Period of Revelation
As we shall explain below this Sura was sent down either during the Holy Prophet's
return journey from his campaign against Bani al- Mustaliq
or imme- diately after his arrival back at Madinah
and we have established by argument and research in the Introduction to Sura
An-Nurthat the campaign against Bani al-Mustaliq had taken place in Sha'ban A. H.
6:Thus
the date of the revelation of this Sura is determined precisely.
Historical Background
Before we mention the particular incident about which this Sura was sent down
it is necessary to have a look at the history of the hypocrites of Madinah
for the incident that occurred on this occasion was not a chance happening but had a
whole series of events behind it
which ultimately led up to it. Before the Holy Prophet's emigration to Madinah the tribes
of the Aus and the Khazraj
fed up with their mutual rivalries and civil wars
had almost agreed on the leadership of one man and were making preparations to
crown him their king. This was Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul
the chief of the Khazraj. Muhammad bin Ishaq has stated that among the people of
Khazraj his authority was never contested and never had the Aus and the Khazraj
rallied to one man before this. Such were the conditions when the voice of Islam
reached Madinah and the influential people of both the tribes started becoming
Muslims. When before the Emigration
invitation was being extended to the Holy Prophet (upon whoin be Allah'> peace) to
come to Madinah
Hadarat Abbas bin Ubadah bin Nadlah Ansari wanted to defer this invitation for the
reason that Abdullah bin Ubayy also might join in the declaration of allegiance and
invitation to the Holy Prophet
so that Madinah might become the centre of Islam by common consent. But the
delegation that arrived in Makkah to declare their allegiance did not give any
importance to the proposal of Abbas bin Ubadah
and a11 its members
who included 75 men from both the tribes
became ready to invite the Holy Prophet in the face of every danger.(lbn Hisham
vol. II
P. 89). We have given the details of this event in the Introduction to Sura Al-Anfal. Then
when the Holy Prophet arrived in Madinah
Islam had so deeply penetrated every house of the Ansar that Abdullah bin Ubayy
became helpless and did not see any other way to save his leadership than to become
a Muslim himself. So
he entered Islam along with many of his followers from among the chiefs and leaders of
both the tribes although their hearts were burning with rage from within. Ibn Ubayy in
particular was filled with grief
for the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) had deprived him of his kingship.
For several years his hypocritical faith and grief of being deprived of his kingdom
manifested itself in different ways. On the one hand
when on Fridays the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) took his seat to
deliver the Sermon
Abdullah bin Ubayy would stand up and say "O people
the Messenger of Allah is present among you
by whom Allah has honoured you; therefore
you should support him and listen to what he says and obey him." (Ibn Hishim
val. III
p. 111). On the other
his hypocricy was being exposed day by day and the true Muslims were realizing that
he and his followers bore great malice against Islam
the Holy Prophet and the Muslims. Once when the Holy Prophet was passing on the
way Abdullah bin Ubayy spoke to him in harsh words. When the Holy Prophet
complained of it to Hadrat Sa'd bin Ubadah; he said:"O Messenger of Allah
don't be hard on him
for when Allah sent you to us we were making a diadem to crown him
and
by God
he thinks that you have robbed him of his kingdom." (Ibn Hisham vol: II
pp. 237-238). After the Battle of Badrwhen the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's
peace) invaded the Jewish tribe of Bani Qainuqa on their breaking the agreement and
unprovoked revolt
this man stood up in support of them
and holding the Holy Prophet by his armour
said:"These 700 fighters have be
