MUHAMMAD SAW THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM (515 pages, 32/41)
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king advantage of the
situation, he rolled a huge millstone down from the top of the castle walls, and thus this valiant Muslim commander was martyred. When the Muslims beheld their commander crushed beneath the stone, they roused themselves to renew their attacks with vigor and ferocity, and the fortress finally fell to them.
After this decisive conquest, the forts of the unbelievers fell until only one remained. This was the castle of Qamus, which had walls that were thought impossible to scale, and therefore it held out against the Muslims. Its commander was Marhab. The Holy Prophet appointed Abu Bakr to lead the troops in the assault, but try as he might, he could not bring about a decisive victory.
The next day the Prophet sent out ‘Umar in command of the troops. But again they returned without success. Then the Prophet spoke, “Tomorrow I will give my banner to whom Allah has vouchsafed success and victory, one who loves Allah and His Prophet exceedingly, and who is also beloved of Allah and His Prophet . Allah has given the power of conquest and victory into his hand.”
The person thus honored was of course none other than Sayyidina Ali. But the Companions wondered at these words and waited impatiently for the morning to come. Nobody had thought of Ali, as he was suffering from an eye complaint just then. When dawn broke, the Prophet called for Ali to come to him. He had very bad pain in his eyes, which he was later to describe in these words: “I thought the stars were falling from the skies into my sleeve, and in such a state I went to the Holy Prophet’s Presence.”
Ali Leads the Fight by High Example
The Holy Prophet then addressed Ali, saying, “Oh son of my uncle, oh Ali! I am well aware of the pain in your eyes. However, if I were to kiss your eyes, which behold the truth, all your pain would vanish, by the leave of Allah. For today there is an important task before us.” And so it was. As soon as the Prophet touched his blessed lips to Ali’s eyes, which were sighted with vision of the Truth, all pain instantly left them. Then the Prophet prayed for him and clothed him in his own armor and girded him with his sword. He handed him the banner of Islam, saying, “Ali! Our Lord has decreed that the conquest of this fortress will be achieved by thy hand!” Then he kissed him upon his forehead and prayed for him, saying these words, Udkhul ‘ala barakati-llah! (Enter with the blessings of Allah!) Thus Ali was appointed commander of the troops and sent to take the fortress of Qamus. He proceeded to its gates forthwith.
Meanwhile the unbelievers, in order to show that their morale was unbroken
despite the Muslim onslaught, prepared to wed the daughter of one of their chiefs to the son of another dignitary. The bridegroom approached his bride as was their custom, bearing a tray of jewels in one hand and a tray of sheer gold in the other, in order that she permit him to lift her veil. However, this girl vehemently rejected her groom, saying, “My face will not be revealed to you on account of some rocks or nuggets of gold! He who wishes to see my face must bring before me that ragged Arab who is marching up and down in front of our gates!”
These words from his beloved incited fiery ambition in the young man. He stood, girding his weapons and ran to challenge the man outside the gates. It was the custom in those times that two opponents would first engage in lengthy verbal exchanges before the clash of arms. Thus the young man began extolling his own virtues and his position among the notables of Khaybar. Ali gave the requisite replies, then he said, “Let us not waste our time with words. Your bride and your people await you, as the Holy Prophet and my companions are waiting for me! Let us begin to measure our prowess in battle!” The young man instantly sprang from his horse. The spectators from atop the castle walls were bursting with excitement. Those who heard Ali speak and recognized him cried, “Khaybar is lost!” while the Muslims cheered and uttered loud cries of Takbir.
Ali then said to his foe, “I will grant you another favor. Because you have only just been separated from your beloved, I leave to you the right of the first strike.” For with the vision of sainthood, Ali glimpsed the outcome of the contest. So the son of the chief of Khaybar struck the first strike against Ali, but he succeeded only in opening a breach at the edge of Ali’s shield, which did not even touch the Prophet’s cousin. Now it was Ali’s turn to strike. In one fell sweep he wrestled his enemy to the ground, pressing his shoulders down with his knees. He was about to sever his head from his body with the Prophet’s sword, when his enemy who had not yet lost his fighting spirit, as a last measure of defense hurled his spittle into Ali’s face. Instantly, Ali withdrew his sword from the young man’s neck and said, “Get to your feet!” His rival rose, stupefied. He failed to understand what was happening to him. He said to Ali, “What is the meaning of this? You spare my life just when you have the best opportunity to end it, you withdraw your sword just as you are about to cut my head from my trunk?”
Ali then explained in the special way given to him:
“We fight our foes in the name of Allah and Rasulullah, His Holy Prophet . We do not even touch a hair on the head of our enemy at the
behest of our own lower nature. When you spit into my face at the moment I was about to sever your head, my nafs (lower nature) welled up within me. Then I thought, this will never do, this is not befitting of my honor that I should slay a man partly for the sake of Allah and partly for the sake of my own nafs, so I staid my hand. I am one who was brought up by the hand of Muhammad , who has come to lead mankind out of darkness into the light. He extends the hand of mercy even to his enemy. On our way, it will not do to follow the dictate of our lower nature (nafs), it is forbidden to us. Therefore, let us do battle once again.”
The chieftain’s son was confounded by these words and deeply awed at this enemy, who shrank not even in the face of death. He began to consider his words seriously. Ali had spoken directly to his inner being and the full impact of his words began to take hold. These words reined in his nafs, which commanded him to cut his adversary’s neck instead of receiving his munificence. He thought to himself that such virtue and strength of character must outweigh a hundred brides, a thousand castles and uncounted coffers of jewels.
The leavening of creation takes place between the fingers of Wrath and Mercy. This is another example of how an obstinate enemy is saved from the manifestation of His Wrath and attains to His Mercy instead.
The young man then said to Ali, “After you have shown me the way to this high level of virtue to which you are privy, I ask you to mete out the punishment for my impudence. Accept me into the fold of Islam, let me testify to my faith in Islam in the Presence of the Prophet Muhammad , then put me to death. The reason I wish for death is that I fear it might be said among you that I accepted Islam for fear of a second battle contest.”
