Ammar Ibn Yasir (ra) - A Companion of the Prophet ('s)
Chapter 7: Such is the World
On that very day the Holy Prophet (S) came out of Darul Islam. It was
an extremely hot day. The desert of Makkah was as hot as a furnace.
The Holy Prophet (S) was walking unconcernedly with measured steps and
with his special peace of mind, dignity and cheerfulness till he reached
a particular point and saw that a hug fire had been lit up there and its
flames were spreading on all sides, and near it some reservoirs of water
had also been prepared. He also saw a group of archers holding arrows in
their hands and another group holding torches whose flames were
spreading everywhere.
These two groups were sitting in a circle in an extensive enclosure and
a comprehensive zone had come into existence by the sides of water and
fire.
The Prophet (S) approached the gathering directly with perfect peace of
mind. Then he crossed the circle of those gathered there and stepped
into the vast area. His eyes then fell on two old persons and a young
man who was lying on the earth with naked bodies in the space between
fire and water and whose feet had been tied up tightly with ropes. Even
worse than that, the executioners had placed heavy stones on their
chests and were subjecting them to severe torture. One was pricking
their bodies with the point of the spear and the other was branding them
with fire.
Abu Jahl was watching these people and was giving continuous orders for
tormenting those helpless persons. He was telling them that one of the
following three things could ensure their deliverance: (i) Abusing
Muhammad;
ii) Abandoning Muhammad's religion;
(iii) Reverting to Lat and Uzza.
The persons who had been arrested were not prepared to submit, but
became all the more firm in their belief. They abused Lat and Uzza with
perfect steadfastness and mentioned the names of Allah and His Prophet
(S) respectfully. As a result of their firmness Abu Jahl became severer
and tortured them even more.
When these oppressed persons observed that the Holy Prophet (S) had
come to that area as a mark of sympathy with them their love for him
increased and their faith became more solid. ‘Ammar's parents began
praising the Prophet. As regards ‘Ammar himself, he, with a soul
abounding with faith and perfect peace of mind, considered the torture
to be something insignificant. He reassured the Prophet (S) and said:
"Of course, the world is such."
The Prophet (S) knelt by the head of every one of these afflicted
persons and said with great kindness and love: "O members of the family
of Yasir! Be patient. You have been promised Paradise.” He also turned
his face to the sky and said: "O Lord! Forgive the family of Yasir. I
have done whatever I could.”
The Holy Prophet (S) sat by the side of these helpless persons and
sympathized with them as long as it was possible and expedient. Then he
stood up to attend to other matters relating to Islam, and said good bye
to them with complete patience and firmness. The pain and grief which he
felt on seeing the condition of these helpless persons had no lesser
effect on him than that of the melted iron with which their bodies were
being branded.
As soon as the Holy Prophet (S) left them, Abu Jahl's madness reached
its peak and his anger was aggravated. He then ordered them to abuse
Muhammad, to dissociate them from his religion, and to turn to Lat and
Uzza. Quite contrary to the expectations of Abu Jahl the perseverance
and steadfastness of the poor oppressed persons continued to increase
every moment.
It is not known what factor and cause excited Abu Jahl after departure
of the Prophet (S) and increased his anger. It is possible that the
kindness of the Prophet (S) and his praying for these zealous and brave
persons, which made them more steadfast, became the cause of Abu Jahl’s
savagery. Or it might be due to the resistance offered by these heroes
to the torture and their indifference to the torments to which they were
being subjected, or it was due to their showing indifference to Abu Jahl
and insulting him and abusing the gods of the polytheists.
In any case the real cause of this attitude of Abu Jahl is not known to
us. However, what is an admitted fact is that Abu Jahl became quite mad
after the departure of the Prophet (S) and gave orders that the three
persons might be flogged. He also gave orders that the stones might be
removed from their chests and then their heads and faces were hit.
Thereafter he ordered that the points of the spears might be thrust into
their bodies and they might also be branded.
When the executioners could not achieve their object and became
helpless before the fortitude of the oppressed ones, Abu Jahl ordered
that the use of iron tools and branding implements and whips might be
stopped and the poor oppressed ones might be drowned in water.
When the members of Yasir's family were immersed in water and they
raised their heads out of it, they uttered praise of Allah and blessings
to the Holy Prophet (S) and also spoke ironically of Lat and Uzza and
abused Abu Jahl. At that time the severity of Abu Jahl knew no bound,
and he ceased to be in his normal disposition. At that time he stretched
his hands towards war implements and used them against Sumayya and
Yasir. He persisted in this abominable act to such an extent that it
ended in the death of the old man.
After killing Yasir, Abu Jahl extended his sinful hand to do away with
his wife. Thus these good, devoted and faithful couple were recognized
to be the first martyrs of Islam and the pioneers of the caravan of
Paradise. Yasir and his faithful and pious wife departed for eternal
Paradise and chose their abode in the neighbourhood of the 'Superior
Companion '.
