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

Conquest of Khayber 145
after their military defeat, for they were exceedingly resentful and full of hatred for their Muslim fellows. Submission of the People of Fadak
After the victory o” Khayber, Fadak, a Jewish town, not far from Khayber also s bmitted to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) without any fight. A treaty on the t TV similar to that Khayber, was signed with them. The share of Fadak was purely for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) because no fight took place there. Submission of thf People of Wadi al-Qura
On his march home-wards from Khayber, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) came to Wadi al-Qura, a settlement of the Jews between Khayber and Taima. According to some historians this was the native place of Adites and Thamudites. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) had no intention of fighting there but the Jews started to aim arrows as a result of which a little fight took place, and the enemy surrendered. A treaty was signed on the similar terms as were for the residents of Khayber.
In this way, in a few weeks, Muhammad (PBUH) had subjugated the whole of North Arabia and the enr.iity and te’ision between the Muslims and the Jews was removed just as it had been removed in the south by the peace of Hudaibia. Relations with Jews
The Holy Prophet had, when he first came to Medina, made agreements with the Jewish tribes to defend the city from foreign invaders and to maintain peace and order. But instead of defending it from its enemies, the Jews tried their best to stab the Muslims in the back. They organised a campaign of slander against Islam and its followers. They insulted Muslims women and left no stone unturned in spreading bitterness against the Holy Prophet of Islam. They were warned but took no notice of it. The Holy Prophet first dealt with the tribe of Banu Qainuqah. They were ordered to leave Medina and they settled down in Syria. Then the tribe of Banu Nazir were ordered to leave Medina. They had refused to renew the peace alliance with the Muslims and actually made an attempt on the life of the Holy Prophet.
The tribe of Banu Quraizah broke the treaty and intrigued with the enemy during the battle of Ahzab when the Muslims were besieged in Medina from all directions by the unbelievers. After the defeat of the enemy, the Holy Prophet turned to deal with this tribe.

146 Political and Cultural History of Islam

They were not willing to enter into any kind of peace agreement with the Muslims and were preparing to fight to the last. After a siege of one month, they surrendered and requested that their fate should be decided by their old friend Sa’d bin Mu’az. According to his decision, which was in accordance with the Commandments of the Old Testament (Taurat), all men were killed, women and children were made captives and their property and possessions were declared spoils of war.
The Holy Qur’an refers too this incident in these words, ”And those of the people of the Book who aided them God did take them down from truir Strongholds and cast terror into their hearts, so that some you slew, and some you made prisoners, And He made you heirs of their lands, their houses and their goods.”
The Jewish tribes which went to Khayber continued their hostilities and irtrigues against the Muslims with greater vigour and zeal They had been actively supporting the Makkans against the Muslims all these years Now the Holy Prophet was forced to punish them He marched with 1,400 men to Khayber, a fortified place in the north-east of Medina, in the month of Muharram in the 7th year of the Hijrah. After a siege of twenty da>s and a hard struggle, the Jewish castles were conquered by the Muslims. They were allowed to stay in Khayber on the condition that they would live in peace and cultivate their lands and give half the produce to the Muslims. The victory of Khayber is mentioned in the Qur’an in these words, ”A land which you had not frequented before. And God has power over all things.” It is also mentioned in Surah Al-Fath ”And many gains will they acquire (besides), and God is Exalted in Power; Full of Wisdom.’” Elimination of Jewish Influence in Arabia
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) send his missions to the foreign kings while his own domain was threatened by the treacherous Jews who were still living to the north of Medina”7 It is true that the Treaty of Hudaibia had secured his southern flank, especially from Quraysh. But what about the north, where both Heraclius and Chosroes might attack Medina in cooperation with the Jews of Khayber who were anxious for an opportunity to take revenge upon Muhammad (PBUH)? It would be relatively easy for either emperor to remind the Jews of the fate of their co-religionists, the Banu Qyrayzah, Banu alNazir, and Banu Qaynuqa’, who had previously been expelled from their dwellings after blockade, fighting, and war, and to incite them
Conquest of Khayber • 147
to new ventures against Muhammad (PBUH). For their enmity and bitterness surpassed that of Quraysh. They were more attached to their religion, more intelligent, and more leaded. On the other hand, it was not possible to reconcile them with a peace treaty like that of Hudaibia since the covenant of Medina h^d been violated by them much to their own detriment. Were help to come to them from the side of Byzantium, their natural inclination to rise again against Muhammad (PBUH) could not be contained. Hence , it was thought necessary to put a final end to their influence in the Arabian Peninsula, and to do so quickly without giving them the time to forge any new alliances with Ghatafan or any of other tribes hostile to Muhammad (PBUH).
And such Muhammad (PBUH) did. He had hardly spent
fifteen days after his return from al Hudaibia a month according
to another version when he commanded the people to prepare for
the campaign of Khayber, restricting the call to arms to those who had accompanied him to Hudaibia. His purpose was to leave behind al! those interested in booty, and to go out with the truly loyal followers who sought service for the sake of God. The Muslims marched forth one thousand and six hundred strong, including a cavalry of one hundred. They were confident of God’s assistance and victory, and recalled surah ”al-Fath”’ which was reversed shortly after the signing of the Hudaibia ueaty; ”When you go forth and booty lies ahead of you, those who remained behind and did not participate in the previous campaign will ask to accompany you that they might share in the spoils. Thus they seek to change the decrees of God. Say to them, ”It is not given to you to accompany us, for that is the decree of God which has been given.1 They will accuse you of jealousy and envy, but their understanding is meager and their inielligence is dim.”