Muhammad and The Jews — Page 72
I I. Apostle that a prophet would appear among the Arabs. In spite of that knowledge their rabbis told the polytheist Quraysh that their religion was better than that of the Apostle who like them believed in one God. Jbn Isl)iiq has given the following account of the whole affair : The Apostle besieged the B. Quray+ah for twenty-five nights until they were sore pressed and felt sure that ·the Apostle would not leave them until he had made an end of them. At this stage Ka"b b. Asadl offered them three alternatives : 1) Accept Muhammad as a true prophet and save yourselves, or 2) Kill your wives and children and fight with Muhammad till God decides between you and him, or finally 3) Tonight is the eve of the Sabbath; take Muhammad and his companions by surprise. The Jews did not accept any one of these proposals and requested the Apostle to send Abu Lubiibah for consultations. Abu Lubiibah told them lo surrender, but at the same time pointed with his hand to his throat signifying slaughter. In the morning they submitted to the Apostle's judgment. The Aws said, 'O Apostle, they are our allies, not allies of Khazraj, and you know how you recently treated the allies of our brethren'. The Apostle asked, 'Will you be satisfied if one of your own number pronounces judgment on them?' When they agreed the Apostle appointed Sa"d b. Mu"adh. 2 The Aws now requested Sa"d to treat his friends (the B. Quray:r. ah) kindly, to which Sa"d replied, 'The time has come for Sa"d in the cause of God , not to care for any man's censure'. Hearing this s ome of the Aws went back to the quarter of B. "Abd al-Ashhal and announced the death ofB. Quray+ah before Sa"d reached there, because of what they had heard him say. Sa"d asked the Aws and the Apostle if they would accept his judgment. They agreed. Then Sa"d gave his judgment: The men should be killed, the property divided and the women and children taken as captives. Then the B. Quray;". ah surrendered. The Apostle confined them in Medina in the quarters of a woman. Trenches were dug in the market of Medina. They were brought out to him in batches and their heads were struck off in those trenches. As the B. Quray+ah were taken out in the batches they asked Ka"b what he thought would be done to them. He replied, 'It is death'. This went on until the Apostle made an end of them. There were 600 or 700 in all, though some put the figure as high as 800 or 900. "A "ishah who was one of the spectators said only one woman was killed. She was sitting with "A 0 ishah when an unseen voice called her name and she was taken away and beheaded. "A 0 ishah used to say, 'I shall never forget my wonder at her good spirits and her loud laughter when all the 'time she knew t,hat she would be killed. 3 · Now we shall examine the testimony m detail. The beginning of Ibn lsl)iiq's story is quite impressive: "According to what 1 Ka"b b. Asad was the chief of the B. Quray7. ah. 2 Ibn Hishiim adds without isnad that the Jews said, 'O Mohammad, we will submit to the judgment of Sa"d b. Mu"adh. ' 3 The above summary is based on Ibn Isl:Jiiq's account. Ibn Hishiim, pp. 684-69. 72. .