Tragedy of Bir-Maoona

In the tragedy of Bir-Maoona, seventy sahabah (Prophet’s s.a.w companion) were massacred. All of them were Hafiz of Quran. Their Jamaat (group) was called the Jamaat of Qura and consisted mostly of Ansar.

The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w love them very much, for they engaged themselves in zikr and recitation of the Quran during the night and attended upon the Prophet s.a.w and his family during the day. A person named Amir bin Malik and know as Abu Bara, belonging to Bani Amir clan of Najd, came to the Prophet s.a.w and took this Jamaat with him for the Tabligh and Taalim (teaching of Islam) of this clan. The Prophet s.a.w expressed his apprehensions, saying:

“I fear some harm may came to my Sahabah.”

But the person assured him that he was personally responsible for their safety. The Prophet s.a.w , after much hesitation agreed to send the Jamaat of seventy Sahabah with him. He also gave them an epistle to Amir bin Tufail (the head of the clan), inviting him to Islam.

This Sahabah camped at Bir-Maoona. Umar bin Umayyah r.a and Munzir bin Umar r.a took the camels for grazing and Haram r.a with two companions went to deliver the Prophet’s epistle to Amir bin Tufail. On reaching near his place, Haram r.a said to his companions:

“You both stay here, I shall go alone to him. If I am safe, you may also come after me, but if I am betrayed you may return from here, as the loss of one is better than of three.”

Amir bin Tufail was a nephew of Amir bin Malik, who had brought the Jamaat. He was bitter enemy of Islam and hated the Muslims to the core. When Haram r.a delivered the Prophet’s epistle to him, he did not even care to read it and attacked Haram r.a with his spear, which pierced through the latter’s body. Haram r.a uttered “ By the Lord of Kaabah I have triumphed,” and died. The heartless person had no consideration for the guarantee given by his uncle, nor for the accepted tradition all over the worl, that nobody would kill the envoy. He then assembled the people of his clan and exhorted them to kill all the sahabah camping at Bir-Maoona. The people hesitated, in view of the guaranteed given by Amir bin Malik. He collected a large number of people from neighbouring tribes and attacked the Muslims. They massacred each one of them, except Kaab bin Zaid r.a, who had some life left in him and enemy left him a dead.

Munzir r.a and Umar r.a , while grazing the camel, notice vultures hovering in the air. They exclaimed. ‘Something foul has happened and return to the camp'. They saw from some distance that their companions were dead and the murderers were standing around their bodies with bloody swords in their hands. They stopped a while to think what they might do. Umar r.a said:

“Let us go back to Madinah and inform the Prophet s.a.w.”

Munzir r.a did not agree. He said:

“The Prophet s.a.w will get the information sooner or later. I do not like to miss martyrdom and run away from place where our companions are lying in their peaceful sleep. Let us go forward and meet them”

The both went and jumped into the thick of battle. Munzir r.a. was killed and Umar r.a. was captured. As Amir’s mother had to set free a slave in connection with some vow that she had made, Amir set Umar free and let him go. Amir bin Fuhairah r.a, a slave of Abu Bakar r.a, was also among those who were killed at Bir Maoona. Jabir bin Salmi, who killed him says:

When I thrust my spear through him, he uttered, “By Allah, I have triumphed” and to my amazement I saw his body lifted upwards towards the sky. I made enquiries later on as to what was the triumph that Amir bin Fuhairah r.a meant when he uttered, “By Allah, I have triumphed”. I was told that it was that of entering into Paradise. This made me embrace Islam.”

These are the illustrious people of whom Islam is rightly proud. Death had really more attraction for them than wine for their enemies. As they did deeds which were sure to win Allah’s pleasure, they felt most triumphant at the time of surrendering their souls.


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