Muhammad and The Jews — Page 97
THE LAST ENCOUNTER accompanied by a Jew. However, in al-Qarqarah, which is about six miles from Khaybar, al-Yusayr changed his mind about going to the Apostle. In that atmosphere charged with suspicion al-Yusayr made a move to draw his sword, but "Abd Allah b. Unays was quick to perceive his intention, rushed at him and killed him. 1 It was an unfortunate incident. Neither Ibn Sa"d nor Ibn Isl;iaq say that it was a ruse. In fact the Apostle's remarks to "Abd Allah b. RawaJ;iah on his return indicate that the Apostle did not anticipate the incident. He said, "It was Allah who saved you from this company of oppressors. "2 If al-Yusayr, however, thought it was a ruse, he was not unjustified; "'Abd Allah b. Rawal;iah and "Abd Allah b. Unays were the An~iir who had already killed two Jewish leaders, Ka"b b. al-Ashraf and Abu Rafi" Sallam b. Abu al-I;Iuqayq, by deception. This unfortunate incident must have exacerbated the situation. The Jews were now in active negotiations with the Ghatafan to join them in attacking Medina. Khaybar became a rallying point of anti-Muslim forces. Both sides were getting ready for a final battle. The Jews at Khaybar, homogeneous, strong and safe in their forts, Muslims depressed by the peace at I;Iudaybiyah (6/628), uncertain of the waverers at Medina and surrounded by Arab tribes who were still uncertain of this new message and religion, both weighed their chances and waited. The incident of Dhii Qarad, however, clinched the issue for the Muslims. They had no choice, but to deal immediately with the situation of Khaybar. Ibn Isl;iaq3, al-Waqidi4 and Ibn Sa"-d5 have placed it before I;Iudaybiyah, whereas it took place immediately before the Apostle's expedition to Khaybar. Al-Tabari 6 , reported it from Salamah b. "-Amr b. al-Akwa" al-Aslami who was himself involved in this attack and rightly places it after I;Iudaybiyah; so does al-Bukhari, 7 who also reports from Salamah b. al-Akwa", and dates it three days before the expedition to Khaybar. It so happened that "'Uyaynah b. J:Ii~n b. J:Iudhayfah b. Badr al-Fazari with the cavalry of the Ghatafan raided the Apostle's milch camels in al-Ghabah. A man of the Banii 1 Ibn Hisham, p. 981. Ibn Sa"d, Vol. II , p. 92. 2 Ibn Saed, Vol. II, pp. 92-3. 3 Ibn Hisham, pp. 719-20. ' 1 Al-Waqidi, Vol. II, pp. 537-549. 5 Ibn Sa. ,d, Vol. II, pp 80-84. 6 Al-Tabari, pp. 596-604. 7 Al-Bukhari, $a/:iib, Bab Ghazwat al-Qarad, Vol. V, p. 165. 97