عَدِيُّ بْنُ حَاتِم
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
Adiyy ibn Hatim
Chief of Tayy · Came as a Christian · He lived to check it
may Allah be pleased with him
Tayy · Northern Arabia, Madinah and Kufa, into the 60s AH
A Christian chief who fled from the Muslims, was talked into going back by his own sister, and was told something at that first meeting specific enough to be checked. He lived long enough to check it.
Known for
He came to Madinah voluntarily after fleeing north as a Christian chief
His tribe's territory had been raided and his sister captured; after she was released, he chose to go to Madinah.
His father was Hatim of Tayy
The man the Arabs used as the standard for generosity.
His sister was captured, released, and told him to go
He lived to see what he had been told would happen
He was told a woman would travel alone from Hirah to the Ka'bah fearing no one but Allah. He reported afterwards that he had seen it.
His story in moments
Short episodes from his life, in order. Read one at a time.
Life & legacy
Before he went
Adiyy was a chief of Tayy and a Christian. His father, Hatim, was the man the Arabs quoted when they wanted an example of generosity.
When Muslim forces reached his territory he left for Syria rather than submit. His sister was among those taken, and was released and treated well — and when she reached him she told him plainly that he should go and see the man himself.
He went, still a Christian, with no obligation to accept anything.
Afterwards
He accepted Islam and stayed a man of standing among Tayy. When some of the Arab tribes broke away after the Prophet ﷺ died, he held his own people to the agreement.
He later settled in Kufa and lived a very long life, into the 60s AH.
How the sources describe him
He asked questions rather than taking things on trust
He kept up the reputation his father had left him
Connect
People around him
Alongside
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺCompanion
He came to him as a Christian chief, was given the only cushion, and stayed.
Given the same promise, years apart — Khabbab under torture in Makkah, Adiyy as a visiting chief in Madinah. Adiyy is the one who reports living to see it.
Full timeline
- The later Madinan years
Leaves for Syria rather than submit; his sister is taken and released
- The later Madinan years
Comes to Madinah as a Christian, and accepts Islam
- The decades after the Prophet's ﷺ death
Settles at Kufa
- The sources differ approximate, reports differReports give years in the 60s AH and also later.
Dies at a great age
Part of
Sources & review
In reviewBased on the listed sources. See something to correct? Tell us.
Sahih al-Bukhariصحيح البخاري
Hadith collection · Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari
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
Tarikh ar-Rusul wa'l-Mulukتاريخ الرسل والملوك
Classical history · Muhammad ibn Jarir at-Tabari
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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