As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullaah

 Lessons from Soorah Yaseen

When I first heard about him, it wasn’t by name. What struck me wasn’t his honour in front of the people or his position. In fact, he had none of that.

It was through him and many like him that we learn… to aid a Messenger is to have ultimately aided the greatest Cause to exist. But few people in history had the strength or bravery to undertake this noble act.

It was only much later that I came to know of his name. He was Habeeb ibn Musa an-Najaar – unknown to many, but one that remains honoured by his Lord.

و جاء من أقصا المدينة رجلٌ يسعى

And there came running from the farthest part of the town, a man

For some people, honour lies in a name. For others, lineage plays the role.

However, in the story of the man above we realise that Allaah refers to this noble believer as nothing more than ‘a man’. He (‘azza wa jall) did not mention him by name, rather He mentioned him by his deeds – and this was honour enough.

و جاء من أقصا المدينة رجلٌ يسعى قال يا قوم اتبعوا المرسلين

And there came running from the farthest part of the town, a man Saying: O my people! Obey the Messengers…

       

Who was Habeeb? Where did he live? And most importantly, what did he do to be made mention of in the Final Revelation (Qur’aan)?

Habeeb ibn Musa was from the true believers and followers of Prophet ‘Isa (Jesus) -alaihisalaam. He lived amongst the people of Antaakiya (Antioch) during the time of ‘Isa (as). Unfortunately, the dwellers of this town were not heeding to the Message or the guidance, and it was for this reason that their Prophet sent them two people from amongst the believers. But as it turned out, the people belied and disbelieved in both of these two messengers, and so Isa (as) sent them a third companion in order to strengthen the call of the first two.

إذ أرسلنا إليهم اثنين فكذبوهما فعززنا بثالث

“When We sent to them two Messengers, they belied them both so we reinforced them with a third…”

All three of these messengers called the people of Antaakiya to guidance and to the true Message of Prophet ‘Isa (as). They warned and gave glad tidings; they called and bore the hardship from the people. However, the town was staunch and stubborn in its stance:

قالوا ما أنتم إلا بشر مثلنا و ما أنزل الرحمن من شيء إن أنتم إلا تكذبون

They said, ‘You are only human beings like us, and the Most Gracious (Allah) has revealed nothing, you are only telling lies.’

The call of these messengers increased the people in nothing but further misguidance and error. They persisted in their disbelief, and finally came to threaten the messengers:

قالوا إنا تطيرنا بكم لئِن لم تنتهوا لنرجمنكم و ليمسّنكم منا عذابٌ أليم

They said, ‘For us, we see an evil omen from you, if you cease not, we will surely stone you and a painful torment will touch you from us.’

News of this reached Habeeb. He was known to worship much within a cave – away from the people. But when he realised that his people had been sent Messengers and consequently belied them, he came running – an obvious attempt to back the Message.

و جاء من أقصا المدينة رجلٌ يسعى قال يا قوم اتبعوا المرسلين

And there came running from the farthest part of the town, a man Saying: O my people! Obey the Messengers…

Despite the distance, he came to assist and aid the messengers although they were by far outnumbered and overpowered. He not only defended them, but defended his ground beliefs:

و ما لي لا أعبد الذي فطرني و إليه ترجعون

And why should I not worship Him Who has created me and to Whom you shall be returned?

ء أتخذ من دونه آلهة إن يردنِ الرحمن بضر لا تغن عني شفاعتهم شيء و لا يعقذون

Shall I take besides Him gods, if the Most Gracious intends me any harm, their intercession will be of no use for me whatsoever nor can they save me?”

إني إذا لفي ضلال مبين

Then verily, I should be in plain error.

      

Habeeb ibn Musa supported the call of the 3 messengers and so the people turned to plotting against him. But this wasn’t enough to shake his firmness; instead it increased him in Imaan. After defending the messengers against the people and aiding their Da’wah, he confirmed his position and proclaimed his belief:

إنـــي آمنت بربكم فاسمعون

Verily! I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me!”

Now, the nature of Kufr is that it can never stand up to the truth. It cannot bear the light of Haqq destroying its tunnels of darkness, nor can it back down and submit due to its flames of arrogance and pride.

However, as is the Sunnah of Allaah (‘azza wa jall), He takes shuhadaa’ (martyrs) from amongst us and this was to be the noble destination of Habeeb ibn Musa. He was killed by the people of Antaakiya because he was a believer who defended the truth when he saw it being attacked. He stood up to the people although he was a lone ranger, helpless in their view. He was a man of words as well as action. And about him, Allaah concludes – not by mentioning his name, but by detailing his actions and quoting his statements to which he stood so true:

قيل ادخل الجنة قال يا ليت قومي يعلمون بما غفر لى ربي و جعلني من المكرمين

It was said (to him when the disbelievers killed him): ‘Enter Paradise.’ He said: “Would that my people knew! That my Lord has forgiven me, and made me of the honoured ones!”

As for the town, this affected them little. They continued in their ways and upon them fell the Decree of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) – a loud cry (saihah) and a punishment from the heavens overtook them, a reward for what they did.

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Some information taken from the Silsilah: Qasas as-Saaliheen by Mas’ood Sabri