Battle of Banu Qurayza: Difference between revisions

There are different reports about the origin of [[Banu Qurayza]] and their migration to [[Yathrib]]. According to some oral narratives of Jews, Banu Qurayza are descendants of [[Harun (a)]] (Aaron), the brother of [[Moses (a)]], who were in Yathrib before the [[flood of 'Arim]], which caused the emigration of Arab tribes of [[Aws and Khazraj]] to Yathrib.

According to some reports, after the war between the Romans with Jews (70 A.C.), Banu Qurayza escaped to [[Hijaz]] and resided in Yathrib. Some other sources identify Banu Qurayza form the Judham tribe from [[Palestine]], who converted to [[Judaism]] in the time of 'Adiya b. Samu'il (ruled 1075-1045 AD).

Banu Qurayza along other Jew tribes of Yathrib gained the political control of the city. Their ruler was a tax payer to the Iranian ruler of al-Zarih (in Bahrain). In 525, the Christian ruler of [[Habasha]] (Ethiopia), who was the representative of Rome, defeated of the Jew reign of [[Yemen]]; which caused the decrease of the power of the Jews in Yathrib. And finally in a battle between the Jews and Khazraj tribe, the Jew governor was killed and Arabs gained the control of the city.

When the army of polytheists of [[Mecca]] and their allies approached [[Medina]], Huyyay b. Akhtab -one of the Jews form Banu Nadir tribe, who had a major role in the formation of the army of the polytheists- met with the Banu Qurayza leaders as the representative of the polytheists and they agreed to cooperate with the polytheists against Muslims.

When the report reached the Prophet (s) he sent a group, among them [[Sa'd b. Mu'adh]], [[Sa'd b. 'Ubada]], and [[Usayd b. Hudayr]], to the stronghold of Banu Qurayza to investigate the report. Banu Qurayza in their meeting with the group disdained the Prophet (s) and rejected their treaty with Muslims.

Because of the geographical location of Banu Qurayza they could attack Medina when Muslims were defending the trench; therefore the report of the betrayal of Banu Qurayza demoralized Muslims. According to some reports, when polytheists' army besieged Medina, Banu Qurayza decided to attack Medina overnight, and sent some messages to the polytheists and requested force. Hearing the report, the Prophet (s) sent 200 Muslim men to defend Medina and say [[takbir]] till morning, with the lights of day, the danger resolved.

One night about ten of Jew fighters attacked the city and returned after an hour of struggle with a group of Muslims. It is narrated from [[Abu Bakr]]: "we were more scared about our children and women from Banu Qurayza than from [[Quraysh]] and [[Ghatfan]]."

Muslims besieged the stronghold of [[Banu Qurayza]]. The period of siege is reported between 15 to 25 days. Banu Qurayza proposed to surrender with the same conditions as [[Banu Nadir]] -Banu Nadir had leaved [[Medina]], leaving their belongings behind- but the [[Prophet (s)]] rejected every propose except that they surrender unconditionally.

By the propose of Banu Qurayza, the Prophet (s) accepted the arbitration of [[Sa'd b. Mu'adh]], one of the nobles of [[Aws]] and the head of [[Banu 'Abd Ashhal]]. Banu Qurayza proposed the arbitration of Sa'd b. Mu'adh because they had an alliance before Islam. Sa'd referring to the rules of [[Torah]] and the treaty between the Jews and the Prophet (s) declared that who had gathered against the Prophet (s) must be executed, and the children and women become enslaved. The Prophet (s) considered the verdict in accordance to the rules of God. The verses 56 to 58 of [[Sura al-Anfal]] and verses 26 and 27 of [[Sura al-Ahzab]] are about the battle with Banu Qurayza.

The report about the killings are different. Some said that all the men of Banu Qurayza whose number was 600 to 800 were executed; also a woman who had killed a Muslim, was executed. One of the men of the tribe named Rufa'a b. Simawal was forgiven with the intervention of one of the aunts of the Prophet (s). Some others report that only the fighters of Banu Qurayza who had acted against Muslims were executed.

The verses 26 and 27 of [[Sura al-Ahzab]] verifies the verdict, but not the execution of all men of the tribe, but only those who acted against Muslims; [[Sayyid Ja'far Murtada 'Amili]] in ''[[Al-Sahih min sirat al-Nabi al-a'zam|al-Sahih]]'' in the exegesis of the verse 26 of Sura al-Ahzab says: the part of the verse "… you killed a part of them, and took captive [another] part of them", the word used for ''taking captive'' (تأسرون, ta'sirun) is used for men; because in Arabic, for taking women captive, another word is used; but some exegetes have incorrectly interpret the word ''killed'' about men and the word ''took captive'' for women and children. So only fighters who had acted against Muslims executed and the rest became enslaved. As [[Ibn Shahrashub]] mentioned the total number of men 700, and the number of the executed 450.

* Dr. Shahidi says: "It looks like that the story of the [[Battle of Banu Qurayza]], is altered and written years after the event, by a story teller from [[Khazraj]] tribe, whose intention was to imply that the Prophet (s) killed Banu Qurayza, the ally of [[Aws]], contrary to the ally of Khazraj (Banu Nadir) who hadn't been killed; because Khazraj was dearer to the Prophet (s) than Aws."