Q. & A. 711 to 1707 with solved Papers css 1971 to date

Preparation of Jews
The Jews were caught in surprise on 4th (or 5th) of Muharram, 7 A.H. when they saw Muhammad (PBUH), with his men, marching on the Khayber. The Jews immediately rushed to their forts. They had realised that was their last stand against the Muslims, hence they consulted together. There were several fortified quarters and six big forts in Khayber: Na’im; Sulalim; Qamus; Natat: Qisarah; Shaq; and Marbat. According to historians there was a force of about 20,000 Jews in the forts. With the advice of their chief, Sallam bin Mishkam, they put their property and their families in the fortresses called Watih and Salim, and their warriors took shelter in forts called Na’im, and Natat and Qamus etc. Qamus was the strongest fort whose ruler was the all-Arab fame warrior, Marhab. In this fort the exiled family of Ibn Abi al-Huqaiq (of Khayber) also used to live. Marhab was thought to be stronger than one thousand horsemen.
On reaching Sahba, a place near Khayber the Holy Prophet (PBUH) offered Asr Salat and took food, which was ”Sawiq” (the flour of roasted barley). Then he started again and reached suburbs of Khayber by night. He offered prayers and ordered the army to rest at night.
According to S.M. Imamuddin, ”The rich Jews of Khayber particularly the chiefs of Banu Nazir had created trouble at the time of the battle of Ahzab and had moved the entire Jewish community of Arabia against Islam and allied with the heathen Arabs in its destruction. After the battle of Ahzab though the Muslim authority was established at Medina the Jews entered into secret negotiations with the hypocrite chief Abdullah b. Ubay against the Muslims”.1
VICTORY
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) did not want a long siege, when he realised that the Jews were prepared to fight, he ordered an attack. The first battle took place on the fort called Nairn. A fierce battle took place, in which the Muslim General Mahmud bin Muslimah was martyred but the fort was conquered. The Muslims captured other small fortresses as well without much difficulty, but when they reached the famous and impregnable fort of Qamus they found a hard nut to crack. The fight prolonged to twenty days. Each day they had to return without success. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) sent Abu Bakr (Rad.A) and Umar (Rad.A) as well but they too were not successful in capturing the fort. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was full of hope and courage. One evening the Holy Prophet (PBUH) declared that he will give the standard the next day to a person who is beloved of Allah and His Messenger and on whose hands the fort would be conquered. Every-body was anxious to be that man. In the morning the Holy Prophet (PBUH) beckoned Ali (Rad.A) and with his own hands put the armour on him, the sword and the staff and sent him as the commander of the troops for that day’s fight. Seeing Muslims under the command of Ali (Rad.A), Marhab, the famous warrior, came out of the fort and invited Ali (Rad.A) in which Ali (Rad.A) killed him in the first attack. Then a fierce battle started. During the battle Ali’s (Rad.A) shield was broken, he took hold of a pillar of Fort’s gate used it as a shield. The Jews were forced to give in-and the fort was captured by the Muslims.4
Dr Majid Ali Khan, P 254.
3 Imamuddin, P.66.
4 Syed Ameer Ali, The Spirit of Islam, P. 76.

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Political and Cultural History of Islam
After losing their strongest Fort, Qamus, the Jews realised that the end must come. They requested the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to grant them peace on the condition that they would pay him half the produce of their lands. Their lives, property, women and children were left untouched. Although the Holy Prophet (PBUH) knew that they would not keep up to their words, he acceded to their request. It could easily be noted here that if Islam spread through the sword, it could have very well be enforced on them as an alternative to begin put to death. Contrary to this whole-hearted and wholesale forgiveness, to an accursed enemy of irremediable character, was given.
According to Abdul Hameed Siddiqui, ”The Holy Prophet began the camping by reducing the minor strongholds one after the other. When this was done, he marched against al-Qamus, the main fortress of Khayber. It was a formidable looking structure with frowning walls built of the solid rock. All accesses to the fortress were strongly fortified, and within the ramparts was a well-equipped and well-provisioned garrison. The Jews showed great courage and proved too formidable even to the’repeated rushed of the veteran soldiers of Islam. Then the standard was given ta AH, the Holy Prophet’s cousin and his son-in-law who led his men up the battlements again arrows which rained from behind the parapets. It was indeed a tough fight. The Muslims, however, were not dismayed. They dragged on the siege for twenty days and after constant struggle managed to take hold of the forts. Rich booty fell into the hands of the Muslims. Besides vast stores of dates, oil, honey and barley, flocks of sheep and herds of camels, the spoils in treasure and jewels was very large”.5