He and Abū Hurayrah embraced Islam in the year of Khaybar. He fought in a number of expeditions and was counted among the nobility of the Companions. ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿĀmir appointed him judge over Basra, a post he held for a time before asking to be relieved; his request was granted, and he remained there until he died in this very year.
Al-Ḥasan and Ibn Sīrīn said, “No mounted man ever arrived in Basra who was better than he.”
The angels used to greet him with salām, but after he underwent cauterization their greeting ceased. Shortly before his death they returned and greeted him again. May Allah be pleased with him—and with his father as well.
Kaʿb ibn ʿUjrah al-Anṣārī (1), Abū Muḥammad al-Madani, was a distinguished Companion; it was about him that the verse concerning the fidyah (2) in the pilgrimage was revealed. He died in this year—though some say it was the previous year—at the age of seventy-five, or seventy-seven, years.
Muʿāwiyah ibn Ḥudayj (3)(4), son of Jafna ibn Qutayrah al-Kindī al-Khawlānī of Egypt, is deemed a Companion by the majority. Ibn Ḥibbān, however, listed him among the trustworthy Successors (5); the first view is the sound one.
= Asad al-Ghabah (vol. 4, p. 281); Tahdhib al-Kamal, fol. 1057; Tabaqat ‘Ulama al-Hadith (vol. 1, p. 88); Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala (vol. 2, p. 508); Tadhkirat al-Huffaz (vol. 1, p. 29); Tarikh al-Islam (vol. 2, p. 306); al-‘Ibar (vol. 1, p. 57); al-Kashif (vol. 2, p. 299); Majma‘ al-Zawa’id (vol. 9, p. 381); Tahdhib al-Tahdhib (vol. 8, p. 125); al-Isabah (vol. 7, p. 155); al-Nujum al-Zahira (vol. 1, p. 143); Tabaqat al-Huffaz (vol. 8); Khulasat al-Khizrji (p. 295); Shudhurat al-Dhahab (vol. 1, p. 249).
(1) Tabaqat Khalifa (vol. 1, pp. ?; p. ?; d. 938); Musnad Aḥmad (vol. 4, p. 241); Tarikh al-Bukhari al-Kabir (vol. 7, p. 220); Al-Ma‘rifa wa-al-Tarikh (vol. 1, p. 319); al-Jarh wa-al-Ta‘dil (vol. 7, p. 160); Mashahir ‘Ulama al-Amsar (d. 78); Jamhara Ansab al-‘Arab (p. 442); al-Isti‘ab (vol. 3, p. 1321); al-Jam‘ bayn Rijal al-Saḥihayn (vol. 2, p. 429); Tarikh Ibn ‘Asakir (vol. 14, p. 277, b-section); Asad al-Ghabah (vol. 4, p. 481); Tahdhib al-Asma’ wa-al-Lughat (1st sec. of vol. 2, p. 68); Mukhtasar Tarikh Dimashq (vol. 21, p. 176); Tahdhib al-Kamal, fol. 1147; Tarikh al-Islam (vol. 2, p. 313); Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala (vol. 3, p. 52); al-‘Ibar (vol. 1, p. 57); al-Kashif (vol. 3, p. 7); Tahdhib al-Tahdhib (vol. 3, p. 170, a-section); Mir’āt al-Jinān (vol. 1, p. 125); Tahdhib al-Tahdhib (vol. 8, p. 435); al-Isabah (p. 7421); Khulasat al-Khizrji (p. 321); Shudhurat al-Dhahab (vol. 1, p. 249).
(2) This refers to the Quranic verse: “And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head must offer a ransom of fasting or charity or sacrifice” (al-Baqarah 2:196). The hadith is recorded in al-Bukhari no. 1816 and Muslim no. 1201.
(3) In the principal sources the name is distorted as Khadij.
(4) Tabaqat Ibn Sa‘d (vol. 7, p. 503); Tabaqat Khalifa (pp. 477, 2723); Musnad Aḥmad (vol. 6, p. 401); Tarikh al-Bukhari al-Kabir (vol. 7, p. 328); Al-Ma‘rifa wa-al-Tarikh (vol. 2, p. 528); al-Jarh wa-al-Ta‘dil (vol. 8, p. 377); Mashahir ‘Ulama al-Amsar (d. 384); Jamhara Ansab al-‘Arab (p. 429); al-Isti‘ab (vol. 3, p. 1413); Tarikh Ibn ‘Asakir (vol. 16, p. 327 b); Asad al-Ghabah (vol. 5, p. 206); Tahdhib al-Asma’ wa-al-Lughat (1st sec. of vol. 2, p. 101); Mukhtasar Tarikh Dimashq (vol. 24, p. 392); Tahdhib al-Kamal, fol. 1344; Tarikh al-Islam (vol. 2, p. 317); al-‘Ibar (vol. 1, p. 57); Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala (vol. 3, p. 37); al-Kashif (vol. 3, p. 138); Tahdhib al-Tahdhib (vol. 4, p. 49 b); al-Isabah (p. 8064); Tahdhib al-Tahdhib (vol. 10, p. 203); al-Nujum al-Zahira (vol. 1, p. 151); Ḥasan al-Muḥaddithah (vol. 1, p. 237); Khulasat al-Khizrji (p. 381); Shudhurat al-Dhahab (vol. 1, p. 250).
(5) Thiqat Ibn Ḥibbān (vol. 5, p. 415).