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Tareekh 2010
Page 7.1
LESSON 1: THE HEAVEANLY ASCENSION (MI'RAJ) Mi'raj is a very important event in the history of Islam. It is the occasion when Allah raised his beloved Prophet (S) to the heavens and showed him the marvels of His creations. This great honour had never been given to any of Allah's other Prophets (A). The Holy Qur'an says: "Glory be to Him Who made His servant go by night from Masjidul Haraam to Masjidul Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We might show him some of Our signs. He alone hears all and sees all." Bani Israa'il 17:1 The great journey began from the house of Umme Hani, a sister of Imam Ali (A). The Holy Prophet (S) was resting there when he was awakened from his sleep by Angel Jibraeel (A). He was asked to mount on a winged animal called Buraaq. He then went from Makka to the mosque of al-Aqsa in Baytul Muqaddas (now known as Jerusalem). On the way he stopped at the mountain of Sinai and offered 2 raka'at prayers there, because it is the mountain on which Allah spoke with Prophet Musa (A). On the second part of his journey, the Holy Prophet (S) rose from Masjidul Aqsa through the seven heavens with Jibraeel (A). Here he met the Prophets Isa, Musa, Nuh and Adam (A). He also saw the places of blessing and pleasure (Heaven) and the places of torture and suffering (Hell).
After this he came to the place known as Sidratul Muntaha where Jibraeel (A) went no further. From here the Holy Prophet (S) was alone in the presence of Almighty Allah. He received from Allah all the rules of Islam including the new order to all Muslims to perform the five daily prayers. He then returned the same way he had come, first to Baytul Muqaddas, and then to Makka. On the way to Makka the Holy Prophet (S) met a trading caravan of the Quraish who had lost a camel and were making a search for it. He drank some water from one of their containers and then continued onwards to Makka. He reached the house of Umme Hani at the time of daybreak. On the next day the Holy Prophet (S) talked about his experiences to a large group of people in Makka. Many were amazed and believed his account but there were some who did not believe him.
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They asked him to describe the mosque at Baytul Muqaddas as proof of his truthfulness. When the Holy Prophet (S) gave the detailed description of the mosque, some people who had been to the place confirmed that it was true. The Holy Prophet (S) then told the disbelieving Quraish that he had met one of their trade caravans at Tanim, and they had been looking for a lost camel. He also told them that the caravan was being led by a brown camel and that the group would soon enter Makka. In was not long before a caravan, as described by the Holy Prophet (S), entered Makka. The leader of the caravan, Abu Sufyan, confirmed everything that the Holy Prophet (S) had said. Now the people had no doubt that the Holy Prophet (S) had indeed made the miraculous journey, and word spread like wild fire around Makka about the events of Mi'raj. The leaders of the Quraish were very upset at the issue, especially because a lot of people became Muslims as a result. It is important to understand that the journey was an actual physical one and not a spiritual dream as claimed by Ayesha, one of the wives of the Holy Prophet (S). She stated that he was asleep in her house the whole night. This report is untrue, because at the time of Mi'raj, Ayesha was not yet married to the Holy Prophet (S), and only became his wife one year after the Hijrat to Madina. Muawiya, the son of Abu Sufyan, also claimed that the Mi'raj was a "true dream". He made up his story because he was an enemy of the Holy Prophet (S). He was not born at the time and did not convert to Islam until 9 years after Hijrat so he could not know all the facts about the Mi'raj. The time taken for the entire Mi'raj was one third of the night or slightly less. The reason why the Holy Prophet (S) was taken to Baytul Muqaddas, which was a centre for Jews and Christians was to show that Islam was a continuation of the message of Prophets Ibrahim, Musa and Isa (A). It also showed that the religion was universal and not confined to Makka and Madina only. Amongst the things that were revealed to the Holy Prophet (S) during his time in the heavens were: 1. The appointment of Imam Ali (A) as the leader after him. This gives us an idea of the importance of planning beforehand for leadership. 2. Five times daily prayers. The Wajib Salaat as we know them today only became compulsory for the Muslims after the event of Mi'raj. 3. The Holy Prophet (S) was also taught some Du'as and special prayers.
It is a measure of the closeness of the Holy Prophet (S) to Allah that he was given an opportunity to see and hear wonderful things, the like of which have never been seen or heard before.
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RESEARCH BOX What did the Holy Prophet (S) mean when he said: 'Salaah is the Mi'raj of the believer'?
Now you know… Mi'raj is when the Holy Prophet (S) was taken to the heavens and shown the Kingdom of Allah. He was taken on a winged animal (Buraaq). He went to Mount Sinai and then to Masjidul Aqsa. From there he rose through the 7 heavens and met Prophets Adam, Nuh, Musa and Isa. He then went to Sidratul Muntaha where he was alone in the presence of Allah. He received new rulings like the rule for all Muslims to perform Wajib Prayers, the appointment of Imam Ali (A) as successor and was also taught some Du'as. The next day, the Holy Prophet (S) narrated his experience to the people. He proved it by correctly describing Masjidul Aqsa. He also told of a caravan that he met on his way back to Makka and its entry into Makka a while later proved that he was telling the truth. Many people became Muslims as a result of this. This journey was a physical one and not a dream as wrongly claimed by Ayesha and Muawiya. The Holy Prophet (S) was taken to Baytul Muqaddus to show that Islam is a continuation from Judaism and Christianity, and that it is a universal religion.
MORAL BOX The Holy Prophet Muhammad (S) is the only Prophet who was taken on this special journey. Do we give him the importance that he rightly deserves? We all have the potential to reach this stage of Mi'raj. It is up to us to make the effort and try our best, especially in Salaat. ______________________________________________________
Tareekh 2010
Page 7.4
LESSON 2: THE JOURNEY TO TA'IF After the death of Abu Talib, the Holy Prophet (S) was faced with increasing difficulties and problems in Makka. Without his uncle's protection, his life was in constant danger, and there was not much opportunity to spread Islam. He decided to try to preach Islam outside Makka. In those days the town of Ta'if was a busy and important centre of trade. The Holy Prophet (S) went to Ta'if alone and contacted the tribe of Bani Saqeef with a view to invite them to Islam. After arriving in Ta'if, he met the chief and elders of that tribe and explained to them the belief in One God and asked them for their support. However, his words did not have any effect on them and they rejected his message. The Holy Prophet (S) realised that the people of the town could become a threat to him because he was alone and away from his home town. He therefore took a promise from the Bani Saqeef that they would not talk about his presence in Ta'if. The elders of Bani Saqeef did not keep their promise to the Holy Prophet (S) and instead asked the loafers and hooligans of the town to harass him. The Holy Prophet (S) found himself suddenly surrounded by a mob who began to insult him. When they began to throw stones, he was forced to retreat and take refuge in a garden. The garden belonged to two wealthy people of the Quraish. The Holy Prophet (S) had sweat on his face and parts of his body were hurt from the cruel attack. He sank down under a tree for some rest, and began the following prayer:
"O Lord! I present my weakness and lack of strength before You. You are the kind Nourisher and the Helper of the weak. To whom are You abandoning me?"
Although the owners were idol worshippers and enemies of Islam, they were moved by the condition of the Holy Prophet (S) and felt sorry for him. They told a Christian slave to take a plate of grapes to him. When the Christian presented the grapes to the Holy Prophet (S), he took one and ate it, saying, "In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Most Merciful". The Christian was very surprised to hear these words and remarked that he had not heard the Arabs pray to anyone but Laat and Uzza, the great idols. The Holy Prophet (S) asked him about his birth place and his religion. He replied that he came from Naynivah and was a Christian.
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On hearing his answer, the Holy Prophet (S) stated, "That is the place where my brother Yunus (Jonas) son of Mata (Matthew) lived". The Christian was very surprised to hear these names. He asked, "How do you know Yunus son of Mata? Nobody in this country has heard of them". The Holy Prophet (S) then said, "Yunus was a Prophet of Allah, like myself". The words of the Holy Prophet (S) had a great effect on the slave and he immediately bowed and kissed the hands of the Holy Prophet (S) and expressed his faith in him. When he returned to his masters, they asked him what the conversation was all about. He replied, "The person who is sitting in your garden is the chief of all humanity. He has told me things that only a Prophet can know." This reply annoyed them very much but all they said to him was that his own religion was better than Islam. The Holy Prophet (S) left Ta'if disappointed that he had not been successful in bringing these stubborn and ignorant people to the right path. He decided to return to Makka. However, he could not enter Makka in safety because his life was in danger. He therefore sent word to Mu'tam bin Adi, a powerful Makkan, for help. Mu'tam was an idol worshipper but agreed to provide security for him, due to his respect for his family. He sent a message to the Holy Prophet (S) to enter Makka and come straight to his house. On the next day Mu'tam told his sons to arm themselves and escort the Holy Prophet (S) to the Holy Ka'ba. When Abu Sufyan and others who wanted to harm him saw that he had the protection of Mu'tam, they were disappointed, but did not harm him. After performing Tawaaf, the Holy Prophet (S) went to his own home. Soon afterwards, the Holy Prophet (S) migrated to Madina. In the later years, the Holy Prophet (S) was to take over Ta'if and defeat the Bani Saqeef. However, he never forgot the services of Mu'tam in his time of need, and when news of Mu'tam's death reached Madina, the Holy Prophet (S) remembered him for his goodness.
RESEARCH BOX What was the Holy Prophet's journey from Makka to Madina called and what started from this event?
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Page 7.6
Now you know… The Holy Prophet (S) decided to preach Islam in Taif due to the difficult situation in Makka. However, the chiefs of Taif rejected his message but they assured him that he would not be harmed. The chiefs did not keep their promise and soon the people of the town began to harass The Holy Prophet (S). The Holy Prophet (S) took refuge in a garden where he met a Christian slave who was amazed to hear that The Prophet's beliefs were similar to his own. The Holy Prophet (S), disappointed, decided to return to Makka but because his life was in danger, he contacted a powerful Makkan, Mu'tam, to help him. Mu'tam, although an idol worshipper had respect for The Holy Prophet (S), and escorted him into Makka and safely to his own home.
MORAL BOX The journey of the Holy Prophet (S) to Ta'if in difficult circumstances shows us how committed he was to his duty to spread the religion of Islam. The Holy Prophet (S) let his own life be in danger for the sake of conveying Allah's message, which shows us the importance of striving for the cause of truth. ______________________________________________________
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Page 7.7
LESSON 3: THE PLEDGES OF 'AQABAH During the Haj season, tribes from all over Arabia came to Makka to perform their pilgrimage. Although their worship was not anything like the Haj that Islam has taught us, they regarded the Holy Ka'ba as an important building. The Holy Prophet (S) took advantage of this time of the year by meeting the visitors and introducing the teachings of Islam to them. The people of Madina, which was called Yathrib in those days, also used to come to Makka every year. The two main tribes in Madina were the Aws and the Khazraj. They were great enemies of each other and many battles had been fought between them. In the eleventh year after the beginning of the Holy Prophet's (S) mission, he met 6 people from the tribe of Khazraj in Makka during the Haj season. When he spoke to them about Islam, they were very interested because they had heard from the Jews of Madina, that one day there would be a Prophet who would come from Arabia. The Jews knew this because it was written in their Holy Book, the Tawrat, which had been revealed to Prophet Musa (A). The people of Khazraj believed that this was the very same Prophet and so they became Muslims. On their return to Madina they made efforts to teach people about Islam and soon many people wanted to know more about this new religion.
The Tawrat (Torah) In the following year, 12 people came to Makka to meet the Holy Prophet (S). The meeting took place at 'Aqabah and resulted in the first Islamic agreement. After embracing Islam, they took a pledge to:
The First Pledge of Aqabah: - Not to associate anyone with Allah - Not to steal - Not to bury daughters alive - Not to slander each other - Always perform Good Deeds
This agreement is called the "First Pledge of 'Aqabah". The Holy Prophet (S) promised them that if they acted according to the pledge they would be rewarded with Paradise by Allah.
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The 12 people returned to Madina, their hearts filled with faith. They wrote back to the Holy Prophet (S) asking him to send someone to Madina who could teach them more about Islam. The Holy Prophet (S) sent Mus'ab bin Umayr and Ibne Umme Maqtoom to teach them. The missionaries did their work so well that there was a great change in thinking in Madina. The people eagerly awaited the Haj season so that they could meet the Holy Prophet (S) and personally declare their readiness to help Islam. The next year a Haj caravan consisting of 500 people, mainly from the tribe of Khazraj, left Madina for Makka. It included 73 Muslims, two of whom were women. The rest of the people were those who wanted to find out more about the religion before becoming Muslims. They met the Holy Prophet (S) on the 13th of Zilhaj at 'Aqabah. During the meeting, the Holy Prophet (S) addressed them and recited verses from the Holy Qur'an. The words of the Holy Prophet (S) made a great impression on all the listeners and they all were ready to express their faith in Islam at his hands. Everyone swore the oath of allegiance (Bay'at) at the hands of the Holy Prophet (S). This event is known as "The Second Pledge of 'Aqabah". The Holy Prophet (S) then promised the people that he would soon come to Madina himself. Once the ceremony was over, the people left for their homes. A point to note is the fact that so many people of Madina had accepted Islam after only a few years of being introduced to the religion, while in 13 years of preaching only a few Makkans had become Muslims. There can be two reasons for this: 1. The people of Madina had heard about an Arabian Prophet from the neighbouring Jewish tribes. The Jews claimed that when that Prophet would appear he would preach Judaism. In any case, the Aws and Khazraj tribes were more prepared to believe the Holy Prophet (S) when he claimed to have been appointed by Allah. 2. The people of Aws and Khazraj were tired of the endless quarrels between their tribes, who had been at war on and off for over 120 years. They looked forward to the arrival of an authority who would bring peace to their region. The time was now ripe for the Holy Prophet (S) to leave his home in Makka. Life in that city was becoming more and more difficult for the Muslims, who faced endless persecution at the hands of the Quraish. QUESTION BOX The people from Madina recognised the truth when it came in front of them. Are our souls clean enough for us to also recognise the truth when it presents itself to us or are there too many veils obstructing our vision?
