Sayyiduna Amir ibn Fuhayrah رضی اللہ عنہ

Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir b. Fuhayrah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ

In the early days of Islam, the radiant glow of faith not only illuminated the hearts of men, women, and children in Makkah but also caused words of monotheism and Prophethood to ripple on the tongues of many male and female slaves. In retribution for uttering these sacred words, the disbelievers of Makkah subjected these vulnerable Muslims to immense cruelty and oppression, demonstrating savagery and barbarity. Among these oppressed Muslims was a dark-skinned slave, Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir b. Fuhayrah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ.

Blessed qualities

Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُwas diligent in fulfilling the injunctions of Islamic law and in protecting himself from the evil of envy.[1] He is counted among those honoured and reliable Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم who achieved the distinction of being a Scribe of Divine Revelation.[2]

Embracing Islam and enduring suffering

Before the noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم entered Dār al-Arqam, as soon as the invitation to Islam reached Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, he accepted it, even though he was ill at that time.[3] He endured severe hardships in the path of Allah Almighty; he was compelled to abandon the religion of Islam, but he refused and remained steadfast.[4] Sayyidunā ꜤĀmirرَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was beaten so severely that every part of his body ached.[5] He was subjected to so much suffering that he himself could not comprehend his very own words.[6] On one occasion, the streets of Makkah witnessed Sayyidunā Bilāl and Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُما tied together with a single long rope, as children dragged them along.[7]

The chains of slavery were broken

Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُnoted the increasing oppression of the disbelievers of Makkah, so he purchased Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ and set him free.[8] After gaining the blessing of freedom, Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُbegan to herd the goats of the people of Makkah.[9]

The Migration and his services

During the migration from Makkah to Madinah, when the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stayed in the Cave of Thawr with Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir b. Fuhayrah would graze Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq’s رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ  goats around the cave. These goats would give milk morning and evening. When darkness fell, Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ would approach the cave and offer goat's milk to both blessed individuals who would spend the night only satiated by this milk. Then, in the last part of the night, Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ would drive the goats back. He continued this for three consecutive nights.[10]

Three days later, The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم undertook the journey towards Madinah, and Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ took Sayyidunā ꜤĀmirرَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ with him.[11] Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ continued serving both blessed personalities throughout the journey and assisting in their tasks, while also guiding both camels.[12] During the journey, Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ would sometimes ride behind Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīqرَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ on the she-camel and sometimes have the blessing of riding behind the noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.[13] According to one account, during this very journey, upon the command of the noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ wrote down a pledge of security for Sayyidunā  Surāqah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ (who had not yet embraced faith at that time) on a piece of leather.[14] After the migration, Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ resided in the house of Sayyidunā SaꜤd b. Khaythamah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ.[15] The noble Prophetصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم established brotherhood between Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ and Sayyidunā Ḥārith b. Aws رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ.[16]

The taste of death

After the migration to Madinah, some noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم fell ill, and Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir b. Fuhayrah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was among them. Someone asked him, “How do you find yourself?” He replied by reciting a couplet, “I tasted the bitterness of death even before death. Indeed! The death of a coward remains above him (due to his cowardice). Every brave man is like that ox in his might, which protects itself with its horns.”[17]

Life of struggle

Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was blessed to participate in the Battles of Badr and Uhud.[18]

Martyrdom

Four months after the Battle of Uḥud, in Ṣafar 4 AH, the noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم dispatched a delegation of 70 noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم towards the tribe of Banū Sulaym for the propagation of Islam. Amongst them was Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir b. Fuhayrahرَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ . The enemy incited their forces against this delegation of Muslims at Bi'r MaꜤūnah, and the slaughter began. The disbelievers martyred all the noble Companions          رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم except Sayyidunā ꜤAmr b. Umayyah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ. Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was among these martyrs.[19]

I have succeeded

The moment Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was struck by a spear, these words came from his mouth, “By Allah! I have succeeded.” At the time of his martyrdom, his blessed age was 40 years.[20] Sayyidunā Jabbār b. Sulmā   رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, who had not yet been honoured with the wealth of faith, states, “(As soon as the spear was pulled out of Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir), his body began to ascend until it vanished from my sight.” After witnessing this marvel, Sayyidunā Jabbār b. Sulmā رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ later embraced Islam. Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir’s body could not be found even after searching, so people understood that angels had laid him to rest.[21] In one narration, it is stated that the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Indeed! The angels concealed him and settled him in ꜤIlliyyīn.”[22]

Light emerged from the body

Eyewitnesses also state, “When the first strike of the spear wounded Sayyidunā ꜤĀmir b. Fuhayrah, a light emerged from his blessed body.”[23]

May Allah Almighty's mercy be upon him, and may we be forgiven for his sake.

اٰمِیْنْ بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