Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 317
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 317 Holy Prophet observed, It appears that your judgment has been inspired by divine decree. ’ There can be no doubt that the situation had so developed that Sa’d’s judgment was brought about by divine decree. Banu Quraidhah had requested that Abu Lubaba be sen t to them, and he indicated something that was utterly without any basis, in consequence of which Banu Quraidhah had decided not to throw themselves upon the mercy of the Holy Prophet. At last, they had declared themselves ready to abide by the judgment of Sa’d, hoping that as chief of Aus, who had been their confederates, he would deal mercifully with them. On his side, Sa’d became determined that he would not let any ulterior consideration influence his judgment, which must conform to the will of God as h e understood it. Before pronouncing his judgment, he secured the Holy Prophet’s express promise to give full effect to it. All this could not have been mere chance. It was the Divine Will that the judgment should be left to Sa’d, and it was the Divine Will that moved Sa’d to pronounce the judgment that he did, which was in accord with Deuteronomy 20:10 - 14. It was also the Divine Will that this terrible judgment, which the treachery and rebellion of Banu Quraidhah had earned, should not be pronounced by the Holy Prophet himself, but that he should be bound to carry it through to the full. The Holy Prophet directed that the able - bodied men of Banu Quraidhah should be separated from their women and children, and should be separately conducted to Medina. In the city they were lodged in separate houses and, under the direction of the Holy Proph et, were well looked after.