Praise for those who remain steadfast in faith until they are killed
142- In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī⦗1⦘, on the authority of Qays ibn Abī Ḥāzim, from Khabbāb ibn al-Aratt, who said: “We complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was reclining on his cloak in the shade of the Kaʿbah. We said, ‘Will you not seek help for us? Will you not pray for us?’
He replied, ‘Before you there were believers who were seized. A man would be placed in a pit dug for him in the ground; a saw would be brought and set upon the crown of his head, cutting him in two. He would be raked with iron combs that stripped the flesh from his bones⦗2⦘, yet none of that turned him away from his religion. By Allah, Allah will certainly perfect this matter⦗3⦘ until a rider can travel from Ṣanʿāʾ to Ḥadramawt fearing none but Allah—or a wolf for his sheep⦗4⦘—but you are being hasty.’
(1) Al-Bukhari, Sahih, no. 3612.
(2) Ibn al-Tin said: “Those who were subjected to that treatment were either prophets or their followers. He added: Among the Companions there were some who, had the same been done to them, would have remained patient … A group of the Companions, their successors, and those who came after them continued to endure harm for Allah’s sake; had they availed themselves of the concession, it would have been lawful for them.” Fath al-Bari, 7/167.
(3) “wa-layutimmanna Allahu hadha al-amr” (And Allah will certainly complete this matter): the expression “this matter” denotes Islam.
(4) “wa-dh-dhiʾb” (and the wolf): al-Karmani states that the word is in the accusative because it is coordinated with what is being excluded, not with the exception itself. It could, however, be read as coordinated with the exception, yielding the sense, “and he will fear no one but the wolf for his flock,” for the point of the hadith is security from human aggression as it existed in the Jahiliyyah, not from wolves—such safety from wolves will occur only at the end of time when Isa descends. Fath al-Bari, 1/167.