A woman named Umm Anmar who belonged to the Khuza'ah tribe in Makkah went to the slave market in the city. She wanted to buy herself a youth for her domestic chores and to exploit his labor for economic gains. As she scrutinized the faces of those who were displayed for sale, her eyes fell on a boy who was obviously not yet in his teens. She saw that he was strong and healthy and that there were clear signs of intelligence on his face. She needed no further incentive to purchase him. She paid and walked away with her new acquisition.

On the way home, Umm Anmar turned to the boy and said:

"What's your name, boy?"

"Khabbab."

"And what's your father's name?"

"Al-Aratt."

"Where do you come from?"

"From Najd."

"Then you are an 'Arab!"

"Yes, from the Banu Tamim."

"How then did you come into the hands of the slave dealers in Makkah?"

"One of the 'Arab tribes raided our territory. They took our cattle and captured women and children. I was among the youths captured. I passed from one hand to another until ended up in Makkah…"

Umm Anmar placed the youth as an apprentice to one of the blacksmiths in Makkah to learn the art of making swords. The youth learned quickly and was soon an expert at the profession. When he was strong enough, Umm Anmar set up a workshop for him with all the necessary tools and equipment for making swords. Before long he was quite famous in Makkah for his excellent craftsmanship. People also liked dealing with him because of his honesty and integrity. Umm Anmar gained much profit through him and exploited his talents to the full.

In spite of his youthfulness, Khabbab (ra) displayed unique intelligence and wisdom. Often, when he had finished work and was left to himself, he would reflect deeply on the state of Arabian society that was so steeped in corruption. He was appalled at the aimless wandering, the ignorance and the tyranny that he saw. He was one of the victims of this tyranny and he would say to himself:

"After this night of darkness, there must be a dawn." And he hoped that he would live long enough to see the darkness dissipate with the steady glow and brightness of new light.

Khabbab (ra) did not have to wait long. He was privileged to be in Makkah when the first rays of the light of Islam penetrated the city. It emanated from the lips of Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah (saw) as he announced that none deserves to be worshipped or adored except the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He called for an end to injustice and oppression and sharply criticized the practice of the rich in accumulating wealth at the expense of the poor and the outcast. He denounced aristocratic privileges and attitudes and called for a new order based on respect for human dignity and compassion for the underprivileged including orphans, wayfarers and the needy.

To Khabbab (ra), the teachings of Muhammad (saw) were like a powerful light dispelling the darkness of ignorance. He went and listened to these teachings directly from him. Without any hesitation he stretched out his hand to the Prophet (saw) in allegiance and testified that "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Servant and His Messenger."

He was among the first ten persons to accept Islam.

Khabbab (ra) did not hide his acceptance of Islam from anyone. When the new of his becoming a Muslim reached Umm Anmar, she became incensed with anger. She went to her brother Siba' ibn 'Abd al-'Uzza who gathered a gang of youths from the Khuza'ah tribe and together they made their way to Khabbab (ra). They found him completely engrossed in his work. Siba' went up to him and said:

"We have heard some news from you that we don't believe."

"What is it?" asked Khabbab (ra).

"We have been told that you have given up your religion and that you now follow that man from the Banu Hashim."

"I have not given up my religion," replied Khabbab (ra) calmly. "I only believe in One God Who has no partner. I reject your idols and I believe that Muhammad is the Servant of Allah and His Messenger."

No sooner had Khabbab (ra) spoken these words than Siba' and his gang set upon him. They beat him with their fists and with iron bars and they kicked him until he fell unconscious to the ground, with blood streaming from the wounds he received.

The news of what happened between Khabbab (ra) and his slave mistress spread throughout Makkah like wild fire. People were astonished at Khabbab's daring. They had not yet heard of anyone who followed Muhammad (saw) and who had the audacity to announce the fact with such frankness and defiant confidence.

The Khabbab affair shook the leaders of the Quraysh. They did not expect that a blacksmith, such as belonged to Umm Anmar and who had no clan in Makkah to protect him and no 'asabiyah to prevent him from injury, would be bold enough to go outside her authority, denounce her gods and reject the religion of her forefathers. They realized that this was only the beginning…

The Quraysh were not wrong in their expectations. Khabbab's courage impressed many of his friends and encouraged them to announce their acceptance of Islam. One after another, they began to proclaim publicly the message of truth.

In the precincts of the Haram, near the Ka'bah, the Quraysh leaders gathered to discuss the problem of Muhammad (saw). Among them were Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah and Abu Jahl ibn Hisham. They noted that Muhammad was getting stronger and that his following was increasing day by day, indeed hour by hour. To them this was like a terrible disease and they made up their minds to stop it before it got out of control. They decided that each tribe should get hold of any follower of Muhammad (saw) among them and punish him until he either recants his faith or dies.

On Siba' ibn 'Abd al-'Uzza and his people fell the task of punishing Khabbab (ra) even further. Regularly, they began taking him to an open area in the city when the sun was at its zenith and the ground was scorching hot. They would take off his clothes and dress him in iron armor and lay him on the ground. In the intense heat, his skin would be seared and his body would become inert. When it appeared that all strength had left him, they would come up and challenge him:

"What do you say about Muhammad?"

"He is the Servant of Allah and His Messenger. He has come with the religion of guidance and truth, to lead us from darkness into light."

They would become more furious and intensify their beating. They would ask about al-Lat and al-'Uzza and he would reply firmly:

"Two idols, deaf and dumb, that cannot cause harm nor bring any benefit…"

This enraged them even more and they would take a big hot stone and place it on his back. Khabbab's pain and anguish would be excruciating, but he did not recant.

