Hakim ibn Hizam

Hakim ibn Hizam was a nephew of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, and grew up a trader in Makkah, already known for his generosity before any word of the message had reached him.

The sira literature records him helping supply Banu Hashim, his wider kin, during the years Quraysh boycotted them — bringing goods in for his aunt Khadijah's household despite the difficulty of doing so.

He did not accept Islam early. Like a number of the men of standing in Makkah, he held off until the city itself changed hands.

He accepted Islam at the opening of Makkah. Afterwards he asked the Prophet ﷺ about the good deeds he had done before Islam, and about giving — two exchanges that are set out in the moment below and shaped how he lived for the rest of his life.

Once he had made his resolve not to ask anyone for anything, he held to it consistently. Later, when Abu Bakr and then Umar tried to give him his rightful share of the funds set aside for people like him, he declined it each time.

He lived on into old age, remembered for that resolve as much as for anything he did before Islam. No age or precise year of death is given here.