Ibn Hibban

Iyas bin Salamah narrates from his father (Sayyiduna Salamah bin Akwa’ رضي الله عنه): On the occasion of Hudaybiyyah, I came to Madinah Munawwarah with the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). I and the Prophet’s slave Rabah set out with the camels. When it became somewhat dark, ‘Abdur Rahman bin ‘Uyainah attacked the Prophet’s camels, killed their shepherd, and took the camels away with him. There were some other people with him as well. I said: O Rabah, mount this horse and take it to Sayyiduna Talhah رضي الله عنه and inform the Prophet (ﷺ) that his camels have been attacked. Sayyiduna Salamah رضي الله عنه says: I climbed a hill, turned my face towards Madinah Munawwarah, and then I called out loudly three times, “Danger!” Then I set off after those people. I had a sword and a spear with me. I would strike them with the spear and recite rajaz poetry to them, until we reached a place where there were many trees. Meanwhile, a horseman turned back towards me. I sat down by the trunk of a tree to confront him. Then I shot him with an arrow, and after that, no horseman came towards me except that I cut the legs of his horse. I kept shooting arrows and kept saying, “I am the son of Akwa’, and today is the day of the destruction of the lowly ones.” I came to a man and shot him with an arrow while he was on his mount. My arrow struck his mount and penetrated into his shoulder. So I said, “Take it! I am the son of Akwa’, and today is the day of the destruction of the lowly ones.” When I was among the trees, I would shoot arrows at them, and when the valleys became narrow, I would climb the mountain and throw stones at them. My engagement with them continued like this; I kept following them and reciting rajaz poetry to them, until I had snatched every she-camel of the Prophet (ﷺ) from their hands. Still, I kept shooting arrows at them, until I had taken more than thirty spears and more than thirty cloaks from them. They were lightening their loads; whatever they threw down, I would place a stone on it and gather it for the Prophet (ﷺ)’s path. When the day broke, ‘Uyainah bin Badr Fazaari came to help them. At that time, they were in a narrow valley. I climbed the mountain. ‘Uyainah said, “Who is this?” At that time, I was above them. They said, “We have been troubled by him for a long time; since morning, he has not left us alone, and now it has come to this, he has taken everything we had and placed it behind him.” ‘Uyainah said, “If he sees attackers coming from behind, he will leave you. Some of you go to him.” Four men from among them went towards me. They climbed the mountain. When my voice reached them, I said, “Do you know me?” They asked, “Who are you?” I said, “I am the son of Akwa’. By the One who honored the face of Muhammad (ﷺ), whoever among you comes looking for me will not reach me, and whoever I seek will not remain hidden from me.” One of them said, “I think so (it is as you say).” Sayyiduna Salamah رضي الله عنه says: So I remained sitting there until I saw the Prophet (ﷺ)’s horsemen coming through the trees. At the front was Akhram Asadi, behind him was Abu Qatadah, and behind him was Miqdad Kindi. The narrator says: The polytheists turned their backs and fled. I descended from the mountain and came before Akhram. I said, “O Akhram, try to avoid them, for I fear they may harm you. Wait until the Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions arrive.” Akhram said, “O Salamah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day, and know that Paradise is true and Hell is true, then do not stand between me and martyrdom.” The narrator says: So Sayyiduna Salamah رضي الله عنه let go of his horse’s reins. He reached ‘Abdur Rahman bin ‘Uyainah. ‘Abdur Rahman attacked him; their spears clashed. Akhram cut the legs of ‘Abdur Rahman’s animal, and ‘Abdur Rahman wounded and martyred him. Then ‘Abdur Rahman mounted Akhram’s horse. Then Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه reached ‘Abdur Rahman. Their spears clashed. He cut the legs of Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah’s animal, so Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه killed him. Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه returned riding Akhram’s horse. Then I continued following those people until I could no longer see anything of the Prophet (ﷺ)’s companions in the dust, while the enemy reached a valley with water just before sunset. That place was called Dhu Qarad. They intended to drink water there. When they saw me coming after them, they left that place and went to the valley of Dhi Sabeel. Meanwhile, the sun set. I came to a man and shot him with an arrow. I said, “Take it! I am the son of Akwa’, and today is the day of the destruction of the lowly ones.” He said, “May my mother weep for me, is it Akwa’ of the morning?” I said, “Yes, O enemy of your own soul.” He was the same person whom I had shot with an arrow in the morning. I shot him with a second arrow, so he was struck by two arrows, and he let go of two horses. I drove both of them and brought them to the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) was at that time at the water of Dhu Qarad. The Prophet (ﷺ) was with some companions. Sayyiduna Bilal رضي الله عنه was there, who had slaughtered one of the camels I had left behind. He was roasting its liver and thigh for the Prophet (ﷺ). I said, “O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), grant me permission to select one hundred men from your companions and then attack the disbelievers. I will not leave any informer among them except that I will kill him.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “O Salamah, have you done this?” I said, “Yes, by the One who honored your face.” The Prophet (ﷺ) smiled until I could see the teeth at the sides of your mouth in the light of the fire. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Those people must have reached the land of Ghatafan by now.” Then a man from Ghatafan came and informed that those people had camped at such-and-such Ghatafani’s place. He had slaughtered a camel for them. While they were skinning it, they saw dust, so they left it and fled. The next morning, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The best of our horsemen today is Abu Qatadah, and the best of our foot soldiers today is Salamah.” Then the Prophet (ﷺ) gave me the share of both a foot soldier and a horseman. The Prophet (ﷺ) made me ride behind him on his she-camel ‘Adhba’, and we returned to Madinah Munawwarah. When we were some distance from Madinah Munawwarah, one of the attendees, who was from the Ansar and whom no one could beat in a race, began to call out loudly, “Is there anyone to compete? Will anyone race to Madinah Munawwarah?” He announced this several times. At that time, I was behind the Prophet (ﷺ). I said, “O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), may my parents be sacrificed for you, allow me to compete with this man.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If you wish (then do so).” I said to the Ansari, “Come on (I will compete with you).” He dismounted his mount, I bent my leg and got down from the she-camel, then I let him get ahead to one or two hills (with full force I ran) and caught up with him. I struck him between his shoulders with my hand and said, “By Allah, you have lost,” until we reached Madinah Munawwarah.