Abdullah ibn Ubayy

Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul was the most prominent of the munafiqun (hypocrites) in Medina and is described in Islamic tradition as Ra's al-Munafiqin (the Head of the Hypocrites). He was from the Khazraj tribe and had been on the verge of being crowned king of Medina when the Prophet ﷺ arrived with his emigration, derailing that plan. He outwardly declared Islam but inwardly resented and opposed the Prophet ﷺ. His hypocrisy caused multiple crises in the early Muslim community. At the Battle of Uhud (3 AH), he withdrew a third of the army — three hundred men — before the battle began, claiming the Prophet had rejected his advice. This withdrawal directly contributed to the difficult outcome of Uhud. The most serious incident was the Affair of the Slander (hadith al-ifk) in 6 AH, when he spread the lie that Aisha had been unfaithful — a slander that caused weeks of anguish in the Muslim community before Allah exonerated her in Surah al-Nur (24:11-20). In the same period, he also made the infamous statement about the 'dignified' driving out the 'wretched' — a thinly veiled statement about the Qurayshi emigrants replacing the Medinan leadership. He also delayed the Prophet's army repeatedly, undermined military campaigns with pessimistic counsel, and his supporters nearly caused a civil war between the Muhajirin and Ansar. When he died in 9 AH / 631 CE, his son — a sincere Muslim — asked the Prophet ﷺ for his shirt to use as a burial shroud. The Prophet gave it. He also prayed over the body, though Umar objected. Allah then revealed Surah al-Tawbah (9:84): 'Do not ever pray for any of them who die, and do not stand at his grave.' This became law for those who die in confirmed hypocrisy.