Chapter 27 : Getting Yathrib's Allegiance Flashcards
Regarding the troubles in Yathrib
- In Yathrib, The Aws and The Khazraj were 2 powerful Tribes with a longstanding history of Civil War
- The Battle of Bu’ath was the 4th and latest clash and it had increasingly polarized the community
- Yathrib’s moderate clansmen propose electing a single leader to unify the clan
- Abdullah Ibn Ubayy [ Chief of Khazraj ] positions himself as the leading contender because he refused to fight with his Tribe against The Aws on grounds that it was an unjust war
- When the war quelled, both sides agreed to make Abdullah their Ruler / King
- According to Ibn Sa’d narration, when the conflict between the Tribes of Aws and Khazraj reached its peak, As’ad Ibn Zurarah and Dhakwan Ibn Abd Qays [ Members of Khazraj ] travelled to Makkah during Rajab to seek help against the Aws
- This trip took place during the blockade between 5 AB - 10 AB
- They encounter Utbah Ibn Rabi’ah and put their request to him in which he replies :-
” Our city is distant from yours and we have troubles that won’t allow us to engage in any other. “
- As’ad asked :-
” What troubles could you possibly have considering that you are here in this sanctuary of peace ? “
- Utbah replied :-
” A man from among us has risen up claiming to be The Messenger of God. He has denounced our elders as fools, railed against our Gods, corrupted our youth and caused rifts in our society. “
- As’ad asked interested :-
” Who is he ? “
- Utbah said :-
” He is the son of Abdullah Ibn Abdul Muttalib, our noblest and most prestigious clan. “
- As’ad and Dhakwan’s interest was sparked because they had heard from the Jews of Medina regarding The Prophecies of A Prophet who would rise up from Makkah and emigrate to Madinah
- The Jews had always threatened to wipe out The Arabs along with this new Prophet
- They asked :-
” Where is he ? “
- Utbah told them that he was in The Hijr and warned them not to listen to him lest they become enchanted by his spells
- As’ad goes to see The Prophet for the first time and asks him what his message is
- The Prophet says :-
” There is no God but Allah and that I am The Messenger of God And i call you to the following “
- He then quoted verses 6 : 151 - 152 in The Al Quran :-
” Tell Them, Come and I shall recount what Your Lord has forbidden for you. That you shall not ascribe any partners to him and that you be good to your parents. That you not kill your children due to poverty for we shall provide for you and for them. That you not approach indecencies whether public or private and that you not kill a soul whose life God has made inviolable except with due cause. This is what he has enjoined upon you so that you may use your intellect. And that you not approach the orphan’s property except in the best possible manner until he comes of age. That you observe fully the measure and the balance with fairness. We task no soul except according to its capacity. And when you speak, be fair even if it be against a relative and fulfill God’s covenant. This is what he enjoins upon you so that you may take admonition. “
Al Quran [ 6 : 151- 152 ]
- As’ad said the Shahadah and said :-
” O Messenger of God ! I am from Yathrib from The Khazraj Tribe. Between us and our brethren, The Aws, our ties are broken. If God mends these ties through you no one will be dearer to us than you … By God, we used to hear prophecies about you from The Jews. They used to give us tidings of your advent and reveal your description to us. I hope that our city will be your destination and your new home … Praise is for God for guiding me to you. By God, we came to seek help in destroying our brethren but God has given me something far better. “
The First Pledge of Aqabah
- In 12 AB, A delegation of 12 men from Madinah [ 10 from Khazraj and 2 from Aws or 9 from Khazraj and 2 from Aws ] met with The Prophet at a hollow near Jamarat Al Aqabah and made a pledge to him which is known as The First Pledge of Aqabah
- They gathered around The Prophet and intently listened to his words :-
” Come here and pledge that :-
1) You will not associate any with Allah
2) You will not steal
3) You will not commit unlawful sexual intercourse [ Not to commit Adultery or Fornication ]
4) You will not kill your children [ Not to commit Infanticide ]
5) You will not utter slander thereby intentionally forging falsehood [ Not to falsely attribute Paternity ]
6) You will not disobey me in any good
He who fulfills this, Allah will reward him and those who neglects anything and is afflicted in this world, it may prove redemption for him in the hereafter. And if the sin remains hidden from the eyes of men and no grief comes to him then his affair is with Allah. He may forgive him or he may not. “
Mus’ab Ibn Umayr [ Mus’ab Al Khayr ( The Good ) ] being sent to Madinah as The First Ambassador of Islam
- After The First Pledge of Aqabah, the delegation from Madinah asked The Prophet to send someone with them back to Madinah to teach them The Quran
- The Prophet sends Mus’ab Ibn Umayr Ibn Hashim [ He was a Hashimi and not an Aws or Khazraj so he was a good choice as he was a Neutral ] who knew much of The Quran
- Mus’ab was one of the first person who converted to Islam when The Prophet was secretly inviting people to Islam in The House of Arqam
- He concealed his conversion to Islam from his parents and relatives and sometimes secretly went to The Prophet
- The Prophet had said the following of Mus’ab Ibn Umayr :-
” When Mus’ab Ibn Umayr came towards The Prophet [ One day ] wearing coarse garments, The Prophet said ‘ Look at a man who’s heart has been illuminated by God. I used to see him [ In the past in Makkah ] while his parents fed him the best food and provided him with the finest clothes but the love of God and His Messenger has drawn him to this. ‘ “
- After Mus’ab Ibn Umayr arrives in Madinah, he stays with As’ad Ibn Zurarah and the 2 men worked together to spread Islam and establish congregational prayers in Madinah
- Slowly, many from The Aws and Khazraj converted and The Prophet began sending people to Madinah as an escape from Makkah
- As’ad’s hospitality towards Mus’ab greatly annoyed his cousin Sa’d Ibn Mu’adh
- As one of the Chiefs of Aws, Sa’d sends his friend Usayd Ibn Hudayr to break up Mus’ab’s gatherings
- To Sa’d’s dismay, Usayd is captivated by The Makkan Surah’s and returns a converted man
- Sa’d decides to confront Mus’ab himself but he too is mesmerized by The Quran
- Sa’d leverages his position in his clan to persuade clan members to embrace the new religion
The Second Pledge of Aqabah [ Pledge of War ]
- In 13 AB [ 1 Year After The First Pledge of Aqabah ], A large group of Muslims from Madinah come for Hajj with the rest of the Madinans
- Through secret communications, they agree to meet The Prophet during The Middle of Ayyam Al Tashriq [ Days of Tashriq are 11, 12 and 13 Dhu Al Hijrah ] [ Middle of Tashriq would be The Eve of the 12th Dhu Al Hijjah ] in a hollow near Jamarat Al Aqabah
- They keep the meeting a secret from the rest of the pilgrims
- That night, 70 men and 3 women meet The Prophet and this comes to be known as The Second Pledge of Aqabah
- Abbas Ibn Abdul Muttalib [ Uncle of The Prophet ] despite not having converted yet escorts The Prophet and speaks :-
” O People of Khazraj ! Muhammad is dear to us as you know. We have defended him against our people, against to whom he is as dear as he is to us for he is honoured by his people and in his city. But he has chosen to emigrate to you and to join with you. If you believe you will fulfill the terms with which you have called him to yourselves and defend him against those who oppose him then so be it. But if you believe you will desert him after he emigrates to you then from this moment, let him go. For he is honoured among his people and in his city. “
- They reply :-
” We have heard what you have said. Now speak O Messenger of God and demand for yourself and for Your Lord whatever terms you wish. “
- The Prophet began reciting some verses from The Quran calling them to God and to Islam and then said :-
” I call on you to defend me as you defend your women and children. “
- Abu Al Haytham Ibn Al Tayihan asked :-
” Between us and those men [ The Jews ] are ties. We are now severing them. If we do this and God gives you victory over your people, will you return to your people and leave us ? “
- The Prophet smiled and said :-
” No. Your blood is now my blood. Your sanctity is my sanctity. I and you are one. You and I are one. I shall fight against those who fight you and make peace with those who make peace with you. “
- Then The Prophet said :-
” Send forth 12 men from among yourselves as chief [ Nuqaba ] who will be responsible for their people. “
- They sent 12 men [ 9 from Khazraj and 2 from Aws ]
- As’ad Ibn Zurarah was chosen as The Chief of Chiefs
- One of The Medinans named Abbas Ibn Ubadah said :-
” O People of Khazraj ! Do you know what you are pledging this man ? You are pledging to fight white people and black. If you think when a scourge afflicts your wealth and kills your loved ones that you will desert him then leave him now. For if you desert him then it will be a disgrace in this world and the next. And if you believe you will fulfill the terms with which you have called him here despite loss of wealth and life then pledge. It is by God the best thing you can do in this life and the next. “
- They ask :-
” If we do all this O Messenger of God, what is in it for us ? “
- The Prophet simply said :-
” Jannah [ Paradise ] “
- They resoundingly said :-
” Stretch forth your hand. “
- To summarize the terms of The Second Pledge of Aqabah :-
1) To protect The Prophet and his family
2) To give The Prophet refuge and support
3) To listen and obey The Prophet in ease and in hardship
4) To spend and donate money to the Cause of Islam
5) To enjoin the good and forbid the evil
6) To uphold the truth and will not be scared or concerned of the opinions and actions of others
7) To not compete or dispute with those who have rightful leadership
What happened after The Second Pledge of Aqabah
- The next day, Quraysh heard rumours of the activity of the night
- They questioned Abdullah Ibn Ubayy who knew nothing
- They detained and beat Sa’d Ibn Ubadah to make him disclose
- This almost leads to war as The Madinans prepare to rescue him
- When he is released, The Madinans returned to Madinah and Islam spreads quickly throughout the city
Practical Lessons learned in this chapter
1) The people of Yathrib were psychologically primed to accept Islam because The Jews frequently spoke of the advent of The Final Messenger of God. Similarly, we can also play a role in preparing for the return of Imam Al Mahdi by educating people about the concept of the divinely chosen saviour at the end of times
2) The Prophet does not emigrate to Madinah without first planting the seeds for success. The Prophet teaches us the real meaning of reliance of Allah. Tawakkul does not mean recklessness and hoping that Allah protects us. Tawakkul means you do what is rational and you prepare diligently and then place your trust in Allah
- Tawakkul means to have Perfect Trust in God and Reliance on Him Alone. However, this does not mean for us to do nothing and leave everything to Allah. It essentially means to do whatever we can and leave the rest to Allah
3) We cannot achieve success alone. We need the help of other believers. Admitting that you need support is not a sign of weakness
4) We need to empower our youth. Mus’ab was in his mid 20s when The Prophet sent him to Yathrib. He gave him the responsibility of establishing peace between 2 Rival Tribes and to Teach Islam
5) When we only give consideration to our personal interests, we become blind to the truth. The people of Makkah had heard the same message for 13 years but rejected it because Islam did not align with their selfish interests
6) Don’t underestimate the power of a small group of committed followers. Mus’ab alone converted 100s of people to Islam
7) The virtue of loyalty and gratitude to those who stood with you when you were vulnerable. The Prophet was so loyal to The People of Madinah that he made it his permanent home even after he conquered Makkah as a token of gratitude to The Ansar [ The Helpers / Those Who Bring Victory ] [ The First Inhabitants of Madinah Who Received And Supported The Prophet During The Hijra ]
