JAISH E OSSAMA

JAISH E OSSAMA.

The Prophet of Islam (s.a.) had deputed Harit ibn e Omair Azdi as his ambassador to the ruler of Basra with the Message of Islam. But on the way the ruler of Balqa, Sharjeel arrested and killed him. When the Prophet (s.a.) got this sad news, he sent a contingent under Zaid ibne Haritha, Jafar ibne Abi Talib and Abd Allah ibne Rawaha with instructions that if Zaid was killed, Jafar ibne Abi Talib should assume command. If he was martyred, Abd Allah ibne Rawaha should take charge of the contingent. When they reached Ma-aan, they got news that Heraclius of Rome was camping at Balqa with the armies of Rome and Syria. When the Muslims got wind of the huge enemy armies, they halted at Ma-aan and wanted to call more troops from Madina. But Abd Allah ibne Rawaha encouraged the men to improve their morale and said that they should not be afraid of the disparate groups forming the enemy ranks and that they must go forward and confront the enemy! The courage of the Muslims was thus boosted and they marched forward. When they reached, Masharaf, a satellite town of Balqa, they turned towards Mauta sensing the movements of the enemy and confront them appropriately. They organized their men into proper left and right flanks. The enemy troops too arrived there and organized themselves. Zaid ibne Haritha went forward with the Standard in his hand and was martyred fighting. Now Jafar ibne Abi Talib took the Standard in his hand and lost his right hand fighting the enemy. He took the Standard in his left hand. That too was severed during the fight. He now held the standard close to his chest and bearing more than eight wounds from swords and arrows, he was martyred. The Prophet (s.a.) gave him the posthumous titles of Dualjanaan (One with two wings) and Al Tayyar fil Jannat ( The one who flies in the Heaven). Abd Allah ibne Rawaha now took charge of the battle and he too was martyred fighting. After these well known commanders, there was none of the renowned warriors left. But one Ansari, Tabit ibne Arqam picked up the Standard and asked the men to select a standard bearer from amongst them. They proposed that he himself should do the duty. He said that he wasn’t ready to take the responsibility. Therefore Khalid ibne Walid came forward to become the Standard bearer. After a little while of fighting the dusk fell and it became dark. The fighting stopped because of the darkness. Khalid considered the nightfall was to his advantage and withdrew with the men in the cover of darkness and started the return journey to Madina. When the fleeing contingent reached Madina, the people started pelting dust on their faces to shame them. They used to hide their faces while going around and salama ibne Hisham stopped going to the congregational prayers in shame. When they went to the mosque, the people used to shame them with the calls of deserters! They used to say:

“Are you one of the persons who deserted from Allah’s Way!” Ref: Tariq e Tabari, Vol 2, Page 323

This event took place in Jamadi Awwal 8 H but no steps were taken to exact Qasas for the martyrs of Mauta. It appears that, for some reason, the Prophet (s.a) wanted to postpone it for his last days. Therefore, during his
illness, he called Ossama ibne Zaid, a youth of 18 or 19 years, and put him at the head of a contingent. Ibne Saad writes:

“Falam yabaq man wajooh al mohajireen al awwaleen wal Ansaar al antadab fit ilk alghazwat feehim Abu Bakr al Siddek wa Omer ibn al Khattabwa Abu Obaida ibnal Jirah wa Saad ibne Abi Waqas wa Saeed ibne Zaid wa Qatada ibnal Noman wa Salama ibne Aslam ibne Harish”

“From the Ansar and Mohajirs there was hardly any prominent person who was not asked to join the Ghazwa. Amongst them were Abu Bakr Siddeek, Omar ibne Khattab, Obaida ibn al Jirah, Saad ibne Abi Waqas, Saeed ibne Zaid, Qatada ibne Noman and Salama ibne Aslam ibne Harish were included”

Ref: Tabaqaat, Vol 2, Page 190

When the Prophet (s.a.), despite his illness, handed over the Standard to Ossama ibne Zaid, the Muslims started criticizing his capability instead obeying the Commands of the Prophet (s.a.) and accepting him as their commander. Sometimes they said that Ossama was too young and inexperienced and at other times they said that he was the son of a freed slave and it was below their dignity to serve under him. When the Prophet (s.a.) got wind of this gossip, he came out with covered head, in a state of high fever, and said:

“An tatanau fi amartahu faqad kuntum tatanoun fi amarta abihe man qabl waem Allah anhi kaana leman ahab al naas ila wa an haada ahab al naasila baadahu”

“If you have objection about his Commanding the Contingent, you have been critical of his father’s command too. By Allah! He was capable of the Command and in my eyes more likeable than others! This youth too is dear to me than the others!”

Ref: Sahih Muslim, Vol 2, Page 283

Then he went into the house and the ailment became more acute. Even in that state he was repeatedly telling:

“Jahzu Jaish Ossama anfazu wa Jaish Ossama arsalu Jaish Ossama” “Send the Contingent of Ossama soon, send the Contingent of Ossama urgently, send the Contingent of Ossama urgently!”

Ossama came to the presence of the Prophet (s.a.) to see him.and said, “O Prophet of Allah (s.a.)! It would be better if the contingent leaves after you recover from your illness!” He replied, “No! You must start forthwith without any delay!” Ossama got up to go and prepare for the departure of the contingent. On the other side, the Prophet (s.a.)’s ailment increased and he swooned. When he recovered slightly he asked if the Contingent had left or not? When he was told that the preparations for the departure were under way, he folded his brow and said:

“Jahzu Jaish Ossama laan Allah min takhlafd anha’

“Send the Contingent of Ossama urgently and Allah’s curse on those who don’t join it”

Ref: Lanhal, Page 8

With repeated exhortations of the Prophet (s.a.) the Contingent moved out of Madina, but it halted at a distance of three miles in the Valley of Jaraf. Someone came to them and gave the tiding that the Prophet (s.a.) was in his last throes. Hearing this Ossama, Hazrat Omer andAbu Obaida came back to Madina. When the Prophet (s.a.) demised, the rest of the Contingent returned to Madina.

For the Muslims every Command of the Prophet (s.a.) is the Command of Allah. Going against his commands is tantamount to disobeying Allah. Despite the repeated exhortations by the Prophet (s.a.), the persons nominated to be a part of the Contingent were hesitant in proceeding on the campaign. When the Prophet (s.a.) asked for paper and pen to dictate his will, they said that was in a state of delirium and not in his senses. But when they refused to obey the Command for proceeding on the Campaign what excuse they were offering for disobeying the Orders of Allah’s Prophet (s.a.)?

During the lifetime of the Prophet (s.a.) his command was treated in a cavalier manner. But soon after his demise, the first thing the Caliph did was to send Ossama’s Contingent on the Campaign. This was done by Abu Bakr despite opposition from many quarters. The Ansar were of the view that the Campaign should be postponed and, if not, some person other than Ossama should command it. Therefore Omer took sides with the Ansar and Abu Bakr pulled Omer’s beard in anger and said

“You die and let your mother sit in mourning for you! O son of Khattab! He was appointed the Commander by the Prophet (s.a.) and you ask me to remove him!”

Ref: Tareeq e Tabari, Vol 2, Page 462