THE   PLEDGES   OF   ALLEGIANCE 


BY   THE   MALE  &  FEMALE


  ANSAR  &  MUHAJIRIN   


Hayatus Sahabah by Muhadith Kandahlawi (Kandhelvi)


  Rendered into current English


by 


Khadeijah Abdullah Darwish (Anne Stephens)


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PLEDGE   OF   ALLEGIANCE   TO   JIHAD


Anas narrated that (not long before the Battle of the Trench) the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, went early one morning to the defense trench (that was being dug around Medina) and found the Muhajirin and Ansars digging in the cold as they had no captured labor to help them do the work. When he saw they were suffering for tiredness and hunger he supplicated, “O Allah, there is no life but the life of the Hereafter. Forgive the Ansar and the Muhajiren.” Upon hearing this, the Companions said, “We are those who have pledged allegiance to Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, to fight for as long as we live.”





THE   PLEDGE   OF   SALAMA,   SON  OF  AKWA


Salama, son of Akwa narrates that after he pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, he sat beneath the shade of a tree. There were only a few people present when the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said to him, “O son of Akwa, aren’t you going to pledge allegiance?” Salama politely reminded the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, that he had already pledged his allegiance. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, told him to do so again, and so Salama pledged his allegiance for the second time. When Salama was asked what he pledged the second time, Salama replied, “Death”.





Abdullah, son of Zaid reports that during the Battle of Harra (63 A.H) someone came to him and said that the people were pledging to die at the hands of the son of Handhal. Whereupon Abdullah told him, “None may pledge this after the death of the Messenger of Allah.”





THE    PLEDGE   TO   HEAR   AND   OBEY


Ubaydullah Rafi narrates that several containers of wine arrived whereupon Ubadh, son of Samat broke them (and disposed of them) and said, “We pledged to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, that we would always hear and obey whether or not our hearts were willing. We also pledged that we would spend (in charity) during times of hardship and ease and that we would order with good and forbid evil. In addition to this, we pledged that we would speak for (the pleasure of) Allah and not fear the ciriticism of a critic when it concerns (the Religion of) Allah. We also pledged that we would assist the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, when he came to Yathrib, and that we would protect him as we protect ourselves, wives and children. For this we were promised Paradise in exchange. This was the pledge of allegiance that we made to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him.”





It is also reported that Ubadah said, “We pledged at the hands of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, that during times of war we would listen and obey the instructions willingly or unwillingly and even if others were given preference over us. We also pledged that we would not dispute the power of those in authority and that we would speak the truth and that we would not fear the criticism of a critic when it concerned (the Religion of) Allah.”





THE   PLEDGE  OF   JARIR,   SON    OF ABDULLAH


The son of Jarir narrates from his father Jarir that they pledged to hear, obey and wish all Muslims well.  Jarir’s son also reports in another narration from his father that his father approached the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and asked, “May I pledge at your hands that I will hear and obey whether I am willing or unwilling?” The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, asked, “Do you have the ability to do this? Rather, refrain from saying that and say that you do so to the best of your ability.” Jarir then added, “To the best of my ability.” The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, accepted Jarir’s pledge together with the pledge to wish all Muslims well. 





Abu Dawood and Nasa’e narrate from Jarir that he pledged to hear and obey and to wish all Muslims well. Thereafter, whenever Jarir bought or sold anything he would say, “The item I have taken from you is more beloved to me than that which I have given to you, so decide (whether you want to go ahead with the transaction or not).”





THE    PLEDGE   OF  UTBA,   SON   OF  ABD 


Abdullah, son of Omar narrates that whenever the Companions pledged to hear and obey at the hands of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, he would tell them to add, “to the best of my ability.”





Utba, son of Abd narrates that he pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, seven times. On five occasions he pledged obedience and on the other two he pledged his love.





Anas said, “With these hands I pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, that I would hear and obey to the best of my ability.”











