The Arab people used to name their boys with powerful meanings, as the name has a considerable influence in a persons life. The Arabs were blessed with the most heroic and valorous qualities since ancient era. The parents used to keep such names with the intentions that, it might give powerful influence in their boys trait and life and they might become great worriers when they grow up. The meaning of Miqdad was “a powerful and strong person”. How beautifully Sayyidina Miqdaad bin Amr (R.D) proved throughout his life that he was given the right name by his parents! Sayyidina Miqdaad bin Amr (R.D) was the first cavalryman (A person who fights in the battle riding on a horse, that needs a lot of courage and bravery, because he has to do many things at the same time, controlling the horse and keep himself firm on the ride because the horse sometimes stands only on the two back foot out of fear in the battle, the rider has to learn to stay vertically on the back of the horse in a situation of battle where enemies are all around to take the persons life with sharp weapons, he has to keep fighting and go through so many other conditions of a battle, that’s why to become a cavalryman needs strong Imaan, courage, bravery and strength) of Islam, He was that Sahaba whose words, before the battle of Badr made the entire groups of Sahaba Ikram (R.D) enthusiastic to take part in the first Azeemush Shan battle of Islam, the battle of Badr.

Miqdad bin Amr was borne in Yemen, his fathers name was Amar bin Saad. In his young age because of some misbehavior of the people of his nation, he had to run away from Yemen to Mecca Mukarrama. Where he became the slave of a local of Mecca named Al-Aswad ibn Abd al-Yaghuuth. His master was a good man, he was very pleased by his obedience that he took Miqdad as his adopted son. Since then he used to called by people as Miqdad bin al Aswad (Miqdad the son of Aswad) although he changed the name when Allah SWT revealed,

ٱدْعُوهُمْ لِـَٔابَآئِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ

(Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allāh)

Just after this revelation he changed his name of adoption and restored his Fathers name, thus he was called Miqdad bin Amr (R.D) after that. Subhanallah! how beautiful things to learn from the lives of Sahaba (R.D), sometimes when a lady gets married in different culture they are forced to take the names of their spouse, the girl obey to maintain her marriage life happy but the Lord of the Universe decided something different, we should remember if we do it for our own desire and to pressure somebody, in this world we might be saved but when we hurt a person just for fulfilling our own desire, on the day of judgment there will be horrible accountability to face. May Allah saves us . Ameen. Again sometimes when people become rich from life of poverty, they starts calling themselves with high family names to show they have high linage since before (not in the entire world but in different society), we should learn that, it brings the wrath of Allah, In a Hadeeth it is narrated “The curse of Allah is on them.” We should remember its a lie which a person keeps bearing with his name. May Allah SWT protects us. Ameen

However, As soon as the prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) started His mission, Miqdad (R.D) was among those first people who accepted Islam before everybody else, thus he had to go through persecution by the Quraish in great deal. Therefore he migrated from Mecca by the permission of Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). One year after the migration of the prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) the Quraishites were came in Badr with 1000 armies to eliminate the light of Islam for forever. Sahaba (R.D) were only 313 in number, they did not have enough weapon, enough clothing to cover their body, they were fasting, in some narration they did not have a pair of shoes to cover their feet from the heat of the hot sand of the desert even. Such condition of poverty and such odd battle where one party is fully equipped and the other party had nothing but Yaqeen of Allah and love for the prophet of Allah and Islam! It was the first battle of Islam, it was really not so easy to get ready to give life for the cause of Allah just in one call, but those golden people showed outstanding quality of love for their prophet Allahu Akber! so what did they do? Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) set out for Badr when He reached Al-Rauha ( A place outside Madinah), He stood up to take Mashwara from the Sahaba (R.D) before the battle, to know will they be by His side during the battle? so He asked to them, “What do you intend?”

Abu Bakr (R.D) answered, ” Ya Rasulullah, we have informed that, they have been reached to such and such place”.

Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) did not reply him, again He asked to the people ” What do you intend?” Thus, Umar (R.D) said something but prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) again asked the same question, Miqdad (R.D) who was keeping silence, he understood what the prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) willing for, he stepped forward and with his humble but strong voice he said,

” Ya Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), go ahead by the Hukm of Allah, we will stand by you, By Allah we will never say as the Bani Israil said to Musa (Alayhissalam) ,

ٱذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَـٰتِلَآ إِنَّا هَـٰهُنَا قَـٰعِدُونَ

(So go—both you and your Lord—and fight; we are staying right here)

Instead we will say go ahead by the command of Allah, we will remain by your side and fight with you. If you take us to the end of the world, we will tolerate all the hardships until we reach the goal with you. we will fight with you from all sides until Allah SWT gives you victory”

His words had such power and motivation that all the truthful companions of Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi wa sallam) became filled up with enthusiasm to fight for the cause of Allah, although they were barefooted, although they were fasting, although the heat of the sun was against them, although they did not have enough weapon, even after all disadvantages that made them sure they will get martyred most probably, still their Imaan was so strong that everybody became ready to give their life, by his strong words on that day. Sahaba (R.D) said that Miqdads (R.D) words were more beloved to us than the great treasures of wealth on that day. The face of the prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa sallam) brightened and he made Duaa for Miqdad (R.D). But it was from the Muhajireen Sahabi (R.D) Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi wa sallam) wanted to learn what is the opinion of the Ansaars. Another Sahabi, the leader of Ansaars Sayyidina Sa’d bin Mazun (R.D) came forward and said ,

“Ya Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) , do you want our opinion ? we would say, do wantever you intend to do, we have pledged to listen to you and obey you. By the one who have sent you with the truth, if you present before us the sea and you jump into that, we will certainly jump in it along with you. None of the people among us will stay behind. we will fight tommorrow in the battle bravely InshaAllah.”

