﷽
*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 156*
*HYPOCRITES' ROLE BEFORE THE BATTLE OF BANUL-MUSTALIQ*
As stated previously 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy bore a considerable grudge against Islam and Muslims, especially the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). This was because the inhabitants of Madīnah agreed to install him as a ruler over them at the moment when Islam came to them. But people abandoned him and he lost his dream of power when the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) arrived. Since then he misconceived that it was the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) who wrung power from him.
His hated and enmity appeared since the beginning of Hijra and before he professed his outward conversion to Islam. It is related that when he professed Islam, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) one day rode a donkey and passed by an assembly where there was 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy to visit Sa'ad Ibn Ubādah. Thereupon 'Abdullāh covered his nose with his hands and said: "Don't raise dust against us (He meant the Prophet)." When the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) recited a verse of the Glorious Qur-ān to the audience, Ibn Ubayy said: "Stay at home and don't bother us in our meetings."
Even when he assumed his embrace of Islam, he always harboured enmity towards Muslims and the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). He strained every nerve to sow dissension among Muslims and decimate their enmity. He colluded with the Muslims' enemies. He intervened in the fight of Banu Qainuqā and betrayed Muslims in the battle of Uhud.
It was deceitful and wily of such a wicked person that he would come at every Friday prayer and say, when the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) was on the pulpit to deliver the sermon: "This is Allāh's Messenger present amongst you. Surely, Almighty Allāh honoured and strengthened you through him. So support and obey him," then sit to listen to the Prophet's speech.
It was impertinent of this spiteful man that he stood at the Friday prayer that followed the battle of Uhud and said what he used to say before. But Muslims who sat around him took hold of the edge of his garment and said: "Sit down, enemy of Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala). You are a liar. How ugly your actions are!" He traversed through the people saying: "It seems as though I said evil words when I wanted to support him." Then a man of the Supporters met him at the gate of the Masjid and said: "Woe betide you! Go back and request Allāh's Messenger to plead God's forgiveness for you." He replied: "I don't wish him to plead forgiveness for me."
Furthermore, he had strong contacts with the tribe of An-Nadir and conspired with them against Muslims. He said to them:
Surah Al-Hashr, Verse 11:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا يَقُولُونَ لِإِخْوَانِهِمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَئِنْ أُخْرِجْتُمْ لَنَخْرُجَنَّ مَعَكُمْ وَلَا نُطِيعُ فِيكُمْ أَحَدًا أَبَدًا وَإِن قُوتِلْتُمْ لَنَنصُرَنَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ
Have you (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him]) not observed the hypocrites who say to their friends among the people of the Scripture who disbelieve: "(By Allah) If you are expelled, we (too) indeed will go out with you, and we shall never obey any one against you, and if you are attacked (in fight), we shall indeed help you." But Allah is Witness, that they verily, are liars.
He and his followers stirred up disorder and terror among Muslims in the battle of Al-Ahzāb. Almighty Allāh says:
Surah Al-Ahzab, Verses 12-20:
وَإِذْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا
And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (of doubts) said: "Allah and His Messenger (Blessings and Peace be upon him) promised us nothing but delusions!"
وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَا أَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَارْجِعُوا وَيَسْتَأْذِنُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمُ النَّبِيَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌ وَمَا هِيَ بِعَوْرَةٍ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًا
And when a party of them said: "O people of Yathrib (AlMadinah)! There is no stand (possible) for you (against the enemy attack!) Therefore go back!" And a band of them ask for permission of the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) saying: "Truly, our homes lie open (to the enemy)." And they lay not open. They but wished to flee.
وَلَوْ دُخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَقْطَارِهَا ثُمَّ سُئِلُوا الْفِتْنَةَ لَآتَوْهَا وَمَا تَلَبَّثُوا بِهَا إِلَّا يَسِيرًا
And if the enemy had entered from all sides (of the city), and they had been exhorted to AlFitnah (i.e. to renegade from Islam to polytheism) they would surely have committed it and would have hesitated thereupon but little.
وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّونَ الْأَدْبَارَ وَكَانَ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ مَسْئُولًا
And indeed they had already made a covenant with Allah not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allah must be answered for.
قُل لَّن يَنفَعَكُمُ الْفِرَارُ إِن فَرَرْتُم مِّنَ الْمَوْتِ أَوِ الْقَتْلِ وَإِذًا لَّا تُمَتَّعُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Say (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him] to these hypocrites who ask your permission to run away from you): "Flight will not avail you if you flee from death or killing, and then you will enjoy no more than a little while!"
