Page 15 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXIV No. 28 Stories Of The Sahaba Mus’ab ibn Umair (RA) Mus’ab ibn Umair (RA) was born and grew up in the lap of affluence and luxury. His rich parents lavished a great deal of care and attention on him. He wore the most expensive clothes and the most stylish shoes of his time. During Mus’ab times, shoes from Yemen were then considered to be very elegant and it was his privilege to have the very best of these. Historians and narrators describe Mus’ab ibn ‘Umair (son of ‘Umair) as the most charming of the Makkans, the most handsome and youthful, the flower of the Quraish! As a youth he was admired by the Quraish not only for his good looks and style but for his intelligence. His elegant bearing and keen mind endeared him to the Makkan nobility among whom he moved with ease. Although still young, he had the privilege of attending Quraish meetings and gatherings. He was thus in a position to know the issues which concerned the Makkans and what their attitudes and strategies were. Among Makkans there was a sudden outburst of excitement and concern when Muhammad, known as al-Ameen (the Trustworthy), emerged saying that God had sent him as a bearer of good tidings and as a warner. He warned the Quraish of terrible chastisement if they did not turn to the worship and obedience of God and he spoke of Divine rewards for the righteous. The whole of Makkah buzzed with talk of these claims. The vulnerable Quraish leaders thought of ways of silencing Muhammad. When ridicule and persuasion did not work, they embarked on a campaign of harassment and persecution. Mus’ab learned that Muhammad (S) and those who believed in his message were gathering in a house near the hill of as-Safa to evade Quraish harassment. This was the house of al-Arqam. To satisfy his curiosity, Mus’ab proceeded to the house undeterred by the knowledge of Quraish hostility. There he met the Prophet teaching his small band of companions, reciting the verses of the Qur’an to them and performing Salaah with them. The Prophet (S) welcomed him, and a deep feeling of tranquility came over him. Mus’ab was totally overwhelmed by what he had seen and heard. The words of the Qur’an had made a deep and immediate impression on him. In this first meeting with the Prophet, the young and decisive Mus’ab declared his acceptance of Islam. It was a historic moment. The keen mind of Mus’ab, his tenacious will and determination, his eloquence and his beautiful character were now in the service of Islam. On accepting Islam Mus’ab had one major concern... his mother. Her name was Khunnas bint Malik. She was a woman of extraordinary power. She had a dominant personality and could easily arouse fear and terror. When Mus’ab became a Muslim, the only power on earth he might have feared was his mother. All the powerful nobles of Makkah and their attachment to pagan customs and traditions were of little consequence to him. Having his mother as an opponent, however, could not be taken lightly. Mus’ab thought quickly. He decided that he should conceal his acceptance of Islam until such time as a solution should come from God. He continued to frequent the House of al-Arqam and sit in the company of the Prophet. He felt serene in his new faith and by keeping all indications of his acceptance of Islam away from her, he managed to stave off his mother’s wrath, but not for long. It was difficult during those days to keep anything secret in Makkah for long. The eyes and ears of the Quraish were on every road. Behind every footstep imprinted in the soft and burning sand was a Quraish informer. Before long, Mus’ab was seen as he quietly entered the House of al-Arqam, by someone called ‘Uthmaan ibn Talhah. ‘Uthmaan saw Mus’ab praying in the same manner as Muhammad (S) prayed. The conclusion was obvious. As winds in a storm, the news of Mus’ab’s acceptance of Islam spread among the Quraish and eventually reached his mother. Mus’ab stood before his mother, his clan and the Quraish nobility, who had all gathered to find out what he had done and what he had to say for himself. With a certain humility and calm confidence, Mus’ab acknowledged that he had become a Muslim and he explained his reasons for so doing. He then recited some verses of the Quran - verses which had cleansed the hearts of the believers and brought them back to the natural religion of God. Though only few in number, their hearts were now filled with wisdom, honor, justice and courage. As Mus’ab’s mother listened to her son on whom she had lavished so much care and affection, she became increasingly incensed. She felt like silencing him with one terrible blow. But the hand which shot out like an arrow staggered and faltered before the light which radiated from Mus’ab’s serene face. Perhaps, it was a mother’s love which restrained her from actually beating him, but still she felt she had to do something. The solution she decided upon was far worse for Mus’ab than a few blows could ever have been. She had Mus’ab taken to a far corner of the house. There he was firmly bound and tethered. He had become a prisoner in his own home. For a long time, Mus’ab remained tied and confined under the watchful eyes of guards whom his mother had placed over him to prevent him from any further contact with Muhammad (S) and his faith. Despite his ordeal, Mus’ab did not waver. He must have had news of how oth-
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