In the army of Islam there have been a number of brave and self-sacrificing officers and strong and powerful champions but the bravery of Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib is recorded in the pages of history and in fact constitutes the golden leaves of the history of the battles of Islam. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (may Allah bless him and his Ahlel-Bayt), though safe under the protection of his uncle, Abu Talib, was not immune from harassment by the infidels. Whenever they found an opportunity for baiting him, they didn’t miss it. Hamza Ibn Abdul Mutalib Ibn Hashim Ibn Manaf was born in Mecca before the Prophet’s birth in two years so he was very close to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) . He was also the brother of the Prophet by feeding; (the same woman had feed them both, she was Halima Al-Saadiya). In accordance with historical accounts, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud(ra) has narrated the incident of Hazrat Hamza’s acceptance of Islam in his own style. I will narrate its summary [before you] as well as present some of its details. A person ought to hear this incident and ponder over the reasons as to why Hazrat Hamza(ra) accepted Islam, and how he was overcome with jealousy for the honour of the Holy Prophet (SAW) at the time when Abu Jahl acted unjustly toward the Prophet (SAW). Nevertheless, this incident is narrated as follows:
Once,the Holy Prophet (SAW) was sitting on a rock between the hills of Safa and Marwa. He was most certainly pondering over how to establish the unity of God Almighty in the world when, in the meanwhile, Abu Jahl approached him. As soon as he arrived, he said, “O Muhammad (SAW)! Why do you not refrain from spreading your message?” Following this statement, Abu Jahl began to verbally abuse the Prophet in a most vile manner. The Holy Prophet (SAW) quietly continued to listen to Abu Jahl’s abuse and tolerated him. He did not utter a single word in reply.Hazrat Hamza’s house was right in front of the place where the Holy Prophet (SAW) was sitting and where Abu Jahl had abused him.Hazrat Hamza (ra) had not yet accepted Islam. That day, when Abu Jahl had cursed the Holy Prophet (SAW) and treated him harshly, he was away hunting. However, it so happened that when Abu Jahl was acting in this manner, one of the female servants of Hazrat Hamza(ra) was standing at the door, observing this scene. When Abu Jahl repeatedly attacked the Holy Prophet (SAW) and hurled innumerable curses at him, the Prophet quietly and peacefully tolerated his abuse. The female servant stood at the door and continued to observe this scene. When Hazrat Hamza(ra) returned from his hunt that evening and came home, he disembarked from his mount with his bow and arrow in hand, in a manner of demonstrating his courage and pride. Seeing this, the female servant, who had suppressed her anger and sorrow for a long time, approached Hazrat Hamza(ra) and passionately said: “Do you have no shame that you walk around acting brave?” Hearing this, Hazrat Hamza(ra) became perplexed and asked her in astonishment what the matter was. The female servant said: “The matter is that your nephew, Muhammad (SAW), was sitting here when Abu Jahl approached him, and began to attack and hurl abuse at him, and then Abu Jahl slapped him on the face. However, Muhammad (SAW) did not make as much as a sound in response to this and quietly continued to bear this. Abu Jahl continued to curse him until he became tired and then left. However, I saw that Muhammad (SAW) did not respond to any of his actions. You walk around with great courage and have returned from your hunt with great pride. Are you not ashamed that your nephew has been treated in this manner in your presence?”Hazrat Hamza(ra) had not yet accepted Islam. One of the reasons for this was that he was counted among the leaders of Quraish and he was also not willing to accept Islam due to [his] position in the tribe, even though he believed the Prophet (SAW) to be true.However, until that time, Hazrat Hamza(ra) was unprepared to sacrifice his status, honour and prominence for the sake of religion. Nevertheless, when he heard this incident from his female slave, his eyes became bloodshot and he became indignant for his family’s honour. Hence, without taking a moment of rest, he marched toward the Ka‘ba in that very state of anger. First, he performed a circuit around the Ka‘ba and following this he marched towards the