In truth till death
Friday, September 5, 2008
HUZAIFAH ibn Al-Yaman, the expert in the inner language, the language of the heart, was preparing to meet Allah and suffering from the agony of death when his companions surrounding him asked, "To whom should we go, if people differ?"
Huzaifah answered in his last words, "You should turn to Ibn Sumaiyah because he will not part from truth until death."
Yes, 'Amar would turn with the truth wherever it went. Now while we trace his blessed direction and follow the landmarks of his great life, let us approach a momentous scene.
Days and years passed.
The Messenger went to the Supreme Companion, fol-lowed by Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and then 'Umar ibn Khattab (May Allah be pleased with them).
'Uthman ibn 'Affaan, "The Man of Two Lights", became Khalifah. Conspiracies against Islam were doing their best, trying to gain by treachery and
sedition what they lost in war.
'Umar's death was the first success achieved by these conspiracies blowing on Al-Madinah as a breeze of poison from those countries whose sovereignty and thrones Islam had destroyed.
They were tempted by 'Umar's martyrdom to continue their efforts, so they followed and awakened seditions in most Islamic countries.
In addition, 'Uthman might not have given the matter the attention, care, and response it deserved, so the incident happened and 'Uthman was martyred and the doors of seditions were opened on the Muslims.
Mu'awiyah started fighting the new caliph, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (May Allah glorify his face) for his right in the matter and for the caliphate.
The Companions had different stances. Some of them washed their hands of the whole matter and went home, making Ibn 'Umar's words their motto:
To the one who says, "Come to prayer," I will respond.
To the one who says, "Come to success," I will respond.
But to the one who says, "Come to kill your Muslim brother and to take his money," I will say, "No."
Some Muslims were partial to Mu'awiyah, others were partial to 'Ali, the one who demanded the pledge of allegiance to him as the Muslims' khalifah.
Where do you think 'Amar would stand?
Where should he stand, the man about whom the Messenger of Allah said, "Follow the guidance of 'Amar," and, "Whoever antagonises 'Amar, will be antagonised by Allah"?
The man who, if he approached the house of Allah's Messenger, the latter would say, "Welcome the good-scented, kind man, allow him to come in"?
He stood by 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, not as a prejudiced, biased person, but as one complying with the truth and keeping his promise.
'Ali was the Khalifah of the Muslims and had the pledge of allegiance to be its leader (Imam).
He took the caliphate and he was worthy of it. Above all, 'Ali had the qualities that made his place to the Messenger of Allah as that of Harun to Musa.
'Amar, who always turned towards the truth wherever it was to enlighten his insight and loyalty to the possessor of truth in that fight, turned to 'Ali on that day and stood by him.
'Ali was overjoyed with 'Amar's pledge and trusted that he was right in his demand because the great man of truth, 'Amar ibn Yasir, approached and went with him.
The terrible Day of Siffiin arrived. 'Ali came out to face the serious rebellion which he felt he had to curb. 'Amar came out with him, and he was 93 years old then.
Imagine, a man of 93 going to fight! It is true, as long as he believed that fighting was his responsibility and duty. In fact, he fought more strongly and better than a man of 30.
He was the man who was constantly silent, who spoke little. When he moved his lips, he moved them to supplicate, "I seek Allah's protection from sedition. I seek Allah's protection from sedition."
And after the passing away of the Messenger of Allah, these words remained his constant supplication.
As days passed, he used to seek Allah's protection more, as if his pure heart felt the coming danger as the days went on. When it did happen and the sedition occurred, Ibn Sumaiyah knew his place, so he stood in Siffiin carrying his sword, a man of 93 to support a right which he believed should be supported.
He declared his opinion about that fighting: "O people, let us be directed to the people who claim they are avenging 'Uthman. By Allah, their intention is not revenge, but they have tasted worldly things and are pleased with them. They know that truth keeps them away from what they enjoy of lust and their world."
"Those people had no precedent in the past to keep Muslims in obedience to them or in their support. Their hearts have not felt awe towards Allah to force them to follow the truth. They deceive the people by claiming they are avenging 'Uthman's death. They seek nothing but to be tyrants and kings."
He then took the standard in his hand, raised high and fluttering above their heads and shouted, "By Allah in Whose hands my soul lies, I fought with this standard with the Messenger of Allah, and here I am fighting with it today."
