Hamza: The Lion of God whose conversion forged a nation

Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim was known by the epithet “The Lion of God” (Asadullah), as established by the saying of the Prophet Muhammad: “Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib is the leader of the martyrs”. He was also titled “The Leader of the Martyrs”.

The story of Hamza’s conversion to Islam

One day, Abu Jahl passed by the Prophet near Mount Safa and insulted and abused him. The Prophet did not respond. Then, Abu Jahl struck him on the head with a stone, causing a wound that bled. After that, he left and went to the Quraysh gathering near the Kaaba.

A maidservant of Abdullah ibn Jud’an witnessed what had happened. At the time, Hamza was returning from a hunting trip, with his bow slung over his shoulder. She told him what Abu Jahl had done.

Hamza went straight to Abu Jahl and said:

“Do you insult him while I follow his religion and say what he says?”

Then he struck Abu Jahl with his bow, causing a severe wound to his head.

Men from Quraysh stood up to intervene, but Abu Jahl said to them:

“Leave Abu Umara (Hamza), for I did indeed insult his nephew harshly”.

Satan’s whisperings to Hamza after his conversion

That night, after embracing Islam, Hamza experienced a night unlike any before, full of whispers and doubts from Satan. Satan said to him:

“You are a chief of Quraysh, and you followed this ‘outcast’? You left the religion of your forefathers. Death would be better than what you’ve done!”

Hamza, overwhelmed by inner turmoil, turned to Allah in prayer and said:

“What have I done! O Allah, if this is guidance, then make my heart firm in it. And if it is not, then provide a way out for me from what I’ve entered”.

The next morning, he went to the Prophet and told him everything. The Prophet warmly welcomed him, reminded him, advised him, warned him, and gave him glad tidings. Allah then placed faith firmly in Hamza’s heart, and he said:

“I bear witness that you are truthful. Declare your religion openly. By Allah, I would not wish to possess everything under the sky if it meant returning to my old faith”.

And from that day forward, Hamza remained firm in Islam, staying true to his pledge with the Prophet.

The impact of Hamza’s conversion to Islam on the Muslims

The conversion of Hamza was considered a great victory for the Muslims in Makkah. After he accepted Islam, several polytheists began to enter the faith.

One significant outcome was that Utbah ibn Rabi’ah, a prominent leader of Quraysh, sought to initiate negotiations with the Prophet after realizing that defeating the Muslims had become difficult following Hamza’s conversion.

To confirm this shift in dynamics, Utbah once said while sitting in the Quraysh assembly:

“O people of Quraysh, shall I go to Muhammad and speak to him? Let me offer him some proposals—perhaps he will accept some of them. We can give him whatever he wants in return for him leaving us alone”.

This occurred after Hamza had embraced Islam, indicating the strong and immediate influence of his faith on the balance of power in Makkah.

Qualities of Hamza

Hamza possessed many remarkable traits, including:

• Before Islam: He was well-known for his strength and bravery.
• After embracing Islam: His courage and strength grew, greatly empowering the Muslims. He was a brave, noble man of honour, full of wisdom and strategic insight. He strove in the path of Allah and supported His Messenger. The oppressed sought strength in him, and the polytheists feared him.

Hamza was gifted, knowledgeable, and experienced. He had sharp leadership and judgment. That is why the Prophet gave him command of the first banner of the first military expedition in Islam, which raided a Quraysh caravan of 300 men.

• He was decisive, quick-witted, and had strong willpower. He could shoulder full responsibility.
• He maintained family ties and performed righteous deeds. The Prophet testified to this when he stood over Hamza’s body after his martyrdom at Uhud. The Prophet said:

“May Allah have mercy on you. You used to maintain family ties and do good deeds”.

Hamza’s Jihad in the Battle of Badr

In the Battle of Badr, the Prophet entrusted Hamza with a special task. When Quraysh’s champions, ‘Utba ibn Rabi’a, along with his brother and son, came forward seeking combatants, the Prophet called upon Hamza, Ali, and Ubaida.

Hamza faced Utba and fought him, ultimately killing him. Hamza was known for his strength, bravery, and his distinct mark in battle, a feather from an ostrich. The pagans would wonder about the one marked with a feather on his chest, identifying him as Hamza, the one who caused them great distress.

Hamza’s role in the Battle of Uhud

Hamza fought alongside the Prophet with two swords during the Battle of Uhud. He was credited with killing more than thirty pagans during this battle.

His presence and actions drew the attention and conspiracies of the pagans, leading to Jubeir ibn Mut’im, known as “The Ethiopian,” being bribed to hunt and kill Hamza. He succeeded in this at the instigation of Hind bint Utbah, who had lost her father, brother, son, and uncle in the battle. Jubeir martyred Hamza during this conflict.

The martyrdom of Hamza

Hamza was martyred in the Battle of Uhud in the third year after the Hijrah at the hands of Wahshi ibn Harb, the Abyssinian, before Wahshi embraced Islam. Wahshi was a slave of Jubayr ibn Mut’im ibn Adi, who commanded him to kill Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib in revenge for his uncle Tu’aymah ibn Adi, who was killed in the Battle of Badr. Jubayr promised to grant Wahshi his freedom in exchange for killing Hamza. Wahshi set out, hiding behind trees and stones, until he found his opportunity and fatally struck Hamza.

This is the most authentic account of Hamza’s martyrdom, contrary to the commonly spread story that it was Hind bint Utbah, before her conversion to Islam, who ordered Wahshi to kill him. It is worth noting that both Wahshi ibn Harb and Jubayr ibn Mut’im later embraced Islam.