Hakim bin Hazm

 

Hakim’s mother and some other women entered the

Kaaba one day.  Suddenly Hakim’s mother began to have birth pains and couldn’t leave.  Someone brought a leather cover used for births.  His mother gave birth to Hakim in the Kaaba.  He is the only person born inside the Kaaba.

Hakim grew up in a wealthy and noble family.  Hakim’s father was the brother of Khadija bint al-Khuwaylid, the Prophet’s first wife.  Hakim was an intelligent and well-mannered person.  His people respected him.  They gave him the duty of helping poor pilgrims to the Kaaba.  He took his duty seriously and helped poor people with his money.

Hakim was a close friend of Muhammad’s (pbuh) before his prophethood.  He was five years older than the Prophet.  Hakim enjoyed talking with Muhammad (pbuh).  Later the Prophet married his aunt, Khadija, and their ties became even stronger.

However, Hakim was not one of the first Muslims.  He didn’t accept Islam until the conquest of Mecca.  Then he became a Muslim and tasted the sweetness of faith.  He felt deep regret for his years of paganism.  Hakim was sorry he had denied God’s religion and the Prophet. 

Hakim’s son saw him crying once and asked, “Why are you crying, Father?”

“Son,” he replied, “many things make me cry.  First, I came late to Islam.  I was at the battles of Badr and Uhud.  After Uhud I said to myself, ‘I will not help the Qureish against Muhammad (pbuh) and I will not leave Mecca.  But I helped them.  I wish now, I hadn’t helped.  That’s why I’m crying.”

The Prophet was puzzled because Hakim came to Islam so late.  On the night before the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet said to his companions, “There are four persons in Mecca whom I would like to see as Muslims.”

“Who are they, Rasul Allah?” asked the companions.

“Hattab bin Usayd, Zubayr bin Mutim, Hakim bin Hazm and Suhayl bin Amr,” replied the Prophet. 

By God’s grace they all became Muslim.

When the Prophet entered Mecca to free the city from paganism, he had this announcement made:

‘Whoever declares that there is no god but Allah, that He has no partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, he is safe . . .

Whoever sits at the Ka’ba and lays down his weapons, he is safe . . .

Whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyan, he is safe . . .’

Whoever enters the house of Hakim bin Hazm, he is safe . . .’

Abu Sufyan’s house was in the upper part of Mecca and Hakim’s house was in the lower part of the city.  Hakim accepted Islam with his whole heart.  He was very sorry for the days he had spent as a pagan.  He swore to repay what he had spent as an enemy of Islam.  He kept his word. 

Hakim owned an important and historical house in Mecca.  The Qureish held their meetings there during the Days of Ignorance.  Some Qureish leaders met there to plot against the Prophet.

Hakim wanted to get rid of that building.  It reminded him of the past.  He sold it for one hundred thousand dirhams.  A Qureish youth exclaimed, “Uncle, you’ve sold something of great historical value and pride to the Qureish.”

“I sold it to get a house in Paradise,” replied Hakim.  “You are my witness.  I have given the money from the house to be spent on the path of God.”

Hakim made the pilgrimage after he became a Muslim.  He took one hundred camels with him and sacrificed them all for God’s sake. 

At another pilgrimage, Hakim had one hundred slaves with him at Arafat.  Each one had a silver ring around his neck.  On each ring it was written, “Freed by Hakim bin Hazm for God’s sake.”  All one hundred slaves were set free.

On still another pilgrimage, Hakim took one thousand sheep with him.  He sacrificed them all at Mina.  He gave the meat to poor Muslims there. 

After the Battle of Hunayn, Hakim had asked the Prophet for some booty.  The Prophet had given it to him.  Then he had asked for more and the Prophet had given more.  He had received around one hundred camels.  Hakim was a new Muslim then.

The Prophet had told him, “This wealth is very sweet.  Whoever takes it and is satisfied will be blessed.  But whoever takes it from greed will not be blessed.  The giving hand is better than the receiving hand.”

These words had affected Hakim deeply.  He said, “Rasul Allah, I swear by the One who sent you with the truth.  I will not take anything from anyone again.”

During the caliphates of Abu Bakr and Umar, Hakim was called several times to get money.  But he remained true to his word.  He didn’t take anything from anyone during the rest of his life.