قُلْ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَعْصِمُكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ سُوءًا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ رَحْمَةً وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
Say: "Who is he who can protect you from Allah if He intends to harm you, or intends mercy on you?" And they will not find, besides Allah, for themselves any Wali (protector, supporter, etc.) or any helper.
قَدْ يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ الْمُعَوِّقِينَ مِنكُمْ وَالْقَائِلِينَ لِإِخْوَانِهِمْ هَلُمَّ إِلَيْنَا وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الْبَأْسَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Allah already knows those among you who keep back (men) from fighting in Allah's Cause, and those who say to their brethren "Come here towards us," while they (themselves) come not to the battle except a little.
أَشِحَّةً عَلَيْكُمْ فَإِذَا جَاءَ الْخَوْفُ رَأَيْتَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ تَدُورُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ كَالَّذِي يُغْشَىٰ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ الْخَوْفُ سَلَقُوكُم بِأَلْسِنَةٍ حِدَادٍ أَشِحَّةً عَلَى الْخَيْرِ أُولَٰئِكَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا فَأَحْبَطَ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرًا
Being miserly towards you (as regards help and aid in Allah's Cause). Then when fear comes, you will see them looking to you, their eyes revolving like (those of) one over whom hovers death, but when the fear departs, they will smite you with sharp tongues, miserly towards (spending anything in any) good (and only covetous of booty and wealth). Such have not believed. Therefore Allah makes their deeds fruitless, and that is ever easy for Allah.
يَحْسَبُونَ الْأَحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا وَإِن يَأْتِ الْأَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا لَوْ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِي الْأَعْرَابِ يَسْأَلُونَ عَنْ أَنبَائِكُمْ وَلَوْ كَانُوا فِيكُم مَّا قَاتَلُوا إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
They think that Al-Ahzāb (the Confederates) have not yet withdrawn, and if AlAhzab (the Confederates) should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the bedouins, seeking news about you (from a far place); and if they (happen) to be among you, they would not fight but little.
The enemies of Islam knew well that the victory of Islam didn't result from merely military superiority. They perceived that its triumph emanated from the morals and values that spread in the Muslim community, groups and individuals. They knew that the root of these sublime morals and great values was the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) himself and that the elimination of Islam and its adherents couldn't be through the use of force. So they decided to launch a wide-ranging propaganda campaign against Islam with regard to manners and norms and make the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) the first object of this false defamatory propaganda. Hypocrites, because of their association with Muslims, could provoke the Muslims' sentiments and undertake this task under the leadership of Ibn Ubayy.
Hypocrites' plot appeared so clearly when the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) married to Zainab bint Jahsh after Zaid Ibn Hārithah had divorce her. It was a tradition of Arabs that they regarded adopted sons as their real sons. At this moment hypocrites seized this opportunity to arouse two controversies against the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him):
1. Zainab was the fifth wife of the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and the Glorious Qur-ān didn't permit marriage to more than five women, so how could this wedlock be permissible for him?
2. Zainab was the ex-wife of his adopted son, and so marriage to her was deemed to be an ugly sin according to the customs of Arabs. Hypocrites gave vent to their grudge and spite and fabricated tales in which they claimed that the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) loved Zainab very much and when his adopted son Zaid knew about that he divorced her. They spread this fabricated tale so extensively that its traces remained in the books of exegesis and Hadīth till now. This propaganda had a strong effects on the weak-minded people as well. Then Almighty Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala) revealed the verses that ended this ordeal and controversy. The fact that Almighty Allāh commenced Sūra Al-Ahzāb with the words:
Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse 1:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَلَا تُطِعِ الْكَافِرِينَ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
O Prophet (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him])! Keep your duty to Allah, and obey not the disbelievers and the hypocrites (i.e., do not follow their pieces of advice). Verily! Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.
Refers to the far-reaching propaganda hypocrites aimed at the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him).
This is a mere pared-down form of what hypocrites perpetrated before the battle of Banu Al-Mustaliq. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) experienced all these trials patiently and tolerantly. As for Muslims, they became unmasked and disgraced. Almighty Allāh says:
Surah At-Taubah, Verse 126:
أَوَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُمْ يُفْتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ مَّرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَا يَتُوبُونَ وَلَا هُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
See they not that they are tried once or twice every year (with different kinds of calamities, disease, famine, etc.)? Yet, they turn not in repentance, nor do they learn a lesson (from it).
