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HAKIM IBN
HAZM Radhia
Allahu Anaha
History
has recorded that he is the only person who was born
inside the Kabah itself.
Together
with a group of friends, his mother had gone inside this
ancient House of God to inspect it. On that particular day
it was open because of a festive occasion. She was
pregnant and labor pains suddenly gripped her. She was
unable to leave the Kabah. A leather mat was brought to
her and she gave birth on it. The child was named Hakim.
His father was Hazm who was the son of Khuwaylid. Hakim
was therefore the nephew of the Lady Khadijah, the
daughter of Khuwaylid. may Allah be pleased with her.
Hakim
grew up in a wealthy and noble family which enjoyed a high
status in Makkan society. He was also an intelligent and
well-mannered person who was well respected by his people.
He was held in such esteem that he was given the
responsibility of the rifadah which involved giving
assistance to the needy and those who had lost their
property during the season of pilgrimage. He took this
responsibility seriously and would even help needy
pilgrims from his own resources.
Hakim
was a very close friend of the Prophet, peace be on him,
before the latter's call to prophethood. Even though he
was five years older than the Prophet, he used to spend
much time talking to him and enjoying hours of pleasant
companionship. Muhammad in his turn felt great affection
for Hakim.
Their
relationship was further strengthened when the Prophet
married his aunt, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.
What
is truly amazing is that in spite of the close friendship
between Hakim and the Prophet, Hakim did not become a
Muslim until the conquest of Makkah, more than twenty
years after the start of the Prophet's mission. One would
have thought that someone like Hakim whom God had blessed
with a sound intellect and who was so well-disposed to the
Prophet, would have been among the first to believe in him
and follow the guidance he brought. But that was not to
be.
Just
as we are astonished at the late acceptance of Islam on
the part of Hakim, he himself later in life was also
amazed. In fact, as soon as he accepted Islam and tasted
the sweetness of iman (faith), he began to feel deep
regret for every moment of his life as a mushrik and a
denier of God's religion and of His Prophet.
His
son once saw him weeping after his acceptance of Islam and
asked: "Why are you weeping, my father'?"
"Many things cause me to weep, my dear son. The most
grievous is the length of time it took for me to become a
Muslim. Acceptance of Islam would have given me so many
opportunities to do good which I missed even if I were to
have spent the earth in gold. My life was spared at the
battle of Badr and also at the battle of Uhud. After Uhud.
I said to myself. I would not help any Quraysh against
Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of God be upon him,
and I would not leave Makkah. Then, whenever I felt like
accepting Islam I would look at other men among the
Quraysh. men of power and maturity who remained firmly
attached to the ideas and practices of Jahiliyyah and I
would fall in line with them and their neighbors... Oh,
how I wish I had not done so. Nothing has destroyed us
except the blind following of our forefathers and elders.
Why should I not weep, my son?"
The
Prophet himself was puzzled. A man of sagacity and
understanding like Hakim ibn Hazm, how could Islam remain
"hidden" from him?. For a long time, the Prophet
had dearly hoped that he and a group of persons like him
would take the initiative and become Muslims. On the night
before the liberation of Makkah, he, may God bless him and
grant him peace, said to his companions:
"There
are four persons in Makkah whom I consider to be above
having any dealing with shirk and I would dearly like them
to accept Islam." "Who are they, O Messenger of
God?" asked the companions. "Attab ibn Usayd,
Jubayr ibn Mutim, Hakim ibn Hazm and Suhayl ibn Amr,"
replied the Prophet. By the grace of God, they all became
Muslims.
When
the Prophet, peace be on him, entered Makkah to liberate
the city from polytheism and the ways of ignorance and
immorality, he ordered his herald to proclaim:
"Whoever declares that there is no god but Allah
alone, that He has no partner and that Muhammad is His
servant and His Messenger, he is safe...
Whoever
sits at the Kabah and lays down his weapons, he is safe.
Whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyan, he is safe.
Whoever
enters the house of Hakim ibn Hazm, he is safe..."
The house of Abu Sufyan was in the higher part of Makkah
and that of Hakim was in the lower part of the city. By
proclaiming these houses as places of sanctuary, the
Prophet wisely accorded recognition to both Abu Sufyan and
Hakim, weakening any thought they might have of resisting
and making it easier for them to be more favorably
disposed to him and his mission.
Hakim
embraced Islam wholeheartedly. He vowed to himself that he
would atone for whatever he had done during his Jahili
days and that whatever amounts he had spent in opposing
the Prophet, he would spend the same amounts in the cause
of Islam.
He
owned the Dar an-Nadwah, an important and historic
building in Makkah, where the Quraysh held their
conferences during the days of Jahiliyyah. In this
building the Quraysh leaders and chieftains would gather
to plot against the Prophet.
Hakim
decided to get rid of it and cut himself off from its past
associations which were now so painful to him. He sold the
building for one hundred thousand dirhams. A Quraysh youth
exclaimed to him: "You have sold something of great
historical value and pride to the Quraysh, uncle."
"Come
now, my son," replied Hakim. "All vain pride and
glory has now gone and all that remains of value is taqwa
- consciousness of God. I have only sold the building in
order to acquire a house in Paradise. I swear to you that
I have given the proceeds from it to be spent in the path
of God Almighty."
Hakim
ibn Hazm performed the Hajj after becoming a Muslim. He
took with him one hundred fine camels and sacrificed them
all in order to achieve nearness to God. In the following
Hajj, he stood on Arafat. With him were one hundred
slaves. To each he gave a pendant of silver on which was
engraved: "Free for the sake of God Almighty from
Hakim ibn Hazm." On a third Hajj, he took with him a
thousand sheep - yes a thousand sheep and sacrificed them
all at Mina to feed the poor Muslims in order to attain
nearness to God.
While
Hakim was generous in his spending for the sake of God, he
also still liked to have much. After the battle of Hunayn,
he asked the Prophet for some of the booty which the
Prophet gave. He then asked for more and the Prophet gave
him more. Hakim was still a newcomer to Islam and the
Prophet was more generous to newcomers so as to reconcile
their hearts to Islam. Hakim ended up with a large share
of the booty. But the Prophet peace be upon him, told him:
"O
Hakim! This wealth is indeed sweet and attractive. Whoever
takes it and is satisfied will be blessed by it and
whoever takes out of greed will not be blessed. He would
be like someone who eats and is not satisfied. The upper
hand is better than the lower hand (it is better to give
than to receive)."
The
kind words of advice had a deep and immediate effect on
Hakim. He was mortified and said to the Prophet: "O
Messenger of God! By Him who has sent you with the truth,
I shall not ask anyone after you for anything."
During
the caliphate of Abu Bakr, Hakim was called several times
to collect his stipend from the Bayt al-mal but he refused
to take any money. He did the same during the caliphate of
Umar ibn al-Khattab whereupon Umar addressed the Muslims:
"I testify to you, O Muslims, that I have called
Hakim to collect his stipend but he refuses."
Hakim
remained faithful to his word. He did not take anything
from anyone until he passed away. From the Prophet, he had
learnt the great truth that contentment is riches beyond
compare.
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