ʿAbd Allāh ibn 'Ubayy ibn Salūl ( Arabic : عبد الله بن أبي بن سلول ), died 631, was a chieftain of the Khazraj tribe of Medina . Upon the arrival of the Islamic prophet Muhammad , Ibn Ubayy seemingly became a Muslim , but Muslim tradition says that he remained treacherous to Islam until his death. Because of repeated conflicts with Muhammad, Islamic tradition has labelled him a Munafiq (hypocrite) and "leader of the Munafiqun".
48-517: Abd-Allah was the son of Ubayy ibn Salul and Uzza bint Ka'ab, also from Banu Khazraj . His father's mother was called Salul. Ibn Ubayy was one of the chiefs of the Khazraj, who then were in conflict with the other major Arab tribe of the city, the Banu Aws . During the fidjar , the so-called "sacrilegious war", Ibn Ubayy had led parts of the Khazraj tribe on the first day of fighting but held aloof on
96-632: A "genuine sympathy with monotheist ideas fostered by his friendly relations with the Jews". Being second only to Muhammad, Ibn Ubayy became a "figurehead for those Arabs of Medina who, openly or secretly, sneered at the Prophet's teaching and complained of the confusion and the danger which the coming of the Muslims had brought to Medina". Ibn Ishaq writes that some of the Ansar "were not altogether convinced of
144-516: A classic in modern Western Islamic studies. Watt believed that the Qur'an was divinely inspired but not infallibly true. Martin Forward , a 21st-century non-Muslim Islamic scholar , states: His books have done much to emphasize the Prophet's commitment to social justice; Watt has described him as being like an Old Testament prophet , who came to restore fair dealing and belief in one God to
192-808: A direct result, he came to argue that the Islamic emphasis on the uncompromising oneness of God had caused him to reconsider the Christian doctrine of the Trinity , which is vigorously attacked in the Koran as undermining true monotheism . Influenced by Islam, with its 99 names of God , each expressing special attributes of God, Watt returned to the Latin word " persona " – which meant a "face" or "mask", and not "individual", as it now means in English – and he formulated
240-460: A fighting unit in view of the expected Meccan onslaught". Muslims have traditionally seen the episode as another piece of evidence for Ibn Ubayy's hypocrisy since he insisted that adherence to Islam had not completely severed the old obligations of tribal and personal loyalty. However, Ibn Ubayy had not defended the Qaynuqa but merely pleaded for mercy. His plea implies that Muhammad intended to put
288-594: A full-time religious appointment. He did, however, continue his ministry with part-time and honorary positions. From 1946 to 1960, he was an honorary curate at Old Saint Paul's, Edinburgh, an Anglo-Catholic church in Edinburgh. He became a member of the ecumenical Iona Community in Scotland in 1960. From 1960 to 1967, he was an honorary curate at St Columba's-by-the-Castle , near Edinburgh Castle . Between 1980 and 1993, following his retirement from academia, he
336-409: A lot of wealth and supplies, on the one hand and used to mock Muhammad with his poetry, on the other. When the Muslims had settled their affair with Banu Quraiza; Al-Khazraj tribe, a rival of Al-Aws, asked for Muhammad's permission to kill him (which Muhammad accepted) in order to merit a virtue equal to that of Al-Aws who had killed Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf . In 1228, Ibn al-Ahmar gathered the remains of
384-458: A man who claimed to speak in the name of God eclipsed Ibn Ubayy's influence. That provoked his jealousy, which he was careful to conceal, but was mitigated by his moderation and peacefulness. Ibn Ubayy nonetheless remained a well-respected man. According to Ibn Ishaq , Ibn Ubayy was "a man of great authority in Medina before the advent of the apostle". After the entry of Muhammad in Medina, many of
432-616: A practice Watt saw as continuing for the next two years. In 627, Ibn Ubayy participated in a raid against the Banu Mustaliq . On the march home, conflict arose between the Muhajirun and the Ansar when a Bedouin servant of Umar pushed an ally of the Khazraj. Hearing of this, Ibn Ubayy reportedly voiced his discontent: This... ye have brought upon yourselves, by inviting these strangers to dwell amongst us. When we return to Medina,
480-762: A result of the destruction of the Marib Dam. Along with their cousin tribe, the Aws, they migrated to Yathrib, later known as Medina. Abu Muhammad Al-Hasan Ibn Ahmad Al-Hamdani mentioned that the Banu Khazraj and the Banu Aws settled the area of Yathrib around the 2nd century AD as part of the Pre-Islamic Exodus of Yemen because of the Great Marib Dam damage. However, all sources agree that
