Abu Dujana (r.a.)

Abu Dujana was a brave companion. He was always ready to sacrifice his life in the way of Allah and His Messenger. He wrapped a red turban around his head as a sign of this in both the Battle of Badr and the Battle of Uhud. When the Ansar saw this, they said, "Abu Dujana wrapped the turban of death again." [1]

Hz. Abu Dujana started to proceed to the ranks of the enemy proudly, holding the sword that the Prophet gave him on condition that he would use it as it was necessary. [2]

In the meantime, the Companions did not like it when they saw that Abu Dujana walked proudly. They feared that he might be destroyed because of this deed. Thereupon, the Prophet stated the following indicating that it was permissible to walk proudly against the enemy:

"Allah does not like this kind of walking anywhere except in battlefields."

The sword that the Prophet gave to Abu Dujana destroyed the polytheists and killed them. Abu Dujana killed the polytheists that confronted him one by one and arrived at the place where the women who encouraged the polytheists to fight by playing the tambourine and singing were. He narrates it as follows:

"I saw someone from a distance. He was shouting at the polytheists and was angry. When I walked on him and raised my sword to hit him, he screamed. When I noticed that it was a woman, I thought of the honor of the sword of the Messenger of Allah and I did not hit a woman with it."

In the first phase of the Battle of Uhud, the Muslims attained a great victory thanks to the efforts Hz. Abu Dujana and the other Companions. Therefore, the mujahids began to collect the booty that the polytheists had left. In the meantime, the archers who had been ordered definitely not to leave their place left their places and pursued the booty. Things changed at that moment. The cavalrymen of the polytheists, who had been watching the archers and looking for an opportunity, started to attack the mujahids from behind. Thereupon, many mujahids were martyred; and some of them panicked, running to the right and left.

In the meantime, the rumor that the Prophet died spread. The mujahids were demoralized; many of them stopped fighting and sat in a secluded place. However, the polytheists had martyred Mus'ab bin Umayr, who was carrying the standard of the army, not the Messenger of Allah. They thought the person they killed was the Prophet and started to shout, "We have killed Muhammad." At that time, our Prophet (pbuh) was throwing arrows and stones at the enemy, and he remained where he was. Meanwhile, 14 mujahids, 7 of them from Muhajirs and 7 from Ansar, surrounded the Messenger of Allah, protecting him from the attacks of the polytheists. These reckless believers were determined not to leave the Prophet alone at the cost of sacrificing their lives. Abu Dujana was one of them. None of these Companions, who received the prayer of the Messenger of Allah, was martyred there. They used their bodies as shields to protect the Prophet.

Abu Dujana leaned over the Messenger of Allah, protecting him from the arrows. The arrows hit his back and fell without hurting. In the meantime, Abdullah bin Humayd, one of the ferocious polytheists, saw that the Prophet was alive and that his Companions protected him. He drove his horse in that direction without losing time.

"I am Zuhayr's son. Show me Muhammad. By Allah, either I will kill him or I will die." He was wearing armor from head to toe. . He predicted that no Muslim would be able to face him. He proceeded slyly. Suddenly he was astonished to see Abu Dujana facing him. As soon as Abu Dujana saw him, he said, "Come on to me. I am using my body as a shield to defend the Messenger of Allah." Then, he swung his sword at the legs Ibn Humayd’s horse. When the horse collapsed, he said, "Here! This is from the son of Harasha." He killed Ibn Humayd with one blow of his sword. When the Prophet saw this effort of Abu Dujana to protect him, he prayed for him as follows:

"O Allah! Be pleased with the son of the Harasha as I am pleased with him.

Thus, Abu Dujana received his spiritual reward in advance.

As a result of the efforts of the heroic Companions like Abu Dujana, the polytheists had to retreat without giving much harm. When the war was over, the Prophet took back the sword he had given to Abu Dujana. He gave it to his daughter Fatima so that she would erase the blood of the polytheists on the sword. In the meantime, Hz. Ali gave his sword to Fatima and said, "Take this; it worked very well in this battle." Thereupon, the Prophet said, “You worked very hard in this battle. Sahl bin Harith and Abu Dujana also became very successful." Thus, he appreciated and praised them. [3]

Along with his courage and heroism Abu Dujana was also known for his superior virtue; he never kept busy with unnecessary things and never had any bad thoughts about anyone. One day, he got sick. Despite being seriously sick, there was no trace of disease on him. His face was bright and sparkling. One of those who came to visit him asked, "What is the reason for your face being like this?" Hz. Abu Dujana gave him the following response:

"There are two deeds of mine in which I can trust and which save me. One is not being busy with useless things; the other is not having any bad thoughts in my heart about any Muslims." [4]

Abu Dujana was martyred at the Battle of Yamama, which happened during the caliphate of Hz. Abu Bakr.  

May Allah be pleased with him!
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[1]Sirah, 3: 73.
[2]Muslim, Fadailus-Sahaba: 128; Usdul-Ghaba, 5: 184.
[3]ibid, 3: 557.
[4]ibid