If there were people born in Paradise,
reared and brought to maturity there,
and then brought to earth to adorn and
enlighten it, then 'Ammaar, his mother
Sumaiyah and his father Yaasir would be
of them!
But why do we say "if" and why
do we make that condition when Yaasir's
family were reAli (RA) of Paradise?
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was not merely
pacifying them when he said,
"Patience, O Yaasir's family.
Verily, your meeting place will be in
Paradise." He was declaring a fact
which he knew and reiterating an
actuality perceived by him.
' Ammaar's father, Yaasir Ibn 'Aamir,
left his native place in Yemen seeking a
brother of his. In Makkah he found an
appealing place, so he settled there and
was in alliance with Abu Hudhaifah Ibn
Al-Mughirah, who married him to one of
his slave women, Sumaiyah Bint Khaiyaat.
Out of this blessed marriage Allah
granted the parents a son, "Ammaar.
Their embracing of Islam was early, like
that of the righteous ones guided by
Allah. And like the early righteous
Muslims as well, they had their good
share of the Quraish's persecution and
terror.
The Quraish used to waylay the believers
to attack them. If the believers were
among the honorable and noble people in
their community, the Quraish would
pursue them with threats and menace. Abu
Jahl would meet one of the believers and
tell him, " You abandoned your
forefathers' religion and they were
better than you. We will spoil your
character, degrade your honor, reduce
your trade, and exhaust your
money." They would then launch a
heated war of nerves upon him.
If the believers were among the weak,
poor, or slaves of Makkah, then the
Quraish would burn them with the fire of
persecution.
Yaasir's family belonged to that class.
The order for their persecution was
handed to Bani Makhzuum. They used to
take them all - Yaasir, Sumaiyah and 'Avnmaar
- to the burning desert of Makkah, where
they would pour upon them different
kinds of the hell of torture.
Sumaiyah's share of that torment was
colossal and terrible. We shall not
elaborate about her now, since we shall
have ~ Allah willing - another encounter
with her and her likes during those
immortal days to talk about the grace of
sacrifice and the glory of her firmness.
Suffice it to mention now, without any
exaggeration, that Sumaiyah, the
martyred one, maintained a firm stance
that day which gives the whole of
humanity an everlasting honor and an
ever glorious dignity. Her stance made
of her a great mother to believers in
all ages, and to the honorable people of
all times.
The Messenger (PBUH) used to go where he
knew Yasir's family were tortured. He
did not have at that time any means of
resistance or keeping harm from them.
This was Allah's will, because the new
faith - the faith of Ibraahiim Al-Haniifan
(Abraham the true) - which was revealed
to Muhammad was not a casual and passing
reform movement. It was a way of life
for the whole humanity of believers who
had to inherit along with the religion
all its history of heroism, sacrifices,
and risks. These abundant noble
sacrifices are the cement and the
foundation that grant an everlasting
firmness and immortality to the faith
and the creed. It is the fragrance that
fills the hearts of believers with
loyalty, joy, and happiness. It is the
lighthouse that guides the coming
generations to the reality of religion,
to its truth and greatness.
Therefore, Islam had to make its
sacrifices and have its victims, the
meaning of which is illustrated and
illuminated in more than one verse of
the Qur'aan for the Muslims. Allah says:
<Do the people think that
they will be left to say: "We
believe", and they shall not be
tried? > (29 : 2).
<Do you think that you will enter
Paradise before Allah tests those of you
who fought (in His Cause) and (also)
tests those who remained patient? >
(3:142).
<And we indeed tested those who were
before them. And Allah will certainly
make (it) known (the truth of) those who
are true, and will certainly make (it)
known (the falsehood of) those who are
liars, (although Allah knows all that
before putting them to test) > (29 :
3).
<Do you think you shall be
left alone while Allah has not yet
tested those among you who have striven
hard... > (9 : 16).
<Allah will not leave the believers
in the state in which you are now, until
He distinguishes the wicked from the
good.> (3 : 179).
