—her brother was killed while fighting at my side (1).
I said: That brother of hers was Ḥarām ibn Milḥān, the martyr who, on the day of Biʾr Maʿūnah (2), exclaimed, “By the Lord of the Kaʿbah, I have triumphed!” when he was stabbed from behind and the spear emerged from his chest—may Allah be pleased with him.
Ayyūb [al-Sakhtiyānī] related, through Ibn Sīrīn, from Umm Sulaym, who said:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to take his midday rest in my house. I would spread out a leather mat for him; he would lie upon it and perspire. I would then bring a small perfume vial, collect his sweat in it, and blend it with my fragrance.”
Ibn Sīrīn said: “I asked Umm Sulaym to give me some of that perfume, and she granted me a share of it.”
Ayyūb said: “I then asked Muḥammad [Ibn Sīrīn] for a portion of that perfume, and he gave me some; it is still with me to this day.
“When Muḥammad passed away, he was embalmed with that very perfume (3).”
(1) Its chain of transmission is sound. It is also reported by Ibn Saad 8/428, al-Bukhari 6/37, and Muslim (no. 2455) through the route of Hammam with this same isnad.
(2) Bir Mauna lies between the territory of Banu Amir and the lava field of Banu Sulaym. Haram ibn Milhan was among those whom the Messenger of Allah sent with Abu Bara to the people of Najd to invite them to Islam; Amir ibn al-Tufayl killed them. See Ibn Hisham, Sirah, 2/184, 189. Ibn Milhan’s exclamation, “Fuztu wa-rabbi l-Kaaba” (“I have triumphed, by the Lord of the Kaaba”) is recorded by al-Bukhari 7/297, 299; Muslim (no. 677), p. 1511; and Ahmad 3/137, 210, 270, 289.
(3) The chain is sound, and the account appears in Ibn Saad, Tabaqat, 8/428. Up to the words “so she kneaded it with his sweat,” it is also transmitted by al-Bukhari 11/59 (Book of Permission, chapter: One who visits a people and stays with them) through Qutaybah – al-Ansari – his father – Thumamah – Anas; by Muslim (no. 2331) and Ahmad 3/136 through Sulayman al-Taymi – Thabit – Anas; through Abd al-Aziz ibn Abi Salamah – Is-haq ibn Abd Allah ibn Abi Talhah – Anas; by Muslim (no. 2332) through Ayyub – Abu Qilabah – Anas – Umm Sulaym; and by Ahmad 3/287 through Affan – Hammad – Thabit – Anas.