Wahshi ibn Harb

Wahshi ibn Harb ("The Savage, Son of War"), also known as Abu Dusmah was a former slave of Jubayr ibn Mut'im before becoming a freedman and a Sahabi (companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad).[2] He is best known for killing a leading Muslim fighter, Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, Muhammad's uncle, prior to accepting Islam, and afterwards reportedly killing Musaylimah, the leader of an enemy apostate army who were waging war against the Muslims.

Wahshi ibn Harb
Died
Homs
NationalityAfro-Arabs
Known for

During the Battle of Uhud
Further information: Battle of Uhud

Wahshi (وحشي, which means "the savage" or "the wild one")[3] had been appointed by Jubair bin Mutaim to kill one of the three persons (Muhammad, Ali ibn Abi Talib, or Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib) so that he might avenge his father's death during the Battle of Badr.

Wahshi said in reply, "I didn't approached Muhammad at all, because his companions are nearer to him than anyone else. Ali too is extraordinarily vigilant in the battlefield. However, Hamza is so furious that, while fighting, he does not pay any attention to any other side and it is possible that I may be able to make him fall by some trick or by taking him unawares." Hind was content with this and promised that if he was successful in performing the job she would set him free. Some believe that Jubair made this promise to his slave (Wahshi) as his (Jubayr's) uncle had been killed in the Battle of Badr.

Conversion to Islam

He then later converted to Islam and claimed to have killed the non-Islamic prophet Musaylimah (also known as Musaylimah al-Kadhdhaab meaning "Musaylimah the Liar") during the Battle of Yamama in 632. Wahshi relates his story of conversion:

After the Battle of Uhud, I continued to live in Makkah for quite a long time until the Muslims conquered Makkah. I then ran away to Ta'if, but soon Islam reached that area as well. I heard that however grave the crime of a person might be, [God] forgave him. I, therefore, reached [Muhammad] with Shahadatayn on my lips.[4] Muhammad saw me and said "Are you the same Wahshi, the Ethiopian?" I replied in the affirmative. Thereupon he said: "How did you kill Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib?" I gave an account of the matter. Muhammad was moved and said: "I should not see your face until you are resurrected, because the heart-rending calamity fell upon my uncle at your hands". It is explained by Islamic scholars that the reason for Wahshi avoiding Muhammad, was not out of continued anger against Wahshi, but in case Wahshi interpreted a look on the face of Muhammad as anger for him, which would therefore make him distraught. Wahshi says: "So long as Muhammad was alive I kept myself hidden from him. After his death the battle with Musaylimah took place. I joined the army of Islam and used the same weapon against Musaylimah and succeeded in killing him with the help of one of the Ansar. If I killed the best of men (Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib) with this weapon, the worst man, too, did not escape its terror.[5]

— Conversation of Wahshi ibn Harb and the incident related to Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib

See also

References
  1. The life of Muhammad: Battle of Uhud. Pakistan Branch, Oxford University Press. 2001. ISBN 978-0196360331.
  2. The History of al-Tabari Vol. 7: The Foundation of the Community: Muhammad At Al-Madina A.D. 622-626/Hijrah-4 A.H. SUNY Press. 2015-06-11. ISBN 978-1-4384-1239-9.
  3. "Sahaba names: Wahshi". Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  4. Shahadatayn refers to the Kalimah or recitation of the two Islamic declarations of faith, "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; the first of the Five Pillars of Islam. Shahada is accepted as the declaration of acceptance of Islam by a convert
  5. The life of the Prophet (Arabic: Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah) - Ibn Ishaq and Ibn Hisham; Cairo, Mustafà al-Bābī al-Halabī
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