On the occasion of the Battle of Ahzaab (also known as the Battle of Khandaq – the Trench), a group of disbelievers managed to cross over a narrow portion of the trench with their horses. Observing this, a group of Muslims, including Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه, came forward to combat these disbelievers and defend Madinah Munawwarah.
Among this group of disbelievers was the famous warrior of Makkah, ‘Amr bin ‘Abd-e-Wudd. He had been injured during the Battle of Badr, and hence he was unable to participate in the Battle of Uhud. Thus, on this occasion, he came forward in order to boast and demonstrate his bravery and strength.
He stepped forward and called out arrogantly, “Who is prepared to enter into a duel with me?” Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه immediately asked Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم for permission to go forward and enter into a duel with him saying, “O Nabi of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم! I am prepared to enter into a duel with him!” However, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, “Remain behind, for this man is ‘Amr (bin ‘Abd-e-Wudd who is very skilled in combat).”
‘Amr then called out for a duel again, and began to taunt the Muslims saying, “Where is the Jannah which you claim your martyrs will enter? Will none of you step forward to fight me?” Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه again stood and sought permission from Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم, but once again, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم told him not to go forward and gave him the same reply as the first time.
The third time ‘Amr issued his challenge, Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه again sought permission from Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. This time, when Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said to him, “Remain behind, for this man is ‘Amr,” Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه responded, “I do not mind fighting him, even though he is ‘Amr (bin ‘Abd-e-Wudd)!”
It was only then that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم permitted Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه to go forward and accept the challenge of ‘Amr. Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم gave him his sword, tied a turban on his head and made du‘aa for him saying, “O Allah! Assist him against ‘Amr!”
Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه addressed ‘Amr and said, “O ‘Amr! You had pledged that if any man of the Quraish has to place two choices before you, you will certainly accept one.” ‘Amr replied, “Yes, that is true.” Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه then said, “I thus invite you to Allah, His Rasul صلى الله عليه وسلم and to Islam.” ‘Amr replied, “I have no need for that.” Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه replied, “I then challenge you to fight.” ‘Amr responded, “O my nephew! By Allah! I would not like to kill you!” Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه replied, “However, I swear by Allah that I would love to kill you!”
This threw ‘Amr into a furious rage. He dismounted from his horse, cut its legs and then struck it on the face with his sword. He then advanced towards Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه and swung his sword towards him. Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه blocked his swing with his shield, but such was the power of the blow that the sword became embedded in the shield, causing it to split. The sword also reached the head of Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه and caused it to be wounded.
Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه then swung his sword, striking ‘Amr on the shoulder. Such was the might of Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه that with this one blow, ‘Amr collapsed to the ground. Rasulullah صلی الله عليه وسلم was overjoyed at the victory of Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه and called out the takbeer.
Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه then returned to Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم, whose face was radiant with happiness. As he drew close, Hazrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنه asked him, “Why did you not take his armor as booty, for among the Arabs, there is no armor better than his armor?” Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه replied, “When I struck him, he exposed his satr (private part) towards me. I thus felt shame (to go near his body and remove his armor in that condition).”
It was on this occasion that Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه recited the following couplets:
نَصَرَ الْحِجَارَةَ مِنْ سَفَاهَةِ رَأْيِهْ وَنَصَرْتُ رَبَّ مُحَمَّدٍ بِصَوَابِيْ
He (i.e. ‘Amr bin ‘Abd-e-Wudd) assisted idols due to his foolishness Whereas I assisted the (deen of the) Rabb of Muhammed صلى الله عليه وسلم due to being rightly-guided
فَصَدَدْتُّ حِيْنَ تَرَكْتُهُ مُتَجَدِّلًا كَالْجِذْعِ بَيْنَ دَكَادِكَ وَرَوَابِيْ
When I left him, I left him lying flat, like the trunk of a date palm lying among the sand dunes,
وَعَفَفْتُ عَنْ أَثْوَابِهِ وَلَوْ أَنَّنَيْ كُنْتُ الْمُقَطَّرَ بَزَّنِيْ أَثْوَابِيْ
And I refrained from (taking) any of his clothing. Had I been in his place, dripping with blood, then he would have still stripped me of my clothing
لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللهَ خَاذِلَ دِيْنِهْ وَنَبِيِّهِ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْأَحْزَابِ
O groups of Muslims! Do not ever think that Allah Ta‘ala will abandon His deen and His Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم (and all those who follow Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم)
(Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah 6/40-45, Rowdh-ul-Unf 6/209-212 and Sharhuz Zurqaani 3/42)
(Ihyaauddeen.co.za)
REFLECTIONS
This story shows the bravery of Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه who was eager to face the strongest of enemies.
الله أكبر!
He had such an ardent desire to defend Islam.
The Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم were not afraid of death, therefore they were fearless and brave. They neither had love for wealth nor any fear for the enemy. These are the wonderful people of whom Islam is proud.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us, the Ummah of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم, these qualities of the Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم.