Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib (ra)

Paternal uncle of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — a son of Abd al-Muttalib and full brother of Abu Talib — one of the strongest men and finest archers of Quraysh, whose conversion (c. 616 CE, 6th year of the da’wah) was a turning point for the Muslims. Later the Leader of the Martyrs (Sayyid al-Shuhada).

Identity & lineage

• Son of Abd al-Muttalib; one of the four uncles who lived to hear the mission (with al-Abbas — both converted — and Abu Talib & Abu Lahab, who did not).
• A renowned hunter and warrior, often away on expeditions.

Key episode: his conversion (EP 018)

Returning from a hunt, Hamzah was told by a woman of Banu Hashim that Abu Jahal had publicly reviled the Prophet ﷺ while no one defended him. In tribal fury he went to the Ka’bah, struck Abu Jahal across the face with his bow, and blurted, “I too follow his religion!” — words spoken in anger, not yet from conviction. That night he prayed for guidance; by morning Allah had settled Islam in his heart and he affirmed it sincerely before the Prophet ﷺ.

Significance

As the seniormost Qurayshi and a son of Abd al-Muttalib to accept Islam up to that point, his conversion forced the Quraysh to temper their hostility. Three days later Umar converted; the two led the first public prayer at the Ka’bah, Hamzah in the second row.

At Badr (EP 038–039)

At Badr Hamzah killed al-Aswad al-Makhzumi (the first man slain, who tried to reach the wells) and was one of the three — with Ali and Ubaydah ibn al-Harith — who answered the opening mubaraza, felling Utbah, Shaybah and al-Walid.

Death (EP 048)

Martyred at Uhud (3 AH / 625 CE), killed by the javelin of Wahshi, an Abyssinian slave promised freedom by Jubayr ibn Mut’im in revenge — Hamzah had killed Jubayr’s uncle Tu’aymah at Badr. Wahshi struck him from behind through a gap in his armour. His body was mutilated by Hind (stomach opened, liver chewed, fingers and toes taken) to wound the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ wept over him, named him Sayyid al-Shuhada (Leader of the Martyrs), and vowed to mutilate 30 in return — but was forbidden by Q 16:126, establishing that muthla (mutilation of the dead) is haram. His full sister Safiyyah (mother of Zubayr) brought his shrouds.

Cross-references

Muhammad ﷺ · Abd al-Muttalib · Abu Talib · Abu Jahal (Amr ibn Hisham) · Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) · Quraysh · The Battle of Badr · Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) · Utbah ibn Rabi'ah · Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah (ra) · The Battle of Uhud · Wahshi ibn Harb (ra) · Hind bint Utba (rha) · Zubayr ibn al-Awwam (ra)

Sources

• S004 — Yasir Qadhi Seerah EP 018 (conversion); Uhud/martyrdom flagged for EP 048.
• S006 — Yasir Qadhi Seerah EP 038–039 (Badr: al-Aswad and the mubaraza).
• S007 — Yasir Qadhi Seerah EP 041–050 (Uhud: martyrdom by Wahshi, mutilation by Hind, Sayyid al-Shuhada, Q 16:126).