Abudasmah Wahshi bin Harab
Abudasmah Wahshi bin Harab was a Negro slave of Quraish chieftain Habeeb bin Mutaim. Habeeb lost his uncle Tuaimah in the battle of Badar. He was killed by Hazrath Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib. Since then Habeeb vowed to avenge the killing of his uncle.
The opportunity knocked at his door when the Quraish of Makkah and the Muslims of Madinah had another encounter at Uhud on the outskirts of Madinah. Quraish had taken along with its contingent wives of those of its generals who were slain during the Battle of Badar. These women were to sing songs hailing and enthusing the combatants. Wahshi was also part of the contingent. One the way, Habeeb promised to set him free if he was successful in killing Hamzah, the uncle of the Holy Prophet.
On the battleground, he identified Hamzah with the plume of ostrich feathers which he had tucked into his turban. Gallantry of Hamzah was legendary. No one could withstand his onslaught. He would pass through files of soldiers with remarkable swiftness and dance of his sword which would fell greatest of fighters. Abu Sufiyan's wife Hindah was constantly hailing Wahshi to slay Hamzah. Wahshi marked Hamzah for his next move. But he saw Hamzah being challenged by Sabba bin Abdul Uzza. Sabba was hardly a match. Hamzah floored him in a jiffy and he lay there in a pool of blood. Wahshi narrates that he hid himself behind a tree and lay in wait for Hamzah to pass by. As soon as Hamzah came close, Wahshi wielded his axe at him which tore through Hamzah's abdomen and split his legs. Hamzah was martyred. Accounts related to Wahshi says that he did not have interest in the battle beyond killing Hamzah and winning his own freedom. This having been achieved, he pulled off his axe from the corpse of Hamzah and went out and sat in his tent.
Uhud proved to be a tough battle for Muslims. Several of the known fighters were martyred. Somehow a total defeat was averted. Abu Sufyan's wife Hindah, who bore deep vengeance, mutilated corpses, severed ears, nose and other organs and put on a garland around her neck. She gifted her gold necklace and ear rings to Wahshi and telling him, "Abudasmah, It is your reward, keep it safe."
Wahshi returned to Makkah from Uhud. But growing tide of Islam was clearly striking fear into his heart. When the Muslim armies conquered Makkah, Wahshi escaped to Taif. But even Taif turned over to Islam and Wahshi found himself into a soup. At this juncture, someone told him to present himself before the Holy Prophet and recite the Shahadah, he would be pardoned of all his past crimes.
He followed the way he was advised. He uttered the shahadah before the Prophet. Prophet turned away his eyes from him and asked if he was the same Wahshi who slew Hamzah.
Wahshi nodded in acknowledgement. He asked him to narrate the way he slew Hamzah.
Wahshi reeled off the events. Prophet's face growing red with rage. He turned away his face from him and said, "Wahshi, I pity on you" and asked him never to be face to face with him.
Wahshi followed his word. He would never sit in the direct angle of the Prophet's glances till the Prophet passed away. He always carried the itch on this account and no amount of repentance would erase its effect. He knew very well that embracing Islam erased all the past sins. One such opportunity that knocked on him to write off the sense of guilt presented when Caliph Abu Bakar waged a war against Musilamah who had declared Prophethood for himself and was making mischief. Wahshi joined the contingent. He and another companion together killed Musilamah in a sudden attack with their axe and sword. Thereafter Wahshi had some consolation. If he had killed a legendary warrior like Hamzah during his pre-Islam enmity, now he had the consolation that he eliminated a mischief-monger.
(Translated and abridged by Maqbool Ahmed Siraj from Suwarum min Hayathus Sahaba by Egyptian author Dr. Abdur Rahman Rafat Pasha)
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Missed Calls
Among the marvels of modern technology is also the ability to track the missed calls which were made by our friends and foes and the likes. We do not get a good night’s sleep, unless we have returned the calls of those who matter. We don't let any call go unanswered as long as we know that it matters. Don't we?
But how about the calls of "hay-yaa al-as-salaah and hay-yaa al-al falah" made from the neighbourhood house of our master, the Almighty Allah.? Those calls are made five times a day and many a times they all go unanswered.
We do not either respond!!! Nor do we respect these missed calls. Do they matter?
Everybody can tell, if these really matter. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but surely in the hereafter. Let us look at ourselves. Can we afford to let these calls of the muezzin be missed, day after day, after day.
The call from our cherisher, sustainer and the ultimate master. Just think about it. Next time one hears this call, just ask yourself how good a night’s sleep can I have by missing those calls from the house of Allah
Think about it....the answer may come from the inner heart.
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