The Prophet’s ﷺ Conduct Towards Delegations (Part 2)

The Prophet’s صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم Conduct towards Delegations (part 2)

Shahroz Ali Attari Madani

In the previous edition, you read about several delegations who presented themselves before the beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. In this article, we will look at other interactions the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had with various delegations.

Meeting with good manners

In the year of the Battle of the Trench, a delegation from the AshjaꜤ tribe came to the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to make a peace treaty. They resided in an area of Madina called Sela. When the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم received news of their arrival, he personally went to meet them. After a lengthy conversation, he advised the noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم to be courteous to the guests by providing them with dates. When they finished eating, the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم invited them with utmost gentleness to accept Islam. They responded, “We have not come to embrace Islam but to make a treaty of peace and security, because the ongoing battles between your tribe and your group has caused us great distress.” The Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, "Whatever you say is acceptable to us," and thus, a treaty of peace and security was written and accepted by both parties. During this time, the delegation was so impressed by the noble character of the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم that immediately after the peace treaty was drafted, they exclaimed, "O Muhammad, you are the truthful Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and your religion is true."[1]

Welcoming the delegation and conveying good news

In the year 9 AH, a delegation from the Udhrah tribe came to the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. The Prophet asked them, “Who are you?”, to which they replied, “We are from the Banū Udhrah, the brothers of Qusay [from their maternal side]. We supported Qusay against the KhuzāꜤah and Banī Bakr tribes and ousted them from Makkah; hence, we are your kinsmen too.” In reply, the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, مَرحَباً بِکُم وَ اَہلاً and then gave them the glad tidings that their region would soon be liberated from the clutches of Hercules اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه.

The delegation then asked the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم some questions, and upon receiving satisfying answers, they all embraced Islam. The Prophet advised them to refrain from asking soothsayers questions and informed them that all their sacrifices were abrogated, and only the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha remained, which should be performed if one is capable of doing so. They remained as the Prophet’s guests for a few days. After receiving honour and reward, they then departed.[2]

Welcoming delegations with gifts

Banī Hārith b. KꜤab was a greatly respected tribe from Najran consisting of warriors. They were renowned in all of Arabia for never tasting defeat at the hands of their enemy. Sayyidunā Khālid b. Walīd رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was sent to this tribe by the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to convey the message of Islam. Through his efforts, the tribe embraced Islam, and a delegation from them accompanied him to visit the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked them about their previous conflicts during the pre-Islamic era and the reason for their consistent victories. They explained that they refrained from oppressing anyone; never attacked anyone themselves; and when compelled by the enemy to engage in war, they stood strong like an unbreakable wall in the battlefield and never dispersed. The Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم declared, "Indeed, what you say is true. Whichever army or group that adheres to such principles will always prevail." As the delegation was leaving, the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم granted 10 uqiyyah to each member and 12 and a half uqiyyah of silver to their leader: Qays bin Ḥuṣayn.[3]

Giving advice

In the month of Shaban 10 AH, Muslims from the tribe of Khawlān visited the Prophet. They stated that they are obedient to Allah and the Messenger and had undertaken a long journey solely to behold him. The Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: مَنْ زَارَنِي بِالْمَدِیْنَۃِ کَانَ فِي جَوَارِي یَوْمَ الْقِیٰمَةِ "Whoever visits me in Madinah will be my neighbour on the Day of Resurrection."

The people of this tribe would worship an idol called “ꜤAmm Anas.” The Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked them, "What have you done about ꜤAmm Anas?" They replied, "O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, we have believed in you and abandoned its worship, but some elderly people among us still worship it." They then narrated how they used to make offerings to ꜤAmm Anas and separate a portion of everything for it whilst remaining hungry themselves. The Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم taught them the obligations of Islam and gave them the following specific advice:

1.   Fulfil your promises.

2.   Do not betray in matters of trust.

3.   Treat your neighbours well.

4.    Do not oppress anyone, because oppression will appear as a dark night for the oppressor on the Day of Judgement.[4]

Informing about the delegation before its arrival

Banū AshꜤar was a respectable tribe from Yemen. Due to Sayyidunā Abū Mūsā al-AshꜤarī,
رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ inviting towards Islam, 50 people from this tribe became Muslim. He was bringing these Muslims to the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and whilst they were still on the way, the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم informed of their arrival and said, “The people of Yemen, who possess very soft hearts, are coming to you.” When the delegation neared Madinah, they began reciting the following couplets with utmost devotion and love:

غَدًا نَلْقَى الْأَحِبَّهْ                                                      مُحَمَّدًا وَحِزْبَهْ

Tomorrow, we will meet the beloved people: Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and his Companions.[5]

(more to follow in the next instalment اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه)