Indexed OCR Text

their wealth and lives in Allaah's path (because they sincerely want to strive and
weep in sorrow when they do not have the means for Jihaad). Allaah is well aware of
those who possess Taqwa (and will reward them accordingly). Only those who do
not believe in Allaah and the Last Day will request you to excuse them (from
Jihaad). Their hearts have doubts (about Islaam), so they will remain tossing
about in their doubts (making every effort to avoid Jihaad). If they intended to
proceed with you, they would have surely made some preparations, but Allaah
disliked that they proceed so He held them back (causing them to make excuses)
and (when they asked to be excuses) they were told, "Remain with those (women,
children and invalids) who remain behind!" (Allaah had destined that these people
should not join the Muslim army because) Had they proceeded with you, they would
have added nothing but conflict (to the Muslim ranks) and would have hurried to
and fro among you, seeking to cause trouble (by carrying tales and spreading false
information). (However, you should still be careful because) Among you are those who
spy for them. Allaah is well aware of the oppressors (those who try to cause trouble
among people). Indeed they (the Munaafiqeen) sought to cause trouble (for you, O
Rasulullaah p) from before (when you arrived in Madinah) and used to overturn (upset
and distort) matters for you until the truth (Allaah's assistance) arrived (as occurred
at Badr) and Allaah's order (Islaam) appeared (to predominate) to their
disappointment. Among them (the Munaafiqeen) is he who says, "Excuse me (from
fighting) and do not expose me to temptation (because I will be unable to control
myself when I see their women)." Behold! In temptation did he (already) fall (by
being reluctant to fight) ! Verily Jahannam shall surround the Kaafiroon (and they
will be unable to escape).
Verses 81-83 of the Surah state:
فَرِحَ الْمُخَلَّقُوْنَ بِمَقْعَدِيِمْ خِلْفَ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ وَكَرِبُوا أَنْ يُّجَابِدُوْا بِآَمْوَ الِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ فِئْ سَبِيْلِ اللهِ وَقَالُوْا لَا تَنْفِرُوْا فِى
الْحَرِّ ﴿ قُلْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ اشَدُّ حَرًّا * لَوْ كَانُوا يَفْقَهُوْنَ (٨١) فَلْيَضْحَكُوْا قَلِيْلًا وَّلْيَبْكُوْا كَثِيْرًا نَّ جَزَآءُّ بِمَا كَانُوا
يَكْسِبُوْنَ (٨٢) فَإِنْ رَّجَعَكَ اللهُ إِلَى طَائِفَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسْتَأْذَنُوْكَ لِلْخُرُوْجِ فَقُل لَّنْ تَخْرُجُوا مَعِىَ أَبَدًا وَّلَنْ تُقَاتِلُوا
مَعِىَ عَدُوًّا ٥ *إِنَّكُمْ رَضِيْتُمْ بِالْقُعُوْدِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَاقْعُدُوْا مَعَ الْخُلِفِيْنَ (٨٣)
TRANSLATION: Those who were left behind the Rasool of Allaah (who stayed
behind in Madinah when Rasulullaah p marched with the Muslim army to Tabook) are
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pleased with their sitting behind him. They detest striving in Allaah's path with
their wealth and their lives, saying (to others and to each other), "Do not proceed
in the heat!" Tell them, "The fire of Jahannam is much more intense in heat (69
times more intense than the fire of this world)." If only they understood. (If they
understood that the heat of Jahannam is unbearable and everlasting, they would not fear
the temporary heat of this world which is bearable.) Let them laugh for awhile (in this
world) and (then) cry more (in the Aakhirah) in compensation (as punishment) for the
(evil) deeds that they carry out. If Allaah returns you (O Muhammad & from Tabook
and) to a group of them (the Munaafiqeen who did not march with you) and they seek
permission to proceed (with you in Jihaad on another occasion), then tell them, "You
shall never proceed with me ever, nor will you ever fight an enemy with me!
You were pleased to remain behind the first time, so now you remain with
those (women, children and invalids) who remain behind!"
