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Conquest of Khaybar: Difference between revisions
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Upon reaching the oasis the Muslims faced the Jews in a series of fortified strong points. One by one, the Muslims set out destroy them. Ali's eyes were inflammed by an unknown malady; the prophet put his spit on them, healing Ali, who then took up the banner of Islam and led the Muslims to victory, dropping a large stone on a prominent Jew. The fiercest mubariz or prominent warrior of the Jews was "the lion" Marhab (and also his brother Yasir), who came out reciting poetry to taunt the Muslims. Yasir was slain and Ali himself slew Marhab in single combat. After slaying Marhab, the Muslims took the strongest fortress of the Jews, Qamus following a siege lasting from 13 to 19 days.<ref>al-Tabari (1997). ''The History of al-Tabari: The Victory of Islam''. Albany: State University Of New York. p. 117</ref> During the initial battles the prophet came into possession of the wife of the Jewish prince Kinanah, [[Safiyah]]. Kinanah himself was put to death.<ref>Ibn Ishaq, p. 515</ref> After having slain her father at [[Banu Qurayzah]] and leading her past the bodies of her dead compatriots, Muhammad took her as his concubine and, once her menses had passed, made her his wife. | Upon reaching the oasis the Muslims faced the Jews in a series of fortified strong points. One by one, the Muslims set out destroy them. Ali's eyes were inflammed by an unknown malady; the prophet put his spit on them, healing Ali, who then took up the banner of Islam and led the Muslims to victory, dropping a large stone on a prominent Jew. The fiercest mubariz or prominent warrior of the Jews was "the lion" Marhab (and also his brother Yasir), who came out reciting poetry to taunt the Muslims. Yasir was slain and Ali himself slew Marhab in single combat. After slaying Marhab, the Muslims took the strongest fortress of the Jews, Qamus following a siege lasting from 13 to 19 days.<ref>al-Tabari (1997). ''The History of al-Tabari: The Victory of Islam''. Albany: State University Of New York. p. 117</ref> During the initial battles the prophet came into possession of the wife of the Jewish prince Kinanah, [[Safiyah]]. Kinanah himself was put to death.<ref>Ibn Ishaq, p. 515</ref> After having slain her father at [[Banu Qurayzah]] and leading her past the bodies of her dead compatriots, Muhammad took her as his concubine and, once her menses had passed, made her his wife. | ||
During the battle, Muhammad forbade his men from sexually taking the pregnant women of their enemies, and decreed that the Muslims must await an [[Iddah]] before sexually enjoying captured women in [[Jihad]]. He also forbade the eating of | During the battle, Muhammad forbade his men from sexually taking the pregnant women of their enemies, and decreed that the Muslims must await an [[Iddah]] before sexually enjoying captured women in [[Jihad]]<ref> Sunan Abi Dawud Book 12, Hadith 110 </ref>. He also forbade the eating of all birds and beasts of prey<ref>Sunan Abi Dawud Book 28 Hadith 70 </ref>, mules, and asses<ref>Sunan Abi Dawud Book 28 Hadith 54</ref>. | ||
After the conclusion of the battle Kinanah agreed to terms, that the Jews would leave Khaybar but also leave all of their wealth to the Muslims. A Jewish traitor informed Muhammad that Kinanah had hidden some treasures around an old ruin. Muhammad asked Kinanah about his treasure, which he denied having. The Muslims excavated the ruin and found his treasure. When they confronted him and demanded to know where the rest of it was, Kinanah refused. Muhammad ordered that a fire be kindled on his chest to torture him into revealing the location of the hidden treasure. After he was tortured for this information, he was beheaded, and Muhammad took [[Safiyah]], his bride, as his own wife. | After the conclusion of the battle Kinanah agreed to terms, that the Jews would leave Khaybar but also leave all of their wealth to the Muslims. A Jewish traitor informed Muhammad that Kinanah had hidden some treasures around an old ruin. Muhammad asked Kinanah about his treasure, which he denied having. The Muslims excavated the ruin and found his treasure. When they confronted him and demanded to know where the rest of it was, Kinanah refused. Muhammad ordered that a fire be kindled on his chest to torture him into revealing the location of the hidden treasure. After he was tortured for this information, he was beheaded, and Muhammad took [[Safiyah]], his bride, as his own wife <ref>Robert Spencer Muhammad: A Critical Biography Simon and Schuster 2024, pages 249-252</ref>. | ||
