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

THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH @,wk (Vol-I) 471
a place called Nakhl during the expedition of Dhaatur Riqaa. It so happened that
one of the Muslims killed (or captured) the wife of one of the Mushrikeen. The
woman's husband had been away and only returned after Rasulullaah had
left. When he was informed about what had happened, he took an oath that he
would never rest until he spilt the blood of the companions of Rasulullaah @%%.
He therefore set off to follow the tracks of Rasulullaah -@@.
When Rasulullaah @@ set up camp, he asked, "Who shall stand guard over us
tonight?" A volunteer from amongst the Muhaajireen and another from amongst
the Ansaar stood up and said, "We shall do so, 0 Rasulullaah w!" Rasulullaah
@@ gave them instructions to stand guard at the mouth of the valley. The two
volunteers were Hadhrat Ammaar bin Yaasir and Hadhrat Abbaad bin
Bishr iiB3W. When the two men reached the mouth of the valley, the Ansaari
(Hadhrat Abbaad %W&@j) said to the Muhaajir (Hadhrat Arnmaar %flSW%), "For
which part of the night would you like me to relieve you (as we take turns to
keep watch)? Will it be the first part of the night or the second?" the Muhaajir
replied, "Relieve me for the first part of the night."
The Muhaajir then lay down to sleep as the Ansaari stood up to perform salaah.
Subsequently, the man (who swore to spill the blood of the Muslims) arrived
there and when he saw the silhouette (external shape) of a person, he took the
Ansaari to be a spy and immediately fired an arrow which struck the Ansaari. The
Ansaari removed the arrow from his body, threw it aside and continued standing
(in salaah). The Mushrik fired another arrow which also struck the Ansaari. The
Ansaari also removed this arrow from his body, threw it aside and continued(
standing (in salaah). When the Mushrik fired a third arrow which also struck the
Ansaari, the Ansaari removed the arrow from his body, threw it aside and then
completed his Ruku and Sajdah (and his salaah). He then awoke his companion
saying, "Sit up because I have been incapacitated." The Muhaajireen jumped up
and when the Mushrikeen saw the two of them, he realised that they had been
alerted and he fled.
When the Muhaajir saw 'the blood on the Ansaari, he exclaimed, "Subhaanallaah!
Why did you not wake me up when he shot at you the first time?" the Ansaari
replied, "I had started reciting a Surah and did not like to cut it short before
completing it. However, when the firing persisted, I went into Ruku (completed
my salaah) and informed you. 1 swear by Allaah that had it not been for (fear of)
jeopardising the mouth of the pass that Rasulullaah &%% had instructed me to
guard, I would have given my life rather than cut the Surah short."
Another narration state that while Hadhrat Ammaar @,w went to sleep,
Hadhrat Abbaad 5iWWi stood in salaah. The narration also adds that Hadhrat
Abbaad Saw said, "I was reciting Surah Kahaf in my salaah and did not like to
cut it short."
(1) Ibn Is'haaq and Abu Dawood (Vol. 1 Pg.29), as quoted in A1 Bidaaya wan Nihaaya (Vol.4 Pg.85). Ibn
Hibbaan in his Saheeh, Haakim in his Mustadrak (certified authentic by Daar Qutni), Bayhaqi in
his Sunan and Bukhari (Ta'leeqan) have also reported the narration, as quoted in Nasbur Rays
(V0l.l Pg.43).