THE   PLEDGE  OF   THE  ANSAR   LADIES  WHEN THE   MESSENGER  OF ALLAH  ARRIVED IN  YATHRIB, praise and peace be upon him


Ummu Atiya narrates that when the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, arrived in Yathrib (Medina) all the Ansar ladies gather together in a house. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, sent Omar to them, who stood at the door of the house and greeted them. The ladies returned the greeting and Omar said, “I am the envoy of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him.” Whereupon they replied, “Welcome to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and to his envoy.” Omar then asked them, “Do you pledge that you will not ascribe a partner to Allah, that you will not steal, nor fornicate, that you will not kill your children, will neither slander nor fabricate by your hands and legs and that you will not disobey the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, in any good deed (a deed which he commands you to do)?” The ladies confirmed that they agreed to the pledging whereupon Omar stretched out his hand from outside the door and the ladies stretched out their hands from inside (without their hands touching Omar’s). Omar then said, “O Allah, You be witness.” Omar then instructed the ladies to take even menstruating women and girls who have just come of age to the Eid prayer (although they would not be able to participate in the prayer). He also forbade them to follow a funeral procession and informed them that the Congregational Prayer (Jumu’ah) was not obligatory upon them (but they pray the zuhr prayer). 





The narrator said that when he asked his teacher for the meaning of ‘slander” and the phrase ‘that they will not disobey you in any good’ he replied that it referred to the screaming wailing when a person died.





Salma, daughter of Qais was one of the maternal aunts of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said that she belonged to the tribe of Bani Adi, son of Najar, and that she had offered the prayer facing both directions of prayer (Qiblas, the first direction being to Jerusalem then Allah changed the direction of prayer to Ka’bah) behind the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him. 





Salma also narrates that she and several ladies from the Ansar went to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and pledged their allegiance to him. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, stipulated that they must not ascribe a partner to Allah, they must not steal, they must not fornicate, nor kill their children, they should not slander fabricate by your hands and legs and that they would not disobey him in any good deed (he ordered them to do). The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon added to this that they should not deceive their husband.





Salma, says that they pledged allegiance to these conditions and as they were returning she asked one of the ladies to ask the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, what he meant when he said ‘they should not deceive their husband’. When the lady asked the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, he replied, “That a wife takes her husband’s money and gives it to another person (against her husband’s wishes).





Uqayla daughter of Ateq, the son of Harith narrates that she and her mother whose name was Qarera, daughter of Harith Utwanyah and some other ladies from the Muhajreen (Migrants) went to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, to pledge their allegiance and found him pitching his tent at Abtah. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, asked them to pledge that they would not ascribe partners to Allah, including all the other injunctions mentioned in the verse of the Koran (…. and will not steal, nor commit adultery, nor slay their children, nor fabricate slander between their hands and their feet, nor disobey you in any honorable thing Ch. 60 12). The ladies accepted all the injunctions and stretched out their hands to affirm their pledge, whereupon the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, told them, “I cannot touch the hands of women” and he supplicated to Allah for forgiveness for the ladies.





Umayma, daughter of Ruqaya narrates that she went to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, with several other ladies to pledge their allegiance. They said to him, “O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, we pledge that we will not ascribe any partner to Allah, that we will neither steal, nor fornicate, nor kill your children and that we will not slander which we fabricate by our hands and legs and that we will not disobey you in any good (deed you command us to do).” To this the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, added, “To the best of your ability and according to your capability.” The ladies said, “Allah and His Messenger are more merciful towards us than we are to ourselves. Come (give us your hand, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and let us now pledge our allegiance to you.” The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, told them, “I cannot touch the hand of a woman and (it is the same) that I say to a hundred women as I do to one woman.” (Their allegiance was accepted by their speech).





THE   PLEDGE   OF   UMAYMA,    DAUGHTER   OF   RUQAYA


Abdullah, son of Amr narrates that Umayma, daughter of Ruqaya went to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, to pledge her allegiance to Islam. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, told her, “I require you to pledge that will not ascribe a partner to Allah, that you will not steal, that you will not fornicate, nor kill your child, nor come with slander which you fabricate by your two hands and legs, that you will weep loudly at the death of anyone and not to make a spectacle of yourself as women made spectacles of themselves during the Age of Ignorance.”





