There were fortunate people, in whose graves, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم entered himself and bestowed special honour on them. Five of them are: (1) Umm-ul-Mu’mineen Sayyidatuna Bibi Khadijah (2) the son of Sayyidatuna Bibi Khadijah (3) the mother of Bibi Aaishah, Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Rumaan (4) the mother of Sayyiduna Ali, Fatimah Bint-e-Asad (5) Sayyiduna Abdullah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُمُ whose title is Zul-Bijadayn, i.e. one having two chadors. (Wafa-ul-Wafa, vol. 3, pp. 897)
Who was Sayyiduna Zul-Bijadayn رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, when did he embrace Islam, how did he get this title, how was he martyred, and how soulful was his burial? Let’s read.
Uncle took everything back
He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ belonged to a tribe, Muzainah, situated in the neighbourhood of Madinah Munawwarah. His father passed away when he was young and did not leave him any inheritance. His [paternal] uncle was rich, so he supported him and brought him up until he also grew rich. When the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم migrated and arrived in Madinah, he started taking interest in Islam, but he did not have the courage to embrace Islam for many years due to his uncle.
After conquering Makkah in 8 Hijri, when the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came back to Madinah, he (Abdullah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ) said to his uncle, ‘I have waited for you to embrace Islam, but I think you will not go to the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Please allow me to embrace Islam.
He (His uncle) said, ‘If you embrace Islam, I will take back from you whatever I have given you, even I will take back the clothes.’
He said, ‘I am embracing Islam. I give up worshipping the false gods. Take everything from me.’
Uncle took everything back from him, including the clothes. (Dalail-un-Nubuwwah, pp. 314)
Mother gave chador
According to a narration, when he developed love for faith and love for Rasool, he started going towards the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.
His mother went to [the people of] her nation and said, ‘My son has started going towards Muhammad-e-Arabi (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم). Go after him and bring him back.’
(When the people of his nation caught him and brought him back) His mother said, ‘He is very modest. If you take his clothes off, he will not be able to run away.’ Therefore, the [people of] his nation took his clothes off and left him naked. He sat in a room and refused to eat and drink.
Seeing this, his mother went to [the people of] her nation and said, ‘My son has sworn he will neither eat nor drink anything until he reaches Muhammad-e-Arabi صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Return his clothes. I fear lest he dies.’
But the [people of her] nation refused to give his clothes back. His mother cut her chador into two pieces and sewed buttons on one piece, which he wrapped around (his body). She placed the other piece on his head and said, ‘Go! You can go now.’ (Siyar-e-Salf, pp. 247)
Humbly visited the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reached Madinah at dawn and stayed in Masjid-un-Nabavi. When the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came to offer Salah and saw him, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Who are you?’ He replied, ‘My name is Abdul ‘Uzza. I am a beggar and traveller. I have deep devotional for you and want to live in your company.’ He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Your name is Abdullah and title is Zul-Bijadayn. Live near our holy home.’ (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, pp. 351)
Routine
After Fajr Salah, when the sun would rise, he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ would stand up and keep offering Salah as long as Allah Almighty willed. Then he would humbly visit the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and say Salaam and then he would go towards his residence. (Siyar-e-Salf, pp. 248) He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ made the company of Rasool obligatory for himself. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would teach him the Holy Quran, and he learnt to recite a large part of the Holy Quran. He would stay in Masjid-un-Nabavi, recite (the Holy Quran), and do Zikr-o-Azkar loudly.
He is not show-off
Once upon a time, Sayyiduna Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ said, ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Are you not listening to this Bedouin (villager) who recites the Holy Quran in a loud voice and causes others to stop reciting the Holy Quran?
The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Umar! Leave him. He has migrated to Allah and His Rasool.’
According to a narration, Sayyiduna Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ asked the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, ‘Is he a show-off?’
He (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) replied, ‘Leave him. He is from Awwaheen (those who wail and weep).’ (Dalail-un-Nubuwwah, pp. 314, Usud-ul-Ghabbah, vol. 3, pp. 230)
Beloved Rasool ﷺ performed Zul-Bijadayn’s Nikah
Sayyiduna Zul-Bijadayn رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ sent a proposal of Nikah to a woman, but she did not accept. First, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ then Sayyiduna Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ persuaded the woman to marry Zul-Bijadayn, (yet she refused).
When the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم heard the news, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘O Abdullah! I have heard that you have sent a proposal of Nikah (marriage) to a woman.’
He replied, ‘Yes.’ He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘I have performed your Nikah to this woman.’ (Siyar-e-Salf, pp. 247; summarised)
Eagerness for martyrdom
In the month of Rajab, 9 AH, when the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم departed for the battle of Tabook, he (رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ) also joined the Mujahideen, started to travel, and requested, ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Please make Du’a that I be blessed with martyrdom.’
The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked him to bring the bark of acacia tree. When he brought the bark, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم tied it to his arm and made Du’a, ‘O Allah Almighty! I have declared his blood Haraam on unbelievers.’ He asked, ‘I did not want this.’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘When you go for Jihad, if you pass away due to a fever, even then you will be a martyr. If your animal (makes you fall down and) breaks your neck, even then you will be a martyr. It does not matter as to how you be blessed with martyrdom.’ (Dalail-un-Nubuwwah, pp. 314 - Subul-ul-Huda war-Rishaad, vol. 5, pp. 479)
What happened was that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم reached Tabook and waited for the enemies for about 20 nights. At the same place, Zul-Bijadayn suffered from a fever and passed away. (Seerat-e-Halbiyah, vol. 3, pp. 199-200)
Sight of burial
Sayyiduna Bilal Bin Haris Muzzani رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ has said, ‘It was night. I saw that the Muazzin of Rasool, Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was carrying a lamp and the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was present inside his grave himself. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq and Sayyiduna Umar Farooq رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا were lowering him inside the grave.’ The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was saying, ‘Bring your brother with respect.’ After this, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم closed the grave himself with raw bricks.
Du’a of Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
Then he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم made this Du’a: ‘O Allah Almighty! He has served me day and night. I am pleased with him. You be pleased with him too.’ (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, pp. 351)
Desire of companions
Seeing such respect and honour love and affection, Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Mas’ood رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ said, ‘By Allah! I wish I had been in his place, although I embraced Islam 15 years before Zul-Bijadayn.’ Seeing this soulful sight, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ expressed his emotions like this, ‘By Allah! I wish I had been in this grave.’ (Usud-ul-Ghabbah, vol. 3, pp. 231)
Remember! No companion passed away in the battle of Tabook except for Sayyiduna Zul-Bijadayn رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ.
Comments