‘Abdullah ibn Rawahah radiya Llahu ‘anhu

‘Abdullah ibn Rawahah

Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn Rawahah ibn Tha’labah al Ansari, Abu Muhammad radiya Llahu ‘anhu. He is from the Khazraj and is the maternal uncle of Sayyidina Nu’man ibn Bashir radiya Llahu ‘anhu. His sister is ‘Amrah bint Rawahah. He had no children. He is one of the early Muslims and one of the poets of the Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

He was literate from the days of jahiliyyah. He was present at al ‘Aqabah with seventy of the Ansar and was one of the twelve Nuqaba’. He participated in Badr, Uhud, Khandaq, and Hudaybiyyah. He also took part in ‘Umrat al Qada’ and entered Makkah on that day while holding the bridle―or the stirrup―of Rasulullah’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam camel announcing: “Move away from his path, O sons of kuffar!”[1]

He was one of the leaders in the Battle of Mu’tah who were martyred. The Muslims displayed valour to face the Romans in battle when they consulted about this matter. He himself displayed heroism as well by alighting after his two comrades were martyred. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam testified to his martyrdom, hence he is from those whose entry into Jannat is emphatically confirmed. It is reported that the Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam recited his couplet when bidding him farewell wherein he says:

فثبت الله ما آتاك من حسن تثبيت موسى و نصرا كالذي نصروا

May Allah fortify the beautiful steadfastness of Musa He bestowed upon you, and the assistance like those who were assisted.

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to him, “And may Allah fortify you as well.” Hisham ibn ‘Urwah remarks, “Allah fortified him until he was killed as a martyr and entered Jannat.”[2]

The Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam appointed him his deputy over Madinah in one of his battles.[3]

He was the third leader to be martyred at Mu’tah in Jumada al Ula 8 A.H. He is also from the renowned poets among the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum. Al Bukhari has quoted the following portion of the poem he composed in praise of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:

إذا انشق معروف من الفجر ساطع	و فينا رسول الله يتلو كتابه
له موقنات أن ما قال واقع	أرانا الهدى بعد العمى فقلوبنا
إذا استثقلت بالمشركين المضاجع	يبيت يجافي جنبه عن فراشه

In our midst, is the Messenger of Allah reciting His book as true dawn breaks.

He showed us guidance after blindness, so our hearts have conviction that what he says will surely come to pass.

He spends the night, arising from his bed (to worship Allah); while the beds of the polytheists find them burdensome.[4]

Ibn ‘Abdul Barr remarked, “The verse:

إِلَّا الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيْرًا

Except those [poets] who believe and do righteous deeds and remember Allah often[5]

was revealed regarding him and his two comrades, Hassan, and Ka’b ibn Malik.[6]

His guarantee of Jannat is established in the narration that passed in the biography of Sayyidina Zaid ibn Harithah, may Allah be pleased with them all.

NEXT⇒ ‘Abdullah ibn Salam radiya Llahu ‘anhu

[1] Sunan al Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2847; Sunan al Nasa’i, Hadith: 2873.

[2] Ibn Jarir al Tabari: Tahdhib al Athar, vol. 2 pg. 461; al Mu’jam al Kabir, (pg. 204). Al Haythami says, “Al Tabarani narrated it and his narrators are reliable besides the fact that Mudrik ibn ‘Umarah did not meet Ibn Rawahah.” (Majma’ al Zawa’id, vol. 8 pg. 42) Both of them do not have Hisham ibn ‘Urwah’s addition.

[3] Subul al Huda wa al Rashad, vol. 4 pg. 337.

[4] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 1155.

[5] Surah al Shu’ara’: 227.

[6] Al Isti’ab, vol. 1 pg. 271; Sirat Ibn Kathir, vol. 3 pg. 486; al Isabah, vol. 4 pg. 83; al Zarkali: al A’lam, vol. 4 pg. 86. Study the sabab al nuzul of this verse in Tafsir al Tabari, vol. 19 pg. 240.

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