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The
Submissive Returner to Allah !
‘Abd
Allah Ibn 'Amr Ibn Al-'Aas
The submissive,
repentant, ever returning worshiper whom
we are going to talk about is ‘Abd
Allah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn 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 for his
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, reproducing a book
learned by heart, but rather he lived
according to its laws, filled his heart
with its magnificence, was its obedient
servant and responded to its appeals. He
then dedicated himself to its reading
and recitation as well as 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, fasting in the
daytime, praying at night. His tongue
did not know any worldly talk no matter
how legitimate it was. His tongue did
not know anything but invoking of Allah,
the reciting the Qur'aan, praising
Allah, and asking Him His forgiveness
and remission of sins.
It is
worthwhile to know how deep his worship
and asceticism was. The Prophet (PBUH)
found himself once forced to interfere
in order to limit 'Abd Allah's extremism
in worship.
Therefore,
the moral which can be abstracted from 'Abd
Allah's life is twofold. It demonstrates
how excessively the human soul can be
filled with an extraordinary ability to
reach utmost degrees of devotion,
worship, and virtue. On the other hand,
it demonstrates Islam's concern to
maintain a middle course and moderation,
even when perfection is aspired to, lest
the human soul should lose its zeal and
aspiration and in order to maintain a
healthy and safe body.
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 night
without sleeping? It's enough to fast
just three days every month."
‘Abd Allah said, "I can bear more
than that!" The Prophet (PBUH)
said, "It's enough to 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 fought by two Muslim
parties against each other. How was it
possible that his feet carried him from
Al-Madiinah to As-Siffiin where he
joined Mu’aawiyah's army in 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-Siffun.
'Amr
Ibn APAas had chosen to fight on
Mu’aawiyah's side. Knowing how much
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. In
addition, ‘Amr was always optimistic
whenever he had 'Abd Allah beside him in
times of war. He could not forget his
striving and endeavor in the conquest of
Syria and on the Day of Yarmuuk.
When
he intended to set out towards 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 sword
to 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 fight with
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
just joining 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 battle had hardly
begun when something happened which
forced "Abd Allah to stand openly
and clearly 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
son of 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 Ibn 'Amr
was one of those who heard it.
At the
beginning of the battle between ‘Ally
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? That
means you are the unjust party! You are
the mislead warriors!" Like a
portent he burst into the army,
discouraging the fighters, shouting
loudly, "You are 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 'Aim, "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 killed by the unjust
party.'" Mu'aawiyah continued
asking, "Why, then, did you join
our party?" 'Abd Allah said,
"Because the Prophet (PBUH) asked
me to obey my father and I obeyed him in
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 continued to 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 gone out 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, the
Prophet (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 Ibn
'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
the one who just passed by, Al-Hussain
Ibn ‘Ally. He has not talked to me
since the Day of As-Siffiin. I would
like him to talk to me more than I
desire all the blessings of this
world."
He
decided with Abu Sa’id 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, did you
join the fight on Mu'aawiyah's
side?" 'Abd Allah said, "One
day 'Amr Ibn Al-'Aas complained to the
Prophet (PBUH) saying, "Abd Allah
fasts the whole day and prays all
night.' Then the Prophet said to me, 'O
"Abd Allah, pray and 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, by Allah, I didn't
pierce with a lance, I didn't fight with
a sword and I didn't shoot 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 joyfully to 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. Enter you among My
servants, and enter into My
Paradise!'"> (89:27-3O).
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