An Account of Miqdad bin Aswad Kindi

Hayat Al-Qulub Vol. 1,
By: Allamah Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi
Excellence of Miqdad had been mentioned in the previous chapters. And among the companions there is none equal to him after Salman and Abu Zar. Ibn Athir has mentioned in Jamiul Usul that his agnomen was Abu Saeed. Some have also said that it was Abul Aswad. He was the son of Marwah bin Thalaba bin Matrud bin Amara Kindi. Some have said that he was from the Qasa-a tribe. Some state that he was a native of Hadhramaut.
Since his father had a treaty with Kinda tribe, he became associated with that clan. And since Miqdad was an associate of Aswad bin Abde Yaghus Zuhri, he began to be called as Zuhri. And that is why he was also known as Ibn Aswad. Some have said that Aswad had brought him up. And Ibn Abde Barr has stated that he was a slave of Aswad bin Abde Yaghus. And since Aswad had adopted him as a son, Miqdad was called as Ibn Aswad.
The Islam of Miqdad was earliest and he had participated in Badr, Uhad and other battles along with the Messenger of Allah (S). He was an accomplished, noble and senior companion of the Prophet. He passed away in 32 Hijri in Jarf which is at a distance of one Farsakh from Medina. After his death, people carried him to Medina and buried him at Baqi Cemetery. At the time of his death, his age is mentioned to be seventy years. Upto here we had quoted the statements of Ibn Athir.
Kulaini has narrated through authentic chains from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that the Messenger of Allah (S) had married Zaba-a daughter of Abdul Muttalib to him.
Ibn Babawayh has narrated through authentic chains from Imam Ali Reza (a.s.) that once Jibraeel came to the Prophet and said: O Messenger of Allah (S), your Lord sends you His greetings and says that: Virgins are like fruits on the trees.
When they are ripe, the best thing to do with them is to pluck them from the trees. If you don’t, the wind will spoil them and the sun will destroy them. In the same way when virgins reach maturity, there is no recourse except to give them husbands. If it is not done, it would not be possible to keep them safe from corruption.
The Messenger of Allah (S) mounted the pulpit and delivered a sermon and informed them about that which the Almighty Allah had commanded. So people asked: O Messenger of Allah (S), to whom should we marry our daughters? He replied: “With those who are compatible to them.” They asked: “Who are their equals?”
His Eminence, replied: “Believers are compatible and equal to each other.” Then he came down and married Zaba-a to Miqdad bin Aswad. Then he said: “I have married my cousin to Miqdad so that marriage becomes an easy matter. That people do not care for lineage etc. and they may give the hands of their daughter to anyone from the believers.”
Kulaini has narrated through authentic chains from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) that one day Uthman said to Miqdad: “Refrain from criticizing me and praising Ali, or I would send you back to your first master.” When it was time for the death of Miqdad, he told Ammar Yasir: “Tell Uthman that I am going back to my first master; that is to the Almighty Allah.”
Shaykh Tusi has narrated that when people paid allegiance to Uthman, Miqdad said to Abdur Rahman bin Auf: By Allah, whatever passed on the Ahlul Bayt of the Prophet, its equal is not found anywhere else. Abdur Rahman said: What concern do you have with all this?
Miqdad said: By Allah, I love them because the Messenger of Allah (S) loved them. And by Allah, seeing their conditions, I feel so sad that I cannot describe it, because Quraish was honored over all the people due to them. Then all conspired together to usurp the rulership of the Holy Prophet (S), Abdur Rahman said: Woe be unto you, by Allah, I have made these efforts only for you and did not like the Caliphate to go to Ali. Miqdad said: By Allah, you ignored the one who would have guided the people to truth and ruled them with justice.
By Allah, if I had supporters, I would have indeed fought the Quraish in the same way as I had fought in Badr and Uhad. Abdur Rahman said: May your mother mourn for you! O Miqdad you should leave such talks lest people become deviated and there is serious mischief.
By Allah, I fear that dispute will appear among the people because of you. The narrator says that when Miqdad arose from that meeting, I went to him and said: O Miqdad, I will support you. He said: May Allah have mercy on you, what I intend cannot be obtained through two or three persons. After that the narrator went to Amirul Momineen (a.s.) and reported his dialogue with Miqdad. Imam (a.s.) prayed for Miqdad.
It is mentioned in Ikhtisas quoting from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that: The position of Miqdad in this Ummah is the position of the Arabic letter of Alif in Qur’an, such that no other letter is like it. In the same way no one is having the perfection of Miqdad.
And Shaykh Kishi has narrated through authentic chains that there was no one among the companions who had not committed an inappropriate deed, except for Miqdad bin Aswad, as his heart with regard to truth was like an iron slab. Moreover through authentic chains of narrators, it is narrated from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that the Messenger of Allah (S) said: O Salman, if your knowledge is exposed to Miqdad, he would become an infidel.
Moreover through good chains of narrators it is narrated from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) that all companions of the Prophet apostasied after the Messenger of Allah (S) except for three: Salman, Abu Zar and Miqdad. The narrator asked: What do you say about Ammar? Imam (a.s.) replied: He was also somewhat inclined to apostasy. Then he said: If you want such a person who never had any such doubt, it is Miqdad.
Salman thought that Amirul Momineen (a.s.) had command on the Isme Azam (great name of Allah) if he prays through them, indeed the earth will swallow those hypocrites. Then why he was helpless before them? When this matter passed his mind people caught his collar and put a rope around his neck. So much so that there developed a hole in his neck. Amirul Momineen (a.s.) passed by him and he said: O Abu Abdullah it is because of the thought that passed through your mind.
Pay allegiance to Abu Bakr. Then Salman paid allegiance. And Amirul Momineen (a.s.) ordered Abu Zar to remain silent in such a way that his critics may not be able to shake him. But he did not accept and he continued to express the truth till Uthman did with him what he did. After that some companions again became inclined to truth and the first of these were Abu Saasan Ansari, Abu Amr and Sheeter. In the same way their number came to seven and except for them none who believed in the rightfulness of Amirul Momineen (a.s.).