Hakim ibn Hizam (RA)
Birth Inside the Kabah:
It is stated that Hakim ibn Hizam is the only person who was born inside the Kabah.
Hakim’s mother had gone inside the Kabah and on that particular day, it was open because of a festival.
Here, she experienced labour pains and was unable to leave the Kabah so a leather mat was brought to her, and she gave birth to Hakim ibn Hizam.
Hakim ibn Hizam was born inside the Kabah and he lived for one hundred and twenty years. (Muslim)
Family Background:
His father was Hizam who was the son of Khuwaylid ibn Asad, making Hakim ibn Hizam the nephew of the Prophet’s wife Khadijah, who was the daughter of Khuwaylid.
Early Life:
Hakim grew up in a wealthy family who had a high status in the Makkah. He was an intelligent and well-mannered person and because of these characteristics, he was very well respected by the people of Makkah.
Hakim ibn Hizam’s Role in Makkah:
Hakim ibn Hizam was given the responsibility of the ‘rifadah’, which involved giving assistance to the poor pilgrims and anybody who had lost their property during the season of Hajj.
Close Friend of the Prophet:
Hakim ibn Hizam was a close friend of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ before Islam and he was five years older than the Prophet.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had a lot of love and respect for Hakim ibn Hizam and their relationship got stronger when the Prophet married his aunt, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.
Delay in Accepting Islam:
Even though he was very close to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Hakim ibn Hizam did not become a Muslim until the conquest of Makkah, which was more than twenty years after the Prophet received prophethood.
As soon as Hakim ibn Hizam accepted Islam, he began to regret every moment of his life as a disbeliever.
Hakim ibn Hizam’s Tears of Regret:
Hakim’s son once saw him crying and asked: Why are you weeping, my father?
Hakim ibn Hizam replied: Many things cause me to weep, my dear son. The most grievous is the length of time it took for me to become a Muslim. Acceptance of Islam would have given me so many opportunities to do good which I missed even if I were to have spent the earth in gold. My life was spared at the battle of Badr and also at the battle of Uhud. After Uhud. I said to myself. I would not help any Quraysh against Muhammad ﷺ, and I would not leave Makkah. Then, whenever I felt like accepting Islam I would look at other men among the Quraysh. men of power and maturity who remained firmly attached to the ideas and practices of Jahiliyyah and I would fall in line with them and their neighbours… Oh, how I wish I had not done so. nothing has destroyed us except the blind following of our forefathers and elders. Why should I not weep, my son?
The Prophet’s Hope for Hakim ibn Hizam:
For a long time, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ hoped that Hakim ibn Hizam would accept Islam.
On the night before the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet told his companions: There are four persons in Makkah whom I consider to be above having any dealings with shirk and I would dearly like them to accept Islam.
The companions asked: who are they? The Prophet replied: Attab ibn Usayd, Jubayr ibn Mut’im, Hakim ibn Hizam and Suhayl ibn Amr.
Eventually, they all accepted Islam and became Muslims.
Hakim’s House Declared a Place of Safety During the Liberation of Makkah:
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ entered Makkah to liberate the city from polytheism, he ordered his messengers to say: Whoever declares that there is no God but Allah alone, that He has no partner and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger, he is safe. Whoever sits at the Kabah and lays down his weapons, he is safe. Whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyan, he is safe. Whoever enters the house of Hakim ibn Hizam he is safe.
Commitment After Islam:
When Hakim ibn Hizam embraced Islam, he made a promise to himself that he would make up for whatever he had done during his days in disbelief.
Hakim ibn Hizam promised that whatever amount he had spent in the process of going against the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he would spend the same amount in the cause of Islam.
Owning the Darun-Nadwah:
Hakim ibn Hizam owned the Darun- Nadwah, which was an important and historic building in Makkah.
In this building the Quraysh leaders would gather to plot against the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
However, Hakim decided to get rid of this building in order to remove his previous associations with it. He sold the Darun-Nadwah for one hundred thousand dirhams.
Reaction to Selling the Darun-Nadwah:
One man from the Quraysh said to Hakim ibn Hizam: You have sold something of great historical value and pride to the Quraysh.
Hakim ibn Hizam replied: Come now, my son. All the vain pride and glory has now gone and all that remains of value is taqwa (consciousness of Allah). I have only sold the building in order to acquire a house in Paradise. I swear to you that I have given the proceeds from it to be spent in the path of Allah.
Sacrifices and Generosity for the Sake of Allah:
First Hajj:
Hakim ibn Hizam performed Hajj after becoming a Muslim and on his way to Makkah, he took one hundred camels and sacrificed them all for the sake of Allah SWT.
Following Hajj:
In Hakim’s next Hajj, Hakim ibn Hizam stood on Mount Arafat with one hundred slaves, and gave each slave a pendant of silver which was engraved: ‘Free for the sake of Allah Almighty from Hakim ibn Hizam.’
A Third Hajj:
On the third Hajj that Hakim participated in, he took one thousand sheep and sacrificed them all at Mina to feed the poor Muslims.
Wealth and Contentment:
After the battle of Hunayn, Hakim ibn Hizam asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for some of the spoils of war that the Muslims gained.
Hakim ibn Hizam then asked for a bigger share and the Prophet granted him this request.
At this point, Hakim ibn Hizam was still one of the new Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was known to be generous to newcomers to strengthen their attachment to the religion of Islam.
Hakim ibn Hizam ended with a large share of the spoils of war.
The Prophet’s Advice to Hakim ibn Hizam:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told him: O Hakim! This wealth is indeed sweet and attractive. Whoever takes it and is satisfied will be blessed by it and whoever takes out of greed will not be blessed. He would be like someone who eats and is not satisfied. The upper hand is better than the lower hand (it is better to give than to receive).
When Hakim ibn Hizam heard this, he said to the Prophet: O Messenger of Allah! By Him who has sent you with the truth, I shall not ask anyone after you for anything.
Faithful to His Word:
During the caliphate of Abu Bakr, Hakim was called many times to collect his payment from the Bayt al-mal (Muslim treasury) but he refused to take any money.
Hakim ibn Hizam did the same during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab.
Hadiths Narrated by Hakim ibn Hizam:
Hakim ibn Hizam narrated: I asked the Messenger of Allah (for some money) and he gave me, and then again I asked him and he gave me, and then again I asked him and he gave me and he then said: This wealth is (like) green and sweet (fruit), and whoever takes it without greed, Allah will bless it for him, but whoever takes it with greed, Allah will not bless it for him, and he will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied. And the upper (giving) hand is better than the lower (taking) hand. (Bukhari)