The Sealed Nectar (56 page)

16. ‘Ali bin Abi Talib

to Najran (to collect
Sadaqa
&
Jizya
).

Some of these agents were despatched in Muharram, 7 A.H., others were sent later until the tribes they were heading for had completely converted into Islam. Such a move clearly demonstrates the great success that the Islamic
Da‘wah
(Call) enjoyed after Al- Hudaibiyah Treaty. However, shortly after the conquest of Makkah, people began to embrace Islam in large hosts.

The Platoons

In the same way that the believed ones were dispatched to the tribes, we understand that dispatching some more platoons to all regions of Arabia is a necessity for the prevalence and domination of security on all lands of Arabia.

Here is a list of those platoons:

1. ‘Uyaina bin Hisn Al- Fazari’s platoon in Al- Muharram, the ninth year of Al- Hijra to Bani Tamim. It consisted of fifty horsemen, none of them was an Emigrant or a Helper.

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This expedition was dispatched due to the fact that Bani Tamim had already urged other tribes not to pay tribute (
Al- Jizya
) and eventually stopped them from paying it.

Therefore, ‘Uyaina bin Hisn set out to fight them. All the way long he marched by night and lurked by day. He went on that way till he overtook them and attacked them in the desert. They fled back for their lives. Eleven men, twenty- one women and thirty boys were captured then. He drove them back to Madinah and were housed in Ramlah bint Al- Harith’s residence. Ten of their leaders, who came to the Prophet’s door, called out unto him saying: "O

Muhammad come out and face us." When he went out they held him and started talking.

He exchanged talk with them for a while then left them and went to perform the noon- prayer. After prayer he sat in the mosque- patio. They proclaimed a desire to show boasting and self- pride. For this purpose they introduced their orator ‘Utarid bin Hajib who delivered his speech. The Messenger of Allâh

[pbuh] asked Thabit bin Qais bin Shammas — the Muslim orator — to respond. He did that. In return, they brought forth their poet Az- Zabraqan bin Badr who recited some boastful poetry. Hassan bin Thabit, the poet of Islam, promptly replied back. When talks and poetry came to an end, Al- Aqra‘ bin Habis said: "Their orator is more eloquent than ours, and their poet is more poetically learned than ours. Their voices and sayings excel ours, as well."

Eventually they announced their embracing Islam. Consequently, the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] acknowledged their Islamization, awarded them well, and rendered them back their women and children.

2. A platoon headed by Qutbah bin ‘Amir to a spot called Khath‘am in Tabalah, a plot of land not far from Turbah. That was in Safar, 9 A.H. Accompanied by twenty men and only ten camels to mount alternatively on, Qutbah raided them and fought so fiercely that a great number of both parties were wounded and some others were killed. The Muslims drove back with them camels, women and sheep to Madinah.

3. The mission of Dahhak bin Sufyan Al- Kilabi to Bani Kilab in Rabi‘ Al- Awwal in the year 9 A.H. This mission was sent to Bani Kilab to call them to embrace Islam. Refusing to embrace Islam, they started to fight against the Muslims, but were defeated and sustained one man killed.

4. The three hundred men expedition of ‘Alqamah bin Mujazziz Al- Mudlaji to Jeddah shores in Rabi‘ Al- Akhir. This expedition was dispatched to fight against some men from (Al- Habasha) Abyssinia (Ethiopia), who gathered together near the shores of Jeddah and exercised acts of piracy against the Makkans. Therefore he crossed the sea till he got to an island. But as soon as the pirates had learned of Muslims’ arrival, they fled. [Fath Al-Bari 8/59]

5. The task of the platoon of ‘Ali bin Abi Talib was to demolish Al- Qullus, which was an idol that belonged to Tai’ tribe. That was in Rabi‘ Al- Awwal in the year 9 A.H. ‘Ali was dispatched by the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] with one hundred fifty men. A hundred of them were on camels. The other fifty were on horseback. He held a black flag and a white banner.

At dawn they raided
Mahallat
Hatim, demolished the idol and filled their hands with spoils, camels and sheep booties, whereas ‘Adi fled to Ash- Sham.

The sister of ‘Adi bin Hatim was one of the captives. Inside Al- Qullus safe, 269

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Muslims found three swords and three armours. On the way they distributed the spoils and put aside the best things to the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh].

They did not share the Hatims.