In answer to this, Ali broke out into loud cries of Takbir. He said, “Every man will meet his Maker in the end; Allah knows and regards the inner faith and conscience of every single one of us, his secrets and his innermost hidden thoughts. We do not interfere with Him. As you state your wish to become Muslim, we are now brothers and take our sustenance from the holy words of the Quran.” The young man then wept and accompanied Sayyidina Ali, loudly proclaiming his faith in the words of the Shahada: Ash-hadu an la ilaha illAllah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammad-ar-Rasulullah.
The Lion Kills His Prey
The unbeliever warriors observing these developments from above seethed with the rage of their disbelief and hastily prepared for battle. All at once, the warrior Marhab who was known for his ferocity in battle stepped out and challenged Ali. With the first stroke of his sword he clove Ali’s shield in two, but Ali himself was unhurt. Now the turn came to Ali to return the strike, and for Marhab’s dream to become true. For that very night Marhab had seen a dream in which a lion tore him to pieces. He lived to see his dream fulfilled, for he was dispatched to eternal damnation by the claws of the Lion of Islam, Ali.
Following the death of Marhab, the unbelievers’ forces made a general sortie, but their morale was broken by the fall of their hero, and their fighting soon grew listless. Before long, Ali and his company entered the stronghold, all the fortresses now being in Muslim hands. Khaybar had fallen. There were fifteen martyrs among the Muslims, whereas ninety-three fighters of the unbelievers met their fate in this battle. In this way this entire region, famed for its dates and lavish produce, fell into the hands of the Muslims.
The Results of War
The unbelievers now fell to entreating the Holy Prophet , the teacher and exponent of the religion of Islam, which has made mercy to be the foundation of its faith, “Leave us our fields, we will give you half of our yields as tribute.” The Holy Prophet was ready to accept this and asked, “Whom shall I send to oversee the dividing of the harvest?” The unbelievers suggested Abdullah bin Rawaha, for that he was so well known for the justness of his dealings that even the unbelievers said of him, “Allah upholds Heaven and earth simply because of this man’s righteousness.”
Of the part due to the Muslims, one-fifth belonged to the Prophet , the remainder was placed in the Bayt-al-Mal (public treasury). The prisoners of war were all gathered in one place. Among them was Rabi‘ bin Ubayy and Safiya, the daughter of Huyay bin Akhtab, one of the chiefs of Khaybar, and the widow of Kinana bin Sallam ibn Abi Huqayq. Safiya, who held a place of high esteem among her people, was a newlywed bride, and the Holy Prophet gave her to Dihya. Dihya was famed among all the companions for his good looks, and for his complete devotion to the Holy Prophet and he was also the tutor of Hasan and Hussayn, the Prophet’s grandsons. Because of the angels’ love and longing for humankind, the angel Jibra’il would mostly assume the pleasing form of this man, Dihya, when he brought a revelation to the Prophet .
One day when Hasan and Hussayn were little children, they hopped onto the lap
of the figure they took to be their tutor Dihya, and began rummaging through his pockets. In reality it was the angel Jibra’il who turned to Muhammad and asked, “What are they looking for, oh Rasulullah ?” “They believe you to be their tutor, Dihya,” answered the Prophet . “Dihya generally brings some grapes with him in order to please them.” Jibra’il then prayed, “Oh my Lord, do not shame me before these children of the Prophet ‘s family, and create Thou some grapes in my pockets now!” Instantly grapes appeared in his pockets and the children rejoiced in their find.
But these words are addressed to those who have sensed the taste of real faith. Whoever is still shrouded in the coarse cloth of material density and has not known the influence of the transcendental in his life, will fail to understand any of this.
The Story of Safiya bint Huyay bin Akhtab
This is how Safiya was given to Dihya. Dihya, however deemed himself unworthy of her and went to see the Holy Prophet about it. “Oh my Prophet ,” he began, “Safiya is the daughter of a chieftain, and her husband was of the chiefs of the Bani Nadir. I beg you not to settle her upon me, for this would be extremely humiliating for the unbelievers. For the honor and high regard you have shown me by this gracious gift, I give abundant thanks and praise to the Lord of the Worlds, and I pray for endless blessings and benedictions upon you. Yet I would ask that you take the lady Safiya for yourself!”
The Holy Prophet found Dihya’s proposal acceptable, and called for Safiya. After he had enquired about her condition and state of well being, he put before her the choice of becoming a Muslim and being accepted among his wives, or to refuse Islam and remain in the condition of a captive bondmaid. As there is no compulsion in matters of faith, the choice was hers entirely. But the sun of Truth had not yet risen in Safiya’s heart, so she replied roughly, “I will never enter into your religion!” The Holy Prophet replied thereto, “You are free to act according to your conscience, we will not interfere. The choice is up to you.”
But Safiya was able to insist only for a day or so on her own religion, before the light of the Prophet’s disposition and demeanor began to flood her whole being.
The leniency which the Great Teacher showed to his enemies, the nobility towards those who had pushed only for his destruction, called to life that spark of faith which had been placed in her heart in the World of Spirits. The love she
now felt turned her feelings of hurt over the loss of her father and husband, who both had died in stubborn defense of their disbelief, into revulsion. Her real love appeared and focused on the Truth of the Worlds, Muhammad . Whereas before Safiya had perceived only Muhammad the man, she now began to see the prophet in him, as well.
Finally she could no longer contain herself, and came into his presence, weeping, “Oh Rasulullah ”, she said, “will you forgive me?” The Holy Prophet answered her, “Good news, I hope! What has happened that you address me now as Rasulullah, whereas hitherto I was to you only Muhammad?” Safiya went on to say, “Will I be forgiven in the life to come, oh my Prophet , will you accept me into the faith?” The Prophet then began reciting Takbir, and told her that the Lord of the Worlds accepted anyone who yearned for Him. “Do not weep, oh Safiya, for I testify to your faith in the Divine Presence.”
Safiya recited the attestation of the creed of Islam and the Holy Prophet was moved by this demonstration of her sincerity. It was foreordained for her to become one of his honorable wives, and this was now being affirmed. The Prophet said to her, “The time has come for me to grant you your freedom. The choice is yours: if you so wish, I will take you into Nikah and you shall be my wife; if you do not wish for that, I will marry you to whomever you wish from among my friends and companions.” Safiya answered, “Oh Rasulullah! Know that from now on I have no more will of my own, everything pertaining to myself is thine. I have no wish outside of what is your will, which is all that remains. If you see me worthy of thyself, then it is for you to accept me.”
