Life of Muhammad — Page 95
sa 95 "Have you anyone else with you?" asked the Prophet sa. "Yes," said ‘ Ib a d ra , "A party of Companions. We will guard your tent. " "Leave my tent alone. The disbelievers are trying to cross the ditch. Go and fight them" ( H albiyya , Vol. 2). As we said before, the Jews tried to enter the town surreptitiously. A Jewish spy lost his life in the effort. When they found that their intrigue had become known, they began to help the Arab confederates more openly. A concerted attack in the rear, however, was not attempted, because the field on this side was narrow and with the posting of the Muslim guards a large-scale attack had become impossible. But a few days later, the Jews and pagan confederates decided to make a simultaneous and sudden attack upon the Muslims. THE CONFEDERATES DISPERSE This dangerous plan, however, was foiled by God in a miraculous manner. It happened in this way'. One Nu ‘ aim ra , who belonged to the tribe of Gha t af a n, became inclined towards Islam. He had come with the pagan armies but looked for an opportunity to help the Muslims. Alone, he could not do much. But when he saw that Jews had made common cause with the Arabs and Muslims seemed faced with certain death and destruction, Nu ‘ aim ra made up his mind to do what he could to save the Muslims. He went to the Ban u Qurai z a, and talked to their chiefs. If the Arab armies ran away, what did they expect Muslims would do? The Jews being in compact with the Muslims, should they not be ready for punishment due to those who prove false to a compact? The interrogation frightened the Jewish leaders. They asked him what they should do. Nu ‘ aim ra advised them to ask for seventy pagans as hostages. If the pagans were honest about a concerted attack they would not refuse the request. They should say that these seventy would guard their strategic