The Story Of The Prophet's Companions: “Competing For Jihad”
05-07-2008
The Story Khaitsamah And His Father
The Prophet’s companions' understanding of Allah’s pleasure, the last day,
paradise and other similar subjects are the best understanding of all. It is not
us, the people of the end times nor the saints who are the main reasons for the
spread of dienul Islam to every part of the world.
When Rasulullah (saw) prepared to leave for the battle of Badr during which
Allah (swt) really tested the faith of the Muslims, Sa'ad bin Khaitsamah (ra)
and his father, Khaitsamah bin Harits (ra), were both contending to be the
chosen one and join Rasulullah (saw) to Bad’r as either one of them should stay
behind to protect the community.
Knowing that, Rasulullah (saw) made a decision, "Only one of you could be
allowed to go. So cast a ballot between the two of you."
Khaitsamah (ra) said to his son, Sa'ad (ra), "It is better if I go and you just
stay to protect the women."
Sa'ad (ra) answered, "If not because of paradise, I will give in to you, O
father. However I indeed want enter paradise."
After the ballot was casted, it was Sa'ad’s name that came out. Therefore, it
was him who was allowed to go and join the Prophet (saw) to Badr. He was
jubilant and consequently fought the battle valiantly. In the end Sa'ad got his
wish as he was killed in that battle.
Thus goes the story of a soul who was a true yearner of paradise.
The Spirit Of Jihad In The Boys At The Time Rasulullah SAW
The speeches and the talks of the companions of Rasulullah (saw) when it came to
jihad was such that it reached a point where it was very much affecting the
ambitions and the fighting spirit of their children. If our children today
talked empty words such as about fictional superheroes that have nothing to do
with their aqeedah at all, the children of the companions talked about the
bravery and the duty of their old folks in raising the kalimah (words) of Allah
(swt).
Such were their enthusiasms, every one of them wished to be amongst the
grown-ups in their struggle to defend the religion. Even though they had not
reached the age of puberty, yet their heroic spirits have made stories for the
later generations to take lessons from. Not only for the children, but also
serves as examples for the adults. They truly showed us how to act in order to
defend our religion and struggle for its cause.
It was customary for Rasulullah (saw) to instruct those who were ready to go for
jihad to parade and stand firm in one line. This practice conformed to what
Allah (swt) wants, and it was also to make it easy for Rasulullah (saw) to see
and make sure that there was no under-aged amongst them.
Thus how it happened during the days approaching the battle of Uhud. The Prophet
(saw) was forced to soften down the enthusiasm in the children by sending them
back to their parents’ house. Amongst them were Abdullah bin Umar (ra), Zaid bin
Tsabit (ra), Usamah bin Zaid (ra), Zaid bin Arqam (ra), Barra bin Azib (ra), Amr
bin Hizam (ra), Usaid bin Zhuhair (ra), Urabah bin Aus (ra), Abu Sa'id al Khudri
(ra), Samurah bin Jundub (ra) dan Rafi' bin Khadij (ra).
The children were frustrated for certain and seeing the frustration in his son,
Khadij (ra) tried his best to defend his son and persuaded Rasulullah (saw) to
allow his son to go to the battlefront. Khadij (ra) said, "My son, Rafi' is good
in archery." And true to his father’s words, with a spirit like steel, Rafi'
made himself stood on his toe so that he would look taller. In the end
Rasulullah (saw) allowed Rafi' bin Khadij (ra) to go and join the expedition.
Looking at Rafi'’s (ra) success, Samurah bin Jundub (ra) pleaded with his
step-father, Murrah bin Sinan (ra), "Father, Rafi' is allowed to go to fight,
but I am not, whereas I am stronger than him. Should there be a competition, I
will surely beat him"
Rasulullah (saw) agreed and approved for a contest to be held. Both of the boys
then competed in front of Rasulullah (saw). Evidently Samurah bin Jundub (ra)
managed to beat Rafi' bin Khadij (ra). As a result it was Samurah who was
allowed go and participate in the expidition.
The resultant outcome of that contest was really unexpected. The spirit of the
other boys soared high into the sky. Many of them rushed back to Rasulullah
(saw) to offer themselves, hoping to be permitted to go and fight in the battle.
However, in the end the Prophet (saw) only allowed a few of them to take part in
the battle. Subhanallah.
In our time, we can almost find the same thing happening. In Afghanistan, it is
not only the youth who are flocking to join the Taliban, but also baby-faced
teenagers, mostly too young to grow facial hair, are zealous to join them. But
the leadership in the Taliban somehow only allowed those whose facial hair has
been growing to fight and liberate their homeland.
And in Palestine we can witness scenes of struggles by the Palestinian children
in defending their honorable rights. We can see the boys standing in the way of
the mighty tanks, armed with only rocks. In their own words, “We are only small
kids who wants peace, but we are not willing to see the Israeli Zionists
oppressing us and our religion (Islam). There are no other words that we could
hurl, only these handful of rocks in our hands as a mute witness for a promise
of victory from Allah.” Allahu Akbar!!!!
"Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were
a solid cemented structure." (Qur’an 61:4)
Submitted by a Mujahid