<And what you suffered (of the
disaster) on the day (of the Battle of
Uhud when) the two armies met, was by
the leave of Allah, in order that He
might test the believers > (3 : 166).
That is true. This was the way the
Quraan taught its bearers and
descendants that sacrifice is the
essence of faith and that resistance of
unjust, oppressive challenges is through
firmness, patience, and persistence,
which form the best and the most superb
virtues of faith.
Therefore, this religion of Allah, when
it was laying down its foundation,
establishing its principles, and giving
its models and examples, had to support
and purify itself with sacrifice. In
carrying out this great mission, a
number of its disciples, supporters, and
righteous people were chosen to be lofty
models and elevated examples for the
coming believers.
Sumaiyah, Yasir and 'Ammaar were of this
great and blessed group, chosen by
Islam's destiny to make of their
sacrifices, firmness, and persistence a
document of Islam's greatness and
immortality.
We said that Allah's Messenger (PBUH)
used to go out every day to Yaasir's
family, commending their fortitude and
heroism. His big heart was melting out
of mercy and kindness to see them so
severely tortured. One day while he was
looking for them, Ammaar called to him,
"O Messenger of Allah, we are
suffering from extreme torment."
The Messenger called to him saying,
"Patience, Abu Yaqdhaan, patience 0
Yaasir's family. Verily, your meeting
place will be in Paradise."
Ammaar's companions described the
torture that was inflicted upon him in
many of their reports. Amr Ibn Al-Hakam,
for instance, said, ""Ammaar
used to be tortured so much that he
would not be aware of what he was
saying." "Amr Ibn Maimuun
said, "The polytheists scorched 'Ammaar
Ibn Yasir with fire, and Allah's
Messenger (PBUH) used to pass by him,
pass his hand over Yaasir's head and
say, "O fire, be cool and peaceful
on 'Ammaar, as you were cool and
peaceful on Ibraahiim."
Despite that overwhelming terror, it did
not vanquish 'Ammaar's spirit, though it
overburdened his back and strained his
strength.
'Ammaar did not feel utterly ruined
except on that day when his executioners
employed all their devilry in crime and
injustice. They burned his skin with
fire, laid him on the heated sands of
the desert under the burning stones,
ducked him in water until he could
hardly breathe and until his wounds and
gashes were skinned. On that day, when
he fell unconscious under the effect of
that horror, they said to him, "Say
something good about our gods."
They kept saying things, which he
repeated without being conscious of what
he was saying.
When he became slightly conscious after
he had fainted due to their torture, he
remembered what he had said and was mad
about it. This slip became so concrete
to him that he saw it as an unforgivable
sin, which could not be atoned for. In a
few moments his feeling of guilt made
him suffer so much that the torture of
the polytheists seemed to him a blessing
and a balm.
If he had been left to such feelings for
a few hours, they would have destroyed
him. He was enduring the dreadful
anguish of the body because his spirit
was lofty, but now when he thought
defeat had reached his spirit, he was
overburdened with worries and fear of
death and destruction. But Almighty
Allah willed that the final, exciting
scene would come to its dignified end.
An angel stretched out its blessed right
hand, shook the hand of "Ammaar and
called to him, "Get up, 0 hero!
There is no blame or embarrassment for
you."
When Allah's Messenger (PBUH) met him,
he found him crying. He kept wiping his
tears and telling "Ammaar,
"The polytheists took you, ducked
your head in water, and you said such
and such a thing?" "Ammaar
answered him, still crying, "Yes, 0
Messenger of Allah." Allah's
Messenger (PBUH) said then while
smiling, "If they repeat
it, say the same thing." Then he
recited the glorious Qur'aanic verse:
<. except him who is forced thereto
and whose heart is at rest with Faith
...> (16: 106)
"Ammaar's tranquility was restored,
he no longer felt pain when they
punished him, and he no longer cared
about it. His spirit conquered and his
faith conquered. The Qur'aan had
included this blessed transaction, so
whatever happened, happened.
