Who is Hanzala Ibn Abi Amr and why was he most famously known as "Ghasilu'l-Malaika" , the one bathed by the Angels?
He was a incredible Sahabi that unfortunately passed away early in the seerah but whose story is inspiring us today. Now, we will learn 4 characteristics of this amazing sahabi.
Where you come from does not determine who you are
He was the son of Abu Aamir Rahib, who was a Mushrik ( non-believer ). And when Rasulullah ﷺ came to Madinah, Abu Aamir went to Makkah to join the polytheists to fight against the muslims.
Hanzala was also married to Jameela bint Abdullah ibn ubayy ibn salul, the daughter of the chief hypocrite of Madinah. However, she was a very devoted and pious Muslimah. They got married just one day before the Battle of Uhud.
There are many people in history that reflects that lineage does not affect you as a perosn. For example, Prophet Nuh had a son who did not believe in Allah and we also have Aasiyah, the wife of the Pharoh who despite living in luxury chose to believe in Islam and was later tortured and killed for it.
He was a brave warrior
He was one of the vetrans of Badr and Uhud. The Angel Gibriel came to the Prophet and said, "How do you look upon the warriors of Badr among yourselves?" The Prophet said, "As the best of the Muslims." On that, Gabriel said, "And so are the Angels who participated in the Badr.
He was martyred in the battle of Uhud
He fought with such spirit in the battle that he was able to reach Abu Sufyan, who at that time had not accepted Islam. He managed to strike Abu Sufyan's horse and bring him down. He was about to Attack Abu Sufyan when he was intercepted by Shadaad ibn Aswad, an enemy combatant who overcame him, thus making him a Shaheed ( Martyred ).
He was nicknamed Ghasilu'l-Malaika" The person who was bathed by the Angels
As the companions were gathering the Shuhadaa ( Martyrs ) of Uhud to be buried, they found him to have been bathed and perfumed. The companions were shocked as other people were covered in dirt and blood. The companions rushed to Rasulullah ﷺ and explained what they saw. Rasulullah ﷺ explained that Hanzala's body was raised to heaven and was bathed by the angels on a silver or golden platter.
This was because Hanzala got married the night before Uhud and in the morning he rushed to the battlefield before having time for his purification bath ( Ghusl ) for he did not like to delay in obedience to Rasulullah ﷺ.
May Allah allow us to continue to emulate the courage and obdience to Rasulullah ﷺ and meet companions like Hanzala and many others like him in Jannah, InsyaAllah Ameen!