In this episode of Sirat, we are entering the fifth year of the Hijri. This year has been quite eventful. As time passed, the number of Muslims increased and Muslims established their own state. In this episode, we will discuss the events leading up to the Battle of the Trench.
The event we will discuss today is called Dawatul Jangal. This campaign was conducted against the Khuda tribe. Their area was in Uttara, about 450 kilometers from Medina. However, this tribe did not try to attack Medina like other tribes, nor did they have such a violent attitude. However, there are several reasons why the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) led them there.
The first reason is that this tribe used to attack caravans passing through their territory. The main purpose of this operation was to secure trade routes. The second reason is that if the Muslims had not conducted the campaign Dawatul Jangal, Khuda tribe would have established their dominance there and it would have been difficult to resist them later.
The third reason was to give the Quraish an idea of the growing power of the Muslims. Another reason. The Quraysh would go to their, Khuda tribe markets to trade, so if a military campaign was conducted there, they would easily learn about the strength of the Muslims.
The fourth reason was to send a subtle message to the Romans because if the Romans invaded their neighboring regions, they would learn about the new Muslim state that was about to be established. Indirectly challenging the Roman Empire.
Earlier expeditions in the narrative
Dumatul Jandal’s The place was far from Medina. In this expedition, the Prophet advanced with an army of 1,000 soldiers. They hid during the day and advanced at night. When they arrived Dumatul Jandal’s, the enemies scattered and fled. The Prophet returned to Medina without staying there. Now let’s find out what the Muslims gained from this expedition.
The first incident was that on his way back, the Prophet met a man who asked permission to graze his sheep 36 kilometres from Medina. This shows the extent of the influence that the Muslims had on the people of other tribes. The second achievement is that through this expedition, Muslims gain experience about new areas and experienced a distant military campaign because none of them had ever had to go so far on a campaign before. These expeditions serve as preparation for larger expeditions.
And thirdly, through this incident or this campaign, the bond of brotherhood among Muslims is strengthened because previously their love was for their own tribe, now their love is for their Muslim brothers.
Second incident of the day Battle of Banu Mustaliq. To get to Mecca, you have to pass through the area Banu Mustaliq. The Prophet received information that Banu Mustaliq were planning to attack Medina. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) heard the news, he attacked them with 700 Mujahideen and thirty horses. Banu Mustaliq had no chance to prepare for the sudden attack by the Muslims, and their property was plundered. Wives and children were captured and brought as slaves.
Juwayriyah and the aftermath of the campaign
Incidentally, after this expedition Banu Mustaliq The Prophet married Juwayriyah (may Allah be pleased with her) from the tribe.
When the people of the Banu Mustaliq tribe were taken prisoner, Juwayriyah (may Allah be pleased with her) came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said to him, “Look, I have been taken prisoner. I do not want this situation. Please set me free. Take my freedom in exchange.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “What if I give you something better than this?” Juwayriyah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked, “What is that?” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, “I will set you free and marry you.” Then Juwayriyah (may Allah be pleased with her) replied, “O Messenger of Allah, I will certainly accept it.”
Now everyone started saying, “Hey, these are the people of the Prophet’s in-laws, how can we make them slaves?” Because of this one woman, 100 families of the tribe Banu Mustaliq were freed.
Then the Prophet’s father-in-law, Al-Haritha, who was the leader of the tribe Banu Mustaliq, embraced Islam.
Now we will discuss some of the activities of hypocrites. We said earlier that the hypocrites or traitors became active after the Battle of Uhud. The hypocrites or traitors promised to help the people of Banu Nazir so that they would create a situation that would make Medina unforgettable, but they did not help them.
During the time of the Prophet, the hypocrites and traitors never received direct help to plot, rather they plotted secretly.
They wanted to tarnish the reputation of Muslims and create division among Muslims. We will discuss two events that happened in this year, that is, in the fifth year.
A dispute on the return journey
The Muslims finished their Battle of Banu Mustaliq and set off towards Medina. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was a servant. The man in question was a Muhajir. In the context of an incident, he had an argument with an Ansar man. Then a clash broke out between the Ansar and the muezzins. The Prophet of Islam immediately came and settled the matter between them, but the incident reached Ubaydah, the leader of the hypocrites or traitors.
Ubayda said, “How can the Muhajireen dare to attack our people? How can we expel them?” Upon hearing this, a companion reported these words to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). However, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) believed Ubayda’s words. Then Allah revealed the following verse:
They are the ones who say, “Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah until they disband.” And to Allah belongs the depositories of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand. They say, “If we return to al-Madinah, the more honored [for power] will surely expel therefrom the more humble.” And to Allah belongs [all] honor, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.
(Quran 63:7-8)
From this incident, we can see the character of the hypocrites. They would be happy to see Muslims in danger.
Aisha's account of the accusation
The second incident is that the Prophet and his family had to live in difficult conditions for a long time. We will hear the whole story narrated by Ma Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). The Prophet used to draw lots before going out to war and he would meet the person whose name was drawn. After my name was drawn, I met him.
He took me with him and then the verse about hijab was revealed. So during the trip I would sit inside a palanquin. On the way back to Medina, the Prophet stopped for a while and decided to spend the night there. Suddenly I needed to respond to the call of nature, and I had a necklace around my neck.
Suddenly I needed to respond to the call of nature, and I had a necklace around my neck. I went out again to look for the necklace and when I returned I saw that everyone had left me and started heading towards Medina.
I went out again to look for the necklace and when I returned I saw that everyone had left me and started heading towards Medina. As soon as we reached Medina in the afternoon, the people there started slandering us, and the main instigator was Ubaydah.
The Prophet became angry upon hearing such slander. Allah Almighty describes this in detail in Surah An-Nur, and these verses were immediately revealed to the Messenger of Allah.
Quranic passages on the false accusation
Indeed, those who came with falsehood are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather it is good for you. For every person among them is what [punishment] he has earned from the sin, and he who took upon himself the greater portion thereof – for him is a great punishment. Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of one another and say, “This is an obvious falsehood”?
Why did they [who slandered] not produce for it four witnesses? And when they do not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of Allah, who are the liars. And if it had not been for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy in this world and the Hereafter, you would have been touched for that [lie] in which you were involved by a great punishment.
The responsibility of passing on rumours
When you received it with your tongues and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allah, tremendous. And why, when you heard it, did you not say, “It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You, [O Allah]; this is a great slander”? Allah warns you against returning to the likes of this [conduct], ever, if you should be believers.
And Allah makes clear to you the verses, and Allah is Knowing and Wise. Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know. And if it had not been for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy… and because Allah is Kind and Merciful.
(Quran 24:11-20)
Hypocrites slander Islamic leaders to create a bad impression about them in the minds of others. We have to be careful about this so that they lose respect.
Sources and further reading
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Muhammad
- Quran 33 — the Trench and related Madinan events
- Quran 48 — Hudaybiyyah and its aftermath
- Quran 9 — Tabuk and the later Madinan period
