Page 148 - Self-Sacrifice in the Qur'an's Moral Teachings

Self-Sacrifice in the Qur'an's Moral Teachings

curity and success. Telling others not to worry about him, he urged the
soldiers to continue fighting:

Nu`man ibn Muqarrin mounted his horse and toured the troops. He
stopped beside every standard and encouraged them to battle. He then
said: "If anyone is martyred, even myself, let nobody gather around
him. Let nobody hang back from the attack." A fierce battle took place.
Nu`man, commander of the army of Islam, fell. "Place a garment over
me, attack the foe without waiting, and do not let my state alarm you or
cause you to relax."
When Nu`man was wounded and fell, I went to his side. Remembering his
words that nobody should lose time with anyone else, even for him, I did
not linger. The Persian army was defeated. The battle was over. I went to

Nu`man. He was about to die. He asked me: "What did the Muslims do?"
[I replied:] "Allah gave us victory." [He said:] "Alhamdulillah!" Nu`man
ibn Muqarrin then breathed his last and expired. 32
Other examples of great self-sacrifice can be seen in those
Companions, regardless of age, whose love for Allah, enthusiasm for
His religion, and faithfulness to the Prophet (saas) made them desire to
follow him into battle. Abu Sa`id al-Khudri, who had been too young
to fight at Badr, asked the Prophet (saas) to let him fight at Uhud.
However, the Prophet (saas) told him to stay in Madinah with the
other children. 33
Abd-Allah ibn al-Zubayr was 12 years old when he fought in the
Battle of Yarmuk, and four years later he participated in the defeat of

Egypt. This young man's enthusiasm and courage have remained ex-
34
amples to all Muslims. Also, the elderly and crippled Amr ibn al-
Jamuh was so convinced of Islam's truth and so desired to win Allah's
approval that he asked our Prophet (saas) to let him fight at Uhud. His

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