Stories Of The Companions :: قصص الصحابة رضوان الله عليهم  -- 'Abbaad Ibn Bishr | ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbaas | ‘Abdullah Ibn 'Amr Ibn Al-'Aas | 'Abdullah ibn Hudhafah as-Sahmi | 'Abdullah ibn Jahsh | 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'uud | 'Abdullah Ibn Rawaahah | 'Abdullah Ibn Sailam | 'Abdallah Ibn 'Umar | 'Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum | 'Abdullah Ibn Az-Zubair | 'Abd Ar- Rahman Ibn Abi Bakr | 'Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn 'Awf | Abu Ad-Dardaa | Abu Ayuub Al-Ansaariy | Abu Dhar Al-Ghifaariy | Abu Jabir Abdallah bin Amr bin Hiram | Abu Hurairah | Abu-l Aas ibn ar-Rabiah | Abu Muusaa Al-Ash'ariy | Abu Sufyaan Ibn Al-Haarith | Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah | 'Adiyy ibn Hatim | 'Aishah bint Abi Bakr | Al-'Abbaas Ibn 'Abd Al-Muttalib | Al-Baraa' Ibn Maalik | Al-Miqdaad Ibn 'Amr | 'Ammaar Ibn Yaasir | 'Amr Ibn Al -'Aas | 'Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh | An-Nuayman ibn Amr | An-Numan ibn Muqarrin | Asmaa bint Abu Bakr | At-Tufail Ibn 'Amr Ad-Dawsiy | Az-Zubair Ibn Al-'Awaam | Barakah | Bilaal Ibn Rabaah | Fatimah bint Muhammad | Fayruz ad-Daylami | Hakim ibn Hazm | Hamzah Ibn 'Abd Al-Muttalib | Hudhaifah Ibn Al-Yamaan | Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl | Ja'far Ibn Abi Taalib | Julaybib | Habib Ibn Zaid | Khabbab ibn al-Arat | Khaalid Ibn Al-Waliid | Khaalid Ibn Sa'iid | Khubaib Ibn 'Adiy | Mi'aadh Ibn Jabal | Muhammad ibn Maslamah | Mus'ab Ibn 'Umair | Nuaym ibn Masud | Rabiah ibn Kab | Ramlah bint Abi Sufyan | Rumaysa bint Milhan | Qais Ibn Sad Ibn Ubaadah | Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqaas | Sa'd Ibn Mitaadh | Sa'd Ibn 'Ubaadah | Sa'iid Ibn Aamir | Sa'iid ibn Zayd | Saalim Mawlaa Abi Hudhaifah | Salamah Ibn Al-Akwa' | Salmaan Al-Faarisiy | Suhayb ar-Rumi | Suhayb Ibn Sinaan | Suhayl Ibn'Amr | Talhah Ibn - Ubaid Allah | Thaabit Ibn Qais | Thumamah ibn Uthal | 'Ubaadah Ibn As-Saamit | Ubaiy Ibn Ka'b | Umair Ibn Sa'd | Umair Ibn Wahb | 'Umraan Ibn Husain | Umm Salamah | Uqbah ibn Aamir | Usaamah Ibn Zaid | Usaid Ibn Hudair | 'Utbah Ibn Ghazwaan | 'Uthmaan Ibn Madh'uun | Zayd al-Khayr | Zayd Ibn Al-Khattaab | Zayd Ibn Haarithah | Zayd Ibn Thaabit

'Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh

'I Want to Walk Proudly with My Lameness in Paradise.'

He was related to 'Abd Allah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn Hiraam by marriage, being the husband of his sister Hind bint ‘Amr. 'Amr Ibn Al- Jamuuh was one of the leaders of Al-Madiinah and one of the chiefs of the Salamah tribe. His son Mu'aadh Ibn 'Ami, who was one of the seventy Ansaar of the pledge of 'Aqabah preceded him in Islam.

Mu'aadh Ibn ‘Amr and his friend Mu'aadh Ibn Jabal* were calling the people of Al-Madiinah to Islam with the enthusiasm of bold and believing youth.

It was a custom that the nobles kept symbolic idols in their houses other than the big idols set up in places of public gathering. As a nobleman and chief, ‘Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh made an idol to install in his house and called it Manaaf. His son Mu'aadh Ibn ‘Amr agreed with his comrade Mu'aadh Ibn Jabal to make 'Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh's idol an object of ridicule. They used to enter his house at night, take the idol and throw it into a cess pit. And when ‘Amr would wake up he would not find Manaaf in its place, and would keep looking for it till he found it thrown into that pit. He used to rage and say, "Woe unto you, who transgressed our gods this night!" Then he would wash and perfume it. When night came again, the two Mu'aadh, would do to the idol as they had done the previous night.

When ‘Amr got weary he took his sword and put it on Manaaf's neck and said to it, "If you are a beneficial god defend yourself." When he woke up he did not find it in its place, but rather found it discarded in the same cess pit. But this time, it was not in the pit alone but was tied to a dead dog by a strong rope.