'Ammaar remained steadfast until his
tormenters were exhausted and they
retreated, yielding to his
determination.
The Muslims settled in Al-Madiinah after
the Hijrah of their Messenger (PBUH).
The Islamic community there began to
take shape very fast and complete
itself. Within that group of believers,
'Ammaar was allocated a dignified
position. Allah's Messenger loved him
greatly and used to boast among his
Companions about 'Ammaar's faith and
guidance. He said about him,
"Verily, 'Ammaar is filled to the
bones with faith."
When a slight misunderstanding happened
between Khaalid Ibn Al-Waliid and 'Ammaar,
the Messenger (PBUH) said, "Whoever
antagonizes 'Ammaar is antagonized by
Allah, and whoever detests 'Ammaar is
detested by Allah." Thereupon,
Khaalid Ibn Al-Waliid, Islam's hero, had
to hasten to 'Ammaar, apologizing to him
and hoping for his sincere forgiveness.
When the Messenger (PBUH) and his
Companions were building the mosque in
Al-Madiinah, after their arrival there,
Imam 'Ali (RA) (May Allah glorify his
face) composed a song and kept on
repeating it with other Muslims, saying:
He who frequents the mosques,
Remaining there standing and sitting,
Is not equal to the one who keeps away
from dust.
'Ammaar was working at the side of the
mosque, so he kept repeating the song,
raising his voice. One of his companions
thought that 'Ammaar was disparaging
him. He therefore said some angry words,
which angered the Messenger of Allah,
and he said, "What is their
business with 'Ammaar? He calls them to
Heaven and they call him to Hell. To me,
'Ammaar is but a skin between my eyes
and my nose."
When the Messenger of Allah loves a man
that much, this man's faith, his
accomplishment, his loyalty, his grace,
his conscience, and manner have reached
the top and ended at the pinnacle of
allowed perfection.
That was 'Ammaar. Allah had granted him
abundant blessings and guidance. In the
level of guidance and certitude, he
reached a great height which made the
Messenger (PBUH) commend his faith and
raise him among the Companions as a
model and an example, saying, "Take
the examples of the two succeeding me,
Abu Bakr and 'Umar, and follow the
guidance of "Ammaar." The
narrators described him, saying,
"He was tall, with bluish-black
eyes, broad-shouldered, among the most
silent of the people and the least
talkative."
How did the life of that giant proceed,
the silent, bluish-black-red,
broad-shouldered man whose body bore the
scars of the horrible torture and, at
the same tim, the document of his
amazing steadfastness and his
extraordinary greatness? How did the
life of that loyal disciple, the true
believer, the overawing sacrificer
proceed?
He witnessed with his tutor and
messenger all the battles: Badr, Uhud,
Al-Khandaq and Tabuuk and others. When
the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) passed
away, the outstanding Companion
continued his march. At the meeting of
Muslims with Persians, with Romans, and,
before that, at their meeting with the
army of apostates, 'Ammaar was always
there in the first line, an honest,
brave soldier who did not miss an
opportunity.
He was a pious believer. No desire would
take him away from Allah. When the
Commander of the Faithful 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab
chose governors for the Muslims
meticulously and with reservation, his
eyes usuAli (RA) fell on 'Ammaar Ibn
Yaasir in complete trust. That was how
he hastened to him and made him the
governor of Kufa, and made Ibn Mas'uud
in charge with him of its treasury (Bait
Al-Maal). He then wrote to the people of
Kufa heralding the new governor and
said, "I send you 'Ammaar Ibn Yasir
as a governor, and Ibn Mas'uud as a
teacher and a minister. They are of the
distinguished people of Muhammad's
Companions, and of the people of Badr."
During his rule, 'Ammaar followed a way
which was hard for worldly people to
endure so that they turned against him,
or were about to. His rule made him more
modest, more pious, and more ascetic.
