Download PDF: [S] Those who took part in the Battle of Badr

It is mentioned that once, a blessed companion who also took part in the Battle of Badr became guilty of a very serious crime.

 

At that time, one of the female slaves of the Bani Mutallib had come to Madina Shareef while the family of Hadrat Sayyiduna Haatib bin Abi Balta’a – may Allah be pleased with him – was still in Mecca Shareef. He then wrote a private letter to the Quraish informing them that the Muslims were preparing to invade Mecca Shareef. He wrote this letter and the female slave who was returning to Mecca Shareef then hid this private communication in her hair.

 

However, unbeknown to them, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – had already been informed of this through Divine Revelation. He then instructed a few blessed Ashaab under the command of Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – to travel to a certain place where they will find a certain female slave. She also had a letter which was addressed to the Quraish informing them about the plans of the Muslims.

 

As they reached this place, they found this female and asked her to reveal the private communication which had been given to her. However, she insisted that she had no letter with her and when they searched her goods, they could not find anything. However, Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – shouted at her, “I swear by Allah that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – had not spoken a lie nor are we speaking lies. Give us this letter or we will be forced to remove your clothing in front of everyone.”

 

When she heard this, she asked them to turn away and when they did so, she removed the letter from her hair and handed it to them.

 

They then presented this letter in the blessed court of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. When they opened the letter, they noticed that it was written by Hadrat Sayyiduna Hatib bin Balta’a – may Allah be pleased with him – and was addressed to the Quraish.

 

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then called him and asked him to explain what he had done. He replied, “O Prophet of Allah, I request that a hasty decision not be made against me. I swear by Allah, that I have complete belief in Allah and His beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. I have not become a Murtad and neither have I changed in any manner. However, I wish to inform you that I was used to live with the Quraish even though I am not a member of the Quraish. The rest of my family still lives with them. At the same time, I do not have anyone in Mecca Shareef who will be able to protect my family against the Quraish while many Muslims in Madina Shareef do have family in Mecca Shareef that would be able to safeguard their family who still remain there against their enemies. Since I had no such protection, I decided to do this favour to the Quraish by informing them of the impending invasion of the Muslims so that through this favour of mine, they would spare my family from any harm.”

 

When Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – heard this, he said to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, “O Prophet of Allah! Give me permission so that I can behead this person because he has been dishonest to Allah and His Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and he has become a Munaafiq.”

 

When Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – heard this, he declared, “O ‘Umar! This is someone who took part in the Battle of Badr. Perhaps looking at the heart of each of these people, Allah Almighty has declared that ‘whatever they do in future, they are people who have already been pardoned by the Allah Almighty.’

 

When Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – heard this reply, his eyes filled with tears and he declared, “Allah and His Prophet know best.” (Sahih Bukhari Shareef)