If you attempt to arrange the Prophet's
Companions in the order of their
embracing Islam, Uthmaan Ibn Madhun will
be number fourteen. Not only was he the
first MuhaaJir to die in Al-Madiinah,
but also the first Muslim to be buried
in Al-Baqi'a. This glorious Companion
whose life story you are about to hear
was a great "monk". By 'monk'
here I mean a worshiper throughout life,
not a monk sequestered in his hermitage,
for life with all its commotion,
turmoil, burdens, and virtues was his
"hermitage". Life to him meant
perseverance in the way of in the way of
truth and unremitting self-denial good
and righteousness.
When we go back in time, when the fresh
early rays of Islam were emanating from
the Prophet's heart (PBUH) and from his
words said in secret and seclusion, 'Uthmaan
Ibn Madh'un was there. He was one of the
few who rushed to the way of Allah and
supported the Prophet. When the Prophet
(PBUH) ordered the few oppressed
believers to emigrate to Abyssinia, he
wanted to save them from the Quraish's
oppression, while he chose to be left
behind to face it alone. 'Uthmaan, who
was at the head of the first group of
fugitives, was accompanied by his son,
As-Saa'ib. They set their faces towards
a far-away land fleeing the plots of Abu
Jahl, Allah's enemy, and the Quraish's
atrocities.
The emigration of 'Uthmaan Ibn Madh'uun
- and likewise for the rest of the
emigrants to Abyssinia in the first and
second emigrations - only made him hold
more firmly to his Islam. Definitely,
the two emigrations to Abyssinia
represented a unique and glorious
phenomenon in the cause of Islam, for
those who believed in Muhammad (PBUH)
and followed the light that had been
sent down to him had had enough of
paganism, error, and ignorance. Their
common sense shunned the idolatry of
statues made of rocks and clay. When
these fugitives emigrated to Abyssinia,
they found an already prevalent and
highly disciplined religion with an
established clerical hierarchy of
bishops and priests. Notwithstanding
their attitude towards this religion, it
was definitely remote from both the
familiar paganism practiced back home
and the usual idolatrous rites they had
left behind. Undoubtedly, the clergy in
Abyssinia exerted much effort to lure
those emigrants to apostatize and
embrace Christianity.
In spite of all this, those emigrants
stood steadfast in their profound
loyalty to Islam and to the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH). They anxiously yearned
for the day when they would return to
their beloved country so as to worship
Allah and support the great Prophet (PBUH)
in the mosque in peacetime and in the
battlefield when the power of disbelief
forced them to take up arms. Thus, those
emigrants who lived in Abyssinia felt
secure and peaceful. 'Uthmaan Ibn
Madh'uun was one of them, yet his
expatriation did not make him forget his
cousin Umaiyah Ibn Khalafs plots and the
abuse he dealt him and other Muslims.
Hence, he used to amuse himself by
rehearsing threats to him, saying,"
I hope that all the arrows you aim will
miss their target and strike back at
you. You fought against generous and
noble people and tortured them to death.
You will soon be punished, and the
common people you used to despise will
get back at you."
While the emigrants were, despite their
exile, wrapped up in their worship of
Allah and the study of the Qur'aan, news
spread that the Quraish had submitted
themselves to Islam and prostrated
themselves to Allah, the One, the
Irresistable.
Hurriedly, driven by their nostalgic
feelings, the emigrants packed up their
belongings and hastened to Makkah.
However, no sooner had they reached
Makkah's outskirts than they realized
that the news about the Quraish's
submission to Islam was only the bait to
lure them to return. Suddenly, they
realized that their excessive credulity
had led them right into this trap, yet
there was nothing they could do, for
Makkah was in sight and there was no
escape whatsoever. Makkah's unbelievers
were overjoyed to hear that their
long-awaited prey was caught in the trap
they had laid.
At that time, the right of protection -
to be under the assistance, support,
refuge, and protection of his patron -
was a sacred and honored Arab tradition.
Consequently, if a weak man had a claim
on a man of high standing, he would
instantly enjoy the privileges of the
right of protection and would be under
an invincible protection and safety.
Naturally, not all of those who returned
to Makkah had claims on a high-ranking
man. Therefore, few enjoyed the
protection and safety guaranteed by this
right. Among those who did was 'Uthmaan
Ibn Madh'uun, who had a claim on Al
Waliid Ibn Al-Mughiirah. Hence, he
entered Makkah safely and peacefully and
attended its councils without being
humiliated or harmed.