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Now you know… The two main tribes of Madina were the Aws and Khazraj who had been enemies of each other for a long time. The Holy Prophet (S) met 6 people from Khazraj during the Hajj season in Makkah, and they were very interestetd in the teachings of Islam, as they had heard of a Prophet who would come with a new religion. These people became Muslims and soon, other people from Madina became interested. They sent 12 people to Aqabah in Makkah and after talks with The Holy Prophet (S) the First Pledge of Aqabah was formed. On request, the Holy Prophet (S) sent missionaries to Madina who did a very good job in introducing Islam to the people. The next year, 500 people came for Hajj from Madina to learn more about Islam and after being addressed by The Holy Prophet (S), they too accepted Islam. This was known as the Second Pledge of Aqabah. The Holy Prophet (S) told them that He would be joining them in Madina very soon.
Tareekh 2010
Page 7.10
LESSON 4: THE HIJRAT TO MADINA – PART 1 In order to crush the spirit of the Muslims, the Quraish increased their efforts at persecuting and harassing them. The companions of the Holy Prophet (S) complained to him about the harsh treatment they were receiving at the hands of the unbelievers. After a few days, he advised all the Muslims to migrate to Madina secretly, and await his arrival there. When the order to migrate was given, the Muslims left Makka one by one, giving excuses for their departure. Because they were afraid of the reaction of the Quraish, they kept their destination secret. As a result, most of them had to leave their possessions and wealth behind. The Quraish suddenly realised that the Muslims were all leaving Makka. They managed to detain a few, but by that time the majority had already escaped and were on their way to Madina. In Makka there only remained the Holy Prophet (S) and his family, Imam Ali (A) and a few old and ill Muslims. Final arrangements were being made for these last few Muslims to also leave. The Quraish were enraged at this mass escape. They knew that the Muslims would now become a danger to them. At the meeting assembly of Daar-un-Nadwa, where all important decisions were made, the Quraish decided that the only action that would stop the spread of Islam would be the murder of the Holy Prophet (S). Finally, Abu Jahl suggested that instead of sending a single man to kill the Holy Prophet (S), they should send one young man from each tribe. That way, the Bani Hashim would find it impossible to lay the blame on any one person. This plan was approved and 40 young men were selected to carry out the cowardly deed. On the same night that the Quraish planned to kill the Holy Prophet (S), he was commanded by Allah to leave Makka for Madina. The angel Jibraeel (A) informed the Holy Prophet (S) of the wicked intentions of the Quraish. The Holy Prophet (S) said to Imam Ali (A), "Sleep in my bed tonight and cover yourself with the green sheet that I use when I sleep." He then instructed Imam Ali (A) to follow him to Madina after he had returned the property that certain people of Makka had left with the Holy Prophet (S). Imam Ali (A) was quite content to obey the orders he had been given because he knew that his actions would mean the safety of the Holy Prophet (S). He used to say in later years that in spite of the deadly danger, he slept peacefully the whole night.
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QUESTION BOX Would we be able to sleep peacefully with complete faith that Allah will keep us safe if we were in the same situation? As night approached, the house of the Holy Prophet (S) was encircled by the 40 men of Quraish. They decided to wait till the morning before carrying out their assignment. When half the night was over, the Holy Prophet (S) left his house to begin his journey. As he came out of the house he threw some sand towards the men who were waiting to kill him and recited the following verse: And We have set before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and We covered them over so that they do not see. Ya Sin, 36:9 The Holy Prophet (S) continued on his way without raising the suspicions of the men who waited for him. In the morning the men burst into his house and made for the bed making a great noise as each tried to be first to strike a blow. On hearing the commotion, Imam Ali (A) calmly raised his head from the pillow and threw the green sheet aside. The sight of Imam Ali (A) stopped the would-be killers in their tracks. The Quraish were frustrated at their failure but they left Imam Ali (A) unharmed because they had no quarrel with him. Meanwhile the Holy Prophet (S) was undergoing further adventures on his journey to Madina, knowing that he was safe from the enemy as he had the protection of Allah.
In the Holy Qur'an, Allah says: Remember how the unbelievers plotted against you. They wanted to take you captive or kill you or banish you. They devised plans - but Allah too made a plan, and Allah is the best planner. Anfaal, 8:30 The sacrifice of Imam Ali (A), when he took the place of the Holy Prophet (S) on the night of migration, pleased Allah so much that He revealed the following verse: And among men there is one who sells his soul to seek the pleasure of Allah; and truly Allah is affectionate to His (such) servants. Baqarah, 2 : 207
Tareekh 2010
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Before the Holy Prophet (S) had left the city, he met Abu Bakr on the way and took him along with him. The Holy Prophet (S) knew that the Quraish would waste no time in pursuing him once they learnt of his departure, so he took refuge in the cave of Thaur, which was to the south of Makka on the way to Madina. The Quraish sent men to block all routes leading to Madina. They also hired some men who could trace the location of travellers by their footprints. It was declared that whoever gave correct information about the hiding-place of the Holy Prophet (S) would be rewarded with 100 camels. One of the best trackers of the Quraish, a man named Abu Karz, traced the footprints of the Holy Prophet (S) to the cave of Thaur. However, when some men came near the mouth of the cave, they saw that its entrance was blocked by a spider's web and some wild pigeons had laid eggs in a nest at the entrance. The men knew that the spider and pigeons would not have made their homes there if there had been anyone in the cave. Also, if the web had been there from before, it would have been damaged if someone had entered the cave. They therefore returned without looking inside. By this miracle Allah protected His beloved messenger. The Holy Prophet (S) remained in the cave for three days and nights. On one of these nights Imam Ali (A) came to visit him. The Holy Prophet (S) directed him to announce in Makka the following day that if anybody had left something in trust with the Holy Prophet (S), or had loaned him anything, he should claim it from Imam Ali (A). He further instructed Imam Ali (A) to make arrangements for any other members of Bani Hashim who wished to leave Makka. Imam Ali (A) was to escort these people personally to Madina. The Holy Prophet (S) and Abu Bakr then left for Madina, travelling along the coastal route so as to avoid the Quraish riders. It is from this night that Muslims mark the beginning of the Islamic Era or the Hijra calendar. This is because the migration marked the beginning of centralisation of Muslims in Madina and the setting up of the first Muslim state. QUESTION BOX What year is it according to the Islamic calendar?
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Page 7.13
Despite their care, they were spotted. A man called Saraqah armed himself and rode a swift horse to the spot where the Holy Prophet's (S) party had been last seen. The Holy Prophet (S) prayed to Allah to be protected from the mischief of Saraqah. Suddenly, the man was thrown violently from his horse. He realised at once that it was not an accident but rather a warning due to his bad intentions. He therefore turned to the Holy Prophet (S) and asked for his forgiveness and offered to help him in any way he could. The Holy Prophet (S) told him to return to Makka and stop people from pursuing them. Saraqah then returned to Makka, telling whoever he met on the way that there was no trace of the Holy Prophet (S) on that route. Now you know… On The Holy Prophet (S)'s advice the companions secretly migrated to Madina due to the harsh treatment they were receiving. The Quraish knew that the Muslims would be a danger to them in Madina and so decided that the only option would be to murder The Holy Prophet (S). So that not just one person gets blamed for the murder, a group consisting of one man from each tribe in Makka was chosen to commit the crime together. The Holy Prophet (S) knew of their intentions and instructed Imam Ali (A) to sleep in his bed that night and The Holy Prophet (S) himself left for Madina that night. When the men were about to strike the bed of The Holy Prophet (S), they found Imam Ali (A) lying there and were angry that The Holy Prophet (S) had managed to escape. They left Imam Ali (A) unharmed. One man tracked the Holy Prophet (S) to Cave Thaur. However its entrance was blocked by an untouched spider's web and pigeon's nest, and so the Holy Prophet (S) was left unharmed. Later, a man tracked down the Holy Prophet (S) but due to the prayers of the Holy Prophet (S), he reached Madina.
MORAL BOX Even in such desperate circumstances The Holy Prophet (S) remembered to Even in the belongings that the Makkans had entrusted to him, fully justifying the return these circumstances he cared bout others property Imam aliAs-Sadiq Al-Amin given to him. title of complete faith I n allah Imam Ali (A) did not even hesitate risking his own life for The Holy Prophet (S). Would we be that ready to sacrifice our own lives for the sake of Islam? ______________________________________________________
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LESSON 5: THE HIJRAT TO MADINA - PART 2 On the 12th of Rabiul Awwal the Holy Prophet (S) arrived at Quba, just outside Madina where he awaited the arrival of his cousin Imam Ali (A).The village of Quba was the centre of the tribe of Bani Awf. The Holy Prophet (S) stopped at this place and stayed at the house of the chief of the tribe. At Quba, a large number of Muslims were waiting to escort him into Madina, which was not very far away. During his time in Quba, he laid the foundation of a mosque for the Bani Awf. This was the first mosque of Islam.
The first Mosque in Islam – Madina Meanwhile in Makka, Imam Ali (A) declared to the people that whoever had left any belongings in trust with the Holy Prophet (S) should come and claim it back. He stayed in Makka for three days until everything had been returned to its rightful owner. Then he gathered the women of the household of the Holy Prophet (S) and any Muslims who still remained in Makka and prepared to leave that night. The spies of the Quraish came to know about the migration of this last group of Muslims and pursued them. They caught up with Imam Ali (A) at a place called Zajnaan. The Quraish insisted that the Muslims should return to Makka and hot words were exchanged between the two groups. The women were getting very nervous at the presence of the Quraish and finally Imam Ali (A) realised that he had no alternative but to defend the Muslims by force. He therefore turned to the Quraish and said, "Whoever wishes that his body be cut into pieces and his blood to be shed should step forward". Seeing the look in the eyes of Imam Ali (A) the Quraish changed their attitude and let them go. Imam Ali (A) managed to guide his group into Quba three days after the arrival of the Holy Prophet (S). His feet were swollen and bleeding, a sight which brought tears to the eyes of the Holy Prophet (S). After the arrival of Imam Ali (A), the Holy Prophet (S) proceeded to Madina. Both the Muhajirs (the Muslims who had migrated from Makka) and the Ansar (the Muslims of Madina) lined the streets of Madina eagerly awaiting the first appearance of the Holy Prophet (S).
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When his camel came down at a place called Thaniyatul Wida and set its foot on the land of Madina, he came into view of the waiting people. They greeted him warmly and began singing in joy: "The moon rose for us from Thaniyatul Wida. It is our duty to be thankful for this blessing till the day when even one person, who prays to Allah and worships Him, is left on the face of the earth". The arrival of the Holy Prophet (S) in Madina was a cause for great celebration among the Muslims. As his camel entered Madina, the chiefs of various tribes hurried forward to hold the reins of the animal, each insisting that the Holy Prophet (S) be his guest and stay at his house. The Holy Prophet (S) took care of this delicate problem by saying, "Let the camel walk. I shall stop wherever it kneels down." The camel stopped and bent its knees in a large piece of land which belonged to two orphan boys, Sahl and Suhayl. The land was used for drying dates and agriculture. The nearest house was that of Abu Ayyub Ansari. His mother grabbed the opportunity and quickly took the possessions of the Holy Prophet (S) to her house. Abu Ayyub was delighted to have the honour of being the host of the Holy Prophet (S), who stayed with him until his house next to the mosque was ready. The Holy Prophet (S) wished to build a mosque over the plot where his camel had stopped. The orphans whose property it was wanted to make the land a present to him but he refused the offer, and paid the price of the plot, which was 10 dinars in gold. After the purchase, the ground was cleared of the trees and a mosque, 54 yards in width by 60 yards in length, was built over it with clay and mud. The roof was made with palm-wood and covered with palm branches and leaves. To one side, apartments were built for the Holy Prophet (S) and his family and on the other side rooms were provided for about 70 of the poorer people of Madina who had no house of their own. These rooms were called "Suffa". The construction work was shared equally between the Muhajir (those who had migrated from Makka) and the Ansar (the local people of Madina). The Holy Prophet (S) also shared in the work although Ammar bin Yasir, an early convert and faithful companion, seldom allowed him to do anything and used to do the Holy Prophet's (S) share himself. Ammar was the first person to begin work on the foundation of the mosque. One day the Holy Prophet (S) affectionately dusted his body clear of mud and told him, "O Ammar you will be killed by a group of oppressors while you will be inviting them to truth." This prophecy was well known, and 38 years later, Ammar was killed fighting on the side of Imam Ali (A) against Muawiya in the Battle of Siffin. Although the mosque was very simple in structure, it was the best in the whole history of Islam. It became the centre of Muslim activity in Madina. The daily and Friday prayers were held there. From this mosque the Holy Prophet (S) taught people about the religion of Allah and thousands became Muslims.
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Before the migration of the Holy Prophet (S), Madina was called Yathrib, but after his arrival it became known as Madinatun Nabawi (The City of the Prophet) or Madina for short. The mosque was called Masjidun Nabawi and still stands in Madina today, although it is very much larger.
Masjidun Nabawi
Now you know… The Holy Prophet laid the foundation of the first mosque of Islam in Quba where he was waiting for Imam Ali (A). The Quraish tried to detain the last group of migrates, who were being led by Imam Ali (A), in Makka. Seeing no other alternative the Imam threatened the Quraish who consequently let them leave for Quba. The arrival of the Holy Prophet (S) in Madina was cause for great celebrations. He ended up living in the house of Abu Ayyub until his own house was ready. The building of a mosque soon commenced, where the work was shared between the Muhajir and Ansar. Extra housing was also erected around the mosque for the family of the Holy Prophet (S) and for those who had no homes. Masjidun Nabawi became the centre of Muslim activity in Madina.
