ALMISKEENAH

 

BADR 

A deep overwhelming sadness was experienced today. Heart tears still flow while I struggle to maintain patience, the essence of this Mubarak month.

We decided to drive to Badr, to honour yaum ul-furqan, the Day of Distinction, the battle between Truth and falsehood, between right and wrong, between belief and disbelief. The first battle Allah Ta’ala allowed, on the 17^th day of the first Ramadhan decreed by Allah Ta’ala, in the second year after Hijrah. (Previous posts [1,2] cover details as well as other links)

313 unarmed Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum, 70 camels, 2 horses and 8 swords, (according to many narrations) with the only other weapons of sticks and stones, made the arduous journey of 150 kilometers south-west from Madinah towards the Red Sea. The mountain ranges are awesome, the rubble and sand scorching hot. The temperature at Badr today was at least 10 degrees hotter than here in Madinah, the unrelenting sweltering winds showing no mercy.

And this same lack of mercy is what we were greeted with as we drove to the site of the most moving battle in the history of mankind. An arrogant shurta, policeman sauntered out of a structure attached to the low fence where in the past one could stand beside and look inside the Shuhadah area. And before we could even alight from the car he was saying mamnu’ mamnu’, bida’…. forbidden, prohibited, innovation, and gesturing to promptly disappear.

I felt my heart stop. Tears welled. The anger button activated. The temperature under my abaya rising to match that of outside….but what recourse do we have against these “….” (for the sake of politeness, and for the sake of Ramadhan I will suppress these fingers from bashing the letters I would like to.)  Any altercation may have meant we would have been having Iftar provided by the police or the Commission of Commanding Virtue and Preventing Vice, or both.  

So much for vice and virtue. Only a few days ago in one of the local Arabic daily papers the news of an elaborate memorial to be built near Yanbu, not far from Badr, commemorating the meeting of the first Saudi king, Abdul Aziz with his Egyptian counterpart , King Farouq was announced. And yet the treatment given to our noble Islamic history is mamnu’, bida’

The poignant story of Huzaifah ibn Yaman RadhiAllahu anhu, pierced my morose mood. He was migrating from Makkah at the same time as Abu Jahl and the doomed Quraishi army. When Huzaifah RadhiAllahu anhu was asked by Abu Jahl where he was going, he replied to see Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Abu Jahl with a sword to Huzaifah’s throat made him promise that he would not join in the battle against the Quraish. To save his life he complied. When he arrived in Madinah the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam had already assembled the small army, and naturally Huzaifah RadhiAllahu anhu, like all eager to fight for the Truth, he requested to be included. But when the Prophet heard of the promise he had made to Abu Jahl, he refused permission for Huzaifah RadhiAllahu anhu’s presence in the contingency. The integrity of our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, regardless of the urgency of the situation was always of the highest caliber. He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “What has been held out in assurance and a promise given will not be violated.”  SubhanAllah.

So Huzaifah RadhiAllahu anhu was denied the honour of becoming a Badri. His heart must have been shattered. Upon reflecting on the incident we faced today I feel a far greater empathy for how Sayyidina Huzaifah RadhiAllahu anhu must have felt.  The sacrifices, the tests, the suffering, the zeal come that little closer. SubhanAllah.

And may a miniscule fraction of the sentiments expressed in the following Hadith be showered upon all who intend to go to Badr for Ziarah, but are prevented.

Abdullah ibn Umar Radhiallahu anhu narrated that when the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam saw ‘Uthman RadhiAllahu anhu going back and forth to equip the Army of Hardship (jaish al-usra) before the Battle of Badr took place, the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam prayed: “O Allah, forgive ‘Uthman for every step he takes back and forth, for every deed he hides and every deed he displays, and forgive him for whatever thoughts he conceals and whatever words he utters.”

So we drove the short distance to Masjid ‘Areesh, (below) built on the place where the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum constructed a small shelter for our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alahi wasallam. This is where Allah Ta’ala accepted the Du’a of His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and where Du’a is accepted for us, SubhanAllah.

 

The wall "protecting" us from the forbidden, the prohibitive, and preventing us from bida’, Astaghfirullah.

We tried to drive around to gain a view inside, but this was the closest we could get, the far ochre wall is that of the Shuhadah area. 

 

On appraoching the township of Badr are massive sand dunes. They are unique and stark amongst the rugged granite mountains….and it from here that it is told the Angels who were sent to fight with the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum appeared from these dunes. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Along the new highway are the remains of older style mud brick villages. The oasis below was adjacent to a small town called Al-Hasaniyah, where we counted more than twenty minarets…it seemed that there was a masjid for every ten houses or so.

 

The mountains are stunning, the colours muted earthy tones which exude a distinct beauty.

 

To be a “Badri” was a great distinction among the noble Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum. The names of these distinguished warriors from Badr are recited as a Dhikr. (But don’t tell our shurta friend at Badr!!!) So sacred are these names that Allah Ta’ala accepts supplications in token of their piety. Our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam had predicted: “A battle is going to take place and Allah Ta’ala has granted salvation to all those who will take part in the battle.”

From manaqib, which I linked to last Ramadhan as well;  audio download of the names of the participants in the Battle of Badr, plus an accompanying booklet espousing the virtues of Noble Companions of Badr.

“May Allah give us the Tawfiq to recite the Manaqib and accrue the many benefits associated with it. May He cause us to rise up in the company of the blessed Companions of Badr who will be uniting again under the banner of the seal of the Prophets (Allah bless him and give him peace) on the Day of Reckoning.”

May we take the time, whether individually, or in community groups to devote time to bring the lessons and dignity of Badr into our hearts during these next few days.

Allah helped you at Badr when you were very weak. Be mindful of Allah, so that you may be grateful. Remember when you said to the believers, “Will you be satisfied if your Lord reinforces you by sending down three thousand angels? Well, if you are steadfast and mindful of Allah, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand swooping angels if the enemy should suddenly attack you, and Allah arranged it so. (3:123–125)

 

 

Driving back into this Luminous City of Enlightenment…the newly planted avenue of date palms,the minaret of Miqat, and the Royal Palace on top of Jabal Habshi feint in the far distance.

 

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.