Siege of Banu Qaynuqa

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Invasion of Banu Qaynuqa
Part of
Arabia[1]
Result Muslim victory
Belligerents Muslims of Mecca Banu Qaynuqa tribe[1]Commanders and leaders
Abdullah ibn Ubayy
UnknownStrength Unknown 700[3]: 209–10 

According to Islamic tradition, the invasion of Banu Qaynuqa,[4] also known as the expedition against Banu Qaynuqa,[5] occurred in AD 624. The Banu Qaynuqa were a Jewish tribe expelled by the Islamic prophet Muhammad for breaking the treaty known as the Constitution of Medina[2][3]

Banu Qaynuqa

Main article: Banu Qaynuqa

In the 7th century, the Banu Qaynuqa were living in two fortresses in the south-western part of the city of Yathrib, now Medina, having settled there at an unknown date. Although the Banu Qaynuqa bore mostly Arabic names, they were both ethnically and religiously Jewish. They owned no land and earned their living through commerce and craftsmanship, including goldsmithery.

Khazraj and supported them in their conflicts with the rival Arab tribe of Aws.[1]

Background and reason for attack

According to

Khazraj tribe) soon afterwards when a Muslim woman visited a jeweller's shop in the Qaynuqa marketplace and she was pestered to uncover her face. The goldsmith, a Jew, pinned her clothing such, that upon getting up, she was stripped naked. A Muslim man coming upon the resulting commotion killed the shopkeeper in retaliation. The Jews in turn killed the Muslim man. This escalated to a chain of revenge killings, and enmity grew between Muslims and the Banu Qaynuqa.[7][8]: 122 [9]

The Jews of Medina became increasingly hostile to Muhammad because he claimed to be a Prophet, although some Jews did convert to Islam. The Banu Qaynuqa had allegedly had 300 soldiers with armour, and 400 without.[10]

In December 623, Muslims led by Muhammad defeated the

Banu Quraish tribe in the Battle of Badr. Jewish tribes, such as Banu Qaynuqa, expressed resentment towards this.[11] The Banu Qaynuqa purportedly started a campaign of trouble making aimed at Muslims, jeering at them as well, harming those who went to their marketplaces, and intimidating Muslim women.[11] Muhammad admonished them for their purported conduct, instructed them to be rational and sensible, and warned them about further transgressions .[11]

O Jews, beware lest God brings upon you the vengeance that he brought upon Quraysh and become Muslims. You know that I am a prophet who has been sent - you will find that in your scriptures and God's covenant with you.[12]

According to The Sealed Nectar, the Banu Qaynuqa challenged a Muhammad and said "Don't be deluded on account of defeating some Quraishites inexperienced in the art of war. If you were to engage us in fight, you will realise that we are genuine war experts."[11]

O Muhammad, you seem to think that we are your people. Do not deceive yourself because you encountered a people with no knowledge of war and got the better of them; for by God if we fight you, you will find that we are real men![12]

Then [Quran 3.12-13] was revealed to Muhammad,

[3.12] Say to those who disbelieve: You shall be vanquished, and driven together to hell; and evil is the resting-place.
[3.13] Indeed there was a sign for you in the two hosts (which) met together in encounter; one party fighting in the way of Allah and the other unbelieving, whom they saw twice as.many as themselves with the sight of the eye and Allah strengthens with His aid whom He pleases; most surely there is a lesson in this for those who have sight.

Muhammad then besieged the Banu Qaynuqa for fifteen days, after which the tribe surrendered unconditionally.[13][14] It was certain, according to Watt, that there was some sort of negotiations. At the time of the siege, the Qaynuqa had a fighting force of 700 men, 400 of whom were armored. Watt concludes, that Muhammad could not have besieged such a large force so successfully without Qaynuqa's allies' support.[15]

After the surrender of Banu Qaynuqa, Muhammad wanted to massacre the tribe.