Verses 94-96 state:
يَعْتَذِرُوْنَ اِلَيْكُمْ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ ٥* قُلْ لَّا تَعْنَذِرُوْا لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ لَكُمْ قَدْ نَبََّنَا اللهُ مِنْ أَخْبَارِكُمْ ٥* وَسَيَرَى اللهُ
عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُوْلُهَ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّوْنَ إِى عَلِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَيُنَبِئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُوْنَ (٩٢) سَيَحْلِفُوْنَ بِاللهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا
انْقَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لِتُعْرِضُوْا عَنْهُمْ ٥* فَاعْرِضُوْا عَنْهُمْ ن ◌ِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ ، وَّمَأوبُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَ جَزَآءُّ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُوْنَ
(٩٥) يَحْلِفُوْنَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْ ◌َّ فَإِنْ تَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللهَ لَا يَرْضَى عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْفُسِقِيْنَ (٩٦)
TRANSLATION: They (the Munaafiqeen) will make excuses to you (O Rasulullaah p)
when you return to them (in Madinah after returning from Tabook). Tell them, "Do
not make excuses; we shall never believe you. Allaah has already informed us
about your condition (that you are hypocrites). Soon Allaah and His Rasool p will
see your actions. Then (in the Aakhirah) you will be returned to the Knower of the
unseen and the seen (that is Allaah), and He will inform you of the things that you
did (and will punish you for the wrong you did for He knows the hidden intentions of every
person)." When you (O Rasulullaah p) return to them (the Munaafiqeen) shortly (in
Madinah) they will swear before you by Allaah (that they had valid reasons for not
accompanying you), so that you may leave them alone (and do not admonish them).
Pay no attention to them! They (their beliefs and actions) are impure! Their abode
shall be Jahannam as a punishment for what (evil deeds) they earned. They
swear (oaths) before you (O Rasulullaah p) so that you may be pleased with them.
(However,) Even if you are pleased with them, Allaah is certainly not pleased
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with the disobedient ones (Muslims should therefore not maintain close ties with such
people).
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Lessons and Conclusions
The Masjid of Mischief
The Masjid built by the Munaafiqeen and mentioned in Surah Taubah was
constructed for the following three purposes:
1. To consolidate Kufr
2. To create division amongst the Mu'mineen
3. To accommodate an enemy of Allaah and His Rasool p
These are the objectives as outlined in the Qur'aan. It was therefore named
Masjid Diraar (the Masjid of Mischief) because its objectives contrasted
directly with the proper objectives of a Masjid. In the light of these objectives,
Ulema have stated that is any Masjid is built with objectives such as dividing the
worshippers of a nearby Masjid, for pomp or any other vile reasons it will also be
regarded as a Masjid of mischief. However, another group of Ulema state that
the term of Masjid Diraar was exclusive to the one built by the Munaafiqeen in
Madinah during the time of Rasulullaah p. The objectives of this Masjid were
specified by divine revelation and the people who built it were confirmed
Munaafiqeen. It was therefore not really a Masjid.
On the contrary, a Masjid built by Muslims nowadays will be regarded as a
Masjid, regardless of the perceived objectives. This is because the objectives
cannot be confirmed since divine revelation ended with Rasulullaah p. Without
divine revelation, the contents of people's hearts cannot be determined beyond
doubt. Such a Masjid built in today's times can therefore not be demolished by
classifying it as a Masjid of mischief. Although salaah in such a Masjid will be
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regarded as valid, it will be best to repeat it because of the ominous intentions of
the people responsible for its construction. Although such a Masjid may be
known as a Masjid, it is really not one and the builders cannot expect any
rewards for it.
The Enemy of Allaah
When Rasulullaah p emigrated to Madinah, he first stayed a while with the Banu
Abr bin Auf tribe on the outskirts of Madinah before entering the city. The
people there built a Masjid there, which is known as the Quba Masjid. It was
close to this Masjid in Quba that the Munaafiqeen built their 'Masjid' with the
intention of luring sincere Muslims there in order to split the community in
Quba.
The person who initiated this construction was a man from the Khazraj tribe
known as Abu Aamir. He converted to Christianity during the Period of
Ignorance and adopted the title of Raahib (monk). His son was Hadhrat
Handhalah t, the sincere Mu'min whose body was bathed by the angels after
he was martyred in battle. Abu Aamir adopted the life of a monk and lived
outside Madinah, where he soon became known as a righteous and pious man.
