The Hypocrites in Madinah Madinah had now come under the leadership of the Prophet ﷺ. It was inhabited by the Muhājirūn (Emigrants) and the Anṣār (Helpers). The Muhājirūn and the Anṣār were among the finest of Allah’s creation and the best of the Muḥammadan nation. Their leader, guardian, and ruler was the best of Allah’s creation and the best of His Messengers. The Messengers themselves are the best of mankind, and the best, final, and foremost among them is Muḥammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Revelation descended upon him throughout the night and at the ends of the day, and he implemented the Book of Allah and His rulings among all people with justice and equality. Yet despite the beauty of this environment, it did not prevent hypocrites from existing among them. Nor did it prevent ʿAbdullāh ibn Ubayy ibn Salūl from becoming the leader of the hypocrites. He would pray in the first row of the Prophet’s Mosque. Whenever the Prophet ﷺ sat between the two sermons on Friday, Ibn Ubayy would stand, turn toward the congregation—both the Muhājirūn and the Anṣār—and address the Anṣār (for he himself was one of them and had no standing to address the Muhājirūn). He would say to his people: “O assembly of the Anṣār! O people who believe in Allah and His Messenger! Listen, obey, and support him, and you will receive Allah’s mercy.” Yet at the very same time, he was plotting against the Prophet and the believers at every opportunity. Eventually, the Qur’an exposed him, repeating his very words. Allah said: “They say, ‘If we return to Madinah, the more honorable will surely expel the more humble from it.’ But honor belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, though the hypocrites do not know.” (Qur’an 63:8) Allah Himself described him as a hypocrite in the Qur’an. Even after this verse was revealed, Ibn Ubayy continued his hypocrisy. On the Friday following the revelation of the verse, he stood up again and began: “O people…” Before he could finish, a man from the Anṣār—one of his own Khazraj tribesmen—seized him by his garment and pulled him down until his knees touched the ground. This was remarkable because Ibn Ubayy had once been regarded as that man’s chief and leader. The man said: “Sit down! May Allah disgrace you! Have you no shame?!” In other words: “How can you still speak after Qur’anic verses have been revealed about you? Do you think anyone still trusts or believes you?” Ibn Ubayy became furious. His patience gave way, for a hypocrite does not possess the patience of a true believer. He rose, pushed through the rows while cursing and shouting, and left the mosque even as the Prophet ﷺ was delivering the sermon. Outside the mosque, a man from his people met him at the door and said: “Woe to you! Where are you going while the Messenger of Allah is preaching?” Ibn Ubayy replied: “I stood to support him and strengthen his position, as I do every Friday, but his companions attacked me.” The man answered: “Woe to you! Go back. Let the Messenger of Allah seek forgiveness for you.” Ibn Ubayy replied: “I have no need for his seeking forgiveness for me.” Then he turned his face away. The Anṣārī said: “I hope Allah will reveal Qur’an concerning this twisting of your neck in arrogance, and that it will be recited until the Day of Resurrection.” Not long afterward, when the Prophet ﷺ finished the Friday prayer, Jibrīl (Gabriel) descended with revelation: “And when it is said to them, ‘Come, so that the Messenger of Allah may seek forgiveness for you,’ they turn their heads aside, and you see them turning away in arrogance. It is all the same for them whether you seek forgiveness for them or do not seek forgiveness for them—Allah will never forgive them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.” (Qur’an 63:5–6) The verses came exactly as that sincere believing Companion had hoped: “I hope Allah will reveal Qur’an concerning the turning of your neck in arrogance.” And Allah revealed: “They turn their heads aside.” (لووا رءوسهم) Thus the Qur’an exposed the hypocrisy and arrogance of Ibn Ubayy, preserving the incident as a lesson for future generations.