19/11/2015
SALIM MAWLA ABI HUDHAYFAH RA ::
. Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA (Arabic: ﺳﺎﻟﻢ ﻣﻮﻟﻰ
ﺃﺑﻲ ﺣﺬﻳﻔﺔ ) was one of the sahabah of Rasulullah
SAW. Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA was named
so since he was the freed slave of Abu Hudhaifa
ibn 'Utba
Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA participated in
the battle against Musailamah as a standard
bearer of the Muhajirin and displayed
unexpected valor. Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA
people feared that he would show weakness or be
too terrified to fight. To them he said, "If you
manage to overtake me, what a miserable bearer
of the Qur'an I shall be." Salim Mawla Abu
Hudhaifa RA then valiantly plunged into the
enemy ranks and eventually died in battle.
... Rasulullah SAW is quoted as saying:
"Learn the Qur'an from four persons: Abd-
Allah ibn Ma’sud RA, Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa
RA, Ubayy ibn Kab RA and Muadh ibn Jabal
RA."
Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA was a slave and
when he accepted Islam he was adopted as a
son by a Muslim who was formerly a leading
nobleman of the Quraish. When the practice of
adoption (in which the adopted person was
called the son of his adopted father) was
banned, Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA simply
became a brother, a companion and a mawla
(protected person) of the one who had adopted
him, Abu Hudhaifa ibn Utbah. Through the
blessings of Islam, Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa
RA rose to a position of high esteem among the
Muslims by virtue of his noble conduct and his
piety.
Both Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA and Abu
Hudhaifa RA accepted Islam early. Abu
Hudhaifa himself did so in the face of bitter
opposition from his father, the notorious Utbah
ibn Rabi'ah who was particularly virulent in his
attacks against Rasulullah SAW, and his
companions.
When the verse of the Quran was revealed
abolishing adoption, people like Zaid RA and
Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA had to change
their names. Zaid who was known as Zaid ibn
Muhammad RA had to be called after his own
natural father. Henceforth he was known as
Zaid ibn Harithah. Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa
RA however did not know the name of his
father. Indeed he did not know who his father
was. However he remained under the protection
of Abu Hudhaifa RA and so came to be known
as Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA.
In abolishing the practice of adoption, Islam
wanted to emphasize the bonds and
responsibilities of natural kinship. However, no
relationship was greater or stronger than the
bond of Islam and the ties of faith which was
the basis of brotherhood. The early Muslims
understood this very well. There was nobody
dearer to anyone of them after Allah and His
Messenger than their brethren in faith.
We have seen how the Ansar of Madinah
welcomed and accepted the Muhajirin from
Makkah and shared with them their homes and
their wealth and their hearts. This same spirit of
brotherhood we see in the relationship between
the Quraish aristocrat, Abu Hudhaifa RA, and
the despised and lowly slave, Salim Mawla Abu
Hudhaifa RA. They remained to the very end of
their lives something more than brothers; they
died together, one body beside the other one
soul with the other. Such was the unique
greatness of Islam. Ethnic background and
social standing had no worth in the sight of
Allah SWT. Only faith and taqwa mattered as
the verses of the Quran and the sayings of the
Prophet emphasized over and over again:
"The most honorable of you in the sight of
Allah, is the most God-fearing of you," says the
Quran.
"No Arab has an advantage over a non-Arab
except in taqwa (piety)," taught the noble
Rasulullah SAW who also said: "The son of a
white woman has no advantage over the son of a
black woman except in taqwa."
In the new and just society rounded by Islam,
Abu Hudhaifa RA found honor for himself in
protecting the one who was a slave.
In this new and rightly-guided society rounded
by Islam, which destroyed unjust class divisions
and false social distinctions Salim Mawla Abu
Hudhaifa RA found himself, through his
honesty, his faith and his willingness to
sacrifice, in the front line of the believers.
Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA was the "imam"
of the Muhajirin from Makkah to Madinah,
leading them in Salat in the masjid at Quba
which was built by the blessed hands of
Rasulullah SAW himself. Salim Mawla Abu
Hudhaifa RA became a competent authority in
the Book of God so much so that the Prophet
recommended that the Muslims learn the Quran
from him. Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA was
even further blessed and enjoyed a high
estimation in the eyes of the Prophet, peace be
on him, who said of him.
"Praise be to God Who has made among my
Ummah such as you."
Even his fellow Muslim brothers used to call him
"Salim min as-Salihin - Salim one of the
righteous". The story of Salim Mawla Abu
Hudhaifa RA is like the story of Bilal and that
of tens of other slaves and poor persons whom
Islam raised from slavery and degradation and
'made them, in the society of guidance and
justice - imams, leaders and military
commanders.
Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA's personality was
shaped by Islamic virtues. One of these was his
outspokenness when he felt it was his duty to
speak out especially when a wrong was
committed.
