Hakam bin Abil Aas – Spying for the
Jews, Infidels and the Hypocrites

          Ibn e Abil Hadeed writes in the ‘Sharh e Nehjul Balagha’: At the time of the Holy Prophet’s demise, Marwan was eight years old. It is said that he accompanied his father when he was exiled towards Ta’if but was a child who could’nt understand things; Marwan did not see the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.).

          The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) expelled Hakam, the father of Marwan, from Medina and sent him on exile towards Ta’if and he lived in Ta’if until Othman came to power and brought him back to Medina.

          Hakam and his son returned to Medina during the reign of Othman. Hakam died in Medina. Othman appointed Marwan as his advisor and associated himself to him and Marwan remained dominant on Othman until he was killed.

          Hakam bin Abil Aas, who was Othman’s uncle, was one among those who accepted Islam after the conquest of Mecca and they were aided in monitory terms in order to mold their hearts. Hakam died during the reign of Othman and a few months before Othman’s assassinated.

          There is a difference with regard to his exile by the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.). It is said that he used to hide himself at some place for conspiring and deceptive purposes and disclosed all the confidential information that was discussed by the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) with his companions in front of the disbelievers of Mecca, or exposed the secrets discussed by the Holy Prophet regarding the hypocrites and other infidels, and when it was proved that he had committed these activities, the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) sent him on exile.

          It is also said that he always tried to secretly hear all the conversations made by the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) with his wives and tried to gain information regarding all the ongoing incidents and confidential details, and thereafter, he informed the hypocrites of all the details in the form of mockery.

          It is also said that he used to imitate the movements and the walking style of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) by mocking him. They say that the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) used to bend slightly towards the front while walking,[1] and Hakam used to imitate him in the same manner. He possessed extreme hatred and jealousy against the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.). One day, the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) turned back and found him behind, making peculiar movements and imitating his walking style in a mocking manner. He said: O Hakam! Be the way you are! And from that moment, Hakam suffered from constant jerks and this incident was presented in a poetic form by Abdur Rahman bin Hassan bin Thabit before Abdur Raham bin Hakam and humiliated him in this manner:

          ‘Throw stones on the bones of your cursed father and if you stone him, you have stoned a shivering and jerking lunatic. He walked in such a condition that his stomach was empty from piety and his character was disliked’.

          The author of ‘Is’teeaab’ says: The word ‘cursed father’ was said by Abdur Rahman bin Has’saan because it is narrated by Ayesha with the authentic chain from which Abu Khaithama has narrated, that:

          When Marwan said: This verse ‘And whoso said unto his parents: Fie upon you both! Do you threaten me that I shall be brought forth (again) when generations before me have passed away? And they both cry unto Allah for help (and say): Woe unto thee! Believe! Lo! The Promise of Allah is true. But he said: This is nothing but fables of the men of old’[2], has revealed regarding Abdur Rahman bin Abu Bakr - Ayesha’s brother; Ayesha said to him: “Albeit regarding you, O Marwan! I bear witness that the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) cursed your father while you were in his loin.[3]

          Even after all those indecencies and aggressions committed by Hakam bin Aas over the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), and after the aversion and abhorrence of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) with regard to him, as per a large group of Sunni clerics, Othman had great liking for him. To such an extent that he requested the Holy Prophet to call him and his son back to Medina from exile but his holiness did not pay attention to his request.

          After the demise of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), he placed his request before both Abu Bakr and Umar. Both of them declined his request. But when he attained power himself, he called both of them back to Medina and gave Hakam large sums of cash and gifts and kept his son Marwan as his official writer.

          In the book ‘Rahbard e Ahl e Sunnat be Mas’ala e Imamat’, the author writes: The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) cursed Hakam bin Abil Aas, Marwan’s father and sent him to exile from Medina towards Ta’if and even after Othman’s request before his holiness to permit him and his son in Medina, he refused his request and for this very reason, both Abu Bakr and Umar did not accept Othman’s request after the demise of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), and Hakam became famous as ‘Tareed e Rasoolullah’ or ‘expelled by the Messenger of Allah’[4].

          Hence, in his reign, Othman called Hakam along with his family back to Medina opposing the decision of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.), and blessed him with enormous gifts and prizes, and kept Marwan as his writer.

          Then Imam Ali (a.s.), Zubair, Talha, Sa’ad, Abdur Rahman and Ammar spoke to him in this regard but it did not show any result and he gave this excuse in reply to them: “If you had any relative as close as Hakam is to me, or if you had the power that I possess, you would surely permit him inside the city, whereas men worse than Hakam are living in Medina!” Then that group of men departed from his presence[5].[6]

          Most of the members of this family were the enemies of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and his holy Progeny; Mughaira bin Aas, Hakam’s brother, was one of the most hard-headed enemies of his holiness (p.b.u.h.) and had decided to martyr the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) but failed to attain his target and got cursed by the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) like his brother Hakam bin Aas. Finally, he got killed by the hands of Ammar.

          In the book ‘Nafa’eh ul Allaam fi Sawaneh ul Ayyaam’ , the author writes: Mughaira bin Aas was an expert stoner and his stone did not miss the target. While going towards Uhad, he picked three stones and said: I will kill Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) with these three stones’.

          Hence, when he saw the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) during the battle while his highness was holding a sword in his hand, he aimed at the hands of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) at first and threw one of the three stones. That stone injured the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) such that his sword fell from his hand on the ground. He cried: ‘By Laat and Uzza! Mohammad died!’

          His wicked voice reached the ears of the Leader of all leaders, Imam Ali (a.s.) and he said:

          ‘He has lied! May Allah curse him! The Messenger (p.b.u.h.) did not get killed.’

          At that time, that cursed person threw another stone towards the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and hit the forehead of his holiness and injured the area of prostration before Allah Almighty.

          The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) cursed that damned person:

                   ‘O Allah! Astound him!’

          Hence, when the infidels returned, the son of Aas remained astounded in the battle due to the curse of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and could not evade until he reached Ammar who sent him to Hell.[7]
 

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[1] For knowing more about the Prophet’s walking style, refer to the translation of ‘Tabaqat e Ibn e Sa’ad: 282 and the translation of ‘Dalayel un Nubuwwa e Beyhaqi: 1/135

[2] Chapter Ahqaaf, verse 17

[3] Jalwa e Tareekh dar Sharh e Nehjul Balagha: 3/264

[4] Tareekh ul-Islam e Zahabi: 3/365 and 366; Al Wafi bil Wafiyyat: 13/112; Al Isaba: 1/346

[5] Asad ul-Ghaba: 4/348; Al Isaba: 3/477; Mukhtasar Tareekh e Damishq: 24/172

[6] Raahburd e Ahl e Sunnat be Mas’ala e Imamat: 394

[7] Tareekh ul-Allam fi Sawanihil Ayyam: 2/217