O My Soul, Death Is Inevitable, So It Is Better for You to Be Martyred

`ABD ALLAH IBN RAWAAHAH

When the Prophet (peace be upon him) met secretly with Al-Madiinah's delegation on the outskirts of Makkah away from the disbelievers of the Quraish,

twelve representatives of the Ansaar took an oath of allegiance in the first Pledge of `Aqabali.

`Abd Allah Ibn Rawaahah was one of those representatives who ushered Islam to Al-Madiinah and who paved the way for the Hijrah,

which was considered an excellent springboard for Allah's religion, Islam.

`Abd Allah was also one of the great 73 of the Ansaar who gave the Prophet (peace be upon him) the Second Pledge of `Aqabah in the following year.

After the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions emigrated and settled in Al-Madiinah, `Abd Allah Ibn Rawaahah was the most active Muslim of the Ansaar who strived to support the thriving religion.

He was also the most alert Muslim to the plots of `Abd Allah Ibn Ubaiy whom the people of Al-Madiinah were about to crown king before the Muslims arrived.

He never got over the bitterness he felt for losing the chance of his lifetime to become a king.

Therefore, he used his craftiness to weave deceitful plots against Islam, while `Abd Allah Ibn Rawaahah kept on tracing and detecting this craftiness with remarkable insight that frustrated most of Ibn Ubaiy's maneuvers and plots.

Ibn Rawaahah (May Allah be pleased with him) was a scribe at a time in which writing was not prevalent. He was a poet. His poetry flowed with admirable fluency and strength.

Ever since his Islam he devoted his poetic genius to its service. The Prophet (peace be upon him) always admired his poetry, asking him to recite more of it.

One day, as he was sitting among his Companions, `Abd Allah Ibn Rawaahah joined them, so the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him,

"How do you compose a poem?"

`Abd Allah answered,

"First I think about its subject matter, then I recite."

He immediately recited:

O the good descendants of Al Haashim

Allah raised you to a high station

Of which you are worthy above all mankind.

My intuition made me realize at once

Your excelling nature,

Contrary to the disbelievers belief in you.

If you asked some of them for support and help,

They would turn you down.

May Allah establish the good that descends

On you firmly

And bestow victory upon you as He did to Muusaa.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was elated and said,

"I hope that Allah will make your feet firm, too."

When the Prophet was circumambulating the Ka'bah in the compensatory `Umrah, lbn Rawaahah recited to him:

Were it not for Allah, we would not have been

Guided to the Right path nor charitable

Nor able to perform our prayers.

So descend, peace of mind and reassurance,

On us and establish our feet firmly

When we meet our enemy

In combat. If our oppressors tried to spread

Affliction and trial, unrest, among us

We will not give them way.

Muslims reiterated his graceful lines. The active poet was saddened when the glorious verse descended saying:

"And for the poets, only the erring people follow them " (26:224).

But soon he was contented to hear another verse saying:

"Except those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, and remember GOD frequently, and defend themselves after being oppressed" (26 : 227).

When Islam rose up in arms in self-defense, Ibn Rawaahah saw service in all the battles: Badr, Uhud, Al-Khandaq, Al Hudaibiyyah, and Khaibar.

His perpetual slogan was these lines of poetry:

''O my soul, death is inevitable, so it is better for you to be martyred."

He shouted at the disbelievers in every battle,

"O disbelievers, get out of my way. My Prophet (peace be upon him) has all the excellent qualities."

The Battle of Mu'tah started, and, as mentioned, he was the third of the Commanders after Zaid and Ja'far. Ibn Rawaahah (May Allah be pleased with him) stood there as the army was about to leave Al- Madiinah and recited:

 
I truly ask the Most Beneficient's forgiveness

and a mortal stroke of a sword

that will strike me down

foaming or a mortal stab

with a spear by a stubborn disbeliever

that will make my liver and intestine

show out of my body. So that

when people pass by my grave,

they will say: By Allah, you are

the most righteous warrior.

Indeed, a stroke or a stab that would convey him into the world of rewarded martyrs was his utmost wish. The army marched towards Mu'tah.

When the Muslims saw their enemies, they estimated them at 200,000, for they saw endless waves of warriors.

The Muslims glanced back at their small group and were stunned. Some of them suggested,

"Let us send a message to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to tell him of the enormity of the enemy that surpassed all our expectations so he will either order us to wait for reinforcements or to Pierce through the enemy lines."

However, Ibn Rawaahah stood amidst the lines of the army and said:

"O my people, by Allah, we do not fight our enemies with numbers, strength or equipment, but rather with this religion which Allah has honored us with.

So go right ahead: it is either one of two equally good options, victory or martyrdom."

The Muslims, who were lesser in number and greater in faith, cried out,

"By Allah, you spoke the truth."

The smaller army broke through the mighty host of 200,000 warriors in terrible and cruel fighting.

As mentioned, both armies met in fierce combat. The first commander, Zaid Ibn Haarithah, was struck down, he winning glorious martyrdom.

The second in command was Ja'far Ibn Abi Taalib, who was overjoyed to be martyred. `Abd Allah took over the command and grabbed the standard from Ja'far's failing upper arms.

The fight reached the peak of ferocity. The smaller army was indistinct amidst the waves of the mighty hosts of Heraclius.

When Ibn Rawaahah was a soldier, he attacked heedlessly and confidently. But now the command placed great responsibilities for the army's safety on his shoulders.

It seemed that for a moment he was overtaken by hesitation and dread, yet he instantly shook off those apprehensions, summoned his innate

fearlessness and cried out,

"O my soul, you look as if you were afraid to cross the way that leads to

Paradise. O my soul, I took an oath to fight. O my soul, death is inevitable, so you had better be martyred.

Now I will experience the inevitability of death. What you have cared for so long is finally yours. So go ahead, for if you follow these two heroes, you will be guided to the way of Paradise."

He meant the two heroes who had preceded him in martyrdom, Zaid and Ja'far.

He darted into the Roman armies, fiercely and ruthlessly.

Were it not for a previous ordainment from Allah that he was to be martyred on that day, he would have annihilated the fighting hosts.

But destiny called and he was martyred. His body was struck down, yet his pure, valiant spirit was raised to the heavens.

His most precious wish finally came true, so that

"When people pass by my grave, they will say: By Allah you are the most righteous warrior!'

 

The fierce attack in Al-Balqaa' in Syria went on. Back in Al Madiinah the Prophet (peace be upon him) was talking peacefully and contentedly with his Companions when he suddenly stopped talking.

He closed his eyes a little, then opened them. A gleam flashed from them, yet it was tinged with sadness and compassion. He looked around sadly and said,

"Zaid took the standard and fought until he was martyred."

He was silent for a while, then continued

"Ja'far grasped it and fought until he was marytred. Then `Abd Allah lbn Rawaahah grasped it and fought until he was martyred."

He was silent for a while, then his eyes sparkled with elation, tranquility, longing, and joy as he said,

"They were all raised to Paradise."

What a glorious journey it must have been! What a happy succession! They all marched to conquer, they all were raised up to Paradise.

The best salute to immortalize their memory rests in the Prophet's words:

"They were raised up to await me in Paradise."

Reflecting on the inevitability of death encourages us to live a life of strong faith and piety. Reflecting on death strengthens one's faith (Iman) and prepares one for the Hereafter.

Islamic teachings on the inevitability of death align with the belief in Aakhirah. Read the wise words that remind us of the temporary nature of this life.