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Time and history would have by-passed this man as it had bypassed thousands of Arabs before him. He, like them, would have had no claim to attention or fame. The greatness of Islam, however, gave to Abdullah ibn Hudhafah the opportunity to meet two world potentates of his time–Khusraw Parvez the King of Persia and Heraclius, the Byzantine emperor.
The story of his encounter with Khusraw Parvez began in the sixth year of the hijrah when the Prophet decided to send some of his Companions with letters to rulers outside the Arabian peninsula inviting them to Islam.
Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA was one of the glorious companions of Rasulullah SAW. He was known for his strong faith in God and his messenger. He was also among those who were willing to sacrifice their whole lives for the light of Islam to spread. Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA was given the chance to meet two world potentates of his time, Khusraw Parvez the King of Persia and Heraclius, the Byzantine emperor.
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The story of his encounter with Khusraw Parvez took place in the sixth year of the hijrah when Rasulullah SAW decided to send some of his Companions with letters to rulers outside the Arabian Peninsula inviting them to Islam. This was a very hard mission to accomplish.
To make known, his plan Rasulullah SAW called his companions together and addressed them. He started by praising God and thanking Him. He then recited the Shahadah and went on:
"I want to send some of you to the rulers of foreign lands but don't dispute with me as the Israelites disputed with Jesus, the son of Mary.”
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"O Prophet of God, we shall carry out whatever you wish," they responded. "Send us wherever you desire."
Rasulullah SAW
Rasulullah SAW chose six of his companions to carry his letters to Arab and foreign rulers. One of these was Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA. Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA was chosen to take the Prophet's letter to Khusraw Parvez, the Persian king.
Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA prepared himself and bade farewell to his wife and son. Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA set out, alone, and traversed mountains and valleys until he reached the land of the Persians.
Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA asked for permission to enter into the king's presence informing the guards of the letter he was carrying. Khusraw Parvez thereupon ordered his audience chamber to be made ready and summoned his prominent aides. When they had assembled he gave permission for Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA to enter.
Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA entered and saw the Persian beautifully dressed in delicate, flowing robes and wearing a great, neatly arranged turban. On the other hand Abdullah was wearing plain, coarse clothes of the Bedouin.
His head though was held high and his feet were firm. The honor of Islam burned fiercely in his breast and the power of faith strengthened his heart.
When Khusraw Parvez saw him approaching he signaled to one of his men to take the letter from his hand.
"No," said Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA. “The Prophet commanded me to hand over this letter to you directly and I shall not go against a command of Rasulullah SAW."
"Let him come near to me," Khusraw ordered his guards.
Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA proceeded and handed over the letter. Khusraw then called an Arab clerk and told him to open the letter in his presence and read its contents.
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The clerk read: "In the name of Allah, the Beneficent the Merciful. From Mohamed, the Messenger of God, to Khusraw the ruler of Persia. Peace on whoever follows the guidance . . ."
As soon as Khusraw heard this, he burst with anger, and he snatched the letter from the clerk's hand and began tearing it to pieces without knowing what else it contained and shouted: "Does he dare to write to me like this, he who is my slave"? He was angry that the Prophet had not given him precedence in his letter. He then commanded Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA to be dismissed from his assembly.
Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA was taken away, not knowing what would happen to him. Would he be killed or would he be set free? But he did not want to wait to find out. He said, "By God, I don't care what happens to me after the letter of Rasulullah SAW has been so badly treated." Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA managed to get to his camel and rode off.
When Khusraw anger had subsided he commanded that Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA be brought before him. But Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA was nowhere to be found. They searched for him all the way to the Arabian Peninsula but found that he had gone ahead.
Back in Madinah, Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA told Rasulullah SAW how Khusraw had torn his letter to pieces and Rasulullah SAW only reply was, "May God tear up his kingdom".
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After a short period, Badhan sent two men on behalf of Khusraw to bring Rasulullah SAW to him. Badhan is the governor in Yemen under the Persian Empire.
