he correct answer is Hazrat Mihja’ (RA). During the Battle of Badr, which took place on the 17th of Ramadan in 2 AH (March 624 CE), the first Muslim to attain martyrdom was Mihja’, a freed slave of Umar ibn... Read More
he correct answer is Hazrat Mihja’ (RA). During the Battle of Badr, which took place on the 17th of Ramadan in 2 AH (March 624 CE), the first Muslim to attain martyrdom was Mihja’, a freed slave of Umar ibn al-Khattab. As the initial skirmishes and arrow exchanges commenced between the Muslim force of 313 men and the advancing Quraysh army, Mihja’ was struck by an arrow fired by an enemy archer, Amir ibn al-Hadrami, marking the very first casualty and the initial life lost on the Muslim side in formal combat.
Mihja’ originated from Yemen and had been brought to Makkah as a captive, where he was eventually purchased and subsequently emancipated by Umar ibn al-Khattab. Following his freedom, he aligned himself closely with the early Muslim community, participating in the migration to Madinah alongside the other Muhajirun. Historical accounts, including biographical compendiums like Usd al-Ghabah and Al-Isti'ab, describe him as a devoted follower who maintained a modest station in society while fully committing himself to the religious and communal life of the nascent Islamic state in Madinah.
When the army mobilized for Badr, Mihja’ was among the 80-plus Muhajirun who marched out to the wells of Badr. Classical historians note that as the battle lines formed and the enemy initiated ranged attacks, Mihja’ was struck immediately at the onset of hostilities. His swift death established a somber milestone for the small Muslim army, serving as a visceral reminder of the stakes involved in the confrontation.
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