MORAL BOX The Muhajir and Ansar worked together, leaving their differences behind them. In the same way, we can also leave our differences behind and work together in the way of Islam.
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LESSON 6: THE DECLARATION OF BROTHERHOOD After his arrival in Madina, the Holy Prophet (S) was faced with a new challenge. For the first time, the Muslims were centralised and arrangements had to be made to run this new Muslim state. The Holy Prophet (S) faced three main problems. These were: 1. The danger of attack from the Quraish in Makka and other idol worshippers from the rest of Arabia. 2. The presence of the Jews of Madina who lived within and outside the city and possessed enormous wealth. 3. The differences which existed between his own supporters.
The Holy Prophet (S) first dealt with the issue concerning the Muslims. There were two main issues: The people who had migrated with him from Makka (Muhajireen) and the local Muslims who lived in Madina (Ansar) had been brought up in different environments and there was a great difference in their thinking and culture. The Ansar themselves were made up of the tribes of Aws and Khazraj, who were sworn enemies of each other and had been fighting for over a hundred years.
The first thing the Holy Prophet (S) did was to create peace between the tribes of Aws and Khazraj. He united them on the basis of their common faith in Islam, and told them to forget their old differences. Then, the Holy Prophet (S) turned his attention to the needs of the Muhajireen. These brave Muslims had left all their wealth and possessions in Makka to come with the Holy Prophet (S) to Madina. They had no wealth or property. On the command of Allah, the Holy Prophet (S) established brotherhood between the Muhajireen and Ansar. He paired off each Muhajir with one Ansar and declared them brothers. The generous Ansar gave over one half of their wealth to their new brothers so that they could live comfortably in Madina. QUESTION BOX If our Imam asked us to share everything we owned with someone else, would we do this willingly?
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At the end of all the pairings, only Imam Ali (A) was left. He asked the Holy Prophet (S) who his brother would be. The Holy Prophet (S) declared, "O Ali, you are my brother in this world as well as the next." By this simple method, the Holy Prophet (S) ensured the unity of the Muslims and this unity also enabled him to concentrate on the other two problems. The next issue that the Holy Prophet (S) decided to tackle concerned the security for all citizens of Madina from the Jews. He, therefore, drafted an agreement to establish peace between the Muslims and the Jews. The contents of that document represented a great leap forward for the unprincipled Arabs. For the first time, the Arabs were introduced to a constitution that outlined the principles of freedom, order and justice. A part of that agreement is quoted below: "In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Most Merciful" Anybody from amongst the Jews who embraces Islam shall be entitled to the assistance of the Muhajireen and the Ansar. There will be no difference between such a person and any other Muslim, and nobody shall oppress him or be his enemy. Groups of Muslims should go for Jihad (Holy War) alternately, so that the blood shed in the path of Allah is divided equally. The authority of resolving differences shall always rest with Allah and Muhammad. When the Muslims fight for the defence of Madina, the Jews must pay their share in the expenses of war. The Muslims and Jews are free to practise their law and religion. Lives of neighbours and those who have been granted asylum are like our own lives, and must be respected. No asylum shall be granted to the Quraish or their allies. The signatories of this agreement take joint responsibility for the defence of Madina. When the Muslims invite the Jews to conclude peace with the enemy, they should accept the proposal. The Muslims should also accept any such proposal made by the Jews, except when the enemy is opposed to the religion of Islam. "Allah is the Protector of the good and the pious, and Muhammad is His Prophet."
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This document was gladly accepted by most people in Madina. The few Jews who rejected it at first also added their signatures at a later date. Having made arrangements to secure Madina, the Holy Prophet (S) could now concentrate on the threat of the Quraish of Makka.
Now you know… The three main problems that the Holy Prophet (S) faced in Madina: 1. Danger of attack from the Quraish in Makka 2. The presence of the Jews of Madina 3. The which existed between his own supporters. The first thing the Holy Prophet (S) did was to unite the two tribes of the Ansar called Aws and Khazraj because of their common faith in Islam. He then established brotherhood between the Muhajireen and Ansar by pairing off each Muhajir with one Ansar and declaring them brothers. At the end of all the pairings the Holy Prophet (S) himself paired up with Imam Ali (A) and declared, "O Ali, you are my brother in this world as well as the next." Finally the Holy Prophet (S) introduced an agreement between the Jews and the Muslims that outlined the principles of freedom, order and justice.
MORAL BOX There is no point in sticking to your petty differences and quarrelling but is better to unite with your Muslim brothers and sisters like the Aws and Khazraj. We should learn from the generosity of the Ansar who shared all they had with the Muhajireen for the sake of Islam. _______________________________________________________
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LESSON 7: THE CHANGE OF QIBLAH When Allah first ordered the Holy Prophet (S) and all Muslims to offer the daily Salaat, they were required to pray facing Baytul Muqaddas in Jerusalem. This was the practice in Makka and continued in Madina until the seventeenth month after Hijrat. RESEARCH BOX When and where did the Holy Prophet (S) receive the command to pray the five daily prayers? In Madina, the Jews also said their prayers facing Baytul Muqaddas. They did not like the fact that the Muslims had the same Qiblah as they did, and tried to use this fact to discredit Islam and the Holy Prophet (S). They said to the Muslims, "Muhammad claims to have a religion whose laws supersede all other previous laws, yet he does not have an independent Qiblah, and offers his prayers facing the Qiblah of the Jews."
Masjidul Aqsa, Jerusalem After the Holy Prophet (S) received this news he used to come out at night and look into the sky awaiting the revelation from Allah about this matter. The following verse was revealed at this time: "Many a time We have seen you turn your face towards heaven. We will make you turn towards a Qiblah that will please you..." Baqarah, 2:144 The fact that the Qiblah was the same as that of the Jews was also because it was a test of the faith of the people. The true faith of the followers would be tested by seeing if any of them refused or delayed to turn towards the new Qiblah as chosen by Allah. This is confirmed in the Holy Qur'an in the following verse: "…We decreed your former Qiblah only so that We may know the Prophet's true followers and those who were to deny him. It was indeed a hard test, but not for those whom Allah guided..." Baqarah, 2:143
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One day, while the Holy Prophet (S) and the Muslims were praying together, the command came from Allah to change the Qiblah from Baytul Muqaddas to the Holy Ka'ba in Makka. After the Holy Prophet (S) had already completed two raka'ats of the noon prayer, the Angel Jibraeel (A) communicated to him the command of Allah. He held the hand of the Holy Prophet (S) and turned him towards the Holy Ka'ba in Masjidul Haraam in Makka. The Holy Prophet (S) at once changed his direction in the middle of Salaat. Imam Ali (A) followed this change immediately. The other Muslims were confused by this action and only a few followed the example of Imam Ali (A). QUESTION BOX Would we have followed the Holy Prophet (S) unquestionably the way Imam Ali (A) did if we were there? The mosque where this happened is known as "Masjide Dhul Qiblatain" which means "The Mosque with the Two Qiblahs". This mosque still exists in Madina and the old and new Qiblahs can still be seen there today.
Masjide Dhul Qiblatayn – Madina The new Qiblah in Makka is about 45 degrees south of Madina. It was one of the Holy Prophet's (S) miracles that he turned exactly to face the Holy Ka'ba without any hesitation and without the use of any scientific instrument or computation. The Holy Ka'ba which serves as the Qiblah for all Muslims today has always been respected by the Arabs, even before the Holy Prophet (S). It was for this reason that this new Qiblah served to attract more Arabs towards Islam.
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Now you know… The first Qiblah of the Muslims was the mosque in Jerusalem called Baytul Muqaddas, which was also the Qiblah of the Jews. The Jews did not like the fact that the Muslims had the same Qiblah as they did and tried to discredit Islam. After the Holy Prophet (S) had already completed two raka'ats of the noon prayer, the Angel Jibraeel held the hand of the Holy Prophet (S) and turned him towards the Holy Ka'ba in Masjidul Haraam in Makka. Imam Ali (A) followed this change immediately and only a few Muslims followed the example of Imam Ali (A). The change of Qiblah was a test of faith for the Muslims to see who were the true followers of the Holy Prophet (S). The mosque where this happened is known as "Masjide Dhul Qiblatain" which means "The Mosque with the Two Qiblahs"
MORAL BOX We should not become troubled by other people always criticizing Islam like the Jews did, as this is a test for us from Allah. In preparation for the twelfth Imam, we should purify ourselves so much that we would follow whatever he commands straight away. _______________________________________________________
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LESSON 8: THE BATTLE OF BADR INTRODUCTION: In the middle of Jamadil Awwal of 2 A.H., a report was received in Madina that a trade caravan was going from Makka to Syria under the leadership of Abu Sufyan. The Holy Prophet (S) decided to send two men to find out more facts about this caravan. He told them to find out about its route, the number of guards, as well as the nature of the goods they were carrying. The two men gathered the following information: 1. It was a big caravan and all the Makkans had shares in its goods. 2. The leader of the caravan was Abu Sufyan and it was guarded by 40 men. 3. The goods were loaded on 1,000 camels and were valued at about 50,000 Dinars. THE CAUSES: The Quraish had confiscated the property of all the Muslims who had migrated from Makka, and therefore the Holy Prophet (S) decided to also seize the property of the Makkans as compensation. Although the Muslims pursued Abu Sufyan, they could not reach him. However, the time of the return of the caravan was almost certain because the Quraish always used to return from Syria to Makka in the early autumn. Therefore, the Holy Prophet (S) left Madina and proceeded towards the valley of Badr, 80 miles away, where he awaited the return of the caravan. Abu Sufyan realised that the Muslims would wait for him at Badr which was a stopping place on the route to Makka, so he sent an urgent message to Makka for help. The Makkans immediately sent out a large army under the command of Abu Jahl to fight the Muslims at Badr. The Holy Prophet (S) was informed of the march of the Makkan army and he asked the Muslims what they thought about engaging in a battle. Although some Muslims wanted to return to Madina, Miqdaad, who was a true Muslim, stood up and declared, "O Prophet of Allah, we are with you and we shall fight." Meanwhile Abu Sufyan decided to take a longer route back home, and avoid Badr. Once he was safely in Makka, he sent a message to Abu Jahl to return, but Abu Jahl was too proud to go back and wanted to crush the Muslims with his large army. QUESTION BOX Has our pride ever caused us to torment or bully others because of what we own or because of our status?
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THE BATTLE: The two armies clashed on 17th of Mahe Ramadhan 2 A.H. The Muslim army consisted of 313 soldiers, having between them only 2 horses and 70 camels. The Makkan army had 900 soldiers, 100 horses and 700 camels. They were much better equipped than the Muslims. According to Arab custom, there was single combat before the battle began. Three famous warriors, Utbah bin Rabiyyah, Shaybah bin Rabiyyah and Walid bin Utbah challenged the Muslims. Three Muslims, Awf, Ma'uz and Abdullah Rawahah came forward. Because these men were from the Ansar of Madina, Utbah said, "We have no fight with you. Send us our equals." The Holy Prophet (S) then sent 'Ubaydah, Hamza and Imam Ali (A). Ubaydah faced Utbah, Hamza faced Shaybah and Imam Ali (A) faced Walid. Hamza and Imam Ali (A) soon killed their opponents, but Ubaydah was badly hurt and later died. Imam Ali (A) then killed Utbah. The Quraish were disturbed to see the skill of the Muslim warriors and began to attack together. The Holy Prophet (S) held back his small army and ordered them to fire arrows at the enemy. This organised attack broke up the ranks of the Makkans and, seeing their confusion, the Holy Prophet (S) ordered a general attack. The Muslims began to fight with confidence and the valley of Badr rang with the sound of battle. Imam Ali (A) tore into the heart of the Makkan army, killing enemy soldiers with terrifying ease. His power and skill with the sword struck terror into the hearts of the Makkans, who began to flee. Before long, the battle was over and the Muslims had achieved a great victory, despite being outnumbered. Because of the faith of the Muslims, Allah had also sent three thousand angels to assist the Holy Prophet (S) in the battle so that the small Muslim army would appear large to the enemy and the Muslims would also gather up courage to fight. As the following verse in the Holy Qur'an says: "And Allah did certainly assist you at Badr when you were weak; be careful of (your duty to) Allah then, that you may give thanks. "(Remember O Muhammad) when you said to the believers: 'Does it not suffice you that your Lord should help you with three thousand angels sent down (from heaven)?'" Aale-Imran 3:123-124 THE RESULTS: In this battle the Muslims lost 14 men, while 70 Makkans, including their chiefs Abu Jahl, Nawfal, Umayyah and others were killed. Out of these, Imam Ali (A) killed 36 men himself and helped in killing several others. 70 prisoners were taken by the Muslims. The prisoners were treated with much kindness by the citizens of Madina and some became Muslims. "Blessing be on the men of Madina", said one of these prisoners in later days, "they made us ride, while they themselves walked, they gave us wheat and bread to eat when there was little of it; contenting themselves with dates".
