AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.* *Part 157 and 158
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*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 157*
*HYPOCRITES' ROLE IN THE BATTLE OF BANUL-MUSTALIQ*
When it was the battle of of Banu Al-Mustaliq and hypocrites took part in it, they were as Allāh described them in the verse reading:
Surah At-Taubah, Verse 47:
لَوْ خَرَجُوا فِيكُم مَّا زَادُوكُمْ إِلَّا خَبَالًا وَلَأَوْضَعُوا خِلَالَكُمْ يَبْغُونَكُمُ الْفِتْنَةَ وَفِيكُمْ سَمَّاعُونَ لَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ
Had they marched out with you, they would have added to you nothing except disorder, and they would have hurried about in your midst (spreading corruption) and sowing sedition among you, and there are some among you who would have listened to them. And Allah is the All-Knower of the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).
They traded on two situations to cause disorder and dissension among Muslims and use defamatory propaganda against the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him):
1. HYPOCRITES SAY: "WHEN WE RETURN TO MADĪNAH, THE MOST HONOURABLE OF US WILL FORCE OUT THE HUMBLEST AMONG US."
After the battle of Al-Mustaliq, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) stayed at Al-Muraisi' while Muslims were watering their animals. 'Umar was employing a man called Jahjāh Al-Ghifāry to help him in watering the animals. To water the animals first from the well which was overcrowded he and Sinān Ibn Wabar Al-Juhany fought each other. Sinān cried out: "O community of the supporters." And Jahjāh shouted out: "O community of the Immigrants." Upon this the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) heard them and said reprovingly: "Do you make a call characteristic of the period of Paganism while I am still present? Abandon it (this call), for it is despicable." When the news reached 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy Ibn Salul, he became angry. There were a group of people with him, including Zaid Ibn Arqam who was then a teenager. He said: "They have dared to trespass us. They have outnumbered us in our own country. Their situation conforms to the proverb that reads: "Feed your dog well to bite you." When we return to Madīnah, the noblest of us will expel the humblest people. Then he said to his comrades: "You get the blame for that. You let them settle in your country and share your property. If you stop them from benefiting your property, they will depart and go somewhere else."
Zaid Ibn Arqam told his uncle who, in turn, informed the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) in the presence of 'Umar who said thereupon: "Order 'Abbād Ibn Bishr to kill him. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said: "Would you like people to say that Muhammad kills his Companions, 'Umar? No, just tell people to depart." It was a time when someone could hardly set off. Muslims moved away. On his way Usaid Ibn Hudair met the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and asked: "You have set out at an inappropriate time!" The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) replied: "Didn't you hear of what that man ('Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy) said?" He asked: "What did he say?" The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said: "He claims that when they return to Madīnah, the most honourable of them will force out the humblest people." He said: "But you are surely the noblest while he is the humblest and you can force him out as you wish." Then he said: "Treat him gently, Allāh's Messenger. The people (the residents of Yathrib) could have installed him a king over them if you hadn't come to Madīnah. He claimed that you took power from him by force." The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) led people towards Madīnah till the morning of the following day. The hot sun harmed them a lot. As soon as people set foot in Madīnah, they fell asleep. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) did so to distract Muslims from debate and arguments.
Ibn Ubayy, when he knew that Zaid Ibn Arqam told the Prophet, he came to him and swore that he didn't say such words. Thereupon some Supporters who were present said: "O Allāh's Messenger! The teenager (Zaid Ibn Arqam) might fabricate this statement and forget what the man had really said." So the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) believed him. Concerning this, Zaid said: "I was so distressed and so I stayed at home till Allāh has revealed the chapter beginning with:
Surah Al-Munafiqoon, Verses 1-8:
إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَكَاذِبُونَ
When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him]), they say: "We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah." Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed.
اتَّخَذُوا أَيْمَانَهُمْ جُنَّةً فَصَدُّوا عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ سَاءَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
They have made their oaths a screen (for their hypocrisy). Thus they hinder (men) from the Path of Allah. Verily, evil is what they used to do.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا فَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
That is because they believed, then disbelieved, therefore their hearts are sealed, so they understand not.
