The Secret Of The Twelve Hypocrites
The expedition of Tabuk is indeed a remarkable moment in Islamic history for numerous reasons. It was on this memorable occasion the Prophet (saw) announced the famous Hadeeth Al-Manzila in which He said, "O Alee! Your position unto me is like how Haroon was to Musa, except there is no Prophet after me."
This was the only campaign in which Imam Alee (a.s) did not participate. This was not because he did not want to participate, rather it was the decision of the Prophet (saw) to leave him behind in Madinah so he could maintain the law and prevent the opportunist 'hypocrites' seizing power while the army was away. Roman leader Heraclius, planned to attack the holy city of Madinah.
On the basis of these reports, preparations had been made in order to stop the advancing army from entering into the Islamic state. Unlike previous wars that the Muslims fought which were inside the country, this one they faced was from an external opponent.
When the army had departed Madinah and reached Tabuk, they settled there for numerous nights. After a long wait, there was no trace of an advancing Roman army. When the Prophet (saw) was satisfied that there was no sign of the enemy, he (saw) ordered the men to return to Madinah. When they reached Uqbah they thought that the passage through the hills was tortuous and difficult. If the animals became restless, there was a likelihood of them falling into the ravines.
The Prophet (saw) announced that no one should take that route until his camel goes. But a group of twelve hypocrites conspired that they will disturb the Prophet’s (saw) camel to cause an accident.
Hudhayfah ibn Al-Yaman (r.a) was holding the front ropes of the Prophet (saw) camel while Ammar ibn Yasir (r.a) was at the back. All of a sudden they had been confronted with twelve riders, with faces covered, proceeding towards the ravine. Hudhayfah pointed this out to the Prophet (saw), and he reprimanded the group.
Hudhayfah and Ammar pushed back the masked men. The Prophet (saw) asked Hudhayfah who these persons were. He expressed his ignorance. The Prophet (saw) said that they were the hypocrites and will ever remain so. Then the Prophet (saw) told the names of all the twelve culprits to Hudhayfah and asked him to keep the information a secret. But despite this being a secret, the information was revealed after the martydom of the Prophet (saw) to some people.
يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ مَا قَالُواْ وَلَقَدْ قَالُواْ كَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ وَكَفَرُواْ بَعْدَ إِسْلَـمِهِمْ وَهَمُّواْ بِمَا لَمْ يَنَالُواْ وَمَا نَقَمُواْ إِلاَ أَنْ أَغْنَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ فَإِن يَتُوبُواْ يَكُ خَيْراً لَّهُمْ وَإِن يَتَوَلَّوْا يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللَّهُ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا فِى الدُّنْيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ
They swear by Allah that they said nothing (bad), but really they said the word of disbelief, and they disbelieved after accepting Islam, and they resolved that (plot) which they were unable to carry out, and they could not find any cause to do so except that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them of His bounty. If then they repent, it will be better for them, but if they turn away; Allah will punish them with a painful torment in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. And there is none for them on earth as a protector or a helper.
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Holy Qur'aan
Ibn Kathir:
Narrated Yazid, narrated Al-Walid ibn Abdullah ibn Jumai from Aboo Tufail (r.a) who said: "When the Prophet (saw) set out to go to the battle of Tabuk, he stopped at Uqbah and then commanded his caller to call that no one should take the path leading to Uqbah since the Prophet (saw) was travelling in that path, and then whilst the Prophet (saw) had Ammar bin Yasir (r.a) pulling his camel from the front and Hudhaifah pushing from the back, a group having their faces covered came on a caravan and attacked the Holy Prophet (saw). Ammar (r.a) then came and attacked the masked men (May Allah (swt) Curse be upon them!) The Holy Prophet (saw) then said to Hudhaifah: ‘Quickly pull forward, pull forward.’ Then the Prophet (saw) came off the camel and asked Ammar (r.a) whether he had identified those people, Ammar (r.a) said: ‘No, they were masked.’ The Prophet (saw) asked: ‘Do you know what they wanted?’ Ammar (r.a) said: ‘Allah (swt) and his messenger (saw) know better.’ The Prophet (saw) said: ‘They wanted to throw the Prophet (saw) off from the Uqbah.’
