Falling in love with Sahaba💫

Habib ibn Zaid Al Ansaari رضي الله عنه

In the midst of the peaceful city of Madina stood a house teeming with heavenly light.
It exuded the strongest fragrances of Iman and the foreheads of its inhabitants were etched with remarkable tales of sacrifice.
This was indeed an extraordinary household
and how could it be anything but, for this was the family who drew pearls of praise from the lips of Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم.

A young lad by the name of Habib grew up in this haven under the guidance of his father who was one of the dignitaries of Yathrib, Zaid Ibn Aasim رضي الله عنه

And his mother...
What could be said about the hand that nurtured and moulded this little mind.
She was known by her appellation, Umm Umarah. Her name was Nusayba/Nasiba bint Al Ka'ab, the first woman to ever wield a sword in defense of the Deen of Allah and protecting the Rasoolصلي الله عليه وسلم.
Habibs brother was Abdullah ibn Zaid رضي الله عنه , a sahabi who ransomed his life in protecting Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم in the battle of Uhud.
And due to the virtue of this family of nobility and righteousness, Rasulullah صلي الله عليه وسلم made dua for them thus, "May Allah ta'ala's blessings be upon you(all), may Allah ta'ala shower His mercy upon you."

The light of Iman penetrated the tender, little heart of Habib and firmly settled in its depths.
Habib رضي الله عنه joined his family and a group of seventy of the faithful mumineen on the journey to Makkah, to participate in the pledge of Aqaba.
Habib placed his tiny hands in the hand of Rasulullah and since that day, Habibullah صلي الله عليه وسلم became more beloved to him than his parents and Deenul Islam became more valuable than the throbbing pulse that allowed him life.

Habib ibn Zaid رضي الله عنه did not witness the battles of Badr and Uhud for he was much too young and incapable of handling a weapon at the time.
However, he had participated in every other battle in the company of Rasulullah صلي الله عليه وسلم.

The pages of Habib's رضي الله عنه life is inked with genuine courage and honour. It is marked with lessons of devotion towards Allah and His Rasool صلي الله عليه وسلم.

In the ninth year of Hijra, Islam had strengthened tremendously and its message spread across the Arabian peninsula.
Delegations from all over Arabia flocked to Madinah, embracing Islam and pledging their allegiance to Rasulullah صلي الله عليه وسلم.
Among these deputations was a particular man from the Banu Hanifa tribe by the name of Musailama.
He accepted Islam at the hands of Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم and acting as a representative on behalf of his tribe, announced their Islam as well.
No sooner had this delegation reached their destination in Najd, this miscreant Musailama, reneged from Islam.
He stood amongst his people and addressed,
"Behold, Allah has sent me as a messenger over you (Banu Hanifa) just as Allah has sent Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم upon the Quraysh."
His people began surrounding him, attentively lending him their ears.
And although they were aware of the absurdity of his words, due to their chauvinistic traits a man from his tribe vociferously announced:
"I bear witness that Muhammad is certainly truthful and that Musailama is undoubtedly a liar.
However, a liar from the Rabi'a tribe is more beloved to me than a truthful man from the Mudar."

Hereon, Musailama's patronage rapidly grew and he became rather bold in this subject concerning his hallucinated messengership.
He dispatched a letter with two of his men to Rasulullah صلي الله عليه وسلم informing him of the partnership of prophethood he had shared with Rasulullah. He also stated that half the earth belonged to him and his people and the other half, to Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم and the Quraysh but he considered the Quraysh to be a transgressive people.
Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم was astonished at the words recited to him by the envoys of Musailama.
He asked, "And what do you two have to say about this matter?!"
They replied, "We say that which he(Musailama) says."
Muhammed صلي الله عليه وسلم exclaimed,
"By Allah, were it not for the edict that a messenger is not to be killed, I would have chopped off your necks!"
Rasulullah صلي الله عليه وسلم then sent a letter back refuting the preposterous claim of Musailama.

Days passed and Musailama, the Liar's antics incessantly continued.
It was at this point that Rasulullah صلي الله عليه وسلم resolved to send a letter of reproach to Musailama and appointed to carry this letter was Habib ibn Zaid, the hero of our story.

