Al-Baraa Ibn Malik Al-Ansari رضي الله عنه
Al-Barāʾ ibn Mālik al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه (Arabic: البراء بن مالك الأنصاري; died c. 641) was one of the Sahaba, an Ansar belonging to the Banū al-Najjār branch of the Banu Khazraj. al-Baraa' is the brother of Anas ibn Malikرضي الله عنه
A courageous warrior with exceptional combat skill, al-Baraa was a Muslim hero during Early Muslim conquests who killed a hundred enemies in combat and personally breached the enemy fortress gates in the Battle of Yamama and the Siege of Shushtar.
Al-Barāʾ ibn Mālik al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه died around 641-642 as he succumbed to his wounds during his last siege in Shushtar against Sasanian Empire.
Al-Barāʾ ibn Mālik al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه Hailed from the Banu Ghanm clan, a sub-branch of the Banū al-Najjār branch that belonged to the Banu Khazraj tribe.
During the time of Rasulullahﷺ, Al-Barāʾ ibn Mālik al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه were working as camel chanters. During the battle of Hunayn, Al-Barāʾ ibn Mālik al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه has been rewarded Khums or the fifth portion of spoils of war which he got from enemies he slay personally. Al-Barāʾ ibn Mālik al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه was said to participate in all campaigns under Rasulullahﷺ, except the battle of Badr. Al-Barāʾ ibn Mālik al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه also recorded participating in the pledge of the Tree during the first pilgrimage. Al-Barāʾ ibn Mālik al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه also recorded having participated in the Battle of Hunayn, where he received fifth spoils of war for every person he killed during the battle.
Al-Baraa Ibn Malil Al-Ansari رضي الله عنه . His hair looked disheveled and his whole appearance was unkempt. He was thin and wiry with so little flesh on his bones that it was painful to look at him. Yet in single-handed combat, he defeated and killed many opponents and in the thick of battle, he was an outstanding fighter against the musyrikin. Al-Baraa Ibn Malik Al-Ansari رضي الله عنه was so courageous and daring that Saiyidina Umar Al Khattab رضي الله عنه once wrote to his governors throughout the Islamic state that they should not appoint him to lead any army out of fear that he would have them all killed by his daring exploits.
This man was Al-Baraa Ibn Malik Al-Ansari رضي الله عنه, the brother of Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه the personal aide of Rasulullahﷺ. If the tales of Barra's heroism were to be told in detail, pages and pages could be written. But let one example suffice. This particular story begins only hours after the death of the noble Rasulullahﷺ when many Arabian tribes took to leaving the religion of God in large numbers, just as they had entered it in large numbers.
Within a short space of time only the people of Makkah, Madinah, and Taif and scattered communities here and there, whose commitment to Islam was unwavering, remained within the religion. Saiyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiqرضي الله عنه, the successor to Rasulullahﷺ, stood firm against this blind and destructive movement. From the Muhajireen and Ansar, he mobilized eleven armies each under a separate commander, and dispatched them to various parts of the Arabian peninsula.
Their purpose was to make the apostates return to the path of guidance and truth and to confront the leaders of the rebellion. The strongest group of apostates and the greatest in number were the Banu Hanifah among whom Musaylamah Al Khazab the Imposter arose, claiming that he was a prophet. Musaylamah Al Khazab managed to mobilize forty thousand of the best fighters among his people. Most of these however followed him for the sake of assabiyyah or tribal loyalty and not because they believed in him.
One of them in fact said, "I testify that Musaylamah Al Khazab is an imposter and that Muhammad is true but the imposter of Rabi'ah (Musaylamah) is dearer to us than the true man of Mudar (Muhammad). " Musaylamah routed the first army sent against him under the leadership of Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl رضي الله عنه. Saiyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiqرضي الله عنه despatched another army against Musaylamah led by Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه. This army included the cream of the Sahabah from both the Ansar and the Muhajireen.
In the front ranks of this army was Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه and a group of the most valiant Muslims. The two armies met in the territory of the Banu Hanifah at Yamamah in Najd. Before long, the scale of battle tilted in favor of Musaylamah Al Khazab and his men. The Muslim armies began to retreat from their positions. Musaylamah's forces even stormed the tent of Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه and drove him from his position. They would have killed his wife if one of them had not granted her protection.
At that point, the Muslims realized what a perilous situation they were in. They were also conscious of the fact that if they were annihilated by Musaylamah Al Khazab, Islam would not be able to stand as a religion and Allahرthe One God with whom there is no partnerرwould not be worshipped in the Arabian peninsula after that. Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه mustered his forces once more and began reorganizing them. Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه separated the Muhajireen and the Ansar and kept men from different tribes apart.