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ تُعْجِبُكَ أَجْسَامُهُمْ وَإِن يَقُولُوا تَسْمَعْ لِقَوْلِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ خُشُبٌ مُّسَنَّدَةٌ يَحْسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيْحَةٍ عَلَيْهِمْ هُمُ الْعَدُوُّ فَاحْذَرْهُمْ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ
And when you look at them, their bodies please you; and when they speak, you listen to their words. They are as blocks of wood propped up. They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies, so beware of them. May Allah curse them! How are they denying (or deviating from) the Right Path.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا يَسْتَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَوَّوْا رُءُوسَهُمْ وَرَأَيْتَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
And when it is said to them: "Come, so that the Messenger of Allah may ask forgiveness from Allah for you", they turn aside their heads, and you would see them turning away their faces in pride.
سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَسْتَغْفَرْتَ لَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ لَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ
It is equal to them whether you (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him]) ask forgiveness or ask not forgiveness for them. Verily, Allah guides not the people who are the Fasiqin (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).
هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لَا تُنفِقُوا عَلَىٰ مَنْ عِندَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ حَتَّىٰ يَنفَضُّوا وَلِلَّهِ خَزَائِنُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
They are the ones who say: "Spend not on those who are with Allah's Messenger, until they desert him." And to Allah belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites comprehend not.
يَقُولُونَ لَئِن رَّجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الْأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا الْأَذَلَّ وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
They (hypocrites) say: "If we return to Al-Madinah, indeed the more honourable ('Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul, the chief of hyprocrites at Al-Madinah) will expel therefrom the meaner (i.e. Allah's Messenger [Blessings and Peace be upon him])." But honour, power and glory belong to Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him]), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) then sent for me and recited it and said: "Zaid, Allāh has confirmed your statement." (Narrated by Al-Bukhāry)
When 'Abdullāh, the son 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy Ibn Salul who was among the great Companions, heard of what his father said, he disowned him and waited for him at the entrance of Madīnah to decapitate him. When Ibn Ubayy arrived, his son 'Abdullāh said: "I will not let you give you access uncle the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) allows you to enter. He is the honourable and you are the base." When he informed the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) of that, he allowed him to enter Madīnah. 'Abdullāh, the son, said: "Allāh's Messenger, if you want me to kill him, order me and I will bring his head to you."
2. THE CALUMNIOUS TALK.
This battle included the story of the calumnious talk. It can be summarised as follows:
"'Ā'ishah accompanied the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) in this battle by lots. Because wherever Allāh's Messenger intended to go on a journey, he used to draw lots amongst his wives, and he used to take with him the one who should go by lot. On their way they halted somewhere. So 'Ā'ishah dismounted her riding camel and went away to answer the call of nature. When she finished with her call of nature, she returned and found out that she lost her necklace. She hastened to the place where she lost it to search for. In the meantime the people who used to carry her to her camel came and took her howdah and put it on the back of the camel on which she was riding, as they thought that she was in it. Because she was light in weight. So the people who carried the howdah found it light. If one or two men had carried it, they would have discovered her absence. She found her necklace and returned to the place where they halted and found none at all. She stayed at the same place in the belief that they would discover her absence and return to search for her. But Allāh willed her to be overcome by sleep. So she fell asleep and awoke up when Safwān Ibnul-Mu'ttal said: "We do belong to Allāh and to Him we will return. Is this the Prophet's wife?" He lagged behind the army of Muslims because he was drowsing a lot. As soon as he had seen her, he recognise her as he had seen her before the obligation of veiling was prescribed. He stopped and made his riding camel kneel down. She mounted it with her face covered. He said no word to her then he set out leading the camel by its bridle till he overtook the army in the extreme heat of midday while they were taking some rest. As soon as people saw them, each one talked as he wished. Thereupon the top hypocrite 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy took this event as a chance to vent his grudge and enmity. He was asking people to relate the slander to propagate and magnify it everywhere. His friends were meeting him many times to listen to the slander.
When people reached Madīnah, the slanderous group began to spread and fabricate more tales about the slander. All that happened while the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) kept silent in the hope that heavenly revelation would acquit 'Ā'ishah of such a hideous impeachment. But it was late and he waited for if long, so he asked his Companions' advice about divorcing her. 'Ali suggested indirectly that he should divorce her and marry another woman. Usāma saw that he shouldn't divorce her and disregard people's rumours. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) mounted the pulpit to complain about 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy because of his unspeakable crime. Usaid Ibn Hudair, the chief of Al-Aws, desired to kill him. Thereupon Sa'ad Ibn Ubādah, the chief of Al-Khazrajj, flew into rage and argued with Usaid. But the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) calmed them down.