However, ‘Ammar survived. He grappled with hard ships and sufferings
and left behind himself, in the brilliant pages of history, his name in
the form of an immortal hero and became an example of supreme
self-sacrifice and specimen of true faith. After the death of his
parents he always remained the victim of Abu Jahl’s oppression, and that
sinful man took pleasure in teasing him, and tortured him as much as he
could, and kept him in prison.
In short Abu Jahl continued the so called fight of the cat and the
mouse as far as it was possible for him. Eventually however, the affairs
of these two opponents ended in that the perseverance and steadfastness
of ‘Ammar in his faith and his bearing the tortures and whipping of Abu
Jahl, tormented the soul of Abu Jahl more than it tormented the body of
‘Ammar.
This state of affairs aggravated the enmity and grudge of Abu Jahl and
he continued his oppression in a more savage manner. Notwithstanding all
this, however, ‘Ammar remained steadfast and firm in his faith.
Whenever Abu Jahl tortured ‘Ammar the Holy Prophet (S) went to see him
as a mark of sympathy. He placed his head in his own lap, became the
companion of his loneliness and prayed for the alleviation of his
suffering and pain, saying: "O fire! Be cool and harmless for ‘Ammar in
the same manner in which you became cool and harmless for Ibrahim.”
‘Ammar felt the coolness of this prayer in his heart and it increased
his firmness and steadfastness.
Once the burning of iron, the flames of fire and the pressure of water
became so painful to ‘Ammar that he did not know what the Prophet (S)
was saying. Hence, after having suffered torture at the hands of Abu
Jahl he went to the Holy Prophet (S) with a grieved face, a broken heart
and weeping eyes. The Prophet (S) inquired: "What is the matter with
you?"
‘Ammar said: "O Prophet of Allah! I have brought a bad news and it is
that the enemies did not spare me till I was compelled to praise their
gods and to say unbecoming words about you".
The Holy Prophet (S) asked: "What is the condition of your heart and
what are you feeling?"
‘Ammar replied: "My heart is abounding with faith and satisfaction.”
The Holy Prophet (S) said: "If they compel you to do so again repeat
the same method.” Thereafter the following verse was revealed about
‘Ammar:
(There shall be grievous punishment for him) who disbelieves in Allah
after believing in Him; other then him who is forced (to recant
outwardly) but whose heart is firm in his faith. But those who open
their bosom to disbelief shall incur the wrath of Allah and suffer a
terrible punishment**. (Surah al-Nahl, 16: 106)**
‘Ammar could not get rid of Abu Jahl except by migrating to Ethiopia.
Hence, he joined the second caravan of the migrants who were proceeding
to that country and lived there peacefully till he came over to Madina
along with others after the Holy Prophet's migration to that city.
From that day onwards the signs of the steadfastness, firmness of
faith, and good conduct of ‘Ammar reflected in such a way that the
Prophet (S) said: "You will be killed by a rebellious group"; and also
added: "‘Ammar is an embodiment of faith.” On another occasion he said:
"Whoever is inimical to ‘Ammar is like one who is inimical to Allah and
whoever bears grudge against him is like one who entertains ill will and
grudge against Allah.” He also called ‘Ammar pure and pious.
A’isha says that from amongst all the good qualities and virtues
possessed by the companions of the Prophet (S) there is not even one
good quality which is not found in ‘Ammar and she heard the Prophet (S)
saying: "‘Ammar is one of those four persons whom Paradise is keen to
see. The first of them is ‘Ali and the remaining ones are ‘Ammar! Salman
Farsi and Bilal bin Raba".
Huzayfa Yamani was asked about the 'true Imam' in connection with the
disturbance related to ‘Uthman while he (Huzayfa) was at death's door;
he replied: "Find out the son of Sumayya, because he is the person who
will not forsake truth till he dies.” It is also said that Husayfa
added: "I have heard these words from the Holy Prophet.”
‘Ammar offered prayers facing two Qiblahs and migrated twice, and was
one of those who took the Allegiance of Rizwan and participated in the
Battles of Badr and Uhud as well as in the Battle of the Ditch. He saw
all the actions of the Holy Prophet (S) and in most of the battles one
of the standards used to be in his hand. He witnessed the war of 'Radda'
i.e. apostasy during the time of Abu Bakr. He was the Governor of Kufa
during the time of ‘Umar and one of the shrewdest opponents of ‘Uthman.
Later in the Battles of Jamal and Siffin he was one of the standard
bearers of Imam ‘Ali. ‘Ammar is one of those persons who have been
recognized to be the sources of knowledge and hadith, and Ibn Abbas, Abu
Musa Ash'ari, Abdullah bin Ja'far, Abul As Khuza'i, Abu Tufayl and many
'Tabein' (followers of the companions of the Prophet) have quoted
traditions from him.