528-453: A revelation confirming Aisha's innocence, he had her three of her accusers, who had come forward, punished by eighty lashes. He did not venture to enforce the sentence against Ibn Ubayy, who had not come forward. According to Watt, after 627, there is no record of Ibn Ubayy "actively opposing Muhammad or intriguing against him". In 628, Ibn Ubayy participated in the march to Hudaybiyya . According to Rudi Paret, Muhammad's "most dangerous rival"
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#1732765849800576-451: The Arabs , for whom these were or had become irrelevant concepts. This would not be a sufficiently high estimate of his worth for most Muslims, but it's a start. Frankly, it's hard for Christians to say affirmative things about a religion like Islam that postdates their own, which they are brought up to believe contains all things necessary for salvation . And it's difficult for Muslims to face
624-533: The Banu Aws tribe murdered Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf , some Khazraj tribesman including Abdallah ibn Unais went to Muhammad and received permission to put to death the person responsible for the killing of Sallam ibn Abu al-Huqayq, who was killed during the Expedition of 'Abdullah ibn 'Atik . Sallam ibn Abu al-Huqayq (Abu Rafi) was a Jew, who helped the troops of the Confederates and provided them with
672-702: The Banu Aws , and the Banu Qaynuqa were allied with the Banu Khazraj. The latter were defeated after a long and desperate battle. The Nusaybah family of Jerusalem, Custodians of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre , are descendants of Banu Khazraj. They arrived in Jerusalem with the 7th-century Islamic conquest. The Banu Aws were included in point 30-31 of the Constitution of Medina as allies to
720-572: The University of London 's School of Oriental and African Studies , and Patricia Crone and Michael Cook , in their book Hagarism: The Making of the Islamic World (1977) , and Crone's Meccan Trade and the Rise of Islam . However, Both Patricia Crone and Michael Cook have since said that the central thesis of the book "Hagarism" was mistaken because the evidence they had to support
768-572: The Arabs converted to Islam . Ibn Ubayy followed suit, according to Maxime Rodinson , as "he thought it wiser to join than to stand out against it". However, Rudi Paret thinks it probable that he converted very soon after the Hijra , at the same time as Sa'd ibn Mua'dh . Islamic tradition, which views Ibn Ubayy's conversion as insincere, labelled him "leader of the hypocrites" ( munafiqun ). However, according to Rodinson, Ibn Ubayy may have converted out of
816-703: The Banu Khazraj and Banu Aws became hostile to each other. Jewish chronicles state that they went to war against each other in the Yawm al-Bu'ath a few years before the Islamic prophet Muhammad migrated to Medina . There were three Jewish tribes present in Medina: Banu Qaynuqa , Banu Nadir and Banu Qurayza . During the battle, the Banu Nadir and the Banu Qurayza fought on the side of
864-576: The Coreish alone. If they remain, it will be in evil case; when they retire, it will be disappointed and frustrated in their designs. Some young Muslims, however, argued that the Meccans should be fought outside the city. Persuaded by the latter, Muhammad adopted an offensive strategy. According to Islamic tradition, Ibn Ubayy expressed his anger about his advice being rejected: "We do not know why we shall kill ourselves". When Muhammad marched out to fight
912-592: The Jewish tribe of the Banu Qaynuqa . According to Ibn Hisham , a dispute had broken out between the Muslims and the Banu Qaynuqa, the allies of the Khazraj tribe. When a Muslim woman visited a jeweller's shop in the Qaynuqa marketplace, she was pestered to uncover her face. The goldsmith, a Jew, pinned her clothing such that upon getting up, she was unveiled. A Muslim man, coming upon the resulting commotion, killed
960-589: The Meccans, Ibn Ubayy also marched out with 300 of his own men and his remaining Jewish allies, according to al-Waqidi ; however, Muhammad ordered him to send the Jews back into the town, calling them "idolaters". Ibn Ubayy then led his men back to Medina, retiring to the strongholds, while Muhammad resumed his advance. Islamic tradition presumes that Ibn Ubayy turned back to protect the town or his own possessions. According to Watt, Surah 3:166 interprets Ibn Ubayy's withdrawal as showing "cowardice and lack of belief in God and
