Ammar Ibn Yaser son of Yaser Ibn Ammar Ibn Malek was one of the few early Muslims of Makkah whose parents were also staunch Muslims. He and his parents, in fact, composed a poor and a weak family whom the Quraish disbelievers punished and persecuted due to their belief. One important difference between Ammar and his parents was that while both of them - the parents remained patient and perseverent in bearing the sufferings from the Quraish Ammar could not do so. This was because he was burned with fire until he said something against the Prophet and praised the idols of Quraish.

Ammar's mother Sumayah was the first martyr in Islam. She was one of the early believers in the new religion which angered her master to such an extent that he killed her in the attempt to force her leave Islam and return to idolworship. Despite her weakness as a woman she refused to do so until the last minute of her life. A special story of this series will be set for this first martyr of Islam.

To go back to her son Ammar Ibn Yaser. He was as, we said, one of the group of weak and poor people who were persecuted and punished by the Quraish for their belief. He was burnt in fire. Amr Ibn Maymoon says that the polytheists of Makkah burnt Ammar with fire. The Messenger of God used to pass by and see him. He would put his blessed hand on Ammar's head and say: O fire be cool and peaceful on Ammar as you were on Ibrahim peace be upon him.

In another tradition Uthman Ibn Affan may God be pleased with him said: I was walking hand in hand with the Messenger of God in Al Bat-ha valley of Makkah until we came to Abu Ammar, Ammar and his mother while they were persecuted and punished. Yaser, father of Ammar said: Time is like this. Hearing this the Prophet said: Be patient O family of Yaser, I promise you paradise. O God forgive the family of Yaser. Pleased with the Prophet's prayer despite the severe punishment he was facing, Yaser said: I have done, meaning that he was ready to be patient until the end of it.

But the lot of Ammar was a little bit different from that of his parents. Although he attended all the battles of the Prophet, particularly the first two Badr and Uhud, he was forced earlier on to curse the Prophet and praise the idols of Quraish. This he did under the great pressure of punishment. His heart, however, was sound with belief so the Prophet called him the good and the praised.

Abu Ubaidah Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ammar says: The polytheists took Ammar Ibn Yaser and did not leave him until he cursed the Messenger of God peace be upon him and praised their idols. When he met the Prophet, who asked him about any news he had, Ammar said: I have bad and evil news. I was not left alone until I said something against you and praised their idols. The Prophet then asked: Ho do you find your heart? Ammar said: Secure in belief. The Prophet then said: If they do it again then repeat what you were forced to say. Then the following verses were revealed to the Prophet concerning Ammar and any Muslim who would face similar conditions.

In this context the Holy Quran says: Anyone who after accepting faith in God, utters unbelief, except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in faith - but such as open their breast to unbelief, on them is wrath from God, and theirs will be a dreadful penalty. ( 16-106 )

This attitude of Ammar Ibn Yaser reminds me of several other situations in which a sincere Muslim is forced to or do something against his belief. He does it to get rid of a horrible punishment while his heart remains firm in belief. If this is the case, the Prophet allows such a Muslim to do so. This is, no doubt, part of his mercy towards other believers.

I remember here how Abdullah Ibn Huthafa, a Muslim youth was taken prisoner in the Caliphate of Umer Ibn Al Khattab. The Romans took him along with a good number of Muslim warriors. Punishment was set against him to force him reveal some secrets about the Islamic army. He refused and remained firm. Then the Roman King asked him to kiss his head in return for setting free all Muslim warriors. Abdullah Ibn Huthafa, thought for a little while and then he accepted the King's offer. So he was released along with the other warriors. When they arrived in Madinah Umer Ibn Al Khattab came out to receive them. He kissed the head of Abdullah Ibn Huthafa and said: It is the duty of every Muslim to do so.

This does not mean, however, that he who chooses to be firm in his belief even if he dies for it as a martyr, that he is not approved of by Islam. On the contrary he is indeed the best of martyrs who does so. The position of Ammar Ibn Yaser suits those who cannot bear the bodily torment and are in danger of changing to disbelief if such torment continues. So they have their excuse and are still regarded as good Muslims.

Ibn Abbas reports the Prophet as saying: Ammar is full of faith from head to foot. Thus he was always honoured and welcomed by the Prophet. Ali Ibn Abi Taleb may God be pleased with him says: Ammar once asked permission to enter the house of the Prophet to meet him. The Prophet said: Let him in: Welcome on good and honoured terms. On the other hand Anas Ibn Malek said: The Messenger of God peace be upon him said: Paradise looks forward to three people. Ali Ibn Abi Taleb, Ammar Ibn Yaser and Salman Al Farisi. Despite the comment of some traditionalists that this is a strange hadith, it does not contradict the great honour Ammar was granted by the Prophet.

Another quality of Ammar Ibn Yaser is that he used to keep silent for long periods. This is what one reporter says about him. He was full of sadness for days on end and most of his talk was prayer to God to keep him safe from tests and mischief. Ammar, however, faced severe situations even towards the end of his life. This was in fulfillment of what the Prophet once told him. Looking at Ammar one day with love mixed with sadness the Prophet said: The oppressive faction will kill you.

But what exactly happened? Who was that oppressive faction referred to by the Prophet? As time passed, one day Ammar found himself in the army of Ali Ibn Abi Taleb against the forces of Muawiyah. That was in the battle of Siffin where Ammar was killed indeed. So the Muslims declared in one voice: We bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Here is a new proof of it. Many a thing he foretold which came to be true. Not a single promise was wrong. They said.

Ammar did not like to participate in a war between two Muslm armies, but it was the mischief referred to by the Prophet. Said Ibn Abdullah quotes his father as saying: While Ammar was proceeding to Siffin along the Euphrates he said: O God if I know that it is more pleasing to you that I should throw myself from the top of this mountain, I would surely do it. He then looked at the huge river, the Euphrates and said: If I know, O God, that it is more pleasing for your that I should throw myself in the water and drown, I would not hesitate to do so. O God! I fight only to please you hoping that you will not disappoint me seeing that I seek your pleasure.

Abdullah Ibn Salamah reports the following: I saw Ammar Ibn Yaser on the day of Siffin. He was an old dark - complexioned man with a spear in his hand. He looked at Amr Ibn Al Aas holding the standard in the army of Muawiyah and said: I have fought against this flag with the Messenger of God three times and this is the fourth. By Allah if they beat us until they drive us to the boundaries of Hajar, still I shall be sure that our leader (Ali) is on the right path and that they are astray. This is a reference to that Battle of Siffin which took place between the forces of Ali Ibn Abi Taleb the then Caliph of the Muslims and the army of Muawiya, then ruler of Syria who refused to accept Ali as caliph and asked for an investigation in the murder of Uthman, the previous caliph. Ammar Ibn Yaser supported Ali and was killed in this battle. Those were days of mischief among the Muslims and that is why Ammar made the afore mentioned prayer where he showed his readiness to kill himself and avoid fighting against other Muslims. It is true he was sure of Ali's right to be caliph, but he did not like to fight other Muslims. What a hard test for him as it was for many others.

Abu Sinan Al Duali, the Companion of the Prophet says: I saw Ammar Ibn Yaser (on the day of Siffin) when he asked for a glass of milk which he drank and then said: God and His Apostle indeed said the truth. Today I shall meet my beloved ones, Muhammad and his party. The Messenger of God said: The last thing Ammar will take in this world is a glass of milk. He then repeated what he had already said: By Allah if they beat us until they drive us to the borders of Hajar, we will still believe that we are on the right path and that they are the wrong-doers. Then Ammar was killed. He was then 93 years old.