Did you know? (Inspirational Islamic Stories)

Always choose aakhirah before dunya

We often say everything for Allah, yet when we are tested with things that close to us, we shatter into pieces and we forget the “for Allah, everything.”

Astagfirullah.
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Let me narrate to you a story that is quite similar to this situation. This happened during the migration of ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattab RA to Madinah.

‘Umar RA described in his own words:

“When we decided to migrate to Madinah, I made an appointment with ‘Iyaash Ibn Abu Rabi’ah and Hishaam Ibn Al-’Aas Ibn Waa’il As Sahmee. We agreed to meet at At Tanaadub (a well known place that was filled with trees), in the aread of Adaa’ah, which was inhabited by the children of Ghaffaar (Adaa’ah was situated approximately 10 miles outside of Makkah.) Adaa’ah was situated just above Sarif (a valley that, when compared to the other valleys of Makkah, was of medium length).

We said among ourselves, ‘If any one of us does not reach that spot in the morning, the rest of us should just assume that he was held back (captured, found out and imprisoned, etc.), and should continue on their way (to Madinah without him).’

The morning of our appointment, both I and ‘Iyaash Ibn Abu Rabi’ah met at At Tanaadub; Hishaam, on the other hand, was held back; was tempted away from his religion (through coercion, threats, intimidation tactics, etc.); and, in the end, succumbed.

When we reached Madinah, we stayed as guests at Quba, among the children of ‘Amr Ibn ‘Awf. (Even though we had arrived safely in Madinah, the leaders of the Quraish still didn’t give up.) 

Abu Jahl Ibn Hishaam and Al Haarith Ibn Hishaam went out in pursuit of ‘Iyaash Ibn Abu Rabi’ah who was related to them in two ways; he was their paternal cousin and their half-brother, by way of their common mother.

They continued their pursuit until they reached Madinah, and at the time, the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam was still in Makkah. The two of them spoke to ‘Iyaash, saying to him, ‘Verily, your mother has vowed never to allow a comb to touch her head until she sees you; and never to take shade away from the sun until she sees you.’

‘Iyaash felt compassion for his mother (and) seemed to agree that he should return to Makkah and comfort her).’ I said to him, ‘By Allah, ‘Iyaash, your people want nothing other than to tempt you away from your religion, so beware of them! By Allah, were lice to harm your mother, she would comb her hair (in an attempt to remove them). And were she to feel the extreme heat of Makkah, she would seek out shade.’

‘Iyaash replied, ‘I will honor my mother’s vow;anyway, I have wealth in Makkah, so I will go and take it.’ I said, ‘By Allah, you know that I am among the wealthiest of the people of the Quraish: you can have half of my wealth if you don’t go with those two men.’ He refused to accept anything I said, and instead insisted on going with them.

When I saw that he would not change his mind, I said, ‘If you will do as you feel you must do (i.e., if you feel you have to go), then at least take my riding camel, for it is a superior and well-trained mount. Remain on its back [during your journey back to Makkah], and if you become suspicious that you travel companions are plotting against you, you can ride away on it towards safety.’ 

He left with them, but he took the riding animal, After that they had traveled for some time, Abu Jahl said to ‘Iyaash, ‘O my brother, by Allah, I feel the roughness of this came of mine [while I ride on it]; will you not then let me sit behind you on your [more comfortable] riding animal?’