Martyrdom at the Battle of Siffin
In the Khilafat of Hazrat Ali (ra), Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) fought alongside Hazrat Ali (ra) in the Battle of Siffin and in the Battle of Jamal. Abu Abdur Rahman Al-Salami narrates: “In the Battle of Siffin, we fought alongside Hazrat Ali (ra). I saw that wherever Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) would go, the Companions of the Holy Prophet (sa) would follow him, as if he was a flag for them.”
Abdullah bin Salama says, “I saw Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir in the Battle of Siffin…” This is the battle that took place between Hazrat Ali (ra) and Amir Muawiya, the governor of Syria at the time. Abdullah bin Salama states, “[In the battle of Siffin] Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) had aged, yet he had a tall stature and a wheat-like complexion. Hazrat Ammar had a spear in his hand but his hand was shaking. Hazrat Ammar (ra) said, ‘By Him in Whose hand is my life! I have fought with this spear in three battles alongside the Holy Prophet (sa)and this is the fourth. By Him in Whose hand is my life! Even if these people beat us and make us retreat to the date tree of Hajar, even then I will believe that we are on the right path and these people are in the wrong.’”
Abu Al-Bakhtri relates that on the occasion of the Battle of Siffin, Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir(ra) said, “Bring me milk to drink because the Holy Prophet (sa) had told me that the last drink I have in this world will be milk.” Thus, milk was brought and Hazrat Ammar (ra) drank it and then went forth to fight until he was martyred. In another narration it states that when milk was brought before Hazrat Ammar (ra), he laughed and said, “The Holy Prophet (sa) stated that the last drink I have would be milk.” And so he was happy at the fact that he was being martyred in such a state. On the occasion of the Battle of Siffin, Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) said, “Paradise lies under the lustre of the sword and the thirsty shall reach the spring. Today, I shall meet my loved ones and today, I shall meet the Holy Prophet (sa) and his Companions (ra).”
Abdul Rehman bin Abzi relates from his father that while travelling towards Siffin, at the edge of the River Euphrates, Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) said, “O Allah! If I knew that by throwing myself off of this mountain was the most desirable act in Your sight then I would I have done so. If I knew that You would be most pleased with me lighting a great fire and throwing myself into it then I would have done so. O Allah! If I knew that that You would be pleased with me leaping into water and drowning myself, then I would have done exactly that. I am only taking part in this battle in order to attain Your pleasure. I desire that You do not cause me to fail and I only seek to attain Your pleasure.”
Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) was martyred by Abu Waadya Mazni. He threw a spear at him as a result of which he fell and another person then attacked Hazrat Ammar (ra) and severed his head. Both of them then went to Muawiya arguing, each one claiming to have killed him. Hazrat Amr bin Al-Aas (ra) was a companion and at the time took the side of Muawiya due to certain misunderstandings; nonetheless he was with Muawiya and his piety can be gauged from what he said at the time. Hazrat Amr bin Al-Aas (ra) said, “I swear by God that you both are arguing over fire.” In other words, they had martyred Hazrat Ammar (ra) and both who were claiming to be the one who had martyred him were in actuality arguing over the hell-fire. When Hazrat Muawiya heard Hazrat Amr bin Al-Aas (ra) say this and the other two men had also retuned, he said to Hazrat Amr bin Al-Aas (ra), “I have never witnessed before what you have just said now. People have sacrificed their lives for us and yet you are saying to them that they are arguing over fire?” Hazrat Amr (ra) replied, “I swear by God this is precisely the case. I swear by God that you also knew him and I wish that I had died twenty years earlier and not witnessed such a time where we are fighting with one another.”
Hazrat Ammar (ra) passed away during the era of Hazrat Ali’s (ra) Khilafat during the Battle of Siffinn in Safar 37 Hijri at the age of 94. The age of 91 and 93 are also reported according to some estimates. Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) was buried in Siffin.
Yahya bin Aabis relates that at the time when Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir(ra) was martyred, he said to bury him in the same clothes as he would be worthy of admiration.
Hazrat Ali (ra) buried him in the same clothes. Abu Ishaaq states that Hazrat Ali (ra) led the funeral prayer of Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) and Hashim (ra) bin Atba, and kept Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) closer to him and Hashim (ra) was placed in front of Hazrat Ammar (ra). He then recited the Takbeerat over both of them 5, 6 or 7 times in a row.
These were the Companions (ra) who fought for the truth and sacrificed their lives for it. May God Almighty elevate their stations. There are a few more accounts and narrations regarding Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) and I will Insha-Allah mention these in the future.