Biography of Ammar bin Yasir

Hadrat Yasir, father of Hadrat Ammar, belonged to Yemen. He had many brothers. One of them was once lost and nobody ever heard of him thereafter. Yasir, along with his two brothers, went to search of him. During this search he reached Mecca. The two brothers returned home from Mecca but Yasir did not go back and made Mecca his home town. He developed friendly relations with Abu Hudaifa, a dignitary of Mecca. He gave him in marriage one of his very talented and intelligent maid servants, Samiyyah. This lady gave birth to Hadrat Ammar (Allah be pleased with him).

Hadrat Ammar was one of those fortunate and dauntless companions of the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) who preceded others in embracing Islam Hadrat Ammar embraced Islam when the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) had taken refuge in the house of Hadrat Arqam bin Abi Arqam along with his thirty or thirty two followers owing to the unbearable tortures and persecution of the infidels of Mecca. It was under these circumstances that his father Yasir, his Mother Samiyyah, his brother Abdullah and the rest of his family accepted Islam.

Hadrat Ammar and his family had no family links with the people of Mecca. Neither had they any wealth or high position to win for them any support from the people of Mecca. Only Abu Hudaifa patronized them but he died before the dawn of Islam.

Finding them helpless, and having no voice or support in the city, the infields of Mecca subjected them to miserable torture as a reprisal against their embracing Islam. They were forced to lie down on the extremely hot sand right at noon. They made to walk over burning cinders. They kept them immersed in the water for hour’s together but could not succeed in wining over any one of those lovers of Islam.

Hadrat Samiyyah, mother of Hadrat Ammar. Although a woman, was a staunch and enthusiastic worker of the Islamic movement. Abu Jahl could not tolerate anybody’s enthusiasm for Islam. One day, in an fit a rage, he struck her below the navel with his spear with such a force that the poor lady died on the spot. His father, Yasir and his brother Abdullah were also torture to death by the infields.

The Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) often shed tears on the helplessness and the miserable condition of this family. Whenever he passed by them and found them holding firm to their faith under severe torture and harsh treatment, he would say:

“O family of ‘Ammar! I congratulate you. The eternal Gardens are waiting for you.”

Once the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) saw that the infields of Mecca had made Hadrat Ammar lie down on the burning cinders and he was quite helpless. Seeing this, the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) prayed for him:

“O fire! Cool down for Ammar as thou didst for Hadrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him).”

When Ammar spoke of his helplessness and misery to the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him), he advised’ him to remain calm and prayed for him:

“O Allah! Forgive Yasir’s family.”

They endue untold hardships for a long time. At last Allah helped them out of their misfortune. The Muslims were ordered to migrate. Hadrat Ammar first went to Abyssinia and they migrated to Medina. Seeing his firm belief, faithfulness and truthfulness, the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) prayed for him to be safe from the Devil and acclaimed him as a test of good and evil. Whenever he saw Ammar, the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) said, “Faith and conviction run as blood into the veins of Ammar.” Many time he would say, “Alas Ammar! You will be killed by a group of rebels.”

On the basis of these sayings of the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him), people used to settle their mutual feuds in the light of the advice of Hadrat Ammar. During the Caliphate Hadrat Ali (Allah be pleased with him), when the Muslims began to quarrel among themselves and were divided in two groups, those who were neutral followed Ammar and supported Hadrat Ali (Allah be pleased with him). In this quarrel there were many fierce and lamentable skirmishes amongst the Muslims. In one of these skirmishes, two persons killed Hadrat Ammar and carried his head to their officer. In order to get reward each of them claimed to have killed Hadrat Ammar. Hadrat Abdullah bin ‘Amar bin al’As was also present there. When he saw them boasting and claiming to be the killer, he said, “Don’t try to take the responsibility of murdering Ammar because I have heard from the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) that the rebel group will kill Ammar. Abdullah’s father, Hadrat Amar bin al’As was also there. He remarked, “By Allah both of them are quarreling to go to Hell!”

