Preferring Others

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

Shaykh ‘Utsman Nuri Tufbas wrote, in “Islam, Spirit, & Form”, the following incident, narrated by Sayyidina Hudzayfah ibn al-Yaman (r.a.).  It shows the level of kindness and generosity that the members of the early community attained. 

Sayyidina Hudzayfah (r.a.) was searching the battlefield for survivors at the battle of Yarmuk.  He narrates, “I saw my cousin, Harits, in a pool of blood.  I rushed to him to give him water, but when he was taking the water he heard the voice of ‘Ikrimah, ‘Water, a drop of water for the sake of Allah!’ 

Harith pointed his eyes to ‘Ikrimah and withdrew his hand from the water, signifying that I should take the water to him.  When I reached him, this time we heard the voice of Iyash, ‘Water, please water!’ 

‘Ikrimah like Harits, did not accept the water, and instead pointed me towards Iyash.  I rushed to Iyash, but he did not have time to drink the water before he gave up his life.  Then, I rushed back to take the water to ‘Ikrimah, but he was also dead by that time.  I ran back to Harits, but unfortunately he had also passed away. 

Three warriors, who were about to become martyrs, preferred to give up water offered for drink in favour of sacrificing their chance so that another person could drink first. As a result, not one of them was reached before he took his last breath and each became a martyr without drinking a drop of water.” 

This exemplifies the high standards of Islamic morality that became embodied in the lives of its early followers.  These same people were more than happy to kill one another for the simplest of reasons during the time of ignorance.  Through Islam, their hearts were Enveloped by a Divine Mercy and Grace to such an extent that their time was later referred to by Muslims as ‘aswr as-sa’adah, the time of felicity.