Rasulullah SAW smiled and said to them, "Go back to your mounts today and return tomorrow."
On the following day, they came to Rasulullah SAW) and said to him, "Are you prepared to go with us to meet Khusraw?"
"You shall not meet Khusraw after today," replied Rasulullah SAW. "Allah SWT has killed him and his son Shirwaih has taken his place on such a night and on such a month."
The two men stared in the face of Rasulullah SAW They were completely dumbfounded.
"Do you know what you are saying?" they asked. "Shall we write about this to Badhan?"
"Yes," replied Rasulullah SAW, "and say to him that my religion has informed m
They went back to the Yemen and told Badhan what had happened.
Badhan said, "If what Mohamed has said is true, then he is a Prophet. If not then we shall see what happens to him."
A short time passed and then Badhan received a letter from Shirwaih, in which he said, "I killed Khusraw because of his tyranny against our people. He regarded as lawful the killing of leaders, the capturing of their women and the expropriating of their wealth. When this letter reaches you, take the allegiance of whoever is with you on my behalf."
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As soon as Badhan read Shirwaih letter, he threw it aside and announced his entry into Islam. The Persians with him in the Yemen also embraced Islam.
That's the story of Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA’s meeting with the Persian king. Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA another story is about the meeting with Byzantine emperor that took place during the caliphate of Saidina Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA. It’s also an astonishing story. In the nineteenth year after the Hijrah, Umar dispatched an army to fight against the Byzantines. Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA was among that army.
News of the Muslim force reached the Byzantine emperor. He had heard of their sincerity of faith, and their willingness to sacrifice their lives in the way of Allah SWT and His Rasul. He gave orders to his men to bring to him any Muslim captive they might take alive.
It was Allah’s will that Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA fall captive to the Byzantines and he was brought before the Emperor. The Emperor looked at Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA for a long time. Suddenly he said, "I shall make a proposal to you."
"What is it?" asked Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA.
"I suggest that you become a Christian. If you do this, you will be set free and I shall grant you a safe refuge."
Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA became furious and said: "Death is preferable to me a thousand times to what you ask me to do."
"I see that you are a bold man. However, if you respond positively to what I propose to you, I will give you a share in my authority and swear you in as my aide."
Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA smiled and said, "By God, if you give me all that you possess and all that the Arabs have in exchange for giving up the religion of Mohamed, I shall not do so."
"Then I shall kill you."
"Do what you want," answered Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA.
The emperor then had Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA put on a cross and ordered his soldiers to throw spears at him, first near his hands and then near his feet, all the while telling Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA to accept Christianity or at least give up his religion. Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA refused over and over again to the command.
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The emperor then had him taken down from the wooden cross. He called for a great pot to be brought. This was filled with oil, which was then heated under a fierce fire. He then had two other Muslim prisoners brought and had one of them thrown into the boiling oil. The prisoner's flesh sizzled and soon his bones could be seen. The emperor turned to Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA and invited him to Christianity.
This was the most terrible test that Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA had had to face up till now. But Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA remained firm and the emperor gave up trying. He then ordered that Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA to be thrown into the pot. As Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA was being taken away he began to shed tears. The emperor thought that he had at last been broken and had him brought back to him. He once more suggested that Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA become a Christian but to his astonishment, Abdullah refused.
"Damn you! Why did you weep then?" shouted the emperor.
"I cried," said Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA, "because I said to myself 'You will now be thrown into this pot and your soul will depart'. What I really desired then was to have as many souls as the number of hairs on my body and to have all of them thrown into this pot for the sake of Allah SWT."
The tyrant then said, "Will you kiss my head? I will then set you free?"
"And all the Muslim prisoners also?" asked Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA.
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The emperor agreed to do this and Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA said to himself, "One of the enemies of God! I shall kiss his head and he shall set me and all other Muslim prisoners free. There can be no blame on me for doing this." Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA then went up to the emperor and kissed his forehead. All the Muslim prisoners were released and handed over to Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA Abdullah.
Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi Eventually came to Saidina Umar ibn alKhattab RA and told him what had happened.
