The Al-Fateh Mosque (Bahrain)

Hazrat Salim Mawla Abi Hudhayfah (RA)

In His advice to his companions, the noble Prophet (SAW) once said: "Learn the Quran from four persons: Abdullah ibn Masud, Salim Mawla Abi Hudhayfah, Ubayy ibn Kab and Muadh ibn Jabal." We have read about three of these companions before. But who was this fourth companion in whom the Prophet had so much confidence that he considered him a  competent authority to teach the Quran and be a source of reference for it?

Hazrat Salim (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 Quraysh. When the practice of adoption was banned, Hazrat Salim simply became a brother, a companion and a mawla (protected person) of the one who had adopted him, Abu Hudhayfah ibn Utbah. Through the blessings of Islam, Hazrat Salim (RA) rose to a position of high esteem among the Muslims by virtue of his noble conduct and his piety.

Acceptance of Islam

Both Hazrat Salim (RA) and Hazrat Abu Hudhayfah (RA) accepted Islam early. Abu Hudhayfah 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 the Prophet (SAW) and his companions. When the verse of the Quran was revealed abolishing adoption, people like Hazrat Zayd and Hazrat Salim had to change their names. Hazrat Zayd (RA) who was known as Hazrat Zayd ibn Muhammad had to be called after his own natural father. Henceforth he was known as Hazrat Zayd ibn Harithah (RA). Salim however did not know the name of his father. However he remained under the protection of Hazrat Abu Hudhayfah (RA) and so came to be known as Hazrat Salim Mawla Abi Hudhayfah. 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.

Salim min as-Salihin,- Salim one of the righteous.

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 Quraysh aristocrat, Hazrat Abu Hudhayfah (RA) and the despised and lowly slave, Hazrat Salim (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 God. Only faith and piety 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 God, is the most God-fearing of you," says the Quran. "No Arab has an advantage over a non-Arab except in piety," taught the noble Prophet 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 Hudhayfah 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 found himself, through his honesty, his faith and his willingness to sacrifice, in the front line of the believers. He 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 the Prophet himself. He became a competent authority in the Book of God so much so that the Prophet recommended that the Muslims learn the Quran from him. Hazrat Salim (RA) was even further blessed and enjoyed a high estimation in the eyes of the Prophet (SAW) 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 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'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.

Stands for right

The Prophet (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. Hazrat Khalid ibn al-Walid (RA) was one of those sent out. During the mission however, to settle an old score from the days of Jahiliyya, he fought with and killed a man even though the man testified that he was now a Muslim.

Accompanying Hazrat Khalid (RA) on this mission was Hazrat Salim (RA) and others. As soon as Hazrat Salim (RA) saw what Hazrat Khalid (RA) had done he went up to him and reprimanded him listing the mistakes he had committed. Hazrat Khalid (RA), the great leader and military commander both during the days of Jahiliyya and now in Islam, was silent for once. Hazrat Khalid (RA) then tried to defend himself with increasing fervor. But Salim stood his ground and stuck to his view that Hazrat Khalid (RA) had committed a grave error. Hazrat Salim (RA) did not look upon Hazrat Khalid (RA) then as an abject slave would look upon a powerful Makkan nobleman. Not at all. Islam had placed them on an equal footing. It was justice and truth that had to be defended. He 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 he 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 the Prophet heard what Hazrat Khalid (RA) had done, He (SAW) was deeply grieved and made long and fervent supplication to his Lord. "O Lord," he said, "I am innocent before you of what Hazrat Khalid (RA) has done." And he asked: "Did anyone reprimand him?" The Prophet's anger subsided somewhat when he was told: "Yes, Hazrat Salim (RA) reprimanded him and opposed him." Salim lived close to the Prophet and the believers. He 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 Hudhayfah grew with the passing days.

Participated in the battle of Yamamah

The Prophet (SAW) passed away to his Lord. Hazrat 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 was Hazrat Salim (RA) and his "brother", Hazrat Abu Hudhayfah (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 regrouped the Muslim forces anew and managed to achie ve an amazing coordination. Abu Hudhayfah and Salim 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 Hudhayfah shouted: "Yaa ahl al-Qu ran - O people of the Quran! Adorn the Quran with your deeds," as his sword flashed through the army of Musailimah the imposter like a whirlwind. Salim 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 he plunged into the battle. When the standard-bearer of the Muhajirin, Zayd ibn al-Khattab, fell. Hazrat Salim (RA) bore aloft the flag and continued fighting. His right hand was then cut off 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 God's way and with him (fought) large bands of godly men! But they never lost heart if they met with disaster in God's way, nor did they weaken (in will) nor give in. And God 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 and he fell. Some life remained with him until the battle came to an end with the death of Musailimah. When the Muslims went about searching for their victims and their martyrs, they found Salim in the last throes of death. As his life-blood ebbed away he asked them: "What has happened to Abu Hudhayfah?" "He has been martyred," came the reply. "Then put me to lie next to him," said Hazrat Salim.

"He is close to you, Hazrat Salim (RA). He was martyred in this same place." Hazrat Salim smiled a last faint smile and spoke no more. Both men had realized what they had hoped for. They entered Islam Together, lived together and were martyred together. Hazrat Salim (RA), that great believer passed away to his Lord. Of him, the great Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) spoke as he lay dying: "If Salim were alive, I would have appointed him my successor."

May God bless His soul!