Abu Quhafa

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Abu Quhafa
Abu Quhafa.png
Abū Quhāfa al-Ahfaz in Islamic calligraphy
Born
Uthman ibn Amir

(538-07-01)1 July 538
Mecca, Hejaz
Died1 March 635(635-03-01) (aged 96)
Mecca, Arabian Peninsula
Spouse(s)Salma bint Sakhar
Hind bint Nuqayd
Children6, including Abu Bakr
Parent(s)
  • Amir ibn Amr (father)
RelativesUbaydullah (cousin; father of Talha
Names
Uthman ibn Amir ibn Amr ibn Ka'b
(Arabic: عُثْمَان ٱبْن عَامِر ٱبْن عَمْروْ ٱبْن كَعْب)

Uthman ibn Amir (Arabic: عُثْمَان ٱبْن عَامِر, romanized: ʿUthmān ibn ʿĀmir, 1 July 538 – 1 March 635 CE),[1] better known as Abu Quhafa (Arabic: أَبُو قُحَافَة, romanized: ʾAbu Quhāfa) was an Arab tribal chief who was a leader of the Banu Taym, a clan of the Quraysh. He was also companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Abu Quhafa was the son of Amir, the husband of Umm Khayr, the father of Abu Bakr and the grandfather of Abdurahman.

Born in Mecca, Abu Quhafa was a prominent member of the Quraysh. After Islam was founded, his family members accepted Islam, though he himself he didn't accept it and remained a non-Muslim. After twenty years, Abu Quhafa accepted Islam, after greeting Muhammad and became one of his prominent companions (Sahabi). In 635, Abu Quhafa died in Mecca at the age of 97. He is known among Muslims as Al-Ahfaz, meaning 'The 'Saved'.

Origins and family[]

Abu Quhafa's year of birth is 538 as cited by the early Islamic sources.[1] He was born in Mecca to a wealthy family and his given name was Uthman. Later on, he was given the kunya of Abu Quhafa. His father Amir ibn Amr was a great-grandson of Taym ibn Murrah.[2][3] Abu Quhafa's mother Qeela bint Adhat was descended from Ka'b ibn Luayy. She was a member of the Banu Adi clan.[2]

He married his niece Salma bint Sakhar, commonly known as Umm Khayr (Arabic: أُمّ خَيْر lit. 'Mother of Goodness'). She was the daughter of Abu Quhafa's brother Sakhar ibn Amir. The couple had three sons, two of whom did not survive infancy. The three sons were given the titles of Atiq, Utaiq and Mutaq.[4] The title 'Atiq' refers to their youngest son Abu Bakr. When Abu Bakr was born in 573,[5] he was therefore known as Atiq ("exempted" from death).

Ibn Sa'd reports that Abu Quhafa later married a younger woman, Hind bint Nuqayd, also known by the kunya Umm Banat (lit. Mother of Daughters') who bored three daughters: Farwa, Qurayba and Umm Amir.[6]

Opposition to Muslims[]

During the Age of Ignorance (Arabic: جَاهِلِيَّة, romanized: Jāhilīyah), Abu Quhafa used to help his cousin Abdullah ibn Jada'an to invite guests to his huge renewed banquet.[2] In 610, Muhammad announced prophethood and Abu Bakr became a Muslim whereas Abu Quhafa didn't become a Muslim.[7] He opposed his son for supporting Muhammad. After Abu Quhafa spoke disparagingly of Muhammad, Abu Bakr struck his father's chest and rendered him unconscious.[8] When Abu Bakr ransomed Muslim slaves who were being attacked in 613–614, Abu Quhafa said to him: "My son, I see that you are freeing weak slaves. If you want to do what you are doing, why don’t you free powerful men who could defend you and protect you?" Abu Bakr replied: "I am only trying to do what I am attempting for God's sake."[9] In old age, Abu Quhafa lost most of his sight.[10]

