Those who were saved from the darkness of polytheism, unbelief and oppression in the Era of Bliss had a completely different life after attaining the luminous light of Islam and they abandoned everything related to their old days. Anything that reminded them of their life before Islam caused them great suffering. This mood also affected Asim bin Thabit, who was a person from Madinah and who became a Muslim before the Pledge of Aqaba, in a different way.

Asim Ibn Thabit was a companion of the Holy Prophet SAW. His father was Thabit bin Qais and his mother's name was Shamoos bint Abu Aamir. The Holy Prophet SAW established a bond of brotherhood between him and Abdullah bin Jahash RA.

After becoming a Muslim, Asim decided not to touch any polytheists and not to allow any polytheists to touch him. He always prayed to Allah Almighty to continue this decision.

Asim ibn Thabit RA joined the Battle of Badr and killed many of the notables of the polytheists. The Muslims also brought seventy camels and two horses, meaning that they either had to walk or fit three to four men per camel. However, many early Muslim sources indicate that no serious fighting was expected, and Uthman Ibn Affan RA stayed behind to care for his sick wife Ruqayyah, the daughter of Rasulullah ﷺ. Salman Al Farisi RA also could not join the battle, as he was still not a free man.

The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, was conversing with his companions before the battle of Badr when he asked them: "How do you plan to fight?" Asim ibn Thabit (radhiallahu anhu) stood up holding his bow, and said: "If the enemy is a hundred yards away, I will shoot with the arrows. If they come within the reach of our spears, I will fight them until the spears break, then we will put them down and it will be time for dueling with the swords." The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "This is indeed the way to combat! Anyone who fights, he should fight like Asim Ibn Thabit." This testimony of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam attests to the skill of Asim in wars.

During those times, wars were only fought with swords and spears, and this was the only method of war. Stones were also used. It was not like nowadays where they kill even innocent people and children by shelling at them. A non-Muslim wrote a book in which he mentions the wars fought by the Holy Prophet SAW and said, "Allegations are levelled against Muhammad as to why he fought wars. A few hundred or a thousand people may have died during the battles he fought, but those who consider themselves 'progressive' and 'advocates for humanity' killed more than 70 million people, the majority of whom were ordinary citizens."

Asim ibn Thabit RA also participated in the Invasion of Hamra al-Assad, after staying at Hamra al-Assad for three days, Rasulullah ﷺ returned to Madinah. Asim ibn Thabit RA captured Abu Azzah al-Jumahi as prisoner. Abu Azzah had previously been one of the prisoners of Badr. Abu Azzah Amr bin Abd Allah al-Jumahi had been treated kindly by Rasulullah ﷺ after the Battle of Badr, being a poor man with five daughters, he had no means to pay ransom, he was released after Battle of Badr, on the condition that he would not take up arms against Muslims again. But he had broken his promise and participated in Battle of Uhud. Abu Azzah al-Jumahi pleaded for mercy again, but Rasulullah ﷺ ordered him to be killed. Az-Zubair executed him, and in another version, Asim ibn Thabit.

At the Battle of Uhud, when the disbelievers of Mecca launched a sudden attack, which caused a panic amongst the Muslims, Hazrat Asim remained steadfast in his position next to the Holy Prophet. He pledged allegiance to the Holy Prophet that he would be willing to offer his life for him. His companions never forgot how bravely he fought during the battle of Uhud.

It is mentioned in another narration that Hazrat Ali ra returned with his sword on the day of the Battle of Uhud and it had become bent due to intense fighting. Hazrat Ali said to Hazrat Fatima ra, "Keep this commendable sword. It will prove useful in the battlefield." The Messenger of Allah heard what he had said. Thus, he said, "If you have shown excellence with the sword today, then Sahl bin Hunaif, Abu Dujanah, Asim bin Thabit and Haris bin Sama have also shown excellent swordsmanship.

After the battle's dust settled down, the pagan women rushed to the battleground mutilating the corps of the Muslim martyrs. They cut off ears and noses and made them into anklets and collars!.

One of them mounted on a high rock and shrieked at the top of her voice: "We have paid you hack for Badr!"

Sulafah bint Sa'd went out with them looking for her husband and sons Musafah,Kulab and Jalas. She was worried because she did not see them among the returning warriors. She penetrated deeply into the battlefield, scrutinizing the faces of the dead bodies until she found the body of her husband soaked in his own blood, and two sons slain while Jalas was breathing his last.

On this Salafah asked who killed them, and Jalas with intense pain and agony, dying he identified Asim Ibn Thabit as the killer of all three of them.

