The Great Importance Given to the ’Aqeedah in the Madinan Period
After Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) and his Companions migrated to al-Madeenah, and the Islamic state was established through the efforts of the Muhaajirs and the Ansaar, and upon the foundation of tawheed, then the greatest importance continued to be given to tawheed. The Aayaat of the Qur’aan continued to be sent down with it, and the directions and the orders of the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) revolved around it.
(1) Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) did not suffice even with all this. Rather he used to take pledge of allegiance from the greater Companions, not to mention the others, upon it from time to time. Whenever the opportunity arose, he would take their pledge of allegiance upon it. Allaah, the Most High, says,
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ يُبَايِعْنَكَ عَلَىٰ أَن لَّا يُشْرِكْنَ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَسْرِقْنَ وَلَا يَزْنِينَ وَلَا يَقْتُلْنَ أَوْلَادَهُنَّ وَلَا يَأْتِينَ بِبُهْتَانٍ يَفْتَرِينَهُ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِنَّ وَأَرْجُلِهِنَّ وَلَا يَعْصِينَكَ فِي مَعْرُوفٍ ۙ فَبَايِعْهُنَّ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُنَّ اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“When the Believing women come to give you their pledge that they will not associate anything in worship with Allaah; nor steal; nor commit fornication; nor kill their children; nor attribute to their husbands children which are not theirs; nor disobey you, O Muhammad (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم), in that which is good and commanded by Allaah; (and not wail over the dead), then accept their pledge and ask Allaah to forgive them. Indeed Allaah forgives those who repent to Him and is Most Merciful to them.”[1] Soorah al-Mumtahinah (60):12
Even though this Aayah is with regard to the women’s pledge, Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) also used to take pledge from the men upon its contents.
From ’Ubaadah ibn as-Saamit, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, who said,
“Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) was in an assembly (of his Companions) and said, ‘Swear allegiance to me with the pledge that you will not associate anything in worship with Allaah, and that you will not steal, nor commit fornication, nor kill your children, (and upon the Aayah which was taken as a pledge from the women [60:12]). So whoever fulfills this pledge from you, then he will be rewarded by Allaah. And whoever falls into sin with any of that and is punished for it, then it is an expiation for it. And whoever falls into any of these sins and Allaah conceals his sin, then it is up to Allaah: if He wills He may forgive him, and if He wills He may punish him.’” [2]
Also Ibn Katheer quotes a large number of ahaadeeth that Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) used to take pledge from the women upon that which this Aayah contains.[3] From these ahaadeeth is that of ’Aa’ishah; the hadeeth of Umayyah bint Ruqayqah;[4] the hadeeth of Umm ’Atiyyah;[5] the hadeeth of Salmaa bint Qays, one of the maternal aunts of the Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) ;[6) and the hadeeth of Raa’itah bint Sufyaan al-Khuzaa’iyyah.[7] Then he (i.e. Ibn Katheer) said, “And Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) used to take this pledge from the women repeatedly.” Then he quoted the hadeeth of Ibn ’Abbaas,[8] and other ahaadeeth.
He also used to take this pledge repeatedly from the men. This is indicated by the hadeeth of ’Ubaadah ibn as-Saamit which has preceded, and also by the hadeeth of ’Auf ibn Maalik al-Ashja’ee, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, who said,
“We were with Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) and numbered nine, eight or seven people, so he said, ‘Will you not give your pledge to Allaah’s Messenger?’ So we said, ‘We have already given you our pledge, O Messenger of Allaah!’ Then he said, ‘Will you not give your pledge to Allaah’s Messenger?’ So we stretched out our hands and said, ‘We will indeed give you our pledge, O Messenger of Allaah, but what will our pledge be?’ He said, ‘That you will worship Allaah and not worship anything else besides Him; the five obligatory Prayers; that you obey (and he said a word quietly); and that you do not ask the people for anything.’ So I have as a result seen some of those people, their whip would fall down from their hand (while riding) and he would not ask anyone to pick it up for him.” [9]
(2) He (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) used to send callers, teachers, judges and governors, to kings and tyrants, and to various areas, calling to tawheed. From Anas, radiyallaahu ’anhu, the servant of Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) ,
“The Prophet of Allaah (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) sent letters to Kisraa (Chosroes), and Caesar, and the Najaashee (Negus) and to every tyrant ruler calling them to Allaah. And this Negus was not the one whom the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) prayed Funeral Prayer for.”[10]
This point is shown very clearly by the text of his letter to the Caesar, and that his purpose was to call to tawheed. Its text is:
“In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
From Muhammad, the Slave of Allaah and His Messenger, to Hiraql, the Emperor of the Byzantines.
