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All praise is due to Allah Who created us and blessed us with life and made us Muslims of the Ummah of Mohammad (peace be upon him).

And may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His beloved Messenger our leader Mohammad, and his family and companions and righteous followers.

Allah says:
                                                وَذَكِّرْهُمْ بِأَيَّامِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ

And remind them of the days of Allah. Truly, therein are Ayat (wonders and verses) for every patient, thankful person

We are still in the month of Safar  صفر and next month will be First Rabee’ ربيع الأول. People often ask about the meaning of the word Safar صفر. Arabs before Islam awaited the end of Dhu al-Qa'da, Dhu al-Hijja and Muharram (ذو القعدة – ذوالحجة – محرم  ) and the start of month of Safar ( صفر ) i.e. when fighting and war were allowed. As fighting began, homes would be attacked and people would empty their homes of their belongings and Makkah would become empty of its residents as well. This act of emptiness is called Safar in Arabic ( صفر).

Many important Islamic history events took place in Safar. Imam Hasan  الإمام الحسن  became a shaheed شهيد  in this month. Mary مريم إبنة عمران  died in this month. The Prophet John يحيى إبن زكريا  was killed in this month.

But today we talk about another significant event. That teaches us about our religion and early Muslims and the suffering they endured to protect Islam for us. For Islam did not reach us easily, but through great sacrifices of all Muslims before us.

A delegation came to Prophet Mohammad asking him: “O Messenger of Allah, There is Islam in us. Would you send a few of your companions with us, to teach us Islam and the Quran?”

Rasool-Allah sent with them some of his companions, including Khaled bin Al Bakeer, Aasim bin Thabit, Khobaib bin Idee, Zaid bin Al-Dathna and Abdullah bin Tariq (

خالد بن البكير الليثي/ عاصم بن ثابت بن أبي الأقلح

خبيب بن عدي/ زيد بن الدثنة/ عبد الله بن طارق

Their leader was Marthad Ibn Abi Marthad ( مرثد ابن أبي مرثد الغنوي).

This teaches us more about the organization of our Messenger who would appoint a leader even for a very small group. Even the Quran teaches us about organization,

Allah says:

وَجَاءَ رَبُّكَ وَالْمَلَكُ صَفًّا صَفًّا

And your Lord comes with the angels in ranks and rows.

We should learn from these examples and appoint leaders in our homes, families, and communities. Having a respected leader is very important for organization. And we will never be successful without organization.

It was said that, “Muslims would never succeed until they learn how to line up for boarding the bus”

Let us now return to our ten companions and this event that took place after the Battle of Badr. They departed Madina with the delegation until they reached a tribe named Huthael ( هذيل).

But let us listen to the narration of Abu Huraira ( أبو هريرة) as reported in the book of Al Bukhari (البخاري  ):

“The Messenger of Allah sent a Sariya of ten men under the leadership of 'Asim bin Thabit Al-Ansari ( عاصم بن ثابت), the grandfather of 'Asim bin Umar Al-Khattab. They proceeded till they reached Hadaa, a place between 'Usfan, and Mecca, and their news reached a branch of the tribe of Hudhail ( هُذيل) called Bani Lihyan ( بنو لحيان).

About one-hundred archers of the tribe of Banu Lihyan hurried to follow their tracks till they found the place where the delegation had eaten dates. They said: “These are the dates of Yathrib (Medina)". and followed their traces till they took them over.

When 'Asim and his companions saw their pursuers, they went up a high place and the infidels surrounded them.

The infidels said to them: "You have a covenant and a promise that if you come down to us, we will not kill anyone of you."

‘Asim bin thabit; the leader of the Sariya said, "By Allah! As for me, I will never come down on the security of an infidel. O Allah! Inform Your Prophet about us."

So they fought them and killed 'Asim and seven companions with arrows. (خبيب الأنصاري  ) Khubaib-al-Ansari, Ibn Dathina ( إبن الدثنة) and Abdullah bin Tariq (عبدالله بن طارق  ) remained and were given a promise for their safety if they came down. So, when the nonbelievers captured them, they tied them with the strings of their bows.

Then Abdullah bin Tariq (عبدالله بن طارق  )  said, "This is the first breach of the covenant. By Allah! I will not go with you. No doubt these, namely the martyred, have set a good example to us."

So, they dragged him and tried to force him to follow but as he freed himself and took his sword to fight then they stoned him to death.  They took Khubaib and Ibn Al-Athna and sold them as slaves in Mecca.

Khubaib was bought by the sons of Banu al Harith bin Amer bin Naufal ( بنو الحارث بن عامر بن نوفل), a man whom Khbaib had killed in Badr. He became their prisoner until they decided to kill him.

One of the daughters of Al-Harith spoke of Khbaib ( خبيب): "When he was to be killed, he borrowed a razor from me to shave his hair. Then one of my sons crawled to him while I was unaware Khubaib took him and sat him on his thigh while the razor was in his hand. I became very scared for my child and Khubaib noticed my fear and said: 'Are you afraid that I will kill him? No, I will never do so.'"

