Hanzala ibn Abi Amir

Hanzala ibn Abi Amir Amr ibn Sayfi al-Ansari al-Awsi was a Companion of the Aws tribe of Medina. His father Abu Amir 'the Monk' (al-Rahib) was a pre-Islamic Hanif who became a bitter enemy of Islam, whereas Hanzala embraced Islam after the Hijra. One day before the Battle of Uhud (3 AH / 625 CE) he married Jamila bint Abdullah ibn Ubayy; on hearing that the Prophet had set out against the Meccans, he hastened to the army still in a state of ritual impurity (janaba) after his wedding night, with no time to perform ghusl. In the battle he charged the Meccan commander Abu Sufyan and unhorsed him, but when Abu Sufyan called for help, Hanzala was killed by Shaddad ibn al-Aswad, known as Ibn Sha'ub; he was about 24 years old. The Prophet said, 'I saw the angels washing Hanzala between heaven and earth, with rainwater from vessels of silver,' and so the Companions gave him the title 'Ghasil al-Mala'ika' (the one washed by the angels). His son Abdullah ibn Hanzala was a noted Companion who later led the Medinans at the Battle of al-Harra. Hanzala was buried with the martyrs in the Cemetery of Uhud.