Peace and safety are for those who follow the Guidance. To proceed. I invite you with the call of Islaam. Accept Islaam and you will be safe, and Allaah will grant you a double reward. But if you turn your back upon it, then you will carry the burdens of the sins of your subjects.”[11]
And he (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) said, “Whoever calls to guidance then there is for him a reward similar to the reward of those who follow him, nothing being reduced from their reward. And whoever calls to misguidance, then there is a burden of sin upon him similar to the sin of those who follow him, nothing being reduced from their sins.”
“O People of the Book, come to a word of justice between us, that we will single Allaah out with all worship and will not worship anything besides Him and disassociate ourselves from everything that is worshipped besides Him. Nor will we take one another as lords besides Allaah by obeying one another in that which involves disobedience to Allaah. So if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims, submitting to Allaah and making our worship purely and sincerely for Him and not worshipping anything else besides Him.’”[12]
When the letter reached the Caesar he sent for Aboo Sufyaan ibn Harb and some riders of Quraysh. They were at that time trading in the area of Palestine/Syria, and were within the time of the truce period agreed between Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) and the unbelievers of Quraysh. So they came to Caesar at Jerusalem and he asked Aboo Sufyaan a number of questions. From them was that he asked, “What does he (i.e. Muhammad (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) ) command you?” Aboo Sufyaan said, “I replied, ‘He says, “Worship Allaah alone and do not worship anything else besides Him and abandon the saying of your fathers. He orders prayer, truthfulness, chastity and joining ties of relationship.”’”[13]
(3) Furthermore he used to organise armies to fight Jihaad in the path of Allaah in order to establish and raise high the word of tawheed,
“He who fights in order that Allaah’s Word is the highest then he is the one who is fighting in the Path of Allaah.”
From Buraydah ibn al-Husayyib, radiyallaahu ’anhu, who said, “When Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) appointed the chief of a raiding party or an army, he used to counsel him to have taqwaa of Allaah concerning himself and with regard to good treatment of the Muslims with him, and he said, ‘When you meet your enemy from the mushriks then call them to accept one of three things, whichever of them they agree to, then accept it and leave them alone:
(i) Invite them to accept Islaam. If they accept that then accept it from them, and leave them alone. Invite them in that case to leave their homes and to migrate to the land of the Muhaajirs…
(ii) But if they refuse (to accept Islaam), then ask them to pay the jizya tax. If they agree to that then accept that from them and leave them alone.
(iii) But if they refuse then seek the aid of Allaah and fight them. And if you besiege a fortified place and they ask you to allow them to surrender upon the judgement of Allaah, then do not allow them to surrender upon that since you do not know what Allaah’s judgement concerning them is. Rather allow them to surrender in accordance with what you judge in the matter. Then decide as you wish concerning them.’”[14]
Like the hadeeth of Buraydah is the hadeeth of an-Nu’maan ibn Muqarrin al-Muzanee, radiyallaahu ’anhu, which is indicated by Muslim, Aboo Daawood and Ibn Maajah, who all said, “’Alqamah said: I narrated it to Muqaatil ibn Hayyaan. He said: Muslim ibn Haysam narrated to me, from an-Nu’maan ibn Muqarrin from the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) with its like.
(4) Furthermore he (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) sent Mu’aadh to Yemen as a Governor, a judge and a teacher. Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) said to him,
“You are a going to a people from the People of the Book, so let the first thing you call them to be the testification that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, (and in a narration: that they should single Allaah out with all worship), and I am the Messenger of Allaah. So if they obey you in that, then inform them that Allaah has made five Prayers obligatory upon them in each day and night. So if they obey you in that, then inform them that Allaah has obligated upon them a charity which is to be taken from their rich and given to their poor. If they obey you in that, then beware of taking the best parts of their wealth, and beware of the supplication of the oppressed, because there is no screen between it and Allaah.”[15]
There is no doubt that he used to give this same advice to all the callers, governors and judges whom he sent out.
