Mus’ab ibn Umayr (RA)
Early Life:
Mus’ab ibn Umayr was born and grew up in luxury, where he would wear the most expensive clothes and at that time, he was very well respected by the Quraysh.
Acceptance of Islam:
Mus’ab ibn Umayr learnt that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the early Muslims were secretly gathering in the house of al-Arqam to avoid being persecuted by the Quraysh.
He witnessed the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ teaching the gathering, reciting verses of the Quran and performing prayer.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ welcomed him and Mus’ab was amazed by what he had seen. After witnessing this first-hand, Mus’ab ibn Umayr accepted Islam.
Concealing Islam:
Mus’ab ibn Umayr’s mother, Khunnas bint Malik was a woman who was very powerful.
When Mus’ab became a Muslim, he feared the reaction of his mother so he decided to hide his acceptance of Islam and continued to visit the house of al-Arqam to sit in the company of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
One day, Mus’ab was spotted entering the house of Al-Arqam by Uthman ibn Talhah, and the news of Mus’ab’s acceptance of Islam spread amongst the Quraysh and eventually, his mother Khunnas found out about this.
Mus’ab then informed his mother that he had accepted the religion of Islam and started to recite Ayats from the Quran.
Khunnas bint Malik was angered by this and decided to tie her son up, and Mus’ab ibn Umayr had now become a prisoner in his own home.
Migration to Abyssinia:
Eventually, Mus’ab ibn Umayr heard that a group of Muslims were preparing to migrate to Abyssinia, and he managed to escape and joined the Muslims on their journey.
Mus’ab Returns to Makkah and Pleads with his Mother:
Eventually, Mus’ab returned to Makkah, where his mother, Khunnas threatened to have him tied up again.
However, Mus’ab swore that if she did this, he would kill everyone who helped her.
Khunnas bint Malik said: Go to your own business, I am not prepared to be a mother to you.
Mus’ab ibn Umayr responded: Mother, I advise you sincerely, I am concerned about you. Do testify that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Servant and His Messenger.
Khunnas replied: I swear by the shooting stars, I shall never enter your religion even if my opinion is ridiculed and my mind becomes impotent.
The Prophet on Mus’ab ibn Umayr:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: I have seen Mus’ab with his parents in Makkah. They lavished care and attention on him and gave him all comforts. There was no Quraysh youth like him. Then Mus’ab ibn Umayr left all that seeking the pleasure of Allah and devoting himself to the service of His Prophet.
Role as an Ambassador in Yathrib (Madinah):
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ chose Mus’ab as an ambassador to go to Yathrib (Madinah) and teach a small group of believers who had come to pledge allegiance to Islam.
The Prophet delegated Mus’ab with this task because of his character. Another reason why the Prophet chose him was because of his knowledge of the Quran and his ability to recite it beautifully.
The Conversion of Key Figures from Mus’ab ibn Umayr:
Mus’ab ibn Umayr entered Yathrib along with Sa’d ibn Zurarah and they informed the residents of the city about the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Islam.
Usayd ibn Khudayr’s Acceptance of Islam:
A powerful man from Yathrib, Usayd ibn Khudayr approached Mus’ab angrily, holding a spear.
Mus’ab then told Usayd ibn Khudayr: Won’t you sit down and listen? If you are pleased and satisfied with our mission, accept it and if you dislike it, we will stop telling you what you dislike and leave.
Usayd agreed to this and Mus’ab began telling him about Islam and recited verses from the Quran.
Usayd ibn Khudayr then replied: How beautiful and true are these words! What does a person do if he wants to enter this religion?
Mus’ab told him: Have a bath, purify yourself and your clothes and then take the Shahadah.
After doing this, Usayd ibn Khudayr became a Muslim.
Sa’d ibn Mu’adh’s Acceptance of Islam:
Usayd then said: after me, there is a man who if he follows you, every one of his people will follow him. His name is Sa’d ibn Muadh.
Sa’d ibn Muadh then came and accepted Islam.
Sa’d ibn Ubadah’s Acceptance of Islam:
Eventually, another important figure of Yahtrib, Sa’d ibn Ubadah also accepted Islam.
The Residents of Yathrib Accept Islam:
Before long, the people of Yathrib realised that Usayd ibn Khudayr, Sa’d ibn Muadh and Sa’d ibn Ubadah had all accepted Islam.
They all decided to go to Mus’ab ibn Umayr and become Muslims.
Participation in Battles:
At the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ called Mus’ab ibn Umayr to carry the flag of the Muslim army.
Mus’ab realised the danger that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ faced and shouted the Takbir. With the flag in one hand and his sword in the other, he bravely attacked the Quraysh army.
Mus’ab would say: Muhammad is only a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him.
He said this because even though he was very attached to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his sacrifice was for Allah SWT.
The Quraysh then cut both of his arms but he continued to say: Muhammad is only a Messenger of Allah. Messengers have passed away before him.
Mus’ab ibn Umayr then was hit by a spear and was martyred in the Battle of Uhud.
The Prophet’s Reaction:
After the battle, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions went through the battlefield, looking at the martyrs who were killed.
When they came across Mus’ab ibn Umayr’s body, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was very emotional, as he remembered when he first saw Mus’ab in Makkah, with his expensive clothes. The Prophet now saw the short burdah on his body which was the only garment that he owned.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ recited the verse of the Quran: ‘Among the believers are men who have been true to what they pledged to Allah.’ (Quran, 33:23)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then looked over the battlefield where his companions lay, including Mus’ab and said: The Messenger of Allah testifies that you are martyrs in the sight of Allah on the day of Qiyamah.
Hadith on Mus’ab ibn Umayr:
When the Prophet saw the body of Mus’ab ibn Umayr in the battlefield after the Battle of Uhud, he said: I saw you at Makkah, and there was not a more precious jewel, nor anyone more distinguished than you, and here you are, bare-headed in a garment.