Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadaرضي الله عنه

Whenever we hear the name Abbas, what often comes to mind is the uncle of the Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace. Many do not know, but a friend of the Prophet is also named Abbas. An extraordinary leader of the Ansar managed to convince the Khazraj tribe to fight together with the Prophet. He is Abbas bin Ubadah.

His full name is Al-Abbas bin Ubadah bin Nadhlah Al-Anshari radhiyallahu 'anhu. A friend of the Ansar from the Khazraj tribe. In fact, the Ansar who converted to Islam in the early days.

It was before the Migration... Rasulullahﷺ sent Mus’ab bin Umayr, a young Companion, to Madinah so that he could spread Islam and teach the Muslims there. Saiyidina Mus'ab رضي الله عنه was a person who could speak well and could explain what he meant without offending people. Therefore, Rasulullahﷺ sent him there with such an important duty. In fact, Saiyidina Mus'ab رضي الله عنه fulfilled this duty very well. He came to Aqabah with 75 people, 73 of whom were men and 2 of whom were women in the 13th year of the prophethood. He met Rasulullahﷺ there. These twelve figures of Yathrib pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah not to associate partners with Allah, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to kill children, not to lie (and commit sin) between their hands and feet, and not to oppose good deeds.When they returned to Yathrib, the Messenger of Allah sent young men from among the assabiqunal awwalun to teach them Islam and preIn Yathrib, Mush'ab bin Umair lived in As'ad bin Zurarah's house. Then, he preached to the residents of Yathrib, including their leaders.

Mus'ab's good looks, the smoothness of his speech, and his communication skills really helped the development of his da'wah. Not only succeeded in inviting ordinary people to convert to Islam, Mush'ab also succeeded in inviting Sa'ad bin Mu'adz and Usaid bin Hudhair to convert to Islam. Both of them were leaders of Bani Abdul Asyhal. When both of them converted to Islam, their people flocked to Islam.ach Islam to the people of Yathrib. 

The young man was Mus'ab bin Umair. In the next Hajj season, namely the 13th year of the prophethood, Mus'ab bin Umair came to Mecca with 75 Yatsib men, consisting of 73 men and 2 women. They agreed to meet the Messenger of Allah on the night of the middle of Tashrik in Aqabah.Al-Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib who accompanied the Messenger of Allah asked the people of Yathrib to ascertain if it was true that they would protect the Messenger of Allah. If he is not ready, he will not let the Messenger of Allah leave Mecca because he has a noble position and has a family that is ready to take care of him.

"Indeed we have heard what you said, O Al Abbas. Indeed, we have determined to protect the Messenger of Allah and will not allow him to be humiliated. Say, O Messenger of Allah, take what you like for yourself and your Lord," said Yathrib's spokesman.Then the Prophet recited the Qur'an, prayed to God, and called them all to believe in God. Then, he said: "I accept your allegiance so that you protect me as you protect your wife and children."

Hearing the words of the Messenger of Allah, Barra bin Ma'rur immediately got up with enthusiasm. Before they said the oath of allegiance, Abbas bin Ubadah motivated them."Indeed you will swear allegiance to the Messenger of Allah to always protect him. You will pledge allegiance to fight anyone who fights him. If you feel that disaster and destruction will befall you, or your leader will be killed, cancel this pledge right now. By God, if you feel that way, it is truly a loss in this world and the hereafter."

"However, if you feel able to fulfill the pledge to him even if you have to lose your property and lose your leader, then keep your promise and take the Messenger of God with you. By Allah, it is indeed a good thing in the hereafter," said Abbas bin Ubadah.

With full confidence, they then pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace. History records this event as the second Bait of Aqabah.

Long story short, Mus'ab bin Umar successfully preached Islam with great success. The people of Yatsrib converted to Islam in droves until there was no house unless there were Muslims in it. They also miss the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. He did not want to let him be hurt in Mecca by the Quraysh infidels who opposed da'wah.

First Pledge of Allegiance

Abbas bin Ubadah converted to Islam when he first met the Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, that is at the first Pledge of Allegiance of Aqabah. At that time, 12 people from Yathrib met the Messenger of Allah during the Hajj season in the 12th year of prophethood. They are:

As'ad bin Zurarah

Auf bin Harits

Rafi' bin Malik

Qutbah bin Amr

Aqabah bin Amr

Muadz bin Harith

Dzakwan bin Abdi Qais

Ubadah bin Shamit

Yazid bin Tsa'labah

Abu Al-Haitham bin Taihan

Uwaim bin Saidah

Abbas bin Ubadah

The first five names met the Prophet and converted to Islam in the 11th year of the prophethood. There were actually six people, but the sixth person named Jabir bin Abdullah could not take the first pledge of Aqabah due to illness. These six of them invited seven other people.

