Introduction
Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, of Banu Abs, was raised in Madinah and accepted Islam together with his father al-Yaman. He fought with the Prophet from Uhud onward. At Uhud, his father was killed by mistake by other Muslims, and Hudhayfah only said, "May Allah forgive you."
He is best known as the keeper of the Prophet's secret: the Prophet informed him of the names of certain hypocrites and he never disclosed them. He was also distinguished by one habit. While others asked about good, he asked the Prophet about evil so that he could avoid it, and that questioning gave the Ummah the hadith on fitnah and the advice to hold to the community of Muslims.
On the night of the Trench he was sent through freezing wind to bring news of the enemy, and he returned unharmed. Later, as a commander in the east, he saw the Muslims of Sham and Iraq disagreeing about the Quran's recitation and urged Uthman to unify it. He died in al-Mada'in, shortly after Uthman's death.
The story
Before the Hijrah
Grew up as an ally of the Ansar; accepted Islam with his father.
3 AH, Uhud
His father al-Yaman was killed by mistake; Hudhayfah asked Allah to forgive the killers.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3290Sahih Arabic text
… الْمُشْرِكُونَ فَصَاحَ إِبْلِيسُ أَىْ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ أُخْرَاكُمْ. فَرَجَعَتْ أُولاَهُمْ فَاجْتَلَدَتْ هِيَ وَأُخْرَاهُمْ، فَنَظَرَ حُذَيْفَةُ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِأَبِيهِ الْيَمَانِ فَقَالَ أَىْ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ أَبِي أَبِي. فَوَاللَّهِ مَا احْتَجَزُوا حَتَّى قَتَلُوهُ، فَقَالَ حُذَيْفَةُ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ. قَالَ عُرْوَةُ فَمَا زَالَتْ فِي حُذَيْفَةَ مِنْهُ بَقِيَّةُ خَيْرٍ حَتَّى لَحِقَ …
“Hudhaifa said, "May Allah forgive you."”
5 AH, the Trench
Sent by the Prophet on a night of cold and wind to bring news of the enemy camp.
Read the wording
Sahih Muslim 1788Sahih Arabic text
… دَعَانِي بِاسْمِي أَنْ أَقُومَ قَالَ" اذْهَبْ فَأْتِنِي بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ وَلاَ تَذْعَرْهُمْ عَلَىَّ". فَلَمَّا وَلَّيْتُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ جَعَلْتُ كَأَنَّمَا أَمْشِي فِي حَمَّامٍ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُمْ فَرَأَيْتُ أَبَا سُفْيَانَ يَصْلِي ظَهْرَهُ بِالنَّارِ فَوَضَعْتُ سَهْمًا فِي كَبِدِ الْقَوْسِ فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَرْمِيَهُ فَذَكَرْتُ قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" وَلاَ تَذْعَرْهُمْ …
“Go and bring me information about the enemy, and do nothing that may provoke them against me”
Prophet's lifetime
Taught the names of certain hypocrites, which he kept private.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3743Sahih Arabic text
… أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ. قَالَ أَلَيْسَ فِيكُمْ ـ أَوْ مِنْكُمْ ـ صَاحِبُ السِّرِّ الَّذِي لاَ يَعْلَمُهُ غَيْرُهُ يَعْنِي حُذَيْفَةَ. قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلَى. قَالَ أَلَيْسَ فِيكُمُ ـ أَوْ مِنْكُمُ ـ الَّذِي أَجَارَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْنِي مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، يَعْنِي عَمَّارًا. قُلْتُ بَلَى. قَالَ أَلَيْسَ فِيكُمْ ـ …
“Isn't there amongst you the Keeper of the secret which nobody else knows i.e. Hudhaifa?”
c. 25-30 AH
Warned Uthman of differences in recitation in the armies at Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4987Sahih Arabic text
… حُذَيْفَةَ بْنَ الْيَمَانِ قَدِمَ عَلَى عُثْمَانَ وَكَانَ يُغَازِي أَهْلَ الشَّأْمِ فِي فَتْحِ إِرْمِينِيَةَ وَأَذْرَبِيجَانَ مَعَ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَأَفْزَعَ حُذَيْفَةَ اخْتِلاَفُهُمْ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ فَقَالَ حُذَيْفَةُ لِعُثْمَانَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَدْرِكْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْتَلِفُوا فِي الْكِتَابِ اخْتِلاَفَ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى فَأَرْسَلَ عُثْمَانُ إِلَى …
“Hudhaifa was afraid of their (the people of Sham and Iraq) differences in the recitation of the Qur'an”
36 AH
Died in al-Mada'in, shortly after Uthman was killed.
