The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 348
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 348 Allāh! Shall we be able to live after your demise?” 1 The Companions also held the martyrs of Uḥud in high esteem, and always kept the memory of Uḥud alive in their hearts as a sacred event. As such, on one occasion after the demise of the Holy Prophet sa , Ḥaḍrat ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf was presented with some food to break his fast, which was perhaps somewhat elaborately prepared. At this, he was reminded of the time of Uḥud, when the Muslims did not even possess enough cloth to shroud their martyrs, and they would cut grass to cover their bodies. ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf ra was so greatly disturbed by this memory that he began to weep restlessly and left without eating, although he was fasting. 2 After having discharged all relevant engagements, the Holy Prophet sa set back to Madīnah, as evening drew near. The faithful had come out to great distances. A lady from the Anṣār was rushing towards Uḥud in a state of great anxiety, when she happened to meet the Companions who were returning from Uḥud. The Holy Prophet sa was also among them. The Companions informed her that her father, brother and husband had all been martyred at Uḥud. This faithful lady who was restless to hear news of the safety of the Holy Prophet sa anxiously said, “Tell me of the condition of the Holy Prophet sa. ” They responded, “The Messenger of Allāh is safe by the Grace of God, and is coming along. ” When she caught sight of the Holy Prophet sa she uncontrollably said, ُ كُل ُّ مُصِیْبَة ٍ بَعْدَك َ جَلَل , meaning, “If the Holy Prophet sa is alive then all other misfortunes amount to nothing. ” 3 When the Holy Prophet sa arrived to Madīnah and passed by the homes of the Ansar, sounds of weeping and wailing could be heard from every home, and according to the ancient tradition of Arabia, the women were lamenting. When the Holy Prophet sa witnessed this sight, due to the anguish of the Muslims, the eyes of the Holy Prophet sa began to glisten with tears. Then, in order to console them the Holy Prophet sa said, ٗ لٰكِن ْ حَمْزَة ُ ل َا بَوَاكِی َ لَه , i. e. , “Our paternal uncle and foster brother Ḥamzah ra has also been martyred, but no woman has mourned for him in this manner. ” The chieftains from among the Anṣār thought that the Holy Prophet sa was perhaps expressing his regret that whilst being in a foreign land there was no one to mourn for Ḥamzah ra. Thus, they immediately went to their women and said, “Enough, now stop mourning the death of your men and go to the home of the Holy Prophet sa and lament upon the death of Ḥamzah ra. ” Goodness Gracious! 1 Al-Muwaṭṭā, By Imām Mālik bin Anas, Kitābul-Jihād, Bābush-Shuhadā’i Fī Sabīlillāh, Ḥadīth No. 1004 2 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu Ghazwati Uḥud, Ḥadīth No. 4045 3 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 9, p. 79, Al-Faṣlul-Awwal Fī Wujūbi Maḥabbatihī Wa Ittibā‘i Sunnatihī, Dārul-Kutubil- ‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)