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QUESTION BOX How do we treat people who have done wrong to us? Are we kind to them or do we let our anger overtake us? The rich prisoners paid ransom and were set free. Others were asked to teach 10 children each to read and write while the rest were released by the Holy Prophet (S), and allowed to return to Makka. The victory at Badr strengthened the faith of the Muslims and warned the unbelievers of Makka that Islam was now a force to be reckoned with. During the same year Allah sent down the command making fasting compulsory on Muslims. The following verse of the Holy Qur'an was revealed in this respect: The month of Ramadhan (is) that in which the Qur'an was sent down; a guidance for mankind and clear evidence of guidance and discrimination (between right and wrong). So whoever of you witnesses the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is ill or on a journey, (he shall fast) the same number of other days... Baqarah, 2:185
Now you know… The first battle the Muslims faced was in the valley of Badr. The Muslims had a poorly equipped army of 313, facing the Makkan army of 900 well equipped soldiers. Imam Ali (A) killed 36 men alone including the mighty soldiers Walid and Utbah. Allah sent down three thousand angels to help the Muslims. The 70 prisoners taken by the Muslims were treated well and many converted to Islam. After the victory at Badr, the faithful Muslims were ordered by Allah to Fast throughout the holy month of Ramadhan.
MORAL BOX Even if you are in a minority but believe in Allah and his Holy Prophet, you can defeat any injustice or tyranny. Being proud will always cause you to fail in the end, as Abu Jahl found out! _______________________________________________________
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LESSON 9: THE BATTLE OF UHUD - PART 1 THE CAUSES: The Makkans were determined to take revenge for their defeat at Badr. Their women could not accept that their brave champions had been so easily killed by the Muslims, and they mocked their men for their weakness. Abu Sufyan wanted to keep the anger of the people high and he forbade any mourning within Makka until they had fully avenged their dead companions. The emotions of the people were further fuelled by some Jews, who composed poems to incite them to war. The final straw was when the Holy Prophet (S) blocked the trade routes of the Quraish to Iraq. The chiefs of the Makkans decided that they now had enough reasons to march against the Muslims. The Quraish traders would regain access for their caravans if the Muslims were defeated, so they agreed to pay all the expenses of the proposed war. THE RESOURCES: Abu Sufyan was aware of the bravery of the Muslims, and he knew that he would have to outnumber them if he wanted to win. He therefore enlisted the tribes of Kanaanah and Saqeef, promising them weapons and full provisions for the journey. A large number of slaves also joined the Quraish army tempted by promises of freedom. Amongst them was Wahshi, an Ethiopian slave. He possessed great skill in the use of the throwing spear, and had been promised his freedom if he killed the Holy Prophet (S), Imam Ali (A) or Hamza.
Abu Sufyan managed to prepare a large army of: 700 armour-clad men 3,000 camel soldiers a cavalry of 200 men a group of foot soldiers. This army marched towards Madina and camped at the foot of the hills of Uhud, on 5th Shawwal 3 A.H. The Holy Prophet (S) had already received news of the plans of the Quraish from his uncle Abbas, who lived in Makka.
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After consultation with the Muslims he decided to meet the enemy outside the city limits of Madina for three reasons. These were: 1. Hand to hand fighting in the narrow streets of Madina would be very disorganised and the soldiers could not be used together against the enemy. Moreover, once the enemy was allowed into the city, the lives of the women and children would be in danger. 2. The enemy could surround the city and control all roads leading out of the city. Such a siege could break the morale of the Muslims. 3. The Holy Prophet (S) did not trust some hypocrites like Abdullah Ubayy, and feared that they might harm the Muslims from within the city. The Holy Prophet (S) came out to meet the Quraish with 1,000 men at Uhud, 3 miles outside Madina. Abdullah Ubayy, who had wanted to fight in Madina, then deserted the Muslim army with 300 of his men. He gave the excuse that the Holy Prophet (S) had taken the advice of younger men over his own. The Holy Prophet (S) was left with only: 600 Men; 100 Armour-clad men; 2 Horses. QUESTION BOX Could we fight with our Imam, even if we were so outnumbered? Or would we also make an excuse and abandon the Imam? THE BATTLE: The Holy Prophet (S) began to set up his army in fighting formations. 50 archers were posted at a pass between the hills of Uhud to guard the army from any attack from the rear. They had strict orders not to leave their post, whatever the outcome of the battle. The Holy Prophet (S) knew that the Muslims would be worried at being outnumbered in the battle, so he strengthened their morale with an address. He said to them:
"It is a difficult task to fight the enemy, and only those who are guided and supported by Allah can remain steadfast. Remember that Allah is with those who obey Him, while Shaitan is the companion of those who disobey Him. Remain firm in Jihad and use it to acquire the blessings that Allah has promised you. None dies in this world until Allah decides." He then told them not to start fighting until orders were given to fight.
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On the side of the Makkans, Abu Sufyan had divided his army into 3 parts. The armoured men were placed in the middle. Preparations were now complete and the small band of Muslims stood against the large army of unbelievers, ready to give their lives away for the sake of the defence of Islam.
Now you know… The Makkans were very angry at their defeat at Badr, and this was part of the cause of the battle of Uhud. When the Holy Prophet (S) blocked the trade routes of the Quraish, the Makkans believed they had enough reason to attack. Abu Sufyan knew the strength of the Muslims and enlisted the help of other tribes. He prepared a huge army for the battle. The Prophet (S) decided to meet the enemy outside Madina, and the armies met at Uhud. The Muslims were very worried because they were greatly outnumbered.
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LESSON 10: THE BATTLE OF UHUD - PART 2 The man who began the Battle of Uhud was Talha bin Abi Talha, a great warrior from the army of Abu Sufyan. He entered the battlefield and challenged the Muslims to individual combat. The challenge was accepted by Imam Ali (A) and very soon Talha's dead body lay on the ground. The standard was taken by his two brothers but they were both cut down by arrows from the Muslims. Thereafter nine people of the Makkan army took the standard, one after the other, but every one of them was sent to Hell by Imam Ali (A). After them, an Ethiopian soldier by the name of Sawaab came to the field. He had a frightening figure and on seeing him none of the Muslims dared to come forward. This man was killed by Imam Ali (A) by a single blow. QUESTION BOX If our Imam wanted help in killing a man that could easily kill us, would we be too afraid of death to help our Imam? Seeing his men being so easily killed, Abu Sufyan ordered a general attack. The two armies met and the air was filled with the sound of weapons. From the side of the Muslims, Hamza, Abu Dujana and Imam Ali (A) gave a heroic account of their valour and began to create chaos in the army of Abu Sufyan. At this time, the Ethiopian slave Wahshi got behind Hamza unnoticed. With a swift and accurate throw, the accursed man managed to pierce the abdomen of Hamza and kill him. QUESTION BOX Wahshi was offered freedom to sacrifice his Akhira. Could any such offer tempt us? The Muslims continued to attack the enemy successfully and the Makkans began to lose heart. After losing a lot of men they decided that they had had enough and fled the battlefield. It was at this point that the Muslims made a grave error that cost them dearly. Instead of following the Holy Prophet's (S) orders and pursuing the enemy out of the battlefield, they lay down their own weapons and started gathering the booty. Thinking that the battle was over, the majority of the archers guarding the passage in the hill left their posts to gather the spoils, against the orders of their leader. One of the Makkan commanders, Khalid bin Walid, was fleeing when he saw the opportunity to attack the Muslims from behind. He gathered his men and launched a furious attack from the rear.
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The Muslims were taken so much by surprise that they did not know what to do. In the confusion, their ranks became disorganised. The retreating Makkan forces rallied again and began a fresh onslaught from the front. The Muslim army's standard bearer, Mus'ab bin Umair was killed. He bore a great facial resemblance to the Holy Prophet (S) and so the Makkans raised a cry that the Holy Prophet (S) had been killed. This threw the Muslims into further chaos and utter dismay. Many of their famous personalities were disheartened. Some of the weak hearted like Abu Bakr and Umar bin Khattab threw away their swords saying there was no use fighting when the Holy Prophet (S) was no more. Uthman also fled, running so far away that he returned to Madina after 3 days. On the other hand, many valiant soldiers remained faithful and entered the middle of the Makkan ranks determined to fight to their last breath. This went on until a Muslim saw the Holy Prophet (S) and shouted at the top of his voice that he was still alive. The spirit of the Muslims revived but the Holy Prophet (S) now became the chief target of the Makkan forces. The Makkans attacked him and his two upper teeth were broken by the sword of one of them. He had fallen into a pit where Imam Ali (A) found him and protected him against the continuous furious attack of the Makkans. Other faithful companions, including the brave lady Umme Ammaarah, also prevented the enemy from getting too close to the Holy Prophet (S) and shielded him against the rain of arrows. It was in this battle that the reputation of Imam Ali (A) was confirmed and he was acknowledged as a master in the field of sword fighting. He fought so hard that his sword broke. The Holy Prophet (S) then gave him own sword "Zulfiqar". In appreciation of the bravery of Imam Ali (A) the voice of the angel Jibraeel (A) was heard from above saying, "There is no warrior except Ali; there is no sword except Zulfiqar." The Makkan forces had turned the tables but they were too exhausted to push their advantage either by attacking Madina or by driving the Muslims from the heights of the hills of Uhud. They satisfied their desire for revenge by committing horrible brutalities upon the slain and the injured, cutting off their ears and noses and mutilating their bodies. The brave Hamza was amongst the martyrs. His liver was torn out and chewed by Hind, wife of Abu Sufyan. The defeat of the Muslims was a test for them and through the ashes of the battle they emerged more eager and determined to defend their faith and the cause of Islam.
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The Muslims: Lost 70 Warriors in battle; A further 70 warriors wounded – Including Imam Ali (AS).
The Makkans: Lost 22 Warriors in battle; 12 were killed at the hands of Imam Ali (AS)!
Now you know… Only Imam Ali (AS) stood up to the challenge of the Ethiopian fighter Sawaab. The slave Wahshi sacrificed his Akhira by killing Hamza, because he wanted freedom. The greed of the Muslims soldiers caused them to disobey the prophet, and this caused them to lose the battle. They went after the booty when they thought the battle was over and did not wait as commanded. The first soldiers to throw down their weapons were the weak-hearted – including Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman. The sincere companions of the Prophet (SAW), fought till the end. When the Makkans began to target the Prophet, they risked their lives to save him. Imam Ali (AS) was recognised as the sincere companion of the prophet and a master of sword fighting. Even Jibraeel(A) acknowledged the bravery and sincerity of Imam Ali (AS) with his famous words. More than half of the Makkans killed were killed by Imam Ali (AS). The Muslims lost this battle, but came out more determined to defend Islam.
MORAL BOX Temptations of this world can be very strong. Wahshi was tempted by freedom and killed Hamza (A). The Muslims were also tempted by the booty and disobeyed the Prophet (AS). Greed can be very destructive, and the Muslims greed cost them the battle, and almost the life of the Prophet(AS)! _______________________________________________________
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LESSON 11: THE BATTLE OF AHZAB When the Jews of Bani Qaynqaa were expelled from Madina because of their trouble making, their sister tribe, the Bani Nuzayr, were very angry. They became deadly enemies of Islam and waited for an opportunity to do the Muslims harm. Once the Holy Prophet (S), together with a few companions, went to the fort of the Bani Nuzayr. While he waited outside the fort, the Jews sent one of their men to climb out from inside and kill him by throwing a huge rock on his head. The Holy Prophet (S) came to know of this treacherous scheme just in time and immediately left the place. Since the Bani Nuzayr had broken the treaty which they had signed, the Holy Prophet (S) gave them ten days to leave Madina. After some resistance, they left Madina, demolishing their houses so that the Muslims could not occupy them. They were allowed to take away all the possessions that they could carry, except for weapons of war. Some of them went to Syria and others settled with the Jews of Khayber. RESEARCH BOX What was the agreement between the Holy Prophet and the Jews living in Madina? On settling down at Khayber, the Banu Nuzayr became determined to take revenge on the Muslims. They contacted the Quraish in Makka and 20 leaders from the Jews and 50 from Quraish signed an agreement in the Holy Ka'ba that so long as they lived, they would fight the Holy Prophet (S). Thereafter, the Jews and Quraish contacted their allies and sent agents to a number of tribes for help. In this way, 10,000 soldiers gathered. They then marched upon Madina under the command of Abu Sufyan. When the news of these preparations reached Madina, the Holy Prophet (S) consulted his companions. Salman Farsi advised to dig a deep and wide ditch on the unprotected side of Madina. This plan was accepted and the Muslims were divided into parties of 10, and each party allotted 10 yards to dig. The Holy Prophet himself participated in this task. The ditch or moat (Khandaq) was completed in time, just three days before the forces of the enemy reached Madina. The Muslims could gather only 3,000 men to oppose this huge army. They camped a few miles outside Madina. Meanwhile, the leader of Bani Nuzayr met secretly with some Jews who still lived in Madina. He convinced them to violate the treaty which they had agreed with the Muslims. Thus, the Muslims were exposed to danger within Madina, and the Jews began terrorising the women and children. When the Holy Prophet (S) learnt about what was happening he sent back 500 men to patrol the city.
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The enemy was astonished to see the moat because it was a new thing for Arabs. They tried day and night to cross over, but each time they were repelled by the Muslim soldiers. The enemy began to shower arrows and stones at the Muslims in their frustration. Finally, some of the Quraish's warriors - including the famous Amr bin Abdiwad succeeded in crossing the moat at a point where it was not very wide. Amr was one of the best warriors in all of Arabia. In battle he was considered equal to 1,000 warriors. He began to challenge the Muslims to fight, but his reputation made them hesitate. Three times the Holy Prophet (S) urged the Muslims to fight Amr. Each time only Imam Ali (A) stood up. Finally, the Holy Prophet (S) allowed him to go, giving him his own sword and tying a special turban on his head. As Imam Ali (A) went to the battle field, the Holy Prophet (S) exclaimed, "The whole Faith is going to fight the whole Infidelity". QUESTION BOX Who is the Holy Prophet referring to in "The whole Faith is going to fight the whole Infidelity"? When Amr learnt who Imam's (A) identity, he refused to fight him, saying that Abu Talib had been his friend and he did not want to kill his friend's son. Imam Ali (A) told him not to be concerned about his death because if he died he would be blessed with a place in Heaven while Amr would end up in Hell. He then reminded Amr that he had once said that if any opponent made three requests, Amr would always grant one of them. Amr agreed to this. Imam Ali (A) then invited Amr to accept Islam or to return to Makka or to come down from his horse as Imam (A) had no horse and was on foot. Amr agreed to the last request and came down from his horse. A fierce battle followed. For a time, so much dust covered both warriors that nobody knew what was happening. Amr sent a murderous blow to the head of Imam Ali (A). Although Imam Ali (A) blocked it with his shield, Amr's sword broke through and inflicted a serious cut on his head. Imam Ali (A) then struck a blow to Amr's feet which brought Amr down. Suddenly the shout of "Allahu Akbar" was heard from Imam Ali (A) as he chopped off Amr's head. The killing of Amr shocked the other warriors who had crossed the moat, and they fled away. The battle was brought to an end because of three factors: 1. The Holy Prophet (S) signed an agreement of peace with some of the tribes who had gathered to fight the Muslims. 2. The enemy was demoralised at the death of Amr ibn Abdiwad. 3. The severe winter caused the enemies' horses to perish and their food was almost finished.
