English translation
4196. Narrated Salama bin Al-Akwa' رضي الله عنه: We went out to Khaibar in the company of the Prophet ﷺ. While we were proceeding at night, a man from the group said to 'Amir, "O 'Amir! Won't you let us hear your poetry?" 'Amir was a poet, so he got down and started reciting for the people poetry that kept pace with the camel's footsteps, saying: "O Allāh! Without You we would not have been guided on the right path Neither would we have given Sadaqa (in charity), nor would we have offered Salāt (prayer). So please forgive us, what we have committed (i.e., our defects); let all of us be sacrificed for Your Cause. And send Sakinah (i.e., tranquillity and calmness) upon us To make our feet firm when we meet our enemy, And if they will call us towards an unjust thing, we will refuse. The infidels have made a hue and cry to ask other's help against us." The Prophet ﷺ on that, asked, "Who is that (camel) driver (reciting poetry)?" The people said, "He is 'Amir bin Al-Akwa'." Then the Prophet ﷺ said, "May Allāh bestow His Mercy on him." A man amongst the people said, "O Allāh's Prophet! Has (martyrdom) been granted to him."(1) Would that you let us enjoy his company longer." Then we reached and besieged Khaibar till we were afflicted with severe hunger. Then Allāh تعالى helped the Muslims conquer it (i.e., Khaibar). In the evening of the day of the conquest of the city, the Muslims made huge fires. The Prophet ﷺ said, "What are these fires? For cooking what are you making the fire?" The people replied, "(For cooking) meat." He asked, "What kind of meat?" They (i.e., people) said, "The meat of donkeys." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Throw away the meat and break the pots!" Someone asked, "O Allāh's Messenger! Shall we throw away the meat and wash the pots instead?" He said, "(Yes, you can do) that too." So when the army files were arranged in rows (for the clash), 'Āmir's sword was short and he aimed at the leg of a Jew to strike it, but the sharp blade of the sword returned to him and injured his own knee, and that caused him to die. When they returned from the battle, Allāh's Messenger ﷺ saw me (in a sad mood). He took my hand and said, "What is bothering you?" I replied, "Let my father and mother be sacrificed for you! The people say that the deeds of 'Āmir are lost." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever says so, is mistaken, for 'Āmir has got a double reward." The Prophet ﷺ raised two fingers and added, "He (i.e., 'Āmir) was a persevering struggler in the Cause of Allāh and there are few Arabs who achieved the like of (good deeds) 'Āmir had done."