After
the conquest of Makkah, Caeser - Ruler of Byzantium, which was considered the
greatest military force on earth at the time - could no longer turn a blind eye
to the activies of the Muslims. He was anxiously aware of the Arab tribes'
expectations of independence, and their hopes of getting free from his reign and
influence. They could not ignore the alliance of the Arab tribes on his borders
to the Muslims. So he concluded that the demolition of the Muslims' power had
grown an urgent necessity. This decision of his should, in his opinion, be
achieved before the Muslims become too powerful to conquer, and raise troubles
and unrest in the adjacent Arab
territories. Thus, Caeser raised a huge army of Byzantine and pro-Roman
Ghassanide tribes to launch a decisive bloody battle against the Muslims. News
of this army reached the Muslims and much fear spread in their hearts. After
much deliberating on the situation, the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) made up his
mind and ordered his companions to prepare for war. No sooner had the
Muslims heard the voice of the Prophet (SAWS) calling them to fight the
Byzantines, than they rushed to comply with his orders. Almost all the Muslims
responded positively. Only those who had weakness in their hearts favoured to
stay behind. They were only three people. Their story is told
below:
Due to its particular circumstances, this invasion was a particularly severe
trial provided by Allah only to try the believers' faith and sort them out from
the others. This is Allah's permanent Will in such circumstances. In this
respect He says: "Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which
you are in now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good..."[Quran
3:179]
Lagging behind and hanging back from full participation in that invasion
amounted to a degree of hypocrisy. Whenever the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) was
informed of a man's lingering, he would say: "Leave him alone! If Allah
knows him to be good, He will enable him to follow you; but if he were not so,
Allah would relieve us of him."
Nobody stayed behind except those who were either hindered by a serious excuse
or the hypocrites who told lies to Allah and His Messenger. Some of those
hypocrites' lingering was due to an excuse based on forgery and delusion. Some
others tarried, but didn't ask for instant permission. But there were three
believers who unjustifiably lingered. They were the ones whose faith Allah
tried, but later He returned to them in Mercy and accepted their repentance. One
of the believers' stories is recorded in an authentic hadeeth:
It has been related by 'Abdullah bin Ka'b bin Maalik, who became Ka'b's guide
from amongst his children - when he became blind. He said: I heard Ka'b bin
Maalik speaking about the incident concerning his non-participation during the
Battle of Tabuk.
Ka'b said: I was not absent from the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) during any
campaign that he fought in, except the Battle of Tabuk. Nevertheless, I was
absent from the Battle of Badr. However, no individual was admonished for
non-participation. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) departed in search of a
caravan of the Quraish, thereafter certain events took place until Allah
assembled the two armies unexpectedly. Verily, I witnessed the night of Al-'Aqabah
(the pledge) with the Messenger of Allah (SAWS), the night wherein we pledged
our allegiance to Islam. Furthermore I would not exchange it for participation
in the Battle of Badr, regardless of the fact that the Battle of Badr is deemed
more noteworthy amongst the people.
In relation to my news: I had never before been stronger nor wealthier than at
the time I remained behind the Prophet (SAWS) during that campaign. By Allah - I
had never before been in possession of two she-camels, until the time of the
battle.
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) would conceal his intention to embark upon a
military expedition by making reference to other campaigns, until the time for
that expedition arrived.
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) conducted that expedition during a season of
extreme heat, undertaking a lengthy journey through desert terrain. In addition,
the enemy was great in number. Thus, the Prophet (SAWS),) clarified the matter
to the Muslims, in order that they prepare themselves adequately for their
campaign, and he informed them of their intended destination. The Messenger of
Allah (SAWS) was accompanied by a considerable number of Muslims, whose names
could not be recorded in a book.
Ka'b continued: Any individual who wished to remain absent would assume that his
absence would pass unnoticed, unless it was revealed by Allah by means of Divine
Revelation. The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) undertook that expedition during a
season wherein the fruit had ripened and the shade had become pleasant.
