MUHAMMAD SAW THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM (515 pages, 33/41)
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ry clever and astute had presented himself to the Prophet and become a Muslim. Each of these men had their own special distinction, and the Quraysh were adversely affected by their defection.
The Battle of Mu’ta
There was a town in Syria called Mu’ta in the district of the Balqa’ which was renowned for its swords. The very best pieces were forged there. In the eighth year of the Hijra, in the month of Jamada-l-Awwal a big battle took place here. The reason for fighting was this:
The Holy Prophet had invited all the great kings and rulers of the time to join Islam and sent to each an envoy bearing a letter. Harith bin ‘Umayr had been sent to Busra which was under the protectorate of Byzantium, but directly ruled by the tribal chieftain Shurahbil bin ’Amir al-Ghassani. This chief and his whole family had become Christian, although they were Bedouin Arabs. They murdered the Prophet’s envoy when he came to them and he died a martyr. The Holy Prophet received the news of Harith’s murder with great sorrow and told his companions that this matter should not be dismissed and passed over lightly, even if the enemy were very powerful. He told them that revenge would need to be exacted for the murder of this precious companion, and he sent them to the place where he fell, so that they might read Fatiha for his soul.
The Prophet put Zayd bin Harith in charge of a force of three-thousand and one hundred fighting men, and accompanied them up to the place called Thaniyat-al- Wada, the Valley of Farewell.
As mentioned before, Zayd was the Holy Prophet’s freedman who had become one of his trusted companions. He was a member of the community just as Ali’s brother, Ja’far ibn Abi Talib, or one of the eminent of the Ansar, Abdullah bin
Rawaha. For Islam brought equality to all men and there is no discrimination.
The Holy Prophet appointed Zayd as the commander of the Muslim army, and gave the banner into his hand. “Should Zayd fall in battle,” he said, “let Ja’far ibn Abi Talib take his place. If he should fall, then Abdullah bin Rawaha will succeed him. After him you may select any one from among your number.” He also exhorted them and said, “Do not forget that you are going to battle in honor of Harith’s blessed memory, not for the sake of victory! Therefore, before doing battle, try to call the enemy warriors to Islam. If they accept your call, forego the battle; Harith would be most pleased with such an outcome.”
When Shurahbil’s spies brought him news of the Muslims’ movements, he prepared to equip an army of one hundred thousand men to face them. The Byzantine Emperor thereby expressed his approval of a murder committed by one of his tribal chieftains, rather than his censure, thus bringing war upon his whole realm. He even proceeded personally as far as the town of Ma’ab in the district of Balqa’. Su’ud bin Amir had before this time gone forth against the Muslim army at Wadi-l-Qura and fought them, but the band of soldiers was dispersed and he himself was slain.
When the Muslim army arrived at Ma’an, they heard that they were going to face an army of one hundred thousand Byzantine soldiers. The army’s commanders met for a war council. Zayd bin Harith, the commander-in-chief, said, “Let us send word of this to the Holy Prophet , and wait for his answer for two days, then act according to his command.” However, Abdullah bin Rawaha opposed this view and said, “Actually, we have not set out for to gain a victory, we have come only for to honor the blessed memory of Harith bin Umayr. Just as we might accomplish this visit in physical reality, so it might be done also in the spiritual realm. That is to say, it will be of even greater value if it is accomplished through martyrdom. Remember, our aim is not to gain victory, but to gain martyrdom. The Holy Prophet himself gave us indications of this even as we were setting out. Therefore, let us not stall, but proceed forthwith!”
The Prophet’s friends accepted Abdullah bin Rawaha’s words with a stout heart. When they reached the place called Mu’ta, they were met by an army of one- hundred thousand fully equipped soldiers and mercenaries, while they were a force of a mere three-thousand Muslims. Zayd bin Harith rode out onto the battlefield with the banner in his hand. He attacked the enemy with great enthusiasm and vigor. At last he fell, mortally wounded by multiple spear- wounds and passed the banner on to the hand of Ja’far ibn Abi Talib. Ja’far parried many a fierce attack, until his right hand was severed. He then held the
banner aloft in his left hand, until he lost that hand as well. He then wrapped the Muslim standard around his own person, until at last he was martyred after having received no less than ninety injuries. Instantly Abdullah bin Rawaha took up the flag and threw himself into the thick of the battle, until he too received the cup of martyrdom that his soul so eagerly awaited and he regained his eternal homeland.
Ten Muslim warriors were thus martyred, and the Muslim army was badly shaken, being left without real leadership. The banner, however, never touched the ground, it was upheld by Abu Yusru’-l-Ansari. He passed it on to the next in line, handing it to Thabit bin Arqam al-Ajlani. He wished to hand the banner to Khalid ibn al-Walid, who initially refused, saying, “You are both my senior in years, and you belong to the veterans of Badr. Your rank is therefore higher than mine.” Thabit bin Aqram replied, “You are an eminent general, and I took up the banner only in order to give it to you.” With these words he handed Khalid the banner of Islam, and turning to the Muslim warriors, he asked them, “Do you accept Khalid’s leadership?” A great cheer of acclaim rose from the Muslim multitude. Thus Khalid took up the flag and set about ordering the troops.
He engaged in battle with such skill and bravery that he broke to pieces eight or nine swords in the fury of his onslaught. The battle gained momentum, and with it Khalid’s competence and courage soared to new heights. The enemy forces outnumbered the Muslim army by such a large margin that it was inconceivable how three thousand Muslims should prevail over one-hundred thousand well- organized soldiers! The enemy troops were astonished to find a small army willing to face such an overwhelming force. At nightfall both sides withdrew to rest.
In the morning, to their great surprise, the enemy army found itself face to face with a different lot of soldiers and took them to be reinforcements for the Muslim troops that had arrived during the night. (Khalid had reorganized the troops in such a way that none of the enemy soldiers was faced with a man he had seen the day before). Then he launched an even fiercer assault than on the day before, and in the face of this sudden attack the enemy forces faltered and were forced to withdraw, leaving behind much of their heavy gear and baggage. But of course they were backed by another large taskforce.
Khalid regrouped his forces right away and said, “This victory will suffice us. It is a great boon for us that they have been forced into this retreat; at the same time it is an important opportunity. I have no doubt that you all wish to become martyrs right here and now, but such easy martyrdom is not to be your lot. You
will achieve martyrdom only after you have slain and dispatched to eternal perdition a larger number of truth-deniers! Today we have not the chance for that. Let us now return to Madinah safely, with dignity and firm footing in our faith. This will be a great victory and a sweet boon from our Lord.”
