Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه was a companion of Rasulullahﷺ.
The mission of Bi'r Ma'unah
Amr bin Umayyah Adh Dhamri رضي الله عنه was included in the group of seventy companions of Huffadz Qur'an assigned by Rasulullahﷺ to teach Islam to Bani Amir in Najd. When their camp in Bi'r Ma'unah was attacked by a group led by Amir bin Tufail, he was entrusted with the task of herding the camels with Mundzir bin Uqbah bin Amr رضي الله عنه until both of them escaped the massacre.
They saw a carrion bird flying over the camp of his friends, something bad must be happening, so they hurried back. But from a distance, the friends were seen lying in a pool of blood, surrounded by killers whose weapons were still dripping with blood. Amr said to Mundzir, "
Let us return
to Madinah, and inform Rasulullahﷺ of this incident!"
But Mundzir رضي الله عنه rejected his proposal, according to him, this incident will definitely reach Rasulullahﷺ, and sooner or later, it is better if they attack the murderers until martyrdom follows his companions. Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه accepted this proposal, and they both scattered to attack the murderers who were much more numerous, Mundzir was killed and Amr was captured by Amir bin Tufail and made his slave.
Amir bin Tufail took Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه home, but when he met his mother, the mother forced
Amir bin Thufail to free Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه as his slave, because he had indeed sworn/vowed
to free a slave. Amir bin Tufail was ready to fulfill his mother's mandate,
and Amr was released.
On the way back to Madinah, on a road called Qarqarah, Amr bin Umayyah adh Dhamri رضي الله عنه rested. Not long after, two people from the tribe of Kilab, who are also still related to Amir bin Tufail, came to rest in that place as well. After the two fell asleep, Amr bin Umayyah Adh Dhamri رضي الله عنه killed them both, in retaliation for the murder of his friends.
When Amr bin Umayyah Adh Dhamri رضي الله عنه reached Madinah and told what he had experienced Rasulullahﷺ, he was very sad and angry at the actions of Amir bin Tufail and the tribe that helped him. Rasulullahﷺ had time to pray for bad things for them for thirty days, and that is when they gathered for morning prayers, that is by reading qunut nazilah.
But Rasulullahﷺ regretted Amr bin Umayyah Adh Dhamri رضي الله عنه's action of killing two people from Banu Kilab
who were resting in Qarqarah because he actually made a friendship agreement
with the tribe. Then Rasulullahﷺ collected money from the Muslims and his allies from
the Jews, to pay the ransom (diyat) to the people of Kilab.
This was a noble gesture of Rasulullahﷺ, paying the Diyah of the two men from the Banu ‘Aamir and not holding them accountable for the heinous crime that some people of their tribe had committed. He did so because these men had a contract of protection from him, and did not make them responsible for what some men of their tribe did. This is considered the highest degree of the fulfillment of promises.
Envoy To Abyssinia
Amr bin Umayyah Adh Dhamri رضي الله عنه was Rasulullahﷺt’s envoy to Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) carrying a letter from Rasulullahﷺ to its king, known by his title Negus. Abyssinia is in East Africa, overlooking the southwestern end of the Red Sea. It is very difficult to give any correct idea of what sort of borders it had at the time. Most probably, it included what forms present-day Eritrea with other parts of Ethiopia. He was sent as an envoy to the king of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) called Aṣḥama ibn Abjar (King Negus) to invite him to Islam.
Amr bin Umayyah Adh Dhamri رضي الله عنه was also sent by Rasulullahﷺ to deliver a letter to King Najasyi in Abyssinia, a letter of appeal to embrace Islam. Indeed, even though at that time Ja'far bin Abu Talib رضي الله عنه had stayed there with the guarantee of Najasyi's safety, he did not call and was not ordered by Rasulullahﷺ to prosecute Najasyi to embrace Islam. After receiving the letter from Amr bin Umayyah Adh Dhamri رضي الله عنه and finishing reading it, King Najasyi placed the letter in front of his glassy eyes. Then he came down from his throne and recited the Shahadat in front of Ja'far bin Abu Talib رضي الله عنه.
In addition to the letter, Amr bin Umayyah Adh Dhamri رضي الله عنه also brought Rasulullahﷺ's letter of proposal to marry Umm Habibah bint Abu Sufyan رضي الله عنه, who had become a widow while in Abyssinia. The letter was also given to King Najasyi, where King Najasyi himself acted on behalf of Rasulullahﷺ proposing to Umm Habibah رضي الله عنه, a dowry of 400 dinars (gold coins) from Najasyi. King Negus also held a feast for all the Muslims present and gave them dinars.
Amr bin Umayyah Adh Dhamri رضي الله عنه returned to Madinah with the group of Ja'far bin Abu Talib رضي الله عنه. and also Abu Musa al Asy'ary رضي الله عنه whose boat had previously been stranded in Abyssinia.
Abyssinia was a fully independent country, and its capital was Axum. Its relations with the Byzantine Empire were cordial since both were Christian countries. In the middle of the third century, Byzantine Emperor Justinian appointed a man called Julian as an ambassador of Byzantium at the court of Abyssinia.
Amr’s trip to Abyssinia was not his first, nor was the letter he carried Rasulullahﷺ’s first letter to the Negus, who extended his hospitality and protection to the Muslims who sought refuge in his kingdom and had been living there for about 13 years.
There is some confusion in history books about the identity of the Negus to whom Rasulullahﷺ sent his letter with Amr ibn Umayyah. Many of them tend to think that he was the same king who ruled throughout this period. This is quite possible since he was a young man when he succeeded to the throne of Abyssinia, but there is a possibility that the Negus now addressed by Rasulullahﷺ was a different one.
Rasulullahﷺ had sent earlier to Negus requesting him to extend kind treatment to his followers, which he did. Now Rasulullahﷺ called on Negus, as well as other kings and emperors of the world, to accept God’s message. This took place prior to the conquest of Makkah. Rasulullahﷺ’s letter to King Negus ran as follows:
 |
| Illustration Only: Letter from Rasulullahﷺ |
Amr bin Umayyah Adh Dhamri رضي الله عنه is Rasulullahﷺ’s emissary, also talked to the Negus and he is reported to have said to him:
“You are as kind to us as one of us, and we trust you as if we belong to your people. You have met all our good expectations and we feared nothing from you whatsoever. However, we find in your own words what supports our case. The Bible is our ultimate witness and fair arbiter.
There can be no clearer evidence or stronger argument. If you do not submit to its word, then your attitude toward this Prophet is akin to the attitude of the Jews toward Jesus, son of Mary. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has sent his envoys to all people, but he has far greater hopes in you than in them. He has trusted you with what he has not been able to trust them with, for your history of good deeds. Moreover, a fine reward awaits you.”
The Negus replied in these words:
“I swear by God, he is the Prophet awaited by the people of past revelations. Moses has given news of the impending appearance of the prophet who rides a donkey in the same way as Jesus has given news of the impending arrival of a prophet who rides a camel.”
Thus, King Negus declared his acceptance of the message of Muhammad and his belief in Islam. He also wrote to Rasulullahﷺ:
 |
| Illustration Only: Letter From King Negus to Rasulullahﷺ |
“In the name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent.
To Muhammad, God’s Messenger, from Negus. Peace from God be to you, Prophet, along with God’s mercy and blessings.
I have received your letter, Messenger of God, and noted what you have said about Jesus. By the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth, Jesus, son of Mary, is nothing more than what you have stated. I know the truth of what you have said to me, and I have extended hospitality to your cousin and his companions. I bear witness that you are God’s Messenger who tells the truth. I pledge my allegiance to you, and I have pledged this allegiance to your cousin and have become a Muslim. I submit myself to God, the Lord of all the Universe.”
This was the most favorable response Rasulullahﷺ received to all his messages and letters to the kings and emperors of other countries. It meant that Islam acquired a solid base on the other side of the Red Sea, stretching well into Africa.
Negus
continued in power until his death two years later. When he died, in the ninth
year of the Islamic calendar, Rasulullahﷺ announced his death to the Muslims
and offered prayers for the deceased in absentia for his soul.
Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه then fled and came to a place called al-Naqi. At this place, there were two Makkans sent as spies by the Quraysh to check on Muhammad. Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه "shot an arrow at one of them and killed him", and he then called on the other spy to surrender. After he surrendered, he tied him up, brought him to Rasulullahﷺ, and told Rasulullahﷺ what happened. Rasulullahﷺ looked at him and laughed and said:
"Well done!" he said and prayed for me to be blessed
[Tabari, Volume 7, p. 148]
The Makkah Mission of Amr b. Umayyah al-Damri against Abu Sufyan.