Upon arrival in Madinah, the sister of ‘Adi bin Hatim begged the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] to have mercy on her and said: "O Messenger of Allâh, my brother is absent and father is dead, and I am too old to render any service.

Be beneficent to me so that Allâh may be bountiful to you." He said: "Who is your brother?" She said: "It is ‘Adi bin Hatim." "Is he not the one who fled from Allâh and his Messenger?" Said the Prophet [pbuh] then went away from her. Next day she reiterated the same thing as the day before and received the same answer. A day later she uttered similar words, this time he made benefaction to her. The man who was beside the Prophet, and whom she thought to be ‘Ali, said to her: "Ask for an animal from him to ride on." And she was granted her request.

She returned to Ash- Sham where she met her brother and said to him: "The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] has done me such noble deed that your father would never have done it. Therefore, willy- nilly, frightened or secure, you should go and see him." Unsecure neither protected by some one, not even recommended by a letter as a means of protection, ‘Adi came and met the Prophet. The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] took him home with him. As soon as he sat before him, the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] thanked Allâh and praised him, then said: "What makes you flee? Do you flee lest you should say there is no god but Allâh? Do you know any other god but Allâh?" "No" he said, then talked for a while. The Messenger of Allâh went on saying: "Certainly you flee so that you may not hear the statement saying ‘Allâh is the Greatest.’ Do you know anyone who is greater than Allâh?" "No" he said. "The Jews are those whose portion is wrath, and the Christians are those who have gone astray," the Prophet retorted. "I am a Muslim and I believe in one God (Allâh)." ‘Adi finally proclaimed with a joyous face. The Prophet ordered him a residence with one of the Helpers. From that time he started calling at the Prophet [pbuh] in the mornings and in the evenings. [Za'd Al-Ma'ad 2/205]

On the authority of Ibn Ishaq, when the Prophet [pbuh] made him sit down in front of him in his house, the Prophet said, "O ‘Adi, were you not cast in disbelief?" "Yes". ‘Adi said. "Did you not share one quarter of your people’s gains?" "Yes". Said ‘Adi. The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] said: "It is sinful in your religion to do such a thing, and you should not allow yourself to do it."

"Yes, by Allâh, that is true", said ‘Adi. "Thus I worked out that he was a Prophet inspired by Allâh, and sent to people. He knows what is unknown." [Ibn Hisham 2/581]

In another version, the Prophet [pbuh] said: "‘Adi, embrace Islam and you shall be secure." "But I am a man of religion." Said ‘Adi. "I know your religion better than you." Said the Prophet. "Do you know my religion better than me?" ‘Adi asked. The Prophet replied, "Yes". He said: "Are you not cast in disbelief because you appropriate to yourself the fourth of your people’s gains?" "Yes". Said ‘Adi. "It is unlawful in your religion to do such a thing."

The Prophet said, and ‘‘Adi added: "He did not need to say it again for I immediately acquiesced it." [Musnad Imam Ahmad]

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Al- Bukhari narrates that ‘Adi said: While we were with the Prophet [pbuh], a man came in and complained to him about poverty. Then another man came in and complained about highway robbery. The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] then said: "O

‘Adi, have you ever been to Al- Hirah? If you were doomed to live long life, you would be able to see a riding camel woman travel from Hirah till it circumambulates Al-Ka‘bah fearing none but Allâh; and if you were to live long enough you would open the treasures of Kisra. And if you were to live long you would be able to see man offering a handful of gold or silver to others but none accepts to take it." At the end of this
Hadith
‘Adi later on says: "I have seen a riding camel woman travel from Al-Hirah till it circumambulates the Ka‘bah fearing none but Allâh, I have also been one of those who opened the treasures of Kisra bin Hurmuz. If you were to live long life you would witness what the Prophet, Abul Qasim, [pbuh] had already said about

‘offering a handful of …’ i.e. the Prophet’s prophecies did really come true." [Sahih Al-Bukhari; Mishkat Al-Masabih 2/524]

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The Invasion of Tabuk

in Rajab, in the Year 9 A.H.

The invasion and the conquest of Makkah was considered a decisive one between the truth and the error. As a result of which, the Arabs had no more doubt in Muhammad’s mission. Thus we see that things went contrary to the pagans’

expectations. People started to embrace Islam, the religion of Allâh, in great numbers. This is manifested clearly in the chapter — The delegations, of this book. It can also be deduced out of the enormous number of people who shared in the
Hajjatul- Wadâ‘
(Farewell Pilgrimage). All domestic troubles came to an end. Muslims, eventually felt at ease and started setting up the teachings of Allâh’s Laws and intensifying the Call to Islam.

