Question

Can you please provide a background as to who was “companions of Jadhimah” as mentioned in the following Hadith:

حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، قَالَ تُوُفِّيَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ بِحُبْشِيٍّ  قَالَ فَحُمِلَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَدُفِنَ فِيهَا فَلَمَّا قَدِمَتْ عَائِشَةُ أَتَتْ قَبْرَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقَالَتْ

وَكُنَّا كَنَدْمَانَىْ جَذِيمَةَ حِقْبَةً مِنَ الدَّهْرِ حَتَّى قِيلَ لَنْ يَتَصَدَّعَا فَلَمَّا تَفَرَّقْنَا كَأَنِّي وَمَالِكًا لِطُولِ اجْتِمَاعٍ لَمْ نَبِتْ لَيْلَةً مَعَا

“Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) passed away in Al Hubshi -approximately twelve miles out of Makkah-. His body was carried to Makkah to be buried there. When Sayyidatuna ‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) arrived, she went to the grave of Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Bakr and recited the following couplets:

“We were like two drinking companions of Jadhimah, who spent such a long time together, that it was said: ‘They will never part.’ So when we were separated -by your death- it was as if Malik and I- due to the length of unity – never spent a night together”

(Sunan Tirmidhi)

Answer

These couplets were initially recited by Mutammim ibn Nuwayrah when he lamented the death of his brother, Malik ibn Nuwayrah, who was killed by Sayyiduna Khalid ibn Al Walid (radiyallahu ‘anhu). Sayyidatuna ‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) repeated these same couplets when she lamented her brother’s death.

Jadhimah was a king of Iraq who had two close confidants and companions, Malik and ‘Uqayl. They had spent approximately forty years by his side. Due to this lengthy companionship, they would be used as a parable to depict lengthy companionship.

(Tuhfatul Ahwadhi, Hadith: 1055)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar