Miqdad Bin Al-Aswad
(Prophet’s
(ﷺ)
Friend)
M.
S. Bukhari
Abdul
Rehman bin Auf was one of the leading companions and a rich man. One day he and
Miqdad were sitting together. “Why don't you marry?” asked Abdul Rehman. “And
why don’t you marry your daughter to me”? was the reply.
Abdur
Rehman felt slighted. Miqdad was not match for the daughters of a rich man like
him. He lost temper and rebuked Miqdad.
Miqdad
felt up set. “Islam makes no distinction between the rich and the poor, the
high and the low”, he thought to himself. “Why should Abdur Rehman take offence
at my proposal” ? He reported the matter to the Master. “All right,” came the
reply. I will find you a more suitable match.” Before long Miqdad was husband
of Dhiba, a daughter of the Master’s own uncle. He got an honour far greater
than the one refused to him by Ahdur Rehman.
Acceptance
of Islam
Miqdad
wasthe son of Amr. He was born at Hadramut. He grew up to be a strong young
man. In a quarrel with another man, he wounded the rival. Finding his life in
danger, he ran to Mecca and came under the protection of the Qureshi chief, Al-Aswad,
who adopted him as a son. So he came to be known as Ibn-Aswad. Years later, the
Qur’an disallowed such a practice. Miqdad was given the surname of his real
father. He was now called Miqdad bin Amr. However, the old surname had become
so fixed, that it survives to this day.
Miqdad
was among the first seven converts to Islam. He had to bear the full brunt of
the wrath of the Quresh. Like all early Muslims, he had to pass through the
severest hardships. When life at Mecca became too unbearable, he migrated to
Abyssinia. He stayed there till Islam found a safe home in Medina. He then came
to Yathrib along with the rest of the refugees.
“Closeness
to the Master”
Miqdad’s
sincerity and his enthusiasm for Islam made him very close to the heart of the
Master, that was why he married his own among the four men who, the Master declared,
were loved by Allah.
Miqdad
was a tall, strong man. He was an excellent soldier and a good horseman. All
his life. he served Islam to the best of his ability. When the challenge of
Badr came; the Master sought the advice of his men. All leading companions assured
him of full support. Miqdad stood up and said: “By the Lord who has made you
His Prophet, we will follow you to any part of the world and will fight under
your flag” the Master liked the spirit of these words and prayed for Miqdad.
Miqdad was the solitary Muslim horseman in the battle of Badr and played his
part well. He fought equally bravely in all other battles.
The
Egyptian campaign
Miqdad’s
sword continued to flash even after the death of the Master. Amr lbn Aas, the conqueror
of Egypt wrote to the Caliph for more troops. Amr at once sent four thousand
troops, dividing them into four battalions. Each battalion was put under the
command of an experienced general. One of these generals was Miqdad. Omer had
such high opinion about the four generals that he wrote.
He was
sending four battalions, each consisting of a thousand troops. Each battalion
is under the command of a general who himself is equal to a thousand troops. These
generals are: Zubair bin Al-Awam, Miqdad bin Al-Aswad, Obada bin Samat and Muslima
bin Mukalld. So you have now twelve thousand troops at your disposal and an
army so big cannot be overcome f or want of number”.
Omar
was perfectly right, the reinforcement turned the tide of the war in Egypt. The
four generals sent by the Caliph did fully justify the hope put in them they
displayed such courage and skill that the General comment in Egypt was it.
Certainly the Caliph has sent eight thousand troops. Each one of the four
commanders is as good as a thousand troops. This means a strength of eight thousand.
Death
Miqdad
lived to be an old man of seventy. In later years he lived a quite life,
devoted to the Master, he had a keen insight into the teaching of the Qur’an and
the Sunnah. People looked to him for guidance and light, which he freely gave.
He died peacefully in 33 A.H. and was buried in Medina.
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