﷽
*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 137*
*THE BATTLE OF UHUD continues*
*THE BATTLE OF BANU AN-NADIR*
We stated previously that the Jews bore a bitter grudge and hatred against Islam and Muslims. Although they were not masters of wars and fight, they were so proficient at machinations and conspiracies. They would reveal their spite and animosity and choose all forms of tricks and plots to harm Muslims without confronting them militarily. In the wake of Uhud, they dared to show their enmity and betrayal and began to contact with hypocrites and the polytheists of Mecca secretly so as to plot against Muslims. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) showed a lot of self-control towards them till they had the effrontery to orchestrate a conspiracy that aimed at killing him. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) came out a long with a group of his Companions and went to Banu An-Nadir to ask them to help in paying the blood money of the two men killed by 'Amr Ibn Umayya Ad-Damry. As this was required of them according to the terms of agreement. They said: "We agree, Abul-Qāsim. Just sit here and we will satisfy your need." The Prophet, Abu Bakr and the Companions sat beside a wall of one of their houses awaiting their fulfillment. At this moment the Jews assembled and conspired to assassinate the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). They said to one another: "Who can take this quern and mount the roof of this house and throw it on his head?" 'Amr Ibn Jahhāsh said: "I can do so." Sallām Ibn Mishkam said to them: "Don't do that. He will be informed of your plot. You will violate the agreement we made with him." But they disregarded his advice.
Afterwards angel Gabriel was sent by Allāh to inform the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) of the conspiracy the Jews made. He hurried up and went back to Madīnah and his Companions overlook him later. When they reached Madīnah, they asked the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) why he suddenly hastened to Madīnah. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) told them about what the Jews conspired to do.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) immediately sent Muhammad Ibn Maslamah to Banu An-Nadir to say to them: "Go out of this city and don't live in it with me. You have a ten-day deadline. If I find any one after this period, I will behead him." The Jews had to go out of Madīnah. So they geared themselves up for departure. But the leader of hypocrites, 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy coaxed them into keeping their places and fighting against the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). He said to them that two thousand fighters would fight with them within their fortress and their allies of Quraizah and Ghatafān would back them. Almighty Allāh says:
Surah Al-Hashr, Verse 11:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا يَقُولُونَ لِإِخْوَانِهِمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَئِنْ أُخْرِجْتُمْ لَنَخْرُجَنَّ مَعَكُمْ وَلَا نُطِيعُ فِيكُمْ أَحَدًا أَبَدًا وَإِن قُوتِلْتُمْ لَنَنصُرَنَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ
Have you (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him]) not observed the hypocrites who say to their friends among the people of the Scripture who disbelieve: "(By Allah) If you are expelled, we (too) indeed will go out with you, and we shall never obey any one against you, and if you are attacked (in fight), we shall indeed help you." But Allah is Witness, that they verily, are liars.
The Jews regained their confidence and decided to resist. Moreover, their leader Huyay Ibn Akhtab inclined to the opinion of 'Abdullāh Ibn Salul and sent a message to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) in which he said: "We will never leave our dwellings. So do your worst.
Undoubtedly, the situation was embarrassing and dangerous for Muslims. Their conflicts with their adversaries in this critical period would cause bad results. At the same time some Arabs pounced upon them and attacked their expeditions. Add to this Jews of An-Nadir was too strong to surrender. So fighting them would be disastrous for Muslims. But the tragedy of the well of Ma'una and the other crimes of assassination and betrayal committed against them increased their anger at their perpetrators. Thus they decided to fight Banu An-Nadir whatever this might cost them.
When the reply of Huyay Ibn Akhtab reached the Prophet, he and his Companions glorified and praised Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala). Then they marched to combat Banu An-Nadir. He entrusted Ibn Umm Makhtoum to take charge of Madīnah and handed the flag to 'Ali Ibn Abu Tālib. When they reached their land, they imposed blockade on them. But they took refuge in their forts and began shooting arrows and hurl stones at Muslims. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) ordered that their palm trees and gardens should be cut and burnt as they helped them to fight Muslims. In this regard Hassān Ibn Thābit said: "I was easy for the notables of Banu Luhay to set fire to Al-Bowairah." Almighty Allāh says:
Surah Al-Hashr, Verse 5:
مَا قَطَعْتُم مِّن لِّينَةٍ أَوْ تَرَكْتُمُوهَا قَائِمَةً عَلَىٰ أُصُولِهَا فَبِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَلِيُخْزِيَ الْفَاسِقِينَ
What you (O Muslims) cut down of the palm-trees (of the enemy), or you left them standing on their stems, it was by Leave of Allah, and in order that He might disgrace the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).
