To have Muhammad's intention concerning Bani Qurayza fulfilled...


Introduction

In this article, I investigate as to why Muhammad (PBUH) chose Sa'd Ibn Mu'ad to pronounce Judgment that ended the existence of Bani Qurayza through a genocide masterminded by none other than the prophet of Islam. This article is divided into three parts: Muhammad's intentions regarding Bani Qurayza after their unconditional surrender, the nature of Sa'd Ibn Mu'ad and a Substantive conclusion.

Muhammad's Intentions regarding Bani Qurayza

We can best investigate this matter through what Muhammad did to Bani Qainuqa. This is a Jewish tribe that Muhammad got rid of from Medina, and took their property. I have published previously on this tribe and what happened to them:

My goal in this article is not to repeat the story but rather to see the flow of events that allowed Bani Qainuqa's survival after they surrendered to Muhammad and his bandits. The following quote from "The Life of Mahomet" by William Muir (Chapter XIII, p. 134 ff) sums what happened:

The Bani Cainucaa were besieged closely by Mahomet for fifteen days, when, despairing of the aid which they had looked for from their Khazraj allies, they surrendered at discretion. As, one by one, they issued from the stronghold, their hands were tied behind their backs, and preparations made for execution. But Abdallah ibn Obey, the Khazrajite, could not endure to see his faithful allies led thus away to be massacred in cold blood. Approaching Mahomet, he begged for mercy to be shown them; but Mahomet turned his face away. Abdallah persisted in his suit, and seizing the Prophet by the side, as he stood armed in his coat of mail, reiterated the petition. "Let me alone!" cried Mahomet; but Abdallah did not relax his hold. The marks of anger mantled in the Prophet's face, and again he exclaimed loudly, "Wretch, let me go!" "Nay!" said Abdallah, I will not let thee go, until thou hast compassion on my friends; 300 soldiers armed in mail, and 400 unequipped, -- they defended me on the fields of Hadaick and Boath from every foe. Wilt thou cut them down in one day, O Mahomet? As for me, I am one verily that feareth the vicissitudes of fortune." Abdallah was yet too strong for Mahomet with safety to neglect the appeal so urgently preferred. "Let them go!" He said sullenly; "God curse them, and God curse him also!" So Mahomet released them from death, and commanded that they should be sent into exile. They were conducted forth by Obada ibn Samit, one of the Khazrajite Leaders, as far as Dzobab; thence they proceeded to Wadi al Cora, and being assisted there by the Jewish inhabitants with carriage, reached Adzraat, a territory on the confines of Syria.

The spoil consisted mainly of armour and goldsmiths' tools, for that was the chief occupation of the tribe; they possessed no agricultural property, nor any fields. Mahomet took his choice of the arms, -- three bows, three swords, and two coats of mail. The royal fifth was then set aside, and the remainder distributed amongst the army.

Is there any doubt about what Muhammad's intentions were? He was adamant at beheading all of their men, enslaving the children and women (women for raping), and possibly selling some of them for weapons, and taking all of their property. He could not do that at that point as their ally, Abdallah ibn Obey, was strong enough. So, Muhammad was pretty much forced to let them go (he was not a happy camper though as the above quote shows his clear reaction), and he had to be content with what was left as spoils.

Isn't the above quote telling of the genocide that was bound to happen to Bani Qurayza later on?

The Nature of Sa'd Ibn Mu'ad

When Bani Qurayza surrendered unconditionally to Muhammad, he was intent on finishing them off. He was not going to let what happened with Bani Qainuqa repeat itself. There will be a great economic loss if this happens. So, Muhammad wanted to behead all adult males, and take the rest as booty. This is exactly what happened. About seven hundred adult males of the Qurayza tribe were slaughtered at the hands of Muhammad and his bandits. Some of those killed were boys as young as thirteen years old. Their guilt is that they had grown pubic hair, and so, were considered men by Muhammad and were beheaded. Muhammad himself participated in beheading those men during the day. In the evening Muhammad and his pious Sahaba raped the women. All of what I am saying here have been documented by many researchers. I have published an article on the Qurayza tragedy and provide the link for it here, although many pundits have published scholarly research on this matter.

My interest is to show the reader a part of the story that is related to Sa'd Ibn Mu'ad as Muslim always argue that massacre of Bani Qurayza was ordered by Sa’d, an ally of the Jews, and that he ruled according to Jewish law.

