Said ibn Aamir al-Jumahi - Biographies of the Companions (Sahabah)

Said ibn Aamir al-Jumahi was one of thousands who left for the region
of Tanim on the outskirts of Makkah at the invitation of the Quraysh
leaders to witness the killing of Khubaybibn Adiy, one of the
companions of Muhammad whom they had captured treacherously.
With his exuberant youthfulnessand strength, Said jostled through the
crowd until he caught up with the Quraysh leaders, men like Abu Sufyan
ibn Harb and Safwan ibn Umayyah, who were leading the procession.
Now he could see the prisoner of the Quraysh shackled in his chains,
the women and children pushing him to the place set for his death.
Khubayb's death was to be in revenge for Quraysh losses in the battle
of Badr.
When the assembled throng arrived with its prisoner at the appointed
place, Said ibn Aamir took up his position at a point directly
overlooking Khubayb as he approached the wooden cross. From there he
heard Khubayb's firm but quiet voice amid the shouting of women and
children.
"If you would, leave me to pray two rakaats before my death." This the
Quraysh allowed.
Said looked at Khubayb as he faced the Kabah and prayed. How beautiful
and how composed those two rakaats seemed! Then he saw Khubayb facing
the Quraysh leaders.
"By God, if you thought that I asked to pray out of fear of death, I
would think the prayer not worth the trouble," he said.
Said then saw his people set about dismembering Khubayb's body while
he was yet alive and taunting him in the process.
"Would you like Muhammad to be in your place while you go free?"
With his blood flowing, he replied. "By God, I would not want to be
safe and secure among my family while even a thorn hurts Muhammad."
Peopleshook their fists in the air and the shouting increased. "Kill
him. Kill him!"
Said watched Khubayb lifting hiseyes to the heavens above the wooden
cross. "Count them all, O Lord," he said. "Destroy them and let not a
single one escape."
Thereafter Said could not count the number of swords and spears which
cut through Khubayb's body.
The Quraysh returned to Makkah and in the eventful days that followed
forgot Khubayb and hisdeath. But Khubayb was never absent from the
thoughts of Said, now approaching manhood. Said would see him inhis
dreams while asleep and he would picture Khubayb in front of him
praying his two rakaats calm and contented, before the wooden cross.
And he would hear the reverberation of Khubayb's voice as he prayed
forthe punishment of the Quraysh. He would become afraid that a
thunderbolt from the sky or some calamity would strike him.
Khubayb, by his death, had taught Said what he did not realize
before--that real life was faith and conviction and struggle in the
path of faith, even until death. He taught him also that faith which
is deeply ingrained in a person works wonders and performs miracles.He
taught him something else too, that the man who is loved by his
companions with such a love as Khubayb's could only be a prophet with
Divine support.
Thus was Said's heart opened to Islam. He stood up in the assembly of
the Quraysh and announced that he was Rex from their sins and burdens.
He renounced their idols and their superstitions and proclaimed
hisentry into the religion of God.
Said ibn Aamir migrated to Madinah and attached himself tothe Prophet,
may the peace and blessings of God be upon him. He took part with the
Prophet inthe battle of Khaybar and other engagements thereafter.
After the Prophet passed away to the protection of his Lord, Said
continued active service under his two successors, Abu Bakr and Umar.
He lived the unique and exemplary life of the believer who has
purchased the Hereafter with this world. He sought the pleasure and
blessings of God above selfish desires and bodily pleasures.
Both Abu Bakr an(l Umar knew Said well for his honesty and piety. They
would listen to whatever he had to say and follow his advice. Said
once came to Umar at the beginning of his caliphate and said.
"I advise you to fear God in dealing with people and do not fear
people in your relationship with God. Let not your actions deviate
from your words for the best of speech is that which it confirmed by
action. Consider those who have been appointed over the affairs of
Muslims, far and near. Like for them what you like for yourself and
your family and dislike for them whatyou would dislike for yourself
and your family. Surmount any obstacles to attain the truth anddo not
tear the criticisms of those who criticize in matters prescribed by
God.
"Who can measure up to this, Said?" asked Umar. "A man like yourself
from among those whom God has appointed over the affairs of the Ummah
of Muhammad and who feels responsible to God alone," replied Said.
"Said," he said, "I appoint you tobe governor of Homs (in
Syria).""Umar," pleaded Said, "I entreat you by God, do not cause me
to go astray by making me concerned with worldly affairs."