After Khaybar had been subdued, Muhammad commanded a captive Jewish woman, Zaynab bint al-Harith, to prepare a meal for him. Zaynab asked what part of the animal Muhammad liked the most, and he answered that it was the shoulder. Zaynab's father had been killed during the conquest of Khaybar, and she poisoned the shoulder. Muhammad took a bite of the poisoned shoulder meat, but he spit it out, while the Companion Bishr swallowed it | After Khaybar had been subdued, Muhammad commanded a captive Jewish woman, Zaynab bint al-Harith, to prepare a meal for him. Zaynab asked what part of the animal Muhammad liked the most, and he answered that it was the shoulder. Zaynab's father had been killed during the conquest of Khaybar, and she poisoned the shoulder. Muhammad took a bite of the poisoned shoulder meat, but he spit it out, while the Companion Bishr swallowed it lived <ref>Meraj Mohiudeen Revelation The Story of Muhammad Whiteboard Press 2016 page 290 </ref>, but Bishr died within a year according to Waqidi <ref>Robert Spencer Muhammad: A Critical Biography Simon and Schuster 2024, pages 252</ref>. Although Muhammad lived, he would later tell Bishr's mother on his death bead that it was this poisoned meat which killed him. According to ibn Hisham and Bukhari, the Zaynab told him that if he was a prophet he would be protected, and Muhammad let her live, while in Sunan Abi Dawud (below) Muhammad ordered that she be executed <ref>Robert Spencer Muhammad: A Critical Biography Simon and Schuster 2024, pages 253</ref>. | ||
Muhammad divided the spoils of Khaybar amongst his followers, taking a larger share and the Jewish princess Safiyyah for himself. The Jews were eventually allowed to stay in Khaybar and til the land in exchange for paying the [[Jizyah]] and accepting Muslim rule, making them the first [[Dhimmi|Dhimmis]]. The Jews would stay in Khaybar after the death of Muhammad, until they were expelled by 'Umar, who justified his actions with the saying of the prophet that no religion should exist in Arabia save for Islam. | Muhammad divided the spoils of Khaybar amongst his followers, taking a larger share and the Jewish princess Safiyyah for himself. The Jews were eventually allowed to stay in Khaybar and til the land in exchange for paying the [[Jizyah]] and accepting Muslim rule, making them the first [[Dhimmi|Dhimmis]]. The Jews would stay in Khaybar after the death of Muhammad, until they were expelled by 'Umar, who justified his actions with the saying of the prophet that no religion should exist in Arabia save for Islam <ref>Hans Jansen Mohammed Eine Biographie Verlag C.H Beck oHg page 360-361 </ref>. | ||
==Tafsir Accounts== | ==Tafsir Accounts== | ||
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==Modern Views and Perspectives== | ==Modern Views and Perspectives== | ||
The battle of Khaybar was viewed at the time of the writing and collecting of the [[sirah]] and [[hadith]] literature as | The battle of Khaybar was viewed at the time of the writing and collecting of the [[sirah]] and [[hadith]] literature as an unabashed triumph of the prophet and Islam over the Jews and unbelief (kufr) in general. The Islamic literature took great pride in recounting the defeat of the Jews, the seizure of their property, the discovry of the treasure of [[Kinana]], his torture, the taking of his wife [[Safiyya]] by Muhammad, and the reduction of the Jews of Khaybar to [[dhimmitude]]. The narrative of Khaybar served as a template for the Muslims when dealing with Christian enemies in terms of governance, booty, and terms of surrender. | ||
Modern Muslims and Arab nationalists, when facing the state of Israel in battle, have often invoked the memory of Khaybar to encourage their people to fight the Jews. Muslims around the world have repeated to chant "Khaybar, Khaybar ya yahud, jaysh Muhammad saya'ud"<ref>Dziadosz, Alexander (2012-11-15). [https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-palestinians-israel-islamists-idUKBRE8AE1GP20121115/ "Islamist leaders vow unity against Israel".] ''[[Reuters]]''. Retrieved 28 November 2023.</ref> "Khaybar, Khaybar oh Jews, the army of Muhammad shall return." Modern Jews have described such invocations as manifestations of anti-Semitism, while liberal Muslims have cast doubt on this and many other sirah and hadith narratives, using the Qur'an as a template for more convivial inter-faith relations than those portrayed in the sirah-maghazi literature. | Modern Muslims and Arab nationalists, when facing the state of Israel in battle, have often invoked the memory of Khaybar to encourage their people to fight the Jews. Muslims around the world have repeated to chant "Khaybar, Khaybar ya yahud, jaysh Muhammad saya'ud"<ref>Dziadosz, Alexander (2012-11-15). [https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-palestinians-israel-islamists-idUKBRE8AE1GP20121115/ "Islamist leaders vow unity against Israel".] ''[[Reuters]]''. Retrieved 28 November 2023.</ref> "Khaybar, Khaybar oh Jews, the army of Muhammad shall return."<ref>Robert Spencer Muhammad: A Critical Biography Simon and Schuster 2024, pages 255</ref> Modern Jews have described such invocations as manifestations of anti-Semitism, while liberal Muslims have cast doubt on this and many other sirah and hadith narratives, using the Qur'an as a template for more convivial inter-faith relations than those portrayed in the sirah-maghazi literature. | ||
==Problems with the Traditional Narrative== | ==Problems with the Traditional Narrative== | ||