Incident of Raji'

The following details have been mentioned in Bukhari regarding the incident of Raji:

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) relates that the Holy Prophet (sa) sent a delegation comprising of ten companions to gather some intelligence and appointed Asim (ra) bin Thabit Ansari, who was the maternal grandfather of Asim bin Umar bin Khattab, as the Amir of the delegation. The delegation set off and when they reached Hada‘ah, which is situated between Usfaan and Mecca, someone informed the Banu Lahyan about them, who were part of the Huzail tribe. Upon learning of this news, around two hundred men, who were all archers, set off and began to follow their trail. They pursued them until they reached the place where the delegation had eaten some dates. The delegation of ten people stopped at a location and ate some dates which they brought with them as provisions for the journey from Medina. They ate the dates and threw away the date seeds. The army pursuing them recognised that these dates were from Yathrib, i.e. Medina, and thereafter began to follow their trail.

When Asim (ra) and his companions saw them coming after them, they ascended a hillock for protection. The pursuing army surrounded them and asked them to come down, assuring them that if they surrendered themselves over to them, they would not kill any of them. Asim (ra) bin Thabit, who was the leader of this delegation, said that if he came down from the mountain then that would mean he came under the protection of a disbeliever and he was not willing to do that. Thereafter, he prayed, “O Allah! Inform Your Prophet (sa) of this incident.” The enemy then began to launch arrows and martyred Asim (ra) bin Thabit, along with seven others of his companions.

Upon witnessing this, the other three, placing their trust in them, came down. Among these three was Khubaib (ra) Ansari, Ibn Dasna (ra) and one other person. When they came down, the disbelievers captured them and tied them with the strings of their bows. The third individual among them said that this was their first act of deception and said, “By God, I will not go with you. I find comfort and assurance in the example of those who were martyred before us. I will remain here and so martyr me if you so wish.” They tried to drag him along but he resisted and eventually they martyred him. They then grabbed hold of Khubaib (ra) and ibn Dasna (ra) and took them away to Mecca where they then sold them. This incident took place after the Battle of Badr. Khubaib was bought by Banu Harith bin Aamir bin Naufal bin Abd Manaf. Khubaib (ra) was the one who killed Harith bin Aamir during the Battle of Badr. Khubaib remained as a prisoner with him.

Ibn-e-Shihaab writes, “Ubaidullah bin Ayyadh said to me that the daughter of Harith informed him that once the captors, who had bought Khubaib (ra), decided that they would kill him (i.e. he would be martyred), during that time Khubaib (ra) asked for a razor for his personal use.” This is a very famous incident and is often quoted. The daughter of Harith further states:

“During a moment of inattentiveness, one of my children went to Khubaib (ra) and he sat the child on his lap. Seeing my child sitting on Khubaib’s lap and the razor in his hand, I became petrified to such an extent that Khubaib (ra) realised my fear from my facial expression and said, ‘Do you think that I will kill this child? Do not think this. God-Willing, I shall never commit such an act.’”

The daughter of Harith would often say, “I have never seen a prisoner as good as Khubaib (ra).” She would also say, “By God, on one occasion, I saw a bunch of grapes in the hand of Khubaib (ra) and he was picking grapes one by one and eating them, although there was no sign of grapes in Mecca during those days and Khubaib(ra) was shackled in strong iron chains.” She says, “I believe that these were heavenly provisions which were granted to Khubaib (ra).”