After that when Ammar (r.a) had a dispute with one of them (people who tried to kill the Prophet), Ammar (r.a) said to him: ‘I swear to you by Allah (swt), how many people of the Uqbah tried to attack the Prophet (saw)?’ The man said: ‘We think they were about fourteen.’ Ammar (r.a) said: ‘And if you were amongst them it would be fifteen.’ Three of them put forward this excuse to the Prophet(saw): 'We did not hear the caller of the messenger of Allah (saw).' Ammar ibn Yassir (r.a) said: 'I bear testimony that the remaining twelve will fight Allah (swt) and His messenger (saw) in this world and on the day when the witnesses will be resurrected.'
Narrated ibn Lahima from Abi Aswad from Urwa ibn Zubair: "The messenger of Allah (saw) ordered the people to go by the valley and he went up with Hudhaifah and Ammar (r.a) by the Uqbah, then those wicked with faces covered followed them, and wanted to kill the Prophet (saw), so Allah (swt) revealed their intention to his messenger (saw) and he commanded Hudhaifah. Thus he turned towards them and hit them in their faces, they got scared and went back without any success. The messenger of Allah (saw) revealed their names to Hudhaifah and Ammar (r.a) and told them that they wanted to kill him (saw) and told them to pretend so as if you don't know them.
And Muslim also narrated from Qotada from Abi Nazra from Qais ibn Ebad from Ammar ibn Yasir from Hudhaifah who said: The messenger of Allah (saw) said:
"AMONG MY COMPANIONS ARE TWELVE HYPOCRITES (Munafiqeen) WHO WILL NEVER ENTER PARADISE or find its scent, until the camel enters the thread of the needle. Eight of them will be struck by the Dubaylah, which is a missile made of fire that appears between their shoulders and pierces their chests."
Because of this, Hudhaifah was called the owner of the secret, which nobody knows because he could specify a group of Munafiqeen and they were those people about whom the the messenger of Allah (صلی الله و علیه و آله وسلم) informed him. Allah (swt) knows best.
Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir. Vol 4, Pg. # 181 - 182.
Ibn Hazim:
"Hudhaifah's hadeeth is false, because it is narrated through Walid ibn Jumai – he is unreliable – it seems he does not know who fabricated the hadeeth, because he narrated many reports in which state that Aboo Bakr, Umar, Uthmaan, Talha and Sa’d ibn Abi Waqas, attempted to murder the Holy Prophet (saw) by pushing him over from Al-Uqbah during Tabuk. This is a fabricated lie!"
Source: Al-Muhalla. Vol. 11, Pg. # 224.
Ibn Hazim explicitly reveals that there are numerous reports through Walid ibn Jumai in which the identities of the Munafiqeen were revealed. The names of those who attempted to kill the Prophet (saw) were Aboo Bakr, Umar, Uthmaan, Talha and Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqas. But these narrations are nowhere to be found in any books of the present day so-called 'Ahl us Sunnah.' Where have these narrations gone? Is there an attempt to cover this plot?
Status Of Bukhari & Muslim
Saheeh Muslim is a collection of hadeeth compiled by Muslim ibn Al-Hajjaj. His collection is considered to be one of the most authentic collections of the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) according to the so-called 'Ahl us Sunnah,' along with Saheeh Al-Bukhari where both form the "Sahihain," or the "Two Sahihs."
Muslim Ibn Hajajj:
Introduction: Life Sketch Of Imam Muslim
The Ummah is unanimous over the authenticity of Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Anyhow, all this while, scholars have been wrangling which of the twain has precedence over the other. Imam An-Nawawi, the commentator of Muslim, says: Scholars concur that next to Qur’an, the most authentic books are Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. The Ummah has accepted them as such. Sahih Bukhari is more authentic, more profitable, and better in open and hidden perceptions. It is true that Imam Muslim benefitted by Imam Bukhari and used to say that he was matchless in Hadith sciences. All in all, Sahih Bukhari has precedence over Sahih Muslim. That is the right view and that is the opinion of the majority of the scholars and the experts in the Hadith sciences.