A day in their footsteps
7 small, repeatable practices from Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Asking about evil in order to avoid it
Others asked the Prophet about good, but Hudhayfah asked about evil so that he would not fall into it. He asked what to do in a time of trial, and was told to stay with the Muslim community and its leader, and to avoid division if there is none.
Try this today
Learn what harms your faith as seriously as what benefits it, and ask before you act.
Sit with this
Do you know what harms your faith as well as what helps it?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 3606Sahih أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِي. فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا فِي جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَشَرٍّ، فَجَاءَنَا اللَّهُ بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ، فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ" نَعَمْ". قُلْتُ وَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ قَالَ" نَعَمْ، وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ". قُلْتُ وَمَا دَخَنُهُ قَالَ" قَوْمٌ يَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْيِي تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُ". قُلْتُ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ …
“The people used to ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about good, but I used to ask him about evil for fear that it might overtake me”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3606Sahih … يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا فَقَالَ" هُمْ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا، وَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا" قُلْتُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي إِنْ أَدْرَكَنِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ" تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ". قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلاَ إِمَامٌ قَالَ" فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا، وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ بِأَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى …
“Adhere to the group of Muslims and their Chief”
Long night prayer behind the Prophet
Hudhayfah joined the Prophet for a night prayer in which he recited al-Baqarah, then an-Nisa, then Al Imran, in a slow, unhurried recitation, stopping to glorify, ask and seek refuge as the verses required. Hudhayfah noticed every detail and passed it on.
Try this today
Pray at night with a slow recitation and respond to the verses when you hear mercy or warning.
Sit with this
When a verse of mercy or warning passes, do you pause and respond?
Sources
Sahih Muslim 772Sahih وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، وَأَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ جَرِيرٍ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنِ الْمُسْتَوْرِدِ بْنِ الأَحْنَفِ، عَنْ صِلَةَ …
“I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) one night and he started reciting al-Baqara”
Sahih Muslim 772Sahih … بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنِ الْمُسْتَوْرِدِ بْنِ الأَحْنَفِ، عَنْ صِلَةَ بْنِ زُفَرَ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَافْتَتَحَ الْبَقَرَةَ فَقُلْتُ يَرْكَعُ عِنْدَ الْمِائَةِ. ثُمَّ مَضَى فَقُلْتُ يُصَلِّي بِهَا فِي رَكْعَةٍ فَمَضَى فَقُلْتُ يَرْكَعُ بِهَا. ثُمَّ افْتَتَحَ النِّسَاءَ فَقَرَأَهَا ثُمَّ افْتَتَحَ آلَ عِمْرَانَ فَقَرَأَهَا يَقْرَأُ …
“when he recited the verses which referred to the Glory of Allah, he glorified”
Using the siwak when waking at night
Hudhayfah noticed that whenever the Prophet got up at night, he cleaned his mouth with siwak before praying. He kept this detail of preparing for tahajjud.
Try this today
Keep a siwak or toothbrush by your bed and use it before night prayer.
Sit with this
Is there a siwak or toothbrush waiting by your bed for the night prayer?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 245Sahih قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَشُوصُ فَاهُ بِالسِّوَاكِ.
“Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) got up at night, he used to clean his mouth with Siwak”
Saying the sleep and waking du'as
Hudhayfah narrated the words the Prophet said when going to bed and when waking up: "Bismika amutu wa ahya", and then thanking Allah who gave life after death. He passed on a du'a that millions say nightly.
Try this today
Say "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya" as you lie down, and the waking du'a when you rise.
Sit with this
Will the last and first words of your day tomorrow be a du'a?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 6312Sahih قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ قَالَ" بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا". وَإِذَا قَامَ قَالَ" الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ". تُنْشِرُهَا: تُخْرِجُهَا
“Bismika amutu wa ahya”
Turning to prayer in anxiety
Hudhayfah reported that when something worried the Prophet, he would pray.
Try this today
When anxious, stand and pray two rak'ahs before reaching for anything else.
Sit with this
When something worries you, is prayer your first move or your last?
Source
Sunan Abi Dawud 1319Hasan قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا حَزَبَهُ أَمْرٌ صَلَّى.