The Holy Prophet then married Safiya to himself and she became one of the Mothers of the Believers. She received from him a special distinction in that he said to her, “Heedlessness is a fundamental quality of mankind. Therefore, should at any time anyone from our community regard you in an untoward way, then tell that person that you are not only the wife of Habibullah, but also the daughter of a prophet, Harun.”
How the Holy Prophet Dealt With His Enemies
The Battle of Khaybar was won, the unbelievers were pardoned and a general sense of peace and relief spread far and wide. Still there were some among the unbelievers who were not content to leave things as they were. For instance, the widow of Sallam bin Mishkam, Zaynab by name, sought means for avenging the death of her husband and ending the Prophet’s life.
She resolved to invite the Holy Prophet for a meal; when he accepted, she asked around to find out which part of the animal he preferred. She learnt that it was the sheep’s shoulder. So she went about to prepare a meal. She roasted a lamb, and invited the Prophet and a few of his chosen friends to dine at her house. But she had concentrated a deadly poison in the shoulder of the lamb that was intended for the Holy Prophet’s meal.
The Holy Prophet accepted her invitation graciously, and sat down at the table to eat. The meat was distributed among the invitees, and the Prophet tore off a piece of the lamb’s shoulder, placed it in his mouth and began to chew on it. But almost immediately he spat it out and cried to his companions, “Do not eat of this! It this poisoned! The lamb cries out to me, ‘Don’t eat me, Rasulullah, for I have been poisoned.’”
This one morsel which the Prophet chewed without even swallowing it sufficed for the poison to take effect on his blessed body. Instantly they administered certain medicines and performed cupping on him. That way the worst was averted, but Bishr bin Bara’ had followed his Prophet and placed the meat in his mouth when he had. He had however swallowed a mouthful of the meat, and all medicine and administrations proved to be useless. He went into convulsions and struggled for his life. The Holy Prophet asked who had poisoned the lamb. Zaynab, the widow of Sallam bin Mishkam admitted that it was she who had cooked the meal and added the poison. Asked how she could conceive of committing such a crime, she answered, “I wished only to test you, for if you were a true prophet, the poison would do you no harm. If, however, you were not a true prophet, the poison would kill you and we would be well rid of an impostor. That was my intention.”
The Holy Prophet then said, “I forgive the attacks that are made upon my person, therefore I forgive you for this attempt on my life. But my friend and companion Bishr is very ill indeed from your poison. Should he die from the effects of this poison, know that I will have you executed in retaliation, according to the Divine Law revealed to me.” Zaynab thereupon said, “I now know and believe in the truth of your prophethood. If your friend should die, I will gladly accept the verdict of retribution. But dare I ask for your intercession, oh Rasulullah , that the Lord Almighty might not censure me for my deed in the world to come!” With these words she withdrew from the Prophet’s presence.
Before long, Bishr passed away, and Zaynab was executed in retaliation. At the very end of his life, with his very last breaths, the Holy Prophet is reported to have said, “I am now feeling that terrible poison with which Zaynab at Khaybar
poisoned that lamb!”
Thus the unbelievers performed one treacherous act after the other. The Holy Prophet was ready and willing to forgive the assault on his blessed person, but he had to punish the harm done to his friend according to the judgment of the revealed Divine Law. He was the leader of the spiritual empire, sent to deliver men from darkness into the light, and truly, he was a savior of mankind.
Oh Traveler on the Way of Truth! While this is the historic truth, there are some historians who, though they have no knowledge of the real course of events, nonetheless assert that in the lifetime of the Prophet a certain Kinana (the husband of Safiya) had hidden a great treasure. (This had belonged to the Bani Nadir who had fled to Khaybar after the Battle of the Trench.) They claim that in order to procure this wealth for themselves, the Muslims tormented Kinana and put his whole family to death. However, this is a fabrication. For one thing, Kinana was the murderer of Muhammad bin Maslama, and he was put to death in retaliation. It is simply not true that his whole family was punished by death, for his own brother was still alive in the time of ‘Umar’s Khalifate. The Holy Prophet never permitted any person to be tortured for the purpose of procuring information.
‘Umar in his time grew tired of these people who refused to give up their wickedness and who knew not how to yield. As if that were not enough, they had beguiled his own son Abdullah bin ‘Umar so that he fell from a wall, and broke both arm and leg. Thereupon ‘Umar exiled them to Syria. They came before him and bitterly complained, “Oh Commander of the Faithful! Muhammad the Prophet never did to us what you have done! He partook even of our business dealings, while you do drive us from our very homes!” Again it was the sons of Abu-l-Huqayq of whom this incident is related.
In brief, if an unbeliever was executed, it was definitely in retribution for a murder he had committed, or because he had gone too far in his mockery of the Muslims, and broken all accepted rules of conduct. For the stronger Islam grows the greater its allowance for mercy and pardon. Wherever it sees oppression, it will replace it with justice, and it will set knowledge in the place of ignorance. Knowledge is described as a Ray of Light from the Lord; it is regarded as the greatest gift that is granted by the Divine Lord and incorporated into the hearts of His chosen and beloved servants. It bespeaks of the rightful placement and expenditure of these blessings and bounties, when the fruits of knowledge become manifest. These entail being observant of the rights of all created beings, knowing the aim of Creation, feeling the urge to return to one’s original
(spiritual) homeland, and having a sense of honor and shame. If, however, knowledge is taken to mean only studying, its real meaning is not grasped; the result of study is only an amassing of information.
Therefore, just as Islamic warfare was essentially defensive, so the punishments prescribed by Islam are not based on personal or emotional judgment. The wars were fought either to forestall an enemy attack, or because the enemy suddenly appeared before the Muslims and needed to be stopped.
The conquest of Khaybar therefore represented a great gain for the Muslim objectives, and opened a whole new avenue for its spread. The hidden wisdom of the treaty concluded at Hudaybiyah gradually came to light. Had it not been for that treaty, the victory at Khaybar would have been difficult, and one of the foremost enemies of the Muslims, the unbelievers, would not have been so swiftly punished for their wicked mischief. The victory at Khaybar took the unbelievers by great surprise. In this way one of the chief enemies of Islam was crushed, whereas the other, i.e. the heathen idolaters, were kept at a safe distance.
