(Friday Sermon - August 31, 2018 )

Background

Hazrat Umair bin abi Waqqas participated in the Battle of Badr. His father was Abu Waqas Malik bin Uhaib. He was martyred during the Battle of Badr in 2 AH.

Hazrat Umair^(ra) was the younger brother of Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas and was among the early Muslims. His mother’s name was Hamnah bint Sufyan. He belonged to the Banu Zuhrah tribe of the Quraish. As it has been mentioned, he participated in the Battle of Badr and attained martyrdom. The Holy Prophet^(sa) established a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Umair and Hazrat Amr bin Mu‘az. (Al-Tabkaat-ul-Qubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 119, Umair bin Abi Waqas, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2002) (Al-Tabkaat-ul-Qubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 73, Umair bin Abi Waqas, Dar-e-Ihyaa, Al-Turath Al-Arabi, Beirut, 1996)

According to some, the bond of brotherhood, established by the Holy Prophet^(sa), was between Hazrat Umair bin Abi Waqas and Hazrat Khubaib bin Adi. (Uyun Al-Athar, Vol. 1, p. 232, Bab- Dhikr-ul-Muwakhat, Dar-ul-Qalam, Beirut, 1993).

Martyrdom and participation in the Battle of Badr

While describing the incident of his martyrdom and his participation in the Battle of Badr, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib^(ra) writes in Sirat Khataman-un-Nabiyyin:

“After setting out from Medina, the Holy Prophet^(sa) ordered the setup of camp after a few miles, and inspected his army. Minors who had come along in their eagerness to ride with the Holy Prophet^(sa) in this campaign, were sent back. Umair^(ra), the younger brother of Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas^(ra) was also a minor. When he heard of the instruction that minors were to be sent back, he hid among the ranks. Eventually, however, his turn came and the Holy Prophet^(sa) ordered him to return. Upon this, Umair^(ra) began to weep, and upon witnessing his extraordinary eagerness, the Holy Prophet^(sa) allowed him to remain.” (Sirat Khatam-un-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad^(ra), p. 353)

In another book of history, the following account of him is given:

“Amr bin Sa‘d narrated from his father that prior to the Holy Prophet^(sa) inspecting us in order to set out for Badr, I saw my brother Umair bin Abi Waqas trying to hide in different places. Upon this, I asked him, ‘O my Brother! What is the matter with you?’ He replied, ‘I fear that the Holy Prophet^(sa) will see me and, considering me to be a minor, he will send me back. I wish to participate in the Battle so that God Almighty may grant me martyrdom.’ Thus, when he came before the Holy Prophet^(sa), considering him to be a minor, he ordered him to return, upon which he began to weep. Upon this, the Holy Prophet^(sa) allowed him to participate.” (Al-Tabkaat-ul-Qubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 79, Umair bin Abi Waqas, Dar-e-Ihyaa, Al-Turath Al-Arabi, Beirut, 1996)

His sword was of a considerable size. It is mentioned in a narration that the Holy Prophet^(sa)secured the sheath to his sword with his own blessed hands. (Al-Isaba fi Tamyiz Al- Sahaba, Vol. 4, p. 603, Umair bin Abi Waqas, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2005)

Hazrat Umair bin Abi Waqas was sixteen years old when he was martyred in the Battle of Badr. (Al-Tabkaat-ul-Qubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 79, Umair bin Abi Waqas, Dar-e-Ihyaa, Al-Turath Al-Arabi, Beirut, 1996)

Although he was sixteen years of age, he had a short stature. Since the Holy Prophet^(sa) would not allow minors to participate in battles in those days, therefore he was also not permitted.