Volume 5, Book 59, Number 325:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Apostle sent out ten spies under the command of ‘Asim bin Thabit Al-Ansari, the grand-
father of ‘Asim bin ‘Umar Al-Khattab. When they reached (a place called) Al-Hadah between ‘Usfan
and Mecca, their presence was made known to a sub-tribe of Hudhail called Banu Lihyan. So they
sent about one hundred archers after them. The archers traced the footsteps (of the Muslims) till they
found the traces of dates which they had eaten at one of their camping places. The archers said,
“These dates are of Yathrib (i.e. Medina),” and went on tracing the Muslims’ footsteps. When ‘Asim
and his companions became aware of them, they took refuge in a (high) place. But the enemy en –
circled them and said, “Come down and surrender. We give you a solemn promise and covenant that
we will not kill anyone of you.” ‘Asim bin Thabit said, “O people! As for myself, I will never get down
to be under the protection of an infidel. O Allah! Inform your Prophet about us.” So the archers
threw their arrows at them and martyred ‘Asim. Three of them came down and surrendered to them,
accepting their promise and covenant and they were Khubaib, Zaid bin Ad-Dathina and another
man. When the archers got hold of them, they untied the strings of the arrow bows and tied their
captives with them. The third man said, “This is the first proof of treachery! By Allah, I will not go
with you for I follow the example of these.” He meant the martyred companions. The archers
dragged him and struggled with him (till they martyred him). Then Khubaib and Zaid bin Ad-Dath –
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SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 5 > BOOK 59: MILITARY EXPEDITIONS LED BY THE PROPHET (PBUH) (AL-MAGHAAZI)
ina were taken away by them and later on they sold them as slaves in Mecca after the event of the
Badr battle.
The sons of Al-Harit bin ‘Amr bin Naufal bought Khubaib for he was a person who had killed
(their father) Al-Hari bin ‘Amr on the day (of the battle) of Badr. Khubaib remained imprisoned by
them till they decided unanimously to kill him. One day Khubaib borrowed from a daughter of Al-
Harith, a razor for shaving his public hair, and she lent it to him. By chance, while she was inattent –
ive, a little son of hers went to him (i.e. Khubaib) and she saw that Khubaib had seated him on his
thigh while the razor was in his hand. She was so much terrified that Khubaib noticed her fear and
said, “Are you afraid that I will kill him? Never would I do such a thing.” Later on (while narrating
the story) she said, “By Allah, I had never seen a better captive than Khubaib. By Allah, one day I saw
him eating from a bunch of grapes in his hand while he was fettered with iron chains and (at that
time) there was no fruit in Mecca.” She used to say,” It was food Allah had provided Khubaib with.”
When they took him to Al-Hil out of Mecca sanctuary to martyr him, Khubaib requested them.
“Allow me to offer a two-Rak’at prayer.” They allowed him and he prayed two Rakat and then said,
“By Allah! Had I not been afraid that you would think I was worried, I would have prayed more.”
Then he (invoked evil upon them) saying, “O Allah! Count them and kill them one by one, and do not
leave anyone of them”‘ Then he recited: “As I am martyred as a Muslim, I do not care in what way I
receive my death for Allah’s Sake, for this is for the Cause of Allah. If He wishes, He will bless the cut
limbs of my body.” Then Abu Sarva, ‘Ubqa bin Al-Harith went up to him and killed him. It was
Khubaib who set the tradition of praying for any Muslim to be martyred in captivity (before he is ex –
ecuted). The Prophet told his companions of what had happened (to those ten spies) on the same day
they were martyred. Some Quraish people, being informed of ‘Asim bin Thabit’s death, sent some
messengers to bring a part of his body so that his death might be known for certain, for he had pre –
viously killed one of their leaders (in the battle of Badr). But Allah sent a swarm of wasps to protect
the dead body of ‘Asim, and they shielded him from the messengers who could not cut anything from
his body.