Ibn Is'haaq narrates that after some of the Ansaar had pledged allegiance to Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) (in Makkah), they came back to Madinah and Islaam started manifesting itself in Madinah. However, there were still those Mushrikeen amongst the Ansaar who adhered to their religion. Amongst these was Hadhrat Amr bin Jamooh (r.a) whose son Mu'aadh (r.a) had also pledged allegiance to Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) at Aqaba.
Hadhrat Amr bin Jamooh (r.a) was one of the leaders of the Banu Salamah tribe and one of the most respected persons amongst them. As was the practice of the noble people of those times, Hadhrat Amr bin Jamooh (r.a) also kept a wooden idol in his house that he named Manaat. He regarded it to be his deity and always kept it clean.
After accepting Islaam, some of the youngsters of the Banu Salamah tribe together with others who had pledged allegiance to Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) at Aqaba such as Hadhrat Mu'aadh bin Jabal (r.a) and Hadhrat Amr bin Jamooh's son Mu'aadh (r.a), used to take away the idol of Hadhrat Amr bin Jamooh (r.a) at night and then throw it head first into one of the pits they used as a rubbish dump. In the mornings, Hadhrat Amr bin Jamooh (r.a) used to say, ''Woe be to those who have manhandled our god last night!" He would then go looking for the idol. When he found it, he would wash it, clean it thoroughly and apply perfume to it. Thereafter, he would say, "I swear by Allaah that if I found out who did this, I would certainly disgrace him." However, as soon as Hadhrat Amr bin Jamooh (r.a) went to sleep, the youngsters again repeated their deed.
One day, when they had carried out their deed once too often for him, he took the idol out from where they had thrown it after cleaning it and applying perfume, he hung his sword around its neck. He then said to it, "By Allaah! I have no idea who is doing this to you. However, if you have the courage, you should defend yourself for you now have this sword with you." When night fell and Hadhrat Amr bin Jamooh (r.a) went to sleep, the youngsters again seized the idol and after removing the sword from its neck, they tied a dead dog to it and threw it into an unused well of the Banu Salamah that will be full of rubbish. The following morning when Hadhrat Amr bin Jamooh (r.a) did not find the idol in its place, he went out in search of it and found it lying on its head in the well with the dead dog tied to it.
Seeing this, he realised the helplessness of the idol and after the Muslims of his tribe had spoken to him, he accepted Islaam, becoming an excellent Muslim. May Allaah shower His mercy on him.
Narrated by Minjaab from Ziyaad who narrates from Ibn Is'haaq.
(From Hayatus Sahabah by Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Khandhlawi)
