Download PDF: [S] The Jews were Killed for theirt Trearchery

There is no doubt that since the building of the trench, no battle in the true sense of the word took place in the Battle of Khandaq. But there were sporadic incidents of people being injured through arrows been shot by the opposing forces. As a result of this, sixteen people were killed. They were six Muslims and ten Kaafirs.

 

During this incident, an arrow shot by a Meccan named Habban bin Araqah also struck the shoulder of Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad bin Mu’az – may Allah be pleased with him – who was considered as one of the eminent leaders of the Ansaar. A vital vein in his shoulder was cut. Even though the injury at that time was not that serious, but the great Muslim made an unusual Du’a which was, “O Allah! You are fully aware that nothing is more beloved to me than to fight against those people who belied Your Messenger and removed him from his city. I am also aware that the final moments of this battle has arrived and if there is any chance of me fighting at this moment, I would prefer that so that it becomes a means for my martyrdom.”

 

Since the tribe of the Bani Qurayzah had also displayed immense treachery in this incident, Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad bin Mu’az – may Allah be pleased with him – also made Du’a, “O Allah! Please do not allow me to die until my eyes are cooled by the punishment which befalls the Bani Qurayzah for their treachery against the Muslims.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad bin Mu’az – may Allah be pleased with him – was also among those Muslims who had initially approached the Bani Qurayzah and warned them against turning against the Muslims. However, the Jews were also ardent enemies of Islam and the Muslims. When they were faced by immense hardship, they pleaded to the Muslims for help and when they were safe, they turned against the Muslims.

 

Since Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad bin Mu’az – may Allah be pleased with him – was injured, he was placed in special tent which was under the control of a female Ansari named Rafeedah Aslamiyah who was in charge of taking care of the injured. Since her tent was near the locality of the Bani Aslam, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – wanted him to be treated in this area.

 

At the same time, Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad – may Allah be pleased with him – was also a very beloved leader of the Bani Aus since he was from one of its offshoots, the Bani Abd Ash-hal. When the Bani Qurayzah had been found guilty of mutiny, the hands of their men folk were tied and this was done under the command and supervision Hadrat Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Muslimah Ansari – may Allah be pleased with him.

 

The females and the children were kept separate. Members of the Aus tribe also approached the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and asked him to spare these people as he had treated the Bani Qainuqah. They also mentioned that the Bani Qainuqah were under the protection of the Bani Khazraj and the Bani Qurayzah were under their protection and based on this relationship they should be spared.

 

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then asked them whether they would be satisfied if a member of their own tribe made a decision of what would happen to Bani Qurayzah and they happily agreed to this. The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then decalared that this would be left to Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad bin Mu’az – may Allah be pleased with him. Everyone was happy with this.

 

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then ordered that Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad bin Mu’az – may Allah be pleased with him – be brought forward. He was put on a donkey and brought to the court of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. On the road, the Aus tribe also requested him to be kind to the Bani Qurayzah and adopt kindness.

 

They also informed Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad bin Mu’az – may Allah be pleased with him – that the decision of what will happen to them has been left to him. However, he remained silent and did not give any answer. When they insisted on his opinion, he declared, “The time has come for Sa’ad not to be concerned about anyone except Allah Almighty.”

 

As he neared the blessed presence of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – also ordered people to stand in respect for their leader.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad bin Mu’az – may Allah be pleased with him – then asked the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – whether his decision would be applicable to both the Muslims and the non-Muslims and he was told that his decision would be applicable to everyone. He then ordered that the men of the Bani Qurayzah should be killed and their women and children should be kept as prisoners and all their possessions be distributed among the Muslims.

 

When the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – heard this decision, he declared, “You have made the same decision which the Divine Being in the Arsh has also made.”

 

There is no doubt that this decision of Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad bin Mu’az – may Allah be pleased with him – was based on truth and justice. As we have mentioned, the Jews had spared nothing in trying to deceive the Muslims in their acts of treachery. They were guilty of treachery in one of the most sensitive moments of this battle. Not only had they been guilty of a heinous crime, but they had also secretly provided weapons to the disbelievers.

 

One of their greatest acts of treachery is when they even attacked the area where the Muslim females had been kept with the hope that the Muslims would turn away their attention from the enemy. However, after one of them had been killed by the blessed aunt of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, namely Hadrat Sayyidah  Safiyah binte Abdul Mutallib – may Allah be pleased with her, they realised that they could not achieve their objective.

 

In fact, when this incident occurred and certain Muslims went to clarify this with them, instead of providing a straight answer, they decided to insult the Muslims and the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. Therefore, when we look at the final decision which was given by Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad bin Mu’az – may Allah be pleased with him – we have to conclude that he was certainly right in his decision.

 

Nearly six hundred of the Jewish males were killed and the prisoners were sent to Najd in exchange for more weapons for the Muslims. In this manner, Madina Shareef was protected from any further acts of treachery.

 

Another miracle which occurred after this incident is that the injury of Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad – may Allah be pleased with him – became serious and because of this, he was martyred. At that time, he was only 37 years of age. He was also considered as being among the most handsome people of the Bani Aus. He was very tall and he was also extremely fair in complexion and had a beautiful beard.

 

It is mentioned that when Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad bin Mu’az – may Allah be pleased with him –passed away, the Divine Throne shook in immense joy. In the Sharah of this Hadith Shareef, Imam Nawawi – may Allah be pleased with him – mentions that, “The Divine Arsh was given the discernment to move with joy and when his Janazah was carried, it felt extremely light and the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – explained that his blessed Janazah was actually being carried by the Angels.”

 

In the Nisaa’i Shareef, it is mentioned that seventy thousand such Angels appeared for his Janazah who have never appeared on earth prior to that moment. When his mother wept for him, it was informed that the weeping of Umme Sa’ad was indeed an act of truth.

 

Explaining his immense status in Jannah, once an extremely soft and delicate cloth was given to the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. When the blessed companions asked in surprise about the softness and delicateness of the cloth, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – replied, “In Jannah, the cloth belonging to Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad – may Allah be pleased with him – is even more soft and beautiful.” This Hadith Shareef is reported by Hadrat Sayyiduna Barr’a bin ‘Aazib – may Allah be pleased with him. (Seerat An Nabawi, Al Bidaayah)