A story which shows the steadfastness of the Sahabah
In 19th hijrah ‘Umar bin Khattab رضى لله عنه sent an army of Mujahedeen to war. 'Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه was also a soldier in the army. The roman emperor was receiving regular news bulletins regarding the advance of this army. He knew that the Muslims were resolute and truthful people who would sacrifice their lives for Allah. He had told his armies that if they captured any Muslim alive they should bring the captive to his court. It was the will of Allah that 'Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه was taken prisoner. They took him to the court of Caesar and told him:
"We have brought a prisoner who is a Companion of the Prophet(Peace be upon him) and who was one of the first to accept Islam."
When ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه was brought before the Emperor of Rome, he gave him a penetrating look and said: “I have a plan.”
‘Abdullah رضى لله عنه asked him: “What is your plan?”
He replied: “ I invite you to convert to Christianity. If you do so, I will free you and treat you with all due respect.”
‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه answered boldly and resolutely: “This is absolutely impossible. I think it is a thousand times better to die than to accept your invitation.”
The Emperor said: “I think you are a brave man. If you accept my invitation, I am even ready to share the rule over my kingdom with you.”
The shackled prisoner smiled and answered: “By Allah! You need have no hopes that I will turn against Islam for a moment, even if you give me your kingdom plus the whole peninsula of Arabia!”
The Emperor was enraged and shouted that he would kill him. ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه answered calmly: “You can do whatever you please."
The Roman Emperor ordered that he be put to death. He instructed that his feet should be fettered and he should be chained. Arrows were to be shot at him so as to pierce his palms. After this was done, Caesar again invited him-for a third time-to accept Christianity. Again ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه refused to accept Christianity. Finally, Caesar ordered that a huge cauldron be placed on a fire and ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه be brought down from the stake. When the oil started to boil, he ordered that two of the Muslim prisoners be brought. When they were presented before him, he ordered that one of them should be thrown into the boiling oil. The moment he was thrown in his flesh began to separate from his bones.
Again he turned his attention towards ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه and asked him: “Even now you have a chance to accept Christianity.”
But he refused him more forcefully than before. Caesar had no other choice now but to order that he too be thrown into the boiling cauldron. When he was brought near the oil, his eyes filled with tears and brimmed over. When Caesar’s men saw this, they told him that the prisoner was crying. Caesar thought that it must be due to sheer panic. Caesar said: “Bring him to me.”
When he was brought to Caesar, he again invited him to Christianity. But, ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه refused again!
Surprised, Caesar asked, “Then why did you cry?”
‘Abdullah رضى لله عنه replied: “When I saw the scene I felt sorry that I had only one life. I wished that I had a thousand lives to sacrifice in your boiling cauldron for Allah (swt).”
Caesar was stunned momentarily into silence when he heard this. Finally he said:“All right I will release you if you kiss my forehead.”
‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه asked him: “Will you release the other Muslim prisoners as well?”
He says in his report of the incident that he was thinking to himself, it would not be too big a price to pay for the release of so many captured Muslims. Then approaching Caesar he kissed him on his forehead. Keeping to his promise, Caesar ordered that the prisoners be given into the custody of ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه. As soon as he got his freedom, ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه went to ‘Umar bin Khattab رضى لله عنه and narrated to him all that had happened.
‘Umar bin Khattab رضى لله عنه was very happy and said: “Every Muslim owes a duty to ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه and it is compulsory that each of us should kiss his forehead. I will kiss him first.”
Then he took the lead and kissed ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه on his forehead.
Source: Commanders of the Muslim army by Mahmood Ahmad Ghadanfar
1 comment:
Allahu akbar!
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