The Mission of Amr b. Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه against Abu Sufyan occurred in AH 4 of the Islamic Calendar i.e. AD 625.
Reason for the mission.
Muhammad ordered the Mission of Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri to assassinate Abu Sufyan to avenge Khubyab bin Adi رضي الله عنه. According to the Muslim scholar Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, the Quraysh ordered Khubyab bin Adi رضي الله عنه to be crucified by Uqba bin al-Harith because he had killed Uqba bin al-Harith's father.
Events during the mission;
Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه,, set out and first visited the Kaaba where he was spotted by one of the Makkans. The Muslim assassins then fled and hid in a cave. While the Muslims were still in the cave Uthman bin Malik al-Taymi came close riding his horse while they were hiding. Then Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه came out of hiding and killed him, he "stabbed him below the breast" with a dagger and al-Taymi gave out a loud scream which other Makkans heard.
The Muslims remained in the cave until the pursuers left. They then went to al-Tanaim and found the spot where Khubyab bin Adi was crucified on a cross. Al-Damri untied Khubaybbin Adi رضي الله عنه from the cross and traveled "forty paces" before he was spotted. Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه dropped Khubayb's body and again hid in a cave.
While
he was in the cave a Bedouin shepherd from the Banu Bakr tribe
passed by, he had one eye as he had lost an eye. Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه asked "Who is
there?", al-Damri replied: "One of the Banu Bakr.". The Bedouin
lay down next to al-Damri and began to sing "♬ I will not be a Muslim as long as I
live ♬"
and al-Damri replied, "You will soon see!". The Bedouin then went to
sleep and al-Damri stated:
"I went to him and killed him in the most dreadful way that anybody has ever killed anybody. I leaned over him, stuck the end of my bow into his good eye, and thrust it down until it came out of the back of his neck. After that, I rushed out like a wild beast"
[Tabari, Volume 7, p. 148]
Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه then fled and came to a place called al-Naqi. At this place, there were two
Makkans sent as spies by the Quraysh to
check on Rasulullahﷺ. Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri رضي الله عنه "shot an arrow at one of them and killed
him", and he then called on the other spy to surrender. After he
surrendered, he tied him up, brought him to Rasulullahﷺ and told him what happened
after being questioned about it. Rasulullahﷺ looked at him and laughed.
"Well done!" he said and prayed for me to be blessed.
[Tabari, Volume 7, p.
148]
Islamic
primary sources
The
incident is mentioned by the Sunni Muslim scholar Tabari, in Tabari, Volume 7 as
follows:
After the death of Khubayb bin Adi رضي الله عنه and his companions, Rasulullahﷺ sent me together with one of the Ansar, saying "Go to Abu Sufyan b. Harb and kill him." I and my companion set out. I had a camel and he had not, and he had a weakness in his foot, so I carried him on my camel until we reached the valley of Ya'jaj. Then we hobbled our camel to the bottom of a ravine and climbed up. I said to my companion, "Come with me to Abu Sufyan's house, as I am going to try to kill him. You keep watch, and if a patrol comes or something alarms you, get back to your camel, mount it, return to Madinah, and go to the Rasulullahﷺ and tell him what has happened. You can leave me to my own devices because I know the town well, am bold and have strong legs."
When
we entered Makkah I had with me the like of an eagle's secondary feather-meaning
his dagger-which I had ready to kill anybody who laid hold of me. My companion
said to me, "Shall we make a start by circumambulating the Kaaba seven
times and praying two rak`ahs?" I said to him, "I know
the people of Makkah better than you do. When it gets dark, they sprinkle their
courtyards with water and sit in them; and I am better known there than a
piebald horse."
But
he kept on pestering me until in the end we went to the Kaaba, circumambulated
it seven times, and prayed two rak`ahs. When we came out we went
past a group of men sitting together, and one of them recognized me and shouted
out at the top of his voice, "That is `Amr b. Umayyah!" The Makkans
rushed after us, saying "By God, `Amr b. Umayyah has not come here for any
good purpose! By the God by whom we swear, he has never come here except for
some evil purpose!" (`Amr had been a cutthroat and a desperado before
accepting Islam).
They set out in pursuit of my companion and me, and I said to him, "Let us get out of here! This is just what I was afraid of! We will never reach Abu Sufyan now, so save your own skin." We left at full speed, took to the hills, and hid in a cave, where we spent the night. In this way, we gave them the slip, and they had to return without us. As we went into the cave, I concealed the entrance with stones, saying to my companion, "Let us wait here until the hue and cry have died down; they are sure to hunt for us the rest of the night and all tomorrow until the evening." I was still in the cave when, by God, `Uthman b. Malik b. `Ubayd Allah al-Taymi came up riding proudly on his horse.
He kept coming nearer and nearer, riding proudly on his horse, until he reached the entrance to our cave. I said to my companion, "This is Ibn Malik. By God, if he sees us, he will tell everyone in Makkah about us!" So I went out and stabbed him below the breast with my dagger. He gave a shout which all the Makkans heard, and they came up to him while I went back to my hiding place, went in and said to my companion, "Stay where you are!"
The Makkans hastily followed the shout and found him on the point of death. They asked him, who had wounded him. "`Amr b. Umayyah," he replied and died. They could not find anything to show them where we were, and merely said, "By God, we knew that he came for no good purpose." The death of their companion impeded their search for us, for they carried him away. We remained in the cave for two days until the pursuit had died down and then went out to al-Tana`im, where Khubayb's cross was.
My companion said to me, "Shall we take Khubayb down from his cross?" "Where is he?" I said. "You can see him over there," he said. "Very well," I said, "but leave it to me, and keep well away from me." The cross was watched over by a guard, so I said to the Ansari, "If you are afraid of anything, make your way to your camel, mount it, go to Rasulullahﷺ, and tell him what has happened." I went quickly to Khubayb's cross, untied him, and carried him on my back, but I had gone no more than forty paces when they spotted me.
At once I put his body down, and I will never forget the sound his body made when it fell. They ran after me, and I took the path to al-Safra' and managed to throw them off. They went back, while my companion made his way to his camel, mounted it, went straight back to Rasulullahﷺ, and told him what had happened to us. I proceeded on foot until I was overlooking Ghalil Dajnan. There I went into a cave with my bow and arrows. While I was in it a tall one-eyed man from the Banu al-Dil b. Bakr came in driving some sheep.
He said, "Who is there?" and I said, "One of the Banu Bakr." He said, "I am from the Banu Bakr, one of the Banu al-Dil." Then he lay down next to me, and raised his voice in song: I will not be a Muslim as long as I live, and will not believe in the faith of the Muslims. I said, "You will soon see!" Before long the Bedouin went to sleep and started snoring, and I went to him and killed him in the most dreadful way that anybody has ever killed anybody. I leaned over him, stuck the end of my bow into his good eye, and thrust it down until it came out of the back of his neck.
After that I rushed out like a wild beast and took to the highway like an eagle, fleeing for my life. First, I came to such and such a village, then to Rakubah, and then to al-Naqi`. At this place, there were two Makkans whom Quraysh had sent to spy on how things were with Rasulullahﷺ. I recognized them and called on them to surrender. "Shall we surrender to you?" they said; so I shot an arrow at one of them and killed him, and then called on the other to surrender. He did so and I tied him up and took him to Rasulullahﷺ.
According to Ibn Humayd-Salamah-Ibn Ishaq-Sulayman b. Wardan-his father-`Amr b. Umayyah: When I came to Madinah, I went past some shaykhs of the Ansar. "By God," they said, "that is `Amr b. Umayyah!" Some boys heard what they were saying and rushed to Rasulullahﷺ to tell him. I had tied my prisoner's thumbs together with my bowstring, and Rasulullahﷺ looked at him and laughed so that his back teeth could be seen. Then he questioned me and I told him what had happened. "Well done!" he said and prayed for me to be blessed.
[Tabari, Volume 7, p. 147-150] [
Another simplified version of Amr bin Umayyah d Dhamri رضي الله عنه
Rasulullahﷺ ordered the killing of Abu Sufyan (before Islam) because he was an arch-enemy of
the Muslims. He persecuted and killed many Muslims. The Prophet dispatched a
few companions to kill him, but the mission failed. But on their way to Abu
Sufyan, there were clashes between the Prophet’s companions and some
idolaters who supported Abu Sufyan. Hence, three of the polytheists were
killed.
