Part 27
By Abu Rayyan Hamidi
Continuing the lessons derived from the expedition against Banu Qaynuqa, several further insights deserve careful reflection.
4. Declaring Disavowal from the Enemies of Allah and His Messenger
A believer is required to clearly declare loyalty to Allah, His Messenger, and the community of the faithful, and to disavow those who stand in enmity toward them. Islam does not permit the cultivation of affection or political allegiance with those who oppose divine guidance, particularly the Jews and Christians. This principle is established by the command of Allah Almighty:
“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۘ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ” [ المائدة: 51]
“O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you, then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.”
(Surah al-Ma’idah: 51)
This command was not merely theoretical; it was practically embodied by the noble Companion ‘Ubadah ibn al-Samit (RA). Like Abd-Allah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul, ‘Ubadah had a treaty with Banu Qaynuqa and was counted among their allies. Yet when they violated their covenant and turned hostile toward the Muslims, ‘Ubadah refused to cling to tribal loyalties or political convenience. Unlike Ibn Salul, he neither defended them nor sought to excuse their treachery.
Instead, he went directly to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and openly declared his dissociation, stating:
“I take Allah, His Messenger, and the believers as my allies. I renounce the alliance of these disbelievers and their authority.”
Recognizing his clarity of faith and moral firmness, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) entrusted ‘Ubadah with the task of overseeing the expulsion of Banu Qaynuqa.
When they protested, saying, “O Abu al-Walid, are you not our ally? Do we not have a pact between us? Why do you expel us?” ‘Ubadah (RA) replied with unambiguous resolve: “When you initiated war against the Muslims, I went to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and declared my disavowal from you and from your allies.”
This incident powerfully illustrates that true faith demands principled allegiance, even when it requires the severing of long-standing ties.
5. The Prophet’s Strategic Wisdom in Dealing with Hypocrisy
When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) accepted the intercession of Abd-Allah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul and refrained from punishing Jews more severely, this decision was rooted in profound wisdom. One motivation was hope. The Prophet (PBUH) wished that Ibn Salul might abandon hypocrisy, that faith might take root in his heart, and that he might reform himself. Through his reform, others who followed him might also be guided toward sincerity.
Yet Ibn Salul’s heart proved unreceptive, like a sealed vessel into which faith could find no entry.
Beyond this moral consideration, there was also a strategic dimension that reveals the Prophet’s exceptional political insight. At that stage, Ibn Salul possessed considerable influence in Madinah. His hypocrisy had not yet fully exposed itself, and his words still carried weight among certain individuals. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) therefore chose a policy of restraint and accommodation, not weakness.
Had the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) publicly rebuked Ibn Salul or rejected his plea outright, the result could have been the eruption of new fitnah. Such a confrontation would likely have deepened Ibn Salul’s resentment and might even have driven him toward open rebellion or armed resistance.
Instead, the Prophet (PBUH) exercised patience, allowing time for Ibn Salul’s hypocrisy to reveal itself naturally to the Companions. Once exposed, his influence would collapse without the need for confrontation. By accepting his intercession, the Prophet (PBUH) effectively neutralized a potential fitnah before it could ignite.
This episode demonstrates a vital principle of governance and leadership. An internal enemy, especially one connected to external forces, can be far more destructive than an open adversary from outside. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) addressed this threat not with haste, but with foresight, wisdom, and restraint, qualities that remain timeless lessons for leaders and communities alike.
