During the rule of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, one year a severe famine struck the land. Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen sent a commandment to the governor of Egypt saying: ‘You and your citizens have a plenty of food to eat, [on the other hand], you do not care even if the citizens of my country and I die. Help us and rescue us.’ The governor of Egypt sent a reply humbly saying: ‘Wait! The helper is coming to help you. I have sent such a caravan in your court whose first part will reach you and the last part will be departing from here.’
So, the caravan governor of Egypt sent, the first camel arrived in Madinah whereas the last camel was in Egypt. All these camels were loaded with full of grain. Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen distributed all those camels. (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 3, pp. 236; summarized)
Dear Islamic brothers! This distinguished personality, imbued with great characteristics of honour, nobility, generosity, bravery, intellect, wisdom and sympathy, is the companion of Rasool, the conqueror of Egypt, ‘Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas Qarashi رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ’.
Parable of embracing Islam
Before embracing Islam, he had bitter enmity towards Muslims. In the battle of ‘Badr’, ‘Uhud’, ‘Khandaq’, he fought against the Muslims. After the treaty of Hudaybiyah, he had such strong emotions against Muslims, [he commented]: ‘If the whole tribe of Quraysh embraces Islam, even then, I will not embrace Islam.’ Thereafter, he gathered the like-minded people and put forward the suggestion of shifting to Ethiopia. His suggestion was appreciated. So, they collected the gifts for the king of Ethiopia and entrusted them to him. Thus he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ came to Ethiopia. (Maghaazi lil Waaqidi, vol. 2, pp. 741)
According to a narration, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was also the part of the envoys, sent to Ethiopia for bringing back the Muslims from Ethiopia, but Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ granted His especial mercy to him and he embraced Islam at the hand of a Taabi’i, King of Najjash (رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ); afterwards, he came to Madinah, had privilege of beholding the blessed sight of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and attained the status of Sahabi (companion of the Holy Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم).
This is a unique event in the history of Islam that someone embraced Islam at the hand of a Taabi’i and later attained the status of Sahabi. (Zurqaani ‘alal Mawahib, vol. 1, pp. 506; summarized)
Devotion to Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
After embracing Islam, Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ had such a great honour and intense love in his heart towards the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم that he said: ‘No one was dearer to me than the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and no one was more majestic and awe-inspiring in my eyes than the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Even I was unable to look at him to my satisfaction due to his majesty. If someone asks me about the blessed appearance of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, I cannot even describe it well. (Sahih Muslim, pp. 70, Hadees 321)
Acts of worship and spiritual exercises
Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would observe Siyam consecutively whereas he would perform Salah during the nights in tears, and would make Du’a in the court of Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ with these words: ‘O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! You have blessed me with wealth, blessing of children, power. If I have more love for these things than You, take my wealth, children and power from me and do not inflict me with the torment of Hell.’ (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 46, pp. 164-180; summarized)
What is consideration?
Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, despite being a ruler of Egypt, was riding on an old mule. Someone saw this and humbly asked him: ‘Despite being a ruler, you are riding on this mule’. He replied: ‘As long as the animal lets me mount it, I do not averse to it; as long as my wife does good upbringing of my children, I do not become dissatisfied with her; As long as my companion pays his attention to me, I do not get fed up with him because boredom is contrary to the norms of etiquette.’ (Ibid, pp. 182)
Excellence and virtues
The excellence and virtues of Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ are also matchless. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: ‘O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Shower mercy on Amr Bin ‘Aas. Certainly he loves You and Your Rasool.’ (Ibid, pp. 137)
On one occasion, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: ‘No doubt ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas is from the pious people of Quraysh.’ (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 5, pp. 456, Hadees 3871)
A lot of goodness in the court of Allah
On the occasion of a battle, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم awoke three times in the night and each time he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said this sentence: ‘O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ grant mercy to ‘Amr.’ Then Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم added: ‘Whenever I call people for Sadaqah, ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas brings a lot of [things].’ When I ask him: ‘O ‘Amr! Where do you bring [all] this from?’ He replies: ‘From Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.’ [So], ‘Amr has spoken the truth; no doubt, there is a lot of goodness for ‘Amr in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. (Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabeer, vol. 18, pp. 5, Hadees 1; summarized)
Did not embrace Islam for wealth
Once the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: ‘O Amr! I want to send you off to a battle. May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ grant you safety and also the spoils of war. We will also bless you with some wealth.’ He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ humbly said: ‘I have not embraced Islam for wealth. I look forward to the [blessed] company of Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and Jihad.’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: ‘Good wealth is very good for a virtuous person.’ (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 6, pp. 240, Hadees 17818)
War strategies
Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was incredibly intelligent and the best commander-in-chief, well-equipped with war strategies. Once in a battlefield, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ made this announcement that no one would light the fire in the night in this army which some people disliked. Afterwards, this matter was taken in the court of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ humbly said: ‘There were not a sufficient number of companions with me, and I had a fear there was an army behind the mountain and lest it attack the Muslims. Upon this, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم appreciated this strategy. In the same battle, the following words of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ are clear and convincing proof of his military capabilities: ‘Due to his military tactics, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has appointed him as an Ameer upon us.’ (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 46, pp. 145)
Achievements and services
The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sent Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ to Oman, appointing him as an ‘Aamil. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ stayed there until the apparent demise of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. First Khalifah (caliph), Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ sent him to Syria, appointing him as a commander-in-chief of the army of Islam. He conquered it impressively. In 20th Hijri, Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ had the honour to be conqueror of Egypt. In 22nd Hijri, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ conquered Alexandria. In 23rd Hijri, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ conquered some areas of Tarablus (Tripoli). In 25th Hijri, when the people of Alexandria rebelled, he quelled the insurgency and conquered it again. In the era of Farooqi, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was appointed as the ruler of Palestine whereas after the conquest of Egypt, he served as the governor of Egypt till 28th Hijri. (Tahzeeb-ul-Asma, vol. 2, pp. 346; Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 46, pp. 159)
Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ again appointed him to this position in 38th Hijri. (Al-Isaabah, vol. 4, pp. 540)
Last moments of life and the blessed hairs of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
At the time of the blessed demise of Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, he made this will too: ‘Keep the blessed hair of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in my shroud so that the difficulty of grave is relieved.’ (Siraat-ul-Jinaan, vol. 2, pp. 367)
As per one narration, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ departed this life approximately at the age of 100 on the night of Eid-ul Fitr (1st Shawwal-ul-Mukarram), 43rd Hijri. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 46, pp. 202)
The blessed tomb of Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ is situated at the foot of a mountain known as Maqtam (inside the Masjid ‘Sayyidi ‘Uqbah Bin ‘Aamir Juhanni). (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 7, pp. 342)
Inheritance and narrations
Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was a very rich companion. He left behind a vast amount of wealth, belongings and slaves. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 4, pp. 256)
The number of blessed Ahadees which are narrated by Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Aas رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ is 37. (Tahzeeb-ul-Asma, vol. 2, pp. 347)
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