1008-586: The Mightier shall surely expel the Meaner! Watt described the phrase as an attempt by Ibn Ubayy "to undermine Muhammad's authority and make men think of expelling him". Muhammad forestalled any fighting by immediately continuing the march. Ibn Ubayy denied having said so and Muhammad accepted the excuse, but after their return to Medina, the "Munafiqun" would be reprimanded in Surah 63:8 . Reportedly, Muhammad rejected
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#17327658498001056-723: The Muslim population cornered in Granada and established al-Mamlika al-Nasria derived from the Ansar of Medina whom the Nasrids trace their lineage to. With the Reconquista in full swing after the conquest of Cordoba in 1236, the Nasrids aligned themselves with Ferdinand III of Castile , officially becoming a tributary state in 1238. The state officially becoming the Kingdom of Granada in 1238. The Nasrids had to turn their backs against
1104-524: The Muslims of Cordoba and Seville in order to survive the reconquest. Initially the kingdom of Granada linked the commercial routes from Europe with those of the Maghreb . The territory constantly shrank, however, and by 1492, Granada controlled only a small territory on the Mediterranean coast. Arabic was the official language, and was the mother tongue of the majority of the population. Granada
1152-498: The Muslims, being as "one nation/community with the Believers". Abd-Allah ibn Ubaiy , one of their chiefs, is said to have plotted against Muhammad. However, other Khazraj chiefs such as Saad ibn Ubadah, together with most of the clan, welcomed the prophet and, together with the Aws, they became known as the Ansar . On 624 Muhammad ordered the assassination of Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf . According to Ibn Ishaq , Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf
1200-481: The Nasrid rulers of Granada. The most prominent members of the dynasty were: William Montgomery Watt William Montgomery Watt (14 March 1909 – 24 October 2006) was a Scottish historian and orientalist. An Anglican priest , Watt served as Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh from 1964 to 1979 and was also a prominent contributor to the field of Quranic studies . Watt
1248-529: The Prophet" Muhammad's 700 men met the 3000 of the Quraish in the Battle of Uhud and were defeated. The Quraish, however, did not succeed in killing Muhammad, and did not attempt to occupy the town of Medina, possibly because they knew it was guarded by Ibn Ubayy. Rodinson suggests that the Meccans did not want to reforge the very unity of the population, which had been jeopardised by Muhammad's defeat. Ibn Ubay
1296-617: The Qaynuqa to death, as he later did with the Banu Qurayza , but after Ibn Ubayy's intercession, they were merely expelled from Medina, their property falling to Muhammad and the Muhajirun . In the consultations preceding the approaching Meccan attack on Medina in 625, Ibn Ubayy had favoured Muhammad's original plan to defend from the strongholds inside Medina itself: ...our city is a virgin, inviolate. We have never gone forth to our enemies, but we have suffered loss: remaining within our walls, we have beaten them off with slaughter. Leave
1344-470: The advice of Umar, who counselled to have Ibn Ubayy killed and the offer of Ibn Ubayy's own son , a fervent Muslim, to kill his own father. Later during the march, Muhammad's wife Aisha was rumoured to have committed adultery, and Ibn Ubay was among those spreading the rumour. One of the chiefs of the Aws asked for the permission to punish the slanderers without incurring a feud, but the Khazraj opposed that. After Muhammad had announced that he had received
1392-741: The age of 97. He had four daughters and a son with his wife Jean. The family went on holidays in Crail , a Scottish village. On his death, the writer Richard Holloway wrote of Watt that "he spent his life battling against the tide of intolerance". Watt received the American Giorgio Levi Della Vida Medal and won, as its first recipient, the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies award for outstanding scholarship. Watt received an honorary doctorate from Aberdeen University . Watt's works are considered
