The Zatur Reqa’ Encounter
After the Battle of the Trench, the Prophet (PBUH) advanced toward Najd with 400 Companions to launch an attack on the Ghatfan tribe. In this journey the feet of the Companions were injured so badly that they had to tie pieces of cloth over their feet to be able to walk. That is why this expedition is called the Battle of Zatur Riqa’. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Kitabul Maghazi, Ghazwae Zatur Riqa’.)After this encounter, an incident occurred which has occupied a prominent place in Islamic history. Two Companions, ‘Abbad bin Bishr and ‘Ammaar bin Yasir, were deputed to guard a post. Hazrat ‘Ammaar was taking rest, while Hazrat ‘Abbad was offering Salah. An enemy shot an arrow at ‘abbad and hit him. He pulled out the arrow from his body and continued his Salah. He was hit with three arrows one after another, but he did not discontinue his Salah and woke up Hazrat ‘Ammaar only when he completed it. When Hazrat ‘Ammaar expressed his surprise at the incident and asked him why he did not wake him up earlier, Hazrat ‘Abbad replied, “I was reciting a Surah (chapter) from the Qur`an in Salah and did not want to leave it incomplete.” (Musnad Ahmad, 3: 344, Sunan Abu Dawood, Kitabut Tahara, Babul Wudhu minaddam.)
The Banu Qurayza Encounter
At the beginning of his stay at Madinah, the Prophet (PBUH) had entered into a treaty with the Jews, according to which they were granted protection of life, property, and religion. But, under the threat of the Quraysh, they turned rebellious against the Muslims. The Prophet (PBUH) tried to renew the treaty with the Jews, but Banu Nazeer, a Jewish tribe, refused and was exiled. Banu Qurayza, another Jewish tribe, entered into a treaty with the Prophet (PBUH) again and was granted peace on the same terms. A tradition is recorded in Saheeh Muslim:
“It is related on the authority of Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar® that the people of Banu Nazeer and Banu Qurayza fought against the Prophet (pbuh), after which the Banu Nazeer tribe was exiled while the Banu Qurayza tribe was allowed to stay and was treated kindly.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitabul Jihad was Siyar.)
After the exile, the chiefs of Banu Nazeer, Huyyay bin Akhtab, Abu Rafe’, and Salaam bin Abil Huqayq had settled down in Khaybar and had established a state there. The Battle of Ahzab was a result of their mischievous efforts. They made a tour all over the country, raised the Arab tribes against the Muslims and attacked Madinah with the Quraysh. The Banu Qurayza tribe honored the treaty until then. But Huyyay bin Akhtab influenced them to change sides and gave them his word that if the Quraysh backed out in the fight against the Muslims, he would move from Khaybar and live for the rest of life with Banu Qurayza. He kept his word. After the defeat in the Battle of Ahzab, Banu Qurayza retreated with Huyyay bin Akhtab, who was the bitterest enemy of Islam.
Now it became necessary for the Prophet (PBUH) to address to the danger of Banu Qurayza’s insurgence. He moved to Banu Qurayza as soon as the Battle of Ahzab was over. Had the people of Banu Qurayza showed an inclination toward peace, a new treaty could have been formed. But they turned rebellious and when Hazrat ‘Ali reached close to their forts, they started hurling abuses on the Prophet (PBUH) and calling him names. The Muslims laid siege of their forts which continued for a month. Then Banu Qurayza wished to take S’ad bin Mu’az as arbitrator and declared that they would honor his decision, whatsoever. Hazrat S’ad bin Mu’az’s tribe Aws was an ally of the Jewish tribe Banu Qurayza. Such a tribal alliance was considered more respectful than even the bond of blood. The Prophet (pbuh) accepted S’ad as the arbitrator between the Jews and the Muslims. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Kitabul Maghazi.)
