The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 73
II - Brief Note on Islāmic Equality 73 circumstances became the cause of the Battle of Khaibar, which occurred in the beginning of 7 A. H. , due to which the entire region of Khaibar joined the Islāmic government. Now, the occurrence which we are about to mention is also attached to this chain of events. In Sha‘bān 6 A. H. , the Holy Prophet sa received intelligence that secret talks were mutually under way between the Banū Sa‘d bin Bakr tribe and the Jews of Khaibar and that the Banū Sa‘d were mustering their forces with the assistance of the people of Khaibar. 1 Upon receiving this news, the Holy Prophet sa dispatched an army of companions under the command of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ali ra , who hiding at day and travelling by night, reached near Fadak, close to where these people were gathering. The Muslims found a Bedouin man who was a spy of the Banū Sa‘d. Ḥaḍrat ‘Ali ra imprisoned him and inquired of him as to the situation of the Banū Sa‘d and the people of Khaibar. At first he expressed a complete lack of knowledge and of having no relations whatsoever. However eventually, he told everything after attaining a promise of forgiveness. Then, the Muslim people made him their guide and moved towards the place where the Banū Sa‘d were gathering, whereafter they launched a sudden attack. Due to this sudden attack, the Banū Sa‘d were confounded and fled from the field of Battle. Ḥaḍrat ‘Ali ra took the wealth of spoils and returned to Madīnah and in this manner, this threat was temporarily deferred. 2 Sariyyah Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra Towards Banū Fazārah Following this, the Holy Prophet sa dispatched an army of companions towards the Banū Fazārah under the command of Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra. At that time, this tribe was at war with the Muslims. Salmah bin Akwa‘ ra , a famous archer and trained runner was also a part of this army. Salmah bin Akwa‘ ra narrates that they reached close to the settlement of this tribe around the time of the morning Ṣalāt. When they had completed the Ṣalāt , Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra issued forth the command to attack. In fighting with the Fazārah tribe, they reached near their water well. Many of the idolatrous people were killed, after which 1 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 294, Sariyyatu ‘Abdir-Raḥmān-ibni ‘Aufin Ilā Dūmatil-Jandal, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 2 * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 294, Sariyyatu ‘Abdir-Raḥmān-ibni ‘Aufin Ilā Dūmatil-Jandal, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, pp. 136-137, Sariyyatu Dūmatil-Jandal , Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)