Life of Muhammad — Page 100
sa 100 did not reprove him for letting go this Jewish leader. Rather, he approved of what had been done. The disposition to make peace and to accept the award of the Prophet sa had been expressed only by individual Jews. As a people, they remained adamant and refused to accept the award of the Prophet sa and asked, instead, for the award of Sa‘d ra bin Mu ‘ a dh ( Bukh a r i , T aba r i and Khamis ). The Prophet sa accepted their demand and sent word to Sa ‘ d ra , who was lying wounded, to come and give his award on the Jewish breach of faith. As soon as the Prophet's sa decision was announced, the Ausites who had been allies of the Ban u Qurai z a for a long time ran to Sa‘d ra and began to press him to give his award in favour of the Ban u Qurai z a. The Khazraj, they said, had always tried to save Jews allied to them. It was up to Sa‘d ra to save the Jews allied to his tribe. Sa‘d ra went mounted to the Ban u Qurai z a. Men of his tribe ran with him on both sides, pressing him not to punish the Ban u Qurai z a. All that Sa‘d ra said in reply was that the person who had to make an award held a trust. He had to discharge the trust with integrity. "I will therefore give my award, taking everything into consideration, and without fear or favour," he said. When Sa ‘d ra reached the Jewish fortress, he saw the Ban u Qurai z a lined up against the wall of the fort, waiting for him. On the other side were Muslims. When Sa‘d ra got near them he asked, "Will you accept my award?" They said, "Yes. " SA ‘ D'S ra AWARD IN HARMONY WITH THE BIBLE Turning to the Ban u Qurai z a he asked the same question,and they also agreed. Then shyly he pointed to the side where the Prophet sa was sitting and asked if the people on that side also agreed to abide by his award. On hearing this, the Prophet sa replied, "Yes" ( T aba r i and Hish a m ). Then Sa‘d ra gave his award in accordance with the following commandment of the Bible. Says the Bible: