Ancient biographers have related that the prince of martyrs, Hamzah B. A’bd-ul-Muttalleb, had in the fight of Bedr killed Ta’ymah B. A’dy, wherefore Jobayr B. Mutta’m, the cousin of Ta’ymah, said to his slave Wohshy—whose javelin scarcely ever missed its mark—whilst they were proceeding to Ohod: ‘If thou killest Hamzah, I shall grant thee thy freedom.’ There is another tradition, that the daughter of Hâreth B. A’amer B. Naufil, whose father had been slain in the battle of Bedr, had promised Wohshy his liberty in the following words: ‘If thou killest one of these three individuals, namely, Muhammad, Ali or Hamzah, I shall procure thee thy freedom;’ and some have considered this second tradition to be the correct one. In short, Wohshy replied: ‘I am unable to kill Muhammad, and as for Hamzah, [I love him so much that] I would not awaken him if I found him asleep; but if I perceive A’li, I shall possibly be able to throw my javelin at him.’ It is related of Wohshy that he said: ‘On the day of Ohod, when the flame of war blazed high, I saw A’li suddenly appear on the battle-field, and when I had looked on for awhile, I learnt that he was perfectly skilled in the art of war, having no equal in fighting and combating, because he kept an eye upon everything around him, guarded himself from the snares of his opponents, and slew every one whom he met. I was not his equal, and perceived that my hand was too short to injure the skirt of his dignity. Meanwhile Hamzah made his appearance like a furious lion, disturbed the ranks of the idolaters, and scattered them. When Sabaa’ B. A’bdu-l-u’zza Khoza’ayar arrived opposite to the Musalmâns, shouting for a champion, Hamzah put himself into his way, reproached him with his mother’s occupation of attending upon women at Mekkah, and despatched him with one blow of his sword to become the food of dogs. Meanwhile I was in ambush behind a rock, and when he came nearer, I threw a javelin at Hamzah which entered his navel and issued at his back. He nevertheless continued to approach me, but at last fell down, and I fled. On that occasion many of his friends arrived, exclaiming: “O Abu O’mmârah!” but he gave no reply, and I knew that it was all over with him. I waited, however, till the people had gone a little farther from him, then I again ran up to Hamzah, took up my javelin, and, ripping open his abdomen, I took out his liver, carried it to Hind, the mother of Moa’wiah, and said: “This is the liver of him who killed thy father.” Then she put it into her mouth and chewed it, but, being unable to swallow it, she spat it out again. She gave me all her dresses, trinkets and ornaments, promising also to present me with ten golden dinârs on her arrival at Mekkah. Then she requested me to show her the spot where Hamzah had fallen, and when I took Hind there, she cut off his ears, nose, and sexual organ, all of which she took to Mekkah; and for having chewed the liver Hind was afterwards called “the liver-eater.”’
Wâqidi says that Wohob B. Qâbûs Mazâny, with his nephew, Hâreth B. O’tbah B. Qâbûs, arrived from Khayl Mazânyah, in Madinah, but found the centre of Islâm empty of the apostle’s presence, and having been apprised that he had, with his companions, departed to Ohod to acquire eternal merit and to repel the enemy, they likewise went to the same place, but arrived there only after the Musalmâns had gained the victory, and were engaged in collecting the booty. It has been recorded above that also Khâled B. Wolyd and A’kramah B. Abu Jahl reached the Musalmâns just while they were plundering. Wohob and Hâreth stopped in the same place and fought valiantly. Meanwhile a number of the evil-doers advanced towards the prince of the righteous, and his lordship asked: ‘Who will oppose this company?’ Hâreth replied: ‘I, O apostle of Allah.’ Hereon that lion of the plain of bravery put the idolaters to flight. Then a second crowd approached. His lordship repeated the same question, but this time Wohob repeated the same answer, dismayed and repelled the idolaters. When the polytheists made their third onslaught the apostle again asked the same question. Wohob very readily again offered himself, and the apostle of God exclaimed: ‘Arise, and receive the glad tidings of paradise.’ Accordingly the two just-mentioned heroes joyfully attacked that company, and fought bravely. His lordship the apostle looked on how Wohob was fighting, till he left the ranks of the infidels and was returning. The wicked unbelievers, nevertheless, at last surrounded Wohob again, and killed him in the most cruel manner with their swords and lances. It is said that not less than twenty spear-wounds were counted on his body. After that lion of the plain of bravery had been slain, his nephew Hâreth entered the lists of contention in consequence of his noble nature, and fought till he attained the dignity of martyrdom. It is related that Fârûq said: ‘I have never seen a man display such bravery in any battle as he manifested at Ohod; because, after the professors of Islâm had fled on that day, the idolaters surrounded the apostle with several of his companions, and at every new crowd which rushed on his lordship asked: “Who will repel this flock?” Mazâny replied: “I, O apostle of God,” and drove them off. When, however, Wohob offered himself for the last time, his lordship said: “Arise, and receive the glad tidings of paradise!” After that Mazâny turned towards the enemies, pursued and fought them. He then came out from among the infidels, but was slain whilst returning. I saw the apostle —u. w. b.—standing near his head and uttering the words: “May God reward thee! Verily I am pleased with thee.” Then I saw him placed in a grave, and covered with clothes having red flags on them; and I wished my death to be like his.’
There is a tradition that Anus B. Mâlek said: ‘On the day of Ohod I saw O’mar with a number of Musalmâns sitting in a state of melancholy. I asked for the reason, and they replied: “The apostle of God has been killed.” I continued: “What will you do now, and what are you expecting from your own lives? Rush forward and attack the enemies again, that they may be killed like him.” Then I made with my own sword an onslaught upon the enemies.’ Anus fought bravely, and departed to the gardens of paradise, after having received more than eighty wounds.
Wâqidi says Mâlek B. Alwahsham happened to pass near Sa’d B. Rabyi’ after the latter had received twelve wounds. When he passed near Kharjah, who was suffering from thirteen mortal wounds, he said: ‘Hast thou not heard that Muhammad has been killed?’ Kharjah replied: ‘If Muhammad is killed, God the Most High and Glorious is not killed. Go thou and fight for thy religion.’ The just-mentioned author also relates that Mâlek B. Alwahsham passed near Sa’d B. Rabyi’, who was prostrated on the battlefield in consequence of twelve wounds he had received. Mâlek exclaimed: ‘Knowest thou that Muhammad has indeed been killed?’ Sa’d replied: ‘I testify that Muhammad has indeed promulged the message of his Lord.’ Then he said: ‘Abide thou in thy religion, for God is ever living, and dies not.’ It is related that his holy and prophetic lordship—u. w. b.—said: ‘Will anyone see whether Sa’d is among the living or the dead?’ Accordingly one of the Anssâr made a search, and found him among the dead, although there was still some life in him. He therefore informed Sa’d of what the prophet had said, and Sa’d replied: ‘I am among the dead. Convey my salutation to the apostle of God—u. w. b.—and tell him that Allah will reward him with the best of rewards. Tell, also the people of Islâm that if they become slack in the service of the prophet, none of their excuses will be listened to by the prophet and by the Lord of glory.’ After that Sa’d yielded his life to the grasper of souls. The Anssâr returned, and reported his words to the prince of this world, and his lordship exclaimed: ‘O God, be pleased with Sa’d B. Rabyi’, for I am pleased with him.’ It has been authenticated that in the battle of Ohod seventy Musalmâns were slain, namely, four Anssâr, and sixty-six Mohâjer. The circumstances, however, of all the principal companions and martyrs of Ohod—may Allah reward them! —are narrated in detailed accounts.