Miqdad ibn Aswad

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Miqdad ibn al-Aswad al-Kindi (Arabic: مقداد بن الأسود الكندي) was one of the Sahabah of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. Miqdad is venerated by Shi'a Muslims as one of the Four Companions, early Muslims who were followers of Ali ibn Abi Talib. Miqdad ibn Aswad is among Shi'as regarded as one of the most respected Sahaba. He is mentioned in one Hadith regarding the perfect Shia, he was one of the Muhajirun and he is also among the List of Sahabah not giving Bay'ah to Abu Bakr.

Origin

Miqdad ibn Aswad Al-Kindi belonged to the an Arabian tribe named Kendah. He escaped from his tribe and inhabited Mecca. In Mecca, Miqdad belonged to a man named Al-Aswad bin Abid Yaqut. So, people started calling him Miqdad ibn Aswad. Islam rose from the top of the Hira Mount. Miqdad ibn Aswad Al-Kindi became twenty-four years old. He heard about the Islamic Prophet Muhammad’s mission. He hurried to believe in the new religion. He kept his Islam a secret. He met the Islamic Prophet Muhammad secretly. Thus, he was among the earlier Muslims. He always felt the Muslims' sufferings.

Medina

The Prophet Muhammad ordered his companions to immigrate to Medina. They immigrated one by one or group by group. After some time, he received orders from Allah to immigrate to Medina also. When he reached Medina, Miqdad ibn Aswad Al-Kindi rejoiced by seeing him reaching Medina safely. Miqdad admired Ali ibn Abu Talib (the first Shia Imam and the fourth Sunni Caliph) who sacrificed his life to save the Islamic Prophet Muhammad from the polytheists' swords.

His loyalty towards the Prophet Muhammad could be seen at the battle of Badr, when Miqdad ibn Aswad Al-Kindi stood up and said: "Allah's Apostle, go on and obey Allah's Order! We'll support you! By Allah, we won't say as the Jews had said to their prophet: You and your Lord, go and fight! We'll stay here! We say: You and your Lord, go and fight, we'll support you"!

Happy expression appeared on the Islamic Prophet Muhammad’s face. Then The Islamic Prophet Muhammad said to the Ansars: “What shall I do"?

Saad ibn Maadh answered: “Allah's Apostle, we've believed in you, we've believed you. We've confessed to what to have said as the truth. We've promised to hear and obey! Then, Allah's Apostle, go on what you've wanted! By Allah! If you asked us to cross the Red Sea, we would do"!

The Muslims were full of enthusiasm. They got ready to face the polytheists with hearts filled with faith.

Attempted destruction

The polytheists tried to kill theProphet Muhammad to destroy Islam totally. But the sincere companions such as Ali bin Abi Talib, Al-Miqdad, Al-Zubair, Mus`ab ibn `Umair, Abu Dujana Al-Ansari, Sahal bin Hunaif, and others resisted the polytheists bravely. They defended Muhammad against them.

Teaching

Miqdad ibn Aswad Al-Kindi deeply believed in Allah and teachings of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. One day, the Islamic Prophet Muhammad said: “Allah has ordered me to love four (persons), and He has told me that He loves them. The persons are Ali, al-Miqdad, Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, and Salman al Farisi.”

Al-Miqdad taught people the Qur'an. His reading became famous all over Damascus. Al-Miqdad stayed loyal to Allah and the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and died at the age of ninety.

See also

• Sunni view of the Sahaba
• Aswad (name)

References