Breach of Ban£-Qaynuq¡` Treaty
Ban£-Qaynuq¡` was the first Jewish tribe that violated the nonaggression pact. This was because Muslims' victory was bitter for both the Jews and the infidels. After the Battle of Badr and the victory of Muslims, both the Jews and the hypocrites became so furious. The first group that started incurring animosity of Islam was Ban£-Qaynuq¡` although the Holy Prophet had warned them against so and advised them to learn a lesson from the defeat of Quraysh and to be Muslims. He told them they had learned about his traits in their Book.[1]
Their reply was, “Your victory over Quraysh has made you proud. Quraysh were a trade group. If you ever fight us, you will know how real warriors look like!”
Stricken by false pride, they did not take the Holy Prophet's warnings seriously; rather, they continued in aggression. Once, one of these Jews insulted the wife of one of An¥¡r in the mart of this tribe outside Medina, creating turmoil. The woman called for help and a Muslim killed that intruder. Then, the Jews collectively killed that Muslim. Although two persons were killed, they could have stopped the situation at this point. However, they returned to their castles and readied themselves to attack. The Holy Prophet ordered their castle to be besieged. After fifteen days of siege, the Holy Prophet accepted the intermediation of `Abdull¡h Ibn Ubayy, who had been already an ally of them, and permitted them to leave Medina after submitting their weapons. They migrated to a place called Adhru`¡t, in Damascus. This event occurred in the month of Shaww¡l of the second year of Hegira.[2]
Having been the bravest Jews,[3] Ban£-Qaynuq¡` used to take pride in their power. They relied on their allies from Khazraj and Ban£-`Awf.[4] However, Khazraj could not save them from banishment.[5] `Ab¡dah ibn ¯¡mit al-`Awf¢ gave them up.[6] The two Jewish tribes of Ban£’l-Na¤¢r and Ban£-Quray¨ah, who were the previous allies of Aws, could not help them either. Sa`d ibn Mu`¡dh, the chief of Aws, did not have any role in preventing their interferences in this crisis. Thus, the banishment of this tribe from Medina benefited Muslims in the sense that the power of these three tribes was disintegrated. It was also a warning to the other Jews of Medina not to commit the same mistake.
[1] “Say to those who disbelieve: you shall be vanquished, and driven together to hell; and evil is the resting-place 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 whom He pleases most surely there is a lesson in this for those who have sight.” (Qur’¡n 3:12-13)
[2] al-W¡qid¢, op cit, 1:176; Ibn Hush¡m, op cit, 3:50-52; al-Bul¡dhar¢, op cit, 1:308-309; ±abar¢, op cit, 2:297-298.
[3] al-W¡qid¢, op cit, pp. 178.
[4] al-W¡qid¢, op cit, pp. 178; Ibn Hush¡m, op cit, 3:50.
[5] It seems that the Holy Prophet accepted the arbitration of `Abdull¡h ibn Ubayy because he was superficially Muslim and the Holy Prophet would do everything to keep the unity of Muslims.
[6] al-W¡qid¢, op cit, pp. 179.
