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According to the Islamic tradition in 628 AD the prophet [[Muhammad]] led an army of Muslims against the fortified Jewish oasis of Khaybar. Muhammad and the companions launched this assault as the culmination of years of struggle against the Jews of Arabia and their pagan allies. After much struggle the fortresses of Khaibar were overtaken one by one. The Jews were allowed to leave, and those who stayed paid the [[jizya]] and become, according to the Islamic tradition, the first dhimmis. Muhammad took the wife of the leader of the Khaybar Jews, [[Safiyya]], as his wife, and tortured her husband Kinana to death in order to find his treasure, according to ibn Hisham and Tabari (themselves relating ibn Ishaq's account). In the aftermath of the victory, Muhammad ate of a sheep cooked by a local Jewish woman who had lost family in the battle. She poisoned the shoulder after finding out it was Muhammad's favorite part of the animal to eat. Muhammad spit the piece out without swallowing, but according to the Hadith it would later lead to his death. Despite this, the victory of the Muslims over the Jews at Khaybar was widely celebrated by the early Muslims, and the chant "Khaybar, Khaybar, ya yahuud, jaysh Muhammad saya'uud" "Khaybar, Khaybar O Jews, the army of Muhammad shall return" has in modern times become an invocation of bellicosity against the Jews by Arab and Muslim forces such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Arab nationalists, and Islamist activists the world over. | According to the Islamic tradition in 628 AD the prophet [[Muhammad]] led an army of Muslims against the fortified Jewish oasis of Khaybar <ref>Watt 1956, pg. 341.</ref>. Muhammad and the companions launched this assault as the culmination of years of struggle against the Jews of Arabia and their pagan allies. After much struggle the fortresses of Khaibar were overtaken one by one. The Jews were allowed to leave, and those who stayed paid the [[jizya]] and become, according to the Islamic tradition, the first dhimmis. Muhammad took the wife of the leader of the Khaybar Jews, [[Safiyya]], as his wife, and tortured her husband Kinana to death in order to find his treasure, according to ibn Hisham and Tabari (themselves relating ibn Ishaq's account). In the aftermath of the victory, Muhammad ate of a sheep cooked by a local Jewish woman who had lost family in the battle. She poisoned the shoulder after finding out it was Muhammad's favorite part of the animal to eat. Muhammad spit the piece out without swallowing, but according to the Hadith it would later lead to his death. Despite this, the victory of the Muslims over the Jews at Khaybar was widely celebrated by the early Muslims, and the chant "Khaybar, Khaybar, ya yahuud, jaysh Muhammad saya'uud" "Khaybar, Khaybar O Jews, the army of Muhammad shall return" has in modern times become an invocation of bellicosity against the Jews by Arab and Muslim forces such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Arab nationalists, and Islamist activists the world over. | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
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==Narrative from the Sira== | ==Narrative from the Sira== | ||
According to ibn Ishaq as he is perserved in both Tabari and ibn Hisham, Muhammad gathered a force of around 1400 men and 200 horses and set out for Khaybar. It was commonly thought that Khaybar was too impregnable to be assaulted, especially by a force of this size, so the prophet was relying on the element of suprise. When he set out for Khaybar, a Muslim named ibn Al-Ikwa' began singing a diddy he had learned during the battle of the Trench, and Muhammad responded "May Allah take mercy on you" which was apparently a sign that he would die in battle, as he ultimately did. | According to ibn Ishaq as he is perserved in both Tabari and ibn Hisham, Muhammad gathered a force of around 1400 men and 200 horses and set out for Khaybar. Some Muslim women, such as [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Muhammad's Wives and Concubines#Umm Salama|Umm Salama]] were also part of the expedition, to tend to the wounded.<ref>Nomani (1979), vol. II, p. 162.</ref> It was commonly thought that Khaybar was too impregnable to be assaulted, especially by a force of this size, so the prophet was relying on the element of suprise. When he set out for Khaybar, a Muslim named ibn Al-Ikwa' began singing a diddy he had learned during the battle of the Trench, and Muhammad responded "May Allah take mercy on you" which was apparently a sign that he would die in battle, as he ultimately did. | ||
