The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 501
XI - Treachery of the Banū Quraiẓah and the End of the Jews in Madīnah, Laws of Marriage and Divorce 501 them and was then required to call them to account, in response to which they became prepared for war against the Muslims in an extremely insolent manner. In this war, the Banū Quraiẓah aided the Banū Naḍīr. 1 However, when the Banū Naḍīr were defeated, the Holy Prophet sa pardoned the Banū Quraiẓah all together 2 and even the Banū Naḍīr were permitted to leave Madīnah in peace and security, albeit, they were not permitted to take along their arms. However, the manner in which the Banū Naḍīr repaid this benevolence was that their chieftains toured the whole of Arabia and brought a swarm of an army to fall upon Madīnah by inciting the various tribes of Arabia in a very dangerous manner. They called upon everyone to take oath that, this time, until Islām had been wiped out completely, they would not turn back. At this perilous time, a brief description of which has been presented above, how did the third Jewish tribe known as the Banū Quraiẓah act? This was the tribe which the Holy Prophet sa had forgiven and treated with immense generosity despite their treachery on the occasion of the Ghazwah of Banū Naḍīr. Furthermore, a second favour of the Holy Prophet sa upon the Banū Quraiẓah was that prior to the migration of the Muslims to Mad ī nah, the Banū Quraiẓah they were considered inferior to the Banū Naḍīr in their status and rights. If a person belonging to the Banū Naḍīr was killed by someone from the Banū Quraiẓah, such a person would be executed in retribution. On the other hand, if an individual from the Banū Quraiẓah was killed at the hands of the Banū Naḍīr, the mere payment of blood-money would be considered sufficient. However, the Holy Prophet sa gave the Banū Quraiẓah equal rights in line with other citizens. 3 However, despite these magnificent favours, the Banū Quraiẓah still committed treachery and all this was at such a sensitive time when the Muslims were not confronted with a more difficult time in their lives. The example of the Banū Qainuqā‘ was before them, yet they did not derive benefit from it. The account of the Banū Naḍīr had taken place right before their eyes, but they did not take a lesson from it. When the time came, what did they do? What they did was to ignore their treaty completely and forget the favours of the Holy Prophet sa all together. They emerged from their fortresses and attacked the Muslim women and children from the rear exactly at such a 1 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu Ḥadīthi Banin-Naḍīr. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 4028 2 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu Ḥadīthi Banin-Naḍīr. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 4028 3 * Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābul-Kharāji Wal-Imārati Wal-Fai’i, Bābu Fī Khabarin-Naḍīr, Ḥadīth No. 3005 * Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābul-Awwali Kitābil-Aqḍiyah, Bābu Fil-Ḥukmi Baina Ahlidh-Dhimmah, Ḥadīth No. 3591