*{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 156*
*HYPOCRITES' ROLE BEFORE THE BATTLE OF BANUL-MUSTALIQ*
As stated previously 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy bore a considerable grudge against Islam and Muslims, especially the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). This was because the inhabitants of Madīnah agreed to install him as a ruler over them at the moment when Islam came to them. But people abandoned him and he lost his dream of power when the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) arrived. Since then he misconceived that it was the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) who wrung power from him.
His hated and enmity appeared since the beginning of Hijra and before he professed his outward conversion to Islam. It is related that when he professed Islam, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) one day rode a donkey and passed by an assembly where there was 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy to visit Sa'ad Ibn Ubādah. Thereupon 'Abdullāh covered his nose with his hands and said: "Don't raise dust against us (He meant the Prophet)." When the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) recited a verse of the Glorious Qur-ān to the audience, Ibn Ubayy said: "Stay at home and don't bother us in our meetings."
Even when he assumed his embrace of Islam, he always harboured enmity towards Muslims and the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). He strained every nerve to sow dissension among Muslims and decimate their enmity. He colluded with the Muslims' enemies. He intervened in the fight of Banu Qainuqā and betrayed Muslims in the battle of Uhud.
It was deceitful and wily of such a wicked person that he would come at every Friday prayer and say, when the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) was on the pulpit to deliver the sermon: "This is Allāh's Messenger present amongst you. Surely, Almighty Allāh honoured and strengthened you through him. So support and obey him," then sit to listen to the Prophet's speech.
It was impertinent of this spiteful man that he stood at the Friday prayer that followed the battle of Uhud and said what he used to say before. But Muslims who sat around him took hold of the edge of his garment and said: "Sit down, enemy of Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala). You are a liar. How ugly your actions are!" He traversed through the people saying: "It seems as though I said evil words when I wanted to support him." Then a man of the Supporters met him at the gate of the Masjid and said: "Woe betide you! Go back and request Allāh's Messenger to plead God's forgiveness for you." He replied: "I don't wish him to plead forgiveness for me."
Furthermore, he had strong contacts with the tribe of An-Nadir and conspired with them against Muslims. He said to them:
Surah Al-Hashr, Verse 11:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا يَقُولُونَ لِإِخْوَانِهِمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَئِنْ أُخْرِجْتُمْ لَنَخْرُجَنَّ مَعَكُمْ وَلَا نُطِيعُ فِيكُمْ أَحَدًا أَبَدًا وَإِن قُوتِلْتُمْ لَنَنصُرَنَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ
Have you (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him]) not observed the hypocrites who say to their friends among the people of the Scripture who disbelieve: "(By Allah) If you are expelled, we (too) indeed will go out with you, and we shall never obey any one against you, and if you are attacked (in fight), we shall indeed help you." But Allah is Witness, that they verily, are liars.
He and his followers stirred up disorder and terror among Muslims in the battle of Al-Ahzāb. Almighty Allāh says:
Surah Al-Ahzab, Verses 12-20:
وَإِذْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا
And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (of doubts) said: "Allah and His Messenger (Blessings and Peace be upon him) promised us nothing but delusions!"
وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَا أَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَارْجِعُوا وَيَسْتَأْذِنُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمُ النَّبِيَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌ وَمَا هِيَ بِعَوْرَةٍ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًا
And when a party of them said: "O people of Yathrib (AlMadinah)! There is no stand (possible) for you (against the enemy attack!) Therefore go back!" And a band of them ask for permission of the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) saying: "Truly, our homes lie open (to the enemy)." And they lay not open. They but wished to flee.
وَلَوْ دُخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَقْطَارِهَا ثُمَّ سُئِلُوا الْفِتْنَةَ لَآتَوْهَا وَمَا تَلَبَّثُوا بِهَا إِلَّا يَسِيرًا
And if the enemy had entered from all sides (of the city), and they had been exhorted to AlFitnah (i.e. to renegade from Islam to polytheism) they would surely have committed it and would have hesitated thereupon but little.
وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّونَ الْأَدْبَارَ وَكَانَ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ مَسْئُولًا
And indeed they had already made a covenant with Allah not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allah must be answered for.
قُل لَّن يَنفَعَكُمُ الْفِرَارُ إِن فَرَرْتُم مِّنَ الْمَوْتِ أَوِ الْقَتْلِ وَإِذًا لَّا تُمَتَّعُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Say (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him] to these hypocrites who ask your permission to run away from you): "Flight will not avail you if you flee from death or killing, and then you will enjoy no more than a little while!"