While he was angry, sorry, and surprised, some of the nobles of Al-Madinah who had preceded him in Islam approached him. They pointed at the idol tied to the dead dog and addresed ‘Amr Ibn Al-Jamuub's mind, heart and good sense, talking to him about the Most True and Most High Allah Whom there is nothing like. They talked to him about the trustworthy, faithful Muhammad who came to give, not to take, to guide, not to misguide. They talked to him about Islam that came to liberate mankind from all the shackles, revive the spirit of Allah in them, and spread His light in their hearts.

In a few moments, 'Amr discovered himself and his destiny. He purified and perfumed his clothes and body, then went, bearing his head high, to acknowledge the Seal of the Prophets (PBUH) and to take his place among the believers.

One may wonder how those nobles and leaders of their people, like ‘Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh, could believe in helpless idols to that extent. How did their reason not restrain them? How do we render them today among the great men after their embracing Islam and sacrificing? It is easy to raise these questions nowadays, as no child would accept to set up a piece of wood in his house and worship it. But in olden days, people's hearts used to embrace such doings. Their intelligence and genius could do nothing against tradition.

For example, Athens, in the days of Pericles, Pythagoras, and Socrates, attained a dazzling intellectual progress. However, all its people, including philosophers and judges, used to believe in sculptured idols in a ridiculous way. The reason is that religious sense in those remote ages was not as developed as the intellectual progress.

‘Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh dedicated his heart and life to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Although he was generous by nature, Islam made him more generous so that he put all his money in the service of his religion and his brethren.

The Messenger (PBUH) asked a group of the Bani Salamah tribe, the tribe of 'Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh, "Who is your chief, O Bani Salamah ?" They answered,"Al-Jad Ibn Qais, inspite of his being a miser." He (PBUH) said, "No, your chief is the white curly haired "Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh." This testimony from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was a great honor to Ibn Al-Jamuuh.

As ‘Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh dedicated his money in the cause of Allah, so he was willing to sacrifice his soul and life as well. But how? There was a severe lameness in his leg that made him invalid for participating in battle. He had four sons who were all strong Muslim men. They used to go out with the Messenger (PBUH) in expeditions, persisting in doing their duty of fighting. However, 'Amr tried to go out in the Battle of Badr. His sons implored the Prophet (PBUH) to persuade him not to go out, or even to order him if he was not persuaded. So, the Prophet (PBUH) told him that Islam exempted him from jihaad because of his severe lameness. When he began pleading, the Prophet (PBUH) ordered him to stay in Al-Madiinah.

When the Battle of Uhud came, 'Amr went to the Prophet (PBUH), imploring him to permit him. He said, "O Messenger of Allah, my sons want to prevent me from going out with you to fight. By Allah, I want to walk proudly with my lameness in Paradise." As he strongly insisted, the Prophet (PBUH) permitted him to go out. So, he took his weapon and set out to walk happily, invoking Allah in a submissive voice, "O Allah, bestow martyrdom upon me and don't return me to my family."

When the two rival forces met on the Day of Uhud, 'Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh and his four sons set out striking the polytheists with their swords. ‘Amr was walking proudly in the middle of the fierce battle.

With each step his sword cut off the head of a polytheist. He struck with his right hand, then looked around at the highest part of the horizon, as if hastening the arrival of the angel who would make him die and accompany him to Paradise.

Yes, he asked his Lord for martyrdom, being sure that Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He above all, would respond to him. He was very much eager to walk proudly with his lame leg in Paradise so that its people would know that Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), knew how to select his Companions.

That which he had been waiting for happened. A sword blow announced the time of the advance of a glorious martyr to the Paradise of immortality.

When the Muslims were burying their martyrs, the Messenger (PBUH) repeated his order which we have already heard elsewhere:
"Put ‘Abd Allah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn Hiraam and ‘Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh in one grave; they were loving and sincere to each other in this world."

The two loving friends, the two martyrs, were buried in one grave under the battlefield that received their pure souls and witnessed their extraordinary bravery.

Forty-six years after they and their companions had been buried, a violent torrent descended and covered the graveyard, because of a fountain head of water that Mu'aawiyah made. The Muslims hurried to remove the martyrs' bodies. It was a surprise, however, to find them as those who participated in removing their bodies described: "Having soft bodies and flexible limbs."

As Jaabir Ibn 'Abd AUah was still alive, he went with his family to remove the bodies of his father, 'Ahd Allah Ibn 'Amr Ibn Hiraam, and his aunt's husband, ‘Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh. However, he found them in their grave as if they were sleeping. They were not changed at all: their faces even had the same smile of happiness that they had had the day they were summoned to meet Allah.

Are you surprised? No, do not be. The great, pious, pure souls that have controlled their destinies usually leave in the bodies that once were their refuge, a kind of immunity that wards off the decomposing factors and the influence of the soil.

His biography has already been written.