THE  PLEDGE  OF  FATIMA,   DAUGHTER    OF   UTBA


Lady Ayesha, (Mother of Believers) narrates that Fatima, daughter of Utba, son of Rabe’ah came to pledge her allegiance at the hand of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, asked her to pledge allegiance that she would not ascribe partners to Allah, that she would not fornicate, and adhere to the injunctions mentioned in the verse  of the Koran (…. and will not steal, nor commit adultery, nor slay their children, nor fabricate slander between their hands and their feet, nor disobey you in any honorable thing Ch. 60:12) Out of modesty, Fatima, daughter of Utba placed her hand on her head Lady Ayesha said to her, “Confirm this, because I swear by Allah that all of us pledged this.” Fatima responded saying, “This being so, I also accept.” The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, accepted her pledge of allegiance in conformance with the verse ‘……supplicate to Allah for forgiveness for them. Allah is the Forgiving and the Most Merciful. (Ch.60:12)’





THE   PLEDGE  OF   AZZA,  DAUGHTER  OF  KHABIL


Azza, the daughter of Khabil went to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and pledged that she would neither fornicate, nor steal, nor would bury her children alive either publicly nor in secrecy.” Azza said, “I knew well what the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, meant by publicly burying children alive, but I did not ask the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, what was meant by burying them alive in secrecy meant, neither did he inform me. However, it occurred to me that it refers to spoiling children, By Allah, I never spoil any of my children.”





THE   PLEDGE   OF   FATIMA,   DAUGHTER   OF   UTBA   AND HER SISTER  HIND,   W IFE  OF  ABU   SUFYAN


Fatima, daughter of Utba, son of Rabe’ah, son of Abdish Shams narrates that Abu Hudhayfa, son of Utba took her and her sister, Hind, daughter of Utba to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, so that they could pledge their allegiance to him. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, told them about their pledges and added some other conditions. Fatima, daughter of Utba said that they asked the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, “O my cousin, have you noticed any of these evils or deficiencies you’re your people?” Abu Hudhayfa told them to be quiet saying, “Be quiet and make your pledge, it is with these words and conditions that the pledge of allegiance is made.”





Hind spoke saying, “I shall not pledge to abstain from stealing because I steal from my husband. Upon hearing this both Hind and the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, held back and the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, sent someone to Abu Sufyan (her husband) to allow her to permit her (to take from him without permission). Abu Sufyan permitted her to take for the ‘wet’ things (meaning foodstuffs) but he did not permit her to take from the ‘dry’ things (meaning non-food items such as clothing) or luxuries. Thereafter, the two ladies pledged their allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him. Fatima then spoke to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, saying “There was not a tent that I hated more than your tent and I wished that Allah would destroy it and everything in it. But now I wish more for your tent than any other that Allah should make it prosperous and full of blessings.” The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said, “This is as it ought to be because I swear by Allah that none of you can have true belief until I am more beloved to him than even his children and parents.”





Lady Ayesha narrates that when Hind, daughter of Utba came to pledge allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, he looked at her hands and said, “Go and transform your hands (by applying henna).” After she had applied henna she returned to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, who said to her, “I require you to pledge that you will not ascribe any partner to Allah, that you will not steal, and that you will not commit adultery.” Hind interrupted and said, “Does a free woman ever commit adultery?” The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, continued, “And that you will not kill your children for fear of poverty.” Hind (referring to her children who were killed fighting against the Muslims) replied, “You have not left us any children to kill.” Then she pledged her allegiance and with reference to the two gold bracelets she wore on her wrist, she asked, “What do you say about these two braclets?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “These are two coals from the fire of Hell (when zakat is not paid for them).”





In another well known narration it is stated that when the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said, “That you do not commit adultery,” and she said, “Does a free woman ever commit adultery?” And when he said, “that you will not kill your children for fear of poverty” she said, “We raised them as children and then you killed them when they were grown.”





According to another narration when the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him said, “That you do not commit adultery: she said, “Does a free woman ever commit adultery?” And when the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said, “And that you will not kill your children for fear of poverty” she said, “It is you who killed them.”  Another similar narration quotes her as saying, “Have you left us any children after the Battle of Badr?