“When anything distressed the Prophet (ﷺ), he prayed”
Completing an assigned task quietly
On the night of the Trench, no one volunteered. When the Prophet named Hudhayfah, he went into the cold, saw Abu Sufyan within arrow range, and followed the Prophet's order not to provoke them. He returned and reported, and the Prophet wrapped him in a blanket.
Try this today
Do exactly what you were asked, however tempting another course appears.
Sit with this
Can you do exactly what was asked of you, even when another course tempts you?
Sources
Sahih Muslim 1788Sahih … اذْهَبْ فَأْتِنِي بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ وَلاَ تَذْعَرْهُمْ عَلَىَّ". فَلَمَّا وَلَّيْتُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ جَعَلْتُ كَأَنَّمَا أَمْشِي فِي حَمَّامٍ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُمْ فَرَأَيْتُ أَبَا سُفْيَانَ يَصْلِي ظَهْرَهُ بِالنَّارِ فَوَضَعْتُ سَهْمًا فِي كَبِدِ الْقَوْسِ فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَرْمِيَهُ فَذَكَرْتُ قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" وَلاَ تَذْعَرْهُمْ عَلَىَّ". وَلَوْ رَمَيْتُهُ لأَصَبْتُهُ …
“do nothing that may provoke them against me”
Sahih Muslim 1788Sahih … صلى الله عليه وسلم" وَلاَ تَذْعَرْهُمْ عَلَىَّ". وَلَوْ رَمَيْتُهُ لأَصَبْتُهُ فَرَجَعْتُ وَأَنَا أَمْشِي فِي مِثْلِ الْحَمَّامِ فَلَمَّا أَتَيْتُهُ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ وَفَرَغْتُ قُرِرْتُ فَأَلْبَسَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ فَضْلِ عَبَاءَةٍ كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ يُصَلِّي فِيهَا فَلَمْ أَزَلْ نَائِمًا حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْتُ قَالَ" قُمْ يَا …
“wrapped me in a blanket that he had in excess to his own requirement”
Forgiving a mistake that cost a loved one
When his father was killed by Muslims who mistook him for an enemy at Uhud, Hudhayfah did not cry for revenge but asked Allah to forgive them. He kept asking for their forgiveness for the rest of his life.
Try this today
Forgive an unintended harm and keep asking Allah to forgive the one who caused it.
Sit with this
Is there an unintended harm done to you that you could forgive today?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3290Sahih … الْمُشْرِكُونَ فَصَاحَ إِبْلِيسُ أَىْ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ أُخْرَاكُمْ. فَرَجَعَتْ أُولاَهُمْ فَاجْتَلَدَتْ هِيَ وَأُخْرَاهُمْ، فَنَظَرَ حُذَيْفَةُ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِأَبِيهِ الْيَمَانِ فَقَالَ أَىْ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ أَبِي أَبِي. فَوَاللَّهِ مَا احْتَجَزُوا حَتَّى قَتَلُوهُ، فَقَالَ حُذَيْفَةُ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ. قَالَ عُرْوَةُ فَمَا زَالَتْ فِي حُذَيْفَةَ مِنْهُ بَقِيَّةُ خَيْرٍ حَتَّى لَحِقَ …
“Hudhaifa said, "May Allah forgive you."”
Virtues
Abu al-Darda described Hudhayfah as the keeper of the secret that nobody else knew.
“the Keeper of the secret which nobody else knows i.e. Hudhaifa”
Arabic text
… مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ. قَالَ أَلَيْسَ فِيكُمْ ـ أَوْ مِنْكُمْ ـ صَاحِبُ السِّرِّ الَّذِي لاَ يَعْلَمُهُ غَيْرُهُ يَعْنِي حُذَيْفَةَ. قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلَى. قَالَ أَلَيْسَ فِيكُمُ ـ أَوْ مِنْكُمُ ـ الَّذِي أَجَارَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْنِي مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، يَعْنِي عَمَّارًا. قُلْتُ بَلَى. قَالَ أَلَيْسَ فِيكُمْ ـ أَوْ مِنْكُمْ ـ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 3743Sahih
His warning to Uthman led to the unified copies of the Quran being made.
