The Adopted Slave – Part 1

In the pre-Islamic days of Arabia, it was acceptable for a person to adopt another person and give the adopted their own family name. After the coming of Islam the Shariah forbade this practice and Allah ‘Azza wa Jal commanded the adopted son to be called by the name given by his natural (biological father). This provides the background to the life of a man, a Companion of the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi WaSalaam, whom he himself described as a ‘hujjah’ – a person who had so absorbed the meaning of Qur’an in his heart, that you could seek knowledge of the Qur’an from him directly. Such a man was one, Salim Mawla Abu Hudhayfah RadiAllahu Anhu.

Salim RadiAllahu Anhu, was a slave and when he accepted Islam he was adopted as a son by another Muslim (a nobleman of Quraysh – Abu Hudhayfah Ibn ‘Utbah RadiAllahu Anhu). After the revelation came that forbade the adoption of children (in relation to their taking the name of their adopted father), and the fact that Salim did not know the name of his real father, Salim became known as Salim ‘Mawla’ Abu Hudhayfah. ‘Mawla’ in Arabic, simply meant that he was now the brother or ‘protected person’ of his former adopted father.

It has to be understood, that in abolishing the practice of adoption, Islam emphasised instead the strength of natural kinship. Furthermore, it brought into light the beginnings of a new kinship that was even stronger than that of blood ties. That being the kinship of Imaan (faith), and the fact that a person accepting Islam, immediately made the brother (or sister) of other Muslims, who were duty-bound to protect their lives, their wealth and their honour.

The relationship that Salim had with his brother Abu Hudhayfah was profound. Indeed, as we will learn, they died together as Shaheed during the Khilafat of Abu Bakr As Siddiq RadiAllahu Anhu. What is worthy of note is the fact that here we have slave (Salim), a person with no standing or status in society, bearing a close brotherly relationshio with Abu Hudhayfah (a nobleman) who had both status and influence in society. Yet Islam united their hearts and transcended the man-made institutions of class to bring together two people, regardless of social or ethnic background. Such was the unique greatness of the religion of Islam in doing so, which against all the odds, continues to manifest to this day.

The Islamic principles underpinning this enlightenment are captured in the ayat of Qur’an wherein Allah ‘Azza wa Jal states:

The most honorable of you in the sight of Allah, is the one who is most deeply concious of Him. [49:13]

And furthermore, captured with eloquence by the Prophet Muhammed SalAllahu Alayhi WaSallam:

No Arab has an advantage over a non-Arab except in Taqwa (conciousness of Allah)

Meeting the Emperor

During the blessed reign of the just Khalifah Umar Ibn Al Khattab (RadiAllahu Anhu), one of the many battles that ensued was the wars against the Persian Empire.

One of the great military commanders and heroes of the Muslim armies, Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas (RadiAllahu Anhu), sent one of his messengers to meet with Roostum, the leader of the Persian army. That man, was Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu).

Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) was a very poor man, who came riding to see Roostum on a short legged, hairy horse. His sword, was wrapped in an old piece of cloth, as he could not even afford a proper sheath for it. His spear – the blade of it, was tied to the wooden shaft with a piece of cloth. His whole assortment of weapons was shabby to say the least. Add to this the fact that his attire was very modest, humble and inexpensive.

The Persians, having received word that a representative of the Muslim general was coming to meet them, prepared for this meeting as they would according to their custom. Rich and luxurious carpets were laid out. Heavily embellished cushions and rugs were spread, rich brocades and robes. Royal guards stood to attention in the court of Roostum, along with his advisors and delegates. It was indeed the proper preparation for such a high level meeting. It was customary for the Romans and the Persians.

What they envisioned from the representative of the Muslims was that he would come, accompanied by an entourage of guards, dressed in fine clothes on a fine stallion, dismount from his steed, enter the hall in a formal way and sit under the throne of Roostum and wait to be allowed to speak. What actually happened, was not what the Persians expected…

Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) comes straight into the hall, without permission, onto the rugs and carpets, without permission, still mounted on his horse! The delegates cry out to try and stop him, but he ignores them. He carries on. He tears apart two pillows and dismounts, with his weapons at which point the Persian guards try to stop him. They told him he is not to enter with his weapons. So he replies to them:

“Well, you are the ones who invited me. So you either let me in, with my arms, or I am going to leave.”

