Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 307
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 307 belonged to Ashj’a, a branch of Ghatafan, arrived in Medina. He was convinced of the truth of Islam though he had not yet proclaimed himself a Muslim. Having appraised the situation, he adopted a plan that succeeded in creating a rift between the confedera tes and the Jews. He went first to Banu Quraidha and pointed out to them that the interests of the allied army were diverse from theirs; before they compromised themselves irretrievably by joining in the attack on Medina, they should demand hostages from Q uraish, as a guarantee against being in the last deserted and left in the power of the Holy Prophet. This appealed to them and they agreed to act upon his advice. He then went to the allied chiefs and cautioned them against the Jews, telling them that Banu Quraidha intended asking them for hostages and that they should be careful lest their hostages might be handed over to the Muslims. When Quraish sent to demand of Banu Quraidha the fulfilment of their engagement to join in a general attack upon the Muslim s on the following day, they pleaded their Sabbath as a pretext against fighting on the morrow, and their fear of being deserted as a ground for demanding hostages. The allies, regarding this as a confirmation of No’eim’s intelligence, were so fully persua ded of the treachery of Banu Quraidha that they began to fear an attack upon themselves from that quarter. The confederate chiefs were already disheartened. After two days of vigorous fighting, they had not again attempted any general assault. The hopes entertained from another engagement, during which Banu Quraidha were to have fallen upon the city in the rear of the Muslims, were now changed into fear of hostilities