10 October 2010

10 October 2010

Seerah of Muhammed*

*: May the peace blessings & Mercy of Allah be upon him
TMQ: Translation to the nearest meaning of the Qur’an

Expedition of Abdullah bin Jahsh

He was make the leader of an expedition deep into enemy territory and given a letter to read two days after reaching his destination. The letter said that this dangerous mission was voluntary on him & his group of soldiers, and that if he accepts the mission he should go to a place between Mecca & Taif and take whoever wants to follow him. There he would undergo reconnaissance and gather information about a caravan.

All of them agreed to go even though they could be killed on the mission. They then encountered a lightly guarded caravan with 4 guards which was carrying loads of raisins (dried grapes), food stuff and other commodities. Notable polytheists were also there such as ‘Amr bin Al-Hadrami, ‘Uthman and Naufal, sons of ‘Abdullah bin Al-Mugheerah. The Muslims held consultations (Shura) among themselves with respect to fighting them as it was the last day of Rajab which was a sacred month (during which, along with Dhul Hijja, Dhul Qa‘da and Muharram, war activities were suspended as was the custom in Arabia then). They agreed to engage with them in fighting. ‘Amr bin Al-Hadrami was shot dead by an arrow, ‘Uthman and Al-Hakam were captured whereas Naufal escaped. They came back with the booty and the two prisoners.

However, the Prophet* and companions were not happy as they violated the sacred months, and the Prophet did not accept the booty or prisoners. The Quraish had a propaganda coup against the Muslims and spread far & wide the news of the caravan battle. They claimed that the Muslims were like terrorists who violated the sacred months, who shed blood in the sacred months, who took prisoners and stole wealth all in the sacred month. Then Allah revealed the verse of Qur'an:

"They ask you concerning fighting in the sacred months (i.e. 1st, 7th, 11th and 12th months of the Islamic calendar). Say, ‘Fighting therein is a great sin but a greater sin with Allah is to prevent mankind from following the way of Allah, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al-Masjid- Al-Haram (in Mecca), and to drive out its inhabitants, and Al-Fitnah is worse than killing." [TMQ 2:217]

So Allah is putting these actions into perspective comparing the battle with the much greater sins that the Quraish had been doing willfully for over a decade. The message was not to blow things out of proportion to the suffering already endured. The next verse was reassurance for Abdullah bin Jahsh:

"Verily, those who have believed, and those who have emigrated (for Allah's Religion) and have striven hard in the Way of Allah, all these hope for Allah's Mercy. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful." [TMQ 2:218]

Hence, the Prophet now accepted the booty and prisoners. He didn't accept the ransom for the two until two fighters who had gone looking for their stray camel returned; and one of those prisoners then became a Muslim.

Lessons:

• The enemies of Allah will always try to portray the Muslims in a negative way and put a negative spin on our actions, even though their own actions are often far worse. Things should always be put in the right perspective - even if Muslims do some actions which are not permitted by Islam.
• Muslims should care for one another and not give each other up
• Allah is the Most Merciful
• Prophet waited for revelation to clarify what to do in this new situation.

Hadith

Nawawi's 40 Hadith ~ No. 6 (Halal & Haram are clear)

On the authority of Abu `Abdullah an-Nu`maan the son of Basheer (radiAllahu 'anhuma), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah* say: That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear, and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honour, but he who falls into doubtful matters [eventually] falls into that which is unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Truly every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allah's sanctuary is His prohibitions. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh, which, if it be whole, all the body is whole, and which, if it is diseased, all of [the body] is diseased. Truly, it is the heart. [Bukhari and Muslim]

A very important hadith that has many parts to it. There are many things and actions in Islam that are well known to be allowed and others well known to be haram / forbidden. Some of the allowed things are prayer, fasting, going to the mosque, giving charity etc. Some of the clearly forbidden things are drinking alcohol, eating pork, doing drugs, dealing in interest, having girlfriends or boyfriends. There are others where things may not be so clear cut. The scholars have given names to these categories of actions (Fard - Mandub/Sunnah - Makruh - Mubah - Haram). If people do not know they should either ask people of knowledge or stay clear of doubtful matters - which is a bit like grazing too near land which is not allowed. People could easily stray into the forbidden areas and then develop a habit of this and start to go deeper into the forbidden.

When people start to do this they will disease their hearts (not the physical beating heart but the metaphorical heart of a person). And if the heart becomes diseased then the whole body will eventually suffer...Then a person will not easily be able to distinguish right & wrong and may be inclined to those forbidden things which will harm the person on the Day of Judgment.

Homework:

Some of the reasons the Quraish still wanted to fight at Badr

Nawawi's 40 Hadith No. 7: Religion is Advice