Kitab Al-tabaqat Al-Kabir – Ibn Sa’d:
THE SARIYYAH OF AMR IBN UMAYYAH AL-DAMRI
Then (occurred) the sariyyah of Amr bin Umayyah d Dhamri رضي الله عنه and Salamah Ibn Aslam Ibn Haris رضي الله عنه against Abu Suyan Ibn Harb at Makkah. It was (undertaken) because Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb had said to a party of the Quraish: Is there not anyone who will (kill) Muhammad unexpectedly because he goes to the markets? Thereupon one of the Bedouins came to him and said:
I am a man of the most daring heart, among the people, sturdy in body and most quick in the assault. If you support me, I shall go to him and (kill) him by surprise. I have a dagger like the inner feathers of a vulture, so I shall attack him, then I shall join a caravan and leave behind the people running because I know the ways fully. He (Abu Sufyan) said:
You are our friend. Then he gave him a camel and provided expenses and said: keep this affair a secret.
Accordingly, he set out in the night and traveled for five nights with his beast, arriving on the sixth morning at Zahr al-Harrah, Then he began to inquire about the Apostle of Allah, and he was led to him.
He
tied his beast and down came to Rasulullahﷺ, who was in the Mosque of
Banu Abd al-Ashhal. When Rasulullahﷺ, saw him, he said;
Verily this is the person who has treacherous intentions. He rushed forward to make an assault on Rasulullahﷺ. Usayd Ibn al-hudayr caught hold of his trousers and lo! There was a dagger in it which fell. He was bewildered and said;
My
blood, my blood (i.e., do not kill me). Usayd seized him by the neck and
violently pushed him away. Rasulullahﷺ said to him:
Tell me the truth, who art thou? He said:
Am I safe?
Rasulullahﷺ said: Yes. Then he furnished with full information about the affair and what Abu Sufyan had done. The Apostle of Allah, set him free.
Al-Tabari:
THE MISSION OF AMR B. UMAYYAH AGAINST ABU SUFYAN
The story of Amr bin Umayyah d Dhamri رضي الله عنه when he was sent by Rasulullahﷺ to kill Abu Sufyan b. Harb.
When
the men whom Rasulullahﷺ had sent to Adal and al-Qarah were killed at al-Raji
and the news reached the Messenger of God, he sent Amr bin Umayyah d Dhamri رضي الله عنه and
one of the Ansar to Makkah, ordering them to kill Abu Sufyan b. Harb. According
to…: After the death of Khubayb and his companions, Rasulullahﷺ sent
me together with one of the Ansar, saying, ‘Go to Abu Sufyan b. Harb and kill
him.
Deep consideration of the development of war circumstances reveals the continuous collapse of the morale among the enemies of Islam, who had come to understand that they were no longer in a position to stop the Islamic call or weaken its active drive.
This state of affairs reached its climax with the Treaty of Al-Hudaibiyah when the two confronting parties, believers and disbelievers, entered into a truce agreement that pointed markedly to the ever-growing power of Islam, and unequivocally recorded the continuation of this heavenly religion in Arabia.”
Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din:
“Another arch-enemy of Rasulullahﷺ was Abu Sufyan, who took a leading part in all the expeditions against him. He was the one who spoke evil of Rasulullahﷺ in the court of Heraclius. …”
References:
- Abū Khalīl, Shawqī (2003). Atlas of the Quran. Dar-us-Salam. p. 242. ISBN 978-9960897547.(online)
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i Tabari, Al (2008), The foundation of the community, State University of New York Press, pp. 147–150, ISBN 978-0-88706-344-2.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Tabari, Al (2008), The foundation of the community, State University of New York Press, p. 147, ISBN 978-0-88706-344-2
- ^ Abū Khalīl, Shawqī (2003). Atlas of the Quran. Dar-us-Salam. p. 242. ISBN 978-9960-897-54-7. See #no. 28.
- ^ Mubarakpuri, Safiur Rahman Al (2005), The Sealed Nectar, Darussalam Publications, p. 211, ISBN 9798694145923.
- ^ Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar, p. 211.
- ^ Mubarakpuri, The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet, pp. 350-351.
[1] Kitab Al-tabaqat Al-Kabir – By Ibn Sa’d, volume 2, page 115 – 117
[2]
The History of al-Tabari – The Foundation of the Community: Muhammad At
Al-Madina, volume 7, page 147
[3]
Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum – Sealed Nectar: Biography Of The Noble Prophet, By Ṣafi
al-Raḥman Mubarakfuri, page 396 – 397
[4]
The Ideal Prophet – Aspects of the Life and Qualities of the Holy Prophet
Muhammad By Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din, page 176
Per Al-Tabari,
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