Imam Muslim رحمه الله records in his Sahih, "Hakim ibn Hizam was born inside the Ka’bah and lived for one hundred and twenty years." [Muslim]
- Hakim was the son of Khadija's brother, Hizam ibn Khuwaylid. His mother was Fakhita bint Zuhayr. He was born 13 years or so before the Prophet ﷺ and he was from an extremely wealthy and powerful family. The family was known for their good manners and generosity.
- Hakim's mother entered the Ka’bah with other women. There she went into labour and could not be brought out. A mat made of animal skin was brought when the time for the birth came near to her and she gave birth to him in the Ka’bah.
- Hakim bought Zayd ibn Haritha رضي الله عنه from the Ukaz fair for 400 Dirhams and gifted him to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضي الله عنها who in turn gifted him to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ after her marriage to him. Hakim was also present during their blessed marriage.
- Hakim was known for his wisdom. He was allowed to enter Dar An-Nadwah and his opinion was sought even when he was 15 years of age. He would eventually go on to own the entirety of Dar An-Nadwah. During the caliphate of Muawiyah رضي الله عنه, he sold it to him for 100,000 Dinars. He donated the entire amount to charity.
- During the boycott of Banu Hashim by the pagans of Makkah, he used to secretly provide camel-loads of food and provisions to his aunt who used to give it all away to the people around her.
- When the Prophet ﷺ entered Makkah during the Conquest, he declared that anyone who entered the house of Hakim would be given protection. Hakim along with his entire family embraced Islam on that day.
- In the days of jahiliyyah, Hakim freed 100 people from slavery and donated 100 camels to charity. When he embraced Islam, he freed another 100 people from slavery and donated another 100 camels to charity.
- Most of the narrations that he narrates from the Prophet ﷺ are about money, charity, and financial management etc. He was very particular about attaining halal rizq. The Prophet ﷺ made dua for him and his trade.
- He was known for being one of the richest men in Madinah. Hakim رضي الله عنه was a close friend of Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه who was the leader of the generous. Hakim was among the few who secretly buried him at night when Uthman was martyred.
- Hakim offered to pay off half the debt that Zubayr ibn al-Awwam رضي الله عنه had on his shoulders when he passed away. He had a debt of approximately 2,200,000 Dinars.
- Hakim lived till he was 120 years of age and died in the year 54 AH. He was buried in the graveyard of al-Baqi' in Madinah.