Abdullah ibn Ubayy, the chief of a section of the clan of Khazraj̲ came to him and pleaded for them.[12] His argument was that presence of Qaynuqa with 700 fighting men can be helpful in the view of the expected Meccan onslaught.[17] He was so insistent that he even put his hand into Muhammad's collar. In the end, because Ibn Ubayy was a chief of the tribe of Khazraj that Muhammad had many of his followers from, he only expelled the people of Banu Qaynuqa from Medina, and took their property as booty.[18]

Expulsion

Traditional Muslim sources view these episodes as a violation of the Constitution of Medina.

F.E. Peters, the precise circumstances of the alleged violation of the Constitution of Medina are not specified in the sources.[6]: 218  According to Fred Donner, available sources do not elucidate the reasons for the expulsion of the Qaynuqa. Donner argues that Muhammad turned against the Qaynuqa because, as artisans and traders, they were in close contact with Meccan merchants.[19] Weinsinck views the episodes cited by the Muslim historians, such as the story of the Jewish goldsmith, as having no more than anecdotal value. He writes that the Jews had assumed a contentious attitude towards Muhammad, and as a group possessing substantial independent power, they posed a great danger. Weinsinck thus concludes that Muhammad, strengthened by the victory at Badr, soon resolved to eliminate the Jewish opposition to himself.[1] Norman Stillman also believes that Muhammad decided to move against the Jews of Medina after being strengthened in the wake of the Battle of Badr.[8]
: 13 

Qur'an were revealed to Muhammad following the exchange.[2] Muhammad then besieged the Banu Qaynuqa for fourteen[1] or fifteen days, according to ibn Hisham,[8]: 123  after which the tribe surrendered unconditionally.[2][8]: 123  It was certain, according to Watt, that there were some sort of negotiations. At the time of the siege, the Qaynuqa had a fighting force of 700 men, 400 of whom were armoured. Watt concludes that Muhammad could not have besieged such a large force so successfully if the Qaynuqa's allies did not whole-heartedly support Muhammad.[3]
: 209–10 

After the surrender of Banu Qaynuqa,

Tabari, who cites Ibn Ishaq and Asim ibn Umar ibn Qatada in his chain of narrations:[22]

The Messenger of God besieged them until they surrendered at his discretion. 'Abd Allah b. Ubbay b. Salul rose up when God had put them in his power, and said, "Muhammad, treat my mawali well"; for they were the confederates of al-Khazraj. The Prophet delayed his answer, so 'Abd Allah repeated, "Muhammad, treat my mawali well." The Prophet turned away from him, and he put his hand into (The Messenger's) collar. The Messenger of God said, "Let me go!" – he was so angry that they could see shadows in his face (that is, his face coloured). Then he said, "Damn you, let me go!" He replied, "No, by God, I will not let you go until you treat my mawali well. Four hundred men without armour and three hundred with coats of mail, who defended me from the Arab and non-Arab alike, and you would mow them in a single morning? By God, I do not feel safe and am afraid of what the future may have in store." So the Messenger of God said, "They are yours."[23][24]

According to

Abdullah ibn Ubayy, who was an old ally of the Qaynuqa.[28] Because of this interference and other episodes of his discord with Muhammad, Abdullah ibn Ubayy earned for himself the title of the leader of hypocrites (munafiqun) in the Muslim tradition.[8]: 13, 123 [21]

Aftermath

The Banu Qaynuqa left first for the Jewish colonies in the

Der'a in Syria,[1] west of Salkhad. In the course of time, they assimilated with the Jewish communities, pre-existing in that area, strengthening them numerically.[29]

Muhammad divided the property of the Banu Qaynuqa, including their arms and tools, among his followers, taking for himself a fifth share of the spoils for the first time. Some members of the tribe chose to stay in Medina and convert to Islam, possibly more out of opportunism than conviction. One man from the Banu Qaynuqa,

Abdullah ibn Salam, became a devout Muslim. Although some Muslim sources claim that he converted immediately after Muhammad's arrival to Medina, modern scholars give more credence to the other Muslim sources, which indicate that 8 years later, 630, as the year of ibn Salam's conversion.[1]

Islamic primary sources

Quran 8:58, 3:118, 3:12

The Quran verse 8:58 is reportedly related to this event. It states:[30]

If thou fearest treachery from any group, throw back (their covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms: for Allah loveth not the treacherous. [Quran 8:58]

