5. Would you like to meet him outside the institution? (cont.)

Admit your faults and do not be arrogant… (43) The keys to mistakes… Dealing with mistakes is an art. Every door has a key, and all hearts have ways to them. When a person falls into a huge error and news of it spreads amongst the people and they start to monitor what he would do next, get them busy with something else, so you may acquire enough time to think over the situation, to make sure no one else has the audacity to make the same mistake, and so that people do not become accustomed to this type of error. The Prophet  marched forth with his companions on the expedition of Banu al-Mustaliq. On their way back, they stopped over to rest. Meanwhile, the Muhajirun sent a boy called Jahjah bin Mas’ud to fetch some water from the well, whilst the Ansaar also sent a boy called Sinan bin Wabar al-Juhani to fetch water for them. The two boys started to fight over water, and one of them kicked the other on the back. Al-Juhani cried out, ‘O Ansaar!’ Jahjah also cried out, ‘O Muhajirun!’ The Ansaar rushed to the scene as did the Muhajirun and began to quarrel. They had just come from a battle and were still carrying their weapons! The Prophet  went out to them and settled the dispute. But then trouble arose. ‘Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, who was the leader of the hypocrites, became angry. There were a group of Ansaar with him. He said, “Did they really do this? They have turned against us and outnumbered us in our own land! As they say: If you fatten your dog, it will eat you, and if you starve it, it would chase you!” Then the wretched person said, “By Allah! When we return to Madinah, the most honourable will expel the meanest out of Madinah!” He then turned to those who were present with him and said, “This is what you have done to yourselves. You have given them your land and your property! By Allah! If only you were to keep what you have instead of giving it to them, they would go to a different city!” This evil man continued to threaten and make promises, whilst those around him from the hypocrites showed their agreement and began to encourage him more. In the same gathering, there was a small boy called Zayd bin Arqam. He went to the Prophet  and told him the news. ‘Umar bin al-Khattab at the time was sitting next to the Prophet . Upon hearing this he became enraged and said, “How dare this hypocrite speak about the Messenger of Allah  in this despicable manner!” ‘Umar viewed that killing the viper is better than cutting off its tail. He saw that killing Ibn Salul would nip the discord in the bud. However, he should only be killed by a person from his own people, from the Ansaar, for that would have been safer than for him to be killed by a Muhajir. The keys to mistakes… ‘Umar said, “O Messenger of Allah! Order ‘Ubbad bin Bishr al-Ansari to kill him!” However, the Messenger of Allah  was wiser. He realised that they had just returned from a battle and the people were still carrying their weapons. People were overwhelmed. It was not appropriate to create more disorder. The Prophet  said, “What would we do, O ‘Umar, when people start saying that Muhammad kills his own Companions? No, O ‘Umar! Order the people to depart!” The people had just stopped over and sat in the shade. How could the Prophet  order them to depart in the severe heat of the sun? It was never the habit of the Prophet  to depart in severe heat. But the people departed, anyway. Meanwhile, it reached ‘Abdullah bin Salul that the Messenger of Allah  had been informed by Zayd bin Arqam of what he heard from him. So he went to the Messenger of Allah  and began to swear by Allah that he didn’t say or speak a word. But the young boy belied him. Ibn Salul was the leader of his people and held in great esteem. An Ansari said, “O Messenger of Allah! Perhaps the young boy misheard and does not remember what the man said.” They began to defend Ibn Salul, but the Prophet  kept moving forward on his camel without paying attention to anyone. Then one of the leaders of Ansar, Usayd bin Hudhyar came to the Prophet , greeted him and said, “O Messenger of Allah! By Allah you have decided to depart at a wrong time! You never set off in such conditions!” The Prophet  turned to him and said, “Has it not reached The keys to mistakes… you what your Companion has said?” He said, “Which companion, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet said, ‘‘Abdullah bin Ubayy”. “What did he say?” He asked.