The income from the gardens of Khaybar was split into two equal parts. One half was distributed among sixteen hundred of the warriors, whereby the two hundred horsemen among them received a double share. The other half of the income was set aside for the costs of entertaining guests and for the travel expenses of the envoys. Of the eighteen hundred parts to be divided among the warriors, one part fell to the Holy Prophet .
After the Prophet left Khaybar, he departed for the place where of old the ‘Ad and Thamood had dwelled, called Fadak. A tribe of unbelievers who tilled the soil and planted the land had settled in this valley. The Prophet invited them to come to Islam, but they refused and threatened the Muslims with arms, challenging them to send forth their champion for a duel. They were met by Zubayr, who dispatched his opponents to the pit of eternal damnation forthwith. But the unbelievers had set their minds on hostilities, and stepped forth to measure themselves against Ali’s sword. One by one these stubborn, misguided individuals fell to their punishment, until the fallen numbered no less than eleven. The Muslims meanwhile had entered a place called Wadi-al-Qura. At long last the unbelievers gave up their armed efforts, and were willing to accept the same conditions of peace as had been imposed on the unbelievers of Khaybar. This meant that their belongings were divided up among the Muslim warriors, and they had to leave behind the fields they had hitherto tilled. The people of Tayma were obliged to make tax payments.
Many people now began streaming into the Islamic fold. For instance many members of the Ash’ari tribe from Yemen came into the presence of the Holy Prophet with Abu Musa al-Ash’ari. Islam grew stronger and stronger. The lone call of the Prophet , ‘La ilaha illAllah’, which had rung out from the mountain cave of Hira, drew mankind out of darkness into light. It was something the mind initially could not accept; it took faith to do that, for it was a matter, which the eye of reason could not perceive. But the eye of faith saw, and believed in it, so that in the end even reason had to accept this call that is destined to resound in the created universe until the end of time.
From all sides people came streaming to listen to the words of the Prophet , and they came to consult his blessed presence in all matters that concerned them. This great Prophet abandoned all self-interest, striving tirelessly to draw men out of darkness into light. He lent his ear to everyone, listened to people’s ideas, drew up plans for work to be done, personally led the prayers, preached sermons of admonition, and gave enlightened guidance. In one person, he was teacher, leader, judge, supreme worldly and religious authority, helper and assistant to all. He looked after all the material and spiritual needs of the Ashab us-Safa’. He listened to everyone, solved everyone’s problems according to their level, justly distributed his graces and kindnesses, hurt no one and never infringed on the rights of brotherhood. All these qualities were combined in the person of this great and noble Prophet .
To illustrate this point, just one small example: One day the Holy Prophet was sitting with Abu Bakr as-Siddiq and ‘Umar Faruq and a Bedouin Arab. The Holy Prophet asked for some water, and he drank from the cup, leaving a bit in it when he was done. ‘Umar asked the Holy Prophet for permission to give this water to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. Thereupon the Holy Prophet pointed to the Bedouin sitting to his right and said, “‘Umar! Al-ayman f-al-ayman! The right, the right!” thereby ordering him to pass the cup to the Arab sitting to his right. Even though there was doubtlessly no companion of greater merit than Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s action leaves no doubt as to the subtlety of his feelings and the delicacy of his behavior.
The Prophet’s ‘Umra
A year had passed since the treaty of Hudaybiyah, and according to the conditions of the treaty, the Muslims were now entitled to enter Mecca and perform the rites of ‘Umra, provided they left their weapons outside of town. It was in the eighth year of the Hijra, at the beginning of the month of Dhul-Qa’da
that the Holy Prophet gave orders to all the companions who had been with him at Hudaybiyah to prepare to travel to Mecca to perform the visit to the Holy House of the Lord.
Everyone made ready to go with great joy and excitement. The chiefs of the unbelievers were to leave the town of Mecca for the duration of the Muslims’ stay. What a joyous day that was to be, when the Muslim community which at Badr had numbered no more than three hundred and some men, now set out in full force, soon to embrace not only the Arabian peninsula, but the whole world.
They set out and left their weapons at a place called Batn Bajih at a distance of eight miles from the city. A guard of two hundred riders was left to guard their belongings.
When they had drawn close to Mecca, the Holy Prophet began intoning ‘Labbayk’, and the voices of the Muslims rose up to the Divine Throne. Abdullah bin Rawaha held the bridle of his camel Qaswa. He fell into a swoon and began to recite these (translated) verses:
Get out of his way, you unbelievers; make way. Every good thing goes with His Apostle.
Oh Lord! I believe in his word,
I know God’s truth in accepting it.
We will fight you about its interpretation, As we have fought you about its revelation
With strokes that will remove heads from shoulders And make friend unmindful of friend.
When ‘Umar heard him, he said to Abdullah, “Oh Abdullah bin Rawaha! You
are sitting here in the presence of the Holy Prophet , in Allah Almighty’s holy shrine, and reciting poetry, singing folksongs?” The Holy Prophet heard their interchange and intervened on Abdullah’s behalf, saying, “Oh ‘Umar, do not bother Abdullah bin Rawaha, for his poetry and songs are more penetrating than the most piercing arrow; his words will strike straight at the hearts of the chiefs of the unbelievers.” Abdullah bin Rawaha at that moment became the spokesman of the Holy Prophet . All the Prophet’s companions gathered in a knot around the Prophet’s camel, as the unbelievers looked on in amazement from the hills. It was a heavy and painful blow to their pride and disbelief. Finally, the Muslims approached with loud cries of Takbir and entered the holy
city of Mecca, the home of Islam in a state of intense excitement. The Holy Prophet immediately began to perform the Tawaf, the visit of the Kaba, and the Sa’i between Safa and Marwa. The Companions all followed suit. They performed three circumambulations of the Kaba running swiftly, in order to give the lie to the malicious claim of the Meccans that the air of Madinah had debilitated the emigrants. In this way, the Holy Prophet’s dream, which he had seen before the events of Hudaybiyah, was fulfilled.