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Finally, the Holy Prophet (S) went to the place where the Mosque of Victory (Masjid-ulFath) now stands, and prayed to Allah for help. A fierce storm raged which uprooted the tents of the enemies, sending their belongings flying on all sides, and causing terror in their ranks. The Makkans and Jews fled away from the battle field. This battle is known as Ahzab (Battle of the Tribes) or Khandaq (Battle of the Moat) and the Muslims emerged victorious in spite of their fewer numbers. The Holy Qur'an says: O you who believe! Remember the blessing of Allah unto you when the tribes came to you. We sent upon them a strong wind and an army that you did not see. And Allah sees all that you do. Ahzab, 33:9 Now you know… The Jews of Bani Qaynqaa were very angry for being expelled from Madina as a result for causing trouble. Their sister tribe, Bani Nuzayr, still living in Madina became deadly enemies of the Muslims They attempted to kill the Prophet, despite the agreement. As a result the Holy Prophet told them to leave Madina. They left Madina and demolished all their houses so no Muslims could live in them. They were allowed to take some belongings with them except for the weapons of war. Some moved to Syria and some moved to the Jews of Khayber. The Bani Nuzayr wanted to take revenge and signed an agreement with the Quraish in Makka that they would fight the Prophet. The Quraish and the Jews with their allies formed a huge army of 10,00 soliders, and were lead to Madina by Abu Sufyan. Salman Farsi came up with the idea to dig a moat or a ditch (Khandaq) around the uprotected side of Madina. The Muslims could only gather 3,000 men to fight. The enemies got very frustrated with the moat as they had never seen anything like it before and tirelessly tried to cross it. One of the brave warriors of Quraish, Amr bin Abdiwad succeeded in crossing over. Amr challenged the Muslims to fight him. The Holy Prophet called out three times to urge them to fight him. But the Muslims were hesitant because of Amr's reputation. Imam Ali got up three times to fight him and the third time the Holy Prophet let him go and fight. Amr and Imam Ali (A) were involved in a fierce battle before Imam Ali (A) killed Amr. The battle came to an end because of the killing of Amr; the Holy Prophet signed an agreement with some of the tribes, severe winter conditions caused the horses to perish and the enemies' food was almost finished. This battle is known as, Ahzab (Battle of the Tribes) or the Battle of Khandaq (Moat).
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LESSON 12: THE PLEDGE OF RIZWAAN In 5 A.H. the Holy Prophet (S) received the commandment of Allah making Haj Wajib on all Muslims. In the following year he saw in a dream that he was actually performing the Haj along with his companions. He therefore decided to perform Haj that very year. The Holy Prophet (S) announced to the Muslims that he intended to go for pilgrimage to Makka in the month of Zilqad of 6 A.H. The Muhajireen, who had migrated to Madina with the Holy Prophet (S), were delighted at this opportunity to return to their beloved home town. The Ansar, who were the original residents of Madina, were also keen to undertake this blessed journey. In all, about 1,400 Muslims prepared to accompany the Holy Prophet (S) to Makka. The Holy Prophet (S) left Madina on schedule and sent an advance party to scout the route ahead and to warn him of any threat from the Quraish. He ordered the Muslims not to carry any arms other than swords. Along the journey, the Holy Prophet (S) and his companions put on their Ihram, and chose 70 camels for sacrifice during the Haj.
QUESTION BOX What is an Ihram?
Meanwhile, the Quraish learned of the advance of the Muslims towards Makka and despatched 200 soldiers to stop them. When the Holy Prophet (S) received word that an ambush awaited them, he asked their guide to take them on a route that would bypass the enemies. Finally, after travelling through rough country, they reached a place where there was a well by the name of Hudaybiya, 10 miles from Makka. Here, the Holy Prophet (S) ordered the Muslims to stop and pitch their tents. He then sent a message to the Quraish that he wished to enter Makka to perform the pilgrimage. He also let them know that he had come in peace and wished to settle matters by discussions. The Holy Prophet (S) then asked Umar bin Khattab, who had not fought the Quraish in any battle, to act as a representative of the Muslims and go to Makka. Umar excused himself, saying that his position was weak. The Holy Prophet (S) therefore sent Uthman bin Affan, who was the nephew of Abu Sufyan, the chief of the Makkans. Because he was related to Abu Sufyan, Uthman was warmly received in Makka. The Quraish told him that he was free to do the Haj himself, but they would not allow the rest of the Muslims to enter the city. Uthman refused to perform the Haj alone, so he was detained in Makka. When Uthman did not return, the Muslims feared that he had been killed. The Holy Prophet (S) said that there was a possibility of battle breaking out, so he took a solemn oath of allegiance from the Muslims that they would support him even in the face of death. This famous allegiance was taken under an acacia tree, and is known as the Pledge of Rizwaan. The event has been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an as follows:
Indeed Allah was well pleased with the believers when they pledged their allegiance to you under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts so He sent down peace on them and rewarded them with an immediate victory. Fath, 48:18
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RESEARCH BOX What does Rizwan mean? Soon afterward, Uthman returned from Makka, safe and unharmed. With him was a man called Suhail who was sent by the Quraish with instructions to settle the dispute peacefully. As a result of the discussions between Suhail and the Holy Prophet (S), a peace treaty was signed between the Muslims and the Quraish. The conditions of the treaty were:
1. The Muslims should return to Madina that year without performing Haj. 2. They could return the next year but their stay would not exceed 3 days. 3. The Muslims should not bring any arms with them except sheathed swords. 4. There would be no war between the Quraish and the Muslims for 10 years. 5. Any idolater or Makkan Muslim visiting Madina without permission of his tribe would be sent back to Makka, but a Muslim of Madina going to Makka without permission would not be allowed to return.
Any tribe of Arabia would be free to join any of the parties to the treaty and the allies also would be bound by this treaty. QUESTION BOX Why do you think the Muslims were only allowed to stay for 3 days in Makka? At the conclusion of this treaty, the weak-faithed Umar accused the Holy Prophet (S) of selling them short. Although some of these terms seemed to be against the interests of the Muslims, it proved not to be the case. After staying 3 days at Hudaybiya, the Muslims returned to Madina. On the way, the Surah of Fath (Victory), was revealed, which described the treaty as an open victory for the Muslims. The Treaty of Hudaybiya brought welcome peace to Arabia after a long period of unrest. In the 2 years after this treaty, more people accepted Islam than in the whole 19 years since the beginning of the Holy Prophet's (S) mission.
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Now you know… Haj became Wajib on all Muslims in the year 5 A.H The Holy Prophet had a dream that he was doing Haj, and as result decided to go on Haj that very year. He intended to go on Haj in the month of Zilqad 6 A.h. About 1,400 muslims joined him, both from the Ansars and the Muhajireen. Along the journey, they wore their Ihram and chose 70 camels for sacrifice. The Quraish found out about the Muslims coming towards Makka and sent 200 soldiers to stop them. When the Muslims found out they took a different rough country route to Makka. They reached a place called Hudaybiya, 10 miles from Makka and pitched their tents. The Holy Prophet sent Uthman bin Affan the nephew of Abu Sufyan (the chief of Makka) in to Makka with a message that the Muslims wanted to come in and perform the Pilgrimage and wanted to settle matters. Uthman did not return so the Muslims were worried he was killed. The Holy Prophet (S) said battle my break out so he took an oath of allegiance from the Muslims of full support till the time of death. This took place under an acacia tree and is known as the Pledge of Rizwan. Uthman returned from Makka unharmed with a man called Suhail who came to settle the dispute. Suhail and the Holy Prophet settled a peace treaty between the Muslims and the Quraish. The conditions were: The Muslims to return to Madina and perform Haj the following year; they could only stay in Makka for 3 days and should not bring any arms with them except a sheathed sword; there would be no war between them for 10 years; and a Makkan Muslim/idolater visiting Madina without permission of his tribe should be sent back; a Muslim from Madina visiting Makka without permission would not be allowed to return. This is called the Treaty of Hudaybiya. On the way back to Madina Sura –e- Fath was revealed which described the treaty as an open victory for Muslims. Thereafter there was peace in Arabia and more people became Muslims within two years of the Treaty.
MORAL BOX What you plan does not always work out. We always have to remember Allah is the best of Planners. _______________________________________________________
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In the peace that followed the signing of the Treaty of Hudaybiya, the Holy Prophet (S) had a great opportunity to spread the religion of Islam. In 7 A.H. he wrote letters to several neighbouring states inviting their rulers and people towards Islam. At the time, there were four powerful states around Arabia. On one side there was Iran, which ran from Central Asia up to Iraq. The second state was Byzantine, known as Rome amongst the Arabs. The Byzantine Empire included Asia Minor, Syria and Palestine. The third state was Egypt, which had been a part of the Byzantine Empire, but was now independent. The fourth state was Abyssinia, which lay to the south of Egypt, and whose influence extended to other populated areas in Africa. Iran Ruler - Khusro Parvez, the Emperor of Iran Missionary sent by Prophet - A brave officer by the name of Abdullah Huzafah Reaction to the letter from the Holy Prophet – The Emperor flew into rage and tore it up tore the letter to pieces and rudely turned Abdullah out of his court. When Abdullah returned to Madina and related his experience, the Holy Prophet (S) was displeased and cursed Khusro saying, "O Lord! Break his kingdom into pieces." Meanwhile, the arrogant Emperor sent a letter to the ruler of Yemen, who was under him, ordering him to send some men to capture the Holy Prophet (S) and bring him to his court. Accordingly, two officers from Yemen came to Madina to carry out his orders. When they saw that the Holy Prophet (S) had the powerful support of the Muslims, they realised that they had no chance of capturing him. However, they informed the Holy Prophet (S) of their orders and warned him of the consequences of displeasing the powerful Emperor of Iran. In reply the Holy Prophet (S) told them that Khusro Parvez had just been killed by his own son, Shirviyah, who was now the new Emperor. The Holy Prophet (S) then advised them to tell the people of Yemen to come out of Iranian control and come towards Islam. The officers were so impressed with the miraculous knowledge of the Holy Prophet (S) that they accepted Islam on the spot and later many people from Yemen also became Muslims. Byzantine Ruler - Hercules, the Kaiser of Rome, the Holy Prophet (S) sent Dihyah bin Kalbi with a letter of invitation to Islam. Missionary sent by Prophet - Dihyah bin Kalbi Reaction to the letter from the Holy Prophet - The Kaiser received Dihyah with honour and was impressed with the contents of the letter.
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After making enquiries in Arabia and discussions with the Roman priests, he was convinced that the message was from the very same Prophet whose coming had been foretold in the Tawrat and Injeel. However, he was afraid that if he openly declared himself a Muslim, he would be removed from power by the influential Christians priests. Nevertheless, he wrote a letter to the Holy Prophet (S) expressing his faith and devotion to him and sent to him several presents. Amongst the gifts were a white mule named Duldul which later remained with Imam Ali (A) and his progeny. The Kaiser also sent two slave girls. One of them, Maria Qabtia, was married by the Holy Prophet (S) while Hasan bin Thabit married the other.
Egypt Ruler - Maqauqis, the Ruler of Egypt Missionary sent by Prophet - Haatib bin Abi Balta'ah, a wise and experienced traveller Reaction to the letter from the Holy Prophet - After the king read the message he thought over the contents of the letter for a long time. In the discussion that followed, Haatib explained in length the message and mission of the Holy Prophet (S). Although he was convinced by the arguments of Haatib, the Maqauqis was not prepared to give up his position as the head of the Coptic Church. He wrote a letter of regret to the Holy Prophet (S) and sent some presents back with Haatib. When the Holy Prophet (S) received the letter in Madina he remarked, "He has not accepted Islam on account of fear for his rulership, but his rule and authority will come to an end soon." Abyssinia Ruler - Asmaha, the Negus of Abyssinia Missionary sent by Prophet - Amr bin Umayyah, with two letters, in one letter he invited the Negus to Islam. In the other he requested him to allow and make arrangements for the return of Ja'far bin Abu Talib and the other Muslims who had migrated to Abyssinia in the early difficult days of Islam. Reaction to the letter from the Holy Prophet - The king received the messenger of the Holy Prophet (S) with great respect and kissed the letters as a mark of respect before reading them. On finishing the letter regarding the invitation to Islam, the Negus immediately recited the Kalima and became a Muslim. He also obeyed the request of the Holy Prophet (S) regarding the arrangements for the return of the Muslims and sent his own son Raarhaa with them.