'Ā'ishah returned to Madīnah and fell ill for a whole month. But she didn't receive the gentle treatment she would do from the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) whenever she was ill. This aroused her doubts. But she had no idea about the slanderous talks. When she recovered, she got out with Umm Misthah to the public lavatory at night. After they finished answering the call of nature, Umm Mistah stumbled by getting her foot entangled in her covering sheet and so that she cursed her son Mistah. 'Ā'ishah disapproved this. Then she told her about the slanderous talk people spread around Madīnah. She returned home and asked the Prophet's permission to visit her parents and make sure of the news. The Prophet permitted her to go. She went to her father and knew everything. She wept for two days nonstop. Afterwards the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) came and said to her: "'Ā'ishah, I have been informed so-and-so about you; if you are innocent, then repent to Allāh and ask for His forgiveness for when a slave confess his sins and asks Allāh for forgiveness, Allāh accepts his repentance." When the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) stopped talking, her tears ceased flowing. She asked her parents to reply to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) but they didn't know what to say then. She said: "Without doubt, I know that you heard this (slanderous) speech till it had been implanted in your minds and you have taken it as a truth. Now if I tell you that I am innocent, you will not believe me, and if I confess to you something, and Allāh knows that I am innocent, you will surely believe me. I find no similitude for my case and yours except that of Joseph's father when he said:
Surah Yusuf, Verse 18:
وَجَاءُوا عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
And they brought his shirt stained with false blood. He said: "Nay, but your ownselves have made up a tale. So (for me) patience is most fitting. And it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that which you assert."
Then she turned to the other side and lay on her bed. At this moment revelation came down to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) whereupon he became glad and said to her: "'Ā'ishah, Allāh has revealed your innocence." Her mother said to her: "Go with him." She said: "I will not go with him and I will thank none but Allāh." About this incident, Almighty Allāh says:
Surah An-Noor, Verses 11-20:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنكُمْ لَا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَّكُم بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِّنْهُم مَّا اكْتَسَبَ مِنَ الْإِثْمِ وَالَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ كِبْرَهُ مِنْهُمْ لَهُ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Verily! Those who brought forth the slander (against 'Ā'ishah, the wife of the Prophet [Blessings and Peace be upon him]) are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. Unto every man among them will be paid that which he had earned of the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment.
لَّوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ ظَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ خَيْرًا وَقَالُوا هَٰذَا إِفْكٌ مُّبِينٌ
Why then, did not the believers, men and women, when you heard it (the slander) think good of their own people and say: "This (charge) is an obvious lie?"
لَّوْلَا جَاءُوا عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِالشُّهَدَاءِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ
Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they (the slanderers) have not produced witnesses! Then with Allah they are the liars.
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِي مَا أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy unto you in this world and in the Hereafter, a great torment would have touched you for that whereof you had spoken.
إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ
When you were propagating it with your tongues, and uttering with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge, you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.
وَلَوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُم مَّا يَكُونُ لَنَا أَن نَّتَكَلَّمَ بِهَٰذَا سُبْحَانَكَ هَٰذَا بُهْتَانٌ عَظِيمٌ
And why did you not, when you heard it, say? "It is not right for us to speak of this. Glory be to You (O Allah) this is a great lie."
يَعِظُكُمُ اللَّهُ أَن تَعُودُوا لِمِثْلِهِ أَبَدًا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Allah forbids you from it and warns you not to repeat the like of it forever, if you are believers.
وَيُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And Allah makes the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) plain to you, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَن تَشِيعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you know not.
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, (Allah would have hastened the punishment upon you). And that Allah is full of kindness, Most Merciful.
The people who diffused the slanderous talk and were involved in it were whipped eighty lashes as a punishment for their crime. Among them were Mistah Ibn Uthāthah, Hassān Ibn Thābit and Hamnah bint Jahsh. As for the wicked 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy, he was not lashed for two reasons:
➖First, the prescribed penalties commute sinners' punishments they will receive on the Doomsday and Allāh promised that He would inflict upon him a grievous torture.
➖Second, this was a great interest so he was not killed afterwards.
After a month, the clouds of suspicious and confusion disappeared from the sky of Madīnah. As for the head of hypocrites, he was so disgraced that he couldn't raise his head after this slander. Ibn Is'hāq said: "Whenever 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy did something unpleasant, his followers would blame and reprove him so harshly. One day the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said to 'Umar: "What's your opinion. 'Umar? If you killed him the moment you asked me to do so, you would raise his position. But if I was ordered now to kill him, I would do so." 'Umar replied: "I have realised that the opinion of Allāh's Prophet is greater than mine."
