Divine Revelation vs. Human Schemes: The Letter That Almost Changed History
How miraculous knowledge exposed a secret that could have derailed the conquest of Mecca
Dr. Khaled Al-Houli’s Friday sermon continues the conquest narrative, revealing how divine intervention thwarted a companion’s attempt to warn Quraysh. This extraordinary account demonstrates the miraculous knowledge granted to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and teaches profound lessons about loyalty, forgiveness, and the supremacy of Islamic principles over all other bonds.
Opening Praise and Testimony
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, His chosen one and beloved friend, bearer of the banner of honor among Bani Lu’ayy, and possessor of the lofty mountain among Bani Abd Manaf Qusayy, possessor of the distinctive marks mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel, whose chest Allah expanded, whose burden He removed that had weighed down his back, and whose mention He elevated. May Allah send prayers, peace and blessings upon him – prayers and peace that endure until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed: Fear Allah, O Muslims, and know that we are journeying to our Lord, and we shall stand before Him and be questioned about our deeds.
So prepare for the questioning an answer, and for the answer correctness.
Preparations for the Greatest Victory
O Muslim brothers, O beloved ones in Allah, we continue with the biography of the beloved chosen one ﷺ. We continue with that pure and sweet fragrance and with that fragrant biography of its bearer – upon him be the best prayers and purest peace.
It was mentioned that Quraysh had broken their promise to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and that they had killed Khuza’ah while they were bowing and prostrating. Our Prophet ﷺ responded: “You are helped, O ‘Amr ibn Salim!”
Abu Sufyan came seeking to confirm the alliance with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, but gained nothing and returned dragging the tails of disappointment. The Prophet ﷺ had resolved something in his mind and commanded his companions to prepare for a historic event that would change the course of history – the conquest of Mecca.
The Prophet ﷺ commanded his companions to prepare and sent messages to allied tribes around Medina that had entered Islam, such as Ghatafan, Bani Sulaym, and Fazarah, appointing to meet them at Marr az-Zahran, near Mecca.
To conceal the news from people, he sent a diversionary company around Medina, as if intending the place where that company was heading, while secretly preparing his army for the true objective.
“O Allah, blind Quraysh to our news until we surprise them in their home”
When Loyalty Faltered
Here, O honored brothers, something very strange happens, but Allah, mighty and exalted, is supreme in His command – a man from the companions of the Prophet ﷺ writes a letter to his allies among Quraysh to inform them of the news of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Had it not been for divine revelation, no one would have known.
Hatib ibn Abi Balta’ah
A companion of the Prophet ﷺ and veteran of Badr who made a critical error in judgment that could have compromised the entire conquest of Mecca.
The Gravity of the Situation
This was not merely personal correspondence – it was intelligence that could have allowed Quraysh to prepare defenses, gather allies, and potentially prevent the peaceful conquest that saved countless lives. The stakes could not have been higher.
Miraculous Knowledge Revealed
Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه tells us about this extraordinary event:
“Go to Rawdat Khakh and you will find there a woman traveling who has a message with her. Bring me the message.”
Ali رضي الله عنه said: “So we set out with our horses racing” – they needed speed, not comfort. Rawdat Khakh was about 20 kilometers from Medina, and time was of the essence.
Signs of Prophethood
When you read this hadith, you sense the signs of prophethood, the miracles of prophethood, the honors of prophethood – that the Prophet ﷺ informed about the woman, her location, and the message she carried. This is news from Allah عز وجل to His Prophet ﷺ.
The Search and Discovery
“You have a message, you have a letter for Quraysh, so give it to us.”
“By Allah, I have nothing with me.”
“By Allah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ does not lie. You will bring out the letter or we will remove the clothes.”
When faced with this ultimatum, she asked them to step back, then withdrew to her place until she brought out the message from her hair braids and gave it to Ali رضي الله عنه.
The Greater Good Principle
This establishes a great legal principle: it is permissible to abandon acting on a partial text to act on a universal objective when acting on the partial text would miss achieving the universal objective. The greatest interest was the success of Islam and the Muslims – the Prophet’s ﷺ victory over the enemies. This shows the flexibility of the Sharia and the principle that when an interest and a harm conflict, consideration goes to the higher of them.
The Public Trial
When the Master of humanity ﷺ opened the letter, it was from Hatib ibn Abi Balta’ah to certain polytheists, informing them of the news of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. It was necessary to hold a judicial session with complete transparency and clarity.
“What is this, O Hatib?”
“O Messenger of Allah, do not be hasty with me. I, by Allah, love Allah and His Messenger, and I did not do this out of disbelief in Allah and His Messenger, nor out of love for disbelief over Islam. Indeed, O Messenger of Allah, I am attached to Quraysh but not from them by lineage. Those who are with you from the Emigrants have people in Quraysh, and I wanted to have a favor with Quraysh by sending them this message.”
The Prophet’s Response
“You have spoken truthfully.”
Justice Tempered with Mercy
“O Messenger of Allah, let me strike the neck of this hypocrite.”
“And how do you know, O ‘Umar, that Allah has looked upon the people of Badr and said: ‘Do whatever you wish, for I have forgiven you’?”
Hatib رضي الله عنه had witnessed Badr, standing with the Prophet ﷺ, struggling with his soul and wealth, forgetting all kinship and relationships in Mecca for the sake of Islam. But here his foot slipped رضي الله عنه.
The Wisdom of Prophetic Leadership
The Prophet ﷺ manages affairs with wisdom, deliberation, and careful consideration. The army was heading for battle – there was no meaning in punishing a man who had made an error in judgment, especially one whose past sacrifices had earned divine forgiveness. His punishment could be left for the sake of the greater interest of the Ummah.
Qur’anic Guidance Revealed
Allah, mighty and exalted, revealed Qur’an about this incident that will be recited until the Day of Judgment:
The Futility of Seeking Worldly Protection
The truth is that those who had kinship did not benefit from their relatives. Rather, those who expelled the Muslims from their land were those very relatives. The reason for the Prophet’s ﷺ departure was that his cousins had harmed him and his companions. So what favor could Hatib hope to gain from them? These relatives will not benefit anyone in this world just as they will not benefit their owners on the Day of Resurrection.
Islam Above All Bonds
Consider that the Prophet ﷺ was Qurayshi, from the people of Mecca, and he comes with his army to free Mecca from the clutches of polytheism. Perhaps if there were media like contemporary media, they would have described the Prophet ﷺ as lacking patriotism.
This teaches us something of the utmost sublimity, majesty, and greatness – that Islam’s status is higher than everything and it takes precedence over every bond. Wherever Islam is, Islam is higher, more sublime, and greater than all tribal, ethnic, racial, national, partisan, and sectarian bonds. The bond of Islam is higher and more sublime.
The Supreme Loyalty
This was not treason but among the greatest loyalty to his homeland, his nation, his tribe, and his clan. How could it be otherwise when Allah says: “Convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people.”
Conclusion: Divine Knowledge Triumphs
This extraordinary account demonstrates how divine revelation protected the Muslim mission when human schemes threatened to derail it. It shows us the miraculous knowledge granted to the Prophet ﷺ, the wisdom of his leadership in balancing justice with mercy, and the eternal principle that loyalty to Islam supersedes all other loyalties.
The letter that could have changed history was intercepted not by human intelligence, but by divine intervention, reminding us that Allah’s plan cannot be thwarted by human schemes.
Questions for Reflection
Ali’s رضي الله عنه declaration “By Allah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ does not lie” demonstrates complete trust in prophetic knowledge, even when physical evidence seemed to contradict it. This teaches us that true faith means accepting divine guidance even when our limited understanding cannot see the wisdom. In our lives, this applies to trusting Allah’s commands and the Prophet’s ﷺ teachings even when they seem difficult or unclear, knowing that divine knowledge encompasses what we cannot perceive.
This principle shows that Islamic law has flexibility when properly applied by scholars who understand both the specific texts and the overall objectives of Sharia. In our daily lives, this might mean prioritizing the greater good of the community over personal preferences, or making short-term sacrifices for long-term benefits that serve Islam and Muslims. However, such decisions should always be made with proper Islamic knowledge and consultation with qualified scholars, not based on personal opinions or desires.
The Qur’anic verse “Neither your relatives nor your children will benefit you on the Day of Resurrection” doesn’t negate love for family or country, but establishes the hierarchy of loyalties. We can love and serve our families and nations while recognizing that when there’s a conflict between Islamic principles and other loyalties, Islam takes precedence. This doesn’t mean abandoning family or civic duties, but rather fulfilling them within the framework of Islamic values and ensuring our ultimate allegiance remains with Allah and His guidance.