Introduction
Khabbab ibn al-Aratt grew up as a slave in Mecca, where he became a blacksmith and sword-maker, and was freed. He accepted Islam when the Muslims were very few, and had no tribe to protect him. He and others without tribal backing suffered repeated beatings and torture.
He taught the Quran in secret in the early days, and his recitation is mentioned in the story of Umar ibn al-Khattab's conversion. In the shade of the Ka'bah he once came to the Prophet and asked for help against the persecution. The Prophet reminded him of the believers before them, and told him that this religion would be completed, though they were being hasty.
Years later, with wealth and a house, he was ill and afraid that the ease granted to him late in life was a reward spent early in this world. He often recalled companions like Mus'ab ibn Umayr, who passed on without taking anything of their reward in this world. He settled in Kufa, where he died.
The story
c. 610s CE, Mecca
Accepted Islam as one of the earliest believers; worked as a blacksmith and was persecuted.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 2091Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ كُنْتُ قَيْنًا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ لِي عَلَى الْعَاصِ بْنِ وَائِلٍ دَيْنٌ، فَأَتَيْتُهُ أَتَقَاضَاهُ قَالَ لاَ أُعْطِيكَ حَتَّى تَكْفُرَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقُلْتُ لاَ أَكْفُرُ حَتَّى يُمِيتَكَ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ تُبْعَثَ. قَالَ دَعْنِي حَتَّى أَمُوتَ وَأُبْعَثَ، فَسَأُوتَى مَالاً وَوَلَدًا فَأَقْضِيَكَ فَنَزَلَتْ{أَفَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ بِآيَاتِنَا وَقَالَ …
“I was a blacksmith in the Pre-Islamic period”
Mecca
Came to the Prophet in the shade of the Ka'bah to complain about the persecution.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3612Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ شَكَوْنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ بُرْدَةً لَهُ فِي ظِلِّ الْكَعْبَةِ، قُلْنَا لَهُ أَلاَ تَسْتَنْصِرُ لَنَا أَلاَ تَدْعُو اللَّهَ لَنَا قَالَ " كَانَ الرَّجُلُ فِيمَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ يُحْفَرُ لَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ فَيُجْعَلُ فِيهِ، فَيُجَاءُ بِالْمِنْشَارِ، فَيُوضَعُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَيُشَقُّ بِاثْنَتَيْنِ، وَمَا يَصُدُّهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، وَيُمْشَطُ …
“We complained to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)”
Medina
Emigrated with the Prophet and took part in Badr and the later battles.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 1276Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ هَاجَرْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَلْتَمِسُ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ، فَوَقَعَ أَجْرُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ، فَمِنَّا مَنْ مَاتَ لَمْ يَأْكُلْ مِنْ أَجْرِهِ شَيْئًا مِنْهُمْ مُصْعَبُ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ، وَمِنَّا مَنْ أَيْنَعَتْ لَهُ ثَمَرَتُهُ فَهُوَ يَهْدِبُهَا. قُتِلَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ، فَلَمْ نَجِدْ مَا نُكَفِّنُهُ إِلاَّ بُرْدَةً إِذَا غَطَّيْنَا بِهَا رَأْسَهُ خَرَجَتْ رِجْلاَهُ، وَإِذَا …
“We emigrated with the Prophet (ﷺ) in Allah's cause”
Later life, Kufa
Grew ill, suffered a long illness and was cauterised, and settled in Kufa where he died.
Read the wording
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2483Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ أَتَيْنَا خَبَّابًا نَعُودُهُ وَقَدِ اكْتَوَى سَبْعَ كَيَّاتٍ فَقَالَ لَقَدْ تَطَاوَلَ مَرَضِي وَلَوْلاَ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ" لاَ تَمَنَّوُا الْمَوْتَ". لَتَمَنَّيْتُ وَقَالَ" يُؤْجَرُ الرَّجُلُ فِي نَفَقَتِهِ كُلِّهَا إِلاَّ التُّرَابَ أَوْ قَالَ فِي الْبِنَاءِ". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ.
“if it was not that I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) saying: "None of you should wish for death" then I would have wished for it”
A day in their footsteps
6 small, repeatable practices from Khabbab ibn al-Aratt's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Refusing to trade his faith for money
When a Meccan who owed him wages refused to pay until Khabbab would renounce Muhammad, he refused, saying he would not do so even until the man died and was raised again. The Quran then criticised the man's boasting about wealth and children.
Try this today
Do not let money or a deadline pressure you into any compromise of your faith.
