Abu Sabrah bin Abi Ruhm
A Badri Companion of the Holy
Prophet
Abu Sabrah bin Abi Ruhm’s title was Abu Sabrah رضي الله عنه and it was so popular that the people forgot his real name. His mother was Bara bint Abdul Muttalib, who was also the paternal aunt of Rasulullahﷺ. Hence, Abu Sabrah رضي الله عنه was the cousin of Rasulullahﷺ. Abu Sabrah رضي الله عنه migrated to Abyssinia on both occasions. During the second migration to Abyssinia, his wife Umme Kulthum bint Suhail bin Amr رضي الله عنه accompanied him. They had three sons – Muhammad, Abdullah, and Sa‘d. When Abu Sabrah رضي الله عنه migrated from Makkah to Madinah he stayed at the house of Munzir bin Muhammad رضي الله عنه.
Rasulullahﷺ formed a bond of brotherhood between Abu Sabrah رضي الله عنه and Salma bin Salaama رضي الله عنه. . Hazrat Abu Sabrah fought in the battles alongside Rasulullahﷺ, including the Battle of Badr, Uhud and the Ditch. After the demise of Rasulullahﷺ, he left Madinah and settled in Makkah. Abu Sabrah رضي الله عنه passed away during the Khilafat of Sayidina Uthman Ibn Affan رضي الله عنه .
Story of Abu Sabrah bin Abi
Ruhm and the capture of Persian general Homuzun.
A wonderful story from the Autobiography of Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه written in the history of At-Tabari. The premise is after the Battle of Qadisiyah and in particular the conquest of Tastar where the Mujahadeen captured the Persian commander, Hormuzan.
He surrendered to the Muslim Army on the condition that he will be sent to Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه so he personally could decide his fate. As for what follows:
Abu Sabrah رضي الله عنه, the overall commander of Muslims in those battles,
sent a delegation to Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه and also sent Hormuzan in their company. When they
reached Madinah, they made Hormuzan assume his royal attire. They made him wear
all his jewels, silk robe embroidered with gold, and his crown (called Aathain)
which was inlaid with rubies so that Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه and the Muslims would see him in his
royal splendor. Then they took him out into the streets and went to Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه 's home
but could not find him there. Some people told them that he was last seen
sitting in the Masjid talking to a delegation from Kufa. The troop went to the
masjid but did not find him there either.
As they turned back, two boys playing in the street asked the group,
"Why are you going here and there? Do you want to see the Leader of the
Believers? He is lying asleep in the right side of the Masjid. He has made a
pillow out of his cloak." Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه was wearing a hooded cloak when meeting the
Kufa delegation but took it off when they left and crumpled it into a pillow
when they left and took a nap. So the delegation, which had now attracted quite
a crowd of spectators, went back inside the Masjid and saw Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه alone in the
Masjid, asleep and with a whip in his hand.
They sat down at a distance from
him and warned the crowd not to make a noise. Hormuzan asked, "Where is
Umar?" They pointed to the sleeping man. Hormuzan was perplexed, "But
where are his guards and ushers?" The delegation told him that he neither
had a guard, usher, or a court. Harmuzan commented, "Well he should be a
Prophet then!" The Muslims replied, "He is not, but he tries to follow
the Prophets."
As the crowd swelled, the commotion awakened Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه. He sat up and seeing the
royal general, said, "Are you Hormuzan?" He replied in the
affirmative. Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه sized him up and took in his gaudy attire. Finally, he said,
"I seek Allah's Refuge from the Hellfire. I seek His Help. All Praise be
to Allah, who humiliated through Islam this man and his nation. O Muslims! Hold
firmly to your religion and follow the guidance of your Rasulullahﷺ Do not
be deluded by this world (its glory and splendor), it's a deception." The
delegation said, "This is the leader of Ahwaz. Please talk to him." Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه refused, "No! Not until he is divested of all his jewels." So
all the splendid adornments were removed from his person except simple garments
on top of which he was made to wear coarse garments.
Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه said:
"Now Hormuzan, how do you find the consequence of breaking treaties and Allah's Vengeance?" He replied, "Umar, before Islam we and you both were left on our own. We overcame you when God was neither on your side nor ours. But when God was on your side, you defeated us." Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه replied, "Before Islam, you defeated us because you were united and we were divided." Then he added, "What excuse do you have for betraying and breaking treaties with us repeatedly?"
Hormuzan said, "I fear that you will kill me before I tell you." Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه assured him, "There is no reason to fear this will happen." At this, he asked for water. He was presented with water in a crude ordinary cup. Harmuzan said, "Even if I die out of thirst, I cannot drink from this cup." Finally, he was presented with water in a cup which suited his sense of fineness but his hands started trembling as he held the cup. He beseeched, "I fear you will kill me while I am drinking." Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه placated him again, "You will not be harmed until you drink it." Hormuzan emptied the cup by turning it upside down. Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه orders, "Fill his cup again. Don't let him die a thirsty man."
Hormuzan said calmly, "But I don't need water. I just wanted to save myself through it." Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنهr said, "I will kill you!" Hormuzan retorted, "You just granted me protection!" Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه thundered, "Liar!" At this, Anas spoke up saying, "He is telling the truth, O Leader of the Believers! You did grant him protection." Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه was astounded, "Come on Anas. Can I grant protection to the killer of Mujza'ah and Al-Bara? By Allah, either you tell me how to get out of this situation, or else I shall punish you." Sayidina Anas said, "You told him that you would not harm him until he told you his excuse and also not until he drank the water from the cup." Others concurred with Anas رضي الله عنه too. Sayidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه turned to Hormuzan, "You have tricked me. By Allah, none but a Muslim can trick me." Hormuzan was impressed with the justice and noble character of the Muslims and embraced Islam.
Abu Ruhm رضي الله عنه accidentally hit the calf of Rasulullahﷺ.
WHEN Taif was conquered, Rasulullahﷺ walked to Ji'ranah with the ghanimah (spoils of war). When Rasulullahﷺ was riding his camel, beside him was Kaltsum al-Manhur Abi Ruhm al-Ghifari's camel, he accidentally hit Rasulullahﷺ's calf until he was in pain.
"You have made me sick, move your feet," said Rasulullahﷺ while hitting his leg with a whip.
Abu Ruhm رضي الله عنه said, “This makes me nervous and I am really worried that Allah revealed a verse related to this because of my mistake. In the morning in Ji'ranah, I went out to herd my camel—that day I was ashamed and wanted to stay away—in the hope that the Messenger of Allah would come looking for me. Indeed, when some of the companions returned, they said, 'The Messenger of Allah is looking for you.'"
I said, “Really! I went to him while looking at the Rasulullahﷺ."
He said, "Abu Ruhm, your leg has injured mine, I also hit you with a whip, so take this goat as a reward for my beating earlier."
Umar granted him a stipend of
two thousand and settled him in Al-Madinah.
Lesson:
It's easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar. Here is a man who was a high-ranking official that fought the Muslims and betrayed treaties repeatedly. He became a Muslim as a hostage and Umar forgave him and let him reside in Medinah as a Muslim that also received stipends from the government like everyone else. Perhaps just perhaps, the Islamic State could of learned from this story and just let this American hostage aid worker and his Islam be in the hands of Allah and set him free under their protection. And Allah Knows Best.
Last edited by Musbah; 19-11-14,
05:31 PM.
"When a man sees the road
as long he weakens in his walk." Ibn Qayyim
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(Al-Tabkaat-ul-Qubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, pp. 307-308, Abu Sabrah bin Abi Ruhm, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-ilmiyya, Beirut, 1990) (Sira Al-Sahaba, Vol. 2, p. 583, Hazrat Abu Sabrah bin Abi Ruhm, Dar-ul-Isha’at, Karachi, 2004)
