The killing of Banu Quraydha

What happened at Ghazwa Banu Quraydha.

Banu Quraydha betrayed the Muslims and breached the covenant which was concluded with the Muslims at a crucial time when they were besieged by 10,000 Kaafir fighters. Thus, they exposed the life of all the Muslims (men, women, children and elders) to danger if it was not for the Mercy and Grace of Allaah The Almighty Who repelled those who disbelieved in their rage.

1. Al Bayhaqi narrated:

وَلَمَّا رَأَى عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ رَسُولَ الله صلى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُقْبِلًا، تَلَقَّاهُ، وَقَالَ: ارْجِعْ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، فَإِنَّ اللهَ كَافِيكَ الْيَهُودَ، وَكَانَ عَلِيٌّ سَمِعَ مِنْهُمْ قَوْلًا سَيِّئًا لِرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ فَكَرِهَ عَلِيٌّ أَنْ يَسْمَعَ ذَلِكَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لِمَ تَأْمُرُنِي بِالرُّجُوعِ؟ فَكَتَمَهُ مَا سَمِعَ مِنْهُمْ، فَقَالَ: أَظُنُّكَ سَمِعْتَ لِيَ مِنْهُمْ أَذًى، فَامْضِ فَإِنَّ أَعْدَاءَ اللهِ لَوْ قَدْ رَأَوْنِي لَمْ يَقُولُوا شَيْئًا مِمَّا سَمِعْتَ.

When Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) saw the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) approaching, he greeted him and said, “Go back, O Messenger of Allah, for Allah is sufficient for you against the Jews.” Ali had heard them say something offensive about the Prophet and his wives, and he did not want the Prophet to hear it. The Prophet asked him, “Why are you telling me to go back?” Ali kept what he had heard to himself, and the Prophet said, “I think you have heard something harmful from them. Go, for if the enemies of Allah had seen me, they would not have said anything of what you have heard.”

Dalail al Nabuwwah by al Bayhaqi 4/13

2. According to Ibn Kathir in Al Bidaya wal Nihaya Vol 4 pages 94-100.

The Prophet peace be upon him tried to talk with them peacefully but they replied, Do not waste your time. Huyayy ibn Akhtab encouraged them to fight against Muslims.

3. When the tribe of Bani Quraydha (who were planning to Kill the Sahaba and Prophet peace be upon him) was ready to accept Sad’s judgment, Sad came and sat beside Allah’s Apostle who said to him. “These people are ready to accept your judgment.” Sad said, “I give the judgment that their warriors should be killed and their children and women should be taken as prisoners.”

4. Honor of a Muslim woman.

When some of the Jews of Banu Qaynuqaa‘ harassed a Muslim woman in the marketplace and did a trick to expose her ‘nakedness, and they challenged the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to fight, saying:

O Muhammad, do not be deceived by the fact that you killed some of Quraysh, for they were unskilled and did not know how to fight; but if you fight us you will find out that we are real men.

[Classed as hasan by Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Baari (7/332)]

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) confronted them and expelled them from Madinah. That happened in Shawwaal of 2 AH. [Islamqa]