Among the noble Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, many stories shine as brightly as that of ʿUkkaashah ibn Mihsan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) — a man whose faith, courage, and sincerity earned him the rare promise of entering Paradise without reckoning. In this article, you’ll discover who ʿUkkaashah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) was, the trials he faced, the miracle that marked his bravery, and how his devotion led to one of the greatest honors any believer could receive.
Who was he?
He was one of the prominent Companions who carried the trust of the Religion on his shoulders; he who will enter Paradise without account or preceding torment. When Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was sent as a Prophet, he started calling people to Islam with wisdom and good admonition. Subsequently, Islam started to spread in Makkah, and it had an effect on the owners of heedful and living hearts.
However, the Quraish polytheists opposed the Da’wah (call to Islam) and defended their paganism. They decided to fight Islam and persecute those who accepted it by using different kinds of cruelty.
Despite that war against Islam, many among the youth who had heedful minds were looking to Islam with a pure look that was free of the impurities of ignorance. Many of them were declaring their Islam and joining this Religion which is pure of Shirk.
‘Ukkaashah ibn Mihsan ibn Hurthan ibn Qays ibn Murrah al-Asadi, an ally of Bani ‘Abd Shams was among the forerunners and early converts to Islam. His nickname was Abu Mihsan and he was renowned among the chiefs of the Companions. ‘Ukkaashah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) was one of the most handsome of men and was known for his courage and boldness as well as his mindfulness, truthful feelings, and pure conscience.
He received a lot of harm at the hands of the Quraish along with other believers. However, that did not increase him except in faith, submission, and steadfastness in holding onto his Religion.
The Quraish didn’t stop persecuting the believers even for a moment. They straitened the means of living upon the believers and tried to cause them Fitnah in their religion. [Rijaal Mubashsharoon bil-Jannah, pp. 105-106]
Fleeing to Allaah
When Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saw the afflictions and torment that was being incurred upon his Companions at the hands of the Quraish, he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) advised them to emigrate to Al-Madinah. ‘Ukkaashah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) was among those who emigrated, and there he felt the breeze of joy, rest, and security for the first time since he embraced Islam.
His Jihaad in the Cause of Allaah
After immigrating, ‘Ukkaashah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) yearned to serve this great Religion and defend it.
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) appointed ‘Ukkaashah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) to command a detachment of al-Ghamr expedition with forty men, and they did not meet with evil machination. As soon as the disbelievers knew about his (‘Ukkaashah’s) coming, they ran away leaving behind their cattle. ‘Ukkaashah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) conquered the place and took hold of two hundred camels which he drove to Al-Madinah. [Siyar A’laam An-Nubalaa’ (1/307)]
‘Ukkaashah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) participated in the battle of Badr, and on that day, he attained great feats. He also witnessed the battles of Uhud and Al-Khandaq (the Trench) and all that came after them. May Allaah be pleased with him.
His Miracle
Ibn Ishaq said: ‘Ukkaashah ibn Mihsan, an ally of Ibn ‘Abd Shams ibn ‘Abd Manaf, fought on the day of Badr with his sword until it broke in his hand. Then he came to Allaah’s Messenger and he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) gave him a piece of wood and said: “Fight with this, O ‘Ukkaashah!” When he took it from the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), he shook it and it turned into a long white steel-hard sword in his hand. He fought with it until Allaah granted victory to the Muslims. That sword is known as al-‘Aun. It never ceased to be with him while he witnessed several battles alongside Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) until he was killed during the wars of apostasy while it (the sword) was with him. [Siyar A’laam An-Nubalaa’, pp. 307 and Usd Al-Ghabah]
The Great Triumph and Happiness; no wretchedness came after it
This great master attained the glory of this world and the esteem of the Hereafter. Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had given him the glad tidings of being among the 70,000 that will enter Paradise without giving account! Bliss be yours, O fortunate martyr.
What greater honor can there be? Nothing can equal it in this world. This world and all that it consists of is only a perishable adornment and delight.
‘Ukkaashah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) will come on the Day of Judgment and enter Paradise with the beloved Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) without giving account and preceding torment. All the people will be standing at the place of gathering, having gone fifty thousand years without food or drink. They have had no shade; the sun is above their heads. They are gathered barefoot, naked, and uncircumcised. At that moment, Allaah (Jalla Jalaaluh) will order His beloved Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to enter Paradise along with the blissed group who will enter Paradise without account, of whom we don’t know, except ‘Ukkaashah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu).
