What is the biography of the Companion Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, and what does his name mean?

Hudhayfah ibn Hisl (or Husayl) ibn Jabir al-Absi al-Qati'i, an ally of Banu Abd al-Ashhal from the Ansar. His mother was al-Rabāb bint Ka'b. His father, Hisl, had committed a blood offense and fled to Medina, where he allied himself with Banu Abd al-Ashhal. Hudhayfah and his father embraced Islam. They intended to witness the Battle of Badr, but the polytheists prevented them. They witnessed Uhud, where al-Yaman (Hudhayfah's father) was mistakenly martyred by some Companions, and Hudhayfah donated his blood money to them.

He was the keeper of the Prophet's secret concerning the hypocrites. Umar used to ask Hudhayfah about the hypocrites among his officials. If a man died, Umar would ask Hudhayfah; if Hudhayfah prayed over him, Umar would also pray over him, otherwise, he would not attend. Hudhayfah witnessed the Battle of Nahavand. When Nu'man ibn Muqarrin was killed, Hudhayfah raised the banner. Hamadan, Rayy, and Dinavar were conquered under his leadership. He also witnessed the conquest of al-Jazirah, settled in Nusaybin, and married there. He passed away in the year 36 AH.

He narrated extensively from the Prophet (peace be upon him) and from Umar. Jabir, Jundub, Abdullah ibn Yazid, Abu al-Tufayl, and other Companions narrated from him. Among the Tabi'in who narrated from him were his son Bilal, Rib'i ibn Khirash, Zayd ibn Wahb, Zirr ibn Hubaysh, and Abu Wa'il. He migrated to the Prophet (peace be upon him), who gave him a choice between migration (Hijrah) and support (Nusrah), and he chose support. In the Battle of Al-Ahzab (the Confederates), the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent him to gather information about the enemy in extreme cold and wind. He went and did not feel the cold until he returned to the Prophet (peace be upon him), which is one of the miracles of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He used to ask about evil for fear of falling into it. Therefore, he was the most knowledgeable person about the tribulations (fitan) that would occur until the Day of Judgment, and he memorized everything the Prophet (peace be upon him) told him about the tribulations. "Hudhayfah" is the diminutive of "hidhfah," meaning a piece of meat or other material, or the diminutive of "hadhafah," which is a type of duck.