After a brief yet momentous journey in building the foundations of the Islamic state, all the Companions were racing to support and defend the cause of Islam. Sayyiduna Hamza (RA) was no stranger to such courage and strength. From the heart of Medina, the first spark ignited toward Badr, where history began recording the earliest epics of heroism. Sayyiduna Hamza (RA) held the honor of carrying the first banner in Islam when the Prophet (ﷺ) dispatched him at the head of thirty men from the Muhajireen. Their mission was to intercept a Quraysh caravan returning from the Levant toward Mekka, led by Abu Jahl with 300 men. Upon reaching the coast, the two sides faced each other but did not engage in combat. However, the Muslims significantly impacted Quraysh’s morale, as the latter retreated despite their overwhelming numerical superiority. This expedition marked the beginning of an economic blockade against Quraysh, threatening the vital Mecca-Levant trade route.
During the Great Battle of Badr in the second year of the Hijra, Hamza fought heroically, wielding two swords simultaneously. He struck down several of the elite chieftains of Quraysh, while distinctively wearing a red ostrich feather on his chest. The Battle of Badr began with a series of individual duels. Al-Aswad ibn Abd Al-Asad Al-Makhzumi stepped forward, vowing to destroy the water basin from which the Companions drank. Saayiduna Hamza (RA) ibn Abdul-Muttalib confronted him, striking him down and slaying him within the basin itself. Following this, Utbah, Shaybah, and Al-Walid emerged to challenge the Muslims to a duel. They refused to fight the young men of the Ansar—Awf, Mu’adh, and Abdullah ibn Rawahah—demanding opponents of equal standing from their own kin. Consequently, Ubaydah ibn Al-Harith, Hamza, and Ali stepped forth. Hamza slew Shaybah, while Ali killed Al-Walid. Ubaydah and Utbah struck each other simultaneously, after which Hamza and Ali turned upon Utbah and finished him. They then carried Ubaydah back, whose leg had been severed, and who would later attain martyrdom. The noble companion, Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib, took part in the Battle of Uhud, where he fought fiercely with two swords. He struck down a great number of the polytheists before ultimately attaining martyrdom.
The martyrdom of Hamza (RA)
Narrated Jafar ibn Amr ibn Umaiya:
”I went out with Ubaidullah ibn Adi Al-Khaiyar. When we reached Hims (i.e. a town in Syria), Ubaidullah ibn Adi said (to me), “Would you like to see Wahshi so that we may ask him about the killing of Hamza?” I replied, “Yes.” Wahshi used to live in Hims. We inquired about him and somebody said to us, “He is that in the shade of his palace, as if he were a full water skin.” So we went up to him, and when we were at a short distance from him, we greeted him and he greeted us in return. ‘Ubaidullah was wearing his turban and Wahshi could not see except his eyes and feet. ‘Ubaidullah said, “O Wahshi! Do you know me?” Wahshi looked at him and then said, “No, by Allah! But I know that Adi ibn Al-Khiyar married a woman called Um Qital, the daughter of Abu Al-Is, and she delivered a boy for him at Mecca, and I looked for a wet nurse for that child. (Once) I carried that child along with his mother and then I handed him over to her, and your feet resemble that child’s feet.” Then Ubaidullah uncovered his face and said (to Wahshi), “Will you tell us (the story of) the killing of Hamza?” Wahshi replied “Yes, Hamza killed Tuaima ibn Adi ibn Al-Khaiyar at Badr (battle) so my master, Jubair ibn Mut`im said to me, ”If you kill Hamza in revenge for my uncle, then you will be set free.” When the people set out (for the battle of Uhud) in the year of ‘Ainain ..’Ainain is a mountain near the mountain of Uhud, and between it and Uhud there is a valley.. I went out with the people for the battle. When the army aligned for the fight, Siba’ came out and said, ”Is there any (Muslim) to accept my challenge to a duel?’ Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib came out and said, ”O Siba. O Ibn Um Anmar, the one who circumcises other ladies! Do you challenge Allah and His Apostle?” Then Hamza attacked and killed him, causing him to be non-extant like the bygone yesterday. I hid myself under a rock, and when he (i.e. Hamza) came near me, I threw my spear at him, driving it into his umbilicus so that it came out through his buttocks, causing him to die.”
After the battle concluded, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) searched for his uncle, only to find him tragically mutilated; his nose and ears had been cut, his abdomen opened, and his liver removed. Overwhelmed by grief and a sense of profound injustice, the Prophet (ﷺ) looked upon his uncle and said: ”If Allah grants me victory over Quraysh in any future encounter, I shall certainly punish thirty of their men in like manner.’ In his deep sorrow, he also remarked: ”I shall never be afflicted with a loss like yours; I have never stood in a position more agonizing to me than this.” In the midst of this immense grief, the angel Gabriel (AS) descended and informed the Prophet: ”Hamza is inscribed in the seven heavens as Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib, the Lion of Allah and the Lion of His Messenger.” When his sister, Safiyyah bint Abdul-Muttalib, arrived to see him, the Prophet (ﷺ) initially shielded her from the sight. However, seeing her steadfastness and her seeking reward from Allah, he allowed her; she then prayed for him and sought forgiveness for his soul. On the authority of Ibn Abbas, he narrated: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave orders regarding Hamza; he was then shrouded in a garment (Burdah) and the Prophet (ﷺ) performed the funeral prayer over him, pronouncing the Takbir seven times. Subsequently, the other martyrs were brought and placed beside Hamza; the Prophet prayed over them and over Hamza with them, until he had performed the funeral prayer over him seventy-two times.
May Allah have mercy on Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib and reward him with the best of rewards on behalf of Islam and all Muslims. May He gather us with him in the highest levels of Paradise (Al-Firdaws Al-A’la), alongside the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous.
