Hazrat Abu Huzaifa (R.A)

Hazrat Abu Huzaifa (R.A) was amongst the blessed personalities who had embraced Islam in its early days. He (R.A) was the son of Utbah bin Rabiah, who was famously known for his handsomeness, wealth, intellect and wisdom. Despite all these qualities, he was the worst enemy of Islam.

When the family of Hazrat Abu Huzaifa (R.A) found out that he (R.A) reverted to Islam, each member of his family tried there level best to bring him back to worship many Gods instead of the only One God but to no avail. When their efforts bore no fruit, they began to persecute him.

When his (R.A) family did not stop tormenting him, he along with his wife left Makkah for Abyssinia (currently known as Ethiopia).

During his (R.A) exile to Abyssinia, Allah (S.W.T) blessed him with a son whom he named Muhammad, in token of his love to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). He remained in Abyssinia till the beloved Prophet (S.A.W) had migrated to Madina Shareef.

In the battle of Badr, he (R.A) saw the dead body of his father Utbah, whom Hazrat Hamzah (R.A) had slain, being dragged and dropped into the well after the battle. When observing this scene, the colour of his face started to change.

On seeing this, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) asked Hazrat Abu Huzaifa (R.A) how he felt, he (R.A) said, "O the Prophet! By God, I am not worried over my father or his fatal end. I think he was a wise, prudent and intellectual man and these qualities of his should have brought him to Islam. When I witnessed his end in the state of infidelity, it worried me about him”. (Sabal-ul-Huda, Vol. IV P-87)

When the battle was at its full swing, Holy Prophet (S.A.W) informed his soldiers not to kill any of Hashmites (people from Hashmi tribe) for they had not participated in the war by their own will. He (S.A.W) also advised not to kill Abu Al-Bakhtary, for his services, he had rendered to the Beloved Prophet (S.A.W) in Makkah Shareef. The Beloved Prophet (S.A.W) also ordered Muslim soldiers not to kill Abbas because he had not come to the battlefield by his free will.

Hearing this, Hazrat Abu Huzaifa (R.A), whose father Utbah, uncle Shaiba and brother Walid had been slain at the hands of the Muslims, could not control his passions and these words slipped from his tongue: "While we are slaying fathers, brothers and near relatives with our swords, how is it possible we shall spare Abbas. By God, if Abbas comes across me, I shall bridle him with my sword."

These unintentional bitter words haunted Hazrat Abu Huzaifa (R.A) throughout his life, he used to say: "I am afraid of consequences of the thing I had uttered on that day. To avoid its bad effects, I have no other option but to be killed in the way of Allah (S.W.T). My Martyrdom may prove atonement of my sin."
(Muhammad-ur-Rasoolullah Vol.III P-47)

During the Caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (R.A), Hazrat Abu Huzaifa (R.A) took part in a battle against the impostor, Musailma Kazzab (the impostor who claimed to be a Prophet), thus fulfilled his desire of becoming Shaheed.