Abdullah ibn Hudhafah: Prophet Muhammad’s courageous envoy

Among the Prophet Muhammad’s companions, Abdullah ibn Hudhafah is one who got the opportunity to meet two world potentates of his time–Khusraw Parvez the King of Persia and Heraclius, the Byzantine emperor. When Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in 6AH decided to send some of his companions to deliver the message of Islam to rulers outside the Arabian peninsular, Abdullah ibn Hudhafah was among the six companions that the Prophet commissioned to deliver the letters. He was to go the Persian ruler.

Abdullah got his camel ready and bade farewell to his wife and son. He set out, alone, and traversed mountains and valleys until he reached the land of the Persian. He sought permission to enter into the king’s presence informing the guards of the letter he was carrying. Khusraw Parvez thereupon ordered his audience chamber to be made ready and summoned his prominent aides. When they had assembled he gave permission for Abdullah to enter.

Abdullah entered and saw the Persian potentate dressed in delicate, flowing robes and wearing a great, neatly arranged turban. As soon as Khusraw Parvez saw him approaching he signaled to one of his men to take the letter from his handbutAbdullahdeclined,insistingthattheProphet’s command was to hand the letter directly to Khusraw. “Let him come near to me,” Khusraw said to his guards and Abdullah went forward and handed over the letter. Khusraw then called an Arab clerk

who originally came from Hira and ordered him to open the letter in his presence and read its texts. Khusraw didn’t listen to much of the letter’s contents and furiously snatched the letter from the clerk’s hand and tore it to pieces. He then commanded Abdullah to be expelled from his assembly. Back in Madinah, Abdullah told the Prophet how Khusraw had torn his letter to pieces and the Prophet’s only reply was, “May God tear up his kingdom”.

Abdullah ibn Hudhafah’s meeting with the Byzantine emperor took place during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab. In 19AH, Umar dispatched an army to fight against the Byzantine. In it was Abdullah ibn Hudhafah. News of the Muslim force reached the Byzantine emperor. He had heard of their sincerity of faith, and their willingness to sacrifice their lives in the way of God and His Prophet. He gave orders to his men to bring to him any Muslim captive they might take alive. Abdullah ibn Hudhafah fell captive to the Byzantines and he was brought before the Emperor.

The Emperor looked at Abdullah for a long time. Suddenly he said, “I shall make a proposal to you.” “What is it?” asked Abdullah. “I suggest that you become a Christian. If you do this, you will be set free and I shall grant you a safe refuge.” The prisoner’s reaction was furious: “Death is preferable to me a thousand times to what you ask me to do.” Heraclius made several other attempts but Abdullah rejected all his suggestions. The emperor then had him put on a cross and ordered his soldiers

to throw spears at him, first near his hands and then near his feet, all the while telling him to accept Christianity or at least give up his religion. This he refused over and over again to do. The emperor then had him taken down from the wooden cross. He called for a great pot to be brought. This was filled with oil which was then heated under a fierce fire. He then had two other Muslim prisoners brought and had one of them thrown into the boiling oil. The prisoner’s flesh sizzled and soon his bones could be seen. The emperor turned to Abdullah and invited him to Christianity.

This was the most terrible test that Abdullah had to face up till now but remained firm. But he remained firm and the emperor gave up trying. He then ordered that Abdullah too be thrown into the pot. As he was being taken away he began to shed tears. The emperor thought that he had at last been broken and had him brought back to him.

He once more suggested that Abdullah become a Christian but to his astonishment, Abdullah refused. Heraclius later agreed with Abdullah to his kiss head and be set free with all the Muslim prisoners. AbdullahibnHudhafaheventuallycametoUmaribnal- Khattab and told him what had happened. Umar was greatly pleased and when he looked at the prisoners he said, “Every Muslim has a duty to kiss the head of Abdullah ibn Khudhafah and I shall start.” Umar then got up and kissed the head of Abdullah ibn Hudhafah