Masaab ibn Umayr

Mus'ab ibn 'Umair, Masaab ibn Umayr, مصعب بن عمير, was a Sahabi (companion) of Muhammad (SAW). He was from the tribe of Quraish, sub-branch Banū 'Abd al-Dār. He acheived martyrdom in the Battle of Uhud. He is said to be the first envoy of Islam.

1 Background
2 Hardships after acceptance of Islam
3 Migration to Abyssinia
4 Return from Abyssinia
5 Mission to Madinah – First Envoy of Islam
6 Return to Makkah
7 Battle of Uhud - Martyrdom
8 Burial
9 External links

[edit] Background

Mus’ab bin ‘Umair (May Allah be pleased with him) was a very handsome young man. He was the son of ‘Umair’ a wealthy person. He brought up his son in quite a luxurious fashion. Mus‘ab enjoyed the best of food, finest dresses and the best perfumes. Whenever Mus‘ab passed through the streets, dressed in precious clothes and profusely perfumed, the sweet smell scented the atmosphere all around and the people gazed at him with amazement and appreciation. His beauty and charm was the talk of the town. Every person knew that Mus‘ab’s parents were bringing up their son with great affection and care. Whenever the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) talked of him, he said “There is nobody more handsome in Mecca than Mus‘ab. There is no person in the city better clothed and fed than Mus‘ab. There is no child brought up with mote affection and love than him.” Due to his charming personality and being a lovely son of wealthy parents, every one- your or old- had a great regard for him.

[edit] Hardships after acceptance of Islam

When he embraced Islam he was given a respectable place in Muslim society. But it was not due to his beauty, charm, good dress, good manners or wealth, but due to his piety and fear of God.When he embraced Islam, he was put to severe hardships torture. The beauty and charm of his person faded. He was also deprived of the affection and care of his parents. But his virtues and piety won the appreciation of Allah and His Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). In his pursuit for winning the favour of Allah and his His Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), Mus‘ab cared neither for good food, nor good dress. He was no more inclined towards costly cosmetics and perfumes, instead he devoted himself whole heartedly to serve the noble cause of Islam.

Mus‘ab accepted Islam at a time when life had been made unbearable for Muslims. He was turned out of his home. Nobody talked to him. He was social boycotted. He had to suffer countless miseries. This pampered young man embraced Islam at a time when those who believed in Islam were refused food and water and were thrown in dark prison cells. Many bloodthirsty tyrants not satisfied with the infliction of pain and injury, often murdered their Muslim victims. There were other hard-hearted fellows who had invented various forms of torments, to inflict on poor Muslims. They enjoyed the writhing and wriggling of their Muslim prisoners. A Muslim thrown flat on the burning Arabian sand in the mid-day sun with very heavy stones placed his breast, or forcibly stretched on red hot coals to the enjoyment of the spectators, was an every day scene in Mecca.

Mus‘ab accepted Islam during that difficult period. One day a non believer saw him offering prayers. He at once informed his parents who turned hostile to their son. All the affection of his mother vanished. Al the love and care of his father changed into anger and grief. They admonished him. But, when they knew that he was firm, they tied him with ropes and threw him in a dark cell. He was kept in prison for a long time, but his belief in Islam was so deep that the torment of prison did not change his mind. He sacrificed everything and remained calm and quiet.

[edit] Migration to Abyssinia

When the Muslims were ordered to migrate to Abyssinia, this young-man, brought up like a Prince, also went to Abyssinia, along with the other devotees of Allah. When he returned from Abyssinia, people saw in him a different person- all the luster and geity was gone. He who would have scoffed at the most precious raiment, was wearing a dress made of coarse, worn-out blanket. The spectacle inspired amazement, and awe among the onlookers. His mother, too, pitied her son’s condition and repented of the harsh treatment, she had shown to him.

