بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد
HIS NAME
`Abdullaah bin `Amr bin al-`Aaṣ رضي الله عنه, Ibn Waail bin Hishaam bin Sa`eed bin Sa`d bin Sahm bim `Amr bin
Huṣaiṣ bin Ka`b bin Lu’ai bin Ghaalib.
His mother was Raiṫah bint Munabbih bin al-Ḥajjaaj al-Suhaimah.
Imaam Ahmad reported that Wakee` informed him from
Nafi` bin `Umar from `Abd al-Jabbaar bin Wurd, on the authority of Ibn Abu
Mulaikah, on the authority of Ṫalḥah bin `Ubaidullaah: that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is reported
to have said: “Yes! `Abdullaah (bin `Amr) is from the Ahl al-Bait, (as well as
his father) Abu `Abdullaah, and his mother.” [Musnad Ahmad (2/358, 359) and graded as “Dha`eef”
by Shaikh Ahmad Shaakir. It is “Mursal” (break in the chain) as Ibn Abu
Mulaikah did not hear from Ṫalḥah]
His father was not older than him except by 11 or so
years.
And from what has reached us, he has embraced Islaam
before his father. And it is said: His name was al-`Aaṣ (disobedient), and when he embraced Islaam, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
changed it to
`Abdullaah.
`Abdullaah bin al-Ḥaarith said: a poor person who migrated towards
the Prophet صلى
الله عليه وسلم and
embraced Islaam had died. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said (to me, i.e. `Abdullaah ibn al-Ḥaarith) while he صلى الله عليه
وسلم was near the grave: “What is your name?” I said: Al-`Aaṣee (i.e. the disobedient). He صلى الله عليه
وسلم said to Ibn `Umar: “What is your name?” He said: Al-`Aaṣee. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said to al-` Aaṣee
(i.e. `Abdullaah Ibn `Amr): “What is your name?”
He said: Al-`Aaṣee. So the Messenger of
Allaah صلى
الله عليه وسلم said: “You are all `Ubaidullaah.” (plural for
`Abdullaah) “Go down” (the grave and
bury your dead). So we placed our (dead) companion and came out of the grave.
And thus our names were changed. [al-Haithamee in “Majma` al-Zawaaid” (8/56)]
`Abdullaah had embraced Islaam and migrated after the
7th year of Hijri, and had participated in some of the military
expeditions after that.
HIS PHYSICAL FEATURES
Qataadah said: he was fat.
Ḥammaad bin Salamah reported on the authority of `Alee
bin Zaid, on the authority of al-`Uryaan bin al-Haitham that he said: I went
with my father to Yazeed. A tall man, with reddish complexion, with a huge
belly came and sat. I said (to my father): Who is he? He said: `Abdullaah bin
`Amr.
Al-Ṫabaaree said: He was tall, with reddish complexion,
with white head (hair) and beard. He got blind in his later life.
HIS KNOWLEDGE & HIS WRITING IT
He had high virtues and merits and had an honorable
position in `ilm and `amal (knowledge and action). He acquired a vast knowledge
from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
On the authority of Kaamil bin Ṫalḥah that Ibn Luhai`ah reported on the authority of
Yazeed, on the authority of Shafee, on the authority of `Abdullaah bin `Amr
that he said: I have memorized a thousand Hadeeth from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. [This
narration is also weak because of Ibn Luhai`ah]
He wrote many things, after attaining the permission,
from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. He was granted permission to write, even
though the other companions were prevented from writing what they heard from
the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, except that he صلى الله عليه وسلم allowed the
writing of the Qur’aan.
Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree reported that Allaah's
Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do not take down anything from me, and he who took
down anything from me except the Qur’aan, he should efface that and narrate
from me, for there is no harm in it and he who attributed any falsehood to me
deliberately he should in fact find his abode in the Hell-Fire.” [Saheeh Muslim (7147)]
After the initial disagreement between the Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم أجمعين, they held
a consensus that it was ok and preferable to write it down in order to preserve
the knowledge.
From what is obvious is that, initially it was made
impermissible to write (the Ahaadeeth), so that they (the companions) would
concentrate devotedly in learning and writing the Qur’aan alone and that there
is no confusion (between the Qur’aan and the Hadeeth). But when the confusion
was raised and it was ascertained that the Qur’aan was distinct from the speech
of men, it was allowed to write down the knowledge (Hadeeth). And Allaah knows
best.
