Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu)...

In 19th Hijrah 'Umar bin Khattab (radiAllaahu anhu) sent an army of Mujaahideen to war. The Roman emperor was recieving regular news bulletins regarding the advance of this army. He knew that the Muslims were resolute and truthful people who would sacrifice their lives for Allaah(Azza wa Jall). He had told his armies that if they captured any Muslim alive they should bring the captive to his court. It was the will of Allaah(Azza wa Jall) that 'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah(radiAllaahu anhu) was taken prisoner. They took him to the court of Caesar and told him, " We have brought a prisoner who is a Companion of the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa Sallam) and who was one of the first to accept Islam."

When 'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu) was brought before the Emperor of Rome, he gave him a penetrating look and said: " I have a plan."
'Abdullaah (radiAllaahu anhu) asked him: "What is your plan?"
He replied: " I invite you to convert to Christianity. If you do so, I will free you and treat you with all due respect."
'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu) answered boldly and resolutely:
"This is absolutely impossible. I think it is a thousand times better to die than to accept your invitation."
The Emperor said, "I think you are a brave man. If you accept my invitation, I am even ready to share the rule over my kingdom with you."
The shackled prisoner smiled and answered: "By Allaah! You need have no hopes that I will turn against Islaam for a moment, even if you give me your kingdom plus the whole of the peninsula of Arabia !"
The Emperor was enraged and shouted that he would kill him.
'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu) answered calmly: " You can do whatever you please."

The Roman emperor ordered that he be put to death. He instructed that his feet should be fettered and he should be chained. Arrows were to be shot at him so as to pierce his palms. After this was done, Caesar again invited him-for a third time-to accept Christianity. Again 'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu) bluntly refused. Next Caesar ordered that the arrows be aimed near his feet. These instructions were also obeyed. Again, he was invited to become a Christian and again-for the fourth time-'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu) refused to accept Christianity. Finally, Caesar ordered a huge cauldron or oil be placed on a fire and 'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu) be brought down from the stake. When the oil started to boil, he ordered that two of the Muslim prisoners be brought. When they were presented before him, he ordered that one of them should be thrown into the boiling oil. The moment he was thrown in his flesh began to crackle and seperated from his bones.
Again he turned his attention towards 'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu) and asked him, " Even now you have a chance to accept Christianity."

But he refused him more forcefully than before. Caesar had no other choice but to order that he too be thrown into the boiling cauldron. When he was brought near the oil, his eyes filled with tears and brimmed over, When Caesar's men saw this, they told him that the prisoner was crying. Caesar thought it must be due to sheer panic.
Caesar said: "Bring him to me." When he was brought to Caesar, he again invited him to accept Christianity. But 'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu) refused again!
Surprised, Caesar asked, "Then why did you cry?"
'Abdullaah (radiAllaahu anhu) replied: "When I saw the scene I felt sorry that I had only one life. I wished that I had a thousand lives to sacrifice in your boiling cauldron for Allaah (Azza wa Jall)." Caesar was stunned momentarily into silence when he heard this.
Finally he said: "All right I will release you if you kiss my forehead."
Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu) asked him, "Will you release the other Muslim Prisoners as well?"
He says in his report of the incident that he was thinking to himself, it would not be too big a price to pay for the release of so many captured Muslims. Then approaching Caesar he kissed him on his forehead.

Keeping in his promise, Caesar ordered that the prisoners be given into the custody of 'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu). As soon as he got his freedom, 'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu) went to 'Umar Khattab (radiAllaahu anhu) and narrated to him all that had happened. 'Umar Khattab (radiAllaahu anhu) was very happy and said, "Every Muslim owes a duty to 'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu) and it is compulsory that each of us should kiss he forehead. I will kiss him first." Then he took the lead and kissed 'Abdullaah bin Hathaafah (radiAllaahu anhu) on his forehead.
Taken from the book called " Commanders of the Muslim Army

source:got in mail