In yet another narration it says at the beginning that Hind said to Abu Sufyan, “I wish to pledge allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him” Whereupon Abu Sufyan said, “But I have noticed that you always reject what he says.” She replied, “By Allah, that is true, however, I swear by Allah that before this night I have never seen Allah being worshipped in this Mosque as He deserves to be worshipped. By Allah, the Muslims spent the entire night offering their prayer standing, bowing and prostrating.” Abu Sufyan said, “But you have done many things (against Islam). Take someone from your people with you.” Hind then went to Omar who accompanied her and sought permission from the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, to allow her to enter. She entered the presence of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, wearing a veil. The story of her pledging allegiance then followed. This narration of Imam Sha’bi reports that when Hind admitted she had squandered a great deal of Abu Sufyan’s money, he said, “Whatever she has taken from my wealth is permissible (I have pardoned her).”





The son of Jarir reported the same narration from Abdullah, son of Abbas in great detail. This narration states that Abu Sufyan said to Hind, “I permit for you whatever wealth you have taken from me, whether it is depleted or still remains.” When the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, heard this he realized who she was and then smiled and called her. Hind grasped hold of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, by his hand and pleaded her case. When the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, asked her if she was indeed Hind, she replied, “May Allah forgive what has happened in the past.” The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, turned away from her (towards the other women who were present) and (continuing with the formal pledge of allegiance) he said, “And will not commit adultery.” Hind said, “Does a respectable women ever commit adultery?” The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, replied, “By Allah, a respectable women never commits adultery.” Continuing further, the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said, “and will not kill their children.” Hind interrupted again saying, “It was you who killed them during the Battle of Badr.” The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, completed the pledging of allegiance by reciting the rest of the verse, ‘…nor slay their children, nor fabricate slander between their hands and their feet, nor disobey you in any honorable thing,…. (Ch 60:12). The narrator says that at this point the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, forbade the women from screaming when someone died as they did during the Age of Ignorance, because as the women screamed they would tear their clothes, scratch their face, pull their hair and pray for (their own) destruction and death.





Usayd, son of Abi Usayd Barrad narrates from one of the women who pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, that among the things the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, required them to pledge was that they would not disobey him in any good, that they would not scratch their face (when someone died), neither would they pull their hair, nor they would tear their clothes and that they would not pray for destruction.








THE   PLEDGE  OF   ALLEGIANCE    BY  CHILDREN  WHO  HAD NOT  REACHED   THE   AGE OF  PUBERTY





HASAN,   HUSAIN,    ABDULLAH,    SON   OF   ABBAS,   AND  ABDULLAH,   SON   OF  JAF’AR   PLEDGE   THEIR   ALLEGIANCE


Muhammad, son of Ali, son of Husain narrates that the Messenger of Allah accepted the pledge of allegiance from Hasan, Husain, Abdullah, son of Abbas and Abdullah son of Ja’far while they were still youngsters and had not yet grown beards or reached the age of puberty. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, did not accept the pledge of allegiance from any other children other than those of his family.





THE   PLEDGE   OF   ALLEGIANCE  OF ABDULLAH,  SON  OF  ZUBAIR,   AND ABDULLAH,    SON  OF   JAFAR


Abdullah, son of Zubair and Abdullah, son of Ja’far pledged their allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, when they were only seven years old. When the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, saw the two youngsters he smiled and stretched out his hand and accept their pledges.





Hirmas, son of Ziyad narrates that he was still a child when he stretched out his hand to pledge his allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, but the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, declined to accept his pledge.





THE   COMPANIONS   PLEDGE  OF  ALLEGIANCE  TO  THE   CALIPHATE


Muntashir narrates from his father that when the Companions pledged their allegiance at the hands of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, he stipulated that their pledges be solely for the pleasure of Allah, and that they pledge to obey the truth at all times. This was after the Revelation of the verse:


‘Those who swear allegiance to you swear allegiance to Allah. 


The Hand of Allah is above their hands.


He who breaks his oath breaks it against his self,


but for he that keeps his covenant made with Allah, 


Allah shall give him a mighty wage.’ (Ch: 48:10)





When Abu Bakr took the pledge of allegiance from people, he would say to them. “You are obliged to honor your pledge to me as long as I am obedient to Allah.” 





The pledge of allegiance to Caliph Omar and the other caliphs who came after him taken from people was like the pledge that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, took from people.