Thus the Prophet’s army returned to Madinah, safe and sound. But the Holy Prophet had been following the events on the battlefield by means of the prophetic vision given to him, describing what he saw to the companions grouped about him in the holy mosque. At one point he said, “Just now my beloved friend Zayd has been martyred,” and his eyes, which served as windows to the Truth of the Lord, filled with tears. After a short silence, he continued, “Now the flag has been passed to the hand of Ja’far ibn Abi Talib, he smites the enemy with all his might. Ah, now his right hand is cut off, he takes the flag with his left, and continues to beset the enemy.”
The Prophet’s companions listened in suspense to the visions he was relating and sobbed with emotion and grief. “Now his left arm also is severed,” continued the Holy Prophet , and raising both his hands, he prayed, “Oh my Lord, do Thou give my beloved cousin two wings in the stead of both his arms!” Somewhat later he informed them that his prayer had been granted and that Ja’far had attained his ultimate aim and fallen as a martyr. It was then that Ja’far was given the name ‘Ja’far at-Tayyar’, Ja’far, the Flying.
After this, the Holy Prophet related how the flag was given to Abdullah bin Rawaha and how this venerable companion of the Ansar was martyred. Then he told of Khalid ibn al-Walid taking up the banner of Islam and of his ferocious onslaught against the overpowering enemy, and of the many swords that broke in his hand. Then he said, “Now the enemy has withdrawn in dread and Islam has come out of it in good cheer. Khalid has now received the rank of ‘Sayfullah’ (Sword of Allah).” It was for his achievement in this battle that the Holy Prophet gave Khalid ibn al-Walid the rank of field marshal.
The Story of ‘Amr ibn al-‘As
In that same year, the eighth year of the Hijra, in the month of Jamadi-al-Awwal, the Holy Prophet received the news that the tribesmen of the Bali and Quda’a were rounding up the herds belonging to the people of Madinah in the Wadi-al- Qura, intending to drive them off. He therefore designated ‘Amr ibn al-‘As, whose mother was of the tribe of the Bali and who was known for his cunning, to command a punitive force of three hundred fighters. When ‘Amr ibn ‘As approached the enemy lines, he learned that the enemy was more numerous than
anticipated, and he sent Rafi’ back to Madinah to inform the Prophet of this and to request reinforcements. The Holy Prophet then immediately sent out Abu ‘Ubayda with two hundred men to his aid. Among them were his close friends Abu Bakr as-Siddiq and ‘Umar al-Faruq. As the Prophet was sending them out on this campaign, he said to them, “I am sending you out as support troops in order to fend off the enemy attack and to punish these brigands, under the one condition that you do not break the unity of your ranks, and do not fall into dissension.”
With this advice, the Holy Prophet , the Guide of Men’s Hearts, manifested another miracle concerning the behavior of ‘Amr ibn ‘As towards those who had come to support him. He warned the companions in advance of division and disunity among the ranks, for after all, their aim was to join forces in order to chastise the enemy. When the support column joined up with the troops of ‘Amr ibn ‘As, their commander Abu ‘Ubayda wished to perform the duty of the Imam for the soldiers by right of seniority. However, ‘Amr ibn al-‘As reacted vehemently to this, saying, “No! The command of this force is mine, you have command only of an auxiliary troop; therefore, it is for me to be the Imam!”
Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and Abu ‘Ubayda exchanged glances and remembered what the Holy Prophet had said to them in parting, “Do not fall into dissent!” They therefore quickly consented to ‘Amr ibn al-‘As’ views, bearing in mind the Prophet’s admonition and the aim of their mission. The following morning they launched a fierce attack on the enemy and returned to Madinah victoriously.
Upon his return to Madinah, ‘Amr ibn al-‘As, who remained unaware of the feigned approval of his leadership by the Great Sahaba, deemed himself to be as close to the Holy Prophet as for instance, Zayd bin Harith. He ventured to put this question to Prophet : “Whom do you love the best?” In answer to this the Holy Prophet made mention of his honorable wives, (thereby giving a subtle interpretation of the secrets of the holy verse:
(Your wives) are a vestment for you, and you are a vestment for them.
(The Cow: 187)
This indicates that nothing comes before the love of one’s family; it is foremost in a man’s life. But ‘Amr ibn al-‘As pursued the matter, saying, “I do not ask about the women, I am asking about the men.” “The father of my wife Aisha, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq,” the Prophet replied. “And after him?” “Umar al-Faruq”, said the Prophet . In the hope of hearing his own name mentioned yet, ‘Amr ibn al-‘As persisted in his questioning. “And after these, who is it that you love the
best?”
The Holy Prophet then began to list all those blessed companions who had confronted a hostile world with the call of ‘La ilaha illAllah’ that had proceeded from a cave on Mount Hira. He named those valiant souls who had made enemies of even their closest relatives, who had left behind all they owned and disregarded all concern for their own advantage, driven solely by the love for the call to Allah. Then ‘Amr ibn al-‘As realized that his name would not be listed among those whom the Holy Prophet loved best and he fell silent.
‘Amr ibn al-‘As himself relates how he entered Islam:
“After the War of the Confederates, we all returned to Mecca and were close to despair. For although we were in every material aspect superior to Muhammad and his band of followers, they had begun to gain over us in many ways. Whereas before the Muslims had only claimed the eternal life as their own, they were now able to say that this world also was at their feet. I then thought, ‘It is best that I go to the Negus of Abyssinia. For in any case, one day Muhammad and his friends will return to their native place, Mecca. If my people gain the upper hand over Muhammad , I can come back and resume residence there in peace. If Muhammad is victorious over my people, at least I will not have had to witness that defeat with my own eyes.’ Some of my friends agreed and accompanied me, and taking with us many and precious gifts, we presented ourselves before the Negus.”
“Then one day, Muhammad sent ‘Amr bin Umayya to the Negus as his envoy. Intending to take advantage of this situation, I went to the Negus, since I assumed that he would be displeased by Muhammad’s agent. I thought he would hand him over to me for me to deal with, in which case he would incur no blame, as the man would have been murdered by one of his own people. When I put these ideas to the Negus, he flew into a rage and drove me from his presence. I then said, ‘Had I known that I would occasion such anger, I would not have been so bold.’
