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The books of prophetic biography mentioned the names of the members of the expedition of ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Ateek, may Allah be pleased with him, as follows: Mas‘ood bin Sinaan, ‘Abdullaah bin Unays, Abu Qataadah: Al-Haarith bin Rib‘i, and Khuzaa‘i bin Aswad.
This expedition includes many lessons to be learned:
1- All members of that expedition were from the Khazraj, who were eager to equal their brothers from the Aws who had previously killed Ka‘b bin Al-Ashraf. Both the Aws and the Khazraj would compete with each other like race horses in hastening to do good. Their race was not to seize the apparent features of this life in terms of property and positions; rather, it was to attain the satisfaction of the Prophet 
that ultimately leads to the satisfaction of Allah The Almighty and happiness in the Hereafter.
that ultimately leads to the satisfaction of Allah The Almighty and happiness in the Hereafter.Ka‘b bin Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, said
Among the good things Allah The Almighty did for His Messenger was that the Ansaari [helper] factions of the Aws and the Khazraj would run as in a race like two stallions with the Messenger of Allah [i.e. they raced each other in his service]. Never did the Aws do anything in the service of the Messenger of Allah but the Khazraj would say, “By Allah, you would not take away, by that deed, our superiority with the Messenger of Allah and in Islam [to the exclusion of us].” Thus, they would not cease until they had done the same. Also, whenever Khazraj did anything in the service of the Messenger of Allah the Aws would say and do the same.
was that the Ansaari [helper] factions of the Aws and the Khazraj would run as in a race like two stallions with the Messenger of Allah [i.e. they raced each other in his service]. Never did the Aws do anything in the service of the Messenger of Allah but the Khazraj would say, “By Allah, you would not take away, by that deed, our superiority with the Messenger of Allah and in Islam [to the exclusion of us].” Thus, they would not cease until they had done the same. Also, whenever Khazraj did anything in the service of the Messenger of Allah the Aws would say and do the same.2- It is beneficial to learn the language of the enemy. ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Ateek, may Allah be pleased with him, was able to ascend the fort of Abu Raafi‘, talk to his wife, and enter his house assuredly for he spoke to him in his own language, which was the language used by the Jews at that time. Consequently, it is desirable for Muslims to learn the language of the non-Muslims in general, and of their enemies among them in particular; and this is especially significant for soldiers who are dispatched as reconnoiterers to collect news and provide the leadership therewith to lay out their war plans.
3- The elementary factor that made the plan of Ibn ‘Ateek, may Allah be pleased with him, return with success in assassinating Abu Raafi‘ was that he went alone into his fort. He decided to go alone into the fort and try to enter it and find the most suitable way for the members of his expedition to enter. Additionally, his very natural behavior did not draw the attention of any of the guards; his ability to deceive the gate-keeper and give him the false impression that he was answering the call of nature, which prevented the gate-keeper from staring at him and gazing at his face; the accurate watch of the movement of the gate-keeper after entering the fort and closing the door, as he hid himself in a place that was difficult for the gate-keeper to notice him, and how he watched the gate-keeper until he hung the key in a particular place and turned away, and then he took it and used it however and whenever he pleased.
4- The care of Allah The Almighty for His devotees. With the aid of Allah The Almighty, this noble Companion, may Allah be pleased with him, continued to walk and exert his effort even after his leg was broken, as if he had no ailment, until when his mission was over and there was no need for further effort, he began to complain about pain, thereupon he was carried by his companions. When he related his story to the Prophet he said to him: “Stretch out your [broken] leg.” He stretched it out and he rubbed it and it was fine - as if he had never had any ailment whatsoever. [Al-Bukhari]
he said to him: “Stretch out your [broken] leg.” He stretched it out and he rubbed it and it was fine - as if he had never had any ailment whatsoever. [Al-Bukhari]5- Some benefits elicited by Ibn Hajar 
from this story are shown from his saying,
from this story are shown from his saying,This narration makes it permissible to assassinate the Mushrik [polytheist] whom the message [of Islam] has reached but he insists [on his polytheism], and to kill any person who helps with his hand, property and tongue [the enemies] against the Messenger of Allah to spy on fighting enemies, with the intention to take them by surprise, to be hard when fighting the Mushriks, to beguile the enemies in order to achieve a benefit, to face with a few of the Muslims a great number of Mushriks, and to give a decision depending upon such signs and indications due to the fact that Ibn ‘Ateek, may Allah be pleased with him, recognized Abu Raafi‘ from his voice, and depended upon the voice of the announcer of casualties who announced the news of his death; and Allah knows best.
