Abu Hajal Muslim ibn Awsaja


Abu Hajal Muslim ibn Awsaja al-Asadi was a companion of Islamic Prophet Muhammad. He assisted Muslim ibn Aqeel in Kufa. Then he joined Husayn ibn Ali army with his family. He was killed in battle of Karbala.

Name and lineage

He is Muslim son of Awsaja son of Sa'd son of Tha'laba son of Dudan son of Asad son of Khuzayma al-Asadi. His Kunya is Abu Hajal. He was a companion of Husayn ibn Ali. Muslim ibn Awsaja and Habib ibn Madhahir both were from the tribe of Banu Asad.

In Kufa

Muslim ibn Awsaja supported Husayn ibn Ali's ambassador, Muslim ibn Aqeel, in Kufa with weaponry and tried to take oath of allegiance for Husayn ibn Ali.
The spy of Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad, Ma'qil, found the safe house of Muslim ibn Aqeel through Muslim ibn Awsaja. Consequently, Hani ibn Urwa who sheltered Muslim ibn Aqeel in his house was arrested. Then Muslim ibn Aqeel to organizing an army chose Muslim ibn Awsaja as commander of Banu Asad and Madh'hij and some other commanders. Soon after Hani ibn Urwa and Muslim ibn Aqeel were killed by Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad, and Muslim ibn Awsaja hided in a safe house for a while. Afterward he joined Husayn ibn Ali army with his family in Karbala.

In Karbala

The Night before Ashura

At Tasu'a night, Husayn ibn Ali told his soldiers:
Then, some companions proclaimed their allegiance and loyalty to Husayn ibn Ali over again. After the descendants of Banu Hashim, Mulim ibn Awsaja was the first one who said:

His motto in the battle of Karbala

He repeatedly expressed this motto in the battle of Karbala:
Asad means lion.

Death

Muslim ibn Awsaja was the first one who was killed in the battle of Karbala before Amr ibn Qartah. He was about 70 years old.