Abdullah bin Sa'd

1. All sources used in this article are Islamic, the ones on our side of the story and the ones on the side of the author's story. Sometimes the both of us even use the same source. Yet in spite of that, we see that there are great differences in the opinions reached. I think that this is attributed to the differences and conflicting stories in the Islamic sources themselves. This gives the opportunity to both us and the author of the response to quote whatever backs up the point each is trying to prove, but this method doesn't give us the facts we really want to arrive at.

3. It is well known in the Science of the Quran ('Ulum Al-Quran) that it is possible for verses to be sent down (revealed) more than once (for different occasions), and it's even possible for the reason of the revelation (Sabab Al-Nuzool) of the same verse to be repeated. (See "Al-Itqan fi 'Ulum Al-Quran" by Al-Suyooti - the chapter "fasl" of the knowing of the reason of revelation "ma'rifat sabab al-nuzool", and the chapter "fasl" of what was revealed more than once "ma takarrara nuzuluhu")

While his saying [Allah's saying in the Quran] "I can reveal the like of what Allah hath revealed" was revealed about Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi Sarh. He confessed Islam. The Messenger of Allah invited him once so that he could write him something, so when the verse which is in Surat Al-Mou'mineen "Man We did create from a quintessence (of clay)" was recited, he [Mohammad] dictated it to him [Abdullah]. When Mohammad finished by saying "We developed out of it another creature", Abdullah was amazed by this detail in the creation of man and said, "So blessed be Allah, the Best to create!", so the Messenger of Allah said, "That's how it was revealed to me". So Abdullah doubted then and said [to himself], "If Mohammad were truthful, then I was revealed what he was revealed. And if he were a liar, then I said what he said." (See "Asbaab Al-Nuzool" by Al-Wahidi Al-Naysaboori - Page 126 - Beirut's Cultural Libary Edition "Tub'at Al-Maktabah Al-thakafiyyah Beirut" - No date)

Al-Tabari: The One whose name is Exalted (Allah) means in his saying "Who doth more wrong than such as invent a falsehood against Allah" and "Who doth more wrong and who is more ignorant than such as invent a falsehood against Allah" referring to those who invent falsehood against Allah and claim to be a Prophet and a Warner, and he [the person who claims] is false in his claims, and lying in his sayings. In this, God is ridiculing the Pagan Arabs, and (ridiculing) the opposing of Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi Al-Sarh and the Hanafite Musaylamah to the Prophet of Allah (SAW). For one of them claimed prophethood and the other claimed that he came up with something similar to what the Messenger of Allah (SAW) came with [the Quran], and at the same time denying the lying and false claims against his Prophet Mohammad (SAW).

His saying [Allah's saying in the Quran], "Who doth more wrong than such as invent a falsehood against Allah, or said: 'I have received inspiration,' when he hath received none". He [Ikrimah] said: This verse was revealed about Musaylamah the brother of Bani (children of) Uday bin Haneefah, for he [Musaylamah] was reciting poetry and prophesying. And "I can reveal like what Allah hath revealed" was revealed about Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi Al-Sarh, the brother of Bani (children of) Amir bin Lu'ai. He [Abdullah] used to write for the Prophet (SAW), and while he [Mohammad] was dictating "Exalted in power, full of Wisdom", he [Abdullah] would write it "Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful", thus changing it. Then he [Abdullah] would read the changed verses to him [Mohammad], and he [Mohammad] would say, "Yes [in approval], it's the same [meaning]". So he [Abdullah] reverted from Islam and followed Quraysh telling them, "He [Mohammad] used to recite to me Exalted in power, full of Wisdom', and I would change it when I write it down, and he would tell me, 'Yes [in approval], it's the same [meaning]." But then he [Abdullah] came back to Islam before the conquering (fath) of Mecca, while the Prophet (SAW) was at Mur [a place in Arabia - on his way to Mecca].

Mohammad bin Al-Hussein spoke to me, he said: Ahmad bin Al-Mufdil narrated: Asbat narrated from Al-Sudy: "Who doth more wrong than such as invent a falsehood against Allah, or said: "I have received inspiration,' when he hath received none..." until his [Allah] saying, "ye receive your reward, a penalty of shame". He [Al-Sudy] said: This verse was revealed about Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi Al-Sarh, he embraced Islam, and used to write [Quran revelations] for the Prophet (SAW). So when the Prophet dictated him: "Who heareth and knoweth all things", he'd write it: "All-Knowing, All-Wise". So he doubted and reverted. Then he said, "If Mohammad gets inspiration, then I get inspiration too, and if Allah sent him his revelation then I was sent the same thing. For when Mohammad said, 'Who heareth and knoweth all things' I'd say, 'All-Knowing, All-Wise'" So he followed the Pagans, and he blew the cover of Ammar and Jubar [secret Muslims] to Ibn Al-Hudrumi or to Bani Abd Al-Dar, so they took them and tortured them until they reverted. Ammar's ear was cut off that day, so he [Ammar] went to the Prophet (SAW) and told him what had happened to him, but the Prophet (SAW) refused to handle his issue. So Allah revealed about [Abdullah] Ibn Abi Al-Sarh and his companions, "Anyone who, after accepting Faith in Allah, utters Unbelief, - except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in Faith - but such as open their breast to Unbelief, on them is Wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a dreadful Penalty" Who was "under compulsion" is Ammar and his companions, and who "open their breast to Unbelief" is [Abdullah] Ibn Abi Al-Sarh.

Bishr bin Mu'aath spoke to us, he said: Yazeed bin Rabea' narrated: Sa'eed narrated Qutadah, he said: "I have received inspiration,' when he hath received none, or (again) who saith, 'I can reveal like of what Allah hath revealed" This verse was revealed about Musaylamah Al-Kathaab (the Liar). It was narrated to us that the Prophet of Allah (SAW) said, "I saw in my sleep two golden bracelets around my arms, they started to grow bigger and bigger and became a burden on me. So I was inspired to blow on them - I did and they flew away. I interpreted my dream that they [the bracelets] are the two Liars I'm between: The Liar of Al-Yamamah Musaylamah, and the Liar of San'aa Al-Ansi." And he [Al-Ansi] was called Al-Aswad.

Al-Hasan bin Yahya spoke to us, he said: Abd Al-Razaaq informed us: Mu'mar narrated Qutadah, and he added to it: And the Zuhri told me that the Prophet (SAW) said, "I saw in my sleep two golden bracelets around my arms, they started to grow bigger and bigger and became a burden on me. So I was inspired to blow on them - I did and they flew away. I interpreted my dream that they [the bracelets] are the two Liars I'm between: The Liar of Al-Yamamah Musaylamah, and the Liar of San'aa Al-Ansi."

The opinion I believe which has more credibility than the others is to say: Allah said, "Who can be more wicked than one who inventeth a lie against Allah, or said: 'I have received inspiration,' when he hath received none". There is no disagreement between the Scholars of the Ummah (nation) that Ibn Abi Sarh was one of those who said, "I had said like [what] Mohammad [said].", and that he reverted from Islam and followed the Pagans. There is no doubt that what he said was lies. And there is also no disagreement between all [the Scholars] that Musaylamah and Al-Ansi the Liars claimed falsehood against Allah by saying that he sent them as Prophets; for each of them had said that Allah inspired them, and they are lying in their claims. (See Al-Tabari in the commentary of the verse - from the Encyclopedia of the Quran "Mawsoo'at Al-Quran" - Al-Areesh Company for Computers "Sharikat Al-Areesh lil-computer" - Beirut - 1998).

The author did the same thing when he talked about 'Ilm Urrijaal (the Science of the Folk); he quoted Usuud Ulghaabah while ignoring the others. So we refute his book with another book, for Ibn Ab Al-Sarh's biography was in "Al-Isaabah fi Tamyeez Al-Sahabah" (Volume 4, Page 109, kaf = 0, ba' = 0, ha' = 4714) (from the Encyclopedia of the Prophet's Hadeeth "Mawsoo'at Al-Hadeeth Al-Nabawi" - Al-Areesh Company for Computers "Sharikat Al-Areesh lil-computer" - Beirut - 1998).

4714 ---- Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi Al-Sarh bin Al-Harith bin Habeeb Bilmuhmlah Musghira bin Huthafah bin Malik bin Hasl bin Amir bin Lu'ai Al-Qurashi Al-Amiri, and some inserted [into his genealogy] Huthafa and Malik Nasra. The first one is more famous and his Kunyah is Aba Yahya. He [Abdullah] was Othman's [the fourth Caliph] brother by nursing (rida'ah), and his mother was Ash'ariyyah (Al-Zubayr bin Bikar said that). Ibn Sa'd said that her mother is Muhabah bint Jaber. Ibn Habban said that his father was one of Quraysh's hypocrite infidels - that's what he said and I haven't seen any other [view]. Al-Hakim narrated from Al0suday, by Mus'ab bin Sa'd by his father, "When it was the day of the conquering (fath) of Mecca, the Prophet gave safety to all its people except for four men and two women; Ikrimah, Ibn Khatl, Maqees bin Subabah, and Ibn Abi Al-Sarh." He went on with the Hadeeth and said, "As for Abdullah, he hid with Othman, so he [Othman] came to the Prophet with him, while he [Mohammad] was making vows of allegiance (bay'ah) with the people. So Othman said, 'O Messenger of Allah, make a vow of allegiance (bay'ah) with Abdullah.' And so he did after three attempts. Then he [Mohammad] went to his companions and said, 'Isn't there any honorable man among you who would stand and kill him [Abdullah] when he saw me refusing to make the vow with him?'" And from Yazeed Al-Nahwi by Ikrimah by Ibn Abbas who said, "Abdullah bin Sa'd used to write for the Prophet, so Satan made him err and he followed the infidels. The Prophet ordered his death (meaning of the day of Conquering Mecca), but Othman intervened and asked for his safety, so the Prophet kept him safe [didn't kill him]."

Finally we say that the problem is still standing. Knowing or not knowing much about the beginnings of Abdullah's coming to Islam doesn't change a thing. Whether Abdullah's Islam was good after he came back to Islam or whether he did that to gain the material gains Othman was renown for giving to his relatives (notice that Abdullah ruled Egypt during Othman's reign, but left it afterwards) also doesn't change a thing. So let me present you with the main problem again:

The proposed solution by the author with is to criticize the chain of narrators of the Hadeeth creates another problem for the Muslims; which is the ability to trust most Islamic sources. For if we find a Saheeh (correct) text at one of those sources, we'll find it Da'eef (week) at another - until we come to Al-Bukhari (who is the Imam of the Hadeeth with the Sunni Muslims, and not the Shi'a). If we criticize the history of the revelation of this verse, then it will do us no good because of the existence of all the other stories which back up the Islamically-not-so-liked story.