Biography
His father, Zayd ibn Asim, was one of the first inDeath
By 630 Islam was the dominant force in''"I testify that Muhammad is indeed truthful and that Musaylamah is indeed an imposter. But the impostor of Rabiah'' (the tribal confederation to which the Banu Hanifah belonged) ''is dearer to me that the genuine and truthful person from Mudar'' (the tribal confederation to which theBefore long, the number of Musailama's followers increased and he felt powerful enough to write a letter to Muhammad;Quraish The Quraysh ( ar, قُرَيْشٌ) were a grouping of Arab clans that historically inhabited and controlled the city of Mecca and its Kaaba. The Islamic prophet Muhammad was born into the Hashim clan of the tribe. Despite this, many of the Qu ...belonged)."
''"From Musailama, the messenger of God to Muhammad, the messenger of God. Peace be on you. I am prepared to share this mission with you. I shall have (control over) half the land and you shall have the other half. But the Quraish are an aggressive people."'' He then wrote to Musailama: ''"In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Compassionate. From Muhammad the Messenger of God, to Musailama the imposter. Peace be upon whoever follows the guidance. God will bequeath the earth to whosoever of His servants He wishes and the final triumph will be for those who are careful of their duty to God."''Musaylamah's influence spread and Muhammad chose Habib ibn Zayd to deliver another letter inviting him to abandon his claims. He presented the letter, which angered Musailama who ordered Habib chained and brought before him the following day. On the following day, Musailama presided over his assembly with his senior advisers and common people. He then ordered Habib to be brought before him and asked him if he believed Muhammad is the Messenger of God, which he affirmed. Musailama then asked
''"And do you testify that I am the Messenger of God?"'' To which Habib replied ''"My ears have been blocked against hearing what you claim."'' Musailama then ordered his executioner to sever one of Habib’s limbs. He then questioned him again and Habib's answers were the same. Musailama thereupon ordered his henchman to cut off another part of Habib's body, which fell to the ground beside the other severed limb. Faced with Musaylamah's persistent questioning and the blows of his henchman, Habib kept on repeating: ''"I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God."'' Habib could not survive this torture much longer and he soon died. News of Habib's death reached his mother who said: ''"It was for such a situation that I prepared him... He pledged allegiance to uhammadon the night of Aqabah as a small child and today as an adult he has given his life for uhammad If God were to allow me to get near to Musailama, I would certainly make his daughters smite their cheeks and lament over him."''The day she wished for arrived after the death of Muhammad when
Sources
*''Hadrat Umar Farooq'', Prof. Masudul Hasan, Islamic Publications