Bright Stars
Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin Jamuh رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ
Adnan Ahmad Attari
Madinah had become an illuminated bastion of faith, wrapped in the warm, musky zephyrs of Islam. In this most elect part of the world, the cynosure of all eyes, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked the Banu Salamah tribe, ‘Who is your leader?’ ‘Jadd Bin Qays - but we find him to be miserly,’ they answered. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then declared: ‘There is nothing worse than miserliness. In fact, your leader is ‘Amr Bin Jamuh رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, the possessor of goodness and honour,’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 7, p. 431).
As the last of the Ansar to accept Islam (Usd-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 4, p. 221), Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin Jamuh رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was quick recite some moving poetry as an expression of his heartfelt gratitude to Allah Almighty for saving him from misguidance, (Raud-ul-Anf, vol. 2, p. 278; Dalaail-ul-Nubuwwah li Abi Na’eem, p. 185, summarised).
Appearance and personality
He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was tall, (Tabqat Ibn-e-Sa’d, vol. 3, p. 424), would apply yellow dye to his beard, (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 5, p. 214), and walked with a limp, (Siraat-e-Halbiyyah, vol. 2, p. 328).
Virtues and merits
Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin Jamuh رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was from the elite chiefs of Banu Salamah (Dalaail-ul-Nubuwwah li Abi Nu’aym, p. 185) and an affluent figure, (Tafseer Nasafi, Part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, under the verse 214, p. 111). Once, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ presented himself in the court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and asked, ‘I have an abundance of wealth; which thing should I donate, and who should be the recipient?’ In response, this verse was revealed:
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 a traveller.’ And whatever good you do; Allah is indeed aware of that.
[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 215)
(Al-Jami’-ul-Ahkam Al-Quran-lil-Qurtubi, vol. 2, p. 29, Part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, under the verse 215)
Two Sayings of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
1. By the One in whose power lies my life! There are those among you who if they take an oath by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ regarding a matter, Allah Almighty would surely fulfil that oath; ‘Amr Bin Jamuh is from them, (Subul-ul-Huda war-Rashad, vol. 4, p. 214).
2. What a great man ‘Amr Bin Jamuh is! (Musannaf Ibn-e-Abi Shaybah, vol. 17, p. 37, Raqm 32607).
Zeal for Jihad
He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ had four brave and courageous sons, all of whom participated in expeditions with the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, (Siraat-e-Halbiyyah, vol. 2, p. 328; Siyar Al-Salaf-us-Saliheen, p. 263). When the announcement for the Battle of Badr was made in 2nd AH, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was overcome with incredible passion to join the warriors, despite his physical impairment. His sons, on the order of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, stopped him from joining in.
When preparations for the Expedition of Uhud were being made in 3rd AH, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said to his son, ‘Do not prevent me from going to the battlefield of Uhud.’ His sons replied, ‘Your excuse is accepted in the divine court.’ Hearing this, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ immediately went to the court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and pleaded, ‘Messenger of Allah! My sons are preventing me from accompanying you on this expedition. By Allah! I hope that I will enter Paradise with this disability of mine.’ The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم answered, ‘Allah Almighty has accepted your excuse, and jihad is not binding on you.’ Then, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said to his sons, ‘It is not necessary for you to prevent him from Jihad, perhaps Allah Almighty will grant him martyrdom,’ (Siyar Al-Salaf-as-Saliheen, p. 263; Usd-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 4, p. 221, summarised)
Another report suggests that he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said, ‘Messenger of Allah! What do you say about me fighting in the way of Allah Almighty until I am martyred; will you then see me walking in Paradise with this very leg?’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Yes!’ (Siyar Al-Salaf-as-Saliheen, p. 264)
The battlefield
Sayyiduna Talhah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ explained, ‘During the Expedition of Uhud, when the Muslims returned after dispersing, Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin Jamuh رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was among the first who came. I was looking at the limp in his leg while he was saying, ‘By Allah! I long for Paradise.’ Then I saw his son, Sayyiduna Khallad, running behind his father; eventually, both of them attained martyrdom. During this battle, his brother-in-law, Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin ‘Amr, was also martyred,’ (Al-Maghazi-lil-Waaqidi, pp. 264-265). The Expedition of Uhud took place on Saturday 15th Shawwal, 3rd AH, (Seerat Ibn-e-Hishaam, p. 340).
Accepted supplication
After the three noble bodies were placed on a camel, the wife of Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin Jamuh, Sayyidatuna Hind رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا, began driving the camel towards Madinah when it sat, refusing to get back up. Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Al-Siddiqah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا remarked that ‘This has happened due to the load upon it.’ Sayyidatuna Hind رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا replied, ‘The load of two camels has been placed upon it at times, but it has never done this; I feel there is another reason.’ As she attempted to drive it again, it stood but then sat again. When she drove it towards the direction of Uhud, it began to move quickly.
She went to ask about this in the court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, to which he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Indeed, the camel obeys the command; did he say anything?’ She رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا replied, ‘When ‘Amr Bin Jamuh رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ began to go towards Uhud, he turned towards the Qiblah and made this supplication: ‘O Allah! Do not return me to my family and grant me martyrdom.’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘It is due to this that the camel is not moving forward,’ (Subul-ul-Huda war-Rashad, vol. 4, p. 214; Al-Maghazi-lil-Waaqidi, p. 265, summarised).
Jo maangnay ka Tareeqah hay is tarah mango
Dar-e-Kareem say banday ko kiya nahin milta
Burial
Allah Almighty is truly generous; He not only fulfilled the wish of Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin Jamuh رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ to participate in the expedition but granted him martyrdom as well and made the sacred plains of Uhud his final resting place. Hence, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Take the martyrs back to the places of their martyrdom,’ (Tirmizi, vol. 3, p. 276, Hadith 1723). Then the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave the command to bury Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin Jamuh and Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin ‘Amr in the same grave, (Al-Maghazi-lil-Waaqidi, p. 266, summarised).
Graves are opened
After forty-six years, some of the graves of the martyrs in Uhud became waterlogged, forcing repairers to open their graves, including those of these two noble personalities. Their faces were covered with two pieces of cloth and some grass was placed on their feet. Their blessed bodies were as the day they were laid to rest, unchanged, in perfect form., and exuding a musky fragrance. According to one opinion, the hand of Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin Jamuh رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was moved from the wound and the hand moved back towards the wound as it was before, (Seerat-e-Halbiyyah, vol. 2, pp. 339-340; Fath-ul-Baari, vol. 4, p. 188, under the Hadith 1351, summarised).
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