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In addition, the Holy Prophet (S) also sent letters to many other tribes and states, notably the prince of Ghassaan and the ruler of Yamamah. Both these men, however, did not give a firm commitment to Islam because it did not suit them politically. However, many other chiefs and rulers became inclined towards Islam and sent their representatives to Madina to learn more about the Holy Prophet (S) and Islam. By sending his messengers far and wide, the Holy Prophet (S) showed that Islam was a religion not only for the Arabs, but for the whole world. ACTIVITY BOX Draw a map of Arabia and it's neighbouring countries and then shade and label in different colours the areas occupied by ancient Iran, Byzantine, Abyssinia, Yemen and Egypt. Now you know… In 7 A.H. after the Treaty of Hudaybiya there was peace in Arabia so the Holy Prophet sent out missionaries to different states inviting them to Islam. Iran – the emperor Khusro Pervez was angry after receiving the letter and tore it up and threw the messenger out. He also informed the people of Yemen to go against The Holy Prophet. The officers of Yemen after meeting the Holy Prophet became Muslims and as a result many people in Yemen became Muslims Byzantine – Hercules the Kaiser of Rome after reading the letter he was conviced that the Holy Prophet was the one foretold in Tawrat and Injeel so he became a Muslim, but he did not openly declare it. He sent some presents to the Holy Prophet, including a white Mule and two slave girls. Egypt –Maqauqis the ruler and the head of the Coptic church understood the message of the Prophet but did not want to give up his position so he refused to become a Muslim. Abyssinia – Asmaha the Negus received the letter with great respect and after reading it immediately recited the Kalimah and arranged for the Muslims living there to return home. By sending his messengers far and wide, the Holy Prophet (S) showed that Islam was a religion not only for Arabs, but the whole world. MORAL BOX When we are on the wrong path and we can see the way to the right path, we should be prepared to give up everything for the sake of Allah. That is because everything is under the control of Allah and what ever we hold dear to us can be here one day and gone the next, but Allah is always there, constant. Islam does not only belong to one nation but it is there for the whole world _______________________________________________________
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LESSON 14: THE BATTLE OF KHAYBER - PART 1 To the north of Madina was situated a fertile land known as the Valley of Khayber. The area was populated by 20,000 Jews who were skilled in farming and warfare. They had built seven strong forts in Khayber to protect themselves from any attack. When the Jewish tribes of Bani Qaynqaa and Bani Nuzayr were expelled from Madina because of their plots against Islam, some of them settled at Khayber. Here, they continued in their old ways, encouraging and helping the Arab tribes to harm the State of Islam. Even after the Jews had lost against the Muslims in the Battle of Ahzab, they remained a source of danger to the Muslims. Moreover, the Holy Prophet (S) had sent letters to various leaders of neighbouring countries, and he was worried that those leaders who had rejected the message of Islam might pair up with the Jews of Khayber to threaten the Muslims. Since he had just signed a peace treaty with the Quraish, the Holy Prophet (S) knew that he would have no trouble from them and he could thus concentrate on removing the danger to Islam from Khayber. He therefore ordered the Muslims to get ready to conquer the last centre of the Jews in Arabia. The Muslim army consisted of 1,600 men, of whom 200 were mounted soldiers. The army marched out under standard of Imam Ali (A). To stop the tribes of Bani Ghatfaan and Bani Fazarah from assisting their Jewish allies, the Holy Prophet (S) first marched towards them so that they moved away from their homes. Then, the Holy Prophet (S) changed his direction for Khayber and by the time the two tribes realised that the real target was the Jews, it was too late for them to help their allies. The seven forts of Khayber were named Na'im, Qamus, Katibah, Nastaat, Shiq, Watih and Sulaalim. All the forts had watchtowers with sentries posted to keep a lookout for any trouble. The forts were specially constructed to defend the entire area and the walls were equipped with weapons like giant catapults to push back an enemy attack. The Muslim army reached the area of Khayber and after studying the situation, they occupied all the important points of access so that the Jews could not escape. The arrival of the Muslims went unnoticed and when the farmers came out of the forts the next morning, they were shocked to find themselves confronted by an army. The Jews rushed back into the forts and held meetings to decide how to tackle the situation.
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Finally, it was decided to move the women and children to one fort and the food to another. This could be done because the forts were connected by underground tunnels. The Jews then planned to attack the Muslims with the best warriors from each fort. Meanwhile the Muslims also prepared for war. The first fort of Khayber to fall to the Muslims was Na'im. In the conquest of this fort, some Muslims were killed and many were wounded. These soldiers were taken to a make-shift hospital where their injuries were treated by the women of the Bani Ghifar tribe. The next fort that was attacked was Qamus. After a struggle, this fort was also captured. Two women who were present in the fort were arrested, one of whom was Safiyah, daughter of Hay bin Akhtab. This lady later became the wife of the Holy Prophet (S). The conquest of the two forts greatly increased the confidence of the Muslims, while the Jews became very disturbed and frightened. As the siege of the forts continued, the Muslims began to run out of food and were forced to eat the meat of horses, which is Makruh but not Haraam to eat. At this difficult time, one shepherd who tended the sheep of the Jews approached the Holy Prophet (S). After some discussions, he was convinced of the truth of Islam and became a Muslim. When he asked what he should do with the sheep that were in his care, the Holy Prophet (S) told him in clear terms in the presence of hundreds of hungry soldiers, "In my religion, the breach of trust is one of the greatest crimes. Take the sheep to the gate of the fort and hand them over to their owners". The shepherd did as he was ordered and then participated in the battle and was martyred. By his action the Holy Prophet (S) showed clearly that he was not in Khayber to conquer land and wealth, but his aim was to remove the threat to Islam from the Jews. In spite of the needs of his men, he would not permit the unlawful use of the enemy's property and instead prayed to Allah to grant the Muslims victory over the fort where food was stored. As days passed, one fort after another came under the hands of the Muslims. Time and time again, the heroes of Islam showed their bravery and spirit of self-sacrifice to attain the blessings of Allah.
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Now you know… The valley of Khayber lay to the north of Madina. It had some 20,000 Jews and was made up of seven strong forts to protect against any attack. The Jews of Khayber were the only threat still left for the Muslims of Madina. The Holy Prophet gathered an army and marched towards Khayber, with Imam Ali (A) as the standard bearer. When they got to Khayber the studied the forts and blocked all the exits. The next day the Jews came to know of the Muslim army. The Jews moved the women and children into one fort and the food into another, using underground tunnels that linked the forts. The Jews kept their best warriors in each fort and the Muslims prepared for war.. The Muslims then became to attack each fort one at a time. When they ran out of food they had to eat horses meat. A nearby shepherd who tended the sheep of the Jews came to speak to the Holy Prophet and became a Muslim. He wanted to help them in some way. Despite the Muslim army being so hungry the Holy Prophet told the shepherd to return the sheep to the owners. The Holy Prophet showed that he was not there to conquer land or wealth but to onlyremove the threat from the Muslims.
No matter how badly you need something, you cannot take it without the owners'
permission. Struggle for the truth and obedience to Allah. You will be blessed by Allah _______________________________________________________
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LESSON 15: THE BATTLE OF KHAYBER - PART 2 After capturing the forts of Na'im and Qamus, the Muslims turned their attention to the forts of Watih and Sulaalim. These forts were very heavily guarded and the Muslims could not gain victory even after trying for ten days. Both Abu Bakr and Umar led the Muslims on separate occasions to try and enter the forts but they were forced to retreat. Umar even demoralised the Muslims by praising the courage of the chief of the Jews, a fearful warrior by the name of Marhab. This action of Umar displeased the Holy Prophet (S) very much. QUESTION BOX Looking back so far why do you think Umar always disagrees with the Prophet or demoralises the Muslims? Finally, the Holy Prophet (S) announced a famous message. He declared, "Tomorrow I shall give the standard to a person who loves Allah and the Prophet and who is loved by Allah and the Prophet, and Allah will accomplish the conquest of this fort at his hands. He is a man who has never turned his back to the enemy and does not run away from the battlefield". All the soldiers were curious to learn who that person would be, and the next morning they gathered around the Holy Prophet (S) to see who would be chosen to lead the soldiers. The Holy Prophet (S) asked, "Where is Ali?" He was informed that Imam Ali (A) was suffering from an eye infection so severe that he was unable to see. The Holy Prophet (S) ordered that Imam Ali (A) be brought to him. When Imam Ali (A) came, the Holy Prophet (S) rubbed his eyes and prayed for his recovery. The eyes of Imam Ali (A) were instantly cured and he never had trouble with them again. The Holy Prophet (S) then ordered Imam Ali (A) to advance against the enemy. He told him to ask the chiefs of the forts to accept Islam. If they refused he was to ask them to surrender and live freely under Muslim protection and pay tax to the Muslim state. If this offer was also refused, then he should fight. Imam Ali (A) approached the forts wearing a strong coat of armour and carrying his twin-tongued sword, Zulfiqar. The Jews sent out one of their best warriors, Harith the brother of Marhab, to fight the Muslims. The soldiers of Islam were struck with fear when they saw the powerful Harith advance toward them. However, Imam Ali (A) met his challenge and after a brief fight, Harith lay dead on the ground. The death of his brother enraged Marhab. He came out of the fort fully armed and in a deadly mood. He was dressed in a heavy coat of armour and wore on his head a cap made of stone which he had covered with a helmet.
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As he challenged the Muslims, he recited his war poem stating, "The walls of Khayber testify that I am Marhab. I am the best of warriors and those who face me in the battlefield are coloured with their own blood." Imam Ali (A) stepped forward and recited his own poem, stating, "I am the person whose mother named him Haider, a wild lion. In battle I make short work of my enemies." The words of Imam Ali (A) were carefully chosen. He knew that Marhab had been recently having bad dreams about being ripped apart by a lion and his words therefore caught Marhab by surprise and disturbed him. However, Marhab advanced with a terrible fury, determined to use all his skill to avenge his dead brother. The blows of the two warriors struck awe in the hearts of the onlookers. Suddenly Marhab plunged his three-pronged lance towards Imam Ali, who avoided the thrust and struck a powerful blow to the head of Marhab. The sword of Imam Ali (A) broke through the helmet, stone cap and head of Marhab and finally stopped at his teeth. A silence fell as the Jews unbelievingly watched their champion fall dead. As he shouted "Allahu Akbar!" in victory, Imam Ali (A) was surrounded by several experienced Jewish soldiers. However, they could not match his skill and soon they lay dead. During the fight someone struck a blow at Imam Ali (A), breaking his shield. He turned to the gate of the fort and wrenched it off its hinges and used it as a shield. When he finally threw it away, even 10 Muslims could not lift it. Imam Ali (A) later commented that he had lifted the gate by the strength granted to him by Allah due to his firm faith in the Day of Judgement. As a result of the bravery of Imam Ali (A), the fort was taken and soon all forts were within the hands of the Muslims. The Muslims lost 20 men in this battle while the Jews lost 93 men. The Holy Prophet (S) had made the Jews realise how useless it was to plot the downfall of the Muslims. After the victory he restored all their land to them with the orders that half of the profit from their agricultural activity should be given over to the Muslims in return for protection. The Jews however, did not forget their humiliation at the hands of the Muslims. After their defeat, a Jewish woman by the name of Zainab brought some lamb meat as a gift for the Holy Prophet (S). The meat was poisoned and the Holy Prophet (S) ate only a little bit, but that poison had an effect on his health in the long term and when he was on his death bed a few years later, he said that his illness was partly due to the poison he had been given at Khayber. On the day of the victory, the Muslims who had migrated from Makka to Abyssinia returned home. The Holy Prophet (S) was overjoyed and commented that he did not know what pleased him more - the victory at Khayber or the return of his cousin Ja'far bin Abu Talib with the Muslims from Abyssinia.
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Now you know… The Muslims found the first two forts much easier to bring down then the next two. Despite trying for ten days they were struggling, Umar began to demoralise the Muslims by praising the Jews. This made the Holy Prophet upset. The Holy Prophet announced that tomorrow he would give the standard bearer to the person who loves Allah and the Prophet and they love him back. Allah will show victory through his hands and he is the one who never turned his back away from enemies and did not runaway from the battlefield. The next morning the Holy Prophet asked for Imam Ali. Imam Ali had an infection in the eye. The Holy Prophet rubbed Imam Ali (A) and prayed for his recovery. Thereafter Imam Ali (A) never had problems with his eye again. Imam Ali was told to charge forward to the forts and ask the Jews to accept Islam or surrender and live under the Muslim state, if they refuse then he had to fight them. Imam Ali approached the Jews with heavy armour and his two tongued sword, Zulfiqar. The Jews sent out Harith the brother of Marhab who was the leader of the Jews. In a short while Imam Ali (A) killed Harith. Marhab was in raged and come out for revenge and recited his war poem. Imam Ali replied "I am the person whose mother named him Haider, a wild lion. In battle I make short work of my enemies" Imam Ali fought fiercely with Marhab and eventually Zulfiqar the sword struck through the helmet of Marhab and went right down to his teeth. Several warriors surrounded him and soon lay dead. One warrior broke Imam Ali (A) shield and Imam Ali pulled the gate of the fort from its hinges and used it as a shield. When he threw it away, not even 10 Muslim men could pick up the gate. Imam Ali was granted this strength due to his firm faith in the Day of Judgement. As a result Imam Ali and the Muslims thereafter brought the rest of the forts down and the Jews had no choice but to surrender. The Holy Prophet made the Jews realise that there was no point of plotting against the Muslims. He gave them back their land with the agreement that the would give half their profits from agriculture to the Muslims so as to remain under their protection. However the Jews still had a grudge against the Holy Prophet. Once they sent lamb meat to the Prophet that had poison. The Prophet only had a little bit but he was affected by it till his dying day and said that his ill health was due to the poison given to him in Khayber. MORAL BOX
If you have firm belief in the Day of Judgement, which also means that you obey
Allah then nothing can harm you. _______________________________________________________
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After his victory at Khayber the Holy Prophet (S) decided to destroy the remaining strongholds of the Jews and thus end the danger to Islam. He therefore turned his attention to the Jewish village of Fadak, which was a fertile territory 180 kilometres north of Madina. He sent an envoy to the elders of Fadak. The chief of the village, preferred peace and surrender to fighting. In return for the protection of the Muslims, he agreed to give half of the produce of the region to the Holy Prophet (S). According to the rules of Islam, the lands conquered through war and military power are the property of all the Muslims and their administration lies with the ruler of the Muslims. However, those lands that are submitted to the Muslims without war, as in the case of Fadak, belong to the Holy Prophet (S) and after him, to the Holy Imam (A) of the time. They have the right to distribute such properties as they see fit. This is evident from the following verse: Whatever God has bestowed on His Prophet from the people of the towns is for God and the Prophet and his relatives and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, so that it may not circulate among the rich ones of you... Hashr, 59 : 7(Part) The land of Fadak thus came into the possession of the Holy Prophet (S), and when the following verse was revealed, And give the kinsman his due, and the needy and the wayfarer... Bani Israa'il, 17 : 26(Part) He made a gift of Fadak to his dear daughter Bibi Fatimah (A).
