KNOWING OUR SALAF SERIES (1)

By

Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

***'UMAIR IBN WAHB***

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had a Companion whose name was 'Umair ibn Wahb رضي الله عنه. 'Umair had a child whose name was "Wahb". 'Umair was not killed at the battle of Badr where the Muslims were victorious. Many of the leaders of Quraysh were killed in that battle. In that battle, 'Umair's son, Wahb was captured by the Muslims. 'Umair wasn't happy about the development, he wanted to get back his child by all means. He had a discussion with one of the leaders of the Quraysh, Safwaan ibn Umayyah about his willingness to go to Madeenah for the purpose of securing the release of his son. He however told Safwaan that he had no means of going to Madeenah, he would have to spend all he had to make the journey and he wouldn't want to leave his family to suffer.

Safwaan ibn Umayyah, a wealthy man covenanted to assist 'Umair to take care of his family while he made his journey to Madeenah. He didn't leave Makkah until he was sure Safwaan was to keep to his promise on taking care of his family. They both agreed not to disclose the details of their discussion to anyone. 'Umair's intention was to go to Madeenah to get his son, Wahb by all possible means, and to probably kill the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.

On getting to Madeenah, 'Umair was approaching where the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was, displaying his sharp and poisoned sword. 'Umar ibn Al Khattab رضي الله عنه saw him and instructed some Companions رضي الله عنهم to go and guard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم against 'Umair's possible attack. When 'Umair got to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, he calmed him down with some useful conversations and he briefed him all the plans he had with Safwaan ibn 'Umayyah in makkah despite the fact that both of them did not disclose same to anyone. On hearing this, 'Umair was surprised that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم could narrate an event he wasn't part of in that manner. He affirmed the prophethood of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and pronounced his shahaadatain on the spot. 

After accepting Islaam, his son was released to him. He sought for the permission of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to go back to Makkah to invite his people and other disbelievers to Islaam. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم granted the permission and through him, a lot of disbelievers became Muslims. 'Umair memorized what he was able to memorize in the book of Allaah and he was versed in the understanding of Islaam (Sunnah). 'Umar ibn Al Khattab رضي الله عنه said regarding 'Umair:

لقد غدا  عمير بن وهب أحب إلي من بعض أبنائي

"Indeed 'Umair ibn Wahb became someone that is more beloved to me than even some of my children" [Suwar min Hayaatis Sahaabah, by Dr. Abdulrahman Ra'fat Al-Baashaa, pg. 33] 

One of the lessons we need to learn from 'Umair's story is despite the fact that he was a kafir, he had so much love for his family. First, he committed to the cause of achieving the freedom of his captured son . Two, he didn't want to leave his family distress despite his interest in traveling to Madeenah to secure the release of his son. This means that he had been a noble person even before he became a Muslim. Then, Islaam later made him a better person. 

There are many men today who do not even care about what their wives and children eat. He doesn't even know how his children pay their school fees. He doesn't take care of his family. Some men depend on what their wives bring home from their petty business, they don't care whether the food is from halal or haram. "Just make sure you cook", that is what he says. Instead of going out to look for means of sustenance,  he prefers to sit and gist on frivolous things at assemblies. Even if the wife says anything to demand her right from him, he either insults or beat her. This is not a good life. Our salaf were not like this. Even when they were kuffaar, they had good relationship with their family and other people in the society. In a hadith reported by 'Aaishah رضي الله عنها , the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

"خيركم خيركم لأهله، وأنا خيركم لأهلي"

"The best of you are those who best to their household, and I am the best of you to my household" [At-tirmidhee]

+++The story is summarized from the book 'صور من حيات الصحابة', by Dr. Abdulrahman Ra'fat Al-Baashaa+++