Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 382
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 382 Subsequent developments have been set out in earlier chapters. It is clear that the Jews of Medina constantly incited Quraish, and later other tribes, towards aggressive action against the Muslims for the purpose of wiping out Islam altogether. The Holy Pr ophet bore patiently with them, but neither did his extreme clemency towards them, despite their misbehaviour, serve to persuade them to live at peace with the Muslims, nor did the harsh measure that he was compelled to adopt against Banu Quraidha serve as a warning. Khaibar, after the expulsion of Banu Nadhir from Medina, became the centre of Jewish intrigue. Leaders of Banu Nadhir were welcomed in Khaibar and Huyay bin Akhtab, chief of Banu Nadhir, became their principal leader. He was present with Banu Q uraidha during their treasonable activities at the time of the siege of Medina and shared their fate after the siege was raised. The Truce of Hudaibiyya deprived the Jews of their principal instrument, Quraish, whom they had so far employed as the spearhead of their nefarious designs against the Muslims. They also became apprehensive that unless they moved in adequate strength again st the Muslims at an early date, the balance of strength might become adverse to them. They now relied upon the Ghatafan and other tribes of Nejd, with whom they had had friendly relations throughout, to carry out their purpose. When the Holy Prophet recei ved intimation that the Jews of Khaibar and neighbouring Jewish settlements were actively planning aggression against the Muslims in concert with Ghatafan, he decided to move against Khaibar in the hope of coming to some settlement with them of the type th at he had arrived at with