[edit] Return from Abyssinia

Mus’ab bin ‘Umair presented himself to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in such a condition that he had only a piece of skin with patches here and there to cover his body. When the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) saw this, they hung their heads in awe. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) observed, “Al-hamd-o-Lillah ! Now the condition of the world and worldly people should change. This is the young man who had no equal in Mecca in the luxurious style in which he was brought up. But the regard for virtue and love for Allah and his Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) have made him indifferent to all worldly pleasures.”

[edit] Mission to Madinah – First Envoy of Islam

During this period many people of Medina had accepted Islam. They requested the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) to send them a preacher for teaching them the fundamentals of Islam. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) selected Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair for this purpose ; he gave him some instructions and sent him to Medina. Later events showed that mus‘ab bin ‘Umair proved himself worthy of the confidence reposed in him.

On reaching Medina, Mus‘ab begin to perform the duty entrusted to him with all the sagacity necessary for a preacher. He went from door to door to convince the people for the message of Islam. Initially he talked to each person in terms which that person could understand, and then presented to him the message of Islam at the right moment. He recited before the people selected verses of the Holy Qur’an, which had a profound effect on their minds. He treated his visitors very politely. He had a natural gift for soft speech and people who approached him instantly became his friends. An incident is related below, as an example:

One day Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair was explaining some Islamic precepts to a group of Muslims. By chance an elite of Medina, Sa ‘ad bin Ma ‘az happened to come there. He had heard about Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair’s preaching for Islam and was very angry with him. He said to an influential person, Usaid bin Huzair, “Turn this preacher of Islam out of your neighborhood. He has turned many persons away from the path of their ancestral faith. If I was not a relation of Sa‘ad (with who Mus‘ab was staying), I would not have asked you to do that, but would have done it myself.” Usaid at once took his spear and went to Sa ‘ad’s house. He called both of them and said furiously, “Who has called you here to lead the people astray? If your lives are dear to you, go away from this place at once.”

To this Mus‘ab replied very gently, “Please sit down and listen to us calmly. If you like what we say, then you may accept it otherwise we shall leave this place.” Us‘ad stuck his spear in the ground and sat down to listen to what Mus ‘ab recited some verses of the Holy Qur‘an. He explained to the audience the identity of Allah as the Creator, the Master and the Merciful, in such an impressive manner that in a short time Usaid was filled with the light of fidelity and he exclaimed, “What an excellent faith, How can I embrace Islam? After that he recited the Kalima and embraced Islam.

After some time Sa ‘ad bin Mu‘az also arrived there mad with rage. But, he too was softened like wax by the sublime eloquence of h Mus‘ab, and before he left he had already recited the Kalima about the Oneness of Allah and become a Muslim. Soon afterward all the inhabitants of Medina except a few, accepted Islam.

It was in Medina too that Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair did a remarkable work which shows his intelligence and tact in propagating the call of Islam. When the number is Muslims increased in Medina, he organized them in a body and requested permission of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to lay the foundation of Friday prayers.

When the permission of Friday prayers was granted his first talks was to deliver a very impressive address. Then he led the congregational Friday prayers with great reverence. In this way Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair had the honour of founding the Friday prayers. Mus‘ab achieved at Medina were constantly reported to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

[edit] Return to Makkah

When Mus‘ab’s mission had been fully acomplished he led a group of Muslims to Mecca to bring the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) to Medina. On arrival at Mecca the first thing which Mus‘ab did was to approach the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) to give him a full report of the success of his mission. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was very pleased with Mus‘ab’a account. A true Muslim (Momin) does not require anything else but the pleasure of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) of Allah.

Mus‘ab’s mother learnt that her son had returned home at last ; and that he was staying with someone else. She felt annoyed and sent him word : “My son! You have returned to a town, in which I reside. But woe to me! You have not come to see me!” The reply which Mus‘ab sent to his mother shows his sincere devotion to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). He said, “I will not see anybody before I have paid homage to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)".

