Seerah of Prophet Muhammed 25 - The Covenant of Women & War protection - Yasir Qadhi | February 2012
Seerah of Prophet Muhammed 25 - The Covenant of Women & War protection - Yasir Qadhi | February 2012
As we mentioned, the six people of the Khazraj went back to their people and spread the message of Islam. Some of them converted, and some of them thought of converting - but the point was there was an openness, "Let us think about this affair, and we'll come back the following year." So it was not a 'formal' conversion of all six, but they are very interested at this point. We are not sure if they converted on the spot, or when they got back to Yathrib.
The First Covenant of Aqaba (the Covenant of Women)
The next year, they sent a message to the Prophet PBUH, "We are coming for Hajj with 12 people all of whom have converted." (And this is amazing as this is the largest group of people outside of Makkah to convert since the beginning of the dawah. Never have 12 people converted from any group outside of Makkah/Quraysh.) Therefore in the 11th year of the dawah, 2 years before the Hijrah, 10 people from the Khazraj and 2 from the Aws came and met with the Prophet PBUH in the Plains of Aqaba. Note at this time there was no secrecy - it was just 12 hujjaj having a conversation with the Prophet PBUH (unlike the year afterwards, it's going to change).
Also we notice for the first time, the Aws and Khazraj seem to be forgetting about their war and hostility, and they are coming together for the sake of Islam. Never before have both parties come together for anything. For the first time we see signs Islam will cement bonds and unite the people. Note during the second visit, the bulk are still from the Khazraj (5:1 ratio), showing it will still take a while for them to unite fully. However, Islam will slowly but surely unite both fully.
In this meeting with the Prophet PBUH, this was the first time they 'formally' converted. In those times, whenever anyone converted, they would give an oath to the Prophet PBUH by placing their hand in the Prophet's PBUH hand and swear a conversion.
Ubada ibn al-Samit (عبادة بن الصامت) was one of those who witnessed this first covenant. It's called the First Covenant of Aqaba (Bay'at al-Aqaba al-Ula/بيعة العقبة الأولى). (Note what happened the year before is not called a covenant or bay'ah - we don't even know if those six accepted Islam on the spot; it was simply the opening up of their hearts to Islam.) Ubada ibn al-Samit said in Bukhari, "I was of those who took the First Covenant of Aqaba, and it was the Oath of the Women (Bay'at al-Nisa/بيعة النساء)." This was an oath that had no political connotations - it's just an oath of theology and morality. (Unlike the Second Covenant that will take place the next year which will involve not just theology and morality, but also protection, alliances, and political support.) Why is this First Covenant called the Oath of the Women? Because when women would convert, the Prophet PBUH would only ask them to live moral and righteous lives, and be worshipers of Allah (i.e. it only involves theology and morality). So this oath was called this because there were no political connotations, even though the participants were all men. So Ubada said the First Covenant was like an oath for women. Then he said, "And we swore to worship Allah alone, and not fornicate, steal, or kill our children. We will not live immoral and unrighteous lives. And we will obey the Prophet PBUH in all good matters." Note at this time, the pillars weren't established besides salah and kalimah. Zakat, fasting, Hajj - these were not obligatory yet. Not even alcohol was banned (it's going to be banned in the 3rd year of the Hijrah). So the aim was to worship Allah alone and live righteous lives. The Prophet PBUH said, "Whoever fulfills this oath, his reward will be with Allah. Whoever falls short and repents, Allah will forgive you."
When these 12 converted to Islam, the Prophet PBUH chose a Qureshi by the name of Mus'ab ibn Umayr (مصعب بن عمير) to go back with them to teach them the Qur'an and salah. It's narrated within a few weeks of Mus'ab reaching Yathrib, 40 people had converted. And therefore the Prophet PBUH told them they may establish Jumu'ah Salah (Friday Prayer). And so the very first Friday sermon in the history of Islam was delivered by Mus'ab, NOT the Prophet PBUH, as the people in Makkah couldn't pray in public. It was delivered in the house of As'ad ibn Zurarah (أسعد بن زرارة) who was hosting Mus'ab.
