Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

18. It is commonly conveyed that the companions were brave, generous, and knowledgeable and spent their time worshipping Allah (swt). If we want to determine their bravery, then let us delve in to history, how many kaffir's did the prominent companion Hadhrath Umar slay during the battles of Badr, Uhud, Khunduq, Khayber and Hunain? How many polytheists did he kill during his own Khilafath? If we wish to determine who is firm against the unbelievers it cannot be that individual who despite the Prophet (saaws)'s order refused to go the Kaffir's prior to the treaty of Hudaiybiya on the grounds that he had no support and instead suggested Hadhrath Uthman go on account of his relationship to the Ummaya clan. Al Faruq by Allamah Shibli Numani, Volume 1 page 66, English translation by Muhammad Saleem, (Ashraf Publishers)

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Answer:

Umar bravery and hudaibiya

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Every companion of the Prophet (saws), was blessed with some strengths, sometimes one more than the other. In any movement and team, there are always people who specialize in one form or the other, so that the mission can be accomplished. Some of the companions, like Hadrat Abu Bakr, Hadrat Uthman, etc. were blessed with abundant Bounty from Allah and they would spend in the Cause of Allah. Some of the companions like Hadrat Ali, Hadrat Hamza, Hadrat Zubair, Hadrat Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, etc. were brave and courageous warriors and fought in the way of Allah. Some of the companions, like Abdulla ibn Masood, etc. were expert reciters of the Holy Quran and they would teach the believers. Some companions like Hadrat Khalid bin Al Waleed were expert commanders in war! Some of the companions like Hadrat Hassan ibn Thabit were expert poets who would do jihad with their poetry! It was upto the leader, Prophet Mohamed (saws), who recognized each companion’s strength and allocated them their responsibilities.

Besides, there was no competition between these noble companions as to who killed the most kaafirs, to stamp their superiority in the sight of Allah and His Messenger (saws)! I will relate a simple example to explain my point. Hadrat Hassan bin Thabit was an expert poet, who would reply in poetry to the verses written against the Messenger of Allah (saws). In the Battle of Khandaq, Hadrat Safeeya told him to behead a captured Jew, but he refused because, he was not comfortable with the killings. Hadrat Safeeya herself beheaded the captured Jew, and told Hadrat Hassan to throw the severed head over the fort amidst the Jews, to strike awe and terror into their hearts; and again Hadrat Hassan could not bring himself to do this, so Hadrat Safeeya threw the head amidst the Jews herself. Now this same companion who was obviously not an expert in the art of war, was given the honor as the only companion who was invited and allowed by the Messenger of Allah (saws) to stand along with him, on his mimbar, and deliver his poetry in response to the Quraish! Thus each companion had his own strength, and it was upto the Messenger of Allah (saws) to recognize those strengths and mobilize his team for his blessed mission!

Ref: Hadrat Umar’s recommendation to send Hadrat Uthman to Makkah for the negotiations.

Few companions were as fearless and courageous in defending the Prophet (saws) and his mission like Hadrat Umar! And the character of Hadrat Umar was such, that the Quraish would not even talk to him, leave alone negotiate with him about allowing the muslims to perform the Umrah that year. And we must also understand that during the times of the Prophet (saws), the tribal system was prevalent and respected by friends and foes alike. That is why Hadrat Umar recommended that Hadrat Uthman, who belonged to the tribe of Banu Ummayyah (which was incidentally also the tribe of the leader of the Quraish, Abu Sufyan) go, and negotiate with the Quraish. His argument and wisdom was that the Quraish would at least respect the ties of kinship with Hadrat Uthman, and would thus allow the muslims to perform the Umrah to the Sacred House. Besides, it was not that the Messenger of Allah (saws) ordered Hadrat Umar, but it was during the consultation that Hadrat Umar recommended the name of Hadrat Uthman to lead the negotiations, which was accepted by the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother in Islam,

Burhan