CHAPTER 4: NEW MUSLIMS – PART 2
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to teach them to perform a ritual bath after becoming Muslim:
Qays ibn ‘Aasim (a Companion) reported that after he became Muslim, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered him to bathe with water mixed with lote leaves. (Reported by Abu Dawood (355) and At-Tirmidhi (550).)
Abu Hurayrah narrated that Thumamah ibn Uthaal (a tribal chieftain) became Muslim, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Take him to the garden of so and so and order him to bathe.”(Reported by Ahmad (7977).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, taught them the rulings of Islam and ordered them to stay away from their former bad customs:
Abu Maalik Al-Ashja’i (a Follower; belonging to the generation succeeding the Companions) reported that his father said: “If a man became Muslim, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would teach him the prayer, then he would order him to supplicate with these four words: O Allah forgive me, have mercy upon me, guide me, protect me from harm, and provide for me.”(Reported by Muslim (2697).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, placed entering Islam before anything else:
Al-Baraa’ (a Companion) narrated: “A man came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, (in a battle) wearing an iron armour, and he said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should I fight, or become Muslim?’ The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Become Muslim and then fight.’ So the man became Muslim, and then fought until he was killed. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘A little work, but a great reward.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (2808).)
Ibn Hajar (a scholar) said: “This narration shows that one could receive a great reward over a small action out of the bounty of Allah.”(Fat-h Al-Baari (25/6).) It was said that the man in this narration was named ‘Amr ibn Thaabit ibn Waqash.
Abu Hurayrah used to ask, “Tell me about the man who entered Paradise but never prayed once.” If the people did not know, they would ask who the man was, and he would say, “’Usayrim of the tribe of Abdul Ash-hal: ‘Amr ibn Thaabit ibn Waqash.” They asked: ‘What is the story of ‘Usayrim?’ Abu Hurayrah said: “He refused to become Muslim like his people until the battle of Uhud. When the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went out to Uhud, he changed his mind and decided to become Muslim. So he took his sword and went to the battle and he fought until he was severely wounded. When the tribe of ‘Abdul Ash-hal went to look for those who were killed from their tribe after the battle, they were surprised to find him, and said: “By Allah, this is Usayrim (the nickname of ‘Amr), but what brought him here? We left him rejecting this affair (Islam).”
They asked him, “O ‘Amr, what brought you here? Was it your concern for your people or a desire to enter Islam?” He said: “The desire to enter Islam. I believe in Allah and His Messenger. I became Muslim and then took my sword, and I fought with the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, until this happened to me.” Then he died a short while after in their arms. They mentioned this to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, so he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “He is from the people of Paradise.” (Reported by Ahmad (23123).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would send someone with the new Muslims to teach them:
Anas reported that the tribes of Ri’l, Thakwaan, ‘Usayyah, and Banu Lahyaan came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. They claimed they had entered Islam, and they asked him to send some support against their people, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent seventy of the Ansaar with them. Anas said: “We used to call them the reciters, they would gather wood in the day (to make their living) and at night they would pray the optional night prayer.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (3064) and Muslim (677).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, even endured their poor etiquette:
Jaabir (a Companion) narrated: “A man came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in Ji’ranah returning from Hunayn. Bilaal (a Companion) was carrying some silver in his garment which the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was distributing to the people. The man said: ‘O Muhammad, be just!’ The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Woe to you! Who is just if I am not, you would have been lost and destroyed if I were not just.’ ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, leave me to kill this hypocrite!’ The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: ‘I seek the refuge of Allah that the people say that I kill my Companions.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (3138) and Muslim (1063) and the wording is for Muslim.)
In another narration the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “I was not ordered to open the hearts of people or to rip open their stomachs.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (4351) and Muslim (1064).)
An-Nawawi (a scholar) said:
“This narration shows the forbearance of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. It also shows that one may have patience with some lesser evil, out of fear that correcting this mistake will lead to an evil that is greater than it.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to try to bring people to Islam, and he would endure the bad manners of the Bedouins and others. This was so that faith would (strongly) enter the hearts of the new Muslims and the disbelievers would want to enter into Islam.” (The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (139/16).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would advise some new Muslims to hide their conversion if he feared harm for them:
Abu Tharr (a Companion) narrated:
“I was a person from the tribe of Ghifaar and the news reached us that a man had emerged in Makkah claiming to be a Prophet. I said to my brother, ‘Go to this man and speak to him, then come to me with his news.’ So he went and met him, then came back. I said: ‘What do you have?’ He said: ‘I saw him commanding good and forbidding evil.’ I said: ‘You have not satisfied me enough with this news.’ So I took a pouch and stick and went out to Makkah. I did not know him, but I disliked asking anyone about him. I drank from the water of Zamzam and sat in the mosque. ‘Ali ibn Abu Taalib (the Prophet’s cousin and the fourth Caliph) passed by me and said: ‘It is as if this man (referring to me) is a stranger.’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Come to my house.’ So I went with him, and he did not ask me about anything nor did I tell him.
When I woke up I went to the mosque to ask about him, but no one told me anything about him. ‘Ali passed by me again and said: ‘Shouldn’t the man know his home by now? (i.e. my house is like yours)’ I said: ‘No.’ He said: ‘Come with me.’ So I went with him, and he did not ask me about anything nor did I tell him.
