Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 385
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 385 hast inflicted grievous injuries upon my people; thou hast slain my father, my brothers and my husband. Therefore, I said within myself, if he be a Prophet, he will reject the gift knowing that the kid is poisoned; but if he is a mere pretender, then we sh all be rid of him, and the Jews will prosper again. ’ Her exculpatory statement was accepted and she was set free. After the victory of Qamus the only remaining strongholds, Watih and Sulalim, were invested and, seeing no prospect of relief, capitulated, on condition that they would pay half the produce of their lands as a tax. They retained all their properties. Fadak , a Jewish settlement not far from Khaibar, profited by the example, and, having tendered a timely submission, was admitted to the same terms. On their march homeward the Muslims laid siege to the Jewish settlement Wadil Qura, which, after a resistance of one or two days, surrendered upon like conditions. Of the spoils of Khaibar, a fifth was, as usual, set apart for the Holy Prophet’s use and for distribution at will among his family and the destitute poor. The remaining four - fifths were sold by auction, and the proceeds, according to the prescribed rule, divided into shares, one for a foot soldier, and three for a horseman. The villages and lands were disposed of in another way. One half, embracing all the places which surrendered without fighting, were reserved for the Holy Prophet, and constituted thereafter a species of Crown domain; the other half were allotted in freehol d plots by the same rule as the personal booty. Even where the lands having been gained by fighting were apportioned as private property it was found expedient to leave the Jews in possession,