Banu Qurayza: Difference between revisions

In many historical sources, the Jewish tribes of Banu Qurayza and Banu Nadir are said to be from the progeny of Aaron, the brother of the Prophet Moses (a).<ref>Abū al-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ''Al-Aghānī'', vol. 22, p. 343; Muqaddasī, ''Kitāb al-badʾ wa al-tārīkh'', vol. 4, p. 129- 130; Ḥamawī, ''Muʿjam al-buldān'', vol. 5, p. 84.</ref> However, in some other sources, Banu Qurayza is said to be from the Judham clan in [[Palestine]] who converted to [[Judaism]] in the period of 'Adiya b. Samawa'al.<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 1, p. 408.</ref>

Allegedly, the Jews of Banu Qurayza lived in Yathrib before the migration of the Arabian tribes of Aws and Khazraj to the town.<ref>Abū al-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ''Al-Aghānī'', vol. 22, p. 343; Muqaddasī, ''Kitāb al-badʾ wa al-tārīkh'', vol. 4, p. 129- 130; Ḥamawī, ''Muʿjam al-buldān'', vol. 5, p. 84.</ref> Thus, in the wake of Jewish-Roman wars in the 70s, Banu Qurayza fled to [[Hijaz]] and inhabited Mahzur near Yathrib.<ref>Abū al-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ''Al-Aghānī'', vol. 22, p. 344.</ref>

Along with other Jewish tribes, Banu Qurayza governed Yathrib. Allegedly, their commander was al-Qaytuwan or Fatyun, who was a taxpayer to the [[Iran]]ian ruler, al-Zarih (in [[Bahrain]]).<ref>Ḥamawī, ''Muʿjam al-buldān'', vol. 5, p. 84- 85.</ref> According to historical sources, when the Jewish government in Yemen was defeated by the Christian king of Abyssinia, the Jews of Medina were undermined. Finally, in a battle between Khazraj and the Jews, their commander was killed, and Arabs overtook the town.<ref>Muqaddasī, ''Kitāb al-badʾ wa al-tārīkh'', vol. 4, p. 130.</ref>

Because of the dominance of Arab tribes in Medina, many Jews left the city.<ref>Ṭuʿayma, ''Al-Tārīkh al-Yahūdī al-ʿāmm'', vol. 2, p. 12; Marṣafī, ''Al-Rasūl wa al-yahūd wajhan li-wajh'', vol. 7, p. 10- 12.</ref> It is also reported that near the emergence of Islam, Jewish tribes lived outside the city in their forts.<ref>Majdūb, ''Al-Mustawṭanāt al-Yahūdiyya ʿalā ʿahd al-Rasūl'', p. 45.</ref> In this period, Banu Qurayza had greater population and influence than [[Banu Nadir]] and [[Banu Qaynuqa']].<ref>Majdūb, ''Al-Mustawṭanāt al-Yahūdiyya ʿalā ʿahd al-Rasūl'', p. 43.</ref> They lived in the southeast of Medina<ref>Ṭuʿayma, ''Al-Tārīkh al-Yahūdī al-ʿāmm'', vol. 2, p. 15.</ref> and were mainly engaged in agriculture.<ref>Marṣafī, ''Al-Rasūl wa al-yahūd wajhan li-wajh'', vol. 1, p. 123.</ref>