English translation
6148. Narrated Salama bin Al-Akwa': We went out with Allāh's Messenger ﷺ to Khaibar and we travelled during the night. A man amongst the people said to 'Āmir bin Al-Akwa', "Won't you let us hear your poetry?" 'Āmir was a poet, and so he got down and started (chanting Hudā) 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 in charity, nor would we have offered Ṣalāt (prayer). So please forgive us what we have committed. Let all of us be sacrificed for Your Cause (Jihād) and when we meet our enemy, make our feet firm, and bestow peace and calmness on us and if they (our enemy) will call us towards an unjust thing we will refuse. The infidels have made a hue and cry to ask others help against us". Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said, "Who is that driver (of the camels)?" They said, "He is 'Āmir bin Al-Akwa'". He said, "May Allāh bestow His Mercy on him." A man among the people said, "Has martyrdom been granted to him, O Allāh's Prophet! Would that you let us enjoy his company longer." We reached (the people of) Khaibar and besieged them till we were stricken with severe hunger but Allāh helped the Muslims conquer Khaibar. In the evening of its conquest the people made many fires. Allāh's Messenger ﷺ asked, "What are those fires? For what are you making fires?" They said, "For cooking meat." He asked, "What kind of meat?" They said, "Donkeys' meat." Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said, "Throw away the meat and break the cooking pots." A man said, "O Allāh's Messenger! Shall we throw away the meat and wash the cooking pots?" He said, "You can do that, too." When the army files were aligned in rows (for the battle), 'Āmir's sword was a short one, and while attacking a Jew with it in order to hit him, the sharp edge of the sword turned back and hit 'Āmir's knee and caused him to die. When the Muslims returned (from the battle), Salama said: Allāh's Messenger ﷺ saw me pale and said, "What is wrong with you?" I said, "Let my parents be sacrificed for you! The people claim that all the deeds of 'Āmir have been annulled." The Prophet ﷺ asked, "Who said so?" I replied, "So-and-so and so-and-so and so-and-so and Usaid bin Al-Ḥuḍair Al-Anṣārī." Then Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said, "Whoever says so is telling a lie. Verily, 'Āmir will have double reward." (While speaking) the Prophet ﷺ put two of his fingers together to indicate that, and added, "He was really a hard-working man and a Mujāhid (devout fighter in Allāh's Cause) and rarely have there lived in it (i.e., Al-Madīna or the battlefield) an Arab like him."