In Isaiah 6:9 it is written, "And he said, Go, and tell this
people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive
not."
I was quiet surprised from the response to my first letter because the
author of the response has not given an adequate response at all. I apologize to
you dear readers, but I will have to repeat some of what I said earlier, for it
seems to me that Khalid just loves to repeat things.
When we omit all the needless personal insults found in Khalid's response,
his argument comes down to the following:-
1. His assumption that the Quran Commentators were mistaken in
including the story of Abdullah Bin Sa'd Bin Abi Sarh, despite the fact that
such an assumption creates a problem for him which is the accuracy of the
Islamic Sources. When we notified him of this problem he simply laughed and
ignored it.
2. His insistence of using only one Islamic Source without giving any
reason for preferring that particular source.
3. His claims that the story exists in Sunan Abi Dawood alone
in spite of the fact that we quoted it from several sources.
Now we will review the problem once more and discuss the proposed
rebuttal.
The Quran Commentators said that the reason of revelation is:-
a. ... "I can reveal the like of what Allah hath
revealed" was revealed about Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi
Sarh. He confessed Islam. The Messenger of Allah invited him once so that he
could write him something, so when the verse which is in Surat Al-Mou'mineen
"Man We did create from a quintessence (of clay)" was recited, he
[Mohammad] dictated it to him [Abdullah]. When Mohammad finished by saying
"We developed out of it another creature", Abdullah was amazed by
this detail in the creation of man and said, "So blessed be Allah, the
Best to create!", so the Messenger of Allah said, "That's how it
was revealed to me". So Abdullah doubted then and said [to himself],
"If Mohammad were truthful, then I was revealed what he was revealed.
And if he were a liar, then I said what he said."
("Asbaab Al-Nuzool" by Al-Wahidi Al-Naysaboori - Page 126
- Beirute's Cultural Libary Edition "Tub'at Al-Maktabah
Al-thakafiyyah Beirute" - No date)
b. The One whose name is Exalted
(Allah) means in his saying "Who doth more
wrong than such as invent a falsehood against Allah" and
"Who doth more wrong and who is more ignorant
than such as invent a falsehood against Allah" referring to
those who invent falsehood against Allah and claim to be a Prophet and a
Warner, and he [the person who claims] is false in his claims, and lying in
his sayings. In this, God is ridiculing the Pagan Arabs, and (ridiculing)
the opposing of Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi Al-Sarh and the Hanafite
Musaylamah to the Prophet of Allah (SAW). For one of them claimed
prophethood and the other claimed that he came up with something similar to
what the Messenger of Allah (SAW) came with [the Quran], and at the same
time denying the lying and false claims against his Prophet Mohammad (SAW).
(Tafseer Al-Qurtubi)
The people
of the interpretations (scholars) had different opinions about that; some of
them said what we said [agreed with us]. Among those are:
Al-Qasim
told us: Al-Hussein narrated: Al-Hajjaj narrated: by Ibn Jurayh, by
Ikrimah:
His saying [Allah's saying in the Quran], "Who doth more wrong than such as invent a falsehood against
Allah, or said: 'I have received inspiration,' when he hath received
none". He [Ikrimah] said: This verse was revealed about
Musaylamah the brother of Bani (children of) Uday bin Haneefah, for he
[Musaylamah] was reciting poetry and prophesying. And "I can reveal like what Allah hath revealed"
was revealed about Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi Al-Sarh, the brother of Bani
(children of) Amir bin Lu'ai. He [Abdullah] used to write for the Prophet
(SAW), and while he [Mohammad] was dictating "Exalted in power, full of Wisdom", he
[Abdullah] would write it "Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful", thus
changing it. Then he [Abdullah] would read the changed verses to him
[Mohammad], and he [Mohammad] would say, "Yes [in approval], it's the
same [meaning]". So he [Abdullah] reverted from Islam and followed
Quraysh telling them, "He [Mohammad] used to recite to me Exalted in
power, full of Wisdom', and I would change it when I write it down, and he
would tell me, 'Yes [in approval], it's the same [meaning]." But then
he [Abdullah] came back to Islam before the conquering (fath) of Mecca,
while the Prophet (SAW) was at Mur [a place in Arabia - on his way to
Mecca].