to spy on fighting enemies, with the intention to take them by surprise, to be hard when fighting the Mushriks, to beguile the enemies in order to achieve a benefit, to face with a few of the Muslims a great number of Mushriks, and to give a decision depending upon such signs and indications due to the fact that Ibn ‘Ateek, may Allah be pleased with him, recognized Abu Raafi‘ from his voice, and depended upon the voice of the announcer of casualties who announced the news of his death; and Allah knows best.6- That ‘Abdullaah bin Unays, may Allah be pleased with him, took part in that expedition as a soldier and not as the leader is of great significance in the process of education and nurturing. He attended the Pledge of ‘Aqabah and the Battle of Badr and was one of those who prayed towards both Qiblahs (prayer directions). Thus, he was one of the first Ansaari men who hastened to embrace Islam.
By no means was ‘Abdullaah bin Unays, may Allah be pleased with him, unknown in the field of Jihaad and heroism. It was he whom the Messenger of Allah sent alone to assassinate Sufyaan bin Khaalid Al-Huthali in the precincts of Makkah while he was preparing to invade Madeenah. He succeeded in his mission, and was able to kill him while Sufyaan was in his bed inside his tent, and thwarted his people from catching him after he had fled and returned with victory. He was a man of glorious deeds. However, he was not the leader but only a member of that expedition, having that shining history recorded by his Lord The Almighty before being recorded with the people.
sent alone to assassinate Sufyaan bin Khaalid Al-Huthali in the precincts of Makkah while he was preparing to invade Madeenah. He succeeded in his mission, and was able to kill him while Sufyaan was in his bed inside his tent, and thwarted his people from catching him after he had fled and returned with victory. He was a man of glorious deeds. However, he was not the leader but only a member of that expedition, having that shining history recorded by his Lord The Almighty before being recorded with the people.This was an eternal educational lesson which the Companions of the Prophet understood well. However, this kind of nurturing was matchless on earth. It is the sequence of ranks that governs armies, to the extent that the older person in a particular rank might govern the novice in the same rank, who has to hearken and obey, even if he is a few months older. Viewed as such, it was impermissible for anyone to be given precedence over ‘Abdullaah bin Unays, may Allah be pleased with him. However, it was the great prophetic method of nurturing drawn by the Prophet on several occasions, in order for the coming generation to learn and receive training at the hands of the preceding generation. How many an expedition did the Prophet send Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, as ordinary soldiers?
understood well. However, this kind of nurturing was matchless on earth. It is the sequence of ranks that governs armies, to the extent that the older person in a particular rank might govern the novice in the same rank, who has to hearken and obey, even if he is a few months older. Viewed as such, it was impermissible for anyone to be given precedence over ‘Abdullaah bin Unays, may Allah be pleased with him. However, it was the great prophetic method of nurturing drawn by the Prophet on several occasions, in order for the coming generation to learn and receive training at the hands of the preceding generation. How many an expedition did the Prophet send Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, as ordinary soldiers?Second: The expedition of ‘Abdullaah bin Rawaahah to kill Al-Yaseer bin Rizaam, the Jew
News reached the Messenger of Allah that Al-Yaseer bin Rizaam, who succeeded Salaam bin Abu Al-Huqayq in the office of chieftaincy over the Jews in Khaybar, started to gather the Jews of the North and induce them to oppose the Messenger of Allah . He also went on gathering the tribes of Ghatafaan and instigating them to fight the Messenger of Allah . He learnt about the scheming and cunning of the Jews against him, so the Messenger of Allah saw it better to verify the news before doing anything.
that Al-Yaseer bin Rizaam, who succeeded Salaam bin Abu Al-Huqayq in the office of chieftaincy over the Jews in Khaybar, started to gather the Jews of the North and induce them to oppose the Messenger of Allah . He also went on gathering the tribes of Ghatafaan and instigating them to fight the Messenger of Allah . He learnt about the scheming and cunning of the Jews against him, so the Messenger of Allah saw it better to verify the news before doing anything.He sent ‘Abdullaah bin Rawaahah, may Allah be pleased with him, leading a group of Muslims as reconnoiterers to detect the secret plots of the Jews and their allies from the Arab Mushriks (polytheists).
