Abdullah  Bin Cahsh

 

Abdullah was one of the Prophet ‘s cousins, and his sister, Zeyneb bint Cahsh, was a wife of the Prophet.  Abdullah was one of the first Muslims. He was also the first commander of the Muslims.  So his friends called him Emirul-Müminin.

The Prophet gave permission for his companions to emigrate to Medina.  Abu Salama was the first to do so.  Abdullah was the second to leave Mecca.

Emigration was not a new experience for Abdullah.  He had emigrated to Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) before.  But this time he took a large group of relatives with him.  The young and the old, men, women and children — all of Abdullah’s relatives went with him to Medina.

Their houses in Mecca were left empty and silent.  After the Hijrat the Qureish leaders visited the houses to see which Muslims were staying.  Abu Jahil and Utba Ibn Rabia were among these leaders.  Utba looked at the houses of the Jahsh family.  Dusty winds were blowing through the houses.

Utba said, “The houses of the Jahsh family are empty and crying for their owners.”

“Who are they,” said Abu Jahil, “that their houses should cry for them?”  Then Abu Jahil moved into Abdullah’s house.  It was beautiful and well taken care of.  Abu Jahil used the house and furniture like it was his own.

Abdullah heard that Abu Jahil had taken over his house.  He told the Prophet about it.

“Abdullah,” said the Prophet, “would you like God to give you a house in Paradise in place of your house in Mecca?”

“Of course,” replied Abdullah.

“You will have one,” said the Prophet.

This good news made Abdullah feel happy again.

Abdullah had made two difficult emigrations.  He was about to enjoy the comfort of the Ansar’s protection.  But he came face to face with his biggest test yet.  The Prophet chose eight of his companions for the first Islamic military assignment.  Abdullah and Sad bin Abu Wakkas were among them.

The Prophet said, “I appoint as your commander the one who can best endure hunger and thirst.”  Then he gave the flag to Abdullah.  So Abdullah became the first Muslim commander.  The Prophet gave Abdullah short instructions on which route to take.  He also gave  him a letter. He told him to read the letter two days later.

After two days of travel Abdullah read the letter.  It said:

‘Walk until you come to Nahla between Taif and Mecca. Watch the Qureish and see what they are doing.  Then report to us.’

When Abdullah had finished the letter, he said, “I am at your command, Prophet of God.”  Then he said to the other men, “The Prophet wants me to go to Nahla and gather information on the Qureish.  He ordered me not to force any of you to come.  Whoever wants martyrdom can come.  The rest can turn back.  No one will be blamed.”

The others said, “Abdullah, we will go wherever the Prophet wants you to go.”

The group went to Nahla and began to scout the roads.  They looked for Qureish movements.  They saw a Qureish caravan in the distance.  There were four men in the caravan.  They were carrying goods for the Qureish — skins, raisins and other goods.

The companions discussed what to do.  Some wanted to kill the four men.  But others didn’t want to.  It was the last day of a sacred month.  Arabs didn’t fight during the four sacred months of Zilqada, Zilhijja, Muharram and Rajab.  “If we kill them today,” they said, “all Arabs will be angry with us.  If we leave them alone today, they will reach Mecca and safety.”

Finally they agreed to attack the caravan and take their goods.  They attacked and killed one of the men.  They took two captives, and the fourth man escaped.

Abdullah and his men took the two captives and the caravan to Medina.  They told the Prophet what had happened.  The Prophet was very upset.  He only wanted the companions to gather information about the Qureish.

He didn’t accept the caravan as booty.  He made the captives wait until he reached a final decision.  Abdullah and the other companions were very sorry for killing in the sacred month.  The other Muslims blamed them for not following Muhammad’s orders.  They got news that the Qureish were very angry, too.  They felt terrible for putting the Prophet in a bad light.

Then they heard the good news.  A revelation had come.  God was pleased with what they had done.

This revelation came to Muhammad:  “They ask you about fighting in the sacred month.  Say, ‘Fighting then is a grave offense.  But it is graver in God’s eyes to prevent access to the path of God, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque and drive out its members. Tumult and oppression are worse than killing.’” (2:217)

The other Muslims congratulated Abdullah and his men.  The Prophet was relieved.  He accepted the caravan as booty, and he ransomed the two captives.  The Battle of Badr followed.  Abdullah fought heroically.

During the Battle of Uhud, Abdullah saw Sad bin Abu Wakkas.  “Aren’t you praying?” asked Abdullah.

“I’m going to,” replied Sad.  They moved to one side and began to pray.

“My God,” prayed Sad, “When I meet the enemy, let me fight with a strong man.  Grant me victory and booty.”

Then Abdullah prayed, “My Lord, let me meet a strong man.  I will fight him for your sake.  Let him defeat me and cut off my nose and ear.  Tomorrow when we meet You will ask me,

‘Why have your nose and ear been cut off?’

‘For You and Your Prophet’s sake,’ I’ll say.

Then You’ll say, ‘You speak the truth...’”

Abdullah’s prayer was better than Sad’s.  It was accepted by God.  Abdullah became a martyr that day.  His nose and ear were cut off and hung by a string on a tree.

God blessed Abdullah bin Jahsh with martyrdom that day.  He also blessed his uncle Hamza bin Abdulmuttalib with martyrdom.  The Prophet cried as he buried them together in the same grave.