بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
اَلْحَمْدُ للّٰهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِيْنَ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلىَ اَشْرَفِ اْللأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِيْنَ سَيِّدِناَ وَمَوْلٰنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى اٰلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ اَجْمَعِيْنَ، اَمَّا بَعْدُ.
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Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) was a noble young Companion (Sahabi) of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from the Ansar of Madinah. He belongs to the Banu Najjar clan of the Khazraj tribe and holds the distinct honor of being the first martyr from the Ansar at the Battle of Badr (2 AH / 624 CE).
Biography
Lineage & Family: His full name was Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) ibn al-Harith. His mother was Umm al-Rubayyi' bint al-Bara' (also known as Rubayyi' bint al-Nadr, who was the paternal aunt of the famous companion Anas ibn Malik). His father passed away before the family embraced Islam. He passed away young and left behind no children.
Conversion to Islam: Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) accepted Islam in Madinah before the Hijrah (migration of the Prophet ﷺ) alongside his mother.
Fraternization (Muwakah): Upon the Prophet's arrival in Madinah, a bond of Islamic brotherhood was established between Harithah and the Muhajir companion Sa'ib ibn 'Uthman ibn Maz'un.
Martyrdom: During the Battle of Badr, while the armies were organizing or while he was drinking water from a pond near the wells, Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) was struck in the throat by a stray arrow shot by Habban ibn al-Araqah. Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) died instantly, making him one of the earliest of the 14 Muslim martyrs at Badr
Profound Characters & Unique, Pious Manner
Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) was highly regarded for a spiritual depth that far exceeded his young age:
Exemplary Dutifulness to Mother: Classical scholars like Abu Na'eem recorded that Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) was renowned for treating his mother with immense kindness and deep devotion.
Enlightened Faith (The Essence of Ihsan): In a widely cited narration, the Prophet ﷺ once asked him how he was doing. Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) replied, "I have become a true believer." When the Prophet ﷺ asked him for the essence of his belief, Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) described a unique level of spiritual awareness: "My soul has turned away from this world, so I spend my nights awake [in prayer] and my days thirsty [in fasting]. It is as if I am looking at the Throne of my Lord openly, and as if I am looking at the people of Paradise visiting one another..."
Upon hearing this, the Prophet ﷺ remarked that Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) was a servant whose heart Allah had illuminated with faith.
Passionate Yearning for Martyrdom: Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) personally begged the Prophet ﷺ to make Du'a (supplication) that he would be granted martyrdom. When the call for the Battle of Badr came, he was among the very first horsemen to step forward.
Significant Contribution to Islam
Although his life was cut short, Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) contribution in the early, precarious years of Islam was foundational:
Pioneering Spirit of the Ansar: By being the first person from the Ansar to die at Badr, he validated the oath of the Ansar to defend the Prophet ﷺ and the message of Islam with their lives.
A Source of Consolation for the Ummah: His death sparked a momentous theological reassurance. Distraught by his sudden loss, his mother came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah! If he is in Paradise, I will remain patient... but if he is not, you will see what I will do (in grief)." The Prophet ﷺ famously comforted her with words that have brought peace to grieving Muslim families for centuries: "O mother of Harithah! Do you think it is only one Paradise? Indeed, there are many Paradises, and your son has attained the highest Al-Firdaus al-A'la."
Harithah ibn Suraqah (رضي الله عنه) once requested saying, “O Prophet of Allah (sa)! Pray for me to embrace martyrdom.” Hence, the Holy Prophet (sa) prayed for him and on the day of the Battle of Badr, when the horsemen were called, he [Haritha], may Allah be pleased with him, was the first to emerge and he was also the first to be martyred. When Haritha’s mother, Sayidah Rubai’ah , received the news of his martyrdom, she went to the Holy Prophet (sa) and said, “you are aware of how much I loved Haritha".
He used to serve me greatly. If he is among the inhabitants of paradise, I will bear this with patience. However, if this is not the case, only God knows better what will happen to me.” The Holy Prophet (sa) said, “O mother of Haritha! There isn’t just one paradise. Rather, there are several paradises and Haritha is in the highest paradise.” Upon this, she said, “I will most certainly be patient.”
With regard to the people of Badr, God Almighty said that they may do as they please, as paradise has been made incumbent upon them. God Almighty said to the people of Badr that they may do as they please, as paradise has been made incumbent upon them. However, this did not mean that they may do whatever they like and that despite committing sins, paradise will be incumbent upon them. Rather, it signified that they would no longer be able to act in a manner, that was contrary to the teachings of God Almighty and that God Almighty would Himself guide them.
alfakir albakr allatifi
references:
https://mahajjah.com/harithah-ibn-suraqah-radiya-llahu-anhu/
https://mahajjah.com/harithah-ibn-suraqah-radiya-llahu-anhu/
https://sohabih.blogspot.com/2023/01/harithah-ibn-suraqah.html
kalamullah.com/Books/Driving%20the%20souls%20to%20the%20Abodes%20of%20Happiness%20by%20Imam%20Ibn%20al-Qayyim%20al-Jawziyyah.pdf?__cf_chl_rt_tk=LzUydilceFuj7I4i.ptuBBllB73jDwkCV0NIUQ2Jg1k-1791462835-1.0.1.1-HrhAy9B4DhOK8OpAOGKExopF3xoPLZN9SCtk6RBQle4
de.scribd.com/doc/39617584/The-Battles-of-the-Prophet
https://www.alislam.org/articles/harithah-bin-suraqah/
https://islamhashtag.com/when-i-stood-at-battle-of-badr/
https://www.imamghazali.org/resources/anas-ibn-malik-biography
https://islamicpedia.org/people/per-000406?lang=en
https://eaalim.com/blogs/islamic/anas-ibn-malik
https://thefridaycall.com/anas-bin-malik-r-a/
https://en.mugtama.com/articles/anas_ibn_malik_the_faithful_servant_and_esteemed_narrator
