Muhammad and The Jews — Page 62
It seems that though the arms of the B. Qaynuqii"" were confiscated, they were allowed to continue in possession of all their properties. While the B. al-Na<;lir and other Jews did not move to help the B. Qaynuqiie, they were not inactive. Kae. b b. al-Ashraf, who was elected Chief of the Jews, replacing Malik b. al-Sayfl, lamented the loss of the Quraysh at Badr, and set out for Mecca to rouse the Meccans to avenge the defeat at Badr. 2 In one of his elegies he sang of the nobility of those who fell at Badr and cried out for vengeance: Badr's mill ground out the blood of its people. At events like Badr you should weep and cry. The best of the people were slain round their cisterns. Don't think it strange that the princes were left lying How many noble handsome men, the refuge of the homeless were slain Liberal when the stars gave no rain Who bore other's burdens, ruling and taking their due fourth. . . I was told that al-J:larith ibn Hisham Is doing well and gathering troops To visit Yathrib with armies For only the noble, handsome man protects the loftiest reputation. 3 In another elegy, he said: Drive off that fool of yours that you may be safe From talk that has no sense! Do you taunt me because I shed tears For people who loved me sincerely? As long I live I shall weep and remember The merits of people whose glory is Mecca's houses. 4 In a year's time the Meccans were ready to take the battle-field again. On 7 Shawwiil, 3 Hijri (22 March, 625) the inconclusive battle of Ul). ud took place. The Apostle lost the battle. Seventy Muslims were killed as against the twenty-two of the Quraysh. Though the Meccans did not take the fullest advantage of the Muslim loss, yet Muslim prestige had reached its lowest. Soon after at Bi~r Mac. iinah, 1 "Ali b. Burhan al Din al-l. Ialabi, Insiin al-"Uyun, Vol. ll, p. 116, cited by Kister. The Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, Vol. VIII, p. 276. 2 Ibn Hisham, p. 459. 3 Ibid. , pp. 548-49. The translation is by Guillaume. 4 Ibid. , p. 550. The translation is by Guillaume. · ,, 62