In the eighth year of the Hijra, in the month of Safar, the great general and Cavalry Commander Khalid ibn al-Walid together with ‘Uthman bin Talha of the Bani ad-Dar had gone to Madinah and embraced the light of Islam. Even before this, ‘Amr bin ‘As who was known to be ve
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king advantage of the
situation, he rolled a huge millstone down from the top of the castle walls, and thus this valiant Muslim commander was martyred. When the Muslims beheld their commander crushed beneath the stone, they roused themselves to renew their attacks with vigor and ferocity, and the fortress finally fell to them.
After this decisive conquest, the forts of the unbelievers fell until only one remained. This was the castle of Qamus, which had walls that were thought impossible to scale, and therefore it held out against the Muslims. Its commander was Marhab. The Holy Prophet appointed Abu Bakr to lead the troops in the assault, but try as he might, he could not bring about a decisive victory.
The next day the Prophet sent out ‘Umar in command of the troops. But again they returned without success. Then the Prophet spoke, “Tomorrow I will give my banner to whom Allah has vouchsafed success and victory, one who loves Allah and His Prophet exceedingly, and who is also beloved of Allah and His Prophet . Allah has given the power of conquest and victory into his hand.”
The person thus honored was of course none other than Sayyidina Ali. But the Companions wondered at these words and waited impatiently for the morning to come. Nobody had thought of Ali, as he was suffering from an eye complaint just then. When dawn broke, the Prophet called for Ali to come to him. He had very bad pain in his eyes, which he was later to describe in these words: “I thought the stars were falling from the skies into my sleeve, and in such a state I went to the Holy Prophet’s Presence.”
Ali Leads the Fight by High Example
The Holy Prophet then addressed Ali, saying, “Oh son of my uncle, oh Ali! I am well aware of the pain in your eyes. However, if I were to kiss your eyes, which behold the truth, all your pain would vanish, by the leave of Allah. For today there is an important task before us.” And so it was. As soon as the Prophet touched his blessed lips to Ali’s eyes, which were sighted with vision of the Truth, all pain instantly left them. Then the Prophet prayed for him and clothed him in his own armor and girded him with his sword. He handed him the banner of Islam, saying, “Ali! Our Lord has decreed that the conquest of this fortress will be achieved by thy hand!” Then he kissed him upon his forehead and prayed for him, saying these words, Udkhul ‘ala barakati-llah! (Enter with the blessings of Allah!) Thus Ali was appointed commander of the troops and sent to take the fortress of Qamus. He proceeded to its gates forthwith.
Meanwhile the unbelievers, in order to show that their morale was unbroken
despite the Muslim onslaught, prepared to wed the daughter of one of their chiefs to the son of another dignitary. The bridegroom approached his bride as was their custom, bearing a tray of jewels in one hand and a tray of sheer gold in the other, in order that she permit him to lift her veil. However, this girl vehemently rejected her groom, saying, “My face will not be revealed to you on account of some rocks or nuggets of gold! He who wishes to see my face must bring before me that ragged Arab who is marching up and down in front of our gates!”
These words from his beloved incited fiery ambition in the young man. He stood, girding his weapons and ran to challenge the man outside the gates. It was the custom in those times that two opponents would first engage in lengthy verbal exchanges before the clash of arms. Thus the young man began extolling his own virtues and his position among the notables of Khaybar. Ali gave the requisite replies, then he said, “Let us not waste our time with words. Your bride and your people await you, as the Holy Prophet and my companions are waiting for me! Let us begin to measure our prowess in battle!” The young man instantly sprang from his horse. The spectators from atop the castle walls were bursting with excitement. Those who heard Ali speak and recognized him cried, “Khaybar is lost!” while the Muslims cheered and uttered loud cries of Takbir.
Ali then said to his foe, “I will grant you another favor. Because you have only just been separated from your beloved, I leave to you the right of the first strike.” For with the vision of sainthood, Ali glimpsed the outcome of the contest. So the son of the chief of Khaybar struck the first strike against Ali, but he succeeded only in opening a breach at the edge of Ali’s shield, which did not even touch the Prophet’s cousin. Now it was Ali’s turn to strike. In one fell sweep he wrestled his enemy to the ground, pressing his shoulders down with his knees. He was about to sever his head from his body with the Prophet’s sword, when his enemy who had not yet lost his fighting spirit, as a last measure of defense hurled his spittle into Ali’s face. Instantly, Ali withdrew his sword from the young man’s neck and said, “Get to your feet!” His rival rose, stupefied. He failed to understand what was happening to him. He said to Ali, “What is the meaning of this? You spare my life just when you have the best opportunity to end it, you withdraw your sword just as you are about to cut my head from my trunk?”
Ali then explained in the special way given to him:
“We fight our foes in the name of Allah and Rasulullah, His Holy Prophet . We do not even touch a hair on the head of our enemy at the
behest of our own lower nature. When you spit into my face at the moment I was about to sever your head, my nafs (lower nature) welled up within me. Then I thought, this will never do, this is not befitting of my honor that I should slay a man partly for the sake of Allah and partly for the sake of my own nafs, so I staid my hand. I am one who was brought up by the hand of Muhammad , who has come to lead mankind out of darkness into the light. He extends the hand of mercy even to his enemy. On our way, it will not do to follow the dictate of our lower nature (nafs), it is forbidden to us. Therefore, let us do battle once again.”
The chieftain’s son was confounded by these words and deeply awed at this enemy, who shrank not even in the face of death. He began to consider his words seriously. Ali had spoken directly to his inner being and the full impact of his words began to take hold. These words reined in his nafs, which commanded him to cut his adversary’s neck instead of receiving his munificence. He thought to himself that such virtue and strength of character must outweigh a hundred brides, a thousand castles and uncounted coffers of jewels.
The leavening of creation takes place between the fingers of Wrath and Mercy. This is another example of how an obstinate enemy is saved from the manifestation of His Wrath and attains to His Mercy instead.
The young man then said to Ali, “After you have shown me the way to this high level of virtue to which you are privy, I ask you to mete out the punishment for my impudence. Accept me into the fold of Islam, let me testify to my faith in Islam in the Presence of the Prophet Muhammad , then put me to death. The reason I wish for death is that I fear it might be said among you that I accepted Islam for fear of a second battle contest.”
