Life-of-Muhammad

142Life of Muhammad saThree interesting incidents took place in this siege ofKhaibar. One of them constitutes a Sign of God and twoafford insight into the high moral character of theProphet sa .A widow of Kinana, a chief of Khaibar, was marriedto the Prophet sa . The Prophet sa saw that her face boresome marks, the impression of a hand. "What is this onyour face, Safiyya ra ?" asked the Prophet sa ."It was like this," replied Safiyya ra . "I saw the moonfall in my lap in a dream. I related the dream to myhusband. No sooner had I related the dream than myhusband gave a heavy slap on my face and said, 'Youdesire to marry the King of Arabia'" (Hisham). The moonwas the national emblem of Arabia. The moon in the lapdenoted some intimate connection with the King ofArabia. A split moon or a dropping moon meantdissensions in the Arab State or its destruction.The dream of Safiyya ra is a sign of the truth of theHoly Prophet sa . It is also a sign of the fact that Godreveals the future to His servants through dreams.Believers have more of this grace than unbelievers.Safiyya ra was a Jewess when she saw this dream. It sohappened that her husband was killed in the siege ofKhaibar. This siege was a punishment for the Jewishbreach of faith. Safiyya ra was made a prisoner and, inthe distribution of prisoners, was given to a Companion.It was then found that she was the widow of a chief. Itwas, therefore, felt that it would be more in accord withher rank if she were to live with the Prophet sa . TheProphet sa , however, chose to give her the status of a wifeand she agreed. In this way was her dream fulfilled.There were two other incidents. One relates to ashepherd who looked after the sheep of a Jewish chief.This shepherd became a Muslim. After his conversion hesaid to the Prophet sa , "I cannot go back to my peoplenow, O Prophet of God sa . What shall I do with the sheepand goats of my old master?""Set the faces of the animals towards Khaibar andgive them a push. God will lead them back to their