Narrated `Abdullaah bin `Amr: I said: O Messenger of
Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم! Should I write all that I hear from you?
He said: “Yes.” I said: Irrespective of whether you are pleased or angry? He
said: “Yes! For in either state, I am not allowed to say except the
truth.” [Musnad Ahmad (11/139) and authenticated by Shaikh Ahmad
Shaakir]
Narrated Abu Hurairah: There is none among the
companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم who has narrated more Hadeeth than me except `Abdullaah bin
`Amr (bin Al-`Aas) who used to write them and I never did the same. [Saheeh
al-Bukhaaree (113)]
On the authority of Yahya bin Ayoob
from Abu Qubail who narrated from `Abdullaah bin `Amr that he said: We used to
be with the Prophet صلى الله عليه
وسلم and write whatever he
said. [al-Dhahabee graded it as “Hasan Ghareeb” and it was reported by Sa`eed
bin `Ufair (i.e. the chain is good but Sa`eed is the only one reporting it.)]
[Al-Dhahabee said:] And this is the proof that the
Companions used to write some of the sayings of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. And here
is `Alee رضي الله عنه who wrote
the sayings of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in a small
book which was hanging from his sword [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree]. And he صلى الله عليه وسلم had also
said: “Write it for Abu Shah.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]. And they also
wrote from him صلى الله عليه وسلم about blood money, inheritance and other
than that.
On the authority of Abu Al-Naḍhar Haamish bin al-Qaasim said, Is-ḥaaq bin Yahyaa narrated on the authority of Mujaahid that he
said: I came to `Abdullaah bin `Amr, and he pushed his scrolls under his head,
and prevented me from touching it. I said: You are preventing me from reading
from your book? He said: This is the truthful scrolls which I heard directly
from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and there was no one between me and him.
So, if I only have the Book of Allaah and these scrolls and al-Wahṫ, then I don’t care of what I miss of this world.
Al-Wahṫ was a huge garden in al- Ṫaaif which belonged to `Abdullaah bin `Amr and it was 3 miles
long [see al-Saheehah al-Albaanee (1/11)].
[al-Dhahabee said:] `Abdullaah bin `Amr inherited
from his father heaped-up treasures of Egyptian gold. He was one of the kings
amongst the Sahaabah.
[`Amr bin al-`Aas the father of `Abdullaah was the
one who had conquered Egypt]
From the companions who narrated from him are: Anas
bin Maalik, Abu Umaamah bin Sahl, Saa’ib bin Yazeed, Abu Tufail.
Other than them who narrated from him are: his own
son Muhammad, his grandson Shu`aib bin Muhammad (he narrated the most from
`Abdullaah and stayed with and served him, he was raised in his grandfather’s
house as his father, Muhammad, died in the lifetime of his father, `Abdullaah),
his freed slave Abu Qaboos, his freed slave Ismaa`eel, his freed slave Salem,
Sa`eed bin al-Musayyib, `Urwah, Ṫaawoos, `Ikrimah, `Aṫaa’, Mujaahid, al-Hasan al-Baṣree, Ibn Abu Mulaikah, Wahb bin Munabbih, Masrooq and many more.
HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE PREVIOUS SCRIPTURES
`Abdullaah also narrated from Abu Bakr, `Umar,
Mu`aadh, Suraaqah ibn Maalik, and his (own) father `Amr, `Abdul Rahmaan bin
`Auf, Abu Dardaa’. He had also learned from the People of the Book, and had
read their books.
Narrated `Aṫaa’
bin Yasaar: I met `Abdullaah bin `Amr bin Al-`Aas and asked him, “Tell me about
the description of Allaah's Apostle which is mentioned in Torah (i.e. Old
Testament.)” He replied, “Yes. By Allaah, he is described in Torah with some of
the qualities attributed to him in the Qur’aan as follows: 'O Prophet! We
have sent you as a witness (for Allaah's True religion), and a giver of glad
tidings (to the faithful believers), and a warner (to the unbelievers), and
guardian of the illiterates. You are My slave and My messenger (i.e. Apostle).
I have named you “Al-Mutawakkil” (who depends upon Allaah). You are neither
discourteous, harsh nor a noisemaker in the markets, and you do not do evil to
those Who do evil to you, but you deal With them with forgiveness and kindness.
