Sayyiduna Mughayrah Bin Shubah

Sayyiduna Mughayrah Bin Shu’bah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was an intelligent and wise Sahabi of Rasool. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was a courageous person, eloquent speaker, great ruler, experienced warrior and expert in governance. He had deep devotional love for Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and had earned the title of “مُغِیرۃُ الرأی”. His Kunyah is ‘Abu ‘Isa’, whereas in some narrations, it is also mentioned as ‘Abu Muhammad’ and ‘Abu ‘Abdullah’. He belonged to the Saqeef tribe. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 60, pp. 13, 15)

Blessed birth and embracing Islam

Sayyiduna Mughayrah Bin Shu’bah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was born in the city of Taif. He embraced Islam in the 5^th Hijri. (A’laam lil-Zarkali, vol. 7, pp. 27)

Honour of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

As soon as Sayyiduna Mughayrah Bin Shu’bah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ embraced Islam, he drowned in the ocean of ‘love of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم’ to such an extent that he would not tolerate anyone’s act against the honour of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Therefore, at the time of treaty of Hudaybiyah in 6^th Hijri, when the representative of Quraysh, Urwah Bin Mas’ood Saqafi (who had not yet embraced Islam) extended his hand to the blessed beard of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم again and again during conversation, Sayyiduna Mughayrah Bin Shu’bah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ hit Urwah’s hand with the handle of the sword and said: Keep your hand away from the blessed beard of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 225, Hadees 2731)

Blessed company of Rasoolullah

Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would stay with the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم most of the time and would keep Beloved Rasool’s pot of Wudu with him. (Ma’rifat-us-Sahabah, vol. 4, pp. 273)

Moreover, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would remember very well the time spent in the court of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, as he has stated: Once I had a long moustache. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم placed Miswak and trimmed my moustache. (Abu Dawood, vol. 1, pp. 96, Hadees 188)

Distinctive love

When Sayyiduna ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم came out of the blessed grave after placing the blessed body of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in it, Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ made his ring fall into the blessed grave. Thereupon, he told Sayyiduna ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم [about it], so Sayyiduna ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم said: ‘Go inside and pick it up.’ Therefore, Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ went inside the blessed grave with respect, and feeling deep love for Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, he affectionately placed his hand on the blessed Lahad [grave]. In another narration, it is mentioned that he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ stroked the pure and blessed shroud. According to a third narration, he removed the blessed brick, picked up his ring, kissed between both of the blessed eyes and came out. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would often proudly say: I am the last person to be with the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 60, pp. 29; Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 4, pp. 220; Al-Mabsoot, Juz: 2, vol. 1, pp. 118)

Intellect

A Taabi’i pious saint, Sayyiduna Qabeesah Bin Jabir رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: I stayed with Sayyiduna Mughayrah Bin Shu’bah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ for some time. If there are 8 doors of a city and it is not possible to exit through them without using any trick, Sayyiduna Mughayrah Bin Shu’bah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ will exit through all eight doors one by one by applying his Divinely-bestowed skills. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 60, pp. 50)

Be grateful!

Dear Islamic brothers! The sayings of Sayyiduna Mughayrah Bin Shu’bah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ are indeed the priceless treasure for the Muslim Ummah. For receiving blessings, read one of his sayings: If someone gives you a gift, be grateful to him. Moreover, also give some gift to the one who is grateful to you, as blessing vanishes because of ungratefulness and the blessing remains because of gratefulness. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 60, pp. 53)

Exceptional bravery in the battles

Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ took part with the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in all the Ghazwat^[1] fought after 5 Hijri. When the Fitnah [evil] of apostasy emerged in the era of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq’s caliphate, Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ joined the Muslim army and heavily defeated the army of Musaylimah Kazzaab [liar] in the battle of Yamamah. When efforts were being made for the conquest of Syria in the era of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq’s caliphate, Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ joined the Muslim army and got his name recorded in the golden pages of the history.

In the battle of Yarmook, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ stood like a mountain in front of the enemies. Meanwhile, an arrow hit his eye due to which he lost that eye’s vision. When the battle started at Qaadisiyyah, he fought bravely in the battlefield without caring for his life. In the battle of Nahawand, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ had ordered: Sayyiduna Nu’man Bin Muqarrin will be the commander at the Maysarah (left side). If he is martyred, Sayyiduna Huzayfah [will be the commander] and after him, Sayyiduna Mughayrah Bin Shu’bah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ will be the commander of the Muslim army.

Political insight and achievements

In the battle of Qaadisiyyah, Sayyiduna Sa’d Bin Abi Waqas رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ sent Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ as his representative, so Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ duly fulfilled the rights owed by a representative and openly gave the “invitation to Islam” in front of the Iranian commander, Rustum. Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was the first person who established an office in Basra and gathered the [information regarding the] condition of the people so that stipends^[2] could be disbursed amongst the people of Basra accordingly. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ sent Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ towards Nujayr, an area of Yemen. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 60, pp. 15, 16)

Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ first made Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ the governor of Bahrain and afterwards, the governor of Basra from 15 Hijri to 17 Hijri. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 60, pp. 31)

Then, Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was appointed as the ruler of Kufa. In the era of Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani’s caliphate, Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ held the same designation for a short period of time. After the martyrdom of Sayyiduna ‘Usman رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ distanced himself from the country’s political matters. In 41 Hijri, when Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ took over the reins of all the Islamic states, he also sought the services of Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ and again made him the governor of Kufa. Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ held this designation for 9 consecutive years. (Al-Isaabah, vol. 6, pp. 157)

Blessed demise and shrine

Sayyiduna Mughayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ passed away at the age of 70 in Sha’ban-ul-Mu’azzam 50 Hijri. His blessed shrine is located in Kufa. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 60, pp. 62)

Number of Ahadees narrated

Sayyiduna Mughayrah Bin Shu’bah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ spent his entire life spreading and propagating the religion of Islam and upholding its honour. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has narrated 136 Ahadees. 9 Ahadees are “مُتَّفَق علیہ” (i.e. present in both books, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Moreover, 1 Hadees in Sahih Bukhari and 2 Ahadees in Sahih Muslim are mentioned individually. (Tahzeeb-ul-Asma, vol. 2, pp. 412)

Amongst the Ahadees he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has narrated, the Ahadees of “مَسْح عَلٰی الْخُفَّیْن” and “Mash [مَسْح] of one-fourth portion of the head in Wudu” became very famous.