On that day, Habib رضي الله عنه was a resplendent young man, radiating Imaan from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet.
Without delay, he set out in compliance to the order of Rasulullah صلي الله عليه وسلم .
Habib entered into the presence of Musailama and delivered the message of the true Nabi of Allah.
Musailama The Liar listened.. But he could not digest these words.
The features on his unpleasant face distorted and coloured with red rage.
His heart flared up with hate.
In a voice laced with venom, he ordered for Habib to spend the night shackled up and brought to him the following day...
Perhaps this would be a means of frightening the sahabi into submission.

The sun came up the next day but her light shone weak and dimmed, for this day was to be a sorrowful one for the Companions of Islam.

Musailama assumed his pompous position in the gathering. He stationed two elders from his following on either side of him and invited the general public to witness this accursed assembly.
He ordered for Habib to be brought and
with heavy steps, in walked our hero, burdened by the weight of his fetters.
Habib stood with his head held high, intrepidity swimming in his eyes. Spine as upright as an arrow,
Not a shadow of fear crossed his youthful countenance.
For what of _fear_, when your life is given to the Lord of the universe, His prophet and cause.
A believing soul may stare horror in the face and still elicit a contented smile.

Here stood Habib, before the wretched false prophet who interrogated,
"Do you testify that Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم is the messenger of Allah?"

"Yes, I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."

Musailama was unhappy at his response. He further questioned,
"And do you testify that I am a prophet of Allah?"

Habib retorted with a cutting mockery,
"Ah, there is indeed a deafness in my ears which impedes my faculty of hearing that statement which you have uttered."

This sarcasm infuriated Musailama. His lips trembled with pure hate and anger as he barked at his executioner,
"cut off a piece of his body!"
The executioner brought down his sword upon Habib and the audience watched his limb rolling upon the earth.

Musailama repeated his interrogation, only to encounter the exact same response from Habib.
Again he commanded his executioner to lop off another portion of his body.
The arena was dead quiet.
Every eye observed the limb of Habib رضي الله عنه as it fell to the ground and settled beside its sister.
The spectators were alarmed at the obstinacy and 'deafness' of Habib!
He had but to please Musailama and walk out a free man yet he allowed for his body to be butchered ever so ruthlessly.

Musailama continued questioning Habib in the aforesaid manner and no other statement departed from the lips of Habib but
اشهد ان محمد رسول الله
On went this savagery...
Piece after piece of Habib's body was chopped off until all that remained of his whole was two halves.
Half of his body lay scattered upon the earth and the other hald was a breathing, talking chunk.

They mutilated his exterior..
But none could ever reach beyond that.
His heart pulsated with faith,
his thoughts and intellect were impossible to mutilate
And his pure, wholesome soul was on its journey towards his Habib-Allah.
After a short while, The name of Habibullah صلي الله عليه وسلم, Muhammad-the personality whom he had defended, accompanied Habib's final breath, ushering the great martyr into the mercy of Allah ta'ala.

When news of Habibs assassination reached his mother Nusayba, she concealed her grief in the folds of her chest and hoped for reward for her endurance by Allah.
After the death of Rasulullah صلي الله عليه وسلم, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه prepared army against Musailama under the leadership of Khaled ibn Walid. Nusayba joined the ranks of the Mujahideen together with her son Abdullah, desiring the pleasure of Allah and revenge for her son.
Nusayba flitted through the battle lines like a furious lioness, shouting out,
"Where is the enemy of Allah?
Show me the enemy of Allah!"

Finally she found him flung upon the earth while the swords of the Muslims dripped with the putrid red of his blood.
Her eyes were pleased and the furnace of revenge was extinguished in her heart, for the great enemy of Allah and the killer of her beloved boy was at long last dispatched to hell.

There is a sweetness perceived in the martyrdom of Habib رضي الله عنه...
What honour will he receive as he appears on yawm Al qiyaama, blood flowing musk, decapitated limbs.

I imagine him standing before Allah saying, for YOU my beloved Allah and your beloved Rasul, to become Your beloved and his beloved, oh Allah I sacrificed my youth and life.