It is really very
hard for the Muslims of to-day to imagine, and much less to endure or even to
attempt to endure, the hardships that were borne by the Prophet (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam) and his illustrious companions in the path of Allah. Books of
history are full of stories of their sufferings. It is a pity that we are so
indifferent to those events and our knowledge is so poor in this regard. I open
this chapter with a story about the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
himself to get the blessings of Allah, which are sure to attend his auspicious
mention. '
The Afflictions of
Hadhrat Khabbab bin Alarat (Radhiyallaho anho)
Hadhrat Khabbab
(Radhiyallaho anho) is also one of those blessed persons who offered themselves
for sacrifice and suffering for the
cause of Allah. He was the sixth or seventh person to embrace Islam and. therefore. he suffered long. He was made to
put on steel armour and lie in the sun to sweat and swelter. Very often he was made to lie flat on burning
sand. which caused the flesh on his back to waste away. He was the slave of a woman. When she came to know that
he was visiting the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallarn). she used to brand
his head with a hot iron rod. Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) during his
caliphate once inquired of him about the
details of his sufferings after embracing Islam. He showed him his back. seeing which Hadhrat 'Umar
(Radhiyallaho anho) remarked. "I have never seen such a back before."
He said. "My body was dragged over heaps of smouldering charcoal, and the
blood and fat coming out of my back put out the fire." It is said that
when Islam spread and the Muslims conquered all the surrounding territory. he
used to weep and say:
"Allah seems to
be compensating us in this world for all our sufferings, and perhaps nothing
would be left for us as reward in the Hereafter."
Hadhrat Khabbab
(Radhiyallaho anho) narrates:
"The Prophet
(SallalIaho alaihe wasallam) once performed an unusually long rakaat while
leading a Salaat. When the Sahabah mentioned it to him, he said, "This was
a Salaat of yearning and humility. I asked three boons from Allah. I besought
Him:
'0, Allah! Let not
my Ummat perish by famine; let not my Ummat be annihilated by an enemy gaining
an upper hand on them; and let not my Ummat fight among themselves.'
Allah granted the
first two prayers, but not the third one. "
Hadhrat
Khabbab(Radhiyallahoanho) died in 37 A.H.
He was the first of
the Sahabah to be buried at Koofah. Hadhrat Ali (Radhiyallaho anho) once
passing his grave said:
"May Allah
bless and show mercy on Hadhrat Khabbab (Radhiyallaho anho). He embraced Islam
willingly. He emigrated with great pleasure in Allah's path, and spent his
whole life in striving and suffering for Islam. Blessed is the person who is
mindful of the Day of Judgement, prepares for his reckoning. remains contented
with very little of this world, and is able to please his Lord."
To be able to please
Allah, was really, the Sahabah's greatest achievement, for this was the sole
purpose of their life.
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