Kinana

Kinana, who had custody of the treasure of Banu Nadir, was brought to Muhammad, who asked him about it. He denied that he knew where it was. A Jew was brought to Muhammad and said that he had seen Kinana going round a certain ruin every morning early. When Muhammad said to Kinana: "Do you know that if we find you have it, I shall kill you?", he said 'Yes'. No conquest without booty. Hiding treasure from Muhammad was a capital sin. He lets Kinana know that. Muhammad gave orders that the ruin was to be excavated, and some of the treasure was found. When he asked Kinana about the rest, he refused to produce it, so Muhammad gave orders to al-Zubayr: "Torture him until you extract what he has." Hiding treasure was serious business. Presumably, the Muslims taking part in the siege were eager for the booty, and Muhammad was doing his best to fulfill their expectations. The use of torture is a novelty. Neither the Jewish prophets nor Jesus did that. So he kindled a fire with flint and steel on his chest until he was nearly dead. Then Muhammad delivered him to Muhammad b. Maslama, and he struck off his head, in revenge for his brother Mahmud. Kinana is apparently not easy to break. Tortured to the brink of death, he still does not deliver information about the treasure of his clan. Eventually, however, he is not killed for this, but as revenge for the death of Mahmud Maslama, who suffered the humiliation of being killed at the Khaybar of Naif by a Jew dropping a millstone on him. Killing prisoners of war for revenge has since been banned by the Geneva conventions and other international law.

The poisoned lamb

When Muhammad had rested, Zaynab d. al-Harith, the wife of Sallam b. Mishkam, prepared for him a roast lamb, having first inquired what joint he preferred. When she learned that it was the shoulder, she put a lot of poison in it and poisoned the whole lamb. Then she brought it in and placed it before him. People through the ages, and frequently women, have been using poison frequently in order to get rid of people they do not like. It is not surprising that a member of the tribe at Khaybar makes an attempt on Muhammad. He took hold of the shoulder and chewed a morsel of it, but did not swallow it. Bishr, who was with him, took some of it as Muhammad had done, but he swalloved it, while Muhammad spat it out, saying: "This bone tells me that it is poisoned." Then he called for the woman and she confessed, and when he asked her what had induced to do so, this she answered: "You know what you have done to my people. I said to myself: If he is a king, I shall ease myself of him, and if he is a prophet, he will be informed (of what I have done)." Since Muhammad initiated the raid on Khaybar and took direct part in the events, the question about her motivation seems to be largely rethorical. They both know in detail what Muhammad and the Muslims have been doing. The reply from the (until now non-Muslim) woman is not the greatest or bravest of excuses. But it gets the job done: So the apostle let her off. Bish died from what he had eaten. This is interesting. There has been much killing so far, in open war and at night. Yet, in this case, the woman attempts to kill Muhammad, and actually kills another man, and is hardly reprimanded. This is remarkable difference from how a modern society would deal with such a case. The key here is presumably she recognizes Muhammad as a prophet. She will probably not repeat her attempt on his life. Muhammad, during the illness from which he died, said to Bishr‘s mother, ‘Umm, at this very moment I feel my aorta being severed because of the food I ate with your son at Khaybar.’ The Muslims believed that in addition to the honor of prophethood, the Messenger died a martyr.’ One may wonder, with all the war and killing that had gone on for years, why a failed assassination attempt even deserves mention. The reason follows immediately in the Sirat. When Muhammad died a few years later, possibly from a stroke, he claimed that the poison from this sheep tore apart his heart. From a medical point of view, this does not make sense, and it is hardly the sort of material to call a miracle. But the explanation does follow: The explanation lies in that, according to the Quran, martyrdom (being killed in battle) is the only guarantee to enter paradise. It would not be fitting for Allah to not admit Muhammad to paradise. While one may have doubts as to death from poisoned food can be counted as death in battle (after all, the battle was all over at that time), the continous state of war percieved by the Muslims is remarkable. Since the Sirat lists Bishr among the martyrs of Khaybar, if the lamb could kill Muhammad with a delay, paradise should be secure for him.

The siege of Wadil-Qura

Having finished with Khaybar, Muhammad went to Wadil-Qura and besieged its people for some nights. Then he left to return to Medina. It is not explained why Muhammad decides to lay siege to this settlement. He just does so.