The underlying Reasons

The Byzantine power, which was considered the greatest military force on earth at that time, showed an unjustifiable opposition towards Muslims. As we have already mentioned, their opposition started at killing the ambassador of the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh], Al- Harith bin ‘Umair Al- Azdi, by Sharhabeel bin ‘Amr Al- Ghassani. The ambassador was then carrying a message from the Prophet [pbuh] to the ruler of Busra. We have also stated that the Prophet consequently dispatched a brigade under the command of Zaid bin Haritha, who had a fierce fight against the Byzantines at Mu’tah. Although Muslim forces could not have revenge on those haughty overproud tyrants, the confrontation itself had a great impression on the Arabs, all over Arabia.

Caesar — who could neither ignore the great benefit that Mu’tah Battle had brought to Muslims, nor could he disregard the Arab tribes’ expectations of independence, and their hopes of getting free from his influence and reign, nor he could ignore their alliance to the Muslims — realizing all that, Caesar was aware of the progressive danger threatening his borders, especially Ash- Sham- fronts which were neighbouring Arab lands. So he concluded that demolition of the Muslims power had grown an urgent necessity. This decision of his should, in his opinion, be achieved before the Muslims become too powerful to conquer, and raise troubles and unrest in the adjacent Arab territories.

To meet these exigencies, Caesar mustered a huge army of the Byzantines and pro-Roman Ghassanide tribes to launch a decisive bloody battle against the Muslims.

General News about the Byzantines and Ghassanide Preparations for War
No sooner news about the Byzantine’s preparations for a decisive invasion against Muslims reached Madinah than fear spread among them. They started to envisage the Byzantine invasion in the least sound they could hear. This could be clearly worked out of what had happened to ‘Umar bin Al- Khattab one day.

The Prophet [pbuh] had taken an oath to stay off his wives for a month in the ninth year of Al- Hijra. Therefore, he deserted them and kept off in a private place. At the beginning, the Companions of the Messenger of Allâh were puzzled and could not work out the reason for such behaviour. They thought the Prophet [pbuh] had 272

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divorced them and that was why he was grieved, disturbed and upset. In ‘Umar’s version of the very story he says: "I used to have a Helper friend who often informed me about what happened if I weren’t present, and in return I always informed him of what had taken place during his absence. They both lived in the high part of Madinah. Both of them used to call at the Prophet alternatively during that time of suspense. Then one day I heard my friend, knock at the door saying: "Open up!

Open up!" I asked wondering, "What’s the matter? Has the Ghassanide come?" "No it is more serious than that. The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] has deserted his wives."

[Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/730]

In another version, ‘Umar said, "We talked about Ghassanide preparations to invade us. When it was his turn to convey the news to me, he went down and returned in the evening. He knocked at the door violently and said ‘Is he sleeping?’ I was terrified but I went out to meet him. ‘Something serious had taken place.’ He said.

‘Has the Ghassaindes arrived?’ Said I. ‘No,’ he said, ‘it is greater and more serious.

The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] has divorced his wives.’" [Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/334]

This state of too much alertness manifests clearly the seriousness of the situation that Muslims began to experience. The seriousness of the situation was confirmed to a large degree by the hypocrites behaviour, when news about the Byzantines’

preparations reached Madinah. The fact that the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] won all the battles he fought, and that no power on earth could make him terrified, and that he had always proved to be able to overcome all the obstacles that stood in his way -

did not prevent the hypocrites, who concealed evil in their hearts, from expecting an affliction to fall upon the Muslims and Islam.

They used to harbour evil and ill- intentions against the whole process of Islam and the Muslims. On grounds of illusory hopes of destroying this great religious edifice, they erected a hotbed of conspiracy and intrigue in the form of a mosque —
Masjid-e- Darar
(the mosque of harm). They approached the Prophet [pbuh] with the request that he should come and consecrate the place by praying in it himself. As he was at the moment about to start for Tabuk, he deferred compliance with their request till his return. Meanwhile he came to know through Divine Revelation that it was not a Mosque for devotion and prayer but a meeting place for the anti- Islamic elements. On his return, therefore, the Prophet [pbuh] sent a party to demolish the new structure.