Umar became angry and said,"You have placed the responsibility of the
caliphate onme and now you forsake me.""By God. I shall not forsake
you,"Said quickly responded.
Umar appointed him as governor of Homs and offered him a gratuity.
"What shall I do with it, O Amir al Mumineen?" asked Said. "The
stipend from the have al-mal will be more than enough for my needs."
With this, he proceeded to Homs.
Not long afterwards, a delegation from Homs made up of people in whom
Umar had confidence came to visit him in Madinah. He requested them to
write the names of the poor among them so he could relieve their
needs. They prepared a list from him in which the name Said ibn Aamir
appeared.
"Who is this Said ibn Aamir?" asked Umar
"Our amir" they replied.
"Your amir is poor?" said Umar, puzzled.
"Yes," they affirmed, "By God, several days go by without a fire being
lit in his house."
Umar was greatly moved and wept. He got a thousand diners, put it in a
purse and said,"Convey my greetings to him and tell him that the Amir
al Mumineen has sent this money to help him look after his needs."
The delegation came to Said with the purse. When he found that it
contained money, he began to push it away from him,saying, "From God
we are and toHim we shall certainly return."
He said it in such a way as if some misfortune had descendedon him.
His alarmed wife hurriedto him and asked, "What's the matter, Said?
Has the Khalifah died~"
"Something greater than that."
"Have the Muslims been defeated in a battle?"
"Something greater than that. The world has come upon me tocorrupt my
hereafter and create disorder in my house. "
"Then get rid of it," said she, notknowing anything about the diners.
"Will you help me in this?" he asked.
She agreed. He took the diners, put them in bags and distributed them
to the Muslim poor.
Not long afterwards, Umar ibn al-Khattab went to Syria to examine
conditions there. Whenhe arrived at Homs which was called little Kufah
because, like Kufah, its inhabitants complained a lot about their
leaders, he asked what they thought of their Amir. They complained
about him mentioning four of his actions each one more serious than
the other.
"I shall bring you and him together," Umar promised. "AndI pray to God
that my opinion about him would not be damaged. I used to have great
confidence in him."
When the meeting was convened, Umar asked what complaints they had against him.
"He only comes out to us when the sun is already high," they said.
"What do you have to say to that, Said?" asked Umar.
Said was silent for a moment, then said, "By God, I really didn'twant
to say this but there seemsto be no way out. My family doesnot have a
home help so I get upevery morning and prepare dough for bread. I wait
a little until it rises and then bake for them. I then make wudu and
go out to the people."
"What's your other complaint?" asked Umar.
"He does not answer anyone at night," they said.
To this Said reluctantly said, "By God, I really wouldn't have liked
to disclose this also but I have left the day for them and the night
for God, Great and Sublimeis He."
"And what's your other complaint about him?" asked Umar.
"He does not come out to us from one day in every month," they said.
To this Said replied, "I do not have a home help, O Amir al-Mumineen
and I do not have any clothes except what's on me. This I wash once a
month and I wait for it to dry. Then I goout in the later part of the
day."
"Any other complaint about him?" asked Umar.
"From time to time, he blacks out in meetings," they said.
To this Said replied, "I witnessedthe killing of Khubayb ibn Adiy when
I was a mushrik. I saw theQuraysh cutting him and saying,"Would you
like Muhammad to be in your place?" to which Khubayb replied, "I would
not wish to be safe and secure among my family while a thorn hurts
Muhammad." By God, whenever I remember that day and how I failed to
come to his aid, I only think that God would not forgive me and I
black out."
Thereupon Umar said, "Praise beto God. My impression of him has not
been tainted." He later sent a thousand diners to Said to help him
out. When his wife saw the amount she said."Praise be to God Who has
enriched us out of your service. Buy some provisions for us and get us
a home help."
"Is there any way of spending it better?" asked Said. "Let us spend it
on whoever comes to us and we would get somethingbetter for it by thus
dedicating itto God." "That will be better," she agreed.
He put the diners into small bags and said to a member of his family,
"Take this to the widow of so and so, and the orphans of that person,
to the needy in that family and to the indigent of the family of that
person."
Said ibn Aamir al-Jumahi was indeed one of those who deny themselves
even when they are afflicted with severe poverty.

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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