CHAPTER 4: HYPOCRITES – PART 3
‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy and his companions plotted against the Muslims with the help of the Jews:
This is evident in the incident where he took sides with the Jews of the tribe of Qaynuqa’ who broke their covenant with the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in which both parties had agreed not to attack each other.
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbas (a Companion) narrated: “When the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, won the battle of Badr and returned to Madinah, the Jews gathered in the market of the tribe of Qaynuqa’ and said: ‘O people of the Jews, embrace Islam before you experience what the Quraysh had experienced.’(In another narration, “You know that I am a Messenger sent (by Allah). You find this in your Book and the pledge Allah took upon you.” Ibn Is-Haaq (313/1).)
Then, they said (addressing the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), ‘O Muhammad, do not be deceived with the victory you had over a few amateurs of the Quraysh who did not know how to fight. If you fight against us, then you would truly know what type of people we are, and that you had never fought against fighters like us. Thereafter, Allah revealed His Saying (which means): «Say to those who disbelieve, “You will be overcome and gathered together to Hell, and wretched is the resting place.”» [Quran: 3:12]”(Reported by Abu Dawood (3001).)
Ibn Hishaam (a scholar) reported on the authority of Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullaah Ath-Thaqafi (a Companion): “A Muslim woman visited a jeweler’s shop in the Qaynuqaa’ marketplace as she had a piece of jewelry to sell. She presented it to one of the Jewish jewelers who pestered her to uncover her face, which she refused. The jeweler pinned her clothing in such a way that when she got up, her body became exposed and they (the Jews) started laughing at her. A Muslim man coming upon the resulting commotion and killed the shopkeeper in retaliation. The Jews in turn killed the Muslim man. This escalated to a chain of revenge, and enmity grew between Muslims and the Banu Qaynuqaa’.”(As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah (48/2).)
The result was that they were blockaded by the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and the Muslims. The blockade continued until they surrendered and accepted to adhere to whatever action he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, decided to take.
‘Aasim ibn ‘Umar ibn Qatadah (a Companion) said:
“The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, blockaded them until they agreed to adhere to any judgment he makes. They were allies of the tribe of Al-Khazraj, so ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool, stood up and said: ‘O Muhammad, be kind to my allies.’ However, the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not reply back. He repeated, ‘O Muhammad, be kind to my allies.’ But the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, still did not pay him any attention. Thereupon, he held the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, by his armor. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to him: “Let go of me.” And he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, became angry, to the point that people noticed this on his face. Again he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to him: “Woe to you, let go of me!” ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool, said: ‘I swear to Allah, I will not let go of you until you treat my allies kindly. They are four hundred unshielded men and three hundred shielded men who protected me against the black and the red (i.e. different types of people), and you want to kill them all at one go; I fear what may happen in the future. Thereupon he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “They are yours.””(As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah (48/2).)
‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool was still held at high esteem by his people, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, accepted his intercession for the tribe of Qaynuqa’ on the condition that they evacuate Madinah taking their money but not their weapons.
The hypocrites withdrew from the battle of Uhud:
When the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went out to fight the battle of Uhud, the hypocrites went back on the way to the battle and refrained from fighting with him. They withdrew one third of the army, and yet the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not punish them.
Zayd ibn Thaabit (a Companion) narrated: “When the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went out to fight the battle of Uhud, some people who initially went out with him went back. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, split into two groups with regards to those who withdrew, one saying: ‘We should fight them.’ And another group saying: ‘We should not fight them.’ Thereupon, Allah revealed His Saying (which means): «What is [the matter] with you [that you are] two groups concerning the hypocrites, [divided between two viewpoints] while Allah has made them fall back [into error and disbelief] for what they earned [as the result of their disobedience and disloyalty]. Do you wish to guide those whom Allah has [allowed to go] astray?» [Quran: 4:88].” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (4050) and Muslim (2776).)
The hypocrites let the Muslims down at a time when they needed them the most. They also worked on influencing some of the weak-hearted and weak-minded people and were able to go back with one third of the army. The only thing that stopped them from joining the Muslim ranks was their hypocrisy and disbelief, as Allah clarified Saying (what means): «And that He might make evident those who are hypocrites. For it was said to them, “Come, fight in the way of Allah or [at least] defend.” They said: “If we
had known [there would be] fighting, we would have followed you.” They were nearer to disbelief that day than to faith, saying with their hearts. And Allah is most Knowing of what they conceal.» [Quran: 3:167]. Despite this behavior, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not punish them for this great evil and sin that they committed.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, refrained from killing them for the benefit of Islam:
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not kill any of the hypocrites as a way to prevent a greater evil, which is people turning away from Islam. The following narration is evidence for this.
Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah (a Companion) narrated:
“We were along with the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, on an expedition and a man from the Muhajiroun (the Emigrants) attacked the back of the people of the Ansaar, so the latter said: ‘O people from the Ansaar (help)!’ And in return the former said: ‘O people of the Muhajiroun (help)!’ The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, heard this and said: “What is wrong with people calling the proclamations [or slogans] of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance?” People said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, ‘A man from the Muhajiroun struck at the back of the people of the Ansaar.’ Thereupon, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, heard this and said: “Abandon it [the slogans of the pre-Islamic era] for it is something disgusting.” ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy heard it and said: ‘They have indeed done it. By Allah, when we would return to Madinah the respectable amongst them (the Ansaar) would turn away the mean (the Emigrants).’ The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was told of this. Thereupon ‘Umar said: ‘Permit me so that I strike the neck of this hypocrite.’ But the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Leave him, so that the people may not say that Muhammad kills his companions.””(Reported by Al-Bukhari (3517) and Muslim (2584).)
Ibn Is-Haaq (a scholar) added: “He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘No, but announce to people that we will leave.’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, left at a time when he was not supposed to leave(The wisdom behind leaving early at a time when he did not leave usually is allowing this news to spread amongst the army, which would result in confusion in people’s minds, and rumors would spread. It would also distract the Muslims and make them get into debates which could lead to a great evil. They continued to travel day and night and became tired to the point that they fell asleep,and this deep sleep made them forget the issue. (Marwiyyat Ghazwat Bani Al-Mustaliq (190/1)).). He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saw Usayd ibn Hudhayr who asked him about this, and he replied: ‘Rather you are the most respectable and honorable, O Messenger of Allah, and he is the humiliated one.’ ‘Abdullaah, the son of Ibn Salool (who was a true Muslim) came to know about what his father had said; so he went to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: ‘I came to know that you want to kill my father because of what he had said about you. If you are truly planning to do so, then I will bring his head to you (i.e. behead him). The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “No, rather, we will be kind to him and lenient with him so long as he is living with us.””(As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah (291/2).)
Another narration reads: “His son ‘Abdullah said to him (i.e. to his father): ‘I swear by Allah, you will never return to Madinah until you admit that you are the humiliated one and that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is the honorable one, so he did (admitted to what his son wanted to him to admit to).”(Reported by At-Tirmidhi (1582).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, dealt with hypocrites based on what they claimed outwardly:
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, dealt with them as Muslims and did not differentiate between them and other Muslims in the outwardly judgment and Islamic rulings.
Hypocrites are treated like Muslims unless they openly show something that proves that they are disbelievers and hypocrites. If this is proven with clear evidence, then they would be treated as disbelievers and the penalty of apostasy would be applied to them.
Note: It is a clear mistake to allow every hypocrite and evil human to say or do whatever they wish under the pretext that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not punish the hypocrites. Those who adopt this opinion forget that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not punish the hypocrites in his time because they concealed their hypocrisy and they did not say or do anything openly that could make him change the outward judgment (of them being Muslims). In fact, they used to deny any accusation and swear falsely that they were true believers. Allah informs us this Saying (what means): «They have taken their oaths as a cover.» [Quran: 63:2] Meaning a cover to protect them against being killed. Allah Says (what means): «They swear by Allah that they did not say [anything against the Prophet] while they had said the word of disbelief.» [Quran: 9:74]
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, accepted their excuses when they took oaths in an attempt to soften their hearts:
Zayd ibn Arqam (a Companion) narrated:
“We went out with the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, on a journey, during which people faced many hardships. I heard ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool saying: ‘Don’t spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah so that they may disperse and go away from him. When we return (to Madinah), surely the more honorable will expel the lowly amongst them.’
I reported that (his words) to Sa’d ibn ‘Ubaadah (the chief from the tribe of Al-Khazraj), in turn, he informed the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, of it. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, called me and I narrated to him the whole story.
Then the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent for ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy and his companions, and they took an oath that they did not say that. So the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, accepted his statement and rejected mine.1 I was struck with such distress the likes of which had never struck me before. I stayed at home and Sa’d said to me, ‘What made you do what you did, or did you just want the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to disbelieve your statement and hate you?’ I suffered an even greater distress as a result of what he said to me, until Allah revealed (what means): «When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muhammad], they say, “We testify that you are the Messenger of Allah.” And Allah knows that you are His Messenger, and Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars […] But never will Allah delay a soul when it’s time has come. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.» [Quran: 63:1-11] The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then sent for me and recited it and said: “O Zayd! Allah confirmed your statement.” Then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, called them so that he would
ask forgiveness for them, but they turned their heads aside (in rejection).” (Reported by Al-Bukhaari (4900), Muslim (2772) and At-Tirmidhi (2772).)
In another narration: “While I was walking with the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with my head bowed down (in depression), he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, turned to me and rubbed my ear affectionately and laughed while looking at me. I would not exchange this with anything, even if it would be eternity in this worldly life. Then Abu Bakr (a Companion; the first Caliph) came to me and asked: ‘What did the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, say to you?’ I said: ‘Nothing, but he rubbed my ear and laughed while looking at me. He (Abu Bakr) said: ‘Glad tidings to you!’ Then ‘Umar came to me and asked: ‘What did the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, say to you?’ I said to him what I said to Abu Bakr. The next morning, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, recited to us the chapter of Al-Munafiqoon (that confirmed my statement).”(Reported by At-Tirmidhi (3313).)
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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