From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Habib the Carpenter
Habib the Carpenter
Saint Habib the Carpenter Dawah · Demographics
Martyr Festivals · Mosques
Philosophy · Politics
Born c. 5 C.E. Science · Women
Antioch
See also
Died c. 30-40 C.E.
Other religions · Glossary
Antioch
Islam portal
Honored in Islam
Major shrine Tomb of Habib, Antioch Carpenter, Al-Najjar,
Habib the Carpenter or Habib Al-Najjar was, according
Influences Jesus
to the belief of some Muslims, a Muslim martyr who lived
in Antioch at the time of Jesus.[1] In Muslim tradition,
Habib believed the message of Christ’s disciples but was
This article is part of the series: subsequently martyred for his faith.[2] There is shrine in
Islam Antioch, below Mount Silpius, which is seen as the bur-
ial place of ’Habib.[3] Although some sources have identi-
fied Habib with the Agabus of Acts of the Apostles,[4] as
Agabus is said to have been a believer who suffered mar-
tyrdom at the time of Jesus[5] in Antioch, others have re-
jected this claim, as they argue that Agabus was not mar-
tyred at Antioch[6] but in a place not specified. All Mus-
lim sources list Habib’s occupation as a carpenter.[7]
Historical narrative
Although Habib is not mentioned in the Qur’an, an old
Muslim tradition speaks of some of Christ’s disciples, in-
Beliefs cluding John, Jude and Peter, who were sent to town
Oneness of God of Antioch to preach the faith of God.[8] The people of
Prophets · Revealed books Antioch had regressed to idolatry. When the disciples
Angels · Predestination came, many of the people questioned them, asking them
Day of Resurrection of what religion Jesus had sent them to preach.[9] Baidawi
Practices provided a detailed account of Habib’s narrative. He re-
Profession of faith · Prayer lated that the disciples met Habib in Antioch and made
Fasting · Alms · Pilgrimage known to him their mission. Baidawi further related that
the disciples, by the will of God, performed various mir-
Texts & laws acles including healing the sick and blind. After Habib’s
Quran · Sunnah · Hadith son was healed, Habib’s faith was further strengthened
Fiqh · Sharia · Kalam and he tried to help in preaching the Gospel to his fellow
History & leaders people. Yet still, many refused to hear God’s message. In-
Timeline · Muhammad stead, the disbelievers decided to stone Habib to death.
Ahl al-Bayt · Sahaba The legend ends with Habib, upon having been stoned,
Sunni · Shia · Sufi · Others entering paradise as a martyr.[10]
Rashidun · Imamate
Caliphate · Spread of Islam In the Qur’an
Culture & society The legend of Habib the martyr was, by early Qur’an
Academics · Animals · Art commentators, identified with the following verse of the
Calendar · Children Qur’an:
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Habib the Carpenter
And there came from the uttermost part of • Tabari, Volume 1, 789-783; Tafsir Tabari, xxii, 91ff.
the city a man running. He cried: O my people! • Masudi, Murudj, i, 127f. (trans. Ch. Pellat, Paris, 1962,
Follow those who have been sent! i, 127)
"Obey those who ask no reward of you (for
themselves), and who have themselves re-
ceived guidance.
References
"It would not be reasonable in me if I did not [1] Hughes Dictionary of Islam, Habib the Carpenter
serve Him Who created me, and to Whom ye [2] Muhammad, Martin Lings, Page. 113
shall (all) be brought back. [3] Hughes Dictionary of Islam, Habib the Carpenter:
"Shall I take (other) gods besides Him? If (God) "Habib ‘s tomb is still seen in Antioch, and is visited
Most Gracious should intend some adversity by Muhammadans as a shrine."
for me, of no use whatever will be their inter- [4] Acts, xi, 28 and xxi, 10-11
cession for me, nor can they deliver me. [5] Synaxaire de Constantinople, in H. Delehaye,
"I would indeed, if I were to do so, be in mani- Propylaeum ad Acta sanctorum Nouembris, col. 591, c.f
fest error. 783 f.
"For me, I have faith in the Lord of you (all): [6] Encyclopedia of Islam, Habib Al-Nadjdjar: "...it is not
listen, then, to me!" stated that this (Agabus’s martyrdom) was at
It was said: "Enter thou the Garden." He said: Antioch, but either at Jerusalem or in some place
"Ah me! Would that my people knew (what I not specified..."
know)!- [7] Almost all sources, including al-Masudi, Mutahhar,
"For that my Lord has granted me forgiveness Balami and al-’Thalabi apply Habib’s occupation as a
and has enrolled me among those held in ho- carpenter
nour!" [8] Muhammad, Martin Lings, Chapter XXVIII
—Qur’an, sura 36 (Ya-Seen), ayah 20-27[11] [9] Hughes Dictionary of Islam, Habib the Carpenter
[10] Hughes Dictionary of Islam, Habib the Carpenter
The people who are described as preaching to the town in [11] Quran 36:20–27
the Qur’anic verse are mentioned as ’messengers’. There- [12] The Holy Qur’an: Text, Translation and Commentary,
fore, the identification of Christ’s disciples and ’Habib Abdullah Yusuf Ali, XXXVI: XX-XXVII
with the figures in the Qur’anic verse is believed to be Persondata
false by many modern commentators. This is because the
Name Habib The Carpenter
term ’messenger’ or ’apostle’ usually denotes a prophet
in the Qur’an, unlike the New Testament which describes Alternative names
the disciples of Jesus as ’apostles’.[12] Short description
Date of birth
See also Place of birth Antioch
• Islamic view of Jesus Date of death
• Disciples of Jesus in Islam Place of death Antioch
Further reading
• Chronique de Tabari (Bal’ami), trans. H. Zotenberg, ii,
51f.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Habib_the_Carpenter&oldid=458186974"
Categories:
• 1st-century deaths
• History of Islam
This page was last modified on 30 October 2011 at 20:58. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-
ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of use for details. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of
the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.Contact us
Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers Mobile view
2