The Army of Usamah

After performing the Farewell Tawaf, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ departed for Madinah al-Munawwarah.

During the return journey, at a place called Ghadir Khumm, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gathered his Companions and delivered a sermon before them. He said:

“People! Indeed, I am also a human being like you and a servant. It is possible that soon the messenger of my Lord will come to me (that is, the call to return to Him may come to me), and I will submit myself before him. I too am accountable before Allah, and you too are accountable. Now, what do you say?”

“We bear witness that indeed you have conveyed the message properly, made every effort in doing so, and given complete counsel.”

Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Do you not bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, that Paradise, Hell, and death are realities, that being brought back to life after death is true, and that the Day of Judgment is certainly going to come? There is no doubt or uncertainty concerning it, and that Allah Almighty will raise again those who have already entered their graves?”

The Companions رضي الله عنهم said:

“Indeed, we bear witness to all these things.”

Upon this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“O Allah, bear witness.”

Then he ﷺ said:

“People! Remain firmly attached to the Qur’an. I am leaving two weighty things among you: one is the Book of Allah, and the other is my household (which includes the blessed wives and the daughters of the Prophet ﷺ). Do not become divided and separated from one another, until you gather with me at the Pond of Kawthar.”

On this occasion, regarding Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Whoever’s master and patron I am, ‘Ali is also his master and patron. O Allah, whoever is the supporter of ‘Ali, then You also become his supporter; and whoever is hostile toward him, then You also become hostile toward him. Whoever loves him, then You also love him; and whoever hates him, then You also hate him. Whoever helps him, then You also help him; and whoever supports him, then You also support him. Whoever humiliates him, then humiliate him. Wherever he may be, make truth and righteousness his companion.”

The word Mawla has many meanings. Here, the intention of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was that Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه is an elder, leader, and respected person for all the believers. One meaning of Mawla is also “helper.” In total, there are nearly twenty meanings of the word Mawla.

The famous Hadith scholar Imam Nawawi رحمه الله was asked:

“The statement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, ‘Whoever’s Mawla I am, ‘Ali is also his Mawla’—does this statement mean that Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه was more deserving of the position of leadership than Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما?”

In answer to this question, Imam Nawawi رحمه الله said:

“This meaning cannot be derived from this Hadith. Rather, according to those scholars who are prominent in this field and whose research can be relied upon, the meaning of this Hadith is that whoever’s helper, master, and beloved I am, ‘Ali is also his helper, master, and beloved.”

On the return journey from this trip, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ spent the night at Dhul-Hulayfah. He did not prefer to enter Madinah al-Munawwarah during the night.

Then, when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw Madinah al-Munawwarah, he said the Takbir three times and recited these words:

“There is no deity except Allah. He is One and Alone; He has no partner. The kingdom and all praise belong to Him, and He has complete power over everything. We are returning in repentance, prostrating before our Lord, and praising Him. The promise of Allah has come true. He helped His servant, and He alone defeated all the groups.”

Then, in the morning, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered Madinah al-Munawwarah.

In 11 AH, on a Monday, when the last days of the month of Safar were passing, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered preparations to be made against the great Roman Empire.

The following day, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Hazrat Usamah ibn Zayd رضي الله عنه and said:

“Proceed toward the place where your father was martyred, and let this region be traversed by the Islamic cavalry. I appoint you as the commander of this army.

Travel toward your destination with great speed so that you reach the enemy before their spies can bring them information.

If Allah Almighty grants you victory over them, do not remain among those people for long, and take spies and informers with you.”

The following day, Wednesday, the Messenger of Allah’s ﷺ blessed head began to ache. After that, he also developed a fever.

On Thursday, despite his illness, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ personally handed the flag to Hazrat Usamah رضي الله عنه and then said:

“Go in the name of Allah and strive in His path, and fight those who have disbelieved in Allah.”

Hazrat Usamah ibn Zayd رضي الله عنه departed with his flag and the Islamic army.

At that time, he was still very young.

Despite his young age, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had appointed him commander of the army, even though there were many prominent and experienced people among the Companions رضي الله عنهم.

Because of this, some of the Companions felt that when so many senior and experienced people were present, why had a young man been appointed as commander of the army?

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to know of these comments, he became extremely displeased.

He ﷺ even came out of his blessed chamber at that very moment.

At that time, a bandage was wrapped around his blessed head, and he was wearing a cloak over his blessed body.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered the mosque and went up onto the pulpit.

He praised and glorified Allah and then addressed the Companions:

“People! What are these things that have reached me from you regarding the appointment of Usamah as commander?

Previously, when I appointed Usamah’s father as commander, some similar comments were also heard.

By Allah Almighty, he—that is, Zayd ibn Harithah—was most deserving of being made commander, and after him, his son is most deserving of being made commander.

These two father and son are such that nothing but good can be expected from them.

Therefore, think only good of Usamah, because he is one of the best among you.”

Now those Companions who were going to depart for Jihad with the army of Hazrat Usamah رضي الله عنه began coming to meet the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

At that time, his ﷺ health was quite poor.

Despite this, he kept saying:

“Send the army of Usamah away.”

Because of his illness, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had prevented Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه from going with the army and instructed him to lead the people in prayer.

On Sunday, the illness of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became more severe.

Hazrat Usamah رضي الله عنه had stopped with his army outside Madinah al-Munawwarah.

From there, he came to meet the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

When he entered the blessed chamber of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the Prophet ﷺ was lying down in a weakened state with his eyes closed.

Hazrat Usamah رضي الله عنه gently massaged his blessed head and kissed his forehead.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not say anything.

He ﷺ raised both his hands upward and placed them upon Usamah.

Hazrat Usamah رضي الله عنه understood that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was supplicating for him.

After this, Usamah رضي الله عنه returned to his army.

The army was then at a place called Jurf.

The Islamic army was preparing to depart when a message arrived from Madinah al-Munawwarah:

“The health of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has become poor. Do not go.”

Thus, the army could not depart.

Before his illness became severe, one day the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to the cemetery of Baqi‘ at midnight and supplicated for the forgiveness of every believer.

When he returned from the cemetery, severe pain began in his blessed head.

The Noble Messenger ﷺ told Sayyidah ‘Aishah as-Siddiqah رضي الله عنها about the headache, and she began massaging his head.

Along with the headache, a fever also began.

Even after the illness had begun, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ continued visiting all his blessed wives according to their appointed turns.

On the day when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to Hazrat Maymunah رضي الله عنها, his illness became more severe.

At that point, he ﷺ called all his wives and asked their permission for him to be cared for in the chamber of Hazrat ‘Aishah as-Siddiqah رضي الله عنها.

They all willingly gave him permission.

Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ began experiencing periods of unconsciousness.

When the fever became more intense, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered that seven water-skins of water be brought from different wells and instructed that the water be poured over him.