In answer to this, Ali broke out into loud cries of Takbir. He said, “Every man will meet his Maker in the end; Allah knows and regards the inner faith and conscience of every single one of us, his secrets and his innermost hidden thoughts. We do not interfere with Him. As you state your wish to become Muslim, we are now brothers and take our sustenance from the holy words of the Quran.” The young man then wept and accompanied Sayyidina Ali, loudly proclaiming his faith in the words of the Shahada: Ash-hadu an la ilaha illAllah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammad-ar-Rasulullah.
The Lion Kills His Prey
The unbeliever warriors observing these developments from above seethed with the rage of their disbelief and hastily prepared for battle. All at once, the warrior Marhab who was known for his ferocity in battle stepped out and challenged Ali. With the first stroke of his sword he clove Ali’s shield in two, but Ali himself was unhurt. Now the turn came to Ali to return the strike, and for Marhab’s dream to become true. For that very night Marhab had seen a dream in which a lion tore him to pieces. He lived to see his dream fulfilled, for he was dispatched to eternal damnation by the claws of the Lion of Islam, Ali.
Following the death of Marhab, the unbelievers’ forces made a general sortie, but their morale was broken by the fall of their hero, and their fighting soon grew listless. Before long, Ali and his company entered the stronghold, all the fortresses now being in Muslim hands. Khaybar had fallen. There were fifteen martyrs among the Muslims, whereas ninety-three fighters of the unbelievers met their fate in this battle. In this way this entire region, famed for its dates and lavish produce, fell into the hands of the Muslims.
The Results of War
The unbelievers now fell to entreating the Holy Prophet , the teacher and exponent of the religion of Islam, which has made mercy to be the foundation of its faith, “Leave us our fields, we will give you half of our yields as tribute.” The Holy Prophet was ready to accept this and asked, “Whom shall I send to oversee the dividing of the harvest?” The unbelievers suggested Abdullah bin Rawaha, for that he was so well known for the justness of his dealings that even the unbelievers said of him, “Allah upholds Heaven and earth simply because of this man’s righteousness.”
Of the part due to the Muslims, one-fifth belonged to the Prophet , the remainder was placed in the Bayt-al-Mal (public treasury). The prisoners of war were all gathered in one place. Among them was Rabi‘ bin Ubayy and Safiya, the daughter of Huyay bin Akhtab, one of the chiefs of Khaybar, and the widow of Kinana bin Sallam ibn Abi Huqayq. Safiya, who held a place of high esteem among her people, was a newlywed bride, and the Holy Prophet gave her to Dihya. Dihya was famed among all the companions for his good looks, and for his complete devotion to the Holy Prophet and he was also the tutor of Hasan and Hussayn, the Prophet’s grandsons. Because of the angels’ love and longing for humankind, the angel Jibra’il would mostly assume the pleasing form of this man, Dihya, when he brought a revelation to the Prophet .
One day when Hasan and Hussayn were little children, they hopped onto the lap
of the figure they took to be their tutor Dihya, and began rummaging through his pockets. In reality it was the angel Jibra’il who turned to Muhammad and asked, “What are they looking for, oh Rasulullah ?” “They believe you to be their tutor, Dihya,” answered the Prophet . “Dihya generally brings some grapes with him in order to please them.” Jibra’il then prayed, “Oh my Lord, do not shame me before these children of the Prophet ‘s family, and create Thou some grapes in my pockets now!” Instantly grapes appeared in his pockets and the children rejoiced in their find.
But these words are addressed to those who have sensed the taste of real faith. Whoever is still shrouded in the coarse cloth of material density and has not known the influence of the transcendental in his life, will fail to understand any of this.
The Story of Safiya bint Huyay bin Akhtab
This is how Safiya was given to Dihya. Dihya, however deemed himself unworthy of her and went to see the Holy Prophet about it. “Oh my Prophet ,” he began, “Safiya is the daughter of a chieftain, and her husband was of the chiefs of the Bani Nadir. I beg you not to settle her upon me, for this would be extremely humiliating for the unbelievers. For the honor and high regard you have shown me by this gracious gift, I give abundant thanks and praise to the Lord of the Worlds, and I pray for endless blessings and benedictions upon you. Yet I would ask that you take the lady Safiya for yourself!”
The Holy Prophet found Dihya’s proposal acceptable, and called for Safiya. After he had enquired about her condition and state of well being, he put before her the choice of becoming a Muslim and being accepted among his wives, or to refuse Islam and remain in the condition of a captive bondmaid. As there is no compulsion in matters of faith, the choice was hers entirely. But the sun of Truth had not yet risen in Safiya’s heart, so she replied roughly, “I will never enter into your religion!” The Holy Prophet replied thereto, “You are free to act according to your conscience, we will not interfere. The choice is up to you.”
But Safiya was able to insist only for a day or so on her own religion, before the light of the Prophet’s disposition and demeanor began to flood her whole being.
The leniency which the Great Teacher showed to his enemies, the nobility towards those who had pushed only for his destruction, called to life that spark of faith which had been placed in her heart in the World of Spirits. The love she
now felt turned her feelings of hurt over the loss of her father and husband, who both had died in stubborn defense of their disbelief, into revulsion. Her real love appeared and focused on the Truth of the Worlds, Muhammad . Whereas before Safiya had perceived only Muhammad the man, she now began to see the prophet in him, as well.
Finally she could no longer contain herself, and came into his presence, weeping, “Oh Rasulullah ”, she said, “will you forgive me?” The Holy Prophet answered her, “Good news, I hope! What has happened that you address me now as Rasulullah, whereas hitherto I was to you only Muhammad?” Safiya went on to say, “Will I be forgiven in the life to come, oh my Prophet , will you accept me into the faith?” The Prophet then began reciting Takbir, and told her that the Lord of the Worlds accepted anyone who yearned for Him. “Do not weep, oh Safiya, for I testify to your faith in the Divine Presence.”
Safiya recited the attestation of the creed of Islam and the Holy Prophet was moved by this demonstration of her sincerity. It was foreordained for her to become one of his honorable wives, and this was now being affirmed. The Prophet said to her, “The time has come for me to grant you your freedom. The choice is yours: if you so wish, I will take you into Nikah and you shall be my wife; if you do not wish for that, I will marry you to whomever you wish from among my friends and companions.” Safiya answered, “Oh Rasulullah! Know that from now on I have no more will of my own, everything pertaining to myself is thine. I have no wish outside of what is your will, which is all that remains. If you see me worthy of thyself, then it is for you to accept me.”
