The Story Of The Prophet's Companions: “Competing For Jihad”

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The Story Khaitsamah And His Father

The Prophet’s companions' understanding of Allah’s pleasure, the last day, paradise and other similar subjects are the best understanding of all. It is not us, the people of the end times nor the saints who are the main reasons for the spread of dienul Islam to every part of the world.

When Rasulullah (saw) prepared to leave for the battle of Badr during which Allah (swt) really tested the faith of the muslims, Sa'ad bin Khaitsamah (ra) and his father, Khaitsamah bin Harits (ra), were both contending to be the chosen one and join Rasulullah (saw) to Bad’r as either one of them should stay behind to protect the community.

Knowing that, Rasulullah (saw) made a decision, "Only one of you could be allowed to go. So cast a ballot between the two of you."

Khaitsamah (ra) said to his son, Sa'ad (ra), "It is better if I go and you just stay to protect the women."

Sa'ad (ra) answered, "If not because of paradise, I will give in to you, O father. However I indeed want enter paradise."

After the ballot was casted, it was Sa'ad’s name that came out. Therefore, it was him who was allowed to go and join the Prophet (saw) to Badr. He was jubilant and consequently fought the battle valiantly. In the end Sa'ad got his wish as he was killed in that battle.

Thus goes the story of a soul who was a true yearner of paradise.

The Spirit Of Jihad In The Boys At The Time Rasulullah SAW

The speeches and the talks of the companions of Rasulullah (saw) when it came to jihad was such that it reached a point where it was very much affecting the ambitions and the fighting spirit of their children. If our children today talked empty words such as about fictional superheroes that have nothing to do with their aqeedah at all, the children of the companions talked about the bravery and the duty of their old folks in raising the kalimah (words) of Allah (swt).

Such were their enthusiasms, every one of them wished to be amongst the grown-ups in their struggle to defend the religion. Even though they had not reached the age of puberty, yet their heroic spirits have made stories for the later generations to take lessons from. Not only for the children, but also serves as examples for the adults. They truly showed us how to act in order to defend our religion and struggle for its cause.

It was customary for Rasulullah (saw) to instruct those who were ready to go for jihad to parade and stand firm in one line. This practice conformed to what Allah (swt) wants, and it was also to make it easy for Rasulullah (saw) to see and make sure that there was no under-aged amongst them.

Thus how it happened during the days approaching the battle of Uhud. The Prophet (saw) was forced to soften down the enthusiasm in the children by sending them back to their parents’ house. Amongst them were Abdullah bin Umar (ra), Zaid bin Tsabit (ra), Usamah bin Zaid (ra), Zaid bin Arqam (ra), Barra bin Azib (ra), Amr bin Hizam (ra), Usaid bin Zhuhair (ra), Urabah bin Aus (ra), Abu Sa'id al Khudri (ra), Samurah bin Jundub (ra) dan Rafi' bin Khadij (ra).

The children were frustrated for certain and seeing the frustration in his son, Khadij (ra) tried his best to defend his son and persuaded Rasulullah (saw) to allow his son to go to the battlefront. Khadij (ra) said, "My son, Rafi' is good in archery." And true to his father’s words, with a spirit like steel, Rafi' made himself stood on his toe so that he would look taller. In the end Rasulullah (saw) allowed Rafi' bin Khadij (ra) to go and join the expedition.

Looking at Rafi'’s (ra) success, Samurah bin Jundub (ra) pleaded with his step-father, Murrah bin Sinan (ra), "Father, Rafi' is allowed to go to fight, but I am not, whereas I am stronger than him. Should there be a competition, I will surely beat him"

Rasulullah (saw) agreed and approved for a contest to be held. Both of the boys then competed in front of Rasulullah (saw). Evidently Samurah bin Jundub (ra) managed to beat Rafi' bin Khadij (ra). As a result it was Samurah who was allowed go and participate in the expidition.

The resultant outcome of that contest was really unexpected. The spirit of the other boys soared high into the sky. Many of them rushed back to Rasulullah (saw) to offer themselves, hoping to be permitted to go and fight in the battle. However, in the end the Prophet (saw) only allowed a few of them to take part in the battle. Subhanallah.

In our time, we can almost find the same thing happening. In Afghanistan, it is not only the youth who are flocking to join the Taliban, but also baby-faced teenagers, mostly too young to grow facial hair, are zealous to join them. But the leadership in the Taliban somehow only allowed those whose facial hair has been growing to fight and liberate their homeland.

And in Palestine we can witness scenes of struggles by the Palestinian children in defending their honorable rights. We can see the boys standing in the way of the mighty tanks, armed only with rocks. In their own words, “We are only small kids who want peace, but we are not willing to see the Israeli Zionists oppressing us and our religion (Islam). There are no other words that we could hurl, only these handful of rocks in our hands as a mute witness for a promise of victory from Allah.” Allahu Akbar!!!!

"Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure." (Qur’an 61:4)