Bright stars
Sayyiduna Saabit Bin Qays رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ
Adnan Ahmad Attari Madani
The Glorious Words of Allah Almighty were revealed:
یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَرْفَعُوْۤا اَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِیِّ وَ لَا تَجْهَرُوْا لَهٗ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ اَنْ تَحْبَطَ اَعْمَالُكُمْ وَ اَنْتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُوْنَ(۲)
O believers! Do not raise your voices higher than the voice of this Conveyor of the unseen (the Prophet Muhammad), and nor speak aloud in his august court just like you speak aloud to one another amongst yourselves, in case your deeds go to waste whilst you are unaware.
[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 26, Surah Al-Hujuraat, Verse 2)
After listening to these words, one companion رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ sat in his home and said: ‘I am from the people of Hell.’ After he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was absent from the court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم for a few days, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم mentioned the name of that beloved companion to Sayyiduna Sa’d Bin Mu’aaz رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ and said: ‘How is he? Is he unwell?’ Sayyiduna Sa’d رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said: ‘He is my neighbour; I would have known if he was unwell.’
After this, Sayyiduna Sa’d رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ went to that companion and asked him the reason (of his absence). He replied: ‘This verse has been revealed and you are well aware that my voice is louder than all of yours, therefore, I am a person of Hell.’ Sayyiduna Sa’d رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ conveyed his words to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Rather, he is from the people of Paradise.’ (Muslim, p. 70, Hadees 314, summarised) Dear Islamic brothers! The name of the Ansari Khazraji companion, who sat in his home due to his utmost etiquette and fear, is Sayyiduna Saabit Bin Qays رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.
Visiting the Prophetic court
His hearing was weak, which is why he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ would like to sit close to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and bless his ears with the words of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Tafseer Kabeer, vol. 10, p. 493, Part 28, Surah Al-Mujaadalah, Taht-al-Ayah 11) When he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ would come to the gatherings of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the other companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم would make space for him and make him sit at the front. (Khaazin, vol. 4, p 181, Part 26, Surah Al-Hujuraat, Taht-al-Ayah 11)
Esteem
He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ is from the greatest companions (Zurqaani Alal-Muwatta, vol. 3, p. 254, Taht-al-Hadees 1228) and from the scribes of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم (Madarij-ul-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, p. 533). The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once said: ‘What an excellent man Saabit Bin Qays is.’ (Tirmizi, vol. 5, p. 437, Hadees: 3820)
Excellent orator
He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ is known as the orator of the Ansaar and the orator of the Noble Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم also. (Tahzeeb-ul-Asma`, vol. 1, p. 147; Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 8, p. 519) A delegation of Banu Tameem once presented themselves in the court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and one of their orators began to mention some matters in a boastful manner. After witnessing this, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم told Sayyiduna Saabit Bin Qays رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ to deliver some words. Thus, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ stood up and praised and glorified Allah Almighty, and then delivered a speech in a most eloquent and articulate manner. After listening to this, the face of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and the Muslims began to radiate with happiness. (Siyar A’laam-ul-Nubala, vol. 3, p. 194)
What is pride?
Sayyiduna Saabit Bin Qays رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم recited the verse:
اَلَمْ تَرَ اَنَّ الْفُلْكَ تَجْرِیْ فِی الْبَحْرِ بِنِعْمَتِ اللّٰهِ لِیُرِیَكُمْ مِّنْ اٰیٰتِهٖؕ-اِنَّ فِیْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُوْرٍ(۳۱)
Did you not see that ship sails on the sea by Allah’s Grace, so that He may show you some of His signs? Indeed, in this are signs for the extremely patient, grateful person.
[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 21, Surah Luqmaan, Verse 31)
And then he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم began to mention pride and its ills, and I began to cry. When the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked me the reason for this, I said: ‘I like beauty, to such an extent that the fine lace of a shoe pleases me (is this pride?).’ The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘You are a person of Paradise; pride is not that you consider your conveyance or saddle to be good, rather, pride is to turn away from the truth and to consider the people to be inferior.’ (Mu’jam Kabeer, vol. 2, p. 69, Raqm 1318)
Fear of ruin
He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ once said: ‘I fear for my destruction and ruin.’ The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked: ‘Why is this?’ He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said: ‘Allah Almighty has prohibited us from desiring praise for those actions which we have not done, and I consider praise to be good in my heart. Allah Almighty has prohibited us from displaying vanity but I like beautifying myself. We have been prohibited from raising our voices above your voice, but I have a loud voice.’ After hearing this, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘O Saabit! Are you not pleased that you will live an honourable life, attain the rank of martyrdom and enter Paradise?’ He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ replied: ‘Why not!’ Thus, just as the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said would happen, it transpired. He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ lived an honourable life and attained the rank of martyrdom. (Mustadrak, vol. 4, p. 253, Hadees 5084, summarised)
Water that was blown upon
Once, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم visited him when he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ fell ill and made Du’a: ‘O Lord of mankind! Remove the illness from Saabit.’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then placed some dust of Bathaan (a valley) into a bowl and placed some water into it whilst blowing upon it, and then sprinkled that water upon him. (Abu Dawood, vol. 4, p. 14, Hadees 3885)
The battlefield
Besides taking part in the Battle of Badr, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ had the honour of taking part in all of the battles alongside the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Istee’aab, vol. 1, p. 276)
Martyrdom
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ sent an army under the command of Sayyiduna Khalid Bin Waleed رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ on the occasion of the Battle of Yamamah, and he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was appointed as the leader of the Ansaar at that time. (‘Umda-tul-Qaari, vol. 10, p. 161, Taht-al-Hadees: 2845). It was during this battle that he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ attained the rank of martyrdom. This battle took place in Rabi’-ul-Awwal 12 AH. (Mustadrak, vol. 4, p. 253, Hadees 5084; ‘Umda-tul-Qaari, vol. 10, p, 161, Taht-al-Hadees 2845)
Will
During this battle, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was wearing some fine armour. After his martyrdom, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ appeared in the dream of someone and said: ‘I am making a will to you, understand it well and do not ruin it. I was wearing some armour when I was martyred; it was removed from my body by a Muslim soldier and then hidden by his tent under a stone pot which was placed upside down where the horse was tied and then a saddle of a camel was placed over it. Go to the leader of the army, Sayyiduna Khalid Bin Waleed, and say: ‘Uncover this armour and take it into your possession’, and when you reach Madinah, say to Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen: ‘I have such-and-such amount of debt, pay it off and free so-and-so slave of mine.’
Sayyiduna Khalid Bin Waleed رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ immediately began to search in that area and uncovered the armour. He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ then relayed this dream to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. Thus, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ fulfilled his will by paying off his debt and freeing his slave. (Istee’aab, vol. 1, p. 277 summarised)
Sayyiduna Anas Bin Maalik رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said: ‘According to our knowledge, there was no one other than Sayyiduna Saabit Bin Qays رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ whose will was acted upon after his death after making a will in a dream. (Istee’aab, vol. 1, p. 276)
After the martyrdom
When he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was placed in the grave, the people heard the following words from him: ‘Sayyiduna Muhammad (صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) is the Messenger of Allah, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr is a Siddeeq, Sayyiduna Umar is a martyr and Sayyiduna Usman is soft-hearted and compassionate.’ When the people looked towards him, they could not see any signs of life in him. (Tareekh Ibn-e-‘Asakir, vol. 39, p. 220)
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