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) and the Muslims equipped themselves with the
necessary provisions. I too departed in order to prepare myself, however I
returned without accomplishing anything. I would say to myself: I am able to
prepare myself. Hence, I continued to postpone my preparations. However the
people occupied themselves in earnest with the journey, until the day arrived
wherein the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) and the Muslims proceeded to depart.
However I had not completed any part of my preparations. I said to myself: I
shall prepare myself in one or two days after his departure, and then I will
join them.
The morning after their departure, I set out in order to equip myself. However,
I returned without completing anything. The following morning, I set out again,
nevertheless, but I returned without accomplishing anything. This continued
until they hastened towards the battle, and the campaign had passed by.
Nevertheless, I intended to depart and reach them, would that I had done so!
However, I was not destined to do that.
After the departure of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) I would enter amongst the
people and it would become a cause of sadness for me. For I did not see except
the one suspected of being a hypocrite, or the weak and infirm whom Allah had
excused from participation.
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) did not remember me until he arrived in Tabuk. He
was sitting amongst his people in Tabuk and asked "What happened to Ka'b?"
A man from amongst the tribe of Bani Salimah responded:
"O Messenger of Allah, he was hindered by his garments and pleasure for his
clothes and his self."
Mua'adh bin Jabal said:
"What a wretched statement you have uttered. O Messenger of Allah, we do
not know of him save goodness."
Hence, the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) became silent. Whilst he was in
thatposition, he saw a man clothed in a white garment real in essence (not
merely a desert mirage). The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:
"May it be Abu Khaythama al-Ansaaree, he was the one who donated a measure
of dates when the Munaafiqeen (Hypocrites) defamed him."
Ka'b bin Maalik continued: When I learned that he had turned in order to return,
I was consumed by distress, and started therefore to invent lies. I started to
question myself: With what can I avoid his anger tomorrow? I sought assistance
from every individual of sound mind and judgment from
amongst my family.
When it was mentioned that the Messenger of Allah's (SAWS) arrival is imminent,
the false excuses vanished from my mind. I recognized that I could not liberate
myself from this predicament by means of falsehood. I therefore resolved to
speak the truth.
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) arrived the following morning. It was a practice
of the Prophet (SAWS) that upon returning from a journey, he would proceed
towards the Mosque and perform a two rak'ah prayer therein, and then sit amongst
the people. After those matters had taken place, the absentees approached him.
They started to present their excuses and take oaths to that
effect. There were over eighty men in number. The Messenger of Allah (SAWS)
accepted their excuses, their oaths, and sought forgiveness on their behalf. In
addition, he entrusted unto Allah their secret affairs. Thereafter I approached
him, and conveyed the greeting upon him. He smiled - the smile of the one
enraged. Then he said: "Come forward." I therefore approached him
walking until I was sitting before him. Then he said: "What prevented you
from accompanying us? Had you not purchased a riding animal?"
I responded: "Of course O Messenger of Allah. However, by Allah, if I was
in the presence of any other man from amongst the inhabitants of this World, I
would avoid His wrath by presenting an excuse for I have been granted the
ability to speak in an eloquently persuasive manner. However, I am aware that if
I utter a lie today in order to seek your pleasure, certainly Allah will cause
you to become enraged with me in the future. Alternatively, if I inform you of
the truth, thereby causing you to become angry, I may nevertheless hope for
Allah's Pardon. No, By Allah I have no excuse to present. I had never before
been stronger nor wealthier than during the time I neglected to accompany
you."
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) replied: "In relation to this man - he has
spoken the truth. Therefore, stand until Allah pronounces judgment in this
matter." I therefore stood, a group of men from the tribe of Bani Salimah
became disorderly and started following me. They addressed me:
"By Allah - we have not known you to commit a misdeed. Verily you erred in
not excusing yourself before the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) in a similar manner
to the other absentees who excused themselves. The Messenger of Allah's (SAWS)
action of seeking forgiveness for your misdeed would have been sufficient for
you." They continued to reprimand me until I desired to return to the
Prophet (SAWS) and fabricate a lie against myself (contradict my story). However
I questioned them:
"Is there any other individual in a similar position?" They responded:
"Yes, there are two men who uttered the same statement as you and both
received the same directive as you did." I asked:
"Who are these two men?" They answered:
"Murarah bin al-Rabee' and Hilaal bin Umayyah al-Waaqifee."