Saidina Umar ibn alKhattab RA was greatly pleased and when he looked at the prisoners he said, "Every Muslim has a duty to kiss the head of Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi RA and I shall start."
Saidina Umar ibn alKhattab RA then got up and kissed the head of Saidina Umar ibn alKhattab RA.
Selected Hadiths Attributed to Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As Sahmi RA
Found In: Sahih Bukhari Chapter No: 10, Times of the Prayers
Hadith no: 515
Narrated: Anas bin Malik
Allah's Apostle came out as the sun declined at mid-day and offered the Zuhr prayer. He then stood on the pulpit and spoke about the Hour (Day of Judgment) and said that in it there would be tremendous things. He then said, "Whoever likes to ask me about anything he can do so and I shall reply As long As I am at this place of mine. Most of the people wept and the Prophet said repeatedly, "Ask me." Abdullah bin Hudhaifa As-Sahmi stood up and said, "Who is my father?" The Prophet said, "Your father is Hudhaifa." The Prophet repeatedly said, "Ask me." Then Umar knelt before him and said, "We are pleased with Allah As our Lord, Islam As our religion, and Muhammad As our Prophet." The Prophet then became quiet and said, "Paradise and Hell-fire were displayed in front of me on this wall just now and I have never seen a better thing (than the former) and a worse thing (than the latter)."
Relevance: 11.8165
Found In: Sahih Muslim Chapter No: 1, Faith (Kitab Al Iman)
Hadith no: 269
Narrated: Ribi bin Hirash
who narrated it on the authority of Hudhaifa that verily 'Umar said: Who would narrate to us or who amongst you would narrate to us (and Hudhaifa was one amongst them) what the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had said about the turmoil? Hudhaifa said: I will, and recited the hadith like that transmitted by Abu Malik on the authority of Rib'i and he observed in connection with this hadith that Hudhaifa remarked: I am narrating to you a hadith and it has no mistake, and said: That it is transmitted from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him).
Relevance: 19.3171
Found In: Sahih Bukhari Chapter No: 12, Characteristics of Prayer
Hadith no: 772
Narrated: Abu Wail
Hudhaifa said, "I saw a person not performing his bowing and prostrations perfectly. When he completed the prayer, I told him that he had not prayed." I think that Hudhaifa added (i.e. said to the man), "Had you died, you would have died on a tradition other than that of the Prophet Muhammad."
Relevance: 17.598
Found In: Sahih Bukhari Chapter No: 24, Obligatory Charity Tax (Zakat)
Hadith no: 516
Narrated: Abu Wail
Hudhaifa said, "Umar said, 'Who amongst you remembers the statement of Allah's Apostle SAW about afflictions?' I said, 'I know it As the Prophet had said it.' Umar said, 'No doubt, you are bold. How did he say it?' I said, 'A man's afflictions (wrong deeds) concerning his wife, children and neighbors are expiated by (his) prayers, charity, and enjoining good.' (The sub-narrator Suleiman added that he said, 'The prayer, charity, enjoining good and forbidding evil.') 'Umar said, 'I did not mean that, but I Ask about that affliction which will spread like the waves of the sea.' I said, 'O chief of the believers! You need not be afraid of it as there is a closed door between you and it.' He Asked, 'Will the door be broken or opened?' I replied, 'No, it will be broken.' He said, 'Then, if it is broken, it will never be closed again?' I replied, 'Yes.' “Then we were afraid to ask what that door was, so we Asked Masruq to inquire, and he Asked Hudhaifa regarding it. Hudhaifa said, "The door was Umar. "We further Asked Hudhaifa whether Umar knew what that door meant. Hudhaifa replied in the affirmative and added, "He knew it as one knows that there will be a night before the tomorrow morning."
Relevance: 17.4313
Found In: Sahih Bukhari Chapter No: 31, Fasting
Selected Video for Abdullah ibn Hudhaifa As Sahmi RA
Video 1 (English)
