Said
ibn Aamir al-Jumahi was one of thousands who left for the
region of Tanim on the outskirts of Makkah at the invitation
of the Quraysh leaders to witness the killing of Khubayb ibn
Adiy, one of the companions of Muhammad whom they had captured
treacherously.
With
his exuberant youthfulness and strength, Said jostled through
the crowd until he caught up with the Quraysh leaders, men
like Abu Sufyan ibn Harb and Safwan ibn Umayyah, who were
leading the procession.
Now
he could see the prisoner of the Quraysh shackled in his chains,
the women and children pushing him to the place set for his
death. Khubayb's death was to be in revenge for Quraysh losses
in the battle of Badr.
When
the assembled throng arrived with its prisoner at the appointed
place, Said ibn Aamir took up his position at a point directly
overlooking Khubayb as he approached the wooden cross. From
there he heard Khubayb's firm but quiet voice amid the shouting
of women and children.
"If
you would, leave me to pray two rakaats before my death."
This the Quraysh allowed.
Said
looked at Khubayb as he faced the Kabah and prayed. How beautiful
and how composed those two rakaats seemed! Then he saw Khubayb
facing the Quraysh leaders.
"By
God, if you thought that I asked to pray out of fear of death,
I would think the prayer not worth the trouble," he said.
Said
then saw his people set about dismembering Khubayb's body
while he was yet alive and taunting him in the process.
"Would
you like Muhammad to be in your place while you go free?"
With
his blood flowing, he replied. "By God, I would not want to
be safe and secure among my family while even a thorn hurts
Muhammad." People shook their fists in the air and the shouting
increased. "Kill him. Kill him!"
Said
watched Khubayb lifting his eyes to the heavens above the
wooden cross. "Count them all, O Lord," he said. "Destroy
them and let not a single one escape."
Thereafter
Said could not count the number of swords and spears which
cut through Khubayb's body.
The
Quraysh returned to Makkah and in the eventful days that followed
forgot Khubayb and his death. But Khubayb was never absent
from the thoughts of Said, now approaching manhood. Said would
see him in his dreams while asleep and he would picture Khubayb
in front of him praying his two rakaats calm and contented,
before the wooden cross. And he would hear the reverberation
of Khubayb's voice as he prayed for the punishment of the
Quraysh. He would become afraid that a thunderbolt from the
sky or some calamity would strike him.
Khubayb,
by his death, had taught Said what he did not realize before--that
real life was faith and conviction and struggle in the path
of faith, even until death. He taught him also that faith
which is deeply ingrained in a person works wonders and performs
miracles. He taught him something else too, that the man who
is loved by his companions with such a love as Khubayb's could
only be a prophet with Divine support.
Thus
was Said's heart opened to Islam. He stood up in the assembly
of the Quraysh and announced that he was Rex from their sins
and burdens. He renounced their idols and their superstitions
and proclaimed his entry into the religion of God.
Said
ibn Aamir migrated to Madinah and attached himself to the
Prophet, may the peace and blessings of God be upon him. He
took part with the Prophet in the battle of Khaybar and other
engagements thereafter. After the Prophet passed away to the
protection of his Lord, Said continued active service under
his two successors, Abu Bakr and Umar. He lived the unique
and exemplary life of the believer who has purchased the Hereafter
with this world. He sought the pleasure and blessings of God
above selfish desires and bodily pleasures.
Both
Abu Bakr an(l Umar knew Said well for his honesty and piety.
They would listen to whatever he had to say and follow his
advice. Said once came to Umar at the beginning of his caliphate
and said.
"I
advise you to fear God in dealing with people and do not fear
people in your relationship with God. Let not your actions
deviate from your words for the best of speech is that which
it confirmed by action. Consider those who have been appointed
over the affairs of Muslims, far and near. Like for them what
you like for yourself and your family and dislike for them
what you would dislike for yourself and your family. Surmount
any obstacles to attain the truth and do not tear the criticisms
of those who criticize in matters prescribed by God.
"Who
can measure up to this, Said?" asked Umar. "A man like yourself
from among those whom God has appointed over the affairs of
the Ummah of Muhammad and who feels responsible to God alone,"
replied Said.
"Said,"
he said, "I appoint you to be governor of Homs (in Syria)."
"Umar," pleaded Said, "I entreat you by God, do not cause
me to go astray by making me concerned with worldly affairs."