©  EsinIslam.Com

Links To Sahabah The Companions Of Prophet Muhammad (SAW):

Stories Of The Companions :: قصص الصحابة رضوان الله عليهم  -- 'Abbaad Ibn Bishr | ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbaas | ‘Abdullah Ibn 'Amr Ibn Al-'Aas | 'Abdullah ibn Hudhafah as-Sahmi | 'Abdullah ibn Jahsh | 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'uud | 'Abdullah Ibn Rawaahah | 'Abdullah Ibn Sailam | 'Abdallah Ibn 'Umar | 'Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum | 'Abdullah Ibn Az-Zubair | 'Abd Ar- Rahman Ibn Abi Bakr | 'Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn 'Awf | Abu Ad-Dardaa | Abu Ayuub Al-Ansaariy | Abu Dhar Al-Ghifaariy | Abu Jabir Abdallah bin Amr bin Hiram | Abu Hurairah | Abu-l Aas ibn ar-Rabiah | Abu Muusaa Al-Ash'ariy | Abu Sufyaan Ibn Al-Haarith | Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah | 'Adiyy ibn Hatim | 'Aishah bint Abi Bakr | Al-'Abbaas Ibn 'Abd Al-Muttalib | Al-Baraa' Ibn Maalik | Al-Miqdaad Ibn 'Amr | 'Ammaar Ibn Yaasir | 'Amr Ibn Al -'Aas | 'Amr Ibn Al-Jamuuh | An-Nuayman ibn Amr | An-Numan ibn Muqarrin | Asmaa bint Abu Bakr | At-Tufail Ibn 'Amr Ad-Dawsiy | Az-Zubair Ibn Al-'Awaam | Barakah | Bilaal Ibn Rabaah | Fatimah bint Muhammad | Fayruz ad-Daylami | Hakim ibn Hazm | Hamzah Ibn 'Abd Al-Muttalib | Hudhaifah Ibn Al-Yamaan | Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl | Ja'far Ibn Abi Taalib | Julaybib | Habib Ibn Zaid | Khabbab ibn al-Arat | Khaalid Ibn Al-Waliid | Khaalid Ibn Sa'iid | Khubaib Ibn 'Adiy | Mi'aadh Ibn Jabal | Muhammad ibn Maslamah | Mus'ab Ibn 'Umair | Nuaym ibn Masud | Rabiah ibn Kab | Ramlah bint Abi Sufyan | Rumaysa bint Milhan | Qais Ibn Sad Ibn Ubaadah | Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqaas | Sa'd Ibn Mitaadh | Sa'd Ibn 'Ubaadah | Sa'iid Ibn Aamir | Sa'iid ibn Zayd | Saalim Mawlaa Abi Hudhaifah | Salamah Ibn Al-Akwa' | Salmaan Al-Faarisiy | Suhayb ar-Rumi | Suhayb Ibn Sinaan | Suhayl Ibn'Amr | Talhah Ibn - Ubaid Allah | Thaabit Ibn Qais | Thumamah ibn Uthal | 'Ubaadah Ibn As-Saamit | Ubaiy Ibn Ka'b | Umair Ibn Sa'd | Umair Ibn Wahb | 'Umraan Ibn Husain | Umm Salamah | Uqbah ibn Aamir | Usaamah Ibn Zaid | Usaid Ibn Hudair | 'Utbah Ibn Ghazwaan | 'Uthmaan Ibn Madh'uun | Zayd al-Khayr | Zayd Ibn Al-Khattaab | Zayd Ibn Haarithah | Zayd Ibn Thaabit | Muhammad The Messenger Of Allah :: محمّد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلّم  -- Biography by a Muslim, Muhammad Hamidullah | Biography by a non-Muslim, K. Rao | The Prophet (s.a.w.) as a blessing to mankind | Description Of The Prophet (s.a.w.) | Finality of Prophethood | Last Sermon Of The Prophets (s.a.w.) | What other scholars say about the Prophet (s.a.w.) and additional sayings | The Rightly Guided Caliphs :: الخلفاء الراشدون رضوان عليهم | The First Caliph, Abu Bakr (632-634 A.C.)  | The Second Caliph, Umar (634-644 A.C.) | The Third Caliph, Uthman (644-656 A.C.) | The Fourth Caliph, Ali (656-661 A.C.) | Muslim Profiles -- Imam Abu Hanifa | Imam Ibn Hanbal | Imam Malik | Imam Al Shafi’i | Al Ayoubi | Al Battani | Al Biruni | Al Buzjani | Al Farghani | Al Kindi | Al Idrisi | Al Khayyam | Al Khawarizmi | Al Tusi | Al Zahrawi | Dan Fodio | Ibn Al-Baitar | Ibn Al Nafis | Ibn Batuta | Ibn Haiyan | Ibn Khaldun | Ibn Rushd | Ibn Qurra | Ibn Sina | Ibn Ziyad | Ibn Zuhr | Sheikh Abdulfattah Abu-Abdullah Adelabu (Ph. D. Damas)