One of his contemporaries in Kufa, Ibn
Abi Hudhail said about him, "I saw
"Ammaar Ibn Yaasir when he was the
governor of Kufa buying some vegetables.
He tied them with a rope and carried
them on his shoulders and went
home."
One of the public said to him when he
was the governor of Kufa, "O you
whose ear is cut off." He was
scorning him because of his ear which
had been cut off by the swords of the
apostates during the Yamaamah War. The
governor, in whose hands was the power
of rule, merely said to his insulter,
"You insulted the best part of my
ear. It was injured in the cause of
Allah."
It is true. It was injured in the cause
of Allah on the Day of Yamaamah, which
was one of 'Atnmaar's glorious days.
This giant set out in stormy courage to
annihilate the soldiers in the army of
Musailamah the Liar, offering death and
destruction. When he perceived a lack of
enthusiasm among the Muslims, he sent
his quaking shouts which pushed them as
shot arrows.
' Abd Allah Ibn "Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) reported: I saw 'Ammaar
Ibn Yaasir on the Day of Yamaamah on a
rock shouting, "0 you Muslim
people, are you running away from
Paradise? I am "Ammaar Ibn Yaasir,
come to me." When I looked at him,
I found his ear cut off and swinging
while he was fighting fiercely.
If there is anyone who has his doubts
concerning Muhammad (PBUH), the truthful
Messenger and the perfect teacher, let
him halt in front of these examples of
his disciples and Companions and ask
himself, "Is it possible for anyone
to produce that refined style except a
noble messenger and a great
teacher?" If they were involved in
a fight for Allah's cause, they hastened
as if they were looking for death, not
only for victory. If they were caliphs
and rulers, the caliph went himself to
milk the orphans' sheep and make their
bread, as Abu Bakr and *Umar did. If
they were governors, they carried their
food on their backs, tied with a rope,
as 'Ammaar did, or gave up their pay and
set to making baskets and vessels out of
plaited palm leaves, as Salmaan did .
Should we not bow in salutation and
respect to the faith that produced them
and to the Messenger who raised them,
and before all that to Almighty Allah
Who chose them for that, guided them to
it, and made them pioneers to the best
nation of people on earth?
Hudhaifah Ibn Al-Yammaan, the expert in
the inner language, the language of the
heart, was preparing to meet Allah and
suffering from the agony of death when
his companions surrounding him asked,
"To whom should we go, if people
differ?" Hudhaifah answered in his
last words, "You should turn to Ibn
Sumaiyah because he will not part from
truth until death."
Yes, "Ammaar would turn with the
truth wherever it went. Now while we
trace his blessed direction and follow
the landmarks of his great life, let us
approach a momentous scene. But before
watching that grand and graceful scene
in its glory and perfection, in its
sincerity and persistence, let us watch
another scene preceding, foreshadowing,
and preparing for it.
That scene was following the Muslims'
settlement in Al-Madiinah. The honest
Messenger (PBUH) rose, surrounded by his
righteous Companions, with unkempt hair
and full of dust. They were establishing
Allah's house and building His mosque.
Their faithful hearts were filled with
joy, glowed with delight, and murmured
their thanks to Allah.
All were working in happiness and hope,
carrying stone, mixing mortar, and
erecting the building. There was a team
here, another team over there. The happy
horizon echoed the singing with which
they raised with overjoyed voices:
"If we stayed while the Prophet
worked, it would be misguided work of
ours." They sang in that manner,
then their voices were raised in another
song: "O Allah, living is but in
the next world, then have mercy on the
Ansaar and the Muhaajiruun!" Then a
third song was raised:
He who frequents the mosques,
Remaining there standing and sitting,
Is not equal to the one who keeps away
from dust.
They were cells working, Allah's
soldiers, carrying His banner and
erecting His building. The honest and
kind Messenger was with them, carrying
the heaviest of the stones and
performing the hardest work. Their
singing voices reflected the delight of
their satisfied souls. Heaven above them
filled the earth that bore them with
delight, and bright life was witnessing
its best celebrations.
