In this part, we will see how Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) tolerated `Uyaynah ibn Hisn’s abuse and betrayal
and refused to kill him though he was such a hypocrite who did not
really convert to Islam, and used to abuse and betray him.
`Uyaynah ibn Hisn
`Uyaynah ibn Hisn was a rude, rough
Arabian nomad who used to abuse others, including Prophet Muhammad, both
intentionally and unintentionally. It is said that he was such a
hypocrite who apostatized after Prophet Muhammad’s demise for he did not
sincerely convert to Islam. That is why he used to betray Prophet
Muhammad.
It is reported that Badr ibn `Amr Clan
was affected by severe drought which left them homeless. Then they went
to Medina where he met Prophet Muhammad who invited `Uyaynah as the
elder of Badr ibn `Amr Clan to Islam. Thereupon, `Uyaynah did neither
accept nor not accept Islam.
Instead, he told Prophet Muhammad that he wanted to come near to him and wanted to make peace
with him. So Prophet Muhammad made peace with him for three months so
that no Muslims would raid any of them and none of them would raid any
of Muslims.
When the negotiated term ran out,
`Uyaynah and his people went back to their homeland after they as well
as their animals had been fattened and lactated and liked Medina.
However, on their way back home, `Uyaynah ibn Hisn raided Prophet
Muhammad’s she-camels in the forest. Then, Al-Harith ibn `Awf wondered:
“You have not returned Muhammad’s favor! You have been fattened in his
homeland and now you invade him!”
Nevertheless, `Uyaynah did not pay heed.
Rather, he drove away twenty camels and killed a son of Abu Dhar who
was tending them. (Al-Bukhari)
`Uyaynah ibn Hisn was one of the elders
of Ghatafan tribe that sided with other tribes along with Quraysh
against Prophet Muhammad at Al-Ahzab (Confederated Tribes) Battle.
In his anguish over the siege that was
laid to him as well as his Companions, Prophet Muhammad sent a message
to `Uyaynah ibn Hisn and Al-Harith ibn `Awf, proposing: “What do you
think if I give up to you one third of the dry dates of Medina? Will you
return with your tribes and dissuade the Arabians?”
They agreed to this proposal and met
Prophet Muhammad. While the inkwell and the sheet were being brought for
the conclusion of a peace agreement between the parties, Usayd ibn
Hudayr came in while `Uyaynah was stretching his legs out in front of
Prophet Muhammad.
Coming to know what they wanted to do,
Usayd scolded: “O eye of a young fox(1), bend your legs! Do you dare
stretch them out in front of the Messenger of God? By God, were it not for the sake of the Messenger of God, I would have pierced you with the spear.”
Then, Usayd turned to Prophet Muhammad
and said: “If this is such a matter which was dictated from Heaven, then
go ahead. Otherwise, by God, We will give them only the sword.” Usayd
then turned to them and said: “When did you dare covet to take this from
us?” Then, he addressed Prophet Muhammad, saying: “By God, they used to
eat the hairs of camels out of starvation. They cannot covet to take a
single date from us except as a purchase transaction or an act of
hospitality on our part. When God brought you to us, and blessed us with
you, we should not give anything by force. We will never give them
anything but the sword.”
When S`ad ibn Mu`adh and S`ad ibn
`Ubadah made similar statements, Prophet Muhammad ordered them to cut
the possible agreement sheet. When S`ad cut it, `Uyaynah commented: “By
God, what you left is better for you than the plan you adopt. You do not
have the ability to stand up to the people.”
Then, `Abbad ibn Bishr replied: “O
`Uyaynah, do you frighten us with the sword? You will know which of us
who is more impatient. By God, were it not for the standing of the
Messenger of God, you would not have returned to your people.”
Then, `Uyaynah and Al-Harith returned,
while saying to each other: “By God, we do not think that we can take
anything from them.” When they returned to their tribe and they were
asked about their meeting with Prophet Muhammad, they replied: “The
matter (agreement) was not concluded. We saw such insightful people who
are ready to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their companion.”
