The Hostility of the Jews and the Conflict with Banu Qainuqa'

Hostile Attitude of the Jews

The dominant position of the Muslims and the speedy spread of Islam was most undesirable to the Jews. Their hostility had far exceeded the enmity of Abdullah bin Ubai. They had their three strongest tribes on the outskirts of Al-Madinah with their separate fortifications. They were Banu Qainuqa', Banu Nadir and Banu Quraizah. The agreement that the Prophet had finalized immediately after his arrival in Al-Madinah, had brought all the Jewish tribes into its fold. The Quraish kept hatching plots with the Jews as they had been doing with Abdullah bin Ubai.

Since the Jews were antagonistic to the progress made by Islam, they had grown sympathetic to the Quraish and their efforts to curb the expansion of Islam. The Jews were enraged and disgruntled when they heard from Zaid bin Hârithah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) the news of the Muslim victory at Badr. And Ka'b bin Ashraf violently reacted to this good news and remarked, "Woe to you! the Makkans are kings and the nobles of Arabia. If Prophet Muhammad has won victory over them, one will not be able to enjoy living on this earth."

When the news of the polytheist defeat was properly verified, Ka'b bin Ashraf left Al-Madinah and went to Makkah where he wrote elegies for the slain and began to sing them throughout Makkah. After igniting the fire of revenge among the Makkan disbelievers, he came back to Al-Madinah and left no stone unturned in flaying and decrying and mocking the Muslims.

The Jewish tribes were wealthy and practiced usury of the most destructive nature. The Aus and the Khazraj tribes of Al-Madinah were indebted to them and financially under their control. The Jews were also proud of their wealth and cunning, and therefore, looked at others as if they were foolish and ignorant. The honorable victory of the Muslims at Badr embarrassed them. They formed new alliances with Abdullah bin Ubai and his hypocrite followers in Al-Madinah, and the Quraish in Makkah. Foul words and abusive language were devices they used to soothe their mental agony. They also drew a dangerous plan to first ask the disbelievers to profess Islam without actually believing in it and then renounce it saying that they accepted Islam but found that it was not a sound religion. They wanted their abandoning of Islam to cause the other Muslims to turn back from their new faith leaving behind disorder and disruption.

Now the Prophet and his Companions came across this very ugly situation. Allâh's Messenger would visit the Jewish communities and go to their meetings and congregations to try to bring them around to the truth and to put matters right. He said to them, "You are fully aware of the fact that I am the true Messenger of Allâh and you were yourself awaiting the advent of a Messenger from Allâh the Almighty. It was your duty to testify to my Prophethood first before all others, and you should have looked into your heavenly Books in order to find the prophecies regarding me. But you are advancing on the path of rejection and opposition; do fear the wrath of Allâh otherwise you may suffer the same ignoble death and destruction that came to men like Abu Jahl, Utbah and the others at Badr." In response to these noble and wise words, they would lash out at Allâh's Messenger saying: "The Quraish of Makkah were unaware of the strategies of battle. We shall teach you a lesson if and when you will face us, do not compare us with the Quraish of Makkah."

The Jewish Tribe-Banu Qainuqa'

The Prophet put up with the highly rude treatment meted out to him with exemplary patience and forbearance. Although these unprincipled and haughty Jews had broken their covenant, Allâh's Messenger did not like to punish them. He preferred wise counseling and patience to their shocking rudeness and disrespectful behavior. Finally, their extreme ill-treatment and evil doing led them to the brink of disaster and their doom.

Once a fair was being held in the settlements of Banu Qainuqa'. A woman from the Ansâr went there to sell milk. Following this, she went to a goldsmith's shop to buy an ornament. The Jewish goldsmith molested her. An Ansâri raised his voice in support of the woman in trouble. Jews from far and near assembled in no time and fell upon the Muslim which resulted in his martyrdom after he had also put a Jew to death. Other Muslims also reached the trouble spot but suffered attacks from armed Jews. The Prophet received information in Al-Madinah. He reached there accompanied by the Companions but found the Jews armed and ready to fight. Fighting took place and seven hundred warriors of Banu Qainuqa' including three hundred armored men took refuge in their fort. Abdullah bin Salâm (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) belonged to Banu Qainuqa'. The Muslims laid siege to the fort, which continued for about a fortnight with the result they captured the fort along with everybody inside.

In accordance with the Arabian practice, the prisoners of war would be mercilessly put to death. The Makkans were amazed to see that among the captives of Badr, only two were killed as a result of their unbounded mischief and crimes. All others were left alive. Again, when seven hundred people were captured, they were expecting death. But Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul, the head of the hypocrites and apparently a Muslim, interceded with the Prophet for the safety of their lives. The Prophet was a little hesitant about making the decision. At last Abdullah bin Ubai's repeated efforts materialized and safety was granted to all the prisoners. Thus Abdullah bin Ubai succeeded in his attempt to consolidate his friendly relation with the Jews.

Ka'b bin Ashraf has been referred to above. He grew bold enough to use the names of Muslim women in his love poems. The Muslims were much aggrieved with this state of affairs. Patience on the part of the Muslims emboldened the Jews to hatch a conspiracy for assassinating the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) with the result he took care while going out at night. When the mischief of Ka'b bin Ashraf crossed all limits, Muhammad bin Maslamah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), a Companion took permission to kill him. He then took a few friends with him and went to Ka'b bin Ashraf's house and killed him. In the wake of the murder of Ka'b bin Ashraf, another Jew, Salâm bin Abul-Huqaiq took up the gauntlet and exceeded his mischief. Since Ka'b bin Ashraf was killed by Banu Aus, Banu Khazraj took upon themselves the responsibility of doing away with his evil successor. Eight youngsters from Banu Khazraj took the route to Khaibar, killed Salâm bin Abul-Huqaiq there and escaped safe and sound.