The Holy Prophet then married Safiya to himself and she became one of the Mothers of the Believers. She received from him a special distinction in that he said to her, “Heedlessness is a fundamental quality of mankind. Therefore, should at any time anyone from our community regard you in an untoward way, then tell that person that you are not only the wife of Habibullah, but also the daughter of a prophet, Harun.”
How the Holy Prophet Dealt With His Enemies
The Battle of Khaybar was won, the unbelievers were pardoned and a general sense of peace and relief spread far and wide. Still there were some among the unbelievers who were not content to leave things as they were. For instance, the widow of Sallam bin Mishkam, Zaynab by name, sought means for avenging the death of her husband and ending the Prophet’s life.
She resolved to invite the Holy Prophet for a meal; when he accepted, she asked around to find out which part of the animal he preferred. She learnt that it was the sheep’s shoulder. So she went about to prepare a meal. She roasted a lamb, and invited the Prophet and a few of his chosen friends to dine at her house. But she had concentrated a deadly poison in the shoulder of the lamb that was intended for the Holy Prophet’s meal.
The Holy Prophet accepted her invitation graciously, and sat down at the table to eat. The meat was distributed among the invitees, and the Prophet tore off a piece of the lamb’s shoulder, placed it in his mouth and began to chew on it. But almost immediately he spat it out and cried to his companions, “Do not eat of this! It this poisoned! The lamb cries out to me, ‘Don’t eat me, Rasulullah, for I have been poisoned.’”
This one morsel which the Prophet chewed without even swallowing it sufficed for the poison to take effect on his blessed body. Instantly they administered certain medicines and performed cupping on him. That way the worst was averted, but Bishr bin Bara’ had followed his Prophet and placed the meat in his mouth when he had. He had however swallowed a mouthful of the meat, and all medicine and administrations proved to be useless. He went into convulsions and struggled for his life. The Holy Prophet asked who had poisoned the lamb. Zaynab, the widow of Sallam bin Mishkam admitted that it was she who had cooked the meal and added the poison. Asked how she could conceive of committing such a crime, she answered, “I wished only to test you, for if you were a true prophet, the poison would do you no harm. If, however, you were not a true prophet, the poison would kill you and we would be well rid of an impostor. That was my intention.”
The Holy Prophet then said, “I forgive the attacks that are made upon my person, therefore I forgive you for this attempt on my life. But my friend and companion Bishr is very ill indeed from your poison. Should he die from the effects of this poison, know that I will have you executed in retaliation, according to the Divine Law revealed to me.” Zaynab thereupon said, “I now know and believe in the truth of your prophethood. If your friend should die, I will gladly accept the verdict of retribution. But dare I ask for your intercession, oh Rasulullah , that the Lord Almighty might not censure me for my deed in the world to come!” With these words she withdrew from the Prophet’s presence.
Before long, Bishr passed away, and Zaynab was executed in retaliation. At the very end of his life, with his very last breaths, the Holy Prophet is reported to have said, “I am now feeling that terrible poison with which Zaynab at Khaybar
poisoned that lamb!”
Thus the unbelievers performed one treacherous act after the other. The Holy Prophet was ready and willing to forgive the assault on his blessed person, but he had to punish the harm done to his friend according to the judgment of the revealed Divine Law. He was the leader of the spiritual empire, sent to deliver men from darkness into the light, and truly, he was a savior of mankind.
Oh Traveler on the Way of Truth! While this is the historic truth, there are some historians who, though they have no knowledge of the real course of events, nonetheless assert that in the lifetime of the Prophet a certain Kinana (the husband of Safiya) had hidden a great treasure. (This had belonged to the Bani Nadir who had fled to Khaybar after the Battle of the Trench.) They claim that in order to procure this wealth for themselves, the Muslims tormented Kinana and put his whole family to death. However, this is a fabrication. For one thing, Kinana was the murderer of Muhammad bin Maslama, and he was put to death in retaliation. It is simply not true that his whole family was punished by death, for his own brother was still alive in the time of ‘Umar’s Khalifate. The Holy Prophet never permitted any person to be tortured for the purpose of procuring information.
‘Umar in his time grew tired of these people who refused to give up their wickedness and who knew not how to yield. As if that were not enough, they had beguiled his own son Abdullah bin ‘Umar so that he fell from a wall, and broke both arm and leg. Thereupon ‘Umar exiled them to Syria. They came before him and bitterly complained, “Oh Commander of the Faithful! Muhammad the Prophet never did to us what you have done! He partook even of our business dealings, while you do drive us from our very homes!” Again it was the sons of Abu-l-Huqayq of whom this incident is related.
In brief, if an unbeliever was executed, it was definitely in retribution for a murder he had committed, or because he had gone too far in his mockery of the Muslims, and broken all accepted rules of conduct. For the stronger Islam grows the greater its allowance for mercy and pardon. Wherever it sees oppression, it will replace it with justice, and it will set knowledge in the place of ignorance. Knowledge is described as a Ray of Light from the Lord; it is regarded as the greatest gift that is granted by the Divine Lord and incorporated into the hearts of His chosen and beloved servants. It bespeaks of the rightful placement and expenditure of these blessings and bounties, when the fruits of knowledge become manifest. These entail being observant of the rights of all created beings, knowing the aim of Creation, feeling the urge to return to one’s original
(spiritual) homeland, and having a sense of honor and shame. If, however, knowledge is taken to mean only studying, its real meaning is not grasped; the result of study is only an amassing of information.
Therefore, just as Islamic warfare was essentially defensive, so the punishments prescribed by Islam are not based on personal or emotional judgment. The wars were fought either to forestall an enemy attack, or because the enemy suddenly appeared before the Muslims and needed to be stopped.
The conquest of Khaybar therefore represented a great gain for the Muslim objectives, and opened a whole new avenue for its spread. The hidden wisdom of the treaty concluded at Hudaybiyah gradually came to light. Had it not been for that treaty, the victory at Khaybar would have been difficult, and one of the foremost enemies of the Muslims, the unbelievers, would not have been so swiftly punished for their wicked mischief. The victory at Khaybar took the unbelievers by great surprise. In this way one of the chief enemies of Islam was crushed, whereas the other, i.e. the heathen idolaters, were kept at a safe distance.
