Abu Hudhayfah bin Utbah
Abu Hudhayfah bin Utbah bin Rabi’ah bin Abdul Shams bin Abd Manaf Al-Qurashi Al-Abdshami was a prominent companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and one of the early converts to Islam. Born in Mecca, he belonged to one of its most affluent families. His father was Utbah bin Rabi’ah and his mother was Fatimah bint Umayyah. His sister was Hind, the wife of Abu Sufyan. This article aims to provide a deeper insight into the life of this esteemed companion.
Abu Hudhayfah’s Life After Embracing Islam
Abu Hudhayfah accepted Islam prior to the migration of the early Muslims to the House of Al-Arqam bin Abi Al-Arqam. He and his wife, Suhailah bint Amr, migrated to Abyssinia during the first emigration, where they welcomed their son, Muhammad. It is noteworthy that in the pre-Islamic era, he had adopted Salim bin Abu Hudhayfah; however, after the prohibition of adoption in Islam, he regarded Salim as his brother.
After returning from Abyssinia, Abu Hudhayfah settled in Mecca to be close to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Subsequently, he migrated with the Prophet to Medina, where the Messenger of Allah paired him with Al-Abbas bin Burzah Al-Ansari as brothers. Abu Hudhayfah participated in numerous battles alongside the Prophet, including Uhud, Khandaq (the Battle of the Trench), and Badr. It is important to highlight that during the Battle of Badr, his father, Utbah bin Rabi’ah, and his brother, Al-Walid bin Utbah, fought for the polytheists. Abu Hudhayfah requested to duel his father, but his sister Hind recited poignant poetry that made him reconsider. Consequently, he abstained from fighting his father, who ultimately lost his life in that battle.
The Incident of Abu Hudhayfah’s Wife and Salim
Suhailah, Abu Hudhayfah’s wife, approached the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to seek guidance on how to interact with their freed slave, Salim, after adoption was prohibited in Islam. (As reported, “Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfah, was with Abu Hudhayfah and his family in their home. Suhailah, daughter of Abi Hudhayfah, came to the Prophet and said: ‘Salim has reached the age of maturity and understands what men understand, and he enters upon us, and I believe that there is something in Abu Hudhayfah’s heart concerning this.’ The Prophet replied: ‘Nurse him, and he will become unlawful for him.’ After nursing him, Suhailah returned to Abu Hudhayfah and said: ‘I have nursed him, and what was in Abu Hudhayfah’s heart has gone away.'”) [Sunan An-Nasa’i]. The companions noted that this concession applied only to Salim.
Abu Hudhayfah at the Battle of Yamamah
Abu Hudhayfah always sought martyrdom in the way of Allah. During the Battle of Yamamah, he fought courageously and resolutely. Following the passing of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he participated in the wars against the apostates during the caliphate of Abu Bakr, alongside his freed slave Salim. He was involved in the killing of Musaylimah the Liar. His long-held wish was fulfilled as he was martyred in the battle against the apostates, at the age of either fifty-three or fifty-four years, in the year 633 CE. Salim also met his martyrdom in the Battle of Yamamah.