He did this for several reasons. Firstly, he was commanded to give his near ones their due. The Holy Prophet (S) and all the Muslims were indebted to Bibi Khadija (A) who sacrificed her entire wealth for the sake of the early Muslims. Her money had been used to spread Islam, free those Muslims who were slaves and support them in their times of trouble as in the three years of social boycott that they had faced in Makka. Now the Holy Prophet (S) could return her favours by gifting her daughter the rich land of Fadak. He also knew that after him, Imam Ali (A) would need Fadak as a source of income to safeguard his position as Caliph. Finally, he wanted to leave some provision for his daughter and grandchildren so that they could live with dignity after his death.
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However, after the Holy Prophet (S) passed away, Abu Bakr, who had stolen the right of Imam Ali (A) to the Caliphate, took Fadak away from Bibi Fatimah (A). He did this to ensure that Imam Ali (A) would not have the means to regain his rights. When her agents informed her that they had been replaced by the Caliph's men at Fadak, Bibi Fatimah (A) decided to contest her right by legal means. Abu Bakr refused to acknowledge her claim, and asked her to provide witnesses. Although she already possessed the property of Fadak and there had never been any doubt about her ownership, she brought two witnesses. These were Imam Ali (A) and a woman named Umme Ayman, about whom the Holy Prophet (S) had guaranteed that she would go to heaven. Even then, Abu Bakr would not agree and he quoted a fake tradition saying, "The Holy Prophet has said, `We the group of Prophets do not inherit, nor are we inherited and what we leave is for alms.'" This was a blatant lie and moreover no one but Abu Bakr claimed to have heard it. Bibi Fatimah (A) then gave an eloquent lecture in which she first explained about the Oneness of Allah and the nature of the mission of her father. She then proved that Abu Bakr was lying by quoting the following verse: And Sulaiman inherited Dawood... Naml 27 : 16(Part) Although Abu Bakr was ashamed of his conduct and decided to return Fadak to her, she never forgave him for his actions. She did not speak to him again as long as she lived and at her funeral six months after her father died, he was not allowed to take part as per her will. Eventually, Abu Bakr wrote a certificate to the effect that Fadak was the absolute property of Bibi Fatimah (A) and gave it to her. However, when she was going back to her house, Umar al-Khattab chanced to meet her and came to know the contents of the certificate. He brought it back to Abu Bakr saying, "As Ali is a beneficiary in this case, his evidence is not acceptable. As for Umme Ayman, being a woman, her testimony is also of no value on its own." Saying this, he tore up the certificate in the presence of Abu Bakr. This action grieved Bibi Fatimah (A) so much that she cursed him saying, "May Allah cause your abdomen to be torn in the same way." This prayer proved fateful, because in 24 A.H., Umar was stabbed thrice in the stomach by his killer, Abu Lulu. After this, Fadak remained in the hands of successive rulers until the time of the Umayyad Caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz, who returned it to Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A). However, the next Caliph took it away and it remained with the Bani Umayyah Caliphs until their rule ended. During the rule of the Bani Abbas it was returned briefly, but then taken away forever.
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Now you know… The Holy Prophet wanted to destroy the strongholds of the Jews. He went to the fertile Jewish village of Fadak north of Madina The chief of the village did not want to fight so he agreed to give half the produce of the land to the Holy Prophet. According to Islam those lands conquered through war belong to the Muslims. Those lands submitted without war belong to the Holy Prophet. Therefore Fadak belonged to the Holy Prophet and then the Imam after him and they have the right to distribute such properties as they see fit. Then a verse of the Quran was revealed that mentioned give the dues to the kinsmen, meaning your relatives. He made the gift of Fadak to his dear Daughter, Bibi Fatimah (A). The Holy Prophet did this because a) The Muslims owed a lot to Bibi Khadija (A) for spending all her wealth in the way of Islam, so this was a fitting gift for Bibi Khadija's daughter. b) The Prophet knew that Imam Ali needed to earn his own income in order to protect his caliphate after him. c) He wanted to leave something for his daughter and grandchildren so they could live a life of dignity after his death. After the Holy Prophet passed away the caliphate from Imam Ali (A) and Fadak from Bibi Fatimah (A) was snatched away. Bibi Fatimah went to get back what was legally hers. She was told that Prophets do not inherit and leave inheritance and that what ever is left is for charity. Bibi Fatimah then gave a powerful lecture that clearly stated the matter of inheritance referring to Prophet Sulayman inheriting from Dawood as mentioned in the Qur'an. Abu Bakr felt ashamed and gave the land back to her with a certificate. Umar al Khattab tore up the certificate and said the evidence was not acceptable. Bibi Fatimah (A) was so upset that she swore not to have them at her funeral. She cursed Umar that his stomach would be torn up. That is exactly how Umar was killed many years later by his killer. Thereafter Fadak remained in the hands of the caliphs and was returned at the time of the 5th Imam then taken away. It was returned again another time then taken away forever. MORAL BOX
Never take something from someone unlawfully as you can really hurt them and
they may never forgive you.
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LESSON 17: THE LAPSED UMRAH One of the conditions of the Peace Treaty of Hudaybiya was that the Muslims would be permitted to visit Makka the following year. They would be allowed to stay there for three days to carry out their religious duties. After a year had passed, the Holy Prophet (S) declared that the Muslims should prepare for the Umrah, the minor Haj. The announcement was met with great joy, especially by the Muhajirs, who had not seen their relatives and home town in seven years. 2,000 Muslims prepared to make the journey. The Holy Prophet (S) put on his Ihram in the mosque and the others followed him. Then the Muslims proceeded to Makka reciting the Talbiyyah (Labbayk, Allahumma Labbayk - Here I am, my Lord, here I am). They took with them 80 camels for sacrifice. The sight of this caravan, which possessed so much majesty and dignity, made many idolaters inclined towards Islam. As a result, many became Muslims. One of the conditions of the treaty was that, when entering Makka, the Muslims should be unarmed except for a single traveller's sword. The Holy Prophet (S) knew that this made them vulnerable to attack from the Quraish, whom he did not trust. Therefore, he sent 200 well armed men in a valley near Makka and to wait there for his arrival. When the Quraish learnt of this action of the Holy Prophet (S) they realised that it was useless to plan any surprise attacks on the Muslims. They therefore opened the gates of Makka and vacated the city for the nearby mountains and hills. From here, they could observe all their activities of the Muslims during their three days' stay. QUESTION BOX Why do you think the Quraish vacated the city? Why didn't the Holy Prophet use this as an opportunity to conquer the city? Why did they trust the Holy Prophet? The Holy Prophet (S) entered Makka with the Muslims and the sound of "Labbayk" echoed throughout the city, filling the Makkans with awe. He performed Tawaaf of the Holy Ka'aba while mounted on his camel. At this stage he ordered that the Muslims join him in saying: "There is no god but Allah. He is One and Matchless. He has acted according to his promise (He had promised that the Muslims would visit the Holy Ka`ba soon). He helped His servant. He raised the army of One God to the highest rank and condemned the armies of the idol worshippers to loneliness". On that day all the centres of pilgrimage and the places where ceremonies of Umrah are performed, including Masjidul Haraam, the Holy Ka`ba and the hills of Safa and Marwah were under the control of the Muslims.
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Seeing the Muslims perform their sacred rites at these places made a great impact on the leaders of the Quraish, and now they finally believed that this mighty religion and its leader could never be stopped. The time for noon prayers arrived. The Holy Prophet (S) ordered Bilal to recite the Adhaan. Bilal climbed onto the roof of the Holy Ka`ba, and loudly announced the call to prayer. Every word was like an arrow in the hearts of the listening Quraish. One of them hid his face in his handkerchief as he heard Bilal's recitation. He could not bear to hear the open declaration of the Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Muhammad (S) which had once been the greatest crime according to the disbelievers of Quraish. Afterwards, the Holy Prophet (S) led the Muslims in performing Sa'i between the hills of Safa and Marwah. The hypocrites and idolaters had spread the rumour that the Muslims had become weak due to the poor climate in Madina. To show them that they were wrong, the Holy Prophet (S) did "Harwalah" during part of the Sa'i, and the Muslims followed him. Harwalah is a type of quick walking, just short of running. Then the Muslims sacrificed their camels and came out of the state of Ihram and had their hair cut. The Holy Prophet (S) then ordered that 200 Muslims should proceed to the valley where the Muslim soldiers were camped, to replace them so that they could come and perform their Umrah. RESEARCH BOX What does the action of "Harwalah" also symbolise? The rites and ceremonies of Umrah came to an end. The Muhajirs went to their homes to meet their relatives. They also invited some Ansar to their homes to return some of the hospitality that the Ansar had shown them on their arrival in Madina. After three days the Holy Prophet (S) gave the order for the Muslims to leave Makka for Madina. Before he left, he received a proposal of marriage from a Quraish woman Maimoona, who was the sister-in-law of Abbas, the uncle of the Holy Prophet (S). He accepted this proposal and married her in Makka. The short visit of the Muslims and the glory of Islam had made a deep impression on the minds of the citizens of Makka. Many of them were left with a longing to learn more about the religion and the conduct of the Muslims had won a greater victory than any war. The Holy Qur'an says: Allah made the dream of His messenger come true for a genuine purpose. If Allah wills, you (believers) will enter the Sacred Mosque in security with your heads shaved, nails cut and without any fears in your heart. Fat'h, 48 : 27
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Now you know… The conditions of the Treaty of Hudaybiya was that the Muslims can come the following year to perform Haj. The Prophet then decided the following year that they would go for Umrah (minor haj). 2,000 people prepared for the Journey with great excitement. They wore the Ihram in the Mosque then made there way to Makka reciting the Talbiyya. They took 80 camels for sacrifice. When Non- Muslims watched their caravan, some became Muslims. The Treaty said that the Muslims cannot come into Makka armed. So as to not put the Muslims in danger, the Holy Prophet sent 200 men that were fully armed in a valley near Makka. When the Quraish found out they did not see the point of attacking the Muslims. They moved out of the city to nearby hills and moutains. When the Muslims and entered, Labayk echoed throughout the city. They performed Tawaaf, then Sai' and then cut their hair and sacrificed the camels. When it came to the noon prayers, The Holy Prophet asked Bilal to recite Adhaan. Bilal climbed to the roof of the Ka'ba and called out the Adhaan. Once the Umrah had finished the Muhajirs with their Ansar brothers went to the visit their relatives. After their 3 day stay was over the Muslims left Makka. The conduct of the Muslims left a deep impression in the minds of the Makkans and they longed to learn more about Islam. MORAL BOX
Your good Akhlaq and the way you carry yourself amongst unbelievers can leave
a lasting impression on them and they may even want to become Muslims.
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By 8 A.H. there was security in most of Arabia and the call of Islam had extended to many parts. The Jews in the north and the Quraish in the south had been subdued by the victories of the Muslims in battle and they did not pose a threat any longer. The Holy Prophet (S) sent envoys to neighbouring countries and invited their rulers to embrace Islam. Some of these envoys were well received, while others were mistreated and even killed. One such envoy, Harith bin Umayr Azdi was sent with a letter to the ruler of Syria. Before he could reach his destination, he was captured at Moota by Shurahbil, the governor of the ruler of Syria in the border towns. Disregarding the universal law about the safety of envoys, Shurahbil killed Harith. In a separate incident, 15 missionaries sent to the Syrians were also killed. When the Holy Prophet (S) received the sad news, he was deeply grieved and decided to punish Shurahbil and those who obstructed the spread of Islam. He gave orders for Jihad and 3,000 men assembled at Jurf, the military station of Madina. He instructed the army to march towards Moota and first invite the people to become Muslims. If they accepted Islam, the murder of the envoy would not be avenged but if they resisted, the Muslims should fight against them in the Name of Allah. Ja'far bin Abu Talib was appointed as the commander of the army and the Holy Prophet (S) said that if Ja'far was killed then Zayd bin Harith would lead them, and if he was killed then Abdullah bin Rawaahid would assume command. If he too was killed, then the Muslim army should select their commander from amongst themselves. Before dispatching the expedition, the Holy Prophet (S) instructed them to observe the following rules: 1. Not to interfere with the monks and nuns who were worshipping in their monasteries. 2. Not to lift their hand against any women, children or old people. 3. Not to cut down trees or destroy buildings
These instructions were an example of the Holy Prophet's (S) vision and the efforts he was making to bring about changes and reforms in all walks of life, in a period in Arabia when no scruples were exercised, particularly in war. In response to the news of the march of the Muslim army, the Kaiser of Rome and the Syrian Ruler sent their best troops to the borders and Shurahbil gathered an army of 100,000 soldiers. In addition to being hopelessly outnumbered, the Muslims were also facing a professional army. Due to their constant wars with Iran, the Romans had become experts in war strategy and tactics. They were also equipped with better weapons and transport. Also, the Romans had the advantage that they were fighting at home while the Muslims were in a foreign land.