(5) Jihaad was prescribed for the establishment of tawheed and to purify the earth from the scourge of shirk.
Allaah, the Most High, says:
وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلَّهِ ۖ فَإِنِ انتَهَوْا فَلَا عُدْوَانَ إِلَّا عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ
“Fight the Mushriks until there remains no worship of anything besides Allaah, and all worship is for Allaah alone and His religion is uppermost. So if they desist from shirk and enter into Islaam then let there be no transgression except those that worship others along with Allaah” [16] [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):193]
Ibn Jareer (at-Tabaree), rahimahullaah, said in his Tafseer (2/194-195):
“Allaah, the Most High, says to His Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم), Meaning: “so that there is no shirk with Allaah, and no one besides Him is worshipped; and worship of the idols, false gods and those set up as rivals is extinguished. And worship and obedience is for Allaah alone to the exclusion of idols and images… Qataadah said, ‘So that there is no shirk.’ He quotes his chain of narration with this explanation from Qataadah, Mujaahid, as-Suddee and Ibn ‘Abbaas. He said, ‘What is meant by Deen (religion) which Allaah mentions in this place is: Worship and obedience to Allaah in what He orders and forbids.’ He said, ‘With this meaning there occurs the saying of al-A’shee: He caused the (tribes of) ar-Ribaab to submit and become obedient when they hated obedience – Achieving it through continual fighting and attacks.’
Then he quoted his chain of narration of ar-Rabee’ who said concerning, Meaning: “Until none but Allaah is worshipped,” which is the meaning of laa ilaaha illallaah (none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah). That is what Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) fought for and called to.”
From Aboo Hurayrah, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, who said that Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) said,
“I have been ordered to fight the people until they say laa ilaaha illallaah (none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah). So whoever says: laa ilaaha illallaah, then his wealth and his person is safe from me, except due to any right of it, and his reckoning is with Allaah.”[17]
Also the Chief of the Believers ‘Umar, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, said to Aboo Bakr, the Khaleefah of Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) , when he resolved to fight the apostates and also those with them who refused to hand over the zakaat, ’Umar, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, said, “How can you fight those people when Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) said, ‘I have been ordered to fight the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, so whoever says this then his wealth and his person are safe from me except due to any right of it, and his reckoning is with Allaah.’” So Aboo Bakr, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, said, “By Allaah, I will fight those who seek to separate between the Prayer and the zakaat. Indeed the Zakaat is a right due upon wealth. By Allaah, were they to hold a single young goat from me which they used to pay to Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) , I would fight them for it.”[18]
From Jaabir ibn ’Abdillaah, radiyallaahu ’anhumaa, who said that Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) said,
“I have been ordered to fight the people until they say, ‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah.’ So when they say that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah then their blood and their property are safe from me except due to a right pertaining to it, and their reckoning is with Allaah.”
Then he recited,
فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ
“Indeed We have only sent you, O Muhammad (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم), as an admonisher to them. You are not to force them to believe against their will.” [Soorah al-Ghaashiyah (88):21-22] [19], [20]
From Ibn ‘Umar, radiyallaahu ‘anhumaa, who said that Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) said,
“I have been ordered to fight the people until they bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and they establish the Prayer, and pay the zakaat. So if they do that then their blood and their wealth are safe from me except due to its right, and their reckoning is with Allaah.”[21]
So it may be noticed that the ahaadeeth of ’Umar, Aboo Bakr, Aboo Hurayrah and Jaabir are restricted to mentioning the matter of tawheed and do not mention the other matters. So perhaps the reason for this is the very great concern which the Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) gave to this matter so that he would mention it to them time after time on its own, as an indication of its greatness and importance. Also because of the fact that he (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) realised that they understood that all the other affairs of Islaam follow on from it, and are required by it and are from its rights, particularly the pillars of Islaam and eemaan.
