We were along with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in an expedition that a person from amongst the emigrants struck at the back of a person from the Ansir. The Ansiri said: O Ansar! And the Muhijir said: O Emigrants! Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: What are these proclamations of the Days of Ignorance? They said: Allah's Messenger, a person from the emigrants struck at the back of an Ansari, whereupon he said: It is something disgusting. 'Abdullah b. Ubayy heard it and said: They have indeed done it. By Allah, when we would return to Medina the respectable amongst them (the Ansar) would turn away the mean (the emigrants). Thereupon 'Umar said: Permit me so that I should strike the neck of this hypocrite. But he (the Holy Prophet) said: Leave him, the people may not say that Muhammad kills his companions.
The Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship - Sahih Muslim 2584b
This narration from Sahih Muslim presents a profound lesson in conflict resolution, tribal prejudice, and prophetic wisdom during the early Islamic community in Medina.
Contextual Background
The incident occurred during a military expedition when tensions arose between Muhajirun (emigrants from Mecca) and Ansar (helpers from Medina). The tribal calls "O Ansar!" and "O Emigrants!" reflected pre-Islamic tribal partisanship that Islam sought to eliminate.
Prophetic Condemnation of Tribal Partisanship
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) immediately recognized these calls as "proclamations of the Days of Ignorance" (Jahiliyyah), indicating that Islamic brotherhood transcends tribal and ethnic affiliations. True faith requires Muslims to identify primarily as Muslims rather than through tribal or regional identities.
The Hypocrite's Intervention
Abdullah ibn Ubayy's inflammatory response revealed his hypocrisy by attempting to sow discord between the two groups. His threat that "the respectable amongst them would turn away the mean" demonstrated his persistent pre-Islamic mentality and opposition to Islamic unity.
Umar's Righteous Anger and Prophetic Restraint
Umar's immediate reaction to execute the hypocrite reflected his uncompromising commitment to Islamic purity. However, the Prophet's wisdom in restraining him teaches us about strategic patience and considering broader consequences, even when dealing with clear hypocrisy.
Practical Lessons for Muslim Conduct
This hadith establishes important principles: avoiding tribal and ethnic partisanship, maintaining unity despite provocations, exercising wisdom in dealing with opponents, and prioritizing the broader perception of Islam over immediate emotional reactions.