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 ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir

And the allegations against him

 

Ibn Mutahhar al Hilli al Shia writes in Minhaj al Karamah concerning him:

 

و ولى عبد الله بن عامر العراق ففعل من المناكر ما فعل

He (‘Uthman) appointed Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir radiya Llahu ‘anhu (who is his maternal uncle’s son) over Iraq who perpetrated the evils he perpetrated.[1]

 

We will now present brief aspects of the biography of Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir radiya Llahu ‘anhu which will reveal his personality, character, practice, and the outstanding accomplishments of his life and expose the reality of the objections of the critics.

 

Name and Lineage

His name is ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir ibn Kurayz. His mother’s name is Dajajah bint Asma’ ibn Salt.

Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir radiya Llahu ‘anhu is Sayyidina ‘Uthman’s cousin, the son of his maternal uncle (‘Amir). In turn, Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu is the son of Arwa bint Kurayz, the sister of ‘Amir. The mother of ‘Amir and Arwa is Umm Hakim bint ‘Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim, from the Banu Hashim.[2]

 

Days of Infancy and Attainment of Blessings

 

أتي به النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم و هو صغير فقال هذا يشبهنا و جعل يتفل عليه و يعوذه و جعل عبد الله يبتلع ريق رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم إنه المسقى فكان لا يعالج أرضا إلا ظهر له الماء … فكان كما قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم

During his infancy, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir was brought to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (in the 7^th year after hijrah at the occasion of ‘Umrat al Qada’.) Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam remarked, “He resembles us.” He then placed his blessed saliva in the infant’s mouth and begged Allah for the infant’s protection. ‘Abdullah swallowed the saliva of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam further commented that he will be a finder of water. Thereafter, ‘Abdullah would not dig upon any land except that water would be exposed for him. Thus, he was as Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam prophesised.[3]

 

The reports of al Tabaqat has the following:

قال هذا ابننا و هو أشبهكم بنا و هو مسقى فلم يزل عبد الله شريفا إلخ

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam stated, “This is our son and he resembles us the most from all of you. He will be a finder of water. Thus, ‘Abdullah remained noble…[4]

 

Generosity, Heroism, and Compassion

 

وكان ابن عامر رجلا سخيا شجاعا وصولا لقومه و لقرابته محببا فيهم رحيما

Ibn ‘Amir was a munificent, heroic, maintainer of relations with his people and relatives, beloved to them, and compassionate gentleman.[5]

 

Accomplishments in Warfare

 

وولاه بلاد فارس و كان عمره خمس و عشرين سنة فافتتح خراسان كلها و أطراف فارس و سجستان و كرمان و زابلستان إلخ

He (‘Uthman) appointed him governor over the land of Persia (Basrah) when he was at the age of 25. He conquered

1. the entire Khorasan,
2. the outlying areas of the Persian dominion,
3. Sijistan,
4. Kirman, and
5. [6]

 

هو افتتح خراسان و قتل كسرى في ولايته

He opened Khorasan and Kisra was killed during his reign.[7]

 

According to the version of Kitab al Buldan of al Yaqubi al Shia, the following regions were also conquered under the leadership of Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir ibn Kurayz radiya Llahu ‘anhu:

6. Qaymas
7. Nasa
8. Abarshahr
9. Jam
10. Tus
11. Isfara’in
12. Sarkhas
13. Marw
14. Bushanj
15. Zarnaj
16. Marward[8]

 

Khalifah ibn Khayyat has listed more of the conquered lands under the governance of Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir radiya Llahu ‘anhu:

17. Al Kariyan
18. Al Fayshajan (Darbajard)
19. Zaliq
20. Nashib
21. Basharwardh
22. Hirat
23. Bayhaq
24. Tanharistan
25. Al Juzjan
26. Al Fariyab
27. Al Taliqan
28. Balkh
29. Khawarizm
30. Badhghis
31. Asbahan
32. Halawan[9]

 

Humanitarian Work

Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir radiya Llahu ‘anhu constructed ponds, planted gardens, dug rivers, and did other humanitarian works for the benefit of the Muslims, especially arranging ponds for water in ‘Arafah:

 

