Childhood of Great Companions of Prophet

Hazrath Abu Bakr Siddique was a very affectionate companion of beloved Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). He liked and regarded the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) more than his own life. The Prophet (pbuh) also liked him most. Among the companions he occupied the most elevated and closest place. After the Prophet (pbuh) Muslims unanimously selected him as their Caliph. He administered and ruled the newly formed Islamic State efficiently and ably.

One and the only incident of his childhood recorded authentically indicates the strength of his personality. In his own words, the narration is described here.

“When I was a child, my father Abu Qahafa took me inside a room. Idols adorned the room. Pointing to an idol he ordered : “This is your god. Prostrate before him.” So saying he left me. I went to the idol and said : “I am naked. Cloth me.” It did not answer. I repeated : “Iam hungry, feed me.” There was no reply. I took a stone and said : “I am hitting you. If you are god, save yourself.” Still there was silence. I threw a stone at it and the idol dropped down flat.”

Hazrath Ali was the cousin and son in law of the beloved Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). He was brave and wise from the childhood. He was still in his teens, when Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) was chosen by Allah. When the Prophet delivered the message of Allah to others and invited them to the way of Allah, the noble persons who accepted Islam were only a few. Among them was a 12 years old boy. He was none other than Ali.

After a few days of attaining Prophethood, the Prophet (pbuh) asked Ali to arrange a lunch. Ali immediately responded and made necessary arrangements. All the members of the Prophet’s family were present including uncle Abu Talib, Abbas, Hamza and others.

When the lunch was over, the prophet delivered a speech. He said : “I have brought with me a message for you which assures your welfare in this world and also in Hereafter. Who is going to support me in my task?”

There was no response from the audience. Everyone was silent. At that time Hazrath Ali was twelve years of age. He was not tall. His limbs were not strong. He could not canceal his inspiration and fervour. Noted personalities were present. Amidst them he got up and assured the Prophet. “It is true I am suffering now from sore eyes. It is also true that my legs are thin and it is a fact that I am still a child. Even then O Prophet of Allah, I will support and walk along with you always.”

These words of Ali fell like a bombshell on the ears of those who were present there. They looked at each other as if saying “Do you understand what this child is saying? Has he understood what Muhammed (pbuh) stated? But in the later stage everybody saw that this young boy staked entire life for the cause of Islam.

Hazrath Zubair was one of those ten companions for whom the Prophet (pbuh) had assured a place in the paradise. His childhood was quite an interesting phase of his life. Zubair had lost his father when he was still a child. His mother, Safia , reared him up. Safia was sister of Hazrath Hamza and the aunt of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). She was a brave lady and wanted her son also to be brave, fearless and wise. She was a task master too and made her son take up performing herculean tasks. She would not allow him to waste time. On lookers would comment : “Oh, do you intend killing the boy?” She would reply : “I am only trying to make him sagacious, dauntless and courageous.”

The rigorous training programme resulted in making Zubair quite brave and fearless right from his childhood. In fact before he reached adulthood he had an encounter with a wrestler. In the very first round, he threw down the wrestler who got his hand fractured. People took the wrestler to Zubair’s mother and complained. But the mother only asked ; “Tell me honestly how did you find my son, whether brave or coward?”

Hazrath Zubair hd embraced Islam in his youth. He loved the Prophet very much. Once the non-believers detained the Prophet (pbuh). When the news reached Hazrath Zubair, he was furious. Holding a sword in his hand he started searching for the Prophet. He met the Prophet (pbuh) at his house. Seeing him in anger with a shinning sword in hand, the Prophet (pbuh) enquire : “Why are you so furious?” He replied : “I had heard that the non-believers are holding you in captivity. I was on my mission to free you.”

This gesture of courage and love of Zubair in his tender age earned him great appreciation and applause from the great Prophet (pbuh). It is also recorded that the first person who had drawn the sword for supporting the great Prophet (pbuh) was none other than the young Zubair.

Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) had migrated from Makkah. After a few days a lady approached the Prophet and pleaded ;

"O Messenger of God, Here is my son. I love him dearly. I am a Muslim and I want that my son should turn into a good and true Muslim. I have brought him to you so that he learn all that you want to propagate."

The Prophet of Allah readily consented to keep the boy with him. The boy was quite intelligent. He noticed keenly the way the Prophet (pbuh) talked, listened, acted and moved. He attended to the Prophet's needs and others devotedly and performed the assigned duties sincerely. Soon he became famous for being "obedient" to the Prophet (pbuh). In good humour the Prophet (pbuh) used to refer him as "O the one with two ears." This nickname was quite fit as the boy was always at the beck and call of the Prophet (pbuh) and very obedient. Whoever heard of this nickname, enjoyed it because everyone has two ears but will they be as attentive as the boy who attended on the Prophet? This lucky boy turned out to be a great scholar in his later life.

He is now referred with respect as Hazrath Anas, the one with whom Allah is pleased.

Once the Prophet (pbuh) sent him for some work. He was much delayed there. When the mother learnt about this delay, she enquired : "Why did you take so much time? What was the job?" Hazrath Anas was in his teens but he replied so wisely that the mother could not hold her appreciation. He said : "By God! Mother, it's a secret of the beloved Prophet (pbuh). I will never tell it to anybody, even to you, my mother."

She retorted : "Do not reveal it even to me, my son. It is a secret of the Prophet (pbuh)."

Hazrath Anas grew up to be a great person. Let Allah be pleased with him.