gathering in which Abu Jahl was present.There, Abu Jahl was narrating the incident with great arrogance, pride and boastfulness. He mentioned that earlier that day he had abused Muhammad (SAW) and treated him in a vile manner. When Hazrat Hamza (RA) reached this gathering, he forcefully struck his bow against the head of Abu Jahl and said: “You claim to be brave and are telling people that you disgraced Muhammad (SAW) in such manner and that he did not make as much as a sound. Now I will disgrace you. If you have the courage, speak before me.” At that time, Abu Jahl was considered to be a king and he was a chief of [their] nation. He was similar to the pharaoh. When his friends saw this, they passionately got up and tried to attack Hazrat Hamza (SAW) . However, Abu Jahl, who had become awestruck due to the Holy Prophet(sa) quietly tolerating his abuse and due to the bravery and courage of Hazrat Hamza(ra), intervened and stopped them from attacking Hazrat Hamza(ra). He said, “Let him be. The fact of the matter is that I committed an injustice and Hamza is in the right.” Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud(ra) further writes in his own manner that when Muhammad(sa) returned home from the hills of Safa and Marwa, he was repeating in his heart that his duty was not to fight, but to patiently tolerate all abuse. However, God Almighty from His throne was declaring: “O Muhammad (SAW)! You are not prepared to fight, however, are We not present in order to overcome the opponents on your behalf?” Hence, the very same day, God Almighty endowed the Holy Prophet (SAW) with a devoted soul in order to confront Abu Jahl. Furthermore, Hazrat Hamza(ra) professed his belief in the very gathering in which he struck his bow against the head of Abu Jahl. He addressed Abu Jahl and said: “You abuse Muhammad (SAW) merely because he says that he is the Messenger of God and that angels descend upon him. Listen carefully that from today, I also follow the religion of Muhammad (SAW), and I also profess all that which Muhammad (SAW) professes. If you have the courage and dare, then confront me.” Having said this, Hazrat Hamza (RA) entered the fold of Islam. In the narrations we find that after Hazrat Hamza (RA) accepted Islam, it strengthened the faith of the Muslims in Mecca.This was a challenge to Abu Jahl but he figured that silence was the best part of valor, and did not tangle with Hamzah, even restraining his friends who wished to rise in his defense. Hamzah, the uncle of the Prophet of Islam, was one of the bravest men of Arabia and a well-known officer of Islam. It was he, who insisted earnestly that the army of Islam should go out of Madina and fight against Quraysh. It was Hamzah, who protected the Prophet in Makkah during the delicate moments with all his might. Hamzah accepted Islam in the fifth year of the Proclamation. Also the Prophet have handed the flag of the Muslims during three of the Prophet’s wars: Bouat, Al-Abwa’a and Bany Gainga’a. Hamzah (R.A) was the same senior and valiant officer who killed the brave champion of Quraysh Shaybah and others and also wounded a group of the enemies in the Battle of Badr – the first battle of Islam. He had no object in mind except to defend truth and virtue and to maintain freedom in the lives of human beings. Hamzah had killed Utbah, the father of Hinda, in the battle of Badr. In the battle of Uhud, she slaked her thirst for vengeance which had given her no rest since the battle of Badr. Hinda, the wife of Abu Sufyan and the mother of Muawiya, nursed a grudge against Hamzah and was determined to take her father’s revenge on the Muslims at any cost. Wahshi, an Ethiopian warrior, was the slave of Jabir Mut’am and an uncle of Jibir had also been killed in the Battle of Badr. He (Wahshi) had been appointed by Hinda to help achieve her object by hook or by crook. She asked him to kill one of the three persons (viz. the Prophet, Imam Ali or Hamzah) so that she might avenge her father’s death. The Ethiopian warrior said in reply: “I cannot approach Muhammad at all, because his companions are nearer to him than anyone else. Ali too is extraordinarily vigilant in the battlefield. However, Hamzah is so furious that, while fighting, he does not pay any attention to any other side and it is possible that I may be able to make him fall by some trick or by taking him unawares”. Hinda was contented with this and promised that if he was successful in performing the job she would set him free.
