Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه was one of the earliest converts to Islam.
Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه accepted Islam while Rasulullahﷺ was at Dar-e-Arqam. After accepting Islam, Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه said to his mother, who was very supportive of him accepting Islam, ‘I implore you in Allah’s name, please go to Rasulullahﷺ, greet him, accept him and give this testimony that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Rasulullahﷺ is the Messenger of Allah.’ At which, she accepted Islam. Upon this, she said, ‘I also testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.’”
Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه was among
those Muslims who migrated to Abyssinia. However, when the rumor reached
Abyssinia that the Quraish have accepted Islam, and Makkah was in peace, some
Muslims returned to Makkah and Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه was also among them. However,
because of intense persecution of the Quraish, many Muslims emigrated back to
Abyssinia, the second migration to Abyssinia.
When Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه migrated from Makkah to Madinah, he stayed with Abdullah bin Salama
Ajlani. Rasulullahﷺ formed a bond of brotherhood between Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه and Sayidina Munzir bin ‘Amr رضي الله عنه. Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه participated in
the battle of Badr and he is counted amongst the prominent companions of Rasulullahﷺ. Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه participated in the battle of Ajnadain, which took place
in 13AH during, in the month of Jumadi-ul-Ula. Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه attained
martyrdom during this very battle at the age of thirty-five. However, according
to some sources, he was martyred during the battle of Yarmouk
Some historians, not all, believe that it was not long after the Muslims had migrated to Abyssinia that a rumor spread that the entire Quraish had entered the fold of Islam and that Makkah had become absolutely peaceful for Muslims. Hence, some people immediately returned, without investigating the matter. Only upon returning did they realize that the news was false.
Nevertheless, when they returned and realized
the true reality, some sought the protection of the chiefs of Makkah and others
returned when they came to know the truth, as it was a complete fabrication.
Nevertheless, the companions
returned as the cruelties afflicted by the Quraish increased by the day.
Furthermore, according to the instruction of Rasulullahﷺ,
other Muslims were also migrating gradually and in secrecy. It is said that the
number of people that migrated to Abyssinia reached 101, which included 18
women. Only a few Muslims remained with Rasulullahﷺ. The
return to Abyssinia, as well as the migration of other Muslims during this
period, is referred to by historians as the second migration to Abyssinia.
When Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه migrated from Makkah to Madinah, he stayed with Abdullah bin Salama Ajlani. Rasulullahﷺ formed a bond of brotherhood between Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه and Munzir bin Amr رضي الله عنه. Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه participated in the battle of Badr and he is counted amongst the prominent companions of Rasulullahﷺa. Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه participated in the Battle of Ajnadain, which took place in 13 AH in the month of Jumadi-ul-Ula. Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه attained martyrdom during this very battle at the age of 35.
Ajnadain is an area located in Syria, where Muslims and the Byzantines fought in 13 AH. However, according to some sources, he was martyred during the Battle of Yarmouk.
Another version of Tulaib Ibn Umair ra
The first of the Badri Companionsra whom I shall mention today is Tulaib bin Umair رضي الله عنه. His title was Abu Adi. His mother’s name was Arwah, who was the daughter of Abdul Muttalib and hence was the paternal aunt of Rasulullahﷺ. As I mentioned, his title was Abu Adi and he was one of the earliest converts to Islam and accepted Islam while Rasulullahﷺt was at Dar-e-Arqam.
Abu Salamah bin Abdur Rahman رضي الله عنه narrates that Tulaib bin Umair رضي الله عنه accepted Islam at Dar-e-Arqam. After this, he went to his mother and informed her that he had become a follower of Rasulullahﷺ and believed in Allahﷻ, the Lord of all the worlds. His mother replied, “Your maternal cousins are indeed more deserving of your help and cooperation than anyone else”, i.e. referring to Rasulullahﷺ and praised her son for having accepted Rasulullahﷺ.
She then said, “By God, had we women had the same strength as men, we would also have certainly followed, supported, and defended him.” Tulaib رضي الله عنهreplied to his mother saying, “If these are your sentiments, why do you then not accept Islam and follow the Rasulullahﷺ? Your brother Hamzah has already accepted Islam.” She replied, “Let me first assess the reaction of my sisters. Then, I will join him as well.”
Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه narrates, “I said to her, ‘I implore you in Allahﷻ’s name, please go to the Rasulullahﷺ, greet him, accept him and give this testimony that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Rasulullahﷺ Messenger of Allah.’ Upon this, she said, ‘I also testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and Rasulullahﷺ is the messenger of Allah.’” After that, she used to defend Rasulullahﷺ by way of her speech and also used to urge her son to help and show obedience to Rasulullahﷺ.
It is narrated regarding Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه that he was the first person in Islam to have inflicted an injury on an idolater because he insulted Rasulullahﷺ. The details of this incident are as follows:
Once, Auf bin Sabrah Sahmi was insulting Rasulullahﷺ, when Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه picked up a camel’s jawbone and injured him by hitting him with it. Someone complained to his mother, Arwah, saying, “Have you not seen what your son has done?” She replied:
اِنَّ طُلَيْبًا نَصَرَ ابْنَ خَالِهٖ
وَاسَاهُ فِي ذِي دَمِهٖ وَمَالِهٖ
This means, “Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه has simply come to the aid of his maternal cousin. He has shown sympathy to him with his blood and his property.”
According to some sources, the name of the individual whom he hit was Abu Ihaab bin Aziz Darmi. According to other narrations, the person whom Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه injured was either Abu Lahab or Abu Jahl. According to one narration, when someone complained to his mother regarding his attack, she replied, “The best day in the life of Tulaib is one in which he defends his maternal cousin – i.e. Rasulullahﷺ – who has come with the truth from God Almighty.”
Tulaib bin Umair persuaded his mother to convert to Islam.
Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه bravely told his mother, Arwa bint Abdul Muttalib that he had become a follower of Rasulullahﷺ and surrendered to Allah. Responding to his confession, the mother said, "Indeed, the one you have the right to help is your uncle's son (Muhammad SAW), for Allahﷻ's sake if we are able to do as men do, I will definitely follow and protect him."
Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه was still a cousin of Rasulullahﷺ he embraced Islam when Rasulullahﷺ was still preaching secretly in Darul Arqam. The people who converted to Islam at that time received torture and cruel treatment from the disbelievers of Quraysh. Rasulullahﷺ did experience many obstacles, insults, and torture in preaching Islam.
At that time, Islam had not developed rapidly because it was still done secretly for the sake of the continuity of Islamic da'wah itself in order to gather strength first. The people who converted to Islam at that time received torture and cruel treatment from the disbelievers of Quraysh. Rasulullahﷺ did experience many obstacles, insults, and torture in preaching Islam.
Hearing his mother's answer, Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه said, "What prevented you from following him, when your brother, Saiyidina Hamzah رضي الله عنه, had embraced Islam?"
"I will wait for what my sisters do, then I will be like them," said Arwa.
But Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه was not satisfied with his mother's answer, he continued to urge and said, "Indeed I ask in the name of Allahﷻ, that you meet Rasulullahﷺ greet and justify him, and testify to him that there is no God but Allahﷻ."
Seeing Saiyidina Tulaib Bin Umair رضي الله عنه 's determination and seriousness in inviting him to Islam, finally, Arwa melted away as well. Basically, he really wanted to defend Rasulullahﷺ who was still his own nephew, when so many people were hostile and hurt him. He finally said, "If so, I bear witness that there is no god but Allahﷻ, and that Muhammad is His messenger."
Thulaib was happy with his mother's decision, moreover, he was always encouraged to help Rasulullahﷺ and also prepare for the needs of Rasulullahﷺ in his struggle.
Credit: (Al-Tabqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 91, Tulaib bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutb al-Ilimiyya, Beirut, 1990) (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 94, Tulaib bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutb Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (Mujam-ul-Buldan, Vol. 1, p. 129, Ajnadain, Dar-ul-Kutb Ilmiyyah, Beirut).
(Al-Mustadrak Ala Al-Sahihain, Vol. 3, p. 266, Kitab-ul-Marifat Al-Sahaba, Tulaib bin Umair رضي الله عنه , Hadith no. 5047, Dar-ul-Kutb Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2002)
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(Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 93, Tulaib bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutb Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003)