Imam Abi ‘Alee bin Hussain Nishaptri and some scholars of the Maghrib (the Muslim countries of North Africa) give precedence to Saheeh Muslim but the majority of scholars insist that it is Sahih Bukhari which should be given precedence. Abi Bakr Isma‘ili, the great Imam, Hafiz and jurist, has explained it, with arguments, in his book Al-Madkhal
Source: Saheeh Muslim. Pg. # 33.
Al Nawaw'i:
The scholars are in agreement that the most authentic books after the Holy Qur'aan are the books of Bukhari and Muslim. And the Ummah has accepted these two books.
Source: Sharh Sahih Muslim. Vol 1, Pg. # 21.
Shah Waliullah Al-Dehlawi:
As about the two Saheeh's books (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim), the scholars are in consensus that all of what is in those two books of the connected Marfu (i.e. connected chains up to the Prophet (saw)) is Saheeh (Authentic) with certainty, and the chains of those two books are Mutawatir (mass transmitted) up to their authors AND WHOEVER TRIVIALIZES THOSE TWO BOOKS IS AN INNOVATOR WHO IS FOLLOWING OTHER THAN THE PATH OF A BELIEVER (NOT A MUSLIM).
Source: Hujjatullahil Baligha. Vol. 1, Pg. # 232.
Who Is Walid Ibn Al-Jumai?
Muslim ibn Hajjaj:
Narrated Zuhair ibn Harb narrated Aboo Ahmad Al-Kufi narrated Al-Walid ibn Jumai from Aboo Tufail (r.a) reported that there was a dispute between Hudhaifah and
one from the people of Uqbah as it happens amongst people. He said: I adjure you by Allah (swt) to
tell me as to how many people from Uqbah there were. The people said to him (Hudhaifah) to inform him as he
had asked. We have been informed that there were fourteen and If you are to be
counted amongst them, then there would be fifteen and I state by Allah (swt), that
twelve among them were the enemies of Allah (swt) and of His Messenger (saw) in this world and on the day in which witnesses are called out. The rest of the three put forward this excuse: 'We
did not hear the announcement of Allah's Messenger (saw) and
we were not aware of the intention of the people as he (the Holy Prophet) had
been in the hot atmosphere. He (the Holy Prophet) then said: The water is small
in quantity (at the next station). So nobody should go ahead of me, but he found
people who had gone ahead of him and he cursed them on that day.
Source: Saheeh Muslim. Pg. # 1282, H # 2879.
Status Of Walid Ibn Jumai
Ibn Daqiq Al Eid:And the Sheikh of our Shuyukh, Al Hafiz Abul Hassan Al Maqdisi used to say about a narrator that he narrated from in Saheeh (Bukhari & Muslim): he has crossed the bridge. That means: this criticism is not given any regard nor any consideration. And this is what we believe and say.
Source: Al Iqtirah Fi Bayan Al Istilah. Pg. # 428.
Jamal Al Deen Al Qassimi:
Chapter Heading: Explaining that doing Tajreeh of the Rijal of the Sahihain (Bukhari & Muslim) is not required
Whose Hadeeth Bukhari and Muslim have used as proof and who are found blameworthy by others, it is considered that the blame has no basis or reason.
Source: Qawa'ed Al Tahdith Min Funun Mostalah Al Hadeeth. Pg. # 312.
Shuaib Al-Arna'ut:
If some of narrations are through the narrators of Al-Bukhari, and some from the narrators of Muslim, we have said: Its chain is authentic, its narrators are trustworthy, of the narrators of Saheeh's (i.e. Bukhari or Muslim), we have done that to make it clear that this chain is at the highest levels of authenticity, as the Ummah has called these two books as Sahihayn (i.e. the Two Sahih books) and are refering to the judgment of Shaikhayn (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) about authenticity.
