PART 9

47. THE DEFEAT OF THE JEWS AT KHAIBAR (7 A.H.)

The Jews were humiliated when they were expelled from Madinatul Munawwarah. They wanted to destroy Islam completely. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had to take measures against them to stop their mischief.

47.1 JEWISH ARMY AT KHAIBAR

After the Jews left Madinatul Munawwarah, many of them settled in Khaibar, about 16 miles north of Madinatul Munawwarah. Here they lived in forts that were well protected. They were very rich. They spent their wealth to arm themselves with the best weapons of war. They had an army of some 20 000 soldiers in their forts. The Jews began to plot in co-operation with their allies, the Bedouin tribes, to invade Madinatul Munawwarah.

A month after the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) came to know of their schemes. He marched with an army of 16 000 Sahaba to Khaibar. The Sahaba were well-equipped for war for they knew the strength of the Jews. They reached Khaibar after 3 days.

47.2 MUSLIMS CONFRONT JEWS IN THEIR FORTS

The Jews had 6 strong forts. Hoping to make the Muslims tired of fighting, they split up their armies in each fort. The Muslims had to fight fort by fort.

At first, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) offered to make peace with the Jews. When they refused, he ordered his Sahaba to surround the forts.

The Muslims attacked the fort called Al Natat. The Jews fought with desperate courage, but the determined Muslim army eventually defeated them.

The Jews now moved to the Fort of Qamus. Here, too, they were defeated.

When the Jews moved to yet another fort called Al Saab, they were defeated. Marhab, the leader of the Jews, and a man of immense strength, came out of the fort and invited Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) to combat. Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) killed him in the first attack.

The Jews then moved to the fort of Al Zubair. This too fell in Muslim hands. Fort after fort was captured by the Muslim army. Finally, the Jews surrendered. They began to beg for mercy and peace.

47.3 OUTCOME OF BATTLE

The Jews were now at the mercy of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). They begged him to spare them their lives. They promised to pay half the produce of their lands to him. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) agreed to their proposal. The wealth of Khaibar was distributed among the Muslim army.

47.4 FALL OF OTHER JEWISH TRIBES

While confronting the Jews at Khaibar, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) sent his Sahaba to confront the Jews of Fidak. Here the Jews made peace and agreed to give up half of their wealth to the Muslims.

On his way back to Madinatul Munawwarah, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) confronted the Jews of Waadi-ul-Qurra. Fighting broke out and the Jews were defeated. The Jews of Taima surrendered to the Muslim army without fighting.

47.5 POISON BY JEWISH LADY

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and his Sahaba were invited to a feast by a Jewess, Zainab bin Harith, the wife of a Jewish chief.

They accepted the invitation. When Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) put the meat to his mouth, the bones of the meat informed him that he had been poisoned. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) immediately spat out the food. He questioned Zainab about the poison. She confessed to this crime.

After 2 or 3 days, Sayyiduna Bishr bin Bara (radi Allahu anhu), a Shahabi who ate the meat, passed away through the effects of the poison. Zainab was given the death sentence according to Islamic Law.

47.6 PEACE ATTAINED

Thus, all the Jews throughout Arabia submitted to the authority of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). They no longer posed a threat to Islam. They now lived in peace with the Muslims.

Those tribes, who did not accept Islam, knew of the strength and power of the Jews of Khaibar - the strong forts they lived in, the amount of wealth that they possessed and of their strong leaders. They knew that it was impossible for anyone to conquer the Jews at Khaibar. Now that the Muslims defeated the Jews, they realised that the Muslim forces are irresistible.

48. INVITING RULERS TO ACCEPT ISLAM (6 A.H. - 7 A.H.)

Islam is the way of life for all human beings, and Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was sent as "Rahmatul lil Aalameen" or "a mercy for all mankind." Now that more and more Arabs were coming to Islam, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) sent his Sahaba to the rulers of different countries inviting them to accept Islam. He first called his Sahaba to assemble in the Masjid and said to them: "O People! Allah has sent me as one who is compassionate to mankind and the Prophet of all the worlds. Therefore, preach (the message of Islam) on my behalf, Allah will have mercy upon you ..."