Allaah will not let him (the Prophet) die till he makes straight the crooked
people by making them say: “None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah,”
With which will be opened blind eyes And deaf ears and enveloped hearts.'” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (2125)]
Imaam Ahmad reported in his “Musnad” from Qutaibah,
from Ibn Luhai`ah, on the authority of Wahb bin `Abdullaah al-Mu`aafiree, on
the authority of `Abdullaah bin `Amr that he said: I saw what a sleeping person
sees (i.e. I saw a dream) in it (I saw) that one of my finger was covered with
butter and the other with honey, and I was licking them. When I woke up, I
informed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about the same. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Read the two Books: the Tawrah
and the Furqaan.” And he (`Abdullaah) used to read them. [Musnad (12/25) and it
is weak due to Ibn Luhai`ah who has been declared “very weak”]
[al-Dhahabee said:] Ibn Luhai`ah is weak in Hadeeth,
and this report is rejected. And it is not prescribed for anyone, after the
revelation of the Qur’aan, to read the Tawrah or to memorize it, because
of what has taken place in it of the changes and the distortion, and also
because of the abrogation of acting upon it. In it, the truth has been mixed
with falsehood. So avoid it. As for reading it responding to the (allegations) of
the Jews, then there is no harm in it for a man who has some knowledge (of
Islaam). But avoiding it is preferred.
But as for what has been reported – that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that he
gave permission to `Abdullaah to recite the Qur’aan one night, and to recite
the Tawrah the other night – is a lie and fabrication, Allaah curse the one who
invented this (lie).
HIS ZUHD (ASCETICISM)
On the authority of Yu`laa bin `Aṫaa’ that his mother used to make Koḥl (eyeliner) for `Abdullaah bin `Amr; and that he would close
the door and to cry a lot. And he cried till his eyes turned white (i.e. he
became blind).
Yazid ibn `Abdullaah said that `Abdullaah ibn
`Amr asked the Prophet صلى
الله عليه وسلم: In how
many days should I complete the recitation of the whole Qur’aan, Apostle of
Allaah? He replied: “In one month.”
He said: I am more energetic to complete it in a period less than this. He kept
on repeating these words and lessening the period until he said: “Complete its recitation in seven days.” He
again said: I am more energetic to complete it in a period less than this. The
Prophet صلى
الله عليه وسلم said: “He who finishes the recitation of the Qur’aan in less
than three days does not understand it.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (1390)
and authenticated by Shaikh al-Albaanee]
Narrated Abdullaah bin `Amr: Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه
وسلم was informed about my
fasts, and he came to me and I spread for him a leather cushion stuffed with
palm fires, but he sat on the ground and the cushion remained between me and
him, and then he said: “Isn't it sufficient for
you to fast three days a month?” I replied, “O Allaah's Apostle! (I
can fast more).” He said, “Five?” I
replied, “O Allaah's Apostle! (I can fast more).” He said, “Seven?” I replied, “O Allaah's Apostle! (I
can fast more).” He said, “Nine (days per
month)?” I replied, “O Allaah's Apostle! (I can fast more)” He said,
“Eleven (days per month)?” And then
the Prophet صلى
الله عليه وسلم said, “There is no fast superior to that of the Prophet Dawood
it was for half of the year; so fast on alternate days.” [Saheeh
al-Bukhaaree (1848)]
Narrated `Abdullaah bin `Amr: The news of my
daily fasting and praying every night throughout the night reached the Prophet صلى الله عليه
وسلم. So he sent for me or I
met him, and he said, “I have been informed that
you fast every day and pray every night (all the night). Fast (for some days)
and give up fasting (for some days); pray and sleep, for your eyes have a right
on you, and your body and your family (i.e. wife) have a right on you.”
I replied, “I have more power than that (fasting).” The Prophet صلى الله عليه
وسلم said, “Then fast like the fasts of (the Prophet) Dawood.”
I said, “How?” He replied, “He used to fast on
alternate days, and he used not to flee on meeting the enemy.” I
said, “From where can I get that chance?” ('Ata' said, “I do not know how the
expression of fasting daily throughout the life occurred.”) So, the Prophet
said, twice, “Whoever fasts daily throughout his life is just as the one who
does not fast at all.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree]
Narrated `Abdullaah bin `Amr: Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه
وسلم said to me, “Recite the whole Qur’aan in one month's time.”
