Ḥamza (original) (raw)

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, son of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, uncle of the Prophet, and his fosterbrother, as Tradition adds in the effort to glorify this hero of the earliest days of Islām, otherwise so little known. Ignorant panegyrists make him at the same time take part in the Fid̲j̲ār wars [q. v.], but this statement is a fiction, according to the author of the Kitāb al-Ag̲h̲ānī. At first, like the other Hās̲h̲imīs, he adopted a hostile attitude to the new creed. But revolting against the extravagant attitude of Abū Ḏj̲ahl, he is said to have attached himself to the Prophet two (according to others, six) years after the first revelation. He migrated with him to Medīna and at first led an obscure and miserable existence there. One day he so far forgot himself under the influence of intoxication as to make an onslaught on ʿAlī’s camels with his sword. For the rest Ḥamza is described to us as a valiant soldier. This quality won him the title of “Lion of God and his Prophet”, which soon found a place in poetry. Muḥammad made use of his services by sending him at the head of a small column to hold up a Ḳurais̲h̲ caravan. His fame as a soldier is particularly associated with the battle of Badr, where he und ʿAlī shared the honours. He also took part in the siege of the Medīna Jewish clan of Ḳainuḳāʿ. He met his fate at the battle of Uḥud where he wrought wonders of valour. The negro Waḥs̲h̲ī pierced him with a javelin, tore his breast open and brought his still beating heart to Hind, the mother of Muʿāwiya, who buried her teeth in it. So at least says one story hostile to the Umaiyads and without much support. Ḥamza is said to have been about 57— 59 years old. But if our view is correct, that ten years should be deducted from the 60—65 years usually given to the Prophet, it will be necessary to make Ḥamza ten years younger also. None of Ḥamza’s children left issue. Cf. also the articles badr and oḥod.

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First-online:

24 Apr 2012

ISSN:

2214-871X

Publisher:

Brill

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, son of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, uncle of the Prophet, and his fosterbrother, as Tradition adds in the effort to glorify this hero of the earliest days of Islām, otherwise so little known. Ignorant panegyrists make him at the same time take part in the Fid̲j̲ār wars [q. v.], but this statement is a fiction, according to the author of the Kitāb al-Ag̲h̲ānī. At first, like the other Hās̲h̲imīs, he adopted a hostile attitude to the new creed. But revolting against the extravagant attitude of Abū Ḏj̲ahl, he is said to have attached himself to the Prophet two (according to others, six) years after the first revelation. He migrated with him to Medīna and at first led an obscure and miserable existence there. One day he so far forgot himself under the influence of intoxication as to make an onslaught on ʿAlī’s camels with his sword. For the rest Ḥamza is described to us as a valiant soldier. This quality won him the title of “Lion of God and his Prophet”, which soon found a place in poetry. Muḥammad made use of his services by sending him at the head of a small column to hold up a Ḳurais̲h̲ caravan. His fame as a soldier is particularly associated with the battle of Badr, where he und ʿAlī shared the honours. He also took part in the siege of the Medīna Jewish clan of Ḳainuḳāʿ. He met his fate at the battle of Uḥud where he wrought wonders of valour. The negro Waḥs̲h̲ī pierced him with a javelin, tore his breast open and brought his still beating heart to Hind, the mother of Muʿāwiya, who buried her teeth in it. So at least says one story hostile to the Umaiyads and without much support. Ḥamza is said to have been about 57— 59 years old. But if our view is correct, that ten years should be deducted from the 60—65 years usually given to the Prophet, it will be necessary to make Ḥamza ten years younger also. None of Ḥamza’s children left issue. Cf. also the articles badr and oḥod.

Encyclopaedia of Islam First Edition Online

First-online:

24 Apr 2012

ISSN:

2214-871X

Publisher:

Brill

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