Ep. 03: Mus’ab b. Umayr | Our Models – The Heroes We Want to Be

This deen that we study, learn about and practice has reached us through immense sacrifices. Some people gave up their wealth, others, their luxuries, and others, their personal aspirations. Much sacrifice was made, and that sacrifice was shared by all members of society in the time of the prophet (SAW). The men, the women and youngsters all played their part. A young boy who was considered to be the most well dressed man of Makkah’s clothes and perfume used to be imported and the people at that time could not afford such fancy clothes. He would wear them and would have a profile and reputation that everyone admired. One day, this boy accepted Islam. His parents were so shocked and angry that they took away everything for him and made him a captive in their own house. They chained him inside his own house so that he could not escape. After enduring this for some time, this young man finally managed to escape. This was towards the end of the period of Makkah and a couple of years before the prophet (SAW) migrated. At this time, in the season of Hajj, people were coming from Madinah, and the first year, a few people came and met the prophet (SAW) in the mountains and accepted Islam, and a year after that, a group of some 70 people came and met the prophet (SAW) in the mountains, accepted Islam and pledged allegiance to him. These people requested that the prophet (SAW) send someone to Madinah to teach them deen and spread the words of deen. Of all the companions that the prophet (SAW) had and could have sent, he chose that young boy. The young boy who was raised in the lap of luxury with all kinds of amenities and facilities. This young boy’s name was Mus’ab ibn Umayr.

The prophet (SAW) sent him to Madinah. He did not have a home there – he would sleep in people’s gardens, and during the day, he would teach those who had accepted Islam how to practice Islam and how to read the Qur’an. At that young age, he became known as “Al Muqri’”, or “The one who teaches others the Qur’an”. Those who had not yet accepted Islam would be invited towards Islam. Because of him, the chieftains and influential people of Madinah accepted Islam. He worked like this in Madinah for a whole year before the prophet (SAW) migrated. By this time, through the efforts of this young boy, some 1,000 people had accepted Islam. These 1,000 people became the foundation for that group that we refer to as the Ansar, the helpers of Madinah. These were the people who welcomed the prophet (SAW) to Madinah and they became the foundation for Islam. These were the people who spread Islam far and wide. This all came about because of the efforts of one youngster. This youngster continued to progress in his deen, but he had given up everything – all of his luxuries, enjoyments and wealth. A couple of years later, at the battle of Uhd, this same boy was selected to be the flag-bearer of the Muslim army at the battle of Uhd. To hold the flag was a mark of honor and distinction – you were the one who led the army and everyone had their eye on, because when the flag fell, this was a sign of defeat. This was a great honor for Mus’ab (RA), and the army of Quraysh knew this, so while the skirmish was taking place, one of them came and attacked him so severely that they cut off the hand that was holding the flag. He was so determined that he did not let the flag fall. He grabbed the flag with his left hand, despite having his hand chopped off, and displayed it proudly. His left hand was also cut off, so he took the stumps of his arms and clutched the flag to his chest with his arms. Eventually, his body was pierced by a spear, and he was defeated. Before he could fall with the flag, someone else in the army came and picked up the flag. When this boy died and it was time for him to be buried, he had just one sheet of clothing which was not enough to cover his whole body. The companions came to the prophet (SAW) and told this to him. The prophet (SAW) told them, “Cover his face with the sheet and put leaves over his feet. Bury him this way.” Today, this young man, Mus’ab ibn Umayr (RA), is still buried where the martyrs are buried, very closely to the grave of Hamza (RA). Anyone who goes to visit the martyrs of Uhd also visits Mus’ab (RA).

Imagine what it had taken for a young boy of that background to give up everything and become one of the most influential people in Islamic history because he laid the foundation of Islam in Madinah. All of us are indebted to him and so are the people who learn the Qur’an and have Islam all the way to the Day of Judgement. May Allah (SWT) also accept us for the service of his deen and the knowledge and spreading of his deen.