A well-known incident to illustrate this occurred
after the liberation of Makkah. Rasulullah SAW
sent some of his companions to the villages and
tribes around the city. He specified that they
were being sent as du'at to invite people to
Islam and not as fighters. Khalid ibn al-Walid
RA was one of those sent out. During the mission
however, to settle an old score from the days of
Jahiliyyah, he fought with and killed a man
even though the man testified that he was now a
Muslim.
Accompanying Khalid on this mission was Salim
Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA and others. As soon as
Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA saw what Khalid
had done he went up to him and reprimanded
him listing the mistakes he had committed.
Khalid, the great leader and military
commander both during the days of Jahiliyyah
and now in Islam, was silent for once.
Khalid then tried to defend himself with
increasing fervor. But Salim Mawla Abu
Hudhaifa RA stood his ground and stuck to his
view that Khalid had committed a grave error.
Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA did not look upon
Khalid Ibn Al Walid RA then as an abject slave
would look upon a powerful Makkan nobleman.
Not a t all. Islam had placed them on an equal
footing. It was justice and truth that had to be
defended. Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA did
not look upon him as a leader whose mistakes
were to be covered up or justified but rather as
an equal partner in carrying out a responsibility
and an obligation. Neither did Salim Mawla Abu
Hudhaifa RA come out in opposition to Khalid
out of prejudice or passion but out of sincere
advice and mutual self-criticism which Islam
has hallowed. Such mutual sincerity was
repeatedly emphasized by the Prophet himself
when he said: “Ad-dinu an-Nasihah. Ad-din u
an-Nasihah. Ad-din u an-Nasihah." "Religion is
sincere advice. Religion is sincere advice. Religion
is sincere advice."
When Rasulullah SAW heard what Khalid had
done, he was deeply grieved and made long and
fervent supplication to his Lord. "O Lord," he
said, "I am innocent before you of what Khalid
has done." And he asked: "Did anyone
reprimand him?"
Rasulullah SAW’s anger subsided somewhat when
he was told:
"Yes, Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA
reprimanded him and opposed him." Salim
Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA lived close to the
Prophet and the believers. Salim Mawla Abu
Hudhaifa RA was never slow or reluctant in his
worship nor did he miss any campaign. In
particular, the strong brotherly relationship
which existed between him and Abu Hudhaifa RA
grew with the passing days.
Rasulullah SAW passed away to his Lord. Abu
Bakr RA assumed responsibility for the affairs
of Muslims and immediately had to face the
conspiracies of the apostates which resulted in
the terrible battle of Yamamah. Among the
Muslim forces which made their way to the
central heartlands of Arabia were Salim Mawla
Abu Hudhaifa RA Salim and his "brother", Abu
Hudhaifa RA
At the beginning of the battle, the Muslim forces
suffered major reverses. The Muslims fought as
individuals and so the strength that comes from
solidarity was initially absent. But Khalid ibn
al-Walid RA regrouped the Muslim forces anew
and managed to achieve an amazing
coordination.
Abu Hudhaifa RA and Salim Mawla Abu
Hudhaifa RA embraced each other and made a
vow to seek martyrdom in the path of the
religion of Truth and thus attain felicity in the
hereafter. Yamamah was their tryst with
destiny. To spur on the Muslims Abu Hudhaifa
RA shouted: "Yaa ahl al-Quran - O people of
the Quran! Adorn the Quran with your deeds,"
as his sword flashed through the army of
Musailamah the imposter like a whirlwind. Salim
Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA in his turn shouted:
"What a wretched bearer of the Quran am I, if
the Muslims are attacked from my direction. Far
be it from you, O Salim! Instead, be you a
worthy bearer of the
With renewed courage Salim Mawla Abu
Hudhaifa RA he plunged into the battle. When
the standard-bearer of the Muhajirin- Zaid
ibn al-Khattab RA, fell. Salim Mawla Abu
Hudhaifa RA bore aloft the flag and continued
fighting. His right hand was then severed and he
held the standard aloft with his left hand while
reciting aloud the verse of the glorious Quran:
"How many a Prophet fought in Allah’s way and
with him (fought) large bands of godly men! But
they never lost heart if they met with disaster in
Allah's way, nor did they weaken (in will) nor
give in. And Allah SWT loves those who are firm
and steadfast." What an inspiring verse for
such an occasion! And what a fitting epitaph for
someone who had dedicated his life for the sake
of Islam!
A wave of apostates then overwhelmed Salim
Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA and he fell. Some life
remained with him until the battle came to an
end with the death of Musaylamah. When the
Muslims went about searching for their victims
and their martyrs, they found Salim Mawla Abu
Hudhaifa RA in the last thro es of death. As his
life-blood ebbed away he asked them: "What
has happened to Abu Hudhaifa?" "He has been
martyred," came the reply. "Then put me to lie
next to him," said Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa
RA.