“The Negus grew even angrier at that and said, ‘You wish me to deliver into your hands the envoy of such a luminary who is visited by the messenger angel himself when he comes to deliver Divine Messages!’ I then asked the Negus, ‘Is that truly what you believe?’ He replied in a stern manner, ‘Don’t waste your words! Muhammad is a
true Prophet. If you are a real man, confess Islam and know that one day he will vanquish all his opponents. Just as Musa was Kalimullah and beat Fir’aun with the staff in his hand, so Muhammad is the Proof of Allah and will persuade those who argue against him.’
“I left the presence of the Negus feeling utterly dejected. I now was sure that there was no other way to get ahead in the world than by becoming Muslim. I made up my mind to it and secretly set out for Madinah. Then I grew aware that Khalid ibn al-Walid was following me. ‘Where are you going?’ I asked him. Khalid was an open-minded, outspoken person. He did not yet know of my decision. He replied, ‘No need remains for stubborn persistence on the way of disbelief that our fathers and forefathers have shown us. There is not a grain of doubt that Muhammad whom we used to know as ‘al-Amin’ is a true Prophet. I am on my way to Madinah into his presence to surrender all that I am and own that he may teach me the worship of the God that he preaches. I will entreat him to forgive me for all the outrage and insolence I have worked against him before this day. If I can achieve his pardon, there is no man happier than I.’
“In this way we proceeded to Madinah together and met with a gracious reception by Muhammad . Thus we entered Islam.”
The Battle of Murays
The Quraysh tribe was held in great esteem by all other Arab tribes and regarded as especially privileged, on account of their descent from the family of Ibrahim and their pureblooded Arab lineage.
The tribe of the Bani Khuza’a were allied with the Quraysh. Incited by the Quraysh, Harith bin Dirar, the chief of the clan of Bani Mustaliq, which belonged to the tribe of Khuza’a, decided to launch an attack on Madinah. The Holy Prophet asked Zayd bin Husayb about the situation and conditions. Zayd replied by messenger, informing that preparations for an attack were under way. The Holy Prophet received this news and taking along his wives Aisha and Umm Salama in his retinue, he set out with one thousand of his trusted friends and veteran fighters.
When this became known among the Bani Khuza’a, fear spread among them and the tribesmen dispersed, among them their chieftain, Harith bin Dirar. Only the men of Murays were left to face the Muslim army, and in the skirmish that
followed, they lost ten of their number, while six hundred were taken prisoner. The Muslims also took from them two thousand camels and five thousand sheep.
Among the prisoners of war was Harith bin Dirar’s daughter, Juwayriya. She was part of the share of the spoils that fell to Thabit bin Qays. Thabit presented her to the Holy Prophet as a gift. Her father, Harith, was one of the chiefs of the Arab tribes and he sent word to the Prophet that he wished to pay his daughter’s ransom so that she be returned to him. He wished not for a chieftain’s daughter to be reduced to the status of a captive slave girl. The Holy Prophet then said, “I leave the decision up to your daughter. You may come and ask her yourself. We will see what she will choose for herself.” Harith was given free passage and he came to see his daughter Juwayriya. He said to her, “My daughter, don’t shame me before my enemies. Muhammad has left the decision up to you; if you wish, you may come home with me, if you wish, you may remain here.”
Juwayriya replied, “Oh father, you have misunderstood Muhammad . How can anyone ever wish to be separated from him, after having entered the ocean of his munificence and perceived the heavenly scent of Allah’s Mercy? Even were he to drive me away, I would not depart from the gate of the Beloved of Allah!”
Juwayriya’s reply was related to the Holy Prophet whose heart beat with compassion for the entire creation. He said, “I will set her heart at ease by admitting her among my wives.” Juwayriya was thus granted a great favor and became one of the Mothers of the Believers. The Muslims then set free all the other prisoners of war they had taken at Murays, saying, “It is against the rules of good conduct for us to keep as slaves any person who belongs to a tribe which is connected to our Holy Prophet through family ties.” Juwayriya acquired the unique distinction of being permitted access to the presence of the Light of Prophethood while at the same time serving her people, for she became the means for their liberation from bondage.
Slander of Aisha
In the course of these events, what became known as ‘the Calumny’ concerning the Prophet’s youngest wife Aisha took place. Aisha had accompanied the Holy Prophet on his campaign against the Khuza’a. On the return journey, Aisha was suddenly found to be missing from her camel’s howdah, and everyone grew worried about her. The fact of the matter was that she had dropped her necklace and had gone to look for it during a rest stop, and had been left behind in this way. She had been found by Safwan who mounted her on his camel and
led her to rejoined the caravan.
There were some among the community who were jealous of Abu Bakr’s close attachment to the Prophet and who secretly welcomed this opportunity to harm him. They began to gossip about his daughter Aisha, the Prophet’s wife, regarding what had happened between her and Safwan bin Mu’attal. One of the most vicious slanderers was the hypocrite Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul who went as far as claiming openly that Aisha had known Safwan from childhood, implying that she had a long-standing motivation for an illicit relationship. They claimed that Aisha’s excuse for her absence was unacceptable, for there was just as much probability for her truthfulness as there was for her lying. These words affected the Holy Prophet very much, but he refrained from passing his verdict on Aisha immediately. Aisha, on their return to Madinah, developed a fever and went to stay at her father’s house. The Prophet asked ‘Uthman’s opinion in this matter. ‘Uthman said, “God forbid! I do not believe Aisha capable of such an execrable act.”
In this connection, an incorrect narration is sometimes quoted, according to which the Holy Prophet is to have asked Ali for his views on the matter, and Ali is to have replied, “Oh my Prophet , are there no girls in the whole town of Madinah other than Aisha?” Thereupon the Holy Prophet is to have said, “Oh Ali, the divorce of my wives is in your hands!” On account of these words which ‘Uthman is said to have witnessed, Aisha is supposed to have borne a grudge against Ali. However, this is an entirely faulty, unreliable narration.
For one thing, the words that are here attributed to Ali were not spoken on this occasion, but rather during the apportioning of booty, as we will have occasion to relate further on. For Ali had not a grain of doubt in his heart that the allegations proffered against Aisha were lies and slanderous fabrications. However, he is reported to have said, ”Investigate this matter thoroughly, so that the calumny fathered by the hypocrites will be entirely cleared up. Aisha will stand out as a shining example of chaste and virtuous womanhood.”
Everyone knew Aisha to be in complete possession of her mental abilities. If she had indeed – God forbid! – stooped so low as to commit so heinous an act, would she have gone about it in such a crude and vulgar way? For her naïveté and imprudence alone are proof of her innocence. Let us regard this matter from a spiritual standpoint: assuming our faith had risen to the station of Love, we might grow aware of a voice speaking to us in our heart, telling us that the Companion on High, the Ever-Watchful Lord is also a Jealous Lord. Finding His Beloved to be excessively occupied with the love for his wife Aisha, the Divine
Lover therefore made His Beloved feel some pain, thereby calling his heart back to the One True Love. More than this need not be said.
The remainder of the story is told in Aisha’s own words:
“When the Holy Prophet intended to go on a journey, he would cast lots among his wives. On the raid preceding the raid against the Bani Mustaliq, the lot had fallen to me, so that I accompanied him in his illustrious entourage. As the verses concerning the veiling of the Prophet’s wives had already been revealed, I was placed in a Howdah (a kind of covered cabin) upon a camel. On the return journey, the Prophet halted at a stop one day’s journey from Madinah. There I got out of my Howdah, and following the call of nature, I went to a place outside the camp to relieve myself. When I came back, I felt my chest, and noticed that I had lost the string of beads I had been wearing. I turned back to look for them, but that delayed me so, that the army had already decamped and gone by the time I returned.
“The porters had loaded my Howdah upon the camel, thinking I was inside it, for I was still a very young thing and brought little weight to bear. Therefore, they had lifted the contraption onto the camel without second thoughts. Having found my necklace, I returned, just to find that everyone had departed. I thought to myself that surely they would notice my absence and turn back to look for me, so I sat down on the spot and fell asleep. While I slept, the man rode up whose job it was to ride after the army and see that they had left nothing of importance behind. He would catch up with the troops at the next rest stop. This man was Safwan bin Mu’attal. He recognized me, and I awoke with the words he pronounced:
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi ra’ji’un. (Surely we belong to God and to Him we return.)
(The Cow, 156)
“I instantly covered myself with my mantle. Safwan dismounted from his camel, and turned away until I had mounted upon it. After I had mounted, he led the camel on. We caught up with the army in the noonday heat.
“In the meanwhile, my absence had been noticed and there was a great commotion. Everyone was talking about me; the whole caravan was in
an uproar. ‘She is done for,’ they said, and the worst calumny was invented and spread about by the chief of the hypocrites, Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul.
“At last, the Prophet’s party arrived at Madinah. After our return, I fell ill and my illness lasted for a month. But this time I missed the kindness and favor with which the Holy Prophet used to treat me when I was ill. He would only come into my room and ask, ‘How is she?’ This made me very sad, all the more so as I knew of nothing. Finally, my illness abated, and I began to convalesce. One night, I went outside with the mother of Mistah. As soon as we were finished, I returned to my chamber with the mother of Mistah.
“There she happened to trip over her gown, and I heard her say under her breath, ‘May Mistah stumble’. I said, ‘Mind your words, what are you saying? Would you reproach one of the veterans of the Ansar who fought at Badr?’ ‘My dear,’ she said, ‘do you not know what they are saying about you?’ ‘What are they saying then?’ Thereupon she exclaimed, ‘Verily I witness that you are a pure believing woman,’ and she related to me in full detail all the calumnies and slander that were being spread about me. In reaction to this, I fell ill again and was quite beside myself. I went home, weeping. The Holy Prophet again came in, and again he enquired, ‘How is she?’ I could no longer contain myself and I cried, ‘Oh Rasulullah! With your permission, I will go to my parents’ house!’ He consented, and I went there, weeping all along.
“It was my purpose to learn the whole truth from them. I asked my mother, ‘What are they saying about me?’ ‘My daughter,’ she replied, ‘don’t worry about it. If a woman is the wife of such a great man, and if in addition to this she is beautiful and he loves her, and if there are other wives as well, then such words are of no great import. Have you not heard of this up till now?’ ‘Praise be to Allah! Do you mean to say that everybody is speaking such things about me?’
“That night I wept and cried the whole night through till it was morning. As the sun rose and I was still crying, my father entered the room and pointing at me asked my mother, ‘Why is Aisha crying?’ My mother answered, ‘Have you not heard what people are saying?’ My father then said, ‘Be quiet, daughter,’ and he himself began to weep. But I was unable to stop crying. Both my parents came and sat by me, and both were very unhappy.
“Meanwhile Rasulullah had called Ali and Usama, to take counsel with them about the matter of divorcing me. When he asked Ali for his opinion, he said, ‘There is no need to doubt Aisha’s virtue. You may call in her maid to verify this. I do not believe Allah Almighty will leave the matter as it stands. Perhaps you ought to wait until the truth is revealed to you’ The Prophet then called my maid Burayra and asked her, ‘Oh Burayra! You know how severe is the punishment for lying to the Prophet ? Answer my question truly then, for it may be that the truth will be revealed and you will be shamed. Have you ever seen anything in Aisha that would make you suspect her?’ Burayra answered, ‘I swear by the Lord who sent you with the Truth, the only time I ever got angry at Aisha was when she fell asleep on account of her youth and the sheep ate the dough. I had prepared the dough one day, and had told her to watch it while I lit the fire. While she watched, she fell asleep and her pet lamb came and ate it up. Other than this incident, I know of no fault in her.’
“Then Usama was asked for his opinion and he said, ‘Oh Rasulullah! I believe that Allah Almighty keeps the family of the Prophet pure and exempt from major sins.’
“The Prophet then went to the mosque and ascended the Minbar (the pulpit). Casting fierce looks at Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, he began to speak, ‘Who will defend me against a man who even goes so far as to dispute the honor and chastity of my family? I only know of goodness, honor and virtue on the part of my household. As for the man they speak of him, too, I know nothing but goodness; he never entered my house but I am with him.’ Sa’d bin Mu’adh of the Ansar then rose to his feet and said, ‘Oh my Prophet ! If those who offend you should be of the Aws, I will knock off their heads to set things right for you! Even if they are of the Khazraj, I will do whatever you order me to do!’
