The story of Mus'ab ibn umayr Part 1 &2

The story of Mus'ab ibn umayr Part 1.

Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair belonged to the Banu Abd ad-Daar clan of the Quraish tribe. The title of Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair was Abu Abdullah, and in another narration, it has been reported as Abu Muhammad. Hazrat Mus‘ab’s(ra) father’s name was Umair bin Hashim and his mother’s name was Khannas or Hannas bint Malik who was an affluent lady from Mecca. Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair’s parents loved him dearly.

Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair’s mother brought him up giving him many comforts and luxuries, dressing him in the most expensive and finest attire. He used to wear the most excellent fragrance available in Mecca and wore Hadrami shoes which were made in Hadhramaut and were exclusively for the affluent.  Hadhramaut was a vast open plain near the sea, situated to the east of Aden. In any case, he would wear immaculate clothes and use the best fragrance and even his shoes were bought from outside of Mecca.

Hazrat Mus‘ab’s(ra) wife’s name was Hamnah(ra) bint Jahsh, who was the sister of Umm-ul-Momineen Hazrat Zainab(ra) bint Jahsh, the wife of the Holy Prophet(sa). Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) had one daughter with her. The Holy Prophet(sa) used to remember Mus‘ab(ra) and would say, “I have not seen a more handsome individual than Mus‘ab(ra) and one who was brought up afforded by comforts and luxuries.” (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, pp. 85-86, Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) (Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 5, p. 175, Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (Siyar as-Sahaba, Vol. 2, Muhajireen part 1, p. 270, 275, Darul Isha’at, Karachi, 2004) (Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 7, p. 71, Hamnah bint Jahsh, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (Mu‘jamul Buldan, Vol. 2, p. 157, Dar Ihyaa al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut)

Acceptance of Islam

Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair was among the most prominent companions and was also among the first people who accepted Islam. He accepted Islam at the time when the Holy Prophet(sa) used to preach in Dar-e-Arqam. However, he kept it a secret for fear of opposition from his mother and his people. Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) used to meet the Holy Prophet(sa) in secret. Once, Uthman(ra) bin Talha caught him while he was praying and informed his mother and other members of his household and consequently, his parents imprisoned him. He remained imprisoned until his migration to Abyssinia. When he saw an opportunity, he escaped and migrated. After some time, when some of the migrants returned from Abyssinia to Mecca, Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair was also among them. When his mother saw his poor state, she decided to give up the opposition and let her son be.

Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair had the honour of migrating twice; he first migrated to Abyssinia and then also to Medina. (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 86, Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) (Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 5, p. 175, Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003)

Second story of Mus'ab Ibn Umayr R.A.

Humility and Humbleness

Hazrat Sa‘d(ra) bin Abi Waqas narrates, “I saw Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair in the time when he was affluent as well as after becoming a Muslim. He endured so many hardships for the sake of Islam that I saw that his skin would deteriorate and come off just as a snake would shed its skin.” (al-Sirat al-Nabawiyyah li Ibn Ishaq, p. 230, Man udhiba fillah min al-mu’mineen, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2004)

They established such standards of sacrifice that one is left astounded.

Once, Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair came to the Holy Prophet(sa) while he was sitting amongst some of his Companions(ra). On that occasion, the clothes of Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) were patched with pieces of leather. There was a time when he used to wear clothes of the highest quality, but then after becoming a Muslim, the state of his clothes was such that they would be patched together using pieces of leather.

Witnessing the change in Hazrat Mus‘ab’s(ra) condition, the companions lowered their heads as they were unable to help him. Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) stepped forward and offered his Salam [Islamic greeting of peace]. The Holy Prophet(sa) replied to him and praised him in a most excellent manner. Following this, the Holy Prophet(sa) said:

“All praise belongs to Allah! May worldly people be granted from this world. I have seen Mus‘ab at a time when there was no one more affluent and wealthy in the city of Mecca than him. He was the dearest child of his parents. However, the love of God and His Messenger(sa) has brought him to this state today and he left all of that behind for the sake of God and His pleasure.” (al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 86, Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)

Hazrat Sa‘d(ra) bin Abi Waqas relates that the Holy Prophet(sa) looked at Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair and remembering his previous state of affluence, began to cry. The Holy Prophet(sa) remembered his previous condition and the sacrifices he was now making.

Hazrat Ali(ra) relates:

“We were sitting in the mosque in the company of the Holy Prophet(sa) when Hazrat Mus‘ab(ra) bin Umair arrived. He was wearing a cloak patched with pieces of leather. When the Holy Prophet(sa) saw him, he remembered his previous state of affluence and saw the state that he was in now and began to cry. Following this, the Holy Prophet(sa) said, ‘What will your condition be when one of you will wake up in the morning in one set of clothes and wear another set of clothes at night?’”

That is, they would become so affluent that they would be able to change the clothes they would wear in the morning to a different set of clothes at night. “Following this, the Holy Prophet(sa) said, ‘One plate of food will be placed before you and another will be taken away’”, that is, there would be various courses of meals and various dishes will be served, similar to the custom today. “‘You will cover your homes in clothes similar to how the Ka‘bah is covered,’” i.e. very expensive clothes will be used. This is precisely what is witnessed today and this affluence was granted to the Muslims later on. “The companions(ra) said, ‘O Messenger(sa) of Allah! Will we be much better off at that time in comparison to today and subsequently have more time for worship?’”

The companions(ra) asked that in such affluent circumstances, would they have more time to worship as they would be spared from arduous and laborious work. “Upon this, the Holy Prophet(sa) replied, ‘This is not the case, rather you are better off today as compared to that time.’” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Abwab Sffatul Qiyamah, Hadith 2476)

In other words, their condition, level of worship and standards would be much loftier than those who would come after them owing to their wealth and affluence.