Dadi Jan, dad, mom, Samra Apa, Ali and Hannah were all huddled up in the car, enjoying the gentle April rain pattering softly on the car roof. They sipped their steaming espressos and chit chatted merrily. Right across the road, a man dashed out of a supermarket at the speed of lightning, sat on his bike and disappeared. This was followed by an uproar with another man running out of the shop, crying and beating his chest. He had just been robbed at gunpoint, and the thief had escaped.
Dad instantly called the police and reported the incident. Then he quickly went over to the man in tears to express his sympathy for his loss. By now, a crowd had gathered around them, commenting helplessly about the spiraling crime and how nothing could be done about it.
Dadi Jan sighed sadly: “All it takes is a few men of courage to pounce on the thief and disarm him. But no one wants to take the initiative. Besides, the men of today are not trained to defend themselves or others, like they used to be in the Prophet’s (sa) time. They didn’t need the police to fight for them.”
Samra Apa disagreed: “But, Dadi Jan, we can get killed if we come in the line of fire.”
Mom reasoned gently: “Not if we prepare ourselves in advance, as Dadi Jan mentioned. Besides, it is Allah (swt) Who gives life and death – not a bullet. Do you know that a person defending the life and honour of a human being is a martyr in Islam? Then why should we fear evil? It is because of this fear that criminals and gunmen get away and boldly break the law and hurt the society.”
Ali nodded angrily: “I agree with mom. Don’t you remember the story of Salmah ibn Akwah (rtam), a twelve year old Sahabi of the Prophet (sa), who courageously fought off bandits?”
Dadi Jan smiled warmly: “That’s right, my child! When the Messenger (sa) migrated from Makkah to Madinah, he used to send his camels to graze at Ghabah, a small village five miles from Madinah. Once, some bandits rounded the poor shepherd and killed him. They stole the camels and fled.”
Samra Apa wide eyed pleaded: “What happened next, Dadi Jan?”
Dadi Jan continued, matching her excitement: “Young Salmah witnessed the whole incident. Waiting for the right moment, he ran up a hill and shouted in the direction of Madinah for help. Then he chased the bandits.
He was so agile that when he shot arrows at them, the bandits thought there were many people at their heels. Each time the bandits turned around to check who was chasing them, Salmah skilfully hid behind the trees. Finally, they got so confused that they fled and left behind the stolen camels along with some of their own clothes and spears.
When the bandits realized later that it was just an individual chasing them, they came back and surrounded Salmah from all sides, forcing him to scramble up a hill.
Salmah (rtam) warned them with great valour that he was an expert archer, and they stood no chance against him. While he kept the bandits engaged in conversation, he prayed that help would come to him from Madinah. Allah (swt) answered his prayers, and Akram Asadi (rtam) arrived with some horsemen. After combat, he was martyred and the bandits were forced to retreat.
Young Salmah begged the Prophet (sa) to permit him to go after the bandits, but the Messenger (sa) did not allow him to do so.”
Samra Apa and Ali smiled. “So, my children, courage has everything to do with faith in Allah (swt) and preparation for the worst situation.”
Ali’s eyes shone with fire: “I want to learn to use weapons, too, so I can defend mine and others’ life and honour.”
Mom smiled: “Why not? Every Muslim man and woman should master self-defence, if nothing else.”
Dad just arrived then and seated himself in the driver’s seat. Ali babbled excitedly: “Dad, guess what? Dadi wants you and me to go to a military academy for training just like Salmah (rtam).”
Dad, looking utterly clueless, pulled the car out: “If that is Dadi’s idea, I am not surprised at all.”
Mom and Samra Apa giggled, while Dadi tried to convince Dad about her wonderful idea. Ali coaxed dad, too, while little Hannah sipped up her leftover espresso.
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