The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 225
CH. 59 AL-HASHR PT. 28 repudiated the solemn agreement that of the Holy Prophet, to whom they they would remain neutral between had pledged allegiance as the the Holy Prophet and his enemies, acknowledged Head of the Medina and even had conspired to take his Republic. Or the words may refer to life. Their leader Ka'b bin Ashraf had the banishment by the Holy Prophet gone to Mecca to enlist the help of from Medina of the three above- the Quraish and of other pagan tribes mentioned Jewish tribes. This was around Mecca in order to drive out the first banishment. 'Umar, the the Muslims from Medina. After the Holy Prophet's Second Successor, temporary reverse suffered by however, banished all Jews from the Muslims at Uhud, their machinations whole of Arabia for the second and and defiance of the Prophet had last time. Thus the words, "at the time greatly increased. It was when the cup of the first banishment" may be taken of their iniquities had become full to as embodying a prophecy that after the brim and their presence in Medina the Jewish tribes of Medina will have had proved to be a constant source of been banished by the Holy Prophet, mortal danger to Muslims and the all the Jews of Arabia would suffer Islamic State that the Holy Prophet the same fate at some later time. had to take action against them. They were told to leave Medina. But the Prophet was exceptionally kind and considerate to them. He allowed them to carry their goods and chattels with them, and they departed from Medina in perfect safety, but not until they had despaired of the help they had expected from their Meccan allies and from the hypocrites of Medina, and had also found that their fortresses which they thought were impregnable could not save them. The Holy Prophet laid siege to the fortresses and after vainly holding out for about 21 days, they surrendered. They all left for Syria, only two families choosing to remain behind at Khaibar. Before departing from Medina the Banu Naḍīr had destroyed their houses and other movable property before the very eyes of Muslims, because the Holy Prophet had given them ten days to dispose of their affairs as they liked. Thus the Jews of Medina were the originators of the scorched earth policy, centuries before the Russians had adopted it in the World War I1. The reference in the words "they destroyed their houses with their own hands," is to that policy. The words, "you would not think that they would go forth," show that in view of the material resources, political alliances and organization of the Jews of Medina, the Muslims could not conceive that they could be driven out of Medina so easily and without any loss of human life on The reference in the words, "at the time of the first banishment" may be to the banishment of the Jewish tribe of Banu Qainuqā' who had been expelled from Medina, sometime after the Battle of Badr, for their intrigues and defiance of the authority | either side. 3121