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Despite being in a weaker position, the Muslim forces gave a heroic account of their valour. Ja'far divided his men into 3 divisions and the armies met at Sharaf near Moota. The battle began with single combats but soon turned into a full scale war. The Muslims fought courageously but soon the differences in number proved too great. Ja'far was surrounded and lost one arm and then the other. Eventually, he was killed with a blow to the head and after him Zayd and then Abdullah were also martyred. By the end of the first day the Muslim army was in disarray and their numbers were severely reduced. As their new commander, the Muslims chose Khalid bin Walid. During the night, Khalid ordered the remaining wings of the Muslim army to change sides with each other, and the sound of the movements of a large number of men convinced the enemy that reinforcements had arrived. On the next day Khalid arranged the Muslim army in such a way as to give an impression that new troops had joined them. These tactics made the enemy hesitate and Khalid took the opportunity to withdraw the Muslim army and return to Madina. The retreat of the Muslims was not well received by some in Madina who said that they should have fought on till the very end. However, given the circumstances, Khalid was right in bringing them back because it would have been pointless to sacrifice the lives of more Muslims. The Holy Prophet (S) was much grieved at the loss of Muslim lives and especially that of his cousin Ja'far. He saw in his dream that Ja'far had been given 2 wings like angels in heaven and since then Ja'far in known as Ja'far –e- Tayyaar – the Ja'far that flies. Just before his death, the Holy Prophet (S) prepared a strong force under Usama bin Zayd, to return to Moota. However, this expedition never got off the ground because of his illness. Although Usama was ready to march, some Muslims, especially Abu Bakr and Umar, were worried that they would be absent from Madina when the Holy Prophet (S) passed away. They wanted to be present to put a stop to the successorship of Imam Ali (A) and put their own plans into action. However, two years later, a powerful Muslim army returned to Syria and conquered the Romans in the battle of Yermuk, bringing a large part of Syria under Islam.
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Now you know… By 8 A.H. there was security in the whole of Arabia. The call of Islam had spread to many places. The Holy Prophet continued to send messengers to foreign states to invite them towards Islam. Some of they messengers were well received. Some were treated badly or even killed. One such journey was undertaken by Harith bin Umayr Azdi to Syria. Before he reached the Ruler he was stopped at Moota by the Syrian governor, Shurahbil of the border towns and was killed. This made the Prophet upset and he decided to rage a war against Shurahbil. An Army of 3,000 men gathered to set of for Moota. The Holy Prophet instructed them to first invite the Syrians towards Islam if they resisted and wanted to fight than to fight in the way of Allah – JIHAD. He told them that the Ja'far bin Abu Talib would be their commander, if Ja'far would not survive them it would by Zayd Ibn Harith, if zayd was not there them it would be Abdullah bin Rawaahid. And after him they would need to choose a commander amongst themselves. The Prophet told them not to disturb the Monks and Nuns in their monastries, not to raise their hands against the women and children or old people, and not to destroy any buildings and trees. The Kaiser of Rome and the Syrian ruler sent their best troops to the borders of 100,000 men. Despite being outnumbered greatly the Muslims did not lose courage. They fought bravely under Ja'far, who lost both his arms and was eventually killed. Then Zayd and Abdullah were also killed. Khalid bin Walid was chosen as their new commander and he changed the ranks in such away that it looked like more people had joined the army. He use this tactic to retreat the Muslims back to Madina The Holy Prophet was very sad to hear about those Muslims that were killed, especially his cousin Ja'far. In a dream he say that Ja'far had been given two wings like angels in heaven. There after he is known as Ja'far – e Tayyaar – the ja'far that flies. MORAL BOX
In our daily lives when we want to inform others of our religion, we cannot do it
with force and destroy their things. If we behave properly we r more likely to be heard and be given more respect.
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LESSON 19: THE CONQUEST OF MAKKA - PART 1 The treaty of Hudaibiya was signed between the Chiefs of the Quraish of Makka and the Holy Prophet (S), in which they agreed that there would be no fighting between the Muslims and the Quraish for ten years. In the years following the treaty, there was general peace and the Muslims went freely to Makka to perform their pilgrimage in the presence of thousands of idol worshippers who were the enemies of Islam. In the month of Jamadil Awwal of 8 A.H., the Holy Prophet (S) sent 3,000 soldiers to the frontiers of Syria, to punish the Romans for killing unprotected Muslim missionaries in a cruel manner. The Muslims however, did not engage in full battle but retreated after a few attacks. Although very few Muslim lives were lost, the expedition was not as successful as had been expected. When the Quraish heard the news, they thought that the military might of the Muslims had weakened and they got bold and decided to disturb the peaceful situation. Jamadiul Awwal 8 A.H., 3000 soldiers go to the frontiers of Syria to punish Romans for killing unprotected Muslim missionaries.
The first action of the Quraish was to encourage their friends, the Bani Bakr, to launch an unexpected attack on the people of Bani Khuza'ah, who were the allies of the Muslims and under their protection. The Bani Khuza'ah, who were caught by surprise could not offer much resistance and were killed in their beds and in prayers. The ones who remained alive were made prisoners. Allies of the Quraish were the Bani Bakr Allies of the Muslims were the Bani Khuza'ah
When the news reached the Holy Prophet (S), he promised to avenge the innocent blood of the Bani Khuza'ah. The Quraish, on hearing that the Muslims were taking this breach of the peace treaty very seriously, began to regret their hasty action. To try and calm things down, they sent Abu Sufyan to Madina with instructions to hide the details of their crimes by all means.
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When Abu Sufyan arrived in Madina, he went straight to the house of his daughter, Umme Habiba, who was the wife of the Holy Prophet (S). When he wanted to sit on a mattress that was used by the Holy Prophet (S), his daughter folded it up. Abu Sufyan asked, "Did you not think that the bedding was suitable for me, or was I not suitable for it?". His daughter replied, "I do not wish that a person who is an unbeliever and Najis should sit on the bedding of the Holy Prophet (S)." The experience at his daughter's house left Abu Sufyan very uneasy but he decide to go to meet the Holy Prophet (S) anyway. When he met him, Abu Sufyan talked unashamedly of strengthening the bond of peace between the Muslims and the Quraish, as if their actions against the allies did not matter. However, the Holy Prophet (S) remained silent, thus showing him that he did not care for the proposal at all. Abu Sufyan realised that he had no chance of changing the mind of the Holy Prophet (S) or stopping the revenge of the Muslims, so he returned to Makka to warn the Quraish. The Holy Prophet (S) decided to use this opportunity to bring Makka under the control of Islam once and for all. However, he wanted to capture this last base of the idol worshippers with as little bloodshed as possible. He planned to move swiftly and secretly to Makka with a huge army. He hoped that when the Makkans would be faced with a powerful army that appeared by surprise, they would lose heart in fighting. According to this plan, the Holy Prophet (S) mobilised the Muslim army on the 10th of Ramadhan 8 A.H., and marched towards Makka with about 10,000 men. When they reached a place called Kadid a few miles from Madina, the Holy Prophet (S) and the Muslims broke their fasts. Then they continued onward towards Makka. Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib, who was the uncle of the Holy Prophet (S), lived in Makka and used to inform the Holy Prophet (S) about the decisions of the Quraish. Although he was a Muslim, he had good relations with the chiefs of the Quraish. While the Holy Prophet (S) was proceeding towards Makka, Abbas left towards Madina and met him at a place called Ju'fah. The presence of Abbas proved very useful in the conquest of Makka. The Muslim army finally stopped to camp a few miles from Makka. The Makkans, who were unaware of the Muslim presence, were shocked when they suddenly saw the hills around Makka light up with hundreds of fires from the Muslim camp. Abu Sufyan and some other chiefs of the Quraish came out of Makka to investigate. He was met by Abbas, who protected him from the swords of the Muslims and guided him to the Holy Prophet's (S) tent. When the Holy Prophet (S) saw him he said, "Has the time not come for you to accept that there is no god but Allah?"
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However, Abu Sufyan was not very willing to give up his belief in idols. Seeing him hesitate, Abbas warned him that if he waited for much longer, his life would not be safe. Abu Sufyan realised the danger he was in, and accepted Islam, although in his heart still burned with hatred for the Holy Prophet (S). QUESTION BOX Why were the Quraish so desperate to keep peace with the Prophet (S)?
Now you know… The Muslims signed a peace treaty with the Quraish, called the treaty of Hudaibiya which the disbelievers broke. The Quraish did not think the Muslims would take this so seriously and became desperate to maintain peace. Abu Sufyan, the ringleader of the disbelievers, was sent to Madina to cover up the actions of the Quraish. He was humiliated by his daughter who did not let him sit on the mattress of the Holy Prophet (S). The Holy Prophet (S) decided to bring Makka under the control of Islam once and for all and marched towards Makka with 10,000 men. The Quraish in Mecca were scared of the Muslims, particularly when they witnessed their number camped on the hills surrounding Mecca. Abu Sufyan finally accepted Islam out of fear for his life but still had hatred for the Holy Prophet (S) in his heart.
MORAL BOX Obedience towards Allah and His Messenger (S) takes precedence over the rights of the parents. The enemies of Islam, who had fought against the Holy Prophet (S) for years, ended up surrendering helplessly, despite their great number and power. _______________________________________________________
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LESSON 20: THE CONQUEST OF MAKKA - PART 2 Although the Holy Prophet (S) was well aware that Abu Sufyan had only become a Muslim to save his life, he decided to accept the man's words because it would help to secure the city of Makka without bloodshed. In order to show Abu Sufyan that he did not have any ill feelings against him, the Holy Prophet (S) declared: "Abu Sufyan is authorised to assure the people of Makka that whoever takes refuge within the Masjidul Haraam around the Holy Ka'aba OR lays down his weapons OR stays in his house OR takes refuge in the house of Abu Sufyan will remain safe from the action of the army of Islam."
The Holy Prophet (S) wished to show Abu Sufyan the military strength of the Muslim army so that he would tell the rest of the Quraish how useless it would be to try and fight the Muslims. So, Abbas, the uncle of the Holy Prophet (S), detained Abu Sufyan in a narrow valley so they could watch the Muslim army march past. The power and grandeur of the entire Muslim army left Abu Sufyan frightened, and all thoughts of resistance vanished from his mind. The Holy Prophet (S) set him free to return to Makka. When he got there, Abu Sufyan told the Makkans what he had seen and gave them the message of the Holy Prophet (S). He further added that it would be impossible to attack an army so large and well equipped. The morale of the Makkans was completely weakened when they heard the words of Abu Sufyan. The Holy Prophet (S) entered the city of Makka with great dignity riding on his camel al-Qaswa. Nobody stood to oppose him. He stopped at the side of the grave of his uncle Abu Talib and pitched his tent at that place. Each unit of the Muslim army entered the city through different gates with no incident except for the unit of Khalid bin Walid. Some people tried to stop him and fighting broke out which was stopped by the Holy Prophet (S). Soon, the entire city of Makka surrendered to the Muslims.
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The Holy Prophet (S) won the hearts of the Makkans by saying that he would take no revenge for their past actions, and that they were all free. He then mounted his camel and proceeded towards the Holy Ka'aba for Tawaaf. During the first round of Tawaaf, he turned towards the three big idols named Hubal, Isaf, and Na'ilah, which had been put above the door of the Holy Ka'ba. He knocked them down with a stick he was carrying and recited the following verse from the Holy Qur'an:
Suratul Bani Israil 17
Ayah 81
Say, "Truth has come and falsehood has been banished; and falsehood is certainly doomed to banishment."
RESEARCH BOX When else in the future is the whole world expecting to see this verse and who is going to bring it?
The Holy Prophet (S) then entered the Holy Ka'aba to clear it of the idols that were in there. He broke many idols himself. Some of them were placed too high for him to reach, so he asked Imam Ali (A) to stand on his shoulders and pull the idols down. Thus, the last traces of idol worship were removed from the Holy Ka'aba and Masjidul Haraam. By now the time for Dhohr prayers had set in. The Holy Prophet (S) asked Bilal to recite the Adhaan. All the Muslims offered their prayers led by the Holy Prophet (S), who then delivered a speech in which he summarised the message of Islam. The entire population of Makka then offered their allegiance to the Holy Prophet (S). Allah had kept the promise he had made to his beloved Prophet (S) when He said in the Holy Qur'an:
Suratul Qasas 28
Ayat 85
(O Muhammad,) Allah, Who has commanded you to follow the guidance of the Qur'an will certainly return you victoriously to your place of birth.
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Now you know… The Holy Prophet (S) accepted Abu Sufyan's words in order to help to secure the city of Makka without bloodshed. Abu Sufyan became frightened at seeing the size of the Muslim army and the morale of the Makkans was completely weakened when they heard his words. Soon, the entire city of Makka surrendered to the Muslims. The Holy Prophet (S) broke the idols that were on the door of the Holy Ka'aba and those that were inside it. He then asked Imam Ali (A) to stand on his shoulders and pull the idols down that were too high for him to reach. MORAL BOX When you see greatness and luxury do not forget your own rewards given to you by Allah and always be thankful to him. Things are not always as they seem. Allah is the best of planners and he is all knowing. ___________________________________________________
MORAL BOX We must prepare for the time when our 12th Imam reappears so that we are on the side of truth and not on the side of falsehood. If we only accept the rules of Islam out of fear, faith will never truly settle in our hearts. We must take the example of the Holy Prophet (S) and forgive the people who give us trouble or wrong us. ______________________________________________________
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