Ammar bin Yasir RA & His Parents

Ammar RA and his parents were subjected to the severest afflictions through their lives in the path of embracing Islam and holding tight to its ropes. They were tormented on the scorching desert sands of Makkah. The Prophet Muhammad SAW while passing by them would enjoin patience giving them glad tidings about Paradise.

Ammar's father - Yasir RA died after prolonged sufferings at the hands of persecutors, whilst Ammar's mother Sumayyah RA was killed by Abu Jahl, who put a spear through the most private part of her body, which caused her death. Sumayyah RA had refused to renounce Islam in the face of terrible torture even in her old age. The blessed lady was the first to meet martyrdom in the cause of Islam.

The first mosque ever built in Islam was made by Ammar RA. When the Prophet Muhammad SAW emigrated to Madinah, Ammar RA offered to build a structure for the Prophet SAW where he could sit, take rest in the afternoon, and say his Solat under its roof. Ammar RA first collected the stones and then built the masjid in Quba. Today any visitor to Madinah will usually not miss the opportunity to visit this mosque, which is at the outskirts of Madinah.

Ammar bin Yasir RA fought against the enemies of Islam with great zeal and courage. Once he was fighting in a battle when he said rejoicingly: "I am to meet my friends very soon - I am to meet Muhammad SAW and his companions." (At that time the Prophet SAW had already passed away.)

He then asked for some water. He was offered some milk. Ammar RA took it and said: "I heard the Prophet (SAW) saying to me, "Milk shall be the last drink of your worldly life."

Ammar bin Yasir RA then fought till he met his coveted end. He was then aged about ninety-four years of age.

The above quick summary of the life of Ammar bin Yasir RA and his family RA displays just one example of how the Sahabah RA lived their lives in the struggle to please Allah SWT. In youth they were busy in the cause for Deen, and so in their old age. Such preserved stories are for us to take heed, and so that we realise what actually is the benchmark left by the noble Companions of Rasulullah SAW.