On booty and theft

A slave of Muhammad was laying down his saddle when suddenly a random arrow hit him and killed him. We congratulated him on paradise, but Muhammad said: "Certainly not. His cloak is even now burning on him in Hell. He had surreptitiously stolen it on the day of Khaybar from the spoil of the Muslims." OK, this is weird. The slave (who is not named) gets killed in battle, or at least in an act of war. Paying the highest price, his own life, should guarantee him entrance into paradise. But a coat he stole from what the Muslims had stolen from the Jews condemns him to Hell. Possibly his lack of obedience to Muhammad is the real issue here. One should think that, given that the theft was known, Muhammad could have asked him to put back the coat and save his soul, but that obviously didn't happen. One of his companions heard this and came to him saying: "I took two sandal thongs." He said: "Two thongs of fire will be cut for you like them." In the western world, the saying "Confession is good for the soul" would apply. The companion seems to believe that if he goes honestly to Muhammad confessing what he did, he might be granted forgiveness. No such luck. Intriguing how Hell apparently spontaniously mirrors the physical world, where a new body immediately arises, complete with clothing and all, at the instant of death. Abdullah b. Bughaffal al-Muzani related: "I took a bag of lard from the booty of Khaybar and carried it off on my shoulder to my companions, when the man who had been put over the spoil met me and laid hold of the end of it, saying: Hie! This we must divide among the Muslims." I said that I would not give him it and he began to try and pull the bag away from me." The soldier and his companions must have been quite hungry to snatch a bag of grease from the spoils. "Muhammad saw what was happening and laughed. Then he said to the officer in charge of the spoil "Let him have it, confound you," so he let go of it and I went off to my companions and I ate it." While it's good to see Muhammad in a friendly mood, it must have been difficult for the Muslims to figure out when an action would condemn you to hell and when it would be just fine. No wonder they eventually left it to Muhammad decide on their behalf.

The story of Safiya

Muhammad conquered Qamus. Safiyah bt. Huyayy was brought to him, and another woman with her. Bilal led them past some of the Jews we had slain including the woman’s dead husband. When she saw them, the woman with Safiyah cried out, slapped her face, and poured dust on her head. When Allah’s Prophet saw her, he said, ‘Take this she-devil away from me!’” Not much space for the woman's quite natural grief over the killing of her family and plunder of her home. It is understandable that Muhammad didn't like it. “Muhammad commanded that Safiyah should be kept behind him and he threw his cloak over her. Thus the Muslims knew that he had chosen her for himself.” The beauty of Safiyah had been described to Muhammad before their arrival. No wonder he choses the best for himself, although not particular religious by any Judeo-Christian meaning of the word. When Dihyah protested, wanting to keep Safiyah for himself, the Apostle traded for Safiyah by giving Dihyah her two cousins. The women of Khaybar were distributed among the Muslims.” Interestingly, dissent happened. Dihyah, who had captured Safiyah first, wanted the priviledge of her beautiful body. Muhammad enters a compromise - two (presumably more ordinary) Jewish women for one outstanding beauty. The remaining women are distributed among the Muslims as if they were cattle. Bukhari:V5B59N527 “On the day of Khaybar, Allah’s Apostle forbade the Mut’a or temporary marriage.” The Mut'a (temporary marriage, frequently three days) was the legal justification for sex with the prisoners from the raids. Why Muhammad bans the practice on this day is not explained. The practice of Mut'a is still alive in Islamic countries today, where it replaces what in the western world would be called prostitution. Bukhari:V5B59N512 “The Prophet had their men killed, their children and woman taken as captives. Safiyah was amongst the captives, She first came in the share of Dihyah but later on she came to belong to the Prophet. Muhammad made her manumission as her ‘Mahr.’” Safiya was the wife of Kinana, whom Muhammad had tortured earlier that day. How she came into the personal posession (slave) of Muhammad is described above. Captives were regularily traded by the Muslims, frequently for horses and weapons for use in battle. But this trade had another, more personal, purpose. By an interesting trick, Muhammad turns her release from slavery into the dowry he would be expected to come up with for her marriage (to him), instead of the usual supply of camels, jewelry or other goods. When Muhammad married Safiya in Khaybar or on the way, she having been beautified and combed, and got in a fit state for Muhammad by Umm Sulaym, they passed the night in a tent of his. Since her kind had just been robbed and killed, it is not surprising that Safiya is having others take care of her beauty. She is probably not in the mood to do so herself. As to the voluntariness of the 'marriage', nothing needs to be said. It is amazing that such a fine word is used for the kind of sexual relationship described here. Abu Ayyub passed the night girt with his sword, guarding Muhammad and going round the tent, until in the morning Muhammad saw him there and asked him what he meant by his action. He replied: "I was afraid for you with this woman, for you have killed her father, her husband and her people, and till recently she was in unbelief, so I was afraid for you on her account." The unquestioning loyalty of the Muslim soldiers is nothing short of amazing.