Upon reaching the oasis the Muslims faced the Jews in a series of fortified strong points. One by one, the Muslims set out destroy them. Ali's eyes were inflammed by an unknown malady; the prophet put his spit on them, healing Ali, who then took up the banner of Islam and led the Muslims to victory, dropping a large stone on a prominent Jew. The fiercest mubariz or prominent warrior of the Jews was "the lion" Marhab (and also his brother Yasir), who came out reciting poetry to taunt the Muslims. Yasir was slain and Ali himself slew Marhab in single combat. After slaying Marhab, the Muslims took the strongest fortress of the Jews, Qamus. During the initial battles the prophet came into possession of the wife of the Jewish prince Kinanah, [[Safiyah]]. After having slain her father at [[Banu Qurayzah]] and leading her past the bodies of her dead compatriots, Muhammad took her as his concubine and, once her menses had passed, made her his wife. | It is reported from one Muslim: "We met the workers of Khaybar coming out in the morning with their spades and baskets. When they saw the apostle and the army they cried, 'Muhammad with his force,' and turned tail and fled. The apostle said, 'Allah Akbar! Khaybar is destroyed. When we arrive in a people's square it is a bad morning for those who have been warned.'" <ref>Ibn Ishaq, p. 511</ref> | ||
Upon reaching the oasis the Muslims faced the Jews in a series of fortified strong points. One by one, the Muslims set out destroy them. Ali's eyes were inflammed by an unknown malady; the prophet put his spit on them, healing Ali, who then took up the banner of Islam and led the Muslims to victory, dropping a large stone on a prominent Jew. The fiercest mubariz or prominent warrior of the Jews was "the lion" Marhab (and also his brother Yasir), who came out reciting poetry to taunt the Muslims. Yasir was slain and Ali himself slew Marhab in single combat. After slaying Marhab, the Muslims took the strongest fortress of the Jews, Qamus following a siege lasting from 13 to 19 days.<ref>al-Tabari (1997). ''The History of al-Tabari: The Victory of Islam''. Albany: State University Of New York. p. 117</ref> During the initial battles the prophet came into possession of the wife of the Jewish prince Kinanah, [[Safiyah]]. Kinanah himself was put to death.<ref>Ibn Ishaq, p. 515</ref> After having slain her father at [[Banu Qurayzah]] and leading her past the bodies of her dead compatriots, Muhammad took her as his concubine and, once her menses had passed, made her his wife. | |||
During the battle, Muhammad forbade his men from sexually taking the pregnant women of their enemies, and decreed that the Muslims must await an [[Iddah]] before sexually enjoying captured women in [[Jihad]]. He also forbade the eating of horse and donkey meat during this battle. | During the battle, Muhammad forbade his men from sexually taking the pregnant women of their enemies, and decreed that the Muslims must await an [[Iddah]] before sexually enjoying captured women in [[Jihad]]. He also forbade the eating of horse and donkey meat during this battle. | ||
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After Khaybar had been subdued, Muhammad commanded a captive Jewish woman, Zaynab bint al-Harith, to prepare a meal for him. Zaynab asked what part of the animal Muhammad liked the most, and he answered that it was the shoulder. Zaynab's father had been killed during the conquest of Khaybar, and she poisoned the shoulder. Muhammad took a bite of the poisoned shoulder meat, but he spit it out, while the Companion Bishr swallowed it. Muhammad lived, but Bishr died within a year according to Waqidi. Although Muhammad lived, he would later tell Bishr's mother on his death bead that it was this poisoned meat which killed him. According to ibn Hisham and Bukhari, the Zaynab told him that if he was a prophet he would be protected, and Muhammad let her live, while in Sunan Abi Dawud (below) Muhammad ordered that she be executed. | After Khaybar had been subdued, Muhammad commanded a captive Jewish woman, Zaynab bint al-Harith, to prepare a meal for him. Zaynab asked what part of the animal Muhammad liked the most, and he answered that it was the shoulder. Zaynab's father had been killed during the conquest of Khaybar, and she poisoned the shoulder. Muhammad took a bite of the poisoned shoulder meat, but he spit it out, while the Companion Bishr swallowed it. Muhammad lived, but Bishr died within a year according to Waqidi. Although Muhammad lived, he would later tell Bishr's mother on his death bead that it was this poisoned meat which killed him. According to ibn Hisham and Bukhari, the Zaynab told him that if he was a prophet he would be protected, and Muhammad let her live, while in Sunan Abi Dawud (below) Muhammad ordered that she be executed. | ||
Muhammad divided the spoils of Khaybar amongst his followers, taking a larger share and the Jewish princess Safiyyah for himself. The Jews were eventually allowed to stay in Khaybar and til the land in exchange for paying the [[Jizyah]] and accepting Muslim rule, making them the first [[Dhimmi]] | Muhammad divided the spoils of Khaybar amongst his followers, taking a larger share and the Jewish princess Safiyyah for himself. The Jews were eventually allowed to stay in Khaybar and til the land in exchange for paying the [[Jizyah]] and accepting Muslim rule, making them the first [[Dhimmi|Dhimmis]]. The Jews would stay in Khaybar after the death of Muhammad, until they were expelled by 'Umar, who justified his actions with the saying of the prophet that no religion should exist in Arabia save for Islam. | ||