Ibn Kathir interprets the verse as saying that if non-Muslims broke their treaties with Muslims, then Muslims should break theirs.[31]

According to a tradition, Muhammad reportedly asked the Jews to pay the tribute (

Jizyah), but they refused and instead taunted Muhammad by saying his God is poor. Islamic tradition claims that the Quran verse 3:118 was revealed because of the comments.[32][33]
It states:

O you who believe! do not take for intimate friends from among others than your own people; they do not fall short of inflicting loss upon you; they love what distresses you; vehement hatred has already appeared from out of their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater still; indeed, We have made the communications clear to you, if you will understand.[Quran 3:118]

Quran 3:12 and 3:13 is also related to this event.[34] It states:

Say to those who reject Faith: "Soon will ye be vanquished and gathered together to Hell, — an evil bed indeed (to lie on)! [Quran 3:12]

Ibn Kathir says about this verse, that after Muhammad "gained victory in the battle of Badr and went back to Al-Madinah, he gathered the Jews in the marketplace of Bani Qaynuqa`" then, the verse was revealed.[35]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wensinck, AJ, "Kaynuka, banu", Encyclopaedia of Islam.
  2. ^ a b c d e Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah [The Life of Muhammad], transl. Guillaume, p. 363.
  3. ^ a b c d e Watt (1956), Muhammad at Medina. Page 209
  4. ^ Mubarakpuri, Saifur Rahman Al (2005), Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum, Darussalam Publications, p. 117.
  5. ISBN 978-9960-897-28-8
  6. ^ a b Peters, Muhammad and the Origins of Islam.
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-9960-899-55-8
  8. ^ a b c d e Stillman, The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book.
  9. ^ Guillaume 363, ibn Kathir 2.
  10. ISBN 978-0-8061-3860-2
    .
  11. ^
    ISBN 9781484974858
  12. ^ a b c Ibn Ishaq. The Life Of Muhammad. p. 363.
  13. ^ Ibn Ishaq. The Life Of Muhammad. pp. 362–364.
  14. ^ al-Tabari. The History of Al-Tabari Volume 7: The Foundation of the Community (PDF). pp. 85–87.
  15. ^ Watt (1956), pg. 209-10.
  16. ^ al-Tabari. The History of Al-Tabari Volume 7: The Foundation of the Community (PDF). p. 86.
  17. ^ * Watt, Muhammad prophet and statesman, p. 131
    • William Montgomery Watt. "Abd Allah b. Ubayy b. Salul." Encyclopaedia of Islam.
  18. ^ al-Tabari. The History of al-Tabari vol.8 - The Foundation of the Community (PDF). p. 87.
  19. ^ Donner, Muhammad's Political Consolidation in Arabia up to the Conquest of Mecca, pp. 231–2.
  20. ^ Nomani 90-91.
  21. ^ a b William Montgomery Watt. "Abd Allah b. Ubayy b. Salul." Encyclopaedia of Islam.
  22. ^ M. V. (Michael V.) McDonald, William Montgomery Watt, The history of al-Tabari, p. 86.
  23. ISBN 978-0-88706-344-2
  24. ISBN 978-983-9154-17-7
  25. ^ Cook, Michael, Muhammad, p. 21.
  26. ^ Watt, Muhammad, prophet and statesman, p. 131.
  27. ^ William Montgomery Watt. "Abd Allah b. Ubayy b. Salul." Encyclopaedia of Islam.
  28. ^ Rodinson, Muhammad, p. 173.
  29. ^ Ben-Zvi, The Exiled and the Redeemed, p. 147.
  30. ^ Sāzmān-i Tablīghāt-i Islāmī (1987), Al-Tawḥīd, vol. 5, Tehran, Iran: Islamic Propagation Organization, International Relations Dept, p. 86.
  31. ISBN 978-9960-892-75-7
  32. ISBN 978-1-84212-609-7
    , This was the taunt of the jews of the tribe of Kainoka, when Muhammad demanded tribute of them in the name of God.
  33. ISBN 978-9960-897-54-7
    .
  34. ISBN 978-0-691-00040-4
    .
  35. ISBN 978-1-86179-677-6
    .

Sources
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