The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 382
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 382 Muslims was also from the Banū Naḍīr. In any case, the Jewish tribe of the Banū Naḍīr violated their treaty and acted treacherously, and conspired to assassinate the Holy Prophet sa. When they were told that under these circumstances it was no longer appropriate for them to remain in Madīnah and that they should leave, they behaved arrogantly and rebelliously. Furthermore, they refused to settle a new treaty and became prepared for war. For this reason, the Holy Prophet sa had no other choice but to step into the field of battle. As such, in his own absence, the Holy Prophet sa appointed Ibni Maktūm ra as the Imāmuṣ-Ṣalāt for the settlement of Madīnah. With a group of Companions, the Holy Prophet sa set out from Madīnah himself and besieged the village of the Banū Naḍīr. According to the custom of warfare at the time, the Banū Naḍīr took to their fortresses. It was perhaps on this occasion that ‘Abdullāh bin Ubayy bin Sulūl and the other hypocrites of Madīnah sent word to the chieftains of the Banū Naḍīr saying, “Do not fear the Muslims at all, for we shall support you and shall fight on your behalf. ” However, to the surprise of the Banū Naḍīr, when war practically commenced, these hypocrites could not muster the courage to openly enter the field of battle in opposition to the Holy Prophet sa ; 1 nor could the Banū Quraiẓah dare to step into the battlefield against the Muslims and openly aid the Banū Naḍīr either, although they were with them at heart, and would aid them in secret as well; and the Muslims had even become aware of this. 2 In any case, the Banū Naḍīr did not openly take to the field in opposition to the Muslims and retired to their fortresses instead. However, according to the circumstances of that era, their fortresses were very strong and for this reason, they were confident that the Muslims would be able to do them no harm whatsoever, and would themselves become frustrated and lift the siege. There is no doubt that according to the circumstances of that era, to conquer such fortresses was a very difficult and strenuous task, and demanded a very long siege. As such, the Muslims continued the siege for many days, but there was no outcome. After a few days had passed, and no outcome came about; and the Banū Naḍīr remained bent upon conflict as usual, the Holy Prophet sa issued the order that some of the date trees belonging to the Banū Naḍīr, which were situated 1 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 606, Amru Ijlā’i Banin- Naḍīr. . . . . , Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) 2 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābun Ḥadīthu Banin-Naḍīr, Ḥadīth No. 4028 Ṣaḥīḥu Muslim, Kitābul-Jihād, Bābu Ijlā’il-Yahūdi Minal-Ḥijāz, Ḥadīth No. 4592