Banu Quraydha’s treachery

After the Battle of Uhud, the Jewish tribe of Banu Quraydha had entered into a pact with the Prophet . But in the midst of the Battle of the Trench, Huyay bin Akhtab, the chieftain of Banu Nadir, met Ka’b bin Asad, the chieftain of Banu Quraydha, and got him to renege on the agreement. After some initial hesitation, Ka’b broke the covenant and sided with the Quraysh and the pagans.

The stronghold of Banu Quraydha lay to the south of Madinah, which was where the Muslims had their fortifications and where they had left their women and children, while the men were massed along the north. With the breach of faith by Banu Quraydha, the Muslim women and children were imperilled. The Prophet rushed Muslima bin Aslam at the head of 200 men and Zayd bin Haritha with another 300 men to protect the Muslim women and children. Moreover, Sa’d bin Mu’adh and Sa’d bin Ubada were sent behind them to investigate the matter.

The Prophet’s envoys found the Jews openly antagonistic. Banu Quraydha disparaged the Prophet saying, “Who is the Prophet of God? We have not entered any pact with Muhammad.” The two emissaries reported the situation to the Prophet in just three words, “Adal and Qara,” indicating that the treachery of the Adal and Qara tribes at Raj’i was being repeated by Banu Quraydah.

The Muslims were distressed about their new found vulnerability. On this occasion, too, the Hypocrites bared their fangs. Some of them bemoaned, “Muhammad gave us his word that we would possess the treasure of Caesar and Chosroes, and here we are in such a plight that we feel unsafe even to answer the call of nature.” Others among them fumed, “The promise made to us by Allah and His Messenger was nothing but delusion.” Some jeered at the Muslims, “O men of Yathrib, you cannot stand the onslaught. Go back!”

Another group of Hypocrites, after deciding to flee the spot, came to the Prophet seeking permission to go back, pleading that their houses were unprotected. When the news of Banu Quraydah’s treachery reached the Prophet he covered his face and head with a piece of cloth and lay flat on his back for a while, quietly introspective. When he arose, however, it was to give the Muslims good tidings.

Although he had taken the step of sending the two companies under Zayd and Muslima to protect the women and children, the Prophet contemplated sending a message to Uyaina bin Hisn to renew their old agreement. He was willing to cede one-third of the fruits of Madinah if Uyaina would retreat with Banu Ghatfan. Sa’d bin Mu’adh and Sa’d bin Ubadah, the two chieftains of the Ansar, voiced their opposition to any negotiations with their ally turned enemy, saying, “When both they and we were polytheists, they dared not expect even a grain. Today, when Allah has given us Islam and conferred honour upon us through you, are we expected to give them our goods” By Allah, we shall offer them our swords alone.” The Prophet found their argument reasonable and dropped the idea of sending the offer.