The list of martyrs

The Sirat lists 21 killed Muslims from the battle of Khaybar, including Bishr who died from the poisoned lamb. For an army of 1400 men, this must be deemed acceptable losses for a victory of this significance.

The shepherd

Al-Aswad came to Muhammad with his flock of sheep as he was besieging Khaybar. He was the hired servant of a Jew there. He asked the messenger to explain Islam to him, and when he did so, he accepted it, for the messenger neer thought too little of anyone to invite him to accept Islam. In the midst of all this mayhem, it is a nice change to meet something religious - a real convert to Islam. Afterwards, he advanced to the fort with the Muslims and was struck by a stone and killed, never to have said a single prayer. The Jews were defending themselves with sticks and stones? They probably were regretting not having learned warfare and stockpiling weapons after the banu Nadir Jews were expelled and came to them. Al-Aswad has the bad luck to get killed without having the chance to say a single prayer. Muhammad, who was accompanied by a number of his companions, turned towards him and then turned away. When they asked him why, he said: "He was with him now his two wives from the dark-eyed houris." Amazingly, the shepherd-turned-Muslim gets to enter paradise without the benefit of prayer. In Islam, prayer is an obligation, not a tool for salvantion - death in battle is what it takes. The Islamic paradise seems to have an infinite supply of gentle women.

The affair of Al-Hajjaj

When Khaybar had been conquered, al-Hajjaj said to Muhammad: "I have money with my wife Umm Shayba, and money scattered among the Meccan merchants, so give me permission to go and get it." Having got his permission, he said: "I must tell lies, Oh Muhammad." He said: "Tell them." The Muslim has reservations about lying, but Muhammad reassures him on the spot that this is no problem. The Islamic concept of 'Taqiya', AKA lying to the infidels for the purpose of deception is based on examples like this. Al-Hajjaj said: "The Meccans did not know that I was a Muslim and when they saw me, they said: "It is al-Hajjaaj. He is sure to have news. Tell us, Oh Abu Muhammad, for we have heard that the highwayman has gone to Khaybar which is the town of the Jews and the garden of the Hijaz." I said: "I have heard that and I have some news that will please you." They came up eagerly on either side of my camel, saying: "Out with it, Hajjaj!" I said: "He has suffered a defeat such as you have never heard of, and his companions have been slaughtered; you have never heard the like, and Muhammad has been captured." Well, when you are prepared to lie, why not make the lie as big as possible? The men of Khaybar said: "We will not kill him until we send him to the Meccans and let them kill him among themselves in revenge for their men who have been killed." [...] They got up and collected my money for me quicker than I could have supposed possible. The Meccans, hearing that many years of trouble apparently are over, are elated. When I had collected everything I had in Mecca and decided to leave, I met Abbas and said: "Keep my story secret for three nights, then say what you will for I am afraid of being pursued." When he said that he would, I said: "I left your brother's son [Muhammad] married to the daughter of their king (meaning Safiya), and Khaybar has been conquered and all that is in it removed and become the property of Muhammad and his companions." When Muhammad and the Muslims conduct a raid, they are quite effective. He said: "What are you saying, Hajjaj" I said: "Yes, by Allah, but keep my secret. I have become a Muslim and have come only to get my money fearing that I may be deprived of it. When three nights ahve passed, publish the news as you will." The truth is quite startling. The uncle of Muhammad probably lands in an akward conflict of loyalties here. [Three days later he announces:] By Allah, by whom you swear, We see here that, as by their tradition, the Meccans were worshipping Allah, who was their main deity. Their disagreement with the Muslims was not over this, but over the recognition of Muhammad as the prophet of Allah. "Muhammad has conquered Khaybar and was left married to the daughter of their king. He has seized all that they possess and it is now his property and the property of his companions." Clear enough. No mention of religious motives. They asked: "Who brought you this news?" He said: "The many who brought you your news. He came in to you as a Muslim and has taken his money and gone off to join Muhammad and his companions and be with him." They said: "Oh men of Allah, the enemy of Allah has escaped. Had we known, we would have delat with him." The Meccans had been worshippers of Allah and custodians of the Ka'aba for at least five generations. They considered themselves to be the men of Allah and the followers of Muhammad to be enemies of Allah. Probably becaue of all the mischief Muhammad and his followers had brought to their land. Obviously, Muhammad had a different opinion about that.

