The two men of the Fire and the black slave martyr

The Boukhari reports through Sahl, and also through Ya’qoub, from Abou Hazim: the Prophet met the polytheists in one of his expeditions, and each side withdrew to its camp. Among the Muslims was a man who left no polytheist, scattered or pressed, without following him and striking him with his sword. It was said: O Messenger of Allah, none has distinguished himself as so-and-so has! He said: "Indeed, he is among the people of the Fire."

It was said: which of us is among the people of Paradise, if this man is of the people of the Fire? A man said: I shall follow him; when he quickens I am with him, and when he slows I am with him. The man was wounded and hastened his death: he set the point of his sword on the ground, its hilt between his breasts, threw himself upon it and killed himself. The man came to the Prophet and said: I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah.

He said: what of it? He told him. The Prophet said: "A man may do the deed of the people of Paradise as it appears to men, and be among the people of the Fire; and do the deed of the people of the Fire as it appears to men, and be among the people of Paradise."

The Boukhari also reports through az-Zouhri, from Sa’id ibn al-Moussayyab, from Abou Hourayra: at Khaybar, the Messenger of Allah said of a man professing Islam: "This one is among the people of the Fire." When the fighting came, the man fought the fiercest of fights until wounds covered him, to the point that some of the people nearly doubted. Feeling the pain of his wounds, he put his hand to his quiver, drew arrows from it and slew himself with them. Some of the Muslims hastened: O Messenger of Allah, Allah has confirmed your word, so-and-so has killed himself! He said: "Rise, O so-and-so, and announce: none enters Paradise but a believer; and Allah strengthens this religion through a wicked man."

Against these two men of the Fire stands the story of the black slave, to whom Allah granted faith and martyrdom in a single hour. Ibn Lahi’a reports from Urwa that a black Abyssinian slave of Khaybar, tending his master’s flock, saw the people take up arms and asked them: what do you seek? They said: we shall fight this man who claims to be a prophet. The remembrance of the Prophet fell into his heart.

He drove the flock forward until he stopped before the Messenger of Allah and said: what do you call to? He said: "I call you to Islam: that you bear witness that there is no deity but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah, and that you worship none but Allah." The slave said: and what shall I have if I testify to this? He said: "Paradise, if you die upon it."

The slave embraced Islam and said: O Prophet of Allah, these sheep are a trust with me. He said: "Lead them out of our camp and cast pebbles at them: Allah will render your trust." He did so, the flock returned to its master, and the Jew knew that his lad had embraced Islam. The Prophet exhorted the people, mentioning the banner given to Ali and his slaying of Marhab, and that black slave was slain that day alongside Ali.

It is claimed that the Prophet then said: "Allah has honored this slave and led him to good: Islam was with him a truth, and I saw above his head two wide-eyed houris." The Bayhaqi reports through Chourahbil ibn Sa’d, from Jabir, that he was killed a martyr without ever having prostrated to Allah.

The Bayhaqi also reports through Thabit, from Anas, that a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said: O Messenger of Allah, I am a man black of color, ugly of face, foul of smell, without property: if I fight these people until I am killed, shall I enter Paradise? He said: yes. The man advanced and fought until he was killed. The Messenger of Allah came to him and said: "Allah has beautified your face, purified your scent and multiplied your property. Indeed I saw his two wives, wide-eyed houris, disputing over his garment, seeking to introduce it between his skin and it." He finally reports through Chaddad ibn al-Had the story of a Bedouin who believed in the Messenger of Allah and emigrated with him; the Prophet entrusted him to some of his companions. At Khaybar the spoils were divided and a share was allotted to him, and he was their shepherd; when he came, his share was handed to him.