Khabbab bin al-Arat
was a companion of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and one of the early converts to Islam. He belonged to the group of oppressed individuals who faced persecution to renounce their faith. Khabbab was captured as a child from his tribe, Tamim, and sold in Mecca. He was purchased by Umm Anmar al-Khuza'iyya, an ally of the Banu Zuhrah clan from the Quraysh tribe.
Later, Khabbab migrated to Yathrib (later known as Medina) along with the Prophet Muhammad during the Hijra. He bore witness to all the significant events alongside the Prophet, encompassing the early struggles of Islam. In the latter part of his life, Khabbab relocated to Kufa, where he eventually passed away and was buried there.
His biography
Khabbab ibn al-Art, a member of the Banu Tamim or perhaps from the Khuza'a tribe, was captured as a child and sold in Mecca. It was bought by Umm Anmar Al-Khuzaia, an ally of the Zahra clan. In the pre-Islamic era, Khabbab practiced swordsmithing, and the Prophet Muhammad was often associated with him, due to his skills.
Khabbab converted to Islam early, before the Prophet entered Dar Al-Arqam for preaching. He was the sixth of the first six converts to Christianity, and some accounts suggest he was the twentieth in chronological order. Khabbab was one of the persecuted people who were subjected to severe torture in Mecca to return from their religion. He was subjected to brutal punishments, including being placed on hot coals, while his mistress, Umm Anmar, placed a hot iron on his head.
The Prophet Muhammad, who learned of Khabbab’s suffering, called for his victory, saying: “O God, help Khabbab.” Umm Anmar, in her frustration, complained of headaches, and her condition deteriorated to the point of howling like a dog. Khabbab was advised to seek relief through ironing. She would take a hot iron and place it on her head.
Iman Khabbab bin Al-Art
Mujahid narrated that the first to declare his conversion to Islam were the Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr, Khabbab, Suhaib, Bilal, Ammar, and Sumayyah Umm Ammar. While the Prophet and Abu Bakr faced opposition from their family and community, others suffered severe ordeals. Khabbab and his companions wore armor, exposing themselves to the scorching rays of the sun, until they reached a degree of endurance that reflected the intensity of iron and the sun's rays.
Ammar Al-Shaabi pointed out that Khabbab showed extraordinary patience and refused to give the infidels what they asked for. So they resorted to pinning him to the ground until his flesh dried out. Khabbab remembers a day in Mecca when he made a sword for Al-Aas bin Wael Al-Sahmi. Upon requesting payment, Al-Aas insisted that Khabbab abandon Muhammad. Khabbab said, steadfast in his faith: I will not separate from Muhammad until you die and are resurrected. Al-Aas said: If you are sent and I have money, I will reward you. So Khabbab told the Prophet Muhammad about this, and the revelation came down: “Have you seen the one who disbelieves in Our verses and says: ‘Give me wealth and children?’” Has he seen the unseen, or has he taken an everlasting covenant with the Most Gracious? We will write down what he says, and extend for him a long period of torment, and we will inherit from him what he says, and he is like this. Come to us alone.”
Migration and inheritance
Khabbab migrated with Al-Miqdad bin Amr to Yathrib and settled with Kulthum bin Al-Hamad. There they pledged allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad, and established a bond between them and Jabr bin Atiq, or as some narratives indicate, Tamim, the client of Kharash bin Al-Samah.
Khabbab witnessed all the pivotal events alongside the Prophet Muhammad. After the death of the Prophet and the beginning of the Islamic conquests, Khabbab moved to Kufa.
He died in Kufa in the year 37 AH at the age of 73 years, and Ali bin Abi Talib prayed over him, and Khabbab was the first to be buried in the back of Kufa. Ali eulogized him, saying: “May God have mercy on Khabbab. He converted to Islam eagerly, immigrated voluntarily, lived a mujahid, and endured the affliction in his body, and God will not waste his reward.”
Khabbab's life embodies the spirit of dedication, perseverance and sacrifice for the cause of Islam. His legacy lives on as a testament to the early struggles and commitment of the early Muslim community.
Hadith narrator
Khabbab bin Al-Art was a narrator of hadiths, transmitting them to the Prophet Muhammad. He transmitted hadiths to several individuals, including, but not limited to, Masruq bin Al-Ajda’, Abu Wael Shaqiq bin Salamah, Abu Muammar Abdullah bin Sakhr, Qais bin Abi Hazim, Alqamah bin Qais Al-Nakha’i, and his son Abdullah. Bin Khabbab, Abu Maysara bin Sharhabeel, Amer Al-Shaabi, Haritha bin Mudrik Al-Abdi, Abu Umamah Al-Bahili, Saeed bin Wahb Al-Hamdani, Suleiman bin Abi Hind, Saleh bin Zufar, Abbad Abu Al-Akhdar, Ubadah bin Nasi Al-Kindi, Abdullah bin Abi Al-Hudhayl, and Amr Bin Abdul Rahman, Hubayra bin Yarim, Yahya bin Jadah bin Hubayra, Abu Al-Kanood Al-Azdi, and Abu Laila Al-Kindi.
Regarding the evaluation of Khabbab’s narrations, Baqi bin Mukhlid counted 32 mutawatir hadiths, three of which are agreed upon among scholars. Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated two hadiths independently of Khabbab. His narrations are well known and accepted by the majority of scholars.