The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 383
IX - Repeated Treachery of the Jews, Compilation and Sequence of the Holy Qur ’ā n, Marriage of Ḥaḍrat Zainab ra , the Great Calumny and Mischief of the Hypocrites 383 in the exterior grounds beyond their fortresses should be cut down. 1 These trees which were cut down, bore a type of date known as Līnah , 2 which is a very low-grade date and its fruit cannot generally be consumed by humans. 3 The intention in this order was so that the Banū Naḍīr would become awe- stricken at the sight of these trees being cut down, and so that they would open the gates of their fortresses; in this manner, with the loss of a few trees, the loss of countless lives, as well as conflict and rebellion in the country could be prevented. Hence, this strategy proved to be successful and only six trees had been cut down 4 when the Banū Naḍīr began to raise a hue and cry, perhaps under the assumption that the Muslims would cut down all their trees, which included those bearing high quality fruit as well. Nonetheless, as the Holy Qur’ān has elaborated, only a few trees were permitted to be cut down, and even those were of the Līnah date. With respect to the remaining trees, however, it was instructed that they be safeguarded. 5 Even under normal circumstances, the Muslims were not permitted to cut down the fruit-bearing trees of their enemy. 6 In any case, this strategy proved to be successful and being struck with awe, after a siege of fifteen days, the Banū Naḍīr opened the gates of their fortresses on the condition that they would be permitted to leave with all of their property and belongings in peace and security. 7 This was the very same offer which the Holy Prophet sa had already presented. Since the only desire of the Holy Prophet sa was the establishment of peace, turning a blind eye towards the hardship and expenses, which the Muslims had been made to bear in this campaign, even now, the Holy Prophet sa accepted the 1 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, pp. 605-606, Amru Ijlā’i Banin-Naḍīr. . . . . , Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 278, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi sa Banin- Naḍīr, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 2 Al-Hashr (59:6) 3 Ar-Rauḍul-Unufi Fī Tafsīris-Sīratin-Nabawiyyati libni Hishām, By Abul-Qāsim ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Abdillah bin Aḥmad, Volume 3, p. 388, Ghazwatu Banin-Naḍīri Wa Mā Nazala Fīhā / Qaṭ‘ul-Līnati Wa Ta’wīluhū, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition 4 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 2, p. 512, Ḥadīthu Banin-Naḍīr, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 5 Al-Ḥashr (59:6) 6 Al-Muwaṭṭā, By Imām Mālik bin Anas, Kitābul-Jihād, Bābun-Nahyi Min-Qatlin-Nisā’i Wal-Wildān, Ḥadīth No. 982 7 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 606, Amru Ijlā’i Banin- Naḍīr. . . . . , Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 278, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi sa Banin- Naḍīr, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)