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All in all, the Quraish fought faith with torture, while the believers fought torture with self-sacrifice.
Khabbaab was one of those whom Allah had chosen to take their place among the masters of self-denial
and sacrifice.
Not only had Khabbaab (May Allah be pleased wih him) devoted his time to the service of the new
religion, but also to worshiping, praying, and instucting. He used to visit his brothers who hid their Islam
in dread of the Quraish's tyranny and despotism. There, he used to read the Qur'aan and instruct them. He
was, truly, a genius in studying every surah and verse in the Qur'aan. Even `Abd Allah Ibn Mas'uud,
whom the Prophet praised by saying, "He who wants to read the Qur'aan in exactly the same way it
descended on me, should imitate lbn Umm `Abd", considered Khabbaab as a reference to all that
concerns the Qur'aan, whether as a text or a textbook.
Khabbaab was the one who was teaching the Qur'aan to Faatimah Bint Al-Khattaab and her
husband Sa'iid Ion Zaid, when `Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab thrust his way right into their house with
unsheathed sword so as to settle his account with Islam and the Prophet (PBUII). Allah willed that as
soon as `Umar heard the verse in the scroll being recited in a slow and pleasant voice by Khabbaab, he
cried out, "Tell me where Muhammad is!" when Khabbaab heard `Umar's words, he came out of his
hiding place and said, "`Umar, by Allah, I do hope that Allah chose you to fulfil the Prophet's
supplication. For yesterday, I heard the Prophet say, `Allah, please support Islam with whom You love
best, either Abi Al-Hakam Ibn Hishaam or `Umar Ibn Al- Khabbaab."' `Umar repeated his question,
"Where is Muhammad now?" Khabbaab answered, "At As-Safaa in Daar Al-Arqam Ibn Abi Arqam." At
that very moment, `Umar ascended towards his great fortune and blessed destiny.
Khabbaab witnessed all the battles and wars side by side with the Prophet. He treasured his faith
and certainty throughout his life.
When the Muslim treasury (Bait Al-Maal) overflowed with money during the caliphates of `Umar
and `Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with them both), Khabbaab had a large salary as one of the
foremost Muslim Muhaajiruun.
This abundant income enabled Khabbaab to build himself a house in Kufa. He used to put his
money where all his friends, visitors, and those in need could find it. Nevertheless, whenever the Prophet
(PBUH) and the Companions who sacrificed their lives for Allah and met Him before the Muslims
became victorious and wealthy were mentioned, his eyes filled with tears and he became sleepless.
Listen to him talking to his brothers who came to visit him on his deathbed. They said, "Be content,
Abu `Abd Allah; you will meet your brothers tomorrow." His eyes flowed with tears as he answered, "I
am not crying out of fear of death, but you reminded me of the brothers who left this life without
enjoying any of its splendor or luxury, yet we have lived on until we have sucked in its splendor and
wealth to the extent that we placed this wealth on the sand," and he pointed to his newly-built humble
house. Then he pointed to the place where he kept his money and exclaimed, `By Allah, I have never
refused to give it to anyone who asked me for it, as if the strings were his." Then he looked upon his
shroud and said weeping, "Look, this is my shroud." He considered it extravagant and luxurious. He then
said, "Yet Hamzah the Prophet's uncle, on the day of his martyrdom had nothing to be used for a shroud
but a torn garment which if placed on his head, would show his feet, and if placed on his feet, would
show his head."
Khabbaab died in A.H. 37. Alas, the swordmaker in paganism died. The master of self-denial and
sacrifice in Islam died. He was one of the group of believers in whose defense the Qur'aan descended on
the Prophet when the elite of the Quraish pleaded with the Prophet to assign a day for them and another
for the poor Muslims like Khabbaab, Suhaib and Bilaal. However, the great Qur'aan embraced those men
of Allah to honor and glorify, and these verses descended on the noble Prophet: "And turn not away
those who invoke their Lord, morning and afternoon, seeking His Face. You are accountable for them in
nothing, and they are accountable for you in nothing, that you may turn them away and thus become of
the Zalimun (unjust). Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say: "Is it these
(poor believers) that Allah has favoured from amongst us?" Does not Allah know best those who are