The Martyrdom of Hadhrat Mus'ab bin Umayr رضي الله عنه

Hadhrat Mus'ab bin Umayr رضي الله عنه had been brought up with much doting and love by his wealthy parents and had always lived in luxury and comfort before embracing Islam. It is reported that he was the best dressed youngster in Makkah and that his parents would buy him outfits worth two hundred Dirhams. He embraced Islaam during the early days without the knowledge of his parents. However, when they came to know of it, they tied him with a rope and forced him to stay at home. He eventually managed to escape and migrated to Abyssinia, after which he migrated to Madinah. As a Muslim, he lived a life of such poverty that he once passed in front of Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم wearing only one sheet of cloth, which bore a number of patches, including one of leather. With tears in his eyes, Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم recounted the life of luxury that Hadhrat Mus'ab رضي الله عنه lived before Islam.

In the battle of Uhud, Hadhrat Mus'ab رضي الله عنه was holding the flag of Islam.
He continued holding the flag, standing firm like a rock even after the Muslims dispersed in confusion when the tide of the battle turned against them. One of the Mushrikeen cut off Hadhrat Mus'abs hand so that the flag might fall and the defeat might be accomplished. However, he immediately transferred the flag to the other hand. When even this arm was severed, he continued holding the flag to his chest with his bleeding arms. The enemy eventually pierced his body with an arrow , causing him to fall together with the flag that he had not allowed to fall while he was alive. Another Muslim then hurried to pick up the flag. At the time of burial, he had only one sheet to cover his body. This sheet was to short for him. When it was drawn to cover the head, the feet would be exposed and when it was drawn to cover the feet, the head would become uncovered. Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم said, “cover his head with the sheet, and his feet with Izkihirr grass.”

Note: Such was the end of the youth who was brought up in such luxury and comfort that a single outfit he wore was worth two hundred dirhams. Upon his death, he does not even have sufficient cloth to cover his dead body. He tried to keep the flag up with great courage and did not allow it to fall until he was dead. This is because when Imaan permeated into the depths of their hearts; they would not let go of it for anything; not for wealth luxury or anything else.