(Friday Sermon - November 23, 2018 )

Background and Participation in Battles

Hazrat Thabit bin Aqram bin Tha‘laba^(ra) was a Badri companion. His name was Hazrat Thabit bin Aqram bin Tha‘laba bin Adiyy bin Ajlaan^(ra). He was a confederate of the Ansari tribe Banu Amr bin Auf. In addition to the Battle of Badr, he took part in all other battles with the Holy Prophet^(sa). (Al-Isti’aab Fi Ma’rifati Al-Sahaba, Vol. 1, p. 199, Thabit bin Aqram, Da-ul-Jeel, Beirut, 1992)

The Mosque as His Home

When the Holy Prophet^(sa) arrived in Medina, he told Asim bin Adiyy to make his home in the mosque. However, Asim replied, “O Messenger of Allah (sa), I shall not make this mosque into my home as Allah the Almighty has revealed what he intended to reveal, however you may give it to Thabit bin Aqram as he has no home.” The Holy Prophet^(sa) therefore allocated this space to Hazrat Thabit bin Aqram. He did not have any children. (Subul-ul-Hudaa Wa Al-Rashaad, Vol. 5, p. 677, Bab Dhikr Amr Masjid Al-Diraar, Cairo, 1992)

The place that was allocated was perhaps in the vicinity of the mosque, or a place adjacent to the mosque where prayers had once been offered.

Battle of Mautah – Certainty in Victory

During the Battle of Mautah, after the martyrdom of Abdullah bin Rawaha^(ra), the flag of Islam was taken by Hazrat Thabit bin Aqram^(ra). He said, “O Muslims! Appoint someone from among you as your leader.” The Muslims responded, “We appoint you as our leader.” He said that he could not become the leader. Subsequently the people appointed Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed^(ra) as their leader. This is mentioned in Siratun Nabi [Life and Biography of the Holy Prophet] by Ibn Hisham. (Sirat Ibn Hisham, p. 533, Bab Dhikr Ghazwah Mautah, Dar Ibn Hazam, Beirut, 2009)

In the accounts of history, it said that during the Battle of Mautah, when the Muslims first saw the numbers and strength of the opposing army, they thought that it would be impossible to compete with such an army. It is narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra) that he had taken part in the Battle of Mautah. He relates that when they saw the enemy approaching, they saw their large numbers, weaponry, horses, gold and silk and felt it was not possible for them to mount a challenge – this sight left him bewildered. Upon this Hazrat Thabit bin Aqram^(ra) said to him, “O Abu Hurairah! You are overcome as if you have seen an enormous army.” Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra) replied: “Yes indeed I have.” Hazrat Thabit^(ra) then said, “Were you not present with us in the Battle of Badr? Even there we were not victorious due to greater numbers. Did we not see victory despite the bigger numbers of the enemy?” (Subul-ul-Hudaa Wa Al-Rashaad, Vol. 6, p. 148, Bab Fi Siryah Mautah, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1993)

“Indeed, we gained victory then through the Grace of Allah, and here too we will witness the same.”

Martyrdom

During the Khilafat of Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra), Hazrat Thabit^(ra) went with Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed^(ra) to face the rebels. When facing the enemy, Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed^(ra) would not attack if he heard the words of the Azan [the call to prayer in Islam], and if he did not hear the words of the Azan, then he would proceed with the attack. When he arrived at a place named Buzakha, he sent forth Hazrat Okasha bin Mehsan^(ra) and Hazrat Thabit bin Aqram^(ra) as informants to obtain intelligence about the enemy. Both of them were on horseback. The name of Hazrat Okasha’s^(ra) horse was al-Zaraam and the name of Hazrat Thabit’s^(ra) horse was al-Mehbar. They both confronted Tulayha and his brother Salama, who had also proceeded to gather information about the opposing army. Tulayha faced off against Hazrat Okasha^(ra) and Salama was faced with Hazrat Thabit^(ra). These two brothers martyred both of these companions. There is another narration from Abu Waqid Laysi: “We were about two hundred horsemen riding in front of the army and Hazrat Zaid bin Khitab was our commander in chief. Thabit and Okasha were riding in front of us. It was unbearable to see them when we walked past them (as the army caught up to them after their martyrdom). Hazrat Khalid^(ra) and the rest of the Muslim army were behind us. We stood by the martyred until Hazrat Khalid^(ra) arrived. We buried them in their same blood-stained clothes at the very location of their martyrdom as per the instructions of Hazrat Khalid^(ra).” (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, pp. 355-356, Thabit bin Aqram, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)

It is narrated that when Tulayha converted to Islam, Hazrat Amirul Momineen – Hazrat Umar^(ra) – said to him: “I cannot love you because you are the reason for the martyrdom of Hazrat Okasha and Hazrat Thabit bin Aqram.” Those who had martyred them later became Muslims themselves. Hazrat Umar^(ra) said to them that he would not love them, because they had martyred two Muslims. Tulayha responded: “O Leader of the believers: Allah Almighty honored them through my hands.” (Sunan Al-Kubra Lil-Buhaiqiyy, Vol. 8, pp. 580-581, Kitab-ul-Ashribah, Bab Qitaal Ahl Al-Ridah, Hadith 17631, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003)

He did not have any children. Muhammad bin Umar states: “Tulayha martyred Hazrat Thabit in 12 Hijri at the location of Buzakha.” (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, pp. 355-356, Thabit bin Aqram, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)