When Rasulullaah p came to Madinah, he invited Abu Aamir to Islaam and told
him that Islaam was based on the creed of Hadhrat Ibraheem v. However, Abu
Aamir claimed that the Deen Rasulullaah p brought contradicted the creed of
Hadhrat Ibraheem v. Despite what Rasulullaah p said to allay his misgivings, Abu
Aamir adamantly refused to accept Islaam and eventually said, "May Allaah
cause the liar from the two of us to die in a distant land in isolation and
destitution." Rasulullaah p said "Aameen" to this curse. He then went a step
further and pledged that he would assist any enemy that fought against
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Rasulullaah p. He therefore fought against the Muslims in every battle until the
Battle of Hunayn.
It was by his instruction that many pits were dug on the battlefield of Uhud,
which caused tremendous harm to the Muslims. In fact, it was in one of these
pits that Rasulullaah p fell, causing him to injure his face and lose a blessed
tooth. When the battle-seasoned Hawaazin tribe was defeated at Hunayn, Abu
Aamir lost hope of defeating the Muslims and fled to Shaam because it was then
still a Christian stronghold. From there he wrote to the Munaafiqeen, informing
them that he would be liaising with the Roman emperor to march with an army
to crush the Muslims once and for all.
He further advised them to erect a building in the name of a Masjid, where they
could convene in their schemes against the Muslims and receive the messengers
he sent from Shaam. He added that when he arrived in Madinah, he would use
this building as a base. The Munaafiqeen therefore built the 'Masjid' and then
approached Rasulullaah p to perform salaah in it, telling him that the Masjid was
necessary to accommodate the old and weak Muslims who were unable to
attend the Quba Masjid, especially during rains and darkness. They also made
the excuse that the Quba Masjid was now too small to accommodate everyone
and became too hot with too many people. They requested that Rasulullaah p
perform a single salaah there to inaugurate it and attract blessings.
However, because Rasulullaah p was too busy preparing for the expedition to
Tabook at the time, he told them that he would perform salaah there when he
returned. As stated above, this never occurred because Allaah revealed the truth
to Rasulullaah p upon his return from Tabook. Rasulullaah p then dispatched
Hadhrat Maalik bin Dukhshun t, Hadhrat Ma'n bin Adi t and Hadhrat Wahdhi t
1185

to demolish the 'Masjid' and burn it to the ground. In accordance with the curse
he invoked upon himself, Abu Aamir died in isolation and destitution in the
distant town of Qunsureen in Shaam. It was this Abu Aamir that the Qur'aan
describes as the enemy of Allaah and His Rasool p.636
Tha' labak Reneges on his Word
There was a Muslim from the Ansaar by the name of Tha'labah bin Haatib, who
was very poor. He once approached Rasulullaah p with the request that
Rasulullaah p make du'aa that he becomes wealthy. Rasulullaah p said, "O
Tha'labah! A little wealth that you show gratitude for is better than an
abundance of wealth that you do not show appreciation for." However, he
returned the following day with the same request. This time, Rasulullaah p said
to him, "O Tha'labah! Does it not satisfy you to follow in my footsteps? I swear
by the Being Who controls my life that if I wanted the mountains of Madinah to
be transformed into gold and silver for me, they would become just that.
However, Tha'labah, it is improper to entertain the desire for much wealth."
Tha'labah was still adamant and said, "O Rasulullaah p! I swear by the Being Who
sent you with the truth that I shall confer the due rights of every rightful one if I
am blessed with plenty of wealth." Rasulullaah p eventually acceded to his
request and prayed to Allaah to grant wealth to Tha'labah.
Hadhrat Abu Umaamah Baahili t, who narrates the Hadith, states that Allaah
then granted Tha'labah an abundance of goats that multiplied as fast as worms
gather around excrement. His plot was soon too small for him and he had to
purchase a larger plot outside Madinah that could accommodate all his livestock.
As his possessions increased and he needed to invest more time and energy into
636
Tafseer Ibn Katheer.
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his wealth, he started to miss salaah at the Masjid and could then offer only his
Zuhr and Asr salaah in the Masjid. As the numbers continued to multiply, he had
to move further out of Madinah, until he was able to come to Madinah only once
a week for the Jumu'ah salaah and then return.
The narrator states that the goats still kept multiplying like worms until he was
kept so busy that he even neglected to perform the Jumu'ah salaah in Madinah.