Sulafah rose up, mad with rage and sorrow, she wailed and howled like a wounded beast. She vowed to take revenge for her husband and sons, for her anger and sorrow would not be alleviated until she would hold Asim ibn Thabit's skull in her hands and drink wine from it.

She promised to give anyone who came with his head whatever he wished of gold and money. Now everyone in Qurayesh knew of Sulafah's vow and every young man wished that he could be the one who would get the prize.

It so happened that not long after the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, dispatched Asim as the head of a small contingent on mission.

Among who was Khubayb ibn 'Adi ibn Malik al-Awsi al-Ansari RA.

The group was on its way not far from Makkah, when a tribe from Huthail got news of them, and set off for their pursuit. While they were off their guard sitting with their belongings and arms next to them, men with swords in their hands surprised them and encircled them. They took their swords to fight them, but the men told them: "There is no way that you can overcome us, and we do not intend any harm for you if you surrender yourself. We swear we will not kill you."

Asim bin Thaabit, who was the leader of the group, said: 'I swear by Allah that we will not surrender to be under the protection of infidels. O Allah! Convey our news to Your Prophet.'

For these great Sahaba (companions) it was of the utmost importance that the Beloved of Allah, the Holy Prophet be satisfied and pleased with them, more so even than attaining the everlasting peace and bliss of Paradise. The station of these Sahaba (companions)was that of soldiers of Love, and Love means giving pleasure to the beloved; the Lover desiring the pleasure of his Beloved strives neither glory nor for abasement. Therefore, Asim prayed to the Lord to make known to the Holy Prophet that they went gladly to receive martyrdom for the cause of Islam.

'Through the means of Your Power make it known to him,' he prayed, and his prayer was accepted. As he was dying a martyr, Allah showed to His Holy Prophet through spiritual communication that he had gone to the Presence of the Lord along with his Companions. Also, he learned that two of the Muslims had been captured, Khubayb of Aws and Zayd of Khazraj. The Prophet informed his Companions of this without having left Madinah.

Now the Huthail did not know that among those they had killed was Asim, and so when they realized who he was, they went back to the place of the battle to bring his skull to Sulafah and win the prize, but as he was dying, Asim had made yet another supplication to his Lord because he remembered the swearing of Salafah and he prayed:

Now, this is where the power of du'a comes.

The power of Allah was such that when these people arrived there, lo and behold, they found swarms of hornets and male honey bees resting upon the body of Asimra and they just would not move at all. These people tried their level best to send off these hornets and bees, but no attempt proved successful. Anybody who got close to the body was stung profusely. Ultimately they had to give up the effort in the hope that as night draws over, the bees would disappear.

They said, "Let us wait for the evening. We will come and cut off his head after bees leave." However, Allah Almighty sent unexpected rain in the evening and it rained all the time; It rained so heavily that old men testified that they had never experienced such heavy showers earlier. It was water everywhere and low-lying areas got water-logged.

Next morning, the men from the tribe of Huzail gathered at the spot to find that the swirling flood waters had washed away the body of Asim bin Thabit to some unknown destination. They sent out teams to scour the jungles and ravines around. But there was no trace of Asim's corpse. The polytheists could not reach their goal. Allah accepted his prayer.

Subhan'Allah. Look how Allah responded to the du'a of His faithful servant Asim Ibn Thabit RA. Allah SWT sent down wasps and bees to cover his body as protection to these people who had the intention to use his limbs and whatever is left of him into devilish and sinful act of drinking wine. Allah SWT sent down heavy rain so that his body won't be found and away from the Mushrikeen.

Allah will never allow the Mushrikeen to triumph over the Mu'mineen and this is how he protects His faithful servants.

Indeed, the story of Asim Ibn Thabit truly reminds us of the one of the famous "Ayat of the Qur'an" where Allah says:

"Call upon me and I will respond to you." 40:60

So never despair of His Mercy and never underestimate the power of your du'a. Remember Allah knows what you are about to ask Him even if you haven't uttered them, He is within You, Your heart itself, calls upon Allah with every beat.

Hazrat Asim ra is also known as Hami-ud-Dabar i.e. the person who was saved by wasps or bees. Even after his death, God Almighty protected him through the wasps.

Following the martyrdom of Hazrat Asim and his companions, the Holy Prophet offered the prayer of Qunut during the Fajr prayer for an entire month, in which he cursed the tribes of Rihl, Zakwan and Banu Lahyan, but then abandoned it.

When Hazrat Umar was informed of his martyrdom and of this occurrence in particular, he said, 'Look how beautifully Allah guards the emotions of his beloved servants. He fulfilled the vow of Asim even after his demise and safeguarded him from the touch of idolaters.'