And some said: This verse was indeed revealed about Abdullah
bin Sa'd in particular. Among those are:
c. Mohammad bin Al-Hussein spoke
to me, he said: Ahmad bin Al-Mufdil narrated: Asbat narrated from Al-Sudy:
"Who doth more wrong than such as invent a
falsehood against Allah, or said: "I have received inspiration,' when
he hath received none" until his [Allah] saying,
"ye receive your reward, a penalty of
shame". He [Al-Sudy] said: This verse was revealed about
Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi Al-Sarh, he embraced Islam, and used to write
[Quran revelations] for the Prophet (SAW). So when the Prophet dictated him:
"Who heareth and knoweth all
things", he'd write it: "All-Knowing, All-Wise".
So he doubted and reverted. Then he said, "If Mohammad gets
inspiration, then I get inspiration too, and if Allah sent him his
revelation then I was sent the same thing. For when Mohammad said, 'Who
heareth and knoweth all things' I'd say, 'All-Knowing, All-Wise'" So he
followed the Pagans, and he blew the cover of Ammar and Jubar [secret
Muslims] to Ibn Al-Hudrumi or to Bani Abd Al-Dar, so they took them and
tortured them until they reverted. Ammar's ear was cut off that day, so he
[Ammar] went to the Prophet (SAW) and told him what had happened to him, but
the Prophet (SAW) refused to handle his issue. So Allah revealed about
[Abdullah] Ibn Abi Al-Sarh and his companions, "Anyone who, after accepting Faith in Allah, utters Unbelief, -
except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in Faith - but such as
open their breast to Unbelief, on them is Wrath from Allah, and theirs will
be a dreadful Penalty" Who was "under compulsion" is Ammar and his
companions, and who "open their breast to
Unbelief" is [Abdullah] Ibn Abi Al-Sarh. (Tafseer Al-Tabari)
These are three sources which do not
include Sunan Abi Dawood.
The author of the response objected to those sources on the grounds that
Abdullah didn't convert to Islam during the Meccan Era but during the Madinian
Era. The author bases these claims on one source only, Al-Itqaan fi Ouloom
Al-Quran by Al-Suyooti. Yet that same source says that a verse
could have multiple reasons of revelation (meaning
Allah revealed it again at another time to Mohammad because of another
incident). Thus if we were to assume what the author said is accurate, that Ibn
Sarh converted to Islam in Al-Madina, then reverted a year before conquering
Mecca, then it is still possible that this verse was indeed revealed again when
Ibn Sarh reverted (as another reason of revelation).
As for the author's argument that the verse in question is a Meccan one, in
Al-Itqaan fi Ouloom Al-Quran, Baab Jam' Al-Quran (the
Chapter of the Collection of the Quran), which is the same source he loves to
quote from, Al-Suyooti says,
"The Quran, according to what was
narrated by Mohammad Bin Sereen, Ikrimah says, 'After Abu Bakr was chosen
[as a Khalifa], Ali bin Abi Talib stayed at his home [meaning he didn't go
to congratulate Abu Bakr]. So Abu Bakr was told, 'He [Ali] is against you
being chosen [as a Khalifa].' So Abu Bakr summoned him and asked him, 'Are
you against me being chosen [as a Khalifa]?' Ali responded, 'By Allah no!'
