Draft:Qatada
| Qatada | |
|---|---|
| Name | Qatada |
| Other Names | Abu Qatada, Knight of the Messenger of God |
| Personal Details | |
| Death Place | Kufa or Medina |
| Death Date | 38 or 40 AH (approx. 658 or 660 CE) |
| Teachers | Sa'r ibn Sawada al-Amiri
|
| Students | |
| Religion | Islam |
Abu Qatada Ansari was from the Khazraj tribe and among the Companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny), the Prophet of Islam. His name is primarily recorded as Al-Harith ibn Rubay'i ibn Baldamah, but some have also stated his name as Nu'man or Amr. His sons were named Abdullah and Abd al-Rahman. During the time of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny), he participated in numerous expeditions and raids, becoming known as the "Knight of the Messenger of God" (Faris Rasul Allah).
Who Was Abu Qatada Ansari
His name is Al-Harith, and according to one account, Nu'man or Amr. He was the son of "Rubay'i ibn Baldamah al-Ansari" and was known by his kunya "Abu Qatada". He was from the Khazraj tribe and his mother was Kabshah, the daughter of "Mutahhar ibn Haram". Abu Qatada was among the Companions of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his progeny) and is counted among the rare brave heroes and distinguished companions of the Prophet, known as the Knight of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his progeny) (meaning the Prophet's champion).
Historians believe:
"Abu Qatada" was present in all expeditions and wars of early Islam alongside the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his progeny), however, there is no single unanimous opinion regarding his presence at the Badr, so some consider him among the Badriyyun (participants of Badr), while a group believes he was present from the Battle of Uhud onwards[1].
Abu Qatada as a Companion of Ali (peace be upon him)
Abu Qatada is counted among the sincere and loyal companions of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). He was present in all wars during the period of his Caliphate and was alongside the Imam (peace be upon him) at Jamal, Siffin, and Nahrawan[2].
Abu Qatada as Governor of Mecca
When the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) reached the Caliphate, he dismissed "Khalid ibn As ibn Hisham ibn Mughira al-Makhzumi", who was the governor of Mecca on behalf of Uthman, and appointed "Abu Qatada Ansari" to that city. However, after some time, he also dismissed Abu Qatada from the governorship of Mecca[3] and appointed Qutham ibn Abbas in his place. Qutham remained the governor and ruler in Mecca until the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) was martyred[4].
Abu Qatada and Preparation for the Battle of Jamal
When the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) was preparing to move towards Basra and fight the Breakers of Allegiance, Abu Qatada made statements that indicated his deep faith in the Guardianship of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) and his loyalty in the path of the Imam[5].
Presence at the Battle of Nahrawan and Departure to Medina
The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), in the Battle against the Kharijites (after despairing of guiding them), arranged his army and entrusted the command of the right wing to Hujr ibn Adi, the left wing to Shabath ibn Rib'i or Ma'qil ibn Qays al-Riyahi, the cavalry to Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, and the infantry to "Abu Qatada Ansari". In this battle, where seven or eight hundred Companions of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his progeny) from Medina were present alongside the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), he entrusted their command to "Qays ibn Sa'd ibn Ubadah" and the Imam himself took position in the heart of the army[6].
Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi narrates:
When the Commander of the Faithful Ali (peace be upon him) finished the war with the Nahrawanis, Abu Qatada Ansari returned to Medina with sixty or seventy of the Ansar companions of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his progeny) and first hastened to visit Aisha.
The two had many conversations about Ali (peace be upon him), his actions, and the sayings of the Messenger of God regarding Ali (peace be upon him)... At the end, Aisha said:
O Abu Qatada, nothing should prevent me from speaking a truth regarding Ali ibn Abi Talib, and that truth is that: I heard from the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his progeny) who said:
Tafitarqu ummati ala firqatayn, tamruqu baynahuma firqatun muhalliquna ru'usahum muhaffuna shawaribahum... yaqra'un al-Quran la yatajawazu taraqiyahum, yaqtuluhum ahabbuhum ilayya wa ahabbuhum ila Allah ta'ala;
My nation will divide into two groups: one of these two groups will shave their heads and trim their mustaches and ..., they recite the Quran but the Quran does not pass beyond their throats, this group will be killed by those who are more beloved to me and more beloved to God Almighty.
Since Aisha confessed to the truth and declared Ali (peace be upon him) and his companions, who were the killers of the Kharijites, as the most beloved individuals to God and the Messenger, Abu Qatada said:
O Aisha, do you know this truth?! Then why did you act so against Ali (peace be upon him)?! (And started the Battle of Jamal?)
Aisha evaded the answer and said:
O Abu Qatada, for the command of God there is a specific measure and quantity, and for this measure there are means and instruments, ... [7].
Death of Abu Qatada
Abu Qatada passed away in the year 38 or 40 AH in Kufa during the Caliphate of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him). The Imam prayed over his body and said the Takbir six or seven times over him. Another account regarding his death states:
He passed away in Medina in the year 54 AH (approx. 674 CE) and his age at that time was 70 or 72 years[8].
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ See: Al-Isabah, vol. 7, p. 327; Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 274; Tarikh Baghdad, vol. 1, pp. 159–161.
- ↑ Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 275; Al-Isabah, vol. 7, p. 329; Rijal al-Tusi, p. 63.
- ↑ Apparently, the reason for Abu Qatada's dismissal from the governorship of Mecca was to call him to accompany the Imam in the battles of Jamal, Siffin, and Nahrawan.
- ↑ . Sharh Ibn Abi al-Hadid, vol. 16, p. 140.
- ↑ Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 4, p. 451.
- ↑ Ibid., vol. 5, p. 85; Sharh Ibn Abi al-Hadid, vol. 2, p. 272.
- ↑ Tarikh Baghdad, vol. 1, pp. 159–160.
- ↑ See: Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 275; Al-Isabah, vol. 7, p. 329; Tarikh Baghdad, vol. 1, p. 161; Siyar A'lam al-Nubala, vol. 4, pp. 90, 92; Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 10, p. 229.
References
- Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah
- Usd al-Ghabah fi Ma'rifat al-Sahabah
- Tarikh Baghdad
- Rijal al-Tusi
- Tarikh al-Tabari
- Sharh Ibn Abi al-Hadid
- Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
- Tahdhib al-Tahdhib
References
- Taken from the website of Abu Qatadah Ansari - Abutorab. Published 4 July 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2022.