Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent out ten spies under the command of `Asim bin Thabit Al-Ansari, the grand-father of `Asim bin `Umar Al-Khattab. When they reached (a place called) Al-Hadah between 'Usfan and Mecca, their presence was made known to a sub-tribe of Hudhail called Banu Lihyan. So they sent about one hundred archers after them. The archers traced the footsteps (of the Muslims) till they found the traces of dates which they had eaten at one of their camping places. The archers said, "These dates are of Yathrib (i.e. Medina)," and went on tracing the Muslims' footsteps. When `Asim and his companions became aware of them, they took refuge in a (high) place. But the enemy encircled them and said, "Come down and surrender. We give you a solemn promise and covenant that we will not kill anyone of you." `Asim bin Thabit said, "O people! As for myself, I will never get down to be under the protection of an infidel. O Allah! Inform your Prophet about us." So the archers threw their arrows at them and martyred `Asim. Three of them came down and surrendered to them, accepting their promise and covenant and they were Khubaib, Zaid bin Ad-Dathina and another man. When the archers got hold of them, they untied the strings of the arrow bows and tied their captives with them. The third man said, "This is the first proof of treachery! By Allah, I will not go with you for I follow the example of these." He meant the martyred companions. The archers dragged him and struggled with him (till they martyred him). Then Khubaib and Zaid bin Ad-Dathina were taken away by them and later on they sold them as slaves in Mecca after the event of the Badr battle. The sons of Al-Harit bin `Amr bin Naufal bought Khubaib for he was a person who had killed (their father) Al-Hari bin `Amr on the day (of the battle) of Badr. Khubaib remained imprisoned by them till they decided unanimously to kill him. One day Khubaib borrowed from a daughter of Al-Harith, a razor for shaving his pubic hair, and she lent it to him. By chance, while she was inattentive, a little son of hers went to him (i.e. Khubaib) and she saw that Khubaib had seated him on his thigh while the razor was in his hand. She was so much terrified that Khubaib noticed her fear and said, "Are you afraid that I will kill him? Never would I do such a thing." Later on (while narrating the story) she said, "By Allah, I had never seen a better captive than Khubaib. By Allah, one day I saw him eating from a bunch of grapes in his hand while he was fettered with iron chains and (at that time) there was no fruit in Mecca." She used to say," It was food Allah had provided Khubaib with." When they took him to Al-Hil out of Mecca sanctuary to martyr him, Khubaib requested them. "Allow me to offer a two-rak`at prayer." They allowed him and he prayed two rak`at and then said, "By Allah! Had I not been afraid that you would think I was worried, I would have prayed more." Then he (invoked evil upon them) saying, "O Allah! Count them and kill them one by one, and do not leave anyone of them"' Then he recited: "As I am martyred as a Muslim, I do not care in what way I receive my death for Allah's Sake, for this is for the Cause of Allah. If He wishes, He will bless the cut limbs of my body." Then Abu Sarva, 'Ubqa bin Al-Harith went up to him and killed him. It was Khubaib who set the tradition of praying for any Muslim to be martyred in captivity (before he is executed). The Prophet (ﷺ) told his companions of what had happened (to those ten spies) on the same day they were martyred. Some Quraish people, being informed of `Asim bin Thabit's death, sent some messengers to bring a part of his body so that his death might be known for certain, for he had previously killed one of their leaders (in the battle of Badr). But Allah sent a swarm of wasps to protect the dead body of `Asim, and they shielded him from the messengers who could not cut anything from his body.
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 3989
In-book reference
Book 64, Hadith 40
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 325
Translation by Dr. M. Muhsin Khan · Language: EN
Sahih
It is related that Abu Hurayra said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent out ten spies and put 'Asim ibn Thabit al-Ansari, the grandfather of 'Asim ibn 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, in command of them. They proceeded until they reached Had'a, which is between 'Usfan and Makka. Their presence was reported to a branch of Hudhayl called the Banu Lihyan. About a hundred men, who were all archers, set out after them. They followed their tracks until they found where they had eaten dates which they had taken as provision from Madina. They said, 'These are the dates of Yathrib,' and they followed their tracks. "When 'Asim and his companions perceived them, they took cover. The people surrounded them and said to them, 'Come down and give yourselves up! You have protection and assurance that we will not kill any of you!' 'Asim ibn Thabit said, 'O people! As for me, I will not come down into the protection of an unbeliever! O Allah, inform Your Prophet about us!' They shot at them with arrows and killed 'Asim. A group of three came down, accepting the offer of protection and security. They included Khubayb al-Ansari, Zayd ibn Dathina, and another man. When they had them in their power, they undid their bow-strings and tied them up. Then the third man said, 'This is the beginning of treachery! By Allah, I will not accompany you! There is a good example in these!' i.e. those who had been killed. They dragged him and tried to persuade him to accompany them but he refused. They took Khubayb and Zayd ibn Dathina and sold them after the Battle of Badr. "The sons of al-Harith ibn 'Amir ibn Nawfal bought Khubayb. Khubayb was the man who had killed al-Harith in the Battle of Badr. So Khubayb remained a prisoner with them until they agreed to kill him. "He asked to borrow a razor from one of the daughters of al-Harith with which to shave his private parts and she lent it to him. A son of hers went right up to him when she was not paying attention. She found him sitting on his knee and the razor was in his hand. She said, "I was so alarmed that Khubayb noticed it and said, 'Are you afraid that I will kill him? I would never do that.' She said, 'By Allah, I never saw a better prisoner than Khyubayb. By Allah, one day I found him eating from a bunch of grapes he had in his hand, when he was shackled in irons and there was no fruit in Makka.' She used to say, 'It was provision from Allah which He gave to Khubayb.' When they brought him out of the Haram to kill him in profane land, Khubayb said to them, 'Let me pray two rak'ats.' They let him pray two rak'ats. Then he said, 'By Allah, were it not that you might think that I was afraid, I would have made them longer. O Allah, reckon them one by one, every one of them and kill them one by one and do not spare any of them!' He then said: 'I do not care what manner death I die if I am slain as a Muslim! That is for the sake of Allah, and if He wills, He can bless the joints of a torn limb!' "Then Abu Sarwa'a 'Uqba ibn al-Harith went to him and killed him. So it was Khubayb who made the sunna for every Muslim man who is killed in detention to pray two rak'ats. He, i.e. the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, informed his Companions about them on the day they fell. When they were informed that 'Asim ibn Thabit had been killed, some of people of Quraysh sent some people to bring part of him that could be recognised. He had killed one of their great men on the Day of Badr. Allah sent over 'Asim a swarm of bees like a cloud and it protected him from their messengers and they could not cut off any part of him."
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 3989
In-book reference
Book 64, Hadith 40
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 325
Translation by Aisha Bewley · Language: EN
Sahih
