Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 1 of 3

THE LIVES OF THE SANABAH @,G&&> (Vol-I) 545
weapons. He then spurred the horse on until he reached the Muslim army. He
killed every Mushrik soldier he met, breaking the man's back. When he saw this,
Hadhrat Sa'd B.Gw was astonished and asked, 'Who is that horseman?" It was
not long thereafter that Allaah had the enemy defeated. Hadhrat Abu Mihjin
!B5w then returned, gave the weapons back and secured his legs to the
shackles as they had been.
When Hadhrat Sa'd %3GWj returned, his wife or slave girl asked, "How was the
battle?" Informing them of the battle, Hadhrat Sa'd B,Bw replied, "We were
being defeated until Allaah sent a rider on a black and white horse. Had I not left
Abu Mihjin BGW here in shackles, I would have thought that certain features of
the man were that of Abu Mihjin 3w." The lady then said, "By Allaah! That was
Abu Mihjin!" She then narrated the story to Hadhrat Sa'd WS%. Hadhrat Sa'd
B,BWj called for Hadhrat Abu Mihjin Ww, removed his shackles and said, "I
swear by Allaah that I shall never:.again have you lashed for drinking wine."
Hadhrat Abu Mihjin BGm then said, "And I swear by Allaah that I shall never
drink it again. I had been repeatedly drinking because of the lashings that you
were giving me." He then never drank wine ever again. (')
Another lengthy narration from Muhammad bin Sa'd states that after joining the
Muslim army, every flank that Hadhrat Abu Mihjin B,%% attacked was defeated
by the permission of Allaah. The Muslims gaped, "He must be an angel!" As
Hadhrat Sa'd %3Wj watched, he observed, "The horse's leap is that of (my horse)
Balqaa and the. man's style is that of Abu Mihjin. However, Abu Mihjin is in
prison." When the enemy was defeated, Hadhrat Abu Mihjin W,Gw returned
secured his feet back in the shackles.
When the daughter of Hasfah informed Hadhrat Sa'd 3Gm about what had
happened with Hadhrat Abu Mihjin Bm, Hadhrat Sa'd 3Wj said, "I swear by
Allaah that I shall never again penalise the person through whom Allaah has
granted honour to the Muslims." When Hadhrat Sa'd B,Bw had set him free,
Hadhrat Abu Mihjin ?@iW
said, "I always continued drinking when I was being
punished because I would then be cleansed from the sin. Now that you have
decided not to punish me, I swear by Allaah that I shall never drink wine ever
again." (2)
In a narration of Hadhrat Sayf, other couplets are reported. The narration also
states that Hadhrat Abu Mihjin kSW&4 fought'extremely well and that he shouted
"Allaahu Akbar" each time he attacked. No enemy soldier could stand before
him as he massacred them. Although the Muslims were unable to recognise him,
they marveled at his performance. (3)
(1) Abdur Razzaaq, as quoted in IstFaab (Vo1.4 Pg.184), narrating from reliable sources, as confirmed
by Isaaba (Vo1.4 Pg. 174).
(2) Abu Ahmad Haakim and Ibn Abi Shayba with a minor difference. Ibn Abdul Birr has also reported
the narration in his Isti'aab (vo1.4 ~g.187).
(3) Isaaba.