Expedition against Banu Nadir

Other matters demanded the Prophet’s attention. Amr bin Umayya’s killing of the two men from Banu Kilab had to be redressed. If no blood money was forthcoming, the Muslims would be deemed guilty of violating a pact, and more bloodshed could be expected. Consequently, the Prophet went to Banu Nadir along with a few of his Companions to ask them to contribute towards the blood money.

They said to him, “Abdul Qasim, we shall do accordingly. Take your seat here. We will fulfil your need.” The Prophet waited while the Jews consulted privately with one another. Unfortunately, Shaytaan prevailed over their honour, and they decided to murder the Prophet . They said to each other, “Who will carry this millstone and drop it on him?” Up rose Amr Jahsh to carry out the deed. In the meantime, as the prophet sat waiting for his hosts to come back with their decision, Jibreel descended and revealed the plot to him. The Prophet hurried away and set out for the road to Madinah, where he was joined by his Companions.

Treachery by allies who are bound by a treaty is never a light matter. By plotting against the Prophet , Banu Nadir had demonstrated that they could not coexist with the Muslims. Naturally, the Prophet wished to end the alliance and, based on the action of the Jews, assumed that they were at war with one another. He therefore sent Muhammad bin Muslimah to issue an ultimatum to the Jews – since they had forfeited their right to live with the Muslims, they were to leave Madinah within ten days.

 Any Jew found after the lapse of the deadline would be put to death. After receiving this notice, the Jews began preparing to leave. At that point, Abdullah bin Ubayy, the head of the Hypocrites, sent them a message urging them to stay on, for he had two thousand warriors ready to enter their fortress and defend them. The Hypocrites had once more struck to undermine the Prophet’s position. Surah Al-Hashr refers to the tenuous alliance and how it was patched together with lies: “Did you not observe the Hypocrites tell their faithless friends from among the people of the book, “If you are driven out, we will accompany you. We will never obey your enemies, and if you are attacked, we will defend you.” But Allah is witness that they are liars.” (59: 11).

The Jews felt emboldened at such shows of support from their purported friends. They sent a message to the Prophet that they were not about to leave Madinah regardless of the consequences.

The Prophet responded, “Allahu Akbar!” and his Companions echoed the cry. It was a call to arms. Entrusting the safety of Madinah to Ibn Umm Maktoom and the Muslim standard to Ali, the Prophet and his troops advanced towards the territory of Banu Nadir and laid siege to them. The Jews took refuge in their fortresses and castles and showered arrows and stones at the Muslim army. Since their date graves and gardens stood as a buffer zone, the Prophet ordered his men to cut down the trees and set the gardens ablaze. This act sank the spirits of Banu Nadir. After six days of holding out – some say a fortnight- they agreed to lay down arms on condition that they would be allowed to go safely into exile. Their friends among the Banu Quraydha had failed to support them, as had the head of the Hypocrites and his allies.

“Their allies deceived them the way Satan does when he says to a man, “Disbelieve in Allah.” When the man listens to him and commits disbelief, Satan suddenly says, “I am not responsible for your decision. I fear Allah, the Lord of the Universe!” (59: 16).

The Prophet allowed the Jews to take all their belongings except their arms. They carried with them whatever they could – even the doors, windows and beams of their houses.

The Qur’an refers to this event in the following verse: “Allah drove out the faithless tribe of Jews from their homes at the first gathering. You did not think that they would leave, and they thought their fortress would protect from Allah! But Allah approached them in a way they did not expect by their own hands as well as by the believers. Reflect on this event, those of you who have eyes.” (59: 2).

Thus the Jews left Madinah, most of them settling in Khaybar wile a small group migrated to Syria. The land confiscated from the Jews was divided among the first Makkan emigrants, while Abu Dujana and Sahl bin Haneef, two members of the Ansar, were given plots because of their financial situation.

The Prophet used part of the revenue from the land to maintain his wives for the whole year. The rest he spent on defence and for providing horses and arms for the Muslim warriors. Fifty coats of mail, fifty helmets and three hundred swords that had been seized were also distributed among the Muslim troops.