(Friday Sermon - August 31, 2018 )
Background
I have mentioned him briefly in a previous Friday Sermon. His father was Usman bin Sharid and he passed away in 3 AH during the Battle of Uhud. His name was Usman and his title was Shammas and this is what he was better known by. He was from the Banu Makhzum tribe and accepted Islam in the early days. (Usdul Ghaba Fi Marifati Al-Sahaba, Vol. 2, pp. 393-394, Shammas bin Usman, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2003)
Ibn Hisham explained the reason behind naming Usman as Shammas. He writes that Shammas(ra) name was Usman and the reason why he was called Shammas is that a religious leader of the Christians was also called Shammas.
In the days of ignorance, he came to Mecca. This Christian leader was a very handsome man. Upon witnessing his beauty, the people of Mecca were extremely impressed. Utbah bin Rabia, who was the maternal uncle of Usman, said that he shall show them a boy who is more beautiful than Shammas. He then brought his nephew, Usman, and showed him to them and since then everyone referred to Usman as Shammas. Another reason why he was given the name Shammas was because of the white and reddish complexion of his face, as if to say that he resembled the sun. Therefore, he became more commonly known as Shammas instead of his original name. (Sirat ibn Hisham, p. 462, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2001) (Al-Muntazim fi Tarikh Al-Muluk wa Al-Umam, Vol, 3, p. 187, With reference to Al-Maktabah Al-Shamilah)
Hazrat Shammas bin Usman and his mother, Hazrat Safiya bint Rabia bin Abdi Shams were part of the second group that migrated to Abyssinia. Hazrat Shammas’ mother was the sister of Sheba and Utbah (who were from among the leaders of Mecca and were both killed during the Battle of Badr). Hazrat Shammas bin Usman migrated to Medina upon returning from Abyssinia and stayed with Hazrat Mubashar bin Abdil Munzir. Saeed bin Musayyab states that Hazrat Shammas bin Usman stayed in Hazrat Mubashar bin Abdil Munzir’s house until his martyrdom in the Battle of Uhud. The Holy Prophet(sa) established a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Shammas bin Usman and Hazrat Hanzla bin Abi Aamir. Hazrat Shammas had a son whose name was Hazrat Abdullah and his wife was Umme Habib bint Saeed. His wife was amongst the early Muslim women who took part in the migration. (Usdul Ghaba Fi Marifati Al-Sahaba, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2003) (Sirat al-Sahaba, Vol. 2, p.324, Shammas bin Usman, Dar-ul-Isha’at, Karachi) (Al-Tabkaat-ul-Qubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 130, Dar-e-Ihyaa, Al-Turath Al-Arabi, Beirut, 1996)
A shield for the Holy Prophet(sa)
Hazrat Shammas bin Usman took part in the Battle of Badr and Uhud. He fought very courageously during the Battle of Uhud.
The Holy Prophet(sa) stated that he found Hazrat Shammas bin Usman to be like a shield. Wherever the Holy Prophet(sa) would turn, whether to his right or left, he would find Shammas defending with his sword until the point where the Holy Prophet(sa) fell unconscious due to a rock that was thrown at him. Hazrat Shammas stood in front of the Holy Prophet(sa) and shielded him with his body and as a result sustained a serious injury.
He still had some life left in him and he was carried back to Medina in the same state and taken to Hazrat Aishah(ra)’s house. Upon this Hazrat Umme Salma said how can her cousin be taken to another person’s house while she is still present? The Holy Prophet(sa) then instructed that he should be carried and taken to Hazrat Umme Salma’s house.
Thus, it was at her house that he took his last breath and passed away. Later, upon the instruction of the Holy Prophet(sa), Hazrat Shammas was taken to Uhud and buried there in the same clothes.
After the battle when he was carried back to Medina, he remained alive for one day and one night whilst injured and it is said that he did not eat or drink anything and was in an extremely weak state and unconscious. Hazrat Shammas(ra) passed away at the age of 34. (Al-Tabkaat-ul-Qubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 131, Dar-e-Ihyaa, Al-Turath Al-Arabi, Beirut, 1996)