Dhakwan ibn ‘Abdul Qais al Ansari al Khazraji radiya Llahu ‘anhu

Dhakwan ibn ‘Abdul Qais al Ansari al Khazraji

He is Sayyidina Dhakwan ibn ‘Abdul Qais ibn Khaldah, Dhu al Shimalayn, al Ansari al Zuraqi radiya Llahu ‘anhu. His agnomen was Abu al Sabu’. He witnessed both meetings of al ‘Aqabah. He then left Madinah to be with Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and lived with him in Makkah. Thus he was known as the Muhajiri Ansari. He participated in Badr and was martyred during the Battle of Uhud. Abu al Hakam ibn al Akhnas ibn Shariq killed him. Seeing this, Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib radiya Llahu ‘anhu went in hot pursuit of the villain who was mounted on a horse and struck his leg with a sword thus severing it with half of his thigh. He then flung him off his horse and finished him off. This occurred in Shawwal, 32 months after hijrah. Dhakwan had no offspring.[1]

Ibn Hisham says, “His name was ‘Umair. He was known as Dhu al Shimalayn (lit. the possessor of two left hands) because he was left-handed.”[2]

One hadith establishes glad tidings of him entering Jannat:

فعن عاصم بن عمر بن جعفر العمري عن سهيل بن أبي صالح قال لما خرج النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم يوم أحد قال من ينتدب لسد هذه الثغرة الليلة أو كما قال قال فقام رجل من الأنصار من بني زريق يقال له ذكوان بن عبد قيس أبو السبع فقال أنا فقال من أنت قال ابن عبد قيس قال اجلس ثم دعا فقالها فقام ذكوان فقال من أنت فقال أنا أبو السبع فقال كونوا مكان كذا و كذا فقال ذكوان يا رسول الله ما هو إلا أنا و لم نأمن أن يكون للمشركين عين فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم من أحب أن ينظر إلى رجل يطأ خضرة الجنة بقدميه غدا فلينظر إلى هذا فانطلق ذكوان إلى أهله يودعهن فأخذت نسائه بثيابه و قلن يا أبا السبع تدعنا و تذهب فاستل ثوبه حتى إذا جاوزهن أقبل عليهن فقال موعدكن يوم القيامة ثم قتل

From ‘Asim ibn ‘Umar ibn Jafar al ‘Umari from―Suhayl ibn Abi Salih who narrates:

When Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam left on the Day of Uhud, he called out, “Who will volunteer to close this opening tonight?”―or something to the effect.

A man from the Ansar from the Banu Zurayq stood up who was called Dhakwan ibn ‘Abd Qais, Abu al Sabu’ and submitted, “I will.”

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam asked, “Who are you?”

“Ibn ‘Abd Qais,” he replied.

He said, “Sit down.”

He then made a second proclamation and again Dhakwan stood up. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam asked, “Who are you?”

“I am Abu al Sabu’,” he replied.

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam instructed, “Be at such and such a place.”

Dhakwan submitted, “O Messenger of Allah, it was only me.”

We felt unsafe that the mushrikin might have a spy. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam announced, “Whoever desires to look at a man who will step on the grass of Jannat with his feet tomorrow should look at this man.”

Dhakwan walked to his wives to bid them farewell. His wives caught hold of his clothes and cried, “O Abu al Sabu’, are you leaving us and going?”

He snatched his clothes away from them. After passing them, he faced them and said, “Your rendezvous is the Day of Qiyamah.” He was subsequently martyred.

Ibn al Mubarak narrated it in al Jihad[3]; Abu Nuaim reported it from the same chain in Ma’rifat al Sahabah[4]; and Hafiz mentioned it in al Isabah[5]. This narration is mursal since Suhayl ibn Abi Salih is a Tabi’i. However, Dhakwan’s martyrdom in the Battle of Uhud has been mentioned via a number of mursal isnads. Abu Nuaim documents that Ibn Shihab al Zuhri and ‘Urwah listed Dhakwan as one of the martyrs of Uhud.[6]

NEXT⇒ Zaid ibn Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhu

[1] Al Tabaqat, vol. 3 pg. 593 with slight brevity.

[2] Sirat Ibn Hisham, vol. 1 pg. 680.

[3] Al Jihad, vol. 1 pg. 46, Hadith: 151.

[4] Ma’rifat al Sahabah, vol. 7 pg. 328.

[5] Al Isabah, vol. 2 pg. 405.

[6] Ma’rifat al Sahabah, vol. 7 pg. 327.

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