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*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 158*
*THE EXPEDITIONS AND COMPANIES AFTER THE BATTLE OF BANUL-MUSTALIQ OR AL-MURAISI'*
1. THE COMPANY OF 'ABDUR-RAHMĀN IBN 'AWF TO THE DWELLINGS OF BANU KALB, DAUMATUL-JANDAL IN SHA'BAN, 6 A.H.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) seated him before him and attired him with a turban. He recommended to behave well during the fight and said: "If they yield to you, marry the daughter of their chief." He marched towards them and when he reached their land, he stayed there for three days inviting them to Islam. All people embraced Islam and he married Tumādir bint Al-Asbagh whose father was the chief of Kalb.
2. THE EXPEDITION OF 'ALI IBN ABU TĀLIB TO BANU SA'AD IBN BAKR FADAK IN SHA'BAN, 6 A.H.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) received information that there was a group of people who planned to support the Jews against the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). So he dispatched 'Ali on an expedition of two hundred fighters. They were marching by night and waiting in ambush by day. On their way apprehended a spy who confessed that Banu Sa'ad sent him to Khaibar to offer them help in return for the harvest of dried dates of Khaibar. He guided them to the gathering place of Banu Sa'ad. 'Ali led his troops towards them and assaulted them. But they fled with their chief Wabar Ibn 'Ulaim to Az-Za'an. The troops of 'Ali captured five hundred camels and two thousand sheep.
3. THE COMPANY OF ABU BAKR AS-SIDDIQ OR ZAID IBN HĀRITHAH TO WADIL-QURĀ IN RAMADĀN, 6 A.H.
There was a sept of Fazārah that people plotted to assassinate the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). So the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) dispatched Abu Bakr As-Siddīq on an expedition to fight them. It has been narrated on the authority of Salama Ibn Al-Akwa who said: "We set out with Abu Bakr, and when we performed dawn prayer, he ordered us to attack. We reached their watering-place where a battle was fought. Some of the enemies were killed and some were taken prisoners. I saw a group of people that consisted of women and children. I was afraid lest they should reach the mountain before me, so I shot an arrow between them and the mountain. When they saw the arrow, they stopped. Among them was a woman from Banu Fazāra who was wearing a leather coat. With her was her daughter who was one of the pretty girls in Arabia. I drove them along until I bought them to Abu Bakr who bestowed that girl upon me as a prize. But the Prophet commanded Abu Bakr to send him the daughter of Umm Qirfah. Then he sent her to the people of Mecca as a ransom for a number of Muslims who had been kept as prisoners there." Umm Qirfah was a wicked woman that wanted to assassinate the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and prepared thirty cavalrymen of her clan to carry out this task. But they were all killed.
4. THE COMPANY OF KURZ IBN JĀBIR AL-FIHRY TO AL-'URANNIEIN IN SHAWWĀL, 6 A.H.
It is reported that a group of 'Ukal and 'Urainah professed their conversion to Islam and came to settle in Madīnah. But the weather was unsuitable for them and so they fell ill, thereupon the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) ordered them to go to the pastures to protect the she-camels and drink of their milk and urines as a medicine. When they got better, they renounced Islam, killed the Prophet's shepherd and captured the she-camels. Thereupon the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) dispatched a company of twenty fighters of his Companions, under the command of Kurz to track and arrest them. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) imprecated them saying: "O Allāh! Let them go astray and make their way so narrow." They got lost and were apprehended. Then they had their hands and legs cut off. Their eyes were gouged out as punishment for their crimes. Then they were left in the desert till they died.
Biographers also mention the company of 'Amr Ibn Umayya Ad-Damry and Salama Ibn Abu Salama in Shawwāl, 6. A.H. They were sent to Mecca to assassinate Abu Sufyān who tasked a desert nomad to kill the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). But they didn't succeed in their attempt.
We notice that these battles and expeditions didn't embody fierce fight, but light clashes. They were but exploratory patrols or disciplinary penalties to intimidate desert nomads and enemies into surrendering. Considering the circumstances, it appears that the course of events began to change following the battle of Al-Ahzāb and the enemies' spirits became low. They had no hope for their success in decimating the calling of Islam. But this crucial development turned out more clearly during the peace treaty of Al-Hudaibiyya. This truce meant an acknowledgement of Islam's strength and its success in survival across Arabia.
