Ever despaired in your du'as? Ever thought that they are not answered or that Allah Azza Wa Jall doesn't respond? Then, let me narrate to you the story of 'Asim Ibn Thabit Radiyallahu Anhu. _____ During the Battle of Uhud, when the Muslims faced defeat, the Quraish celebrated with their revenge but this was not enough for the ladies of their tribes. Hind, the woman who slaughtered the body of Hamza Radiyallahu Anhu, together with other women started to go out on the battlefield and started to dance and desecrate the dead bodies of the Mujahideen. Astagfirullah. Narrations say that in the passionate desire for revenge, these women slit up the belies of the Mujahideen, gouged out their eyes and cut off their noses and their ears. One woman among them, shaped an anklet of the nose of a Mujahideen and put it on her feet and started dancing joyfully amidst the dead bodies. Astagfirullah. But then came out Salafah Bint Sa'ad, who was very different from the other women, she was anxious about her family, so she started to look for them, she search high and low until she found the body of her husband soaked in his own blood, and near him were her sons, Musaffa, Kalab and Jalas who was breathing his last. On this Salafah asked who killed them, and Jalas said it was 'Asim Ibn Thabit Radiyallahu Anhu. Hearing this Salafah started to scream and swore by the false gods 'Uzza and Lat that her rage could not die down until she had taken revenge on 'Asim and drank wine from his skull. After this, she indeed proclaimed that she would give any amount for the person who can bring her the head of 'Asim, and this spread like fire amongst the Quraish. So one by one they started to search for 'Asim. After the Battle of Uhud, The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam sent 6 of the Sahabah Radiyallahu Anhum on a special mission with 'Asim Ibn Thabit as its head. They were a few distance from Makkah when a group of Banu Hatheel pursued them and ambushed them. The people tried to bribe the Sahabah Radiyallahu Anhum and told them that they won't be killed as long as they lay down their weapons. 'Asim Radiyallahu Anhu with all his courage said "I will not lay down my weapons before the Mushrikeen!" Then, he remembered the swearing of Salafah and he prayed: "O Allah! I protect and defend your faith and, have Mercy on me and protect my flesh and my bones; please do not allow them to fall into the hands of the enemy." After this he attacked the enemy with two of his companions, they fought fiercely until they were martyred one by one. The three other surrendered and were killed, one committed suicide and the other 2 killed by the Banu Hatheel. Now, this is where the power of du'a comes. After few hours of the martyrdom of 'Asim Radiyallahu Anhu, the Quraish learnt of the whereabout of his body which was lying in the area inhabited by the Banu Hatheel. So, with the hungry bellies of the Quraish for money, they started to give a lot of money to their messengers so that they could succeed in getting the head of 'Asim Radiyallahu Anhu. When they succeeded, some men of the Banu Hatheel went to the place where the body of 'Asim Radiyallahu Anhu was lying, when they were near it to cut off his head they found a whole lot of bees, wasps and hornets surrounding the body and head of Asim Radiyallahu Anhu. Whenever they attempted to cut it these bees and wasps would attack them so they couldn't do anything but give up and wait for the nightfall. The sun had not yet set when suddenly dark dense of clouds appeared on the sky, the very air seemed to tremble with the thunder and heavy rains had fallen. Soon the streets and roads took on the appearance of streams, low-lying areas were filled, and there was water everywhere. It rained heavily the whole night and the Banu Hatheel went back to their homes. Next morning they came out to get the head of 'Asim but as they went towards the field the body was nowhere to be found. The flood washed it away to some unknown place, they searched high and low but the body of 'Asim Radiyallahu Anhu disappeared like dust in the wind. Subhan'Allah. Look how Allah Azza Wa Jall responded to the du'a of His faithful servant, 'Asim Radiyallahu Anhu. He sent down wasps and bees to cover his body as protection to these people who had the intention to use his limbs and whatever is left of him into devilish and sinful act of drinking wine. He sent down heavy rain so that his body won't be found and away from the Mushrikeen. Allah Azza Wa Jall will never allow the Mushrikeen to triumph over the Mu'mineen and this is how he protects His faithful servants. Similarly in Palestine, the Kuffar may plan anything against the Mu'mineen, but the Divine Plan overcomes all other plans. Indeed, the story of Asim Ibn Thabit truly reminds us of the one of the famous ayat of the Qur'an where Allah Azza Wa Jall says: "Call upon me and I will respond to you." 40:60 So never despair of His Mercy and never underestimate the power of your du'a. Remember Allah Azza Wa Jall knows what you are about to ask Him even if you haven't uttered them, He is within You, Your heart itself, calls upon Allah Azza Wa Jall with every beat. "Rubb. Rubb. Rubb. La Hawla wala Quwwata illa billah." May you all benefit from the story of 'Asim Ibn Thabit Radiyallahu Anhu. Amin Zohayma _____ Commanders of the Muslim Army, Ghadanfar, p. 262-263 Note: This is part of the collection of Golden Stories of the Sahabah Stories, which narrates and shares the amazing stories of the Sahabah Radiyallahu Anhum as taken from excerpts of their lives.
