Saint Habib the Carpenter | |
|---|---|
 Habib's tomb in modern-day Antakya | |
| Martyr | |
| Born | c. 5 AD Antioch |
| Died | c. 35 AD (aged c. 30) Antioch,Roman Empire |
| Venerated in | Islam |
| Majorshrine | Mosque and Tomb of Habib Al-Najjar, Antioch |
| Influences | Jesus |
Habib the Carpenter, orHabib Al-Nadjar, حبيب النجـّار (c. 5 AD -c. 35 AD), was amartyr who lived inAntioch at the time ofJesus Christ.[1] In Muslim tradition, Habib believed the message of Christ'sdisciples sent to thePeople of Ya-Sin, and was subsequently martyred for his faith.[2] TheMosque of Habib-i Neccar (Ottoman for Habib al-Najjar), belowMount Silpium, contains the tomb of Habib along with that of Sham'un Al-Safa (Peter, also known asSimon the Pure).[3][4] Some sources have identified Habib with SaintAgabus of theActs of the Apostles, an early Christian who sufferedmartyrdom in Antioch at the time of Jesus.[5] This connection is disputed, as Christian tradition holds that Agabus was martyred at Jerusalem, and not at Antioch as Muslims believe of Habib.[6] AllMuslimsources list Habib's occupation as a carpenter.[7]
Although Habib is not mentioned in theQur'an, an oldMuslim tradition speaks of some of Christ's disciples, includingJohn,Jude, andPeter, who were sent to town of Antioch to preach the faith ofGod.[8] The people of Antioch had regressed toidolatry. When the disciples came, many of the people questioned them, asking them of what religionJesus had sent them to preach.[9]Baidawi provided a detailed account of Habib's narrative. He related that the disciples met Habib inAntioch and made known to him their mission. Baidawi further related that the disciples, by the will ofGod, performed variousmiracles including healing thesick andblind. After Habib's son was healed, Habib's faith was further strengthened and he tried to help in preaching theGospel to his fellow people. Yet still, many refused to hear God's message. Instead, the disbelievers decided tostone Habib to death. The legend ends with Habib, upon having been stoned, enteringparadise as amartyr.[10]
The legend of Habib themartyr was, by earlyQuran commentators, identified with the following verse of the Quran:
And there came from the uttermost part of the city a man running. He cried: O my people! Follow those who have been sent!
"Obey those who ask no reward of you (for themselves), and who have themselves received guidance.
"It would not be reasonable in me if I did not serve Him Who created me, and to Whom ye shall (all) be brought back.
"Shall I take (other) gods besides Him? If (God) Most Gracious should intend some adversity for me, of no use whatever will be their intercession for me, nor can they deliver me.
"I would indeed, if I were to do so, be in manifest error.
"For me, I have faith in the Lord of you (all): listen, then, to me!"
It was said: "Enter thou the Garden." He said: "Ah me! Would that my people knew (what I know)!-
"For that my Lord has granted me forgiveness and has enrolled me among those held in honour!"
The people who are described as preaching to the town in the Qur'anic verse are mentioned asRasūl. Some modern commentators[who?] believe the identification of Christ's disciples and Habib with the figures in the Qur'anic verse is false because they say the termRasul denotes aProphet in theQur'an, unlike theNew Testament which describes somedisciples ofJesus asapostles. Many people translate Rasulullah as 'Apostle of God'. Some sources have identified Habib with the ProphetAgabus ofActs of the Apostles.[12][13] The Qur'an also uses the words 'nabiyya' to refer to prophets and the word 'naziraa' to refer to prophets who are 'warners.' Therefore, the argument of modern commentators[who?] that Habib cannot be a 'rasul' as mentioned in the Qur'an is contradicted by the language of Qur'an itself, which indicates broader understanding of the word 'rasul' and also uses others words to refer to prophets.
