Sayyiduna Shurahbil ibn Hasanah Radiyallahu Anhu

 Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl b. Ḥasanah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا

Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl b. Ḥasanah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا was an eminent general and famous Companion of the beloved Prophet Muhammadصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .

His full name was Shuraḥbīl b. ꜤAbdullāh. His mother’s name was Ḥasanah, and she was also a noble Companion.[1]

He was a towering figure of early Islamic history whose courage, piety, and character left an indelible mark.

His virtues and early life

Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was a Companion of Allah’s Messenger and one of the scribes of revelation.[2] He migrated to Abyssinia along with his mother, brother, and two nephews. In 7 AH, when Sayyidunā JaꜤfar رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ and other Muhājirīn رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُم returned from Abyssinia to Medina, he too was among them.[3]

He was one of the prominent commanders whom the first Caliph of Islam, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, appointed to lead the campaign for the conquest of the Levant.[4] The conquest of the cities and fortresses of present-day Jordan was also achieved under his command.[5]

His piety and simplicity

His life was a model of piety and asceticism. Once, Sayyidah Shifāˈ رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا visited his home when time for prayer began. Finding him still seated, she gently reproached him, saying, “Time for prayer has come, yet you sit here.” He softly replied, “My beloved paternal aunt! Please do not reproach me. We had two garments; one of them was borrowed by the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and the other is an old, patched shirt.”[6]

Conquest of Damascus and the Battle of Yarmūk

Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl b. Ḥasanahرَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا was a valiant and fearless commander. During the battle for the conquest of Damascus, when the Roman army attacked, he addressed the Muslims powerfully by saying:

“O Muslims! Do not fear for your lives. Seek the Paradise of your Lord. Please your Creator through your actions, for Allah does not love those who flee from battle. Attack them! May Allah shower His blessings upon you!”

The believers, inspired by his words, launched a fierce counterattack, and a severe clash ensued.[7]

In 15 AH, during the Battle of Yarmūk, he engaged in combat with a Roman commander. The duel was intense. As the Roman commander attempted to assail him, he responded with a spear strike, which the former avoided. They both then fought until their swords broke. The Roman was a huge and powerful man, while Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was of a lean build. As they grappled, the enemy pressed him down with such force that he was nearly martyred.

At that critical moment, Sayyidunā Ḍirār b. al-Azwarرَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ  exclaimed to himself, “Woe unto me! Will the Prophet’s scribe be martyred while I remain silent?” He swiftly charged forward, struck the Roman commander from behind with his dagger, and killed him.[8]

Miraculous assistance

During the Battle of Caesarea, the Romans numbered eighty thousand, while the Muslims were only five thousand. It was extremely cold and the sky was overcast. As Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ fought with the Roman fighter Qaydamūn, it began to rain heavily. Both dismounted from their horses and began wrestling in the mud.

At one point, Qaydamūn brought Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ to the ground and climbed atop his chest, intending to martyr him. At that perilous moment, Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ cried out: یَا غِیَاثَ الْمُسْتَغِیْثِیْن — “O Helper of those who seek help!”

Instantly, a warrior clad in golden armour, mounted on a noble steed, emerged from the Roman ranks. Qaydamūn thought he had come to aid him. As soon as the warrior reached them on horseback, he leapt from his horse, kicked Qaydamūn off, and said, “O servant of Allah! Help has come to you from the Helper of those who seek help.”

Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ stood up in amazement and gazed at him with wonder, for the horseman’s face was veiled. The warrior then unsheathed his sword and, with a single strike, severed Qaydamūn’s head from his body.

“By Allah!” Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ said, “I have never witnessed anything more astonishing than this — you emerged from the Roman army!” The warrior replied, “I am the wretched and accursed Ṭulayḥah b. Khuwaylid, who falsely claimed prophethood after the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and lied about Allah.”

Shuraḥbīl said, “My brother! Indeed, Allah’s mercy encompasses all things. Whoever repents and turns back to Allah, He accepts their repentance and forgives their past sins. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Repentance wipes out previous sins.’”

Ṭulayḥah replied, “I have no reason to return to Islam.” He then turned to leave, but Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ stopped him, saying, “I shall not let you go. Come with me and join the Muslim army.” Ṭulayḥah said, “I fear Khālid b. Walīd may kill me.”

Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reassured, “Khālid is not in this army. Our commander here is ꜤAmr b. al-ꜤĀṣ.” He then brought Ṭulayḥah to the Muslim camp. When Sayyidunā ꜤAmr b. al-ꜤĀṣ رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ saw Ṭulayḥah, he was overjoyed and warmly welcomed him. Ṭulayḥah once again entered the fold of Islam and proved to be a sincere and devoted Muslim for the rest of his life.[9]

His Reaction to the Plague of ꜤAmwās

In 18 AH, when the plague of ꜤAmwās spread throughout Syria, the then governor of Syria advised the people; “This is a punishment, so flee to the mountains and valleys for safety.”

When this statement reached Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, he was deeply displeased and said:

“By Allah! I was blessed to be a Companion of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. This [plague] is neither a punishment nor a curse. It is a mercy from your Lord and a means of departure for the righteous who preceded you.”[10]

Removal from Office during the Caliphate of Sayyidunā ꜤUmar رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ

When the second Caliph of Islam, Sayyidunā ꜤUmar b. al-Khaṭṭābرَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ  became caliph, he relieved Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ of his command. Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ asked, “O Amīr al-Muˈminīn! Have I committed any act of dishonesty, or have I become unfit for this position?”

Sayyidunā ꜤUmar رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ declared, “Neither have you been dishonest nor are you unfit. I have merely found someone with a wider skillset, and it would be unfair to overlook him.”

Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ humbly requested, “Please announce this publicly, so people do not assume I was dismissed for any fault.”  Sayyidunā ꜤUmarرَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ  accepted this request and made this clarification before the people.[11]

Passing Away

Sayyidunā Shuraḥbīl b. Ḥasanah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا passed away at the age of sixty-seven, during the plague of ꜤAmwās, in the year 18 AH.[12]

He spent his entire life in service of Islam, in jihad for the sake of Allah, and in worship and piety, leaving behind a shining legacy for future generations—a radiant example of courage, humility, and unwavering faith.