Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib

Ancestry

Ibn Sa'd, citing al-Waqidi, and Ibn Sayyid, quoting Zubayr, both reported that Hamza was four years older than Muhammad. His father was Abdul Muttalib, a member of the Quraysh tribe of Mecca, and his mother was Halah bint Wuhayb of the Zuhrah clan of Quraysh.

Family tree

• • indicates that the marriage order is disputed
• Note that direct lineage is marked in bold.

Life and Martyrdom

Conversion to Islam

Hamza showed little interest in Islam during its early years and converted in late 616 CE. According to early sources, after returning to Mecca from a hunting trip, he was informed that Abu Jahl had insulted Muhammad. Hamza went to the Kaaba, struck Abu Jahl with his bow, and declared his support for Muhammad. When members of Abu Jahl’s clan intervened, he reportedly told them to leave Hamza alone, admitting he had insulted Muhammad.

Following the incident, Hamza entered the House of Al-Arqam and formally embraced Islam.  His conversion was seen as a turning point by the Quraysh, who shifted from direct harassment to attempts at negotiation, which he refused. One account states that Hamza once asked to see the angel Jibril in his true form. When Jibril appeared with feet like emeralds, Hamza lost consciousness. In 622, he joined the emigration to Medina, where he stayed with either Kulthum ibn al-Hidm  or Sa'd ibn Khaythama. Muhammad paired him in brotherhood with Zayd ibn Haritha.

Military expeditions

In his first expedition, Muhammad appointed Hamza to lead a raid against a Quraysh caravan. He commanded a force of thirty riders to intercept a merchant convoy returning from Syria along the coastal route in Juhayna territory.  At the seashore, Hamza encountered the caravan led by Abu Hisham, accompanied by 300 riders. Conflict was averted when Majdi ibn Amr al-Juhani, who had ties to both parties, intervened and negotiated a peaceful resolution. Sources differ on whether Hamza or his cousin Ubayda ibn al-Harith was the first Muslim to whom Muhammad entrusted a banner.

At the Battle of Badr, Hamza fought alongside the Muslims, sharing a camel with Zayd ibn Haritha Accounts differ on whether Utba was killed by Hamza or Ali. Hamza later carried Muhammad’s banner during the expedition against Banu Qaynuqa.

Death

Hamza was killed in the Battle of Uhud on Saturday, 23 March 625 (7 Shawwal 3 AH), at the age of approximately 57 to 59. Fighting at the front line with two swords, he was fatally struck in the abdomen by a javelin thrown by Wahshi ibn Harb, an Abyssinian slave promised manumission by Hind bint Utba in retaliation for the death of her father at the Battle of Badr. Some sources report that Hind attempted to chew Hamza’s liver after the battle but was unable to swallow it.{{Cite book|last1= Ibn Sa'd|author-link=Ibn Sa'd

Marriages and children

Hamza married three times and had seven children.

1. Salmah bint Umays ibn Ma'd, the half-sister of Maymunah bint al-Harith.
2. Umama bint Hamza, wife of Salama ibn Abi Salama.
3. Zaynab bint Al-Milla ibn Malik of the Aws tribe in Medina.
4. Amir ibn Hamza.
5. Bakr ibn Hamza, who died in childhood.
6. Khawla bint Qays ibn Amir of the An-Najjar clan. He had issue, but their descendants had died out by the time of Ibn Sa'd.
7. Ya'la ibn Hamza
8. Umara ibn Hamza
9. Umar ibn Hamza.
10. Atika bint Hamza.
11. Barra bint Hamza.

References

References

1. ''Tabqat Ibn Sa’d'': 3/1/3-11, ''Nasab Quraysh'': 17, 152, 200, ''Tarikh Khalifa'': 68, ''Al-Jarh wa al-Ta’dil'': 3/212, ''Al-Isti’ab'': 3/70-82, ''Asad al-Ghabah'': 2/51-55, ''Tahdhib al-Asma' wal-Lughat'': 1/168-169, ''Al-Ibar'': 1/5, ''Majma’ al-Zawa’id'': 9/266-268, ''Al-Aqd al-Thamin'': 4/227, ''Al-Isabah'': 2/285-287, ''Shadharat al-Dhahab'': 1/10.
2. "Companions of The Prophet", Vol.1, By: Abdul Wahid Hamid
3. Muhammad ibn Saad. ''Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir'' vol. 3. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). ''The Companions of Badr''. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.
4. Aḥmad b. ʿAlī b. Ḥajr al-ʿAsqalānī, ''al-Iṣāba fī Tamyīz al-Ṣaḥāba''. 8 vols. (Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmiyya, 1995), 2:105
5. Muhammad ibn Ishaq. ''Sirat Rasul Allah''. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). ''The Life of Muhammad''. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
6. (1990). "Kitab Al Tabaqat Al Kabir". Darul-Kutub Al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut.
7. Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir vol. 3. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). The Companions of Badr. London: Ta-Ha Publishers. page 2-11
8. (2012). "The Creedal Encyclopedia". Al-Dorar Al-Sunniyyah.
9. Muhammad ibn Saad. ''Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir'' vol. 8. Translated by Bewley, A. (1995). ''The Women of Madina'', p. 288. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.