The inhumanity of Umm Anmar towards Khabbab (ra) was not less than that of her brother. Once she saw the Prophet (saw) speaking to Khabbab (ra) at his workshop and she flew into a blind rage. Every day after that, for several days, she went to Khabbab's workshop and punished him by placing a red, hot iron from the furnace on his head. The agony was unbearable and he often fainted.

The pagan Quraysh chiefs continued to look down on people like Khabbab (ra) and even to pour scorn on the Noble Prophet for having social outcasts like him as his followers. A number of such Quraysh once came upon the Prophet (saw). With him were Suhayb, Bilal, Khabbab, 'Ammar and other poor, weak and wretched Muslims (ra). The Quraysh said scornfully:

"O Muhammad! Are you pleased with these (followers) from your people? Do you expect then that we, that we should follow these? Are these the people on whom God has bestowed favors? Get them away from you. Perhaps if you get rid of them, we shall follow you!"

At this point, it is narrated, a revelation from Allah Almighty came to the Prophet (saw) saying:

"And warn here by those who fear lest they be gathered unto their Sustainer with none to protect them from Him or to intercede with Him. (This is) so that they might become fully conscious of Him.

"And do not repulse (any of) those who at morn and evening call upon their Sustainer, seeking His countenance. You are in no way accountable for them, just as in no way are they accountable for you, and you have no right therefore to repulse them; for then you would be among the wrongdoers." (Surah Al-An'am, 6:51-52)

Khabbab (ra) was indeed one of those who called upon his Sustainer "at morn and at evening". Despite his persecution, he spent his time learning and reciting the Qur'an. There was one famous incident when he was in the house of Sa'id ibn Zayd and his wife, Fatimah bint al-Khattab (ra), who had recently become Muslims. Khabbab (ra) used to go to their house in secret to recite the Qur'an for them. Once, while they were thus engaged, there was an angry shout as 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra), Fatimah's brother, burst into the house. He had just heard that his sister and brother-in-law had both become Muslims.

Khabbab (ra) quickly hid in a corner of the house while Fatimah (ra) concealed the manuscripts. But 'Umar (ra) had heard the recitation of the Qur'an and was so consumed with rage that he set upon them and beat them mercilessly. Only the sight of blood on his sister's resolute face melted his heart. He asked for the scripture, prepared himself to read it, and was soon moved to say:

"Show me the way to Muhammad."

On hearing these words of 'Umar, Khabbab (ra) rushed out of his corner saying:

"Rejoice, 'Umar. For I have hoped that Allah has chosen you through the prayer of the Prophet (saw) for you on the night of last Thursday: 'O Lord, strengthen Islam through 'Umar ibn al-Khattab.'"

"O Khabbab," said 'Umar, "where will Muhammad now be, that I may go to him and enter Islam?"

Khabbab (ra) told him that he was at the house of Al-Arqam near As-Safa and soon the formidable 'Umar (ra) was declaring before the Prophet (saw), "I testify that you are the Messenger of Allah," and a wave of excitement spread over the fledgling community.

Thereafter, while the number of Muslims gradually increased in Makkah, their persecution went on unabated. Khabbab (ra) continued to suffer and his only recourse was to prayer. He prayed for the punishment of Umm Anmar and her brother. His release from pain and suffering only came when the Prophet (saw) gave permission to his companions to emigrate to Madinah. Umm Anmar by then could not prevent him from going. She herself became inflicted with a terrible illness that no one had heard of before. She behaved as if she had suffered a rabid attack. The headaches she had were especially nerve-racking. Her children sought everywhere for medical help until finally they were told that the only cure was to cauterize her head. This was done. The treatment, with a red-hot iron, was more terrible than all the headaches she suffered.

At Madinah, among the generous and hospitable Ansar, Khabbab (ra) experienced a state of ease and restfulness that he had not known for a long time. He was delighted to be near the Prophet (saw) with no one to molest him or disturb his happiness.

He fought alongside the Noble Prophet (saw) at the Battle of Badr. He participated in the Battle of Uhud where he had the satisfaction of seeing Siba' ibn 'Abd al-'Uzza meet his end at the hands of Hamzah ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib (ra), the uncle of the Prophet (saw).

Khabbab (ra) lived long enough to witness the great expansion of Islam under the four Khulafa' ar-Rashidun - Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman and 'Ali (ra). He once visited 'Umar during his caliphate. 'Umar (ra) stood up - he was in a meeting - and greeted Khabbab (ra) with the words:

"No one is more deserving than you to be in this assembly other than Bilal." He asked Khabbab (ra) about the torture and the persecution he had received at the hands of the Mushrikin. Khabbab (ra) described this in some detail since it was still very vivid in his mind. He then exposed his back and even 'Umar (ra) was aghast at what he saw.

In the last phase of his life, Khabbab (ra) was blessed with wealth such as he had never before dreamed of. He was, however, well known for his generosity. It is even said that he placed his dirhams and his dinars in a part of his house that was known to the poor and the needy. He did not secure this money in any way and those in need would come and take what they needed without seeking any permission or asking any questions.

In spite of this, he was always afraid of his accountability to Allah (swt) for the way he disposed of his wealth. A group of companions related that they visited Khabbab (ra) when he was sick and he said:

"In this place there are eighty thousand dirhams. By Allah, I have never secured it any way and I have not barred anyone in need from it."

He wept and they asked why he was weeping.

"I weep," he said, "because my companions have passed away and they did not obtain any such reward in this world. I have lived on and have acquired this wealth and I fear that this will be the only reward for my deeds."

Soon after he passed away. The Khalifah 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) stood at his grave and said:

"May Allah have mercy on Khabbab. He accepted Islam wholeheartedly. He performed hijrah willingly. He lived as a mujahid and Allah shall not withhold the reward of one who has done good."