Muhammad and The Jews — Page 101
THE LAST ENCOUNTER of the Apostle's life. The Jews, though they could not unite under one command, fought bravely. Unlike the Jews of Medina, who had no will to fight and surrendered without giving battle, the Jews of Khaybar put up a stiff resistance. Every day the Muslims would storm and return unsuccessfully till finally"' Ali, flying the Apostle's standard- which was "'A"ishah's wrapl-won the day for the Muslims. The Jews of Khaybar won back the honour, which had been lost by the B. Qaynuqa"', the B. al-Na<;lir and the B. Quray~ah by their trickery and cowardice. Marl). ab came out of his castle carrying his weapons and saying : Khaybar knows that I am MarJ:iab An experienced warrior armed from hand to foot, Now piercing, now slashing As when lions advance in their rage. The hardened warrior gives way before my onslaught; my birnil cannot be approached. 2 When after a heroic struggle with MuJ:iammad b. Maslamah, Marl). ab was killed, his brother Yasir came out with the challenge : Khaybar knows that I am Yasir Fully armed, a doughty warrior As when lions advance at a rush The enemy give way before my onslaught. 3 The Jews did not lose at Khaybar, but signed a negotiated peace with the Muslims, which suited the Apostle. The maghazi- writers' account is improbable and, as Lammens has pointed out , incorrect. 4 As a result of the treaty Khaybar changed its alliance from the B. Faziirah to the Muslims. As Abu Hurayrah, who was in Khaybar with the Apostles, plaintively reports, "We conquered Khaybar, in the booty we took neither gold nor silver, but cattle, 1 Ibn Saed, Vol. II, p. 106. 2 Ibn Hisham, p. 760, Guillaume's translation. Ibn Saed, Vol. II, p. llO gives a shorter version. 3 Ibn Hisham, p. 761, Guillaume's translation. Ibn Saed , Vol. II, p. ll3. 4 See next chapter, pp. ll5-117. 5 Ibn Sacd, Vol. IV, pp. 325-341. Mahmiid Abii Rayyah, Adwil" 0 a/a a/-sunnah a/-Mubarnmadiyah (Cairo, 1958), p. 153. See also G. H. A. Juynboll, The Authenticity of the Tradition Literature: Discussions in Modern Egypt (Leiden, 1969) for "the cadilla of Abii Huraira", pp. 62-99. JOI