In this part, we will see how Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) accepted the conversion of Wahshi ibn Harb who had
killed Prophet Muhammad’s uncle, Hamzah ibn `Abdul-Muttalib, though
Prophet Muhammad could not stand the sight of Wahshi. We will also see
how Prophet Muhammad accepted the conversion of Hind bint `Utbah though
she had mutilated his uncle, Hamzah. Prophet Muhammad kept Wahshi and
Hind alive and did not kill them in retaliation for Hamzah’s murder.
We will also know how Prophet Muhammad
dealt with the Arabian poet, Al-`Abbas ibn Mirdas, who blamed him in
poetic verses. We will also see how Prophet Muhammad treated harsh
nomads and double-faced hypocrites.
Wahshi ibn Harb
Wahshi ibn Harb was a slave who killed
Prophet Muhammad’s uncle, Hamzah ibn `Abdul-Muttalib. About this
incident, Wahshi related: “… Hamzah killed Tu`aymah ibn `Adi at Badr
Battle. So my master, Jubayr ibn Mut`am, told me: ‘If you kill Hamzah in
retaliation for my uncle’s killing, you will be set free.’ When people
went out for Uhud Battle, I went out with them for fighting … Then, I
waited for Hamzah under a rock. When he approached me, I hurled my spear
at him. I threw it at his pubic area. So it went out from between his
hips … When people came back, I came back with them. Then, I resided at
Mecca until Islam spread over there. Then, I went to Al-Taif and lived there until they dispatched a messenger to the Messenger of God.
Then, I was told that he (Prophet Muhammad) did not disturb messengers.
Then, I went out with the delegation to the Messenger of God. When he
saw me, he wondered: ‘Are you Wahshi?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He further
wondered: ‘You killed Hamzah?’ I replied: ‘The matter is as you knew.’
He then said: ‘Can you hide your face from me?’ Then, I went out …”
(Al-Bukhari)
Prophet Muhammad accepted Wahshi’s
conversion to Islam and did not punish or take revenge on him in
retaliation for the killing of his uncle Hamzah.
Hind bint `Utbah
Hind bint `Utbah was a Qurayshi woman
who mutilated Hamzah ibn `Abdul-Muttalib, Prophet Muhammad’s uncle.
During Uhud Battle, after the killing of Hamzah ibn `Abdul-Muttalib,
Hind cut open his abdomen, took his liver out and tried to chew it.
However, upon the Conquest of Mecca,
Hind converted to Islam and became a good Muslim. It is reported that
she went to Prophet Muhammad and said: “O Messenger of God, I did not
like that the inhabitants of a tent should be dishonored on the face of
the earth more than the inhabitants of your tent. But, today I do not
like that the inhabitants of a tent should be honored more than the
inhabitants of your tent.” (Al-Bukhari)
Al-`Abbas ibn Mirdas
Al-`Abbas ibn Mirdas was a companion of
Prophet Muhammad. He was an elder of Sulaym Tribe. In command of Sulaym
tribe members, Al-`Abbas fought Hunayn Battle with Prophet Muhammad.
However, at the end of this battle,
after the victory of Muslims, Prophet Muhammad allotted him a small
share in the spoils. He was given only four camels. Thereupon, in poetic
verses, he blamed Prophet Muhammad for that.
He indicated that though he fought the
battle quite courageously, most of the spoils he along with other
Muslims got were distributed among other people like `Uyaynah ibn Hisn
and Al-Aqra` ibn Habis.
When Prophet Muhammad was told about the
verses of Al-`Abbas, he metaphorically instructed: “Take him away and
cut his tongue off for me.” Some people misunderstood Prophet Muhammad
as commanding the mutilation of Al-`Abbas. However, the Companions of
Prophet Muhammad understood that he ordered giving more camels to
Al-`Abbas so that he would be pleased with him and stop blaming him.
Thus, Al-`Abbas was given a satisfactory
share in the spoils. It is purported that he was given one hundred or
fifty camels. (Ibn Ishaq)
Al-Aqra` ibn Habis
Prior to his conversion to Islam,
Al-`Aqra` ibn Habis had said to Prophet Muhammad: “Only the robbers of
pilgrims from the tribes of Aslam, Ghifar, Muzaynah, and Juhaynah
pledged allegiance to you.” Prophet Muhammad then replied: “If Aslam,
Ghifar, Muzaynah, and Juhaynah are better than the tribes of Tamim,
`Amir, Asad, and Ghatafan, do you think that they (the latters) have
failed and lost?” Al-Aqra` replied: “Yes!” Then, Prophet Muhammad
affirmed: “By the One in Whose Hand myself rests, they (the formers) are
better than them (the latters).” (Al-Bukhari)
Even when Al-Aqra` went to Prophet
Muhammad to talk to him about Islam, he did not communicate with him
properly. He, along with the other members of his delegation, kept
calling out loudly outside Prophet Muhammad’s one-chamber houses,
saying: “O Muhammad, get out to us!”
Therefore, the following verses were revealed:
Indeed,
those who call you, [O Muhammad], from behind the chambers – most of
them do not use reason. And if they had been patient until you [could]
come out to them, it would have been better for them. But Allah is
Forgiving and Merciful. (Al-Hujurat 49:4-5)
When Prophet Muhammad got out to the
delegation of Tamim Tribe, Al-Aqra` said to him: “O Muhammad, my praise
is honor and my dispraise is dishonor (for the intended person).” Then,
Prophet Muhammad commented: “That is God (rather than you).”
However, when Al-Aqra` decided to
convert to Islam by bearing witness that there is no deity but God and
Muhammad is the Messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad reassured: “You will
not be harmed for what you had done before.” Moreover, Prophet Muhammad
appointed him as the commander of his people.
Mu`attib ibn Qushayr
Mu`attib ibn Qushayr was such a
hypocrite who used to question Prophet Muhammad’s attitudes and
prophecies and discourage Muslims.
According to Al-Isabah Fi Tamyiz As-Sahabah, at Uhud battle, as quoted in the Qur’an, he said:
If there was anything we could have done in the matter, some of us would not have been killed right here. (Aal `Imran 3:154)
At Al-Khandaq (Ditch) Battle, Mu`attib
said: “How come Muhammad promises us the treasures of Khosrau and
Heraclius though one of us is not safe enough to go to empty bowels.”
(At-Tabarani)
About the above statement of Mu`attib and similar statements by other hypocrites, the following verses were revealed:
And
[remember] when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease
said, “Allah and His Messenger did not promise us except delusion” (Al-Ahzab 33:12)
According to Al-Waqidi, commenting on
Prophet Muhammad’s distribution of spoils after Hunayn Battle, Mu`attib
said: “He did not intend by this (distribution) the sake of God.” When
Prophet Muhammad knew about that, he said: “May God be merciful to Moses. He was harmed more than that, but he kept patient.”
Anonymous Bedouins Coveting Shares in Spoils
At the end of Hunayn Battle, after
Muslims’ victory over Hawazin and Thaqif tribes, Prophet Muhammad and
Muslims got the most numerous spoils Muslims ever won during Prophet
Muhammad’s lifetime.
That is why all hypocrites and
unfaithful Arabians who converted to Islam asked for as large shares in
such spoils as possible, whether or not they were really entitled to any
such shares.
For example, Anas ibn Malik reported:
“While I was walking with the Messenger of God who was wearing a
thick-bordered Najrani garment, a nomad caught up with him and kept
pulling him so strongly that when I looked at the shoulder of the
Messenger of God, I noticed that the garment border affected it out of
the strength of pulling. He demanded: ‘Command them to give me from the
property of God which you have.’ Then, Prophet Muhammad turned to him
while he was laughing and ordered his Companions to give him from the
spoils.” (Al-Bukhari)
Jabir ibn `Abdullah also reported that a
man came to Prophet Muhammad after Hunayn Battle while he was taking
silver from Bilal’s garments and give to people. Then, he said: “O
Muhammad, be fair!” Then, Prophet Muhammad replied: “Woe betide you! Who
will be fair if I am not fair? I will fail and lose if I am not fair.”
Then, `Umar ibn Al-Khattab said: “O Messenger of God, let me kill this
hypocrite!” Then, he replied: “God forbid! Lest people should say that I
kill my Companions. Indeed, though this man and his companions recite
the Qur’an, it does not exceed their throats. They mistake it just as an
arrow mistakes a game animal.” (Muslim)
Post a Comment