Some believe that Jibir made this promise with his slave (Wahshi) as his (Jibir’s) uncle had been killed in the Battle of Badr. Wahshi, the slave, says: “On the Day of Uhud I was pursuing Hamzah. He was attacking the centre of the army like a ferocious lion. He killed every one whom he could approach. I hid myself behind the trees and stones, so that he could not see me. He was too busy in fighting. I came out of ambush. Being an Ethiopian, I used to throw my weapon like them (i.e. like the Ethiopians) and it seldom missed the target. I, therefore, threw my javelin towards him from a specific distance after moving it in a particular manner. The weapon fell on his flank and came out from between his two legs. He wanted to attack me but severe pain prevented him from doing so. He remained in the same condition till his soul departed from his body. Then I approached him very carefully and having taken out my weapon from his body returned to the army of Quraysh and waited for my freedom. In the battle of Uhud the Muslims suffered a lot. Hinda and the other harpies she had brought with her from Makka, mutilated the bodies of the slain Muslims. Hinda cut open Hamzah’s abdomen, plucked out his liver and chewed it up. Muhammad ibn Umar Waqidi, the historian, says that she made a fire in the battlefield, roasted Hamzah’s heart and liver and ate them. Not satisfied with this, she cut the limbs, the ears and the nose of Hamzah, strung them into a “necklace,” and entered Makka wearing it as a “trophy” of victory. When the Messenger of Allah saw how his uncle and foster brother, Hamza, was mutilated, he was extremely grieved. When his aunt Safiyah came to see her brother Hamza, the Messenger of Allah ordered her son Az-Zubair to dismiss her in order not to see what happened to her brother. She refused and said, “But why should I go away. I have been informed that they have mutilated him. But so long as it is in the way of Allah , whatever happens to him satisfies us. I say: Allah is Sufficient and I will be patient if Allah wills.” She approached, looked at him and supplicated Allah for him and said: “To Allah we all belong and to Him we will verily return.” and she implored Allah to forgive him. Then the Messenger of Allah ordered that he should be buried with ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh — who was his nephew as well as his foster brother. Muhammed Mustafa (SAW), the Apostle of God, was deeply aggrieved at the death and at the mutilation of the body of such a stalwart of Islam as Hamzah. He bestowed upon him the titles of the “Lion of God,” and the “Chief of the Martyrs.” After the Battle of Uhud, I continued to live in Makkah for quite a long time until the Muslims conquered Makkah. I then ran away to Ta’if, but soon Islam reach that area as well. I heard that however grave the crime of a person might be, the Prophet forgave him. I, therefore, reached the Prophet with Shahadatayn on my lips (i.e., I testify that there is no god but Allah and I also testify that Muhammad is His Prophet). The Prophet saw me and said “Are you the same Wahshi, an Ethiopian?” I replied in the affirmative. Thereupon he said: “How did you kill Hamzah?” I gave an account of the matter. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was moved and said: “I should not see your face until you are alive, because the heart-rending calamity fell upon my uncle at your hands”. It was the same great spirit of the Prophet of Islam which made him set this man free although he could execute him on many grounds. Wahshi says: “So long as the Prophet was alive I kept myself hidden from him. Ibn Mas‘ud said: We have never seen the Messenger of Allah weeping so much as he was for Hamza bin ‘Abdul Muttalib. He directed him towards Al-Qiblah, then he stood at his funeral and sobbed his heart out. The sight of the martyrs was extremely horrible and heart-breaking. Describing Hamza’s funeral, Khabbab said: “No shroud long enough was available for Hamza except a white-darkish garment. When they covered his head with it, it was too short to cover his feet. Similarly if they covered his feet his head would be revealed. Finally they covered his head with it and put some plant called ‘Al-Idhkhir’ to cover his feet.” May God be pleased with him, and bless him.
(The authors write regularly on Islamic topics exclusively for “Kashmir Horizon”. Views are their own)
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