Habib the Carpenter

Habib the Carpenter, or Habib Al-Nadjar, حبيب النجـّار ( 5 AD - 35 AD), was a martyr who lived in Antioch at the time of Jesus Christ.Hughes Dictionary of Islam, Habib the Carpenter In Muslim tradition, Habib believed the message of Christ's disciples sent to the People of Ya-Sin, and was subsequently martyred for his faith.Muhammad, Martin Lings, Page. 113 The Mosque of Habib-i Neccar (Ottoman for Habib al-Najjar), below Mount Silpium, contains the tomb of Habib along with that of Sham'un Al-Safa (Peter, also known as Simon the Pure).Hughes Dictionary of Islam, Habib the Carpenter: "Habib's tomb is still seen in Antioch, and is visited by Muhammadans as a shrine."The Mosque of Habib-i Neccar (Habib al-Najjâr) Some sources have identified Habib with Saint Agabus of the Acts of the Apostles, an early Christian who suffered martyrdom in Antioch at the time of Jesus.Synaxaire de Constantinople, in H. Delehaye, Propylaeum ad Acta sanctorum Nouembris, col. 591, c.f 783 f. This connection is disputed, as Christian tradition holds that Agabus was martyred at Jerusalem, and not at Antioch as Muslims believe of Habib.Encyclopedia of Islam, Habib Al-Nadjdjar: "...it is not stated that this was at Antioch, but either at Jerusalem or in some place not specified..." All Muslim sources list Habib's occupation as a carpenter.Almost all sources, including al-Masudi, Mutahhar, Balami and al-'Thalabi apply Habib's occupation as a carpenter

Historical narrative Although Habib is not mentioned in the Qur'an, an old Muslim tradition speaks of some of Christ's disciples, including John, Jude, and Peter, who were sent to town of Antioch to preach the faith of God.Muhammad, Martin Lings, Chapter XXVIII The people of Antioch were practicing idolatry; when the disciples came, many of the people questioned them, asking them of what religion Jesus had sent them to preach.Hughes Dictionary of Islam, Habib the Carpenter Baidawi provided a detailed account of Habib's narrative. He related that the disciples met Habib in Antioch and made known to him their mission. Baidawi further related that the disciples, by the will of God, performed various miracles including healing the sick and blind. After Habib's son was healed, Habib's faith was further strengthened and he tried to help in preaching the Gospel to his fellow people. Yet still, many refused to hear God's message. Instead, the disbelievers decided to stone Habib to death. The legend ends with Habib, upon having been stoned, entering paradise as a martyr.Hughes Dictionary of Islam, Habib the Carpenter

In the Quran The legend of Habib the martyr was, by early Quran commentators, identified with the following verse of the Quran:

The people who are described as preaching to the town in the Qur'anic verse are mentioned as Rasūl. Some modern commentators believe the identification of Christ's disciples and Habib with the figures in the Qur'anic verse is false because they say the term Rasul denotes a Prophet in the Qur'an, unlike the New Testament which describes some disciples of Jesus as apostles. Many people translate Rasulullah as 'Apostle of God'. Some sources have identified Habib with the Prophet Agabus of Acts of the Apostles.Acts, xi, 28 and xxi,The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, XXXVI: XX-XXVII 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 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.

Habib the Carpenter

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