The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page cciv
GENERAL INTRODUCTION on their solemn word. The Banu Quraizah showed no regret and no inclination to ask for forgiveness. Instead, they insulted 'Ali and the other Muslim delegates and started hurling vile abuse at the Prophet and the women of his family. They said they did not care for Muḥammad and had never had any kind of pact with him. When ‘Alī returned to report the reply of the Jews, he found the Prophet and the Companions advancing towards the Jewish fortifications. The Jews had been abusing the Prophet, his wives and daughters. Fearing lest this should pain the Prophet, ‘Alī suggested there was no need for the Prophet to take part as the Muslims themselves could deal with the Jews. The Prophet understood 'Ali and said, "You want me not to hear their abuse, 'Alī?" "Exactly," said ‘Alī. "But why?" said the Prophet. "Moses was of their kith and kin. Yet they inflicted more suffering on him than they have on me. " The Prophet continued to advance. The Jews put up their defences and started fighting. Their women also joined them. Some Muslims were sitting at the foot of a wall. A Jewish woman, seeing this, dropped a stone on them, killing one named Khallād. The siege went on for some days. At the end of this period, the Jews felt they I would not be able to hold out for long. Then their chiefs sent word to the Prophet requesting him to send Abū Lubābah, an Anṣārī chief of the Aus, a tribe friendly to the Jews. They wanted to consult him about a possible settlement. The Prophet sent Abū Lubābah to the Jews, who asked him if they should lay down their arms and accept the award of the Prophet. Abū Lubābah said they should. But at the same time he passed a finger over his neck, making the sign of death. The Prophet had said nothing on this subject to anybody. But Abū Lubābah, fearing that the crime of the Jews merited nothing but death, unwittingly made this sign, which proved fateful for the Jews. The latter declined Abū Lubābah's advice and refused to accept the Prophet's award. Had they accepted it, the utmost punishment they would have had was expulsion from Medina. But as ill-luck would have it, they refused to accept the Prophet's award. Instead of the Prophet's, they said, they would accept the award of Sa'd bin Mu'adh, chief of their allies, the Aus. They would agree to any punishment proposed by him. A dispute also arose among the Jews. Some of them began to say that their people had really gone back on their agreement with the Muslims. The behaviour of the Muslims, on the other hand, showed that they were true and honest and that their religion also was true. Those who thought in this way joined Islam. ‘Amr bin Ma‘di, one of the Jewish chiefs, reproved his people and said, "You have committed a breach of faith and gone back on your plighted word. The only course now open to you is either to join Islam or give jizyah. " clxxviii