Hadhrat Ammaar and His Parents
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| Ammar bin Yassir among the first "Shahid" in Islam. |
Hadhrat Ammaar and his parents were also subjected to the severest afflictions. They were tormented on the scorching sands of Makkah. Nabi b while passing by them would ask them to be patient, giving them glad tidings about Jannat. Ammaar's father Yasir died after prolonged suffering at the hands of the persecutors. His mother Sumayya was killed by Abu Jahl, who put his spear through the most private part of her body, causing her death. She had refused to leave Islam despite terrible torture in her old age. The blessed lady was the first to meet shahaadat in the cause of Islam. The first musjid in Islam was built by Ammaar .
When Nabi SAW emigrated to Madinah, Ammaaroffered to build a structure for him where he could sit, take rest in the afternoon, and say his Salaah under its roof. He first collected the stones and then built the musjid in Quba. He fought against the enemies of Islam with great zeal and courage. Once he was fighting in a battle when he said rejoicingly: "I am to meet my friends very soon, I am to meet Muhammad j and his companions." He then asked for water. He was offered some milk. He took it and said: "I heard Nabi b saying to me, 'Milk shall be the last drink of your worldly life.’ " He then fought till he met his noble end. He was then aged about ninety-four.
When Nabi SAW emigrated to Madinah, Ammaaroffered to build a structure for him where he could sit, take rest in the afternoon, and say his Salaah under its roof. He first collected the stones and then built the musjid in Quba. He fought against the enemies of Islam with great zeal and courage. Once he was fighting in a battle when he said rejoicingly: "I am to meet my friends very soon, I am to meet Muhammad j and his companions." He then asked for water. He was offered some milk. He took it and said: "I heard Nabi b saying to me, 'Milk shall be the last drink of your worldly life.’ " He then fought till he met his noble end. He was then aged about ninety-four.
By one estimate, Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu) was born four years before the year of the elephant, which means Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu) was four years older than the Prophet Muhammad (saw), because Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born in the year of the elephant.
When Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) announced the message of Islam at the age of forty, the poor and the persecuted listened to the message of Islam. They believed in it, so their hearts were filled with love for Islam.
On the other hand the traders and the rich of Quraish had spite against Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his message of Islam. Hence, they plotted against Islam and the Muslims. Abu Jahl was the most spiteful polytheist; he mistreated Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers very much.
Initially Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) met the believers secretly in al-Arqam's house. He wanted to keep his religion Islam a secret so that Abu Jahl, Abu Sufyan and other polytheists would not hurt the Muslims or followers of Islam.
One day Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu) came and saw a man, Suhaib standing at the door. Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu) said to him: Suhaib, what are you doing here?
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| Allah's Prophet, my heart's certain of faith. |
Suhaib answered: I have come to hear Holy Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) words. And what are you doing? I have come to hear his words, too.
Then Ammar ibn Yasir and Suhaib came into al-Arqam's house. They humbly began listening to Allah's words and to the Verses of the Noble Qur'an. Ammar ibn Yasir's heart was full of belief as streams are full of rain water. When Ammar ibn Yasir and Suhaib wanted to leave al-Arqam's house, Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said to them: Stay here till evening.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was afraid that Quraish would hurt them. Ammar ibn Yasir waited until it got dark. Then he left al-Arqam's house and hurried towards his house. His father Yasir ibn Amir and mother Sumayyah bint Khabbab were waiting for him anxiously. When Ammar ibn Yasir entered, the little house was full of happiness. He began telling his parents about Islam, Allah's religion.
Hence, Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu) was one of the earliest converts to Islam, and the first Muslim to build a mosque in his own house in which he used to worship Allah.
Abu Jahl heard that Ammar ibn Yasir became a Muslim. So, he got crazy. Abu Jahl led a group of polytheists and went to Yasir's house. Torches were in their hands. They burnt the house and took Ammar ibn Yasir, Yasir ibn Amir and Sumayyah bint Khabbab to a desert outside Makkah.
