The Treachery of Banū Qurayẓah

The difficulties were increasing rather than decreasing. There is this army coming forward, made up of Quraysh and Ghaṭafān, and then there was a very serious problem, and this couldn't have come at a worse time. The dwellings of Banū Qurayẓah, the last Jewish tribe remaining in Madīnah, were part of the protection; they were part of the plan of protection that the Messenger of Allah had for Madīnah. So their fortresses were used as a protection from the army advancing from that area. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was receiving news that Banū Qurayẓah themselves were betraying their agreement with the Messenger of Allah and were going to join with the confederates. This would have been a disaster, because they were supposed to be part of the protection; so if that gate is opened, then the Muslims are going to be in serious trouble.

So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sends al-Zubayr ibn al-ʿAwwām to investigate the matter. Al-Zubayr ibn al-ʿAwwām brings back information that they are bringing in their livestock and they are paving their roads, which is an indication of preparation for war. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) wanted to investigate the matter further, so he sent Saʿd ibn Muʿādh, Saʿd ibn ʿUbādah, ʿAbdullāh ibn Rawāḥah and Khawwāt ibn Jubayr, and told them: "Go and investigate the matter, and bring me news of whether Qurayẓah have betrayed or broken their agreement with me. If that is the case, do not weaken the people; come and deliver the news to me secretly. If you find that they are still up to their word and agreement, and they are keeping the agreement, then make the news public."

And we can see here a lesson from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): that sometimes you want to keep away some news from the people. If it is detrimental news, if it is news that would demoralise them, if it would weaken them, it might be maṣlaḥah to keep it away from the army. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) wanted to keep it secret, if that was the case. But if it is good news, that they are still keeping the agreement, then make it public.

Saʿd ibn Muʿādh and Saʿd ibn ʿUbādah, ʿAbdullāh ibn Rawāḥah and Khawwāt go there, they come back, and they tell the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) two words: "ʿAḍal wa al-Qārah." ʿAḍal and al-Qārah, it will be remembered, are the two tribes that betrayed the men who were sent by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the ones who betrayed the men and killed them. So this was an indication from these men that Qurayẓah had broken the agreement, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) got the point and made preparations for that.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sends out two groups, one of two hundred men, the other one of three hundred men, as guards, and they would go around the area of Banū Qurayẓah to show them that "we are still here, and we are still strong, and we are willing to fight". So it was a show of strength. And the Muslims were able to intercept twenty camel-loads of dates, figs and barley that were going towards the army of the Aḥzāb, and their point of origin was Banū Qurayẓah. So this makes it clear that Banū Qurayẓah have betrayed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him); they have committed treason. They are now supplying the army of the enemy.