"Ammaar Ibn Yaasir was there amidst
the celebration, carrying the heavy
stones from their quarries to their
positions. When the guided mercy,
Muhammad the Messenger of Allah saw him,
he sympathized greatly with him. He
approached him and removed the dust from
his head with his kind hand. With looks
filled with the light of Allah, he
contemplated his innocent, faithful face
and said in front of all the Companions.
"Alas for Ibn Sumaiyah, killed by
the tyrant group."
The foretelling was repeated once again
when a wall "Ammaar was working
beneath fell, and some brethren believed
he was dead. They went to offer
condolences to the Messenger (PBUH), and
the Companions were shocked by the news,
but the Messenger (PBUH) said
reassuringly and confidently, "'Ammaar
is not dead. The tyrant party will kill
"Ammaar."
Who was this party? And where? When? 'Ammaar
listened to the prophecy in a way that
showed he knew the great Messenger's
truth of perception. Yet, he was not
horrified. Since becoming a Muslim he
had been expecting death and martyrdom
every moment of the day and n'ght.
Days and years passed. The Messenger (PBUH)
went to the Supreme Companion, followed
by Abu Bakr and then 'Umar (May Allah be
pleased with them). 'Uthmaan Ibn 'Affaan,
"The Man of Two Lights",
became caliph. Conspiracies against
Islam were doing their best, trying to
gain by treachery and sedition what they
lost in war. 'Umar's death was the first
success achieved by these conspiracies
blowing on Al-Madiinah as a breeze of
poison from those countries whose
sovereignty and thrones Islam had
destroyed. They were tempted by "Umar's
martyrdom to continue their efforts, so
they followed and awakened seditions in
most Islamic countries.
In addition, "Uthmaan might not
have given the matter the attention,
care, and response it deserved, so the
incident happened and 'Uthmaan was
martyred and the doors of seditions were
opened on the Muslims. Mu'aawiyah
started fighting the new caliph,
"Ali (RA) (May Allah glorify his
face) for his right in the matter and
for the caliphate. The Companions had
different stances. Some of them washed
their hands of the whole matter and went
home, making Ibn 'Umar's words their
motto :
To the one who says, "Come to
prayer," I will respond. To the one
who says, "Come to success," I
will respond. But to the one who says,
"Come to kill your Muslim brother
and to take his money," I will say,
"No."
Some Muslims were partial to Mu'aawiyah,
others were partial to 'Aliy, the one
who demanded the pledge of allegiance to
him as the Muslims' caliph. Where do you
think 'Ammaar would stand? Where should
he stand, the man about whom the
Messenger of Allah said, "Follow
the guidance of 'Ammaar," and,
"Whoever antagonizes "Ammaar,
will be antagonized by Allah"?
The man who, if he approached the house
of Allah's Messenger (PBUH), the latter
would say, "Welcome the
good-scented, kind man, allow him to
come in"?
He stood by 'Ali (RA) Ibn Abi Taalib,
not as a prejudiced, biased person, but
as one complying with the truth and
keeping his promise. "Ali (RA) was
the Caliph of the Muslims and had the
pledge of allegiance to be its leader
(Imam). He took the caliphate and he was
worthy of it. Above all, "Aliy had
the qualities that made his place to the
Messenger of Allah as that of Haaruun
(Aaron) to Muusaa (Moses).
"Ammaar, who always turned towards
the truth wherever it was to enlighten
his insight and loyalty to the possessor
of truth in that fight, turned to 'Aliy
on that day and stood by him. 'Aliy (May
Allah be pleased with him) was overjoyed
with 'Ammaar's pledge and trusted that
he was right in his demand because the
great man of truth, 'Ammaar Ibn Yaasir,
approached and went with him.
The terrible Day of Siffiin arrived.