I said, “But I have power (to do more than that).” Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه
وسلم said, “Then finish the recitation of the Qur’aan in seven days,
and do not finish it in less than this period.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree
(4691) and Muslim (1971)]
Narrated Mujaahid from `Abdullaah bin `Amr: The
Prophet صلى
الله عليه وسلم said
(to `Abdullaah): “Fast three days a month.”
`Abdullaah said, (to the Prophet) “I am able to fast more than that.” They kept
on arguing on this matter till the Prophet said, “Fast
on alternate days, and recite the whole Qur’aan once a month.”
'Abdullaah said, “I can recite more (in a month),” and the argument went on
till the Prophet said, “Recite the Qur’aan once
each three days.” (i.e. you must not recite the whole Qur’aan in
less than three days). [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1851) and Muslim (1970)]
Narrated `Abdullaah bin `Amr bin Al-`Aas: My
father got me married to a lady of a noble family, and often used to ask my
wife about me, and she used to reply, “What a wonderful man he is! He never
comes to my bed, nor has he approached me since he married me.” When this state
continued for a long period, my father told the story to the Prophet صلى الله عليه
وسلم who said to my father,
“Let me meet him.” Then I met him and he asked me, “How
do you fast?” I replied, “I fast daily,” He asked, “How long does it take for you to finish the recitation
of the whole Qur’aan?” I replied, “I finish it every night.” On that
he صلى
الله عليه وسلم said, “Fast for three days every month and recite the Qur’aan
(and finish it) in one month.” I said, “But I have power to do more
than that.” He said, “Then fast for three days
per week.” I said, “I have the power to do more than that.” He said,
“Therefore, fast the most superior type of
fasting, (that is, the fasting of (prophet) Dawood who used to fast every
alternate day; and finish the recitation of the whole Qur’aan in seven days.”
I wish I had accepted the permission of Allaah's Apostle as I have become a
weak old man. It is said that `Abdullaah used to recite one-seventh of the
Qur’aan during the daytime to some of his family members, for he used to check
his memorization of what he would recite at night during the daytime so that it
would be easier for him to read at night. And whenever he wanted to gain some
strength, he used to give up fasting for some days and count those days to fast
for a similar period, for he disliked to leave those things which he used to do
during the lifetime of the Prophet. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (4689)]
Imaam al-Dhahabee said: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم reduced the
minimum days to complete the recitation of the Qur’aan to 3 days. And he
prohibited from reciting it in less than three days – and this is in regards to
what had been revealed up to that time (i.e. the revelation of the Qur’aan was
not complete yet). And after this saying of his صلى الله عليه وسلم, the
remaining of the Qur’aan was revealed. The least level of prohibition is that
it is disliked to recite the complete Qur’aan in less than 3 days. There is no
understanding and no pondering over its meaning if a person recites it in less
than that. And if he recites and prolongs it (recites it with tajweed) and
finishes it in a week’s time and sticks to it, then that is better. The
religion is easy. So by Allaah! Reciting one seventh of the Qur’aan in
Tahajjud, in the night prayers, as well as guarding the regular nawaafil
prayers (i.e. the 12 Raka`aat throughout the day and night), and the Ḍhuḥa prayer, and the Tahiyyaatul
Masjid, along with the prescribed remembrance (of the day and the night), the
remembrance before going to sleep and after getting up, and after every prayer,
along with seeking beneficial knowledge and busying oneself with it while seeking
the pleasure of Allaah, while also enjoining righteousness, and teaching the
ignorant, and correcting the evildoer, and similar to it, along with offering
the prescribed prayers in the congregation with humility, tranquility and faith,
along with offering the obligatory (i.e. fasting, zakah, hajj), and avoiding
the major sins, and frequent supplications and seeking forgiveness, giving
charity, and join bonds of kinship, and sincerity in doing all that is a great
and virtuous task, and these are the actions of the companions of the right
hand, and the righteous Awliyaa’ of Allaah, and all of this is required from a
person. So when a person engages in completing the Qur’aan every day, he has
opposed the middle path, nor will he be able to do all that we mentioned,
neither ponder on what he has recited.
