*This is a brief Biography of the ‘Abdullah Dhul Bajādayn Radhi’Allāhu’anhu; we ask Allāh to benefit us thereby.*
38. ‘Abdullāh Dhul Bajādayn رضي الله عنه
Verily, he was ever oft-returning in repentance (toward Allāh)
In these pages, we will meet a man from among those whom Allāh’s Messenger (ﷺ) described: “Allah loves the pious who have awe of Him and yet they are inconspicuous. (They are) those who are not sought when they are absent (from a gathering) and when they are present, they are not recognized. Their hearts are like guiding lamps radiating lights through layers of darkness.”
Muhammad bin Sa’d said: Dhul Bajādayn was a poor orphan. His father had died leaving nothing for him to inherit. His uncle took charge of him until his affairs became easier. When Allāh’s Messenger (ﷺ) arrived in Madinah on his Hijrah from Makkah, Dhul Bajādayn’s heart warmed toward Islām but he was kept back from entering it by the fear of his uncle until after some years had passed and he missed a number of battles.
One day when he could no longer bear his estrangement from Islām he approached his uncle and said to him: “My uncle, I have waited so long hoping that you would become a Muslim, but I have seen that you do not like Muhammad. So, permit me to convert to Islām.” He said: “By Allāh, if you follow Muhammad, I will dispossess you of every single thing I have given you, including the cloth you are wearing!” “In that case, I am determined to follow him, I am no longer worshiping stones. Here are the things you have given me,” I said to my uncle.
Thus, he was dispossessed of his entire property including his loin cloth. He took a bijad (a thick rough cloth) belonging to his mother, tore it into two and he used one as a loin cloth (izār) and other as the upper body garment (rida’) and headed toward Madinah.
When he got to Wariqān, he stopped to take a rest in the mosque close by. Meanwhile, Allāh’s Messenger (ﷺ) was at the same mosque. It was characteristic of the Prophet (ﷺ) that whenever he concluded the Subh prayer, he would face the people to attend to their questions. Then he caught sight of me: “Who are you?” he asked. I described my lineage to him. “My name is ‘Abdul Uzza,”” I said. “No, you are ‘Abdullah Dhu Al Bajādayn.” The Prophet (ﷺ) corrected me and then added: “Live close to me.” So he was one of those who frequented the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ) till he learnt the Qur’an considerably.
Uqbah bin Amir narrated: Allāh’s Messenger (ﷺ) said to a man called Dhu Al-Bajādayn: “He is oft-returning in repentance (toward Allāh)” and this is because he was given to much remembrance of Allāh in reciting the Qur’an and he used to raise his voice in supplication.”
Al-Adrā’ narrated: I used to stand guard for the Prophet (ﷺ) One night, he went out of his house for some of his needs. When he saw me, he held my hand, and we went ahead. We came across a man who was praying and reciting the Qur’ān loudly. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Perhaps he is a hypocrite.” I said: “O Allāh’s Messenger while he prays with the Qurān in a loud voice?” and he responded: “You will not attain this matter with strife.”
On another occasion, he went out at night again while holding my hand. We came across another man praying while reciting the Qur’ān aloud. So, I said: “Perhaps he might be a hypocrite” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Rather, he is ever oft returning in repentance (toward Allāh).” I looked at the man and I saw that it was Dhul Al-Bajādayn.
A Joyous End
Dhul Al-Bajādayn went out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for the Battle of Tabuk. He died in that battle. ‘Abdullāh bin Mas’ud relates to us the story of his death: “I woke up in the middle of the night while I was with Allāh’s Messenger during the Battle of Tabuk.” He continued: “Then I noticed a burning fire (at a distance) at the edge of the camp. I went toward it and there was the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) with Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. ‘Abdullah Dhu Al-Bajādayn Al-Mazani had died (and they were burying him). They had dug his grave and the Prophet (ﷺ) was standing in it saying: “Move your brother close to me.” And they moved him close to the Prophet (ﷺ).
When his corpse was placed inside his shaq (grave), Allāh’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “O Allāh, I have reached the night while I am pleased with him, so be pleased with him too.” “Abdullāh bin Mas’ud said: “How I wished I was the one placed in that grave.” i.e. in the quest of the Prophet’s supplication. [The End]May Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى be pleased with them and they with Him.
اَللّٰهُ أَعْلَم (To be continued…) ان شاء الله ﺗﻌﺎﻟﯽٰ Please Share 🔹 Facebook: https://fb.me/BiographiesIslamic 🔹 Telegram: https://t.me/BiographiesIslamic