Quraizah dissociated itself from Banu An-Nadir. 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy and Ghatafān betrayed them as well. So Allāh gave an example for their story and said:
Surah Al-Hashr, Verse 16:
كَمَثَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِذْ قَالَ لِلْإِنسَانِ اكْفُرْ فَلَمَّا كَفَرَ قَالَ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّنكَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ
(Their allies deceived them) like Shaitan (Satan), when he says to man: "Disbelieve in Allah." But when (man) disbelieves in Allah, Shaitan (Satan) says: "I am free of you, I fear Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!"
The blockade didn't last long. It lasted for six or fifty days. Thereupon Almighty Allāh struck terror and fright into their hearts and they surrendered and laid down their arms. They told the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) that they were willing to evacuate from Madīnah. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) agreed and allowed them to take their families and carry all possessions except for weapons. They left their fortress and ruined their dwellings to carry the windows and doors. Even some of them carried the stakes and posts. They loaded almost six hundred camels. Their well-to-do leaders emigrated to Khaibar. A group of them went to Ash-Shām. Only two men of them embraced Islam and restored their property: Yāmin Ibn 'Amr and Abu Sa'ad Ibn Wahb.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) got the weapons of Banu An-Nadir as spoils and captured their land and dwellings. Muslims found fifty armours, fifty helmets and three hundred and forty swords.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) was authorised to handle the spoils of An-Nadir as he wished. This was because Muslims did not spur on camels or horses in this expedition. He distributed them among the early Immigrants, Abu Dujānah and Sahl Ibn Hanīf of the supporters due to their poverty. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) supported his family of these spoils for a whole year. As for the arms, he allotted them to any wars in the cause of Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala).
The expedition of Banu An-Nadir was in Rabī'ul-Awwal, 4 A.H. (August, 625 A.D.). Concerning it, Almighty Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala) revealed Sūra Al-Hashr (Qur-ān, chapter 59) which describes the evacuation of the Jews of An-Nadir, exposes the plots of hypocrites, casts more light on the rules of spoils and lauds the Immigrants and Supporters. Almighty Allāh also make clear that it is allowed for Muslims to cut trees and burn objects in the enemy's ground for military purposes and that this is not an act of sabotage or destruction on earth. He ordered believers to commit themselves to piety and readiness for the Hereafter. Then He concluded the chapter with praising Himself and clarifying some of His Attributes and Names. Ibn 'Abbās was reported to have said: "Say, the chapter of An-Nadir." He meant the Sūra Al-Hashr (chapter 59).
Abu Dāwud, 'Abdur-Rāzaq and other Scholars narrated another cause for this expedition: "After the battle of Badr, Quraish wrote a message to the Jews: "You have castles and arms. You must fight Muhammad or else you will be obliged to do such and such. There will be nothing that could prevent us from capturing your women." When this message reached the Jews, Banu An-Nadir agreed to violate their agreement with the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). They sent him a message that read: "Go out in the company of thirty followers of yours. We will also come out along with thirty rabbis. Then we will meet one another at a half-way place. They will listen to what you will say. If they believe in you, we all will believe as well."' The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) accepted their invitation and set out with thirty Companions of his. Also thirty rabbis went out to meet him. When they reached a highland, they said to one another: "How can you reach him while thirty followers of his accompany him? They all must be killed before him." So they wrote a message to him and said: We couldn't understand one another if we were thirty people. So let only three of your Companions go out with you. We will also allow three rabbis of us meet you to listen to your words. In case they believed in you, we all will believe too." The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) agreed to come out along with three Companions of his. And three Jews got out hiding daggers with them to kill the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). A wise woman of Banu An-Nadir sent for her brother who was a Muslim of the supporters and told him about the conspiracy of Banu An-Nadir. So he hastened to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and confided to him their plot before he went to them. Next day, in the morning the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) mobilised his army and marched to their land. He besieged them and said: "You will not be safe unless you make a peace treaty with me." They refused to make any agreement. So the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) resorted to their fight. Then the army marched towards Banu Quraizah in the next morning. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) called upon them to make a peace treaty with him. They agreed to make an agreement and after that the army left for Banu An-Nadir. Muslims fought them and when they found no way out of their siege, they agreed to evacuate and carry all their belongings except for weapons. They emigrated to Ash-Shām.