I say, because of the fact that Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) often used to mention only that which related to ‘aqeedah, ‘Umar used this saying as an evidence. Then the reply of Aboo Bakr to support his stance, was to make a direct analogy between the Zakaat and the Prayer, “By Allaah, I will fight anyone who makes a difference between the Prayer and the Zakaat…” So if he knew the narration as it was reported by Ibn ’Umar he would have used that as a clear and decisive proof.
Also if ’Umar knew of the narration as reported by his son he would not have raised any objection to the saying of Aboo Bakr. Then if those present at the time, included Aboo Hurayrah, knew the naration of Ibn ’Umar, then they would have mentioned it to the two Shaykhs.[22] So perhaps the reason behind this was indeed as we have said, the great importance which the Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) gave to ’aqeedah, and his propogation of it, and the frequency with which he spoke about it.
Then also because the most prominent and most important aspect of the teachings which the Prophets conveyed from their Lord was Tawheedul-Uloohiyyah (singling out Allaah with all worship), and this was the greatest reason for strife between the Prophets and their enemies.
Furthermore the most significant of the aspects of falsehood and misguidance, against which the Prophets (’alayhimus-salaatu was-salaam) fought, and which the Mushriks who denied the truth of their message furiously fought to defend, in every nation was: the worship of images and idols, and the building of tombs upon the graves of the pious and the Prophets, and veneration of them, and making offerings to them, and attachment of people’s hearts to them, both of the rulers and the ruled, an attachment of hope and fear, desiring and anticipating that they would intercede for them with Allaah, enabling the accomplishment of their wishes. This was indeed major shirk which will not be forgiven, so we must mention, along with that which we have already quoted whilst speaking about the methodology of the Prophets, particularly when we spoke concerning Ibraaheem, the Imaam of the Pious and the destroyer of the worthless idols, something about the full scale war which Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) waged against major shirk which was seen in his smashing the idols physically and by blocking up all the ways which Satan uses to lead his followers to worshipping them and taking them as rivals to Allaah, by using the terms ‘gods’ or awliyaa‘ (pious ones beloved to Allaah) or hiding beneath any of the misleading titles they use.
So from this war which is clearly seen in the Qur’aan and was waged by the Messenger of the One Who sent the Qur’aan, is the saying of Allaah, the Most High,
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ اللَّاتَ وَالْعُزَّىٰ وَمَنَاةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَىٰ أَلَكُمُ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الْأُنثَىٰ تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَىٰ إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ الْهُدَىٰ
“Have you seen, O Mushriks, (the idols:) al-Laat, al-’Uzzaa, and the other one Manaat, the third of them.[23] You prefer and love the male offspring for yourselves and then falsely attribute daughters, which is something you hate for yourselves, to Allaah. This is indeed an unjust division. Rather these idols are mere names which you Mushriks and your forefathers have invented. Allaah has sent down no proof for that. Rather they follow only conjecture and their own deisres, even though clear guidance has come to them from their Lord proving the futility of worshipping these idols and that worship is the right of Allaah alone.”[24] [Soorah an-Najm (53):19-23]
So this is a clear statement of contempt for the idols which they worshipped, and war against them. Also, Allaah, the Most High, says,
ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ حُرُمَاتِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ ۗ وَأُحِلَّتْ لَكُمُ الْأَنْعَامُ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَاجْتَنِبُوا الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الْأَوْثَانِ وَاجْتَنِبُوا قَوْلَ الزُّورِ حُنَفَاءَ لِلَّهِ غَيْرَ مُشْرِكِينَ بِهِ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتَخْطَفُهُ الطَّيْرُ أَوْ تَهْوِي بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي مَكَانٍ سَحِيقٍ
“So shun the filth of worshipping idols and shun false speech. Worshipping Allaah alone in tawheed making worship purely for Him, and not worshipping anything besides Him. And whoever worships anything else along with Allaah, then he is like one who fell down from the sky and was ripped to pieces by the birds, or like one cast by the wind in a far distant place.”[25] [Soorah al-Hajj (22):30-31]
Allaah, the Most High, says,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“O you who believe, intoxicants, gambling, stone altars erected for sacrifice and divining-arrows are an abomination from the handiwork of Satan. So shun all of that so that you may be successful.” [26] [ Soorah al-Maa’idah (5):90]