The guards are told by Roostum to allow him to enter, so Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) strides forward with confidence, with his weapon blades poking holes into the rugs as he walks over them, leaving gashes and marks upon them.

Roostum asked, “Why have you (The Muslims) come here (Persia)?”

There was a marked contrast, between how Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) appeared outwardly to people, to how he addressed the leader of the Persian empire. Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu), this crude, poor Bedouin Muslim replied with the following, timeless and enthralling words:

“Allah the Most Glorious the Most High has sent us, to deliver you, from worshipping the creation, to worshipping the Creator of the creation; and deliver you from the constriction of this world, to the vastness of this world and the Afterlife; and from the oppression of religions to the justice of Islam.”

The effect of his words, on the laymen people surrounding Roostum, was deep and profound.

Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) was saying that we (The Muslims) have come to remove your people from being the slaves of each other to being the slaves of the Lord of the Universe and all Creation. To remove you from servitude of this human king (you are all sitting on the floor and he is sitting on a throne), to serving one whose Throne extends across the Heavens and the Earth. The Muslims were not there for worldly, power-hungry, material reasons.

Umar’s Islam (Part 2)

Umar (RadiAllahu Anhu) reached the house of his sister and heard words from behind her door. Both Fatima and her husband Saeed Ibn Zayd were reciting Qur’an under the tuition of Khabab Ibn Arat.

When Umar knocked on the door and they saw that it he was there, the immediately stopped reciting, Khabab Ibn Arat hid himself and Fatima hid the scroll of upon which Qur’an was written, under her thighs.

Umar came in and demanded what was the humming sound he had heard. They said it was nothing. He repeated his question and demanded to know if they had become Muslim and left the religion of their tribes. Saeed Ibn Zayd replied:

“Well what if Islam is better than your religion?”

At that point Umar (RadiAllahu Anhu) attacked Saeed Ibn Zayd. He threw him to the ground, sat on top of him and began to beat him. Fatima, seeing her husband being attacked in this way, tried to intervene in vain to help him, and was struck in her face by Umar (RadiAllahu Anhu). She began to bleed as a result and so she rebuked her brother:

“You enemy of Allah! You hit me just because I believe in Allah. Whether you like it or not, I bear witness that there is no God except Allah and Muhammed is His Messenger. Do whatever you like!”

Seeing the bleeding face of his own sister and hearing the strength and conviction in her voice, Umar (RadiAllahu Anhu) calmed down and became silent. He regretted his actions and felt sorry for her. He moved away from Saeed and sat down. He asked her to hand over the scrolls to him. Fatima refused. He told her that her words, had struck a cord in his heart and he promised that he would return them to her safely. She replied:

“No. You are a Mushrik (see glossary), you are in a state of impurity, so you have to go and make ghusl (see glossary) first.”

Umar (RadiAllahu Anhu) did so and took the scrolls from his sister, sat down and recite the verses of Qur’an written upon them. He recited the first verses of Surat TaHa from Qur’an which are translated as follows:

“Ta Ha. We have not revealed the Quran to you that you may be unsuccessful. Nay, it is a reminder to him who fears: A revelation from Him Who created the earth and the high heavens. The Beneficent Allah is firm in power. His is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth and what is between them two and what is beneath the ground. And if you utter the saying aloud, then surely He knows the secret, and what is yet more hidden. Allah – there is no god but He; His are the very best names.” – Surat TaHaa (1-8:20)

Umar was quiet and reflective. He said upon reading these verses:

“Is this what Quraish and the other tribes are fighting …? The one who has spoken these words (Allah, The Almighty) needs to be worshipped. Where is Muhammed?”

They told him the location where the Prophet Muhammed (SalAllahu Alayhi WaSallam) was meeting with his companions. So Umar left to meet with him, now… in a completely different frame of mind.

