The Way of the Prophet’s Companions

The Way of the Prophet’s Companions

1990 8 August 11-12 The Way of the Prophet’s Companions (522) During the final days of the Meccan period, the opponents of the Prophet intensified their oppression of the Muslims. At that time the Prophet allowed those Muslims who wished to leave the country to migrate to Abyssinia. As a result, more than a hundred people left Mecca for Abyssinia.

Once there, the Muslims lived peacefully, their high moral character impressing even the Christian King Negus, who held them in high esteem. Unfortunately, during their stay in Abyssinia, an incident occurred which was highly disturbing to them. Imam Ahmad, on the authority of Umm Salma (wife of Zubayr ibn Awam), tells of how, just when the Muslims had reached a better country and had settled down in more favourable surroundings Abyssinia was attacked by a rival king. They were all naturally filled with anxiety when they received the news.

King Negus went off with his army to defend his country, ultimately reaching the other side of the River Nile. After a few days, the companions of the Prophet conferred together and decided that one of them must set out for the front to brings news of the fighting. Zubayr Ibn Awam, being young then, volunteered for this task.

Umm Salma says: “A small leather water bag was filled with air like a balloon. He (Zubayr) fastened it on to his chest and plunged into the River Nile. With the help of this bag, he managed to reach the opposite bank, where the fighting was going on. We all continued to pray for Negus’s victory and for the perpetuation of his rule. We were still praying, when Zubayr returned to announce the blessing of God. Negus had won and his enemy had been annihilated. Hearing this news, we were overjoyed as we had never been before.”

The inflated leather bag, used as a swimming aid, is what is known today as a lifebelt. In modern times, it takes a number of different forms, but the ancient leather bag could be regarded as the prototype.

There was no river in or near Mecca, so that the Meccans could not have known the use of such an inflated bag. Most probably the Muslims learnt about this shows what avid seekers of knowledge they had become after embracing the new faith.

Zubayr ibn Awam was a companion of the Prophet and must undoubtedly, have had perfect faith. However, even possessed as he was of the resources of this perfect and powerful faith, he did not straightaway jump into the river or display over-enthusiasm in any other way. He did not claim that since he was equipped with the armour of faith, he needed no other aid.

Far from displaying any such fervour, he ascertained how to swim and then used the same technique as the non-Muslims did. When he jumped into the river, it was after making all the necessary preparations. He was moved by his faith, but he acted only after fulfilling all the conditions of this world of cause and effect.

This was the Islam of the companions of the Prophet. The true version of Islam is, without doubt, the same as adopted by them.