One of the distinguishing features of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is that they knew their tasks and duties. They would approach them wholeheartedly, focus on them, and become knowledgeable about them. The Companion Uqbah bin Amir Al-Juhani understood this well. He was among the best of the Prophet’s Companions, a striving leader from the notable conquerors, a skilled archer, and a scholar in preparation and jihad training. He specialized in narrating most of the hadiths reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding the virtues of archery and its encouragement. He did not abandon archery or practice until his death.
We will briefly discuss some of the hadiths narrated by this esteemed Companion or narrated about him:
First: Archery as the Principal Type of Strength
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed, strength is in archery.” Strength here means gaining proficiency in all tools of war. However, archery was specified due to its significant impact on the enemy. It is the principal and most beneficial type of strength because it affects the enemy from a distance without requiring bravery, meaning both the brave and others can use it. Its profound impact might even cause the defeat of the enemy's frontlines from afar, keeping the archer safe from danger, among other benefits.
Second: Preparation is Obligatory at All Times
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allah will soon open up the lands for you, and you will be sufficient in provision. So let none of you slacken in playing with his arrows.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) informed his Companions that Allah would soon open up lands like Rome for them, who were proficient archers. Therefore, they must continue practicing archery and preparing for battle. If Allah wards off the enemy, they should not abandon archery. Continuous preparation and training are always needed. This indicates the obligation of preparation at all times for all capable individuals. Uqbah bin Amir exemplified this by persistently practicing archery without getting weary, even as he aged.
Third: Recommending Competitions and Play in Archery
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Let him play with his arrows.” This encourages learning archery through play and competitions since people naturally enjoy play. Al-Bukhari narrated that Salamah bin Al-Akwa’ (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by some people from the tribe of Aslam who were competing in archery. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Shoot, O sons of Ismail, for your father was an archer. Shoot, and I am with the tribe of so-and-so.” One team stopped shooting, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, “Why don’t you shoot?” They replied, “How can we shoot while you are with them?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Shoot, for I am with all of you.” This indicates the recommendation of holding archery competitions among groups, and it was approved and participated in by the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Fourth: Prohibition of Abandoning Preparation or Falling Short in It
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever knows archery but abandons it is not one of us.” This implies that abandoning archery after learning it is seen as a deficiency and ingratitude for the great blessing. In another narration: “Whoever abandons archery after learning it, out of disdain, has discarded a blessing.” Referring to it as knowledge and warning against abandoning it highlights its importance and usefulness, similar to forgetting the Qur'an after learning it, as mentioned in another hadith.
Fifth: Daily Archery Program and Understanding the Virtue of Preparation
Uqbah bin Amir had a daily routine of archery practice. He taught his students from the Followers (Tabi'in) to persist in archery and preparation, instilling the virtue of sincerity and dedication to Allah, so they would not become lazy in this great act of worship: preparation and readiness. We narrate two stories of Uqbah bin Amir’s daily archery routine with two of his followers:
Ahmad narrated: Uqbah bin Amir Al-Juhani would go out and shoot arrows every day, accompanied by Abdullah bin Zaid Al-Azraq. Abdullah seemed to tire, so Uqbah said: "Shall I tell you something? I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: ‘Allah will admit three people to Paradise with one arrow: the one who makes it intending good, the one who equips it in the way of Allah, and the archer. Shoot and ride, but shooting is better than riding.’" Uqbah passed away leaving behind seventy-something bows, each with a quiver and arrows, which he bequeathed in the way of Allah.
Khalid bin Zaid said: "I was an archer who practiced with Uqbah bin Amir. One day, he said: ‘Khalid, let’s go shoot.’ I hesitated, so he said: ‘Khalid, let me tell you what the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Allah will admit three people to Paradise with one arrow: the one who makes it intending good, the one who equips it in the way of Allah, and the archer. Shoot and ride, but shooting is dearer to me than riding.”’"
Young Muslims, the battle to liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque has begun. Let each of you choose your path in this endeavor. Begin your preparation, set your plans, and let us move to action with a daily routine of what we excel in preparation.
