Abu Dujana

The Sword and its Right

At Uhud the Prophet ﷺ held up a sword and asked who would take it with its due right. Many hands reached out, but he withheld it until Abu Dujana asked what its right was. Told that its right was to strike the enemy with it until it bent — and, in another narration, neither to kill a Muslim nor to flee — Abu Dujana pledged to fulfil it, and the Prophet ﷺ gave it to him. He bound on his red headband, the sign that he would fight to the death, and walked between the lines with a deliberate swagger — about which the Prophet ﷺ said: “That walk is hateful to Allah except in a place such as this.” 1 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 1 · pp. 299–300 — Idris Kandhlawi — the Prophet offers his sword at Uhud; Abu Dujana asks and pledges its right; his red headband and the swagger between the lines.

He found himself standing before Hindah bint Utbah with the Prophet’s ﷺ sword in his hand — and refused to strike her, out of respect for the sword, not wishing to strike a woman with it. When the lines closed, he made his back a human shield for the Prophet ﷺ; many arrows lodged in him, and he would not budge. 3 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 2 · pp. 63–64, 67 — Idris Kandhlawi — Abu Dujana refuses to strike Hindah with the Prophet's ﷺ sword; uses his own back as human shield for the Prophet ﷺ; many arrows lodged in him.

A Clear Heart

In his final illness his face shone, and asked why, he named two deeds he had kept to: he never spoke of what did not concern him, and he kept his heart clear of rancour toward any Muslim. 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 2 · pp. 447 — Kandhlawi — Abu Dujana attributes his radiant face to never speaking idly and keeping a clear heart toward all Muslims. He is remembered as having been martyred later in the war against Musaylama at Yamamah.