*{To be continued In-sha-Allāh (If Allāh Wills)...}*
*"And keep reminding, because reminding benefits the believers."* (Qur-ān 51:55)
*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 157*
*HYPOCRITES' ROLE IN THE BATTLE OF BANUL-MUSTALIQ*
When it was the battle of of Banu Al-Mustaliq and hypocrites took part in it, they were as Allāh described them in the verse reading:
Surah At-Taubah, Verse 47:
لَوْ خَرَجُوا فِيكُم مَّا زَادُوكُمْ إِلَّا خَبَالًا وَلَأَوْضَعُوا خِلَالَكُمْ يَبْغُونَكُمُ الْفِتْنَةَ وَفِيكُمْ سَمَّاعُونَ لَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ
Had they marched out with you, they would have added to you nothing except disorder, and they would have hurried about in your midst (spreading corruption) and sowing sedition among you, and there are some among you who would have listened to them. And Allah is the All-Knower of the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).
They traded on two situations to cause disorder and dissension among Muslims and use defamatory propaganda against the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him):
1. HYPOCRITES SAY: "WHEN WE RETURN TO MADĪNAH, THE MOST HONOURABLE OF US WILL FORCE OUT THE HUMBLEST AMONG US."
After the battle of Al-Mustaliq, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) stayed at Al-Muraisi' while Muslims were watering their animals. 'Umar was employing a man called Jahjāh Al-Ghifāry to help him in watering the animals. To water the animals first from the well which was overcrowded he and Sinān Ibn Wabar Al-Juhany fought each other. Sinān cried out: "O community of the supporters." And Jahjāh shouted out: "O community of the Immigrants." Upon this the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) heard them and said reprovingly: "Do you make a call characteristic of the period of Paganism while I am still present? Abandon it (this call), for it is despicable." When the news reached 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy Ibn Salul, he became angry. There were a group of people with him, including Zaid Ibn Arqam who was then a teenager. He said: "They have dared to trespass us. They have outnumbered us in our own country. Their situation conforms to the proverb that reads: "Feed your dog well to bite you." When we return to Madīnah, the noblest of us will expel the humblest people. Then he said to his comrades: "You get the blame for that. You let them settle in your country and share your property. If you stop them from benefiting your property, they will depart and go somewhere else."
Zaid Ibn Arqam told his uncle who, in turn, informed the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) in the presence of 'Umar who said thereupon: "Order 'Abbād Ibn Bishr to kill him. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said: "Would you like people to say that Muhammad kills his Companions, 'Umar? No, just tell people to depart." It was a time when someone could hardly set off. Muslims moved away. On his way Usaid Ibn Hudair met the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and asked: "You have set out at an inappropriate time!" The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) replied: "Didn't you hear of what that man ('Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy) said?" He asked: "What did he say?" The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said: "He claims that when they return to Madīnah, the most honourable of them will force out the humblest people." He said: "But you are surely the noblest while he is the humblest and you can force him out as you wish." Then he said: "Treat him gently, Allāh's Messenger. The people (the residents of Yathrib) could have installed him a king over them if you hadn't come to Madīnah. He claimed that you took power from him by force." The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) led people towards Madīnah till the morning of the following day. The hot sun harmed them a lot. As soon as people set foot in Madīnah, they fell asleep. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) did so to distract Muslims from debate and arguments.
Ibn Ubayy, when he knew that Zaid Ibn Arqam told the Prophet, he came to him and swore that he didn't say such words. Thereupon some Supporters who were present said: "O Allāh's Messenger! The teenager (Zaid Ibn Arqam) might fabricate this statement and forget what the man had really said." So the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) believed him. Concerning this, Zaid said: "I was so distressed and so I stayed at home till Allāh has revealed the chapter beginning with:
Surah Al-Munafiqoon, Verses 1-8:
إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَكَاذِبُونَ
When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him]), they say: "We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah." Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed.
اتَّخَذُوا أَيْمَانَهُمْ جُنَّةً فَصَدُّوا عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ سَاءَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
They have made their oaths a screen (for their hypocrisy). Thus they hinder (men) from the Path of Allah. Verily, evil is what they used to do.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا فَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
That is because they believed, then disbelieved, therefore their hearts are sealed, so they understand not.
