True Essence of Islam

Snap Shot from Khaibar

The Battle of Khaibar… year 7th higry. 7 years after the Prophet PBUH's emigration to Madina. Whilst not going to go through the battle itself here, nor the causes and strategies involved, I wanted to bring this snap shot of the event. I had seen this battle used by Islam haters in other blogs and places on the net, as a sign if how blood thirsty and intolerant to Jews Islam is in their eyes. Do not know if these people have not researched the event properly… or are just trying to fake facts to paint Islam with a colour they want… but here is just a small part of the story… taken from Amr Khaled's narration of the story in the "Path of the beloved" series:


After ghazwat al khandak, there was still a minority of Jews -those who didn’t break the treaty with the prophet (SAWS) - inside Madinah. These still enjoyed all their rights of citizenship and peaceful living in the city side by side with the Muslims. This was a good example of peaceful coexistence between people of different religions. And of course there were transactions between them. It happened that a Jew, called Abu-Shahm lent some money to a companion of the prophet whose name is Abdullah Bin Abi Hazrag. The amount of money was meager; only 5 dirhams. Abi Hazrag was leaving among the soldiers to Khaibar, and Abu-Shahm asked him to give him his money back before he went to battle. Abi Hazrag, however did not give him the money then, because he did not have the money, and secondly the debt was not due yet. He told Abu shahm to wait till he came back from Khaibar, when he will have money and pay him back. Abu Shahm argued that he will not come back… that they will be beaten, and he will be killed and so he wanted his money before he left.

The Jew complained to the prophet (SAWS), and accordingly the Prophet (SAWS) ordered his companion to give the money back to the Jew and when Abi Hazrag argued that the debt is not yet due the Prophet explained that it is his right to have his money for he may not come back alive! And if he can not pay then he has to stay behind and not join the battle, lest he be killed.

The companion, wanting so much to join the Prophet PBUH, had to resort to selling his clothes. He had only two gilbabs (robes), and he knew he was going to be gone for a long time and he needed them, but he sold one of them nonetheless and for it he got 3 dirham. For the last 2 dirham left, he sold his turban that protected him from the desert's scorching sun. Therefore, the companion was obliged to sell his clothes in order to be able to pay the man back! You see how eager they were to the prophet's (SAWS) fellowship

Abi Hazrag narrates that while he was sitting so sad that he sold one of the only two Gilbab's he owned, a woman asked him about the reason of his sadness and offered him her only cloak she had in order the share the reward with them. Can you see how the society is supporting each other, how they sacrifice for the sake of this message, the woman told Abi Hazrag that she did not mind remaining home till they get back as she had nothing to protect her form the cold weather except this cloak. This is a story of a humble companion who was not mentioned in the prophet's biography except this one time yet it is enough to be honored with.

And so, he paid Abu Shahm , one of a minority of Jews living in Madina, his debt of 5 dirham, to be able to travel and join the Prophet PBUH. And then they say that Khaibar was a battle that was rooted from intolerance and hate towards Jews? Would the Prophet (SAWS) have been just with this man if that was true?

posted by doshar @ 4:24 PM