33. THE PROPHET’S DISPATCH OF KHALID IBN WALEED TO UKAIDIR DOOMAH
Ibn Ishaq related that afterward, Allah’s Messenger invited Khalid Ibn Waleed and dispatched him to Ukaidir Doomah. Ukaidir Ibn ‘Abdul Malik from Kindah was their king and he was a Christian. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to Khalid: “You will find him hunting wild cows.” Khalid set out until he was within sight of his fortress. It was a moonlit summer night when Ukaidir was with his wife on the rooftop. The wild cows were rubbing their horns against the gate of his castle. His wife urged him to go after the wild cows. He came down and ordered that his horse be saddled and went off with a band of his family members, among whom was his brother, Hassan. During their pursuit, the cavalry of Allah’s Messenger intercepted them, captured him and killed his brother, Ukaidir was dressed in a cloth brocade embellished with gold. Khalid took the outfit and sent it to the Prophet ahead of his arrival.
‘Asim Ibn ‘Umar Ibn Qatadah related to the authority of Anas Ibn Malik who said: “I saw the garment of Ukaidir when it was brought to Allah’s Messenger and the Muslims began to marvel at its beauty. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: ‘Do you marvel at its beauty? By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, the handkerchief of Sa’d Ibn Mu’adh in Paradise is far more beautiful than this’.”
On the authority of ‘Urwah Ibn Az-Zubair who narrated that when Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, returned to Madinah from Tabook, a group of hypocrites decided to assassinate him. Their plan was to push him from the precipice of a mountain pass. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was informed of their plan, so he ordered the people to march along the valley while he ascended the mountain. The group involved in the assassination scheme followed him while hiding their facess. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, ordered ‘Ammar Ibn Yasir and Hudhaifah Ibn Al-Yaman to come along with him. ‘Ammar Held the reign of the camel while Hudhaifah drove it. While they were going, they heard the people who had betrayed them. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, became angry. When Hudhaifah saw his anger he turned back toward them with a staff and approached their camels with it. When they saw Hudhaifah, they thought their grave secret had been exposed and they hastily retreated until they mingled with the people. Hudhaifah returned and caught up with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, urged them and they quickly traversed the mountain path and stopped to wait for the other people.
Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to Hudhaifah: “Did you recognize this group of people?” He said: “I do not recognize them except that I saw their camels in the darkness of the night.” He said: “Did you both know the intention of these riders?” Both of them replied in the negative and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, informed them of what they had planned to do to him and he told them their names and asked them to keep it secret.”They both said: “Shouldn’t you order that they be executed?” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “I detest that people say that Muhammad kills his Companions.”
Ibn Ishaq related this story with the difference that the Prophet related their names only to Hudhaifah Ibn Al-Yaman, and this is more probable. And Allah (SWT) knows best. This is corroborated by the statement of Abu Darda’ to ‘Alqamah, the companion of Ibn Mas‘ood: “Don’t you have among you (i.e. the people of Kufah) the bearer of a secret which no one knows except him (i.e. Hudhaifah) ? Don’t you have among you the one whom Allah protected from Shaitan on the tongue of Muhammad (i.e. ‘Ammar).” It is related to the authority of Ameerul-Mu’mineen ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said to Hudhaifah: “I beseech you by Allah, am I among them?” He said: “No, but I shall not exempt anyone after you,” i.e. so that he may not reveal the secret of the Prophet.
I say: They were four men while some say they were twelve. Ibn Ishaq related that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, sent Hudhaifah to convene them and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, informed them about what they had been planning against him; Ibn Ishaq then listed their names. It was concerning them that Allah, the Exalted, revealed: “and they resolved that (plot to] murder Prophet Muhammad) which they were unable to carry out.” (Soorah At-Tawbah 9:74)
On the authority of At-Tufail who related that when Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was returning from the Ghazwah of Tabook, he commanded someone to announce that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was passing through the mountain path so no one should follow the same path. While Hudhaifah was driving the Prophet’s camel and ‘Ammar was steering it, a group of people, who were concealing their faces, approached on their camels. ‘Ammar turned toward them and began to beat the face of their camels. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to Hudhaifah: “Faster! Faster,” until they descended from the valley. When they had descended, ‘Ammar returned and the Prophet asked him: “O ‘Ammar, did you recognize the people?” He said: “I just saw their camels but the people themselves were covered.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, further asked: “Do you know what they intended to do?” ‘Ammar replied: “Allah and His Messenger know best.” The Prophet,peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “They intended to startle the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, so that they might cause him to be thrown.” ‘Ammar confided in one of the Companions of the Prophet who asked him: “We beseech you by Allah, how many were the people of the steep mountain pass?” He replied: “They were fourteen men.” The man said: “If I am among them, then they are fifteen.” ‘Ammar added: “Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, excused three of them for they said: ‘We did not hear the crier of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, making that announcement and neither were we aware of what the people intended to do.’” ‘Ammar said: “I call you to witness that the remaining ten individuals rebelled against Allah and His Messenger in this world and the witnessing of that day shall be established.”
By: Ibn Katheer
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