*{To be continued In-sha-Allāh (If Allāh Wills)...}*
*"And keep reminding, because reminding benefits the believers."* (Qur-ān 51:55)
*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 137*
*THE BATTLE OF UHUD continues*
*THE BATTLE OF BANU AN-NADIR*
We stated previously that the Jews bore a bitter grudge and hatred against Islam and Muslims. Although they were not masters of wars and fight, they were so proficient at machinations and conspiracies. They would reveal their spite and animosity and choose all forms of tricks and plots to harm Muslims without confronting them militarily. In the wake of Uhud, they dared to show their enmity and betrayal and began to contact with hypocrites and the polytheists of Mecca secretly so as to plot against Muslims. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) showed a lot of self-control towards them till they had the effrontery to orchestrate a conspiracy that aimed at killing him. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) came out a long with a group of his Companions and went to Banu An-Nadir to ask them to help in paying the blood money of the two men killed by 'Amr Ibn Umayya Ad-Damry. As this was required of them according to the terms of agreement. They said: "We agree, Abul-Qāsim. Just sit here and we will satisfy your need." The Prophet, Abu Bakr and the Companions sat beside a wall of one of their houses awaiting their fulfillment. At this moment the Jews assembled and conspired to assassinate the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). They said to one another: "Who can take this quern and mount the roof of this house and throw it on his head?" 'Amr Ibn Jahhāsh said: "I can do so." Sallām Ibn Mishkam said to them: "Don't do that. He will be informed of your plot. You will violate the agreement we made with him." But they disregarded his advice.
Afterwards angel Gabriel was sent by Allāh to inform the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) of the conspiracy the Jews made. He hurried up and went back to Madīnah and his Companions overlook him later. When they reached Madīnah, they asked the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) why he suddenly hastened to Madīnah. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) told them about what the Jews conspired to do.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) immediately sent Muhammad Ibn Maslamah to Banu An-Nadir to say to them: "Go out of this city and don't live in it with me. You have a ten-day deadline. If I find any one after this period, I will behead him." The Jews had to go out of Madīnah. So they geared themselves up for departure. But the leader of hypocrites, 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy coaxed them into keeping their places and fighting against the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). He said to them that two thousand fighters would fight with them within their fortress and their allies of Quraizah and Ghatafān would back them. Almighty Allāh says:
Surah Al-Hashr, Verse 11:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا يَقُولُونَ لِإِخْوَانِهِمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَئِنْ أُخْرِجْتُمْ لَنَخْرُجَنَّ مَعَكُمْ وَلَا نُطِيعُ فِيكُمْ أَحَدًا أَبَدًا وَإِن قُوتِلْتُمْ لَنَنصُرَنَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ
Have you (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace be upon him]) not observed the hypocrites who say to their friends among the people of the Scripture who disbelieve: "(By Allah) If you are expelled, we (too) indeed will go out with you, and we shall never obey any one against you, and if you are attacked (in fight), we shall indeed help you." But Allah is Witness, that they verily, are liars.
The Jews regained their confidence and decided to resist. Moreover, their leader Huyay Ibn Akhtab inclined to the opinion of 'Abdullāh Ibn Salul and sent a message to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) in which he said: "We will never leave our dwellings. So do your worst.
Undoubtedly, the situation was embarrassing and dangerous for Muslims. Their conflicts with their adversaries in this critical period would cause bad results. At the same time some Arabs pounced upon them and attacked their expeditions. Add to this Jews of An-Nadir was too strong to surrender. So fighting them would be disastrous for Muslims. But the tragedy of the well of Ma'una and the other crimes of assassination and betrayal committed against them increased their anger at their perpetrators. Thus they decided to fight Banu An-Nadir whatever this might cost them.
When the reply of Huyay Ibn Akhtab reached the Prophet, he and his Companions glorified and praised Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala). Then they marched to combat Banu An-Nadir. He entrusted Ibn Umm Makhtoum to take charge of Madīnah and handed the flag to 'Ali Ibn Abu Tālib. When they reached their land, they imposed blockade on them. But they took refuge in their forts and began shooting arrows and hurl stones at Muslims. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) ordered that their palm trees and gardens should be cut and burnt as they helped them to fight Muslims. In this regard Hassān Ibn Thābit said: "I was easy for the notables of Banu Luhay to set fire to Al-Bowairah." Almighty Allāh says:
Surah Al-Hashr, Verse 5:
مَا قَطَعْتُم مِّن لِّينَةٍ أَوْ تَرَكْتُمُوهَا قَائِمَةً عَلَىٰ أُصُولِهَا فَبِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَلِيُخْزِيَ الْفَاسِقِينَ
What you (O Muslims) cut down of the palm-trees (of the enemy), or you left them standing on their stems, it was by Leave of Allah, and in order that He might disgrace the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).
