Rare Courage
Rare Courage
The enthusiasm for After-life had endowed the Muslims with and almost superhuman courage. Worldly aims and interests having ceased to bear any significance in their eyes, they advanced towards the ultimate goal of paradise with the ardency of a carrier-pigeon.
It is reported in the Sahih Bukhari that as Anas bin Nadhar was advancing upon the enemy at a critical moment in the battle of Uhud, he met Sa'd to whom he said, "By Allah , Sa'd, I can feel the sweet fragrance of Paradise coming from the direction of the Mount of Uhud." With these words he rushed into the heart of the battle. Sa'd says that when the dead body of Anas was recovered from the battlefield, there were more than eighty wounds on it. The infidels had literally cut him to pieces; as a result of this, his sister alone could recognize his corpse. [1]
In the battle of Badr the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was once urging the Muslims on to greater effort. When he was saying, " March forward to Paradise, the extensiveness of which is as the extensiveness of the heavens and the earth ", 'Umair bin Hamim cried out, " 0 Prophet of Allah , is it really that much extensive?" The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied, " Yes. Do you doubt it ?" " I doubt not, " said 'Umair, " I only wished that I attained it ". " You will ", the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied. 'Umair had taken out some dates and begun to eat them. But the opening of the prospect of Paradise before his mind would not let him eat. Was it not foolish to waste one's time on such ' trifles ', when heaven was beckoning him ? He flung away the dates and jumped into the thick of the battle. His heart's desire was soon fulfilled.[2]
Abu Bakr bin Abu Musa al Ash'ari has narrated that on a certain field of battle his father was recounting how the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had said that the gates of Paradise were under the shadow of the swords when a man, dressed in tatters, stepped forward and asked whether he himself had heard that from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam . Abu Bakr's father replied that it was so. On hearing this, the man went back to his friends and took their leave. He unsheathed his sword, broke the sheath into pieces and took the field against the enemy. He was subsequently killed.[3]
'Amr bin jamuh, who was lame, had four sons. They used to accompany the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam whenever he set out on jihad. When the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was leaving for Uhud, 'Amr also wanted to join, but his sons were opposed to it on account of his physical disability and old age. Finding them adamant, 'Amr sought the help of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam . "My sons dissuade me from going with you," he said, while it is my desire that I walk in Paradise with my impaired leg".
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam explained that jihad was not binding on him. At the same time, he did not like that 'Amr's sons should stand in their father's way in the holy cause upon which he had set his heart. So he said to them, "Why don't you let him go ? Allah may grant him martyrdom." The sons agreed and 'Amr went to join the holy war in which he was killed.[4]
Shaddad bin Had says that in a journey a bedouin came to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and attached himself to his party after embracing Islam. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam instructed a Companion to keep an eye on him. When the campaign of Khyber took place, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam allotted a share in the booty to him also, but as he was not present - he was a cattle-lifter and used to slip away on his rounds when he got the chance-it was kept with a Companion who gave it to him on his return in the evening. The bedouin took the booty to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and inquired as to what it was. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam told him that it was his share of the spoils, upon which he said, " But I did not join you for it," and pointing towards his throat he added, "I joined to be pierced by an arrow here ". The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied, " Allah will fulfil your wish if you are true in your affair with Him ". Then another battle took place in which he was killed. When his corpse was pointed out to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam , he remarked," His affair with Allah was true; so Allah too made him true." [5]
[1] Bukhari and Muslim
[2] Muslim.
[3] Muslim.
[4] Zad ul Ma'ad volume III page 135
[5] Ibid. page 190
The enthusiasm for After-life had endowed the Muslims with and almost superhuman courage. Worldly aims and interests having ceased to bear any significance in their eyes, they advanced towards the ultimate goal of paradise with the ardency of a carrier-pigeon.
It is reported in the Sahih Bukhari that as Anas bin Nadhar was advancing upon the enemy at a critical moment in the battle of Uhud, he met Sa'd to whom he said, "By Allah , Sa'd, I can feel the sweet fragrance of Paradise coming from the direction of the Mount of Uhud." With these words he rushed into the heart of the battle. Sa'd says that when the dead body of Anas was recovered from the battlefield, there were more than eighty wounds on it. The infidels had literally cut him to pieces; as a result of this, his sister alone could recognize his corpse. [1]
In the battle of Badr the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was once urging the Muslims on to greater effort. When he was saying, " March forward to Paradise, the extensiveness of which is as the extensiveness of the heavens and the earth ", 'Umair bin Hamim cried out, " 0 Prophet of Allah , is it really that much extensive?" The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied, " Yes. Do you doubt it ?" " I doubt not, " said 'Umair, " I only wished that I attained it ". " You will ", the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied. 'Umair had taken out some dates and begun to eat them. But the opening of the prospect of Paradise before his mind would not let him eat. Was it not foolish to waste one's time on such ' trifles ', when heaven was beckoning him ? He flung away the dates and jumped into the thick of the battle. His heart's desire was soon fulfilled.[2]
Abu Bakr bin Abu Musa al Ash'ari has narrated that on a certain field of battle his father was recounting how the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had said that the gates of Paradise were under the shadow of the swords when a man, dressed in tatters, stepped forward and asked whether he himself had heard that from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam . Abu Bakr's father replied that it was so. On hearing this, the man went back to his friends and took their leave. He unsheathed his sword, broke the sheath into pieces and took the field against the enemy. He was subsequently killed.[3]
'Amr bin jamuh, who was lame, had four sons. They used to accompany the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam whenever he set out on jihad. When the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was leaving for Uhud, 'Amr also wanted to join, but his sons were opposed to it on account of his physical disability and old age. Finding them adamant, 'Amr sought the help of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam . "My sons dissuade me from going with you," he said, while it is my desire that I walk in Paradise with my impaired leg".
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam explained that jihad was not binding on him. At the same time, he did not like that 'Amr's sons should stand in their father's way in the holy cause upon which he had set his heart. So he said to them, "Why don't you let him go ? Allah may grant him martyrdom." The sons agreed and 'Amr went to join the holy war in which he was killed.[4]
Shaddad bin Had says that in a journey a bedouin came to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and attached himself to his party after embracing Islam. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam instructed a Companion to keep an eye on him. When the campaign of Khyber took place, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam allotted a share in the booty to him also, but as he was not present - he was a cattle-lifter and used to slip away on his rounds when he got the chance-it was kept with a Companion who gave it to him on his return in the evening. The bedouin took the booty to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and inquired as to what it was. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam told him that it was his share of the spoils, upon which he said, " But I did not join you for it," and pointing towards his throat he added, "I joined to be pierced by an arrow here ". The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied, " Allah will fulfil your wish if you are true in your affair with Him ". Then another battle took place in which he was killed. When his corpse was pointed out to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam , he remarked," His affair with Allah was true; so Allah too made him true." [5]
[1] Bukhari and Muslim
[2] Muslim.
[3] Muslim.
[4] Zad ul Ma'ad volume III page 135
[5] Ibid. page 190
posted by Muhammed Mustharshid at 11:42 AM
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