Ghaseel-ul-Malaika - Hanzalah RA

[Bint e Aisha]

Hanzalah bin Abi 'Aamir رضي الله عنه 

 

During the battle of Uhud, Hanzalah bin Abi ‘Aamir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) fought very bravely but was eventually martyred by Shaddaad bin Aswad. Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji‘oon!

When the battle had terminated, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) addressed the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) saying, “Verily I saw the angels bathing (giving ghusl to) the body of Hanzalah bin Abi ‘Aamir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), between the heavens and the earth, with the water of the clouds in utensils of silver.” Abu Usaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentions that he, together with a few other Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), then went in search of Hanzalah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)’s body. When they found it, they saw that his head was dripping with water! They returned to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and informed him of what they had seen. After hearing what had happened, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) instructed them to enquire from his wife as to why the angels were giving him ghusl.

Hanzalah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had shortly before the Battle of Uhud, married Jameelah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), the sister of the infamous ‘Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salool, the leader of the hypocrites, and had only just consummated his marriage the previous night. While asleep that night, Jameelah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) had a dream in which she saw a door open in the sky into which Hanzalah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was ushered. The door was then shut behind him. When she awoke, she instantly realized that the dream she had seen was an indication that her husband, Hanzalah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), was about to pass away. She therefore called for four witnesses and informed them that her marriage had been consummated the previous night as, if people were unaware of her spending the night with her husband, complications would have possibly arisen later on.

Hanzalah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was still making ghusl when the call was made for people to arm and depart for Uhud. Although his wife, Jameelah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), had only completed washing half his head, his eagerness to strive and fight in the path of Allah Ta‘ala was such that he immediately grabbed his weapons and left without completing his ghusl. When Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was informed of this he said, “That is why the angels gave him ghusl.” 

(Reference: Nasbur Raayah vol. 2 pg. 316, Ibnu Hishaam vol. 3 pg. 75, and ‘Umdatul Qari vol. 14 pg. 224)

Lessons:

1. We need to become so eager for and committed to deen that nothing – not even the joy and excitement of life as newlyweds - will be able to deter us from striving and sacrificing in the path of Allah Ta‘ala.

2. Despite having received indication that her husband would pass away and despite having spent only a single night with him, Jameelah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was selfless and allowed Hanzalah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to strive in the path of Allah Ta‘ala, understanding that no sacrifice is too great to make for deen. 

3. In matters of marriage, children etc, it is crucial for us to maintain transparency so that complications do not arise. In this regard, “secret marriages” are to be totally avoided.

 

Uswatulmuslimah