براء بن مالک انصاری رضی اللہ عنہ

Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "How many a person there is — dishevelled, covered in dust, wearing two worn-out garments — to whom no one pays any heed and no one turns any attention; yet such is his state that were he to swear an oath by Allah, Allah would fulfil it for him. Al-Bara bin Malik is one of these people."

Dishevelled, with unkempt hair, of no consequence in the eyes of others — this was al-Bara bin Malik, of whom the Prophet ﷺ said that if he swore an oath by Allah, Allah would honour his oath. In courage and bravery he was without parallel. He was counted among the renowned warriors of Arabia. Allah had granted him such valour that he would take on the greatest of armies single-handed. Concerning him Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) gave the instruction that he should never be made commander of an army, lest his natural fearlessness lead him to take some step that would place the army of Islam in difficulty.

His courage may be judged from the feat he performed in the battle against the false prophet Musaylimah the Liar. This was among the most dangerous battles in the history of Islam, in which Musaylimah's army — driven purely by tribal partisanship — fought with extreme spirit and bravery. The army that finally defeated Musaylimah was led by Hazrat Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him). At one stage the assaults of Musaylimah's army made the Muslims lose their footing, and the enemy reached the very tent of Hazrat Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him). The Muslims regrouped and launched a fresh attack on the apostates, and every one of them pressed forward and displayed his valour. At an extremely critical moment the commander of the army, Hazrat Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him), addressed Hazrat al-Bara bin Malik and said: "O young man of the Ansar! Go forward and help your people." Hazrat al-Bara turned to the men of his tribe and said: "Let no one now think of returning to Madinah. Understand that from today Madinah is finished for you. Now there is only Allah and Paradise for you." Saying this he charged forward in a frenzy and fell upon the enemy. Before the Muslim onslaught panic broke out in the ranks of the disbelievers, and they retreated and took refuge in a walled garden which had no other way in.

As the poet says, nothing is achieved without reckless daring. At this moment Hazrat al-Bara bin Azib advised his companions to throw him somehow inside the garden so that he could go in and try to open the gate. So his companions seated him on a shield and hurled the shield with all their strength over into the garden. The moment he landed inside, Hazrat al-Bara fell like lightning upon the enemies of Islam. Because of his fearlessness and valour no one could stand before him, and he managed to reach the gate and at last succeeded in opening it. The Muslims attacked in full force and poured into the garden, and began to cut Musaylimah's army to pieces, and finally killed Musaylimah the Liar. Hazrat al-Bara (may Allah be pleased with him) was carried into a tent; his body bore more than eighty (80) wounds from arrows and swords, yet Allah granted him life.

Martyrdom is the aim and desire of the believer. Hazrat al-Bara (may Allah be pleased with him) too continued to take part in various battles with this longing, raining down like a whip of punishment upon the enemies of Islam. In the year 20 AH, in a battle against the Persians, Hazrat al-Bara's wish for martyrdom was granted, and in that battle, while saving the life of his own brother Hazrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), he himself attained the station of martyrdom. May Allah raise his ranks, and may He grant us too courage and valour like his. Ameen.