Asim ibn Thabit al-Ansari

Asim ibn Thabit ibn Abi al-Aqlah al-Ansari (died 4 AH / 625 CE) was a Companion of the Prophet ﷺ and an archer known for his extraordinary commitment to his principles even at the cost of his life. He was among the group of Companions sent out as teachers during the Rajii expedition who were ambushed by treachery.

When the treacherous tribesmen surrounded his group, Asim refused to surrender, saying he would never let a polytheist touch him or allow them to take him captive. He fought until he was killed, shooting all his arrows and then using his bow as a weapon until he fell. Several of his companions who did surrender were subsequently killed anyway or sold into slavery in Mecca — events that vindicated Asim's decision to die fighting.

He had made a vow to Allah that he would never let a polytheist touch him or let him touch a polytheist. After his death, the tribe of Quraysh sought his head because he had killed one of their leaders at Uhud and they wanted to use his skull as a vessel for wine. However, Allah protected his body — swarms of hornets or wasps descended on his corpse and guarded it so that the Qurayshis could not approach it. The Prophet ﷺ was informed of this and said it was divine protection for one who had protected himself from the polytheists in life.

His steadfastness in refusing capture and his miraculous posthumous protection made his story one of the most frequently cited examples of divine care for the faithful among the Companions who died at Rajii and Bir Mauna.