Be True to Allah, He will be True to You

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On one occasion a Bedouin came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and accepted Islam. He then expressed his desire to remain with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), due to which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) instructed some of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to look after him and make arrangements for him.

After some time had passed, the Muslims fought a battle against the disbelievers and were victorious, gaining booty in the process. When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) distributed the booty among the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), he also set aside a share for this Bedouin Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). However, on account of this Bedouin Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) attending to the animals of the other Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), he was away at the time of the distribution. Hence, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) gave him his allotted share on his return.

On seeing his share of the booty, he asked, “What is this?” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) replied, “A share (of the booty) which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) allotted for you.”

Hearing this, he took the share and proceeded to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). When he came before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he asked, “What is this?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “I allotted this share for you.” The Bedouin Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) responded, “I did not follow you and accept Islam for this wealth.” He then gestured towards his throat and said, “I followed you so that I could be struck here by an arrow and pass away (as a martyr), gaining entry into Paradise.” When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) heard this, he said, “If you are true to Allah Ta‘ala, Allah Ta‘ala will be true to you (in fulfilling your desire and rewarding you).”

Not too long thereafter, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) again engaged the disbelievers in battle. After the battle, the body of the Bedouin Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was carried to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Seeing that an arrow had struck his throat on the exact area to which he had gestured, thereby causing his martyrdom, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked, “Is this the same Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)?” When the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) confirmed that he was the same Bedouin Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “He was true to Allah Ta‘ala, and so Allah Ta‘ala was true to him (by blessing him with the martyrdom which he desired).”

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then covered him in his own blessed jubbah and performed his janaazah salaah. While making du‘aa for this Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said the following, “O Allah! This is your slave who performed hijrah in your path and was then killed as a martyr. I bear witness to this!”

(Sunan Nasai #1955)

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Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates that before the Battle of Badr, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had sent Busaisah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as a spy to gather information on the caravan of Abu Sufyaan. After Busaisah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) returned and reported the whereabouts and activities of the caravan, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) emerged from his home and announced, “We have something to pursue. Whoever has his conveyance prepared should ride with us.” Hearing this, some Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), in the eagerness to join the expedition, asked permission to fetch their conveyances from the upper portion of Madeenah Munawwarah. However, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not permit them to do so and said, “No, only those whose conveyances are present (will ride with us).”

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) thereafter proceeded to Badr, arriving there before the disbelievers. After the disbelievers arrived, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said,

“None of you should advance to do anything, unless I am ahead of him.” When the disbelievers drew close, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) encouraged the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to sacrifice their lives in the path of Allah Ta‘ala saying, “Stand up for a Paradise which is as wide as the heavens and the earth!”

Hearing this, ‘Umair bin Humaam Ansaari (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth?” When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) affirmed this, he exclaimed, “Excellent! Excellent!” When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) heard this exclamation, he asked, “What caused you to say, ‘Excellent! Excellent!’?” ‘Umair bin Humaam (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “By the oath of Allah! Nothing, O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), besides the hope that I will be from the people of this Paradise.” To this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “You are indeed from its people.”
‘Umair bin Humaam (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thereafter drew a few dates from his quiver and began to eat them. After a few moments, however, he exclaimed, “If I live until I finish eating these dates of mine, that will be a long life (i.e. I cannot wait so long to achieve martyrdom and earn paradise).” Saying this, he cast his dates away and plunged into the disbelievers, fighting them until he was martyred.

(Saheeh Muslim #4915)