A Muslim who fought alongside the Mushriks at Badr and how the Prophet reacted

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In the Name of the Allaah, Most Merciful, Bestower of Mercy.

An Amazing Story about a Muslim who fought alongside the Mushriks at Badr

It is narrations such as this that show the mercy and kindness of Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) towards the believers who worship Allaah alone.

Imaam Abu Bakr b. Abee Shaybah said: Abu Mu’aawiyah narrated to us: from A’mash: from ‘Amr b. Murrah: from Abu ‘Ubaidah: from ‘Abdullaah b. Mas’ood (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) who said:

On the day of Badr, the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) said: “What do say about these captives?” [So then Ibn Mas’ood mentioned the story]. Then the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) said: “Not one of them should be released without a ransom, or a strike to the neck.” So Ibn Mas’ood said: “O Messenger of Allaah! Except Suhail b. Baydaa for I heard him speaking with Islaam (i.e. he’s a Muslim).” The Messenger remained silent – And I have never seen a day upon which I was more fearful of rocks falling upon my head from the sky than that day – until when Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) said: “Except for Suhail b. Baydaa.”

Al-Imaam Al-Haafidh, Ibn Sa’ad said in “At-Tabaqaat al-Kubraa” (4/213) regarding Sahl b. Baydaa:

“He became Muslim whilst in Makkah, and he concealed his entry into Islaam, and the Quraish took him out along with themselves to Badr – so he participated in the battle of Badr alongside the Idol-worshippers. He was then taken captive by the Muslims. Abdullaah b. Mas’ood bore witness for him that he had seen him pray in Makkah, and he was thus freed. And for those who narrate this story about Suhail b. Baydaa are mistaken, for Suhail b. Baydaa embraced Islaam before ‘Abdullaah b. Mas’ood and he did not hide his Islaam; and he migrated to Madeenah and he participated at the battle of Badr alongside Allaah’s Messenger as a Muslim – and there is no doubt regarding that.. And this hadeeth is actually concerning Sahl b. Baydaa.”

References and authenticity:

“Marwiyyaat Abee Ubaidah bin Abdillaah bin Mas’ood ‘an Abeehi” (p.259) of Shaikh Abdullaah al-Bukhaaree, who stated: Saheeh li-Ghairihi (authentic due to support of other chains); reported by at-Tirmidhee in al-Jaami’, no. 1714, 304; Ahmed in al-Musnad, no. 3632, 3633, 3634, and Fadaa’il as-Sahaabah, no. 186; Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf, no. 15098, and others.

At-Tirmidhee said: This hadeeth is hasan (good). Abu Ubaidah did not hear it from his father.

Al-Haakim said: “It has a Saheeh (authentic) chain of narration, but is not reported in the two Saheehs.” Adh-Dhahabee added: “Upon the conditions of Muslim.”

Adh-Dhahabee said in Talkhees al-Mustadrak: Saheeh – Jareer b. Abdul-Hameed heard it.

Abu Nu’aim said: This hadeeth is a singular report (ghareeb) from the hadeeth of Abu ‘Ubaidah that has not been narrated from except by ‘Amr b. Murrah.

Al-Albaanee declared it to be da’eef in “Da’eef Sunan at-Tirmidhee” no. 288:1783/196.

Shaikh Abdullaah al-Bukhaaree said after discussing the hadeeth, its narrators and sources in depth: These supporting chains prove that the hadeeth has an established foundation, which leads to the ruling of Saheeh li-ghairhi, which the exception of the words of Abdullaah b. Rawaahah (which I have left out above), for which I could find any supportive witness.