People of falsehood use the story of Hatib (ra)

The people of falsehood use the story of Hatib’s (ra) writing to the Kuffaar of the Quraysh and notifying them of the news of the Prophet (saws) as proof that Mudhaharah of the Kuffaar is not Kuffr. The story, as it is in the Saheehayn and others on the authority of ‘Ali (ra) about the battle of the Fath (the opening of Makkah). He said, “The Messenger of Allah (saws) sent me, Az-Zubayr and Al Miqdad somewhere saying, ‘Go forth until you reach Rawdah Khakh. There you will find a lady with a letter. Take the letter from her.’ 

So, we set out and our horses ran at full pace till we got at Ar-Rawda where we found the lady and said (to her), ‘Take out the letter.’ She replied, ‘I have no letter with me.’ We said, ‘You will most certainly take out the letter or else we will take off your clothes.’ So, she took it out of her braid. So we took the letter and brought it to the Messenger of Allah and it contained a statement from Hatib ibnu Abi Balta’ah to some of the Mushrikoon of Makkah informing them of some of the intentions of the Messenger of Allah. Then the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, ‘O Hatib! What is this?’ Hatib replied, ‘Do not hasten to give your judgment about me. I was a man closely connected with the Quraysh, but I did not belong to them, while the other Muhajiroon with you, had their relatives who would protect their dependents and in Makkah. So, I wanted, because that passed me, by my lack of blood relation to them, to take among them a favor by which to protect my dependents. I did this neither because of Kuffr apostasy nor out of pleasure with Kuffr over Islam.’ 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, ‘Hatib has told you the truth. ‘Umar said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, allow me to chop off the head of this Munafiq!’ The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, ‘Verily he witnessed the battle of Badr, and what would make you come to know, perhaps Allah has already looked at the people of Badr and said, ‘Do whatever you like, for I have forgiven you.’”

So Hatib assisted the Kuffaar of Makkah, however, along with that, the Prophet (saws) did not declare him a disbeliever so this proves that Mudhaharah and helping the Kuffaar is not Kuffr !!! 

The Response to this Misconception: 

No person of falsehood uses an evidence from the Book and the Sunnah in order to prove his falsehood except that in that proof itself there contains what contradicts his falsehood and makes clear its corruption, as was mentioned by Shaykhul Islam, and I shall mention what indicates the opposite of what they wanted from this proof, from the proof itself and that will become clear from various angles. 

The First Angle 

Verily, this proof is from the clearest of proofs concerning the Kuffr of the one who performs Mudhaharah and his apostasy from the Dīn of Islam and this is shown clearly from three things in the Hadith: 

The First Thing: The statement of ‘Umar in this Hadīth, “Leave me to strike the neck of this Munafiq.” And in another narration (it is reported that he said): “Certainly he has disbelieved.” And in another narration, after the Messenger (saws) said, 
“Did he not witness Badr?” ‘Umar replied, “Yes, however he has gone back and helped your enemies against you.” This proves that what was well established with ‘Umar and the Companions was that Mudhaharah of the Kuffaar and assisting them is Kuffr and apostasy from Islam. He did not say these words except due to what he saw of what apparently was Kuffr. 

The Second Thing: The tacit approval of the Messenger (saws) for what ‘Umar understood as he did not censure him for his Takfīr of him (Hatib) rather, he only mentioned the excuse of Hatib. 

The Third Thing: Hatib (ra) said, “And I did not do that out of Kuffr nor out of apostasy from my Dīn nor out of pleasure with Kuffr after Islam.”

This proves that it was also established with him that Mudhaharah of the Kuffaar is Kuffr, apostasy, and pleasure with Kuffr, so he only mentioned the reality of his action. 