so Abu Bakr said, 'Why were you away from me then?' Ali responded, 'I saw
that additions are being made to the Book of Allah [the Quran] so I decided
not to leave my house except to pray until I collect all of it." Abu
Bakr said, 'A wise decision.' So Mohammad Bin Sereen told Ikrimah, 'Collect
it [the Quran] in the order of revelation.' Ikrimah said, 'By Allah if all
the Human Beings and all the Djinn came together to collect the Quran [in
chronological order] they wouldn't be capable of doing so!" (Al-Itqaan fi Ouloom Al-Quran, Volume 1, Page 164,
Published by Daar Ihya' Al-Uloom, 1996)
Now if we take the story in question, which is found in the Commentaries,
and then look at what happened when Mohammad conquered Mecca, everything will
fit right in place. For many authentic Hadeeths and Quran Commentaries say that
Mohammad ordered the killing of Abdullah Bin Abi Sarh even if he was clutching
to the drapes of Al-Ka'ba!
Narrated Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas:
When it was the day of Fath [the conquering] of
Mecca, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) gave safety [from being killed] to all
people [of Mecca] except for four people [men] and two women, and he
said,
"Kill them even if you find them clutching to
the drapes of the Ka'ba. [Those people are] Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl, Abdullah
bin Khattal, Maqees bin Subabah, and Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi
Al-Sarh."
...
...
...
[The skipped part talks about
the other three]
...
...
...
And as for Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi Al-Sarh, he
hid with Othman bin Affan. So when the Messenger of Allah (SAW) called the
people for the bay'a [the vow of faith and allegiance], he [Othman] came
with him [Abdullah] until he [Othman] put him [Abdullah] in the presence of
the Prophet (SAW) and said,
"O Messenger of Allah, make the vow of
allegiance [bay'a] with Abdullah."
So he [Mohammad] raised his head and looked at him
[Abdullah or Othman] three times, each time denying the request. But he
agreed after the third time, then he approached his companions and
said,
"Isn't there any honorable man among you who
would stand and kill him [Abdullah] when he saw me refusing to make the vow
with him?"
So they said,
"How are we to know O Messenger of Allah
what's in your soul, wouldn't you have given us a signal with you
eye?"
Se he [Mohammad] said,
"It does not behave the prophet to make
signal." (Musnad Abi Ya'li -
755)
'Sunan Al-Nasa'i - 4067', 'Al-Sunan Al-Kubra by
Al-Buhayqi - 17221', and 'Sunan Al-Darqutni - 2981' all have the
same Hadeeth.
Now lets try and link all these stories:-
1. Several Quran Commentators say that Ibn Sarh used to write down
Mohammad's "revelation" then he reverted back to Paganism and
returned to Mecca saying that he narrated Mohammed whatever he wanted.
2. In Arabia, it was a known custom applied by all Arabs that in war,
any person found clenching to the drapes of Al-Ka'ba is spared. The
Barbarian Pagan Arabs wouldn't kill a person who is clenching to the drapes
of Al-Ka'ba, yet Mohammad ordered the killing of six unarmed people, two of
which were women, even if they were clenching to the drapes of Al-Ka'ba!
Makes you wonder if Islam is "the religion of Peace" they try to
promote.
Thus it seems that the crime of those six people was great enough for
Mohammad to violate the common practice of the Arabs and kill people clutching
to the drapes of Al-Ka'ba.
Now we have the right to ask the author:-
1. Why did Mohammad order the killing of Abi Sarh although
he'd forgiven all the rest of the Meccans, some of whom have hurt Mohammad
badly?
2. If you say that Ibn Sarh converted to Islam in Al-Medinah, but then
reverted, why did he revert?
3. You claimed that the story of Ibn Sa'd was only recorded in
Sunan Ibn Dawood, and here we brought you the same story from other
sources. Now how do you explain to us this story. Please spare me the
"they made a mistake" routine for they who narrated this story are
the same people who narrated the Quran and the Hadeeth.
Finally, the author's personal attack on me (rather than focusing on the
article) is the method used by weak people, and I know that you Khalid aren't
weak. It is futile to ignore the facts and to stoop low by attacking my personal
integrity. So if you have nothing objective to say, then say nothing at all -
it's better for the both of us.
May the Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,
B.K.