Sit with this
What would you refuse to trade your faith for?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 2091Sahih … دَيْنٌ، فَأَتَيْتُهُ أَتَقَاضَاهُ قَالَ لاَ أُعْطِيكَ حَتَّى تَكْفُرَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقُلْتُ لاَ أَكْفُرُ حَتَّى يُمِيتَكَ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ تُبْعَثَ. قَالَ دَعْنِي حَتَّى أَمُوتَ وَأُبْعَثَ، فَسَأُوتَى مَالاً وَوَلَدًا فَأَقْضِيَكَ فَنَزَلَتْ{أَفَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ بِآيَاتِنَا وَقَالَ لأُوتَيَنَّ مَالاً وَوَلَدًا * أَطَّلَعَ الْغَيْبَ أَمِ اتَّخَذَ عِنْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ …
“I will not disbelieve till Allah kills you and then you get resurrected”
Bringing hardship to the Prophet, and accepting the answer
When the persecution became too severe, he and the others asked the Prophet to pray for them. The Prophet reminded them of the believers before them who were cut with saws and iron combs without leaving their religion, and told them Islam would prevail.
Try this today
In hardship, bring it to the right person and then take the lesson without being hasty.
Sit with this
When hardship drags on, can you take the lesson without rushing the outcome?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3612Sahih … فَيُوضَعُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَيُشَقُّ بِاثْنَتَيْنِ، وَمَا يَصُدُّهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، وَيُمْشَطُ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ، مَا دُونَ لَحْمِهِ مِنْ عَظْمٍ أَوْ عَصَبٍ، وَمَا يَصُدُّهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، وَاللَّهِ لَيُتِمَّنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضْرَمَوْتَ، لاَ يَخَافُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ أَوِ الذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ، وَلَكِنَّكُمْ …
“this religion (i.e. Islam) will prevail till a traveler from Sana (in Yemen) to Hadrarmaut will fear none but Allah”
Watching the prayer closely and learning from it
Asked how he knew that the Prophet recited in the noon and afternoon prayers, which are silent, Khabbab answered that he saw the movement of the Prophet's beard. He observed attentively and passed it on.
Try this today
Pay close attention to details of the Sunnah, and teach them as you learned them.
Sit with this
What detail of the Prophet's prayer have you never noticed?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 760Sahih قَالَ سَأَلْنَا خَبَّابًا أَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ قَالَ نَعَمْ. قُلْنَا بِأَىِّ شَىْءٍ كُنْتُمْ تَعْرِفُونَ قَالَ بِاضْطِرَابِ لِحْيَتِهِ.
“From the movement of his beard”
Remembering the Prophet's long prayer of hope and fear
He narrated the night the Prophet prayed longer than usual, saying it was a prayer of hope and fear in which he asked Allah three things for his community, and he transmitted it exactly.
Try this today
Make a prayer of hope and fear, and make du'a for the whole Ummah, not only yourself.
Sit with this
When did you last make du'a for the whole Ummah, not only yourself?
Source
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2175Sahih … وَرَهْبَةٍ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ اللَّهَ فِيهَا ثَلاَثًا فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لاَ يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِسَنَةٍ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لاَ يُسَلِّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لاَ يُذِيقَ بَعْضَهُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ فَمَنَعَنِيهَا". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ صَحِيحٌ. وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ …
“It was a prayer of hope and fear”
Enduring illness without wishing for death
In a long illness, treated with cauterisation, he said that he would have asked for death if the Prophet had not forbidden it. He instead stayed patient.
Try this today
In a long illness or trial, ask Allah for good, and do not wish for death.
Sit with this
In a long trial, can you ask Allah for good rather than for an end?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 6349Sahih قَالَ أَتَيْتُ خَبَّابًا وَقَدِ اكْتَوَى سَبْعًا قَالَ لَوْلاَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَانَا أَنْ نَدْعُوَ بِالْمَوْتِ لَدَعَوْتُ بِهِ.
“Had Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) not forbidden us to invoke (Allah) for death, I would have invoked (Allah) for it”
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2483Sahih قَالَ أَتَيْنَا خَبَّابًا نَعُودُهُ وَقَدِ اكْتَوَى سَبْعَ كَيَّاتٍ فَقَالَ لَقَدْ تَطَاوَلَ مَرَضِي وَلَوْلاَ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ" لاَ تَمَنَّوُا الْمَوْتَ". لَتَمَنَّيْتُ وَقَالَ" يُؤْجَرُ الرَّجُلُ فِي نَفَقَتِهِ كُلِّهَا إِلاَّ التُّرَابَ أَوْ قَالَ فِي الْبِنَاءِ". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ.
