Islamic Figures: Asim ibn Thabit (Hammi al-Dabr)
Asim ibn Thabit was the
companion of the Prophet who was protected from the harm of the polytheists by
male bees. His father was Thabit ibn Abi al-Aqlah Qays al-Ansari, and his
mother was al-Shamus bint Abi Amir ibn Sayfi Dabi’ah. No children are mentioned
in the historical sources; he was martyred in the Battle of al-Raji’ (a
watering place between Mecca and Usfan, closer to Usfan, a village about 80
miles (approximately 128 km) north of Mecca on the road to Medina) before his
children were born. It is noted that he had a daughter named Jamilah bint
Thabit, the mother of the companion Asim ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab. He was one of
the first of the Ansar to embrace Islam, and the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) established a bond of brotherhood between him and Abdullah ibn
Jahsh (may God be pleased with him). Asim ibn Thabit was among the first of the
Ansar (Helpers of Medina) to embrace Islam. He was one of the young men of the
Aws tribe who were among the first to convert to Islam. He was of noble
lineage, from the Banu Amr ibn Thabit al-Ansari clan. He was keen to learn the
Quran from Mus'ab ibn Umair, the Prophet's emissary in Medina, and he was eager
to follow the example of Ammar ibn Yasir, who built the Quba Mosque, where the
first Friday prayer in Islam was held. Ammar ibn Yasir was a revered companion
whose grave remains unknown. Asim participated in the battles of Badr and Uhud
with the Prophet Muhammad, and he was among those who stood firm with him at
Uhud. He was known for his skill in archery and his bravery. It is narrated
that the Prophet Muhammad asked those with him on the night of al-Aqaba, or the
night of Badr, "How do you fight?" Asim ibn Thabit stood up, took his
bow and arrows, and said, "When the enemy is about two hundred cubits
away, we shoot arrows. When they draw near, within range of our spears, we
engage in skirmishes until the spears break. Once they break, we put them down
and take up our swords for hand-to-hand combat." The Prophet Muhammad
said, "This is how warfare is revealed. Whoever fights should fight as
Asim fights."
Asim fought valiantly
at the Battle of Uhud. On that day, he killed two of the standard-bearers from
the Banu Abd al-Dar ibn Qusayy: al-Harith and Musafi', the sons of Talha ibn
Abi Talha. Their mother vowed to drink wine from Asim's head and offered a
reward of one hundred camels to whoever brought her his head.
The Messenger of God,
may God bless him and grant him peace, sent ten men on a reconnaissance mission
and appointed Asim bin Thabit al-Ansari, the grandfather of Asim bin Umar bin
al-Khattab, as their commander. They set out, and when they reached
al-Hada’ah—which is between Usfan and Mecca—they were mentioned to a clan of
Hudhayl (i.e., this clan of Hudhayl knew about this mission). They were
called Banu Lahyan, and they mobilized nearly two hundred men against them, all
of them archers. They followed their tracks until they found their food, which
were dates they had brought from Medina, and they said, "These are Yathrib
dates." So they followed their tracks. When Asim and his companions saw
them, they took refuge in a high place, and the people surrounded them. They
said to them, "Come down and surrender to us, and you have our word and
covenant, and we will not kill any of you." Asim bin Thabit, the commander
of the expedition, said, "As for me, by God, I will not come down today
under the protection of an infidel." O God, inform your Prophet about us.
They shot arrows at them, killing Asim and seven others. Three men, bound by a
covenant and pledge, went down to them. Among them were Khubayb al-Ansari, Ibn
Dathina, and another man (said to be Abdullah ibn Tariq). When they had them in
their power, they released the strings of their bows and bound them (with the
tightly tied ropes used for shooting arrows). The third man said, "This is
the first act of treachery. By God, I will not accompany you. I have a right
to..." These are not examples. They wanted the slain, so they dragged him
and treated him and forced him to go with them, but he refused, so they killed
him. Then they took Khubayb and Ibn Dathina and sold them in Mecca after the
Battle of Badr. Khubayb was bought by the Banu al-Harith ibn 'Amir ibn Nawfal
ibn 'Abd Manaf, and it was Khubayb who had killed al-Harith ibn 'Amir on the
day of Badr. Khubayb remained with them as a prisoner.
Then 'Ubayd Allah told
me Ibn Iyad (one of the narrators of the hadith) said that the daughter of
Al-Harith told him, "When they gathered together, Khubayb borrowed a razor
from her to shave with, so she lent it to him." He took my son while I was
unaware when he came to him. She said, "I found him sitting on his lap
with the razor in his hand, so I was terrified, and Khubayb noticed the fear in
my face." He said, "Are you afraid that I will kill him?" I
would never have done that. By God, I have never seen a better prisoner than
Khubayb. By God, I once found him eating a bunch of grapes in his hand, even
though he was bound in chains, and there was no fruit in Mecca. She used to
say, "This is a provision from God that He has given to Khubayb."
When they went out...
They came from the
sanctuary to kill him in the open area. Khubayb said to them, "Leave me
alone to pray two rak'ahs." So they left him, and he performed two
rak'ahs, then said, "Were it not that you might think that what I have is
fear, I would have prolonged them." O God, count them a number that I care
not when I am killed as a Muslim... On which side my death is for God, and that
is for the sake of God, and if He wills... He will bless the scattered limbs of
a torn body. Then Ibn al-Harith killed him, and Khubayb was the one who
established the two rak'ahs for every Muslim. He was killed in cold blood, and God
answered the prayers of Asim ibn Thabit on the day he was wounded. The Prophet,
peace and blessings be upon him, informed his companions of their fate and what
had befallen them. Some of the disbelievers of Quraysh sent men to Asim when
they were told that he had been killed, to bring them something of him by which
they could identify him. He had killed one of their leaders on the day of Badr.
Then a swarm of wasps (or bees) was sent upon Asim, and it protected him from
their messenger, so he did not... They were unable to cut a piece of his flesh
(narrated by Abu Hurairah; source: Sahih al-Bukhari). Umar ibn al-Khattab, may
God be pleased with him, commented on this, saying, "God protects the
believing servant," for Asim had vowed that no polytheist would ever touch
him, nor would he ever touch a polytheist during his life. God protected him
after his death, just as He had protected him during his life, according to the
narration of Ibn Ishaq.
From that day forward,
the Companions called this young Ansari man "the protector of the
wasp," for God, the Exalted, protected him with the wasp (bee) from the
plots of his enemies. He did not allow the polytheists to touch him, whether
alive or dead. The flood carried him to where he now enjoys God's security and
safety and is blessed with His mercy and pleasure. He fulfilled his covenant
with God, and God fulfilled His covenant with him. And who is more faithful to
His covenant than God? And Allah Almighty spoke the truth when He said, {Among
the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah. Some of
them have fulfilled their pledge, and some are still waiting, and they have not
altered [it] in the least.} (33:23)
Asim ibn Thabit ibn Abi
al-Aqlah died in the fourth year after the Hijra of our Prophet Muhammad (peace
and blessings be upon him). He had a son named Muhammad, whose mother was Hind
bint Malik ibn Amir from the Banu Jahjaba ibn Kalfa.
May Allah have mercy on
that Ansari Companion who made a covenant with Allah that he would not touch a
polytheist, nor would a polytheist touch him. Allah fulfilled his covenant. He
was Asim ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him).
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