Life of Sayyiduna Amr ibn Jamuh رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ

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Sayyidunā ʿAmr ibn Jamūḥ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ

Original Urdu article: Adnan Ahmad Attari

The light of Islam had illuminated every valley and ravine of Madina, and the aroma of faith had permeated its every zephyr. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked the Banū Salamah tribe, “Who is your leader?” They mentioned Jaʿd ibn Qays but remarked, “We find him to be miserly.” Is there a greater disease than miserliness?” the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم explained. “Rather, your leader is the one with virtue and honour: ʿAmr ibn Jamūḥ.”^[1]

Described as a man of immense honour and virtue by the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Sayyidunā ʿAmr ibn Jamūḥ was an esteemed Companion about whom it is said that he was the last person amongst the Anṣār to accept Islam.^[2] By the grace of Allah, after embracing Islam and recognising Allah, he often recited poetry thanking Allah for saving him from misguidance.^[3]

He was tall,^[4] used yellow dye on his beard,^[5] and had a severe limp.^[6] He was affluent^[7] and a deeply respected leader of the Banū Salamah.^[8]

He once visited the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and asked, “I have a lot of wealth; what and to whom should I give charity?” In response, Quran, 2:215 was revealed. Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman:

Translation: They ask you (O Beloved), What should they spend?' Say you, 'Whatever wealth you spend in a virtuous cause, that is for parents, and near relatives, and orphans, and the needy and the traveller.' And whatever good you do, Allah is indeed Aware of that.^[9],[10]

2 Narrations of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

1.   I take an oath by the One who has power over my soul! There are amongst you those who take an oath by Allah to do something, and Allah surely fulfils their oath. ʿAmr ibn Jamūḥ is from them.^[11]

2.   What an excellent man is ʿAmr ibn Jamūḥ.^[12]

Passion to Strive: He had four brave sons who fought valiantly alongside the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.^[13] When recruitment for the Expedition of Badr was announced in 2 AH, he was determined to join the ranks of the warriors. However, given Sayyidunā ʿAmr’s physical impairment, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ordered his sons to prevent him from taking part in the expedition. As the Muslim forces set off in 3 AH, he requested his sons, “Do not stop me from going to Uhud,” but they assured him, “Your excuse ˹for not going˺ is accepted by Allah.” So he petitioned the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم “Dear Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم,! My sons prevent me from fighting alongside you. I swear by Allah! I want to enter Paradise with this impairment.” The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم reminded him that, “Allah the Merciful has accepted your excuse; you are not obliged to fight,” but also told his sons that, “you are not obliged to stop him from going. Allah may grant him martyrdom.”^[14]

In another narration, Sayyidunā ʿAmr ibn Jamūḥ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said, “Dear Messenger of Allah! If I fight in the way of Allah until I am martyred, will you see me walk in Paradise with this leg?” The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “Yes!”^[15]

The Battlefield: Sayyidunā Abū Ṭalḥa رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ says:

After the Muslims were dispersed in the Expedition of Uhud, Sayyidunā ʿAmr ibn Jamūḥ was amongst the first to return. I was looking at him limp, proclaiming, “I swear by Allah! I long for Paradise.” Then his son, Sayyidunā Khallād, ran with his father, until they were honoured with the lofty rank of martyrdom.

During this expedition, his brother-in-law, Sayyidunā ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr, was also martyred.^[16] The expedition occurred on Saturday, 15 Shawwal, 3 AH.^[17]

Accepted Supplication: After their bodies were placed on a camel, the wife of Sayyidunā ʿAmr ibn Jamūḥ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, Sayyidatunā Hind رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا, was taking the camel towards Madina when it sat down, unwilling to get up. Sayyidatunā ʿĀʾisha رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا remarked, “This happened because of the load it is carrying,” but Sayyidatunā Hind رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا said, “It has carried the load of two camels before and this has never happened.” The noble lady made the camel stand, but it sat down again. When it was directed towards Uhud, it started walking quickly. Sayyidatunā Hind رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا went to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم who said, “Indeed this camel is obedient! Did he (ʿAmr ibn Jamūḥ) say something ˹that caused this to happen˺?” Sayyidatunā Hind رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا replied, “When ʿAmr ibn Jamūḥ went towards Uhud, he turned towards the Qibla and supplicated, ‘Dear Allah! Do not allow me to return to my family. Make me a martyr.’” The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم explained, “This is why the camel is not going any further.”^[18] Everything can be obtained if you beseech Allah with etiquette and conviction.

Burial: Allah the Merciful fulfilled his desire to fight and even granted him the esteemed rank of martyrdom. The sacred plains of Uhud became his resting place. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Take the martyrs back to their place of martyrdom.”^[19] He then ordered that Sayyidunā ʿAmr ibn Jamūḥ and Sayyidunā ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr be buried in one grave.^[20]

The Saintly Miracle: After 46 years, the graves of some of the martyrs in Uhud were waterlogged. When the grave of these two blessed individuals was opened, there were two sheets covering their faces. There was grass towards their feet and their bodies had not changed at all; as if only a day had passed since their passing away. Although the hand of Sayyidunā ʿAmr ibn Jamūḥ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ had been amputated because of an injury, it was seen to have restored without any sign of injury. The fragrance of musk emanated from the graves of the martyrs.^[21]