Question
Kindly provide a biography on the life of Khabbab ibn Aratt (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
Answer
Sayyiduna Abu ‘Abdillah, Khabbab ibn Aratt (radiyallahu ‘anhu), was a very prominent Sahabi [companion] of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam). Wrongfully captured at a young age, Khabbab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) ended up being sold as a slave in Makkah, where he then worked as a blacksmith forging swords.
Many Muhaddithun have mentioned that he was the sixth person to have accepted Islam. Having been amongst the earliest to accept Islam, he was subjected to severe torture, prolonged suffering, and excruciating pain. As a slave, he had no family members or tribesmen to grant him protection or assistance in any way.
Sometime after Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) became the Khalifah, he once asked Sayyiduna Khabbab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) about the torture and suffering he endured.
He replied: “O Amirul Muminin, just look at my back!”
When he did, Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) exclaimed [in pity]: “I have never seen such a back before!”
Sayyiduna Khabbab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) explained: “I was made to lie on burning coals and dragged until the fat and blood from my back would extinguish the coals!”
Sayyiduna Khabbab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was certainly amongst the greatest of companions who endured the worst of trials and torture in the path of Allah Ta’ala.
He participated along with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) in many great battles such as Badr and Uhud, and also witnessed the Khilafah of Sayyidunas Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhum).
It was during the Khilafah of Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu), in the year 37 A.H. that Sayyiduna Khabbab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) passed away.
(References for all of the above: Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 2091, Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 153, Mu’jamus Sahabah, vol. 2 pgs. 271-274, Ma’rifatus Sahabah, vol. pg. 906-911, Number: 789, Al-Isti’ab, vol. pgs. 437-439, Number: 628, Sifatus Safwah, vol. 1 pg. 160-161, Usdul Ghabah, vol. 2 pgs. 147-150, Siyaru A’alamin Nubala, vol. 2 pgs. 323-325, and Al-Isabah, vol. 2 pgs. 221-222, Number: 2215; Also see: Fadail A’amal, Stories of the Sahabah, Chapter 1, pg. 29-30, and Suwar Min Hayatis Sahabah, vol. 1 pgs. 424-431)
For more information/detail, kindly refer to the aforementioned sources. Also see here.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Farhan Shariff
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar