Usayd ibn Hudhayr: The leader whose recitation drew the angels near

Usayd ibn Hudhayr, nicknamed Abu Yahya was a companion of the Holy Prophet. He was a leader among his tribe, the Aws, before his acceptance of Islam, having inherited this standing from his father. Usayd was recognized for his valor on the battlefield, his lucid intellect, his resolute and upright character, and his penetrating insight. He embraced Islam early on at the hands of Mus‘ab ibn Umair.

When the Prophet migrated to Madinah, he established a bond of brotherhood between Usayd and Zayd ibn Harithah. Usayd did not take part in the Battle of Badr, clarifying that he had assumed the Muslims were merely setting out to intercept the caravan and had therefore remained behind; he would not have stayed back had he known that a full military encounter awaited.

Numerous narrations attest to Usayd’s virtue and the high regard in which he was held by the Prophet Muhammad and his fellow Companions. On one occasion, the Prophet extolled him, and Lady ‘Aisha remarked concerning him:

“There are three among the Ansar upon whom no one can surpass in excellence, all of them from the Banu ‘Abd al-Ashhal: Usayd ibn Hudhayr, Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh, and ‘Abbad ibn Bishr.”

Usayd was also noted for his pleasant humour and affability.

Once, while the Prophet was adjusting the rows for prayer and nudging him lightly with a staff, Usayd requested recompense for that gesture. When the Prophet acceded to this, Usayd observed that he himself was not wearing a shirt whereas the Prophet was clad in one. Thereupon, the Prophet removed his shirt and handed it to him. Usayd then drew near, placed a kiss upon the Prophet, and said, “This is what I sought, O Messenger of Allah.”

In an authentic and somewhat lengthy hadith, it is narrated that Usayd would recite Surah Al-Baqarah in the stillness of night while his horse stood tethered nearby. So deeply moved was the animal by the resonance of his voice that it began to stir and circle restlessly about him. When Usayd paused his recitation, the horse grew still; when he resumed, the horse resumed its wandering; and when he halted once more, the horse came to a halt. His young son Yahya lay sleeping close at hand, and Usayd, anxious that the agitated horse might inadvertently harm the boy, ceased his recitation for the night.

When morning arrived, Usayd related this occurrence to the Prophet, who responded:

“Those were the angels who drew near on account of your voice. Had you continued to recite, the people would have come out to gaze upon them, and they would not have concealed themselves from view.”

Thus, the angels themselves were so enthralled by the beauty of his recitation and the humility it conveyed that they descended to the earth to listen to Usayd as he recited the Qur’an in measured, melodious tones during the night.

Usayd died in the 20th year of the Hijrah (20 AH). Although he had missed the Battle of Badr, believing the Muslims were setting out for the caravan, he later participated in the Battle of Uhud.

During that battle, he suffered several stab wounds. After his passing, his funeral bier was carried by Omar ibn al-Khattab, and he was laid to rest in the cemetery of Al-Baqīʿ.