أَبُو دُجَانَة
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
Abu Dujana
Ansari of Khazraj · The red band at Uhud · Shielded the Prophet ﷺ with his back
may Allah be pleased with him
Khazraj — Banu Sa'idah, of Madinah · Madinah, from Uhud to Yamamah, up to about 12 AH
An Ansari fighter remembered above all for one battle. At Uhud he tied on a band that marked him for a fight to the death, took up the Prophet's ﷺ sword, and put his own back between the Prophet ﷺ and the arrows when the line broke.
Known for
He tied on a red band at Uhud, a sign he had resolved to fight to the death
Those who recognised the band understood it as a declaration: this was a man who did not intend to leave the field alive.
He was the one who took the Prophet's ﷺ sword at Uhud, and fulfilled its due
The Prophet ﷺ held up his sword before the fighting and asked who would take it and give it its due. Others came forward and were turned away; Abu Dujana asked what its due was, was told, and took it.
He shielded the Prophet ﷺ with his own back as the line broke
When the Muslim position collapsed and arrows were falling toward the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Dujana crouched over him and took the strikes himself.
He was killed at the Battle of Yamamah, fighting against Musaylimah's forces
His story in moments
Short episodes from his life, in order. Read one at a time.
Life & legacy
Uhud
Abu Dujana — Simak ibn Kharashah — was an Ansari of Khazraj. At Uhud in 3 AH the Prophet ﷺ held up his sword before the fighting began and asked who would take it and give it its due. More than one man came forward and was turned away. Abu Dujana asked what its due was, was told to strike the enemy with it until it bent, and took it.
He then tied on a red band. Those who saw it understood the signal: he had resolved not to leave the field alive that day.
After Uhud
What happened next is set out in the moment below: when the Muslim line broke, Abu Dujana was among those who put himself between the enemy and the Prophet ﷺ, taking arrows meant for him.
The sources say comparatively little about the years that followed. He is reported to have continued serving, into the fighting that followed the Prophet's ﷺ death against those who broke away — a period this record names but does not narrate — and he was killed at the Battle of Yamamah.
How the sources describe him
He marked himself for death before the battle even began
He put his own body between the enemy and the Prophet ﷺ
Connect
People around him
Alongside
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺCompanion
He took the Prophet's ﷺ sword at Uhud and shielded him with his own back when the line broke.
Full timeline
- 3 AH
Takes the Prophet's ﷺ sword at Uhud and ties on the red band
- 3 AH
Shields the Prophet ﷺ with his own back as the line breaks
- 12 AH approximate
Killed at the Battle of Yamamah
Part of
Sources & review
In reviewBased on the listed sources. See something to correct? Tell us.
Sahih Muslimصحيح مسلم
Hadith collection · Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj
As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyahالسيرة النبوية
Classical biography · Ibn Hisham, from the recension of Ibn Ishaq
Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabirالطبقات الكبرى
Classical biography · Ibn Sa'd
Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz as-Sahabahالإصابة في تمييز الصحابة
Classical biography · Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani
Siyar A'lam an-Nubalaسير أعلام النبلاء
Classical biography · Shams ad-Din adh-Dhahabi
Companions of the Prophet
Modern biography · Abdul Wahid Hamid
SahabaMate editorial summary
Editorial summary
References follow the citation detail available in the source material.
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