Each was put under the leadership of one of its own members so that the losses of each group in the battle might be known. The battle raged. There was much destruction and death. The Muslims had not experienced anything like this in all 61 wars they had fought before. Musaylamah's men remained firm amidst the tumult, as firm as immovable mountains although many of them had fallen. The Muslims displayed tremendous feats of heroism.
Thabit ibn Qays رضي الله عنه, the standard bearer of the Ansar, dug a pit and planted himself in it, and fought until he was killed. The pit he dug turned out to be his grave. Zayd ibn alKhattab رضي الله عنه, brother of Saiyidina Umar ibn al-Khattabرضي الله عنه, may God be pleased with them both, called out to the Muslims: "Men, bite with your jaw teeth, strike the enemy, and press on. By God, I shall not speak to you after this until either Musaylamah is defeated or I meet God."
Zayd ibn alKhattab رضي الله عنه then charged against the enemy and continued fighting until he was killed. Salim the mawla of Abu Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه, and standard bearer of the Muhajireen displayed unexpected valor. His people feared that he would show weakness or be too terrified to fight. To them, he said, "If you manage to overtake me, what a miserable bearer of the Qur'an I shall be." Salim the mawla of Abu Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه, then valiantly plunged into the enemy ranks and eventually fell as a martyr.
The bravery of all these, however, wanes in front of the heroism of Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه, may God be pleased with him and with them all. As the battle grew fiercer and fiercer, Khalid ibn Walid رضي الله عنه turned to Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه, and said, "Charge, a young man of the Ansar." Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه turned to his men and said, "O Ansar, let not any one of you think of returning to Madinah. There is no Madinah for you after this day. There is only Allah, then Paradise."
Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه and the Ansar then launched their attack against the musyrikin, breaking their ranks and dealing telling blows against them until eventually, they began to withdraw. They sought refuge in a garden that later became known in history as The Garden of Death because of the many killed there on that day. The garden was surrounded by high walls. Musaylamah Al Khazab and thousands of his men entered and closed the gates behind them and fortified themselves. From their new positions, they began to rain down arrows on the Muslims.
The valiant Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه went forward and addressed his company, "Put me on a shield. Raise the shield on spears and hurl me into the garden near the gate. Either I shall die a martyr or I shall open the gate for you." The thin and wiry al-Baraa was soon sitting on a shield. A number of spears raised the shield and he was thrown into the Garden of Death amongst the multitude of Musaylamah's men. Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه descended on them like a thunderbolt and continued to fight them in front of the gate.
Many fell to his sword and he himself sustained numerous wounds before he could open the gate. The Muslims charged into the Garden of Death through the gates and over the walls. Fighting was bitter and at close quarters and hundreds were killed. Finally, the Muslims came upon Musaylamah Al Khazab and he was killed. Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه was taken in a litter to Madinah. Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه spent a month looking after him and tending his wounds. Eventually, his condition improved. Through him, the Muslims gained victory over Musaylamah Al Khazab.
In spite of recovering from his wounds, Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه continued to long for the martyrdom which had eluded him at the Garden of Death. Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه went on fighting in battle after battle hoping to attain his aim. This came at the battle for Tustar in Persia. At Tustar the Persians were besieged in one of their defiant fortresses. The siege was long and when its effects became quite unbearable, they adopted a new tactic. From the walls of the fortress, they began to throw down iron chains at the ends of which were fastened iron hooks which were red hot.
Muslims were caught by these hooks and were pulled up either dead or in the agony of death. One of these hooks got hold of Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه, the brother of Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. As soon as Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه saw this, he leaped up the wall of the fortress and grabbed the chain which bore his brother, and began undoing the hook from his body. Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه hand began to burn but he did not let go before his 62 brothers were released. Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه himself died during this battle. Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه had prayed to God to grant him martyrdom.
Ridda wars
Following the death of the Prophet, the Muslims began to leave Islam in groups just as they had entered it. Caliph Abu Bakr dispatched eleven armies to fight the leaders of the rebellion in what became known as the Ridda wars.
