The Battle of Banu Qurayzah

«“Allah Almighty has commanded you to march immediately against Banu Qurayzah. I am also going there.”»

Upon this, the Prophet ﷺ made the following announcement:

«“Every obedient person should offer the Asr prayer after reaching the settlement of Banu Qurayzah.”»

The purpose of this announcement was that there should be no delay in setting out.

The Prophet ﷺ himself immediately put on his weapons, wore his armor, took his spear in his blessed hand, hung his sword around his neck, and mounted his horse.

The Companions رضي الله عنهم were also around the Prophet ﷺ, armed and mounted on horses. Their number was three thousand, among whom there were thirty-six horsemen. Three of the horses also belonged to the Prophet ﷺ.

On this expedition, the Prophet ﷺ appointed Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum رضي الله عنه as his deputy in Madinah.

Ali رضي الله عنه went ahead of the Prophet ﷺ toward Banu Qurayzah carrying the standard. Since Ali رضي الله عنه had set out ahead, he reached there first.

Along with a detachment of the Muhajirun and Ansar, he planted the standard beneath the wall in front of the fortress of Banu Qurayzah.

At that time, the Jews began insulting the Prophet ﷺ. Ali رضي الله عنه and the other Companions became angry upon hearing their abusive words.

When the Prophet ﷺ arrived there, Ali رضي الله عنه informed him about the Jews’ insulting behavior.

The Prophet ﷺ ordered that their entire settlement be surrounded.

This siege continued for twenty-five days.

The Jews became exhausted by the siege and eventually came before the Prophet ﷺ.

The Prophet ﷺ ordered that they be bound. They were restrained and gathered in one place. Their number was six hundred or seven hundred. These were the men who were capable of fighting.

After them, the Jewish women and children were brought out of their houses and gathered separately. Their number was one thousand.

Abdullah ibn Salam رضي الله عنه was appointed to supervise them.

The people repeatedly came to the Prophet ﷺ and begged for forgiveness.

At this, the Prophet ﷺ said:

«“Would you be satisfied if one of your own chosen men were to decide your matter?”»

They replied:

«“Whatever decision Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh رضي الله عنه makes, we will accept it.”»

Before becoming Muslim, Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh رضي الله عنه had been a friend of these Jews and was a respected person in their eyes.

The Prophet ﷺ accepted their proposal.

Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh رضي الله عنه had been severely wounded during the Battle of the Trench. At that time, he was in a tent near the Prophet’s Mosque.

Now, upon the command of the Prophet ﷺ, he was brought to the settlement of Banu Qurayzah. His condition was very serious.

Eventually, he reached the Prophet ﷺ. He was informed of the entire matter.

Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh رضي الله عنه then said:

«“The right to decide belongs only to Allah Almighty, or to the Messenger of Allah.”»

The Prophet ﷺ said:

«“Allah Himself has commanded you to decide concerning these Jews.”»

Sa‘d رضي الله عنه then announced his decision:

«“I decide that their fighting men should be put to death, their wealth and property should be taken as spoils, and their children and women should be taken into captivity.”»

(Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh رضي الله عنه gave such a severe decision despite his previous friendship with the Jews because their oppression and their attempts at causing disorder had gone beyond all limits. If they had simply been left alive in that situation, they would certainly have continued making the worst conspiracies against the Muslims. Their character had become like that of a scorpion and a snake, which does not cease from harming others. Therefore, according to the account, it was considered necessary to put an end to their threat.)

After hearing his decision, the Prophet ﷺ said:

«“You have given a decision according to the judgment of Allah Almighty. This decision has great distinction. At dawn this morning, the angel came and informed me of this decision.”»

After this, the Prophet ﷺ ordered that all the wealth, weapons, and other possessions found in the houses of Banu Qurayzah should be collected in one place.

Accordingly, everything was taken out and piled together.

Among all this equipment were fifteen hundred swords, three hundred coats of armor, and two thousand spears. In addition, there was a great deal of wealth and a large number of livestock.

