Needless to say, the successful raid against the Syrian caravan was a thorn in the side of the Koraysh. Some time before, the Koraysh had allied themselves with the tribe of Mutalik, a branch of the Khuzah whose territory lay along the coast of the Red Sea.

The Koraysh now approached the Mutalik urging them to attack Medina with the hope that their kindred tribes would support them. However, the Koraysh had not realized that the other tribes inclined more to the Muslims than they did toward themselves and it wasn't long until the news reached Medina of the intended attack. The Mutalik were unaware of the fact that the Prophet (sa) knew anything about their plans so they took their time before even starting to prepare themselves for the encounter.

Meanwhile, the Prophet (sa) decided not to wait for them to make the first move and ordered his forces to march to the Mutalik territory. The forthcoming encounter was not expected to be very dangerous so the Prophet (sa) allowed Ladies Ayesha and Umm Salama to accompany him. Eight days later he reached the Mutalik territory and, unknown to the Mutalik, struck camp near a watering hole. The element of surprise was a great advantage and it wasn't long until they were able to surround their settlement.

Some of the Mutalik warriors took up arms and fought, ten were killed, however, there was very little resistance, and only one Muslim was martyred. The spoils of war were considerable, just under two hundred families were taken captive, and large herds of two thousand camels and five thousand sheep and goats confiscated. Amongst those that had ridden out with the Prophet (sa) were hypocrites. They were not ill-disposed to join him on account of the brevity of the march with the expectancy of reward for their minimal effort. However, they resented the fact that they would be obliged to share the spoils with the impoverished Muhajir who they considered to be intruders, and were of the opinion that all should belong the tribes of Aws and Khazraj.

Two days after the encounter, a dispute over the ownership of a bucket erupted between two coastal tribesmen, one from the Ghifar and the other from the Juhaynah. Omar had hired the services of the tribesman from the Ghifar who wrongfully laid claim to the bucket and struck its owner, but, he shouted out to the Muhajir for help whilst the Juhaynah tribesman called upon his long-time allies from the Khazraj to support him. Both the Ansars and Muhajir came running, swords were drawn and had it not been for the quick intervention of the Prophet's closer companions, the matter might have got out of hand. In another part of the camp, Abdullah, Ubay's son, was sitting with some of his close friends as the disturbance broke out and asked one of them to go and find out about it. His companion returned and told him that the trouble had been initiated by Omar's man and this added further to his contempt.

Abdullah, was a proud man and felt that the power of leadership should have fallen into his hands and resented the Prophet's presence among. Not long before, he had seen his Jewish allies, who betrayed the Prophet (sa) during the recent encounter at the Trench, punished and now this incident had occurred. He refused to take into account that the incident had been settled fairly and disregarded the established fact that the Prophet (sa) would never entertain injustice, no matter whether the complainers were Muslim or not.

After having listened to his companion he became enraged and urged, "Spend nothing on those who follow the Messenger of Allah (sa) until they have dispersed!" Then exclaimed, "If we return to the City, the strong will expel the more humiliated!" Zayd, Arkam's son, a Khazraj youth, heard Abdullah and went straight to the Prophet (sa) to report the matter. The Prophet's displeasure was clear upon his face whereupon Omar expressed his opinion that Abdullah should be dealt with as a traitor, but the Prophet (sa) spoke gently and replied, "Omar, what would happen if it is said that Muhammad kills his companions?" An Ansar heard the boy's report and went to Abdullah to ask if the report was correct. Abdullah was shaken to learn that his intent had been reported and went directly to the Prophet (sa) and denied the matter on oath. A small crowd had gathered around the Prophet (sa), amongst whom were some people of the Khazraj who stood up for Abdullah and made Zayd look appear as a liar which upset him greatly.

The situation was tense, so the Prophet (sa) in his wisdom temporarily dismissed the incident and unexpectedly gave orders to break camp. The timing was unusual as it was not his custom to march in the middle of the day when the heat was at its worst. Apart from a few short stops for prayer, the march continued until well past the mid-morning of the following day when the combination of both heat and tiredness compelled them to stop and they were too exhausted to continue their quarrel.

During the march, the Prophet (sa) told Sa’ad, Ubadah's son, that he believed Zayd had spoken the truth, whereupon Sa’ad said, "O Messenger of Allah (sa), if you wish you can drive him out, for indeed he is the lower and the weaker, and you are the higher and mightier!" However, the Prophet (sa) did not respond and let it pass until he received a new Revelation, which was the short chapter called "The Hypocrites". In it Allah exonerates Zayd and quotes the words of Abdullah, Ubayy's son.

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
“When the hypocrites come to you they say: ‘We bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah.’ Allah knows that you (Prophet Muhammad) are indeed His Messenger, and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are truly liars! They have taken their oaths as a cover and barred others from the Path of Allah. Evil is what they have done. That is because they believed, then disbelieved, because of this a seal has been set upon their hearts so they are unable to understand. When you see them their bodies please you, but when they speak and you listen to their sayings, they are like propped-up timber. Every shout (they hear) they take it to be against them. They are the enemy - be wary of them. Allah kills them! How perverse they are!

When it is said to them: ‘Come, the Messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you,’ they turn their heads in pride and you see them go away. It is equal for them whether you ask for their forgiveness or you do not ask for their forgiveness, Allah will not forgive them. Allah does not guide the evildoers. It is they that say: ‘Spend nothing on those who follow the Messenger of Allah until they disperse.’

Yet to Allah belong the treasuries of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand. They say: ‘If we return to the City, the strong will expel the humiliated.’ But the might belongs to Allah, and His Messenger and the believers, but the hypocrites do not know. Believers, do not let either your possessions or your children divert you from the Remembrance of Allah. Those who do that shall be the losers. So spend of that with which We have provided you before death comes upon any of you and he then says: ‘O my Lord, if only You would defer me to a near term, so that I could give in charity and be among the good-doers.’ But Allah will never defer any soul when its term comes. Allah is Aware of what you do.” (Koran Chapter 63)

However, the Prophet (sa) did not recite this new chapter until after his return to Medina. Meanwhile, Zayd continued to ride on in misery dwelling upon the hurt that anyone could even think that he would lie to the Messenger of Allah (sa).

The Prophet (sa) understood how very sad Zayd was feeling, so he rode up to him, and spoke in a gentle, comforting voice that no other could hear saying, "Your ear heard the truth; Allah has confirmed it." Zayd’s misery vanished, he was so very happy, but knew he must not say a word about it until after Prophet Muhammad (sa) had made known the truth. Abdullah's son knew that his father had lied, he also knew that Omar had asked the Prophet (sa) to deal with him as a traitor and was afraid of his tribes reaction should it be carried out.

With this in mind he went to the Prophet (sa) and told him that he knew of Omar's opinion and asked that if it was proven to be true, that he be permitted to be his father's executioner. He told the Prophet (sa) that if anyone else were to do it, that every time he saw that person he would want to kill him and thereby be responsible for killing a believer for the sake of an unbeliever and enter Hell.

But the Prophet (sa) told him that this was not his intention to harm him and said: "Let us deal with him gently and make the best of his company while he is with us." When they reached Medina, the Prophet (sa) called for the hypocrites so that he might ask for their forgiveness but they turned away in arrogance; and the Prophet (sa) recited the newly revealed chapter that exposed them.