Almuhtada – The stories of the friends of the Prophet Muhammad SAW are an inseparable part of Islamic history that bring inspiration, lessons, and examples for Muslims to this day. The story of Abdullah bin Hudzafah is no exception.
Abdullah bin Hudzafah was a friend of the Prophet Muhammad who had a special experience in his life journey. He was once a prisoner.
The Story of Abdullah bin Hudzafah
Quoted from the book Lembaran Kisah Mutiara Hikmah (Pages of Pearls of Wisdom) by Dian Erwanto, Abdullah bin Hudzafah was one of the Prophet’s friends who became the Muslim commander in the opening of the City of Sham.
Abdullah bin Hudzafah was sent on an important mission, namely to fight the emperor’s people in Palestine on the central coast. However, by the will of Allah SWT, his mission failed and he was captured by the Roman army.
Quoted from the book 500 Stories of Pious People Full of Wisdom by Imam Ibnul Jauzi, a dialogue took place between Abdullah and the Roman leader. The Roman leader asked Abdullah to leave Islam and convert to Christianity. However, because Abdullah refused, he was about to be thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil.
Just before Abdullah was thrown into the cauldron, he was frightened and cried. The Roman leader lifted him up.
Abdullah said, “You think I’m crying because I’m afraid?! Not at all, but I’m crying because I only have one soul. I really wish I had a hundred souls and all of them were killed in this condition, that is, while fighting in the way of Allah.”
The Roman leader was amazed and astonished to hear this, and he again asked Abdullah to convert to Christianity. However, Abdullah still refused. The Roman leader then offered to free Abdullah on the condition that he kiss his head.
Abdullah agreed to the offer. The Roman leader freed Abdullah and 80 other Muslim prisoners. Upon returning from Rome, Umar bin Khaththab kissed Abdullah bin Hudzafah’s head as a sign of respect.
From that moment on, Abdullah bin Hudzafah became the subject of jokes among his friends. His friends said, “You once kissed the head of an ilj (a term for a large, muscular, and strong non-Muslim officer).”
Lessons from the Story of Abdullah bin Hudzafah
The story of Abdullah bin Hudzafah above holds many valuable lessons for Muslims, some of which are:
Strong Faith
The story of Abdullah bin Hudzafah teaches Muslims about the importance of strong faith even when facing severe trials.
Unshakable Loyalty
Abdullah bin Hudzafah is a true example of unshakable loyalty to the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Such loyalty is one of the important values in Islam.
Commitment to the Struggle
Even though Abdullah bin Hudzafah faced severe tests of his faith, he remained committed to Islam and did not give it up even though he knew he would be tortured by the Roman leaders if he did not convert to Christianity.
Sacrifice for the Truth
The story of Abdullah bin Hudzafah is one of great sacrifice. He was willing to sacrifice himself to protect the Prophet Muhammad SAW and Islam.
Inspiration for Future Generations
The life story of Abdullah bin Hudzafah is an inspiration for future generations of Muslims. He shows how an individual can transform into a righteous person who is beneficial to the Muslim community.
The story of Abdullah bin Hudzafah is one of the stories in Islamic history that inspires and provides many valuable lessons. The loyalty, sacrifice, and constancy in faith that he showed can be an example for Muslims. [] dean
