Daily Alhamdulillah reminder

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (raa) relates that the Holy Prophet (saw) once deputed a scouting party of ten persons under the leadership of Hazrat 'Aasim bin Sabit Ansari (raa). They left for their destination and when they reached Hadat, a place which is between 'Usfan and Makkah, the tribe of Huzail, also called Banu Lihyan, (somehow or other) came to know about them, and the enemy set out in pursuit with about a hundred archers following them with the help of their footmarks.

When Hazrat 'Aasim and his companions learnt that they were being followed by the enemy, they took shelter on a hill. The non-believers surrounded them and asked them to come down and surrender, and promised not to kill anyone of them. But Hazrat Aasim (raa) rejected the offer, saying: "O my people, I will not get down and surrender to the non-believers. Allah, let our Holy Prophet (saw) know our position."

The enemy then started shooting arrows at them, killing Hazrat 'Aasim (raa). Three of the Muslims: Hazrat Khubaib (raa), Hazrat Zaid bin Dathina (raa), and another Muslim, believing the promise of the enemy, came down. (The remaining six Muslims had been martyred along with Hazrat 'Aasim (raa)).

When the enemy had the above three persons under their control, they took off the chords of their bows with which they tied them up securely.

The third man protested: "This is the first violation of the pledge. By Allah! I will not go with you and shall follow the example of these martyrs." The non-believers pulled him and tried to drag him along with them, but he resisted. So they killed him and carried Hazrat Khubaib (raa), who was purchased by the children of Haris bin Aamir bin Naufal bin Abd Manaf, and it was Hazrat Khubaib (raa) who had slain Haris bin Aamir in the battle of Badr. Hazrat Khubaib (raa) remained a prisoner with them until all the non-believers agreed to kill him.

Hazrat Khubaib (raa) one say borrowed a razor from one of the daughters of Haris. In the meantime, a child of this woman strayed up to Hazrat Khubaib (raa) who seated the baby in his lap while the razor was in his hand, and the mother was unaware od the development. When she reached near Hazrat Khubaib (raa), she saw the child on the lap of Khubaib with a razor in his hand. She was terrified, but Hazrat Khubaib (raa), sensing her discomfort, said: "You fear that I would kill him? I will never do so." Having thus been relieved of her stress, she used to say about him: "I have never seen a prisoner better than Hazrat Khubaib (raa)."

One day, whilst in chains, he was eating fresh grapes which he held in his hand; although at that time, no grapes were available in Makkah. She used to say: "I am convinced that these grapes were provided to Hazrat Khubaib (raa) by Allah."

When the non-believers took him out of the Haram (sanctuary) to behead him outside the Haram limit, Hazrat Khubaib (raa) asked them: "Let me offer two raka'ats of optional prayers." After this, he said: "I would have made my prayer a bit long, but I thought you might think I was afraid to die." He then prayed, "O Allah! Count them and kill them all one by one and do not spare any of them."

He then recited these verses of a poem:

"If I am killed while in Islam, then I do not mind on which side I fall dead.

This death of mine is for the sake of Allah, and if He so wills, He would bless the severed parts of my body."

It was Hazrat Khubaib (raa) who set the example for every Muslim, who might be captured and killed for the sake of Allah, to be steadfast and offer prayer before execution.

The Holy Prophet (saw) informed his companions of the news of the martyrdom of these persons on the day when Hazrat Khubaib (raa) and his associates were killed.

Hazrat 'Aasim bin Sabit (raa) had slain one of the leading men of the Quraish tribe in the battle of Badr. As such, when the said tribe came to know of his death, they deputed some of their men to verify this fact, and being something (some parts of his body) from which he might be identified. But Allah, the most High, placed some bees (or wasps) which covered the dead body of Hazrat 'Aasim (raa) like a cloud and thus saved his corpse from being mutilated by these persons, by cutting away any portion of his body as a token.

(Sahih Bukhari, Riyadh us saleheen number 1509)