THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME WITH PROPHET MUHAMMAD THE PROPHET OF ALLAH 059 THE PROTECTION OF THE JEWS OF KHAYBAR & INCIDENTS IN THE NAJD by Khadeijah A. Stephens Copyright © 1984-2012 by Allah.com Muhammad.com Mosque.com Khadeijah A. Stephens Bismillah Ir Rahman Ir Raheem The Protection of the Jews of Khaybar & Incidents in the Najd The Tribes of Hawazin and Ghatfan After the victory over Khaybar and the subsequent surrender of the Jews of Fadak whose arms had been confiscated, the Jews of Khaybar felt insecure as the tribe of Murrah -- a branch of the Ghatfan -- were hostile toward them, so they sent word to the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) requesting his protection. Muslims Sent to Protect the Jews The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) dispatched twenty Muslims to protect the Jews, however, the Murrah struck quickly and all but a few Muslims were martyred defending the Jews. When news of the attack reached the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) he sent two hundred of his men to replace them, amongst whom was Osama, Zayd's son, both of whom the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) loved dearly. Soon after their arrival, the Murrah attacked again but this time after heavy combat it was the Murrah who sustained a heavy loss of life. Osama, the Son of Zayd Osama was a youth of seventeen years during the hostilities of Murrah when one of their tribesman challenged and jeered at him on account of his youthfulness. Osama, and a man from the Ansar pursued the tribesman and overtook him. They were about to put an end to the tribesman when he uttered, "There is no god except Allah!" And the Ansar withdrew but Osama killed him. Osama's Return to Medina Upon their return to Medina, Osama went to the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) who greeted him affectionately and asked him to tell him about the hostilities. Osama related the events and it was only when he reached the point where he had killed the man that the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) interrupted him asking, "Osama, did you kill him when he said, 'There is no god except Allah?'" "O Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam)," replied Osama, "he only said it to escape the sword." The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) continued, "Did you open his heart to know if he lied or was telling the truth?" Osama felt sick inside and was extremely sorry for his actions and said: "I will never again kill anyone who says 'there is no god except Allah'" and hung his head in deep regret for a Revelation had been sent down sometime before that spoke of such circumstances. "Believers, if you are journeying in the way of Allah, do not say to those who offer you peace, until it has been clarified: 'You are not believers,' seeking the enjoyment of the worldly life, with Allah there are many spoils. You were like that before, and Allah has been gracious to you. Therefore let it be clarified. Surely, Allah is Aware of what you do." Koran 4:94 Situations similar to this had arisen before, however, they were over the prospects of receiving the spoils of war when an enemy, at the point of death, had proclaimed his faith, and then been reprieved on account of the Revelation. When Osama returned to his friends they witnessed how greatly troubled he was about the whole affair especially when he told them, "I wish I had not entered Islam before this day," as he knew that when someone embraces Islam all their previous sins are wiped away and they start a new page. Ali’s Exemplary Restraint There had also been another occasion when Ali was about to slay an unbeliever and the man spat at him. As the man spat, Ali became enraged but spared his life and said afterwards, "If I had killed him then it would have been through pride, and not for the Sake of Allah." Incidents in the Najd: The Incident of Dhat-Ur-Riqa 7H The Bedouins of the Najd lived in scattered nomadic settlements and were more difficult to locate and unify. They were, for the most part, highway-men and continued to plunder and harass any caravan passing through their area and many lives were lost. On account of this unacceptable behavior the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam), decided to put an end to this danger. He was about to call upon the Muslims to ride out against the marauders when news arrived that the tribe of Muharib and the Tha’lbah branch of the Ghatfan tribe were forming an army in preparation to launch an attack on the Muslims. Before leaving Medina, the Prophet appointed either Abu Dharr or Othman, Affan’s son to attend to the needs of the Muslims during his absence. Now that all was ready four hundred men set off towards the Najd with the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) with just one camel between six Companions who took it in turn to ride. The Muslims entered the tribal land of the Najd and at Nakhlah they came across some Bedouins belonging to the tribe of Ghatfan. The Prophet’s approach was always one of peace and spoke to the Bedouins about Islam and they agreed not to rise up against them. Throughout that day the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) led his followers in the prayer of fear. The incident became known as Dhat-Ur-Riqa meaning the expedition of rags. The reason it was given that name is because the Muslims had but a few rides between them which they took in turns to ride consequently as they marched over the hot dry pebbled sand their feet became cracked and bled so they bandaged their feet with rags. Ghawrath, the Bedouin Who Tried to Kill the Prophet Jabir, son of Abdullah said, "We were near the Najd and had ridden out with the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) to engage our enemy and stopped for a mid-day rest. His Companions found a shade tree for him to rest under and he took off his sword and hung it on one of its branches then went to sleep. As the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) slept a Bedouin by the name of Ghawrath, Al Harith’s son approached him with a drawn sword and demanded, “Who will protect you from me!” “Allah, the Mighty” replied the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam). Upon hearing this, the hand of the Bedouin started to tremble and his sword fell from his hand. The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) asked, “Now, who will protect you from me?” Ghawrath replied, “Punish me in the best way” whereupon the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam), asked, “Do you bear witness that there is no god except Allah?” Ghawrath replied, “No, but I do promise that I will neither fight you nor be with those who fight against you.” Whereupon the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) let him go. When Ghawrath returned to his companions he told them, "I have come to you from the best of all humanity." This is another example of how the protection of Allah was always present and of the Prophet’s high code of ethics practiced in all circumstances. The Protection of the Jews of Khaybar & Incidents in the Najd 059 Back Cover Subtitles The Tribes of Hawazin and Ghatfan Muslims Sent to Protect the Jews Osama, the Son of Zayd Osama's Return to Medina Ali’s Exemplary Restraint The Incident of Dhat-Ur-Riqa 7H Ghawrath, the Bedouin Who Tried to Kill the Prophet