However, he continued to enquire from passers-by whether Rasulullaah p and
the Muslims were speaking about him. The reply was always in the negative until
Rasulullaah p did enquire about him one day. The Sahabah w informed
Rasulullaah p about how Tha'labah's thriving business had forced him to leave
Madinah and eventually all his salaahs with Jamaa'ah as well. Rasulullaah p then
remarked, "Shame on Tha'labah! Shame on Tha'labah! Shame on Tha'labah!"
After the command of zakaah was revealed, Rasulullaah p sent two of the
Sahabah w to collect the zakaah from Tha'labah. Rasulullaah p also gave them a
letter addressed to Tha'labah, detailing the necessary injunctions of zakaah.
When Tha'labah read the letter, he remarked, "This appeared to be some form
of taxation. I do not understand this zakaah. However, I shall think about it, so
pass by me after you have collected from Sulma."
The two Sahabah w therefore left to collect the necessary dues from Hadhrat
Sulma t. Before reaching Hadhrat Sulma t, he had already learnt what was
expected from him and immediately presented the collectors with the most
prized animals in his flock. However, the two collectors refused to accept the
best animals since Rasulullaah p had instructed them to take animals of average
value. It was only when Hadhrat Sulma t insisted that he wished to spend only
the best in the path of Allaah that they accepted it and made du'aa for him.
1187

As promised, they returned to Tha'labah. He again asked for the letter and, after
reading it, he repeated the remark about it appearing to be a tax. He then told
them that he will consider the issue and then bring the zakaah himself to
Madinah. The men returned to Madinah, but as soon as Rasulullaah p saw them,
he exclaimed, "Woe be to Tha'labah!" Rasulullaah p then made du'aa for
Hadhrat Sulma t to be blessed in his wealth even before the collectors could
relate their experiences. It was on this occasion that Allaah revealed the verses:
(٤٢) وَمِنْهُمْ مَّنْ عُهَدَ اللّهَ لَئِنْ أَثْنَا مِنْ فَضْلِمٍ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الصُّلِحِيْنَ (٤٥) فَلَمَّا أَتْهُمْ مِّنْ فَضْلِم
بَخِلُوا بِه وَتَوَلَّوْا وَّبُمْ مُّعْرِضُوْنَ (٦٪) فَاعْقَبَهُمْ نِفَاقًا فِىْ قُلُوْبِهِمْ إِلَى يَوْمٍ يَلْقَوْنَهَ بِمَا آَخْلَفُوا اللهَ مَا وَعَدُوْهُ وَبِمَا
كَانُوا يَكْذِبُوْنَ (14) الَمْ يَعْلَمُوْا أَنَّ اللّهَ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّبُمْ وَنَجْوُبِهُمْ وَ أَنَّ اللهَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوْبِ (٤٨٩) الَّذِيْنَ يَلْمِزُوْنَ
الْمُطَّوِّعِيْنَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ فِى الصَّدَقْتِ وَالَّذِيْنَ لَا يَجِدُوْنَ إِلَّا جُهْدَبُمْ فَيَسْخَرُوْنَ مِنْهُمْ ٥* سَخِرَ اللهُ مِنْهُمْ ◌ْ وَلَهُمْ
عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (٩٪) اِسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ أَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ ٥﴿ إِنْ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِيْنَ مَرَّةً فَلَنْ يَّغْفِرَ اللهُ لَهُمْ * ذَلِكَ
بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوْا بِاللهِ وَرَسُوْلِم ٥* وَاللهُ لَا يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْفُسِقِيْنَ (٨٠)
TRANSLATION: Among them are those who make the pledge with Allaah saying,
"If He grants us (wealth) from His bounty, we will definitely give charity and we
will certainly be of the pious ones." However, when Allaah grants them (wealth)
from His bounty, they are miserly and turn away in disregard (failing to keep their
promise). So Allaah made the hypocrisy in their hearts their fate (entrenched it in
their heart) until the Day when they will meet Him because they had broken the
pledge they made with Him and because they used to lie. Do they (the
Munaafiqeen) not know that Allaah knows the secrets of their hearts and their
secret meetings and that verily Allaah is the Knower of the unseen? (And will
punish them for their wrongs.) Allaah shall mock (punish the mockery of) those
(Munaafiqeen) who mock the Mu'mineen about their charity when they spend of
their own will and (who mock) those who find only their efforts (to spend, referring
to those who offer their labour in the path of Allaah). For them will be a painful
punishment. (O Muhammad &!) Seek forgiveness for them (the Munaafiqeen) or do
not seek forgiveness for them. (It makes no difference whether you seek forgiveness
for them or not because) Even if you seek forgiveness for them seventy times,
Allaah will never forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allaah and
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His Rasool p. Allaah does not guide the disobedient ones (because they have no
desire to be guided).637
A member of Tha'labah's family happened to be present when this verse was
revealed. He hastily went to Tha'labah and said, "Shame on you, Tha'laba!
