Among the expeditions sent by the Prophet , the one against Banu Al-Mustaliq in Sha’ban, 5 or 6 A.H., was a prominent event in Islamic history. A branch of the Banu Khuzaa clan, which was on friendly terms with the Muslims, Banu Al- Mustaliq had sided with the Quraysh and were preparing for an attack on the Prophet . Baridah bin Khusayb was sent to gather intelligence and came back to Madinah and confirmed the report. Once more it was time for the Prophet to leave Madinah in the hands of another, some say it was Zayd bin Haritha , and march out against the enemy.

With an army of seven hundred men, the Prophet surprised Banu Al-Mustaliq who were encamped at a spring named Muraysi’ on the outskirts of Qudayd. Some of them were killed, their women and children were rounded up, and their property and livestock seized. The operation lasted two nights. Among the prisoners was Juwayriyah, the daughter of the wealthy Harith bin Darar. She accepted Islam in Madinah, and the Prophet set her free and married her. In defence to Juwayriyah, who gained the status of “Mother of the believers” with her marriage to the Prophet , one hundred families from Banu Al- Mustaliq were set free. They had entered Islam, and the Prophet’s Companions released them saying they were the Prophet’s relatives by marriage. Juwayriyah had thus brought her people good fortune.

As expeditions go, the campaign against Banu Al-Mustaliq was noteworthy not because of its military importance but because it gave rise to two extremely distressing and painful events which rent the Muslim community and the Prophet’s heart.

While the Muslims were at the spring in Muraysi, a man from the Ansar clashed with a Muhajir. The Ansari was beaten and called the other Ansar to his rescue, while the Muhajir called out to the Muhajireen. The people who came up polarised themselves according to their place of origin – Makkah and Madinah. As the calls “O Ansar!” “O Muhajireen!” rang out, the Prophet recognised the ugly spirit of factionalism threatening the brotherhood of Muslims, and he intervened immediately.

“I am still among you,” he said. “I hear calls from the Days of Ignorance. Ignore them, for they are foul.” Contritely, the two groups dispersed and returned to the path of brotherhood and unity.

Meanwhile, a large number of men from the faction of the Hypocrites were present on this expedition, as was their leader, Abdullah bin Ubayy. The incident at the spring was fodder for making mischief and nurturing resentment, He addressed the

Ansar:

“How dare they [the Muhajireen] rise up against us? Here we are in our own country and they have come in and tried to outnumber us. By God, it is just as the ancients said: Feed the dog, and it will bite you. I swear by God that when we return to Madinah, the worthy and noble ones will drive out the unworthy wretches.”

By the worthy, he was referring to himself, of course, while the unworthy one in his eyes who deserved to be driven out was the Prophet . Admonishing his men, he continued: “You yourselves have wrought this. You allowed them to settle in your country and shared your property with them. By God, had you held back and not been so generous, they would have surely gone elsewhere.”

Listening to Abdullah spew out his venom was a young Companion of the Prophet , Zayd bin Arqam , who immediately brought the matter to the Prophet’s attention. Abdullah bin Ubayy was sent for and asked about his diatribe, which he denied upon oath, swearing the Prophet had been misinformed. His glib words saved him on that occasion, but the revelation of Surah Al-Munaafiqoon published the truth, and the name of Abdullah bin Ubayy stands disgraced until the Day of Judgment.

Ironically, Abdullah’s son, who bore the same name as his father, was a true believer who was incensed by his father’s machinations. He rushed to Madinah ahead of the running troops and stood there barring his father’s way. As he faced his father, he said:

“By Allah, until the Prophet permits, you will not be allowed to advance an inch, for it is he who is honourable and you who are dishonourable.”

The Prophet told Abdullah to allow his father back into Madinah and a mortified Abdullah bin Ubayy brooded over how to destroy the peace. What had begun as a simple disagreement between two men at a spring had escalated into a rift dividing an entire community and a father and his son, but this episode also showed that the only kinship of consequence is through righteousness and faith.