A Lone Mission
The Prophet ﷺ heard that Khalid ibn Sufyan al-Hudhali was gathering men at Urana to attack the Muslims, and he sent Abdullah ibn Unays — alone — to deal with him. The Prophet ﷺ told him: “When you see him, you will find him trembling.” At Urana Abdullah approached the camp at the time of Asr, posing as an Arab volunteer; he prayed his Asr with gestures as he walked so as not to miss it, struck Khalid down, and returned safely to Madinah. 1 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 1 · pp. 333–334 — Idris Kandhlawi — Abdullah ibn Unays approaches Khalid's camp as a volunteer, kills him, and returns.
The Staff of Paradise
On his return the Prophet ﷺ took him into his room and gave him a staff, saying: “Keep it as a token between me and you on the Day of Resurrection — for few will lean on a staff that day.” Abdullah tied the staff to his sword and never parted from it; he willed that it be buried with him, and so it was. 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 472 — Kandhlawi — the Prophet gives Abdullah ibn Unays a staff as a token of Paradise; he ties it to his sword and is buried with it.
Life Timeline
Born of Juhayna
Sent to deal with Khalid ibn Sufyan al-Hudhali at Urana
Receives the staff as a token of Paradise
Dies in Syria
References
- Hayatus Sahaba — Kandhlawi — Abdullah ibn Unays sent to Khalid ibn Sufyan; the Prophet ﷺ gives him a staff as a token of Paradise Vol 1 · pp. 472
- Seerat-e-Mustafa — Idris Kandhlawi — Abdullah ibn Unays infiltrates Khalid's camp and slays him; returns to the Prophet ﷺ Vol 1 · pp. 333–334