The incident of ‘Abdullah bin Ubay

 

The incident of ‘Abdullah bin Ubay

 

Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) had brought his slave named Jahjaah along with him to take care of his mount.  This slave went to the well to fetch water.  There, he got into an argument with a friend of the natives of Madina.  Jahjaah called the emigrants for help.  Both the emigrants and natives of Madina reached that place all armed.  Both the groups would have fought with each other.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) came there and said:  What are these calls of the times of the ignorance in these times?

 

With the presence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), both the groups calmed down and this matter which could have had explosive results was not allowed to go out of hand.

 

When this argument started, there was a surge of happiness among the hypocrites, but when the argument dissipated, they became angry and started fulminating against their leader ‘Abdullah bin Ubay.  This man was already jealous of the progress and success of Muslims.  He exploded in rage and frustration and said:  You yourself helped the emigrants and supported them in every difficulty.  Now if you stop helping them, they will be disheartened and will leave Madina.

 

He even said:  When we reach Madina, the honorable one will expel the dishonorable one.

 

He intended the former word for himself and the latter for the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), may Allah protect us from this! 

 

Hadhrat Zaid bin Arqam (May Allah be well pleased with him) who was present there, immediately gave a fitting reply to the hypocrite.  He said:  By Allah!  It is you who is dishonorable and base.  Your own people dislike and hate you.  Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has been granted dignity, honor and nobility.  The hearts of the Muslims are full of love for Him.

 

Hadhrat Zaid bin Arqam (May Allah be well pleased with him) reported this to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The displeasure of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) could be seen on His blessed face, but to resolve the matter, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) let it pass.

 

When Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) got to know of this, he requested the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to give him permission to chop off the head of ‘Abdullah bin Ubay.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Don’t do that.  People will say that Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is killing His own people.

 

Then the Holy Prophet ordered the troops to march.  The journey continued uninterrupted and when they got tired, the caravan stopped at a place and everyone slept.

 

The comeuppance of ‘Abdullah bin Ubay

 

Hadhrat Usaid bin Hadheer (May Allah be well pleased with him) asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam):  What is the reason that we are traveling continuously without stopping at any place?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) related to him the incident of ‘Abdullah bin Ubay and all that he had said.  Hadhrat Usaid (May Allah be well pleased with him) asserted:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  You are the honorable one and he is dishonorable.  Gradually, the whole army learnt of this.

 

The natives of Madina took great offense to the talk of ‘Abdullah bin Ubay.  They advised him to apologize to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Prophet will forgive your mistake.  However, that wretch didn’t agree.  He retorted:  You asked me to accept Him as the Prophet, which I did.  You asked me to give Zakaat, which I did.  The only thing left is for me to prostrate to Him.

 

Thus, he was exposed and debased before the whole army and before his own clan.  He was further debased when his own son, Hadhrat ‘Abdullah (May Allah be well pleased with him), who was a sincere Companion of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), stood at the borders of Madina with a sword in his hand and declared:  You said that the honorable one will expel the dishonorable one.  Now you will see who the honorable one is and who the dishonorable one is.  By Allah!  You cannot enter the city unless and until the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) permits you to.

 

Thus was ‘Abdullah bin Ubay further debased.  He rued before the people of his own clan:  My own son prevents me from entering the city.

 

Hadhrat ‘Abdullah (May Allah be well pleased with him) had even decided to kill his own father, but the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) didn’t permit this.  He instead gave permission for ‘Abdullah bin Ubay to enter the city.

 

These are the high morals of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  That enemy who in the guise of a friend was inciting people against Him, no action was taken against him.  He was permitted to enter the city freely.  The machinations of the hypocrites were continuously ignored.  Eventually, the black deeds of the hypocrites caught up with them.  Then through the verses of the Holy Quran and the Hadith of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the Ummah was informed of their evils and malice.  The hypocrites were warned of the evil outcome of their deeds and they were warned of severe punishment (in the hereafter).  Thus, all the Muslims to come until the Day of Judgment were instructed to be true Muslim, outwardly and inwardly.