The Second Angle 

Hatib (ra) assisted the Messenger (saws) against his enemies, helped him with his self, wealth, tongue, and opinion in all of his battles, witnessed Badr and Hudaybiyyah with him, and their people are clearly in the Jannah (promised Jannah). He also assisted the Messenger (saws) in this battle (the battle mentioned in this Hadith – the conquest of Makkah), for he went out in it with the Muslims as a warrior with his life and wealth to wage war against the mushrikūn and he never gave victory to the Kuffaar against the Muslims; not by body, not by wealth, not by tongue, and not by opinion, and he possess of previous good acts what every one who reads knows. And with all of this, when he wrote to the Mushrikoon, informing them of the departure of the Prophet (saws) that was not Mudhaharah from him towards them or giving victory because he was going to fight them himself with the Prophet (saws) and he was already certain of victory and assistance, ‘Umar accused him of Nifaq and the Messenger (saws) asked about that, after which he negated Kuffr and apostasy from himself and (then) (parts) of the Qur’an were revealed concerning him that would be recited until the Day of Judgment and it is the words of the Most High: 
"Oh you who believe do not take My enemy and your enemy as allies, extending to them affection while they have disbelieved in what came to you of the truth, having driven out the Prophet and yourselves (only) because you believe in Allah, your Lord. If you have come out for Jihād in My cause and seeking means to My approval (take them not as friends). You confide to them affection, but I am most knowing of what you have concealed and what you have declared. And whoever does it among you has certainly strayed from the straight way." 

This is from the most tremendous of evidences that the one who helps the Kuffaar with his life, wealth, tongue, or opinion and its likes has apostated from the Dīn of Islam and Allah’s refuge is sought. 

The Third Angle 

The letter of Hatib to the Kuffaar of Makkah was not from Mudhaharah and assisting them against the Muslims at all, for it has been narrated by some of the people (scholars) of battles, as it is in Al Fath, that the wording of the letter was, "As for what follows. O assembly of Quraysh. The Messenger of Allah (saws) is approaching you with an army like the night that marches like the torrent and by Allah! If he was to come to you all alone, Allah would most certainly give him victory and fulfill for him His promise, so look after yourselves and Salam." 

There is not in this what might be understood to be Mudhaharah and giving victory to them,no, he disobeyed the Messenger (saws) by writing it to them. It was a major sin that was expiated by his previous works. 

The Fourth Angle 

The action of Hatib has been differed over, is it Kuffr or not? If it is said that it is Kuffr, then this is a proof that benefiting the Kuffaar with the like of this light matter (what was in the letter) is Kuffr so it is therefore a notice that what is beyond it such as giving victory with life, wealth or any other than that is Kuffr more so. If it is said that it is not Kuffr, then this is only the case because the reality of his action, he was not helping the Kuffaar or assisting them against the Muslims. Although, having said that, it is a means to Kuffr and a path towards it even though it lacks the picture of giving victory to the Kuffaar due to what has proceeded in the first angle so therefore, this example is not to be used as evidence against this issue of ours and nor does it weaken that basis. 

The Fifth Angle 

Hatib only did that out of a faulty interpretation (Ta’wil) thinking that his letter would not harm the Muslims and that Allah would give victory to His Deen and Prophet even if the Mushrikoon knew of their departure towards them. There has appeared in some of the wordings of the Hadīth that Hatib, excusing himself, stated, “I knew that Allah would assist His Messenger and complete for him his affair.” Al Bukhari narrated the story of Hatib in the section, “Seeking the repentance of the apostates and rebellious ones and fighting them.” As well as in the section, “What has been narrated about those who make faulty interpretations.” Al Hafidh said in Al Fath, “And the excuse of Hatib is what he himself mentioned for he did that out of a faulty interpretation thinking that there is no harm in it.” Hence, there is a great difference between what he did whilst being certain that the Kuffaar would not benefit from his letter in their war with the Messenger (saws) and the one who gave them victory and assisted them with what they would benefit from in their war against Islam and it’s people. 

The Sixth Angle 

It is to be said to the one who uses this Hadīth to prove the absence of Kuffr for the one who performs Mudhaharah, does this Hadith prove that every type of Mudhaharah towards the Kuffaar and help towards them (against the Muslims) is not Kuffr and apostasy? If he answers, “Yes,” then he has violated and gone against the Ijma’ and he has no precedent in that so there is nothing to be said to him. If however, he answers, “No,” then it is to be said, “So what are the examples in which the one who assists the Kuffaar has disbelieved?” So this Hadith of Hatib will counter whatever example he mentions and what answer will he have for this countering? This is our response here. 

[By Shaykh Nasir Al-Fahd (fakk Allahu asrah)] 

(Taken from his book on the Kuffr of the one who helps America in their war on Islam. Which is published on this site in the Shaykh’s category and is from the best written piece from our contemporary ‘Ulama on this subject.)