Ibn Hajar `Asqalani relates the above incident in his work al-Isaba, a compendium of the names and details of the companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), quoting ibn `Abd al-Barr’s Kitab al-Durar. It was also related by Ibn Kathir in al-Bidayah wa’l Nihayah from Ibn Hisham, the author of the famous Sira. The full name of the companion was Fudhala ibn `Umayr al-Laythi (May Allah be well pleased with him).
Ibn Hajar said:
“Ibn `Abd al-Barr mentioned in his Kitab al-Durar that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) passed by him [s: Fudhala] while he was intent on suddenly attacking him, and so the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked, ‘What are you conversing to yourself about?’ He said, ‘Nothing. I was making remembrance of Allah.’ The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) laughed and said, ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah for you’ then placed his hand on his [s: Fudhala’s] chest. He [s: Ibn `Abd al-Barr] said, ‘Fudhala said, ‘By Allah, he had not even lifted his hand from my chest until I did not find anyone more beloved to me on the face of the earth than him.’”
Note: The Prophet’s (Allah bless him and grant him peace) placing or striking the chest with his blessed hand is associated with driving away evil whispers. For more details on this see: The Imposition of Hands in the Sunna by Shaykh Gibril Haddad.
May Allah give us all the opportunity to be with our Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) in the afterlife.
