Biography of Ammar bin Yasir

Hadrat Yasir, father of Hadrat Ammar, belonged to Yemen. He had many brothers. One of them was once lost and nobody ever heard of him thereafter. Yasir, along with his two brothers, went to search of him. During this search he reached Mecca. The two brothers returned home from Mecca but Yasir did not go back and made Mecca his home town. He developed friendly relations with Abu Hudaifa, a dignitary of Mecca. He gave him in marriage one of his very talented and intelligent maid servants, Samiyyah. This lady gave birth to Hadrat Ammar (Allah be pleased with him).

Hadrat Ammar was one of those fortunate and dauntless companions of the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) who preceded others in embracing Islam Hadrat Ammar embraced Islam when the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) had taken refuge in the house of Hadrat Arqam bin Abi Arqam along with his thirty or thirty two followers owing to the unbearable tortures and persecution of the infidels of Mecca. It was under these circumstances that his father Yasir, his Mother Samiyyah, his brother Abdullah and the rest of his family accepted Islam.

Hadrat Ammar and his family had no family links with the people of Mecca. Neither had they any wealth or high position to win for them any support from the people of Mecca. Only Abu Hudaifa patronized them but he died before the dawn of Islam.

Finding them helpless, and having no voice or support in the city, the infields of Mecca subjected them to miserable torture as a reprisal against their embracing Islam. They were forced to lie down on the extremely hot sand right at noon. They made to walk over burning cinders. They kept them immersed in the water for hour’s together but could not succeed in wining over any one of those lovers of Islam.

Hadrat Samiyyah, mother of Hadrat Ammar. Although a woman, was a staunch and enthusiastic worker of the Islamic movement. Abu Jahl could not tolerate anybody’s enthusiasm for Islam. One day, in an fit a rage, he struck her below the navel with his spear with such a force that the poor lady died on the spot. His father, Yasir and his brother Abdullah were also torture to death by the infields.

The Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) often shed tears on the helplessness and the miserable condition of this family. Whenever he passed by them and found them holding firm to their faith under severe torture and harsh treatment, he would say:

“O family of ‘Ammar! I congratulate you. The eternal Gardens are waiting for you.”

Once the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) saw that the infields of Mecca had made Hadrat Ammar lie down on the burning cinders and he was quite helpless. Seeing this, the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) prayed for him:

“O fire! Cool down for Ammar as thou didst for Hadrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him).”

When Ammar spoke of his helplessness and misery to the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him), he advised’ him to remain calm and prayed for him:

“O Allah! Forgive Yasir’s family.”

They endue untold hardships for a long time. At last Allah helped them out of their misfortune. The Muslims were ordered to migrate. Hadrat Ammar first went to Abyssinia and they migrated to Medina. Seeing his firm belief, faithfulness and truthfulness, the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) prayed for him to be safe from the Devil and acclaimed him as a test of good and evil. Whenever he saw Ammar, the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) said, “Faith and conviction run as blood into the veins of Ammar.” Many time he would say, “Alas Ammar! You will be killed by a group of rebels.”

On the basis of these sayings of the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him), people used to settle their mutual feuds in the light of the advice of Hadrat Ammar. During the Caliphate Hadrat Ali (Allah be pleased with him), when the Muslims began to quarrel among themselves and were divided in two groups, those who were neutral followed Ammar and supported Hadrat Ali (Allah be pleased with him). In this quarrel there were many fierce and lamentable skirmishes amongst the Muslims. In one of these skirmishes, two persons killed Hadrat Ammar and carried his head to their officer. In order to get reward each of them claimed to have killed Hadrat Ammar. Hadrat Abdullah bin ‘Amar bin al’As was also present there. When he saw them boasting and claiming to be the killer, he said, “Don’t try to take the responsibility of murdering Ammar because I have heard from the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) that the rebel group will kill Ammar. Abdullah’s father, Hadrat Amar bin al’As was also there. He remarked, “By Allah both of them are quarreling to go to Hell!”

Throughout his life, Hadrat Ammar always sought the pleasure of Allah. He fought with great valor and courage in all the battles against the infields. After the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) he also participated in all important battles fought during the reigns of the first four Caliph. There is famous event of the battle of Yemama, which apart from being interesting carries a great lesson for the Muslims.

In the battle of Yemama, Hadrat Ammar was making fierce onslaughts on the enemy. All of sudden one of his ears was chopped off and dropped on the ground but he remained busy in Jihad quite indifferent to the loss of his ear. In the mean time he felt that the Muslims were showing signs of weakness and were retreating. He climbed over a lofty rock and yelled out in a loud voice:

“O Muslims! You are running away from Paradise. Look at me. I am Ammar bin Yasir. Come with me. Follow me.”

On hearing this call, the morale of the Muslim army was strengthened and making a strong onslaught they won the battle. Afterward, when he was the Governor of Koofa, during the Caliphate of Hadrat Umar Farooq (Allah be pleased with him), a dignitary of Koofa dies him to agree to one of his proposals, but Hadrat Ammar refused. The man got infuriated and talked to him in a rude manner. “O man with broken ear! Hadrat Ammar though a Governor, controlled his anger and said, “Alas! You have abused my best and dearest ear.””

Apart from being true and faithful to Islam, Hadrat Ammar was also one of the most intelligent companions (Allah be pleased with them). He held many important posts under the Islamic Government. When he was appointed as Governor of an important place like Koofa he performed his duties with great ability. But he was not usually happy with such appointments. He liked simplicity, showing hospitality to the guests and selflessness. Once Hadrat Ali (Allah be pleased with him) took him along to inspect a canal. This inspection took quite a long time. Hadrat Ammar was ti and began to doze off. He lay down under a tree on the bare ground and fell asleep.

Hadrat Ammar loved to offer prayers. He said his prayers with great devotion and concentration. Often he spent the whole night in offering prayers, reciting the Holy Qur’an and sac verses. Hadrat Abdullah bin Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) recited a verse with reference to Hadrat Ammar:

“Is the person who stands in his prayers and keels down on the ground through the night fearful of the hereafter and hopeful of Allah’s kindness,”

Hadrat Ammar attained the age of 91 years, but he never looked old. Till the end he tried to surpass others in the cause of Islam. He often prayed to Allah:

“O Allah1` If I knew I would please Thee by jumping down from the mountain, burning myself in the fire or by drowning in the water, I would obtain Thy pleasure at all costs. I go into the Holy war only to secure Thy pleasure. I hope Thou will give me success! “

Allah, no doubt, gave him success. He was martyr in the cause of Islam and Allah was pleased with him and he who pleases Allah is successful.

Source : "Devoted companions" by Mail Khairabadi