ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Exemplary Youths during the Early Days of Islam Khabbāb ibn Aratt, the Youth Strong as Iron The pseudonym of Khabbāb ibn Aratt was Abū Yahyā or Abā ‘Abd Allāh. He was one of the Noble Prophet’s (S) companions [ sahābah ] and one of the earliest people to become a Muslim. Khabbāb ibn Aratt was a youth living in Mecca, in a state of servitude, in the house of a woman from the tribe of Khuzā‘ah or Banī Zuhrah. Khabbāb’s job was repairing and making swords.

Allah’s Prophet (S) was acquainted with him and had great affection for him. Khabbāb, too, became a believer, right at the beginning of the prophetic mission, because of the serenity and purity of his soul. Some historians say that Khabbāb was the sixth man to become a Muslim. His faith was so strong and firm that no matter how cruelly the infidels tortured him, he did not renounce his beliefs.

The polytheists of Mecca used to pick him up just like the other slaves, put a steel armor on his body, and make him lie on hot stones with the intention of forcing him to renounce his religion. When they noticed that this kind of torture was not having any effect on Khabbāb, they started branding his skin with burning pieces of wood.

Khabbāb narrates, “During one of these torture sessions, a man from the tribe of Quraysh came forward and put a piece of burning wood on my chest; then he put his foot on top of the fire and pressed his foot so hard that the fire of the burning wood was extinguished by my skin.” The mark of this burn was always visible on Khabbāb’s body until the end of his life.

When ‘Umar ascended to the caliphate, he met Khabbāb one day and asked him about the remaining marks of torture that he had sustained on his body during the early days of Islam. Khabbāb answered him, “Take a look at my back.” When ‘Umar saw those marks, he said, “I have never seen anything like this before.” Sha‘bī recounts, “Khabbāb was one of the people who bore the torture of the polytheists with patience and was never ready to renounce his faith.

The polytheists, who had seen this, used to press hot stones on his body until his flesh became water.” As has already been recounted, Khabbāb used to be a slave of one of the women by the name of Umm Anmār. When the news of his becoming a Muslim was narrated to her, she started torturing him daily. She used to heat a piece of iron and put it on Khabbāb’s head to force him to renounce the Noble Prophet (S) and his religion.