Umar
became angry and said, "You have placed the responsibility
of the caliphate on me and now you forsake me." "By God. I
shall not forsake you," Said quickly responded.
Umar
appointed him as governor of Homs and offered him a gratuity.
"What shall I do with it, O Amir al Mumineen?" asked Said.
"The stipend from the have al-mal will be more than enough
for my needs." With this, he proceeded to Homs.
Not
long afterwards, a delegation from Homs made up of people
in whom Umar had confidence came to visit him in Madinah.
He requested them to write the names of the poor among them
so he could relieve their needs. They prepared a list from
him in which the name Said ibn Aamir appeared.
"Who
is this Said ibn Aamir?" asked Umar
"Your
amir is poor?" said Umar, puzzled.
"Yes,"
they affirmed, "By God, several days go by without a fire
being lit in his house."
Umar
was greatly moved and wept. He got a thousand diners, put
it in a purse and said, "Convey my greetings to him and tell
him that the Amir al Mumineen has sent this money to help
him look after his needs."
The
delegation came to Said with the purse. When he found that
it contained money, he began to push it away from him, saying,
"From God we are and to Him we shall certainly return."
He
said it in such a way as if some misfortune had descended
on him. His alarmed wife hurried to him and asked, "What's
the matter, Said? Has the Khalifah died~"
"Something
greater than that."
"Have
the Muslims been defeated in a battle?"
"Something
greater than that. The world has come upon me to corrupt my
hereafter and create disorder in my house. "
"Then
get rid of it," said she, not knowing anything about the diners.
"Will
you help me in this?" he asked.
She
agreed. He took the diners, put them in bags and distributed
them to the Muslim poor.
Not
long afterwards, Umar ibn al-Khattab went to Syria to examine
conditions there. When he arrived at Homs which was called
little Kufah because, like Kufah, its inhabitants complained
a lot about their leaders, he asked what they thought of their
Amir. They complained about him mentioning four of his actions
each one more serious than the other.
"I
shall bring you and him together," Umar promised. "And I pray
to God that my opinion about him would not be damaged. I used
to have great confidence in him."
When
the meeting was convened, Umar asked what complaints they
had against him.
"He
only comes out to us when the sun is already high," they said.
"What
do you have to say to that, Said?" asked Umar.
Said
was silent for a moment, then said, "By God, I really didn't
want to say this but there seems to be no way out. My family
does not have a home help so I get up every morning and prepare
dough for bread. I wait a little until it rises and then bake
for them. I then make wudu and go out to the people."
"What's
your other complaint?" asked Umar.
"He does not answer anyone at night," they said.
To this Said reluctantly said, "By God, I really wouldn't
have liked to disclose this also but I have left the day for
them and the night for God, Great and Sublime is He."
"And what's your other complaint about him?" asked Umar.
"He does not come out to us from one day in every month,"
they said.
To this Said replied, "I do not have a home help, O Amir al-Mumineen
and I do not have any clothes except what's on me. This I
wash once a month and I wait for it to dry. Then I go out
in the later part of the day."
"Any other complaint about him?" asked Umar.
"From time to time, he blacks out in meetings," they said.
To
this Said replied, "I witnessed the killing of Khubayb ibn
Adiy when I was a mushrik. I saw the Quraysh cutting him and
saying, "Would you like Muhammad to be in your place?" to
which Khubayb replied, "I would not wish to be safe and secure
among my family while a thorn hurts Muhammad." By God, whenever
I remember that day and how I failed to come to his aid, I
only think that God would not forgive me and I black out."
Thereupon
Umar said, "Praise be to God. My impression of him has not
been tainted." He later sent a thousand diners to Said to
help him out. When his wife saw the amount she said. "Praise
be to God Who has enriched us out of your service. Buy some
provisions for us and get us a home help."
"Is
there any way of spending it better?" asked Said. "Let us
spend it on whoever comes to us and we would get something
better for it by thus dedicating it to God." "That will be
better," she agreed.
He
put the diners into small bags and said to a member of his
family, "Take this to the widow of so and so, and the orphans
of that person, to the needy in that family and to the indigent
of the family of that person."
Said
ibn Aamir al-Jumahi was indeed one of those who deny themselves
even when they are afflicted with severe poverty.
w w
w . i s l a m i s k a . o r g
2002-07-02
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