Before the battle of Badr commenced, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was initially in his shelter engaged in beseeching and imploring Allah Ta‘ala. After being promised victory, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) emerged from his shelter and, exhorting the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to fight, he promised, “I take an oath in that Being who is in control of my life, whoever is slain while fighting in the path of Allah, persevering and hoping for reward and not fleeing from the battlefield, Allah will admit him into Jannah.”
Further encouraging the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) announced, “Rush towards such a Jannah, the width of which is equal to the skies and the earth.” When Sayyiduna ‘Umair bin Humaam Ansaari (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) heard these enthralling words, he bounded up in delight and exclaimed, “How excellent! How excellent!”
“What makes you say this?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked. He replied, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! By Allah, nothing (makes me say this) except (my) desire to be among its inhabitants.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then gave him glad tidings saying, “In that case, you are from among its inhabitants.”
At that time, Sayyiduna ‘Umair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) took out some dates from his quiver and began eating it (in order to gain strength to fight). However, he thought to himself and remarked, “If I have to live until I eat these dates of mine, it would indeed be a long life.” He thus flung those dates aside and, wielding a sword, he hurled himself into the ranks of the enemy reciting few couplets which meant,
“I am rushing to Allah without any (worldly) provisions besides taqwa, actions for the Aakhirah
and perseverance on jihaad for the sake of Allah. (Moreover,) every provision will definitely be depleted
besides taqwa, piety and righteousness.”
He fought valiantly until he was martyred. He thus achieved the accolade of being the first Ansaari Sahaabi to be martyred in the battlefield.
(Saheeh Muslim #4915, Seerah Ibni Hishaam vol. 2, pg. 627, Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah vol. 3, pg. 295, and Usdul Ghaabah vol. 3, pg. 414)
Lessons:
1. A salient quality that was found among all the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) was their desire for the Hereafter and their disinclination for this world. The reason for this quality being deeply entrenched in them was because of their firm yaqeen (conviction) in the Hereafter. The result of this quality was that Sayyiduna ‘Umair bin Humaam (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) could not bear waiting any longer to leave this world and advance to the Hereafter. In retrospect, how often do we think of the Hereafter and how many times in a day do we ask Allah Ta‘ala to grant us Jannah? Therefore, we should strive to bring about the desire for Jannah in our lives by strengthening our yaqeen (conviction). By doing so, insha-Allah, Allah Ta‘ala will also grant us the fervent desire and yearning to enter Jannah.
2. Although eating is a necessity and therefore completely permissible, Sayyiduna ‘Umair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) threw the dates since it would delay him from attaining martyrdom and ultimately meeting Allah Ta‘ala. How many a time in our lives do we find that there are not only ‘delays’, but ‘obstacles’ that we have brought about between us and Allah Ta‘ala, in the form of sins, love of this world, etc. The solution to this is that we need to emulate this great Sahaabi and ‘throw away’ anything that will disrupt our relationship with Allah Ta‘ala and ‘run’ towards our Jannah.
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