How fortunate is he, by Allaah! And the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Anybody whose account (record) is questioned will surely be punished.” [Al-Bukhaari no. 6536]
Also, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Anyone whose account is questioned will be doomed.” [Saheeh Al-Jami’ no. 6579, and Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh]
It is related that Ibn ‘Abbaas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) said: “Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Nations were displayed before me; one or two prophets passed by along with a few followers. A prophet passed by accompanied by nobody. Then a big crowd of people passed in front of me and I asked: ‘Who are they, are they my followers?’ It was said: ‘No, it is Musa [Moses (‘Alayhis-salaam)] and his followers.’
It was said to me: ‘Look at the horizon.’ Behold, there was a multitude of people covering the horizon.
Then, it was said to me: ‘Look there and there about the stretching sky!’ Behold, it was said to me: ‘This is your nation, out of whom seventy thousand will enter Paradise without reckoning.'” Then the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) entered his house without telling his Companions who the 70,000 were.
So the people started talking about the issue and said: ‘It is we who have believed in Allaah and followed His Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam); therefore, those people are either ourselves or our children who are born in the Islamic era, for we were born in the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance.’ When the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) heard that, he came out and said:
‘Those people are those who do not treat themselves with Ruqya, nor do they believe in bad or good omens, nor do they get themselves cauterized (branded), but they put their trust (only) in their Lord.’
On that, ‘Ukkaashah ibn Mihsan said: ‘Am I one of them, O Allaah’s Messenger)?’ The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Yes.’ Then another person got up and said: ‘Am I one of them?’ The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘‘Ukkaashah has preceded you.'” [Saheeh: Reported by Al-Bukhaari in the Book of Medicine, no. 5705, Muslim, At-Tirmidhi, and others.]
Muslim reported on the authority of ‘Imran (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Seventy thousand people of my Ummah would be admitted into Paradise without rendering any account.” They (the Companions) said: “Who would be of those (fortunate persons)?” He [the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] said: “Those who do not cauterize and seek Ruqyah (from others), They are content and trust in their Lord.” ‘Ukkaashah then stood up and said: “Supplicate (before) Allaah that He should make me one among them.” He [the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] said: “You are one among them.” He (the narrator) said: “A man stood up and said: “O Messenger of Allaah! Supplicate (before) Allaah that He should make me one among them.” He [the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] said: “’Ukkaashah has preceded you (in this matter).” [Reported by Muslim no. 218]
Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “I heard Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying: ‘A group of my Ummah consisting of seventy thousand persons would enter Paradise; their faces would be as bright as the brightness of the full moon.’” Abu Hurairah said: “’Ukkaashah ibn Mihsan al-Asadi then stood up wrapping the blanket around him and said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, supplicate (before) Allaah that He should make me one among them.’ Upon this, the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘O Allaah, make him among them.’ Then a man from the Ansaar stood up and said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, pray to Allaah that He should make me one among them.’ The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘’Ukkaashah has preceded you in this matter.’” [Al-Bukhaari no. 6542 and Muslim no. 216c]
His Martyrdom
When Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) passed away, many Arabs apostatized and hypocrisy appeared in Al-Madinah, and many delegates were coming to Al-Madinah approving the Salaah (prayer) but abstaining from paying the Zakaat. Among them were those who refused to pay it to the Caliph of Allaah’s Messenger, Abu Bakr as-Siddique (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu). Their excuse was Allaah’s Statement in Surat At-Tawbah (9:103):
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَهُمْ ۗ
“Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allaah for them. Your prayer is comfort for them.”
They said: “We will not pay our Zakaat except to him whose prayer is comfort for us.”
Al-Bukhaari reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu):
When the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) died and Abu Bakr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) became his successor and some of the Arabs reverted to disbelief, `Umar (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “O Abu Bakr! How can you fight these people although Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: ‘Laa ilaha illa-Allaah’ (None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah), and whoever said: ‘Laa ilaha illa-Allaah’, Allaah will save his property and his life from me, unless (he does something for which he receives legal punishment justly), and his account will be with Allaah’?” Abu Bakr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “By Allaah! I will fight whoever differentiates between prayers and Zakaat, as Zakaat is the right to be taken from property (according to Allaah’s Orders). By Allaah! If they refuse to pay me even a young she-goat they used to pay to Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), I will fight with them for withholding it.” `Umar (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “By Allaah! It was nothing, but I noticed that Allaah opened Abu Bakr’s chest towards the decision to fight, therefore I realized that his decision was right.” [Al-Bukhaari no. 6924, 6925]
As-Siddique (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) decided to fight the apostates, and among the apostates was Tulaihah ibn Khuwailid al-Asadi, who claimed prophethood among his people Bani Asad and Ghatafan. Some apostates from Bani ‘Abs and Dhibyan also joined them.
‘Ukkaashah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) went forth along with Khalid ibn Waleed (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) in the days of the reign of Abu-Bakr as-Siddique (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) at Dhi-al-Qisah. He sent him and Thabit ibn Aqram (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) to the front line against Tulaihah. They both met Tulaihah al-Asadi – in the days of his apostasy – and his brother Salamah and they fought both of them. Here is the story as related by Imaam Ibn Katheer (Rahimahullaah).
Imaam Ahmad related from Wahshi ibn Harb (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that when Abu Bakr as-Siddique (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) prepared Khalid ibn Waleed (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) upon his waging war against the apostates, he said: “I heard Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say: ‘What a good ‘Abdullaah (slave of Allaah) and kin brother, is Khalid ibn Waleed, a sword from the swords of Allaah. Allaah sent him upon the Kuffar (unbelievers) and the Munafiqun (hypocrites).’” Then he ordered him to go to Tulaihah al-Asadi first, then thereafter, he should go to Banu Tamim. Meanwhile, Tulaihah was among his people, Banu Asad. Banu ‘Abs and Dhibyan also joined them.
Khalid (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) came along with his soldiers. At the head of the contingent of the Ansaar along with him was Thabit ibn Qays (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu). He sent, as his vanguard, Thabit ibn Aqram (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) and ‘Ukkaashah ibn Mihsan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) to confront Tulaihah. They both met Tulaihah and his brother Salamah among those who were with them. When they found Thabit and ‘Ukkaashah arrayed for a fight, a fight ensued. ‘Ukkaashah killed Jibaal ibn Tulaihah. Then Tulaihah unsheathed his weapon against ‘Ukkaashah and killed him. Tulaihah and his brother Salamah also jointly killed Thabit ibn Aqram. When Khalid (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) eventually came with those who were with him, he found both of them already martyred. That was heavy on the Muslims. Then he called for their bodies and they were buried with their blood on their cloth. May Allaah be pleased with them both. [See: Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah (6/321)]
Benefits
The issue of seeking treatment appears in numerous authentic Ahadeeth, among them are:
1. Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) reported that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allaah does not send down an illness except that He also sends down its cure.” [Saheeh and agreed upon]
2. Usamah ibn Shareek (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “Some Arab tribesmen came to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and asked: ‘Should we seek treatment?’ And the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Yes. O servants of Allaah. Seek treatment, for Allaah does not send an illness except that He also sends for it, a cure except for one illness.’ They said: ‘What is that?’ He replied: ‘Old age.’” [Saheeh: Reported by Ahmad (4/278), At-Tirmidhi no. 2038, and he said it is Hasan Saheeh.]
3. Abu Khudhamah narrated: “I (once) said to Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): ‘The Ruqyah that we perform, the treatment that we use to cure (ourselves), do they repulse any of Allaah’s decree?’ And the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) responded: ‘They are also part of the decree of Allaah.’” [Reported by Ahmad (3/421) and others. Al-Haakim also recorded under the same heading and adjudged it to be Saheeh and Adh-Dhahabi agreed with him.]
4. It is established in the Saheeh that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) permitted cauterization (branding). It is reported from Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) sent a doctor to Ubayy ibn Ka’b (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu). He cut the vein, then cauterized it. [An authentic Hadeeth reported by Muslim no. 2207 in the Book of Salam under the chapter: “For every ailment is a cure.”]
So how do we explain the Ahadeeth of prohibition and the Ahadeeth of permission in a way that agrees with each other without contradiction? Ibn Al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah) said:
“Several authentic narrations establish the permissibility of seeking treatment and that it does not nullify one’s Tawakkal (reliance on Allaah) just as it is not nullified by repelling the ailment of hunger, thirst, heat, and cold by their opposites. Rather, the reality of the uniqueness (of Allaah) (At-Tawhid) is not complete except with the application of the means which Allaah has connected to different ends by His decree and permission.”
He also says: “The Ahadeeth of cauterization include four types. The first of them is his application of it; second is his preference or love for it; third is his praise for avoiding it; and fourth is his prohibition of it. There is no contradiction between them, praise be to Allaah, the Most High. His application of it is an indication of its permissibility; the absence of his love for it is not indicative of his prohibition of it. As for his praise for avoiding it, it is an indication that avoiding it is better. As for his prohibiting it, it is a matter of preference and detestation or it is in regard to the type (of cauterization) that is not required that people do in fear of the occurrence of ailment, and Allaah knows best.” [Zaad al-Ma’ad (4/15), (4/65-66)]
From the foregoing, whoever abandons seeking treatment has taken to resoluteness and whoever seeks treatment has preferred its permission. Altogether, the matter depends on the ability of the servant. “Wherever there is a benefit, you will find the Shari’ah of Allaah.”
Sources:
Men and Women Around the Messenger, published by Darussalam
As-haab Ar-Rasool, by Mahmoud Al-Masri
