Wahshi ibn Harb

The Spear at Uhud

Wahshi was an Abyssinian slave in Makkah and a peerless thrower of the spear. Jubayr ibn Mut’im promised him his freedom if he killed Hamza, the Prophet’s ﷺ uncle, in revenge for Tu’ayma — Jubayr’s uncle slain at Badr. Wahshi lay in wait at Uhud and struck Hamza down. He was freed, and fled to Ta’if when Makkah fell. 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 533 — Kandhlawi — Wahshi, promised freedom by Jubayr ibn Mut'im in revenge for Tu'ayma, kills Hamza at Uhud and is set free.

Repentance and Atonement

Fearing his sins — bloodshed, idolatry — were beyond forgiveness, Wahshi held back from Islam, until verses came down of the vastness of Allah’s mercy, and he came to Madinah and embraced Islam. The Prophet ﷺ accepted his faith, asking only that he keep from his sight, for the memory of his uncle. 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 80–81, 533–534 — Kandhlawi — Wahshi fears his sins unforgivable; verses of mercy are revealed; he embraces Islam; the Prophet asks him to stay from his sight. In atonement, at Yamamah, Wahshi used the same spear to slay the false prophet Musaylama — saying he had killed the best of men (Hamza) in ignorance, and now the worst of men in Islam. 3 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 534 — Kandhlawi — Wahshi kills Musaylama at Yamamah with the same spear; 'the best of men, then the worst'.

‘Avoid Appearing Before Me’

The Prophet ﷺ later asked Wahshi to narrate the killing of Hamza in his own words — and after listening, said:

“Avoid appearing before me — the death of my uncle is revived when I see you.”