And from ’Amr ibn ’Abasah, radiyallaahu ’anhu, and his hadeeth has preceded, and in it there occurs, “I said, ‘Did Allaah send you as a Messenger?’ He said, ‘Yes,’ I asked, ‘With what message did he send you?’ He replied, ‘That Allaah should be singled out and worshipped in tawheed, and that nothing should be worshipped besides Him, and to smash the idols and to join ties of relationship.’”[27]
Also in the hadeeth of Ja’far which has preceded there occurs, “…until Allaah sent a Messenger to us from amongst us. We knew his lineage and his truthfulness and his chastity. He called us to single out Allaah in tawheed and to worship Him alone, and to renounce the stones and idols and whatever we and our fathers used to worship besides Him…”[28]
In the hadeeth of Aboo Sufyaan and his conversation with Heraclius, the King of the Byzantines, there occurs, “He says, (i.e., the Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) ), ‘Worship Allaah alone and do not worship anything along with Him, and renounce what the forefathers say…’”[29]
In the hadeeth of Aboo Umaamah, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, there occurs, “Indeed Allaah sent me as a mercy for the worlds, and as a guide for the worlds, and my Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, ordered me to destroy all musical instruments and flutes, and idols and the cross, and such things from the days of Ignorance…”[30]
Then the leaders of Quraysh went out of their minds in anger, unable to put up with the attack of Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) against their idols, whether it was concerning the Qur’aan sent down to him, or his da’wah in secret, or his da’wah in the open. This was something about which there could be no indulgence, and it was something which had to be due to his true and sincere call.
From Ibn ’Abbaas, radiyallaahu ‘anhumaa, who said,
“When Aboo Taalib became ill a group of Quraysh entered upon him, amongst them Aboo Jahl, and they said, ‘The son of your brother abuses our gods, and does such and such, and says such and such. So if only you were to send a message forbidding him.’ So he sent a message and the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم ) came and entered the house… Aboo Taalib said to him, ‘O son of my brother! Why is it that your people complain about you? They claim that you abuse their idols and say such and such?!’ They spoke a great deal against him, and Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم ) spoke and said, ‘O Uncle! I only desire that they should say a single phrase which if they say it, then the Arabs will become obedient to them and the non-Arabs will pay the Jizyah tax to them.’ So they were very surprised at what he said and they said, ‘A single phrase? Yes, by your father, even ten.’ So they asked, ‘And what is it?’ Aboo Taalib said, ‘And which saying is it, O son of my brother?’ So he (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم ) said, ‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah.’ So they stood up, shaking their clothes saying, ‘Does he declare that worship should be for a single God?! this is something bizarre.’”[31]
Also from Jaabir, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, who said,
“The Quraysh gathered together one day and said, ‘See who is the most knowledgeable of you with regard to sorcery, divining and poetry, then let him go to this man who splits our united body, causes schism between us and abuses our religion. So let him speak to him and see how best to reply to him.’ So they said, ‘We do not know anyone but ’Utbah ibn Rabee’ah.’ So they said, ‘Then it is to be you O Abul-Waleed.’ So ’Utbah went to him and said, ‘O Muhammad (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) ! Are you better or ’Abdullaah?’[32] Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) remained silent. ‘Are you better or ’Abdul-Muttalib?’[33] Again Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) remained silent. So he said, ‘If you claim that they are better than you, then they certainly worshipped the idols which you abuse. If however you claim that you are better than them, then speak so that we may hear what you have to say. Indeed we have never seen a youngster who has boded evil for his people more so than yourself. You have split our unity and caused schism in our affair, and you have abused our religion and shamed us in front of the Arabs. It has spread amongst them that there is a sorceror within Quraysh, and a diviner within Quraysh. By Allaah we do not expect that we will have to wait for the time it takes a new-born to cry out before we will fight amongst oursleves with swords and wipe oursleves out. O man, if it is poverty that is your problem, then we will gather wealth for you until you will be the richest man of Quraysh. If it is that you have a need to marry, then choose whichever of the women of Quraysh you like and we will marry you ten of them.’ So Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) said, ‘Have you finished?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ So Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) said:
until he reached
حم تَنزِيلٌ مِّنَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ…. فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُوا فَقُلْ أَنذَرْتُكُمْ صَاعِقَةً مِّثْلَ صَاعِقَةِ عَادٍ وَثَمُودَ
