by: Rameez Rasool Mir
Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A): Abu Baseer RA, his real name is Utbah bin Usaid bin Jariyah at-Tsaqafi. Allies of Bani Zahra. He converted to Islam after the Treaty of Hudaibiyah. He came with Abu Jandal bin Suhail bin Amr and the people who embraced Islam. They came when Rasulullah SAW was making an agreement with the polytheists of Makkan. They entered Madinah without sacrificing the Treaty of Hudaibiyah which had been agreed upon by Rasulullah (SAW) with Makkan. Here is the story of one of the companions of Rasulullah SAW.
Muslim Refugee Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A) Transforms Treaty Outcome, Establishes New Haven for Believers: After the Treaty of Hudaibiyah had been agreed upon, the first Muslim to leave Makkah Shareef for Madina Shareef was an elderly Sahaabi by the name of Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A). The Kuffaar dispatched two people to demand from Rasoolullah (S.A.W) that he be returned to the city. Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said to the Companion, “You should go back to Makkah, as you know there is an agreement between us (Muslims and the Kuffaar of Makkah) and breaking any promises is not allowed in Islam.”
Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A) asked, “Ya Rasoolullah (S.A.W) are you handing me over to such Kuffaar who’ll force me back into Shirk and Kufr?” Holy Prophet (S.A.W) replied, “Go to Makkah, Allah (S.W.T) shall find a way to deliver you from them”. Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A) accepted this and headed back to Makkah Shareef, along with two Kaafir.
When the three reached Zul-Haleefa (an area outside Madina Shareef), they stopped to rest and eat. As they began to talk to one another, Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A) said, “Your sword is surely a piece of art.” The kaafir heard this and became happy, thereafter removing the sword from its case to show Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A). The Sahaabi further asked, “Give it to me so that I may get a better understanding of its splendour.”
He handed over the sword to Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A) who immediately severed his head with such force that it flew some distance from his body. When the other Kaafir saw this gruesome scene he ran as fast as he could to Madina Shareef and rushed to enter Masjid-un-Nabawee Shareef. Seeing him, Rasoolullah (S.A.W) said that this person seems to be afraid of something.
The Kaafir said, “My companion was killed by Abu Baseer and so would I have been as well.” Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A) suddenly entered the court of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) armed with a sword and said, “O Prophet (S.A.W), Allah (S.W.T) has fulfilled your responsibility. According to the agreement, it was obligatory upon you to return me back to Makkah, which you had done. Now however, it is the blessings of Allah (S.W.T) that He has saved me from the grasp of the disbelievers.” The Prophet (S.A.W) became disturbed with this incident and resentfully said, “May his mother be lost for him; he shall surely incite fighting! It would have been better if someone had been there to stop him.”
Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A) understood that he would be returned to the Kuffaar of Makkah and therefore began to slowly move away from the gathering and began his journey to Ais (a place near the sea coast). Incidentally, Hazrat Abu Jundal (R.A) and other oppressed individuals were able to free themselves from the shackles of the Kuffaar in Makkah and had also sought refuge in Ais. This jungle of Ais had become the domain for a group of 70 people and was also travelled upon by the Kuffaar of the Quraish for business. Their caravans were looted to such extents by this group of 70 that the Kuffaar of Makkah were forced to write a letter to Rasoolullah (S.A.W) pleading to Him to accept their giving up of the clause in the treaty (which was the cause of Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A) coming to Ais), stating, “Please call your followers from the coast to Madina. You have our permission to keep in the city whoever flees from Makkah. We don’t object to it in any way.
Rasoolullah (S.A.W) ordered that a letter be written and given to Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A) instructing him to return to Madina Shareef with his group of Muslims from Ais. The letter had unfortunately reached Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A) a short while before his demise; the Sahaabi took it, placed it on his head and eyes, and thereafter passed away. Hazrat Abu Jundal (R.A) made the preparations for burial with his Companions (R.A), buried him, and built a Masjid nearby as a remembrance, then on the command of Rasoolullah (S.A.W), left with the others to take up residence in Madina Shareef.
Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A) faced a tough situation when the Treaty of Hudaibiyah required him to return to Makkah. Instead of going back to a life of oppression, he bravely resisted and eventually led a group of Muslims who had escaped from Makkah. Their actions made the Quraysh realize the trouble they were causing and forced them to amend the treaty, allowing Muslims to stay in Madinah. Hazrat Abu Baseer (R.A) played a key role in turning a difficult situation into a victory for the Muslims. His story highlights the power of courage and faith in overcoming challenges.
Rameez Rasool Mir is a social worker, poet, and nature enthusiast. He can be mailed at rameezmasw@gmail.com.