==Tafsir Accounts== | ==Tafsir Accounts== | ||
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{{Quote|{{Abudawud|19|3001}}| Umar said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had transaction with the Jews of Khaybar on condition that we should expel them when we wish. If anyone has property (with them), he should take it back, for I am going to expel the Jews. So he expelled them.}} | {{Quote|{{Abudawud|19|3001}}| Umar said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had transaction with the Jews of Khaybar on condition that we should expel them when we wish. If anyone has property (with them), he should take it back, for I am going to expel the Jews. So he expelled them.}} | ||
The night of the conquest of Khaybar, the prophet also hastily arranged a marriage ceremony between him and the wife of Kinanah, Safiyah: | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari |5|59|522}}|Narrated Anas bin Malik: “We arrived at Khaibar, and when Allah helped His Apostle to open the fort, the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtaq whose husband had been killed while she was a bride, was mentioned to Allah's Apostle. The Prophet selected her for himself, and set out with her, and when we reached a place called Sidd-as-Sahba,' Safiya became clean from her menses then Allah's Apostle married her. Hais (i.e. an 'Arabian dish) was prepared on a small leather mat. Then the Prophet said to me, "I invite the people around you." So that was the marriage banquet of the Prophet and Safiya. Then we proceeded towards Medina, and I saw the Prophet, making for her a kind of cushion with his cloak behind him (on his camel). He then sat beside his camel and put his knee for Safiya to put her foot on, in order to ride (on the camel).}} | |||
After the battle, Muhammad took part in feast of sheep cooked by a Jewish woman at Khaybar. As vengence for her people, she poisoned the shoulder of the sheep, Muhammad's favorite part of the animal to eat. Muhammad spit the meat out, but the Companion Bishr did not. Bishr died at the spot, but although Muhammad survived it would later kill him: | After the battle, Muhammad took part in feast of sheep cooked by a Jewish woman at Khaybar. As vengence for her people, she poisoned the shoulder of the sheep, Muhammad's favorite part of the animal to eat. Muhammad spit the meat out, but the Companion Bishr did not. Bishr died at the spot, but although Muhammad survived it would later kill him: | ||
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The battle of Khaybar was viewed at the time of the writing and collecting of the [[sirah]] and [[hadith]] literature as am umabashed triump of the prophet and Islam over the Jews and unbelief (kufr) in general. The Islamic literature took great pride in recounting the defeat of the Jews, the seizure of their property, the discovry of the treasure of [[Kinana]], his torture, the taking of his wife [[Safiyya]] by Muhammad, and the reduction of the Jews of Khaybar to [[dhimmitude]]. The narrative of Khaybar served as a template for the Muslims when dealing with Christian enemies in terms of governance, booty, and terms of surrender. | The battle of Khaybar was viewed at the time of the writing and collecting of the [[sirah]] and [[hadith]] literature as am umabashed triump of the prophet and Islam over the Jews and unbelief (kufr) in general. The Islamic literature took great pride in recounting the defeat of the Jews, the seizure of their property, the discovry of the treasure of [[Kinana]], his torture, the taking of his wife [[Safiyya]] by Muhammad, and the reduction of the Jews of Khaybar to [[dhimmitude]]. The narrative of Khaybar served as a template for the Muslims when dealing with Christian enemies in terms of governance, booty, and terms of surrender. | ||
Modern Muslims and Arab nationalists, when facing the state of Israel in battle, have often invoked the memory of Khaybar to encourage their people to fight the Jews. Muslims around the world have repeated to chant "Khaybar, Khaybar ya yahud, jaysh Muhammad saya'ud" "Khaybar, Khaybar oh Jews, the army of Muhammad shall return." Modern Jews have described such invocations as manifestations of | Modern Muslims and Arab nationalists, when facing the state of Israel in battle, have often invoked the memory of Khaybar to encourage their people to fight the Jews. Muslims around the world have repeated to chant "Khaybar, Khaybar ya yahud, jaysh Muhammad saya'ud"<ref>Dziadosz, Alexander (2012-11-15). [https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-palestinians-israel-islamists-idUKBRE8AE1GP20121115/ "Islamist leaders vow unity against Israel".] ''[[Reuters]]''. Retrieved 28 November 2023.</ref> "Khaybar, Khaybar oh Jews, the army of Muhammad shall return." Modern Jews have described such invocations as manifestations of anti-Semitism, while liberal Muslims have cast doubt on this and many other sirah and hadith narratives, using the Qur'an as a template for more convivial inter-faith relations than those portrayed in the sirah-maghazi literature. | ||
==Problems with the Traditional Narrative== | ==Problems with the Traditional Narrative== | ||