`Abdullah ibn Ubay who was the chief of hypocrites in Medina and his friends did not spare any attempt to persecute the Holy Prophet and Muslims. They were spying in favor of the enemies of Islam and insisted on hypocrisies so much so that Qur’anic verses were revealed on their being deprived of Allah’s mercy and their punishment on the Judgment Day. Nevertheless, they did not stop their hypocrisy nor did they repent. When the Holy Prophet returned from Tabuk, `Abdullah ibn Ubay fell sick and lay in the course of death. Based on the Qur’anic verse “He brings forth the living from the dead (7:95)” His son, a true and pure-hearted youth, was favored by the Holy Prophet and Muslims. Based on the Qur’anic verse, “And you shall do good to your parents (2:83)” he would visit his father everyday as a religious duty. This good son of Ubay asked the Holy Prophet to visit his father to save the dignity of the family. Hence, the Holy Prophet too visited his father to preserve the dignity of a man who was a true believer. Out of sympathy, the Holy Prophet said to `Abdullah ibn Ubay, “I forbade you to make friends with the Jews but you did not accept it. Now is it not time to do away with the love of the enemies of Allah and depart for the hereafter?” In response, `Abdullah said, “As`ad ibn Zurarah was the enemy of Jews but this enmity was of no avail when he was on the verge of death. This is not the time to reproach me. I am on the verge of death. I would like you to perform prayer for my dead body and give me your shirt so that I will be buried with it.” The Holy Prophet gave his outer shirt to him generously. But `Abdullah said, “I want the shirt which has touched your holy body.” The Holy Prophet complied with his request and gave his under shirt to him.
After `Abdullah’s death, the Holy Prophet condoled his son, attended the funeral service, prayed for him and in response to people’s protest said, “My shirt, prayer and pardon will not be of avail for him.”
Following this manly and generous act, a thousand persons of the Khazraj embraced Islam.”
(Nasikh al-Tawarikh: 234/3)