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ تُعْجِبُكَ أَجْسَامُهُمْ وَإِن يَقُولُوا تَسْمَعْ لِقَوْلِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ خُشُبٌ مُّسَنَّدَةٌ يَحْسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيْحَةٍ عَلَيْهِمْ هُمُ الْعَدُوُّ فَاحْذَرْهُمْ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ
And when you look at them, their bodies please you; and when they speak, you listen to their words. They are as blocks of wood propped up. They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies, so beware of them. May Allah curse them! How are they denying (or deviating from) the Right Path.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا يَسْتَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَوَّوْا رُءُوسَهُمْ وَرَأَيْتَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
And when it is said to them: "Come, so that the Messenger of Allah may ask forgiveness from Allah for you", they turn aside their heads, and you would see them turning away their faces in pride.
سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَسْتَغْفَرْتَ لَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ لَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ
It is equal to them whether you (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him]) ask forgiveness or ask not forgiveness for them. Verily, Allah guides not the people who are the Fasiqin (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).
هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لَا تُنفِقُوا عَلَىٰ مَنْ عِندَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ حَتَّىٰ يَنفَضُّوا وَلِلَّهِ خَزَائِنُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
They are the ones who say: "Spend not on those who are with Allah's Messenger, until they desert him." And to Allah belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites comprehend not.
يَقُولُونَ لَئِن رَّجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الْأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا الْأَذَلَّ وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
They (hypocrites) say: "If we return to Al-Madinah, indeed the more honourable ('Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul, the chief of hyprocrites at Al-Madinah) will expel therefrom the meaner (i.e. Allah's Messenger [Blessings and Peace be upon him])." But honour, power and glory belong to Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him]), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) then sent for me and recited it and said: "Zaid, Allāh has confirmed your statement." (Narrated by Al-Bukhāry)
When 'Abdullāh, the son 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy Ibn Salul who was among the great Companions, heard of what his father said, he disowned him and waited for him at the entrance of Madīnah to decapitate him. When Ibn Ubayy arrived, his son 'Abdullāh said: "I will not let you give you access uncle the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) allows you to enter. He is the honourable and you are the base." When he informed the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) of that, he allowed him to enter Madīnah. 'Abdullāh, the son, said: "Allāh's Messenger, if you want me to kill him, order me and I will bring his head to you."
2. THE CALUMNIOUS TALK.
This battle included the story of the calumnious talk. It can be summarised as follows:
"'Ā'ishah accompanied the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) in this battle by lots. Because wherever Allāh's Messenger intended to go on a journey, he used to draw lots amongst his wives, and he used to take with him the one who should go by lot. On their way they halted somewhere. So 'Ā'ishah dismounted her riding camel and went away to answer the call of nature. When she finished with her call of nature, she returned and found out that she lost her necklace. She hastened to the place where she lost it to search for. In the meantime the people who used to carry her to her camel came and took her howdah and put it on the back of the camel on which she was riding, as they thought that she was in it. Because she was light in weight. So the people who carried the howdah found it light. If one or two men had carried it, they would have discovered her absence. She found her necklace and returned to the place where they halted and found none at all. She stayed at the same place in the belief that they would discover her absence and return to search for her. But Allāh willed her to be overcome by sleep. So she fell asleep and awoke up when Safwān Ibnul-Mu'ttal said: "We do belong to Allāh and to Him we will return. Is this the Prophet's wife?" He lagged behind the army of Muslims because he was drowsing a lot. As soon as he had seen her, he recognise her as he had seen her before the obligation of veiling was prescribed. He stopped and made his riding camel kneel down. She mounted it with her face covered. He said no word to her then he set out leading the camel by its bridle till he overtook the army in the extreme heat of midday while they were taking some rest. As soon as people saw them, each one talked as he wished. Thereupon the top hypocrite 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy took this event as a chance to vent his grudge and enmity. He was asking people to relate the slander to propagate and magnify it everywhere. His friends were meeting him many times to listen to the slander.
When people reached Madīnah, the slanderous group began to spread and fabricate more tales about the slander. All that happened while the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) kept silent in the hope that heavenly revelation would acquit 'Ā'ishah of such a hideous impeachment. But it was late and he waited for if long, so he asked his Companions' advice about divorcing her. 'Ali suggested indirectly that he should divorce her and marry another woman. Usāma saw that he shouldn't divorce her and disregard people's rumours. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) mounted the pulpit to complain about 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy because of his unspeakable crime. Usaid Ibn Hudair, the chief of Al-Aws, desired to kill him. Thereupon Sa'ad Ibn Ubādah, the chief of Al-Khazrajj, flew into rage and argued with Usaid. But the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) calmed them down.