This is the leader, the worshiper, the Companion, who
used to say: I wish I had accepted the permission of
Allaah's Apostle as I have become a weak old man. It is said that `Abdullaah
used to recite one-seventh of the Qur’aan during the daytime to some of his
family members, for he used to check his memorization of what he would recite
at night during the daytime so that it would be easier for him to read at
night. And whenever he wanted to gain some strength, he used to give up fasting
for some days and count those days to fast for a similar period, for he
disliked to leave those things which he used to do during the lifetime of the
Prophet.
It is also established from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that he
said (to `Abdullaah bin `Amr): “The superior form of fasting is the fasting of
Dawood.” And he صلى الله عليه وسلم also forbade from perpetual fasting, and ordered to
have some sleep in the night. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “I fast and break my fast, I do
sleep and I also marry women. So he, who does not follow my Sunnah in religion,
is not from me (not one of my followers).” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5063) and Muslim (1402)]
[Al-Dhahabee said:] Anyone who does not humble
himself in the worship of Allaah and following the Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, will
regret, become a menace and person of bad mood. And he will be missing out on a
lot of good deeds by not following the Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
– who was the
most kind and merciful to the believers, the one who was excessively anxious
for their success. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught the
Ummah the best of deeds (that which will benefit them), and he ordered them
away from celibacy, and monasticism, which he was not sent with; he forbade
perpetual fasting and standing for the whole night, except in the last ten
nights of Ramadhaan; and he forbade celibacy for the one who has the ability to
get married and other than that of what he had enjoined and prohibited. The
worshiper who is unaware of all of these (goodness) is excused and will be
rewarded (accordingly), and the worshiper who is aware of the Prophetic
narrations but exceeds the bond (by not following it) is the one who is
arrogant. “And the most beloved deed to Allaah's is the most regular and
constant even though it were little” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree]. Allaah inspire us and you to
follow (the Sunnah) and protect us from following our whims and violating (the
Sunnah).
Mujahid said that `Abdullaah ibn `Amr
slaughtered a sheep and said: Have you presented a gift from it to my neighbor,
the Jew, for I heard the Apostle of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم say: “Gabriel
kept on commending the neighbor to me so that I thought he would make an heir?”
[Sunan Abu Dawood (5153) and Tirmidhee (1943) and authenticated by Shaikh
al-Albaanee. This Hadeeth is also reported in al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, on the
authority `Aaishah and Ibn `Umar.]
SOME OF HIS NARRATIONS
Narrated `Urwa bin Al-Zubair: I asked
`Abdullaah bin `Amr bin Al-`Aas to inform me of the worst thing the pagans had
done to Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم. He said: “While Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه
وسلم was praying in the
courtyard of the Ka`bah, `Uqba bin Abi Mu'ait came and seized Allaah's Apostle
by the shoulder and twisted his garment round his neck and throttled him
severely. Abu Bakr came and seized `Uqba’s shoulder and threw him away from
Allaah's Apostle صلى
الله عليه وسلم and
said, “{Would you kill a man because he says:
'My Lord is Allaah,' and has come to you with clear Signs from your Lord?}”
[Surah Ghaafir (40):28] [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (3678, 3856, 4815)]
`Abdul Rahmaan al-Hubuli said: I heard someone
asking `Abdullaah ibn `Amr ibn al-`Aas: Are we not among the destitute of the
emigrants? `Abdullaah said to him: Have you a spouse with whom you live? He
said: Yes. He again said: Then you are among the rich. He said: I have a
servant also. Thereupon he (`Abdullaah ibn `Amr ibn al-`Aas) said: Then you are
among the kings. Abu `Abdul Rahmaan reported that three people came to
`Abdullaah ibn `Amr ibn al-`Aas while I was sitting with him and they said: By
Allaah, we have nothing with us, either in the form of provisions,
riding-animals or wealth. Thereupon he said to them: I am prepared to do
whatever you like. If you come to us, we shall give you that which Allaah will
make available for you, and if you like I shall mention your case to the ruler.