Poetry

Ibn Luqaym: Nata was stormed by the messengers squadron Fully armed, powerful and strong. It was certain of humiliation when it was split up With the men of Aslam and Ghifar in its midst. They attacked B. 'Amr b. Zur'a in the morning And Shaqq's people met a day of gloom. They made the cocks run in their plains And left only the hens cackling among the trees. Every fort had a man of Abdul-Ashhal or B. al-Najar Busy with their horses And Emigrants who had displayed their badges Above their helms, never thinking of flight. I knew that Muhammad would conquer And would stay there many Safars. The Jews in the fighting that day Opened their eyes in the dust After 7 years in Medina, the emigrants (the first Muslims before the flight to Medina) are still the elite troops of Muhammad. Quite a bad day for the Jews, many of whom bit the dust to the Muslim warriors. Hassan b. Thabit: How badly the Khaybaris fought To preserve their crops and dates! They disliked the thought of death and so to preserve became a spoil And they behaved like miserable cowards. Would they flee from death? The death of the starved is not seemingly Here we see the idea of Muslims as death-loving and infidels as death-fearing, which can still be found alive today. The Mujahedeen in Bosnia, for example, fought with amazing defiance of risk for their lives. The Jews, who had been living in Khaybar for centuries, are beeing chastised for their poor fighting skills.

Division of spoils

When the spoil of Khaybar was divided, al-Shaqq and Nata fell to the Muslims, while al-Katiba was divided into five sections: Allah's fifth; the prophet's fifth; the share of kindred, orphans, the poor and wayfarers; maintenance of the prophet's wives; and maintenance of the men who acted as intermediaries in the peace negotiations with the men of Fadak A couple minor settlements conquered, it is time to divide up the spoils. Remarkable that Muhammad and his wives seems to be given quite a cut. The intermediaries, who worked out the surrender of Fadak to Muhammad, get rewarded for their efforts. To Muayyisa, who was one of these men, the apostle gave thirty loads of barley and thirty loads of dates. Khaybar was apportioned among the men of al-Hudaybiya without regard to whether they were present at Khaybar or not. The list of who recieved how much of what used to belong to the Jews goes on. In truth, Muhammad is outstanding for being the only prophet for whom booty is 'Lawful and good' (Quran 8:69)." The number of the companions among whom Khaybar was divided was 1800, with shares for horse and foot; 1400 men and 200 horses; every horse got two shares and his rider one; every footman got one share. The rules for division of spoil have been firmly established by now. 1400 soldiers is quite an impressive army for the desert-land of Arabia of those times. Keeping this army fed and equipped required significant resources. The only dispositions that Muhammad made at his death were three: He bequeathed to the Rahavis land which produced a hundred loads of Khaybar, to the Kariyi, the Saba'is and the Ash'aris the same. He also gave instructions that the mission of Usama b. Zayd should be carried through, and that two religions should not be allowed to remain in the peninsula of the Arabs. The final word of any person are usually given particular significance. Inserted after the story of Khaybar, we find those of Muhammad. He is interestingly still concerned with the distribution of the Khaybar spoils, a mission (unexplained) by Usama b. Zayd, and that other religions than his own must not be permitted to exist on the Arab peninsula. At least we have somw words about religion. Unfortunately, they are quite intolerant.