The Owner of Two Cloths
Between Makkah and Madina lay a town Muzainah, where lived a young man orphaned since ten. Raised by a wealthy uncle, his life was comfortable and he didn’t want for anything. He had the finest food, clothes and home; whatever Abdul Uzza desired, his uncle would grant. Among his peers he stood out for his elegant clothes, sourced from far and wide.
One day after Hijra, Abdul Uzza found himself invited to Islam by a caravan passing through. Being a bright young man he warmed to the invitation and the noble Companions taught him Islam. Even after they left Abdul Uzza continued to memorise Quran, eagerly awaiting the passing of Muslim travellers through his town so he could learn more.
Praying in the desert alone in secret, he’d often ask his uncle, ‘Have you heard of Muhammad in Yathrib who says such and such?” His uncle had, but resisted. Finally, came the day when Abdul Uzza knew he must leave. So with a respectful, kindly tone he confessed he was a Muslim and could no longer bear to be away from the Prophet ﷺ. He wished to migrate with his uncle beside him.
Betrayed and furious his uncle ordered Abdul Uzza to renounce Islam. He refused. So his uncle left him bereft of every creature comfort he’d known, including even the clothes on his back. Finding two pieces of cloth (bijadayn), Abdul Uzza covered himself with them. In this pitiful state he made his way to Madina alone on foot, arriving at the Prophet’s mosque where he waited.
When the Prophet ﷺ saw a new, young face at fajr, he asked who he was and why he wore two pieces of cloth? So the young man told his story saying;
"I chose Allah and his Messenger over the blessings and things of this world.”
With that, the Prophet ﷺ commended his new Companion and said: “As of today your name is Abdullah Dhu al-Bijadayn and not Abdul Uzza.”
Abdullah (ra) isn’t so known. A humble man; with no family, tribe or wealth. To this day there are those around us just as beloved to Allah, living in obscurity. Neither trend-setters nor influencers but names and sacrifices that every day may go unnoticed except by the One who sees All.🌙
𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 of 𝗦.𝗡.𝗝𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶 ✍🏼 (𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, Islamic chapter books for kids📚)