The income from the gardens of Khaybar was split into two equal parts. One half was distributed among sixteen hundred of the warriors, whereby the two hundred horsemen among them received a double share. The other half of the income was set aside for the costs of entertaining guests and for the travel expenses of the envoys. Of the eighteen hundred parts to be divided among the warriors, one part fell to the Holy Prophet .
After the Prophet left Khaybar, he departed for the place where of old the ‘Ad and Thamood had dwelled, called Fadak. A tribe of unbelievers who tilled the soil and planted the land had settled in this valley. The Prophet invited them to come to Islam, but they refused and threatened the Muslims with arms, challenging them to send forth their champion for a duel. They were met by Zubayr, who dispatched his opponents to the pit of eternal damnation forthwith. But the unbelievers had set their minds on hostilities, and stepped forth to measure themselves against Ali’s sword. One by one these stubborn, misguided individuals fell to their punishment, until the fallen numbered no less than eleven. The Muslims meanwhile had entered a place called Wadi-al-Qura. At long last the unbelievers gave up their armed efforts, and were willing to accept the same conditions of peace as had been imposed on the unbelievers of Khaybar. This meant that their belongings were divided up among the Muslim warriors, and they had to leave behind the fields they had hitherto tilled. The people of Tayma were obliged to make tax payments.
Many people now began streaming into the Islamic fold. For instance many members of the Ash’ari tribe from Yemen came into the presence of the Holy Prophet with Abu Musa al-Ash’ari. Islam grew stronger and stronger. The lone call of the Prophet , ‘La ilaha illAllah’, which had rung out from the mountain cave of Hira, drew mankind out of darkness into light. It was something the mind initially could not accept; it took faith to do that, for it was a matter, which the eye of reason could not perceive. But the eye of faith saw, and believed in it, so that in the end even reason had to accept this call that is destined to resound in the created universe until the end of time.
From all sides people came streaming to listen to the words of the Prophet , and they came to consult his blessed presence in all matters that concerned them. This great Prophet abandoned all self-interest, striving tirelessly to draw men out of darkness into light. He lent his ear to everyone, listened to people’s ideas, drew up plans for work to be done, personally led the prayers, preached sermons of admonition, and gave enlightened guidance. In one person, he was teacher, leader, judge, supreme worldly and religious authority, helper and assistant to all. He looked after all the material and spiritual needs of the Ashab us-Safa’. He listened to everyone, solved everyone’s problems according to their level, justly distributed his graces and kindnesses, hurt no one and never infringed on the rights of brotherhood. All these qualities were combined in the person of this great and noble Prophet .
To illustrate this point, just one small example: One day the Holy Prophet was sitting with Abu Bakr as-Siddiq and ‘Umar Faruq and a Bedouin Arab. The Holy Prophet asked for some water, and he drank from the cup, leaving a bit in it when he was done. ‘Umar asked the Holy Prophet for permission to give this water to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. Thereupon the Holy Prophet pointed to the Bedouin sitting to his right and said, “‘Umar! Al-ayman f-al-ayman! The right, the right!” thereby ordering him to pass the cup to the Arab sitting to his right. Even though there was doubtlessly no companion of greater merit than Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s action leaves no doubt as to the subtlety of his feelings and the delicacy of his behavior.
The Prophet’s ‘Umra
A year had passed since the treaty of Hudaybiyah, and according to the conditions of the treaty, the Muslims were now entitled to enter Mecca and perform the rites of ‘Umra, provided they left their weapons outside of town. It was in the eighth year of the Hijra, at the beginning of the month of Dhul-Qa’da
that the Holy Prophet gave orders to all the companions who had been with him at Hudaybiyah to prepare to travel to Mecca to perform the visit to the Holy House of the Lord.
Everyone made ready to go with great joy and excitement. The chiefs of the unbelievers were to leave the town of Mecca for the duration of the Muslims’ stay. What a joyous day that was to be, when the Muslim community which at Badr had numbered no more than three hundred and some men, now set out in full force, soon to embrace not only the Arabian peninsula, but the whole world.
They set out and left their weapons at a place called Batn Bajih at a distance of eight miles from the city. A guard of two hundred riders was left to guard their belongings.
When they had drawn close to Mecca, the Holy Prophet began intoning ‘Labbayk’, and the voices of the Muslims rose up to the Divine Throne. Abdullah bin Rawaha held the bridle of his camel Qaswa. He fell into a swoon and began to recite these (translated) verses:
Get out of his way, you unbelievers; make way. Every good thing goes with His Apostle.
Oh Lord! I believe in his word,
I know God’s truth in accepting it.
We will fight you about its interpretation, As we have fought you about its revelation
With strokes that will remove heads from shoulders And make friend unmindful of friend.
When ‘Umar heard him, he said to Abdullah, “Oh Abdullah bin Rawaha! You
are sitting here in the presence of the Holy Prophet , in Allah Almighty’s holy shrine, and reciting poetry, singing folksongs?” The Holy Prophet heard their interchange and intervened on Abdullah’s behalf, saying, “Oh ‘Umar, do not bother Abdullah bin Rawaha, for his poetry and songs are more penetrating than the most piercing arrow; his words will strike straight at the hearts of the chiefs of the unbelievers.” Abdullah bin Rawaha at that moment became the spokesman of the Holy Prophet . All the Prophet’s companions gathered in a knot around the Prophet’s camel, as the unbelievers looked on in amazement from the hills. It was a heavy and painful blow to their pride and disbelief. Finally, the Muslims approached with loud cries of Takbir and entered the holy
city of Mecca, the home of Islam in a state of intense excitement. The Holy Prophet immediately began to perform the Tawaf, the visit of the Kaba, and the Sa’i between Safa and Marwa. The Companions all followed suit. They performed three circumambulations of the Kaba running swiftly, in order to give the lie to the malicious claim of the Meccans that the air of Madinah had debilitated the emigrants. In this way, the Holy Prophet’s dream, which he had seen before the events of Hudaybiyah, was fulfilled.
In the eighth year of the Hijra, in the month of Safar, the great general and Cavalry Commander Khalid ibn al-Walid together with ‘Uthman bin Talha of the Bani ad-Dar had gone to Madinah and embraced the light of Islam. Even before this, ‘Amr bin ‘As who was known to be ve
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