Throughout his life, Hadrat Ammar always sought the pleasure of Allah. He fought with great valor and courage in all the battles against the infields. After the Holy Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) he also participated in all important battles fought during the reigns of the first four Caliph. There is famous event of the battle of Yemama, which apart from being interesting carries a great lesson for the Muslims.

In the battle of Yemama, Hadrat Ammar was making fierce onslaughts on the enemy. All of sudden one of his ears was chopped off and dropped on the ground but he remained busy in Jihad quite indifferent to the loss of his ear. In the mean time he felt that the Muslims were showing signs of weakness and were retreating. He climbed over a lofty rock and yelled out in a loud voice:

“O Muslims! You are running away from Paradise. Look at me. I am Ammar bin Yasir. Come with me. Follow me.”

On hearing this call, the morale of the Muslim army was strengthened and making a strong onslaught they won the battle. Afterward, when he was the Governor of Koofa, during the Caliphate of Hadrat Umar Farooq (Allah be pleased with him), a dignitary of Koofa dies him to agree to one of his proposals, but Hadrat Ammar refused. The man got infuriated and talked to him in a rude manner. “O man with broken ear! Hadrat Ammar though a Governor, controlled his anger and said, “Alas! You have abused my best and dearest ear.””

Apart from being true and faithful to Islam, Hadrat Ammar was also one of the most intelligent companions (Allah be pleased with them). He held many important posts under the Islamic Government. When he was appointed as Governor of an important place like Koofa he performed his duties with great ability. But he was not usually happy with such appointments. He liked simplicity, showing hospitality to the guests and selflessness. Once Hadrat Ali (Allah be pleased with him) took him along to inspect a canal. This inspection took quite a long time. Hadrat Ammar was ti and began to doze off. He lay down under a tree on the bare ground and fell asleep.

Hadrat Ammar loved to offer prayers. He said his prayers with great devotion and concentration. Often he spent the whole night in offering prayers, reciting the Holy Qur’an and sac verses. Hadrat Abdullah bin Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) recited a verse with reference to Hadrat Ammar:

“Is the person who stands in his prayers and keels down on the ground through the night fearful of the hereafter and hopeful of Allah’s kindness,”

Hadrat Ammar attained the age of 91 years, but he never looked old. Till the end he tried to surpass others in the cause of Islam. He often prayed to Allah:

“O Allah1` If I knew I would please Thee by jumping down from the mountain, burning myself in the fire or by drowning in the water, I would obtain Thy pleasure at all costs. I go into the Holy war only to secure Thy pleasure. I hope Thou will give me success! “

Allah, no doubt, gave him success. He was martyr in the cause of Islam and Allah was pleased with him and he who pleases Allah is successful.

Source : "Devoted companions" by Mail Khairabadi

Abdullah bin Hathafah's courage

A story which shows the steadfastness of the Sahabah

In 19th hijrah ‘Umar bin Khattab رضى لله عنه sent an army of Mujahedeen to war. 'Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه was also a soldier in the army. The roman emperor was receiving regular news bulletins regarding the advance of this army. He knew that the Muslims were resolute and truthful people who would sacrifice their lives for Allah. He had told his armies that if they captured any Muslim alive they should bring the captive to his court. It was the will of Allah that 'Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه was taken prisoner. They took him to the court of Caesar and told him:

"We have brought a prisoner who is a Companion of the Prophet(Peace be upon him) and who was one of the first to accept Islam."

When ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه was brought before the Emperor of Rome, he gave him a penetrating look and said: “I have a plan.”

‘Abdullah رضى لله عنه asked him: “What is your plan?”

He replied: “ I invite you to convert to Christianity. If you do so, I will free you and treat you with all due respect.”

‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه answered boldly and resolutely: “This is absolutely impossible. I think it is a thousand times better to die than to accept your invitation.”

The Emperor said: “I think you are a brave man. If you accept my invitation, I am even ready to share the rule over my kingdom with you.”

The shackled prisoner smiled and answered: “By Allah! You need have no hopes that I will turn against Islam for a moment, even if you give me your kingdom plus the whole peninsula of Arabia!”

The Emperor was enraged and shouted that he would kill him. ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه answered calmly: “You can do whatever you please."

The Roman Emperor ordered that he be put to death. He instructed that his feet should be fettered and he should be chained. Arrows were to be shot at him so as to pierce his palms. After this was done, Caesar again invited him-for a third time-to accept Christianity. Again ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه refused to accept Christianity. Finally, Caesar ordered that a huge cauldron be placed on a fire and ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه be brought down from the stake. When the oil started to boil, he ordered that two of the Muslim prisoners be brought. When they were presented before him, he ordered that one of them should be thrown into the boiling oil. The moment he was thrown in his flesh began to separate from his bones.

Again he turned his attention towards ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه and asked him: “Even now you have a chance to accept Christianity.”

But he refused him more forcefully than before. Caesar had no other choice now but to order that he too be thrown into the boiling cauldron. When he was brought near the oil, his eyes filled with tears and brimmed over. When Caesar’s men saw this, they told him that the prisoner was crying. Caesar thought that it must be due to sheer panic. Caesar said: “Bring him to me.”

When he was brought to Caesar, he again invited him to Christianity. But, ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه refused again!

Surprised, Caesar asked, “Then why did you cry?”

‘Abdullah رضى لله عنه replied: “When I saw the scene I felt sorry that I had only one life. I wished that I had a thousand lives to sacrifice in your boiling cauldron for Allah (swt).”

Caesar was stunned momentarily into silence when he heard this. Finally he said:“All right I will release you if you kiss my forehead.”

‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه asked him: “Will you release the other Muslim prisoners as well?”

He says in his report of the incident that he was thinking to himself, it would not be too big a price to pay for the release of so many captured Muslims. Then approaching Caesar he kissed him on his forehead. Keeping to his promise, Caesar ordered that the prisoners be given into the custody of ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه. As soon as he got his freedom, ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه went to ‘Umar bin Khattab رضى لله عنه and narrated to him all that had happened.

‘Umar bin Khattab رضى لله عنه was very happy and said: “Every Muslim owes a duty to ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه and it is compulsory that each of us should kiss his forehead. I will kiss him first.”

Then he took the lead and kissed ‘Abdullah bin Hathafah رضى لله عنه on his forehead.

Source: Commanders of the Muslim army by Mahmood Ahmad Ghadanfar

Conversation between Ribi bin Amir and the Persian army commander

Before the battle of Qadissiyyah the commander of the Persian army, Rustam sent words to the Muslim Commander sa’d bin abu Waggas to depute one of his trusted men for negotiations.

Sa’d sent rib’i bin Amir. Rustam adorned his court with unwanted splendor and pomp to prepare for the audience with the Muslim ambassador. The entire court was carpeted with cloth of gold, the pillows were of rich silk, while gem bedecked throne was placed in the center.

Rib’i came right up to the richly carpeted floor and dismounting from his horse, attached the reins to a pillow. He then moved on supported by a spear piercing in to the carpet and cutting it and making holes in it with its point and sat beside Rustam. The courtiers made an attempt to pull him down from the throne and disarm him. Thereupon Rib’i thundered. “I have come on invitation and not of my own. Our religion strictly forbids anybody sitting like God and the rest standing before him with their hands folded. Now Rustam intervened and asked them not to do anything against the will of envoy.

However, on second thought rib’i dismounted from the throne, slit a portion of the carpet with his dagger and sat on the earth and said addressing Rustam, “We are not at all need of your carpet. The earth spread by Allah the Almighty is enough for us. Rustam then asked Rib’i through the interpreter, “What is your object in waging war against us.” Rib’i replied, “We intend to bring the slaves of Allah the Almighty to the expanse of the next world from the narrowness of this world and promote justice and Islam in place of atrocities and false religion. Any one who adopts justice and Islam will find us non –interfering in regard to his wealth, property and country. But we shall fight with whoever stands in our way until we go either to paradise or attain victory. If you seek to pay jizyah we shall accept it and will cease to go against you and you will find us standing by you if and when you need us for the safety of your life and property. "

Having heard this Rustam asked,”are you the chief of the Muslims. Rib’i replied “No, I am an ordinary soldier. But each one of us even the most ordinary can speak on behalf of the most powerful person and every person have full power in every matter".

