CHAPTER 4: HYPOCRITES – PART 2
Muslims did not experience hypocrisy before the migration to Madinah:
Hypocrisy was not something which people were used to while in Makkah. This is because the Muslims were not strong and the disbelievers dominated them, and thus there was no need for the disbelievers to hide the reality of what they believed.
As the Muslims grew stronger in Madinah, the hypocrites started falsely expressing belief and adherence to Islam and deceptively concealed their disbelief. The head of the hypocrites was a man called ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool (His father’s name is Ubayy and his mother’s name is Salool, so he was called after both his father and mother.). Before the migration of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, from Makkah to Madinah, Ibn Salool expected to become the leader of the two existing tribes in Madinah, namely Al-Aws and Al-Khazraj. However, with the advent of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Ibn Salool lost this lofty post, so out of hypocrisy he claimed to have believed and concealed disbelief.
This man continued to conceal his hatred for Islam and plot against it with all kinds of evil schemes. He would take advantage of any chance to harm the Muslims and did not spare any opportunity to plot against them until the last day of his life.
Despite this, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was lenient and kind to him and exercised the greatest tolerance hoping that he may soften and accept Islam.
The incident which highlighted the enmity of ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool to Islam was just before the battle of Badr, which occurred immediately before he claimed to have accepted Islam.
Usaamah ibn Zayd (a Companion) narrated:
“The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, rode a donkey. It had a saddle under which was a saddle made at Fadak (a place near Madinah). He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, seated Usaamah behind him and was going to the area of Banu Haarith Al-Khazraji to inquire after the health of Sa’d ibn ‘Ubadah (a Companion), and this happened before the Battle of Badr.
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, proceeded until he passed by a mixed company of people in which were Muslims, polytheists, idol worshippers and Jews. Also among them were ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool (before he claimed to have believed) and ‘Abdullaah ibn Rawahah (a Companion). When the dust raised by the hooves of the animal and spread all over them, ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy covered his nose with his mantle and said: ‘Do not scatter dust over us’. Not minding this remark, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, greeted them, stopped, got down from his riding animal, invited them to Allah, and recited the Quran to them.
‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy said: ‘O man, if what you say is the truth, the best thing for you would be not to bother us with it in our assemblies. Go back to your place. Whosoever comes to you from us, tell him (all) this.’
‘Abdullaah ibn Rawaahah said: ‘Come to us in our gatherings, for we love (to hear) it.’
“When the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, passed by the gathering ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy said to him: ‘Stay away from me, for the stinking smell of your donkey harms me.’ Upon hearing this, one of the people from the Ansaar said to him: ‘I swear by Allah, the donkey of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, is better smelling than you.’
One of the people from ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy’s tribe became angry because of these words and insulted him, and people started siding with their own tribes and a fight started and they began beating each other with their hands and slippers and tree branches. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, continued to calm them.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (2699) and Muslim (1799) on the authority of Anas.)
When they had calmed down, he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, rode his animal and came to Sa’d ibn ‘Ubaadah. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O Sa’d, haven’t you heard what Abu Hubab [meaning ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy and this was his famous nickname] said? He has said such and such.”
Sa’d said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, forgive and pardon. I swear by Allah, Allah has granted you a sublime position, (but so far as ‘Abdullah is concerned) the people of this settlement (Madinah) had decided to make him their king by making him wear a crown and a turban (in token thereof), but Allah circumvented this by the truth He has granted you. This made him jealous and his jealousy (must have) prompted the behavior that you have witnessed. So, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forgave him.’”
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his Companions used to forgive the polytheists and the People of the Book because Allah commanded them to be patient regarding the harm afflicted upon them. Allah Says (what means): «You will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah- indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination.» [Quran: 3:186] So the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to stick to the principle of forgiveness for them as long as Allah ordered him to do so until Allah permitted fighting them. (Reported by Al-Bukhari (6254) and Muslim (1798).)
Incidents showing the forgiveness and tolerance of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for many of the polytheists and the Jews are well-known and numerous in his biography and many texts substantiate this.
The tolerance and patience of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was evident; he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not get angry when the head of hypocrites harmed him with his words and acted impolitely with him. Even the way he addressed the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, reflects his impoliteness and rudeness when dealing with him.
In return, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not become angry, but rather he forgave him and was tolerant.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was commanded by Allah in the beginning to be tolerant and forgive those who harm him.
Allah Says (what means): «So pardon and overlook until Allah delivers His command. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.» [Quran: 2:109]
Allah The Almighty also Says (what means): «Then declare what you are commanded and turn away from the polytheists [who persist in association of others with Allah].» [Quran: 49:94]
The instructions of Allah in the beginning were to refrain from using weapons to confront the disbelievers until the believers gain power and become strong and are able to face others in war.
After the battle of Badr, the Muslims became stronger which forced people like ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool and many polytheists to claim that they had accepted Islam. However, they were hypocrites and did so only outwardly and never believed inwardly.
Usaamah ibn Zayd narrated: “When the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, fought the battle of Badr, Allah killed the masters and the nobles of the Quraysh through his Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, returned victorious to Madinah with his Companions, having gained many war spoils and having captured many war hostages. On seeing this, ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool and the pagans and idolaters who were with him, said: ‘This matter (i.e. Islam) has became victorious.’ So they gave the pledge for embracing Islam to the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and became Muslims.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (4566).)
However, this was only due to their fear and was not true acceptance of Islam. This narration proves that the hypocrites disappear when the Muslims are powerful, but when the Muslims become weak, then their real face becomes exposed and they openly declare their hypocrisy.
Despite their pledge, their enmity to Islam and their evil and harm to the Muslims did not change; they continue to wait for the Muslim’s turn of fortune and seek every opportunity to attack them.
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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