“In the name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. Haa Meem. This Qur’aan is the Revelation sent down by the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy …. So if these mushriks turn away from the proof which We have made clear to them, O Muhammad (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم ) , then say, ‘I warn you of a terrible punishment like that which befell ’Aad and Thamood.’”[34] [Soorah Fussilat (41):1-13]
’Utbah said, ‘Enough! Enough! Do you have nothing other than this?’ He said, ‘No.’ So he returned to Quraysh and they said, ‘What has occurred?’ He said, ‘I didn’t leave anything which I thought that you would wish to say except that I said it to him.’ They said, ‘Did he respond to you?’ He said, ‘No, by the one who caused the Ka’bah to be built, I did not understand anything which he said except that he warned you of a terrible punishment like that of ’Aad and Thamood.’ They said, ‘Woe to you, the man speaks to you in Arabic and you don’t understand what he says?!’ He said, ‘No, by Allaah, I did not understand anything that he said except for his mention of the terrible punishment.’”[35]
So this war was fought with words and the soul, with biting attacks and belittlement and derision, by overcoming the falsehood and ignorance of the Mushriks. At the same time, establishing the proof against them so that whoever went to destruction did so aware of the clear proof, and those who lived did so upon the clear proof. So from the results of this war, and from the results of this clear declaration was that Allaah guided many of the Arabs from the Quraysh and from the other tribes, and from Aws and the Khazraj. Allaah granted them clear discernment and they realised the reality of tawheed and its status. They also knew the vileness of committing shirk with idols or anything else, and also, at the same time, its seriousness and evil consequences for the Mushriks in this world and the Hereafter.
So these were the great and good fruits which came as a result of the Jihaad of Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) and his Companions and their steadfastness in the field of true da’wah to Allaah, and their intensive striving against the idols and false objects of worship. Then when Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) took tawheed to a new practical level which was to physically annihilate, smash and eradicate the idols and purify the earth from them, being fully aware of their seriousness, since they are the primary source of danger for every generation of mankind since the dawn of history until the end of history, just as the leader of those upon the true and straight religion said:
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ ۖ فَمَن تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي ۖ وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“And keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols, O my Lord, they have indeed caused the misguidance of many people.”[36] [Soorah Ibraaheem (14):35-36]
Therefore the greatest Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) resolved to carry out the task of purifying the earth from idols, and to level the graves since tombs are the partner of the idols in causing the misguidance of mankind.
From ’Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, who said,
“The Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) entered Makkah and there were three hundred and sixty idols erected around the Ka’bah. So he began striking them with a stick which he had in his hand and was saying, ‘The truth has arrived and falsehood has perished. The truth has arrived and falsehood cannot begin or return.’”[37]
Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) prepared an attachment to go from al-Madeenah to the tribe of Khath’am to attack Dhul-Khalasah, which they did. From Jareer ibn ’Abdullaah, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, who said, “There was a house[38] called Dhul-Khalasah, or the Yemeni Ka’bah or the Shaamee Ka’bah, and the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) said to me, ‘Will you not relieve me of Dhul-Khulasah?’ So I set out with a hundred and fifty riders of the Ahmas tribe. So we broke it down and killed whomever we found there. Then I came to the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) and informed him, so he made supplication for blessing for us and for the tribe of Ahmas.”[39]
The wording used by al-Bukhaaree, Muslim and Ahmad is, “Will you not relieve me of Dhul-Khalasah?” See the wording used by the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) ?! It was as if the existence of idols deprived him of sleep and disturbed him, so that he could not settle or be at ease.
[Read the Continuation of this article @ All of the Prophets began with correction of matters of ‘Aqeedah, and by waging war upon Shirk and its manifestations – Shaykh Rabee’ ibn Haadee ]
Footnotes:
[1] Soorah al-Mumtahinah (60):12.
[2] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 1/21/no.17 and 5/151 no.233), and Muslim (Eng. trans. 3/924-925 nos. 4235-4238), and an-Nasaa’ee (7/128).
[3] See Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 6/385 no.414)
[4] Reported by Ahmad (6/357) and an-Nasaa’ee (7/149).
[5] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 6/386 no. 415).
