By Dr. Muhammad Hussein Aboud al-Taieh – College of Islamic Sciences – University of Karbala

Hudhayfah ibn Hisl (or Husayl) ibn Jabir ibn Amr ibn Rabi’ah ibn Furwah ibn al-Harith ibn Mazin ibn Qutai’ah ibn ‘Abs ibn Baghid ibn Rayth ibn Ghatafan, also known as Abu Abdullah al-‘Absi, was one of the distinguished companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).

His father, Husayl ibn Jabir, was a well-known companion who fled to Medina after a conflict with his tribe. He allied with the Banu ‘Abd al-Ashhal, earning the nickname “al-Yaman” due to his alliance with the Yemeni tribes of the Ansar. Hudhayfah himself was considered both a Meccan and a Medinan, being one of the emigrants and an esteemed companion of the Prophet.

Hudhayfah was famously known as the keeper of the Prophet’s secrets, entrusted with knowledge about the hypocrites that no one else possessed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) made him a brother to ‘Ammar ibn Yasir. He and his father were prevented by the polytheists from participating in the Battle of Badr but fought together at the Battle of Uhud, with Hudhayfah later participating in the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq). Hudhayfah passed away shortly after the assassination of Caliph Uthman.

Among his notable sayings is:
“These trials, as large as the heads of cattle, will destroy most people except for those who recognize them beforehand.”

It is narrated from him by Rib’i ibn Hirash that Hudhayfah said:
“When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) intended to sleep, he placed his hand under his head and said: ‘O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the day You gather Your servants.’”

Furthermore, it is narrated by Abu al-‘Aliyah that Hudhayfah reported:
“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: ‘Whoever does not care about the affairs of the Muslims is not one of them, and whoever does not begin and end his day sincerely devoted to Allah, His Messenger, His Book, His Imam, and the generality of Muslims is not one of them.'”