Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 233
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 233 forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races, is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated (De L. O’Leary, Islam at the Crossroads, p. 8). About this time the Holy Prophet’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was married to his cousin, Ali bin Abi Talib. Within a year of her marriage she gave birth to a baby boy who was named Hassan by the Holy Prophet. A year later, she gave birth to a second boy wh o was named Husain. Those who claim descent from the Holy Prophet are descended from these two grandsons of his. About the same time the Holy Prophet gave his third daughter, Um Kulthum, in marriage to Uthman bin Affan. The exile of Banu Qainuqa’ from Medina did not bring about any improvement in the relations between the remaining two principal Jewish tribes in Medina and the Muslims. On the contrary the Jews embarked upon greater and greater mischief and began to intrig ue more extensively against the Muslims. The affair of Kaab bin Ashraf was only one link in this lengthening chain. Kaab was a Jew by creed but not by race. His father, Ashraf, was a clever and intelligent Arab of Banu Nadhan who came and settled in Medina and became a confederate of Banu Nadhir. Gradually, he acquired so much importance and influence that the chief of Banu Nadhir, Abu Rafe, bin Abi Haqeeq, gave his daughter in marriage to him. She gave birth to Kaab, who, as he grew up, acquired an even gr eater status than his father, so much so that in the end all the Jews in Arabia acclaimed him as their chief. He was a well - built, handsome man, had acquired great