The Madinan Period, Part 17: The Coalition Broken at the Trench
Section 2 of 15 · The Life of the Prophet Muhammad: The Madinan Period
A Way Out from Where It Was Never Expected
Now, because the Muslims, through their īmān, qualified in the eyes of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, for victory, Allah is going to help them. You could be at a disadvantage compared to your enemy, and from every angle you look at it, there's no way you can win. But because you deserve to win, since you have fulfilled the requirements of winning in the eyes of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, is going to find a way out for you.
فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَـٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْرًا
“So, when they (the divorced women) have (almost) reached their term, then either retain them with fairness, or part with them with fairness. And make two just men from among you witnesses (of your either decision). And (O witnesses,) keep your testimony upright for the sake of Allah. That is what anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day is exhorted to do. Whoever fears Allah, He brings forth a way out for him, and provides him (with what he needs) from where he does not even imagine. And whoever places his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Surely Allah is to accomplish His purpose. Allah has set a measure for every thing.” (65:2–3)
If you have taqwā of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, Allah will find a way out for you and will provide you from avenues you never expected. So the words to underline here are "you never expected". It is going to come from a place, a quarter, that you didn't expect. You looked at all of the variables, you assessed the situation, and there's no way you can make it. But Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, knows what you don't know.
A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him); his name is Nuʿaym ibn Masʿūd. This man is from Ghaṭafān. He comes to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and says, "Messenger of Allah, I have accepted Islam, but my people don't know of this. Give me whatever orders you wish." Here, this man comes out of nowhere and says, "I am a Muslim." And, Subḥān Allāh, this appears to be the wrong time to become a Muslim. The Muslims are under siege. It appears that they are losing, and you want to become Muslim? Well, that's because he was a soldier of Allah. Allah was bringing this man forward because he was one of the soldiers of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. Only Allah knows His soldiers; we don't know them.
So he comes to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and says, "Order me; give me your orders." The Messenger of Allah said, "You are only one man. Use trickery to relieve us of them, if you can. War is deception." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is telling Nuʿaym that if you join us, we're going to be three thousand and one; it doesn't really make a difference, you're just one man. But since they don't know that you have become Muslim, go back. Go back and try to weaken them, because war is deception (al-Bukhārī 3030; Muslim 1739).
In other words, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is saying that you can use deception if that will support the cause of relieving us of them.**