In September 622 Abu Bakr emigrated to Medina, taking all his money with him "to the amount of five or six thousand dirhams." Abu Quhafa went to call on the family and said that he thought Abu Bakr “had put them in difficulty by taking off all his money." His granddaughter Asma said that Abu Bakr had left them plenty. "I took some stones and put them in a niche where Abu Bakr kept his money; then I covered them with a cloth and took his hand and said, 'Put your hand on this money, Father.' He did so and said: 'There's nothing to worry about; he has done well in leaving you this, and you will have enough.' In fact he had left us nothing, but I wanted to set the old man's mind at rest."[10]

Conversion to Islam[]

In January 630, Abu Quhafa heard that Muhammad's army was on the way to Mecca. He asked his young daughter to lead him to Mount Abu Qubays, and there he asked her what she could see. She told him, "A mass of black." He said they were the cavalry. His daughter added that she could see a man running up and down in front of them, and he said that this was the army adjutant. Then his daughter announced that "the black mass had spread." Abu Quhafa told her that the cavalry had been released so they must go home quickly. However, they met the army before they could reach their house, and a mounted warrior tore off his daughter's silver necklace.[11] No other violence was done to them, for the conquest of Mecca was almost bloodless.[12]

Abu Bakr sought out his father and led him to the mosque. Muhammad greeted them with the words: "Why did you not leave the old man in his house so that I could come to him there?" But Abu Bakr replied that this way was more fitting. Muhammad sat Abu Quhafa down, and asked him to accept Islam, and he did so." Abu Quhafa had white hair, so Muhammad told them to dye it. After this, Abu Quhafa reportedly became the first Muslim to dye his hair.[2] Abu Bakr then appealed to the army for the return of his sister’s necklace, but nobody admitted to taking it, so the family had to accept that, "There is not much honesty among people nowadays."[7]

Death[]

After Abu Bakr died in Medina in August 634, Mecca was convulsed by an earthquake. Abu Quhafa asked, "What is that?" and was told that his son was dead. He replied, "It is a terrible calamity. Who has arisen in authority after him?" On being advised that Umar was now Caliph, he said, "He was his companion," implying approval. Abu Quhafa returned his inheritance from his son to his grandson.[1]

Abu Quhafa died a few months later, in March 635 (Muharram 14 AH), at the age of 97.[1] This age was calculated in lunar years; by the solar calendar, he would have been only 94 or 95.

Legacy[]

Abu Quhafa is honored by Muslims and often called 'Al-Ahfaz' (lit. 'The Saved'). He was reportedly the first Muslim to dye his hair.[2] Four generations of Abu Quhafa's family had the distinction of being the Sahaba, namely Abu Quhafa, his son Abu Bakr, his grandson Abdurahman, and his great-grandson Abu Atiq. No other family held this distinction.[13]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Suyuti 1881, p. 87.
  2. ^ a b c d e Farghal 2017.
  3. ^ Ishaq 1955, p. 115.
  4. ^ Suyuti 1881, p. 27.
  5. ^ Suyuti 1881, p. 29.
  6. ^ Ibn Sa'd 1995, p. 175–176.
  7. ^ a b Ishaq 1955, p. 549.
  8. ^ Richmond 1992, p. 142.
  9. ^ Ishaq 1955, p. 145.
  10. ^ a b Ishaq 1955, p. 225.
  11. ^ Ishaq 1955, p. 548–549.
  12. ^ Ishaq 1955, p. 548–554.
  13. ^ Hassan 2018.

External links[]

  • Mukarram Ahmed, Mufti Muhammed (2005). Encyclopaedia of Islam. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-261-2339-1.

Bibliography[]

  • Suyuti, Jalal al-Din (1881). Tarikh al-Khulafa [The History of the Caliphs]. Jarrett, H. S. (translator) (ed.). The Asiatic Society.
  • Ishaq, Muhammad (1955). Sirat Rasul Allah – The Life of Muhammad. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780196360331.
  • Ibn Sa'd, Muhammad (1995). Bewley, Aisha (ed.). Tabaqat. Ta-Ha Publishers.
  • Farghal, Ahmad (2017). Kitab al-Sulala al-Bakria As-Siddiqia. Sjadda Bakria.
  • Surrey, Richmond (1992). The Concept of Sainthood in Early Islamic Mysticism. Curzon Press.
  • Hassan, Masud (2018). Siddiq-e-Akbar Hazrat Abu Bakr. Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Lahore: Ferozsons.
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