Story of Amr B.’Abasa (Radhi Allaahu Anhu) embracing Islam

'Amr b. 'Abasa Sulami reported: I in the state ofthe Ignorance (before
embracing Islam) used to think that the people were in error and they
were not on anything (which may be called theright path) and
worshipped the idols. In the meanwhile I heard of a man in Mecca who
was giving news (on the basis of his prophetic knowledge) ; so I sat
on my ride and went to him. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) was at that time hiding as his people had made life hard for him.
I adopted a friendly attitude (towards the Meccans and thus managed)
to enter Mecca and go to him (the Holy Prophet) and
I said to him: Who are you? He said: I am a Prophet (of Allah) .
I again said: Who is a Prophet? He said: (I am a Prophet in the sense
that) I have been sent byAllah .
I said: What is that whichyou have been sent with? He said: I have
been sent to join ties of relationship (with kindness and affection),
to break the Idols, and to proclaim the oneness of Allah (in a manner
that) nothing is to be associated with Him.
I said: Who is with you inthis (in these beliefs and practices)? He
said: A freeman and a slave. He (the narrator) said: Abu Bakr and
Bilal were there with him among those who had embraced Islam by that
time.
I said: I intend to follow you . He said: During these days you would
not be able to do so. Don't you see the (hard) condition under which I
and (my) people are living? You better go back to your people and when
you hear that I have been granted victory, you come to me.
So I went to my family. I was in my home when the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) came to Medina. I was among my people and used
to seek news and ask people when he arrived in Medina. Then a group of
people belonging to Yathrib (Medina) came. I said (to them): How is
that person getting on who has come to Medina? They said: The people
are hastening to him, while his people (the polytheists of Mecca)
planned to kill him, but they could not do so. I (on hearing It) came
to Medina and went to him and said: Messenger of Allah, do you
recognise me? He said: Yes, you arethe same man who met me at Mecca. I
said: It is so.
I again said: Prophet of Allah, tell me that which Allah has taught
you andwhich I do not know, tellme about the prayer .
He said: Observe the dawn prayer, then stop praying when the sun is
rising till it Is fully up, forwhen it rises it comes upbetween the
horns of Satan, and the unbelievers prostrate themselves to it at that
time. Then pray, for the prayer is witnessed and attended (by angels)
till the shadow becomes about the length of a lance; then cease
prayer,for at that time Hell is heated up. Then when the shadow moves
forward, pray, for the prayer is witnessed and attended by angels,
till you pray the afternoon prayer, then cease prayer till the sun
sets, for it sets between the horns of devil, and at that time the
unbelievers prostrate themselves before it.
I said: Apostle of Allah, tell me about ablution also .
He said: None of you who uses water for ablution and rinses his mouth,
snuffs up water and blows it, but the sinsof his face, and his mouth
and his nostrils fall out. When he washeshis face, as Allah has
commanded him, the sins of his face fall out from the end of his beard
with water. Then (when) he washes his forearms up to the elbows, the
sins of his arms fall out along with water from his finger-tips. And
when he wipes his head, the sins of his head fall out from the points
of his hair along with water. And (when) he washes his feet up to the
ankles, the sins of hisfeet fall out from his toesalong with water.
And if he stands to pray and praises Allah, lauds Him and glorifies
Him with what becomes Him and shows wholehearted devotion to Allah,
his sins would depart leaving him (as innocent) as he was on the day
his mother bore him.
'Amr b. 'Abasa narrated this hadith to Abu Umama, a Companion of the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and Abu Umama said to him:
'Amr b. 'Abasa, think what you are saying that such (a great reward)
is given toa man at one place (only in the act of ablution and
prayer). Upon this 'Amr said: Abu Umama, I have grown old and my bones
have become weak and I am at the door of death; what impetus is there
for me to attribute a lie to Allah and the Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him)? Had I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) once, twice, or three times (even seven times), I
would have never narrated it, but I have heard it from him on
occasions more than these. - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
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