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constantly put them first, and even in a seizure of booty and spoils of war. In places of hardship and
struggle, his companions searched for him until they found him.
He was always a worshiper - worship completely absorbed him; brave - bravery and heroism
engrossed him; generous generosity engaged him.
He was a strong believer. He pledged his life to the cause of faith. All of this was known of him by
the Companions of the Messenger. The Mother of the Faithful `Aa'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her)
said: "There are three from among the Ansaar who are not surpassed in virtue by anyone: S'ad Ibn
Mu'aadh, Usaid lbn Hudair and `Abbaad Ibn Bishr."
The first Muslims knew `Abbaad as a man in whom was light from Allah. His radiant, clear vision
guided to areas of goodness and certainty without searching or difficulty.
His brothers believed in his light to the extent that they attributed to him the picture of perception
and discipline. They agreed that once `Abbaad was walking in the darkness and there emanated from him
a light that lit the way for him.
In the apostasy wars after the death of the Messenger (PBUH), `Abbaad carried his responsibility
with incomparable death-defying courage.
On the battlefield of Al-Yamaamah, where the Muslims faced the most cruel and skillful army
under the leadership of Musailamah, the Liar, `Abbaad perceived a danger threatening to Islam. His
willingness to sacrifice and his vigor constituted sufficient importance, such that it gave him his faith and
raised him to the level of his aspiration and ability to perceive danger, making him one willing to
sacrifice and give up everything for his faith, not desiring anything other than death and martyrdom.
A day before the beginning of the Battle of Al-Yamaamah he saw in his sleep a vision that did not
remain long enough to be clear:
above the land of the great destructive battle which the Muslims went through...
So let an honorable companion, Abu Sa'iid Al-Khudriy, tell us the story of the vision which
`Abbaad saw, his explanation of it, and his amazing attitude in fighting which ended in martyrdom.
Abu Sa'iid reported: `Abbaad Ibn Bishr said to me, "O Abu Sa'iid, I saw last night as if the sky had
opened up for me. Then it closed and covered over me. Indeed, I see it, if Allah wills, to mean
martyrdom." I said to him, Good. I swear by Allah, you did indeed see it." On the Day of Al-Yamaamah,
I looked at him and indeed saw him shouting to the Ansaar, "Use your swords forcefully and be
distinguished among the people!" So 400 men came quickly to him, all of them from among the Ansaar
people, until they stopped at the gate of the garden. They fought violently, and Abbaad Ibn Bishr was
martyred. I saw on his face much beating and I did not know him except by a mark that was on his body.
Thus was `Abbaad raised to the level of his duties as a believer from among the Ansaar. He gave the
oath of allegiance to his Messenger, dedicating his life to Allah and death in His cause. When he saw the
destructive battle turning in favor of the enemy, he remembered the words of the Messenger to his
people, the Ansaar: "You are my people. I can not be defeated through you. There has not come and
people like you before." This sound filled his heart and soul and penetrated his consciousness, until it
was as if the Messenger of Allah was now standing before him repeating these words of his.
`Abbaad felt that the whole responsibility of the battle was placed completely on the shoulders of
the Ansaar, on the shoulders of those about whom the Messenger of Allah had said, "There has not come
any people like you before." And on the shoulders of no one else besides them.