On the third day, ‘Ali did the same thing but then asked me, ‘Will you not tell me your story and why you came to this town?’ I said: ‘If you keep it a secret, I will inform you.’ He said: ‘I will.’ I said: ‘I have come to know that a man has emerged here claiming
to be a prophet. I sent my brother to speak to him, but he came back with news that did not satisfy me. So I wanted to meet him myself.’
‘Ali said: ‘You have been guided, for he is the truth and he is the Messenger of Allah. In the morning, follow me until I enter where he is. If I see someone that might harm you, I will stand by the wall as if I am fixing my sandal and you go ahead.’ So he went and I followed him, until we reached the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. I said: ‘Offer Islam to me.’ So he offered it to me, and I became Muslim in that place. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to me: ‘O Abu Tharr, keep this a secret and return to your town. When you hear we are victorious, then come back.’ I said: ‘By the One who has sent you with the truth, I will announce it at the top of my voice amongst them!’
I went to the mosque while the Quraysh were in it, and I said: ‘O Quraysh, I bear witness that no one is worthy of being worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.’ They said: ‘Attack this apostate!’ They stood up and nearly beat me to death. ‘Abbas (the Prophet’s uncle) saved me by saying: ‘Woe to you! Will you kill a man from Ghifaar and your trade and path are through them?’ At which they left me alone.
When I woke up the next day, I returned and said the same thing as the previous day. They beat me like the previous day and ‘Abbas saved me and said the same thing he had said.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (3522) and Muslim (2473).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave glad tidings of forgiveness for what they did before Islam:
‘Amr ibn Al-’Aas (a Companion) narrated:
“When we came back from the Battle of trench, I gathered some men from the Quraysh who knew my status and listened to me. I said to them, ‘You know, by Allah, that I see the affair of Muhammad overpowering all others. I have a suggestion, so what do you think?’ They asked: ‘What is your suggestion?’ I said: ‘I think we should go to An-Najashi (the Christian ruler of Abyssinia; where the early Muslims migrated to avoid persecution) and stay near him. If Muhammad is victorious over our people, we will be safe with An-Najashi. For it is better for us to be under his rule than under the rule of Muhammad. But if our people are victorious, then we will only see good from them.’ They said: ‘This is a good suggestion.’
I said to them, ‘Collect a gift for him,’ and the most beloved gift to him from our land was tanned leather. So we gathered many skins for him and then travelled until we reached him. By Allah, we were with him when suddenly ‘Amr ibn Umayyah Adh-Dhamri (a Companion) came, and he had been sent by the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to speak regarding Ja’far and his companions. He entered upon him (An-Najashi) and then left. I said to my companions, ‘This is ‘Amr ibn Umayyah Adh-Dhamri, if only I enter upon An-Najashi and ask him to surrender him to me. Then I will strike his neck, and the Quraysh will see that I have exacted revenge by killing the messenger of Muhammad.’
I entered upon him and prostrated to him as I used to do. He said: ‘Welcome, my friend. Have you brought me a gift from your land?’ I said: ‘Yes, O king, we have brought you many leather skins.’ I brought them to him, and he liked and appreciated them. I said: ‘O king, I saw a man leaving (your palace), and he is the messenger of our enemy. Give him to me so I may kill him, for he has killed many of our nobles.’ He became angry, and he put his hand out and struck
his nose was so hard I thought he had broken it. If the earth split in front of me, I would have entered it out of fear of him. I said: ‘O king, if I had known you would become angry at this, I would never have asked.’ He said: ‘Do you dare ask me to give you the messenger of a man to kill him, a man who receives the same spirit that came to Moses!’ I said: ‘Is he truly as you say, O king?’ He said: ‘Woe to you, ‘Amr! Obey me and follow him. By Allah, he is upon the truth, and
he will be victorious over his enemies just as Moses was victorious over Pharaoh and his troops.’
I said: ‘Then give me the oath to Islam.’ He said: ‘Yes’, and then he extended his hand and I gave him the oath of Islam. I went back to my companions when I had changed my opinion from what it was before, and I hid my Islam from them. Then I went to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to become Muslim (in front of him). I met Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed (this was before the conquest of Makkah) and he was returning from Makkah. I said: ‘Where are you going, Abu Sulaymaan?’ He said: ‘The path has been made clear and that man is a prophet. Go to him and become Muslim, for until when (will you wait)?’ I said: ‘By Allah, I did not come except to
become Muslim.’
We went to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, where Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed became Muslim and gave him the oath. Then I came close to him and the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, extended his hand out. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I give you the oath on the condition that all my previous sins are forgiven.’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘O ‘Amr,give the oath, for Islam wipes away what was before it.’ So I gave him the oath and then left.” (Reported by Ahmad (17323).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave them the glad tidings of reward for the good deeds they used to do before Islam:
‘Urwah ibn Az-Zubayr (a Companion) narrated that Hakim ibn Hizaam (another Companion) freed one hundred slaves before Islam and donated one hundred camels. When he became Muslim, he donated one hundred camels and freed one hundred slaves. He said: “I asked the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what do you think about some good deeds I had done before Islam, regarding them as deeds of righteousness?’” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “You have become Muslim with the good deeds you did previously.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (1436) and Muslim (121).)
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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