The account of Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair (peace be upon him) give above presents before ‘us an exemplary proof of the great love he had for Islam and the pains he took in presenting Islam to the non-believers. He sacrificed everything he possessed for the sake of Islam-his charm and beauty, his wealth and worldly belongings, his luxurious style of living and shed his attachment to his parents, his home- land, his people and his own country. In short everything which was dear to him, was sacrificed by him for Islam. But this chapter of the history of Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair (Allah be pleased with him) will remain incomplete without an account of his death.

[edit] Battle of Uhud - Martyrdom

It may be recollected that Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair (Allah be pleased with him) was not only very handsome, he did not only possess the qualities of submission and sacrifice, and he was not only a master of high intelligence and good eloquence, but he was also a gallant soldier, a fearless warrior and an able General. It was because of his gallantry that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) had entrusted him with the charge of the highest banner of war, in the battle of Badr. At the battle of Uhud also he got the rare honour of holding the Muslim banner. The way in which the high office of holding the war banner was discharged in the two battles by this great devotee of Islam may be judged from the events of the Battle of Uhud.

In the battle of Uhud it so happened that the battle was lost for a while by a casual mistake of the Muslims. The non-believers of Mecca attacked the Muslims in the rear and thus disorganized the Muslim army. At that critical time Mus‘ab (Allah be pleased with him) kept the Islamic banner flying high. When the Muslims were scattered, he stood fast until he met Ibn Quma'ah who was a knight. He struck him on his right hand and cut it off, but Mus'ab said, "And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him" He carried the standard with his left hand and leaned on it. He struck his left hand and cut it off, and so he leaned on the standard and held it with his upper arms to his chest, all the while saying, "And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him". Then a third one struck him with his spear, and the spear went through him. Mus'ab fell and then the standard.

He attacked the forces of the enemy all alone. He could not think of acting against the order of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and making a retreat. At that time many non-believers attacked the Muslim warrior simultaneously and surrounded him. There were countless attacks on him by sword and spear.

With great valour he with stood the attack. He bore the cuts of the enemy on his breast, but held the Islamic banner in his hands firmly. During this attack one of the enemies stepped forward and cut off his right hand with one stroke of the sword. The hand fell on the ground. The banner was about to fall when he transferred it to his left hand. The enemy now took another chance and struck a second blow of sword on his left hand. Still Mus‘ab did not lose courage; he did not allow the banner to fall down; he held it by his breast, within the circle of his arms. The enemy was irritated to see such intrepid devotion.

In savage fury, he threw the sword on the ground and flung a spear at the breast of Mus‘ab. The pointed end of the blade pierced the chest, broke and remained embedded there.

The great hero, thus fell to the ground reciting the following Qur’anic verse : “Wa ma Muhammad-dun illa rasulun qad khalat min qablehil rusul). Meaning : “And Muhammad (peace be upon him) is only a prophet of Allah. Many other Prophets have passed away before him.

When the keeper of Islamic banner fell, the banner fluttered in the air. Seeing this Abul Room bin ‘Umair (Allah be pleased with him), brother of the martyr, moved forward and took over the banner. He protected its honour till the last.

When the battle came to an end the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) stood by the dead body of Mus‘ab ibn ‘Umair (Allah be pleased with him) and recited the verse : (Minal momeneena rejalun sadqu ma ‘ahadullaha ‘ alaihe) Meaning : “There are some persone among the devoted Muslims (momeneen) who kept ther promise made to Allah.”

[edit] Burial

Then the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) addressed the dead body thus:

“When I saw you for the first time in Mecca there was nobody more handsome and well-dressed than you. But, I see that today your hair is uncombed and only a sheet of clothe covers your body !”

The martyrs of Uhud could not get proper shrouds because in those days Muslims were poor and lacked money. Mus ‘ab bin ‘Umair (Allah be pleased with him) had only a sheet of cloth over his body; if the head was covered, the feet were bare and when the feet were covered the head was left bare. At last his head was covered and the feet were covered with grass. Such was the shroud of Mus ‘ab bin ‘Umair (Allah be pleased with him)- the great martyr of the Muslim nation.