The Patience of Urwah ibn al-Zubayr

‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr (RadiAllahu Anhu) came to visit the Khalîfah al-Walîd ibn ‘Abdu’l-Malik. With him was his son Muhammad, who was one of the most handsome of men. The young man had dressed up for the occasion in fine clothes, and had his hair in two plaits or braids. When al-Walîd saw him, he said, “This is how the young people of Quraysh look!” and by so saying, put the evil eye on him. Before he left, the young man fell ill. When he was in the stable (preparing for the journey) he fell down, and the horses trampled him to death.

Then ‘Urwah got gangrene in his leg, and al-Walîd sent doctors to him, who suggested that the leg should be amputated, otherwise the gangrene would spread to the rest of the body and kill him. ‘Urwah agreed, and the doctors began to remove his leg, using a saw.
When the saw reached the bone, ‘Urwah fainted, and when he came around, sweat was pouring down his face, and he was repeating,

“Lâ ilâh ill-Allâh, Allâhu akbar.”

When the operation was over, he picked up his leg and kissed it, then said,

“I swear by the One Who mounted me on you, I never used to walk to any place of wrong action or to any place where Allâh would not like me to be.”

Then he gave instructions that the leg should be washed, perfumed, wrapped in a cloth and buried in the Muslim graveyard.
When ‘Urwah left al-Walîd and returned to Madînah, his family and friends went to meet
him at the outskirts of the city and to offer condolences. The only reply he made was to
quote from the Qur’ân:

“…truly we have suffered much fatigue at our journey” (al- Kahf 18:62).

He did not say any more than that. Then he said,

“I will not enter Madînah, for people there either rejoice over the afflictions of others, or else feel envy for their blessings.”

So he went to stay in a place at al-‘Aqîq. ‘Îsâ ibn Talhah came to visit him there and said,

“May your enemies’ fathers perish!”

and asked him,

“Show me the affliction for which I have come to console you.”

‘Urwah uncovered his stump, and ‘Îsâ said,

“By Allâh, we were not preparing you to wrestle! Allâh has saved most of you: your sanity, your tongue, your eyesight, your two hands, and one of your two legs.”

‘Urwah told him,

“Nobody has consoled me as you have.”

When the doctors came to perform the amputation, they had asked ‘Urwah whether he
would drink intoxicants to ease the pain. He said,

“Allâh is testing me to see the extent of my patience. How could I go against His commands?”

The Eeman of Abu Bakr

On the authority of Umar:

“If the Eemaan of Abu Bakr was weighed against the Eemaan of the people of the earth, the Eemaan of Abu Bakr would outweigh the others.”

Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in ‘al-Jamia’ lashu’ab al-Eemaan’ (1:18) and its narrators are trustworthy.

When my mother heard the news of my Islam

While the Prophet (Sallalahu allhi wassalm) was delighted with Sa’d's acceptance to Islam, others including and especially his mother were not.

Sa’ad relates:

“When my mother heard the news of my Islam, she flew into a rage. She came up to me and said: “O Sa’ad! What is this religion that you have embraced which has taken you away from the religion of your mother and father…? By God, either you forsake your new religion or I would not eat or drink until I die. Your heart would be broken with grief for me and remorse would consume you on account of the deed, you have done and people would censure you forever more.’ ‘Don’t do (such a thing), my mother,’ I said, ‘for I would not give up my religion for anything.’ However, she went on with her threat… For days she neither ate nor drank. She became emaciated and weak.”

“Hour after hour, I went to her asking whether I should bring her some food or something to drink but she persistently refused, insisting that she would neither eat nor drink until she died or I abandoned my religion. I said to her, ‘Yaa Ummaah! In spite of my strong love for you, my love for Allah and His Messenger is indeed stronger. By Allah, if you had a thousand souls and each one depart one after another, I would not abandon this religion for anything.’ When she saw that I was determined she relented unwillingly and ate and drank.”

This was referenced in the Qur’anic verses below:

And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years — give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination.

But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do. [Surat Luqman: 14-15]

What do you think about two when Allah is their third?

Every Companion and every Muslim for that matter would have loved to have been singled out for the honour of accompanying the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) during his migration to Al-Madeenah. However it was Abu Bakr (radiAllahu Andu) who was chosen and blessed with this great honour.

It is narrated in an authentic hadith:

“Anas ibn Malik (radiAllahu Andu) reported that Abu Bakr As Siddiq (radiAllahu Andu) reported him, he Abu Bakr said: I saw the feet of the polytheists very close to us as we were in the cave. I said: O Messenger of Allah(sal Allahu alayhi wasallam), if one amongst them were to look at his feet he would have surely seen us. Thereupon he said: O Abu Bakr, what do you think about two, when Allah is their third .” [Sahih Muslim (Book 31, Hadith 5698)]