During the Battle of Yamama, Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه played a distinguished role when the rebels' army under Musailamah Al Kadhab and his 40,000 soldiers from Banu Hanifa fortified themselves into the fortress named Garden of Death, Ikrima ibn Abi Jahl and Khalid ibn al-Walid struggled to break through the high walls of the garden until Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. suggested they place him on a shield and use spears and catapults Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. into the fortress wall. The Muslims agreed with Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. plan and Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. immediately fell into the fortress as intended, killing many town guards on the wall and fortress gate inside singlehandedly and rushed towards the gate and open it alone from inside, allowing Muslim forces under Khalid ibn al Walid رضي الله عنه to swarm inside and killed 20,000 of the apostates, including their leader Musailama, killed by Wahshi and Abu Dujana al Ansari رضي الله عنه. During this battle, Ibn Hajar also noted a testimony of Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. himself that he engaged in a duel against a huge Musaylamah warrior nicknamed Himar al Yamama (donkey of Yamama). Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. managed to cut one of his feet with his sword, and caused him to drop to the ground, Then Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. grab the man's sword and finish him by using his own sword.
Despite suffering grave injuries which numbered over 80 wounds, Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. managed to survive in the aftermath of the Yamama battle. After the battle, Khalid ibn al Walid رضي الله عنه was said to personally visit his tents where he still treated his wound and rested.
Map of the Sassanid, Byzantine, and Muslim borders
Conquest of Persia
Main articles: Military conquests of Umar's era and Umar
On the onset of an early naval incursion against Persia which started from Oman, Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. participated in the naval expedition embarked from Bahrain led by Al-Ala al-Hadhrami and Arfaja al-Bariqi to expel Sasanian Empire forces from the Island of Darin (Qatif). In the final battle of this island in the fortress of Zarah, Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. killed the Persian Marzban commander of the area in a duel, and managed to seize the wealth of the said commander of 30,000 coins after the battle. However, Caliph Saiyidina Umar ibn Al Khatab رضي الله عنه saw that it was too much for a single person to acquire spoils of war that huge, so the Caliph decided that Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. should be given four portions after it was divided into five, while one portion is sent for the caliphate treasury.
Later, during the Muslim conquest of Persia, Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. participated in the battle of al-Qadisiyyah, where he was urged by other soldiers to pray for victory in this difficult battle since the Muslim soldiers in that battle believed Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. prayed, his wishes will always be granted by Allah. During the Muslim conquest of Khuzestan, The highest commander of the Muslim army, Abu Musa al-Ash'ari رضي الله عنه requested to the caliph to provide him with elite guards from the Ansar (military) component, which replied by Umar to sent a group of Ansaris including Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه.along with his brother, Anas Ibn Malik رضي الله عنه In the campaign on Khuzestan, the Muslims faced a particularly difficult battle on the bridge of Susa, eastern of the Tigris river, as the enemy gained upper hand at the first of the battle. Thus the Muslim soldiers once again came to Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه.asking for prayer and after Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. finished his prayer, the Muslims fought again until the managed to gained upper hand and seized victory.
Later, during the Siege of Shushtar,(Tustar) Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. once again gave an important contribution as he and Mujaz'ah ibn Thawr as-Sadusi رضي الله عنه lead a small team of 35 soldiers to sneak from the waterway under the impenetrable fortress wall that has been besieged for almost one year, and killing many guards on the city gate before opening the gate and allowed the Muslims army under Abu Musa al-Ash'ari رضي الله عنه storm the city and subdue the town. According to his own word that has been recorded in Siyar A'lam Nubala chronicle written by Al-Dhahabi and in the Usd al-ghabah fi marifat al-Saḥabah chronicle written by Ibn al-Athir, Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. singlehandedly slayed at least 90 Sassanid soldiers during this battle alone.
Muslim chroniclers recorded two versions regarding when al-Bara' fell on the battle:
- According to Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani's version The martyrdom Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. was seeking was gained in the Siege of Shushtar in Persia, but only after he rescued his brother Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه from the molten hooks, which caused he suffered grief injury to the point that his own palms melted and showing the bones in his effort to break the chain from Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه, Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه. succumbed to the wound shortly after Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه were rescued.
- Meanwhile, Malik ibn Anas رضي الله عنه Tabari, Bukhari, Ibn Hibban, and Ibn Manda reported the second version that al-Baraa' was fallen indeed in the siege of Shushtar, but not by the molten steel hook of Sassanid army, instead, he died at the hand of Hormuzan in this battle. Al-Dhahabi favored this version as he deemed this authentic which was also narrated by al-Bayhaqi. Al-Dhahabi also add a note that Al-Baraa ibn Malik رضي الله عنه was twenty years old during his death.
Scanned from: "Companions of The Prophet", Vol.1, By: Abdul Wahid Hamid
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Rasulullahﷺ
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رضي الله عنه
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