Verses of the Qur'aan have been revealed about you and you have been
declared a Munaafiq." Tha'labah hastened to Madinah with his zakaah and
beseeched Rasulullaah p to accept his zakaah. However, Rasulullaah p said, "I
have been forbidden from accepting your zakaah. I shall therefore not have it."
Despite Tha'labah's insistence, Rasulullaah p refused to accept it. Tha'labah was
in tears and he poured sand over his head in remorse. Rasulullaah p remarked,
"This is all by your own doing because you refused to accept my advice." He then
returned home.
Rasulullaah p refused to accept Tha'labah's zakaah until he left this world. When
Hadhrat Abu Bakr t became the Khalifah, Tha'labah presented his zakaah to him,
but he declined, saying, "How can I accept something that Rasulullaah p refused?
Take your zakaah away, for I shall never accept it." The same transpired when he
presented his zakaah to Hadhrat Umar t, who said, "How can Umar bin Khattaab
accept that which Rasulullaah p and Abu Bakr t refused? Take your zakaah away,
for I shall never accept it."
When Hadhrat Uthmaan t became the Khalifah after the 12 years of Hadhrat
Umar t, Tha'labah again presented his zakaah. Hadhrat Uthmaan t also refused,
saying, "How can I accept something that the Rasool of Allaah p refused, and
then his Khalifah Abu Bakr t refused and then the Khalifah of the Mu'mineen
Umar t also refused? Take your zakaah away, for I shall never accept it."
637
Surah Taubah, verses 75-80.
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A narration in Tafseer Khaazin states that after leaving Hadhrat Uthmaan ,
Tha'labah went to the marketplace of Madinah and announced to the poor that
zakaah was being distributed. Hearing this, many poor people hurried towards
the voice, but then returned when they realised that the zakaah belonged to
Tha'labah. It was towards the end of the Khilaafah of Hadhrat Uthmaan t that
Tha'labah eventually passed away.638
Note: Ma'aalimut Tanzeel and Ibn Katheer &l das, have reported the above incident
as referring to a person named Tha'laba bin Haatib. However, Haafidh Ibn Hajar
dil 44, has written that he was one of the participants at Badr, while Ibn Kali al 44sy
has mentioned that he participated at Uhud as well. Thereafter he mentions that
a person by the name of Tha'laba bin Haatib or Tha'laba bin Abi Haatib refused
to pay Zakaah. Since all the participants of Badr were promised forgiveness, the
person indicated in the incident cannot be the same person who participated in
the battle of Badr. This was either someone with another name or someone with
the same name, but not the same person.
The Faithful Ones
The incident of Hadhrat Ka'b bin Maalik t and his two companions have passed,
which stated that these three had no real excuses for not participating in the
expedition. Ibn Abi Haatim has reports about Hadhrat Muraarah bin Rabee t that
his orchard was ripe for the harvest when the call to the expedition came.
Because the orchard was his only source of income, he thought to himself that
since he had participated in all the previous expeditions, it would not matter if
he missed this one. He could always make it up later when another expedition
638
Tafseer Ibn Katheer.
1190

was taking place. This thought caused him to stay behind when all the rest were
marching. It was when the Muslims were returning from Tabook that the
remorse overwhelmed him. He then admitted his folly to Rasulullaah p and
donated the orchard as Sadaqah in the path of Allaah.
The other Sahabi was Hadhrat Hilaal bin Umayyah t. He was an aged man who
lived all alone because his family had been away for a long time. It so happened
that he was reunited with his family during the time that the call for the
expedition took place. He thought to himself that since it was not fundamental
for an old man like him to travel such a long distance, he would rather spend the
time with his family. However, he regretted this folly afterwards and admitted it
to Rasulullaah p. He then separated himself from the family that was the cause
of his folly.
