Basic HTML Version
142
promised to stay in Ka‘b’s fort exposing himself to any potential danger in case Quraish and Ghatfan
recanted. The wicked man went on in this manner until he later managed to win Ka‘b to his side and
persuade him to break his covenant with the Muslims. Banu Quraiza then started to launch war
operations against the Muslims especially the secluded garrisons that housed the women and
children of the Muslims. On the authority of Ibn Ishaq, Safiyah (May Allah be pleased with her)
daughter of ‘Abdul Muttalib happened to be in a garrison with Hassan bin Thabit as well as some
women and children. Safiyah said: “A Jew was spotted lurking around our site, which was vulnerable
to any enemy attacks because there were no men to defend it. I informed Hassan that I was
suspicious of that man’s presence near us. He might take us by surprise now that the Messenger of
Allâh (Peace be upon him) and the Muslims are too busy to come to our aid, why don’t you get down
and kill him? Hassan answered that he would not do it, so I took a bar of wood, went down and
struck the Jew to death. I returned and asked Hassan to loot him but again Hassan refused to do
that. This event had a far reaching effect and discouraged the Jews from conducting further attacks
thinking that those sites were fortified and protected by Muslim fighters. They, however, went on
providing the idolaters with supplies in token of their support against the Muslims.
On hearing this bad news, the Messenger (Peace be upon him) despatched four Muslim prominent
leaders Sa‘d bin Mu‘adh, Sa‘d bin ‘Ubada, ‘Abdullah bin Rawaha and Khawat bin Jubair for
investigation but warning against any sort of spreading panic amongst the Muslims and advising
that they should declare in public that the rumours are groundless if they happen to be so.
Unfortunately the four men discovered that the news was true and that the Jews announced openly
that no pact of alliance existed any longer with Muhammad (Peace be upon him). The Messenger of
Allâh (Peace be upon him) was briefed on this situation, and the Muslims understood their critical
position with the horrible danger implied therein. Their back was vulnerable to the attacks of Banu
Quraiza, and a huge army with no way to connive at in front, while their women and children
unprotected standing in between. In this regard, Allâh says:
·
“And when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the throats, and you were
harbouring doubts about Allâh. There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty
shaking.”
[33:10, 11]
Now that the Muslims were shut in within the Trench on the defensive, the hypocrites taunted them
with having indulged in delusive hopes of defeating Kisra, emperor of Persia, and Caesar, emperor
of the Romans. They began to sow the seeds of defeatism, and pretended to withdraw for the
defence of their homes, though these were in no way exposed to danger. Here, Allâh says:
·
“And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (of doubts) said, ‘Allâh
and His Messenger (Peace be upon him) promised us nothing but delusions!’ And when a
party of them said: ‘O people of Yathrib (Al-Madinah), there is no stand (possible) for you
(against the enemy attack!) therefore go back!’ And a band of them asked for permission of
the Prophet (Peace be upon him) saying: ‘Truly, our homes lie open (to the enemy).’ And
they lay not open. They but wished to flee.” [33:12, 13]
The Messenger of Allâh, (Peace be upon him) wrapped himself in his robe and began to meditate on
the perfidy of Banu Quraiza. The spirit of hopefulness prevailed over him and he rose to his feet
saying:
·
“Allâh is Great. Hearken you Muslims, to Allâh’s good tidings of victory and support.”
He then started to lay decisive plans aiming at protecting the women and children, and sent some
fighters back to Madinah to guard them against any surprise assault by the enemy. The second step
was to take action that could lead to undermining the ranks of the disbelieving confederates. There,
he had in mind to conclude a sort of reconciliation with the chiefs of Ghatfan on the basis of
donating them a third of Madinah’s fruit crops. He sought the advice of his chief Companions,
namely, Sa‘d bin Mu‘adh and Sa‘d bin ‘Ubadah, whose reply went as follows:
“O Messenger of Allâh! If it is Allâh’s injunction, then we have to obey, but if it is a new course you
want to follow just to provide security for us then we don’t need it. We experienced those people in
polytheism and idolatry and we can safely say that they don’t need the fruit of our orchards, they
Click on View to read this book online under free books www.islamicbulletin.com