حُذَيْفَةُ بْنُ الْيَمَان
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman
Keeper of the Prophet's secret · Alone in the enemy camp · Governor of al-Mada'in
may Allah be pleased with him
Of Abs; his father's family had settled in Madinah and allied with the Aws before the Hijrah · Madinah, and later al-Mada'in in Iraq, across the Prophet's ﷺ lifetime and the early caliphates
The Prophet ﷺ trusted him alone with the names of the hypocrites of Madinah, and sent him alone into the confederate camp on the coldest night of the siege of the Trench to bring back word of the enemy. He later governed al-Mada'in in Iraq.
Known for
The Prophet ﷺ told him, and no one else, who the hypocrites of Madinah were
Later companions, including Umar, are reported to have asked Hudhayfah directly whether their own name was among them, and to have deferred to him before praying the funeral prayer over someone whose standing was in doubt.
He was sent alone into the confederate camp on the night of the Trench
No one volunteered when the Prophet ﷺ first asked, and he was then sent by name, told to observe only and to report straight back without acting.
He was appointed governor of al-Mada'in in Iraq
His father was killed at Uhud by Muslims who did not recognise him in the confusion of the battle
Hudhayfah is reported to have asked that the matter be let go rather than pursued, and the Prophet ﷺ thought well of him for it.
Story
His story in moments
Short episodes from his life, in order. Read one at a time.
In full
Life & legacy
Background
Hudhayfah's father, al-Yaman — also known as Hisl — belonged to the tribe of Abs, but had settled in Madinah before the Hijrah and formed an alliance with one of the clans of the Aws. That alliance is why Hudhayfah is generally counted among the Ansar, despite his family's tribal origin lying elsewhere.
He grew up in Madinah and was present through the major events of the Prophet's ﷺ years there, including the siege of the Trench in the fifth year after the Hijrah, where the Prophet ﷺ gave him the task described in the moment below.
Trusted with a secret, then with a province
The Prophet ﷺ confided to him, and to no one else, the names of those in Madinah who outwardly professed Islam but were hypocrites at heart. It made him a reference point for later generations, who checked with him before treating someone's standing as settled.
Under Umar he was appointed governor of al-Mada'in in Iraq, and he continued to hold that post into Uthman's caliphate.
He died at al-Mada'in. The sources place his death close to Uthman's, but do not agree closely enough on the interval between the two for a firm date to be given here.
How the sources describe him
He asked the Prophet ﷺ about coming trials so he could recognise and avoid them
He is reported to have said that while others asked the Prophet ﷺ about the good, he asked about the evil, out of fear it would overtake him.
He was trusted with matters the Prophet ﷺ did not disclose to others
Connect
People around him
Family
- Al-Yaman ibn Jabir, also known as HislParent
His father, killed at Uhud by Muslims who did not recognise him in the fighting.
Alongside
- Umar ibn al-KhattabCompanion
Umar is reported to have asked him directly whether his own name was among the hypocrites.
- An-Nu'man ibn MuqarrinCompanion
Both served in the campaign that ended at Nahawand, where Nu'man was killed in command; Hudhayfah is named in some accounts as taking over the army afterward.
Full timeline
- 5 AH approximate
Sent alone into the confederate camp at the Trench
- Umar's caliphate
Appointed governor of al-Mada'in
- The sources do not agree on the exact timing approximate, reports differReports place his death shortly after Uthman's, but do not agree closely enough on the interval for a date to be given.
Dies at al-Mada'in, close to the time of Uthman's death
Part of
Sources & review
Draft content — undergoing reviewThis content was written for SahabaMate and has not yet been checked by a reviewer against the works below. Treat it as a starting point, not a citation.
Sahih al-Bukhariصحيح البخاري
Hadith collection · Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari
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
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
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