Yet, every time Ibn Madh'uun - the man
who had been refined by the Qur'aan and
whom the Prophet (PBUH) had taught and
disciplined - looked around, he saw his
weak, poor Muslim brothers who had no
claim on the right of protection being
atrociously abused and unjustly haunted,
while he sat safe and sound in his
sanctuary away from the least
provocation. His free spirit rebelled
and his noble compassion got the better
of him. Hence, he decided to throw aside
Al-Waliid's patronage and take off his
shoulders this burdensome sanctuary that
deprived him of the bliss of enduring
abuse in the way of Allah and of
following his Muslim brothers who were
the believing vanguard and the glad
tidings of the world that would
afterwards overflow with faith,
monotheism, and light. Let us now call
an eyewitness to narrate what occurred.
When 'Uthmaan Ibn Madr'uun saw the
affliction that had befallen the
Prophet's Companions while he was free
and safe under Al-Waliid Ibn Al-Mughiirah's
protection, he said to himself, "By
Allah, I realize now that I have a fatal
flaw in my character, for here I am
sound under the protection of a
disbeliever while my brothers and
companions are being abused and tortured
by disbelievers." Instantly, he
hastened to Al-Waliid Ibn Al- Mughiirah
and spoke. Aby Abd Shams, you have been
a dutiful friend, you did your utmost to
honor the ties of kinship. But now I
must forsake my claim on you." Al-Waliid
asked him, "Why, nephew? Did any of
my people lay a finger on you?" He
answered, "No, but I'm fully
satisfied with Allah's protection and
sanctuary and I do not want to resort to
anyone but Him. So please come with me
to the mosque and withdraw your
protection and support in public."
They both hastened to the mosque. Then
Al-Waliid cried out, '"Uthmaan has
asked me to withdraw my protection and
support from him." 'Uthmaan said,
"He was indeed a loyal, dutiful,
and generous patron, but I do not like
to resort to the protection and help of
anyone but Allah."
As "Uthmaan was leaving, Lubaid Ibn
Rabifah was sitting in one of the
Quraish's meetings reciting poetry, so
he decided to join them and sat down and
heard Lubaid recite, "Everything
but Allah is falsehood." 'Uthmaan
nodded and said, "You spoke the
truth." Lubaid continued,
"Every blessing is transient."
"Uthmaan objected saying, "You
are a liar, for the blessings of
Paradise are eternal." Lubaid said,
"0 you Quraish, by Allah, I have
not heard before that anyone dared to
call a man who was attending your
meeting names." A man of Quraish
explained, "Do not pay attention to
what he says, for he is a fool who has
turned apostate." "Uthmaan
objected to the man's insult and both
quarrelled until the man lost his temper
and punched 'Uthmaan's eye ruthlessly.
Nearby was Al-Waliid Ibn Al-Mughiirah,
who saw what had happened and said,
" By Allah, nephew, you could have
spared yourself the pain if you had
stayed under my invulnerable
protection." 'Uthmaan answered,
"On the contrary, my healthy eye
yearns for the pain of my abused eye. I
am under the protection of Allah, Who is
far better and more capable than you,
Abu 'Abd Shams." Al-Waliid urged
him saying, "Come on nephew, be
sensible and return to my sanctuary and
protection." Ibn Madlfuun said
firmly, "No." After he left,
the pain in his eye was severe yet his
spirit was revived, strengthened, and
reassured. On his way home he recited,
"I don't care if a deluded
disbeliever hurt my eye, for it was in
the way of Allah. For the Most Merciful
will reward me on the Day of Reckoning
in compensation for it. My people, if
Allah attempts to please someone, then
he will be undoubtedly a happy man. Even
if you say that I'm a misguided fool, my
life will always be consecrated to the
Prophet Muhammad's religion (PBUH). I
will always do my utmost to please
Allah, for our religion is the only
truth despite abuse and oppression.
Thus he set an example that was highly
becoming of him. In fact, life witnessed
the remarkable scene of an excellent man
whose graceful, immortal words will
resound: "By Allah, my healthy eye
yearns to be hurt in the way of Allah. I
am under the protection and care of
Someone far better and more capable than
you." Obviously the scenario of
"Uthmaan's abuse at the hands of
the Quraish after he had renounced Al-Waliid's
protection was premeditated on his part.
He provoked it and was overjoyed by it,
for this abuse was to him like the fire
that matures, purifies, and ennobles his
faith. At last, he followed the foot
steps of his believing brothers who did
not accept intimidation.
Afterwards, "Uthmaan decided to
emigrate to Al-Madiinah where he would
not be haunted or harassed by Abu Jahl,
Abu Lahab, Umaiyah, 'Utbah, or any of
the other ruthless disbelievers who
abused and tormented the Muslims. He
traveled to Al-Madiinah with those great
Companions who survived the hardships,
terror, and horror of the trials with
admirable steadfastness and stoutness.
They did not emigrate to Al-Madiinah to
rest. On the contrary, Al-Madiinah was
the springboard that enabled Muslims to
strive in the way of Allah all over the
world, clinging to Allah's flag and
spreading His words, signs, and
guidance.
When "Uthmaan had settled in the
illuminated Madiinah, his remarkable,
great qualities were unveiled. He
ultimately emerged as an ascetic,
devout, and repentant worshiper. To sum
up, he was the glorious and intelligent
"monk" who was not sequestered
in his hermitage but rather in life. He
spent his life striving in the way of
Allah. Indeed, he was the worshiper by
night and the fighter by day. m fact, he
was the worshipper and the fighter of
both night and day.
Although all the Prophet's (PBUH)
Companions at that time were inclined to
asceticism and devoutness, yet Ibn
Madh'uun had a certain strategy in that
respect, for he was so remarkably
absorbed in his asceticism and
devoutness that he turned his life, day
and night, into a perpetual blessed
prayer and a sweet long glorification.
No sooner had he sipped the sweetness of
the engrossment in worship than he
hastened to abandon all the enticing
luxury and splendor of life. Therefore,
he wore nothing but coarse clothes and
ate nothing but coarse food.
One day, he walked into the mosque in
which the Prophet (PBUH) and his
Companions were sitting, and he had on a
faded, worn-out garment that was patched
with a piece of fur. As soon as the
Prophet (PBUH) saw him, he sympathized
with him, and the Companions' eyes were
filled with tears, yet the Prophet (PBUH)
said, "Would you like it if you
were rich enough to have as many
garments as you like and as much food as
you like? Would you like your upholstery
to be as expensive as the clothes used
in covering the Ka'bah." The
Companions answered, "We would
indeed! We would like to live in luxury
surrounded by the splendors of
life." The Prophet (PBUH)
commented, "You will be wealthy,
but you are today far better in your
piety and devoutness than you will when
you are wealthy." Naturally, when
Ibn Madh'uun heard the Prophet's words,
he clung more and more to his austere
and coarse life. He went so far as to
renounce sexual intercourse with his
wife, yet when the Prophet (PBUH) heard
about this exaggerated attitude, he
summoned him and said, "Your wife
has the right to have sexual intercourse
with you."
The Prophet (PBUH) loved him dearly.
When his pure spirit was embarking on
its journey towards Heaven, the Prophet
(PBUH) was next to him, paying his last
farewell to the first Muhaajir to die in
Al-Madiinah and the first to be raised
to Paradise. He leaned to kiss his
forehead and his amiable eyes flowed
with tears that wet 'Uthmaan's face,
which looked remarkably graceful. The
Prophet (PBUH) paid his last farewell to
his beloved Companion by saying,
"Allah bestow His mercy on you, Abu
As-Saa'ib. You are now leaving life that
was not able to seduce or mislead
you."
The revered Prophet (PBUH) did not
forget his Companion after his death; on
the contrary, he often mentioned and
praised him. For instance, his very last
words to his daughter Ruqaiyah on her
deathbed were, "Go on, follow in
the pious and devout 'Uthmaan Ibn
Madh'uun's footsteps up to Paradise.
Sheikh Abdulfattah Abu-Abdullah Adelabu (Ph. D. Damas),
a West African Islamic Academic founded AWQAF Africa, of
which he's the first al Amir (i.e. President).
Sheikh Dr. Adelabu was studying Postgraduate Degrees in
Damascus early 1990's during when Syria reviewed its
national security after an ‘Oslo Accord'...
Syria like many other countries around the world
witnessed, during this period, the flood of refugees
from war troubled nations like Somalia, arrival of
people from Algeria during the brutal struggling between
the Mujahidun and the government, resettlement of the
Palestinians fleeing from sophisticated guns of the
Israelis as well as adventure of African migrants for
reasons uncountable…