When Bani Qurayza surrendered, Muhammad was forced, the Arab way, to choose someone else to judge on what to do with Bani Qurayza. Muhammad knew he had to do that, and chose Sa'd Ibn Mu'ad for this task. To understand why Muhammad chose Sa'd, we need to know some details about Sa'd Ibn Mu'ad himself. Muhammad pretty much knew what Sa'd will judge. I explain this matter in what follows.

Sa'd Ibn Mu'ad was one of the Aws, a tribe in Medina that had an alliance with Bani Qurayza. Sa'd was one of the earlier Ansars (Medina natives) who became Muslims. He was very loyal to Muhammad. The Badr incident (considered a great battle by the Muslims and considered a highway robbery by this author) proves Sa'd Ibn Mu'ad's loyalty to Muhammad absolute. When Muhammad was worried that the Ansars would not support his actions at Badr, he asked them for their loyalty. Sa'd Ibn Mu'ad was the one to speak up and assure Muhammad that whatever he (Muhammad) wanted to do, they give him total Ansar support. Sa'd also stayed at the door of Muhammad's hut/room at Badr to insure complete safety for the prophet. His loyalty and following of Muhammad was of great strength indeed. The Sirat, during the Badr incident, also shows Sa'ds bloody nature. On p. 301, he says that Badr was “the first defeat brought against the infidel” and that he would rather “see them slaughtered than left alive”. Isn't this telling of Sa'd's inner feelings toward those, who Muhammad had animosity toward?

Next, during the battle of the Trench, happened just before the invasion and surrender of Bani Qurayza, we see Sa'd Ibn Mu'ad suffering a fatal injury to his arm when it was hit by an arrow. Muhammad himself tended to Sa'd's injury. Muhammad also orders building a tent for Sa'd in his mosque so that he is always close to Muhammad and that Muhammad himself can take care of him and tend his injury. Such a gesture shows a very close relationship between Muhammad and Sa'd. Friends know what other friends have on their mind. Friends share a lot of talks and discussions together. They eat together. They share what they like and dislike. Sa'd was no friend of Bani Qurayza. He thought that an agreement of mutual protection between Muhammad and Bani Qurayza was not honored by this tribe. Sa'd is no friend of someone who, he thinks, is not loyal to the prophet. Look at what he said in one occasion. Here, he is talking about Quraysh after his injury and after the trench incident, and right before the Qurayza incident (Sirat, p. 459):

 O God, seeing that you have appointed war between us and them grant me martyrdom and do not let me die until I have seen my desire upon B. Qurayza.

There is no need to speculate what Sa'd wanted done to Bani Qurayza. He wanted them killed. Now the question is this: did Muhammad know this latter fact when he appointed Sa'd to judge the fate of Bani Qurayza?

My answer is “off course he did”. We have a saying in Arabic: “The letter can be read from its title”. Muhammad knew what Sa'd wanted done to Bani Qurayza. Hence, he appointed him to decide the tribe's fate. Sa'd pronounces the judgement on them when his time came to judge:

Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 52, Number 280:
Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri:
When the tribe of Bani Quraiza was ready to accept Sad's judgment, Allah's Apostle sent for Sa’d who was near to him. Sa’d came, riding a donkey and when he came near, Allah's Apostle said (to the Ansar), "Stand up for your leader." Then Sa’d came and sat beside Allah's Apostle who said to him. "These people are ready to accept your judgment." Sa’d said, "I give the judgment that their warriors should be killed and their children and women should be taken as prisoners." The Prophet then remarked, "O Sa’d! You have judged amongst them with (or similar to) the judgment of the King Allah."

Note that Muhammad approves the judgment as it is Allah's judgment. Is this not telling us of what Muhammad wanted to do with Bani Qurayza right from the start? Sa'd, in my judgment, was used as a pawn in Muhammad's game of life. Muhammad wanted them massacred. What is better than doing it the old tribal Arab way by appointing a man that Muhammad knew will order the genocide of the Jewish tribe right from the start?

Conclusion

It is evident that Sa'd Ibn Mu'ad is not the actual perpetrator. Muhammad is. Sa'd was used for an end that Muhammad desired, and knew that Sa'd is his “delivery boy”. Sa'd was used. Muhammad was the actual perpetrator behind the Qurayza massacre. Every story leaves clues for us to see. In this case, Muhammad's alter Ego, Allah, “spelled the beans”, so to speak, when Muhammad said that Sa'd's judgment was that of Allah.

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