Allahu Akber! the obedience and Imaan of those golden people, Subhanallah! Subhanallah! how marvellouse were they, how great was their Yaqeen AllahuAkber! And on that day the real words of motivation which made all those poverty stricken, hungry and thirsty people to get ready for a huge odd battle was Miqdad bin Amr (R.D), Then we all know the amaizing victory of the first battle of Islam, when people obey and love their prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) in such great deal, no doubt the Ramah and Nusrah of Allah will run towards them no matter which nation or culture they belong to. May Allah gives us Taufiq to love and obey our beloved Ahmad Mujtaba, Muhammad Mustafa (Sallallahu Alaihi wa sallam). Ameen.

That was Miqdad (R.D) whose one sentance was enough for the whole group to get motivated, his wisdom was marvelous, he would think deeply in everything. Once Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi wa sallam) made him the governer of a certain place, when he returned, Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi wa sallam) asked him , “How does it feel be a governor?” he answered, “It made me as if I’m on a silver tower above the rest of the people. By Allah, who sent you with truth, from now on, I will never expose myself to the temptations of governing”.

And after that he remained saved from taking any governorship the rest of his life. How Mukhlis (A person who has Ikhlas) was our Sahaba (R.D)! He was so just in his judgment that once his army unit went on an expedition, because of some small reason of grazing animal the commander gave punishment to one soldier, but he punished little bit more than he deserved. The soldier was sitting with teary eyes, Miqdad (R.D) was passing him. He asked him the reason of his sheding eye tears. The soldier nerrated the entire episod to him. He then took him to the commander and argued on belalf of the sodier for his injustice. Then he said ” Now its time for retaliation, He must have his qisas- the law of equality of punishment!”

the commander accepted and the sodier said I forgave him. How beautiful was their justice, their forgiveness subhanallah where a commander got ready to be get punished by a simple soldier and another victim person forgave even after having the chance to take retaliation Subhanallah!

Once Miqdad (R.D) was sitting with some people, one man was passing him and said,

“How blessed are those two eyes who have seen the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) By Allah we wish to see what you have seen and present where you were present”

People got amaized by listening such beautiful words but Miqdaad (R.D) said , “None of you should desire to present on the occasion Allah SWT saved you from. Nobody knows what would happened to him if he would present there. By Allah a number of such nation came to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) who were thrown into the pit of hell because they neither accepted what Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) was came with nor acknowledged him. You should praise Allah as He created you in such a period of time when you know there is nobody ecxept Allah to be worshiped and affirm which has came with the prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam). Therefore, you have saved from so many trials of your life. By Allah the prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) was sent in such hard condition that no other prophet was given such hardships because He came to the time of end when people were drowned into sin and worshiped idols as the supreme. The the great revelation of Allah came as the holy Quraan, which diffrencieted with the right and wrong. Therefore the devision took place between father and son, family between family because of truth and falsehood. A man considered his father and brother Non beliver on the other hand Allah SWT opened his heart by the Noor of Imaan. When he realised that the Kafir will enter hellfire and will be ruined there, the realization of their own kith and kin will be in the hellfire made him restless and the eyes were never felt delighted.” About this reason Allah SWT revealed this Ayah in the Quraan as a Duaa for them which still remained a Duaa to have obedient and pious family members which we are blessed with because of their hearaches of having family members who will follow Deen Islam but their desire remained mostly unfulfilled. The Ayah,

رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَـنَا مِنۡ اَزۡوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيّٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ اَعۡيُنٍ وَّاجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِيۡنَ اِمَامًا

(Our Lord! Grant us that our spouses and our offspring be a joy to our eyes, and do make us the leaders of the God-fearing)

In his Entire life, Miqdad (R.D) participated in all the battles of Islam with Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), even after his busyness with Deeni works he was still very much desirous to learn Ilm, Among the 7 Qiraaat of the Quraan one was spread by him, He went to Syria for war but during his stay in Syria he used to teach Quraan and Ilm to the people of Syria that in Syria the Qiraat of Miqdaad (R.D) spread. Because of his sacrifies for Islam once Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said to him,

“O Miqdaad Allah loves you and he orderd me to love you too”.

“When Allah and his prophet loves you, O our Sayyed, the entire Ummah loves you too for your Sacrifies for Islam”. How beautiful was his life and how amaizingly he fulfilled the resposibility of many branches of Deen Subhanallah! May Allah gives our Sahaba Ikram (R.D) the best Ajr on behalf of the entire Ummah for their sacrifieses to protect Islam and for their desire to make Islam the most strongest thing in this world. May Allah bless us with such love and Muhabbah for Islam in our hearts that we too can bear hardships for spreading Islaam and to protect Islam. Ameen.

Dandenong Madrasa