Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 227
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 227 They became alarmed at Muhammad’s increasing authority; his prestige was heightened by the victory in which the people saw the confirmation of his prophetic mission. The Jews began to show their hostility to Islam openly (L. Dermenghem, The Life of Mahomet , p. 201). After the battle of Badr, the Jews were greatly chagrined and began to give open expression to their feelings. Soon after the battle, the Holy Prophet called the leading men among the Jews together and inviting their attention to the battle as a clear Divi ne Sign, urged them to reflect on it and to accept his message and embrace Islam. To this, the Jews made the taunting retort: ‘Muhammad, by slaying a few Quraish, you appear to have become arrogant. Quraish are not trained in the science of war. If you had been confronted by us, we would have shown you what fighting means. ’ Not content with provocative verbal challenges, they began to plan the assassination of the Holy Prophet himself. Apparently, this became generally known; for instance, when a devoted Mu slim, Talha bin Braa, who was ill, felt that his end was approaching, he directed that if he died during the night the Holy Prophet should not be informed of his death till the morning lest he should decide to come out for his funeral prayers during the ni ght and might be exposed to mortal danger on the part of the Jews. The Banu Qainuqa’, the strongest and reputedly the bravest of the three principal Jewish tribes, took the lead in contravening the spirit of the agreement which they had made with the Holy Prophet. Ibn Hisham and Tabari have recorded: Banu Qainuqa’ were the first of the Jews who broke the agreement between them and the Messenger of Allah. After the battle of Badr, they gave