Umar’s Islam (Part 1)

The following story is one of the most famous and well-loved narrations in the history of this Ummah. I personally find it both moving and exhilarating at how the likes of Umar Ibn Al Khattab (RadiAllahu Anhu) who was such a staunch enemy of Islam, turned from being an enemy to being one of it’s greatest figures and brightest stars. It demonstrates clearly that Hidayah (guidance) is only from Allah ‘azza wa jal. And we surely ask Allah ‘azza wa jal to guide us to His path.

The story of Umar’s Islam continues. Despite the numerous events that took place that began to soften his heart towards Islam, he was still very much an enemy to Islam and the Messenger of Allah (SalAllahu Alayhi Wasallam).

One day, while the Mushrikeen of Makkah were in discussion on how to deal with the ‘problem’ of Muhammed (SalAllahu Alayhi Wasallam), they asked each other who would volunteer to kill him. Umar said he would do it and they all agreed. This demonstrates how bold and decisive Umar was, even in his days of misguidance.

It was a hot day in Makkah. Umar took out his sword, and stalked down the streets of Makkah, resolved on his deadly mission: to kill, the Messenger of Allah (SalAllahu Alayhi Wasallam). There were few Muslims left in Makkah other than those close to the Prophet himself. Most had been ordered to migrate (make Hijrah) to Abyssinia. Umar was heading for the house of al-Arkham where it was known that the Prophet and his companions held their gatherings.

One of the companions of the Prophet (who was a Muslim in secret due to the persecution in Makkah) saw the stalking Umar striding with purpose down the street with a look of evil in his eyes. So he stopped Umar and asked him where he was going. Umar replied:

“To this man… who has disunited our people, and who has made fools out of us, and who has cursed our gods. I am going to kill him.”

So the companion replied:
“It seems that you are too confident of yourself. Do you think that the tribe of the Prophet are going to let you walk on the face of this earth after you have killed their man?”

Umar was upset so they started an arguement. Judging by the protective tone of voice of this man, Umar judged that he must be a Muslim so he told him the he would start by killing him first! The whole point of this companion’s attempt to divert Umar from his deadly mission was to save the life of the Prophet. So when he saw that there was no convincing Umar, the companion replied:

“Well perhaps you should start by sorting your household out first.”

Umar demanded what he meant by this, and the companion told him, that Umar’s own sister and her husband had become Muslim. It must be undstood that this companion only resorted to this when he saw that nothing else would stop Umar. The sister of Umar (Fatima) was Muslim in secret and so was her husband (Saeed Ibn Zayd). By telling Umar of their Islam he knew he was jepordising their lives by exposing their secret. But for the sake of saving the Prophet (SalAllahu Alayhi Wasallam), anything and everything is to be sacrificed for him.

Umar, at this point, changed his course and headed straight for the house of his sister, Fatima (RadiAllahu Anha).

Umar’s Farahssa

The definition of the Arabic word ‘Farahssa’ is intuition. It is the ability to be able to read and judge a person’s personality/intensions, just by looking at their face. It is certainly a gift from Allah The Almighty and it was a gift He had bestowed upon Umar Ibn Al Khataab (radiAllahu Andu). In fact farahssa was seen as an art that could also be taught to people and it is narrated that Imam Muhammed Idris As-Shafiee travelled to Yemen in order to learn it.

Umar’s son Abdullah Ibn Umar (radiAllahu Andu) related that one day, he and his father were walking the streets of Makkah (before Umar’s acceptance of Islam). A handsome man walked in front of them. So Abdullah Ibn Umar (radiAllahu Andu) relates:

“My father looked at the man’s face and said “If my intuition is correct, this man was the the foretuneteller of his people.”"

By just looking at his face Umar Ibn Al Khataab (radiAllahu Andu) was able to read who and what this man was. They called him over and told him this. The man was amazed and exclaimed he was indeed the fortueteller of his people and that he had never witnessed any intuition like this before!

Abdullah Ibn Umar (radiAllahu Andu) relates that rarely was his father’s intuition wrong. He would always hit the target with this gift from Allah The Almighty. Umar then asked the man:

“Tell me the strangest thing that your Jinn (see glossary) has told you.”

The man replied, “My Jinn came to me and spoke to me about the coming of a Prophet.”

These along with a number of other incidents were part of the preparation of the great event of Umar Ibn Al Khataab (radiAllahu Andu) acceptance of Islam.