This lecture covers:
– The gradual prohibition of Alcohol
– Passing of Fatima bint Asad (Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib’s mother)
– Birth of Imam Husayn
– Prophet Muhammad’s Marriage to Umm Salamah
Podcast version: podcast.lifeofprophetmuhammad.com
Prophet Muhammad approached the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadhir to help the Muslims make peace between themselves and another Jewish tribe, only to discover at the last minute that Banu Nadhir was planning to assassinate him.
Why? The Banu Nadir couldn’t accept a gentile as the final messenger of God. They considered it degrading to be subservient to a non-Jew.
Faced with this treachery, Prophet Muhammad commanded them to take their belongings and leave Medina in ten days.
The Banu Nadhir initially refuse, preparing for war, but surrender once the Muslims besieged their fortress. Despite their willingness to fight the Prophet still allowed the tribe to depart, but orders them to leave their weapons behind this time. Banu Nadhir reloate to the Fortress of Khaybar
Surah Al Hashr (#59) verses 1-16 describe this encounter.
Podcast version: podcast.lifeofprophetmuhammad.com
After the Battle of Uhud:
– Quraysh mutilate the bodies of Muslims
– Prophet Muhammad sends a reconnissance mission to see if the Quraysh will invade Medina or return to Mecca
– Various verses of the Quran are revealed to console the Muslims and instruct them on how to recover from the losses
– The Meccans decide to come back to finish off the Muslims, but their army is scared away
– Nomadic tribes, emboldened by the Muslim’s defeat at Uhud, try to raid the Muslims
Key lessons from the Battle of Uhud:
– Do not be naive and assume anyone who claims to be a Muslim is a believer at heart. Uhud exposed the munafiqeen
– God’s help is guaranteed when Muslims are united and obey the Prophet
– Being Muslim doesn’t guarantee victory. Believers must struggle and endure hardships to achieve success
– Beware of succumbing to material temptations. Love of the world can blind even those fighting alongside the prophet
Podcast version: podcast.lifeofprophetmuhammad.com
As the Quraysh fled, the archers watching the army’s back rushed to gather the spoils of war.
The enemy noticed this and launched a cavalry counter attack from the unprotected rear, changing the tide of the war.
Podcast version: podcast.lifeofprophetmuhammad.com
With archers defending their backs, Ali ibn Abi Talib starts the skirmish with one on one battles, defeating nine opponents in a row.
Quickly, the Qurayshi army becomes demoralized and starts fleeing.
Podcast version: podcast.lifeofprophetmuhammad.com
– The Muslims marched towards the invaders with an army of 1000 men.
– Munafiqs revealed: Abdullah ibn Ubayy deserted the army and left with 300 of the men, the munafiqs.
– Battle tactics used by Prophet Muhammad
– Fortications abandoned: The prophet gave the archerers unambiguous instructions to maintain a defensive position, yet they were ignored to try and obtain some spoils of war, giving the enemy a critical advantage
In many ways, this event was a precursor to Imam Ali’s succession being ignored years down the road:
– If 300 men were blatantly hypocritical when the population was just 2000, then how many must have been munafiqs when there were 100,000 Muslims when the Prophet Muhammad passed away?
– The prophet gave clear, unambiguous instructions to the archers, yet they were ignored for some spoils of war. What instructions might such people ignore to gain the caliphate?
Podcast version: podcast.lifeofprophetmuhammad.com
Both sides prepare for the Battle of Uhud soon after Imam Hasan’s birth:
– The battle was instigated by the Meccan’s desire for revenge, the insult they felt from Islam, and the economic strain they had landed under
– Abu Sufyan’s attempts at raising an army
– Hind’s support of the army
– Prophet Muhammad’s investigation when an undercover Muslim informs him of Abu Sufyan’s army
– How Prophet Muhammad held his war council and respected his follower’s wishes
Practical lessons:
– Importance of consultative leadership
– Appreciating the wisdom of elders
– Youth tend to be overzealous
– Certain Islamic rulings only apply to the Prophet
– No shaming: Those who gave poor advice were not blamed even though going out to meet Quraysh was a sub-optimal option
Podcast version: podcast.lifeofprophetmuhammad.com
The events that occurred after the Battle of Badr, which led to the Battle of Uhud:
– The Expedition of Qarqarat Al-Kudr, where nomadic tribes started hostilities against the Muslims
– The Expedition of Sawiq, where Abu Sufyan led an assault against Medina
– The Qaradah Raid, where the Muslims raided a Meccan caravan
– The death of Uthman ibn Madh’un, one of the highest companions
– The death of Ruqayyah
– The assassination of Ka’b ibn Ashraf, a member of the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadhir, for treason (inciting Meccans to war against the Muslims)
Podcast version: podcast.lifeofprophetmuhammad.com
While most Muslima and Jewish tribes in Medina were agriculture based, the Jewish tribe of Banu Qaynuqa consisted mainly of craftsmen and blacksmiths, making them highly militarized. The tax-free marketplace, along with the Muslim’s conflict with the Meccans (one of Banu Qaynuqa’s main customer base) threatened Banu Qaynuqa’s financial interests.
This led to Banu Qaynuqa violating the peace treaty they had agreed to in the Medinan Charter and secretly start colluding with the Meccans to incite hostilities against the Muslims.
Once Banu Qaynuqa began openly violating the peace treaty and began abetting the Muslim’s enemies, there was a stand off between them and the Muslims, which led to Banu Qaynuqa’s defeat and banishment.
Podcast version: podcast.lifeofprophetmuhammad.com
How and why the qiblah was changed from Jersalem to the Kaaba:
– The Jewish tribes had been mocking Muslims for worshipping towards Jerusalem
– Quranic verses in Surah Baqarah explain why the Qiblah was changed
– Quran’s criticism of the people who had enmity in their hearts against Muslims.
Podcast version: podcast.lifeofprophetmuhammad.com