(Friday Sermon - December 7, 2018 )

Background and Participation in Battles

Hazrat Zaid^(ra) bin Khattab was the elder brother of Hazrat Umar^(ra) and had accepted Islam before Hazrat Umar^(ra). He was also among the first people to migrate. He participated alongside the Holy Prophet^(sa) in the Battles of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq [trench], and was also present at Hudaibiyah and the Bai‘at-e-Rizwan. The Holy Prophet^(sa) formed a bond of brotherhood between him and Hazrat Ma‘n bin Adiyy. Both of these companions were martyred during the battle of Yamama. (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 288, Zaid bin Khattab^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) (al-Isti‘aab Fi Ma’rifati al-Sahaba, Vol. 2, p. 550, Dhikr Zaid bin Khattab, Dar-ul-Jeel, Beirut, 1992)

On the day of Uhud, Hazrat Umar^(ra) swore by Allah and said to Hazrat Zaid^(ra) that he should put on his armour. Hazrat Zaid^(ra) put on the armour for a few moments and took it off at the time of war. When Hazrat Umar^(ra) enquired of him the reason for taking off the armour, Hazrat Zaid^(ra) replied, “I also desire that martyrdom which you also wish for.” Hence, both of them removed their armour. (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 289, Zaid bin Khattab^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)

Hazrat Zaid^(ra) bin Khattab narrates that on the occasion of Hajjat-ul-Wida‘ [farwell pilgrimage of the Holy Prophet^(sa)], the Holy Prophet^(sa) said, “You should take care of your slaves, feed them of what you eat yourself and dress them with the clothes you dress yourself with. Furthermore, if they commit an error, which you are unable to forgive, then, O servants of God, you should sell them and not punish them.”

Martyrdom

When the Muslims were weakened during the battle of Yamama, Hazrat Zaid^(ra) recited this prayer out aloud saying: “O Allah! I beg pardon for my companions who have fled and I absolve myself from any responsibility for what Musaylimah Kazzab and Muhakam bin Tufail have committed.” He then firmly took hold of the flag, entered the rows of the enemy and marching forward, demonstrated his excellent swordsmanship, until he was martyred. (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 288, Zaid bin Khattab^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)

When Hazrat Zaid^(ra) was martyred, Hazrat Umar^(ra) said, “May Allah have mercy on Zaid. My brother surpassed me in two virtues; i.e. he accepted Islam before me and was also martyred before me.” (al-Isaba fi Tamyiz al- Sahaba, Vol. 4, p. 500, Dhikr Zaid bin al-Khattab)

In a narration, it is mentioned that Hazrat Umar^(ra) heard Mutammim^(ra) bin Nuwayra recite some poetic verses in remembrance of his brother, Malik bin Nuwayra, upon which Hazrat Umar^(ra) said, “If I could compose great verses like you, I would also have recited similar verses in remembrance of my brother Zaid^(ra), as you have recited for your brother.” Upon this, Mutammim^(ra) bin Nuwayra said, “If my brother departed this world in the manner that your brother did, I would never be grieved.” Hazrat Umar^(ra) replied, “Until this day, no one has consoled me in the same manner as you have.” (al-Isti‘aab Fi Ma’rifati al-Sahaba, Vol. 2, p. 553, Dhikr Zaid bin Khattab, Dar-ul-Jeel, Beirut, 1992)

There is another detailed narration regarding this incident. Hazrat Umar^(ra) said to Mutammim^(ra) bin Nuwayra, “You must be extremely grieved at the death of your brother” (he pointed towards one of his eyes and said). “This eye of mine lost its sight due to this very grief. I wept so profusely with my functioning eye that even the defective eye assisted in shedding tears.” Hazrat Umar^(ra) said that this was such an extreme state of grief, that perhaps, nobody who lost a relative had grieved more than him. Hazrat Umar^(ra) further said, “May Allah have mercy on Zaid bin Khattab. If I was capable or composing verses, I would certainly also have wept for Zaid^(ra) as you weep for your brother.” Hazrat Mutammim^(ra) said, “O Amirul-Momineen [leader of the faithful]! If my brother would have been martyred during the Battle of Yamama in the same manner as your brother was, I would never have wept for him.” These words touched Hazrat Umar’s heart and consoled him about his brother. Hazrat Umar^(ra) was immensely grieved at the loss of his brother. He used to say that when the morning breeze blew, he could smell the fragrance of Zaid^(ra). (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 289, Zaid bin Khattab^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)

One of the associates of Musaylimah Kazzab, Rajjal bin Unfuwah, was killed by Hazrat Zaid^(ra) bin Khattab. In one narration, Rajjal bin Unfuwah has been mentioned as Nahaar. This was the person who initially accepted Islam and took part in the migration and was also a qari [a person who recites the Quran according to the correct rules of recitation] but in the end, joined Musaylimah (therefore, we should always pray for our end to be good). He said to him: “I heard the Holy Prophet^(sa) say that he has included you in his prophethood.” This was the greatest trial for Banu Hunaifa. Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra) narrates, “I was once sitting in the company of the Holy Prophet^(sa) with a delegation. Rajjal bin ‘Unfuwah was also with us. The Holy Prophet^(sa) said that there is an individual among you, whose molar teeth would be in the fire as tall as the mountain of Uhud (in other words, he will be in the pit of fire and). He will mislead a group of people. Later, only Rajjal bin ‘Unfuwah and I remained alive and I would always remain apprehensive about this, until Rajjal bin ‘Unfuwah joined Musaylimah Kazzab and testified to his prophethood.” (al-Isti‘aab Fi Ma’rifati al-Sahaba, Vol. 2, pp. 551-552, Dhikr Zaid bin Khattab, Dar-ul-Jeel, Beirut)

Rajjal bin Unfuwah was killed in the battle of Yamama by Hazrat Zaid^(ra) bin Khattab.

Hazrat Zaid^(ra) bin Khattab was martyred by Abu Maryam Al Hanafi. After Hazrat Abu Maryam had accepted Islam, Hazrat Umar^(ra) asked if he was the one who had martyred Zaid^(ra). He replied to Hazrat Umar^(ra), “O Amirul-Momineen! Allah the Almighty granted honour to Hazrat Zaid^(ra) through me, and Allah did not destroy and humiliate me through him.” Hazrat Umar^(ra) said to Hazrat Abu Maryam, “In your estimation, how many of your people were killed at the hands of the Muslims on the day of Yamama?” Abu Maryam replied: “A little over 1,400 men”. Hazrat Umar^(ra) said: “How pitiful was the end of those who were killed!” Abu Maryam said, “All praise belongs to Allah who enabled me to live on to the extent that I was drawn towards the religion that Allah had chosen for His Prophet and Muslims.” Hazrat Umar^(ra) was pleased by this statement of Abu Maryam. Later, Abu Maryam became the qazi (judge) of Basra [Iraq]. (al-Isti‘aab Fi Ma’rifati al-Sahaba, Vol. 2, p. 121, Dhikr Zaid bin Khattab, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2002) (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, pp. 288-289, Zaid bin Khattab^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)