Major Sins & Sincere Repentance (5)

CHAPTER ONE (CONT'D)

SINNERS DURING PROPHET MUHAMMAD LIFETIME

The Quraishi of Mecca

     In addition to the above mentioned people (people of Noah, Lot, the A‘ad, Thamud and Pharaoh), the Quraishi tribe of Mecca was also very defiant of Prophet Muhammad and his call for monotheism. They insisted on worshiping idols and the gods of their forefathers. In response to prophet Muhammad's call for Islam, the Quraishi said, as given in the Holy Qur'an, Su'rat Al- Fussilat (Chapter 41 Verse 5), "And they say: ‘Our hearts are under coverings, (screened) from that to which you invite us; and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a screen, so work you (on your way); verily, we are working (on our way)’ (5)." (Study the Noble Qur'an —- Word-for-Word).

وَقَالُواْ قُلُوبُنَا فِىٓ أَڪِنَّةٍ۬ مِّمَّا تَدۡعُونَآ إِلَيۡهِ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِنَا وَقۡرٌ۬ وَمِنۢ بَيۡنِنَا وَبَيۡنِكَ حِجَابٌ۬ فَٱعۡمَلۡ إِنَّنَا عَـٰمِلُونَ ( (5

     Another example of Quraishis' defiance is also reflected in the Holy Qur'an, Su'rat Al-Masad (Chapter 111 Verses 3-5). This Su'rat states that a judgment is already decided by Allah for Prophet Muhammad's own uncle, Abu Lahab, and his wife, even before they died. It says, ”He will be burnt in a Fire of blazing flames! (3). And his wife, too, who carries wood (thorn of Sa'dan which she used to put on the way of the Prophet) (4). In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad (palm fiber) (5)". (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word(.

سَيَصۡلَىٰ نَارً۬ا ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ۬ (3) وَٱمۡرَأَتُهُ ۥ حَمَّالَةَ ٱلۡحَطَبِ (4) فِى جِيدِهَا حَبۡلٌ۬ مِّن مَّسَدِۭ (5)

     Despite the fact that Prophet Muhammad was himself a Quraishi, there were many significant people from his tribe who notoriously plotted to eliminate him by any means. In fact, the Quraishis were the very first people to go to war against the Muslims, who had now sought refuge in Madina. The following are two interesting episodes concerning two (once) notorious enemies of Islam from Mecca, who later on turned out to be close companions of the Prophet.

     The first one concerns Khalid ibn Walid during the Battle of Uhud. The battle was fought on 23 March (3 Shawwal O3 AH) at Mount Uhud, located about 5 miles from Mecca. It occurred between the forces of Muslim community of Medina led by Prophet Muhammad and the forces of the Meccans led by Abu Sufyan. This is only part of the story of the war which, like other wars in those days, started with duels. Following the duels, general engagement between the two armies commenced. Because of their numerical superiority, the Meccans were confident that they were going to win the war. However their confidence quickly began to wane as the Muslims swept through their ranks. The Meccan army was pushed back, and repeated attempts by its cavalry to overrun the left Muslim flank were frustrated by the Muslim archers. Enjoying the best advantages of these early encounters, the Muslims penetrated through the Meccan lines, with victory almost certain. The Muslim detachment of archers, however, disobeyed its initial orders to remain stationary; so they ran downhill to join their colleagues who were already taking the despoils of the Meccan camp, leaving the flank vulnerable.

     At this critical juncture, the Meccan cavalry, led by Khalid ibn Walid, exploited the wrong move made by the Muslim archers, and attacked their remnants still positioned on the hill. From here they were able to target and overrun the Muslim flank from rear. Confusion ensued, and several Muslims were killed. While the Meccan counter-attack strengthened, rumours circulated that Muhammad too had been killed. It emerged, however, that Muhammad had only been wounded and was rushed quickly into a ravine of Mt. Uhud to rest.

Amongst other things, the battle is noted for the emergence of the military leadership and tactical military genius of Khalid ibn Walid, who would later become the most famous of all Arab generals during the era of Islamic expansion and in the war against the Sassanid Empire. Once an arch enemy of Islam, Khalid ibn Walid, did not only convert to Islam later on, but became one of the closest companions of the prophet. (Wilkipedia — Battle of Uhud).

