The Failed Assassination Plot

After the conquest of Khaybar, the people of a settlement there called Fadak came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

The name of their chief was Nun ibn Yusha‘.

He said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:

«“We are prepared to make peace on the condition that our lives are spared and that we leave Fadak and go into exile with our wealth and belongings.”»

The Prophet ﷺ accepted their proposal.

According to one narration, the Jews offered half of Fadak, and the Prophet ﷺ accepted this arrangement.

Here, it would be appropriate to clarify one matter.

Since the settlement of Fadak had been obtained without fighting, its property was considered Fay’—that is, property obtained from an enemy without actual fighting, over the spending of which the Muslim ruler has authority.

Accordingly, the Prophet ﷺ used to spend some of its income on his family.

He also used its income to support the young children of Banu Hashim and to arrange marriages for the widows of Banu Hashim.

Therefore, she believed that it should come to her as inheritance.

She accordingly requested Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه to give her the land of Fadak.

Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه explained the matter to her and said:

«“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘We, the Prophets, are not inherited from. Whatever we leave behind is charity for the Muslims.’”»

Fatimah رضي الله عنها became satisfied with this explanation and did not make the request again.

Illness Caused by Unripe Dates

At the time when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reached Khaybar, the dates had not yet ripened.

As a result, many of the Companions developed fever after eating unripe dates.

They mentioned their difficulty to the Prophet ﷺ.

He said to them:

«“Fill pitchers with water and cool it. At the time of Fajr, recite the name of Allah and pour this water over yourselves.”»

The Companions acted upon this instruction, and their fever went away.

Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ رضي الله عنه

During the Battle of Khaybar, Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ رضي الله عنه was wounded and came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

The Prophet ﷺ blew over his wounds three times, and he immediately experienced relief.

The Two Trees

During this expedition, another incident took place.

The Prophet ﷺ needed to go to relieve himself.

He said to ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه:

«“Look and see whether there is any place of concealment.”»

‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه looked in all directions.

He could not see any place of concealment, but he did see a solitary tree.

He informed the Prophet ﷺ:

«“I can only see a tree.”»

The Prophet ﷺ said:

«“Look around again. Can you see anything else that could provide concealment?”»

He looked around again and saw another tree at some distance.

He informed the Prophet ﷺ about the second tree.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

«“Tell these two trees that the Messenger of Allah commands them to come together in one place—that is, to join with each other.”»

‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه addressed the two trees with these words.

Immediately, both trees began to move and came together.

The Prophet ﷺ used them as a screen.

After the Prophet ﷺ had finished, the two trees returned to their original places.

The Poisoned Goat

When Khaybar had been conquered, a woman was seen approaching the Muslims.

She was asking the people:

«“Which part of a goat does the Messenger of Allah ﷺ like the most?”»

The people told her:

«“The Prophet ﷺ likes the shoulder meat.”»

The woman’s name was Zaynab.

She was the niece of Marhab and the wife of the Jewish man Salam ibn Mishkam.

After obtaining this information, she returned.

She slaughtered a goat, roasted it, and put poison into the shoulder portion.

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned after leading the Maghrib prayer, he found this woman waiting.

He asked her why she had come.

She replied:

«“O Abu al-Qasim! I have brought a gift for you.”»

At the command of the Prophet ﷺ, her gift was accepted and placed before him.

Bishr ibn al-Bara’ ibn Ma‘rur رضي الله عنه was also present there.

The Prophet ﷺ said to the Companions:

«“Come closer.”»

The Prophet ﷺ began eating from the shoulder portion.

At the same time, Bishr ibn al-Bara’ took a morsel from the shoulder meat, placed it in his mouth, and swallowed it.

The Prophet ﷺ had only placed his morsel in his mouth.

The other people took morsels from other parts of the goat.

As soon as the Prophet ﷺ put the morsel into his mouth, he immediately spat it out and said:

«“Stop! This meat is telling me that it contains poison.”»

At that moment, Bishr ibn al-Bara’ رضي الله عنه said:

«“O Messenger of Allah! By the One in Whose Hand is my life, I felt something from the morsel I ate, but I did not spit it out only because I did not want your food to be spoiled. Then, when you spat out your morsel, I became more concerned about you than myself, and I was happy that you had spat it out.”»

After this, his complexion turned blue.

He remained under the effect of the poison for one year and then passed away.

The Prophet ﷺ summoned the Jewish woman and asked her:

«“Did you put poison into the goat meat?”»

She asked:

«“Who told you this?”»

The Prophet ﷺ replied:

«“The very piece of meat that I placed in my mouth told me.”»

She admitted:

«“Yes, I put poison in it.”»

The Prophet ﷺ then asked her:

«“Why did you do this?”»

She replied:

«“You killed my father, my brother, and my husband in the Battle of Khaybar, and you destroyed my people. Therefore, I thought that if you were merely a king, this poison would save us from you, and if you were a Prophet, you would know about the poison beforehand.”»

Upon hearing her answer, the Prophet ﷺ forgave her, because he did not take revenge on anyone for matters concerning his own person.

However, if someone caused harm to the Muslims, he would take action against that person.

As for Bishr ibn al-Bara’ رضي الله عنه, he did not die at that time.

But when he later died because of the poison, the Prophet ﷺ had the woman Zaynab killed in retaliation.

It is said that at the time of his death, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt the effect of that poison and said:

«“The effect of that poison is cutting through my veins.”»

Distribution of the Spoils

In any case, after the Battle of Khaybar, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ distributed the spoils of that expedition.

After the Battle of Khaybar, the incidents of the acceptance of Islam by Khalid ibn al-Walid, ‘Amr ibn al-‘As, and ‘Uthman ibn Talhah رضي الله عنهم also took place.

The Acceptance of Islam by Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه

Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه himself relates:

«“When Allah Almighty intended to grant me honor and goodness, He suddenly placed within my heart a longing for Islam and showed me the path of guidance.»

«“At that time, I thought to myself: I had confronted and opposed Muhammad ﷺ on every occasion, and every time I had been faced with failure.»

«“I always felt that I was in the wrong, while Muhammad ﷺ continued to prevail.»

«“Then, when Muhammad ﷺ came to Makkah to perform Umrah, I disappeared from Makkah so that I would not have to witness his entering Makkah.»

«“My brother, al-Walid ibn al-Walid, was with the Prophet ﷺ. He had accepted Islam long before me.»

«“When he reached Makkah, he had me searched for, but I was not there.»

«“Eventually, he wrote me a letter.»

«“The words of that letter were:»

«‘The thing that amazes me most is that a man like you is still running away from Islam.»

«‘I am astonished at your lack of understanding.»

«‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked me about you: “Where is Khalid?”»

«‘I replied: “Allah will soon bring him to you.”»

«‘Upon this, the Prophet ﷺ said: “A person like him cannot remain unaware of Islam. If he uses his abilities and energies alongside the Muslims against the polytheists, it will be nothing but good for them, and we will give them preference over others.»

«‘Therefore, my brother, the opportunity still remains. Regain what you have lost. You have already missed many excellent opportunities.’”»

Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه says:

«“When I received this letter from my brother, I developed a strong desire to go. My heart became filled with love for Islam.»

«“At the same time, I was extremely happy to hear what the Prophet ﷺ had said about me.»

«“Then, that night, I saw a strange dream.”»