Peripheral Stories of Uhud: Quzman, al-Usayrim, and Mukhayriqu

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi relates three peripheral but theologically rich stories from the Battle of Uḥud, following brief mention of Ḥanẓalah ibn Abī ʿĀmir (Ghuṣayl al-Malāʾikah, washed by the angels, whose story had already been narrated):

❧STORY 1: QUZMĀN, THE BATTLE FOUGHT FOR PRIDE, NOT ALLAH

Quzmān was one of the Munāfiqūn who had left Uḥud with ʿAbdullāh ibn Ubayy's group. When he returned to Medina, the Muslim women mocked and shamed him: "What kind of man leaves the fighters on the battlefield and comes home to us?" His wounded pride, not his faith, drove him back.

He returned fully armed and fought with astonishing ferocity. A Ṣaḥābī came to the Prophet (ﷺ) in admiration and reported Quzmān's performance. The Prophet (ﷺ) replied immediately: "Huwa fi-n-nār, He is in the Fire of Hell."

The Ṣaḥābī was shaken and began following Quzmān personally to understand. He watched Quzmān struck by a single arrow. Unable to bear the pain, Quzmān placed his sword handle on the ground with the blade pointing upward and threw himself upon it, committing suicide on the battlefield.

The Ṣaḥābī reported back to the Prophet (ﷺ), whose prophecy was confirmed. The Prophet (ﷺ) then said: "Inna-Llāha layu'ayyidu hādha-d-dīna bi-r-rajuli-l-fājir, Indeed Allah sometimes supports this religion through an evil man." Quzmān helped the Muslim side, but his niyyah (intention) was entirely for his own pride.

❧STORY 2: AL-UṢAYRIM, THE MAN WHO ENTERED JANNAH WITHOUT ONE SAJDAH

Al-Uṣayrim (ʿAmr ibn Thābit, raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu) of Banū ʿAbd al-Ashhal was one of the very last pagans in Medina at the time of Uḥud. On the morning of Uḥud, Saturday the 15th of Shawwāl (3 AH), he found the city completely empty. He went asking: "Where is Saʿd ibn Muʿādh?" "At Uḥud." "Where is so-and-so?" "At Uḥud." Every man he looked up to was at Uḥud fighting for Muḥammad (ﷺ).

This moved him. He accepted Islam on the spot that very morning, informed his still-pagan family that if he died his property should go to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), armed himself, and walked to Uḥud. The Muslims turned him away, "Ilayka ʿannā!, get away from us!", not knowing he had just converted. When he told them, they allowed him to join. He fought and was martyred as a Shahīd that same day. The battle had taken place in the early morning hours; Ẓuhr time had not entered before his death. He accepted Islam after Fajr, never prayed a single Ṣalāh, never made a single Sajdah, and entered Jannah.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "ʿAmila qalīlan wa ujruhu kathīr, He did very little, but his reward is immense."

Abū Hurayrah (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu), the most prolific narrator of Prophetic ḥadīth, would test his students by asking: "Who is that Muslim who entered Jannah without performing a single Sajdah?" The answer: al-Uṣayrim of Banū ʿAbd al-Ashhal. This is not a contradiction of the obligation of Ṣalāh, al-Uṣayrim never had the opportunity to pray; Ẓuhr time simply never came in before his death.

❧STORY 3: MUKHAYRĪQ, "THE BEST OF ALL THE JEWS"

Mukhayrīq was a Jewish scholar from one of the Jewish tribes of Medina. The Prophet (ﷺ) had not even asked the Yahūd for help at Uḥud, in his wisdom he knew they would refuse, and relations were already strained. The Medinan treaty did obligate them to fight together if Medina were externally attacked, but the Prophet (ﷺ) chose not to demand it.

Mukhayrīq spent the morning of Uḥud trying to rouse his people's conscience: "You know it is your duty to help Muḥammad (ﷺ), you took a covenant with him." They dismissed him. When Uḥud fell on a Saturday, they invoked the Sabbath: "We cannot fight today." Exasperated, Mukhayrīq declared: "Lā sabta lakum, may you have no Sabbath after this," took his armor and sword, and marched to Uḥud alone. His motivation was not religious conversion but covenant loyalty. Before leaving he told his people: "If I die, my property goes to Muḥammad (ﷺ), not to any of you, because you have broken your promise." He fought bravely and was martyred.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Mukhayrīqu khayru Yahūd, Mukhayrīq is the best of all the Jews." This praise parallels the Prophet's praise of Muṭʿim ibn ʿAdiyy, both were non-Muslims honoured for their integrity. The Shaykh draws from this a principle of Islamic etiquette: it is fully correct to honour, praise, and publicly recognise those who act with integrity and justice, regardless of their faith. The Prophet (ﷺ) set this example himself.