The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 652
CH. 33 AL-AḤZĀB PT. 21 their land and their houses and their wealth, and a land on which you have not yet set foot. And Allah has power over all things,3095. b وَاَوْرَثَكُمْ أَرْضَهُمْ وَدِيَارَهُمْ And He made you inherit. 28 وَاَمْوَالَهُمْ وَأَرْضًا لَّمْ تَطَئُوْهَا وَكَانَ اللهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرًان يَا يُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ إِنْ كُنْتُنَ تُرِدْنَ الْحَيُوةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِيْنَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أمَتَّعُكُنَّ وَأُسَرِحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا R. 4. 29. O Prophet! say to thy wives, 'If you desire the life of this world, and its adornment, come then, I will provide for you and send you away in a handsome manner. 3096 award of Sa'd bin Ma'ādh, the chief of the tribe of Aus, rather than to that of the Holy Prophet. Sa'd decided the case according to the Mosaic Law (Deut. 20:10-15), viz. that combatants be put to the sword and non- combatants taken prisoner. According to different accounts from 300 to 700 persons were put to the sword. The award of Sa'd may seem a little severe but it was of the Banū Quraizah's own seeking and choice and the Holy Prophet had nothing to do with it, except that he was in honour bound to get it executed. Moreover, the award was quite in harmony with the laws of civilized warfare and was a fit and fully deserved punishment for their brazen- faced treachery and perfidy. 3095. Commentary: Besides mentioning that God caused Muslims to inherit the lands and fortresses of the Banu Quraizah which was a fit punishment for their treacherous conduct, the verse under comment embodied a grand prophecy that yet more lands would fall into the hands of Muslims, the allusion being either to the lands of Khaibar or to the eventual conquest of Persian and Roman Empires and of the countries beyond, upon which Muslims had not so far set their feet. The prophecy may also be taken as applying to the conquest of Mecca. 3096. Commentary: As a result of the Battle of the Ditch and of the subsequent banishment of the Banu Quraizah, large booty fell into the hands of Muslims. They were also promised more conquests and wealth (see v. 28 above). From a persecuted and economically very poor minority they had grown into a rich, powerful and prosperous community. Material wealth, however, brings in its train worldly-mindedness, and a desire for ease and comfort and a disinclination to render acts of service and sacrifice. This is a state of affairs which a 2566