Everything was divided into five portions. Four portions were distributed among all the fighters.

Many containers of wine were also found there. They were broken, and the wine was poured away.

After this, the Jewish captives who had been sentenced were executed. Among those who were killed was their chief, Huyayy ibn Akhtab.

The children and women were taken into captivity.

After this incident, Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh رضي الله عنه passed away as a martyr because of the wounds he had received during the Battle of the Trench.

The angels also attended his funeral, and when he was buried, a fragrance began to come from his grave.

Regarding the captive women, the Prophet ﷺ said:

«“When women are sold, they should not be separated from their children—that is, wherever the mother remains, her children should remain with her until they grow up. If a person wishes to sell his female slave, he should not separate her from her child.”»

The Expedition of Banu Lihyan

After this, the Prophet ﷺ intended to take action against the tribe of Banu Lihyan for their treacherous act.

Banu Lihyan had killed some of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ at a place called Raji‘.

These people themselves had come to the Prophet ﷺ and requested that some people be sent to their area to teach them Islam.

Accordingly, the Prophet ﷺ sent ten of his Companions رضي الله عنهم with them.

Those people treacherously killed them.

The Prophet ﷺ was deeply grieved by the unjust killing of these Companions رضي الله عنهم.

Therefore, he decided to take action against these people and ordered the Companions رضي الله عنهم to prepare.

Then he set out with the army.

Apparently, the army was heading toward Syria, but the actual objective was to take action against Banu Lihyan.

The destination was kept secret so that the enemy would not learn of it beforehand through spies and so that the Muslims could reach those wrongdoers unexpectedly.

In Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ appointed Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum رضي الله عنه as his deputy.

A considerable number of Companions رضي الله عنهم accompanied the Prophet ﷺ on this expedition. Twenty of them were mounted on horses.

First, the Prophet ﷺ reached the place where the Companions رضي الله عنهم had been killed.

There, he prayed for their forgiveness and mercy.

Meanwhile, somehow Banu Lihyan learned that the Muslims were coming to attack them.

Out of fear, they hid themselves in the mountains.

When the Prophet ﷺ learned of their escape, he sent the Companions رضي الله عنهم in different directions, but none of their men could be found.

Eventually, the Prophet ﷺ set out on his return.

This expedition is known as the Expedition of Banu Lihyan.

Passing Through Abwa

On the way, the Prophet ﷺ passed through a place called Abwa.

The mother of the Prophet ﷺ had been buried there.

The Prophet ﷺ looked around and saw his mother’s grave.

He performed ablution and offered two units of prayer.

Then the Prophet ﷺ began to weep.

When the Companions رضي الله عنهم saw him weeping, they also began to weep.

The Prophet ﷺ then reached Madinah.

Only a few nights had passed when news arrived that Uyaynah ibn Hisn had raided the Prophet’s ﷺ pasture with some horsemen.

There were twenty camels belonging to the Prophet ﷺ in that pasture.

The son of Abu Dharr al-Ghifari رضي الله عنه was guarding the camels, and the wife of Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه was also there.

The attackers killed the son of Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه.

The first person to learn about this incident was Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ رضي الله عنه.

Early in the morning, he was on his way toward the pasture carrying his bow. His servant was with him. The servant had brought his horse and was leading it by its reins.

On the way, they met the servant of Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf رضي الله عنه.

He told Salamah رضي الله عنه:

«“Uyaynah ibn Hisn has raided the pasture of the Prophet ﷺ with some horsemen. They have taken away the camels of the Prophet ﷺ, they have killed the guard of the pasture, and they have taken away a woman.”»

As soon as Salamah رضي الله عنه heard this, he said to his servant:

«“Mount this horse, set out immediately, and inform the Prophet ﷺ.”»

The servant immediately departed.

At the same time, Salamah رضي الله عنه climbed a hill and called out:

«“People! Hurry! Some people have taken away the camels of the Prophet ﷺ!”»

He repeated this announcement three times.

Then he set off alone in pursuit of the raiders.