It is related that when the confederated
tribes withdrew, `Uyaynah decided to withdraw and return in command of
his people to their homeland.
It is purported that when `Uyaynah went
to Medina prior to his alleged conversion to Islam, he encountered a
caravan going out of Medina. He asked: “Tell me about this man (Prophet
Muhammad)!” They replied: “In their relationship with him, people can be
classified into three classes: a man who converted to Islam and fights
with him against Quraysh and the Arabians; a man who refused to convert
to Islam and fights against him and so they are going to massacre each
other; and a man who tries to make him believe that he is a Muslim with
him and makes Quraysh believe that he is with them at the same time.” He
wondered: “How are those people (the last class) called?” They replied:
“They are called the hypocrites.” He then said: “I am not close except
to the descriptions of those people. Let you bear witness that I am one
of them.”
Thus, `Uyaynah pretended to be Muslim but his hypocritical attitudes lasted even after his presumable conversion.
It is reported that `Uyaynah ibn Hisn
came in to Prophet Muhammad without seeking the permission to enter
while `A’ishah was sitting down with him prior to the revelation of the
verse obliging the wives of Prophet Muhammad to veil themselves from
marriageable men while at home.
Prophet Muhammad wondered: “Why did you
not seek the permission to enter?” `Uyaynah replied: “I have never
sought the permission to come in to a man from Mudar tribe.” `Uyaynah
then wondered: “Who is this young white girl?” Prophet Muhammad said:
“She is `A’ishah bint Abi Bakr, the Mother of the Believers.” Then, he
suggested: “May I divorce a woman who is more beautiful than her for you
to marry her?” Then, Prophet Muhammad replied: “No.”
When `Uyaynah went out, `A’ishah
wondered in anger: “Who is this, O Messenger of God?” He replied: “This
is such a fool who is obeyed by his people.”
`Uyaynah attended Al-Taif Battle with
Prophet Muhammad. When the siege lasted for a long time, `Uyaynah sought
Prophet Muhammad’s permission to enter Al-Taif Fort to talk to its
people. Then, Prophet Muhammad permitted him to go.
Then, he went to them and wondered: “Can
I approach you unscathed?” Then they replied: “Yes.” Abu Mihjan knew
him, so he instructed: “Let him approach.” So he approached them and
entered their fort. Then, he said to them: “I ransom you with my father
and my mother. I am delighted at what I have seen from you. By God, the
Arabs do not have other people who are better than you. Muhammad has
never encountered any people like you. Indeed, he has been weary of stay
here. So remain steadfast inside your fort. Surely, your fort is
well-fortified, your weapons are numerous, your arrows are readily
available, your provisions are so much and your water is permanent which
you do not fear to come to an end.”
When `Uyaynah went out, Thaqif said to
Abu Mihjan: “We did not want him to come in to us and fear that he
should tell Muhammad about a defect in us or our fort.” Then, Abu Mihjan
replied: “I knew him well. None of us dislikes Muhammad and those who
are with him more than he does.”
When `Uyaynah came back to Prophet
Muhammad, he said to him: “What have you said to them?” He replied: “I
said: ‘Convert to Islam! By God, Muhammad will not leave your homeland
until you get down from your fort. So gain protection for yourselves. He
(Prophet Muhammad) conquered the previous forts of Qaynuqa`, An-Nadir, Quraydhah, and Khaybar who had rings, equipment and hill forts…’ I kept discouraging them.”
Prophet Muhammad kept silent while
`Uyaynah was talking. When he stopped talking, Prophet Muhammad said:
“You are lying! You said to them such and such.” Then, `Uyaynah said: “I
seek forgiveness from God.” Then, `Umar said: “O Messenger of God, let
me bring him forward and behead him.” Then, Prophet Muhammad replied:
“No, lest people should say that I kill my Companions.” (At-Tabaqat
Al-Kubra)
(1) `Uyaynah was pop-eyed. That is why
he was called `Uyaynah. His real name was Hudhayfah. That is why Usayd
likened his eyes to those of a young fox.
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