The son of Afef narrates that he saw (the Caliph) Abu Bakr accepting the pledge of allegiance from people after the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, passed away. When a party of the Companions gathered before him, he would say to them, “Do you pledge at my hands that you would hear and obey Allah, His Book and then the Prince of Believers?” Only after they had agreed to this did Abu Bakr accepted their pledge of allegiance.





The son of Afef also said, “It was when I reached the age of puberty or some time thereafter that I used to stand by Abu Bakr and memorize the conditions he made with the people. I approached him and started to say, ‘I pledge at your hands that I will hear and obey Allah, His Book and then the Caliph.” He looked at me from head to toe and I guessed I must have impressed him (and then he accept my pledge of allegiance). May Allah shower His Mercy upon him.”





The father of Safar narrates that whenever Abu Bakr sent an army to Al Sham, he would call upon them to pledge that they would fight with spears and remain steadfast if they encountered the plague.





THE   COMPANIONS   PLEDGE   OF   ALLEGIANCE


TO   CALPH   OMAR


Anas narrates, “I arrived in Medina after Abu Bakr had passed away and Omar had become the next Caliph. I said to Omar give me your hand so that I may pledge at your hand what I pledged at the hand of your companion (Abu Bakr) that I would always hear and obey instructions to the best of my ability.”





Umair, son of Atiya Laythi narrates that he went to Omar and said, “O Prince of Believers, raise your hand – may Allah always keep it high – so that I may pledge my allegiance at your hand in the manner shown by Allah and His Messenger, praise and peace be upon him.” Omar smiled and raised his hand saying, “This pledge gives us some rights over you and gives you some rights over us.”





Abdullah, son of Ukaym says, “With these hand I made my pledge to Omar that I would always hear and obey him.”





A   DELEGATION   FROM   HAMRA   PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE   TO  CALIPH   OTHMAN


Saleem Abu Amir narrates that a delegation from Hamra came to Caliph Othman and pledged that they would not ascribe anything (or anyone) as a partner to Allah, that they would establish the prayer, pay the obligatory charity (zakat), fast the month of Ramadan, and forsake the festivities of the fire-worshipers. Caliph Othman accepted their pledge of allegiance.





THE  MUSLIMS   PLEDGE   THEIR  ALLEGIANCE  TO  THE CALIPH  OTHMAN


Miswar, son of Makhrama narrates, “A party (of six Companions) whom Omar had appointed (to select a Caliph from amongst themselves) had gathered and were consulting with one another when Abdur Rahman, son of Auf said to them, ‘I do not want to compete with you to become Caliph. However, if you agree, I shall select one of you on your behalf.’ The party were agreeable and gave him this privilege, after which the attention of the of the people focused on him without anyone paying attention to the others. Thereafter everyone turned to Abdur Rahman, son of Auf and presented their opinions to him.  When morning came, the people pledged their allegiance to Othman.





Miswar narrated, “There was a time when Abdur Rahman, son of Auf came to me after part of the night had passed and knocked at the door until I woke up. He then said to him, ‘I see you were sleeping peacefully. By Allah, I have had hardly any sleep the entire night, go and call Zubair and Sa’ad.’ Miswar went and called them to come and Abdur Rahman consulted with them. Then he called for me and said, ‘Call Ali’. When I had called Ali, Abdur Rahman spoke to him in confidence until half the night had passed. Abdur Rahman then asked me to call Othman. When I called him, Abdur Rahman spoke to him in private until the call for prayer was made for the Fajr prayer.





Miswar continued and saying, “After the Fajr prayer was completed, the party (of six Companions) gathered around the pulpit. Abdur Rahman then sent for all the Migrants and Ansar and the leaders of all the groups that had accompanied Omar on that year’s pilgrimage. When everyone had gathered Abdur Rahman recited the Shahadah (the Islamic creed) and then said, ‘O Ali I have looked deeply at the opinions of the people and each one of them do not see anyone equal to Othman. Please do not harbor anything in your heart.’ Abdur Rahman then took hold of Othman’s hand and said, ‘I pledge allegiance to you according to the way shown by Allah and His Prophet, praise and peace be upon him.’ And the people pledged their allegiance. The first were the Migrants, then the Ansars, the leaders of the army and then the Muslim public.





May Allah be pleased with all the Companions.