Abu Dujana (Simak bin Kharasha)

Abu Dujana was an extremely couragous sahabi, who is well known for wearing a red band around his head in battle.

In the battle of Uhud, countless acts of courage can be noted from several of the Sahaba. Abu Dujana, recognized by the red band worn round his head, came forth, fighting with the sword of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He was determined to pay its price at all costs. He slaughtered all the idolaters that stood on his way splitting and dispersing their ranks. Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awwam said, "I felt angry and discouraged when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) refused to give me the sword but instead gave it to Abu Dujana. I said to myself, 'I am his paternal cousin. I am the cousin of his aunt Safiya. Also, I am from his tribe (Quraish). Besides, I was the first who demanded it and yet he favoured him to me. By Allah, I will watch how he will use it.' So I followed him and saw him take out his red band and wear it round his head.

Seeing him like that, the Ansar said, 'Abu Dujana has worn the red band of death'..

Then he (Abu Dujana) set out saying loudly (in the form of poetry), 'I am the one whom my intimate friend [the Prophet (peace be upon him)] made covenant with, when we were under the palm-trees on the mountain side. The covenant was that I would not fight at the rear, but fight at the front heroically with the sword of Allah and His Messenger.' During this battle no one stood the way of Abu Dujana and remained alive. There was a man among the idolaters whose only objective was to finish off the wounded Muslims. During the fight, Abu Dujana approached that man; so I (Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awwam) implored Allah that they might engage in combat. They did start fighting and exchanged two sword-strokes. The idolater swung at Abu Dujana, but he escaped it and the sword pierced into his (Abu Dujana's) leather shield. The idolater's sword now stuck to his shield, Abu Dujana lunged at that Kafir with his sword and killed him. Then into the thick of the battle, he rushed to kill a person who was inciting the enemy to fight the Muslims. Upon this the person shrieked and lo! it was a woman. Abu Dujana spared her saying, 'I respect the Prophet's (peace be upon him) sword too much to use it on a woman.' The woman was Hind bint 'Utbah (the wife of Abu Sufyan who was leading the Quraish army against the Muslims, who later became Muslim)."
[Ibn Hisham Vol. 2 pg.68-69]

Describing the same incident, Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awwam said, "I saw Abu Dujana raising a sword over the parting of Hind bint 'Utba's hair but then he moved it away. I said to myself, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' (i.e. why he didn't kill her)."
[Ibn Hisham Vol. 2 pg. 69]

http://www.sahaba.net/modules.php?na...article&sid=87

Skilled in melee combat

Abu Dujana is remembered as being one of Prophet Muhammad most skilled companions in the battlefield, highly excelling in melee combat. He frequently distinguishing himself in battle by wearing a red band on his head, and engaged in bravado before fighting by strutting in front of his adversaries.[1] In the Battle of Uhud, Prophet Muhammad gave Abu Dujana his sword as the often cited hadith narration reads:
Anas reported that prophet Muhammad took hold of his sword on the Day of Uhud and said: Who would take it from me? All the persons stretched their hands saying: I would do it, I would do it. He (Muhammad) said: Who would take it in order to fulfil its rights? Then the people withdrew their hands. Abu Dujana said: I am here to take it and fulfil its rights. He took it and struck the heads of the polytheists. (Sahih Muslim 31:6040) During the Battle of Uhud, Abu Dujana pierced into the enemy's lines, and even came within striking distance to the notorious Quraish leader, Hind bint Utbah who was encouraging others to mutilate the body of dead Muslims. According to various accounts, Abu Dujana spared her since he did not want to stain Muhammad's sword with the blood of a woman.[2]
Abu Dujana, during the Battle of Uhud, received several wounds in his back after placing himself around Prophet Muhammad so as to act as a protection from arrows.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dujana