The prophetic intelligence verified the evil of Al-Yaseer bin Rizaam, and this was enough to convince the Prophet to dispatch an expedition of thirty riders led by ‘Abdullaah bin Rawaahah, may Allah be pleased with him, and it included ‘Abdullaah bin Unays, may Allah be pleased with him.
to dispatch an expedition of thirty riders led by ‘Abdullaah bin Rawaahah, may Allah be pleased with him, and it included ‘Abdullaah bin Unays, may Allah be pleased with him.They went to Al-Yaseer bin Rizaam and told him that the Messenger of Allah had sent them to him for he intended to appoint him as the governor of Khaybar. They were able to convince him to follow them. He set out with them, in the company of thirty of his people, each of whom rode with one of the Muslims; and Al-Yaseer was the co-rider of ‘Abdullaah bin Unays, may Allah be pleased with him, on his camel.
had sent them to him for he intended to appoint him as the governor of Khaybar. They were able to convince him to follow them. He set out with them, in the company of thirty of his people, each of whom rode with one of the Muslims; and Al-Yaseer was the co-rider of ‘Abdullaah bin Unays, may Allah be pleased with him, on his camel.When they reached Qarqarat-Thibaar, six miles from Khaybar, Al- Yaseer seemed to have begun regretting setting out to the Messenger of Allah . He reached towards the sword of ‘Abdullaah bin Unays, may Allah be pleased with him, for his co-rider to take it. Thereupon, ‘Abdullaah noticed what he intended and attacked and struck him with the sword and cut off his leg. Al-Yaseer struck him in his face with a wooden crocked spear in his hand which hurt his head. Every Muslim went towards his Jewish co-rider and killed him, except for a man who was able to flee on foot.
. He reached towards the sword of ‘Abdullaah bin Unays, may Allah be pleased with him, for his co-rider to take it. Thereupon, ‘Abdullaah noticed what he intended and attacked and struck him with the sword and cut off his leg. Al-Yaseer struck him in his face with a wooden crocked spear in his hand which hurt his head. Every Muslim went towards his Jewish co-rider and killed him, except for a man who was able to flee on foot.When Ibn Unays, may Allah be pleased with him, reached the Messenger of Allah he spat on his wound, which thereafter neither festered nor caused him any pain. This expedition was in the month of Shawwaal in the sixth year after Hijrah (emigration).
he spat on his wound, which thereafter neither festered nor caused him any pain. This expedition was in the month of Shawwaal in the sixth year after Hijrah (emigration).Many lessons might be elicited from this expedition:
1- The prophetic plan was intended from the beginning to put an end to the bloodbath between the Muslims and the Jews; and the role of ‘Abdullaah bin Rawaahah, may Allah be pleased with him, was designed to achieve that objective. However, the grudge the hearts of the Jews internalized, and the venom they bore for the Muslims put an end to the matter and ruined the entire plan. They tried to betray the Muslims but it turned against them.
2- Unless the fighting force in war is strong and fierce, the end of the battle with the enemies might be indecisive and destroy everything. Therefore, terror and fright should be cast into the hearts of the enemies. Enemies should be dealt with rigorously and sternly when dialogue and discussion become fruitless. Harshness is required in order to give the enemies the impression that those they challenge never fear the rebuke of a critic for the sake of Allah.
3- The fighting operations with the enemies escalated violently during the sixth year after Hijrah. No more than a month elapsed without one or two military expeditions being dispatched across the desert to disperse a gathering, destroy an enemy or assassinate a tyrant. The motto of that stage was: “Now, we attack and they do not attack us.”
The party of Allah The Almighty set out in the horizons in the Name of Allah, carrying the eternal principles and supreme values to present them to all people, and remove every tyrant standing in the way of those principles. We see how all the members of the party of Allah The Almighty, who received the highest level of moral, intellectual, military and political education, executed the prophetic method, how their reality was a living practical interpretation of their principles, and how they proceeded towards a new stage that began to appear with the treaty of Hudaybiyah.
