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

'Abdullah Ibn Rawaahah

O My Soul, Death Is Inevitable,
So It Is Better for You to Be Martyred

When the Prophet (PBUH) met secretly with Al-Madiinah's delegation on the outskirts of Makkah away from the disbelievers of the Quraish, twelve representatives of the Ansaar took an oath of allegiance in the first Pledge of 'Aqabah. 'Abdullah Ibn Rawaahah was one of those representatives who ushered Islam to Al-Madiinah and who paved the way for the Hijrah, which was considered an excellent springboard for Allah's religion, Islam. 'Abdullah was also one of the great 73 of the Ansaar who gave the Prophet (PBUH) the Second Pledge of 'Aqabah in the following year. After the Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions emigrated and settled in Al-Madiinah, 'Abdullah Ibn Rawaahah was the most active Muslim of the Ansaar who strived to support the thriving religion. He was also the most alert Muslim to the plots of 'Abdullah Ibn Ubaiy whom the people of Al-Madiinah were about to crown king before the Muslims arrived. He never got over the bitterness he felt for losing the chance of his lifetime to become a king. Therefore, he used his craftiness to weave deceitful plots against Islam, while 'Abdullah Ibn Rawaahah kept on tracing and detecting this craftiness with remarkable insight that frustrated most of Ibn Ubaiy's maneuvers and plots.

Ibn Rawaahah (May Allah be pleased with him) was a scribe at a time in which writing was not prevalent. He was a poet. His poetry flowed with admirable fluency and strength. Ever since his Islam he devoted his poetic genius to its service. The Prophet (PBUH) always admired his poetry, asking him to recite more of it. One day, as he was sitting among his Companions, "Abdullah Ibn Rawaahah joined them, so the Prophet (PBUH) asked him, "How do you compose a poem?" 'Abdullah answered, "First I think about its subject matter, then I recite." He immediately recited:

O the good descendants of Al Haashim
Allah raised you to a high station
Of which you are worthy above all mankind.
My intuition made me realize at once
Your excelling nature,
Contrary to the disbelievers' belief in you.
If you asked some of them for support and help,
They would turn you down.
May Allah establish the good that descends
On you firmly
And bestow victory upon you as He did to Muusaa.

The Prophet (PBUH) was elated and said, "I hope that Allah will make your feet firm, too." When the Prophet was circumambulating the Ka'bah in the compensatory "Umrah, Ibn Rawaahah recited to him:

Were it not for Allah, we would not have been
Guided to the Right path nor charitable
Nor able to perform our prayers.
So descend, peace of mind and reassurance,
On us and establish our feet firmly
When we meet our enemy
In combat. If our oppressors tried to spread
Affliction and trial, unrest, among us
We will not give them way.

Muslims reiterated his graceful lines. The active poet was saddened when the glorious verse descended saying: <And for the poets, only the erring people follow them > (26:224). But soon he was contented to hear another verse saying: <Except those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, and remember GOD frequently, and defend themselves after being oppressed > (26 : 227).

When Islam rose up in arms in self-defense, Ibn Rawaahah saw service in all the battles: Badr, Uhud, Al-Khandaq, Al Hudaibiyyah, and Khaibar. His perpetual slogan was these lines of poetry: "O my soul, death is inevitable, so it is better for you to be martyred."

He shouted at the disbelievers in every battle, "0 disbelievers, get out of my way. My Prophet (PBUH) has all the excellent qualities."

The Battle of Mu'tah started, and, as we have mentioned, he was the third of the Commanders after Zaid and Ja'far. Ibn Rawaahah (May Allah be pleased with him) stood there as the army was about to leave Al- Madiinah and recited:

I truly ask the Most Beneficient's forgiveness and a mortal stroke of a sword that will strike me down foaming or a mortal stab with a spear by a stubborn disbeliever that will make my liver and intestine show out of my body. So that when people pass by my grave, they will say: By Allah, you are the most righteous warrior.

Indeed, a stroke or a stab that would convey him into the world of rewarded martyrs was his utmost wish. The army marched towards Mu'tah. When the Muslims saw their enemies, they estimated them at 200,000, for they saw endless waves of warriors. The Muslims glanced back at their small group and were stunned. Some of them suggested, "Let us send a message to the Prophet (PBUH) to tell him of the enormity of the enemy that surpassed all our expectations so he will either order us to wait for reinforcements or to pierce through the enemy lines."

However, Ibn Rawaahah stood amidst the lines of the army and said: "0 my people, by Allah, we do not fight our enemies with numbers, strength or equipment, but rather with this religion which Allah has honored us with. So go right ahead: it is either one of two equally good options, victory or martyrdom." The Muslims, who were lesser in number and greater in faith, cried out, "By Allah, you spoke the truth." The smaller army broke through the mighty host of 200,000 warriors in terrible and cruel fighting.

As we have mentioned, both armies met in fierce combat. The first commander, Zaid Ibn Haarithah, was struck down, he winning glorious martyrdom. The second in command was Ja'far Ibn Abi Taalib, who was overjoyed to be martyred. "Abdullah took over the command and grabbed the standard from Ja'far's failing upper arms. The fight reached the peak of ferocity. The smaller army was indistinct amidst the waves of the mighty hosts of Heraclius.

When Ibn Rawaahah was a soldier, he attacked heedlessly and confidently. But now the command placed great responsibilities for the army's safety on his shoulders. It seemed that for a moment he was overtaken by hesitation and dread, yet he instantly shook off those apprehensions, summoned his innate fearlessness and cried out, "0 my soul, you look as if you were afraid to cross the way that leads to Paradise. 0 my soul, I took an oath to fight. 0 my soul, death is inevitable, so you had better be martyred. Now I will experience the inevitability of death. What you have cared for so long is finally yours. So go ahead, for if you follow these two heroes, you will be guided to the way of Paradise." He meant the two heroes who had preceded him in martyrdom, Zaid and ]a'Sar.

He darted into the Roman armies, fiercely and ruthlessly. Were it not for a previous ordainment from Allah that he was to be martyred on that day, he would have annihilated the fighting hosts. But destiny called and he was martyred. His body was struck down, yet his pure, valiant spirit was raised to the heavens. His most precious wish finally came true, so that "When people pass by my grave, they will say: By Allah you are the most righteous warrior."

The fierce attack in Al-Balqaa' in Syria went on. Back in Al-Madiinah the Prophet (PBUH) was talking peacefully and contentedly with his Companions when he suddenly stopped talking. He closed his eyes a little, then opened them. A gleam flashed from them, yet it was tinged with sadness and compassion. He looked around sadly and said, "Zaid took the standard and fought until he was martyred." He was silent for a while, then continued 'Ja'far grasped it and fought until he was marytred. Then 'Abdullah Ibn Rawaahah grasped it and fought until he was martyred." He was silent for a while, then his eyes sparkled with elation, tranquility, longing, and joy as he said, "They were all raised to Paradise."

What a glorious journey it must have been! What a happy succession! They all marched to conquer, they all were raised up to Paradise. The best salute to immortalize their memory rests in the Prophet's words: "They were raised up to await me in Paradise."

©  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)