Because these were sincere Mu'mineen who regretted their follies and did not
lie like the Munaafiqeen, Rasulullaah p left their matter for Allaah to decide. The
Muslims were also instructed to sever ties with them until Allaah's forgiveness
was announced.
Apart from these three, there were another seven sincere Mu'mineen who did
not have excuses for not participating. They also regretted their follies and
repaired to Rasulullaah p as soon as he arrived in Madinah. They then tied
themselves to the pillars of the Masjid, resolving not to eat or sleep until they
were forgiven. Amongst these men was Hadhrat Abu Lubaabah bin Mundhir t as
well. When their forgiveness was announced a few days later, they told
Rasulullaah p that their repentance also entailed donating in the path of Allaah
all their wealth and properties since these proved to be an obstacle to them.
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However, Rasulullaah p advised them not to donate everything, but only a
third. They then did this.
All of these Mu'mineen were sincere and had never before committed any act
that betrayed any hint of hypocrisy. They had participated in the previous
military expeditions and it was the objective of their lives to propagate the Deen.
However, every human succumbs to folly and this folly may not be interpreted
as Kufr or hypocrisy. It is to dispel such ill notions that the Qur'aan has declared
their forgiveness and made it apparent that Allaah is pleased with all the
Sahabah y.
Reparation
It is narrated that together with seeking forgiveness for their follies, the Sahabah
y discussed above also made reparations for their follies by donating generously
in the path of Allaah. Such is the behaviour of a true Mu'min, who is eager to
make physical reparations for his folly as an expression of their remorse. It has
also been the teaching of Rasulullaah p to wipe out the effects of sins by
committing acts of virtue. It is appropriate that the reparation be from the
same source that caused the folly. In this case, these Sahabah \ donated in the
path of Allaah the very same distractions that caused them to err. Allaah and
Rasulullaah p accepted this from them and Rasulullaah p even made du'aa for
them thereafter.
The Pledge of Agabal
The Pledge taken at Aqabah enjoys a prominent status in the history of Islaam,
just as the Pledge of Ridwaan does. Aqabah refers to the portion of the
mountain adjacent to the Jamarah Aqabah (commonly referred to as the big
Shaytaan. However, this area has now been levelled to accommodate the ever
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increasing numbers of Hujjaaj). It was at this location that the people of Madinah
met with Rasulullaah p and pledged allegiance to him.
The first pledge took place eleven years after Rasulullaah p started his call and
involved six people from Madinah. They accepted Islaam, pledged allegiance to
him and then returned to Madinah. It was from then that Islaam started to
spread in Madinah.
The second pledge took place the Hajj of the following year, when 12 people
gathered at Aqaba, five of them being from the previous year. The remaining
seven also accepted Islaam and pledged allegiance to Rasulullaah p. This further
accelerated the spread of Islaam in Madinah and it was only a short while later
that the Muslims of Madinah numbered more than 40. Rasulullaah p then sent
Hadhrat Mus'ab bin Umayr t to propagate Islaam in Madinah and to teach the
Muslims the Qur'aan and Islaam. It was with the efforts of Hadhrat Mus'ab bin
Umayr t that the people of Madinah accepted Islaam en-masse. In short, entire
tribes entered the fold of Islaam.
The third pledge at Aqabah then took place during the 13th year of the call when
70 men and 2 women pledged their allegiance to Rasulullaah p. It is this third
pledge that is commonly referred to as the Pledge of Aqabah. Together with the
pledge to Imaan and to adhere to the tenets of Islaam, this pledge also included
the undertaking to give shelter and security to Rasulullaah p and the Muslims
when they emigrated to Madinah.