These Sahaba or "ambassadors of Islam" carried with them letters inviting the rulers of foreign lands to Islam. These letters carried a stamp of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). The stamp read: "Mohammadur Rasoolullah." These words were engraved on the silver ring which Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) wore.

48.1 HERACULEUS OF BYZANTINE

Sayyiduna Dayah Kalbi (radi Allahu anhu) was sent to the Byzantine Emperor, Heraculeus. The Emperor asked for an Arab to explain to him the message Islam. Abu Sufyaan, the Meccan leader, was at that time in the Byzantine country on business. He appeared before Heraculeus. Heraculeus questioned Abu Sufyaan about Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). He was so impressed with Islam that he intended becoming a Muslim. But, he did not accept Islam because his people objected.

48.2 KHUSRO PARVEZ OF IRAN

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Hudayfa (radi Allahu anhu) was sent with a letter to Khusro Parvez of Iran. Khusro considered the letter as a great insult and tore up the letter in anger. When Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) heard of this, he said that Almighty Allah will tear up the kingdom of Khusro. This later proved true when Khusro's own son, Shirooya, killed his father.

48.3 MARQUAQAS OF EGYPT

Marquaqas, the Archbishop of Egypt, was also invited to Islam. But, he did not accept Islam. However, he sent presents to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). He also sent to two highly respectable girls - Sayyadah Mariya Qibtiya (radi Allahu anha) and Sirrin to Madinatul Munawwarah. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) later married Sayyadah Mariya Qibtiya (radi Allahu anha).

48.4 NEGUS OF ABYSSINIA

Sayyiduna Amr bin Umayya (radi Allahu anhu) also presented a letter to Negus. Negus had already accepted Islam at the hands of Sayyiduna Jafer bin Abi Taalib (radi Allahu anhu). The letter also requested him to sent back all the Muslims, who were still in his land, to Madinatul Munawwarah.

Sahaba were also sent with letters to many other places. Some accepted Islam, others making their own conditions, while some threatened to fight the Muslims. All the Sahaba returned safely to Madinatul Munawwarah.

49. MUSLIMS ENTER MAKKATUL MUKARRAMAH FOR UMRAH (7 A.H.)

The Treaty of Hudaibiya allowed the Muslims to visit Makkatul Mukarramah and perform their Umrah this year.

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) made preparations to march to Makkatul Mukarramah with 2 000 Sahaba. Soon, they were within sight of the city and camped outside the city of Makkatul Mukarramah.

The Meccan Kuffar realized that the treaty they had signed had been of an advantage to the Muslims. They were disgusted, but could do nothing. They left their city and took to the nearby hills to watch the Muslims.

49.1 MUSLIMS PERFORM UMRAH

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and his Sahaba had 3 days to stay in the city. They entered the city, their original home, and made Tawaaf around the Holy Kaaba. They were in Ihraam. Thereafter, they made Sa'i (running between Saffa and Marwa) and sacrificed the animals they had brought with them. The next day, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) led the Sahaba in Salaah in front of the Holy Kaaba. The Meccan Kuffar who were watching from the hills were struck by the magnificent manner in which the Umrah and the manner of worship was performed.

After stayinG in Makkatul Mukarramah for 3 days, the Muslims returned to Madinatul Munawwarah. They were satisfied with the opportunity given to them by Almighty Allah to fulfill an important religious obligation.

49.2 MECCANS ACCEPT ISLAM

Sayyadah Umme Maymunah (radi Allahu anha), the aunt of Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu) accepted Islam. She later married Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).

Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu), the general of the Meccan army, also accepted Islam and came to Madinatul Munawwarah. Sayyiduna Amr bin As (radi Allahu anhu), Sayyiduna 'Uthman bin Talha (radi Allahu anhu), and many other Meccans also accepted Islam.