وهو أول من اتخذ الحياض بعرفة و أجرى إليها العين و سقى الناس الماء فذاك جار إلى اليوم

He is the first to construct ponds in ‘Arafah. He sourced water from a spring to these ponds and gave water to the people. This is continuous up to this day.[10]

 

و هو الذي عمل السقاية بعرفة … و له النباج (موضع) الذي يقال له نباج ابن عامر و له الجحفة و له بستان ابن عامر بنخلة على ليلة من مكة و له آثار في الأرض كثيرة

He is responsible for arranging drinking water in ‘Arafah. He has a land known as Nibaj ibn ‘Amir, Juhfah, and the orchard of Ibn ‘Amir at Nakhlah, one night journey from Makkah. His charitable memorials in the land are plenty.[11]

 

Services to the Residents of Madinah

 

و قدم على عثمان بالمدينة فقال له عثمان صل قرابتك و قومك ففرق في قريش و الأنصار شيئا عظيما من الأموال و الكسوات فأثنوا عليه

He came to ‘Uthman in Madinah (with plenty of wealth). ‘Uthman instructed him, “Maintain ties with your relatives and people.” Accordingly, he distributed loads of money and clothes among the Quraysh and Ansar who in turn praised him (in appreciation).[12]

 

Ibn ‘Amir in the Sight of Ibn Taymiyyah

In his book Minhaj al Sunnah, Ibn Taymiyyah extolled the excellent qualities of Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir radiya Llahu ‘anhu and declared his acceptance to the people. He states:

 

إن له من الحسنات و المحبة في قلوب الناس ما لا ينكر

He has numerous virtuous deeds to his name and love in the hearts of people which cannot be denied.[13]

 

In the light of the above, it is evidently clear that Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir radiya Llahu ‘anhu was a remarkable personality and a work efficient man who completed many services to Islam and the Muslims. In front of all these outstanding excellences, all the objections of the opposition seem baseless and unfounded. These accusations have been levelled solely on the basis of tribalism so that hatred and malice is maintained in the hearts of people for him. No other reason is discernable besides this noble one. May Allah repay them according to their aspirations.

 

NEXT⇒ Sayyidina Muawiyah And the Allegations Against him

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[1] Minhaj al Karamah, pg. 67, under ‘Uthmani criticism

[2] Nasab Quraysh, pg. 147 – 149, the children of ‘Amir ibn Kurayz; Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 5 pg. 31, biography of ‘Abdullah ibn Kurayz; Usd al Ghabah, vol. 3 pg. 191, biography of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir.

[3] Al Isti’ab with al Isabah, vol. 2 pg. 351, biography of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir; Usd al Ghabah, vol. 3 pg. 191, biography of ‘Abdullah; al Isabah, vol. 3 pg. 160, biography of ‘Abdullah.

[4] Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 5 pg. 31, biography of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir ibn Kurayz, first edition, Leiden.

[5] Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 5 pg. 32, biography of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir; al Isti’ab, vol. 2 pg. 352, biography of ‘Abdullah; Nasab Quraysh, pg. 149.

[6] Usd al Ghabah, vol. 3 pg. 191, biography of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir; Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 5 pg. 33, biography of Ibn ‘Amir.

[7] Al Isti’ab with al Isabah, vol. 2 pg. 352, biography of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir.

[8] Kitab al Buldan, pg. 40 – 45, Matba’at al Haydariyyah print, Najaf, Iraq, third edition, 1377 A.H. 1957 version.

[9] Tarikh Khalifah ibn Khayyat, vol. 1 pg. 140 – 141, year 30 A.H., first edition, Iraq; Tarikh Khalifah ibn Khayyat, vol. 1 pg. 158, under ‘Uthmani judges.

[10] Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 5 pg. 34, biography of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir; Usd al Ghabah, vol. 3 pg. 191, biography of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir ibn Kurayz; al Bidayah, vol. 8 pg. 88, biography of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir.

[11] Nasab Quraysh, vol. 5 pg. 148, Egypt print.

[12] Usd al Ghabah, vol. 3 pg. 191, biography of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir; al Isabah, vol. 3 pg. 61, biography of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir.

[13] Minhaj al Sunnah, vol. 3 pg. 189 – 190.