Muhammad Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==== Invasion of Khaybar ==== {{Main|Battle of Khaybar}} Roughly ten weeks subsequent to his return from Hudaybiyya, Muhammad expressed his plan to invade [[Khaybar]], a flourishing oasis about {{convert|75|mi|km}} north of Medina. The city was populated by Jews, including those from the [[Banu Nadir]], who had previously been expelled by Muhammad from [[Medina]]. With the prospect of rich spoils from the mission, numerous volunteers answered his call.{{sfn|Glubb|2001|p=280}}{{sfn|Rodinson|2021|p=253}} To keep their movements hidden, the Muslim military chose to march during the nighttime. As dawn arrived and the city folks stepped out of their fortifications to harvest their dates, they were taken aback by the sight of the advancing Muslim forces. Muhammad cried out, "[[Takbir|Allahu Akbar]]! Khaybar is destroyed. For when we approach a people's land, a terrible morning awaits the warned ones."{{sfn|Rodgers|2012|p=197}} After a strenuous battle lasting more than a month, the Muslims successfully captured the city.{{sfn|Rodinson|2021|p=200}} The loss in the confrontation was 15β17 Muslims and 93 Jews.{{sfn|Rodgers|2012|p=200}} The spoils, inclusive of the wives of the slain warriors, were distributed among the Muslims.{{sfn|Phipps|2016|p=65}} Muhammad claimed [[Safiyya bint Huyayy]], a beautiful 17-year-old girl, from among the captives.{{sfn|Rodinson|2021|p=254}} Following the battle, her husband, [[Kenana ibn al-Rabi|Kinana ibn al-Rabi]], was put through torture by Muhammad's decree for declining to reveal his tribe's hidden wealth, and subsequently beheaded.{{sfn|Rodgers|2012|p=200β1}}{{sfn|Rodinson|2021|p=254}}{{sfn|Bukay|2017|loc=List of Muhammad's Orders to Murder People}} Her father and brother had been executed during the [[Invasion of Banu Qurayza|massacre of the Banu Qurayza]].{{sfn|Glubb|2001|p=282β3}} Overwhelmed by her beauty, Muhammad had sex with her the very night, contradicting his own mandate that his followers should wait for the captives' next menstrual cycle to begin before having intercourse.{{sfn|Rodinson|2021|p=254}}{{Sfn|Swarup|2011|p=75}}{{Sfn|Morgan|2009|p=128}} Following their defeat by the Muslims, some of the Jews proposed to Muhammad that they stay and serve as tenant farmers, given the Muslims' lack of expertise and labor force for date palm cultivation. They agreed to give half of the annual produce to the Muslims. Muhammad consented to this arrangement with the caveat that he could displace them at any time. While they were allowed to farm, he demanded the surrender of all gold or silver, executing those who secreted away their wealth.{{sfn|Rodgers|2012|p=202}}{{Sfn|Sa'd|1972|p=139β40}} Taking a cue from what transpired in Khaybar, the Jews in [[Fadak]] immediately sent an envoy to Muhammad and agreed to the same terms of relinquishing 50% of their annual harvest. However, since no combat occurred, the rank and file had no claim to a portion of the spoils. Consequently, all the loot became Muhammad's exclusive wealth.{{sfn|Rodgers|2012|p=203}}{{sfn|Glubb|2001|p=283β4}} At the feast following the battle, the meal served to Muhammad was reportedly poisoned. His companion, Bishr, fell dead after consuming it, while Muhammad himself managed to vomit it out after tasting it.{{sfn|Rodgers|2012|p=203}}{{sfn|Brown|2011|p=48}} The perpetrator was [[Zaynab bint Al-Harith|Zaynab bint al-Harith]], a Jewish woman whose father, uncle, and husband had been killed by the Muslims.{{sfn|Rodinson|2021|p=254}} When asked why she did it, she replied, "You know what you've done to my people... I said to myself: If he is truly a prophet, he will know about the poison. If he's merely a king, I'll be rid of him."{{sfn|Rodgers|2012|p=203}}{{sfn|Rodinson|2021|p=254}} One account suggests Muhammad forgave her, but in other more accepted reports, she was killed thereafter.{{sfn|Rodgers|2012|p=203}} Muhammad suffered illness for a period due to the poison he ingested, and he endured sporadic pain from it until his death.{{sfn|Brown|2011|p=49}}{{sfn|Glubb|2001|p=283}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page