Thread by @sirnucy

Know your heroes series 1

  حنظلة بن أبي عامر: غِسِّيل الملائكة. 

Yesterday, during my ISS 106 class, I remembered the selfless sacrifice and exceptional bravery of a prominent companion of the Prophet ﷺ, Handhalah bn Abee ‘Aamir, popularly known as ‘Gisseel al-Malaaikah’

(One whose corpse was washed by the Angels). The story of Handhalah is an interesting read. It is reported that Handhalah was one of the young companions of the Prophet ﷺ in Madinah. He was an Ansaari from the tribe of Aws. When the Prophet ﷺ noticed that Handhalah was unable

to marry, he donated to him some wealth which enabled him to pay the mahr and got married to Jameelah Bint AbdiLlaah bn Ubayy bn Salool. His marriage to Jameelah was on the eve of the battle of Uhud.

In the morning of the following day, Handhalah wanted to go and see the

Prophet ﷺ but his wife prevailed on him to tarry a while & they both had sexual intercourse with which the marriage was consummated. Then, all of a sudden, he heard the Prophet ﷺ calling out: “يا خيل الله اركبي، حيّ على الجهاد” “O soldiers of Allāh! Come out for Jihaad!!!!

Handhalah immediately picked his sword and armor, jumped on his horse and headed out towards the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ.  At that point, he was not thinking about honeymoon or post wedding leave, et cetera. He was focused on defending Islām against the invading enemies and

pleasing Allāh & His Apostle. At the battle ground, he displayed exceptional gallantry & killed many of the enemies. Sadly, while he was fighting Abū Sufyān bn Harb & had pinned him to the ground, Shaddād bn al-Aswad swooped on him and killed him before he could strike his enemy.

After the battle ended, the Prophet ﷺ & his companions began to check for the injured and the martyred. Among those that died that day were Hamzah bn ‘AbdilMuttalib, Mus’ab bn ‘Umayr, Sa’d bn ar-Rabī’, Anas bn an-Nadar and Handhalah bn Abī ‘Aamir, among others رضوان الله عليهم.

AbduLlāh bn Az-Zubayr mentioned that he heard the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ saying to the companions, “إنّ صاحبكم تُغسّله الملائكة” “Your companion is being washed by the Angels.”  The companions were shocked because they know that martyrs are not supposed to be washed. So, they went

and asked his wife and she told them that he left home that day in a state of sexual defilement. So, when the Prophet ﷺ heard, he said to them, "لذلك غسّلته الملائكة" “That was why the angels washed him.”

رضي الله عنك يا حنظلة!!!!
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Today, the average Muslim hears حيّ على الصلاة! حيّ على الفلاح!! “Come to prayer! Come to prosperity!!...& he remains glued to his TV watching movies or sports or news, et cetera.

Don’t just know about Handhalah, take him as your hero and role model.