The Prophet (pbuh) used to follow the commandments of the Torah, if an instruction about a particular situation was not revealed in the Qur`anuntil then. The matters relating to the Qibla, Salah, Stoning of the sinful (Rajam), and retribution (Qasaas) are such examples in which the instructions of the Torah were followed until commandments were revealed in the Qur`an relating to these matters. In the arbitration mentioned above, S’ad bin Mu’az® also followed the commandment of the Jewish book, the Torah,that the fighters be killed, children be taken as captives, and property be confiscated. (Sahih Muslim, Kitabul Jihad, Bab Jawazul Qital fi Naqdh Al-Ahd. For reference to the Torah, see Seeratun Nabi by Shibli N’omani, vol 1, p. 435. )
It is related in Ahadeeth (Traditions) that when Hazrat S’ad bin Mu’az announced his decision, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “You made a decision in keeping with the divine commandments,” which referred to the same commandment in the Torah. The comments that the Jews made after hearing Hazrat S’ad’s decision also show that in their opinion that decision was based on a divine command in their religious book.
When Huyyay bin Akhtab was about to be put to death, he looked toward the Prophet (pbuh) and said,
“By God! I am not sorry that I nurtured hatred for you, but, as it goes, God forsakes the person who forsakes God.”
Then he turned toward the people around and said,
“O people! There is nothing wrong in obeying the commandments of God, but this was a divine decree ordained, a punishment that the Bani Israil was destined to bear.” (Seerat Ibn Hisham, 2: 241.)
This has to be remembered that Huyyay bin Akhtab had promised on oath in the name of God at the time of his exile to Khaybar that he would not extend any help to an enemy of the Prophet (pbuh), but he disregarded that oath and promise. The Najd Expedition and Hazrat Thumama’s
Acceptance of Islam
The Prophet (pbuh) had dispatched a group of soldiers toward Najd, who, while returning, arrested Thumama bin Athaal and brought him to Madinah. They tied him to a pole in Masjide Nabawi. When the Prophet (PBUH) came there, he inquired, “Thumama! How are you?” He replied, “I am well. If you give orders for me to be put to death, it will be a (just) decree for a murderer. But if you show mercy to me, you will find me grateful. If, however, you want money, tell me how much it is.” The second day also the Prophet (pbuh) asked Thumama the same question. He replied, “I have told you that if you show mercy, you will find me grateful.” The Prophet (PBUH) asked the same question to him the third day and he gave him the same reply. The Prophet (PBUH) ordered the Muslims to release him. Thumama went to a nearby date orchard, took a bath there, returned to Masjide Nabawi and professed Islam. After it he said, “O Prophet of Allah! By God, I hated you most in the world, but now you look dearest to me. By God, I hated your city most in the world, but now it is dearest to me. By God, I hated your religion most, but now it is dearest to me.” He also added, “I was going to Makkah for ‘Umrah, but I was arrested in the way. Now what should I do about my ‘Umrah? The Prophet (PBUH) congratulated him for entering into Islam and gave him permission to continue his journey and perform ‘Umrah.
When Hazrat Thumama reached Makkah, a person asked him, “Did you become a Sabi? He replied, “No, I have professed faith in Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and have accepted Islam. Now, bear in mind that not a grain of wheat will reach you from Yamama without the consent of the Prophet (PBUH).” (Sahih Muslim, Kitabul Jihad was Siyar. Sahih Al-Bukhari also records this incident in a short form.
When Hazrat Thumama went back to his country Yamama, he stopped the supply of grains from there to Makkah. This was a severe blow to Makkans and they found no other way to restore the supply of grains but to request the Prophet (PBUH) to intervene. Upon their request, the Prophet (pbuh) wrote to Thumama® to lift the blockade and let the grains come to Makkah as before.(Dalaelun Nabuwwah lil Bayhaqui, 4: 80.)Those days the people of Makkah were the deadliest enemies of the Prophet (PBUH). This event shows that when he forgave Thumama who considered himself liable to the punishment of death due to a past sin, it came to the fore how kind the Prophet (PBUH) actually was. Thumama who hated the Prophet (PBUH) and everything associated with him, accepted Islam on his own in just three days. Also, the Prophet (PBUH) saw to it that the blockade to the supply of grains to the Makkans was lifted, although they had left no stone unturned in opposing Islam and had fought fierce battles to destroy the Prophet (PBUH) and his followers.
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