The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 287
VII - Commencement of War with the Tribes of Najd and the Jews, the Marriage of Ḥaḍrat Fāṭimah and Ḥafṣah, and a Few Miscellaneous Incidents 287 and consoled the Jew. 1 However, despite this loving conduct of the Holy Prophet sa , the Jews continued to escalate in their mischief. Eventually, it was the Jews who created a cause for war and their heart-felt animosity could not be tamed. What happened to occur was that a Muslim lady went to the shop of a Jew in the market in order to purchase some goods. A few evil Jews, who were then sitting at the shop began to harass her in a most mischievous manner and even the shopkeeper himself committed the evil deed that while the lady was unaware, he attached the lower corner of her skirt to the mantle on her back with a thorn or something of that sort. As a result, when the lady stood up to leave upon due to their rude behaviour, the lower part of her body became exposed at which the Jewish shopkeeper and his accomplices burst out in laughter. Outraged, the Muslim lady screamed and appealed for help. It so happened that a Muslim was present nearby. He dashed to the scene and in a mutual altercation, the Jewish shopkeeper was killed. Upon this, the Muslim was showered with swords from all directions and this remarkably indignant Muslim was put to death. When the Muslims were informed of this event in national indignation, their eyes gorged with blood in rage. On the other hand, the Jews who desired to make this incident an excuse to fight, congregated in the form of a crowd and a state of riot broke out. 2 When the Holy Prophet sa was informed of this, he gathered the chieftains of the Banū Qainuqā‘ and explained that such behaviour was not appropriate and that they should refrain from such mischief and fear God. Instead of expressing disappointment and remorse, they responded with very refractory answers and repeated their earlier threat that, “Do not become arrogant over your victory at Badr. When you are to fight us you shall come to know the real likes of warriors. ” 3 Left with no other choice, the Holy Prophet sa set out towards the fortresses of the Banū Qainuqā‘ with a force of Companions. Now this was the last opportunity for them to express remorse over their actions, but instead, they stood ready for war. 4 Therefore, war was declared and the forces of Islām and Judaism came forth to battle one another. According to the custom of that era, a method of 1 Ṣaḥīḥu Muslim, Kitābul-Faḍā’il, Bābu Faḍā’ili Mūsā as , Ḥadīth No. 6151 2 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 514, Amru Banī Qainuqā‘, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) 3 Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 1, p. 409, Ghazwatu Banī Qainuqā‘, Mu’assasatu Sha‘bān, Beirut 4 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 2, pp. 350-351, Ghazwatu Banī Qainuqā‘, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)