And whenever the Shaykhain or one of them (Al-Bukhari & Muslim) have taken hadeeth from a narrator, that narrator is beyond investigation, because when the Shaikhayn (Al-Bukhari & Muslim) or one of them accept narration from a narrator, it is same is deeming those narrator to be trustworthy explicitly.
Source: Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Vol. 1 , Pg. # 138.
Al-Mizzi:
Al-Walid ibn Abdullah ibn Jumai Al-Zuhri Al-Kufi, father of Thabit ibn Walid ibn Abdullah ibn Jumai, he is also called after his grandfather (as Walid ibn Jumai).
Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal narrates from his father and Aboo Dawood: 'There is no discussion about him.'
And Ishaq ibn Mansoor from Yahya ibn Mo'een who said: 'He is Thiqah.'
Al-Ijlli said the same.
Aboo Zar’a: 'No discussion about him.'
Aboo Hayt'aam: 'His narrations are reliable.'
And Amr ibn Alee: Yahya ibn Sa’eed did not narrate from Walid ibn Jumai, but near his death he started to narrate to us from him.
Ibn Hibban mentioned him in his book 'Al-Thuqat.'
Al-Bukhari has narrated from him in his 'Al-Adab' and the others, except Ibn Majah.
Source: Tahdheeb Al-Kamal. Vol. 31, Pg. # 35 - 37.
Ibn Sa'd Attestation Of Walid Ibn Jumai
Ibn Sa'd:
Al-Walid ibn Abdullah ibn Jumai Al-Khuzahi is one of them (the fourth generation), he is Thiqah (Trustworthy) and he has (many) Hadeeth.
Source: Al-Tabaqat Ibn Sa'd. Vol. 8, Pg. # 473.
Yahya Ibn Mo'een Attestation Of Walid Ibn Jumai
Yahya ibn Mo'een:
I heard Yahya saying: Walid ibn Jumai is Thiqah and he is Trustworthy and Acceptable.
Source: Marafatul Rijal. Vol. 1, Pg # 97.
Al-Dhahabi:
Yahya ibn Mo'een He is Imam, Hafiz, knowledgeable critic, Sheikh of Muhadditheen (Teacher of Hadeeth Narrators and the one who narrates many Hadeeth), Aboo Zakaria, Yahya ibn Mo’een.
Ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Mari: Ahmad ibn Yahya said: ibn Al-Madini said: The knowledge is ended in Basra to Yahya ibn Kathir and Qutada, and in Kufa to Abi Es’haq and Ahmash, and in Hijaz to ibn Shehab, Amr ibn Dinar, and the knowledge of these six went to twelve men: Ibn Abi Urwa, and Moammar, and Shohbaa, and Hamad ibn Salama, and two Sufyans and Malik (ibn Anas) and Audhahi, and Ibn Ishaq, and Hasheem, and Abi Awana, and Yahya Ibn Saeed, and Ibn Mubarak, and Ibn Mahdi, and Yahya ibn Adam. Then the knowledge of all these went to Yahya ibn Mo'een.
(Dhahabi) I say: Yes, and then to Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and Abi Bakr ibn Shayba, and Alee and some others.
After them to Abi Abdullah Al-Bukhari and Abi Dhar’a, and Abi Hatam, and Aboo Dawood and the rest.
And then to Abi Abdul rahman Al-Nasa'i, and Muhammad ibn Nasr al-Maruzi, and ibn Khozaima and ibn Jarir.
Then the knowledge started to divide slightly slightly into branches, there is no strength except in God.
And by my chain to Al-Khaatib: informed us Muhammad ibn Alee al-Moqri, informed us Aboo Muslim ibn Mehran, informed us Abdul Mo’min ibn Khalaf who said: I heard Sahleh ibn Muhammad, informed us Alee who said: I heard ibn Al-Madini saying: 'The knowledge of Hijaz went to Al-Zuhri, and Amr' until he said: 'Then the knowledge of all of them ended to ibn Mo'een.'
Alee ibn Ahmad ibn al-Nadhr, ibn al-Madini said: 'The knowledge ended to Yahya ibn Adam and then to Yahya ibn Mo’een, Allah bless him.'
Source: Siyar A'lam Al-Nubala. Vol.11. Person. # 28. Pg. # 71, 78 - 79.