[6] Reported by Ahmad (6/379-380, 422-433) and its chain of narration contains Saleet ibn Ayyoob about whom al-Haafidh ibn Hajr said, “Maqbool,” (i.e. acceptable if supported), and adh-Dhahabee said in al-Kaashif (1/388), “Declared reliable by some,” so it is hasan due to its supports.
[7] Musnad Ahmad (6/365).
[8] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 6/388 no.418).
[9] Reported by Muslim (Eng. trans. 2/498 no.2270), Aboo Daawood (Eng. trans. 2/431 no.1638) and others…
[10] Reported by Muslim (Eng. trans. 3/971 no.4382), at-Tirmidhee (no.2716), and Ahmad (3/336) from the hadeeth of Jaabir with the wording, “And Allaah’s Messenger (*) sent letters five years before he died to Kisraa and Caesar, and to every tyrant ruler.”
[11] i.e. his followers from the weak and others, since he became a reason for their continuing upon shirk. This is from Allaah’s Justice, and His way with regard to the rulers, that they carry their own burden of sin and also the burden of sin of those who follow them in deviating from tawheed and the truth, and fighting against it. Allaah, the Most High, says:
“They will bear the burden of their own sins in full on the Day of Resurrection and the sin of those whom they lead astray.” [Soorah an-Nahl (16):25].
[12] Soorah Aal-’Imraan (3):64. Both of them are part of a single hadeeth reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 1/7 no.6) and it is a long hadeeth, abridged, and Ahmad (1/262).
[13] Ibid.
[14] Reported by Muslim (Eng. trans. 3/943 no.4294), and Aboo Daawood (Eng. trans. 2/722 no.2606) and others.
[15] Reported al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 5/445 no.634 and 9/348 no.469) and Muslim (Eng. trans. 1/14-15 nos. 27-28).
[16] Soorah al-Baqarah (2):193.
[17] Reported by Muslim (Eng. trans. 1/16 no.30) and at-Tirmidhee (no. 3341) and Ibn Maajah (no. 3928).
[18] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 9/46 no.59) and Muslim (Eng. trans. 1/15 no.29).
[19] Soorah al-Ghaashiyah (88):21-22.
[20] Reported by Muslim (Eng. trans. 1/17 no.32), at-Tirmidhee (no. 3341) and Ibn Maajah (no. 3928).
[21] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 1/25 no.24) and Muslim (Eng. trans. 1/17 no. 33).
[22] i.e. Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar.
[23] Translator’s Note: Al-Laat had its origin in a man of the tribe of Thaqeef who used to mix gruel for pilgrims in the times of ignorance near to a certain rock in Taa’if. Then after his death the people built a tomb around the rock, upon his grave. They then worshipped this and gave it the name al-Laat which they invented by twisting the name of Allaah. Allaah’s Messenger (*) sent al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah and Aboo Sufyaan to destroy it. They did so and in its place the mosque of Taa’if was built.
As for al-’Uzzaa, then it was in the form of a tree surrounded by a curtained building in a palm grove between Taa’if and Makkah. The Quraysh used to venerate it. An-Nasaa’ee reports in his Tafseer (2/357 no.567) that when Allaah’s Messenger (*) conquered Makkah he sent Khaalid ibn al-Waleed to it. He found that it was built around three trees, so he cut them down and destroyed the building. He then went to the Prophet (*) and informed him, but he said, “Return for you have done nothing.” So he returned and saw the keepers of the idol fleeing into the hills saying, “O ‘Uzzaa!” So Khaalid came and found a naked female with dishevelled hair, throwing dust upon her head. So he struck her with his sword and killed her, then he returned to the Prophet (*) and informed him. So he said, “That was al-’Uzzaa.”
As for Manaat then it was situated at Mushallal, near to Qudayd, between Makkah and al-Madeenah. It was venerated by various tribes in the times of ignorance. Allaah’s Messenger (*) sent ’Alee to demolish it in the year of the Conquest of Makkah. Ibn Ishaaq said in his Seerah, “The Arabs took other structures besides the Ka’bah, buildings which they worshipped and venerated just as they honoured the Ka’bah. These shrines had keepers and guards, and offerings would be made to them just as with the Ka’bah. The people would also make tawaaf around them and make sacrifices there…” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer and Tayseerul-’Azeezil-Hameed, (p.177)).
