The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the paternal uncle of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), was among the first forty Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to embrace Islam.
Below is the incident of how he embraced Islam:
One day, Abu Jahl happened to pass by Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) at Mt Safaa. On seeing Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Abu Jahl immediately began to speak ill of Islam and harass and swear Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). However, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not retaliate in any way, and did not respond to Abu Jahal’s insults.
After harassing Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in this manner, Abu Jahl departed from Mt Safaa and went to sit with a group of the Quraish who were seated by the Ka’bah Shareef.
Coincidentally, the slave girl of Abdullah bin Jud’aan had been in her home on Mt Safaa at the time. She had observed this entire spectacle and had heard Abu Jahl swearing and insulting Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
Soon thereafter, Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) arrived from a hunting trip, carrying his bow. Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would often go out to hunt, and on returning from his hunting trip, it was his habit that before returning to his home, he would first perform tawaaf of the Ka’bah Shareef. When going to the haram to perform tawaaf, he would not pass by the group of the Quraish without stopping, greeting them and speaking to them. It was accepted among all that Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was among the strongest and most respected youth of the Quraish.
On this occasion, when Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) returned from his hunting trip, he passed by the slave girl of Abdullah bin Jud’aan. Upon seeing him, she said, “O Abu Umaarah! If only you had seen the harsh treatment which your nephew, Muhammed, received a few moments ago from Abul Hakam bin Hishaam (i.e. Abu Jahl)! Abu Jahl found him seated here, and then he began to harass him, swear him and treat him in an extremely harsh and mean manner. Thereafter, Abu Jahl departed, while Muhammed did not utter any word to him in response.”
Allah Ta‘ala had decreed that this would be the occasion for Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to embrace Islam, and hence the moment Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) heard that Abu Jahal had spoken harshly to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he became enraged and set out in search of Abu Jahal.
On coming to the haram, Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) did not stop to speak to anyone, but immediately looked for Abu Jahl. On seeing Abu Jahl seated in a group of the Quraish, he immediately proceeded towards him, and the moment he reached him, he struck him on the head with his bow so forcefully that his head was severely wounded.
He then reprimanded him saying, “How dare you hurl abuse at Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! I am a follower of his deen and I say the same thing which he says! So deal with me in the same way you have dealt with him, if you are able to!”
Some members in the gathering, from the Banu Makhzoom clan, wanted to come to Abu Jahal’s defense, but he himself prevented them saying, “Leave Abu Umaarah, for indeed, by Allah, I had spoken very harshly and badly to his nephew, due to which he is reprimanding me!”
Some of those present addressed Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) saying, “O Hamzah! Have you also become a Saabi (abandoned the religion of your forefathers)?” Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “Why should I not embrace his deen, when the truthfulness and honesty of Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has become absolutely clear to me? I testify that Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is the Rasul of Allah and that whatever he says is absolutely true. I will never forsake his deen. You may do whatever you wish.” Saying this, Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) returned home.
When Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) returned home, shaitaan began to instil doubts in his mind telling him, “O Hamzah! You are one of the leaders of the Quraish! How could you have followed this saabi (this person who has abandoned the religion of his forefathers)? Why have you abandoned the religion of your forefathers? It would have been better for you to die than to do this!”
Due to the whispers and attacks of shaitaan, Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) fell into some uncertainty and doubt. Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) relates, “I then turned to Allah Ta‘ala and made the following dua:
اللهم إن كان رشدا فاجعل تصديقه في قلبي وإلا فاجعل لي مما وقعت فيه مخرجا
O Allah! If this religion that I have accepted is guidance, place its conviction into the depths of my heart! If it is not guidance then make a way for me to come out of it!”
According to another narration, Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) passed the night in this state of anxiety and restlessness. He was unable to sleep for even a moment. When this anxiety persisted and did not cease, he proceeded to the haram and made the following dua with utmost humility, “O Allah! Open my heart to accept the truth and remove these doubts from my heart!”
Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “I had barely completed making this dua when all the reservations and doubts disappeared from my heart, leaving my heart filled with conviction and true faith. Immediately the next morning, I presented myself before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and gave him an account of what had transpired. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made special dua for me to remain steadfast and firm upon Islam.” (Rowdh-ul-Unf 2/44-45)
According to one narration, after Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) spoke to Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and his heart was completely at ease and firm upon faith, without any doubt, Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) publicly declared:
أشهد أنك لصادق شهادة المصدق والعارف
I testify with full conviction and certainty that you are definitely the true Nabi!
He then said, “O my nephew! You may proclaim your deen in public. By Allah! Even if I am offered the whole world and whatever is contained in it, I will not renounce your religion and prefer the religion of my forefathers.” (Mustadrak Haakim #4878)
At the time when Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) embraced Islam, he recited the following poetry:
حمدت الله حين هدى فؤادي إلى الإسلام والدين الحنيف
I praise Allah who has guided my heart towards Islam and towards the straight path (which conforms to the way of Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam))
الدين جاء من رب عزيز خبير بالعباد بهم لطيف
(He guided me towards) that deen which came from the powerful Lord who has complete knowledge of His servants and is extremely kind to them.
إذا تليت رسائله علينا تحدر دمع ذي اللب الحصيف
When His messages are recited before us, then the tears of those who are complete in intelligence begin to flow (as they understand the message)
رسائل جاء أحمد من هداها بآيات مبينة الحروف
These messages – their guidance has come in the form of Ahmed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) bringing the clear verses (from his Lord).
وأحمد مصطفى فينا مطاع فلا تغشوه بالقول العنيف
And Ahmed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is the chosen one among us who should be obeyed, so do not try to conceal it with harsh words (i.e. do not conceal the message which he has brought to you through speaking out against it).
فلا والله نسلمه لقوم ولما نقض فيهم بالسيوف
By Allah! We will never hand him over to any people, until we do not decide among them with the swords (i.e. the final judgement of war takes place between us and them).
Through Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) embracing Islam, the Quraish understood that it would not be easy for them to go ahead with their plans in trying to cause harm to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Hence, they held back from some of the harassment and persecution which they had been inflicting upon Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
(Rowdh-ul-Unf 2/44-45)
Note: According to some Ulama, such as Allaamah Ibnul Jowzi (rahimahullah) and Imaam Ataqi (rahimahullah), Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) embraced Islam in the 6th year after nubuwwah. However, according to Haafiz Ibnul Hajar Asqalaani (rahimahullah), Allaamah Ibnul Atheer (rahimahullah) and Allaamah Qurtubi (rahimahullah), he embraced Islam in the 2nd year after nubuwwah. (Sharhuz Zurqaani 1/477, Isaabah 1/105, Usdul Ghaabah 2/67, Istee’aab 1/369)