قُلْ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَعْصِمُكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ سُوءًا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ رَحْمَةً وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
Say: "Who is he who can protect you from Allah if He intends to harm you, or intends mercy on you?" And they will not find, besides Allah, for themselves any Wali (protector, supporter, etc.) or any helper.
قَدْ يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ الْمُعَوِّقِينَ مِنكُمْ وَالْقَائِلِينَ لِإِخْوَانِهِمْ هَلُمَّ إِلَيْنَا وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الْبَأْسَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Allah already knows those among you who keep back (men) from fighting in Allah's Cause, and those who say to their brethren "Come here towards us," while they (themselves) come not to the battle except a little.
أَشِحَّةً عَلَيْكُمْ فَإِذَا جَاءَ الْخَوْفُ رَأَيْتَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ تَدُورُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ كَالَّذِي يُغْشَىٰ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ الْخَوْفُ سَلَقُوكُم بِأَلْسِنَةٍ حِدَادٍ أَشِحَّةً عَلَى الْخَيْرِ أُولَٰئِكَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا فَأَحْبَطَ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرًا
Being miserly towards you (as regards help and aid in Allah's Cause). Then when fear comes, you will see them looking to you, their eyes revolving like (those of) one over whom hovers death, but when the fear departs, they will smite you with sharp tongues, miserly towards (spending anything in any) good (and only covetous of booty and wealth). Such have not believed. Therefore Allah makes their deeds fruitless, and that is ever easy for Allah.
يَحْسَبُونَ الْأَحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا وَإِن يَأْتِ الْأَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا لَوْ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِي الْأَعْرَابِ يَسْأَلُونَ عَنْ أَنبَائِكُمْ وَلَوْ كَانُوا فِيكُم مَّا قَاتَلُوا إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
They think that Al-Ahzāb (the Confederates) have not yet withdrawn, and if AlAhzab (the Confederates) should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the bedouins, seeking news about you (from a far place); and if they (happen) to be among you, they would not fight but little.
The enemies of Islam knew well that the victory of Islam didn't result from merely military superiority. They perceived that its triumph emanated from the morals and values that spread in the Muslim community, groups and individuals. They knew that the root of these sublime morals and great values was the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) himself and that the elimination of Islam and its adherents couldn't be through the use of force. So they decided to launch a wide-ranging propaganda campaign against Islam with regard to manners and norms and make the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) the first object of this false defamatory propaganda. Hypocrites, because of their association with Muslims, could provoke the Muslims' sentiments and undertake this task under the leadership of Ibn Ubayy.
Hypocrites' plot appeared so clearly when the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) married to Zainab bint Jahsh after Zaid Ibn Hārithah had divorce her. It was a tradition of Arabs that they regarded adopted sons as their real sons. At this moment hypocrites seized this opportunity to arouse two controversies against the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him):
1. Zainab was the fifth wife of the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and the Glorious Qur-ān didn't permit marriage to more than five women, so how could this wedlock be permissible for him?
2. Zainab was the ex-wife of his adopted son, and so marriage to her was deemed to be an ugly sin according to the customs of Arabs. Hypocrites gave vent to their grudge and spite and fabricated tales in which they claimed that the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) loved Zainab very much and when his adopted son Zaid knew about that he divorced her. They spread this fabricated tale so extensively that its traces remained in the books of exegesis and Hadīth till now. This propaganda had a strong effects on the weak-minded people as well. Then Almighty Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala) revealed the verses that ended this ordeal and controversy. The fact that Almighty Allāh commenced Sūra Al-Ahzāb with the words:
Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse 1:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَلَا تُطِعِ الْكَافِرِينَ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
O Prophet (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him])! Keep your duty to Allah, and obey not the disbelievers and the hypocrites (i.e., do not follow their pieces of advice). Verily! Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.
Refers to the far-reaching propaganda hypocrites aimed at the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him).
This is a mere pared-down form of what hypocrites perpetrated before the battle of Banu Al-Mustaliq. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) experienced all these trials patiently and tolerantly. As for Muslims, they became unmasked and disgraced. Almighty Allāh says:
Surah At-Taubah, Verse 126:
أَوَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُمْ يُفْتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ مَّرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَا يَتُوبُونَ وَلَا هُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
See they not that they are tried once or twice every year (with different kinds of calamities, disease, famine, etc.)? Yet, they turn not in repentance, nor do they learn a lesson (from it).
*{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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