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Tangent: Minimum Required People Necessary for Friday Prayer
What is the minimum required people necessary for Friday Prayer? The scholars of fiqh have differed over this issue. Hanbali madhhab says 40 based on this narration of Mus'ab and As'ad. They say the reason why Jumu'ah became obligatory upon them was because they reached the number 40. But if you think about it, was it really because they reached 40, or it just so happened coincidentally that they were 40 when the Prophet PBUH sent the letter to do Jumu'ah? It appears that the Prophet PBUH didn't even know how many people converted. He gave them the command to do Jumu'ah, and it just so happened they were 40. So this opinion doesn't seem to have very strong academic merit. Other madhhab say you need to have a "large group of people" (without a specified number). The fact of the matter is there doesn't seem to be any number specified in the sharia. Therefore it goes back to what is the minimal congregation that you need to establish a congregational prayer. Most scholars say the minimal congregation consist of 3 people, 1 of whom is the imam. So according to this opinion, if you have 3 people, you should do Jumu'ah. And according to another opinion, actually if there are 2 people including the imam, you should still do Jumu'ah.
[April 2020 note: In regards to COVID-19, Sh. YQ clearly says in his recent lectures: You should pray Zuhr (4 rak'at) at home.]
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The Conversion of Usayd ibn Hudayr & Sa'd ibn Mu'adh
Eventually every single subtribe of the Aws and Khazraj had at least a household of Muslims. There's not a single locality of Yathrib except that there's one or more households that have embraced Islam. And the conversion of two people in particular led to a mass conversion. These two were the up and coming leaders of the Khazraj in the vacuum created by the Battle of Bu'ath. And these two were Usayd ibn Hudayr (أسيد بن حضير) and Sa'd ibn Mu'adh (سعد بن معاذ). (Side point: Usayd ibn Hudayr is the one who whenever he recited the Qur'an, he would see the angels come down to listen to him - hadith in Bukhari. He would see some light coming down and listening to him (after Fajr). So he went to the Prophet PBUH saying, "Every time I recite, I see these lights. My animals start getting agitated and I get worried what's going on." The Prophet PBUH said, "These are the Peace (angels) of al-Rahman coming to listen to your Qur'an." And Sa'd ibn Mu'adh is the one who's mentioned in a famous hadith that when he died, the Throne of Allah shook out of anger that someone had killed him.)
Usayd and Sa'd were close friends. They were talking and Sa'd says, "This new religion has come to our city, and my cousin As'ad is housing the man who is spreading the faith (Mus'ab). But because he is my cousin, I feel awkward going. So why don't you go and expel this man (Mus'ab) from our city?" So Usayd went with his spear. And when As'ad saw him marching with his spear, he said to Mus'ab, "O Mus'ab, this is one of our leaders of the Khazraj." Usayd came and said in an angry voice, "Why have you come to our land? To brainwash those of us who don't have strong intellect? To take our women and children away from our ways? To convert them to the ways of this new prophet of yours? Go back to where you came from if you value your life!" Mus'ab responded with a calmness and confidence that only Iman allows. He said, "Why don't you sit and listen to what I have to say. If you agree, that's good. If not, I will go." Usayd found this to be a very reasonable request, so he sat down and listened to Mus'ab preached to him the basic message of Islam. It was only after listening to the basic teachings, his heart opened up to Islam. He said, "What you have said makes complete sense to me. How does one embrace your faith?" Coming with a javelin to kill him, 5 minutes later he converts to Islam. Subhan'Allah! Mus'ab said, "Go do ghusl, say shahada, and pray 2 rak'at." So Usayd did so. Then he said, "I have a person who has sent me (Sa'd ibn Mu'adh). If you can convince him of this, then you will have no opposition left." Mus'ab said, "Go send him to me."
So Usayd went back to Sa'd. Sa'd was sitting with his friends. As Sa'd saw Usayd, he said to his friends, "This is not the same man who has left us. (i.e. something is different about him.)" Indeed when you embrace tawhid, you change completely. Sa'd asked him, "Did you succeed?" Usayd said, "I tried talking to them but... Why don't you try?" He's basically trying to get him to go. And to add some salt and a sense of urgency, he said, "I've heard the tribe of so and so has decided to kill As'ad because he is housing the man" - based on a rumor.