It was on this occasion that Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Rawaaha t said, "O
Rasulullaah p! You may take whatever promises you wish from us concerning
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your Rabb and concerning your personal self." Rasulullaah p replied, "For Allaah,
I wish you to promise that you shall worship Him Alone and not worship anyone
else. As for myself, I would like you to promise that you would protect me as you
would protect your own lives, families and wealth." The Ansaar then asked, "If
we undertake to so this, what should we expect in return?" "You can expect
Jannah in return," Rasulullaah p replied. In jubilation, the Ansaar then echoed in
one voice, "We are pleased with the deal and shall abide by it." It was on this
occasion that Allaal revealed the verse:
إِنَّ اللهَ اشْتَرَى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ ٥* يُقَاتِلُوْنَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللهِ فَيَقْتُلُوْنَ وَ يُقْتَلُوْنَ ن وَعْدًا
عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِى التَّوْرَةِ وَ الْإِنْجِيْلِ وَ الْقُرْآنِ * وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُوْا بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِىْ بَايَعْتُمْ بِم ٥* وَ
ذُلِكَ بُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيْمُ (١١١)
TRANSLATION: Indeed Allaah has purchased from the Mu'mineen their lives
and wealth so that they may have Jannah (in exchange). They fight in Allaah's
path (in Jihaad for Allaah's pleasure), killing (their enemies) and being killed. This
(promise of Jannah for those who sacrifice their lives and wealth for Allaah's Deen) is
Allaah's promise that is binding in the Torah, the Injeel and the Qur'aan. Who
(none) fulfils their promise better than Allaah? So rejoice with your bargain that
you have made (because Allaah shall grant you much more in exchange for very little).
This is the supreme success.
Evil Intent
Allaah says in verse 74 of Surah Taubah:
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يَحْلِفُوْنَ بِاللهِ مَا قَالُوْا * وَلَقَدْ قَالُوْا كَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ وَكَفَرُوْا بَعْدَ اِسْلَامِهِمْ وَبَمُّوْا بِمَا لَمْ يَذَالُوا نَّ وَمَا نَقَمُوْا إِلَّ أَنْ
أَغْنُهُمُ اللهُ وَرَسُوْلُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِم ◌َّ فَإِنْ يَّتُوبُوا يَكُ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ لَ، وَ إِنْ يَّتَوَلَّوْا يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللهُ عَذَابًا آَلِيْمَاتٌ فِى الدُّنْيَا وَ
الْأَخِرَةِ ىٌّ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِى الْأَرْضِ مِنْ وَّلِىِّ وَّلَا نَصِيْرٍ (٣٪)
TRANSLATION: They (the Munaafiqeen) swear by Allaah that they never said (what
was reported about them that they mocked Allaah and Rasulullaah p). They definitely
uttered the word of kufr. They committed kufr after (their claim of) being Muslims
and resolved (to do) that which they could not accomplish (when they failed in their
plot to assassinate Rasulullaah p on the return journey from Tabook). They sought
revenge only because Allaah and His Rasool p had made them wealthy out of
their grace (by giving them a share of the spoils of war) (They therefore had no cause to
act the way they did because they had always benefited from Rasulullaah p). If they
repent (and become true Mu'mineen), it would be better for them. (However,) If
they turn back (and refuse to be true Mu'mineen), Allaah shall inflict a painful
punishment on them in this world and in the Aakhirah. There shall be no friend
for them on earth, nor any helper (to save them from Allaah's punishment).
Although this verse refers to everything that the Munaafiqeen say and do in their
designs against Islaam and the Muslims, there are a few specific incidents that
the Mufassireen have narrated with regard to this verse. It is narrated that it was
after the expedition to Tabook that Rasulullaah p once delivered a sermon in
which he described the evil end of the Munaafiqeen. A Munaafiq by the name of
Jullaas was also present there. Afterwards, he went to his people and said, "If
what Muhammad says is true, then we must be worse than donkeys." Hadhrat
Aamir bin Qais t overheard this statement and promptly reported it to
Rasulullaah p.
Rasulullaah p then summoned Jullaas and asked him about it. Jullaas swore that
he made no such statement, but Hadhrat Aamir t was adamant that he did.
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Rasulullaah p then told them both to take oaths in front of the pulpit. Julaas
unhesitatingly swore that he said no such thing, while Hadhrat Aamir t swore
that he heard him say it. Hadhrat Aamir t then made du'aa to Allaah to expose
the truth to Rasulullaah p. Rasulullaah p and the Sahabah w collectively said
Aameen to the du'aa. They had hardly stood up from that gathering when
Hadhrat Jibra'eel v descended with the above verse.639
A narration in Tafseer Maz'hari adds Jullaas later repented and reformed. And
Allaah knows best. Some scholars state that the verse makes reference to the
incident narrated earlier, stating that when Rasulullaah p's camel got lost during
the journey to Tabook, the Munaafiqeen jeered and said, "He claims to know the
news of the heavens, but does not know where his camel is".
