Narrated Salama bin Al-Akwa`:We went out to Khaibar in the company of the Prophet. While we were proceeding at night, a man from the group said to 'Amir, "O 'Amir! Won't you let us hear your poetry?" 'Amir was a poet, so he got down and started reciting for the people poetry that kept pace with the camels' footsteps, saying:-- "O Allah! Without You we Would not have been guided On the right path Neither would be have given In charity, nor would We have prayed. So please forgive us, what we have committed (i.e. our defects); let all of us Be sacrificed for Your Cause And send Sakina (i.e. calmness) Upon us to make our feet firm When we meet our enemy, and If they will call us towards An unjust thing, We will refuse. The infidels have made a hue and Cry to ask others' help Against us." The Prophet (ﷺ) on that, asked, "Who is that (camel) driver (reciting poetry)?" The people said, "He is 'Amir bin Al-Akwa`." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "May Allah bestow His Mercy on him." A man amongst the people said, "O Allah's Prophet! has (martyrdom) been granted to him. Would that you let us enjoy his company longer." Then we reached and besieged Khaibar till we were afflicted with severe hunger. Then Allah helped the Muslims conquer it (i.e. Khaibar). In the evening of the day of the conquest of the city, the Muslims made huge fires. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "What are these fires? For cooking what, are you making the fire?" The people replied, "(For cooking) meat." He asked, "What kind of meat?" They (i.e. people) said, "The meat of donkeys." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Throw away the meat and break the pots!" Some man said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Shall we throw away the meat and wash the pots instead?" He said, "(Yes, you can do) that too." So when the army files were arranged in rows (for the clash), 'Amir's sword was short and he aimed at the leg of a Jew to strike it, but the sharp blade of the sword returned to him and injured his own knee, and that caused him to die. When they returned from the battle, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saw me (in a sad mood). He took my hand and said, "What is bothering you?" I replied, "Let my father and mother be sacrificed for you! The people say that the deeds of 'Amir are lost." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever says so, is mistaken, for 'Amir has got a double reward." The Prophet raised two fingers and added, "He (i.e. Amir) was a persevering struggler in the Cause of Allah and there are few 'Arabs who achieved the like of (good deeds) 'Amir had done."
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 4196
In-book reference
Book 64, Hadith 236
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 509
Translation by Dr. M. Muhsin Khan · Language: EN
Sahih
It is related that Salama ibn al-Akwa' said, "We went out with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to Khaybar and we travelled by night. A man among the people said to 'Amir, 'O 'Amir! Won't you let us hear a little of your verses?' 'Amir was a man who was a poet and camel-chanter. He began to chant in time with the camels of the people, saying: 'O Allah, were it not for You, we would not have been guided nor given sadaqa nor prayed! So forgive as ransom what we have not done, and send down tranquillity on us. Make our feet firm when we meet the enemy, but we refuse if they desire to tempt us. They have bayed out for help against us!' "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked, 'Who is this driver?' They said, ''Amir ibn al-Akwa'.' He said, 'May Allah have mercy on him!' A man among the people said, 'It [i.e. martydrom] is mandatory, Prophet of Allah! Would that you let us enjoy him longer!' So we came to Khaybar and besieged them until we were afflicted by terrible hunger. Then Allah Almighty gave us the conquest of it over them. In the evening of the day on which they conquered them, the people kindled several fires. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked, 'What are these fires? For what are they being kindled?' They replied, 'For meat.' He asked, 'For what meat?' They said, 'For (cooking) domestic donkeys.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Pour them out and break them.' A man said, 'O Messenger of Allah! Or can we pour them out and wash them?' He said, 'Or that.' "When the people were formed in battle lines, 'Amir's sword was short and he went to strike the leg of a Jew and the edge of his sword came back and struck 'Amir's own knee and he died from it. " He said, "When they returned home, Salama said, 'The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,saw me and took hold of my hand and said, "What is the matter with you?" I said to him, "May my father and my mother be your ransom! They claim that 'Amir's actions are lost!" The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever said that has lied. He has a double reward." He put two of his fingers together and said, "He is a striving striver. Few Arabs have achieved the like of him!"'" Hatim said, "He grew up with it."
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 4196
In-book reference
Book 64, Hadith 236
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 509
Translation by Aisha Bewley · Language: EN
Sahih