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Abu Hajal Muslim ibn Awsaja (Arabic: ابوحَجَل مسلم بن عوسجه الأسدي) 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.
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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
Mulim 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.
The Night before Ashura
At Tasu'a night, Husayn ibn Ali told his soldiers:
You are allowed to leave Karbala and your promises and oath of allegiance have served well so far, you are not obligated to stay for the battle.
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:
Oh, Abu Abd-Allah! We would never leave you alone. How it is possible to bring excuses to Allah? O, by Allah, never! We will never leave you alone; I will never give up; I will slay the enemies with my spear and sword until it drops on the ground; then I stone them. By Allah, I would never leave you alone until I fulfill my duties to Allah and defend the descendants of Prophet Muhammad. O, by Allah, if I am perished, I would reborn, and then if I am burnt and turned into ashes, I would reborn; and if it happens seventy times I would reborn and fight for you until I am martyred for you. I would never leave you as I know I will be perished once. Consequently, eternal prosperity and dignity would be mine.
His motto in the battle of Karbala
He repeatedly expressed this motto in the battle of Karbala:
If you desire to know me, I am brave as a lion; my lineage goes back to Banu Asad. If you treat me with tyranny, you are strayed from the right path, and you are guilty of ingratitude toward Allah.
It should be noted that 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.