'Ā'ishah returned to Madīnah and fell ill for a whole month. But she didn't receive the gentle treatment she would do from the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) whenever she was ill. This aroused her doubts. But she had no idea about the slanderous talks. When she recovered, she got out with Umm Misthah to the public lavatory at night. After they finished answering the call of nature, Umm Mistah stumbled by getting her foot entangled in her covering sheet and so that she cursed her son Mistah. 'Ā'ishah disapproved this. Then she told her about the slanderous talk people spread around Madīnah. She returned home and asked the Prophet's permission to visit her parents and make sure of the news. The Prophet permitted her to go. She went to her father and knew everything. She wept for two days nonstop. Afterwards the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) came and said to her: "'Ā'ishah, I have been informed so-and-so about you; if you are innocent, then repent to Allāh and ask for His forgiveness for when a slave confess his sins and asks Allāh for forgiveness, Allāh accepts his repentance." When the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) stopped talking, her tears ceased flowing. She asked her parents to reply to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) but they didn't know what to say then. She said: "Without doubt, I know that you heard this (slanderous) speech till it had been implanted in your minds and you have taken it as a truth. Now if I tell you that I am innocent, you will not believe me, and if I confess to you something, and Allāh knows that I am innocent, you will surely believe me. I find no similitude for my case and yours except that of Joseph's father when he said:
Surah Yusuf, Verse 18:
وَجَاءُوا عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
And they brought his shirt stained with false blood. He said: "Nay, but your ownselves have made up a tale. So (for me) patience is most fitting. And it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that which you assert."
Then she turned to the other side and lay on her bed. At this moment revelation came down to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) whereupon he became glad and said to her: "'Ā'ishah, Allāh has revealed your innocence." Her mother said to her: "Go with him." She said: "I will not go with him and I will thank none but Allāh." About this incident, Almighty Allāh says:
Surah An-Noor, Verses 11-20:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنكُمْ لَا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَّكُم بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِّنْهُم مَّا اكْتَسَبَ مِنَ الْإِثْمِ وَالَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ كِبْرَهُ مِنْهُمْ لَهُ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Verily! Those who brought forth the slander (against 'Ā'ishah, the wife of the Prophet [Blessings and Peace be upon him]) are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. Unto every man among them will be paid that which he had earned of the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment.
لَّوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ ظَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ خَيْرًا وَقَالُوا هَٰذَا إِفْكٌ مُّبِينٌ
Why then, did not the believers, men and women, when you heard it (the slander) think good of their own people and say: "This (charge) is an obvious lie?"
لَّوْلَا جَاءُوا عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِالشُّهَدَاءِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ
Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they (the slanderers) have not produced witnesses! Then with Allah they are the liars.
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِي مَا أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy unto you in this world and in the Hereafter, a great torment would have touched you for that whereof you had spoken.
إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ
When you were propagating it with your tongues, and uttering with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge, you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.
وَلَوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُم مَّا يَكُونُ لَنَا أَن نَّتَكَلَّمَ بِهَٰذَا سُبْحَانَكَ هَٰذَا بُهْتَانٌ عَظِيمٌ
And why did you not, when you heard it, say? "It is not right for us to speak of this. Glory be to You (O Allah) this is a great lie."
يَعِظُكُمُ اللَّهُ أَن تَعُودُوا لِمِثْلِهِ أَبَدًا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Allah forbids you from it and warns you not to repeat the like of it forever, if you are believers.
وَيُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And Allah makes the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) plain to you, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَن تَشِيعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you know not.
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, (Allah would have hastened the punishment upon you). And that Allah is full of kindness, Most Merciful.
The people who diffused the slanderous talk and were involved in it were whipped eighty lashes as a punishment for their crime. Among them were Mistah Ibn Uthāthah, Hassān Ibn Thābit and Hamnah bint Jahsh. As for the wicked 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy, he was not lashed for two reasons:
➖First, the prescribed penalties commute sinners' punishments they will receive on the Doomsday and Allāh promised that He would inflict upon him a grievous torture.
➖Second, this was a great interest so he was not killed afterwards.
After a month, the clouds of suspicious and confusion disappeared from the sky of Madīnah. As for the head of hypocrites, he was so disgraced that he couldn't raise his head after this slander. Ibn Is'hāq said: "Whenever 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy did something unpleasant, his followers would blame and reprove him so harshly. One day the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said to 'Umar: "What's your opinion. 'Umar? If you killed him the moment you asked me to do so, you would raise his position. But if I was ordered now to kill him, I would do so." 'Umar replied: "I have realised that the opinion of Allāh's Prophet is greater than mine."
