Mus'ab ibn Umayr
The First Ambassador in Islam
God Almighty sealed the divine messages by sending His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) with Islam, making Islam the final message among all divine messages. God Almighty revealed the Holy Qur'an as the last of the divine books and as a divine miracle. Through God's grace and the complete delivery of the message, Islam spread to all corners of the earth.
The seed of its spread began when it moved from Mecca to Medina, right after the first pledge of Aqabah, during which a number of people from Medina came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Mecca and pledged their allegiance to Islam. Upon their return to Medina, it was necessary for a companion to leave Mecca with them to Medina to teach them about Islam, deepen their understanding of the religion, and invite the non-believers to Islam. The companion chosen for this task was Mus'ab ibn Umair (may God be pleased with him); hence, he was given the title and became known as the first ambassador in Islam.
His Name and Lineage
He is the esteemed companion Mus'ab ibn Umair ibn Hashim ibn Abd Manaf ibn Abd al-Dar ibn Qusay ibn Kilab ibn Murra al-Abdari al-Qurashi, and his kunya (honorific title) is Abu Abdullah. Mus'ab grew up in a wealthy family, one of the richest families of the Quraysh tribe. Before his conversion to Islam, he was a handsome and affluent young man known for wearing the finest clothes and using the best perfumes.
His Conversion to Islam
Mus'ab ibn Umair (may God be pleased with him) was among the early converts to Islam. He came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) while he was at the house of al-Arqam and kept his conversion secret due to fear of his mother. He would secretly meet with the Prophet (peace be upon him) to receive the Qur'an and learn about the religion.
However, when Uthman ibn Talha saw him, he informed Mus'ab's mother and family, who then imprisoned him. Mus'ab remained confined until he migrated to Abyssinia (Ethiopia). After some time, he returned to Mecca.
His Role in the Islamic Mission
During one of the pilgrimage seasons, twelve men from the Ansar (residents of Medina) came to Mecca. They pledged their allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), committing to remain steadfast in Islam. They requested that the Prophet send someone with them to teach them the religion. The companion chosen for this mission was Mus'ab ibn Umair, as he was knowledgeable in the Qur'an and possessed qualities such as calmness, eloquence, politeness, patience, wisdom, and a gentle recitation of the Qur'an. These attributes made him the ideal candidate for the Prophet to select as the first ambassador of Islam to Yathrib (Medina).
Mus'ab ibn Umair left Mecca for Yathrib to spread the Islamic message. He stayed at the house of As'ad ibn Zurara and began his mission. Through his efforts, prominent leaders of the Aws and Khazraj tribes, including Sa'd ibn Mu'adh (may God be pleased with him), embraced Islam. The number of Muslims in Yathrib increased from twelve men to seventy men and women. These converts later came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) during the second pledge of Aqabah in the pilgrimage season, led by Mus'ab ibn Umair. Mus'ab successfully established a strong Islamic foundation in Yathrib, which paved the way for the migration of Muslims from Mecca to Medina after they had been persecuted by the Quraysh.
His Martyrdom
Mus'ab ibn Umair (may God be pleased with him) was martyred in the Battle of Uhud. Despite his former wealth in pre-Islamic times, when it came time for his burial, they found that he had only a worn-out, short cloak to cover him. If they covered his head, his feet would be exposed, and if they covered his feet, his head would be exposed.
It is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said at that moment: "Cover his head with it, and place some of the idhkhir (a type of fragrant grass) over his feet," or he said, "Throw some of the idhkhir over his feet". The Prophet also remarked, "Among us are those whose fruits have ripened, and they are now harvesting them".
