Life-of-Muhammad

88Life of Muhammad safor the enemy to make any sudden attack on any part ofthe town. The enemy commanders took counsel togetherand decided that it was necessary to try to wean theBanu Quraiza, the Jewish tribe, still living in Medina,from their alliance with the Muslims and ask them tojoin the Arab confederates in this critical onslaughtagainst Medina. Only the Banu Quraiza could give thema way to the town. At last Abu Sufyan ra selected Huyaibin Akhtab, chief of the banished tribe of Banu Nadirand principal instigator of Arab tribes against Medina,and appointed him to negotiate with the Banu Quraizafor facilities to attack the town from the rear. Huyai binAkhtab went to the Jewish fortress to see the leader ofthe Banu Quraiza. At first they refused to see him. Butwhen he explained that this was a very opportunemoment to defeat the Muslims, he succeeded in winningover one of the Quraizites, Ka‘b. He explained that allArabia had turned out to attack and destroy theMuslims. The army which stood at the other side of theditch was not an army, but an ocean of able-bodied menwhom the Muslims could not possibly resist. Ultimatelyit was agreed that as soon as the army of disbelieverssucceeded in forcing the ditch the Banu Quraiza wouldattack that part of Medina to which the Holy Prophet sahad sent all the women and children for safety. Thisplan, it was believed, would smash the Muslimresistance, and prove a death-trap for their entirepopulation—men, women and children. If this plan hadmet with even partial success, it would have cost theMuslims dear and made things very difficult for them.They would have had no escape from this death-trap.TREACHERY OF BANU QURAIZAThe Banu Quraiza, as we have said, were in alliancewith the Muslims. Even if they had not joined the battleon the Muslim side, it was expected that they would atleast bar the way of the enemy on their side. The