The Demise of a Sahabi: A Tragic Example of Martyrdom

Welcome back, TrueDay.There are moments in human history that forever change the heart. For Saa’id ibn Aamir al-Jumahi (RA), one such moment was witnessing the martyrdom of Khubayb ibn ‘Adiy (RA). At that time, he was not yet a Muslim, but the sight of Khubayb’s steadfastness lit a flame in his soul that would later transform him into one of the noble Companions of the Prophet ﷺ.

Trading the Dunya for the Akhirah: Lessons from Saa’id ibn Aamir al-Jumahi (RA) and the Martyrdom of Khubayb (RA)

Khubaib ibn Adiy (R.A.), one of the prominent companions of the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), was captured by the Quraysh leaders through treachery and taken to a place called Tan'im, where he was brutally and inhumanely tortured and killed. Sa'id ibn Amir al-Jumahi was one of the young men of Mecca who went to witness this cruel public execution at the call of the Quraysh leaders. Despite the inhumane torture, the Quraysh leaders could not turn Khubaib (R.A.) away from Islam. They finally took revenge for the Battle of Badr by hanging and killing him.

Amidst the massive crowd of men and women, Sa'id ibn Amir al-Jumahi pushed his way to the side of Quraysh leaders like Abu Sufyan and Safwan ibn Umayyah. The scene of Khubaib ibn Adiy's martyrdom was extremely heartbreaking and deeply moving.

While Khubaib (R.A.) was being led to the gallows with his hands and feet chained, a crowd of men, women, children, and youth from Mecca pushed and shoved him. The brutal crowd applauded, encouraging the killing. Sa'id ibn Amir al-Jumahi was standing on a high mound, watching this horrific scene. The cruel Quraysh were today satisfying their boundless malice and hatred for Muhammad (S.A.W.) and taking revenge for those killed in the Battle of Badr.

By then, they had brought Khubaib ibn Adiy (R.A.) to the gallows. The vengeful hearts of the disbelievers went wild with the thirst for Khubaib's blood. All around, the disbelievers burst into cheers, roaring with savage and barbaric glee. Khubaib (R.A.), who was dedicated to the path of Allah and strengthened by a strong faith, became eager to go into the presence of Allah. He was not disturbed in the slightest by the cruel torture of the disbelievers. Amidst the immense noise, Sa'id ibn Amir al-Jumahi suddenly heard a calm, steady, and vibrant voice from Khubaib (R.A.), empowered by the fear of Allah:

إِنْ شِئْتُمْ أَنْ تَتْرُكُوْنِيْ أَرْكَعُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ مَصْرَعِيْ فَافْعَلُوْا

"If you permit me to perform two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer before my death, then do so."

As soon as Sa'id heard this voice, he looked with great interest towards the gallows and saw Khubaib (R.A.) performing two rak'ahs of prayer facing the Qiblah. How beautiful and captivating was his prayer! He performed the two rak'ahs slowly and briefly and then addressed the present leaders, saying:

وَاللَّهِ لَوْلَا أَنْ تَظُنُّوْا أَنِّيْ أَطَلْتُ الصَّلٰوةَ جَزَعًا مِنَ الْمَوْتِ لَاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الصَّلٰوةِ

"By Allah! Had it not been for the thought that you would assume I was prolonging the prayer out of fear of death, I would have made my prayer much longer."

The Quraysh then began their brutal and inhumane torture of Khubaib (R.A.) once again. No one, not even a senseless animal, would have the courage to display such cruelty by cutting off limbs one by one from a living body. But those enemies of Islam, in the form of humans, continued to sever Khubaib's limbs one by one while he was still alive, demanding that he confess against the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), saying:

"Are you willing? If we let you go and kill Muhammad in your presence instead?"

Khubaib (R.A.), a lover of the Messenger, was bleeding profusely from his body at that time; but despite a hundred savage tortures and oppressions, this fearless soldier of Allah, this lover of the Messenger, this mujahid, Khubaib (R.A.), remained firm and unwavering in his strong faith. He responded in a firm voice:

"By Allah! Not only would I not accept my freedom in exchange for the killing of Muhammad (S.A.W.) and returning safely to my family, but I would not even tolerate a thorn pricking his foot while he walks. Martyrdom is far better for me than a life of hypocrisy."

Hearing this unequivocal declaration of faith, the crowd, as disobedient disbelievers do, went wild with rage, clapping their hands and shouting:

"Kill him! Kill him!"

Immediately, the disbelievers, like savage hyenas, rushed upon Khubaib (R.A.), who was standing on the gallows, a traveler on the path to martyrdom. They tore his entire body to pieces with the strikes of arrows, spears, and daggers. Meanwhile, Khubaib (R.A.), the traveler on the path of Allah, looked up at the sky and firmly recited the Kalima-e-Shahadat, saying in between:

"O Allah! Take care of them, destroy their power and influence, forgive no one. Destroy them all one by one."

While saying these words, he drank the cup of martyrdom and went to the presence of his great Lord.

Today, Muslims face moral compromise, addiction to comfort, and immense social pressure. Can we stand with the same steadfastness as Khubayb (RA)? Or do we sell out the truth for small worldly gains?

Thank you for reading today’s email.

Until next time,

Wassalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

Mahin

share & discuss