Those pagan Arabs who were not firm in their faith and harboured enmity within lagged behind when the Holy Prophet^-SW set out on the expedition. On his^-SW return to Madinah they presented all sorts of excuses for instance, that their families and business kept them occupied and that he^-SW may pray for their forgiveness. This pretext was, however, not supported by inner feelings. In fact they had never intended to obey the Holy Prophet^-SW from the very outset. He^-SWT may, therefore, ask them that if Allaah^-SWT destroyed their families and business, who would protect them; or could they prevent it?

 

They must not assume that their pretences could avail them because once the Holy Prophet^-SW issues an order there is no option but the compliance. No excuses can be offered without his formal permission, whereas these were utterly false, a fact well known to Allah^-SWT, Who^-SWT revealed their secret motives to His^-SWT Prophet^-SW. They had assumed that the believers would never return to Madinah and all would be done to death by the Makkans. They had inwardly rejoiced at this assumption out of hypocrisy and were indeed a nation destined to destruction because of their evil thoughts.

 

Evil Thoughts

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Harbouring evil thoughts against a Prophet^-AS deprives one of his faith. Similarly, maliciousness against an accomplished Sheikh precludes a seeker to benefit from him. May Allaah^-SWT protect us! Those who do not believe in Allaah^-SWT and His^-SWT Messenger^-SW will end up in the mighty inferno Allaah^-SWT has prepared for them in Hell. But the penitent will be forgiven (and there were some among them who were truly so). He^-SWT is the Sovereign, to Whom^-SWT belongs the domain of the heavens and the earth. He^-SWT may forgive and punish at His^-SWT will. However, His^-SWT Forgiveness overweighs the punishment as He^-SWT is indeed Merciful.

 

Those who had lagged behind on the eve of Hudaibiyah showed willingness to go to Khyber now that they had witnessed Allah^-SWT‘s favours unto the believers through His^-SWT Prophet^-SW. Besides the hypocrites, there were some sincere believers who had stayed behind but now wanted to go with the expedition to Khyber, together with some of the hypocrites since blessed with sincerity. This expedition having been foretold of victory, as will be discussed later; they sought the Holy Prophet^-SW‘s permission to accompany him^-SW.

 

Revelation-Non-Recited

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The Holy Prophet^-SW announced that only those who were with him^-SW at Hudaibiyah would go to Khyber. When others sought permission he^-SW said: “Do they intend to falsify Allah^-SWT‘s verdict" whereas the Quran nowhere mentions that only those present at Hudaibiyah could go to Khyber. Here, the scholars agree that an authentic Hadith is also a Divine revelation, though it does not form part of the Quran and is not recited as such. Its denial is infidelity like the denial of the Quran itself. Those who deny Hadith may ponder over this striking evidence. It also has a lesson for the so-called liberals who refuse to attach much importance to Hadith today.

 

So the Holy Prophet^-SW may tell them that they cannot accompany him^-SW now, as Allah^-SWT‘s decree has already been pronounced by him^-SW. And the declaration of his^-SW statement as Allah^-SWT‘s word proves that his^-SW word is also a Divine revelation, though it does not form part of the Quran. The hypocrites will label the believers as jealous lest they shared the booty with them. This is because they have little capacity to grasp the facts. The Holy Prophet^-SW may inform them of the impending encounters with the most powerful nations of the world having well equipped and well trained armies. Obviously this infant Islamic State shall enrage the infidels’ world over, inevitably leading to Jihad. This came true during the period of the first four righteous Caliphs^-RAU. Their encounters with Musalima Kazzab (the impostor) and the expeditions against Roman and the Persian Empires are some of the examples. And they may also be informed that the forthcoming Jihad will be very intense and the enemy will either accept Islam or pledge obedience. So they can prove their loyalty; chivalry and expertise by joining in. In that case they will be amply rewarded. But if they lag behind as before and turn away, Allaah^-SWT will condemn them to an excruciating doom, save the invalids and the handicapped provided their yearning is attended by sincerity. He^-SWT will admit those who obey Him^-SWT and His^-SWT Prophet^-SW into Jannah with rivers flowing beneath, while the renegades will be subjected to tormenting punishment.