     The second episode is about another companion of Prophet Muhammad, namely, Umar ibn Khattab, Allah blessings be on him. This was before he became a Muslim. Umar explained that there were two occasions in his life which he could not forget. One incident happened when he was digging a pit to bury his young daughter alive. In those days, it was regarded a shame among the disbelievers to have a daughter in one's family. As Umar was holding the baby in his arms, ready to bury her, the young innocent daughter noticed some dust on her father's beard, (dust from the soil as he was digging the grave). She innocently wiped off the dust in order to clean his beard. Nevertheless, Umar eventually buried her!

     The second incident is when Umar wanted to pray but realized that he forgot to bring his idol with him. So he quickly made one from his date-fruit which he brought for food. Later on, when he was hungry he ate his idol! Whenever Umar remembered that he killed his daughter out of baseless shame and pure ignorance, he used to cry a lot in repentance. On the other hand, whenever he remembered how stupid he was to make an idol god from date-fruit and then ate his own god when he was hungry, he used to laugh a lot for his stupidity.

     These are two incidents which show how bad some Meccan pagans were before accepting Islam, and how some of them finally reformed to such an extent that they became Prophet Muhammad's closest and most trusted companions.

The Jiha'd Wars

     In the same way the followers of the previous Prophets had fought the Jihad wars, the followers of Muhammad also fought Jiha'd during his prophethood. These wars, initially, took place between the pagan Quraishis from Mecca and Muhammad's Muslim followers from Madina. The Jiha'd Wars may appear to be similar in nature compared with the Crusade Wars. However, while the Jiha'd Wars were fought to establish Islam, the Crusade Wars were mainly fought to recover land from Muslims, such as the Holy Land of Palestine. Moreover, the Crusade Wars had political and economic motivations besides religion.

     The Jiha'd wars revealed some important weaknesses among the Muslim community which ought to be mentioned here. These were:-

·        Men who found every excuse to remain at home and avoided going to war whenever there was a call for mobilization of Muslim forces.

·         The hypocrites who assured Prophet Muhammad of their loyalty to him but were actually spying for the enemy.

    Both these characters were nothing more than a proof of their weakness in faith. God, the Almighty, says in the Holy Qur'an how misguided these people were. The following details tell us more about these hypocrites:-

     It says in Su'rat An-Nisaa (Chapter 4 Verses 95-96), "Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward (95). Degrees of (higher) grades for Him, forgiveness and mercy. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful (96)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for Word).

لَّا يَسۡتَوِى ٱلۡقَـٰعِدُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ غَيۡرُ أُوْلِى ٱلضَّرَرِ وَٱلۡمُجَـٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِہِمۡ‌ۚ فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُجَـٰهِدِينَ بِأَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِہِمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡقَـٰعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً۬‌ۚ وَكُلاًّ۬ وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ وَفَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُجَـٰهِدِينَ عَلَى ٱلۡقَـٰعِدِينَ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمً۬ا (95) دَرَجَـٰتٍ۬ مِّنۡهُ وَمَغۡفِرَةً۬ وَرَحۡمَةً۬‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورً۬ا رَّحِيمًا (96)

     Sayyid Abul A'la Mawdudi has translated these Verses as follows, in Volume 2 of ‘Towards Understanding the Qur'an'. He says, (Quote): "When the above Verse speaks of ‘those who sit at home’, it does not refer to those men who remained behind because they shirked the obligation to fight for the course of Allah. The reference here is to those who have good reasons to remain behind, such as genuine disability. In the first case the person who fails to fight can only be a hypocrite, and God holds out no good promise for him. In the second case, however, although he will be awarded for his sincere sympathy or his financial contribution, for example, his reward cannot be the same as that of someone who participated physically. Those who undertook the expedition concerned and responded to the call are reckoned to be of superior merit". (End of quote).

Hypocrites (Muna‘fiqu’n) During Jiha'd Wars

     The emergence of hypocrites during Jiha'd Wars was something that had not been experienced before by Muslims. The hypocrites were mischievously assuring Prophet Muhammad of their loyalty when, in fact, were sympathizers of the enemy. They were, actually, spying for the enemy and passing on information against Muslims’ intentions and plans to the Quraishis and the Jews. This, no doubt, had detrimental effect on the Muslim forces. Hypocrisy was so serious that it was given a special reckoning in the Qur'an. Allah says in Su'rat Almuna'fiqu'n (Chapter 63 Verses 1-2), "When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad), they say: "We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.' Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger, and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed (1). They have made their oaths a screen (for their hypocrisy). Thus they hinder (men) from the path of Allah. Verily, evil is what they used to do (2)". (Study the Noble Qur'an - Word-for-Word).

إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقُونَ قَالُواْ نَشۡہَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشۡہَدُ إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ (1) ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ أَيۡمَـٰنَہُمۡ جُنَّةً۬ فَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّہُمۡ سَآءَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ (2)

     And in Verse 6, it says, “It is equal to them whether you (Muhammad) ask forgiveness or ask not forgiveness for them. Allah will never forgive them. Verily, Allah guides not the people who are the Fa'siqu'n (rebellious, disobedient to Allah) (6).) "Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

سَوَآءٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ أَسۡتَغۡفَرۡتَ لَهُمۡ أَمۡ لَمۡ تَسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ لَن يَغۡفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَـٰسِقِينَ (6(

     The Qur'an also says in Su‘rat An-Nisaa (Chapter 4 Verse 137-138), "Verily, those who believe, then disbelieve, then believe (again), and (again) disbelieve and go on increasing in disbelief; Allah will not forgive them nor guide them on the right way (137). Give to the hypocrites the tidings that there is for them a painful torment. (138)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ثُمَّ كَفَرُواْ ثُمَّ ءَامَنُواْ ثُمَّ كَفَرُواْ ثُمَّ ٱزۡدَادُواْ كُفۡرً۬ا لَّمۡ يَكُنِ ٱللَّهُ لِيَغۡفِرَ لَهُمۡ وَلَا لِيَہۡدِيَہُمۡ سَبِيلاَۢ (137) بَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ بِأَنَّ لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا (138)

     Su'rat An-Nisaa Chapter 4 continues to say in Verses 141-146, "Those (hypocrites) who wait and watch about you; if you gain a victory from Allah they say: ‘Were we not with you?’ But if the disbelievers gain a success, they say (to them): ‘Did we not gain mastery over you, and did we not protect you from the believers?’ Allah will judge between you (all) on the Day of Resurrection. And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers (141). Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah but it is He who deceives them. And When they stand-up for a As-Sala't (the prayer), they stand with laziness, and to be seen of men, and do not remember Allah but little (142). (They are) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these nor to those; and he whom Allah sends astray, you will not find for him a way (to the truth —- Islam) (143). O you who believe! Take not for AuIiya' (protectors or helpers or friends) disbelievers instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest proof against yourselves? (144). Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them (145). Except those who repent (from hypocrisy), do righteous good deeds, hold fast to Allah, and purify their religion for Allah (by worshipping none but Allah, and do good for Allah's sake only, not to show off) then they will be with the believers. And will Allah grant the believers a great reward (146)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَرَبَّصُونَ بِكُمۡ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمۡ فَتۡحٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ قَالُوٓاْ أَلَمۡ نَكُن مَّعَكُمۡ وَإِن كَانَ لِلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ نَصِيبٌ۬ قَالُوٓاْ أَلَمۡ نَسۡتَحۡوِذۡ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَنَمۡنَعۡكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ‌ۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَڪُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۗ وَلَن يَجۡعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ سَبِيلاً (141) إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَـٰدِعُهُمۡ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ قَامُواْ كُسَالَىٰ يُرَآءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَلَا يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬ (142) مُّذَبۡذَبِينَ بَيۡنَ ذَٲلِكَ لَآ إِلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ وَلَآ إِلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ‌ۚ وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ ۥ سَبِيلاً۬ (143) يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوۡلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ‌ۚ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجۡعَلُواْ لِلَّهِ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا مُّبِينًا (144) إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرۡكِ ٱلۡأَسۡفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمۡ نَصِيرًا (145) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصۡلَحُواْ وَٱعۡتَصَمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَأَخۡلَصُواْ دِينَهُمۡ لِلَّهِ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ مَعَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ‌ۖ وَسَوۡفَ يُؤۡتِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمً۬ا (146)

Reference:

Major Sins & Sincere Repentance, by Abdullah Amor Al-Marhuby, pg: 72-82.