Mischief
of the Hypocrites:
On the return journey, the
hypocrites made an attempt to create bad blood between the Muhâjirin and the
Ansâr. Abdullah bin Ubai highlighted the issue of the Muhâjirin and the Ansâr.
He went to the extent that he pronounced: "When we return to Al-Madinah,
those who are worthy and noble, will drive out the unworthy wretches."
One more event that should be
mentioned took place during this journey. 'Aishah bint Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was also present on
this journey. The army made a halt at one stage when resuming the journey. Her
litter was set on the camel without her because, at the time, she was away
answering the call of nature. The man who set the litter thought that 'Aishah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was inside it. She
was delayed because a pearl necklace she wore was entangled in a bush and the
pearls were scattered. Since the necklace belonged to her sister, she was more
particular about collecting them. In the meantime the army moved off. When she
returned she found nobody there. She grew very anxious.
Meanwhile, Safwân bin Mu'attal (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) emerged slowly from
behind. He was assigned the duty of looking after all the gear and as a rear
guard. Now when he came on the scene he was dumb-founded to see the Mother of
the believers. He at once got down from his camel, and seated 'Aishah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) on it and moved
ahead holding its halter. He caught up with the Muslim army on the way. When
they came to know of this incident, they expressed immense sorrow over it. But
the wicked hypocrites had a golden opportunity to capitalize on the incident
and created a storm in the Muslim camp.
Filled with tremendous despair,
'Aishah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) went to live with
her father in such a state of gloom that the believers as a whole were
thoroughly convinced of her innocence and piety. Approximately one month after this
incident, Revelation came down vindicating her completely. Thus 'Aishah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was strongly and
firmly declared as 'truthful'.
The ever expanding mischief of
Abdullah bin Ubai and particularly the latest incident became intolerable for
the believers, and one Companion requested the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) to do away with the scourge. But the
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) declined saying:
"Since Abdullah bin Ubai outwardly proclaims himself a Muslim, killing him
will encourage some people to say that Muhammad has now started killing his
friends." When his son, Abdullah bin Abdullah bin Ubai came to know that
his father had proved himself worthy of being killed, he called on the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم). He said, "Let
the task of killing my father, Abdullah bin Ubai be assigned to me so that I,
by beheading him, will establish beyond a doubt that Islam is more valuable
than a father." "No, I don't want to kill Abdullah bin Ubai,"
the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
emphatically said. However, Abdullah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) stopped his father Abdullah bin Ubai at the entrance to
Al-Madinah declaring, "You are a hypocrite and I will not allow you to
enter Al-Madinah." When the Prophet (صلى الله
عليه وآله وسلم) came to know of this, he issued an order to let Abdullah in.
Release
of the Captives:
Juwairiyah, the daughter of Hârith,
the chief of Banu Al-Mustaliq was given to Thâbit bin Qais (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). In the meantime Hârith himself came to
Al-Madinah to seek the release of his daughter. He (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم) himself paid the ransom and set her free.
But Juwairiyah refused to accompany her father and showed her eagerness to be
at the service of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
instead. Thus he took her hand in marriage with the ready consent of her father.
In the wake of this marriage, the Companions set all the prisoners of Banu
Al-Mustaliq free saying that those entering into relation with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) could not be kept as
captives. The spoils of war were also given back to them. Thus enmity with a
tribe was changed into love simply because of this marriage.
Reproving
the Jews:
It is a fact that the Banu Nadir had
aggravated their mischievous activities right from the day they had been
banished from Al-Madinah. It was only because of their nefarious plans that the
polytheists and the Jewish tribes of Arabia rose against the believers. The
matter took such a turn that all Arabian tribes even the Christian forces at
the Syrian frontiers began to look upon the Muslims as a danger to their peace
and solidarity. As a result of all this, the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم) had grown very cautious regarding their
hostile activities and never failed to dispatch detachments wherever danger
seemed lurking.
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