Khabbab conveyed good news for 'Umar
Friday, October 10, 2008
ONE day, Khabbab ibn Al-Arath went with some of his oppressed brethren to the Messenger of Allah Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him, and said, "O Messenger of Allah, please ask Allah to bestow his victory and safety on us."
This was an expression of hope in Allah's safety rather than of faint-heartedness and feebleness. Instantly, the Prophet sat up, and his face reddened as he said, "Not a long time ago, men like you who believed in Allah used to be dragged into a ditch where they were sawed from the head downwards, yet this didn't make them turn back from their religion. They also used to comb them with iron combs that split their flesh and bones, yet they didn't turn their backs on their religion. Believe me, Allah will put an end to all your sufferings and grant you victory so much so that one day, a man will travel from San'a to Hadramaut and fear no one but Allah and the wolf, lest it should devour his sheep. But you have no patience."
As soon as Khabbab and his comrades heard these words, they seemed to have reached the apex of certainty and determination. Therefore, they decided to show Allah and the Prophet nothing but will, patience, and self-sacrifice. Khabbab then walked patiently yet decidedly into the dungeons of hell.
The Quraisy were maddened by his steadfastness and endurance; therefore, they decided to seek the help of his former slave mistress, Umm Ammar, who became Khabbab's principal torturer.
For instance, she used to place burning iron on Khabbab's head, yet Khabbab deliberately controlled himself so as to deprive his torturer of the joy of hearing him moan.
One day, the Prophet saw his head burned and blackened by the hot iron. His heart was full of sympathy and anguish, but there was nothing that he could do at that time but to supplicate Allah to our forth patience on him and strengthen his faith.
Thus the Prophet raised his hands and supplicated, "Allah, make Khabbab victorious over the disbelieving people."
Allah brought it about a few days later. Retaliation befell Umm 'Ammar as if destiny meant it as an ultimatum to the rest of the torturers.
She suffered a peculiar, acute rabies attack that made her, according to historians, bark like dogs. At that time, she was told that the only cure for her ordeal was to cauterise her head.
Finally, her stubborn head burned day and night with burning iron. All in all, the Quraisy fought faith with torture, while the believers fought torture with self-sacrifice.
Khabbab was one of those whom Allah had chosen to take their place among the masters of self-denial and sacrifice.
Not only had Khabbab, May Allah be pleased wih him, devoted his time to the service of the new religion, but also to worshiping, praying, and instucting.
He used to visit his brothers who hid their Islam in dread of the Quraisy's tyranny and despotism. There, he used to read the Quran and instruct them.
He was, truly, a genius in studying every surah and verse in the Quran. Even 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, whom the Prophet praised by saying, "He who wants to read the Quran in exactly the same way it descended on me, should imitate lbn Umm 'Abd", considered Khabbab as a reference to all that concerns the Quran, whether as a text or a textbook.
Khabbab was the one who was teaching the Quran to Fatimah bint Al-Khattab and her husband Sa'id ibn Zaid, when 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab thrust his way right into their house with unsheathed sword so as to settle his account with Islam and the Prophet.
Allah willed that as soon as 'Umar heard the verse in the scroll being recited in a slow and pleasant voice by Khabbab, he cried out, "Tell me where Muhammad is!" when Khabbab heard 'Umar's words, he came out of his hiding place and said, "'Umar, by Allah, I do hope that Allah chose you to fulfil the Prophet's supplication. For yesterday, I heard the Prophet say, 'Allah, please support Islam with whom You love best, either Abi Al-Hakam ibn Hisyam (Abu Jahl) or 'Umar ibn Al- Khattab'."
'Umar repeated his question, "Where is Muhammad now?" Khabbab answered, "At As-Safaa in Daar Al-Arqam ibn Abi Arqam."
At that very moment, 'Umar ascended towards his great fortune and blessed destiny.
Men around the Messenger
This was an expression of hope in Allah's safety rather than of faint-heartedness and feebleness. Instantly, the Prophet sat up, and his face reddened as he said, "Not a long time ago, men like you who believed in Allah used to be dragged into a ditch where they were sawed from the head downwards, yet this didn't make them turn back from their religion. They also used to comb them with iron combs that split their flesh and bones, yet they didn't turn their backs on their religion. Believe me, Allah will put an end to all your sufferings and grant you victory so much so that one day, a man will travel from San'a to Hadramaut and fear no one but Allah and the wolf, lest it should devour his sheep. But you have no patience."
As soon as Khabbab and his comrades heard these words, they seemed to have reached the apex of certainty and determination. Therefore, they decided to show Allah and the Prophet nothing but will, patience, and self-sacrifice. Khabbab then walked patiently yet decidedly into the dungeons of hell.
The Quraisy were maddened by his steadfastness and endurance; therefore, they decided to seek the help of his former slave mistress, Umm Ammar, who became Khabbab's principal torturer.
For instance, she used to place burning iron on Khabbab's head, yet Khabbab deliberately controlled himself so as to deprive his torturer of the joy of hearing him moan.
One day, the Prophet saw his head burned and blackened by the hot iron. His heart was full of sympathy and anguish, but there was nothing that he could do at that time but to supplicate Allah to our forth patience on him and strengthen his faith.
Thus the Prophet raised his hands and supplicated, "Allah, make Khabbab victorious over the disbelieving people."
Allah brought it about a few days later. Retaliation befell Umm 'Ammar as if destiny meant it as an ultimatum to the rest of the torturers.
She suffered a peculiar, acute rabies attack that made her, according to historians, bark like dogs. At that time, she was told that the only cure for her ordeal was to cauterise her head.
Finally, her stubborn head burned day and night with burning iron. All in all, the Quraisy fought faith with torture, while the believers fought torture with self-sacrifice.
Khabbab was one of those whom Allah had chosen to take their place among the masters of self-denial and sacrifice.
Not only had Khabbab, May Allah be pleased wih him, devoted his time to the service of the new religion, but also to worshiping, praying, and instucting.
He used to visit his brothers who hid their Islam in dread of the Quraisy's tyranny and despotism. There, he used to read the Quran and instruct them.
He was, truly, a genius in studying every surah and verse in the Quran. Even 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, whom the Prophet praised by saying, "He who wants to read the Quran in exactly the same way it descended on me, should imitate lbn Umm 'Abd", considered Khabbab as a reference to all that concerns the Quran, whether as a text or a textbook.
Khabbab was the one who was teaching the Quran to Fatimah bint Al-Khattab and her husband Sa'id ibn Zaid, when 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab thrust his way right into their house with unsheathed sword so as to settle his account with Islam and the Prophet.
Allah willed that as soon as 'Umar heard the verse in the scroll being recited in a slow and pleasant voice by Khabbab, he cried out, "Tell me where Muhammad is!" when Khabbab heard 'Umar's words, he came out of his hiding place and said, "'Umar, by Allah, I do hope that Allah chose you to fulfil the Prophet's supplication. For yesterday, I heard the Prophet say, 'Allah, please support Islam with whom You love best, either Abi Al-Hakam ibn Hisyam (Abu Jahl) or 'Umar ibn Al- Khattab'."
'Umar repeated his question, "Where is Muhammad now?" Khabbab answered, "At As-Safaa in Daar Al-Arqam ibn Abi Arqam."
At that very moment, 'Umar ascended towards his great fortune and blessed destiny.
Men around the Messenger
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