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

THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH '&gw (Vol-I) 421
commanded you." Several individuals from the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar
discussed the matter with Hadhrat Abu Bakr ?&Gw. They said to him, "Hold
back Usaama and his army because we fear that the other Arabs may attack us
when they hear about the demise of ~asulullaah@@." Being more resolute (and
knowledgeable) about the sitdation, Hadhrat Abu Bakr SZ({~, "HOW can I
hold back an army that ~ asulullaah~ had dispatched? I would then be doing
something very bold! I swear by the Being Who controls my life that I would
prefer having all the Arabs attack me rather than restraining an army that
Rasulullaah~ had dispatched! 0 Usaama! Proceed with your army whence
Rasulullaah@& had commanded you and fight in the area of Palestine where
Rasulullaah@& had commanded. Fight the people of Mu'ta for Allaah shall be
sufficient for those whom you are leaving behind (in Madinah). However, if you
would, could you please permit Umar ~~ to remain behind. I need his
counsel and his assistance for he has excellent opinions and is a great
well-wisher to the cause of Islaam. Hadhrat Usaama ?&= permitted Hadhrat
Umar Bw to remain behind.
Most of the Arab tribes had by then renounced IslaamThey included most of the
tribes in the east as well as the Ghitfaan tribe, the Banu Asad tribe and most of
the Ash'ja tribe. The Banu Tay tribe thou'gh held on to their Deen. For this reason,
most of the Sahabah were of the opinion that the army of Hadhrat
Usaama WCW should be held back and rather used against the Ghitfaan and
olher tribes who had renounced Islaam. Refusing to withhold the army of
Hadhrat Usaama $W.W$, Hadhrat Abu Bakr %lWj said, 'You know well that
from the period of Rasulullaah @%& it had been our practice to consult with
each other concerning matters about which no practice of Rasulullaah @?%
was found and about which no verse of the Qur'aan was revealed. You have
expressed your opinions and I shall now express mine. If it is correct, you
should practise accordingly for Allaah shall never make you all unite on anything
that is misguided. I swear by the Being Who controls my life that I 40 not see
anything better than fighting those who refuse to give me even a of rope
that Rasulullaah %$% used to take from them (as zakaah)." The ~uslims
approved of the opinion of Hadhrat Abu Bakr ?&Gw and agreed that it was
better than theirs.
Hadhrat Abu Bakr W3W then dispatched Hadhrat Usaama bin Zaid WG5 in the
direction that ~asulullaah@%$ had commanded. Hadhrat Usaama ?&Gw reaped a
large booty in the battle and Allaah returned him and his army safely. When
Hadhrat Usaama @Gw had left, Hadhrat Abu Bakr BCW took an army of
Muhaajireen and Ansaar (to fight the Murtaddeen) but (when they heard of his
army approaching) the Bedouins fled with their families. When the Muslims
received intelligence about the Bedouins fleeing with families, they said to
Hadhrat Abu Bakr !33GW, "Return to Madinah to our families and women and
appoint an Ameer (in your place) from amongst your companions, handing over
your command to him." They kept insisting until Hadhrat Abu Bakr @w eventually