One of those 75 people who went there to pay allegiance to Rasulullahﷺ was Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه. Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه could speak fluently. Abbas bin Ubadaرضي الله عنه  made a very nice speech there:

“You will in fact avow that you will fight Arabs and non-Arabs. You will face many dangers. You may die, lose your property, and be scattered. Pay allegiance if you want to take the risk. If you think of leaving Rasulullahﷺ to the hands of the enemy, give this up now. If you promise and cannot keep your promise, it will be a disgrace for you in both the world and the hereafter. If you protect him against all kinds of dangers, it will be good for you in both the world and the hereafter.”

Upon this speech, the people who were in Aqabah said all together,

“We are ready to face any danger to protect him.” Then, they paid allegiance to the Rasulullahﷺ one by one. This pleased Rasulullahﷺ very much. While the pledge continued at Aqabah, the polytheists were informed about it. Rasulullahﷺ  said to the Muslims of Madinah,

“Go back to the places where you stopped over.” Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه spoke sincerely:  

“O Messenger of Allah! We swear by Allah, who sent you with the true religion, we will attack the people in Mina and kill them if you give us permission.” However, Rasulullahﷺ said,

“We were not ordered to do so yet.”

[The Mosque of Al Aqobah  - the location where both Prophet Muhammad and the Ansar
pledge the "Aqabah Treaty of Pledge] 

After the Pledge of Aqabah, Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه settled in Makkah. Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه wanted to be near Rasulullahﷺ. Meanwhile, the polytheists increased the torture and pressure on the Muslims. However, Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه was ready to take any risks to be near Rasulullahﷺ. As a matter of fact, when he was in Makkah, he encountered many problems. When the order to migrate was given, he migrated to Madinah. Thus, Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه was honored to be both a Muhajir and an Ansar. He was given the name “the Muhajir of Ansar”. Rasulullahﷺ established a brotherhood between him and Osman bin Ma'zunرضي الله عنه, one of the notables of Muhajirs. 

Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه did not join the Battle of Badr because of his excuse. However, he suffered its agony. He was one of the first people to join the army Rasulullahﷺ prepared for the Battle of Uhud. One of those who persevered when the army was defeated due to the disobedience of the archers for the order of the Rasulullahﷺ was Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadah رضي الله عنه. Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadaرضي الله عنه swung his sword at the enemy and shouted as follows:

"O Muslims! This misfortune that you are suffering is the result of your disobedience to your Rasulullahﷺ. He promised you that you would be helped with patience and perseverance. If we are not among those who protect Rasulullahﷺ and if he is harmed, we will have no excuse to present to our Lord. "

Friends of the Muhajirin Ansar

After everyone pledged allegiance, Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه said, "O Messenger of Allah, by the One who sent you with the truth, if you wish, tomorrow I will attack the people of Mina with our swords."

Hearing the bravery of Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه, Rasulullahﷺ smiled. "Be patient, you guys. We were not sent and ordered to do such violence. Go and return to your tents.”

Just as they came secretly so that no one knew, they also returned to the tent quietly so that no one knew that the pledge of allegiance had taken place which would usher in a new chapter of Sirah Nabawiyah.

When the Hajj season was over and they returned to Yathrib, Abbas did not go home with them. Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه lives in Makkah. He spent time with Rasulullahﷺ and only returned to Yathrib when Rasulullahﷺ migrated. Therefore, Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه is known as a friend of the Ansar who migrated (muhajirin).

Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه broke the sheath of his sword after completing his speech. He took off his armor and helmet. He remained among the polytheists. Despite receiving many wounds, he tried to stand up and swing his sword at the enemy lest the polytheists should harm Rasulullahﷺ. Finally, he was exhausted. Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه was martyred with the happiness of protecting Rasulullahﷺ until he breathed his last. May Allah be pleased with him! 

After Rasulullahﷺ migrated, Yathrib changed its name to Madinatun Nabi (the city of Rasulullahﷺ) or in short, Madinah. In Madinah, the Messenger of Allah fraternized Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه with Uthman bin Mazh'un.

At the Battle of Uhud, Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه was very enthusiastic.  Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه made the Battle of Uhud an opportunity to get a delayed reward during the Battle of Badr.  Saiyidina Abbas bin Ubadahرضي الله عنه fought bravely until later martyred in this war. 

_______Referensi:

• Sirah Nabawiyah Ar-Rakhiqul Makhtum karya Syekh Shafiyyurrahman Al-Mubarakfury
• Ensiklopedia Biografi Sahabat Nabi karya Muhammad Raji Hasan Kinas
• Sahabat Muhammad karya Dr. Nizah Abazhah

[1]Usdul-Ghaba, 3: 108-10; Sirah, 2: 90; Hz. Muhammed ve İslamiyet, 3: 154.

Author:

Encyclopedia of the Companions

[Muchlisin BK/BersamaDakwah]