Almuhtada.org – Abu Lubabah is one of the friends of the Prophet as well as a Muslim hero who has upheld the religion of Islam.
Mentioned in the book of Characters Preserved in the Qur’an by ‘Abd al-Rahman Umairah, Abu Lubabah was born in the city of Yathrib (Medina) and was among the first to convert to Islam. He became Muslim when some Ansar people met Mush’ab bin Umair in Yathrib and then they believed in the Prophet Muhammad.
When the Badr War happened, Abu Lubabah was assigned by the Prophet to replace him as the leader in Medina to maintain security, safety of the population, protect the farms, and its boundaries.
Abu Lubabah obeyed the orders and directions from the Prophet and helped prepare the supplies needed by the war army by encouraging the creation of weapons of war for the Muslims.
If you look at the story, it appears that Abu Lubabah was an honest believer and a fighter who was sincere to the Prophet and his Lord. But in the story of his life, Abu Lubabah once betrayed the Prophet Muhammad and then punished himself.
The Story of Abu Lubabah who Betrayed
When there was an attack by the Prophet Muhammad SAW on the Jewish fort of Bani Quraizhah, Abu Lubabah went with him, while the head of government in Medina was handed over to Abdullah Ibn Ummi Maktum. The Prophet and his friends surrounded the fort of Bani Quraizhah for 25 nights so that they lived in need and fear.
However, Bani Quraizhah still did not want to leave the law and asked Abu Lubabah to be sent to them for his opinion because they were allies of the al-Aus group like Abu Lubabah’s wife.
Rizem Aizid in his book Terbang Menjemput Rahmat dengan Sayap Taubat, tells when Abu Lubabah was sent by the Prophet Muhammad to consult with Bani Quraizhah.
The conference was held because Bani Quraizhah had betrayed the previous agreement and made an evil deal to harm the Muslims. Therefore, the Prophet ordered Abu Lubabah to go to Bani Quraizhah as his representative to negotiate.
When Abu Lubabah arrived, all the men who were there immediately got up and stood up, while the women and children came to him in a sad condition while crying.
Seeing that situation, Abu Lubabah became soft at heart. Then, they asked Abu Lubabah, “O Abu Lubabah, should we follow the law of the Prophet Muhammad?”
Abu Lubabah, however, did not answer or speak. He only spread his hands to the back of his neck indicating that they would be killed. This became an event where Abu Lubabah had betrayed and disobeyed the Prophet Muhammad because he did not negotiate as he ordered.
Abu Lubabah Punishes Himself on a Mosque Pole
Before Abu Lubabah began his words to the Bani Quraizhah, he felt very guilty for having betrayed Allah SWT and His messenger. After that, he immediately left the place and tied himself to one of the mosque pillars.
While tying himself, Abu Lubabah also said that he would not leave that place until Allah’s forgiveness came to him. He also promised not to stand in the place of Bani Quraizhah where he betrayed the Prophet Muhammad.
Still in the same source, it is mentioned from another source that Abu Lubabah stayed in the hot sun without eating and drinking for one full day. Then, he said, “I will continue like this until I die or Allah SWT forgives me.” Meanwhile, the Prophet Muhammad continued to watch him day and night.
For this event, Allah SWT then sent down a message to the Prophet Muhammad in the form of a warning for Abu Lubabah’s actions which bound himself for six days in the mosque. The message is contained in the Qur’an Surah Al-Anfal verse 27, as Allah SWT says:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَخُونُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوٓا۟ أَمَٰنَٰتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
Meanings:
“O you who believe, do not betray Allah and the Prophet (Muhammad) and (also) do not betray the trusts entrusted to you, while you know.”
After the warning from Allah SWT, there came another message stating that Abu Lubabah’s apology had been accepted so that the Prophet SAW released the rope that tied Abu Lubabah’s body. The message was Surah At-Taubah verse 102, Allah SWT said:
وَءَاخَرُونَ ٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا۟ عَمَلًا صَٰلِحًا وَءَاخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Meaning:
“And (there are) others who confess their sins, mixing good work with bad. May Allah accept their apologies. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
Thus the story of the repentance of the Prophet’s friend Abu Lubabah who betrayed and punished himself after giving a bad response to the people of Bani Quraizhah until Allah SWT forgave his sin.
Hopefully Muslims can take lessons from this story to immediately repent to Allah SWT after making mistakes and sinning. [] Fahdina Dean
Editor : Moh. Aminudin