With such a prominent scholars praising Walid ibn Jumai they can remain not a shadow of doubt about the authenticity of these narrations. Some might claim these are mere speculations made by the followers of the Ahlulbayt (a.s) and it can not be ascertained for certain who these hypocrites are. It is rather interesting that Umar himself used to ask Hudhaifah: "Am I among the Munafiqeen?"
Ibn Hajar:
Hudhaifah is one of the 14 noble companions of the Messenger of Allah (صلی الله و علیه و آله وسلم). The Messenger of Allah (صلی الله و علیه و آله وسلم) revealed to him the names of Munafiqeen, and protected him from the difficulties of the Hour, and Umar was swearing him by Allah: "Am I among these Munafiqeen?" in which he Hudhaifah replied, "By Allah (swt), no! I will never tell anyone after you."
Musaddad said: Narrated Yahya from Al-A’mash from Zaid ibn Wahab who said: I heard Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him), saying: "Another man of Munafiqeen died, and I will not pray on his funeral, Umar then said: what prevents you to pray on him? I said: Because he was one of them, (Umar) said: By Allah am I also one of them?! I said: 'No.' Then Umar cried. The chain of this hadeeth is Saheeh, and (the other narration via) Ya’qoob ibn Sulaiman from the narration of Zaid ibn Wahab is denounced.
Source: Matalib Al-A'lia. Vol. 14, Pg # 702.
Al-Dhahabi:
And Hudhaifah, one of the companions of the Nabi (saw), one of the fourteen Nujabah (chosen ones). The Prophet (saw) had entrusted him with the secret of the names of the hypocrites. And he memorized from him about the fitan which will occur in the future. And Umar pleaded with him saying: "Am I one of the Munafiqeen?" Hudhaifa said: Allahumma La (I pray to Allah no) and I will not do Tazkiyyah (absolve of fault) of anyone after you.
Source: Tarikh Al-Islam. Vol. 3, Pg # 494.
Umar was asking a rather foolish question, and unintentionally revealed his true color's by doing so. In response, Hudhaifah said: "No you are not!". Did Umar not know if he was at Uqbah that night? Didn't Umar know If He was a Munafiq or not ? Hudhaifah concealed this fact from him but more importantly why?. The answer is very clear, he was concealing the truth to spare his life.
Suppose Hudhayfah would have said to Umar "That you are one of the Munafiqs" would Umar had speared his life? The actions of Hudhayfah should not come as a surprise. On another occasion Hudhayfah deny's what he had said before regarding Uthman and swears by Allah (swt). He conceals the truth and says that it is part of the religion to spare other part of it.
Ibn Abi Shaybah:
Narrated Abdullah ibn Nomair from Al-A’mash from Abdul Malik ibn Maysara from Al-Nazzal ibn Sabra who said: Ibn Masoud and Hudhaifa entered upon Uthman, Uthman said to Hudhayfah I have been informed that you have said such and such? Hudhayfah said: ‘No, by Allah (swt) I haven’t said that’, when they went out Ibn Masoud he said to Hudhaifa: 'What is wrong with you?! Why did you deny what I heard you say (about Uthman) before?' He said: 'I spare parts of my religion with other parts of it, because of the fear to loose it completely'.
Source: Al-Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah. Vol. 11, Pg. # 359 - 360. H. # 33595.
Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya:
Narrated Abdullah Abdul Malik ibn Maysara from Al-Nazzal ibn Sabra who said: 'Hudhaifa swore by Allah (swt) to Uthman that he hasn’t said things that we heard him say. So we said to him: O Aba Abdullah, We heard you swearing by Allah (swt) to Uthman that you haven’t said some things even though we heard you saying those things?!' Whereupon he replied: 'I spare parts of my religion with other parts of it, because of the fear to loose it completely'.
Footnote: Narrated Al-Kashaf in his book ‘Al-Hiyal’ through Mas’har ibn Kodam from Abdul malik ibn Maysara from him. Narrated also Aboo Na’eem in ‘Al-Hilya’ in the biography of Hudhaifa ibn Al-Yaman through Ibraheem ibn Man’waih from Ubaid ibn Asbat from Al-A’mash from Abdul Malik ibn Maysara from Al-Nazzal ibn Sabra from him. And it’s narrators are trustworthy, but I could not find the biography of Ibraheem in my books.
Source: A’laam Al-Mo’waqihin. Vol. 5, Pg. # 119.
Analysis Of The Chain Of Narrators
The status of these three narrators in the books of Rijal
1- Abdullah ibn Nomair
2- Abdul malik ibn Maysara
3- Al-Nazzal ibn Sabra Al-Hilali
1- Abdullah ibn Nomair
Al-Dhahabi:
The Hafiz, the Trustworthy Imam, Aboo Hisham Al-Hamdani Al-Khariqi Al-Kufi.
Source: Tahdheeb Siyar Ahlaam Al-Nobala. Person. # 1403. Vol. 1, Pg. 321.
2- Abdul Malik ibn Maysara
Ibn Hajar:
Abdul Malik ibn Maysara Al-Hilali, Aboo Zaid Al-A’miri, Al-Kufi, Al-Zarrad, he is Trustworthy, from the fourth generation of narrators. Narrated from him Bukhari, Muslim, Al-Tirmidhi, Aboo Dawood, Al-Nasa'i and ibn Majah. Al-Dhahabi says about him in Al-Kashaf: He has narrated from Zaid ibn Wahab, and Tawoos, and narrated from him: Sho’ba and Mes’ar, he is Trustworthy.
Source: Taqreeb Al-Tahdheeb. Person. # 4221, Pg. # 398.
3- Al-Nazzal ibn Sabra Al-Hilali
Ibn Hajar:
Al-Nazzal ibn Sabra Al-Hilali, Al-Kufi, he is Trustworthy, from the second generation of narrators, it is also said that he was a companion. Narrated from him: Bukhari, Muslim, Aboo Dawood, Al-Nasahi and ibn Majah. Al-Dhahabi says about him in Al-Kashaf: He has narrated from Abi Bakr and Ibn Masoud, and narrated from him: Al-Sha’bi and Abdul Malik ibn Maysara, he is Trustworthy.
Source: Taqreeb Al-Tahdheeb. Person. # 1705. Pg. # 627.
Ibn Qutaybah:
Al-Nazam mentioned Hudhayfah ibn Al-Yaman and said: 'He swore to Uthman by Allah (swt) that he hasn’t said things that he had said and others had heard him saying it'. Then they asked him that why he denied what he had said: 'He said:' I spare some parts of my religion with some other parts of it, because of the fear to loose it completely'. This is narrated through Mis’ar ibn Kodam from Abdulmalik ibn Maysara from Al-Nazzal ibn Sabra.
Footnote: Mis’ar ibn Kodam ibn Dhahir Al-Hilali Al-A’miri Al-Rawasi Aboo Salama is of the Trustworthy narrators from Kufa, he was called Al-Musaraf because of his reliablity in what he used to narrate. He was a Murjihi, he has narrated around one thousand narrations and his narrations are narrated in the six major books of Hadeeth, he died in the year 152 of Hijri in Mecca.
Source: Taweel Mukhtaliful Hadeeth. Pg. # 72.
Hudhaifa Revealed Aboo Moosa Al-Ash’ari Was One Of The Hypocrites!
Al-Dhahabi:
Narrated Al-A’mash from Shaqiq who said: We were sitting beside Hudhayfah and Abdullah (ibn Mas'ud) and Aboo Moosa (Al-Ash’ari) entered the mosque, Hudhaifa said: 'One of these two is a Munafiq', then he continue to say: 'The most similar people to the Prophet (saw) in his character, his actions and manner is Abdullah. (i.e. Aboo Musa is the Munafiq).
Footnote: the narrators of this narration are trustworthy, and this narration is narrated in
Al-Ma’rifa wa Al-Tarikh of Al-Fasawi.
Source: Siyar A'lam Al-Nubala.Vol. 2, Pg. # 393 - 394.
