Miqdad ibn Aswad Brave Companion of the Prophet

Sayyidunā Miqdād bin Aswad رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ

The esteemed Companion of the Prophet, Sayyidunā Miqdād رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, was one of the great sons and brave horsemen of Islam. He was tough, of strong build, and possessed a courageous heart that did not falter in the face of calamities. His name shines brightly in the ranks of the valiant, and his attributes were on the tongues of the common folk and the elite alike.[1] The full name of Sayyidunā Miqdād رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ is Miqdād b. ꜤAmr, but in the pre-Islamic era of ignorance, a man named Aswad adopted him as his son, which is why he became famously known as Miqdād b. Aswad.[2]

Blessed Appearance

Sayyidunā Miqdād رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was tall, wheat-coloured complexion, thick hair, and a straight nose. His joined eyebrows made his personality all the more attractive. His blessed beard was neither thick nor sparse but was exceedingly beautiful, which he used to dye yellow.[3]

Virtues and Migration

He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ is counted among the learned and scholarly Companions.[4] He was among the earliest converts to Islam and one of the Sābiqūn al-Awwalūn (the first and foremost). He first migrated to Abyssinia and then returned to Makkah. When the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم migrated to Madinah, he was unable to migrate. Eventually, he found a unique way out and joined a caravan of the polytheists leaving Makkah, so he could eventually join the Muslims. On the other side, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had dispatched Sayyidunā ꜤUbaydah b. Ḥārith رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ on a military expedition with 60 or 80 Companions. This group encountered the same caravan of polytheists, but no battle took place. Thus, Sayyidunā Miqdād, along with another Companion, Sayyidunā ꜤUtbah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا, joined the Muslims.[5] After the migration, he stayed at the house of Sayyidunā Kulthūm b. Hidm and was made a brother in faith to Sayyidunā Jabbār b. Ṣakhr رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ.[6]

In the Prophetic Court

The Noble Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once asked, "Who among you will bring down [the body of] Sayyidunā Khubayb from the gallows [from the clutches of the disbelievers]? For him is Paradise." Sayyidunā Zubayr b. al-ꜤAwwām and Sayyidunā Miqdād رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا accepted the responsibility. After fulfilling their duty and returning, Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم appeared in the prophetic court and said, "O Messenger of Allah! The angels are expressing pride in these two from among your Companions."[7]

On another occasion, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم heard two individuals reciting the Quran aloud. Regarding the first, he remarked, "He is very obedient." Regarding the second, he said, "He is ostentatious." The narrator saw that the first person was Sayyidunā Miqdād b. Aswad.[8]

Glory in Battles

Sayyidunā Miqdād رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was the very first person in Islam to set out for jihad on horseback.[9] He was an excellent archer and had the honour of participating in all the battles.[10] In the month of Dhū al-QaꜤdah in the first year after the migration, the Noble Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave a white flag to Sayyidunā SaꜤd b. Abī Waqqāṣ رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ and sent him on an expedition; Sayyidunā Miqdād was the one who carried it.[11]

In the Battle of Uhud on 15 Shawwal, 3 AH, he was the officer in charge of the rear guard (sāqah) of the army.[12]

During the Conquest of Makkah in Ramadan, 8 AH, the grandeur of the Islamic army was unique. The left flank of the army was under the command of the unparalleled warrior Sayyidunā Zubayr b. al-ꜤAwwām, while the command of the right flank was held by the great horseman, Sayyidunā Miqdād.[13]

In the Battle of Yarmuk on 5 Rajab, 15 AH, he was seen moving among the military detachments, reciting the verses of jihad to raise the morale of the fighters.[14]

In 27 AH, he was among the warriors in the Conquest of Egypt under the leadership of Sayyidunā ꜤAmr b. ꜤĀṣ رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ. In the same year, he participated in the campaigns in Africa with Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullāh b. SaꜤd   رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ and returned victorious.[15] He also participated in the conquest of Cyprus with Sayyidunā MuꜤāwiyah and other senior Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم and achieved victory.[16]

During the conquests of Syria, on one occasion, he challenged the enemy: "O enemy of Allah! Even if you and others like you were to come with all your weapons, we would not be troubled in facing you. One of our men, if surrounded by a thousand of your soldiers, would single-handedly confront them all, because we have prepared ourselves for death, and help is from Allah Almighty."[17]

Passion for Jihad

Once, Sayyidunā Miqdād رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was in the city of Homs, and his body had become so heavy that it was bulging. Even in this condition, he wanted to go for jihad (although he was permitted not to participate due to this reason). Someone said, "Allah Almighty has excused you from participating in battle." Hearing this, he recited the blessed verse:

اِنْفِرُوْا خِفَافًا وَّ ثِقَالًا

Go forth in ease and adversity and perform Jihad with your wealth [18]_[19]

An Anecdote

Once, a military officer showed him his new house and asked, "How have I built it?" He replied, "If this house has been built with the wealth of Allah (i.e., by misappropriating from the public treasury), then you have done an evil deed. If you have built it with your own wealth, then it is extravagance (i.e., a waste of money)."[20]

Family

His wife was Sayyidah ḌubāꜤah bint Zubayr رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا, the paternal cousin of the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. They had a son named ꜤAbdullah and a daughter named Karīmah.[21]

Passing and Will

Sayyidunā Miqdād b. Aswad رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ passed away in 33 AH at a place called "Jurf," three miles from Madinah. His sacred body was brought to Madinah, and the Commander of the Faithful, Sayyidunā ꜤUthmān Ghanī رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, led his funeral prayer. He was then buried in Jannat al-BaqīꜤ. At the time of his passing, he was approximately 70 years old.[22]

Sayyidunā Miqdād رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ bequeathed 18,000 dirhams each to Imam Hasan and Imam Ḥusayn رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا, and 7,000 dirhams for each of the Mothers of the Believers رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْھُنَّ.[23] After the Conquest of Khaybar in 7 AH, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم granted him a piece of land which yielded 15 wasq[24] of barley. After his passing, Sayyidunā MuꜤāwiyah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ purchased it for 100,000 dirhams.[25]