WAHSÎ BIN HARB HABASHÎ ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh

Wahsî bin Harb Habashî ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’ was formerly the slave of one of the unbelievers of Qoureish. He was bribed to kill Hadrat Hamza ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’, a blessed paternal uncle of the Messenger of Allah and one of the early Muslims, in the war of Uhud, the second Holy War between the Believers and the unbelievers. When the war was over, the Messenger of Allah pronounced a malediction over some of the unbelievers. The name of Wahshî was not among the people accursed, though the Prophet ‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam’ knew that he had killed his uncle. When he was asked why he would not curse Wahshî the blessed Prophet ‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam’ stated: “On the night of Mi’râj (Hadrat Muhammad’s ascent to heaven) I saw Hamza (the Prophet’s blessed paternal uncle) and Wahshî entering Paradise arm in arm.” After the conquest of Mekka Wahshî and other people from Tâif visited the Prophet in the mosque in Medina and became Muslims. The Messenger of Allah ‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam’ forgave him and ordered him to go to some place in the vicinity of Yamâma and live there. He felt so embarrassed for what he had done to Rasûlullah’s uncle that he lived the rest of his life with his head dropped. During the eleventh year of the Hegira a vehement battle took place between the Muslims and the renegades commanded by Musaylama-t-ul-kazzâb, who claimed to be a prophet. Wahshî ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’ joined the battle and killed the false prophet, with the same sword he had used to martyr Hadrat Hamza. It was then realized what a great miracle (mu’jiza) it was that the Prophet had sent him to Yamâma. Wahshî ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’ joined various other Holy Wars and passed away during the caliphate of ’Uthmân ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’.