So Sa'd became alarmed, and he took his weapons, and went marching, and said to As'ad, "O As'ad, had you not been my cousin, these weapons would not be hanging at my side (i.e. they would be unsheathed and out at you). It's because of our blood relationship that I am not taking this more. Get rid of this guest of yours, and tell him to leave our land and stop spreading his 'pollution.'" Mus'ab took over immediately and said, "At least listen to what I have to say. If you agree, good. If not, I will stop." Subhan'Allah, this shows his immense confidence in Islam. And so the same thing happens. The calmness and confidence of Mus'ab makes Sa'd think, "Okay, that's valid." And this time Mus'ab recited with beautiful recitation Surah al-Zukhruf [43], and this completely changed Sa'd ibn Mu'adh. Indeed Qur'an is a miracle. Having heard it directly, Sa'd immediately said, "How do I convert?" So Sa'd as well converted.
With the conversion of both, the entire tribe of Banu Abd al-Ashhal (بنو عبد الأشهل), a subtribe of the Khazraj, converted - as these two were their leaders. And this was the largest mass conversion ever up to this point in time.
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Usayrim of Banu Abd al-Ashhal
There was however one exception who did not convert - Usayrim (الأصيرم). The only pagan of the tribe of Banu Abd al-Ashhal for the next three years. He refused to convert even while slowly but surely everyone converted. And then he converted on one particular day.
Many years later, Abu Hurairah quizzed his students, "Who can tell me the name of the man who entered Jannah without having prayed a single rak'at?" Of course the tabi'un would not know. So Abu Hurairah said, "He is Usayrim of the Banu Abd al-Ashhal. He remained firm on his paganism until the Day of Uhud. On the morning of the Battle of Uhud, he decided to convert. When he came to fight in the Battle, his people said, 'O Usayrim, we have no need of you (since you are not a Muslim).' But Usayrim said, 'I am here to fight.' They said, 'Are you going to fight out of tribal loyalty, or out of love for Allah and His Messenger?' Usayrim said, 'I am now a Muslim, and I want to fight for the sake of Islam.'" So they took him to the Prophet PBUH, and he embraced Islam after Fajr. And he became shaheed (martyr) before Zuhr. So no salah ever came at his time. There was no salah to pray. So the Prophet PBUH said, "He did very little, but was rewarded a lot. And he is of the people of Jannah."
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The Second Covenant of Aqaba
So Mus'ab converts a good amount of people of Yathrib. Therefore in the 12th year of the dawah, one year before the Hijrah, or to be more precise just a few months before the Hijrah (because the Hijrah takes place in the beginning of the 13th year), ~75 Muslims come to give their bay'ah to the Prophet PBUH in Makkah. This bay'ah is called the Second Covenant of Aqaba (Bay'at al-Aqaba al-Thaniya/بيعة العقبة الثانية). Note these are only the ~75 who went to do the Hajj. For each of these people, there is at least 3 people at home in Yathrib. So ~75 people actually travel from Madinah to Makkah.
So Mus'ab returns with around 75 converts. In 1 year he manages to convert a minimum of 250-300 people. (This is the largest group of converts outside of Makkah, rivaling the quantity in Makkah. Subhan'Allah, why did the people of Yathrib embrace Islam so quickly when the people of Makkah was so stubborn that in 13 years the quantity of converts is just a little bit more than what it is in Yathrib? Why? Many reasons. (1) No persecution. (2) Monotheism tendencies of the people of Yathrib. (3) The main reason being the tribal leadership had been decimated in the civil war. And so there was a younger, fresher generation who hadn't been raised up in paganism - rather they've seen the foolishness of paganism which caused bloodshed etc. So they wanted a change.)
So around 75 people come for Hajj that year, and the Prophet PBUH communicates with them and says, "We shall meet up on the last night of the Hajj before everyone returns home. Meet me before the Fajr prayer in the valley next to Aqaba."
Jabir ibn Abdillah (جابر بن عبد الله), one of the most famous of the Ansar (or to be more precise, the people who were TO BECOME the Ansar), was an eyewitness to this bay'ah. He narrates, "The Prophet PBUH stayed for more than 10 years in Makkah, preaching to the people in the Hajj season. And he would ask the other tribes, 'Who will support me so that I can spread the message of my Lord?' And he wouldn't find anyone embracing his faith except for a man or two from Mudar, Yemen, etc. (i.e. the converts were not en masse), until finally Allah SWT guided us to Islam. A group from the people of Yathrib preached Islam to us, we believed in him, and we recited the Qur'an, until not a single subtribe of Yathrib were there except that some amongst them had embraced Islam. And then Allah SWT caused us to come together, and we spoke to one another, and we said, 'For how long will we allow the Prophet PBUH to be repelled from one valley to another outside of Makkah and live in fear?' (i.e. the idea came that we should now take in the Prophet PBUH and protect him.)" And Jabir says, "Allah gave us this idea."