1440-853: The campaign and had remained behind were chided in Surah 9:81 . Ibn Ubayy died two months after Muhammad's return, in 631. Despite the various conflicts between the two men, Muhammad did not show signs of vindictiveness towards Ibn Ubayy and attended his funeral and prayed above his grave, but afterwards revealed a verse in Surah at-Tawbah which denies him forgiveness, condemned him and the Munafiqun , Whether you (O Muhammad ﷺ) ask forgiveness for them (hypocrites) or ask not forgiveness for them – (and even) if you ask seventy times for their forgiveness – Allah will not forgive them because they have disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger. And Allah guides not those people who are rebellious (80). Ibn Ubayy's death signalled
1488-515: The end of the so-called Munafiqun faction, as "there was no one left ... possessed of power or influence". Ibn Ubayy married three times and left behind nine children, all of whom became devout Muslims. Banu Khazraj The Banu Khazraj ( Arabic : بنو خزرج ) is a large Arab tribe based in Medina . They were also in Medina during Muhammad 's era. The Banu Khazraj are a South Arabian Qahtanite tribe that were pressured out of South Arabia as
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1536-538: The fact that Christians aren't persuaded by the view that Christianity is only a stop on the way to Islam, the final religion." Carole Hillenbrand , a professor of Islamic History at the University of Edinburgh, states: He was not afraid to express rather radical theological opinions – controversial ones in some Christian ecclesiastical circles. He often pondered on the question of what influence his study of Islam had exerted on him in his own Christian faith. As
1584-425: The fields of Hadaick and Boath from every foe. Wilt thou cut them down in one day, O Mohammad? As for me, I am one verily that feareth the vicissitudes of fortune. Then, Muhammad acceded to his request and gave the Banu Qaynuqa three days to leave the city. Ibn Ubayy's last sentence has been interpreted in various ways. Rodinson considered it as threat against Muhammad, Watt that Ibn Ubayy "urged their importance as
1632-602: The fratricidal strife" and achieved a partial reconciliation between the two factions, which both recognized the leadership of Ibn Ubayy. He occupied a high status in pre-Islamic Medinan society, and his supporters aimed for him to become "king". The aim was not realised, however, because of the arrival of Muhammad in 622: since the tribal conflict had not been completely resolved, some citizens looked towards another arbitrator and called in Muhammad, whose preaching had made him famous beyond his home town of Mecca . The arrival of
1680-605: The persons with the Muslim Ibn Ubayy. Waqidi reports that Ibn Ubayy, at first, strove to bring about a reconciliation, and Tabari relates that Abd-Allah accused Muhammad of treachery and urged the Nadir to resist by promising aid. However, as the promised help failed to materialise, the Nadir surrendered and Muhammad expelled them from the city. Watt considered this to be the first instance in which Ibn Ubayy went beyond verbally criticising Muhammad to intriguing against him,
1728-469: The political wisdom of supporting the apostle: these came to be regarded as paying lip-service to Islam, but hiding treachery in their hearts, and they were known and reviled as 'the Hypocrites'". William Muir opines that tradition "makes a scapegoat of Abdallah" standing for "a great number, who had incurred Muhammad's anger, and some of them much more than Abdallah". In 624, the Muslims moved against
1776-462: The second day. Also, he did not participate in the Battle of Bu'ath because of a quarrel with another leader over the execution of Jewish hostages. It appears that at one point during the conflict, his life was saved by his Jewish allies from the tribe of Banu Qaynuqa , as he would later exclaim: "300 soldiers armed in mail, and 400 unequipped, -- they defended me on the fields of Hadaick and Boath from every foe." Ibn Ubayy "used every effort to end
1824-635: The shopkeeper in retaliation and was in turn killed by Jews. As a result of the revenge killings, enmity grew between Muslims and the Banu Qaynuqa. The Muslims besieged the Banu Qaynuqa, and after 15 days, forced them to surrender. Now, Ibn Ubayy was allied to the Qaynuqa and according to Muslim historians, appealed to Muhammad for leniency. He grabbed hold of the top of Muhammad's breast plate as he turned away, provoking his anger. "Let me go," Muhammad said. Ibn Ubayy replied: Nay [...] I will not let thee go, until thou hast compassion on my friends; 300 soldiers armed in mail, and 400 unequipped, - they defended me on
