Narrated Salama bin Al-Aqwa:We went out with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to Khaibar and we travelled during the night. A man amongst the people said to 'Amir bin Al-Aqwa', "Won't you let us hear your poetry?" 'Amir was a poet, and so he got down and started (chanting Huda) reciting for the people, poetry that keep pace with the camel's foot steps, saying, "O Allah! Without You we would not have been guided on the right path, neither would we have given in charity, nor would we have prayed. So please forgive us what we have committed. Let all of us be sacrificed for Your cause and when we meet our enemy, make our feet firm and bestow peace and calmness on us and if they (our enemy) will call us towards an unjust thing we will refuse. The infidels have made a hue and cry to ask others help against us. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Who is that driver (of the camels)?" They said, "He is 'Amir bin Al-Aqwa."' He said, "May Allah bestow His mercy on him." A man among the people said, Has Martyrdom been granted to him, O Allah's Prophet! Would that you let us enjoy his company longer." We reached (the people of) Khaibar and besieged them till we were stricken with severe hunger but Allah helped the Muslims conquer Khaibar. In the evening of its conquest the people made many fires. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked, "What are those fires? For what are you making fires?" They said, "For cooking meat." He asked, "What kind of meat?" They said, "Donkeys' meat." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Throw away the meat and break the cooking pots." A man said, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Shall we throw away the meat and wash the cooking pots?" He said, "You can do that too." When the army files aligned in rows (for the battle), 'Amir's sword was a short one, and while attacking a Jew with it in order to hit him, the sharp edge of the sword turned back and hit 'Amir's knee and caused him to die. When the Muslims returned (from the battle), Salama said, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saw me pale and said, 'What is wrong with you?"' I said, "Let my parents be sacrificed for you! The people claim that all the deeds of Amir have been annulled." The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, "Who said so?" I replied, "So-and-so and soand- so and Usaid bin Al-Hudair Al-Ansari said, 'Whoever says so is telling a lie. Verily, 'Amir will have double reward."' (While speaking) the Prophet (ﷺ) put two of his fingers together to indicate that, and added, "He was really a hard-working man and a Mujahid (devout fighter in Allah's Cause) and rarely have there lived in it (i.e., Medina or the battle-field) an "Arab like him."
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 6148
In-book reference
Book 78, Hadith 174
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 169
Translation by Dr. M. Muhsin Khan · Language: EN
Sahih
Yazid ibn Abi 'Ubayd related that Salama ibn al-Akwa' said, "We went out with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, towards Khaybar and we travelled at night, One of the men among the people said to 'Amir ibn al-Akwa', 'Won't you let us hear some of your verses?' 'Amir was a poet and so he got down and started to chant with the camels of the people. He said: ''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 answered, ''Amir ibn al-Akwa'.' He said, 'May Allah have mercy on him!' A man among the people said, 'It [i.e. martyrdom] 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 said, 'For meat.' He asked, 'For what meat?' They answered, '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. 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, asked, 'Who said that?' I said, 'So-and-so, so-and-so, so-and-so and Usayd ibn al-Hudayr al-Ansari said it.' The Messenger of Allah, 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!'"
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 6148
In-book reference
Book 78, Hadith 174
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 169
Translation by Aisha Bewley · Language: EN
Sahih