They chained and began torturing them. First, they whipped them till blood flowed out. Then they brought torches and began burning their bodies. But that small family went on their firm belief in Islam. Abu Jahl brought rocks and put them on their chests. They were breathing hard. Still they were believers. It was noon, the heat was intense. Abu Jahl and the polytheists came back to Makkah. They left Yasir's family in the intense heat of the sun.
In the meantime, Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) passed by the family. When he saw them he wept and said: Yasir's family, be patient! Your reward will be Paradise!
Sumayyah bint Khabbab said with belief: I confess that you are Allah's Prophet. And your promise is true.
The criminals came back, Abu Jahl was in advance. There was a long spear in his hand and he began torturing them savagely, until Ammar ibn Yasir, Yasir ibn Amir and Sumayyah bint Khabbab were unconscious. So the criminals showered them with water. When they gain conscious back, Abu Jahl shouted at Sumayyah bint Khabbab stormily: Praise our gods; dispraise Prophet Muhammad!
Sumayyah bint Khabbab spit onto his face and said: How bad you and your gods are!
Abu Jahl boiled in anger. Thus, he raised his spear high and stabbed into the belly of Sumayyah bint Khabbab until she died. For this reason, Sumayyah bint Khabbab became the first martyr in the history of Islam. Then Abu Jahl began kicking Yasir ibn Amir on the belly savagely until he died too.
Ammar ibn Yasir saw what happened to his parents and wept. Then Abu Jahl shouted angrily at him: If you don't praise our gods, I will kill you too!
Ammar ibn Yasir could not endure that cruel torture. So he reluctantly said: Hubal (an idol) is great! Ammar ibn Yasir praised their idols to save himself from torture. So they unchained and left him.
Ammar ibn Yasir went weeping to Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). He was not weeping for his parents or for himself or for the torture he had suffered - he wept because he praised the polytheists' idols.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) consoled Ammar ibn Yasir on his parent's martyrdom. Ammar ibn Yasir went on weeping. Then he said: Allah's Prophet, the polytheists did not release me until they forced me to praise their gods!
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said kindly: Ammar, what about your heart?
Ammar ibn Yasir answered: Allah's Prophet, my heart's certain of faith.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, don't worry! Allah sent down a verse concerning you: "Not, he who is compelled while his heart is at rest because of his faith."
The condition of the Muslims in Makkah became critical. So, Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ordered his companions to immigrate to Yathrib (Madina al-Munawara).
Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu) was one of those who migrated to Yathrib (Madina al-Munawara) following the orders of Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
After reaching Yathrib (Madina al-Munawara), Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) first thought of building a mosque so that the Muslims would worship Allah alone. In the meantime it would be a symbol for the Muslims strength and a castle for the Muslim nation.
With enthusiasm, the Muslims or Sahaba (Companions of Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)) began building the Holy Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) Mosque in Yathrib (Madina al-Munawara).
Some Muslims were carrying dust. Some were making bricks and some were carrying the dried bricks to make the walls. Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was also working along with his Sahaba (Companions of Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)). Ammar ibn Yasir, though covered with dust, was working actively.
Each Muslim was carrying a brick. But Ammar ibn Yasir was carrying two bricks. For this reason, Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said to him: They (the Muslims) will get a reward; you will get two rewards.
To encourage his Muslim brothers, Ammar ibn Yasir repeated the following enthusiastic words: Those who build the mosque do not equal those who avoid dust. Days and months passed. Allah, the Glorified, wanted to punish those who persecuted the Muslims in Makkah and robbed them of their belongings and money.
The Muslims heard that the polytheists had formed an army. Abu Jahl headed the army and he was heading for Yathrib (Madina al-Munawara). Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) asked the advice of his Sahaba (Companions of Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)). Finally, he took a decision to face the polytheists. Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) sent Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu) and Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (Radiyallahu Anhu) to get him information about the polytheists' army.
Ammar ibn Yasir was brave. He approached the polytheist's caravans and went round their camp to collect information.
Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu) and Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (Radiyallahu Anhu) came back to Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and informed about their low spirits.
In the morning, when the polytheists woke, they found strange footprints. Munbih bin al-Hajjaj had a good knowledge of footprints, said: By al-Lat and al-Uzza (idols), these are Ammar ibn Yasir's and Abdullah ibn Mas'ud's footprints. On the morning of 17th Ramadan, 2 AH, the great Battle of Badr, the first battle in the history of Islam, took place. In this battle of Badr, Allah granted the believers victory over the polytheists.
Ammar ibn Yasir was fighting with enthusiasm. When the polytheists escaped, Ammar ibn Yasir saw Abu Jahl. So, he remembered those days when Abu Jahl tortured the Muslims and tortured his parents. Now, the swords of the persecuted got revenge on the unjust. Ammar ibn Yasir looked at the sky and thanked Allah, then Glorified, for his victory.
Now, Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu) was sixty years old. However, he was more eager than the young men to strive for Allah. Ammar ibn Yasir deeply believed in Allah. He loved the Prophet of humanity, Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also loved his old friend, Ammar ibn Yasir and praised him on several occasions.
Many traditions are narrated from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) about Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu) regarding his virtues, outstanding traits and his glorious deeds, such as the tradition which Hazrat Ayesha and other have narrated that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself had said that: "Ammar was filled with faith from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet."
In another tradition the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said about Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu): "Ammar is with the truth and the truth is with Ammar. He turns wherever the truth turns. Ammar is as near to me as an eye is near to the nose. Alas! A rebellious group will kill him."
Also in the decisive and widely known tradition which al-Bukhari, at-Tirmidhi, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and all the narrators of Islamic traditions and historians transmitted through twenty-five Companions that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said about Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu): "Alas! A rebellious group which swerves from the truth will murder Ammar. Ammar will be calling them towards Paradise and they will be calling him towards Hell. His killer and those who strip him of arms and clothing will be in Hell."
Days, months and years passed. Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radiyallahu Anhu) was one of the most trusted and loyal companion (Sahabi E Rasool) of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), he was always with Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and always striving for Allah against the enemies of Islam and humanity. Ammar ibn Yasir (May Allah be pleased with him)
| Ammar bin Yassir RA |
‘AMMAR BIN YASIR: THE MAN WHO THE PROPHET PREDICTED HIS MARTYRDOM'
One of the companions who has several narrated merits pertaining to his faith, personality and resilience is ‘Ammar bin Yasir (RA).
‘Ammar is described in Al-Mustadarak ‘ala As-Sahihayn by Al-Hakim and authenticated by Adh-Dhahabi as being tall in stature, black in skin color and having kinky hair. His father Yasir (RA) was Arab.
‘Ammar was one of the earliest Muslims to accept Islam and was regularly tortured along with his family. Once while being severely tortured, he unwillingly recanted Islam. He later came to the Prophet (SAWS) in a state of tears saying that he verbally recanted Islam but did not mean it, in which the Prophet (SAWS) wiped away his tears and recited surah 16, ayah 106, “Whoever disbelieves in Allah after belief except who is forced and whose heart is still content with faith…”
After much persecution, ‘Ammar with other companions migrated to Abyssinia finding protection under a just Christian king though ibn Ishaq disputes that he was one of those companions in Abyssinia. He later migrated with other companions to Al-Madinah making him within a select group of companions that made two migrations for the sake of Allah (SWT).
‘Ammar later participated in the major campaigns to protect the Muslim community including Badr and Uhud. He also was a witness to the Farewell Pilgrimage and the event of Ghadir Khumm.
Prior to the death of the Prophet (SAWS), he told ‘Ammar, “You will be killed by a group of transgressors.” This hadith is sahih and mutawatir, meaning narrated so widely by many sound people that it is beyond doubt.
During the government of ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab, ‘Ammar was nominated to be the governor of Kufah in Iraq to be later removed from his position when ‘Umar consolidated the governorship of Kufah with Basrah under Abu Musa Al-Ashari.
During the government of ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (KW), ‘Ammar accompanied Imam Ali’s army at the Battle of Jamal and defended him against the Khawarij movement, the original takfiris. ‘Ammar later achieved martyrdom at the Battle of Siffin by being killed by a man from the army of Mu’awiyah bin Abi Sufyan.
