Glimpses of the Prophet's Life

The Jews

The Prophet had concluded peace with several Jewish tribes residing in Medina! Of Banu Qaynuqa' violated their side of these the treaty by committing hostile acts against the Muslims openly. Not long after the battle of Badr an event took place which taxed the patience of the Muslims. A Muslim woman was insulted by some men of Banu Qaynuqa'.

A Muslim man passing by the scene had to interfere. In the fight that ensued he killed the offender, the Muslim man too was killed. This worsened the relation between the Mus- ms and Banu Qaynuqa'. The Prophet request- ed Banu Qaynuqa' to respect the agreement and refrain from harming the Muslims. But the Jews would not listen. They grew arrogant and said:

"O, Muhammad! Let not the victory over a people who did not know the science of war deceive you. By God, if you fight us, you shall know that we are men." Muhammad (p.b.u.h.a.h.p.) was left with no alternative; he laid siege to the quarters of Banu Qaynuqa'.

After fifteen days the Jews surrendered. With the intercession of 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy and few others the Prophet let the Jews emigrate leaving their arms behind. They left Medina for Wadi-l-Qura, north Arabia, Syria, and other places.

Banu an-Nadir was the other Jewish clan which lived in Medina. They too were bitter enemies of the Muslims. In the fourth year of Muslim Era they plotted to kill the Prophet. Upon this treason they were asked to leave the city. They refused to do so.

They were how- ever defeated in a skirmish that took place and promptly deported. While some repaired to Syria others established a state of their own at Khaybar. After a while, the Jews of Khaybar established diplomatic ties with the Meccans against Muhammad (p.b.u.h.a.h.p.).

At the same time they concluded agreement with all the tribes of Arabia against the Muslims. Thus in a few days they succeeded in rallying some 10,000 men under the banner of the Quraysh and leadership of Abu Sufyan to invade Medina. The Jewish intrigues continued until Khaybar was conquered by the Muslims and the Jews routed completely in the seventh year of the Hijrah. The siege of Medina lasted for two weeks and ended in a complete fiasco.

The enemy tried in vain to overcome the trenches * and barricades surrounding the city - The trenches that were dug by the Muslims constituted a new technique not known to the Arabs before.

And the enemy was taken by surprise. Then a severe wind blew which was followed by a dust storm pulling down the enemy's tents.

This confused and demor- alised the tribes who began to argue among themselves and ultimately left Medina. In the sixth year of Hijrah a ten-year truce was concluded with the Quraysh, at Hudaybiyah. Then the Meccans violated the * "On the advice of Salman al-Farsi, the Prophet ordered trenches to be dug round Medina and filled with fire".

treaty by attacking the Khuza'ah tribe which was an ally of the Muslims. The Prophet decided to march on Mecca. In the eighth year of Hijrah Mecca was conquered peacefully. The Prophet asked the Meccans: "What do you think I will do to you?" They answered:

"you are a generous brother and the son of a generous brother': (12) Muhammad (p.b.u.h. a.h.p.) pardoned his bitterest enemies, those who for years had tormented, tortured and killed Muslims, finally turning them out their own hearth and homes, then rot allowing them to rest even in Medina. Despite all these he granted them all, except a few hardened criminals, general amnesty. He was indeed in words and deeds "a mercy to mankind".

Old tribal and personal enmities were re- placed by an unprecedented peace, tranquility, feeling of unity and fraternity. The old warring Arabs who knew no nationhood in all their history become united for the first time by the bond of "Islamic brotherhood".

This had not been easy to achieve. It took twenty-three years of ceaseless striving and sacrifices to see the success of the Proph- et's mission (p.b.u.h.a.h.p.)

THE END