Betrayed on the Expedition of Raji’
Khubayb ibn Adiy was an Ansari who had fought at Badr. After Uhud he was among a party sent to teach Islam who were betrayed at Raji’ by the tribes who had asked for them; captured, he was sold to the Quraysh in Makkah, bought by the kin of a man he had slain at Badr, and held for execution. 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 504–505 — Kandhlawi — the betrayal at Raji'; Khubayb captured and sold in Makkah for execution. In his captivity a woman saw him eating a bunch of grapes out of season while in chains, reckoned it provision from Allah; and when a child of the house wandered to him holding a razor, he calmed their alarm, saying he would never harm the child. 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 505 — Kandhlawi — Khubayb eats grapes out of season in chains; his gentleness with the child and the razor.
The Two Rak’ahs
Led out to Tan’im to be killed, Khubayb asked leave to pray, and prayed two rak’ahs — saying he would have prayed longer but that they might think he feared death. Asked whether he would wish the Prophet ﷺ in his place, he answered he would not accept even a thorn pricking the Prophet’s ﷺ foot to ransom his own life. He was then martyred. 3 Stories of the Sahabah · pp. 108–109 — Zakariyya Kandhlawi — Khubayb prays two rak'ahs before execution; his refusal to wish even a thorn to harm the Prophet; his martyrdom.
A Curse Upon His Executioners
As he hung upon the wood, Khubayb raised his hands and supplicated against the Quraysh who were killing him. Mu’awiya later recalled that his father Abu Sufyan had thrown him to the ground that day, fearing the curse would strike his son if it fell. 4 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 508–510 — Kandhlawi — Mu'awiya's recollection: Abu Sufyan threw him to the ground at Khubayb's execution out of fear of the curse.
A Body Unchanged After Forty Days
When Zubayr and al-Miqdad were dispatched to retrieve the body, they found it unchanged after forty days. As they brought it down, the earth swallowed it — and he came to be known as “Bali’ al-Ard”, the one the earth swallowed. 5 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 508–510 — Kandhlawi — Khubayb's body unchanged after 40 days; the earth swallows it when Zubayr and al-Miqdad retrieve it.
Virtues in the Hadith
Bukhari records that it was Khubayb who established this sunnah:
وَكَانَ خُبَيْبٌ هُوَ سَنَّ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ قُتِلَ صَبْرًا الصَّلاَةَ
”And it was Khubayb who set the practice, for every Muslim killed in captivity, of the prayer (before execution).”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3989 · Book 64 (Military Expeditions), Hadith 40 · USC-MSA: Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 325 · narrated by Abu Hurayra
Life Timeline
Born in Madinah
Of the Aws.
Fights at Badr
Betrayed on the expedition of Raji'
Captured and sold to the Quraysh in Makkah.
Executed at Tan'im
After praying two rak'ahs — the first to set that sunnah.
References
- Hayatus Sahaba — Kandhlawi — the Raji' expedition; Khubayb's captivity, the grapes out of season, and his execution Vol 1 · pp. 504–509
- Stories of the Sahabah — Zakariyya Kandhlawi — Khubayb's captivity and martyrdom; his two rak'ahs and his salaam to the Prophet ﷺ pp. 103–109
- Sahih al-Bukhari — Khubayb was the first to set the practice of two rak'ahs before execution pp. 3989 (Book 64, Hadith 40)