To Syria with Abu Bakr’s Blessing
Shurahbil ibn Hasana was a trusted Companion whom Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiqرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُFirst Caliph; the Prophet's closest companion appointed to the third standard in the Ridda. When the Caliph sent the great army to Syria — Yazid رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Yazid ibn Abi Sufyanرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُBrother of Mu'awiya; one of the four commanders Abu Bakr sent to Syria; first Muslim governor of Damascus, Abu Ubayda رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrahرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُThe Trustworthy of this Ummah; commander of the conquest of Syria, Amr ibn al-As رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Amr ibn al-Asرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُShrewd statesman and commander; conqueror of Egypt, and Shurahbil — he walked beside their mounts as far as Thaniyyat al-Wada to see them off; offered to ride, he answered that he was taking the steps for the reward in Allah’s path. 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 231–232 — Kandhlawi — Abu Bakr walks beside Shurahbil's mount sending the Syrian army. At Fihl he commanded the centre, fighting through a night assault until the Romans were broken. 2 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 327–328 — Najeebabadi — Shurahbil commands the centre at Fihl and breaks the Roman attack.
The Plague of Amwas
When the plague of Amwas struck and Amr ibn al-As رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Amr ibn al-Asرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُShrewd statesman and commander; conqueror of Egypt counselled the army to scatter, Shurahbil rebuked him: “This plague is the du’a of your Prophet ﷺ and the mercy of your Lord — by which the righteous before us were taken.” He died of the plague himself, on the same day as Abu Ubayda رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrahرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُThe Trustworthy of this Ummah; commander of the conquest of Syria. 3 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 2 · pp. 591–592 — Kandhlawi — Shurahbil rebukes Amr ibn al-As on the plague and dies of it the same day as Abu Ubayda.
Life Timeline
An early Muslim of Kinda
Given the third standard against the apostates
Abu Bakr walks beside his stirrup to send him to Syria
Commands the centre at the Battle of Fihl
Dies in the plague of Amwas
References
- History of Islam — Najeebabadi — Shurahbil given the third standard in the Ridda; commands the centre at Fihl Vol 1 · pp. 283–284, 327–328
- Hayatus Sahaba — Kandhlawi — Abu Bakr walks beside Shurahbil's mount sending the Syrian army Vol 1 · pp. 231–232
- Hayatus Sahaba — Kandhlawi — Shurahbil rebukes Amr ibn al-As on the plague; he dies of it the same day as Abu Ubayda Vol 2 · pp. 591–592