If you like you can show patience also, for I have heard Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه
وسلم saying: “The destitute among the emigrants will precede the rich
emigrants by forty years in entering Paradise on the Day of Resurrection.” Thereupon
they said: We shall show patience, and then, not ask for anything. [Saheeh
Muslim (5295)]
It has been narrated on the authority of `Abdur
Rahmaan ibn Shamaasah al-Mahri who said: I was in the company of Maslamah ibn
Mukhallad, and `Abdullaah ibn `Amr ibn al-`Aas was with him. `Abdullaah said:
The Hour shall come only when the worst type of people are left on the earth. They
will be worse than the people of pre-Islamic days. They will receive whatever
they ask of Allaah. While we were still sitting, `Uqbah ibn `Amr came and
Maslamah said to him: `Uqbah, listen to what `Abdullaah says. `Uqbah said: He
knows better so far as I am concerned. I heard the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه
وسلم say: “A group of people from my Ummah will continue to fight
in obedience to the Command of Allaah, remaining dominant over their enemies.
Those who oppose them shall not do them any harm. They will remain in this
condition until the Hour overtakes them.” (At this) `Abdullaah said:
Yes. “Then Allaah will raise a wind which will
be fragrant like musk and whose touch will be like the touch of silk; (but) it
will cause the death of all (faithful) persons, not leaving behind a single
person with an iota of faith in his heart. Then only the worst of men will
remain to be overwhelmed by the Hour.” [Saheeh Muslim (3557)]
HIS TRIALS
Narrated `Abdullaah bin `Umar that Allaah's
Apostle صلى
الله عليه وسلم said, “O `Abdullaah bin `Amr! What will be your condition when
you will be left with the sediments of (worst) people?” (They will
be in conflict with each other). [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (467)]
Abu `Ubaidah said: On the battle of Siffeen,
`Abdullaah was on the side of Mu`aawiyah.
Handhalah bin Khuwailid al-`Anzee
said: I was with Mu`aawiyah when 2 people came arguing about `Ammaar (bin
Yaasir). Each of them claimed that he had killed `Ammaar. `Abdullaah bin `Amr
said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم saying: “He (`Ammaar)
will be killed by an unjust party.” Mu`aawiyah said: So, why were you
with us? He said: My father had complained to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about me. So he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Obey your father
as long as he is alive and do not disobey him.” I was with you, but I did not
kill (anyone). [Musnad Ahamad (6361) and authenticated by Shaikh Muqbil
al-Waadi`ee in “Saheeh al-Musnad” (804) and also authenticated by Shaikh Ahmad
Shaakir]
On the authority of Isma`eel bin Rajaa’ that
his father said: I was in the gathering in the Masjid of the Prophet صلى الله عليه
وسلم, in which was Abu Sa`eed
al-Khudree and `Abdullaah bin `Amr. Husain bin `Alee passed us by. He greeted
us (with Salaam), and everyone in the group greeted him back. `Abdullaah bin
`Amr kept quiet till he (Husain) departed. Then he (`Abdullaah) raised his
voice and said: Wa `alaik assalaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. Then he
faced the group and said: Should I not inform you about the most beloved person
from the people of the Earth to the ones in the sky (i.e. the Angels)? They
said: Yes. He said: It is this man, who is walking away, and he has not spoken
to me since the time of the Siffeen; and that he be pleased with me is more
beloved to me than to have (such and such) red camels (in another narration:
gold as much as Uhud). Abu Sa`eed said: Don’t you want to apologize to him. He
said: Yes. So they agreed to visit him (Husain) the next day. The next day I
(Rajaa’) also accompanied them. Abu Sa`eed asked his (Husain’s) permission to
enter. And he was given permission to enter and he entered. Then `Abdullaah
sought permission and he was also granted permission. When he (`Abdullaah)
entered, Abu Sa`eed said: O (grand)son of the Messenger of Allaah! When you
passed by us yesterday, and he informed him what `Abdullaah bin `Amr had said.
Husain said: So you knew that I was the most beloved person towards the ones in
the sky? He (`Abdullaah) said: Yes, by the Lord of the Ka`bah! Husain said:
Then what compelled you to fight against me and my father on the day of
Siffeen? By Allaah! My father was better than me. `Abdullaah said: True, but
`Amr (my fahter) had complained about me to the Prophet صلى الله عليه
وسلم. He said: O Messenger of
Allaah! `Abdullaah stands for prayer the
whole night and fasts in the day. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to me: “O
`Abdullaah! Pray and sleep, and fast (one day) and break the fast the other day
and obey `Amr (your father).” So when it was the day of Siffeen, my
father forced me to come out and reminded me of the command of the Prophet صلى الله عليه
وسلم. So I went with him. But
by Allaah! I did not raise my sword nor did I shoot an arrow. Husain said: Did
you not know that there is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the
Creator? `Abdullaah said: Yes. He (Husain) said: Then it is as if you did
(fight against us).