“Save this nation before they differ about the Book (Qur'an) as Jews and the Christians did before”
Arabic text
… فَأَفْزَعَ حُذَيْفَةَ اخْتِلاَفُهُمْ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ فَقَالَ حُذَيْفَةُ لِعُثْمَانَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَدْرِكْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْتَلِفُوا فِي الْكِتَابِ اخْتِلاَفَ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى فَأَرْسَلَ عُثْمَانُ إِلَى حَفْصَةَ أَنْ أَرْسِلِي إِلَيْنَا بِالصُّحُفِ نَنْسَخُهَا فِي الْمَصَاحِفِ ثُمَّ نَرُدُّهَا إِلَيْكِ فَأَرْسَلَتْ بِهَا حَفْصَةُ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ فَأَمَرَ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 4987Sahih
Ammar reported the Prophet's statement about twelve hypocrites in his community, and mentioned Hudhayfah as a source.
“In my Ummah, there would be twelve hypocrites and they would not be admitted to Paradise”
Arabic text
… الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" إِنَّ فِي أُمَّتِي". قَالَ شُعْبَةُ وَأَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي حُذَيْفَةُ. وَقَالَ غُنْدَرٌ أُرَاهُ قَالَ" فِي أُمَّتِي اثْنَا عَشَرَ مُنَافِقًا لاَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلاَ يَجِدُونَ رِيحَهَا حَتَّى يَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ الْخِيَاطِ ثَمَانِيَةٌ مِنْهُمْ تَكْفِيكَهُمُ الدُّبَيْلَةُ سِرَاجٌ مِنَ النَّارِ يَظْهَرُ فِي أَكْتَافِهِمْ حَتَّى يَنْجُمَ مِنْ …
Sahih Muslim 2779bSahih
Sayings and moments
His opening statement about asking: others asked about good, he asked about evil.
“I used to ask him about evil for fear that it might overtake me”
Arabic text
أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِي. فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا فِي جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَشَرٍّ، فَجَاءَنَا اللَّهُ بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ، فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ" نَعَمْ". قُلْتُ وَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ قَالَ" نَعَمْ، وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ". قُلْتُ وَمَا دَخَنُهُ قَالَ" قَوْمٌ يَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْيِي تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُ". قُلْتُ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 3606Sahih
To Uthman: save the Ummah before it differs about the Book as the earlier communities did.
“O chief of the Believers! Save this nation before they differ about the Book”
Arabic text
… مَعَ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَأَفْزَعَ حُذَيْفَةَ اخْتِلاَفُهُمْ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ فَقَالَ حُذَيْفَةُ لِعُثْمَانَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَدْرِكْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْتَلِفُوا فِي الْكِتَابِ اخْتِلاَفَ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى فَأَرْسَلَ عُثْمَانُ إِلَى حَفْصَةَ أَنْ أَرْسِلِي إِلَيْنَا بِالصُّحُفِ نَنْسَخُهَا فِي الْمَصَاحِفِ ثُمَّ نَرُدُّهَا إِلَيْكِ فَأَرْسَلَتْ بِهَا …
Sahih al-Bukhari 4987Sahih
Words on this page
- Ansarالأنصار
- "The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
- Du'aدعاء
- Supplication: calling on Allah and asking Him, in any language and at any time.
- Hadithحديث
- A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Rak'ahركعة
- One unit of the prayer: standing and reciting, bowing, and two prostrations.
- Siwakسواك
- A cleaning stick, usually from the arak tree, used to clean the teeth.
- Tahajjudتهجد
- Voluntary prayer at night after waking from sleep, especially in the last third of the night.
- Uhudأحد
- The mountain outside Madinah where the Muslims fought Quraysh in 3 AH, and where Hamzah and many others were martyred.
- Ummahالأمة
- The worldwide community of Muslims.
Related companions
- عثمان بن عفانUthman ibn AffanUthman ibn Affan, third caliph and Dhu al-Nurayn: his modesty, open-handed giving, wudu, Quran and night-pray…
- أبو الدرداءAbu al-DardaAbu al-Darda al-Ansari, a former merchant who devoted himself to worship, collected the Quran in the Prophet'…
- عمار بن ياسرAmmar ibn YasirAmmar ibn Yasir, tortured with his parents for Islam, early builder of the Prophet's mosque and martyr at Sif…
- عمر بن الخطابUmar ibn al-KhattabUmar ibn al-Khattab, al-Faruq and second caliph: his night prayer, justice, generosity and respect for the Bo…
- عبد الله بن مسعودAbdullah ibn Mas'udEarly Muslim and shepherd boy of Mecca whom the Prophet named first among those to learn the Quran from; a ju…
Sources and review
- Sunnah.com hadith collections (text confirmed via hadith-api mirror) (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (dates and biography) (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.