Imam 'Ali (RA) came out to face the
serious rebellion which he felt he had
to curb. "Ammaar came out with him,
and he was 93 years old then. Imagine, a
man of 93 going to fight! It is true, as
long as he believed that fighting was
his responsibility and duty. In fact, he
fought more strongly and better than a
man of 30. He was the man who was
constantly silent, who spoke little.
When he moved his lips, he moved them to
supplicate, "I seek Allah's
protection from sedition. I seek Allah's
protection from sedition."
And after the passing away of the
Messenger of Allah, these words remained
his constant supplication. As days
passed, he used to seek Allah's
protection more, as if his pure heart
felt the coming danger as the days went
on. When it did happen and the sedition
occurred, Ibn Sumaiyah knew his place,
so he stood in Siffiin carrying his
sword, a man of 93 to support a right
which he believed should be supported.
He declared his opinion about that
fighting: O people, let us be directed
to the people who claim they are
avenging'Uthmaan. By Allah, their
intention is not revenge, but they have
tasted worldly things and are pleased
with them. They know that truth keeps
them away from what they enjoy of lust
and their world. Those people had no
precedent in the past to keep Muslims in
obedience to them or in their support.
Their hearts have not felt awe towards
Allah to force them to follow the truth.
They deceive the people by claiming they
are avenging "Uthmaan's death. They
seek nothing but to be tyrants and
kings."
He then took the standard in his hand,
raised and fluttering above their heads
and shouted, "By Allah in Whose
hands my soul lies, I fought with this
standard with the Messenger of Allah,
and here I am fighting with it today. By
Allah, if they defeat us until they
reach the palm trees of Hajar, I would
still believe we are in the right and
they are following the wrong."
People followed 'Ammaar and trusted his
words.
'Abu 'Abd Ar-Rahman As-Sulamiy reported:
" We witnessed with 'Ali (RA) (May
Allah be pleased with him) the Battle of
Siffiin, and I saw 'Ammaar (May Allah be
pleased with him) not taking one turn
nor one of its valleys but the
Companions of Muhammad (PBUH) would
follow him as if he were their
standard!"
When 'Ammaar was engaged in the battle
he knew he was one of its martyrs. The
Messenger's prophecy was illuminated in
big letters in front of his eyes,
"The tyrant party will kill 'Ammaar."
For that reason his voice was ringing
over the horizon of the battle with the
following tune, "Today, I meet the
dear ones, Muhammad and his
Companions." He would then rush
like a high arrow towards Mu'aawiyah's
position and surround him, singing
loudly:
We hit you at its first revelation,
Now we hit you again for its
interpretation;
A hitting that removes respect from
one's eyes,
And distracts the lover from his lass,
Or restores the right to its own place.
He meant by this that the former
Companions of the Messenger (PBUH)
-"Ammaar was one of them - had
fought Umayyids in the past who were
headed by Abu Sufyaan bearing the
standard of polytheism and leading its
army. They had fought them in the past
as the glorious Qur'aan was operiy
commanding Muslims to fight
disbelievers. As for today, even though
they were Muslims and were not openly
commanded by the Qur'aan to fight them,
yet 'Ammaar's search for truth and his
comprehension of the aims and goals of
the Qur'aan persuaded them to fight so
that the usurped right would be restored
to its people and the fire of rebellion
and sedition would be extinguished once
and for all. It also signified that in
the past they fought Umayyids for their
disbelief in faith and in the Qur'aan.
Today they were fighting them for
deviating from faith and their turning
away from the Qur'aan, their wrong
interpretation and explanation, and
their attempts to alter its verses and
meaning to their aims and greedy wishes.
This man of 93 was involved in the last
battle of his noble and brave life. He
was giving the last lesson about
perseverence in truth, and bequeathing
to life the last of his great, honest,
and edifying attitudes.
Mu'aawiyah's men attempted to avoid 'Ammaar
as much as they could so as not to kill
him with their swords and people would
say they were the "tyrant
party". Yet, 'Ammaar was fighting
as if he were a whole army and his
bravery made them mad, so some of
Mu'aawiyah's soldiers waited for a
chance to hit him.