1872-492: The thesis was not sufficient or internally consistent enough. Pakistani academic, Zafar Ali Qureshi, in his book, Prophet Muhammad and His Western Critics: A Critique of W. Montgomery Watt and Others has criticized Watt as having incorrectly portrayed the life of Muhammad in his works. Qureshi's book was praised by Turkish academic İbrahim Kalın . French jurist Georges-Henri Bousquet has mocked Watt's book, Muhammad at Mecca , describing it as "A Marxist interpretation of
1920-457: The unification of Castile and Aragon in 1479, those kingdoms set their sights on conquering Granada and Navarre. On January 2, 1492, the last Muslim leader, Muhammad XII, known as Boabdil to the Spanish, surrendered complete control of Granada, to Ferdinand and Isabella , Los Reyes Católicos ("The Catholic Monarchs"), after the city was besieged. See Nasrid dynasty for a full list of
1968-453: The view that a true interpretation of Trinity would not signify that God comprises three individuals. For him, Trinity represents three different "faces" of the one and the same God. According to Carole Hillenbrand "an enormously influential scholar in the field of Islamic studies and a much-revered name for many Muslims all over the world". His account of the origin of Islam met with criticism from other scholars such as John Wansbrough of
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2016-732: Was ordained in the Scottish Episcopal Church as a deacon in 1939 and as a priest in 1940. He served his curacy at St Mary The Boltons , West Brompton , in the Diocese of London from 1939 to 1941. When St Mary's was damaged in The Blitz , he moved to Old Saint Paul's, Edinburgh to continue his training. From 1943 to 1946, he served as an Arabic specialist to the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem . After Watt returned to academia in 1946, he never again held
2064-499: Was a Jewish poet, who created verses about Muhammad after the Muslim victory in Badr. Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf was angered by this victory and went to Makkah to incite war and hatred towards the Muslims. Shortly afterward he returned to Medina and composed amatory verses of an insulting nature about the Muslim women". Thus after his return to Medina, the order to kill him was sent by Muhammad. The Banu Aws carried out this killing. When men of
2112-576: Was also involved in Muhammad's conflict with another Jewish tribe, the Banu Nadir . Ibn Ishaq writes that when Muhammad ordered the tribe to leave the city within ten days, "certain persons of Medina who were not Believers sent a message to the Banu al-Nadir: 'Hold out, and defend yourselves; we shall not surrender you to Muhammad. If you are attacked we shall fight with you and if you are sent away we shall go with you'". Other sources include or even identify
2160-583: Was an honorary curate at St Mary the Virgin, Dalkeith and at St Leonard's Church, Lasswade . Watt was Professor of Arabian and Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh from 1964 to 1979. He has been called "The Last Orientalist ". Watt held visiting professorships at the University of Toronto , the Collège de France and Georgetown University . Watt died in Edinburgh on 24 October 2006 at
2208-537: Was held as a vassal to Castile for many decades, and provided trade links with the Muslim world, particularly the gold trade with the sub-saharan areas south of Africa . The Nasrids also provided troops for Castile while the kingdom was also a source of mercenary fighters from North African Zenata tribes. However, Portugal discovered direct the African trade routes by sailing around the coast of West Africa. Thus Granada became less and less important for Castile and with
2256-583: Was now on Muhammad's side. In 630, when Muhammad launched a campaign against the Byzantine Empire during a time of drought and food shortage created serious discontent in Medina, Ibn Ubayy expressed his sympathy for those criticizing the expedition as untimely. As the army assembled, Ibn Ubayy's troops formed a separate camp and turned back to Medina when Muhammad's forces set out. That possibly happened with Muhammad's consent because of Ibn Ubayy's ill health. After Muhammad's return, those criticizing
2304-519: Was one of the foremost non-Muslim interpreters of Islam in the West. Watt's comprehensive biography of the Islamic prophet Muhammad , Muhammad at Mecca (1953) and Muhammad at Medina (1956), are considered to be classics in the field. Watt was born on 14 March 1909 in Ceres , Fife , Scotland. His father, who died when he was only 14 months old, was a minister of the Church of Scotland . Watt
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