Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), a companion of the Prophet ﷺ, was born in one the richest households of Makkah, extremely adored by his affluent parents, the liveliest person in the gatherings of his friend’s, he wore the finest of clothes and used the best of fragrances, one day he entered Dar-ul Arqam and bade an instantaneous farewell to his life of comfort and luxury. What caused this revolutionary change? Well, on that blessed day in Dar-ul-Arqam, in the third year of the Prophet ﷺ attaining Prophethood, Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) recited the kalima and became a Muslim. Inevitably, when faith enters one’s heart then all worldly luxuries become insignificant.
The immense love that he had for his mother made him sense that his conversion would adversely affect her feelings, as a result he hid his Islamic faith. But the scent of faith perfumes the air and as soon as the news reached her mother, prohibitions and suppressions began piling up on Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Ease turned into hardship, tranquility turned into suffering, but his sincerity towards Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ), The True Lord, made him forsake the love of his mother and the luxurious life that he was raised upon. After all, the pleasure attained by truly loving Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) cannot be matched by any worldly possession.
Over a period of time life became extremely difficult in Makkah due to the ever-increasing oppression from the disbelievers and as a result Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) along with some other companions, took permission from the Prophet ﷺ and migrated to Abyssinia. But after staying there for a short period, they returned back to Makkah.
Then came a time when some people from Madinah visited Makkah for Hajj and the Prophet ﷺ invited them to the fold of Islam at Mina. As a result, they embraced Islam and requested the Messenger ﷺ to send with them a companion of His who would not only educate them about Islam but would also act as a caller to Islam (da’ee) for the people of Madinah. Thus, this great honor of becoming Islam’s first caller (da’ee) and ambassador was bestowed upon Hazrat Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) by the Prophet ﷺ. To accomplish this mission, he yet again left his abode and surroundings to settle down in an unfamiliar land purely for the sake of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) and His deen.
However, despite being in a new city and amongst unfamiliar people he immediately set about on a mission to lay the foundations of making Madinah an Islamic fortress which would become a source of tranquility and coolness for Muslims till the end of times. In this blessed city of Madina, Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was the first ray of Islam as he called people to this beautiful religion and recited Quran for them. As a result of his sincere efforts many people including some noble and influential personalities of Madinah embraced Islam. When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madinah after migrating from Makkah, the overwhelming welcome that he was accorded by the people of Madinah was a radiating testimony to the efforts that Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) had put in for the sake of spreading the message of Islam in Madinah.
While living in Madinah Mus’ab bin Umair’s soft and fragile body had turned rough and harsh. He wore a sack made from jute as clothing and often there wasn’t enough food to satiate his hunger. Looking at his state the Messenger ﷺ wept and said:
“I see Mus’ab today (in such a condition), and there was not in the whole of Makkah a youngster more beloved to his parents than him, he then forsake all of it in his love for Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) and His messenger ﷺ
This was the state of Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) in Madinah, yet there was a time when there was no son in Makkah as dear to his parents as Mus’ab. Yet, he sacrificed everything he had for the love of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) and this indeed is true honor. Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says in the Holy Qur’an:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّـهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٣﴾۔
“Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqûn (righteous)”
[Al-Hujurat : 13]
This indeed is true wisdom and far-sightedness as Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says in the Holy Qur’an
وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ ﴿١٧﴾۔
“The Hereafter is better and more lasting”
[Al-A’la : 17]
Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was amongst the blessed group of companions who took part in the Battle of Badar and later on also fought the Battle of Uhud. In the battle of Uhud he was assigned the noble task of holding aloft the flag of Islam. During the battle when the position of the Muslims weakened, an enemy attacked Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and cut of his right hand, in the very same instant he shifted the flag and held it aloft in his left hand while reciting the following verse of the Quran:
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ
“Muhammad (ﷺ) is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him”
[Al-i-Imran : 144]
The same enemy attacked again and cut of his left hand, and whilst reciting the same verse Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) held the flag aloft by supporting it with both his arms. The final blow was struck to his chest and his life ended with the noble death of martyrdom and Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) revealed the following verse in his honor:
“Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) [i.e. they have gone out for Jihâd (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers], of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred)“
[Al-Ahzab : 23]
And it is indeed for amazing individuals like him that Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) has said in the Holy Quran:
“And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) as dead. Rather they are alive with their lord, receiving provision”
[Al-i-Imran : 169]
Abdur Rahman bin Auf (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was amongst the wealthiest of the companions, one day he was served food and he wept after looking at it and said that Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was a far better person than me, when he was buried his shroud consisted of a sack which could not even cover his entire body, his head was covered and leaves were placed on his feet.
Hazrat Mus’ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) lived in this world for nearly forty years. His life began in great ease and splendid luxury yet when he was martyred there wasn’t even enough cloth for his shroud. However, his heart was brimming with the love of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) and with the concept of His Oneness (Tawhid), and this gave him such a lofty status in the eyes of the believers till the Day of Judgment that is only accorded to people of great fortune. Everyone born on this earth lives and everyone dies, yet only that individual continues to live after death who learns to live and die for the sake of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) in this worldly life. May Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) grant us a life and a death that is solely for the sake of attaining His pleasure (Ameen).
