A blessed companion رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: When I wake up in the morning and see any needy [person] at the door, I believe that it is one of the favours of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ to me, and when I wake up in the morning and don’t see any needy [person] at the door, (patiently) I feel that this is one of those calamities upon which I had begged Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for a reward. (Tareekh Ibn Asakir, vol. 15, pp. 125)
Dear Islamic brothers! The above mentioned blessed saying, filled with great zeal of helping others, belongs to Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, the blessed companion of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.
Blessed appearance and birth
He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was born 12 or 13 years before the event of elephants [Aam-ul-Feel]. He was dark brown with a sparse beard. (Tareekh Ibn Asakir, vol. 15, pp. 100)
Embracing Islam and other honours
He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ embraced Islam on the occasion of the conquest of Makkah (8 AH) and received this honour from the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: ‘Whoever enters the house of Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ will remain safe.’ Umm-ul-Mu’mineen Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا was the paternal aunt of Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, and Sayyiduna Zubayr Bin Awwam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was his (paternal) cousin. He was among those who attended funeral procession of Sayyiduna Usman Ghani رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ at night (due to unfavourable circumstances) (Siyar A’lam-ul-Nubala, vol. 4, pp. 233 to 237) He had four sons and all of them had the honour of being a blessed companion of Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Isti’aab, vol. 1, pp. 417)
Pledging allegiance
He pledged allegiance to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم upon the words that he would depart this world staying steadfast in Islam. (Mu’jam Kabeer, vol. 3, pp. 195, Hadees 3106)
Qualities and attributes
Apart from possessing great qualities and attributes such as vast knowledge, excellent etiquette, incredible generosity, ‘deep piety and abstinence’, especial honour and outstanding leadership, he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was known for his acumen and nobility. He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was considered among the respected people of Quraysh during both pre-Islamic and Islamic eras. (Isti’aab, vol. 1, pp. 417, Siyar A’lam-un-Nubala, vol. 4, pp. 238)
Intelligence
Darun Nadwah, a meeting place where people of Makkah would gather for mutual advice about any matter, was not open to the individuals less than 40 years of age but he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, despite being 15, was allowed to participate in it because of his great intelligence and acumen. (Siyar A’lam-un-Nubala, vol. 4, pp. 237)
Quick-wittedness
Once, Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, during his old age, was walking slowly with the help of a stick. He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ went past few young individuals who thought of playing a trick on him. One of them asked Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ: Do you remember anything after losing your memory? He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ looked at him and guessed his intention and asked him in return; Are you not the son of so and so? He replied in the affirmative. Upon his, he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ said: Despite losing my memory, I still remember that your father used to forge iron in his youth in Makkah. (Tareekh Ibn-e-Asakir, vol. 15, pp. 127)
Why do I feel shy?
(Despite being elderly), Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ used to recite Quran to Sayyiduna Mu’az Bin Jabal رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ. Someone said: You recite Quran to this boy. He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ replied: It is the arrogance that has ruined us.(Kashf-ul-Mushkil Ibn-e-Jawzi, pp. 63)
Humbleness
After buying household articles and other goods, he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ would carry the whole stuff himself if he would not find any loader. (Tareekh Ibn-e-Asakir, vol. 15, pp. 103)
Blessings to business
Throughout his lifetime, Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ kept running his business but he never suffered any loss. He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ would get profit when he would even deal in soil because Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had prayed for him: اَللّٰھُمَّ بَارِکْ فِیْ صَفْقَۃِ یدِہٖ (O Allah! Grant blessings to his business). (Mu’jam Kabeer, vol. 3, pp. 205 Hadees: 3136, Karamat-e-Sahabah, pp. 254; summarised)
Generosity
He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was very generous. He freed 100 slaves and provided 100 men with mounts [riding animals] for performing Hajj. When he himself performed Hajj, he was accompanied by 100 slaves, 100 camels, 100 cows and 100 goats. To please Allah, he freed slaves and ordered to slaughter the animals. He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ sold the house named ‘Darun Nadwah’ to Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ for one hundred thousand dirham or forty thousand dinars and spent the whole amount in the way of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. (Al-Wafi Bil-Wafiyat, vol. 13, pp. 81, Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 4, pp. 247; summarised)
Helping the Poor
Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ said: During pre-Islamic period, I was a cloth merchant and would travel to Yamen and Syria twice. This trade would earn me a huge profit. Then I would approach the poor of my family and would distribute this money [among them]. By doing so, I would intend to increase affection with relatives, and that they too become rich.(Tahzeeb-ul-Kamal, vol. 3, pp. 77)
Extending help to Banu Hashim
In the seventh year after the declaration of Nubuwwah, disbelievers of Quraysh made a contract calling for boycott of Banu Hashim (i.e. no social contact, no business deal, no kinship ties etc.) and forced the people of Banu Hashim to remain confine to a valley out of Makkah. When the trade caravan of Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ would return from Syria, he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ would drive the camel loaded with wheat to the valley so the people of Banu Hashim would receive the wheat. (Seerat Halbiyah, vol. 1, pp. 475, Tahzeeb-ul-Kamal, vol. 3, pp. 78)
Affection for Orphans
Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ would not eat food alone. At mealtime, when he would feel that few more people can eat this food, he would call the orphans of Quraysh accordingly. (Tareekh-Ibn-Asakir, vol. 15, pp. 122)
Yearning for Paradise
Once Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ humbly asked Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: ‘Which thing [deed] will make me enter Jannah.’ The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: ‘Never ask anyone for anything.’ Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ (remained stuck to this advice such that he) would ask his servants neither for water to drink nor for anything (pot or water etc.) for ablution.
He even didn’t claim his right
Once during a Hajj season, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ went past him on his way. Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ sent a she-camel to him so that he may drink its milk to his fill. After he had drunk to his fill, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ asked: What food do you eat? Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ said: ‘A piece of meat that I don’t have.’ Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ sent an Atiyyah [gift] but he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ refused to accept and said: After the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, I have never taken anything from anyone. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ and Sayyiduna Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ were willing to give me my right, I even didn’t accept that either. (Tareekh Ibn-e-Asakir, vol. 15, pp. 103)
Great warrior of Islam
Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ participated in the battles of Hunayn and Taif in 9th Hijri. (Siyar A’lam-un-Nubala, vol. 4, pp. 4, Tareekh Ibn-e-Asakir, vol. 15, pp. 106)
Blessed demise
Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ lived a long life of 120 years. In his last years, he even lost his vision. Before his demise, he kept repeating these words: لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ اُحِبُّکَ وَ اَخْشَاکi.e. (O Allah Almighty) There is no god except You, I love You and fear You. He departed this life in 54 or 58 AH in Madinah. (Tareekh Ibn-e-Asakir, vol. 15, pp. 128) He narrated 40 Ahadees which are mentioned in the books of Ahadees, of which, 4 Ahadees are mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim. (Siyar A’lam-un-Nubala, vol. 4, pp. 238)
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