She said, "By Allah, I never saw a prisoner better than Khubaib. By Allah, one day I saw him eating grapes in his hand while he was chained in irons, and there was no fruit at that time in Mecca. It was nothing but food bestowed upon him by Allah."

They took him out of the Sanctuary (of Mecca) to kill him. He said: "Allow me to offer a two-Rak'at prayer."

Then he went to them and said: "Had I not been afraid that you would think that I was afraid of death, I would have prayed longer."

So it was Khubaib who first set the tradition of praying two Rakat before being executed.

They had asked him, “Would you rather that Mohammad was in your place?" He said, “By Allah, I would not want Mohammad to suffer as little as thorn’s pinch while he is in his own home.”

He then said, "O Allah! Count them one by one, and kill them all with no exception."

and added lines of poetry,

'When I am being martyred as a Muslim,

          I do not care in what way I receive my death for Allah

Because this death is in Allah's Cause.

          If He wishes, He will bless the cut limbs."

Then 'Uqba bin Al-Harith got up and martyred him.

The Prophet informed his companions of their news

          and what had happened to them.
----- نهاية ترجمة الحديث

So consider the strength of this connection between the messenger and his companions. That Jibreel would tell him of what is happening to them and what everyone of them is going through for Islam.

The non-believers wanted to sell the head of ‘Asim to Salafa bint Sa'ad (سلافة بنت سعد  ) whose son was killed by ‘Asim. And she swore to drink wine out of ‘Asim’s skull.

But Allah protects his servants and answers their prayers. And ‘Asim had asked Allah to protect him in life and death and Allah fulfilled his invocation on the day he was martyred.

Allah sent a shady cloud of wasps to hover over ‘Asim and protect his body from the nonbelievers who could not harm his body afterwards. At night, Allah sent rain and a flood to carry him away.

So know that the nonbelievers can never succeed. There are no followers who love their leaders more than the companions loved Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and more than we love Prophet Mohammad today. The companions had suffered to bring us this religion. Before them, the prophets and messengers had suffered too.

Know that Islam is the fastest growing religion on Earth. As Allah promises us in the Quran:

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ

Allah has sent His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) with guidance and Islam the religion of truth, to make it superior over all religions, even though the nonbelievers may hate it.

And Allah also promises,  كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَأَغْلِبَنَّ أَنَا وَرُسُلِي ۚ  إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ

Allah has decreed: "It is I and My Messengers who must have victory": For Allah is One full of strength, All-Mighty.

This incident took place during the month of Safar so let us remember the companions and learn from them. Let us honor our martyrs who protect our Islam and honor. The companions had learned that the call of Paradise can always be heard, and its doors always welcoming. They spent their money and lives for the sake of Allah.

Remember the last Address of Othman Ibn ‘Affaan,

إن الله إنما أعطاكم الدنيا لتطلبوا بها الآخرة ، ولم يعطكموها لتركنوا إليها ، إن الدنيا تفنى وإن الآخرة تبقى ، لا تبطرنكم الفانية ولا تشغلنكم عن الباقية ، فآثروا ما يبقى على ما يفنى ، فإن الدنيا منقطعة ، وإن المصير إلى الله ، اتقوا الله فإن تقواه جنة من بأسه ، ووسيلة عنده ، واحذروا من الله الغير ، والزموا جماعتكم ، لا تصيروا أحزابا :

( وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا ۚ وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ)

Allah has only given you this life so you may use it to seek the Hereafter and did not give it to you so you would be satisfied with it. This life will end, and the Hereafter is ever lasting. So do not be spoiled by this life, and do not become distracted from seeking the Hereafter. Choose what will last over what will end, for this Life does not last. And our destination is to Allah. Be mindful of Allah, for fearing Allah is a way to be saved and to received his mercy and forgiveness. And stay united in one group on Islam, and do not be divided among yourselves.

And remember what Allah says in the Quran,

وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا ۚ وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

And hold strongly, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (this Qur'an), and be not divided among yourselves, And remember Allah's Favor on you, for you were enemies one to another but Allah joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brothers (in Islam). And you were on the edge of Hellfire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His signs clear to you, that you may be guided.

Supplication الدعاء

O’ Allah make us on the correct way of Islam and the way of our prophet Mohammad (PBUH)

O’ Allah give us the ability to do all the good deeds

O’ Allah unite the Muslims and return them to their high status

O’ Allah guide our Muslim youth and make them a great nation, like you made the companions the best of all nations.

O’ Allah make us do prayer الصلاة on time and accept our supplication ( دعاء ) and charity ( صدقة)

O’ Allah forgive our sins, and the sins of our parents and the sins of all the Muslims, who are living or dead

O’ Allah accept our prayers, and grant us your full forgiveness
O’ Allah grant us the journey of Hajj during our life time

O’ Allah make us a mercy for our relatives and our families.

O’ Allah protect us and our families and all Muslims from evil.

O’ Allah grant us a home in your highest paradise

And permission to gaze upon your most beautiful face