Asim ibn Thabit

Military campaigns during Muhammad's era

Main article: List of battles of Muhammad

He participated in the Battle of Badr. Muhammad's forces included Abu Bakr, Umar, Ali, Hamza, Musab ibn Umair, Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awwam, and Ammar ibn Yasir. The Muslims also brought seventy camels and two horses, meaning that they either had to walk or fit three to four men per camel. However, many early Muslim sources indicate that no serious fighting was expected, and the future Caliph Uthman stayed behind to care for his sick wife Ruqayyah, the daughter of Muhammad. Salman the Persian also could not join the battle, as he was still not a free man.

He also participated in the Invasion of Hamra al-Asad, After staying at Hamra al-Asad for three days, Muhammad returned to Medina. He captured Abu Azzah al-Jumahi as prisoner. Abu Azzah had previously been one of the prisoners of Badr. Abu Azzah Amr bin Abd Allah al-Jumahi had been treated kindly by Muhammad after the Battle of Badr, being a poor man with daughters, he had no means to pay ransom, he was released after Battle of Badr, on the condition that he would not take up arms against Muslims again. But he had broken his promise and participated in Battle of Uhud. He pleaded for mercy again, but Muhammad ordered him to be killed. Az-Zubair executed him, and in another version, Asim ibn Thabit.

The father of one of Umar's wives, Umm Kulthum bint Asim, was Asim ibn Thabit. It is not clear if that person is the same person as the subject of this article.

Asim ibn Thabit was killed during the Expedition of Al Raji. In 625 some men requested that Muhammad send instructors to teach them Islam, but the men were bribed by the two tribes of Khuzaymah who wanted revenge for the assassination of Khalid bin Sufyan by Muhammad's followers and they killed the Muslim's After killing Asim ibn Thabit, Hudhayl wanted to sell his head.

Hadith

Their presence was reported to a branch of Hudhayl called the Banu Lihyan. About a hundred men, who were all archers, set out after them. They followed their tracks. When 'Asim and his companions perceived them, they took cover. The people surrounded them and said, 'Come down and give yourselves up! You have protection and assurance that we will not kill any of you!'

Asim ibn Thabit said, 'O people! As for me, I will not come down into the protection of an unbeliever! O Allah, inform Your Prophet about us!' They shot at them with arrows and killed 'Asim. A group of three came down, accepting the offer of protection and security. They included Khubayb al-Ansari, Zayd ibn Dathina, and another man. When they had them in their power, they undid their bow-strings and tied them up. Then the third man said, 'This is the beginning of treachery! By Allah, I will not accompany you! There is a good example in these!' i.e. those who had been killed. They dragged him and tried to persuade him to accompany them. He refused, so they killed him.

They took Khubayb and Zayd ibn Dathina and sold them in Makka after the Battle of Badr. The sons of al-Harith ibn 'Amir ibn Nawfal ibn 'Abdu Manaf bought Khubayb. Khubayb was the man who had killed al-Harith in the Battle of Badr. So Khubayb remained a prisoner with them until they agreed on killing him.

He asked to borrow a razor from one of the daughters of al-Harith with which to shave his private parts and she lent it to him. A son of hers went right up to him when she was not paying attention. She found him sitting on his knee and the razor was in his hand. She was so alarmed that Khubayb noticed it and said, 'Are you afraid that I will kill him? I would never do that.'

She said, 'By Allah, I never saw a better prisoner than Khubayb. By Allah, one day I found him eating from a bunch of grapes he had in his hand, when he was shackled in irons and there was no fruit in Makka.' She used to say, 'It was provision from Allah which He gave to Khubayb.'

When they brought him out of the Haram to kill him in profane land, Khubayb said to them, 'Let me pray two rak'ats.' They let him pray two rak'ats. Then he said, 'By Allah, were it not that you might think that I was afraid, I would have made them longer. O Allah, reckon them one by one, every one of them and kill them one by one and do not spare any of them!' He then said:

:I do not care what manner death I die if I am slain as a Muslim! :That is for the sake of Allah, and if He wills, He can bless the joints of a torn limb!'"

It was Khubayb who made the sunnah for every Muslim man who is killed in detention to pray two rak'ats. -- :… The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, informed his Companions about them on the day they fell. When they were informed that Asim ibn Thabit had been killed, some of the unbelievers of Quraysh were sent to bring part of him that could be recognised. He had killed one of their great men on the Day of Badr. Allah sent over 'Asim a swarm of bees like a cloud and it protected him from their messengers and they could not cut off any part of him."}}

References

References

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2. Lings, pp. 138–139
3. "Sahih al-Bukhari: Volume 5, Book 59, Number 287". Usc.edu.
4. "Sahih al-Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 53, Number 359". Usc.edu.
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6. Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar, pp. 181-183. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20110623154128/http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SM_tsn/ch4s7.html online])
7. Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar, p. 187. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20110623154138/http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SM_tsn/ch4s8.html online])
8. Watt, W. Montgomery. (1956). "[[Muhammad at Medina (book)". Oxford University Press.
9. Mubarakpuri, The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet , pp. 350-351.
10. Riyadh as-Saaliheen. "Chapter 253: ''The miracles of the friends of Allah and their excellence'' (No. 1509)". SunniPath.com.