Asid Bin Hudhayr
Asid Bin Hudhayr Bin Samak Bin Atiq, may Allah be pleased with him, was a renowned Companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He was known by his kunyas, Abu Yahya, Abu Amr, or Abu Hudhayr. Before his conversion to Islam, he was a prominent leader among his tribe, Al-Aws, having inherited his leadership role from his father. Asid was recognized for his valor in battle, sharp intellect, and strong, unique personality, which included keen insight. He embraced Islam at an early stage through the efforts of Mus’ab Bin Umair, may Allah be pleased with him. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) migrated to Medina, he established a bond of brotherhood between Asid and Zayd Bin Harithah, may Allah be pleased with them both.
Asid did not participate in the Battle of Badr, as he believed the Muslim community had set out to raid a caravan and chose to refrain from joining them, presuming it was not a full-fledged battle. However, he later took part in the Battle of Uhud, where he sustained several stab wounds. Asid passed away in the year 20 of the Hijra, with Umar Bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, carrying his bier for burial in Al-Baqi cemetery.
Merits of Asid Bin Hudhayr
The esteemed status of Asid is well-documented in multiple accounts, and he received praise from the Prophet (peace be upon him) on various occasions. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, mentioned: “Three men from the Ansar were unparalleled in their virtues, all from the Banu Abdul Ashhal: Asid Bin Hudhayr, Sa’ad Bin Mu’adh, and Abbad Bin Bishr.” Known for his sense of humor and wit, there was an instance when the Prophet lightly jabbed him with a stick while aligning the rows for prayer. Asid humorously requested to receive his due in return, to which the Prophet acquiesced. Asid cheekily pointed out that he was not wearing a shirt while the Prophet was, prompting the Prophet to lift his garment, upon which Asid approached and kissed the Prophet, exclaiming that this was what he had intended.
Asid’s Beautiful Recitation and the Prophet’s Praise
There is an authentic narration detailing an incident where Asid began reciting Surah Al-Baqarah at night while his horse was nearby. The horse began to wander around him as it listened to his melodious voice. Whenever he paused, the horse would also halt, and whenever he resumed recitation, it resumed moving. Concerned for his son Yahya, who was close by and might be trampled by the horse, Asid eventually stopped reciting. The following morning, he shared this experience with the Prophet (peace be upon him), who replied: “Those were the angels who drew near to your voice; had you continued reading, people would have been compelled to look at them, unable to conceal their amazement.” This reflects how the angels were captivated and intrigued by Asid’s beautiful voice and the reverent spirit he conveyed in his nighttime recitation of the Quran.