Abu Hudhayfa ibn Utba

An Early Muslim of the Quraysh

Abu Hudhayfa was the son of Utba ibn Rabi’a, a chief of Banu Abd Shams — yet he was among the earliest to accept Islam and one of the first to emigrate to Abyssinia for his faith. His freedman Salim became one of the four from whom the Prophet ﷺ bade the Qur’an be learned. 1 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 114 — Najeebabadi — Abu Hudhayfa among the foremost emigrants to Abyssinia.

Faith Above Kin at Badr

At Badr Abu Hudhayfa stood with the Muslims while his own father Utba and brother fought and fell for the Quraysh. When the slain disbelievers were gathered, the Prophet ﷺ saw the grief on his face and asked of it; Abu Hudhayfa answered that he had hoped his father, a man of judgment, would be guided to Islam, and it pained him to see him die in disbelief — and the Prophet ﷺ prayed for him. 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 2 · pp. 333 — Kandhlawi — Abu Hudhayfa's grief at his father Utba's death at Badr and the Prophet's good prayer for him.

Martyrdom at Yamamah

In the war against the false prophet Musaylama, Abu Hudhayfa was martyred at Yamamah — falling, by report, beside his freedman Salim, who died bearing the Muslims’ banner. 3 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 2 · pp. 383 — Kandhlawi — Abu Hudhayfa's martyrdom at the Battle of Yamamah.