Khuzaymah ibn Thabit al-Ansari was one of the prominent figures of the Ansar, a companion of the Prophet of Islam, and a loyal companion of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him). He belonged to the tribe of Aws and was among the first people of Medina to embrace Islam, and he destroyed the idols of his own clan, Banu Khatmah. [1]
He was ultimately martyred on the ninth of the month of Safar in the year 37 AH at the Battle of Siffin, fighting with complete courage alongside Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him).
Refusal to Pledge Allegiance to Abu Bakr
After the passing of the Prophet of Islam in the year 11 AH, the Council of Saqifah was convened in Medina, and Abu Bakr was chosen as caliph. This choice was met with opposition from certain companions, who refrained from pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr.
One of these individuals was Khuzaymah ibn Thabit, a loyal companion of the Seal of the Prophets and a close companion of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him). Khuzaymah ibn Thabit refused to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr because of his belief in the rightfulness of the Master of the Pious to the caliphate. [2]
Testimony to Ghadir Khumm
Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), in the Rahbah of Kufa, asked the people to bear witness regarding the event of Ghadir Khumm. On this occasion, Khuzaymah ibn Thabit and several other companions testified to the wilayah of the Master of the Pious.
Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), in the land of Rahbah, put the people under oath and said: “Let whoever heard from the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) the words he spoke on the day of Ghadir Khumm rise up; and let none rise except one who heard it himself from the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family).”
At that moment, more than ten men rose up, one of whom was Khuzaymah ibn Thabit. They said: “We bear witness that we heard the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) say: Be aware that God, Mighty and Majestic, is my Wali and Guardian, and I am the Wali and Guardian of the believers. Be aware, whoever I am the master (mawla) of, Ali is his master. O God! Love whoever loves him, and be the enemy of whoever shows enmity toward him, show affection to whoever holds him dear, be the enemy of whoever is his enemy, and aid whoever aids him.” [3]
Pledging Allegiance to Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him)
The pledge of allegiance to Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) for the caliphate took place in Medina in the presence of well-known and influential figures of the Islamic community. Among those who pledged allegiance to Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) was Khuzaymah ibn Thabit, one of the renowned companions of the Prophet of Islam. [4]
Composing Poetry in Praise of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him)
Khuzaymah also had a talent for poetry and composed verses in praise and support of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him).
When the people pledged allegiance to Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), Khuzaymah ibn Thabit recited this poem: “When we pledged allegiance to Ali (peace be upon him), Abu al-Hasan sufficed us against the fear of dissensions.
We found him the most deserving person for governance.
He is the most knowledgeable person in the Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah.
Quraysh could not even reach the dust of his footsteps, even were they one day to ride upon lean and swift camels.
Every good that exists among all of them is found together in Ali (peace be upon him), and that excellence which the Imam possesses, none of them possess.
He alone is the Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his family) legatee among his family, and he has been the Prophet’s swift rider since times past.
Among the people, he was the first to establish the prayer, except for the best of women, and God is the Possessor of grace.
And he has been the hero of the people in every event in which, from its intensity and terror, the souls of the brave have reached their throats. He is the one before whom little fingers bend and point, and he is the Imam of all, and I shall hold to this belief until I am concealed within my shroud.” [5]
Presence at the Battle of Siffin
Khuzaymah ibn Thabit was present at the Battle of Siffin alongside Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), and at first refrained from taking direct part in the fighting. He was waiting for the prophecy of the Seal of the Prophets regarding the martyrdom of Ammar ibn Yasir to be fulfilled.
Khuzaymah ibn Thabit al-Ansari, present at the Battle of Siffin, said: “I will not stand behind any commander, nor will I fight, until Ammar is killed and I see who kills him; for I heard from the Messenger of God that he said: Ammar will be killed by a tyrannical group.”
When Ammar was killed, Khuzaymah said: “Now the time has come for me to fulfill my duty.”
He then approached the battlefield and fought until he himself was martyred. [6]
Fighting to the Point of Death
The martyrdom of Khuzaymah ibn Thabit at the Battle of Siffin occurred at a stage of the battle when the fire of combat had grown very intense and had dealt a heavy blow to the forces of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), yet it demonstrated his loyalty and self-sacrifice in the way of Islam.
At the Battle of Siffin, after the martyrdom of Ammar and Ibn al-Tayyihan, Khuzaymah ibn Thabit came forward and recited this war-verse: “How much hope for life does the one who waits have, while human beings are entrusted to others, and among them there are also inheritors? This is Ali, and whoever disobeys him is a breaker of the covenant.”
He then fought on until he was martyred. [7]
Khuzaymah’s Standing Before His Master
After the event of Siffin, Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), in the course of one of his sermons in Kufa, spoke with grief and longing of a number of his special companions, of whom Dhu al-Shahadatayn was one.
Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed, those brothers whose blood was shed at the Battle of Siffin have suffered no loss, though today they are not with us, though our food be grief and our drink be the blood of the heart. By God, they met God, who gave them their reward and, after a time of fear and hardship, lodged them in His abode of security.
Where are my brothers who walked upon the path of truth and passed away with the truth? Where is Ammar? Where is Ibn al-Tayyihan? Where is Dhu al-Shahadatayn (Khuzaymah ibn Thabit)? And where are others like them among their brothers, who made the covenant of self-sacrifice and whose heads were sent to the tyrants?”
He then took hold of his blessed beard and wept for a long time, saying: “Alas, how I grieve for my brothers who recited the Qur’an and judged according to it, who reflected upon the divine obligations and established them, who revived the divine traditions and destroyed innovations, who answered the call to jihad and trusted their leader and followed him.”
Then he said in a loud voice: “Jihad, jihad, O servants of God! Today I am preparing an army; let whoever longs to reach God go forth with us.” [8]
References:
- Ibn al-Athir, Usd al-Ghabah fi Ma’rifat al-Sahabah; Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah
- Al-Sahih min Sirat al-Nabi al-A’zam, vol. 33, p. 304
- ‘Awalim al-‘Ulum, vol. 15, p. 236
- Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 3, p. 22
- Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 32, p. 34
- Kashf al-Ghummah fi Ma’rifat al-A’immah, vol. 1, p. 260
- Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 32, p. 587
- Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon 182
