‘Ukāshah(ra) was from among the best of the companions and was an ally of the people of Makkah. He was martyred in the Battle of Murtaddīn1 in the reign of Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr(ra).2 This was the same great man about whom it was mentioned in a Ḥadīth that on one occasion, the Holy Prophet(sa) in one of his gatherings mentioned that, “From my Ummah 70,000 people shall enter heaven without a reckoning.” In other words, they would have attained such a spiritual status and divine grace, and mercy would be in such fervour for them that a formal reckoning would not be considered necessary for them. The Holy Prophet(sa) also said that, “On the day of resurrection their faces would glow as the full moon glows in the night sky.” Upon this, ‘Ukāshah(ra) said, “O Messenger of Allāh, pray that God the Exalted makes me from among them as well.” The Holy Prophet(sa) immediately prayed that, “O Allāh, make ‘Ukāshah among those people by your divine grace.” After this an Anṣārī3 individual requested, “O Messenger of Allāh! Pray for me as well,” upon which the Holy Prophet(sa) said:
“In this matter, ‘Ukāshah has outstripped you.”4
An apparently insignificant incident from a gathering of the Holy Prophet(sa), contains a treasure of much wisdom. Firstly, it is ascertained that the grace and mercy of Allāh the Exalted upon the Ummah of Muḥammad(sa) is of such magnitude and the spiritual munificence of the Holy Prophet(sa) was of such excellence, that 70,000 people5 from his Ummah due to their prominent spiritual status and special divine mercy and grace, would be beyond the agony of reckoning and account on the Day of Resurrection. Secondly, it is also found from this (incident) that the Holy Prophet(sa) possessed such nearness in the court of Allāh the Exalted, that by his spiritual attention God the Exalted immediately endowed the Holy Prophet(sa) the knowledge that ‘Ukāshah(ra) was also included in this pure group of 70,000, by way of a vision or inspiration. It is also a probability that ‘Ukāshah(ra) was not previously a part of this group but as a result of the prayer of the Holy Prophet(sa), God granted him this honour. Thirdly, from this instance it is also ascertained that the Holy Prophet(sa) had such regard for discipline and desired to grant his Ummah such an increase in their efforts and works, that when another individual presented a similar request for prayer after ‘Ukāshah(ra), considering the extremely elite spiritual status endowed to the people of this holy group, the Holy Prophet(sa) refused from making any further individual prayers, so that the Muslims remain motivated to progress in their goodness, faith and good deeds. Fourthly, this also sheds light on the lofty character of the Holy Prophet(sa), because he did not refuse in a manner that would hurt the feelings of the Anṣārī questioner, but declined in an exceedingly subtle manner.
1 Literally means ‘apostates’ (Publishers)
2 Usdul-Ghābah Fī Ma‘rifatiṣ-Ṣaḥābah, By ‘Izzuddīn Ibnul-Athīr Abul-Ḥasan ‘Alī bin Muḥammad, Volume 3, p. 564, ‘Ukāshat-ubnu Miḥṣanin, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon (2003)
3 The singular for Anṣār. The term Anṣār refers to Muslims of Madīnah who gave protection to the Muslim emmigrants of Makkah (Publishers)
4 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābur-Riqāq, Bābu Yadkhulul-Jannata Sab‘ūna Alfan Bi-Ghairi Ḥisāb, Ḥadīth No. 6542
5 It is also possible that by 70,000, the actual numerical figure is not the intent here, but that an unusually large multitude is implied. In the Arabic language the number 70 is also used to express a large abundance or absolute number.