"By Allah, if they defeat us until they reach the palm trees of Hajar, I would still believe we are in the right and they are following the wrong."
People followed Amar and trusted his words.
Men around the Prophet
Huzaifah answered in his last words, "You should turn to Ibn Sumaiyah because he will not part from truth until death."
Yes, 'Amar would turn with the truth wherever it went. Now while we trace his blessed direction and follow the landmarks of his great life, let us approach a momentous scene.
Days and years passed.
The Messenger went to the Supreme Companion, fol-lowed by Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and then 'Umar ibn Khattab (May Allah be pleased with them).
'Uthman ibn 'Affaan, "The Man of Two Lights", became Khalifah. Conspiracies against Islam were doing their best, trying to gain by treachery and
sedition what they lost in war.
'Umar's death was the first success achieved by these conspiracies blowing on Al-Madinah as a breeze of poison from those countries whose sovereignty and thrones Islam had destroyed.
They were tempted by 'Umar's martyrdom to continue their efforts, so they followed and awakened seditions in most Islamic countries.
In addition, 'Uthman might not have given the matter the attention, care, and response it deserved, so the incident happened and 'Uthman was martyred and the doors of seditions were opened on the Muslims.
Mu'awiyah started fighting the new caliph, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (May Allah glorify his face) for his right in the matter and for the caliphate.
The Companions had different stances. Some of them washed their hands of the whole matter and went home, making Ibn 'Umar's words their motto:
To the one who says, "Come to prayer," I will respond.
To the one who says, "Come to success," I will respond.
But to the one who says, "Come to kill your Muslim brother and to take his money," I will say, "No."
Some Muslims were partial to Mu'awiyah, others were partial to 'Ali, the one who demanded the pledge of allegiance to him as the Muslims' khalifah.
Where do you think 'Amar would stand?
Where should he stand, the man about whom the Messenger of Allah said, "Follow the guidance of 'Amar," and, "Whoever antagonises 'Amar, will be antagonised by Allah"?
The man who, if he approached the house of Allah's Messenger, the latter would say, "Welcome the good-scented, kind man, allow him to come in"?
He stood by 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, not as a prejudiced, biased person, but as one complying with the truth and keeping his promise.
'Ali was the Khalifah of the Muslims and had the pledge of allegiance to be its leader (Imam).
He took the caliphate and he was worthy of it. Above all, 'Ali had the qualities that made his place to the Messenger of Allah as that of Harun to Musa.
'Amar, who always turned towards the truth wherever it was to enlighten his insight and loyalty to the possessor of truth in that fight, turned to 'Ali on that day and stood by him.
'Ali was overjoyed with 'Amar's pledge and trusted that he was right in his demand because the great man of truth, 'Amar ibn Yasir, approached and went with him.
The terrible Day of Siffiin arrived. 'Ali came out to face the serious rebellion which he felt he had to curb. 'Amar came out with him, and he was 93 years old then.
Imagine, a man of 93 going to fight! It is true, as long as he believed that fighting was his responsibility and duty. In fact, he fought more strongly and better than a man of 30.
He was the man who was constantly silent, who spoke little. When he moved his lips, he moved them to supplicate, "I seek Allah's protection from sedition. I seek Allah's protection from sedition."
And after the passing away of the Messenger of Allah, these words remained his constant supplication.
As days passed, he used to seek Allah's protection more, as if his pure heart felt the coming danger as the days went on. When it did happen and the sedition occurred, Ibn Sumaiyah knew his place, so he stood in Siffiin carrying his sword, a man of 93 to support a right which he believed should be supported.
He declared his opinion about that fighting: "O people, let us be directed to the people who claim they are avenging 'Uthman. By Allah, their intention is not revenge, but they have tasted worldly things and are pleased with them. They know that truth keeps them away from what they enjoy of lust and their world."
"Those people had no precedent in the past to keep Muslims in obedience to them or in their support. Their hearts have not felt awe towards Allah to force them to follow the truth. They deceive the people by claiming they are avenging 'Uthman's death. They seek nothing but to be tyrants and kings."
He then took the standard in his hand, raised high and fluttering above their heads and shouted, "By Allah in Whose hands my soul lies, I fought with this standard with the Messenger of Allah, and here I am fighting with it today."
"By Allah, if they defeat us until they reach the palm trees of Hajar, I would still believe we are in the right and they are following the wrong."
People followed Amar and trusted his words.
Men around the Prophet
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