Habib ibn Zayd al-Ansari
Encyclopedia
Habib ibn Zayd al-Ansari was a sahaba
and martyr
of Islam
.
with the group of 75 people who pledged loyalty to Muhammad
at Aqabah
. Habib did not participate in the battle of Badr
or the battle of Uhud
because he was considered too young to bear arms. Thereafter, however, he took part in all the engagements which Muhammad fought, distinguishing himself by his bravery.
By 630, Islam was the dominant force in Arabia, and the tribes converged on Mecca to proclaim their acceptance of Islam, including a delegation from Najd
called Banu Hanilab, who appointed Musailama ibn Habib as their spokesman. On his return to Najd, Musailama recanted his allegiance, claiming to be a prophet himself. For various reasons the Banu Hanilab rallied around him, mostly out of tribal loyalty (asabiyyah). One member of the tribe declared:
Before long, the number of Musailama's followers increased and he felt powerful enough to write a letter to Muhammad;
Musaylamah's influence spread and Muhammad chose Habib ibn Zayd to deliver another letter inviting him to abandon his claims. He presented the letter, which angered Musailama who ordered Habib chained and brought before him the following day. On the following day, Musailama presided over his assembly with his senior advisers and common people. He then ordered Habib to be brought before him and asked him if he believed Muhammad is the Messenger of God, which he affirmed. Musailama then asked
The day she wished for arrived after the death of Muhammad when Abu Bakr
declared war on the imposter. The Muslim army that confronted the forces of Musailama included Habib's mother Nusaybah and his brother Abdullah ibn Zayd.
At the Battle of Yamamah she was seen cutting through the ranks of soldiers. When she eventually reached Musaylamah, he had already been killed by Wahshy ibn harb
and her son Habib was avenged. At Habib's death, Muhammad had commended him and his entire family and had prayed: "May God bless this household. May God have mercy on this household."
Sahaba
In Islam, the ' were the companions, disciples, scribes and family of the Islamic prophet...
and martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
Biography
His father, Zayd ibn Asim, was one of the first in Yathrib to accept Islam and his mother, Nusaybah bint Kab(Umm Ammarah) was the first woman to fight in defence of Islam. Habib accompanied his parents, aunt and brother to MeccaMecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
with the group of 75 people who pledged loyalty to Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
at Aqabah
Aqabah
Aqabah is a Palestinian village in the northeastern West Bank, which is being targeted for demolition by the Israeli Civil Administration...
. Habib did not participate in the battle of Badr
Battle of Badr
The Battle of Badr , fought Saturday, March 13, 624 AD in the Hejaz region of western Arabia , was a key battle in the early days of Islam and a turning point in Muhammad's struggle with his opponents among the Quraish in Mecca...
or the battle of Uhud
Battle of Uhud
The Battle of Uhud was fought on March 19, 625 at the valley located in front of Mount Uhud, in what is now northwestern Arabia. It occurred between a force from the Muslim community of Medina led by the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and a force led by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb from Mecca, the town from...
because he was considered too young to bear arms. Thereafter, however, he took part in all the engagements which Muhammad fought, distinguishing himself by his bravery.
By 630, Islam was the dominant force in Arabia, and the tribes converged on Mecca to proclaim their acceptance of Islam, including a delegation from Najd
Najd
Najd or Nejd , literally Highland, is the central region of the Arabian Peninsula.-Boundaries :The Arabic word nejd literally means "upland" and was once applied to a variety of regions within the Arabian Peninsula...
called Banu Hanilab, who appointed Musailama ibn Habib as their spokesman. On his return to Najd, Musailama recanted his allegiance, claiming to be a prophet himself. For various reasons the Banu Hanilab rallied around him, mostly out of tribal loyalty (asabiyyah). One member of the tribe declared:
"I testify that Muhammad is indeed truthful and that Musaylamah is indeed an imposter. But the impostor of Rabiah (the tribal confederation to which the Banu Hanifah belonged) is dearer to me that the genuine and truthful person from Mudar (the tribal confederation to which the Quraish belonged)."
Before long, the number of Musailama's followers increased and he felt powerful enough to write a letter to Muhammad;
"From Musailama, the messenger of God to Muhammad, the messenger of God. Peace be on you. I am prepared to share this mission with you. I shall have (control over) half the land and you shall have the other half. But the Quraish are an aggressive people." He then wrote to Musailama: "In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Compassionate. From Muhammad the Messenger of God, to Musailama the imposter. Peace be upon whoever follows the guidance. God will bequeath the earth to whosoever of His servants He wishes and the final triumph will be for those who are careful of their duty to God."
Musaylamah's influence spread and Muhammad chose Habib ibn Zayd to deliver another letter inviting him to abandon his claims. He presented the letter, which angered Musailama who ordered Habib chained and brought before him the following day. On the following day, Musailama presided over his assembly with his senior advisers and common people. He then ordered Habib to be brought before him and asked him if he believed Muhammad is the Messenger of God, which he affirmed. Musailama then asked
"And do you testify that I am the Messenger of God?" To which Habib replied "My ears have been blocked against hearing what you claim." Musailama then ordered his executioner to sever one of Habib’s limbs. He then questioned him again and Habib's answers were the same. Musailama thereupon ordered his henchman to cut off another part of Habib's body, which fell to the ground beside the other severed limb. Faced with Musaylamah's persistent questioning and the blows of his henchman, Habib kept on repeating: "I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God." Habib could not survive this torture much longer and he soon died. News of Habib's death reached his mother who said: "It was for such a situation that I prepared him... He pledged allegiance to [Muhammad] on the night of Aqabah as a small child and today as an adult he has given his life for [Muhammad]. If God were to allow me to get near to Musailama, I would certainly make his daughters smite their cheeks and lament over him."
The day she wished for arrived after the death of Muhammad when Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr was a senior companion and the father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He ruled over the Rashidun Caliphate from 632-634 CE when he became the first Muslim Caliph following Muhammad's death...
declared war on the imposter. The Muslim army that confronted the forces of Musailama included Habib's mother Nusaybah and his brother Abdullah ibn Zayd.
At the Battle of Yamamah she was seen cutting through the ranks of soldiers. When she eventually reached Musaylamah, he had already been killed by Wahshy ibn harb
Wahshy ibn Harb
Wahshy ibn Harb was the Ethiopian slave of Jubayr ibn Mut'im and a Sahaba . He is best known for killing a leading Muslim general, Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib Muhammad's uncle, prior to accepting Islam, and afterwards killing Musaylimah, the leader of an enemy apostate army who were waging war...
and her son Habib was avenged. At Habib's death, Muhammad had commended him and his entire family and had prayed: "May God bless this household. May God have mercy on this household."