Execution of the Banu Qurayzah for their Treachery

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) has written about the attitude and conduct of the Jews, including the treachery of the Banu Qurayza. Although this has been narrated previously with regard to Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra), however owing to its historical importance, I will narrate it here as well.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) writes:

“But they still had the Banu Qurayza to settle with. The Banu Qurayza had dishonoured their pact with the Muslims and this could not be passed over. The Holy Prophet (sa) collected his exhausted force” returning from the Battle of the Ditch “and told them that there was no rest for them yet. Before the sun went down, they must fall upon the Banu Qurayza in their fortifications. Then he sent Hazrat Ali (ra) to the Banu Qurayza to ask them why they had gone back on their solemn word. The Banu Qurayza showed no regret and no inclination to ask for forgiveness. Instead, they insulted Hazrat Ali (ra) and the other Muslim delegates and started hurling vile abuse at the Holy Prophet (sa) and the women of his family. They said they did not care for Muhammad [sa] and had never had any kind of pact with him. When Hazrat Ali (ra) returned to report the reply of the Jews, he found the Holy Prophet (sa) and the Companions advancing towards the Jewish fortifications. The Jews had been abusing the Prophet (sa), his wives and daughters. Fearing lest this should pain the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Ali (ra) suggested there was no need for the Holy Prophet (sa) to take part as the Muslims themselves could deal with the Jews and that he ought to return. The Holy Prophet (ra) understood what Hazrat Ali (ra) was referring to and said, ‘You want me not to hear their abuse, Ali?’ ‘Exactly,’ replied Hazrat Ali (ra).

“‘But why?’ said the Holy Prophet (sa). ‘Moses was of their kith and kin. Yet they inflicted more suffering on him than they have on me.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) continued to advance. The Jews put up their defences and started fighting. Their women also joined them. Some Muslims were sitting at the foot of a wall. A Jewish woman, seeing this, dropped a stone on them, killing one of the Muslims … The siege went on for some days. At the end of this period, the Jews felt they would not be able to hold out for long. Then their chiefs sent word to the Prophet (sa) requesting him to send Abu Lubabah, an Ansari chief of the Aus, a tribe friendly to the Jews. They wanted to consult him about a possible settlement. The Holy Prophet (sa) sent Abu Lubabah to the Jews, who asked him if they should lay down their arms and accept the conditions of the Holy Prophet (sa). Abu Lubabah said they should. But at the same time, he passed a finger over his neck, making the sign of death. The Holy Prophet (sa) had said nothing on this subject to anybody. But Abu Lubabah, fearing that the crime of the Jews (i.e. breaking a covenant) merited nothing but death, and without giving any thought, made this sign, which proved fateful for the Jews. The latter declined Abu Lubabah’s advice and refused to accept the Holy Prophet’s (sa) decision. Had they accepted it, the utmost punishment they would have received was expulsion from Medina.” The Jews did not accept this and had they accepted, the most that they would have suffered was exile. “But as ill-luck would have it, they refused to accept the Holy Prophet’s (sa) verdict. Instead of the Holy Prophet’s (sa), they said, they would accept the verdict of Saad (ra) bin Muaz, chief of their allies, the Aus. They would agree to any punishment proposed by him. A dispute also arose among the Jews. Some of them began to say that their people had really gone back on their agreement with the Muslims. The behaviour of the Muslims, on the other hand, showed that they were true and honest and that their religion also was true. Those who thought in this way joined Islam. Amr bin Saadi, one of the Jewish chiefs, reproved his people and said, ‘You have committed a breach of faith and gone back on your plighted word. The only course now open to you is either to join Islam or give jizyah.’ They said, ‘We will neither join Islam nor give jizyah (the majority thought in this way), for dying is better.’ Amr replied that in that case, he stood absolved and saying this, he left the fort. He was sighted by Muhammad (ra) bin Maslamah, commander of a Muslim column, who asked him who he was. On learning of his identity, he told him to depart in peace and himself prayed loudly:

اَللّٰھُمَّ لَا تَحْرِمْنِيْ اِقَالَةَ عَثْرَاتِ الْکِرَامِ

‘O Allah! Do not deprive me from the virtue of concealing the mistakes of the honourable.’

“What he meant was that this Jew had shown remorse and regret over the conduct of his people. It was the moral duty of Muslims, therefore, to forgive men like him. In letting him go, he had done a good thing and he prayed that God should give him the chance to do such good deeds again and again. When the Holy Prophet (sa) got to know of what Muhammad (ra) bin Maslamah had done, he did not reprove him for letting go of this Jewish leader, rather he approved of what had been done.”

(Introduction to the Study of the Holy Quran, pp. 162-164)