(Friday Sermon - November 23, 2018 )

Background

Hazrat Uqbah bin Wahab was also known as Ibn Abi Wahab. He was the confederate of the tribe of Banu Abdi Shams bin Abdi Manaf. Including the battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq, he participated in all battles alongside the Holy Prophet^(sa). (Usdul Ghaba Fi Marifati Al-Sahaba, Vol. 4, p. 59, Uqbah bin Wahab, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra Li-ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 70, Uqbah bin Wahab, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)

Devotion to the Holy Prophet^(sa)

When a Jewish delegation came to Medina in order to meet the Holy Prophet^(sa), the Holy Prophet^(sa) preached to them, but they openly rejected his message. Hazrat Uqbah bin Wahab was among the companions who rebuked them for openly rejecting the message. This incident has been recorded in the following manner: “On one occasion, Nu‘man bin Ada, Bahri bin Amr and Shaais bin Adiyy came to the Holy Prophet^(sa). The Holy Prophet^(sa) spoke to them and called them towards the way of Allah. He invited them to Islam and admonished them about God’s punishment. They replied in the same manner as the Christians saying: ‘O Muhammad^(sa), why do you try to incite fear in us? We are the sons of God and are His beloved’. The following verse was revealed by Allah the Almighty in relation to them:

وَقَالَتِ الْیَھُوْدُ وَالنَّصَارٰی نَحْنُ اَبْنَاءُ اللہِ وَأَحِبَّاؤُہٗ۔ قُلْ فَلِمَ یُعَذِّبُکُمْ بِذُنُوْبِکُمْ۔ بَلْ اَنْتُمْ بَشَرٌ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ۔ یَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ یَّشَاءُ وَیُعَذِّبُ مَنْ یَّشَاءُ وَلِلہِ مُلْکُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَمَا بَیْنَھُمَا وَاِلَیْہِ الْمَصِیْرُ

‘The Jews and the Christians say, “We are sons of Allah and His loved ones.” Say, “Why then does He punish you for your sins? Nay, you are only human beings among those He has created.” He forgives whom He pleases and punishes whom He pleases. And to Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and to Him shall be the return.’” (Surah al-Maidah: Ch.5: V.19)

According to Ibn Ishaaq, after the Holy Prophet^(sa) invited the group towards Islam and warned them about associating partners with Allah, they not only rejected the Holy Prophet^(sa) but also his teachings. Upon this, Hazrat Mu‘az bin Jabl, Hazrat Sa‘d bin Ubadah and Hazrat Uqbah bin Wahab said to them: “O ye Jews! Fear Allah! We swear by Allah, you know that he is most certainly the Messenger of Allah. We witnessed how even before his claim to prophethood, you would praise his qualities and character.” In reply Rafay bin Huraimilah and Wahab bin Yahuza said: “Neither did we ever praise him before and nor has God revealed any scripture after Moses^(as) and nor will He do so in the future. God has not sent any warner or bearer of glad tidings after Moses^(as) and nor will He send anyone.” (Sirat Ibn Hisham, pp. 265-266, Bab Ma Nazala Fi Al-Munafiqeen Wa Yahud, Dar Ibn Hazam, Beirut, 2009)

In other words, they completely denied everything even though these prophecies are found in the Torah.