Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 1 of 3

THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH @%@% (vol-I) 265
Pledging to Die
Hadhrat Salama bin Akwa B,GW> Pledges to Die
(In Defence of Islaam)
Hadhrat Salama bin Akwa & narrates that after he pledged allegiance to
Rasulullaah m, he took shade beneath a tree. When there were fewer people,
~asulullaah said to him, "0 Ibn Akwa! Are you not going to pledge
allegiance?" When he submitted that he had already pledged allegiance,
Rasulullaah told him to do so again and he pledged allegiance for the
second time. The narrator says that when he asked Hadhrat Salama ~ E w what
it was that they pledged, he replied, "Death." ('1
Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Zaid %Mi!% reports that during the Battle of Harra (in 63
A.H.), someone came to him and said that people were pledging to die at the
hands of Ibn Handhala. Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Zaid %lM said, "None may
pledge this after the demise of Rasulullaah w." (2)
Pledging to Listen and to Obey
The Statement of Hadhrat Ubaadah bin Saamit
B,G@@+i in this Regard
Hadhrat Ubaydullaah bin Raafi @,w narrates that when a few containers of
wine arrived from somewhere, Hadhrat Ubaadah bin Saamit B,Gw tore them
open. He then said, "We pledged to Rasulullaah @?% that we would always listen
and obey (instructions) whether our hearts are willing or not. We also pledged
that we would spend during times of hardship and ease and that we would
command good and forbid evil. In addition to this, we pledged that we would
speak for (the pleasure of) Allaah and will not fear the criticism of a critic when it
concerns (the Deenlcommands of) Allaah. We also pledged that we would assist
Rasulullaah and that when he came to Yathrib, we would protect him as we
protect ourselves, our wives and our children. We were promised Jannah in
exchange. This was the pledge of allegiance that we made with Rasulullaah
(3)
m.11
Hadhrat Ubaadah 4 ?5 is also reported to have said, 'We pledged a wartime
pledge at the hands of Rasulullaah @% that we will listen and obey instructions
regaMess of whether we were in di'culty or ease, whether we were willing or
unwilling and even if others were given preference over us. We also pledged that
we would not wrestle power Porn those in authori& that we would speak the
truth wherever we are and that we would not fear the criticism of a critic when it
concerns (the Deerv'commands ofl AJlaah."(4)
(I) Bukhari (Vol.1 Pg.415). Muslim, Tirmidhi and Nasa'ee have also reported the Hadith as quoted by
Allaama Ayni (Vo1.7 Pg.16). Bayhaqi (Vo1.8 Pg.146) and lbn Sa'd (Vo1.4 Pg.39) have also reported it.
(2) Bukhari (Vol. 1 Pg.4 15) as well as Muslim as mentioned by Allaama Ayni (Vo1.7 Pg. 15) and Bayhaqi
(Vo1.8 Pg.146).
(3) Bayhaqi.
(4) Ibn Is'haaq as reported in A/ Bidaaya wan Nihaaya (Vo1.3 Pg. 163). Bukhari and Muslim have also