Amir b. Fuhayrah: Anonymous Companion of the Prophet
By
Shaykh Fuad Abdo
12 December
2020
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Celebrity
culture has engulfed almost every aspect of our lives. Speakers with the
largest following on social media and who can pack out mosques and prayer halls
with heartrending admonitions are naturally the most sought after.
There are, however, individuals who are anonymous in the sight of others. Their names are largely unknown, and their achievements have been screened from publicity, yet they are superstars of the Hereafter. They occupy a closeness to Allāh that makes them oblivious to the adoration of people. Their deeds are so hidden from others that they are presented to Allāh on the Day of Judgement pure from any taint of showing off and self-conceit. These people are raised to the highest levels of Paradise in the Hereafter, and in this world Allāh responds to their every invocation. They are the anonymous superstars of the Hereafter.
Amongst the
Companions of the Prophet (Sall Allāhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) are individuals whose
deeds make them legends, but they are rarely spoken about. Their sacrifices are
not appreciated when stories are recounted about the bravery and valour of the
Companions in general. Their names are barely known despite their pivotal role
to the success of the mission of the Prophet (Sall Allāhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam).
So let us
take a moment to appreciate just one of these names – Amir b. Fuhayrah (Rady
Allāhu Anhu).
Amir was
one of the early converts to Islam and one of the many slaves who were
persecuted and tortured by the pagans of Makkah. Like many of the dispossessed
believers, it was Abu Bakr (Rady Allāhu Anhu) who purchased Amir and set him
free. Amir played an instrumental role in the Hijrah of the Prophet (Sall
Allāhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) and Abu Bakr (Rady Allāhu Anhu), who could not have
made the journey from Makkah to Madinah without Amir’s logistical support.
For three
days, they remained hidden in the cave of Mount Thawr. Asma, the daughter of
Abu Bakr, would secretly bring food to the cave while her younger brother would
innocently wander through the streets of Makkah collecting intelligence and
informing the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam). It was Amir b. Fuhayrah
(rady Allāhu anhu) who would move through the mountain passes with a flock of
sheep to cover up the tracks of Asma and Abdullah, thereby preventing the
Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) from being discovered. Amir would pass
by the cave entrance to bring milk to the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa
sallam) and Abu Bakr (rady Allāhu anhu).
When the
pagans of Makkah had largely lost hope in finding the Prophet (sall Allāhu
‘alayhi wa sallam), it was an expert guide named Abdullah b. Urayqid who
brought two camels for the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and Abu Bakr
(rady Allāhu anhu) to begin their perilous journey through an unknown and dangerous
route. Once again, it would be Amir b. Fuhayrah (rady Allāhu anhu) who would
accompany them in this famous journey.
Amir b.
Fuhayrah (rady Allāhu anhu) fought at the battles of Badr and Uhud, making him
one of the elite group about whom the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam)
said, “Perhaps Allāh has looked at those who witnessed Badr and said, ‘Do
whatever you like, for I have forgiven you.’”
Amir’s
crowning glory was his martyrdom at the Bi’r Ma’ūna massacre. The Prophet (sall
Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was betrayed by the tribes of Udl and Qārra, two
subtribes of Banu Salīm. They had invited the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa
sallam) to send a large contingent of seventy of the most learned and devoted
Companions to teach the Bedouin tribes of the Najd region about Islam. This
group of Companions was known as al-Qurrā’ (the Reciters) due to their
knowledge and devotion to the Qur’ān.
During the
journey, the Reciters were betrayed in the most deplorable manner, surrounded
by an army of several hundred that massacred the unarmed men with spears,
swords, and arrows. It was here that Amir b. Fuhayrah (Rady Allāhu Anhu) had a
sword plunged through his chest that exited from his back. He looked down at
his hands that were now covered in his own blood, wiped the blood across his
face, and declared, “By the Lord of the Ka’bah, I am successful!’ This show of
dignity and joy at the moment of achieving martyrdom affected the killer so
profoundly that he later embraced Islam and became one of the great Companions
of the Prophet (Sall Allāhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam): Jābir b. Salma.
This is a
glimpse at the life of a Companion whose sacrifice and importance are largely
overlooked. The Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) himself said:
“Tūbā
(happiness, or a tree in Paradise) is for him who holds the reins of his horse
to strive in Allāh’s Cause, with his hair unkempt and feet covered with dust.
If he is appointed in the vanguard, he is perfectly satisfied with his post,
and if he is appointed in the rear guard, he accepts his post with
satisfaction. If he asks for permission, he is not permitted, and if he
intercedes, his intercession is not accepted.”[1]
In this
remarkable Hadīth, the Prophet (Sall Allāhu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) describes a
person exhausting himself in the Cause of Allāh – he finances himself fighting
with his own horse. He seeks no recognition or glory. Whether he is posted in
the vanguard or the rear guard, he is happy to be in the Path of Allāh
regardless. He is so obscure that when he asks permission to enter upon the
elite, it is not granted, and when he seeks to intercede on behalf of someone
else, his intercession is not accepted.
Whether you
are a celebrity or an anonymous believer, you should seek to be the person
described in this Hadīth – to be somebody who strives hard in the Cause of
Allāh with your own resources and never seeks or receives recognition. Have
good deeds that are totally private between you and Allāh – deeds that nobody
knows about except Allāh. Consider these the best of your deeds and the most
valuable in the Hereafter. Do not be deceived by praise and recognition of
people – adoration comes and goes easily. Most importantly, make your private
life better than your public life.
Notes:
[1] Sahīh
al-Bukhāri, hadīth no. 147
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The
views expressed on Islam21c and its connected channels do not necessarily
represent the views of the New Age Islam.
Shaykh
Fuad Abdo holds a Bachelors in Islamic Law and a Masters in Economics &
Islamic Banking. He is currently the lead Imam at Al-Ansar Islamic Education
centre.
Original
Headline: The Anonymous Superstars of
the Hereafter
Source: The Islam21
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/amir-b.-fuhayrah-anonymous-companion/d/123736
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