Download PDF: [S] He went to Spy on the Enemy

It is mentioned that it was one of the coldest night and it was also dark outside. At that moment, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – called out to his blessed companions, “Who will bring me news of the enemy?”

 

Everyone was silent. In fact, when the number of enemies were seen, it was like walking into death. Bear in mind that it was extremely cold and the blessed companions were also without food.

 

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – again declared, “Whoever brings me news of the enemy, he will be my companion in Jannah.”

 

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – made the same proclamation again.

 

However, at this time, he declared, “O Huzayfah! Arise, there is no time to think.”

The blessed companion, Hadrat Sayyiduna Huzayfah – may Allah be pleased with him, narrates, “When I heard my name been taken by the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – I immediately arose and realised that there was no way that I could refute this command. In fact, no amount of cold weather or danger could stop me from fulfilling this command. It was also very dark outside and in fact so dark that one could not even see one’s hand in front. I then jumped out of the trench and approached the camp of the enemy as silently as possible.

 

“I then sat with the leaders of the Quraish as they were discussing among themselves. The person or the Commander in Chief was Abu Sufyan. All of the tribes such as the Ghatfaan, the Qurayzah, etc. were under his command. Abu Sufyan was considered as a master tactician and brain among the Quraish. He was saying to those around him, ‘O people! In this storm, all our utensils have also capsized and even our tents are been uprooted. In these circumstances, I am certain that Muhammad would be sending a spy to find out what is happening with us. Therefore, I suggest that you look around you and inquire from the person next to you who that person is.’

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Huzaifah – may Allah be pleased with him – was also a very intelligent person and decided to answer this danger. In fact, he was carefully chosen by the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him –for this specific mission.

 

He narrates, “When I heard the statement of Abu Sufyan, I realised that if the person next to me asked me, I would be in certain trouble. Therefore, I decided to ask these questions myself. I then turned to the person on my right and asked him who he was, he replied that he was Mu’awiyah bin Abu Sufyan. I then turned to the person on my left and asked him who he was and he replied that he was Amar bin Al Aas.”

 

Obviously, in this brilliant move of his, there was no one to ask him who he was. The enemy then prepared to break camp and leave Madina Shareef. Hadrat Sayyiduna Huzaifah – may Allah be pleased with him – took a full report of this and while he was returning, he also found that on one occasion, he had the opportunity to kill Abu Sufyan but decided not to do so. The reason that Hadrat Sayyiduna Huzaifah – may Allah be pleased with him – did so was because he remembered the blessed words of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – which was that he was only to observe and not to do anything. This also proves that when we are given a specific instruction by our leader, that is the only command which should be carried out.

 

When Hadrat Sayyiduna Huzaifah – may Allah be pleased with him – returned, he was shivering with cold. At that moment, he also noticed that the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was in a state of Sajdah and was making Du’a. He then reported whatever he had seen in the enemy camp to the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.

 

Looking at this state, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – also covered Hadrat Sayyiduna Huzaifah – may Allah be pleased with him – with his own blessed shawl and personally informed him to awake for Fajr Salaah in the morning. (Sahih Muslim)