Sallam ibn Mishkam
Sallam ibn Mishkam (died 628) was a
, in the early seventh century.Family and early life
Sallam ibn Mishkam ibn Al-Hakam ibn Haritha ibn Al-Khazraj ibn Kaab ibn Khazraj was a member of the
At some stage, Sallam married Safiyya bint Huyayy, but they were later divorced.[2]: 134–135 It is possible that the whole family changed their minds about this match amicably and early, before Sallam and Safiyya actually lived together.
Debate with Muhammad
When
Sallam was among the rabbis who debated with Muhammad. On one occasion, he asked: “Is it true that [the
In late 623 or early 624 the Jews made a formal statement of their joint unbelief in Muhammad’s mission. Sallam and three friends asked: “Do you follow the religion of Abraham and believe in the Torah and testify that it is the truth from God?” Muhammad replied: “Certainly,” but added that the Jews had “added to the Scriptures, and broken its Covenant, and hidden what you were ordered to publish. I dissociate myself from your additions.” Sallam and his friends replied: “We hold by this Torah and we live according to its guidance and the truth. We do not believe in you and we will not follow you.”[1]: 268
Muhammad distanced himself from the Jews after February 624, when the qibla (direction of prayer) changed from Jerusalem to Mecca. Sallam and four friends asked him: “How can we follow you when you have abandoned our qibla and you do not allege that Ezra is the son of God?”.[1]: 269 The Quran states:
The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allāh"; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allāh." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before [them]. May Allāh destroy them; how are they deluded? -Quran 9:30
Conflict with Muhammad
Soon after the
In August 625 Muhammad visited the Nadir quarter to ask for money, but while the elders were considering his request, he suddenly fled home. He announced that Huyayy ibn Akhtab was plotting to kill him and that Amr ibn Jihash had volunteered to drop a rock on his head; however, Sallam ibn Mishkam had taken the honourable path of trying to dissuade them from such treachery.[1]: 437 [3]: 130 If the plot was real, it is interesting that Sallam should have suddenly tried to protect Muhammad; and if the plot was a fabrication, it is equally interesting that the Muslim sources should wish to exonerate Sallam.
Following this assassination accusation, Muhammad demanded that the Nadir leave their ancestral homes in Medina. Sallam urged Huyayy to accept the safe-conduct out of the city because he did not believe they had a realistic hope of successfully defying Muhammad. Huyayy argued that the Nadir fortresses were prepared a twelve months’ siege and that, since neighbouring tribes had promised to relieve them, they would soon call Muhammad’s bluff. However, when the relief failed to materialise, Salla[1]: 269–270 again urged his chief to reconsider. After two more weeks, Muhammad began to destroy the Nadir date-orchards. While the women wailed and tore their robes, Sallam complained: “Our palms are precious! Once planted, they will not bear fruit for thirty years more if cut down!” Huyayy realised that there was no point in remaining if their livelihood were destroyed, so after more pressing from Sallam, he accepted Muhammad’s terms of surrender. The Nadir left Medina.[3]: 134
Khaybar
Many of the Nadir, including Sallam, settled in
In Khaybar Sallam married Zaynab bint Al-Harith. Her family were Yemeni immigrants who had settled in Khaybar and converted to Judaism. Her father and his two brothers were warrior-poets like Sallam. This marriage was apparently happy,[1]: 516 and some sources suggest that Sallam and Zaynab had a son, Kharija.[4] However, al-Waqidi names the sons of Sallam as 'Amr, born not later than spring 627,[5]: 260 and al-Hakam, born by summer 628.[5]: 334
The Nadir hoped to return home to Medina and therefore wanted to get rid of Muhammad. Sallam was one of those who accompanied Huyayy ibn Akhtab to Mecca to negotiate an alliance with the pagan
Huyayy, his son and his brother were executed in Medina, after which Sallam appeared to live quietly for several months; but Muhammad continued to suspect the Jews of Khaybar. He ordered the assassinations Sallam’s uncle, Sallam ibn Abu al-Huqayq,[6] and of another kinsman, Usayr ibn Zarim,[7]: 120 for imprecisely defined offences. Sallam must have expected that Muhammad would eventually launch an attack against Khaybar.
The Siege of Khaybar
Early in June 628 Muslim armies entered Khaybar at dawn for a surprise attack. The workmen in the fields fled to the fortresses, screaming: “Muhammad – with his army!”[8] Sallam, who was ill at the time,[9] nevertheless exerted himself to organise the defence in a hurry. Since the Muslims were attacking from the Natat area, he directed the Jews to hide their wealth and families in the fortresses of al-Khatiba then to move their fighting men and ammunition to Natat. He urged: “Fight the foe courageously, for it is better to be killed in battle than to wail in abject captivity!” and the Jews then charged from Natat to engage the invading army.[10]: 369 [11]: 126
In the course of the battle, the archers of Khaybar wounded fifty Muslims. Jewish casualties were not precisely tallied, but very heavy; and Sallam ibn Mishkam was one of those who died in the battle.[11]: 126
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Muhammad ibn Ishaq. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- ^ Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari. Tarikh al-Rusul wa'l-Muluk. Translated by Poonawala, K. I. (1990). The History of al-Ṭabarī Volume 9: Last Years of the Prophet. Albany: State University of New York Press.
- ^ a b Muhammad ibn Umar al-Waqidi, Al-Maghazi, cited in Stillman, N. A. (1979). The Jews of Arab Lands. The Jewish Publication Society of America.
- ^ Ilan, T. (2011). Lexicon of Jewish Names in Late Antiquity: Part IV: the Eastern Diaspora, 330 BCE – 650 CE. Tübingen: Mohr-Siebeck.
- ^ a b Muhammad ibn Umar al-Waqidi. The Life of Muhammad. Translated by Rizwi Faizer, Amal Ismail & AbdulKader Tayob (2011). Abingdon, Oxon. & New York: Routledge.
- ^ Bukhari 5:59:371
- ^ Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari. Tarikh al-Rusul wa'l-Muluk. Translated by McDonald, M. V. (1987). The History of Al-Tabari Volume 7: The Foundation of the Community. Albany: State University of New York Press.
- ^ Bukhari 1:8:367
- ^ Numani, M. S. (1995). Life of the Prophet, volume 2, p. 165. Kazi Publications.
- ^ Haykal, Muhammad Husayn. The Life of Muhammad Volume 2. Translated by Al-Faruqi, I. R. (2008). Selangor: Islamic Book Trust.
- ^ a b An-Nabhani, T., & Ut-Tahrir, H. (1998). The Islamic State. London: Al-Khilafah Publications.