Islam: A Guide for Jews and Christians - Electric Scotland

78 t CHAPTER FOUR
There were three principle Jewish tribes in Medina: the Qaynuqa,
the Nadir, and the Qurayza. The first overt action against
them took place in the wake of the military success at Badr. Muhammad,
possibly emboldened by his unexpected triumph, decided
to push his advantage. The Qaynuqa were invited to convert
or face the dire consequences. “Don’t be deceived,” they answered.
“The Quraysh knew nothing about war. We will fight!” So
they fought. It was that simple. The Jews’ Arab patrons at Medina,
who had solemn obligations to the Qaynuqa, attempted to support
them, though not apparently with unanimity or enthusiasm. The
Qaynuqa locked themselves in their plantation fortresses, but to
no avail. Whoever among the Qaynuqa managed to survive were
driven from the oasis and the Muslims took over their properties.
A similar fate overtook the Nadir after Uhud. Here the accusation
had to do with a plot to assassinate Muhammad. The Nadir
took to their forts and Muhammad flushed them out. Once again
the tribe was deported, men, women, and children, with whatever
property they could carry. Their lands, we are told, became the
Prophet’s to dispose of as he would. He divided them among the
Migrants, to the exclusion of the Helpers, presumably because the
latter already had land of their own. Following the failed Quraysh
raid on Medina in 627 it was the turn on the Qurayza, the last of
Medina’s major Jewish tribes. According to the Life, the Qurayza
had urged the Quraysh to attack the oasis and then failed to help
when they did. This restraint, or prudence, did not save them from
the Prophet’s wrath. Indeed, Muhammad received a special revelation—it
is not recorded in the Quran, but only as a story in the
Life—commanding him to attack the Qurayza. He did, and after
nearly a month of determined resistance, they saw the end was
near. The Life tells another oddly heroic story about the Jews—
already it had portrayed the Nadir marching off into exile with
flags flying and heads held high. In this instance, the Qurayza rejected
the suggestion that they convert to save themselves and likewise
refused to attack the Muslims because it was the Sabbath.
Finally, they appealed to their Arab patrons of the Aws. Once
again, the response was unenthusiastic: no one was willing to cross
Muhammad at this stage. Muhammad was conciliatory only to the