Quraizah dissociated itself from Banu An-Nadir. 'Abdullāh Ibn Ubayy and Ghatafān betrayed them as well. So Allāh gave an example for their story and said:
Surah Al-Hashr, Verse 16:
كَمَثَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِذْ قَالَ لِلْإِنسَانِ اكْفُرْ فَلَمَّا كَفَرَ قَالَ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّنكَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ
(Their allies deceived them) like Shaitan (Satan), when he says to man: "Disbelieve in Allah." But when (man) disbelieves in Allah, Shaitan (Satan) says: "I am free of you, I fear Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!"
The blockade didn't last long. It lasted for six or fifty days. Thereupon Almighty Allāh struck terror and fright into their hearts and they surrendered and laid down their arms. They told the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) that they were willing to evacuate from Madīnah. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) agreed and allowed them to take their families and carry all possessions except for weapons. They left their fortress and ruined their dwellings to carry the windows and doors. Even some of them carried the stakes and posts. They loaded almost six hundred camels. Their well-to-do leaders emigrated to Khaibar. A group of them went to Ash-Shām. Only two men of them embraced Islam and restored their property: Yāmin Ibn 'Amr and Abu Sa'ad Ibn Wahb.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) got the weapons of Banu An-Nadir as spoils and captured their land and dwellings. Muslims found fifty armours, fifty helmets and three hundred and forty swords.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) was authorised to handle the spoils of An-Nadir as he wished. This was because Muslims did not spur on camels or horses in this expedition. He distributed them among the early Immigrants, Abu Dujānah and Sahl Ibn Hanīf of the supporters due to their poverty. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) supported his family of these spoils for a whole year. As for the arms, he allotted them to any wars in the cause of Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala).
The expedition of Banu An-Nadir was in Rabī'ul-Awwal, 4 A.H. (August, 625 A.D.). Concerning it, Almighty Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala) revealed Sūra Al-Hashr (Qur-ān, chapter 59) which describes the evacuation of the Jews of An-Nadir, exposes the plots of hypocrites, casts more light on the rules of spoils and lauds the Immigrants and Supporters. Almighty Allāh also make clear that it is allowed for Muslims to cut trees and burn objects in the enemy's ground for military purposes and that this is not an act of sabotage or destruction on earth. He ordered believers to commit themselves to piety and readiness for the Hereafter. Then He concluded the chapter with praising Himself and clarifying some of His Attributes and Names. Ibn 'Abbās was reported to have said: "Say, the chapter of An-Nadir." He meant the Sūra Al-Hashr (chapter 59).
Abu Dāwud, 'Abdur-Rāzaq and other Scholars narrated another cause for this expedition: "After the battle of Badr, Quraish wrote a message to the Jews: "You have castles and arms. You must fight Muhammad or else you will be obliged to do such and such. There will be nothing that could prevent us from capturing your women." When this message reached the Jews, Banu An-Nadir agreed to violate their agreement with the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). They sent him a message that read: "Go out in the company of thirty followers of yours. We will also come out along with thirty rabbis. Then we will meet one another at a half-way place. They will listen to what you will say. If they believe in you, we all will believe as well."' The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) accepted their invitation and set out with thirty Companions of his. Also thirty rabbis went out to meet him. When they reached a highland, they said to one another: "How can you reach him while thirty followers of his accompany him? They all must be killed before him." So they wrote a message to him and said: We couldn't understand one another if we were thirty people. So let only three of your Companions go out with you. We will also allow three rabbis of us meet you to listen to your words. In case they believed in you, we all will believe too." The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) agreed to come out along with three Companions of his. And three Jews got out hiding daggers with them to kill the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him). A wise woman of Banu An-Nadir sent for her brother who was a Muslim of the supporters and told him about the conspiracy of Banu An-Nadir. So he hastened to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and confided to him their plot before he went to them. Next day, in the morning the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) mobilised his army and marched to their land. He besieged them and said: "You will not be safe unless you make a peace treaty with me." They refused to make any agreement. So the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) resorted to their fight. Then the army marched towards Banu Quraizah in the next morning. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) called upon them to make a peace treaty with him. They agreed to make an agreement and after that the army left for Banu An-Nadir. Muslims fought them and when they found no way out of their siege, they agreed to evacuate and carry all their belongings except for weapons. They emigrated to Ash-Shām.
*{To be continued In-sha-Allāh (If Allāh Wills)...}*
*"And keep reminding, because reminding benefits the believers."* (Qur-ān 51:55)
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