Mukhtasar Bukhari

`Sayyiduna Usama bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that` the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) rode on a donkey on which there was a cloth (made in the city) of Fadak, and Usama bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) was seated behind him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was going to visit Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) in the locality of Banu Harith bin Khazraj. This incident took place before the Battle of Badr. On the way, he passed by a gathering in which Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul (the well-known hypocrite) was sitting; at that time, Abdullah bin Ubayy had not (even outwardly) accepted Islam. In that gathering, there were all kinds of people: some Muslims, some idol-worshipping polytheists, and some Jews. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Rawahah (may Allah be pleased with him, the famous companion) was also present in that gathering. When the dust from the donkey’s feet began to reach the people of the gathering (i.e., the ride came near), Abdullah bin Ubayy covered his nose with his cloth and said, “Do not scatter dust upon us.” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) greeted them with salam, then stopped, dismounted from his ride, and began to recite the Qur’an to them and invited (the people of the gathering) towards Allah. At that time, Abdullah bin Ubayy said, “O man! Even though your speech is very good, even if it is true, do not recite it in our gatherings. Go to your own house, and whoever comes to you there, tell him these stories.” Abdullah bin Rawahah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Messenger of Allah! No, rather you must come to every one of our gatherings. It is very pleasing to us, O sinner.” At this, the Muslims, polytheists, and Jews began to quarrel and were close to fighting, so the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) began to calm them all down, and eventually, they all became silent. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) mounted his ride and went to Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: “O Sa’d! Did you not hear what Abu Hubab said?” By Abu Hubab, the Prophet (peace be upon him) meant Abdullah bin Ubayy. “He said such and such.” Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) submitted, “O Messenger of Allah! Please forgive him and overlook him. By the One Who revealed the Book upon you, whatever has been revealed to you from Allah is true and right. (The reason is that) the people of this town (before your coming) had decided to crown Abdullah bin Ubayy as their chief and make him their leader and ruler. But when Allah did not will this (i.e., Abdullah bin Ubayy’s leadership) because of the truth that He granted you, he considered it your fault, so forgive him.” And it was the blessed habit of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and his companions to forgive such indecent acts of idolaters and Jews, as Allah had commanded them: “And surely you will hear much hurt from those who were given the Book before you and from those who associate others with Allah, but if you are patient, that is indeed a matter of great determination.” And Allah the Exalted said: “Many of the People of the Book wish to turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves, even after the truth has become clear to them.” (up to the end of the verse). And they used to be patient over their harm, until Allah commanded them to fight. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) fought in Badr, Allah killed the great chiefs of the Quraysh, so Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul and those polytheists and idolaters who were with him said, “Now the opportunity (to join this religion) has come (as it has become dominant), so now pledge allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) on Islam.” Thus, all of them (outwardly) became Muslims.