Hazrat Hanzala (R.A)

Hazrat Hanzala (R.A) was the son of Abu Aamir Rahib, who was a Mushrik (non-believer). He (R.A) fought for the Muslims and his (R.A) father fought for the non-believers.

During the battle of Uhud, Hazrat Hanzala (R.A) fought with such spirit that he was able to pass through the barrage of soldiers and ultimately reached the Mushrikeen’s leader, Abu Sufyaan (who later accepted Islam).

He (R.A) slashed at the legs of Abu Sufyan’s mount (horse). With legs severed, the horse came to the ground bringing Abu Sufyan down. He (R.A) swiped to attack him and was close in doing so, until he (R.A) was intercepted by Shadaad bin Aswad, who attacked Hazrat Hanzala (R.A) from behind, thus making Hazrat Hanzala (R.A) Shaheed (Martyr).

During this battle many Sahabah Iqraam (R.A) were Martyred. Holy Prophet (S.A.W) instructed the Martyrs to be buried still covered with blood, in the condition that they had fallen.

As the blessed Sahabah (R.A) retrieved the bodies of their Martyred brothers, they came upon the body of Hazrat Hanzala (R.A) above the earth with water dripping from it. Seeing this, the Companions of the Prophet (S.A.W) reported the event to Him, He (S.A.W) exclaimed that He had seen the Angels give him a bath in between heavens and the earth with fresh rainwater kept in a silver tray.

Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Saady (R.A) states, “When we went to his corpse and we witnessed the water dropping down from his head. It was a curious event, for the Martyrs are buried un-bathed. Then why did the Angels give bath to Hanzala?”

The Sahabah asked Hazrate Jamila (R.A) (wife of Hazrat Hanzla (R.A) and the sister of Hazrat Abdullah bin Ubayye (R.A)) concerning the state of her husband prior to battle. As she (R.A) started to explain, it soon dawned upon them that the last night was her wedding night. Early in the morning without having the time for his purification bath (Ghusl) he (R.A) left for the battlefield for he did not like delay in obedience of the Prophet (S.A.W).

After her husband went to Jihad, she (R.A) called Hazrat Hanzla (R.A)’s family members and made four of them witness to the actualisation of her wedding, just to stop story makers from fabrication of any sort. The elders of her family asked her as to why she had adopted this formality, she replied, she saw the sky open to Hanzala and it shut again after he had entered into it. She (R.A) was refering to the Martyrdom of Hanzala by the dream.

Allah (S.W.T) bestowed her with a son, who was named Abdullah. He (R.A) was the one who commanded the army when inhabitants of Madina commenced mutiny against Yazid bin Mauviyah. (Sabal-ul-Huda Vol.IV)

Source : http://www.janathimessage.co.uk/ramadantopics/ramadan_topics13/hazrathanzala_ra.html