“None of you should wish for death”
Worrying about worldly ease
Seen building a wall, he remarked that those who passed before them did not enjoy any of their rewards in this world, while he and others had gathered wealth that could only be spent on building. He felt the weight of ease.
Try this today
Check what ease you have and ask whether you are using it for Allah.
Sit with this
What ease do you enjoy, and are you using it for Allah?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 6431Sahih قَالَ أَتَيْتُ خَبَّابًا وَهْوَ يَبْنِي حَائِطًا لَهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَصْحَابَنَا الَّذِينَ مَضَوْا لَمْ تَنْقُصْهُمُ الدُّنْيَا شَيْئًا، وَإِنَّا أَصَبْنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ شَيْئًا، لاَ نَجِدُ لَهُ مَوْضِعًا إِلاَّ التُّرَابَ.
“Our companions who have left this world, did not enjoy anything of their reward therein”
Virtues
He is among those who emigrated seeking Allah's reward, and his testimony about Mus'ab ibn Umayr's shroud is preserved in the Sahih.
“We emigrated with the Prophet (ﷺ) in Allah's cause”
Arabic text
قَالَ هَاجَرْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَلْتَمِسُ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ، فَوَقَعَ أَجْرُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ، فَمِنَّا مَنْ مَاتَ لَمْ يَأْكُلْ مِنْ أَجْرِهِ شَيْئًا مِنْهُمْ مُصْعَبُ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ، وَمِنَّا مَنْ أَيْنَعَتْ لَهُ ثَمَرَتُهُ فَهُوَ يَهْدِبُهَا. قُتِلَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ، فَلَمْ نَجِدْ مَا نُكَفِّنُهُ إِلاَّ بُرْدَةً إِذَا غَطَّيْنَا بِهَا رَأْسَهُ خَرَجَتْ رِجْلاَهُ، وَإِذَا …
Sahih al-Bukhari 1276Sahih
Ibn Mas'ud had Khabbab listen to the recitation of his student, and Khabbab praised it.
“He has recited well”
Arabic text
… فَقَرَأْتُ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً مِنْ سُورَةِ مَرْيَمَ، فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ تَرَى قَالَ قَدْ أَحْسَنَ. قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ مَا أَقْرَأُ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ وَهُوَ يَقْرَؤُهُ، ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَى خَبَّابٍ وَعَلَيْهِ خَاتَمٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَقَالَ أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِهَذَا الْخَاتَمِ أَنْ يُلْقَى قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَرَاهُ عَلَىَّ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ، فَأَلْقَاهُ. رَوَاهُ غُنْدَرٌ عَنْ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 4391Sahih
Sayings and moments
If the Prophet had not forbidden us from praying for death, I would have prayed for it.
“Had Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) not forbidden us to invoke (Allah) for death, I would have invoked (Allah) for it”
Arabic text
قَالَ أَتَيْتُ خَبَّابًا وَقَدِ اكْتَوَى سَبْعًا قَالَ لَوْلاَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَانَا أَنْ نَدْعُوَ بِالْمَوْتِ لَدَعَوْتُ بِهِ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6349Sahih
Words on this page
- Badrبدر
- The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
- Du'aدعاء
- Supplication: calling on Allah and asking Him, in any language and at any time.
- Ka'bahالكعبة
- The cube-shaped House of Allah at the centre of the Sacred Mosque in Makkah, which Muslims face in prayer.
- Makkahمكة
- The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
- Sunnahالسنة
- The way of the Prophet ﷺ: his words, actions and approvals. Also used for a recommended act.
- Ummahالأمة
- The worldwide community of Muslims.
Related companions
- مصعب بن عميرMus'ab ibn UmayrWealthy Meccan youth who gave up comfort for Islam, carried the Quran to Medina as its first teacher there, a…
- 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…
- سمية بنت خياطSumayyah bint KhayyatEarly believer in Mecca who held to Islam under torture and became the first martyr of the Muslim community.
- عمر بن الخطابUmar ibn al-KhattabUmar ibn al-Khattab, al-Faruq and second caliph: his night prayer, justice, generosity and respect for the Bo…
Sources and review
- Wikipedia: Khabbab ibn al-Aratt (opens in a new tab)
- Hadith texts and grades cross-checked against the fawazahmed0 hadith-api dataset (mirrors sunnah.com numbering) (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.