The Afflictions of Hadhrat Khabbab bin Alarat
(Radhiyallaho anho)
Hadhrat Khabbab (Radhiyallaho anho) is also one of those blessed
persons who offered themselves for sacrifice and suffering for the
cause of Allah. He was the sixth or seventh person to embrace Islam
and, therefore, he suffered long. He was made to put on steel armor
and lie in the sun to sweat and swelter. Very often he was made
to lie flat on burning sand, which caused the flesh on his back
to waste away. He was the slave of a woman. When she came to know
that he was visiting the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), she
used to brand his head with a hot iron rod. Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallaho
anho) during his caliphate once inquired of him about the details
of his sufferings after embracing Islam. He showed him his back,
seeing which Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) remarked, "I
have never seen such a back before." He said, "My body
was dragged over heaps of smoldering charcoal, and the blood and
fat coming out of my back put out the fire." It is said that,
when Islam spread and the Muslims conquered all the surrounding
territory, he used to weep and say:
"Allah seems to be compensating us in this world
for all our sufferings, and perhaps nothing would be left for us
as reward in the Hereafter."
Hadhrat Khabbab (Radhiyallaho anho) narrates:
"The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) once performed
an unusually long rakaat while leading a Sa-laat. When the Sahabah
mentioned it to him, he said, "This was a Salaat of yearning
and humility. I asked three boons from Allah. I besought Him:
'0, Allah! Let not my Ummat perish by famine; let not my Ummat
be annihilated by an enemy gaining an upper hand on them; and
let not my Ummat fight among themselves.'
Allah granted the first two prayers, but not the third one."
Hadhrat Khabbab (Radhiyallaho anho) died in 37 A.H. He was the
first of the Sahabah to be buried at Koofah. Hadhrat Ali (Radhiyallaho
anho) once passing his grave said:
"May Allah bless and show mercy on Hadhrat Khabbab
(Radhiyallaho anho). He embraced Islam willingly. He emigrated
with great pleasure in Allah's path, and spent his whole life
in striving and suffering for Islam. Blessed is the person who
is mindful of the Day of Judgement, prepares for his reckoning,
remains contented with very little of this world, and is able
to please his Lord."
To be able to please Allah, was really, the Sahabah's greatest
achievement, for this was the sole purpose of their life.
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