Summama Bin Usal

 

In 6 A.H. the Prophet sent eight letters to Arab and non-Arab rulers inviting them to Islam.  One of these was Sumama bin Usal. 

Sumama was one of the most powerful Arab rulers in pre-Islamic times.  He was a leader of the Hanifa Tribe and a ruler of Yamama. 

When Sumama received the Prophet’s letter, he became very angry.  He refused the invitation to Islam.  Instead, he decided to kill the Prophet. 

Sumama waited for an opportunity to kill Muhammad (pbuh).  But he was unable to do so.  Finally one of his uncle’s helped him change his mind.  He decided not to kill the Prophet, but he did kill some of the companions.  For this reason the Prophet said it was halal to kill Sumama. 

After some time, Sumama decided to go to Mecca.  He wanted to circumambulate the Ka’ba and sacrifice some animals to the idols.  So he left Yamama for Mecca.

Near Medina  a Muslim guard caught Sumama.  But he didn’t know who he was.  The Muslims took Sumama to Medina and tied him up in the masjid.  They waited for the Prophet to come and decide what to do with him. 

The Prophet saw Sumama.  He asked his companions, “Do you know who you have caught?”

“No,” they replied.

“This is Sumama bin Usal,” he said.  “Treat him well.”

The Prophet then returned home to his family.  “Gather what food you have and send it to Sumama Bin Usal,” he said.  Then he told them to milk his camel every morning and evening and to give the milk to Sumama.

The Prophet went to see Sumama.  He hoped Sumama would become a Muslim.  “What do you have to say for yourself, Sumama?” asked the Prophet.

“If you want to kill me,” replied Sumama, “you have the right.  I killed some of your men.  If you want to forgive me, I will be grateful.  If you want money, I will give you whatever amount you ask.”

The Prophet left him for two days.  But he still sent him food, drink, and camel’s milk.  Then the Prophet went to see him again.  “Now what do you have to say for yourself?” Muhammad (pbuh) asked.  Sumama repeated what he had said earlier. 

The Prophet then left and came back the next day.  “What do you have to say for yourself?” he asked one more time.  Again Sumama repeated the same thing.

The Prophet turned to his companions and said, “Set him free.”

Sumama left the masjid and rode his camel to the outskirts of Medina.  He watered his camel and washed himself well.  Then he turned back and went to the masjid.  There in front of the Muslims he declared his faith in Islam.

Then he turned to the Prophet and said, “Muhammad (pbuh), before your face was the worst one in the world to me.  But now yours is the dearest face of all . . .  I have killed some of your men.  What is my punishment?”

“There is no punishment for you now, Sumama,” said the Prophet.  “Becoming a Muslim cleans past actions and marks a new beginning.”

Sumama was very happy.  His face was full of surprise and joy.  “By God,” he promised, “I will place my whole self, my sword, and those with me at your service and at the service of Islam.”  Then he asked, “Rasul Allah, when your men captured me, I was on my way to the Ka’ba.  What should I do now?”

“Go ahead,” replied the Prophet.  “Perform your small pilgrimage.  But do it according to the laws of God and his Messenger.”  Then the Prophet taught him how to perform the small pilgrimage according to Islamic laws.

Sumama left for Mecca.  When he arrived there, he began to shout in a loud voice:

Labbayk Allahumma labbayk.

Labbayk, la shareeka laka labbayk.

Innal hamda wa nimata laka wa mulk.

La shareeka lak.

Here I am at Your command, O Lord.  Here I am.

Here I am. No partner have you.  Here I am.

Praise, bounty, and dominion belong to You.

No partner have you.

Sumama was the first Muslim to enter Mecca repeating ‘Labbayk’.

The Qureish heard the word ‘labbayk’. They felt both anger and fear. They started running with their swords to punish whoever was saying it.  The Qureish drew closer to Sumama.  He raised his voice louder. 

One Qureish youth was about to shoot Sumama with an arrow. But some others stopped him.  “Do you know who this is?” they asked.  “It is Sumama bin Usal, ruler of Yamama. If you harm him, his people will cut our supplies.  We will die of hunger.” They put their swords back in their sheaths.

They approached Sumama and asked, “What’s wrong with you, Sumama?  Have you left the religion of your fathers?”

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” replied Sumama.  “I have decided to follow the best religion.  I have accepted Muhammad’s (pbuh) religion.  After Mecca I am going back to Yamama.  I swear to you by the Lord of the Ka’ba that not one grain of wheat or any other help will come until you follow Muhammad.”

Sumama performed the small pilgrimage as the Prophet had told him.  The Qureish watched him.  Sumama returned home and ordered his people not to give supplies to the Qureish. The people followed his order and cut their help. 

The boycott soon began to have its effect.  Prices rose.  Hunger was widespread.  The Qureish began to fear death from hunger.  So they wrote the Prophet this letter:

We thought you would not cut ties of kinship.  But you have.  You have killed fathers with the sword and children with hunger.

Sumama Bin Usal has cut our supplies and harmed us.  If you see fit, tell Sumama to send us what we need.

The Prophet immediately sent a message to Sumama to end the boycott.  Sumama followed the Prophet’s order. 

Sumama spent the rest of his life in the service of Islam.  When the Prophet died, many Arabs began to leave Islam.  Musaylama claimed he was a prophet.  He called the Hanifa Tribe to believe in him.  Sumama stood up against him.

Sumama said to his people: “Members of the Hanifa Tribe, be careful with this dark matter.    There is no light or guidance in it.  By God, it will only bring trouble and suffering to whoever joins.  It is a big test for those who do not join.  Sons of Hanifa,  there can’t be two prophets at the same time.  Muhammad is God’s Messenger.  There will be no prophet after him.”

Then Sumama read these verses from the Qur’an:

Ha Mim.  The revelation of this Book is from God the Almighty, the All-Knowing.  He forgives sins and accepts repentance.  He is severe in punishment and has a long reach.  There is no god but Him.  To Him is the journey’s end.  (Mu’min / 1-3)

Then Sumama asked, “Can you compare these words of God with what Musaylama makes up?”

Then he gathered together all those who remained in Islam.  They made jihad against those who left Islam.  Abu Bakr sent forces to help.  Musaylama was killed at Yamama.