Salim Mawla Abi Hudhayfah: A Man who had Truth Upon his Heart

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One of the pious teachers of the Qur’an among the companions was Salim bin Ma’qil (RA).

Salim roots were from Istakhr, which is in the southern portion of modern day Iran. He was the first black companion of the Prophet (SAWS) mentioned in Tanwir Al-Ghabash written by Hanbali scholar ibn Al-Jawzi, a book that chronicles Arab relations between Africans and early Muslims who were black.

Salim embraced Islam in Makkah and was freed from slavery, becoming a client of Abu Hudhayfah. He was one who migrated to Al-Madinah for the sake of Allah (SWT). Abdullah bin ‘Umar said that he was the most knowledgeable in the Qur’an of those who first migrated to Al-Madinah. Later on in Al-Madinah, the Prophet (SAWS) told the people that they should learn the Qur’an from four companions, those being Abdullah bin Mas’ud, Salim Mawla Abi Hudhayfah, Ubay bin Ka’ab and Mu’adh bin Jabal.

Salim accompanied Khalid bin Al-Walid, who was the general sent by the Prophet (SAWS), to get allegiance from the Tribe of Jadhimah through Islam or have them pay taxes. Even though the men of Jadhimah declared Islam upon their visitation, Khalid began to kill them anyway. Salim reprimanded Khalid and listed off to him the crimes that he committed according to the sacred law. When word got back to the Prophet (SAWS) regarding Khalid’s unlawful killings, the Prophet (SAWS) proclaimed loudly, “Oh Allah! Surely I am free of what Khalid has done!” The Prophet (SAWS) said of Salim that “Allah loves the truth from his heart.”

In Ghazwah Al-Yamamah, Salim urged the Muslims on by chanting, “Oh People of the Qur’an! Beautify the Qur’an with your deeds!” When the standard bearer Zayd bin al-Khattab was martyred, Salim lifted the standard. When his right hand was severed in the battle, he then continued by lifting it with his left hand. In this battle, Salim achieved martyrdom next to Abu Hudhayfah, his client.

DawudWalid

Dawud Walid is currently the Executive Director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), which is a chapter of America's largest advocacy and civil liberties organization for American Muslims and is a member of the Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) Imams Committee. Walid has been interviewed and quoted in approximately 150 media outlets ranging from the New York Times, Wall St Journal, National Public Radio, CNN, BBC, FOX News and Al-Jazeera. Furthermore, Walid was a political blogger for the Detroit News from January 2014 to January 2016, has had essays published in the 2012 book All-American: 45 American Men on Being Muslim, the 2014 book Qur'an in Conversation and was quoted as an expert in 13 additional books and academic dissertations. He was also a featured character in the 2013 HBO documentary "The Education of Mohammad Hussein." Walid has lectured at over 50 institutions of higher learning about Islam, interfaith dialogue and social justice including at Harvard University, DePaul University and the University of the Virgin Islands - St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses as well as spoken at the 2008 and 2011 Congressional Black Caucus Conventions alongside prominent speakers such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Congressman Keith Ellison. In 2008, Walid delivered the closing benediction at the historic 52nd Michigan Electoral College in the Michigan State Senate chambers and gave the Baccalaureate speech for graduates of the prestigious Cranbrook-Kingswood Academy located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Walid was also a featured speaker at the 2009 and 2010 Malian Peace and Tolerance Conferences at the University of Bamako in Mali, West Africa. He has also given testimony at hearings and briefings in front of Michigan state legislators and U.S. congressional representatives, including speaking before members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Washington, D.C. Walid has studied under qualified scholars the disciplines of Arabic grammar and morphology, foundations of Islamic jurisprudence, sciences of the exegesis of the Qur’an, and Islamic history during the era of Prophet Muhammad through the governments of the first 5 caliphs. He previously served as an imam at Masjid Wali Muhammad in Detroit and the Bosnian American Islamic Center in Hamtramck, Michigan, and continues to deliver sermons and lectures at Islamic centers across the United States and Canada. Walid was a 2011 - 2012 fellow of the University of Southern California (USC) American Muslim Civil Leadership Institute (AMCLI) and a 2014 - 2015 fellow of the Wayne State Law School Detroit Action Equity Lab (DEAL). Walid served in the United States Navy under honorable conditions earning two United States Navy & Marine Corp Achievement medals while deployed abroad. He has also received awards of recognition from the city councils of Detroit and Hamtramck and from the Mayor of Lansing as well as a number of other religious and community organizations.

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2 Comments

  1. Is this book, ” Tanwir Al-Ghabash written by Hanbali scholar ibn Al-Jawzi” translated into English. Whether it is or not, where can I purchase a copy?

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