Mu'aawiyah's army had many regular
soldiers from among the new Muslims who
had embraced Islam at the beating of the
drums in the Islamic conquest in many of
the countries liberated by Islam from
the power of the Romans and Persians.
Most of these soldiers were the fuel of
the civil war caused by the rebellion of
Mu'aawiyah and his refusal to pledge
allegiance to 'Ali (RA) as Caliph and
Imam. They were the fuel and the oil of
the battle that enflamed it.
The disagreement, in spite of its
seriousness, could have terminated
peacefully if the affairs had remained
with the early Muslims. However, it was
no sooner formed than it was taken by
many hands that did not care about the
fate of Islam, and they kept adding fuel
to the disagreement. At noon the news of
'Ammaar's death spread, and the Muslims
went on repeating to one another the
prophecy of Allah's Messenger (PBUH)
which had been heard by all the
Companions on the day of the festival
while building the mosque:
"Alas for Ibn Sumaiyah, killed by
the tyrant party."
Now people knew who was the "tyrant
party". It was the one that had
killed 'Ammaar, no other but
Mu'aawiyah's party. 'Ali (RA)'s
Companions became more and more
convinced of this fact. As for
Mu'aawiyah's party, their hearts became
suspicious, and some prepared to mutiny
and turn to 'Ali (RA).
No sooner did Mu'aawiyah hear of what
had happened than he came out announcing
to the people that the prophecy was
right, and the Messenger (PBUH) reAli
(RA) prophesied that 'Ammaar was going
to be killed by the tyrant party. But
who killed "Ammaar? Then he shouted
to the people of his party, "He was
surely killed by those who came with him
out of his house and brought him to the
battle." Some people who were
inclined towards that interpretation
were deceived, and the battle continued
till the end.
As for 'Ammaar, Imam 'Aliy carried him
on his chest to where he and the other
Muslims prayed, and then he was buried
in his own clothes. Yes, in his
blood-smeared clothes which had a pure
and good smell. No silk material in the
whole world could have been more
suitable for the shroud of a graceful
martyr and a great saint like 'Ammaar.
Muslims stood at his grave wondering. A
few hours before, 'Ammaar had been
singing over the battlefield, filled
with the delight of the tired stranger
who was returning happily home. He had
been shouting, "Today I meet the
dear ones, Muhammad and his
Companions." Did he have a meeting
time with them, an exact time to wait
for him?
Some Companions approached each other,
inquiring. One of them asked, "Do
you remember the twilight of that day in
Al-Madiinah when we were sitting with
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) and suddenly
his face brightened and he said,
"Paradise is longing for 'Ammaar'?"
His friend answered, "Yes, on that
day he mentioned others, among which
were'Aliy, Salmaan and Bilaal."
Paradise then was longing for "Ammaar.
The longing remained for a long time
while he was urging it to wait in order
to accomplish all his tasks and complete
the last of his achievements. He did
them all following his conscience and
feeling delight for his achievement. Was
it not then time to comply with the call
of longing coming from Paradise? Sure,
it was: good is rewarded by good. That
was how he threw aside his lance and
went.
When the dust of his grave was being
leveled on his body by his companions,
his soul was embracing its happy destiny
there in the 'eternity of Paradise that
was longing for 'Ammaar!
Sheikh Abdulfattah Abu-Abdullah Adelabu (Ph. D. Damas),
a West African Islamic Academic founded AWQAF Africa, of
which he's the first al Amir (i.e. President).
Sheikh Dr. Adelabu was studying Postgraduate Degrees in
Damascus early 1990's during when Syria reviewed its
national security after an ‘Oslo Accord'...
Syria like many other countries around the world
witnessed, during this period, the flood of refugees
from war troubled nations like Somalia, arrival of
people from Algeria during the brutal struggling between
the Mujahidun and the government, resettlement of the
Palestinians fleeing from sophisticated guns of the
Israelis as well as adventure of African migrants for
reasons uncountable…
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