Men Around The Prophet

A blessed child in his mother's womb was he, when his mother passed over the burning desert sand leaving Makkah for Al-Madiinah on her emigrationroute. While still unborn, Abd Allah was to emigrate with the Muhaajiruun.His mother Asmaa' (May Allah be pleased with her) had hardly reached Qubaa',when she began to suffer labor pains.

`Abd Allah, the first child to be born after the Hijrah, was carried to the Prophet's house in Al- Madiinah. There the Prophet (PBUH) kissed him, then chewed a date and rubbed it on the newborn's gums (a Sunnah calledtahniik). Thus the Prophet's saliva was the first thing to enter `Abd Allah'sbelly.

Muslims gathered, carried the newborn baby and went round with him through the streets of Al Madiinah applauding and shouting "Allahu Akbar"( Allahis the Greatest).

When the Prophet (PBUH) and the Muslims settled in Al Madiinah, the Jews there, bearing deep spite against the Muslims, were subdued. They spreadthe rumor that their priests had made the Muslims infertile by means of their witchcraft and Al- Madiinah was not going to witness the birth of Muslimbabies. When `Abd Allah came out from the unseen, he was an irrefutable prooffrom Allah that the Jews' claims were mere lies and deceptive tricks.

Abd Allah did not reach the age of majority during the Prophet's lifetime. However, his intimate contact with the Prophet (PBUH) during childhood granted him the basic materials of manliness and taught him the principles of life, principles which would be the subject of people's admiration and talk, as will be mentioned later.

The little child's character developed rapidly. He displayed extraordinary energy, intellect, and firmness. His youth was full of chasity, purity,worship, and heroism beyond imagination. As days went by his manners didnot change. He was a man sure of his path, walking his way with strong willand firm belief.

He did not exceed the age of 27, during the conquests of Africa, Spain,and Constantinople, when he proved to be one of the great heroes. That happened, in particular, during the Battle of ifriiqiyah (Tunisia) when 20,000 Muslim soldiers confronted an army of 120,000.

The battle was in progress and the Muslims encountered a real danger. `Abd Allah took a look at the enemy's army and soon realized the source of their strength. It was the leader, the Berber king, who effectively encouragedhis soldiers, pushing them towards death. `Abd Allah knew that the battle'soutcome depended primarily on the death of their stubborn leader. But howwas he going to reach him? He had first to pass through a great and fiercelyfighting army. However, `Abd Allah's courage and bravery were not ever subjectto question. He called his companions and said, "Protect my back, attackwith me." Like a flying arrow he forced his way towards the leader, burstingthrough fighting warriors. When he reached him, he struck him dead. Immediatelythe leader fell down motionless. Then he turned towards those who surroundedtheir king and leader, killing them all. "Allahu Akbar" was then to be heard.The Muslims soon saw their standard lifted on the same spot where the Berberleader had commanded his soldiers. They realized that victory had almostbeen achieved. They strengthened their force and soon everything was overin favor of the Muslims. The leader of the Muslim army, Abd Allah Ibn AbiSarh was told about the great role `Abd Allah Ibn Az-Zubair had played. Herewarded him with the honor of personally carrying the news of victory toAl Madiinah and to the Caliph `Uthmaan Ibn `Affaan.

Nevertheless, his miraculous and extraordinary heroism in fighting came second to his heroism in the sphere of worship.

His family, his youth, his position and its eminence, his wealth, his strength, nothing of that sort could hinder `Abd Allah from being an admirable God-fearing worshiper, fasting all day long while praying all night.

`Umar Ibn `Abd Al-'Aziiz once asked Ibn Abi Mulaikah to describe `Abd Allah, so he said, "By Allah, I've never see a soul similar to his. When he began his prayer, he left everything behind. He bowed down and prostrated for such a long period that birds stood on his back considering him a wall or a gown thrown away. Once a projectile passed between his beard and chest while praying. By Allah, he did not feel it nor was he shaken by it. He did not stop his recitation nor hurry his bowing."

Similar to legends, the truthful information about `Abd Allah's worshipwas transmitted by history.

His fasting, his prayer, his pilgrimage, his noble soul, his continuousfear of Allah, his close relation to Allah, his being a devoted worshiperand a fasting fighter throughout his life were all in him like interwoventhreads.

Although there was some kind of disagreement between `Abd Allah Ibn Az-Zubair and Ibn `Abbaas, the latter described `Abd Allah in the following words: "Hewas a reciter of the Qur'aan, a follower of the Sunnah, submissive to Allah,a God-fearing faster, son of the Prophet's disciple. His mother was As-siddiiq'sdaughter, his aunt `Aa'ishah the Prophet's wife; his rank can only be ignoredby the blind."

The strength of high mountains did not equal `Abd Allah's firmness andassiduity. Sincere, noble, strong, he was always ready to sacrifice his lifefor his clarity and straightforwardness.
During his dispute and wars with Bani Umaiyah (the Ommiads), Al-HusainIbn Numair, the leader of the army sent by Yazild to suppress Ibn Az-Zubair's revolt, went to visit `Abd Allah Ibn Az-Zubair in Makkah after the newsreached there that Yaziid had died. Al-Husain offered Abd Allah to go withhim to Syria where he would use his power to force people to swear the oathof allegiance to Ibn Az-Zubair.
However, Ibn Az-Zubair refused this golden chance because he was totally convinced of the necessity to take revenge on the Syrian army for the terrible crimes committed while marching on the Prophet's Madiinah to satisfy theOmmiads' greed.