"He is close to you, Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa
RA. He was martyred in this same place." Salim
Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA smiled a last faint
smile and spoke no more. Both men had realized
what they had hoped for. Together they entered
Islam. Together they lived. And together they
were martyred.
Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA, that great
believer passed away to his Lord. Of him, the
great Umar ibn al-Khattab spoke as he lay
dying: "If Salim were alive, I would have
appointed him my successor;
“When Umar was dying, he was questioned about
his successor, and he said: ‘If Abu Ubaidah bin
al-Jarrah were alive, I would have made him
the Khalifah. If Khalid bin al-Walid were alive,
I would have appointed him the Amir of the
Muslims. And if Salim, the client of Abu
Hudhaifa, were living today, then I would have
designated him as your ruler.' This Salim was a
slave who came from Istakhr in Persia. He was
emancipated and became a ‘mawali' (client) of
Abu Hudhaifa. He was well-known for his piety.
Many Muslims deferred to him in matters of
Faith even in the times of the prophet
Muhammad. Sometimes he led the Muslims in
prayer also. He was killed in the Ridda wars
during the khalifah of Abu Bakr. He was a
devout and God-fearing man.”
Selected Hadiths Attributed by Salim Mawla
Found In: Sahih Bukhari Chapter No: 11, Call to
Prayers (Adhan)
Hadith no: 661
Narrated: Ibn Umar
When the earliest emigrants came to Al-'Usba a
place in Quba', before the arrival of Rasulullah
SAW- Salim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa RA, the slave
of Abu Hudhaifa, who knew the Qur'an more
than the others used to lead them in prayer.
Relevance: 19.8027
Found In: Imam Malik's Muwatta Chapter No:
30, Suckling
Hadith no: 12
Narrated:
Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn
Shihab that he was asked about the suckling of
an older person. He said, ''Urwa ibn Az-Zubair
RA informed me that Abu Hudhaifa ibn Utba ibn
Rabiah, one of the companions of the Messenger
of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, who was present at Badr, adopted Salim
(who is called Salim, the Mawla of Abu Hudhaifa
as the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him
and grant him peace, adopted Zaid ibn
Harithah RA. He thought of him as his son, and
Abu Hudhaifa married him to his brother's
sister, Fatima bint al-Walid ibn Utba ibn
Rabiah, who was at that time among the first
emigrants. She was one of the best-unmarried
women of the Quraish. When Allah the Exalted
sent down in His Book what He sent down about
Zaid ibn Harithah, 'Call them after their true
fathers. That is more equitable in the sight of
Allah. If you do not know who their fathers were
then they are your brothers in the Deen and
your mawali,' (Surah 33 ayats 5) people in this
position were traced back to their fathers. When
the father was not known, they were traced to
their Mawla. "Sahla bint Suhayl who was the wife
of Abu Hudhaifa RA, and one of the tribe of
Amr ibn Luayy, came to the Messenger of Allah,
may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and
said, 'Messenger of Allah! We think of Salim as
a son and he comes in to see me while I am
uncovered. We only have one room, so what do
you think about the situation?' The Messenger of
Allah, May Allah blesses him and grants him
peace, said, 'Give him five drinks of your milk
and he will be mahram by it.' She then saw him
as a foster son. Aisyah umm al-Muminin took
that as a precedent for whatever men she
wanted to be able to come to see her. She
ordered her sister, Umm Kulthum bint Abi Bakr
as-Siddiq and the daughters of her brother to
give milk to whichever men she wanted to be able
to come in to see her. The rest of the wives of
the Prophet, May Allah bless him and grant him
peace, refused to let anyone come in to them by
such nursing. They said, 'No! By Allah! We think
that what the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, ordered Sahla
bint Suhayl to do was only an indulgence
concerning the nursing of Salim alone. No! By
Allah! No one will come in upon us by such
nursing!' "This is what the wives of the Prophet,
may Allah bless him and grant him peace,
thought about the suckling of an older person."
Relevance: 13.857
Found In: Imam Malik's Muwatta Chapter No:
31, Business Transactions
Hadith no: 4
Narrated:
Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn
Said from Salim ibn Abdullah that Abdullah ibn
Umar sold one of his slaves for eight hundred
dirhams with the stipulation that he was not
responsible for defects. The person who bought
the slave complained to Abdullah ibn Umar that
the slave had a disease which he had not told
him about. They argued and went to Uthman ibn
Affan for a decision. The man said, "He sold
me a slave with a disease which he did not tell
me about." Abdullah said, "I sold to him with
the stipulation that I was not responsible."
