Miqdad ibn Aswad

Miqdad ibn Amr al-Bahrani (Arabic: ٱلْمِقْدَاد ٱبْن عَمْروْ ٱلْبَهْرَانِيّ‎, al-Miqdād ibn ʿAmr al-Bahrānīy), better known as al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad al-Kindi (Arabic: ٱلْمِقْدَاد ٱبْن ٱلْأَسْوَد ٱلْكِنْدِيّ‎) or simply Miqdad, was one of the companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

al-Miqdad ٱلْمِقْدَاد
Birthplace	Hadhramaut, Yemen
Ethnicity	Yemeni Arab
Known for	Loyal companion of Muhammad and Ali
Died	33 AH[1]
Burial Place	Damascus[2]/al Jufr, Medina[3]
Father	Amr al-Bahrani
Religion	Islam

Life

Miqdad was born in Hadhramaut, Yemen to Amr al-Bahrani. He left for Mecca after an incident between him with one of fellow tribesmen namely Abu Shammar ibn Hajar al-Kindi[2] and caused him to become fugitive and run away from his home to Mecca[3]. In Mecca, he served a man named al-Aswad ibn Abd al-Yaghuts al-Kindi, who after several times after he impressed his master and caused al-Aswad to grew favor on him and later adopted him as son, thus caused Miqdad to be more known as al-Miqdad ibn Aswad al-Kindi rather than al-Miqdad ibn Amr[3].

Under Muhammad

When Islam was revealed by Muhammad, Miqdad was among the first seven persons who embraced Islam although he hid his new faith from Aswad ibn Abd al-Yaghuts[2]. He later performing emigrated to Medina with fellow Muslims to escape the persecutions from Quraysh tribe.[1]

Miqdad was known as tall man with huge belly. His skin are dark and his hair is a lot. Miqdad has a dyed beard and wide eye while his nose is hooked[3]

Miqdad attended all the battles of the Prophet[4].

In the battle of Badr, Miqdad is the only Muslim who rode horse, while others either ride camels or walk on foot. Miqdad command the left flank of Muslim army during this battle[5]. During before the battle, Miqdad speaking to the Prophet by quoting Qur'an:

"O messenger of Allah! go ahead with what you were ordered to. We are with you. I swear by Allah we will never do as Bani Israel did to Moses and say, 'Go with your God and fight. We will stay here' No, wi will tell you , 'Go with Allah and fight. we are with you!' I swear by Allah, the One who sent you as Prophet on the right path; even if you lead us to Bark al-Ghimad, we will fight you until you reach it"[6]

In the battle of Uhud, he was said to serve as an archer[7]

Later in the battle of Dhu Qarad when Banu Ghatafan under Abdurrahman al-Faraji came to raid Medina, he along Akhram and Abu Qatadah fight against Abdurrahman al-Faraji. Akhram died in this battle but Miqdad and Abu Qatada manage to avenge their leader and caused the army of Abdurrahman to flee[5] . This record also found in Waqidi Kitabul Maghazi[8]

Under Rashidun Caliphate

During the earliest period of caliphate expeditions, Miqdad served as Quran reciter of the army of caliph Abu Bakr[3]

This tradition was recorded continues on to the time of caliph Umar in battle of Yarmouk, where Miqdad has been tasked by Khalid bin al-Walid to recite Quran verses from Al-Anfal to the rear guards which led by Said ibn Zayd to burn their morale before the battle[9]

Miqdad was sent by caliph Umar to egypt during the Muslim conquest of Egypt to aid 'Amr ibn al As as the latter asking for reinforcements. caliph Umar praised Miqdad in his letter to Amr that Miqdad are equal to 1000 soldiers in strength[10]

Miqdad joined the first caliphate naval armada to the Conquest of Cyprus under Muawiyah and Ubadah ibn al-Samit[11]

Before the canonization of Quran codex into one Mushaf under jurisdiction of caliph Uthman, the Qira'at of Miqdad is the one which adhered by Muslims in Levant[12], particularly in Homs[13]

During the battle of Camel, Miqdad and Al-Qaqa ibn Amr al-Tamimi are sent by Ali as envoy to the opposing forces[3]

Miqdad died in 33 AH in Damascus and is buried there.[1][2]. However, Tabari recorded Miqdad was buried in al-Jurf, a place 3 miles western from Medina where the caliph Uthman leading the ritual prayer of his death[3]

Miqdad, along with Ammar ibn Yasir, Abu Dharr and Salman al-Farsi, is considered one of the most loyal companions of Ali.[1]

See also

• Aswad (name)
• Sunni view of the Sahaba
• Muğdat Mosque
• Muslim conquest of the Levant

References

1. "Miqdad" [Miqdad] (in German). Retrieved 4 December 2018.
2. al Asqalani, Ibn Hajar; Muhammad ibn Idrīs al-Shafii, Abū ʿAbdillāh; ibn Kathir, Ismail; ibn faisal al-Tamimi al-Darimi, Abu Hatim Muhammad. "Al-Isabah Fi Tamyiz Al-Sahabah by Ibn Hajr; al Istishaab by Shafii; al Bidayah wan Nihayah by Ibn Kathir; Kitab al Sahaba by Ibn Hibban". Islam story. Story of Islam. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
3. The History of al-Tabari Vol. 39: Biographies of the Prophet's Companions and Their Successors: al-Tabari's Supplement to His History, Muhammad. The History of al-Tabari Vol. 39: Biographies of the Prophet's Companions. Suny press. ISBN 0791428192. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
4. Ziriklī, al-Aʿlām, vol. 7, p. 282.
5. Atiq, Muhammad. Ringkasan Sirah Nabawiyah: Butir Butir Perjalanan Hidup Rasulullah SAW. Tafaqur. ISBN 9797782883.
6. Redha, Muhammad. "Othman Ibn Affan (The Third Caliph): عثمان بن عفان (ذو النورين) [إنكليزي]". Google book. Dar Al Kotob Al Ilmiyah. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
7. Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 2, p. 152.
8. The Life of Muhammad: Al-Waqidi's Kitab al-Maghazi. p. 588. ISBN 1136921133. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
9. 3.pdf "Companion of Rasulullah: Battle of Yarmouk" Check |url= value (help) (PDF). Digital Library. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
10. bin ʿAbdullah bin ʿAbd al-Ḥakam bin Aʿyan al-Qurashī al-Mașrī, Abu'l Qāsim ʿAbd ar-Raḥman. "Futuh Mishr, page 50" (PDF). Digital library. Digital library. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
11. Rex, Smith (2015). The History of al-Tabari Vol. 14: The Conquest of Iran A.D. 641-643/A.H. 21-23. p. 164. ISBN 978-1438420394.
12. Arifin, Zainal. "Mengenal Jumlah Salinan Mushaf Usmani". Lajnah pentafshihan Mushaf al-Quran. Indonesia official Ministry of Religious Affairs. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
13. Bewley, Aisha. "The Seven Qira'at of the Qur'an". iium.edu.my. Aisha Bewley. Retrieved 11 February 2020.