We may differ with `Abd Allah, wishing he would have preferred peace and forgiveness by responding to a rare chance offered by Al-Husain, Yaziid's leader. Nevertheless, the man's position in favor of his conviction andfaith, rejecting lies and tricks, deserves respect and admiration.

Al-Hajaaj attacked with his army, besieging him and his followers. At that time, among Abd Allah's warriors was a group of very skillful Abyssinianspearmen and warriors. `Abd Allah heard them talking about the late Caliph`Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with him). Their conversation lacked all formsof justice and fairness. `Abd Allah reprimanded them severely saying, " ByAllah, I don't like to defeat my enemy with the help of someone hating `Uthmaan."He sent them away at a very critical time in which he needed help so desperately, like a drowning man seeking hope.

His sincerity and honesty in faith and principles made him indifferentto the loss of 200 of his most skillful spearmen, the faith of whom he could no longer trust.

All that despite the fierce decisive battle which stood in front of him, the outcome of which could have been different if those spearmen had remained.

His resistance against Mu'aawiyah and Yaziid was an extraordinary legend of bravery. He considered Yaziid Ibn Mu'aawiyah Ibn Abi Sufyaan the mostunqualified person to rule the Muslim community. That was true. Yaziid wastotally corrupt. He did not possess one single virtue which would forgivehis crimes and evils which have been narrated by history.

How was it possible for Ibn Az-Zubair to swear the oath of allegiance to him? He strongly refused to do so while Mu'aawiyah was alive and more so whenYaziid became caliph. Yaziid sent someone to threaten him. He, however, said,"I'm not going to swear the oath of allegiance to a drunkard."

Ibn Az-Zubair became Commander of the Faithful with Holy Makkah as hiscapital, extending his rule over Hejaz, Yemen, Basra, Kufa, Khurasan, andSyria except Damascus. The inhabitants of all these provinces swore the oathof allegiance to him. But the Ommiads were not satisfied. Restless, theywaged continuous wars, most of which ended in their defeat. Nothing changeduntil `Abd Al Maalik Ibn Marwaan ordered one of the most harsh, criminal,cruel, and merciless human beings to attack `Abd Allah in Makkah. This wasAl-Hajaaj Ath-Thaqafiy, who was described by `Umar Ibn Abd Al-'Aziiz: "Ifall nations were to weigh together their sins, and we came with Al Hajaajonly, the balance would sway to our part."

Al-Hajaaj personally led his army to invade Makkah, Ibn Az Zubair's capital. He besieged it nearly six months, preventing the provision of water and food to force people to abandon Abd Allah. Under the severe pressure of hunger, a large number of fighters surrendered and Abd Allah found himself almost alone. Although chances to save his life and soul were still available, he decided to carry out his responsibilities to the very end. He went on fighting with legendary courage, although he was 70 years old at that time. We will only grasp the full image of that situation if we listen to the conversation which took place between `Abd Allah and his mother, the great and nobleAsmaa' Bint Abu Bakr, a short while before his death.

He went to her presenting the whole situation and what seemed to be his destiny.

Asmaa' told him, " My son, you know yourself better than anyone else. If you know that you are adhering to the truth and calling to it, then be patient till you die for its sake and don't let the boys of Bani Umaiyah reach your neck. But if life in this world has been your main concern, then you're a wretched son, destroying yourself and those killed on your side."

`Abd Allah said, "By Allah, mother, I've never sought life in this world, nor did I submit myself to it. I've never ruled with injustice, treatedanyone unfairly, or betrayed anyone."

His mother Asmaa' said, "I hope I will receive good consolation if youprecede me to Paradise or I precede you. May Allah have mercy for your longprayers at night, your fasting during hot days and your reverent treatmentof me and your father. Allah, I've handed over my son to Your fate; I willbe pleased with Your destiny. Reward me for sacrificing my son as You rewardthankful and patient believers."

They embraced each other and exchanged a farewell look. After one hourof fierce, unparalleled battle, the martyr received a deadly stroke. Al-Hajaaj, cruel, cunning, and deceiving as he was, insisted on crucifying the lifeless body.

`Abd Allah's mother, who was on that day 97 years old, went to see hercrucified son. Like a high towering mountain, his mother stood in front ofhim when Al-Hajaaj approached with shame and humiliation and said, "O Mother,the Commander of the Faithful `Abd Al-Maalik Ibn Marwaan has recommendedme to treat you well. Do you need anything?"

She shouted, " I'm not your mother. I'm the mother of that one crucified on the cross. I don't need you. But I'm going to tell you a hadith whichI heard from the Prophet (PBUH). He said, "He will emerge from Thaqiif, aliar and a vicious one." We have already seen the liar and the vicious one.I don't think he's anyone else but you." `Abd Allah Ibn `Umar approachedto console her and asked Allah to grant her patience. She replied, "Whathinders me from being patient? Wasn't the head of Yahyaa (John) Ibn Zakariyaagranted to an Israelite harlot?"

How great she was, daughter of As-siddiiq!. Are there more eloquent words to be directed at those who cut `Abd Allah's head off his body before crucifying him?

If `Abd Allah's head had been handed over as a present to Al Hajaaj and `Abd Al-Maalik, the head of a great Prophet (PBUH), Yahyaa Ibn Zakariya had been granted to Salome, a miserable Israelite harlot. What a magnificentcomparison! What truthful words!

Having suckled the milk of such an extraordinary mother, could `Abd Allah possibly have lived a different life, a life not reaching such great levels of success, virtue, and heroism?

May peace be upon `Abd Allah.
May peace be upon Asmaa'.
May peace be upon them among the eternally living martyrs.
May peace be upon them among the most reverent and pious.