Stories of Sahaba رضي الله عنه

Amr bin al Jamuh R.A

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Amr bin Al Jamooh رضي الله عنه

Amr ibn al-Jamuh was one of the leading men in Madeenah in the days of jahiliyyah. He was the chief of the Banu Salamah tribe and was known to be one of the most generous and valiant people in the city. One of the privileges of the city's leaders was having an idol to himself in his house. It was hoped that this idol would bless the leader in whatever he did. He was expected to offer sacrifices to it on special occasions and seek its help at times of distress.

The idol of Amr was called Manat. He had made it from the most expensive wood. He spent a great deal of time, money and attention looking after it and he anointed it with the most exquisite perfumes. Amr was almost sixty years old when the first rays of the light of Islam began to penetrate the houses of Yathrib. House after house was introduced to the new faith at the hands of Musab ibn 'Umayr (ra). It was through him that Sayidinah Amr bin Jamoohs three sons - Muawwiz, Mu'aaz and Khallaad - became Muslims. Sayidinah Amr's wife, Hind, also accepted Islam with her three sons but Sayidinah Amr himself knew nothing of all this.

Hind saw that the people of Madeenah were being won over to Islam and that not one of the leaders of the city remained in shirk except her husband and a few individuals. She loved her husband dearly and was proud of him, but she was concerned that he should die in a state of kufr and end up in the Hellfire.

During this time,Sayidinah Amr himself began to feel uneasy. He was afraid that his sons would give up the religion of their forefathers and follow the teaching of Mus'ab ibn Umayr who, within a short space of time, had caused many to turn away from idolatry and enter the religion of Muhammad sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam.

Sayidinah Amr therefore said to his wife, "Be careful that your children do not come into contact with this man [Musab ibn 'Umayr] before we pronounce an opinion on him."

"To hear is to obey," she replied. "But would you like to hear from your son Mu'adh what he relates from this man?"

"Woe to you! Has Mu'adh turned away from his religion without my knowing?"

The good woman felt pity for the old man and said, "Not at all. But he has attended some of the meetings of this noble man and memorised some of the things he teaches."

"Tell him to come here," he said. When Mu'adh came, Sayidinah Amr ordered: "Let me hear an example of what this man preaches." Mu'adh recited sura Al Fatiha

"How perfect are these words, and how beautiful!" exclaimed Amr bin Jamooh . "Is everything he says like this?"

"Yes indeed father. Do you wish to swear allegiance to him? All your people have already done so," urged Mu'adh. The old man remained silent for a while and then said, "I shall not do so until I consult Manat and see what he says."

"What indeed would Manat say, father? It is only a piece of wood. It can neither think nor speak."

The old man retorted sharply, "I told you, I shall not do anything without him."

Later that day, Amr went before Manat. It was the custom of the idolaters then to place an old woman behind the idol when they wished to speak to it. She would reply on behalf of the idol, articulating, so they thought, what the idol had inspired her to say. Amr stood before the idol in great awe and addressed profuse praises to it. Then he said, "O Manat no doubt you know that this man who was delegated to come to us from Makkah does not wish evil on anyone but you. He has come only to stop us worshipping you. I do not want to swear allegiance to him in spite of the beautiful words I have heard from him. I have thus come to get your advice. So please advise me." There was no reply from Manat.