The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 381
IX - Repeated Treachery of the Jews, Compilation and Sequence of the Holy Qur ’ā n, Marriage of Ḥaḍrat Zainab ra , the Great Calumny and Mischief of the Hypocrites 381 treachery again. The Jews, however, plainly refused to settle another treaty, and in this manner, war commenced. The Banū Naḍīr very arrogantly took to their fortresses. On the following day, the Holy Prophet sa received news, or perhaps gathered from circumstances that the other tribe of the Jews, known as the Banū Quraiẓah was also displaying signs of rebellion. The Holy Prophet sa took along a detachment and marched towards the fortresses of the Banū Quraiẓah and besieged them as well. When the Banū Quraiẓah saw that their secret had been leaked, they became fearful and seeking forgiveness, settled a new treaty of peace and security, and a mutual alliance with the Holy Prophet sa. Upon this, the Holy Prophet sa lifted the siege and returned to the fortresses of the Banū Naḍīr. However, the Banū Naḍīr persisted in their obstinacy and hostility, and a proper state of war commenced. 1 These are the two varying narrations which have been related with respect to the cause of the Ghazwah of Banū Naḍīr. From a historical perspective, the latter narration is more correct and authentic, and other narrations also support this in principle. However, the first narration has been more widely accepted by historians and various authentic Aḥādīth have also alluded to its authenticity. As such, although Imām Bukhārī has given precedence to the narration of Zuhrī, he has still mentioned the blood- money of the two people who were killed from the ‘Āmir tribe. 2 Therefore, in our opinion, if both narrations are deemed to be correct and taken together, there is no harm in this. Albeit, as far as the era of this Ghazwah is concerned, one narration must be given preference from among the two, because in this respect, both narrations cannot be correct. It appears as if on various occasions, different causes for war were created by the Banū Naḍīr, and the Holy Prophet sa continued to grant them respite and dealt with them in a forgiving manner. However, when the final cause arose after the incident of Bi’r-e-Ma‘ūnah, the Holy Prophet sa reminded them of all their previous designs and finally took military action against them. In other words, all the causes which have been mentioned are correct in their own right, but the final motivating factor was the one that took place when the blood-money was demanded for the two men killed from the Banū ‘Āmir. 3 ِ وَاللّٰه ُ اَعْلَم ُ بِالصَّوَاب It should also be remembered that Ka‘b bin Ashraf, whose execution has been alluded to above and who had ignited a fire of hostility against the 1 Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābul-Jihād, Bābun Fī Khabarin-Naḍīr, Ḥadīth No. 3004 2 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābun Ḥadīthu Banin-Naḍīr 3 And Allāh knows the truth best [Publishers]