Download PDF: [S] The Pillar of Abu Lubaabah

There are various pillars which are found around the Riyaadul Jannah. Each pillar has its own unique history and special qualities. There is no doubt that those who have a special connection with the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – they certainly have a close bond and feeling for these special pillars. Some of them have their name or title recorded on them.

 

One of them is called the pillar of “Abu Lubaabah.” We will inspect the history of why this is called so.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah bin Abdul Manzar – may Allah be pleased with him – was a blessed companion from the Ansaar community. He had an orchard in an area which belonged to the Bani Qurayzah. Prior to the appearance of Islam, his family were protectorates of the Bani Qurayzah and after the appearance of Islam, this connection continued.

 

There is also no doubt that everyone is aware of the treachery which was displayed by the Jews in the Battle of the Trench. In fact, in the Battle of the Trench, it seemed impossible that the Muslims would actually win this war.

 

The blessed city of Madina Shareef was surrounded by nearly ten thousand ardent enemies of the Muslims. The actual population of Madina Shareef was only about five thousand and this was made up of men, women and children. The disbelievers had joined all their forces and appeared in front of Madina Shareef to destroy this small community. It was certainly a great Divine Blessing that the Muslims were saved from total annihilation.

 

During the entire period of this siege, the Jews had continued to conspire against the Muslims. They had even tried to attack a special area where the Muslim women and children were kept without success. At the same time, they had continued to instigate the Meccans against the Muslims.

 

However, after these disbelievers had left without any success, Jibra’eel Ameen appeared in the blessed court of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and informed him that even though the Muslims had kept away their weapons, yet the Angels had still not done so.

 

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was then informed to go the Bani Qurayzah. The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – informed the Muslims that they would perform the Asr Salaah in the vicinity of the Bani Qurayzah. He left Madina Shareef and left Hadrat Sayyiduna Umme Maktum – may Allah be pleased with him – in charge and travelled to a well calle“Anaa” which was near where the Bani Qurayzah was.

 

When they besieged the fort of the Jews, besides surrendering their weapons, they had no other choice. However, before surrendering their weapons, they felt it would be good idea to speak to their protectors and perhaps in this manner, they would come to realise what the consequences would be of surrendering their weapons.

 

They called for their old associate Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah bin Abdul Manzar – may Allah be pleased with him – who went to see them. Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – was also given permission by the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – to go and see them. When Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – appeared in front of them, all of them ran to meet him both women, men and children and they were also crying. Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – also felt extremely sorry for them. They asked him the consequences of surrendering their weapons and without thinking, he pointed to his throat. In other words, he indicated that they would be slaughtered for this treachery they had displayed.

 

Even though Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – had done so without any deliberately meaning to do it, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – realised that he himself had dishonoured the Muslims by revealing something like. He also felt that he had gone against Allah Almighty and His beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. Instead of returning to the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – went to the Masjid immediately and tied himself in the pillar which we have mentioned at the beginning.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – also made it clear that he will not allow anyone to open the ropes except the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – which would prove that he had been pardoned by Allah Almighty. It is reported that he spent the next six days and night tied to this pillar and he was released by his wife so that he could go an perform the Salaah in congregation. After he completed the Salaah, he was again tied to the pillar.

 

Many lessons learnt from this incident.

 

There are many lessons which are learnt from this incident because someone had without intent revealed the secret of his own army. Bear in mind that besides Allah Almighty, no one was aware that he had committed this mistake. In fact, even he kept silent, no one would have heard about it, but this was a beloved companion of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – whose entire being was filled with Imaan.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – was fully aware that Allah Almighty is All Seeing, All Aware. Because of this, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – came clean and also decided on his punishment. Yet, there are certain people in the community who continue to commit sin and transgression without thinking of the consequences.

 

At the same time, he was also a leader of his tribe and people wanted his Taubah to be accepted. The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – also felt sorry for him and wanted his beloved companion to be pardoned. After the sixth day, the following verse of Surah Taubah (9) was revealed, verse 102:

 

وَ اٰخَرُوۡنَ اعْتَرَفُوۡا بِذُنُوۡبِہِمْ خَلَطُوۡا عَمَلًا صٰلِحًا وَّاٰخَرَ سَیِّئًا ؕ عَسَی اللہُ اَنۡ یَّتُوۡبَ عَلَیۡہِمْ ؕ اِنَّ اللہَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۰۲﴾

 

“And there are others who have acknowledged their sins and mixed a good deed with another that was bad; it is likely that Allah will accept their repentance; indeed Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

 

It is mentioned that at that time, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was in the room of Sayyidah Umme Salmah – may Allah be pleased with her.

 

The immense mercy of the Holy Prophet.

 

It is mentioned that the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was so overjoyed at the pardon of his beloved companion that he smiled broadly. At the same time, it was also the habit of the beloved companions to note every word and action of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.

 

When the Mother of the Faithful noticed the behaviour of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – she asked him the reason for his broad smile. He revealed that the Taubah of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – had been accepted. She mentioned that if he allowed her she would like to reveal this herself to the beloved companion.

 

She then stood at the door of her room and loudly announced this to Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him. When the other companions heard this announcement, they came running to open the rope. However, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – made it clear that he will only allow the rope to be opened by the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and no one else. It is reported that when the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – left his room for the Fajr Salaah, he personally removed the rope around him. (Seerat An Nabawih ibn Hishaam)