“The chief of the Khazraj, Sa’d bin ‘Ubada then rose, and unaware of the wrongfulness of placing tr
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ry clever and astute had presented himself to the Prophet and become a Muslim. Each of these men had their own special distinction, and the Quraysh were adversely affected by their defection.
The Battle of Mu’ta
There was a town in Syria called Mu’ta in the district of the Balqa’ which was renowned for its swords. The very best pieces were forged there. In the eighth year of the Hijra, in the month of Jamada-l-Awwal a big battle took place here. The reason for fighting was this:
The Holy Prophet had invited all the great kings and rulers of the time to join Islam and sent to each an envoy bearing a letter. Harith bin ‘Umayr had been sent to Busra which was under the protectorate of Byzantium, but directly ruled by the tribal chieftain Shurahbil bin ’Amir al-Ghassani. This chief and his whole family had become Christian, although they were Bedouin Arabs. They murdered the Prophet’s envoy when he came to them and he died a martyr. The Holy Prophet received the news of Harith’s murder with great sorrow and told his companions that this matter should not be dismissed and passed over lightly, even if the enemy were very powerful. He told them that revenge would need to be exacted for the murder of this precious companion, and he sent them to the place where he fell, so that they might read Fatiha for his soul.
The Prophet put Zayd bin Harith in charge of a force of three-thousand and one hundred fighting men, and accompanied them up to the place called Thaniyat-al- Wada, the Valley of Farewell.
As mentioned before, Zayd was the Holy Prophet’s freedman who had become one of his trusted companions. He was a member of the community just as Ali’s brother, Ja’far ibn Abi Talib, or one of the eminent of the Ansar, Abdullah bin
Rawaha. For Islam brought equality to all men and there is no discrimination.
The Holy Prophet appointed Zayd as the commander of the Muslim army, and gave the banner into his hand. “Should Zayd fall in battle,” he said, “let Ja’far ibn Abi Talib take his place. If he should fall, then Abdullah bin Rawaha will succeed him. After him you may select any one from among your number.” He also exhorted them and said, “Do not forget that you are going to battle in honor of Harith’s blessed memory, not for the sake of victory! Therefore, before doing battle, try to call the enemy warriors to Islam. If they accept your call, forego the battle; Harith would be most pleased with such an outcome.”
When Shurahbil’s spies brought him news of the Muslims’ movements, he prepared to equip an army of one hundred thousand men to face them. The Byzantine Emperor thereby expressed his approval of a murder committed by one of his tribal chieftains, rather than his censure, thus bringing war upon his whole realm. He even proceeded personally as far as the town of Ma’ab in the district of Balqa’. Su’ud bin Amir had before this time gone forth against the Muslim army at Wadi-l-Qura and fought them, but the band of soldiers was dispersed and he himself was slain.
When the Muslim army arrived at Ma’an, they heard that they were going to face an army of one hundred thousand Byzantine soldiers. The army’s commanders met for a war council. Zayd bin Harith, the commander-in-chief, said, “Let us send word of this to the Holy Prophet , and wait for his answer for two days, then act according to his command.” However, Abdullah bin Rawaha opposed this view and said, “Actually, we have not set out for to gain a victory, we have come only for to honor the blessed memory of Harith bin Umayr. Just as we might accomplish this visit in physical reality, so it might be done also in the spiritual realm. That is to say, it will be of even greater value if it is accomplished through martyrdom. Remember, our aim is not to gain victory, but to gain martyrdom. The Holy Prophet himself gave us indications of this even as we were setting out. Therefore, let us not stall, but proceed forthwith!”
The Prophet’s friends accepted Abdullah bin Rawaha’s words with a stout heart. When they reached the place called Mu’ta, they were met by an army of one- hundred thousand fully equipped soldiers and mercenaries, while they were a force of a mere three-thousand Muslims. Zayd bin Harith rode out onto the battlefield with the banner in his hand. He attacked the enemy with great enthusiasm and vigor. At last he fell, mortally wounded by multiple spear- wounds and passed the banner on to the hand of Ja’far ibn Abi Talib. Ja’far parried many a fierce attack, until his right hand was severed. He then held the
banner aloft in his left hand, until he lost that hand as well. He then wrapped the Muslim standard around his own person, until at last he was martyred after having received no less than ninety injuries. Instantly Abdullah bin Rawaha took up the flag and threw himself into the thick of the battle, until he too received the cup of martyrdom that his soul so eagerly awaited and he regained his eternal homeland.
Ten Muslim warriors were thus martyred, and the Muslim army was badly shaken, being left without real leadership. The banner, however, never touched the ground, it was upheld by Abu Yusru’-l-Ansari. He passed it on to the next in line, handing it to Thabit bin Arqam al-Ajlani. He wished to hand the banner to Khalid ibn al-Walid, who initially refused, saying, “You are both my senior in years, and you belong to the veterans of Badr. Your rank is therefore higher than mine.” Thabit bin Aqram replied, “You are an eminent general, and I took up the banner only in order to give it to you.” With these words he handed Khalid the banner of Islam, and turning to the Muslim warriors, he asked them, “Do you accept Khalid’s leadership?” A great cheer of acclaim rose from the Muslim multitude. Thus Khalid took up the flag and set about ordering the troops.
He engaged in battle with such skill and bravery that he broke to pieces eight or nine swords in the fury of his onslaught. The battle gained momentum, and with it Khalid’s competence and courage soared to new heights. The enemy forces outnumbered the Muslim army by such a large margin that it was inconceivable how three thousand Muslims should prevail over one-hundred thousand well- organized soldiers! The enemy troops were astonished to find a small army willing to face such an overwhelming force. At nightfall both sides withdrew to rest.
In the morning, to their great surprise, the enemy army found itself face to face with a different lot of soldiers and took them to be reinforcements for the Muslim troops that had arrived during the night. (Khalid had reorganized the troops in such a way that none of the enemy soldiers was faced with a man he had seen the day before). Then he launched an even fiercer assault than on the day before, and in the face of this sudden attack the enemy forces faltered and were forced to withdraw, leaving behind much of their heavy gear and baggage. But of course they were backed by another large taskforce.
Khalid regrouped his forces right away and said, “This victory will suffice us. It is a great boon for us that they have been forced into this retreat; at the same time it is an important opportunity. I have no doubt that you all wish to become martyrs right here and now, but such easy martyrdom is not to be your lot. You
will achieve martyrdom only after you have slain and dispatched to eternal perdition a larger number of truth-deniers! Today we have not the chance for that. Let us now return to Madinah safely, with dignity and firm footing in our faith. This will be a great victory and a sweet boon from our Lord.”
Thus the Prophet’s army returned to Madinah, safe and sound. But the Holy Prophet had been following the events on the battlefield by means of the prophetic vision given to him, describing what he saw to the companions grouped about him in the holy mosque. At one point he said, “Just now my beloved friend Zayd has been martyred,” and his eyes, which served as windows to the Truth of the Lord, filled with tears. After a short silence, he continued, “Now the flag has been passed to the hand of Ja’far ibn Abi Talib, he smites the enemy with all his might. Ah, now his right hand is cut off, he takes the flag with his left, and continues to beset the enemy.”
The Prophet’s companions listened in suspense to the visions he was relating and sobbed with emotion and grief. “Now his left arm also is severed,” continued the Holy Prophet , and raising both his hands, he prayed, “Oh my Lord, do Thou give my beloved cousin two wings in the stead of both his arms!” Somewhat later he informed them that his prayer had been granted and that Ja’far had attained his ultimate aim and fallen as a martyr. It was then that Ja’far was given the name ‘Ja’far at-Tayyar’, Ja’far, the Flying.
After this, the Holy Prophet related how the flag was given to Abdullah bin Rawaha and how this venerable companion of the Ansar was martyred. Then he told of Khalid ibn al-Walid taking up the banner of Islam and of his ferocious onslaught against the overpowering enemy, and of the many swords that broke in his hand. Then he said, “Now the enemy has withdrawn in dread and Islam has come out of it in good cheer. Khalid has now received the rank of ‘Sayfullah’ (Sword of Allah).” It was for his achievement in this battle that the Holy Prophet gave Khalid ibn al-Walid the rank of field marshal.
The Story of ‘Amr ibn al-‘As
In that same year, the eighth year of the Hijra, in the month of Jamadi-al-Awwal, the Holy Prophet received the news that the tribesmen of the Bali and Quda’a were rounding up the herds belonging to the people of Madinah in the Wadi-al- Qura, intending to drive them off. He therefore designated ‘Amr ibn al-‘As, whose mother was of the tribe of the Bali and who was known for his cunning, to command a punitive force of three hundred fighters. When ‘Amr ibn ‘As approached the enemy lines, he learned that the enemy was more numerous than
anticipated, and he sent Rafi’ back to Madinah to inform the Prophet of this and to request reinforcements. The Holy Prophet then immediately sent out Abu ‘Ubayda with two hundred men to his aid. Among them were his close friends Abu Bakr as-Siddiq and ‘Umar al-Faruq. As the Prophet was sending them out on this campaign, he said to them, “I am sending you out as support troops in order to fend off the enemy attack and to punish these brigands, under the one condition that you do not break the unity of your ranks, and do not fall into dissension.”
With this advice, the Holy Prophet , the Guide of Men’s Hearts, manifested another miracle concerning the behavior of ‘Amr ibn ‘As towards those who had come to support him. He warned the companions in advance of division and disunity among the ranks, for after all, their aim was to join forces in order to chastise the enemy. When the support column joined up with the troops of ‘Amr ibn ‘As, their commander Abu ‘Ubayda wished to perform the duty of the Imam for the soldiers by right of seniority. However, ‘Amr ibn al-‘As reacted vehemently to this, saying, “No! The command of this force is mine, you have command only of an auxiliary troop; therefore, it is for me to be the Imam!”
Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and Abu ‘Ubayda exchanged glances and remembered what the Holy Prophet had said to them in parting, “Do not fall into dissent!” They therefore quickly consented to ‘Amr ibn al-‘As’ views, bearing in mind the Prophet’s admonition and the aim of their mission. The following morning they launched a fierce attack on the enemy and returned to Madinah victoriously.
Upon his return to Madinah, ‘Amr ibn al-‘As, who remained unaware of the feigned approval of his leadership by the Great Sahaba, deemed himself to be as close to the Holy Prophet as for instance, Zayd bin Harith. He ventured to put this question to Prophet : “Whom do you love the best?” In answer to this the Holy Prophet made mention of his honorable wives, (thereby giving a subtle interpretation of the secrets of the holy verse:
(Your wives) are a vestment for you, and you are a vestment for them.
(The Cow: 187)
This indicates that nothing comes before the love of one’s family; it is foremost in a man’s life. But ‘Amr ibn al-‘As pursued the matter, saying, “I do not ask about the women, I am asking about the men.” “The father of my wife Aisha, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq,” the Prophet replied. “And after him?” “Umar al-Faruq”, said the Prophet . In the hope of hearing his own name mentioned yet, ‘Amr ibn al-‘As persisted in his questioning. “And after these, who is it that you love the
best?”
The Holy Prophet then began to list all those blessed companions who had confronted a hostile world with the call of ‘La ilaha illAllah’ that had proceeded from a cave on Mount Hira. He named those valiant souls who had made enemies of even their closest relatives, who had left behind all they owned and disregarded all concern for their own advantage, driven solely by the love for the call to Allah. Then ‘Amr ibn al-‘As realized that his name would not be listed among those whom the Holy Prophet loved best and he fell silent.
‘Amr ibn al-‘As himself relates how he entered Islam:
“After the War of the Confederates, we all returned to Mecca and were close to despair. For although we were in every material aspect superior to Muhammad and his band of followers, they had begun to gain over us in many ways. Whereas before the Muslims had only claimed the eternal life as their own, they were now able to say that this world also was at their feet. I then thought, ‘It is best that I go to the Negus of Abyssinia. For in any case, one day Muhammad and his friends will return to their native place, Mecca. If my people gain the upper hand over Muhammad , I can come back and resume residence there in peace. If Muhammad is victorious over my people, at least I will not have had to witness that defeat with my own eyes.’ Some of my friends agreed and accompanied me, and taking with us many and precious gifts, we presented ourselves before the Negus.”
“Then one day, Muhammad sent ‘Amr bin Umayya to the Negus as his envoy. Intending to take advantage of this situation, I went to the Negus, since I assumed that he would be displeased by Muhammad’s agent. I thought he would hand him over to me for me to deal with, in which case he would incur no blame, as the man would have been murdered by one of his own people. When I put these ideas to the Negus, he flew into a rage and drove me from his presence. I then said, ‘Had I known that I would occasion such anger, I would not have been so bold.’
“The Negus grew even angrier at that and said, ‘You wish me to deliver into your hands the envoy of such a luminary who is visited by the messenger angel himself when he comes to deliver Divine Messages!’ I then asked the Negus, ‘Is that truly what you believe?’ He replied in a stern manner, ‘Don’t waste your words! Muhammad is a
true Prophet. If you are a real man, confess Islam and know that one day he will vanquish all his opponents. Just as Musa was Kalimullah and beat Fir’aun with the staff in his hand, so Muhammad is the Proof of Allah and will persuade those who argue against him.’
“I left the presence of the Negus feeling utterly dejected. I now was sure that there was no other way to get ahead in the world than by becoming Muslim. I made up my mind to it and secretly set out for Madinah. Then I grew aware that Khalid ibn al-Walid was following me. ‘Where are you going?’ I asked him. Khalid was an open-minded, outspoken person. He did not yet know of my decision. He replied, ‘No need remains for stubborn persistence on the way of disbelief that our fathers and forefathers have shown us. There is not a grain of doubt that Muhammad whom we used to know as ‘al-Amin’ is a true Prophet. I am on my way to Madinah into his presence to surrender all that I am and own that he may teach me the worship of the God that he preaches. I will entreat him to forgive me for all the outrage and insolence I have worked against him before this day. If I can achieve his pardon, there is no man happier than I.’
“In this way we proceeded to Madinah together and met with a gracious reception by Muhammad . Thus we entered Islam.”
The Battle of Murays
The Quraysh tribe was held in great esteem by all other Arab tribes and regarded as especially privileged, on account of their descent from the family of Ibrahim and their pureblooded Arab lineage.
The tribe of the Bani Khuza’a were allied with the Quraysh. Incited by the Quraysh, Harith bin Dirar, the chief of the clan of Bani Mustaliq, which belonged to the tribe of Khuza’a, decided to launch an attack on Madinah. The Holy Prophet asked Zayd bin Husayb about the situation and conditions. Zayd replied by messenger, informing that preparations for an attack were under way. The Holy Prophet received this news and taking along his wives Aisha and Umm Salama in his retinue, he set out with one thousand of his trusted friends and veteran fighters.
When this became known among the Bani Khuza’a, fear spread among them and the tribesmen dispersed, among them their chieftain, Harith bin Dirar. Only the men of Murays were left to face the Muslim army, and in the skirmish that
followed, they lost ten of their number, while six hundred were taken prisoner. The Muslims also took from them two thousand camels and five thousand sheep.
Among the prisoners of war was Harith bin Dirar’s daughter, Juwayriya. She was part of the share of the spoils that fell to Thabit bin Qays. Thabit presented her to the Holy Prophet as a gift. Her father, Harith, was one of the chiefs of the Arab tribes and he sent word to the Prophet that he wished to pay his daughter’s ransom so that she be returned to him. He wished not for a chieftain’s daughter to be reduced to the status of a captive slave girl. The Holy Prophet then said, “I leave the decision up to your daughter. You may come and ask her yourself. We will see what she will choose for herself.” Harith was given free passage and he came to see his daughter Juwayriya. He said to her, “My daughter, don’t shame me before my enemies. Muhammad has left the decision up to you; if you wish, you may come home with me, if you wish, you may remain here.”
Juwayriya replied, “Oh father, you have misunderstood Muhammad . How can anyone ever wish to be separated from him, after having entered the ocean of his munificence and perceived the heavenly scent of Allah’s Mercy? Even were he to drive me away, I would not depart from the gate of the Beloved of Allah!”
Juwayriya’s reply was related to the Holy Prophet whose heart beat with compassion for the entire creation. He said, “I will set her heart at ease by admitting her among my wives.” Juwayriya was thus granted a great favor and became one of the Mothers of the Believers. The Muslims then set free all the other prisoners of war they had taken at Murays, saying, “It is against the rules of good conduct for us to keep as slaves any person who belongs to a tribe which is connected to our Holy Prophet through family ties.” Juwayriya acquired the unique distinction of being permitted access to the presence of the Light of Prophethood while at the same time serving her people, for she became the means for their liberation from bondage.
Slander of Aisha
In the course of these events, what became known as ‘the Calumny’ concerning the Prophet’s youngest wife Aisha took place. Aisha had accompanied the Holy Prophet on his campaign against the Khuza’a. On the return journey, Aisha was suddenly found to be missing from her camel’s howdah, and everyone grew worried about her. The fact of the matter was that she had dropped her necklace and had gone to look for it during a rest stop, and had been left behind in this way. She had been found by Safwan who mounted her on his camel and
led her to rejoined the caravan.
There were some among the community who were jealous of Abu Bakr’s close attachment to the Prophet and who secretly welcomed this opportunity to harm him. They began to gossip about his daughter Aisha, the Prophet’s wife, regarding what had happened between her and Safwan bin Mu’attal. One of the most vicious slanderers was the hypocrite Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul who went as far as claiming openly that Aisha had known Safwan from childhood, implying that she had a long-standing motivation for an illicit relationship. They claimed that Aisha’s excuse for her absence was unacceptable, for there was just as much probability for her truthfulness as there was for her lying. These words affected the Holy Prophet very much, but he refrained from passing his verdict on Aisha immediately. Aisha, on their return to Madinah, developed a fever and went to stay at her father’s house. The Prophet asked ‘Uthman’s opinion in this matter. ‘Uthman said, “God forbid! I do not believe Aisha capable of such an execrable act.”
In this connection, an incorrect narration is sometimes quoted, according to which the Holy Prophet is to have asked Ali for his views on the matter, and Ali is to have replied, “Oh my Prophet , are there no girls in the whole town of Madinah other than Aisha?” Thereupon the Holy Prophet is to have said, “Oh Ali, the divorce of my wives is in your hands!” On account of these words which ‘Uthman is said to have witnessed, Aisha is supposed to have borne a grudge against Ali. However, this is an entirely faulty, unreliable narration.
For one thing, the words that are here attributed to Ali were not spoken on this occasion, but rather during the apportioning of booty, as we will have occasion to relate further on. For Ali had not a grain of doubt in his heart that the allegations proffered against Aisha were lies and slanderous fabrications. However, he is reported to have said, ”Investigate this matter thoroughly, so that the calumny fathered by the hypocrites will be entirely cleared up. Aisha will stand out as a shining example of chaste and virtuous womanhood.”
Everyone knew Aisha to be in complete possession of her mental abilities. If she had indeed – God forbid! – stooped so low as to commit so heinous an act, would she have gone about it in such a crude and vulgar way? For her naïveté and imprudence alone are proof of her innocence. Let us regard this matter from a spiritual standpoint: assuming our faith had risen to the station of Love, we might grow aware of a voice speaking to us in our heart, telling us that the Companion on High, the Ever-Watchful Lord is also a Jealous Lord. Finding His Beloved to be excessively occupied with the love for his wife Aisha, the Divine
Lover therefore made His Beloved feel some pain, thereby calling his heart back to the One True Love. More than this need not be said.
The remainder of the story is told in Aisha’s own words:
“When the Holy Prophet intended to go on a journey, he would cast lots among his wives. On the raid preceding the raid against the Bani Mustaliq, the lot had fallen to me, so that I accompanied him in his illustrious entourage. As the verses concerning the veiling of the Prophet’s wives had already been revealed, I was placed in a Howdah (a kind of covered cabin) upon a camel. On the return journey, the Prophet halted at a stop one day’s journey from Madinah. There I got out of my Howdah, and following the call of nature, I went to a place outside the camp to relieve myself. When I came back, I felt my chest, and noticed that I had lost the string of beads I had been wearing. I turned back to look for them, but that delayed me so, that the army had already decamped and gone by the time I returned.
“The porters had loaded my Howdah upon the camel, thinking I was inside it, for I was still a very young thing and brought little weight to bear. Therefore, they had lifted the contraption onto the camel without second thoughts. Having found my necklace, I returned, just to find that everyone had departed. I thought to myself that surely they would notice my absence and turn back to look for me, so I sat down on the spot and fell asleep. While I slept, the man rode up whose job it was to ride after the army and see that they had left nothing of importance behind. He would catch up with the troops at the next rest stop. This man was Safwan bin Mu’attal. He recognized me, and I awoke with the words he pronounced:
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi ra’ji’un. (Surely we belong to God and to Him we return.)
(The Cow, 156)
“I instantly covered myself with my mantle. Safwan dismounted from his camel, and turned away until I had mounted upon it. After I had mounted, he led the camel on. We caught up with the army in the noonday heat.
“In the meanwhile, my absence had been noticed and there was a great commotion. Everyone was talking about me; the whole caravan was in
an uproar. ‘She is done for,’ they said, and the worst calumny was invented and spread about by the chief of the hypocrites, Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul.
“At last, the Prophet’s party arrived at Madinah. After our return, I fell ill and my illness lasted for a month. But this time I missed the kindness and favor with which the Holy Prophet used to treat me when I was ill. He would only come into my room and ask, ‘How is she?’ This made me very sad, all the more so as I knew of nothing. Finally, my illness abated, and I began to convalesce. One night, I went outside with the mother of Mistah. As soon as we were finished, I returned to my chamber with the mother of Mistah.
“There she happened to trip over her gown, and I heard her say under her breath, ‘May Mistah stumble’. I said, ‘Mind your words, what are you saying? Would you reproach one of the veterans of the Ansar who fought at Badr?’ ‘My dear,’ she said, ‘do you not know what they are saying about you?’ ‘What are they saying then?’ Thereupon she exclaimed, ‘Verily I witness that you are a pure believing woman,’ and she related to me in full detail all the calumnies and slander that were being spread about me. In reaction to this, I fell ill again and was quite beside myself. I went home, weeping. The Holy Prophet again came in, and again he enquired, ‘How is she?’ I could no longer contain myself and I cried, ‘Oh Rasulullah! With your permission, I will go to my parents’ house!’ He consented, and I went there, weeping all along.
“It was my purpose to learn the whole truth from them. I asked my mother, ‘What are they saying about me?’ ‘My daughter,’ she replied, ‘don’t worry about it. If a woman is the wife of such a great man, and if in addition to this she is beautiful and he loves her, and if there are other wives as well, then such words are of no great import. Have you not heard of this up till now?’ ‘Praise be to Allah! Do you mean to say that everybody is speaking such things about me?’
“That night I wept and cried the whole night through till it was morning. As the sun rose and I was still crying, my father entered the room and pointing at me asked my mother, ‘Why is Aisha crying?’ My mother answered, ‘Have you not heard what people are saying?’ My father then said, ‘Be quiet, daughter,’ and he himself began to weep. But I was unable to stop crying. Both my parents came and sat by me, and both were very unhappy.
“Meanwhile Rasulullah had called Ali and Usama, to take counsel with them about the matter of divorcing me. When he asked Ali for his opinion, he said, ‘There is no need to doubt Aisha’s virtue. You may call in her maid to verify this. I do not believe Allah Almighty will leave the matter as it stands. Perhaps you ought to wait until the truth is revealed to you’ The Prophet then called my maid Burayra and asked her, ‘Oh Burayra! You know how severe is the punishment for lying to the Prophet ? Answer my question truly then, for it may be that the truth will be revealed and you will be shamed. Have you ever seen anything in Aisha that would make you suspect her?’ Burayra answered, ‘I swear by the Lord who sent you with the Truth, the only time I ever got angry at Aisha was when she fell asleep on account of her youth and the sheep ate the dough. I had prepared the dough one day, and had told her to watch it while I lit the fire. While she watched, she fell asleep and her pet lamb came and ate it up. Other than this incident, I know of no fault in her.’
“Then Usama was asked for his opinion and he said, ‘Oh Rasulullah! I believe that Allah Almighty keeps the family of the Prophet pure and exempt from major sins.’
“The Prophet then went to the mosque and ascended the Minbar (the pulpit). Casting fierce looks at Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, he began to speak, ‘Who will defend me against a man who even goes so far as to dispute the honor and chastity of my family? I only know of goodness, honor and virtue on the part of my household. As for the man they speak of him, too, I know nothing but goodness; he never entered my house but I am with him.’ Sa’d bin Mu’adh of the Ansar then rose to his feet and said, ‘Oh my Prophet ! If those who offend you should be of the Aws, I will knock off their heads to set things right for you! Even if they are of the Khazraj, I will do whatever you order me to do!’
“The chief of the Khazraj, Sa’d bin ‘Ubada then rose, and unaware of the wrongfulness of placing tr
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