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Sayyidush Shuhada Sayyiduna Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was the paternal uncle of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and loved his nephew very much. Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) also dearly loved and respected his beloved uncle, whom Allah Ta’ala had blessed with great honour.
Acceptance of Islam
Sayyiduna Ameer Hamza (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was very fond of hunting. Once, he went into the jungle on a hunting expedition and on that day Abu Jahl showed grave disrespect to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and tormented him immensely. When Sayyiduna Ameer Hamza (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) returned from his hunting expedition, he was informed by his maidservant about what had happened. As soon as he heard this he became furious. He immediately went to Abu Jahl and started beating him. Abu Jahl, trying to provide a justification for his actions, said, “O Hamza! Do you not see what kind of a religion Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has brought? He speaks ill of our gods and he implies that our forefathers were foolish!”
At that moment, the heart and mind of Sayyiduna Ameer Hamza (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was overcome with love for his nephew. He heard Abu Jahl’s justification and then replied, “Indeed you are foolish that you believe the stones which you created with your own hands are your gods. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship besides Allah and Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is the true Messenger of Allah.” He then loudly announced his faith to the disbelievers of the Quraish and said to them, “Now, if anyone dares to touch my nephew or dares to abuse him then let them try!” When Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) heard about this incident he became very pleased. {Tafseer-e-Kabeer; Madārij-un-Nubūwwah}
Qurānic Verses in His Praise
When Sayyiduna Ameer Hamza (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) accepted Islam, at that point the following verse was revealed in his honour:
اَوَ مَنْ كَانَ مَیْتًا فَاَحْیَیْنٰهُ وَ جَعَلْنَا لَهٗ نُوْرًا یَّمْشِیْ بِهٖ فِی النَّاسِ كَمَنْ مَّثَلُهٗ فِی الظُّلُمٰتِ لَیْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِّنْهَا ؕ
Will the one who was dead then We gave him life, and made for him a light with which he walks among the people, ever be like the one in darkness from which he shall never escape?” {Surah 6:122}
In this verse, an interesting philosophy of life is mentioned, with reference to Sayyiduna Ameer Hamza (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). It was more than forty years since he was born and he was leading a normal life before he accepted Islam, yet Allah Ta’ala refers to him as ‘the one who was dead’ and when he accepted Islam and his heart became illuminated with the light of Imān, then Allah Ta’ala says ‘We gave him life’. From this we can understand that the person who is alive is not the one who is breathing and walking about, but rather, the one who has Imān in his heart. And the one who is dead is not the one whose body is lifeless without a soul, but rather, it is the one whose heart is bereft of Imān, even if he is breathing and walking about. {Shaan-e-Ameer Hamza}
It has been narrated by Hazrat Buraidah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) that the Words of Allah Ta’ala
یٰۤاَیَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَىِٕنَّةُۗۖ ارْجِعِیْۤ ؕ
O contended soul! Return to your Lord {Surah 89:27-28}
refers to Hazrat Ameer Hamza (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). It has also been narrated by Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbās (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) that the Words of Allah Ta’ala
فَمِنْهُمْ مَّنْ قَضٰی نَحْبَهٗ ؕ
So among them is one who has already fulfilled his vow {Surah 33:23}
refers to Sayyiduna Ameer Hamza (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). {Madārij-un-Nubūwwah}
The Lion of Allah & His Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has stated, “Oath on Him in Whose Hand of Power is my life! Undoubtedly, it is written on the seventh heaven,
حَمْزَةُ اَسَدُ اللهِ وَ اَسَدُ رَسُوْلِهِ
‘Hamza is the Lion of Allah and the Lion of His Rasool.’” {Madārij-un-Nubūwwah}
The very first flag of Islam that was prepared was for Hazrat Ameer Hamza (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and the very first army that was dispatched, was his army. {Ibid}
The Name That Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) Liked
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) loved his uncle Sayyiduna Ameer Hamza (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) very much. Hazrat Sayyiduna Jābir (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) states that once a person presented himself in the court of the Beloved Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and said, “Ya RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)! A baby boy has been born in our home, what name should we keep for him?” Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied, “I like the name of my uncle, Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib a lot, so keep this very name.” {Mustadrak}
May Allah Ta’ala grant us true love and honour for Sayyiduna Ameer Hamza (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) for the sake of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Allahumma Āmeen.