- Abu Dujana
Abu Dujana Simak bin Kharasha (?–632) was a
sahaba of meritorious swordsmanship who is mentioned in hadith narrations from Sahih Sittah, the six major collections ofSunni Islam.killed in melee combat
Abu Dujana is remembered as being one of
Muhammad 's most skilled companions in the battlefield, highly excelling inmelee combat . He frequently distinguishing himself in battle by wearing a red band in his head, and engaged in bravado before fighting by strutting in front of his adversaries. [Life of the Prophet Muhammad: Al-Sira Al-Nabawiyya By Omar Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Al-Sira Al-Nabawiyya, pg.20] In theBattle of Uhud , Muhammad gave Abu Dujana his sword as the often cited hadith narration reads::"Anas reported that prophet Muhammad took hold of his sword on the Day of Uhud and said: Who would take it from me? All the persons stretched their hands saying: I would do it, I would do it. He (Muhammad) said: Who would take it in order to fulfil its rights? Then the people withdrew their hands. Abu Dujana said: I am here to take it and fulfil its rights. He took it and struck the heads of the
polytheists ." ( [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/031.smt.html#031.6040 Sahih Muslim 31:6040] )During the
Battle of Uhud , Abu Dujana pierced into the enemy's lines, and even came within striking distance to the notoriousQuraish leader,Hind bint Utbah who was encouraging others to mutilate the body of dead Muslims. According to various accounts, Abu Dujana spared her since he did not want to stain Muhammad's sword with the blood of a woman. [History of Islam (Vol 1) By Akbar Shah Najeebabadi, pg. 173]Abu Dujana, during the Battle of Uhud, received several wounds in his back after placing himself around Muhammad so as to act as a protection from arrows.
Mentioned in various hadiths
After the
Battle of Uhud , the skilled warriorAli spoke highly of his sword, though in a stunning pronouncement, Muhammad told Ali that Abu Dujana had likewise fought just as courageously. [Ibn Hisham 2/100]Abu Dujana is mentioned in other hadiths including in [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/069.sbt.html#007.069.505 Sahih Bukhari] and [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/023.smt.html#023.4886 Sahih Muslim] (see also 23:4887) he is found being served a drink by Anas alongside Abu Suhail bin Al-Baida' made from unripe and ripe dates. When the prohibition came on alcoholic drinks, Anas promptly rid them of this drink (he spilt it).
Death
He died in
Battle of Yamama in632 . He was one of the two warriors (the other wasWahshy ibn Harb ) who killed the self proclaimed ProphetMusailima . [A.I. Akram, The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns, Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 0-7101-0104-X.]References
External links
* [http://www.youngmuslims.ca/articles/display.asp?ID=20 Wearing the Band of Bravery]
* [http://www.mubai.cc/articles/art41.htm The Red Banded Warrior]
* [http://www.sahaba.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=87 Abu Dujana has Worn the Red Band of Death]
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