During the battle of Uhud, Sayyiduna Hanzalah bin Abi ‘Aamir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) fought very bravely, but was eventually martyred by Shaddaad bin Aswad. Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilaihi raaji‘oon!
When the battle had ended, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) addressed the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) saying, “Verily I saw the angels bathing (giving ghusl to) the body of Hanzalah bin Abi ‘Aamir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), between the heavens and the earth, with the water of the clouds in utensils of silver.”
Sayyiduna Abu Usaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentions that he, together with a few other Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), then went in search of Sayyiduna Hanzalah’s (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) body. When they found it, they saw that his head was dripping with water! They returned to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and informed him of what they had seen. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then instructed them to enquire from his wife as to why the angels were giving him ghusl.
Shortly before the Battle of Uhud, Sayyiduna Hanzalah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had married Sayyidah Jameelah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), the sister of the infamous ‘Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salool, the leader of the hypocrites, and had only just consummated his marriage the previous night.
While asleep that night, Sayyidah Jameelah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) had a dream in which she saw a door open in the sky into which Sayyiduna Hanzalah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was ushered. The door was then shut behind him. When she awoke, she instantly realized that her dream was an indication that her husband, Sayyiduna Hanzalah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), was about to pass away.
She therefore called for four witnesses, and to avoid problems that could later arise, she informed them that her marriage had been consummated the previous night.
Sayyiduna Hanzalah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was still making ghusl when the call was made for people to arm and depart for Uhud. Although his wife, Sayyidah Jameelah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), had only completed washing half his head, his eagerness to strive and fight in the path of Allah Ta‘ala was such that he immediately grabbed his weapons and left without completing his ghusl.
When Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was informed of this he said, “That is why the angels gave him ghusl.”
(Subulul Hudaa war Rashaad vol. 4, pg. 213, Ar-Rowdhul Unf vol. 5, pg. 463, and ‘Umdatul Qaari vol. 14, pg. 224)
Lessons:
1. We need to become so eager for, and committed to Deen that nothing – not even the joy and excitement of life as newlyweds – will be able to deter us from striving and sacrificing in the path of Allah Ta‘ala.
2. Despite having received an indication that her husband would pass away and despite having spent only a single night with him, Sayyidah Jameelah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was selfless and allowed Sayyiduna Hanzalah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to strive in the path of Allah Ta‘ala, understanding that no sacrifice is too great to make for Deen.
3. In matters of marriage, children, etc., it is crucial for us to maintain transparency so that complications do not arise. In this regard, “secret marriages” are to be totally avoided.