By their statement, they had made reference to two virtuous men who had
participated in the Battle of Badr, and were examples to be followed. After they
had mentioned these two men I remained steadfast upon my original statement.
Thereafter, the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) prohibited the Muslims from speaking
to us -namely the three individuals from amongst us who had neglected to
accompany him.
As a consequence the people avoided us and altered their conduct towards us,
until the land wherein I lived appeared foreign, not one which I was familiar
with. We remained in that state for a period of fifty nights.
In relation to my companions - they surrendered themselves to their houses and
remained seated therein, weeping. However, I was the youngest and most
forbearing of the three, I would therefore exit the house in order to perform
the prayer with the other Muslims.
I would wander around the markets, yet no one would speak to me. I would
approach the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) and convey the greeting upon him whilst
he was sitting amidst his gatherings, which took place upon completion of the
prayer. I would question myself: Did his lips move in the act of reciprocating
the greeting upon me or not? Thereafter, I would perform the
prayer close by him, and look towards him in a surreptitious manner. When I
occupied myself with the prayer, he would turn towards me. However, when I
looked in his direction, he would avoid me.
When this period of estrangement lengthened, I set out to walk until I climbed
upon the wall of Abu Qatadah's garden. He was my cousin and amongst the most
beloved of people to me. I conveyed the greeting upon him, and by Allah -he did
not reciprocate the greeting upon me. Hence, I said: "O Abu Qatadah: I
implore you by Allah, are you aware that I love Allah and His Messenger?"
He remained silent. I appealed to him by Allah a second time, however he
remained silent. Then he responded:
"Allah and His Messenger (SAWS) are greater in knowledge." Thereupon
tears flowed from my eyes, I turned away and climbed over the wall.
He continued: Whilst I was walking in the market in Madeenah I saw a Christian
farmer from amongst the farmers of Shaam, who had traveled to Madeenah in order
to sell their produce. He said: "Who shall direct me to towards Ka'b bin
Maalik?" The people started to gesture towards me, until he approached me
and presented me with a letter from the King of Ghassan, in which it was
written:
'To proceed, it has come to our attention that your companion has dealt with you
in a harsh manner. Allah has not rendered this world for you as a dwelling of
disgrace and degradation, nor one of loss and ruin. So join us and we shall
bestow upon you comfort and consolation.'
Upon reading the letter I said to myself: This too is a trial placed before me.
I therefore placed the letter in the oven and created a fire by burning it
therein.
When a period of forty out of fifty nights had passed, the messenger of the
Messenger of Allah (SAWS) approached me and said: "The Messenger of Allah
(SAWS) commands you to distance yourself from your wife." I said:
"Should I divorce her, or what must I do?" He responded:
"No, distance yourself from her and do not approach her. The Prophet (SAWS)
has issued a similar directive to your two companions." Hence, I said to my
wife:
"Go to your parents and remain with them until Allah passes judgment in
this matter."
Ka'b said: The wife of Hilaal bin Umayyah came to the Apostle of Allah (SAWS)
and said: "O Messenger of Allah, verily Hilaal bin Umayyah is an elderly
man who is incapable of taking care of himself. Furthermore, he is not in
possession of a servant, would you therefore object if I was to serve him?"
He responded:
"No, but he must not approach you." She said:
"By Allah, he has no desire for any matter. By Allah, he has not ceased to
weep from the day this matter started until this time now."
Some of my family members questioned me: "Why don't you seek permission
from the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) concerning your wife, as he has granted
permission for the wife of Hilaal bin Umayyah to serve him?" I responded:
"By Allah, I shall not seek permission from the Messenger of Allah (SAWS)
concerning her. I am not aware of what the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) would say
if I sought his permission in relation to her whilst I am still a young
man." I remained in that state for an additional ten nights, until fifty
nights had been completed from the point that he had prohibited the people from
speaking to us.
On the morning of the fiftieth night, I performed the Fajr prayer upon the roof
of one of our houses. I was experiencing a condition which Allah had mentioned
in the Book: 'My soul had become contracted, and the earth had contracted upon
me despite its vastness.'
Suddenly I heard a clear voice emanating from the direction of Mount Sala.
Somebody announced with his loudest voice: "O Ka'b bin Maalik, I confer
upon you glad tidings!" I prostrated myself upon the ground. I realized
that relief from this tribulation had arrived and that the Messenger of Allah
(SAWS) had indicated that Allah had granted us penitence. After the Fajr prayer,
the people thereupon proceeded forth to congratulate us, and bearers of glad
tidings departed to my two companions. A horseman raced towards me in order to
congratulate me and a messenger from the tribe of Aslam raced towards the
mountain and scaled it in order to make the announcement. I heard his voice
before that of the horseman. When the individual whose voice I had heard
approached me to convey the glad tidings, I removed my garments and clothed him
in them. By Allah, on that day I was not in possession of any other garments, I
therefore borrowed two items, clothed myself and proceeded towards the Messenger
of Allah (SAWS). People started receiving me in groups, congratulating me upon
the acceptance of my penitence. They said: "We congratulate you upon
Allah's acceptance of your repentance."
When I entered the Mosque, the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) was sitting, surrounded
by people. Talha bin 'Ubaidullah hastened towards me. He shook my hand, and
congratulated me. By Allah, no one from amongst the Muhaajireen (Emigrants)
stood in order to greet me save him, and I shall never forget Talha's action in
doing so
Ka'b said: When I greeted the Messenger of Allah (SAWS), his face was radiant
with happiness, and he said: "I give you the glad tidings of the best day
you have witnessed since your mother gave birth to you." Ka'b continued:
"Is this from you or from Allah?" He responded:
"No, it is from Allah."
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) became delighted, his face became
illuminated until it resembled a piece of the moon. We recognized that this
matter was characteristic of him. When I sat before him, I said: "O
Messenger of Allah, by virtue of the acceptance of my repentance, I shall donate
the sum total of my wealth in charity for the sake of Allah and His
Messenger." The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) responded:
"Retain a portion of your wealth, for it is better for you to do so."
I said:
"I shall retain a portion of my wealth in Khaibar. O Messenger of Allah,
verily Allah has delivered me from this tribulation because I spoke the truth.
My penitence therefore dictates that I shall speak only the truth as long as I
live."
By Allah, I am not aware of any individual from amongst the Muslims whom Allah
has blessed for speaking the truth more than myself, from the time wherein I
mentioned those words of truth to the Messenger of Allah (SAWS). In addition, I
have never intended to utter a falsehood from the time wherein I mentioned those
words of truth to the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) to the present day. Furthermore,
I hope that Allah will protect me from uttering falsehood during the remaining
portion of my life.
Allah revealed the Verse to His Messenger: "Allah has forgiven the Prophet,
the Muhaajireen, and the Ansaar...(to His statement)...Be with those who are
truthful..." [Quran 9:117-119]
By Allah, after guiding me to Islam, Allah has not bestowed upon me a favour-
greater in magnitude - than my statement of truth to the Apostle of Allah
(SAWS), and my action of not uttering a lie to him. For I would have destroyed
myself, as those who uttered lies were destroyed. Allah ascribed to those who
had uttered falsehood, a description more evil than he had ascribed to any other
individual, when He revealed His Revelation. Allah, Blessed be He, the Most High
stated:
"They will swear by Allah to you when you return to them, that you may turn
away from them. So turn away from them. Surely, they are impure, and Hell is
their dwelling place - a recompense for that which they used to earn.
They (the hypocrites) swear to you (Muslims) that you may be pleased with them,
but if you are pleased with them, certainly Allah is not pleased with people who
are rebellious." [Quran 9:95-96]
Ka'b continued: We, the three who neglected to participate, differed from those
whose excuses were accepted by the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) when they swore to
him to that effect. He accepted their pledge of allegiance and sought
forgiveness for them. However, the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) deferred our case
until Allah passed judgment in relationto it. With reference to that, Allah
said: "He also forgave the three who remained behind..." [Quran 9:118]
In this Verse Allah did not refer to our non-participation in the military
expedition. However it refers to the postponement and deferment of the Messenger
(SAWS) in the act of passing judgment. In contrast to the one who took an oath
before him and excused himself: an action which was accepted by the Messenger of
Allah (SAWS)
Collected: Bukhari (4418), Kitab al-Magaazi, and Muslim (2769), Kitab al-Tawbah
Part
II: Be With the Truthful
Dear
brothers and sisters – in the topic of telling the truth, the story of Ka’b
and the two other Companions is replete with lessons and admonitions.
Lying
is a major sin, in some cases – like when someone lies against the Prophet in
making Halal Haram and Haram Halal, some scholars have said that it is Kufr!
Imam Nawawi says in Kitab al-Adhkaar, “The proofs of the Qur’an and Sunnah
are more than clear that lying is Haram in general and that it is one of the
ugliest sins. There is no disagreement about this…sufficient as a detterent is
the following hadith reported by Abu Hurayrah, that Rasul Allah – sal Allahu
alayhi wa sallam – said, ‘There are 3 signs of a Munafiq, if he speaks he
lies…’”
In
another Haidth, Ibn Mas’ood reports, Rasul Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa
sallam – said, “Verily truthfulness leads to piety and piety leads to
Jannah. And verily, a man would continue to tell the truth until he is written
with Allah as a truthteller.Verily lying leads to transgression and transgression leads to Hellfire.And verily a man would continue to lie until he is written with Allah as
a liar.”
All
of us wish to be written with Allah as truthtellers – a characteristic
that’ll lead us to Jannah.Next time your mind tickles you to say something contrary to reality,
remember the following:
1.
Remember the severity of the sin of lying. As reported in the previous hadith
that the sign of a Munafiq is that if he speaks he lies!
2.
Strengthen your Iman in the final day, for that is the day when your
truthfulness will pay off.Allah ta’ala says in Surah al-Maa’idah (119) [This is the day (the
day of repayment) when the truth of the truthful ones will benefit them!]
When
the Khalifa Hisham ibn AbdilMalik called scholars to his court, he would insist
that certain verses that spoke of Abdullaah ibn Ubay a known hypocrite were
revealed in regards to Ali - Radi Allahu anhu. The scholars were obliged to
agree with him.
When
he called Imam Az-Zuhree and asked his opinion, Imam Az-Zuhree replied that it
was Abdullah bin Ubay.The Khalifa snapped back , “You liar! It was Ali ibn Abi Talib!”
Imam
Az-Zuhree was enraged.He shouted back, “I lie! You fatherless man! If an angel called from
the heavens, announcing that Allah had made lying permissible I would still
never lie!”
Seeing
his anger, the Khalifah backed down and apologized.
3.
Remember the blessed end of telling the truth. Allah will write them as
truthtellers, they will be blessed in their affairs and they shall enter Jannah
with those truthful words they used to utter.
Rasul
Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “The two transactors have the
option (to buy or cancel the sale) so long as they do not depart from one
another. If they are truthful to one another they will be blessed in their
sale!” - Agreed upon.
4.
Make Du’a to Allah to save your tongue from lying.As the prayer reads, “O Allah purify my heart from Nifaq, my actions
from showing off, and my tongue from telling lies…” - Al Baiyhaqi.
5.
Be with those that tell the truth!Allah commands Ka’b ibn Malik and all the believers to the final day:
[O you who believe! Fear Allah AND BE WITH THOSE WHO ARE TRUTHFUL.]