Ka'b ibn Malik (كعب بن مالك), the one whom Allah revealed his tawba in the Qur'an [9:118] in 9 AH, also witnessed this treaty, and he said, "When we went for Hajj, we hid our Islam from our pagan relatives. And we all agreed to meet at a particular place (the valley behind Aqaba) in the last third of the night. And we snuck out of our tents at night time, one by one, so as not to arouse suspicion (among the Khazraj), to meet with the Prophet PBUH. And we waited for him. And eventually he came with his uncle al-Abbas, even though al-Abbas was still upon the religion of his people." Interesting. Abbas is coming even though he is still a pagan at this time.
Continuation of Jabir's narration: Jabir says, "So we gathered together in the last night of the Hajj. When his uncle Abbas came, he said to the Prophet PBUH looking at all of us, 'O my nephew, I don't know any of these men, and I don't feel comfortable.'" Remember Abbas is a trader - he knows many of the elders of Yathrib from his traveler's days, but these elders have now died in the Battle of Bu'ath, and Abbas doesn't know any of these 'youngsters,' so he didn't feel comfortable. Because he is thinking in terms of jahili tribalism.
And this shows why Abbas is coming. He feels a sense of loyalty out of tribalism and thinks he needs to negotiate the Prophet's PBUH release to the people of Yathrib as the senior most member of the Quraysh who still acknowledges him. This shows that just like Abu Talib, Abbas genuinely loved the Prophet PBUH with a natural love. (Eventually he is going to convert to Islam, but much later on.) Also Abbas and the Prophet PBUH were foster brothers and of a similar age, so there was a strong bond of friendship, even though they were uncle and nephew. The Prophet PBUH trusted al-Abbas.
Continuation of Jabir's narration: "We came in front of the Prophet PBUH, and Abbas was the one who stood up to speak on behalf of the Prophet PBUH. He said, 'O people of the Khazraj (even though there were some Aws as well), you know the status of this man (the Prophet PBUH) amongst us (the Banu Hashim). And we have protected him from his own people even though we agree with our people (i.e. we agree with the religion of our people, but we have prevented them from harming this man). He has izzah and honor amongst us; and he has protection. But he has decided to leave us to go over to you. So if you are sure that you can live up to your conditions with him, and protect him from those who disagree, then you shall bear this responsibility. Otherwise, let him be from now. And realize that he is honored amongst his people.'" Abbas is clearly not trusting of the Khazraj, very hesitant at what's happening, and also embarrassed at the fact that his own nephew has to leave the Banu Hashim because they couldn't do their job. So he is trying to overcompensate by saying the Prophet PBUH has izzah and protection, but that's no longer true after the death of Abu Talib.
The people replied, "O Abbas, you have spoken, now let the Prophet PBUH speak. Ya Rasulullah, put up the conditions." The Prophet PBUH stood up and began preaching about fearing Allah AWJ, recited the Quran, and then said, "I shall give you the allegiance/bay'ah in return for mun'ah (protection), that you shall protect me like one of your own." One of the soon-to-be Ansar, al-Bara ibn Ma'rur (البراء بن معرور), said, "We are experienced in the arts of war - this is an easy condition. We will protect you, no one will touch you. Stretch forth your hand and we will give you the allegiance." This was a hasty response but also one of Iman.
