In this episode, we will discuss the fate of the Banu Qurayzah tribe. The campaign against the Banu Qurayzah tribe was largely a result of their treachery, leading to the Battle of the Trench. We discussed the Battle of the Trench, in which the Quraysh chose this Banu Qurayzah tribe to create a rebellion in Medina, as they were unable to join the Muslims in battle. Yet this tribe had made an agreement with the Muslims that they would not take any action against the Muslims. Yet this Banu Qurayzah tribe had made an agreement with the Muslims that they would not take any action against the Muslims.
After the Battle of the Trench, the Quraysh and their allied forces retreated to their respective places, but the people of this Banu Qurayzah tribe could not go anywhere; they remained inside Medina. After the Battle of the Trench, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) returned home, laid down his weapons, took a bath and prepared to pray, but then Gabriel (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to him, covered in dust and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, you have laid down your weapons, but we have not yet laid down our weapons.” Then he said to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that you should chase them. He said in which direction. Then Jibril (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) pointed towards the direction of Banu Qurayzah.
Gabriel (peace be upon him) came at a time when the battle was at its end. As soon as the Prophet (peace be upon him) received the order to fight, he ordered his companions to go back to the battle. He told his companions that they should think of all the Banu Qurayzah tribes and go there to pray the afternoon prayer.
The companions reached the Banu Qurayzah tribe’s territory after the afternoon prayer, but on the way, they prayed the afternoon prayer. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was the first to reach the Banu Qurayzah tribe’s territory, and when he arrived, he saw that the people there were abusing the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in foul language.
They were staying in fortresses, so the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) decided to surround all their fortresses. This time the Muslim army had 3,000 soldiers and thirty horses. Discussion in the context The Quran says that:
And He brought down those who supported them among the People of the Scripture from their fortresses and cast terror into their hearts [so that] a party you killed, and you took captive a party. And He caused you to inherit their land and their homes and their properties and a land which you have not trodden. And ever is Allah, over all things, competent.
(Quran 33:26-27)
The siege lasted for about 25 days. They realized that he couldn’t last much longer like this. In these few days, the people of the Banu Qurayzah tribe have completely broken down and are not in the mental state to fight. The only way open to them was to surrender. Finally, the tribesmen agreed to surrender. However, they decided that Sa’d ibn Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) would judge them.
They hoped that Sa’d ibn Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) would not be unjust to them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) agreed to this. Finally, the day of judgment came, and a longtime friend of the tribe Sa’d ibn Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) took the judge’s seat.
Finally, breaking the silence, Sa’d ibn Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) announced that all the chiefs of the Banu Qurayzah tribe would be killed, their wealth would be confiscated and distributed, and their women and children would be enslaved.
Everyone was silent, then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “You have given the exact verdict that Allah has decreed above the seven heavens.”
A huge hole was dug in the market of El Medina during the execution of the verdict. The men were taken by the hand and the women and children were separated. This is how Jewish men were killed one by one.
Some people were released, some had previously converted to Islam, some were released. What the people of the Banu Qurayzah tribe did was treason, they wanted to commit genocide in Medina.
And here the Jews betrayed the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and not any ordinary person.
Finally, we will discuss how Sa’d ibn Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) was determined to destroy the Quraysh and see the fate of the people of Banu Qurayzah tribe, taking on the status of a companion.
Not only was he not destroyed, but Allah Almighty entrusted Sa’d ibn Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) with the responsibility of judging the Banu Qurayzah tribe.
Sa’d ibn Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) was 36 or 37 years old when he died. Sa’d ibn Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) is an example of how a young man can give his life for Islam.
The Ansar did everything for the religion of Islam. They sacrificed their lives, property, and wealth for the sake of Allah and His Messenger.
