Men Around The Prophet
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`ABD ALLAH IBN `AMR IBN AL-'Aas
The Submissive Returner to Allah!
The submissive, repentant, ever returning worshiper whom we are goingto talk about is `Abd Allah Ibn Amr Ibn Al-'Aas.
Just as his father was famous for his rationality and cunning tricks,so was he famous for his highly elevated position among worshipers and hermits.His whole life was devoted to worship. Days and nights were not enough forhis acts of worship.
He embraced Islam before his father. Since the day he swore the oath of allegiance, his heart shone like sunlight by means of Allah's light and the light of obedience.
He devoted himself to reciting and understanding the Glorious Qur'aan,so that when it was completely revealed he would have learned it all by heart. He did not recite it merely by power of a retentive memory, reproducinga book learned by heart, but rather he lived according to its laws, filledhis heart with its magnificence, was its obedient servant and responded toits appeals. He then dedicated himself to its reading and recitation as wellas understanding it, walking most delightfully in its mellow orchards, pleased with a joyful soul, happy with its holy verses, with eyes crying in anxiety and fear due to the effect of its verses.
`Abd Allah was created to be a worshiping saint. Nothing whatsoever could distract him from what he was created for and guided to. If the army of Islam waged jihaad against the polytheists who had been attacking Islam, he could always be found insistent in the front rows, aspiring to die as a martyr. It was the aspiration of a loving soul and the insistence of a lover. When the war was over, where was he to be found?
There in the great mosque or the small mosque beside his house, fastingin the daytime, praying at night. His tongue did not know any worldly talkno matter how legitimate it was. His tongue did not know anything but invokingof Allah, the reciting the Qur'aan, praising Allah, and asking Him His forgivenessand remission of sins. It is worthwhile to know how deep his worship andasceticism was.The Prophet (PBUH) found himself once forced to interferein order to limit `Abd Allah's extremism in worship.
It reached the Prophet that `Abd Allah spent his life in a uniform manner. If there was no battle to join, then it was non-stop worshiping, fasting, praying, and reciting the Qur'aan.
The Prophet (PBUH) sent for him, appealing to him to be moderate. The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Is it true what I heard, that you fast every day without eating (without breaking your fasting by one or two days) and that you pray all nightwithout sleeping? It's enough to fast just three days every month." `AbdAllah said, "I can bear more than that!" The Prophet (PBUH) said, "It's enoughto fast two days each week." `Abd Allah said, "I can bear more than that."The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Then, why don't you fast the best fasting of all,Daawud's (David's) fast; he fasted one day and ate on the other."
The Prophet (PBUH) continued asking him, "I've been informed that you recite the whole Qur'aan in one night. I'm afraid when you get older you will feel bored reciting it. Recite it once each month. Recite it once every ten days. Recite it once every three days." Then he said, "I fast and eat. I pray and sleep. I marry women. Whoever abstains from following my path, indeed, is not of me."
Abd Allah lived long and when he got older and weaker he always remembered the Prophet's advice saying, "If only I had accepted the Prophet's advice."
It is not easy to find a believer of that sort engaged in a war foughtby two Muslim parties against each other. How was it possible that his feetcarried him from Al-Madiinah to As-Siffiin where he joined Mu`aawiyah's armyin the battle against Imam `Aliy? The more we contemplate `Abd Allah's position, the more we will find it worthy of your respect and honor.
We saw how `Abd Allah was engaged in worship in a way which truly endangered his life. His father was always concerned about this matter. Therefore,he often complained to the Prophet (PBUH).
On that particular instance when the Prophet (PBUH) asked `Abd Allah to be moderate in worship, clearly suggesting suitable intervals, `Abd Allah's father `Amr was present. The Prophet (PBUH) put `Abd Allah's hand into his father's saying, "Do as I ordered you and obey your father."
Although `Abd Allah was obedient to his father due to his faith and belief, the Prophet's order to him in such a way and on such an occasion had a very special impact on him. `Abd Allah lived his whole life always remembering this short statement, "Do as I ordered you and obey you father."
Days and years passed. Mu'aawiyah in Syria refused to swear the oath of allegiance to `Aliy. `Aliy refused to submit to an illegal rebellion. War broke out between the two Muslim parties. The Battle of Al-Jamal passed,and now it was the turn of As-Siffiin.
`Amr lbn Al-'Aas had chosen to fight on Mu'aawiyah's side. Knowing howmuch people trusted and acknowledged his son's faith, he found it very beneficial for Mu'aawiyah's party to convince him to join and engage in the war. Inaddition, `Amr was always optimistic whenever he had Abd Allah beside himin times of war. He could not forget his striving and endeavor in the conquestof Syria and on the Day of Yarmuuk.
When he intended to set out towards As-Siffiin he appealed to his son to join saying, "O Abd Allah, get ready, you're going to fight with us." Abd Allah replied, "How? The Prophet (PBUH) has entrusted me never to hold a swordto a Muslim's neck." By means of his cunning tricks, `Amr tried to convince his son that they just intended to kill `Uthmaan's murderers and to take revenge.
Then he surprised his son with the following words, "O Abd Allah, do you remember the last thing the Prophet committed you to, when he put your hand over mine saying, Obey your father? I order you now to join us and fightwith us.
`Abd Allah went obediently but with the deep intention to neither carry a sword nor kill a Muslim.
But how was that going to be possible? For the time being, he was justjoining his father, but when the fight starts let Allah do as He wills.