Nafi` bin `Umar reported on the authority of Ibn Abu
Mulaikah that `Abdullaah bin `Amr said: I had nothing to do with Siffeen, and I
had nothing to do with the killing of the Muslims. I wished I was dead before
it by 10 years. As for me, by Allaah! I did not strike anyone with my sword,
nor did I throw an arrow. I wished I never participated in that battle and I
repent to Allaah for doing that. And he mentioned that he (only) carried the
flag. He regretted for participating with Mu`aawiyah.
It has been narrated on the authority of `Abdul
Rahmaan ibn Abdu Rabb al-Ka'ba who said: I entered the mosque when `Abdullaah
ibn `Amr ibn al-`Aas was sitting in the shade of the Ka`bah and the people had
gathered around him. I betook myself to them and sat near him. (Now) `Abdullaah
said: I accompanied the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم on a journey. We halted at a place. Some of
us began to erect their tents, others began to compete with one another in
shooting, and others began to graze their beasts, when an announcer of the
Messenger of Allaah صلى
الله عليه وسلم
announced that the people should gather together for prayer. So we gathered
around the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم. He said: “It
was the duty of every Prophet that has gone before me to guide his followers to
what he knew was good for them and warn them against what he knew was bad for
them. However, this Ummah of yours has its days of peace and (security) at the
beginning of its career, and in the last phase of its existence it will be
afflicted with trials and with things disagreeable to you. (In this phase of
the Ummah), there will be tremendous trials, one after the other, each making
the previous one dwindle into insignificance. When they are afflicted with a
trial, the believer will say: This is going to bring about my destruction. When
(the trial) is over, they will be afflicted with another trial and the believer
will say: This surely is going to be my end. Whoever wishes to be delivered
from the Fire and enter the Garden should die with faith in Allaah and the Last
Day and should treat the people as he wishes to be treated by them. He who
swears allegiance to a Caliph should give him the pledge of his hand and the
sincerity of his heart (i.e. submit to him both outwardly as well as inwardly).
He should obey him to the best of his capacity. If another man comes forward
(as a claimant to Caliphate), disputing his authority, they (the Muslims)
should behead the latter.” The narrator says: I came close to him
(`Abdullaah ibn `Amr ibn al-`Aas) and said to him: Can you say on oath that you
heard it from the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم? He pointed with his hands to his ears and
his heart and said: My ears heard it and my mind retained it. I said to him:
This cousin of yours, Mu`aawiyah, orders us to consume our wealth unjustly
among ourselves and to kill one another, while Allaah says: {O you who believe, do not consume your wealth among
yourselves unjustly, unless it be trade based on mutual agreement, and do not
kill yourselves. Verily, Allaah is Merciful to you} [Surah al-Nisaa
(4):29]. The narrator says that (on hearing this) `Abdullaah ibn `Amr ibn
al-`Aas kept quiet for a while and then said: “Obey him in so far as he is
obedient to Allaah; and disobey him in matters involving disobedience to
Allaah.” [Saheeh Muslim (3437)]
HIS DEATH
Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: He died in
the yeat 63 Hijri.
Yahya bin Bukair said: `Abdullaah died in Egypt. And
he was buried near his small house in the year 65 Hijri. This was also said by
al-Waaqidee and Abu `Ubaid and other than them.
He was 72 years old.
Khaleefah said: He died in al-Ṫaaif. It is also said: he died in Makkah. Others said: He died
in al-Shaam.
He had narrated around 700 Ahaadeeth. Al-Bukhaaree
and Muslim agreed upon 7 Ahaadeeth. Al-Bukhaaree independently reported 8
Ahaadeeth, and Muslim independently reported 20 Ahaadeeth.
References:
الإصابة في تمييز الصحابة – لإبن الحجر الأسقلاني
أسد الغابة في معرفة الصحابة – لإبن الأثير
الاستيعاب في
معرفة الأصحاب - لإبن عبد البر
سير اعلام النبلاء – إمام الذهبي
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