Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 191
191 their children would quit Khaybar and settle in some place far away from Medina. Their property and their belongings would pass into the hands of Muslims. Anyone who tried to conceal any of his property or stores, or made a wrong statement, would not be protected by the peace. He would have to pay the penalty laid down for breach of faith. Three interesting incidents took place in this siege of Khaybar. One of them constitutes a Sign of God and two afford insight into the high moral character of the Prophet. A widow of Kinanah, a chief of Khaybar, was married to the Prophet. The Prophet saw that her face bore some marks, the impression of a hand. "What is this on your face, Safiyyah?" asked the Prophet. "It was like this," replied Safiyyah. "I saw the moon fall in my lap in a dream. I related the dream to my husband. No sooner had I related the dream than my husband gave a heavy slap on my face and said, 'You desire to marry the King of Arabia'. " 219. The moon was the national emblem of Arabia. The moon in the lap denoted some intimate connection with the King of Arabia. A split moon or a dropping moon meant dissensions in the Arab State or its destruction. The dream of Safiyyah is a sign of the truth of the Holy Prophet. It is also a sign of the fact that God reveals the future to His servants through dreams. Believers have more of this grace than unbelievers. Safiyyah was a Jewess when she saw this dream. It so happened that her husband was killed in the siege of Khaybar. This siege was a punishment for the Jewish breach of faith. Safiyyah was made a prisoner and, in the distribution of prisoners, was given to a Companion. It was then found that she was the widow of a chief. It was, therefore, felt that it would be more in accord with her rank if she were to live with the Prophet. The Prophet, however, chose to give her the status of a wife and she agreed. In this way was her dream fulfilled. There were two other incidents. One relates to a shepherd who looked after the sheep of a Jewish chief. This shepherd became a Muslim. After his conversion he said to the Prophet, "I cannot go back to my people now, O Prophet of God. What shall I do with the sheep and goats of my old master?" "Set the faces of the animals towards Khaybar and give them a push. God will lead them back to their master" said the Prophet. The shepherd did as he was told, and the herd reached the Jewish fort. The guards at the fort received them. 220 The incident shows how seriously the Prophet regarded the question of individual rights and how important in his view it was for a trustee to discharge his trust. In war the property and belongings of the losers are rightfully appropriated by the victors. Ours is an age of civilisation and culture, but can we show anything equal to this? Has it ever happened that a retreating enemy left behind stores which the victors sent back to their owners? In the present case the goats belonged to one of the combatants of the enemy side. The return of the goats meant making over to the enemy food which would last them for several months. With it the enemy could resist the siege for a long