Mother of the believers, Hadrat Umm Salamah (radiyallahu anha) said: “(Among) The Du‘as which Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) often made was, ‘Ya muqalliba’l-qulub, thabbit qalbi ‘ala dinika’ (O, Allah who changes the hearts! Keep my heart firm on your religion).” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)

ABDULLAH BIN HUZAFAH (RADIYALLAHU ANH)

Abu Rafi (radiyallahu anh) narrated:

Hadrat Umar (radiyallahu anh) deployed an army over the Romans. During the battle, some Muslims were taken as prisoners among whom was Abdullah bin Huzafah (radiyallahu anh). The Roman officials took him to their king saying that he was a companion of Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). The tyrant king said to him: “Will you become a Christian if I make you my partner in my kingdom and power.” He answered in negative: “Even if you give me your sovereignty and that of the Arabs to renounce my religion, I will not do what you said even for the blink of an eye.” “Then I will execute you,” said the king. “It is up to you,” said Hadrat Abdullah (radiyallahu anh).

Upon the king’s order, they nailed Hadrat Abdullah (radiyallahu anh) on a cross. The king ordered the archers to shoot close to his hands and feet. Under these tortures, the king was incessantly offering him to convert to Christianity, yet he refused each time. Finally, the king ordered his men to unnail him. Then, he commanded his men to fetch a large cauldron. They boiled water inside it. They proposed one of the Muslim prisoners to convert to their faith. Since he refused, he was martyred in the boiling water. After that, the king ordered Hadrat Abdullah (radiyallahu anh) to be thrown into the boiling water. When he was brought to the cauldron, he cried. When he was asked the reason for his crying, he said:

“A thought crossed my mind. I will be thrown into the cauldron now and die. I wish I had souls as much as the hair on my body and sacrificed all of them for Allah’s cause.” The king changed his offer this time, saying: “If you kiss my forehead, I will set you free.” “I will do so if you release all the Muslim prisoners,” responded Hadrat Abdullah (radiyallahu anh). The king agreed. Hadrat Abdullah (radiyallahu anh) approached and kissed his forehead. Then, the king released them all. At later stages, when describing this scene, Hadrat Abdullah (radiyallahu anh) said: “I thought for a while. This man is one of the enemies of Allah. What will I lose if I kiss his forehead so that he releases the other Muslim prisoners and me?”.

He took all the prisoners and returned to Madinah. He informed Hadrat Umar (radiyallahu anh) about the events they had gone through. Hadrat Umar (radiyallahu anh) said: “Now, it is a duty on each Muslim to kiss Abdullah’s forehead and I am the first to do that.” He stood up and kissed Hadrat Abdullah’s forehead.