﷽
*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 158*
*THE EXPEDITIONS AND COMPANIES AFTER THE BATTLE OF BANUL-MUSTALIQ OR AL-MURAISI'*
1. THE COMPANY OF 'ABDUR-RAHMĀN IBN 'AWF TO THE DWELLINGS OF BANU KALB, DAUMATUL-JANDAL IN SHA'BAN, 6 A.H.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) seated him before him and attired him with a turban. He recommended to behave well during the fight and said: "If they yield to you, marry the daughter of their chief." He marched towards them and when he reached their land, he stayed there for three days inviting them to Islam. All people embraced Islam and he married Tumādir bint Al-Asbagh whose father was the chief of Kalb.
2. THE EXPEDITION OF 'ALI IBN ABU TĀLIB TO BANU SA'AD IBN BAKR FADAK IN SHA'BAN, 6 A.H.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) received information that there was a group of people who planned to support the Jews against the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). So he dispatched 'Ali on an expedition of two hundred fighters. They were marching by night and waiting in ambush by day. On their way apprehended a spy who confessed that Banu Sa'ad sent him to Khaibar to offer them help in return for the harvest of dried dates of Khaibar. He guided them to the gathering place of Banu Sa'ad. 'Ali led his troops towards them and assaulted them. But they fled with their chief Wabar Ibn 'Ulaim to Az-Za'an. The troops of 'Ali captured five hundred camels and two thousand sheep.
3. THE COMPANY OF ABU BAKR AS-SIDDIQ OR ZAID IBN HĀRITHAH TO WADIL-QURĀ IN RAMADĀN, 6 A.H.
There was a sept of Fazārah that people plotted to assassinate the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). So the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) dispatched Abu Bakr As-Siddīq on an expedition to fight them. It has been narrated on the authority of Salama Ibn Al-Akwa who said: "We set out with Abu Bakr, and when we performed dawn prayer, he ordered us to attack. We reached their watering-place where a battle was fought. Some of the enemies were killed and some were taken prisoners. I saw a group of people that consisted of women and children. I was afraid lest they should reach the mountain before me, so I shot an arrow between them and the mountain. When they saw the arrow, they stopped. Among them was a woman from Banu Fazāra who was wearing a leather coat. With her was her daughter who was one of the pretty girls in Arabia. I drove them along until I bought them to Abu Bakr who bestowed that girl upon me as a prize. But the Prophet commanded Abu Bakr to send him the daughter of Umm Qirfah. Then he sent her to the people of Mecca as a ransom for a number of Muslims who had been kept as prisoners there." Umm Qirfah was a wicked woman that wanted to assassinate the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and prepared thirty cavalrymen of her clan to carry out this task. But they were all killed.
4. THE COMPANY OF KURZ IBN JĀBIR AL-FIHRY TO AL-'URANNIEIN IN SHAWWĀL, 6 A.H.
It is reported that a group of 'Ukal and 'Urainah professed their conversion to Islam and came to settle in Madīnah. But the weather was unsuitable for them and so they fell ill, thereupon the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) ordered them to go to the pastures to protect the she-camels and drink of their milk and urines as a medicine. When they got better, they renounced Islam, killed the Prophet's shepherd and captured the she-camels. Thereupon the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) dispatched a company of twenty fighters of his Companions, under the command of Kurz to track and arrest them. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) imprecated them saying: "O Allāh! Let them go astray and make their way so narrow." They got lost and were apprehended. Then they had their hands and legs cut off. Their eyes were gouged out as punishment for their crimes. Then they were left in the desert till they died.
Biographers also mention the company of 'Amr Ibn Umayya Ad-Damry and Salama Ibn Abu Salama in Shawwāl, 6. A.H. They were sent to Mecca to assassinate Abu Sufyān who tasked a desert nomad to kill the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). But they didn't succeed in their attempt.
We notice that these battles and expeditions didn't embody fierce fight, but light clashes. They were but exploratory patrols or disciplinary penalties to intimidate desert nomads and enemies into surrendering. Considering the circumstances, it appears that the course of events began to change following the battle of Al-Ahzāb and the enemies' spirits became low. They had no hope for their success in decimating the calling of Islam. But this crucial development turned out more clearly during the peace treaty of Al-Hudaibiyya. This truce meant an acknowledgement of Islam's strength and its success in survival across Arabia.
*{To be continued In-sha-Allāh (If Allāh Wills)...}*
*"And keep reminding, because reminding benefits the believers."* (Qur-ān 51:55)
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