The Warrior of Ahlus Sunnah

In this article we take a look at the many acts of bravery, or lack thereof of those championed as the bravest warriors of the school of Ahlus Sunnah. Witness their immense bravery in battle!

Abu Bakr and Umar:

Narrated Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Laili: 

I said to Ali (a.s), "You used to wear a cloak and thick clothes in the extreme hot days and wore two thin cloths in the extremely cold days and came out and did not fear the cold weather." 

Ali (a.s) said to me: "Were you not with us on the day of Khaybar O Aba Laili?" I said: "Yes, by Allah (swt) I was with you!" He (a.s) said: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) sent Abu Bakr with people, they (along with Abu Bakr) ran away and returned to him (saw), then the Messenger of Allah (saw) sent Umar with people and he also ran away and came back with people to the Messenger of Allah (saw), then the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: 'I will give the flag to a man who loves Allah (swt) and his Messenger (saw) and Allah (swt) and his Messenger (saw) love him, he will be victorious, HE (Ali) IS NOT A COWARD WHO RUNS AWAY FREQUENTLY!

Then he sent someone to me and called me, and I went to him (saw) and I had an illness in my eyes that I could not see anything. He put his saliva on my eyes and said: 'O my God, suffice him from the heat and coldness, after that I have never suffered from heat and coldness.'"

 

Footnote: Al-Muttaqi Al-Hindi: 'This narration is narrated by ibn Abi Shayba, Ahmad in his Musnad, ibn Majah, Al-Bazzar, ibn Jarir and he has Authenticated this Hadith, and Al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat, Al-Hakim, Bayhaqi in Al-Dalahil and Dhia Al-Maqdesi in Al-Mukhtara.

[Kanz-ul-Ummal. Vol. 13, Pg. # 120-122, H. # 36388]

Another version also exists where the other companions even accused Umar of cowardice!

Ibn Abi Shaybah:

Narrated Ubaidallah from No’aim Ibn Hakim from Abi Maryam from Alee (a.s) who said: 

"The Messenger of Allah (saw) went out to Khaybar, when he reached it he sent Umar and a group of people with him to their town or their castle they went and fought them, but they could not do anything, and Umar with his companions escaped and came back to the Prophet (saw), his companions were saying that Umar is a coward and he was saying that his companions are cowards and the Messenger of Allah (saw) got annoyed and he said:

'I will send a man towards them who loves Allah (swt) and his Messenger (saw) and Allah (swt) and his Messenger (saw) love him, he will fight with them until he succeeds and he is not a coward who runs away frequently!' 

The people raised their necks to see whom the Messenger of Allah (saw) will call, they wished to be that man. 

The Messenger of Allah (saw) remained silent for a while and then said: 'Where is Alee (a.s)?' 

They said: 'He has an ailment in his eyes,'

 He (saw) said: 'Bring him to me.'

 When I came to him (saw), he opened my eyes and put his saliva on them and passed me the flag and then I went fast fearing that maybe the Messenger of Allah (swt) would change his decision. When I reached their castle and fought them, then Al-Marhab invited me singing epic verses, and I went to him singing epic verses like people do until we met and Allah (swt) killed him with my hands and his companions ran away and closed the door of their castle behind themselves. We went to the door and I did not stop trying to break it until Allah (swt) opened it.

Footnote: Narrated by Al-Bazzar and narrated also by Al-Hakim whom has Authenticated it and Al-Dhahabi has confirmed it. In Kanz-ul-Ummal Al-Muttaqi Al-Hindi has said that it is Hasan 'Reliable.'

[Al-Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah. Vol. 20, Pg. # 446]

The same report from Mustadrak of Al Hakim:

Al-Hakim: The chain of this narration is authentic, but they (i.e. Bukhari and Muslim) have not narrated it.

Footnote: Al-Dhahabi says in Al-Talkhees: It is Saheeh 'Authentic.'

[Al-Mustadrak Ala Al-Sahihain. Vol. 3, Pg. # 40]

Amr ibn Al Aas: 

“One day ‘Ali attacked Amr ibn Aas, he threw a spear and Amr fell to the ground, Amr fell to the ground and he then exposed his buttocks. ‘Ali then turned away his face [people said] this was Amr bin Aas. ‘Ali replied he showed me his anus and this made me merciful to him. When Amr ibn Aas returned, Mu’awiya said ‘You should praise Allah and your anus”.

[Al Bidayah wa al Nihayah, Ibn Kathir, Volume 7, page 451]

TO BE CONTINUED...