Muslim

Hadith Commentary:
You said that Allah, the Most Pure, has given me the choice, He has not forbidden me, and I will supplicate more than seventy times. When even the supplication of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) does not benefit a disbeliever or a hypocrite seventy times, then it should be understood how could the supplication of any other scholar or dervish grant forgiveness to a disbeliever or a hypocrite? And whoever relies on such stories is merely foolish and ignorant.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The position of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was that Allah, the Exalted, had given him the choice and had not forbidden him, and that he would supplicate for him more than seventy times. In reality, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) wished to encourage the son of this ill-natured man, Abdullah (radi Allahu anhu), who was a sincere Muslim.

(2)
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has established from these ahadith that wearing a shirt (qamis) is permissible, and its mention has come in numerous ahadith.

(3)
It should be noted that once Abdullah bin Ubayy, the hypocrite, had given the uncle of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), Abbas (radi Allahu anhu), his shirt. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) gave his own shirt in return for that favor. And Allah knows best.

1901. Commentary:

➊ Abdullah bin Ubayy, the son of the hypocrite, was himself a most sincere Muslim. It was natural for him to come to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and make the above requests. Every son, especially a righteous one, desires good for his parents. Since Abdullah bin Ubayy outwardly professed the testimony of faith, Abdullah (radi Allahu anhu) thought that perhaps, by the blessing of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his father might be forgiven—especially since, at that time, there was no clear command regarding whether or not to perform the funeral prayer for hypocrites. Similarly, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam accepting his requests was, besides consoling this Muslim son, also a manifestation of your being a mercy to the worlds (rahmatan lil-'alamin). After this incident, Allah the Exalted revealed the command of prohibition.

➋ "He gave the shirt": It is said that this shirt was actually given in exchange for the shirt that Abdullah bin Ubayy had given to the Prophet’s uncle, Abbas (radi Allahu anhu), when he was a prisoner after the Battle of Badr.

➌ "Did you not stop him?" Umar (radi Allahu anhu) thought that since his forgiveness was not possible, the necessary implication was that the funeral prayer should not be performed. However, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam saw a ray of hope in the manner of Allah’s statement, because there was no explicit command of prohibition at that time. Yes, for the polytheist, seeking forgiveness was explicitly forbidden, but Abdullah bin Ubayy was a hypocrite, not a polytheist; the ruling for the hypocrite was revealed later.

➍ Imam al-Nasa’i rahimahullah has deduced from this hadith that a shirt can also be included in the shroud (kafan). However, in light of other evidences and hadiths, this deduction is questionable, because for the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself, three garments were chosen, and certainly, what was prescribed for the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is what is best. As for permissibility, examining the circumstances shows that this was an exceptional incident and cannot serve as a general proof of permissibility. The situation was that Abdullah (radi Allahu anhu) requested from the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam the very shirt that was on his blessed body and in contact with his skin. The Prophet did not refuse; rather, to console and encourage Abdullah (radi Allahu anhu), he gave it to him, and even dressed Abdullah bin Ubayy in it himself, as is mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith: 1270). In fact, it appears that this was in exchange for the shirt that Abdullah bin Ubayy had given to your uncle Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) when he became a prisoner after the Battle of Badr, because his shirt was torn and the standard-sized shirts did not fit him, so that shirt was given to him. Abdullah bin Ubayy was a tall man. In any case, this hadith demonstrates the Prophet’s sallallahu alayhi wa sallam sublime character: even though you were certain of his hypocrisy, and his harm to the Prophet, Islam, and the other Muslims was no secret, you still clothed him with your shirt and performed his funeral prayer.

➎ For a hypocrite, as long as his outward state is that of a Muslim, the rulings of Islam will be applied to him in this world.

➏ Whether a person is alive or dead, it is permissible to express the reality about him, as Umar (radi Allahu anhu) expressed regarding Abdullah bin Ubayy’s hypocrisy. This does not fall under "Do not abuse the dead" (la tasubbu al-amwat).

➐ If a person sees a scholar or a person of virtue doing something he considers contrary to the Shari‘ah, he may inquire about it.

➑ A person of virtue should explain well and remove the confusion of the questioner.

Benefits and Issues:

➊
Abdullah bin Ubayy was the leader of the hypocrites.
He continued to plot against the Muslims throughout his life.
And despite being called a Muslim, he caused harm to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in various ways.
But his son was a true Muslim.
His name was also Abdullah.

