(ra) who was from the Bani Ubaid

After this, these people took leave of the Holy Prophet^(sa) and upon their departure, said: ‘We have been greatly weakened by civil war, and there are many disagreements between us. We shall go to Yathrib and preach Islam to our brothers. How remarkable would it be that Allah the Exalted may gather us again through you. Then we shall be fit to assist you in every way.’ Therefore, these people left, and due to them, Islam began to find popularity in Yathrib.” (Sirat Khatam-un-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad^(ra), pp. 221-222)

Islam – a unifying religion

People often assert that Islam causes divisions. However, it was Islam that removed their divisions and feuds and these people expressed the possibilities for this due to the advent of Islam. Furthermore, this was witnessed in reality and the people who were enemies, became brothers. In the previous sermon I had also mentioned that their bonds of brotherhood greatly troubled and disturbed the enemies, as a result of which they tried to create divisions. However, as a result of moral training and spiritual power of the Holy Prophet^(sa), an atmosphere of brotherhood was formed once again.

Battles and the best archer

From among the Companions of the Holy Prophet^(sa), Hazrat Qutbah was one of best archers. He participated alongside the Holy Prophet^(sa) in the Battles of Badr, Uhud, the Ditch, as well as all other battles. He fought courageously in the battle of Uhud in which he sustained nine wounds.  He was holding the flag of Banu Salamah on the occasion of the conquest of Mecca.

The state of the steadfastness of Hazrat Qutbah at the Battle of Badr was such that he placed a rock between two rows and said, “I will not retreat until this rock retreats.” In other words, he set a condition that even if he lost his life, he would not retreat. His brother was Yazid bin Amir, who participated in Aqabah alongside seventy Ansar. Hazrat Yazid also participated in the Battles of Badr and Uhud and his children lived in Medina and Baghdad. (Al-Tabkaat-ul-Qubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 294, Qutbah bin Aamir wa Akhuhu Yazid bin Aamir, Dar-e-Ihyaa, Al-Turath Al-Arabi, Beirut, 1996)

Demise

It is narrated by Abu Hatim that Hazrat Qutbah bin Aamir passed away during the Caliphate of Hazrat Umar^(ra), whereas, Ibn Habban states that he passed away during the Caliphate of Hazrat Usman^(ra). (Al- Isaba fi Tamyiz Al- Sahaba, Vol. 5, p. 338, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2005)