The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
At the time when the Banu Haashim and Banul Muttalib were under boycott in the Valley of Abu Taalib, and they were suffering from starvation, there were certain individuals among the disbelievers who felt some sympathy in their hearts and thus assisted them.
Among these disbelievers were Hishaam bin Amr bin Haarith and Hakeem bin Hizaam. Both of them later on embraced Islam at the time of the Conquest of Makkah Mukarramah. (Tabaqaat Ibnu Sa’d #6882 and Usdul Ghaabah 2/44)
The Assistance of Hishaam bin Amr
Imaam Ibnu Ishaaq (rahimahullah) mentions that during the night, Hishaam would bring a camel loaded with grain to the entrance of the valley. He would then unfasten the reins from the camel’s head and strike it on its side to send it into the valley. Thereafter, he would bring a camel loaded with clothing and also send it into the valley. (Sharhuz Zurqaani 2/36, Rowdhul Unuf 2/160-161)
Imaam Ibnu Sa’d (rahimahullah) reports that from the Quraish, the person who upheld family ties the most with the Banu Haashim during the period of the boycott was Hishaam bin Amr.
One night, he sent three camel loads of food into the valley. However, the Quraish came to know of what he had done, and hence, the following morning, they came to him and rebuked him for assisting those under boycott. In order to appease them, Hishaam responded saying, “I will not do it again and oppose you.” Hearing this, the Quraish were satisfied and departed.
However, Hishaam again assisted the Banu Haashim by sending one or two camel loads into the valley. On learning of this, the Quraish came to him, began to speak to him most harshly and even intended to harm and punish him.
Seeing this, Abu Sufyaan intervened and said to the Quraish, “Leave him! He is merely trying to uphold the right of family ties! I take an oath by Allah – if we did as he is doing, it would be better for us. We should at least leave them to purchase what they need with their own wealth. Know that I do not approve of the manner in which the Quraish has dealt with them. There are certainly better ways of expressing enmity than this.”
Saying this, Abu Sufyaan silenced the Quraish, causing them to depart and disperse. (Tabaqaat Ibnu Sa’d #6882)
The Assistance of Hakeem bin Hizaam
Hakeem bin Hizaam was the nephew of Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), as she was his father’s sister. Out of the duty of family ties, he would send food into the valley during the boycott.
Once, Abu Jahl encountered Hakeem bin Hizaam who was accompanied by his slave, taking a load of wheat to the valley for his aunt, Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha). Abu Jahl immediately said to him, “Are you taking food to the Banu Haashim? By Allah – you will not take this food, or else I will disgrace and humiliate you in Makkah!”
In the interim, Abul Bakhtari arrived and asked Abu Jahl, “What is your problem with Hakeem?” Abu Jahl replied, “He is taking food for the Banu Haashim!” Abul Bakhtari retorted, “This food belonged to his aunt and was kept by him. She had sent it to him. Are you preventing him from taking her own food to her? Leave this man and let him proceed!”
However, Abu Jahl refused to listen, causing the situation to escalate to the point where they exchanged harsh words. At that point, Abul Bakhtari picked up a camel jaw bone and struck Abu Jahl on the head with it, inflicting him with a wound on his head and causing him to fall to the ground. Thereafter, Abul Bakhtari further trampled him and kicked him.
All this while, Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was close by, observing the scene that transpired. However, for Abu Jahal, more painful than the blow was the fact that Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was watching the entire scene from the Valley of Abu Taalib. He knew that Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would inform Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) of what had happened, and this was unbearable to him and the Quraish – that the news of this incident should reach Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), and this will be a means of embarrassment for them, and bring joy to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum).
(Bidaayah wan Nihaayah 3/85)
