Khayber, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates: 25.730727, 39.267128
History of Banu Qurayza
The Banu Qurayza were a Jewish tribe which lived in northern Arabia, at the oasis of Yathrib (now known as Medina sharfif), until the 7th century.
Jewish tribes reportedly arrived in Hijaz in the wake of the Jewish-Roman wars and introduced agriculture, putting them in a culturally, economically and politically dominant position.
However, in the 5th century, the Banu Aws and the Banu Khazraj, two Arab tribes that had arrived from Yemen, gained dominance.
When these two tribes became embroiled in conflict with each other, the Jewish tribes, now clients or allies of the Arabs, fought on different sides, the Qurayza siding with the Aws.
In 622, Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ arrived at Yathrib from Mecca Sharif and reportedly established a pact between the conflicting parties.
While the city found itself at war with Hz. Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ’s native Meccan tribe of the Quraysh, tensions between the growing numbers of Muslims and the Jewish communities mounted.
Betrayal of Banu Qurayza
The Invasion of Banu Qurayza took place in Dhul Qa‘dah during January of AD 627 (AH 5).
The Banu Qurayza initially told the Muslims that they were allied to them during the Battle of the Trench, however, later they sided with the Pagan Arabs of Quraysh and their allies.
According to traditional sources, Jewish leaders organized efforts against Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Muslims.
Three Jewish leaders from the tribe of Banu al-Nadir, three Jewish leaders from the tribe of Wa’il, and various other Jewish groups and leaders united and pressured Banu Qurayza to betray their agreement to Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
During the Battle of the Trench, when the Muslims were surrounded by a large hostile force, the Banu Qurayza joined the enemies of the Muslims and threatened the Muslims from within the town itself.
Waqidi claims that Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had a treaty with the tribe which was torn apart.
Invasion of Banu Qurayza
The Banu Qurayza were besieged for 25 days until they surrendered.
According to Mohammed al-Ghazali رحمة الله عليه, during that time the Muslims allowed the Jews who had refused to betray the Prophet ﷺ during the Battle of the Trench to leave and “go wherever they wished”.
Hz. Sa’d ibn Mu’adh رضي الله عنه, a companion of Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, was chosen by him as an arbiter and all parties agreed to abide by his judgment.
Hz. Sa’d رضي الله عنه gave his verdict that “the men should be killed, the property divided, and the women and children taken as slaves”.
Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ approved of the ruling, calling it similar to Allah’s judgment, after which nearly all male members of the tribe who had reached puberty were beheaded.
The Muslim jurist Tabari quotes 600–900 being executed.
The Sunni hadith do not give the number killed, but state that all pubescent males were killed and one woman.
Quranic verses 33:26-27 are about the attack against the Banu Qurayza.
Quran states,
And He dragged down those who had backed them from among the People of the Book from their strongholds, and He cast terror into their hearts, [so that] you killed a part of them, and took captive [another] part of them.
And He bequeathed you their land, their houses and their possessions, and a territory you had not trodden, and Allah has power over all things.
Verse no. 33:26-27
