—the Day of Nahrawān—took place in this very year, that is, 37 AH. Ibn Jarīr said: “Most historians, however, hold that it occurred in 38 AH,” and he himself judged that view to be correct. I say: that is the likelier opinion, as we shall point out in the account of the coming year, Allah willing.
Ibn Jarīr also states: “The pilgrimage this year—meaning 37 AH—was led by ʿUbayd Allah b. ʿAbbās, the governor ʿAlī had appointed over Yemen and its districts. Qutham b. ʿAbbās was governor of Mecca; in Medina the governorship was held by Tamām b. ʿAbbās—though some say it was Sahl b. Ḥanīf—while ʿAbd Allah b. ʿAbbās was over Basra, its judiciary being in the hands of Abū al-Aswad al-Duʾalī. Muḥammad b. Abī Bakr was governor of Egypt. ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib, the Commander of the Faithful, was residing in Kūfah, whereas Muʿāwiyah b. Abī Sufyān had full control of Syria.”
I add: it was his intention to seize Egypt from Muḥammad b. Abī Bakr [al-Ṣiddīq].
Among the notable people who died [in this year] were (1) Khabbāb b. al-Aratt (2) b. Jandalah b. Saʿd b. Khuzaymah. Captured in the pre-Islamic period, he was purchased by Umm Sabāʿ bint Anmār al-Khuzāʿiyyah, who used to circumcise women; she was the mother of Sabāʿ b. ʿAbd al-ʿUzzā, whom Ḥamzah killed at Uḥud, and she was allied (3) with Banū Zuhrah. Khabbāb embraced Islam early, before the days of al-Arqam’s house, and he was one of those who were persecuted for Allah’s sake, yet he remained patient (4) and sought his reward from Him. He emigrated and fought at Badr and every subsequent engagement.
Al-Shaʿbī relates: One day Khabbāb entered upon ʿUmar, who honored his place and said, “No one is more deserving of this seat than you, except Bilāl.” Khabbāb replied, “Commander of the Faithful, Bilāl was tortured but had someone to protect him, whereas I had none. By Allah, they once roasted me over a fire they had stoked, and a man placed his foot upon my chest so that I could ward off the ground only with my back.” He then uncovered his back, and it was scarred (may Allah be pleased with him).
When he fell ill, some of the Companions visited him and said, “Rejoice! Tomorrow you will meet your beloved ones—Muḥammad and his company.” He answered, “By Allah, my brothers have gone on without tasting anything (5) of this world, and yet its fruit has ripened for us and we are trimming it away (6).”