➋
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) gave his shirt to Abdullah (radi Allahu anhu) to comfort him, so that it could be used to shroud his hypocrite father, Abdullah bin Ubayy.

➌
Shrouding cloths (kafan) are usually unsewn.
But if a special situation arises, sewn cloth can also be used.

➍
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) knew that this hypocrite would not be forgiven.
Despite this, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) intended to pray for him.
Because supplicating to Allah is a good deed.
Its acceptance is not a condition.

➎
Hypocrisy (nifaq) is a condition of the heart.
Only Allah knows it.
Until Allah informed him, even the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not have certain knowledge.
As is stated:
﴿وَمِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ ۖ مَرَدُوا عَلَى النِّفَاقِ لَا تَعْلَمُهُمْ ۖ نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ﴾ ()
Among the people of Madinah are some who persist in hypocrisy.
You (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) do not know them; We know them.
Later, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was informed.
And he was commanded not to perform their funeral prayer.

➏
We are obligated to act according to what is apparent. Whoever declares “La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)” is to be considered a Muslim.
Unless he does something by which his disbelief becomes apparent.
Therefore, until someone’s disbelief is proven, his funeral prayer will be performed upon his death.
He will be buried in the Muslim graveyard.
His Muslim relatives will inherit from him.
Whereas the rulings for a non-Muslim or an apostate are the opposite.

➐
If there is no faith in the heart, then no blessed object will be of any benefit.
Therefore, instead of seeking blessings from outward things, it is necessary to reform the heart.

➑
It is not permissible to supplicate for forgiveness for one whose disbelief is known.
For example, if a Christian, Hindu, or Qadiani neighbor or relative passes away, just as his funeral prayer is not performed,
it is also not correct to supplicate for him.
See: ()

Lexical Explanation:
«فَأَعْطَاهُ» gave his shirt. Apparently, this indicates that this action took place before the burial, but in Sahih Bukhari, in the narration of Jabir radi Allahu anhu, it is mentioned that he had already been placed in the grave. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam ordered that he be taken out, so he was taken out, and then the shirt was put on him. [صحيح البخاري، الجنائز، حديث : 1270]
The scholars, reconciling between these reports, have said that it is possible that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had promised to give the shirt beforehand, and after the burial, when this promise was reminded, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam gave the shirt. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam gave his shirt because, during the Battle of Badr, he had given garments to the prisoners, and among them was Abbas radi Allahu anhu, who had come as a prisoner. He was tall, and none of the shirts fit him. Abdullah bin Ubayy, the hypocrite, gave his shirt, which fit him. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam wanted to repay this favor, so he put this shirt on him.

Benefits and Issues:
➊ From this hadith, it is understood that it is permissible, in case of necessity, to take the deceased out of the grave after burial.
➋ From this incident, one can estimate how much love and compassion the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had for people, and how much he cared for the wishes of his friends and companions. Therefore, leaders and chiefs of the community should also take care of their companions and workers.

Explanation:
“Abdullah bin Abi” was the chief of Khazraj during the time of ignorance (Jahiliyyah), and outwardly claimed to have entered Islam, but in reality, he remained the leader of the hypocrites and was famous by the title “chief of the hypocrites.” On the occasion of the Battle of Uhud, he took away a third of the army and returned. In the incident of Ifk involving Aisha radi Allahu anha, he played a central role. In Surah Munafiqun, the verse:
«لَئِنَ رَّجَعْناَ اِلَي الْمَدِيْنَةِ لّيُخْرِجَنَّ الَّاعَزُّ مِنْهَا الْاذَلٌ» [المنافقون : 8:63]
is about him, meaning he said that when we return to Madinah, the most honorable person of Madinah (referring to himself) will surely expel the most despicable person from there. And by “the despicable person,” this wretch meant the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. And he said:
«لَا تُنْفِقُوْ عَلٰي مَنْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ حَتّٰي يَنْفَضُّو»
meaning, “Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah until they disperse from him.” He died in Dhu al-Qa‘dah, 9 AH. In «أُبَي», the “hamzad” has a dammah and the “ya” is stressed. Salul was his mother’s name.
«اِبْنُهُ» refers to Abdullah bin Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul radi Allahu anhu. He was counted among the great and virtuous companions. He participated in all the battles and was martyred in the Battle of Yamamah. His attitude towards his father was the harshest. When Abdullah bin Ubayy said «لئن رجعنا . . . الخ», he sought permission to strike off his father’s neck. In the time of ignorance, his name was Hubab. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam named him Abdullah.