After reaching Makkah, Hazrat Khabaab رضیا للہتعالیٰعنہ adopted the profession of ironsmith. He started making swords and sold them. This provided him with reasonable income. He was living a comfortable life. In the same period, he got the invitation of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) through someone. ______________________________________________________
After the battle of Siffeen, when Sayyedana Hazrat Ali کرم اللہ وجہہُ travelled to his capital Koofa, he saw seven graves outside the city. He enquired the people: ‘Whose graves are these? When we left Koofa, no grave was here.’ He was answered: ‘Ameer al Momineen رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ ,that first grave is of Hazrat Khabaab Bin Arat رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ who was the first one to be buried here as per his testament. Rest of the graves belong to the people who were followers of Hazrat Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ and buried here by his relatives.’ Listening to this, the Lion of Allah, Hazrat Ali رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ , had tears in his eyes. The most pious personality amongst all at that time involuntarily said: ‘May Allah shower his blessings upon Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ . He willfully and gladly embraced Islam, happily migrated, led his entire life in Jihad and faced enormous difficulties for the true cause. Allah Almighty does not let the Aamal of noble people go waste.’ After saying this Hazrat Ali رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ stood near the graves and continued praying for forgiveness for Hazrat Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ and the other deceased persons. Hazrat Khabaab Bin Arat رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ , sighting the grave of whom Hazrat Ali رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ had tears in his eyes, was the same personality who with his determination and piety has left such footprints, which are an everlasting example for the believers to follow till end of the world.
Half a century ago, despite being a destitute and helpless slave, he chose a path full of thorns. This was the path of righteousness. On this journey, Hazrat Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ suffered such dire atrocities that even greatest of all Sahabaرضوان اللہ علیہم اجمئین used to become anxious. Hazrat Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ was the same person who once in the Farooqi era went to meet the Ameer al Momineen. To pay him mark of respect, Hazrat Farooq e Azam رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ made him sit on his seat and addressed the people:‘ Other than Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ there is only one person who deserves to sit on this seat.’ Hazrat Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ enquired: ‘Ameer al Momineen رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ who is that person?’ He replied: ‘Bilal Bin Rabah رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ ’. He submitted: ‘Ameer al Momineen رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ there were many amongst the Mushrikeen (non-believers) who extended help to Bilal رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ through whom Allah rescued him but I had no one on my side.’ Then he narrated the account of pitiful sufferings he had gone through. Hearing the same, the eyes of Farooq e Azam رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ and other companions got filled with tears.
It was the same Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ resting under the soil; and Haider e Karrar رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ standing along his grave with tears filled in his eyes and his tongue pleading for his forgiveness.
After reaching Makkah, Hazrat Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ adopted the profession of ironsmith. He started making swords and sold them. This provided him with reasonable income. He was living a comfortable life. In the same period, he got the invitation of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) through someone. Till that time only five great personalities had embraced Islam which were Hazrat Khadijatul Kubra رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہا , Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddique رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ , Hazrat Ali رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ , Hazrat Zaid Bin Haritha رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ and Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ .
Makkah’s atmosphere was very saddening. Mushrikeen were not willing even to hear the name of Islam. In fact, embracing Islam at that time was like inviting horrible sufferings. For having accepted Islam, even an influential and powerful person was not able to remain safe from the vengeance of the Mushrikeen. Hazrat Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ was a destitute and helpless slave, but Almighty Allah had blessed him with chaste nature and a lion’s heart. Hearing the voice of truth, he did not hesitate for a moment and welcomed it without any fear of the consequences. Thus he attained the honour and name as Sadith al Islam (Sixth Muslim) amongst the Al Sabiqoon al Awwaloon (The First Believers). From the moment he announced his embracing of Islam, Kuffar (non-believers) started their forceful retribution against him. They carried out such brutal atrocities on the pitiable Hazrat Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ which were beyond humanity and ethics. They would make him bare and lay him over glowing coal with a heavy rock on his chest. At times they used to make him lie on embers and a huge man would sit over him so that he was unable to change sides., Hazrat Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ continued to bear the hardship with patience and determination to such an extent that the blood and secretions dripping from his wounds would cool down these embers. Some time passed while he was continuing to bear these sufferings. One day he came to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and submitted: ‘ Allah’s Apostle ﷺ , why don’t you ﷺ pray to Allah for us?’ Hearing this, face of the Holy Prophet ﷺ glowed. He ﷺ said: ‘In the past there were people whose flesh was scraped with steel combs so they left with them nothing except bones and muscles. Even such punishments could not dither their faith on the religion. They heads were sawed from between and they were sliced in two halves. Yet they did not abandon the religion. Allah’s religion will for sure succeed.’ Listening to the Holy Prophet ﷺ , Hazrat Khabaab’s رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ gained strength and he silently left for home. Hazrat Khabaab’s رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ mistress was a very ruthless woman. She treated him brutally. At times she made him lay down under scorching sun or occasionally burn his head with blazing iron. The Holy Prophet ﷺ would become highly grieved upon hearing about brutalities of Umm-e-Anmaar and conciliated Hazrat Khabaab رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ . When that ill fated woman used to know about the sympathy of the Holy Prophet ﷺ , she further intensified her cruelties. Thus Hazrat Khabaab’s رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ continued to suffer from agony and distress for years until the verdict for migration arrived and subsequently he رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ migrated to Madinah. He did not migrate to avoid sufferings but in order to attain Allah’s will. When the series of Ghazawaat (the Holy Wars) commenced, Hazrat Khabaab’s رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ accompanied the Holy Prophet ﷺ in all the Ghazawaat from the beginning till the last one.
At times during the era of the Khulfa-e-Rashideen (the first four Muslim Caliphs), Hazrat Khabaab’s رضی ا للہ تعالیٰ عنہ used to cry a lot and would say: ‘We migrated with the Holy Prophet ﷺ only for the ordain of Allah. Our reward is with Allah Almighty.’ During his last days he settled in Koofa and where he fell extremely sick in 37 Hijrah. In his last moments, some people came to visit him and during conversation said: ‘You should become happy as after leaving this world you will meet your lost friends at the Hoaz-e-Kausar (the Holy Pond in heaven).’ Listening to this he became lamenting and went back to his creator in the same condition.