Uthman ibn Affan decided that Abdullah ibn
Umar should take an oath that he had sold the
slave without knowing that he had any disease.
Abdullah ibn Umar refused to take the oath, so
the slave was returned to him and recovered his
health in his possession. Abdullah sold him
afterward for 1500 dirhams. Malik said, "The
generally agreed upon way of doing things
among us about a man who buys a female slave
and she becomes pregnant, or who buys a slave
and then frees him, or if there is any other such
matter which has already happened so that he
cannot return his purchase, and a clear proof is
established that there was a fault in that
purchase when it was in the hands of the seller
or the fault is admitted by the seller or someone
else, is that the slave or slave-girl is assessed
for its value with the fault it is found to have
had on the day of purchase and the buyer is
refunded, from what he paid, the difference
between the price of a slave who is sound and a
slave with such a defect. Malik said, "The
generally agreed upon way of doing things
among us regarding a man who buys a slave and
then finds out that the slave has a defect for
which he can be returned and meanwhile
another defect has happened to the slave whilst
in his possession, is that if the defect which
occurred to the slave in his possession has
harmed him, like loss of a limb, loss of an eye,
or something similar, then he has a choice. If he
wants, he can have the price of the slave
reduced commensurate with the defect (he
bought him with ) according to the prices on the
day he bought him, or if he likes, he can pay
compensation for the defect which the slave has
suffered in his possession and return him. The
choice is up to him. If the slave dies in his
possession, the slave is valued with the defect
which he had on the day of his purchase. It is
seen what his price would really have been. If
the price of the slave on the day of purchase
without fault was 100 dinars, and his price on
the day of purchase with fault would have been
80 dinars, the price is reduced by the
difference. These prices are assessed according
to the market value on the day the slave was
purchased. " Malik said, "The generally agreed
upon way of doing things among us is that if a
man returns a slave girl in whom he has found a
defect and he has already had in*******se with
her, he must pay what he has reduced of her
price if she was a virgin. If she was not a virgin,
there is nothing against his having had
in*******se with her because he had charge of
her." Malik said, "The generally agreed upon
way of doing things among us regarding a
person, whether he is an inheritor or not, who
sells a slave, slave-girl, or animal without a
liability agreement is that he is not responsible
for any defect in what he sold unless he knew
about the fault and concealed it. If he knew
that there was a fault and concealed it, his
declaration that he was free of responsibility
does not absolve him, and what he sold is
returned to him." Malik spoke about a situation
where a slave-girl was bartered for two other
slave-girls and then one of the slave-girls was
found to have a defect for which she could be
returned. He said, "The slave-girl worth two
other slave-girls is valued for her price. Then
the other two slave-girls are valued, ignoring
the defect which the one of them has. Then the
price of the slave-girl sold for two slave-girls is
divided between them according to their prices
so that the proportion of each of them in her
price is arrived at - to the higher priced one
according to her higher price, and to the other
according to her value. Then one looks at the
one with the defect, and the buyer is refunded
according to the amount her share is affected
by the defect, be it little or great. The price of
the two slave-girls is based on their market
value on the day that they were bought." Malik
spoke about a man who bought a slave and hired
him out on a long-term or short-term basis and
then found out that the slave had a defect
which necessitated his return. He said that if
the man returned the slave because of the
defect, he kept the hire and revenue. "This is
the way in which things are done in our city.
That is because, had the man bought a slave who
then built a house for him, and the value of the
house was many times the price of the slave,
and he then found that the slave had a defect
for which he could be returned, and he was
returned, he would not have to make payment
for the work the slave had done for him.
Similarly, he would keep any revenue from
hiring him out, because he had charge of him.
This is the way of doing things among us." Malik
said, "The way of doing things among us when
someone buys several slaves in one lot and then
finds that one of them has been stolen, or has a
defect, is that he looks at the one he finds has
been stolen or the one in which he finds a
defect. If he is the pick of those slaves, or the
most expensive, or it was for his sake that he
bought them, or he is the one in whom people see
the most excellence, then the whole sale is
returned. If the one who is found to be stolen or
to have a defect is not the pick of the slaves,
and he did not buy them for his sake, and
there is no special virtue which people see in
him, the one who is found to have a defect or to
have been stolen is returned as he is, and the
buyer is refunded his portion of the total
price."
Relevance: 2.4202
Found In: Sunan Ibn Majah Chapter No: 11, the
Chapters on Marriage
Hadith no: 1947
Narrated: Zainab bint Abi Salamah
That the wives of Rasulullah SAW all differed
with Aisyah RA and refused to allow anyone
with ties of breastfeeding like Salim, the freed
salve of Abu Hudhaifa RA, to enter upon them.
They said: "How do we know? That may be a
concession granted only to Salim."
