Abd Allah ibn Ubayy
Abd Allah ibn Ubayy | |
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Other name(s) | al-Munafiq ('the Hypocrite') |
Born | 7th century Yathrib, Hejaz, Arabia |
Died | 631 Medina, Hejaz, Arabia |
Tribe | Khazraj |
Years of service | 617–629 |
Battles/wars |
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Spouse(s) | Khawla bint al-Mundhir al-Najjari Lubna bint Ubada al-Qauqali Rayta bint Amir ibn Qays al-Saidi |
Children | |
Relations |
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ʿAbd Allāh ibn 'Ubayy ibn Salūl (
Origins and early life
Abd-Allah was the son of Ubayy ibn Salul and Uzza bint Ka'ab, also from
Ibn Ubayy "used every effort to end the fratricidal strife" [2] and achieved a partial reconciliation between the two factions, which both recognized the leadership of Ibn Ubayy.[5]
He occupied a high status in pre-Islamic Medinan society, and his supporters aimed for him to become "king". The aim was not realised, however, because of the arrival of Muhammad in 622:[1][6] since the tribal conflict had not been completely resolved, some citizens looked towards another arbitrator and called in Muhammad, whose preaching had made him famous beyond his home town of Mecca.[5]
The arrival of a man who claimed to speak in the name of God eclipsed Ibn Ubayy's influence. That provoked his jealousy, which he was careful to conceal, but was mitigated by his moderation and peacefulness. Ibn Ubayy nonetheless remained a well-respected man.[5] According to Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Ubayy was "a man of great authority in Medina before the advent of the apostle".
Conversion
After the entry of Muhammad in Medina, many of the Arabs converted to
Being second only to Muhammad, Ibn Ubayy became a "figurehead for those Arabs of Medina who, openly or secretly, sneered at the Prophet's teaching and complained of the confusion and the danger which the coming of the Muslims had brought to Medina".[5] Ibn Ishaq writes that some of the Ansar "were not altogether convinced of the political wisdom of supporting the apostle: these came to be regarded as paying lip-service to Islam, but hiding treachery in their hearts, and they were known and reviled as 'the Hypocrites'".[11] William Muir opines that tradition "makes a scapegoat of Abdallah" standing for "a great number, who had incurred Muhammad's anger, and some of them much more than Abdallah".[12]
Military campaigns
Banu Qaynuqa
In 624, the Muslims moved against the Jewish tribe of the
The Muslims besieged the Banu Qaynuqa, and after 15 days, forced them to surrender. Now, Ibn Ubayy was allied to the Qaynuqa and according to Muslim historians, appealed to Muhammad for leniency.[1] He grabbed hold of the top of Muhammad's breast plate as he turned away, provoking his anger.[16] "Let me go," Muhammad said. Ibn Ubayy replied:[3]
Nay [...] I will not let thee go, until thou hast compassion on my friends; 300 soldiers armed in mail, and 400 unequipped, - they defended me on the fields of Hadaick and Boath from every foe. Wilt thou cut them down in one day, O Mohammad? As for me, I am one verily that feareth the vicissitudes of fortune.
Then, Muhammad acceded to his request and gave the Banu Qaynuqa three days to leave the city.[16]
Ibn Ubayy's last sentence has been interpreted in various ways. Rodinson considered it as threat against Muhammad,
Muslims have traditionally seen the episode as another piece of evidence for Ibn Ubayy's hypocrisy since he insisted that adherence to Islam had not completely severed the old obligations of tribal and personal loyalty.[17] However, Ibn Ubayy had not defended the Qaynuqa but merely pleaded for mercy. His plea implies that Muhammad intended to put the Qaynuqa to death, as he later did with the Banu Qurayza, but after Ibn Ubayy's intercession, they were merely expelled from Medina, their property falling to Muhammad and the Muhajirun.[4]
Battle of Uhud
In the consultations preceding the approaching
When Muhammad marched out to fight the Meccans, Ibn Ubayy also marched out with 300 of his own men and his remaining Jewish allies, according to al-Waqidi; however, Muhammad ordered him to send the Jews back into the town, calling them "idolaters". Ibn Ubayy then led his men back to Medina, retiring to the strongholds, while Muhammad resumed his advance.[1][18] Islamic tradition presumes that Ibn Ubayy turned back to protect the town or his own possessions.[18][20] According to Watt, Surah 3:166 interprets Ibn Ubayy's withdrawal as showing "cowardice and lack of belief in God and the Prophet"[1][21]
Muhammad's 700 men met the 3000 of the Quraish in the Battle of Uhud and were defeated. The Quraish, however, did not succeed in killing Muhammad, and did not attempt to occupy the town of Medina, possibly because they knew it was guarded by Ibn Ubayy.[1][22] Rodinson suggests that the Meccans did not want to reforge the very unity of the population, which had been jeopardised by Muhammad's defeat.[23]
Banu Nadir
Ibn Ubay was also involved in Muhammad's conflict with another Jewish tribe, the
Watt considered this to be the first instance in which Ibn Ubayy went beyond verbally criticising Muhammad to intriguing against him, a practice Watt saw as continuing for the next two years.[1]
Controversy during Mustaliq campaign
In 627, Ibn Ubayy participated in a raid against the Banu Mustaliq. On the march home, conflict arose between the Muhajirun and the Ansar when a Bedouin servant of Umar pushed an ally of the Khazraj. Hearing of this, Ibn Ubayy reportedly voiced his discontent:[27]
This... ye have brought upon yourselves, by inviting these strangers to dwell amongst us. When we return to Medina, the Mightier shall surely expel the Meaner!
