From Luxury to Faith
Mus’ab ibn Umayr was the most pampered and best-dressed youth of Makkah, doted on by wealthy parents. When he embraced Islam his family imprisoned him, and he gave up every comfort for his faith, even emigrating to Abyssinia; he who once wore garments worth a fortune would later be seen in patched and humble clothes. 1 Stories of the Sahabah · pp. 137 — Zakariyya Kandhlawi — Mus'ab the pampered youth of Makkah who gave up his luxury and was imprisoned by his family for Islam.
First Teacher of Madinah
The Prophet ﷺ sent Mus’ab as the first teacher and caller to Madinah, where he lodged with As’ad ibn Zurara and taught the Qur’an. Through his gentle da’wah, Usayd ibn Hudayr and then the chief Sa’d ibn Mu’adh accepted Islam — and with Sa’d, the whole of Banu Abd al-Ashhal believed by that evening. 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 206–208 — Kandhlawi — Mus'ab as first teacher in Madinah; through him Usayd ibn Hudayr and Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, and then his whole tribe, embrace Islam.
Martyrdom at Uhud
At Uhud Mus’ab carried the Muslim banner. An enemy cut off one hand; he took the banner in the other; that hand too was cut; he clutched the standard to his chest with his bleeding arms until he was pierced through and martyred. 3 Stories of the Sahabah · pp. 137–138 — Zakariyya Kandhlawi — Mus'ab bears the banner at Uhud, both hands cut, holding it to his chest until martyred.
Virtues in the Hadith
His poverty at death moved the Companions. Khabbab related:
قُتِلَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ، فَلَمْ نَجِدْ مَا نُكَفِّنُهُ إِلاَّ بُرْدَةً إِذَا غَطَّيْنَا بِهَا رَأْسَهُ خَرَجَتْ رِجْلاَهُ، وَإِذَا غَطَّيْنَا رِجْلَيْهِ خَرَجَ رَأْسُهُ، فَأَمَرَنَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنْ نُغَطِّيَ رَأْسَهُ، وَأَنْ نَجْعَلَ عَلَى رِجْلَيْهِ مِنَ الإِذْخِرِ
”He was martyred at Uhud, and we found nothing to shroud him but a cloak: if we covered his head with it his feet showed, and if we covered his feet his head showed. So the Prophet ﷺ ordered us to cover his head and to put idhkhir (grass) over his feet.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 1276 · Book 23 (Funerals), Hadith 37 · USC-MSA: Vol. 2, Book 23, Hadith 366 · narrated by Khabbab ibn al-Aratt
Life Timeline
Born in Makkah
The best-dressed, most pampered youth of the city.
Embraces Islam — and loses all comfort
Imprisoned by his family; emigrates to Abyssinia.
First teacher sent to Madinah
Through him Sa'd ibn Mu'adh and his tribe accept Islam.
Martyred at Uhud
Bearing the banner; his shroud too short to cover him.
References
- Stories of the Sahabah — Zakariyya Kandhlawi — Mus'ab's former luxury; his da'wah in Madinah; his martyrdom and shroud at Uhud pp. 137–138, 163–165
- Hayatus Sahaba — Kandhlawi — Mus'ab sent as the first teacher to Madinah; the Islam of Usayd, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh and Banu Abd al-Ashhal Vol 1 · pp. 205–208
- Sahih al-Bukhari — Mus'ab martyred at Uhud; his shroud too short — Khabbab's narration pp. 1276 (Book 23, Hadith 37)