70,000 People from the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (sa) Shall Enter Heaven Without Account — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 3
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding 70,000 People from the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (sa) Shall Enter Heaven Without Account.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: I – Commencement of the Second Era of Life in Madinah
Pages: Book pp. 10–12 (PDF pp. 28–30)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Ghazwah of ‘Ukashah bin Mihsan (ra) – 6 A.H.] | Next: [Sariyyah of Muhammad bin Maslamah (ra) to Dhul-Qassah -Rabi‘ul-Akhir 6 A.H.] »
Historical Account
glows in the night sky.” Upon this, ‘Ukāshahra said, “O Messenger of Allāh, pray that God the Exalted makes me from among them as well.” The Holy Prophetsa immediately prayed that, “O Allāh, make ‘Ukāshah among those people by your divine grace.” After this an Anṣārī1 individual requested, “O Messenger of Allāh! Pray for me as well,” upon which the Holy Prophetsa said:
ُ سَ بَقَكَ بِھَا عُكَاشَة
“In this matter, ‘Ukāshah has outstripped you.”
[Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābur-Riqāq, Bābu Yadkhulul-Jannata Sab‘ūna Alfan Bi-Ghairi Ḥisāb, Ḥadīth No. 6542]
An apparently insignificant incident from a gathering of the Holy Prophetsa, contains a treasure of much wisdom. Firstly, it is ascertained that the grace and mercy of Allāh the Exalted upon the Ummah of Muḥammadsa is of such magnitude and the spiritual munificence of the Holy Prophetsa was of such excellence, that 70,000 people from his Ummah due to their prominent spiritual status and special divine mercy and grace, would be beyond the agony of reckoning and account on the Day of Resurrection. Secondly, it is also found from this (incident) that the Holy Prophetsa possessed such nearness in the court of Allāh the Exalted, that by his spiritual attention God the Exalted immediately endowed the Holy Prophetsa the knowledge that ‘Ukāshahra was also included in this pure group of 70,000, by way of a vision or inspiration. It is also a probability that ‘Ukāshahra was not previously a part of this group but as a result of the prayer of the Holy Prophetsa, God granted him this honour. Thirdly, from this instance it is also ascertained that the Holy Prophetsa had such regard for discipline and desired to grant his Ummah such an increase in their efforts and works, that when another individual presented a similar request for prayer after ‘Ukāshahra, considering the extremely elite spiritual status endowed to the people of this holy group, the Holy Prophetsa refused from making any further individual prayers, so that the Muslims remain motivated to progress in their goodness, faith and good deeds. Fourthly, this also sheds light on the lofty character of the Holy Prophetsa, because he did not
[It is also possible that by 70,000, the actual numerical figure is not the intent here, but that an unusually large multitude is implied. In the Arabic language the number 70 is also used to express a large abundance or absolute number.]
12
refuse in a manner that would hurt the feelings of the Anṣārī questioner, but declined in an exceedingly subtle manner.
Sariyyah of Muḥammad bin Maslamahra to Dhul-Qaṣṣah –
Rabī‘ul-Ākhir 6 A.H. In the month of Rabī‘ul-Ākhir, the Holy Prophetsa sent Muḥammad bin Maslamah Anṣārīra to Dhul-Qaṣṣah which was located at a distance of 24 miles from Madīnah, where, in those days, the Banū Thu‘labah resided. When Muḥammad bin Maslamahra and his 10 companions reached there at night they found 100 young tribesmen prepared for battle. This party was 10 times the numerical value of the companions, but a difference of numbers was not very significant in the Islāmic execution of war. Muḥammad bin Maslamahra
immediately marshalled his troops before the army and there was a war of archery throughout the darkness of the night. After this, the infidels marched forward to attack this handful of men and since they were much greater in number, it was not long before these 10 devotees of Islām fell to the ground. The companions of Muḥammad bin Maslamahra were all martyred, but Muḥammad bin Maslamah himself survived, because the infidels had left him with the others, thinking he had also perished and stripped him of his clothes. Perhaps Muḥammad bin Maslamahra would have died lying there as well, but propitiously, a Muslim passed by and recognising Muḥammad bin Maslamahra, picked him up and took him to Madīnah.
When the Holy Prophetsa was informed of these events, he sent Abū ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrāḥra who was from the Quraish and was counted among the most venerable of companions to Dhul-Qaṣṣah, to seek retribution for Muḥammad bin Maslamah. Moreover, since news had also been received that the people of the Banū Thu‘labah tribe intended to attack the surroundings of Madīnah, the Holy Prophetsa sent a party of 40 able-bodied companions in the command of Abū ‘Ubaidahra. The Holy Prophetsa ordered that they travel by night and reach there in the morning. In the fulfillment of this order, Abū ‘Ubaidahra reached there punctually with his forces, when it was time for the morning prayer. They were confused by this sudden attack and so after a brief confrontation they fled, disappearing to the nearby mountains. Abū ‘Ubaidahra
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3)
Section: I – Commencement of the Second Era of Life in Madinah | Navigation: « Previous: [Ghazwah of ‘Ukashah bin Mihsan (ra) – 6 A.H.] | Next: [Sariyyah of Muhammad bin Maslamah (ra) to Dhul-Qassah -Rabi‘ul-Akhir 6 A.H.] »