Watt described the phrase as an attempt by Ibn Ubayy "to undermine Muhammad's authority and make men think of expelling him".[1] Muhammad forestalled any fighting by immediately continuing the march. Ibn Ubayy denied having said so and Muhammad accepted the excuse, but after their return to Medina, the "Munafiqun" would be reprimanded in Surah 63:8. Reportedly, Muhammad rejected the advice of Umar, who counselled to have Ibn Ubayy killed and the offer of Ibn Ubayy's own son, a fervent Muslim, to kill his own father.[27][28][29]
Later during the march, Muhammad's wife Aisha was rumoured to have committed adultery, and Ibn Ubay was among those spreading the rumour.[27][30][31]
One of the chiefs of the Aws asked for the permission to punish the slanderers without incurring a feud, but the Khazraj opposed that. After Muhammad had announced that he had received a revelation confirming Aisha's innocence, he had her three of her accusers, who had come forward, punished by eighty lashes. He did not venture to enforce the sentence against Ibn Ubayy, who had not come forward.[27]
Last years
According to Watt, after 627, there is no record of Ibn Ubayy "actively opposing Muhammad or intriguing against him". In 628, Ibn Ubayy participated in the march to
In 630, when Muhammad launched a
Ibn Ubayy died two months after Muhammad's return, in 631. Despite the various conflicts between the two men, Muhammad did not show signs of vindictiveness towards Ibn Ubayy and attended his funeral and prayed above his grave, but afterwards revealed a verse in Surah at-Tawbah which denies him forgiveness, condemned him and the Munafiqun,[9]
Whether you (O Muhammad ﷺ) ask forgiveness for them (hypocrites) or ask not forgiveness for them – (and even) if you ask seventy times for their forgiveness – Allah will not forgive them because they have disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger. And Allah guides not those people who are rebellious (80).
Ibn Ubayy's death signalled the end of the so-called Munafiqun faction, as "there was no one left ... possessed of power or influence".[12]
Ibn Ubayy married three times and left behind nine children, all of whom became devout Muslims.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n William Montgomery Watt, "`Abd Allah b. Ubayy", Encyclopaedia of Islam
- ^ a b John Bagot Glubb, The Life and Times of Muhammad (2002), p. 142
- ^ a b William Muir, The Life of Mohammad, vol. 3, chapter 13
- ^ a b Glubb (2002), p. 197f.
- ^ a b c d Glubb (2002), p. 161, 164f.
- ^ a b Maxime Rodinson, Muhammad: Prophet of Islam (2002), p. 156
- ^ Rudi Paret, Mohammed und der Koran, Stuttgart: Kohlhammer Verlag (1957), p. 103.
- ^ Saif-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (2002), p. 285
- ^ a b Sayed Ali Asgher Razwy, Restatement of History of Islam
- ^ Rodinson (2002), p. 157
- ^ a b Ibn Ishaq, The earliest biography of Muhammad´
- ^ a b c d William Muir, The Life of Muhammad, vol. 3, chapter 14
- ISBN 978-9960-899-55-8
- ^ Stillman, The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book.
- ^ Guillaume 363, ibn Kathir 2
- ^ a b c Rodinson (2002), p. 173
- ^ Glubb (p. 197) refers to Ubada ibn al-Samit as an alternative; a Muslim from the tribe of Aws and also an ally of the Qunayqa, he then renounced his friendship the Jews.
- ^ a b c William Muir, The Life of Mohammad, vol. 3, chapter 14
- ^ al-Mubarakpuri (2002), p. 298
- ^ Glubb (2002), p. 202-205.
- ^ Some scholars interpret the Surah to indicate that Ibn Ubayy stayed in the town in the first place; A. Schaade, "`Abd-Allah b. Ubaiy", Enzyklopädie des Islam.
- ^ Glubb (2002), p. 215f.
- ^ Rodinson (2002), p. 182
- ^ William Muir, The Life of Muhammad, vol. 3, chapter 15.
- ^ V. Vacca, "Nadir, Banu'l", Encyclopaedia of Islam
- Jewish Encyclopedia.
- ^ a b c d William Muir, The Life of Mohammad, vol. 3, chapter 16
- ^ Akram Diya Al-Umari, The Bonds of Faith Are the Bases of the Links Between Men Archived October 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine (1991).
- ^ Glubb (2002), p. 262f.
- ^ William Montgomery Watt, "Aisha bint Abi Bakr", Encyclopaedia of Islam
- ^ Glubb (2002), p. 264f.
- ^ Rudi Paret, Mohammed und der Koran, Stuttgart: Kohlhammer (1957), p. 126.
- ^ Glubb (2002), p. 333f.