Episode Summary
Following the victory at Khaybar in the 7th year of Hijrah, the Muslim community experienced a deeply emotional reunion as Ja’far ibn Abi Talib returned from Abyssinia after 15 years in exile. This episode explores the Prophet’s (saw) profound joy at seeing his cousin, the integration of Yemeni converts into the Ummah, and the 'two hijrahs' honor bestowed upon the returning migrants. The narrative also covers the sobering attempt on the Prophet’s life via poison, the legislative response to human error in prayer, and the critical importance of integrity regarding public funds.
Key Highlights
- The Prophet (saw) expressed immense joy at reuniting with Ja’far ibn Abi Talib, stating he could not decide which was greater: the victory of Khaybar or Ja’far’s return.
- The Ash’ariyun tribe from Yemen joined the Makkan exiles in their return, and the Prophet (saw) later praised them as the best reciters of the Quran.
- The Prophet (saw) defended Asma bint Umays from Umar’s friendly teasing by declaring that those who migrated to Habesha and then to Madinah had performed 'two hijrahs'.
- A miraculous warning from the food itself alerted the Prophet (saw) to a poison attempt by a Jewish woman, though the Sahabi Bishr ibn Barra tragically passed away from it.
- The story of Mid’am, a slave who stole a single shawl from the spoils, served as a terrifying warning that dishonesty with community funds leads to the Fire.
- When the entire camp, including Bilal and the Prophet (saw), accidentally overslept for Fajr, the Prophet (saw) used the moment to teach that prayer should be made up as soon as it is remembered.
- The Prophet (saw) taught Abu Musa al-Ashaari that the dhikr 'La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah' is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise.
Comprehensive Analysis
1. The Reunion of Brothers
In the aftermath of the Battle of Khaybar at the start of the 7th year AH, Ja’far ibn Abi Talib returned to the Prophet (saw) after nearly 15 years in Abyssinia. The Prophet (saw), who noted that Ja’far resembled him in both appearance and character, was so moved that he ran to him, kissed him on the forehead, and embraced him. He famously remarked, “I don’t know what I am more pleased about today… the victory of Khaybar, or being reunited with my brother Ja’far?“.
2. The Honor of the Two Hijrahs
Among the returning exiles was Asma bint Umays, who became involved in a lighthearted debate with Umar al-Khattab over who had a greater right to the Prophet (saw). While Umar teased that the Madinan residents were closer to the Messenger, the Prophet (saw) intervened to comfort Asma, declaring that while others performed one migration, the Habesha exiles had performed two hijrahs—once to Abyssinia and once to Madinah. This recognition became the most valuable honor in the lives of those migrants.
3. The Yemeni Migration and the Ash’ariyun
The Makkan exiles were joined by the Ash’ariyun, a tribe from Yemen led by Abu Musa al-Ashaari. Though the Makkans had historically looked down on Yemenis as laborers, the Prophet (saw) integrated them by praising their inherent faith and wisdom. He noted that he could identify their homes at night solely by the beautiful sounds of their Quranic recitation echoing through the streets. To help them start their new lives, the Prophet (saw) allocated them a portion of the Khaybar spoils despite their absence from the battle.
4. Integrity and the Stolen Shawl
The return from Khaybar provided a stern lesson on honesty with public funds. A slave named Mid’am, who served the Prophet (saw), was killed by a stray arrow, and the Sahaba immediately celebrated him as a martyr. However, the Prophet (saw) revealed that Mid’am was actually being punished in the Fire because he had stolen a single shawl from the undistributed spoils. This incident emphasized that community leaders and workers must maintain absolute meticulousness regarding money that belongs to the Ummah.
5. The Poisoning at Khaybar
Following the victory, a Jewish woman attempted to assassinate the Prophet (saw) by gifting him a poisoned roasted lamb. After taking a small bite, the Prophet (saw) was divinely alerted and ordered everyone to stop eating. While the Prophet (saw) initially forgave the woman for the attempt on his own life, she was later executed as qisaas (legal retribution) after the Sahabi Bishr ibn Barra died from the effects of the poison. The Prophet (saw) continued to feel the physical aftereffects of this poison until the end of his life.
6. Lessons in Human Error and Prayer
A final significant event occurred when the entire camp, exhausted from their journey, overslept and missed the Fajr prayer because Bilal (ra) also fell asleep while on guard duty. Rather than reacting with anger, the Prophet (saw) comforted Bilal, noting that it was a natural human moment. He instructed the Sahaba to move the camp, perform wudu, and then led the prayer, establishing the rule that whoever misses a prayer should perform it as soon as they remember it.