The utterance of Rib’i left Rustam and courtiers dumb founded. Rustam then said,” the scabbard of your sword is quite rotten.” Ribi drew his sword out of the sheath and said “it has been tempered very recently”. Rustam again said, “The blade of your spear is very small. How can it be any use in battles? “ Rib’i replied “ this blade pierces deep in to the chest of the enemy and goes across it. Have you not seen that a spark is enough to burn down an entire city? “Well I shall ponder over your utterance and hold consultation with my men of sound judgment”. Rib’i got up and rode to Sa’d bin abu Waggas.

Source: History of Islam (part 1) by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi

The story of Ummu Ibrahim

(This story was mentioned by scholars like Abu Jaafar al Luban. He narrates) :

It is mentioned that one of the righteous women in Basra was Umm Ibrahim al Hashimeeyah. The enemy attacked one of the Muslim towns so people were encouraged to join jihad. AbdulWahid bin Zayd al Basri delivered a speech encouraging jihad and among the audience was Umm Ibrahim. Among the things AbdulWahid talked about was al Hoor (the women of Paradise). Umm Ibrahim stood up and said to AbdulWahid: “You know my son Ibrahim and you know that the nobility of al Basra wish to have him marry one of their daughters and I have not agreed to one of them yet. But I like this girl you described and I would be happy to marry her to my son. Can you please describe her again?"

AbdulWahid then narrated a poem in the description of the Hoor. Umm Ibrahim said: I want my son to marry this girl and I would pay you 10,000 dinars as her dowry and you take him with you in this army. He might die as a Shaheed and intercede for me on the Day of Judgment. AbdulWahid said: “If you do so, that is great success for you and your son.” She then called her son from the audience. He stood up and said: “Yes my mother!” She said: “Are you pleased to marry this girl with the condition of giving your soul to Allah?” He said: “Yes! I am very pleased!” She said: “O Allah you are my witness that I have married my son to this girl from Paradise with the condition he spends his soul in your sake” Then she went and brought back with her 10,000 dinars and gave it to AbdulWahid and said: “This is her dowry. Take it and use it to provide for the mujahideen” She then purchased for her son a good horse and she armed him. When the army started its march Ibrahim came out with the reciters of Quran surrounding him and reciting:

“Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise.”

When Umm Ibrahim was greeting her son she told him: “Be careful and don’t allow any shortcomings from yourself to be seen by Allah” She them embraced him and kissed him and said: “May Allah never bring us together except on the Day of Judgment!”

AbdulWahid said: “When we reached the enemy’s territory and people were called to fight. Ibrahim was in the front and he killed many of the enemy but then they overwhelmed him and killed him. On our way back I told my soldiers not to tell Umm Ibrahim that her son was killed until I tell her. When we entered al Basra she met me and said: “Did Allah accept my gift so I can celebrate or was it rejected so I should cry?” I said: “Allah did accept your gift and your son died as a Shaheed” She then prostrated to thank Allah and said: “Thank you Allah for accepting my gift”

The following day she came to me in the mosque and said: “Rejoice!” I said: “What good news do you have?” She said: “I saw my son Ibrahim last night in a dream. He was in a beautiful garden dressed in green clothes, sitting on a throne made of pearl and he had a crown on his head. He told me: “Rejoice my mother! I got married to my bride!”

Source: MASHARI AL-ASHWAQ ILA MASARI AL-USHAAQ WA MUTHEER AL-GHARAAM ILA DAAR ASSALAAM

The supplication of 'Abdullah bin Jahash

Sa'd bin Abu Waqas (Radiyallahu anhu) relates a memorable incident from the life of 'Abdullah bin Jahash (Radiyallahu anhu).

"When the battle of Uhud was about to take place, 'Abdullah bin Jahash took me aside and asked me if I would not like to offer supplications to Allah. I answered that of course I would like to do so and prayed thus:

"O Allah Lord of the worlds! When I enter the battlefield let me come face to face with an enemy who is great and furious warrior. Let me engage with him a hand to hand fight and give me control over him until I finally overpower him completely. Then I should kill him and take away all his belongings."

Abdullah bin Jahash said " Ameen" after I completed my prayer.

Then Abdullah bin Jahash offered supplications to Allah:

"O Allah! Please give me the ability to fight against an enemy who is a furious, brave and experienced warrior. I should fight only to gain your pleasure and blessings. Then he should succeed in overpowering me and cut off my nose and ears. When I come into Your presence on the day of Judgement You should ask me: 'Abdullah why were your ears and nose cut off? Then I should answer you thus, 'For your sake O Lord'

The supplication of 'Abdullah bin Jahash was much better than mine, and Allah accepted it. In the evening I saw  that he had been killed and the enemy had strung his ears and nose on a string. He achieved the honorable status of a martyr like his maternal uncle, Hamzah.""

Source: Commanders of the Muslim Army

Some beautiful advice given to Imam Ahmad by righteous people

By: Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

When the Muslim is faced with trials and his Lord tests him in order to purify him, one of the means which Allah gives him to help him stand firm is a righteous man who will advise and help him. Through this man’s words Allah helps the believer to stand firm and directs his steps. These words remind him of Allah, the Meeting with Him, His Paradise and His Hell. There follow some examples from the life of Imaam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), who entered the test and emerged as pure gold.

He was taken to al Ma’moon in chains, and (al-Ma’moon) had already issued him such a stern warning before he reached him that a servant said to Imaam Ahmad, “It hurts me, O Abu ‘Abd-Allaah, that al-Ma’moon has unsheathed a sword which he has never unsheathed before, and he swears by his relationship to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that if you do not accept what he says about the Qur’aan being created, he will certainly kill you with that sword.” (Al- Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah, 1/332)

At this point, the intelligent scholars took the opportunity to say to their imaam words that would help him to remain steadfast. In al-Siyar (11/238), al-Dhahabi reports from Abu Ja’far al-Anbaari: “When Ahmad was taken to al-Ma’moon, I was told about it, so I crossed the Euphrates and found him sitting in an inn, where I greeted him. He said, ‘O Abu Ja’far, why did you go to the trouble (of coming here)?’ I said, ‘Listen to me, today you are the leader and the people are following you. By Allah, if you accept that the Qur’aan is created, a lot of people will go along with that, but if you do not, then neither will they. Even if this man (al-Ma’moon) does not kill you, you will still die, because death is inevitable, so fear Allah, and do not go along with (al- Ma’moon).’ Ahmad began to weep and said, ‘Ma sha Allah.’ Then he said, ‘O Abu Ja’far, say it again,’ so I said it again, and he kept saying, ‘Ma sha Allah.’…”

With regard to his being taken to al-Ma’moon, Imaam Ahmad said: “We reached al- Rahbah at midnight, and a man came to us and said, ‘Which of you is Ahmad ibn Hanbal?’ He was told, ‘This man.’ He said to the camel-driver, ‘Slow down.’ … Then he said, ‘Listen to me, why should you worry if you get killed here and go to Paradise?’ Then he said, ‘May Allah be with you,’ and left. I asked about him and I was told, ‘He is an Arab from the tribe of Rabee’ah who deals with wool in the desert. He is called Jaabir ibn ‘Aamir, and they say good things about him.’” (Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’, 11/241).

In al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah, it says that a Bedouin said to Imaam Ahmad: “Listen to me, you are a representative of the people, so do not be bad news for them. You are the leader of the people today, so beware of doing what they are asking you to do, lest you bear their sins on the Day of Resurrection. If you love Allah, then bear this with patience, for the only thing standing between you and Paradise is your being killed.” Imaam Ahmad said: “His words strengthened my resolve not to do what they were asking me to do.” (Al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah, 1/332).

It was reported that Imaam Ahmad said: “I never heard any stronger words at that time than what a Bedouin said to me at Rahbat Tawq, a village between al-Raqqah and Baghdaad on the banks of the Euphrates. He said, ‘O Ahmad, if they kill you for the truth, you will be a shaheed (martyr), and if you live, you will be praised.’ And so my heart grew strong.” (Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’, 11/241).

