Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salool's Discourtesy Towards the Holy Prophet (sa)
Nonetheless, whilst the Holy Prophet (sa) was riding past, the dust from his mount fell on the gathering that was seated beside the road, Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salool covered his nose and said “Do not cast dust upon us!” The Holy Prophet (sa) offered greetings of Salam [peace] and stopped and dismounted. The Holy Prophet (sa) then invited them towards Allah and recited the Holy Quran. Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salool replied, “Is there nothing better than what you say? Even if this were true, do not come to our gathering and disrupt it. There is no need to say these things in our gathering, rather go back to where you came from and inform those who come to you.” Upon hearing this, Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Rawaha, who had accepted Islam and was a companion, stated, “Nay, O Prophet (sa) of Allah! You should come to our gatherings and recite this to us as we greatly enjoy this.”
Consequently, the Muslims, idolaters and Jews began to quarrel with one another and were almost about to attack one another, however the Holy Prophet (sa) continued to calm them down. Eventually, they stopped and the Holy Prophet (sa) mounted his animal and set off and reached Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked Hazrat Sa‘d bin Ubadah (ra), “O Sa‘d! Have you heard what Abu Habab said to me today?” The Holy Prophet (sa) was referring to Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salool. The Holy Prophet (sa) then related to him the entire incident. Hazrat Sa‘d bin Ubadah (ra) replied, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah! Forgive him and overlook [this act of his]. I swear by Him, Who has revealed the Holy Quran to you that God Almighty has now established the truth which He has bestowed upon you. The people of this town had previously decided to appoint him, i.e., Abdullah bin Ubayy, as their leader and to place the crown of leadership upon his head. However, when Allah the Almighty did not allow this to happen owing to the truth which God Almighty has revealed to you, he began to burn in his fire of jealousy. This is the reason why he uttered this.” i.e., he was about to be appointed as the leader, however, with the arrival of the Holy Prophet (sa), this was taken away from him. That is why he was jealous of the Holy Prophet (sa) and said the aforementioned. Upon hearing this, the Holy Prophet(sa) forgave him. When the idolaters and the People of Book would cause affliction to the Holy Prophet (sa) and his companions (ra), they would in turn forgive them as per the commandment of God Almighty:
لَتُبۡلَوُنَّ فِیۡۤ اَمۡوَالِکُمۡ وَ اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ ۟ وَ لَتَسۡمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡکِتٰبَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ وَ مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ اَشۡرَکُوۡۤا اَذًی کَثِیۡرًا ؕ وَ اِنۡ تَصۡبِرُوۡا وَ تَتَّقُوۡا فَاِنَّ ذٰلِکَ مِنۡ عَزۡمِ الۡاُمُوۡرِ
“You shall surely be tried in your possessions and in your persons and you shall surely hear many hurtful things from those who were given the Book before you and from those who set up equals to God. But if you show fortitude and act righteously, that indeed is a matter of strong determination.” (Surah al-e-Imran, Ch.3: V.187)
God Almighty then stated:
وَدَّ کَثِیۡرٌ مِّنۡ اَہۡلِ الۡکِتٰبِ لَوۡ یَرُدُّوۡنَکُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ اِیۡمَانِکُمۡ کُفَّارًا ۚۖ حَسَدًا مِّنۡ عِنۡدِ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَیَّنَ لَہُمُ الۡحَقُّ ۚ فَاعۡفُوۡا وَ اصۡفَحُوۡا حَتّٰی یَاۡتِیَ اللّٰہُ بِاَمۡرِہٖ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ قَدِیۡرٌ
“Many of the People of the Book wish out of sheer envy from their own selves that, after you have believed, they could turn you again into disbelievers. But forgive and turn away from them, till Allah brings about His decree. Surely, Allah has the power to do all that He wills.” [Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.110]
The Holy Prophet (sa) would always prefer to forgive, just as God Almighty had commanded him to do so. Eventually, God Almighty granted them permission to confront the disbelievers in the Battle of Badr and through this battle, God Almighty brought an end to the leaders of the Quraish. Consequently, Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salool and other idolaters said that this community [i.e., the Muslims] was now beginning to succeed. Upon witnessing the defeat of the disbelievers, they affirmed belief in the Holy Prophet(sa) and pledged allegiance to him, thereby becoming Muslims.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitabut Tafsir, Tafsir Aal-e-‘Imran, Hadith 4566)