(Friday Sermon - October 12, 2018 )

Background

Hazrat Sabrah bin Fatik was the brother of Khuraim bin Fatik and belonged to the Banu Asad tribe. His father’s name was Fatik bin al-Akhram. There are also some traditions which report his name to be Samura bin Fatik. Aiman bin Khuraim relates, “My father and my uncle took part in the Battle of Badr. They took an oath from me that I would never fight any Muslim.”

Abdullah bin Yousaf states, “Sabrah bin Fatik is the one who distributed the land of Damascus amongst the Muslims. He is counted among the people of Syria.” He further states that the Holy Prophet^(sa) stated that the scale is in the hands of God Almighty; He raises certain nations in rank and causes the decline of others (i.e. owing to their own deeds).

Once, Hazrat Sabrah bin Fatik walked past Hazrat Abu Darda and he said that the spiritual radiance of the Holy Prophet^(sa) accompanies Sabrah.

Abdul Rehman bin Aaiz relates, “I once saw that someone had insulted Hazrat Sabrah and he suppressed his anger and refrained from responding to him and remained silent. His eyes began to fill with tears as a result of suppressing the extreme anger due to the insults he received.”

The Holy Prophet^(sa) stated how wonderful would Sabrah be if he shortened his long hair (his hair was quite long) and slightly raised up the garment he tied around his waist. When these words of the Holy Prophet^(sa) reached Hazrat Sabrah, he immediately acted accordingly to the instruction.

He also used to say, “I wish that every day I face an idolater who is equipped with armour and martyrs me, and if not, then I kill him and someone else like him stands up before me.”

Participation in the Battle of Badr

According to some narrations, he did not take part in the Battle of Badr, however Imam Bukhari and others have included him and his brother among those Companions who took part in the Battle of Badr. (Usdul Ghaba Fi Marifati Al-Sahaba, Vol. 2, p. 190, Sabra bin Fatik, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2003) (Al-Asaba fi Tameez Al-Sahaba, Vol. 3, pp. 25-26 & 152, Sabra bin Fatik, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-ilimiyya, Beirut, 2005) (Al-Istiaab Fi Marifti Al-Ashaab, Vol. 2, p. 29, Kuraim bin Fatik Al-Asadi, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-ilimiyya, Beirut, 2002)