[24] Soorah an-Najm (53):19-23.
[25] Soorah al-Hajj (22):30-31.
[26] Soorah al-Maa’idah (5):90.
[27] Reported by Muslim (Eng. trans. 2/395 no.1812) as has preceded.
[28] Reported by Ahmad (1/202 and 5/290) and is hasan as has preceded.
[29] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 1/7 no.6) as has preceded.
[30] Al-Haithumee says in Majma’az Zawaa’id (5/72), “Reported by Ahmad and at-Tabaraanee and its chain contains ’Alee ibn Yazeed (i.e. al-Alhaanee) who is weak.” [Translator’s Note]
[31] Musnad Ahmad (1/362) and Tirmidhee (no.3232) and its chain of narration contains Yahyaa ibn ’Umaarah and it is said: Ibn ’Abbaad who is mentioned by Ibn Hibbaan in ath-Thiqaat. Ibn Hajr says in Tahdheebut-Tahdheeb (11/259), “Acceptable (if supported),” and refer to, at-Taqreeb (2/354). Adh-Dhahabee says in al-Kaashif (3/224), “Declared reliable by some.” It is also reported by Ibn Jareer (23/165) with his chain of narration to al-A’mash: ’Abbaad narrated to us: from Sa’eed ibn Jubayr: from Ibn ’Abbaas, and I do not find any biography for ’Abbaad. Its chain of narration also contains weakness, but may be suitable to be supported to the level of hasan…
[32] i.e. the father of Allaah’s Messenger (*). [Translator’s Note]
[33] i.e. the grandfather of Allaah’s Messenger (*). [Translator’s Note]
[34] Soorah Fussilat (41):1-13.
[35] Al-Muntakhab min Musnad ’Abd Ibn Humayd (no.1141) and Musnad Abee Ya’laa al-Mawsulee (no.1812) both of them from Aboo Bakr ibn Abee Shaybah: ’Alee ibn Muhammad narrated to us: from al-Ajlah: from adh-Dhayyaal ibn Hurmulah al-Asadee: from Jaabir, radiyallaahu ’anhu, from the Prophet (*). Ibn Katheer said in his Tafseer (7/151), after quoting the hadeeth with his chain of narration from ’Abd ibn Humayd and Aboo Ya’laa: “Al-Baghawee reports it in his Tafseer with his chain of narration from Muhammad ibn Fudayl: from al-Ajlah, who is Ibn ’Abdullaah al-Kindee, and he is declared somewhat weak from adh-Dhayyaal…” However al-Haafidh (Ibn Hajr) says about him in at-Taqreeb (1/46), “Generally acceptable Shee’ee from the seventh level.” Adh-Dhahabee said in al-Kaashif (1/99), “He was declared reliable by Ibn Ma’een and others and declared weak by an-Nasaa’ee and was a Shee’ee.” As for his Shaykh, adh-Dhayyaal, then al-Haafidh (Ibn Hajr) says of him in Ta’jeelul-Manfa’ah (p.84), “He reports from Jaabir and Ibn ’Umar and al-Qaasim ibn Mukhaymirah. Fitr ibn Khaleefah, Husayyin, al-Ajlah and Hajjaaj ibn Arlhat narrate from him. And Ibn Hibbaan declared him reliable.” The rest of the narrators of the chain are reliable.
[36] Soorah Ibraaheem (14):35-36.
[37] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 3/369 no.658 and 5/406 no.583 and 6/206 no.244) and Muslim (Eng, trans. 3/978 no.4397) and Tirmidhee (no.3138) and Ahmad (1/377).
[38] i.e. a house like a shrine, which contained idols.
[39] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 5/450-452 no.641-643), Muslim (Eng. trans. 4/1320 nos. 6052-6054), Aboo Daawood (Eng. trans. 2/777 no. 2766) and Ahmad (4/360-362).
[Excerpted from the book : “The Methodology of the Prophets in Calling to Allaah – that is the way of wisdom and intelligence” – by Shaykh Rabee hafidhahullaah, translated by Dawud Burbank rahimahullah]
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