It was a hard and fierce battle. Historians argue and differ among themselves, whether `Abd Allah joined the battle from the very beginning or not.
We think that he joined it from the very beginning, because the battlehad hardly begun when something happened which forced `Abd Allah to standopenly and dearly against the whole war and against Mu'aawiyah.
`Ammaar Ibn Yaasir, who was well respected by the Companions, was fighting on the side of Imam `Aliy. Once in the far remote past the Prophet (PBUH) had forseen `Ammaar's murder.
This was in the days when the Prophet (PBUH) and the Companions were building their mosque at Al-Madiinah after the Hijrah. The rocks were extremely big and even the strongest ones could not carry more than one at a time. However, Ammaar was so cheerful and glad that he went on carrying two rocks at a time. The Prophet (PBUH) looked at him with tearful eyes saying, "Woe upon the sonof Sumaiyah.
He is going to be killed by the unjust party." All the Companions who took part in the building heard the prophecy and remembered it well. Abd Allah lbn `Amr was one of those who heard it.
At the beginning of the battle between Aliy and Mu'aawiyah's parties, Ammaar ascended a hill shouting, "Today is the day that we are going to meet Muhammad and his Companions."
A group of Mu'aawiyah's party committed themselves to killing `Ammaar,so they pierced him with a lance, whereby he fell as a martyr.
The news of `Ammaar's death spread rapidly. `Abd Allah stood up agitatedly and said, "Is it true that `Ammaar has been killed ? Did you do it? Thatmeans you are the unjust party! You are the mislead warriors!" Like a portenthe burst into the army, discouraging the fighters, shouting loudly, "Youare the unjust party as long as it's you who killed Ammaar. The Prophet (PBUH) foresaw his murder by the unjust party some 27 years ago.
`Abd Allah's words soon reached Mu`aawiyah, who sent for `Amr and his son. He said to Amr, "Can't you stop your mad man?" `Abd Allah said, "I'm not mad,but I heard the Prophet (PBUH) once saying to `Ammaar, "You will be killedby the unjust party." Mu'aawiyah continued asking, "Why then, did you joinour party?" `Abd Allah said, "Because the Prophet (PBUH) asked me to obeymy father and I obeyed him joining you, but I didn't fight."
While they were arguing, someone entered asking Mu'aawiyah to permit the entrance of `Ammaar's murderer. At that moment `Abd Allah shouted, "Let him in and announce the `good news' he is in hell."
Hereby Mu'aawiyah lost his temper despite his calmness and mildness. He shouted to Amr, "Can't you hear what he is saying?" `Abd Allah continuedto ensure Mu'aawiyah that what he was saying was the truth and that the murderers were no more than unjust tyrants. Then he turned to his father and said,"Had it not been for the Prophet's order to obey you, I would not have goneout with you.
While inspecting their army, Mu'aawiyah and `Amr were astonished and terrified to hear all the people talking about the Prophet's prophecy to `Ammaar, You are going to be killed by the unjust party.
`Amr and Mu'aawiyah were afraid that this mere grumble was soon going to turn into a revolt against Mu'aawiyah. They thought together till they found a cunning trick. They spread the following words among the people: "Yes, theProphet (PBUH) said to `Ammaar on that day, You'll be killed by the unjust party. The Prophet's prophecy is true. `Ammaar has been killed. But who killed him? The true murderers are those who asked him to go out to fight."
In the midst of such confusion and turmoil, any logic could easily be spread. In this way Mu`aawiyah's and `Amr's logic prevailed. The battle continued. Abd Allah went back to his mosque and to his worship.
He lived a life filled with nothing else than worship and adoration. Nevertheless, the mere act of going out to the battlefield always remained a reason for worry. He never remembered this act without weeping and saying, "What did I have to do with As-Siffiin?" Why did I bother myself with the killing of Muslims?"
One day, while sitting with some companions in the Prophet's mosque, Al-Hussain lbn `Aliy (May Allah be pleased with him) passed by and they greeted each other. When Al-Hussain went away `Abd Allah said to those sitting with him, "Would you like to know the human being most beloved to the angels? It's theone who just passed by, Al-Hussain lbn `Aliy. He has not talked to me sincethe Day of As-Siffin. I would like him to talk to me more than I desire allthe blessings of this world."
He decided with Abu Sa'iid Al-Khudriy to visit Al-Hussain. There at Al-Hussain's house the meeting of these two great men took place. `Abd Allah began to talk.When he mentioned As-Siffiin, Al Hussain asked him scoldingly, "You, didyou join the fight on Mu'aawiyah's side?" `Abd Allah said, "One day `Amr IbnAl-'Aas complained to the Prophet (PBUH) saying, "Abd Allah fasts the wholeday and prays all night.' Then the Prophet said to me, `O Abd Allah, prayand sleep, fast and eat. Obey you father.' When it was the day of As-siffiin, my father swore by Allah that I had to go out with him. I went out, but, byAllah, I didn't pierce with a lance, I didn't fight with a sword and I didn'tshoot any arrows.
At the age of 72, while praying in his mosque, asking for Allah's forgiveness, praising Allah gratefully, he was invited to join the eternal voyage. Filled with a longing aspiration he responded. His soul left the world joyfullyto join his brethren who had preceded him. The announcer of good news proclaimed from Heaven,
"O soul at peace, return to your Lord, well pleased and well pleasing. Enteryou among My servants, and enter into My Paradise!" (89:27- 30).