Bright stars
Sayyiduna Abu Haysam Maalik Bin Tayyihaan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ
Adnan Ahmad Attari
Once, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم left his home in the night at a time that he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would not normally come out and neither would anyone come to meet him at that time. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq and Sayyiduna Umar Farooq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما were present outside. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘What has caused both of you to leave your homes at this hour?’
They said: ‘Hunger.’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘By the One in whose Power my life is! The very same thing that caused you to come out has also caused me to come out. Get up!’
Thus, both companions stood up and accompanied the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم until they reached the home of an Ansari companion رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. This Ansari companion owned a large garden and many goats, and he did not have any servants. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went forward, gave Salaam, and asked permission to enter three times. The wife of the Ansari companion was behind the door. She heard the Salaam and it was her desire that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم continue to give Du’as of peace. So, she did not open the door.
When the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم intended to return, she quickly came out and said: ‘Welcome, O Prophet of Allah! I heard your Salaam but I desired to receive Du’as of peace from you continuously.’ The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم enquired about her husband: ‘Where is he?’
She said: ‘He has gone to get some sweet water for us. Come in, he should be returning any moment now.’ She then laid down a cloth for them under a tree.
In the meantime, the Ansari companion رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ returned with a donkey that was loaded with two water skins full of water. He became very happy when he saw the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and his two companions, and he delighted his eyes (amazed that the one who ascended the heavens and the guest of the Majestic Throne had blessed his home, whilst thinking, ‘No matter how much pride I show at my fate, it will be insufficient. Today, my garden is the pride of Paradise, in fact, it is the pride of even the Majestic Throne’), then he embraced him and kissed his blessed hand and said: ‘May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! I thank Allah Almighty that nobody has more honourable guests than me today.’
In another narration, it is mentioned that the Ansari companion رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ took those esteemed personalities to his garden, laid down a cloth for them, and then took a big bunch of dates from the date tree and presented them in the court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. There were both ripe and dry dates in this bunch and he said: ‘Eat from this.’
Upon this, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Why did you not bring ripe dates only?’
He said: ‘I presented you with different types of dates so that you can eat from whichever you desire to.’
All three esteemed personalities began to eat from that bunch of dates and drank the sweet water also. Then the Ansari companion asked his wife: ‘Have you prepared anything for the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم?’
She said: ‘No.’
After hearing this, he said: ‘Stand up.’
Thus, his honourable wife took some barley and began to grind it whilst the Ansari companion رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ took hold of a knife and headed towards the goats so that they could prepare some food for their esteemed guests.
After observing this, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Do not slaughter the goat that gives milk.’ This Ansari companion رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, who was ready to sacrifice his life, acted upon the command of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and slaughtered a goat or a lamb for his blessed guests. He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ then cooked the meat and presented it to his honourable guests.
Abdullah Bin Rawahah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ very beautifully captures this hospitality in the form of poetry. Read a translation of a portion of this poetry below: I have not seen respect for any nation like the respect of Islam nor have I seen any group like the guests of Araashi. (Muslim, p. 867, Hadees 5313, Tirmizi, vol. 4, p. 163, Hadees 2376; Musnad abi Ya’la, vol. 1, p. 126, Hadees 245, Musnad Bazzar, vol. 1, p. 316, Hadees 205; Mustadrak, vol. 5, p. 181, Hadees 7260; Ma’rifah-tul-Sahabah, vol. 4, p. 197; Al-Zuhd li Ahmad, p. 68, Raud-ul-Unf, vol. 2, p. 249; Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, p. 57)
Dear Islamic brothers! The one who showed such love and hospitality towards the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and his blessed companions was the beloved companion, Sayyiduna Abu Haysam Maalik Bin Tayyihaan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. At the end of this meal, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked: ‘Do you have a servant who helps you here?’
The beloved companion رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said: ‘No.’
The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘When some prisoners arrive, then come to us.’
Narration
When two slaves were brought to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the blessed companion رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ came to him. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Choose one from them.’
He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said: ‘O Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! You choose one for me.’
The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘The one who is consulted is trusted’ (and then pointed towards one slave and said:) ‘Take him because I have seen him praying Salah and I instruct you to treat him well.’
When he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ arrived home and told his wife what the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had said, she said: ‘The instruction that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave you regarding treating this slave well can only be fulfilled if you free him.’ After hearing this, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ freed the slave. (Tirmizi, vol. 4, p. 164, Hadees 2376)
Religious passion and Islam
Even in the age of ignorance, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ had hatred for idol-worship and would express his disdain for the idols. (Tabqat Ibn-e-Sa’d, vol. 3, p. 341) According to one opinion, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was from amongst the first six Ansari companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم who accepted Islam in the 11th year after the announcement of Prophethood on a night in Makkah, in the valley of Aqabah. After this, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ joined with other companions to spread and propagate the message of Islam in Madinah. (Tabqat Ibn-e-Sa’d, vol. 3, p. 341, Usud-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 5, p. 15)
In the 13th year, 70 or 72 believers pledged allegiance at the hands of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was amongst them also. He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ is from amongst those 12 fortunate and trustworthy individuals who were made leaders of a tribe by the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Tabqat Ibn-e-Sa’d, vol. 3, p. 342-345)
Prophetic Du’a
After the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Rawahah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sent him to Khayber so that he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ could distribute the dates over there in a just manner. When he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ returned after the distribution, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم made Du’a for him.
Warrior-like splendour
He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ took part in the Battle of Badr, the Battle of Uhud, and other battles alongside the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and would be seen attacking the disbelievers with the blows of his sword. (Tabqat Ibn-e-Sa’d, vol. 3, p. 342) He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ would take two swords into the battlefield and was given the title ‘ذُو السَّیْفَین’ i.e. ‘Possessor of two swords’ for this reason. (Istee’ab, vol. 2, p. 57)
Martyrdom
According to one opinion, in the month of Safar-ul-Muzaffar, 37 AH, Sayyiduna Abu Haysam Maalik Bin Tayyihaan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was on the side of Sayyiduna Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ in the Battle of Siffeen and also attained the great rank of martyrdom in this very battle. (Usd-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 6, p. 342; Raud-ul-Unf, vol. 2, p. 249)
Sayyiduna Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ lead his funeral prayer and buried him with his own hands. (Ansaab-ul-Ashraf, vol. 3, p. 97)
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