Muhadditheen have also reported that upon the return from Tabook, twelve
men from the Munaafiqeen plotted to attack Rasulullaah p when they passed
through a particular valley. They therefore rode ahead of the army and lay in
ambush in that valley. However, Hadhrat Jibra'eel v informed Rasulullaah p of
the plot and he altered his course not to pass through that valley. Their plot was
therefore foiled.
A narration also states that the Munaafiqeen were certain that Rasulullaah p
would never return alive from Tabook because he was expected to face an army
of a hundred thousand Romans. They had therefore planned to place a crown
upon the head of their leader Abdullaah bin Ubay as soon as they received the
news of Rasulullaah p's death.
639
Baghawi.
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All of these were schemed that the Munaafiqeen had hatched, but which they
vehemently denied when confronted. It is such statements of theirs that the
verse above refers to as "the word of kufr".
More lessons to learn
Muslim reports from Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Umar t that when the leader of the
Munaafiqeen Abdullaah bin Ubay bin Salool died, his son Hadhrat Abdullaah t (a
sincere Muslim) approached Rasulullaah p and requested to have an upper
garment from Rasulullaah p to use in his father's shroud. Rasulullaah p obliged
and gave him one. He then said, "O Rasulullaah p! Because my father made
many insulting remarks about you, I fear that he will be punished. Would you
please place some of your blessed saliva in his mouth (so that he may perhaps
be saved by its blessings)." Rasulullaah p did this as well.640
When the time came to perform the Janaazah salaah, Hadhrat Abdullaah t
requested Rasulullaah p to lead it. Rasulullaah p again acceded to his request
and got up to do so. Hadhrat Umar t then held Rasulullaah p back and,
reminding him of the insults Abdullaah bin Ubay hurled at him and the other acts
he perpetrated, he insisted that Rasulullaah p should lead the Janaazah salaah. It
was then that Allaah endorsed what Hadhrat Umar t was saying and revealed
the verses:
اِسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ أَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ ٥﴿ إِنْ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِيْنَ مَرَّةً فَلَنْ يَّغْفِرَ اللهُ لَهُمْ ٥ * ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوْا بِاللهِ
وَرَسُوْلِم ٥﴿ وَاللهُ لَا يَبْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْفُسِقِيْنَ
640
Ahmad, Nasa'ee.
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TRANSLATION: (O Muhammad &!) Seek forgiveness for them (the Munaafiqeen) or
do not seek forgiveness for them. (It makes no difference whether you seek
forgiveness for them or not because) Even if you seek forgiveness for them seventy
times, Allaah will never forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allaah
and His Rasool p. Allaah does not guide the disobedient ones (because they have
no desire to be guided).641
A narration of Bukhaari adds that Rasulullaah p then said, "If I knew that seeking
forgiveness for him more than seventy times would secure his forgiveness, I
would have done so." However, given what Abdullaah bin Ubay was, Rasulullaah
p knew that forgiveness could not be sought on his behalf. Rasulullaah p then
proceeded to perform the Janaazah salaah and the Sahabah y followed.
Thereafter, Allaah revealed the verse:
وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ مَّاتَ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَى قَبْرِهِ * إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوْا بِاللهِ وَرَسُوْلِمْ وَمَاتُوْا وَبُمْ فُسِقُوْنَ (٨٣)
TRANSLATION: Do not ever perform (the funeral) salaah for any of them who die
and do not stand over their graves (to bury them or to visit their graves).
Undoubtedly they disbelieved in Allaah and His Rasool p and died as disobedient
people (as Kuffaar).642
After this verse was revealed, Rasulullaah p never participated in the shrouding
or burial of the Munaafiqeen and would tell the Sahabah w to do it instead. 643
641
Surah Taubah, verse 80.
642
Surah Taubah, verse 84.
Tafseer Ibn Katheer.
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Some reports state that Rasulullaah p said, "Although my garment would have
offered him no protection from Allaah's punishment, I did it in the hope that a
thousand people from his tribe would accept Islaam." It then happened that
because of this act of magnanimity, a thousand people from the Khazraj tribe
accepted Islaam.
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