Imaam Ahmad said of the young man Muhammad ibn Nooh, who accompanied him at that time of trial: “Even though he was so young, he had such great knowledge, and I never saw anyone who adhered more firmly to the command of Allah than Muhammad ibn Nooh, and I hope that his end was good. He said to me one day, ‘O Abu ‘Abd-Allaah, you are not like me. You are a man whom people follow, and they are straining their necks to see what you will do, so fear Allah and adhere to His commands.’ Then he died, and I prayed the janaazah (funeral) prayer for him and buried him.” (Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’, 11/242)

Even his fellow-prisoners, whom Imaam Ahmad used to lead in prayer in chains, had a role to play in helping him to stand firm. One day when he was in prison, Imaam Ahmad said, “I don’t care about being in prison – it is no different from my home – or about being killed by the sword, but I am afraid of the trial of being whipped.” One of the other prisoners heard him and said, “Don’t worry, O Abu ‘Abd-Allah, it is only two lashes of the whip, then you don’t feel where the rest fall.” It was as if this reassured him and calmed him down. (Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’, 11/240)

So try to seek advice from righteous people, and try to understand it if it is given to you.

Source: Wasaa’il al-Thabaat- (English translation: Means of Steadfastness: Standing Firm in Islam)

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The story of a great muslim woman, Umm Sulaym

Um Sulaym used to travel with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), leaving Madeenah when he left, and returning when he returned. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “When she gives birth, bring the child to me.” He was on a journey, and Um Sulaym was with him. When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came back from travelling, he would never enter Madeenah at night (so as not to disturb the people, and so that wives would have time to get ready to greet their husbands). They reached the outskirts of Madeenah, and her labour pains started. Abu Talhah stayed with her, and the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went on. Abu Talhah said, “O Allaah, you know that I like to set out with your Messenger when he sets out, and come back with him when he comes back. I have been detained as You see.” Um Sulaym said, “O Abu Talhah, I do not feel the pains as much (this was one of her “miracles”; her labour pains ceased because she had asked Allaah to enable her to catch up with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)).

So they set off, and after they had reached Madeenah, her labour pains started again, and she gave birth to a boy. She told her son Anas, “O Anas, I will not give him anything to eat until you take him in the morning to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him),” and she sent some dates with him. (Because she wanted the first thing to enter the child’s mouth to be food from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him); this was a sign of her great faith, because the woman’s natural instinct is to hasten to feed the baby as soon as he is born). The child cried all night long, and I [Anas, the narrator of this story] stayed up all night taking care of him.

In the morning, I took him to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who was wearing his burdah (a kind of cloak) and marking the camels and sheep that had been given to him (the animals had been given in charity and he was marking them so that they would not get lost or mixed with other flocks or herds). When he saw him, he said to Anas, “Has the daughter of Milhaan [i.e., Um Sulaym] given birth?” He said, “Yes.” He said, “I will be with you in a minute.” He put down the tool in his hand (with which he had been marking the animals) and took the child, then he said, “Do you have something for him?” They said, “Yes, dates.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) took some of the dates and chewed them, mixing them with his saliva (and the saliva of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was blessed by Allaah). Then he opened the child’s mouth and gave him some of the dates, wiping them inside his mouth (this is called Tahneek and is one of the customs among Muslims when a baby is born). The infant began to smack his lips, sucking some of the sweetness of the dates and the saliva of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Thus the first thing that entered that child’s stomach was mixed with the saliva of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He said, “See how much the Ansaar (the Muslims who were living in Madeenah when the Prophet migrated there) love dates!”

I [Anas] said, “O Messenger of Allaah, name him.” He wiped his face and named him ‘Abd-Allaah. There was no young man among the Ansaar who was better than him, and when he grew up he had a lot of sons, and was martyred in Persia (he died as a martyr when the Muslims conquered Persia; all of this happened as a result of the Prophet’s blessed du’aa’).

(The story was reported by Imaam al-Bukhaari, Muslim, Ahmad and al-Tayaalisi; this version was reported by al-Tayaalisi and others. Al-‘Allaamah al-Albaani collected all its isnaads in his book Ahkaam al-Janaa’iz, p. 20).

Source: Islam q n a / Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid