THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME WITH PROPHET MUHAMMAD THE PROPHET OF ALLAH 034 THE JEWISH TRIBE OF KAYNUKA by Khadeijah A. Stephens Copyright © 1984-2012 by Allah.com Muhammad.com Mosque.com Khadeijah A. Stephens Bismillah Ir Rahman Ir Raheem The Jewish Insult “When You Are Touched With Good Fortune, They Grieve” The Jewish tribe of Kaynuka had entered into a binding agreement with the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and through it were afforded many benefits. However, an integral part of the agreement was that they would neither ally, nor assist the unbelievers against the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam). On the surface, with the exception of a few minor taunts, the Jews and the hypocrites appeared to tolerate the Muslims. However, deep-rooted resentment festered and the Jews yearned even more for the return of the old days even though they had been beholden to idolatrous Arabs. When the news of the Prophet's victory over the Koraysh at Badr reached Medina, the Jews, hypocrites, and those who remained pagan were unable to conceal their great disappointment. The most disappointed were those from the Jewish tribe of Kaynuka, domiciled in the City of Medina, together with their cousins from the tribes of Krayzah and An-Nadir who lived on the outskirts of Medina; all had hoped that the Koraysh would rid them of the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and his followers. It was during this time that Allah sent down the following verse that records and warned the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and his followers of these hidden feelings: "Believers, do not take intimates with other than your own. They spare nothing to ruin you, they yearn for you to suffer. Hatred has already shown itself from their mouths, and what their chests conceal is yet greater. Indeed, We have made clear to you the signs, if you understand. There you are loving them, and they do not love you. You believe in the entire Book. When they meet you they say, ‘We believe.’ But when alone, they bite their finger-tips at you out of rage. Say, ‘Die in your rage! Allah has knowledge of what is in your chests.” Koran 3:118-19 Allah also drew the attention of the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and his followers to the following, saying: "When you are touched with good fortune, they grieve, but when evil befalls you, they rejoice. If you are patient and cautious, their guile will never harm you. Allah encompasses what they do." Koran 3:120 Allah also sent down verses that permitted the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) to counteract acts of treachery with justice and instructions as to how his adversaries should be treated if they should incline to peace, saying: “If you fear treachery from any of your allies, you can dissolve with them equally. Allah does not love the treacherous." Koran 8:58 "If they incline to peace, incline to it also, and put your trust in Allah. Surely, He is the Hearing, the Knowing." Koran 8:61 In the meantime, much to the delight of the Koraysh, they realized they had unexpected allies in Medina, for each time a Jewish caravan arrived in Mecca, they brought news of the Prophet's movements. And so it was that the Jews began to break the treaty, just as the waves of the sea gently erode a mound of sand upon the shore until none remains. The Market Place 0f the Tribe of Kaynuka Not long after the Prophet's return from Badr, the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) went to the Jewish market place of the Kaynuka that was also frequented by Muslims. He hoped the widely reported miraculous events of Badr might have touched the hearts of the Jews and caused them to reflect. As he walked through the market place he invited them to Islam and entreated them not to let the anger of Allah come upon them as it had just done upon the Koraysh. However, his invitation fell on deaf ears and someone called out in defiance, "Muhammad, do not be fooled by those circumstances. You fought against men who did not know how to fight; that is why you were able to get the better of them! By Allah, if you make war on us you will soon know that we are a force to reckon with!" The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) did not respond and returned home. The Insult of the Goldsmith A few days following the rejection, a Muslim lady made her way to the same market and was insulted in a despicable manner by a goldsmith who then tied the hem of her dress to her back so that as soon as she stood up her privates became exposed. An Ansar happened to see the disgraceful behavior and came to her assistance. Sharp words were exchanged which ultimately led to blows during which the goldsmith fell and was accidentally killed. Once again the Jews who had agreed that such matters were to be brought before the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) to be resolved, threw the agreement to the wind and prepared to fight against the Muslims. The Fortresses of Kaynuka Many years before, not far from their market place the Jews had built fortresses to protect themselves in times of trouble. These fortresses were soon to become a hive of activity, with provisions and weapons being delivered by all possible available means. No sooner had the supplies been delivered than the Jews barricaded themselves inside. The tribesmen of the Kaynuka numbered twice that of the Muslims who fought at Badr. It was Saturday, 15th Shawwal 2H when news of the Kaynuka's intent reached the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam), he gathered his men, surrounded the fortresses, and then sent word to them demanding an unconditional surrender. During this time the call to rise up against the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) reached the ears of the unbelieving chieftains of the Khazrajite tribe. Abdullah, Ubayy’s son was a hypocrite, who claimed he had converted to Islam started to remind his people of their friendship with the Jews. However Ubadah, a Muslim chieftain, was quick to remind him that the pact they made with the Jews in years gone by was no longer existent. Ubadah shrewdly observed and drew Abdullah Ubayy's son attention to the fact that the Jews had broken their pact with their tribe in preference to one made with the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam). Ubadah’s words were effective and Abdullah, Ubayy’s son abandoned his intention to go to the help of the Jews. Surrender and Expulsion Two weeks passed, and the tribesmen of Kaynuka remained barricaded in their fortresses. As the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) waited for the Kaynuka's answer, Abdullah, Ubayy’s son sought him out in a belligerent manner. When he found the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) him he demanded, "Muhammad, treat my allies well!" The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) declined to comment and turned away from him, whereupon Abdullah Ubayy’s son seized him by the neck of his coat of mail. The expression of the Prophet's face changed and he asked him to release his hold. Abdullah swore that he would never do so until he received a promise from the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam), then he demanded to know whether it was his intent to kill the Jews. Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) informed him that it had never been his intent, rather it was to spare their lives. However, he informed him that they were to be banished and their possessions confiscated. He then told Abdullah that if he desired to do so, he could escort them to wherever they wished to relocate. Abdullah accepted the Prophet's decision and sent word to his allies, informing them of their fate and then escorted out of Arabia to a town called Azru’a in Syria. As for their confiscated possessions, they were to greatly enrich the Muslim armory, as the Kaynuka were highly skilled smiths and much needed coats of mail and weapons were among the spoils. Ka’b, Son of Ashraf The Jew, Ka’b, Ashraf's son, who had not only used his wealth against the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) but more recently composed a poem that served to stir and fuel the emotions of the Koraysh, now wrote another poem as he rode on his cloud of infamy. This time however, it was not in praise of the Koraysh, it was a poem written in extremely poor taste that not only degraded Muslim women but insulted them. When the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) heard of Ka’bs continued disgraceful and inciting conduct he ordered that if any Muslim should come across him, they should kill him. Ka’b however, had not returned to Medina and chosen to live in a fortress south east of Medina, beyond the houses of the tribe of Bani An-Nadir. Muhammad, Maslama's son took up the challenge and asked the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi was sallam) if it were permissible for him to deceive Ka’b, and was told it was. Muhammad, Maslama's son went to Ka’b and said to him, "The man (referring to the Prophet) demands charity from us, and is troubling us, so I have come to borrow something from you." Ka’b exclaimed, "By Allah, you will soon become tired of that man!" Muhammad, Maslama's son said, "Well, now we have followed him, we do not want to leave him unless and until we see how the matter will turn out. We want you to lend us a couple of camel loads of food." Ka’b agreed, but had a condition to make saying, "I agree, however in return you must collator something to me." Maslama's son asked, "What do you require?" Ka’b replied, "Collator your women to me." He replied, "How can we collator our women to you when you are the most handsome of Arabs?" Ka’b then said, "Well, collator your sons to me." To this Maslama's son replied, "If we were to do so they would be abased by the peoples saying 'you were collateral for the price of a couple of camel loads of food', and that would disgrace us, but we are prepared to collator our arms to you" and that proved to be acceptable. It was time to depart and Maslama's son said he and his companions would return to him. On the night of 14th Rabi’1 3H, Muhammad Maslama's son and Abu Na'ila who was Ka’bs suckling brother together with Abbad Bishar’s son, Harith son of Aws, and Abu Abs Jabr’s son returned. Ka’b invited Maslama's son and Abu Na'ila into his fortress and then went down with them. As they were going out Ka’bs wife said, "I hear a voice as if blood is dropping from him." Ka’b rebuked her saying, "They are none other than my brother and my foster brother Abu Na'ila, and a generous man ought to respond even to a night visitation, even if he were to be invited to be killed!" Beforehand, Maslama's son had told his companions, "when Ka’b comes, I will touch his hair as if smelling it, and when you see that I have taken hold of his head, strike him." A short distance away from the fortress Maslama's son said to Ka’b, "I have never smelled a better perfume than that which you are wearing." Ka’b replied, "Yes indeed, I have with me a mistress who is the most perfumed women of Arabia." Then Maslama's son asked to smell his head and Ka’b lowered his head so that he might do so. No sooner than Maslama's son had taken hold of his head his companions seized Ka’b and killed him. During the attack, Harith was wounded and lost a lot of blood, however, when they reached Medina they went straight to the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) to tell him of their success. Upon seeing Harith's wound, the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) massaged some of his salvia upon the wound and by the permission of Allah it healed immediately. News of Ka’bs death spread rapidly throughout Medina and those whose intentions were to rid themselves of the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and his followers were, for the time being hesitant to take further action. The Jewish Tribe of Kaynuka 034 Back Cover Subtitles “When You Are Touched With Good Fortune, They Grieve” The Market Place 0f the Tribe of Kaynuka The Insult of the Goldsmith The Fortresses of Kaynuka Surrender and Expulsion Ka’b, Son of Ashraf