Another soon-to-be Ansari stood up: Abu al-Haytham ibn al-Tayhan (أبو الهيثم بن التيهان), the famous soon-to-be Ansar who [in later seerah] fed the Prophet PBUH, Umar RA, and Abu Bakr RA when they were all hungry wandering the streets with a stone tied to their stomach. This is a man of intelligence. He said, "Ya Rasulullah, we have ties (political treaties) with the Jews. By accepting you, those ties will be broken and we know it. So once you come over to our side and then Allah gives us victory, will you then leave us and go back to your people?" He firmly believes this is the Messenger of Allah, and that victory will come. But he is saying his fear is once they have victory, will the Prophet PBUH go back to Makkah, leaving them in a very difficult situation in Madinah (after breaking ties with the Jews). The Prophet PBUH smiled and said, "No. My blood is your blood, and my destruction is your destruction." i.e. 'We're gonna live together, we're gonna die together.' A very beautiful phrase. So the Prophet PBUH is saying he will now permanently be a Madani. And this was the condition they wanted (i.e. they are satisfied with the response). Subhan'Allah, look at their Iman. Contrast this with those of Kindah who wanted "leadership" after victory. Note the Aws and the Khazraj are the Qahtani Arabs, a totally different branch than the Quraysh. They are people of Yemen. And there are so many ahadith where the Prophet PBUH praised the people of Yemen. Of them, "The people of Yemen are the softest in their hearts, and the gentlest in their chests" i.e. they're very good people. Of them, "Iman is Yemeni, and wisdom is Yemenite." So even in the Aws and the Khazraj we see their wisdom and Iman.
Also notice the bravery of Abu al-Haytham, he asked a very blunt question that might even border on sacrilegious. The openness and freedom is really amazing to see.
Also once the Prophet PBUH gave his word, obviously he lived up to it. When [in later seerah] he conquered Makkah and he is with his entire tribe all of whom have accepted Islam; and there was the house of Khadija where he lived for 20 years, and the house of Abu Talib where he grew up in and lived for 40 years; and he could have moved back if he wanted to; what did he do? Eventually he turned his back to Makkah and walked back to Madinah, and he lived in Madinah, and he died in Madinah, and he is buried in Madinah. Subhan'Allah.
They said, "O Messenger of Allah, what is the phrase of the bay'ah we should give?" The Prophet PBUH said, "You must give the bay'ah that you hear and you obey in times of difficulty and ease, and that you spend (of your money) in the way of Allah SWT, and that you command the good and forbid the evil, and that you speak the truth no matter what the consequences, and that you help me once I come to Yathrib just like you help your own family." These are the political conditions along with Islamic conditions. Once he said this, a voice cried out from amongst them, "And what shall we get in return?" And the Prophet PBUH said the one word they wanted to hear. He said, "Al-Jannah." No money, fame, or fortune. Paradise will be yours. And that's all they wanted to hear. And they all stood up to give the bay'ah.
But before anyone could embrace the Prophet's PBUH hand, As'ad ibn Zurarah held on to the Prophet's PBUH hand and kept it down. This is a freedom of expression that is unbelievable. He did not allow him to raise his hand. And he said, "Wait, everybody." (Remember As'ad is one of the six, one of the first converts, the guy that housed Mus'ab.) He said, "O people of Yathrib, we haven't traveled this whole distance except that we know this man is the Messenger of Allah. And once his people expel him, then you will be asking for war (i.e. once the Prophet PBUH leaves the Quraysh, the Quraysh will try to kill him). And so if you're ready that your necks meet swords (i.e. if you're ready to die), then go and give him the oath of allegiance. And realize the best of you will be killed, fathers will lose their sons, and sons will lose their fathers, and you will cause death amongst yourself. If you're prepared to do this, then give him the oath. If not, then stop now, perchance Allah will forgive you." i.e. 'This isn't a joke. This is the last chance. Once you put your hand in his hand, end of story, there's no going back.' This is the intelligence of As'ad - he didn't want the punishment of Allah to come if his tribe eventually say they can't do it, it was too much, etc. But they said, "O As'ad, you have spoken enough. Get your hand off the hand of the Prophet PBUH. We want to put it." And so one by one, all 72 men amongst them gave the bay'ah to the Prophet PBUH, and in return, he promised each one of them Jannah. One by one. What a beautiful, blessed group that is. And the 2 women that were present there, the Prophet PBUH took their oath of allegiance verbally. He did not take it in his hand. As we know, he never touched the hand of a woman that was not related to him.
When the entire oath was finished, Abbas was looking along in great worry, and he said to the Prophet PBUH, "These are people I don't know any of them. And all of them are young kids." He's very worried about the Prophet PBUH. But if Abbas did not know them, then Allah AWJ knew them. If Abbas did not recognize them, then Allah and His Messenger did indeed recognize them.