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

The Prophet said, “He claims that when he returns to Madinah, the most honourable one would expel the meanest.” Usayd upon hearing this became enraged and said, “In that case, you, O Messenger of Allah, would expel him if you like! He is, by Allah, the mean person and you are honourable!” Then Usayd attempted to lighten the Prophet’s mood and said, “O Messenger of Allah! Be gentle with him. When Allah brought you to us, his people were decorating the pearls to crown him. He now sees that you have usurped his kingdom.” The Prophet  kept silent and carried on with the journey, whilst some people were still collecting their belongings and others were mounting their rides. The news began to spread until it became the subject of discussion amongst the entire army. “Why are we setting off at this time? What did he say? How should we deal with him? Ibn Salul spoke the truth! No he lied!” were the rumours spreading among the people like Chinese whispers. The army was left confused as they were on their way back from the battle. Moreover some hostile tribes lay in wait for them. The Prophet  felt that the army was about to divide, thus he decided to keep them busy with something else to divert their attention away from the crisis or argumentation, as they continued to inflame the matter and create trouble between the The keys to mistakes… Muhajirin and the Ansar. The people began to wait for the moment they would stop over, get together and discuss the matter. Thus, the Prophet  continued to march with the army for the whole day in the sun. He continued until the sun set and the people thought that now they would stop over to pray and rest. But the Prophet  stopped over very briefly, during which they prayed and then moved on again. They continued with their journey throughout the night until they reached the next morning. He stopped over to pray the Fajr prayer and ordered everyone to continue with the journey. They continued to walk the entire morning until they became exhausted and irritated by the sun. When the Prophet  realised that they were completely exhausted and tired such that they were unable to speak, he ordered them to stop over. They had only touched the ground when they all fell asleep. The Prophet  had done this to divert their attention away from the crisis. He then woke them up and continued on the journey until they entered Madinah. The people dispersed and went to their families. Allah then revealed Surat al-Munafiqoon: “Those are they who say, ‘spend not on those who are with the Messenger of Allah until they disperse! where as the treasures of the heavens and the earth are only for Allah, but the hypocrites understand not. They say, ‘if we return to Madinah, the one most honourable will surely expel therefrom the one most mean, whereas the honour is for Allah, and His Messenger and the Muslims, but the hypocrites know not.” The Prophet  recited the verses, then took the young boy, Zayd bin Arqam by his ears and said, “He is the one who fulfilled The keys to mistakes… his trust to Allah by his ears.” The people then began to insult and blame Ibn Salul. At this point, the Prophet  turned to ‘Umar and said, “Do you see, O ‘Umar? If I were to have killed him on the day you suggested, many would have come to his defence. If today you were to ask me to kill him, I would have killed him.” The Prophet  then remained silent and didn’t say anything further. Sometimes, if a person makes a mistake publicly, then you may need to criticise him for it but in an appropriate manner, even if it be in public. Once the Prophet  was sitting with his Companions, whilst the people were enduring famine, lack of rain and drought. There came a Bedouin and said, “‘O Messenger of Allah, people are being destroyed, the children are hungry, wealth has perished. So ask Allah to send us rain, for we seek your intercession with Allah, and Allah’s intercession with you!” The Prophet’s facial expressions changed upon hearing the man say, “We seek Allah’s intercession with you!” for intercession and mediation is only sought of someone of a lower status with one of a higher status. Hence, it is not permissible to say, “Allah intercedes on behalf of His creation”. Rather, He orders them because He is far superior to all else. The Prophet  said, “Woe be to you! Do you know what you are saying?” The Prophet then began to glorify Allah and kept repeating, “SubhanAllah! SubhanAllah!” He continued to glorify Allah until the seriousness of the matter was noticed in the face of his Companions.