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| {{Campaignbox Rise of Islam}} | {{Campaignbox Rise of Islam}} | ||
| The '''Banu Nadir''' ({{lang-ar|'''بنو نادر'''}}) were one of the three main ]ish ]s living in ], now in ], in the 7th century. |
The '''Banu Nadir''' ({{lang-ar|'''بنو نادر'''}}) were one of the three main ]ish ]s living in ], now in ], in the 7th century. Shortly after his arrival in Medina, ] expelled them from Medina and divided their land among his followers, taking a share for himself. When Muhammad defeated the Jews of ], an oasis near Medina, where most members of Banu Nadir had found refuge, his followers killed all male Banu Nadir and divided their wives and property among themselves. Muhammad took a share of the spoils, and took the widow of the tribe's slain treasurer as his wife. | ||
| ==Background== | ==Background== | ||
| The Banu Nadir settled outside the city of Yathrib, now Medina, because of the ] persecutions of the Jews in ]. According to the ] historian ], Banu Nadir were an ] tribe ethnically, which had converted to ] and initially settled on the eponymous ]. Academic historians, however, believe them to be an ethnically Jewish tribe connected with the Khaybar Jews |
The Banu Nadir settled outside the city of Yathrib, now Medina, because of the ] persecutions of the Jews in ]. According to the ] historian ], Banu Nadir were an ] tribe ethnically, which had converted to ] and initially settled on the eponymous ]. Academic historians, however, believe them to be an ethnically Jewish tribe connected with the Khaybar Jews. Like other Medinese Jews, the Banu Nadir bore Arabic names, but spoke a distinct dialect of Arabic. They earned their living through agriculture, money lending, and trade in weapons and jewels, maintaining commercial relations with Arab merchants of ]. Their fortresses were located half a day's march to the south of Medina. The Banu Nadir were ] of the local Arab tribe of ] and supported them in their conflicts with the rival Arab tribe of ]. The chiefs of Banu Nadir were ], a gifted poet, and ].<ref name="BanuNadir">{{cite encyclopedia | author = Vacca, V. | editor = P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, ], E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs | encyclopedia =] Online| title = Nadir, Banu 'l| publisher = Brill Academic Publishers | id = ISSN 1573-3912}}</ref> | ||
| ==Arrival of Muhammad== | ==Arrival of Muhammad== | ||
| In September 622, ] arrived at Medina with a group of his ]. Among his first actions was the promulgation of a document known as the ], which was supposed to regulate the matters of governance of the city, including relations between the various groups living in it. This constitution confirmed Jews as members of the city community with certain rights and responsibilities, but their status was conditional upon their not "acting wrongfully", a qualification which provided Muhammad with a convenient pretext for nullifying his obligations toward Jews at a later time.<ref>{{cite book | first=Norman | last=Stillman | authorlink=Norman Stillman | title=The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book | publisher=Jewish Publication Society of America | location=Philadelphia | year=1979 | id=ISBN 082760198|pages=p. 11}}</ref> | |||
| In September 622, ] arrived at Medina with a group of his ]. The Jewish tribes in Medina were generally welcoming, many even converting to Islam. {{fact}} Those who had remained Jewish in Medina were generally unaffected. Three of the Jewish tribes, the ], ], and ], signed a non-aggression pact and military alliance with Mohammed, called the ]. Jews and other non-Muslims accepting the protection of the Muslim authorities at that were considered ]. In exchange for paying tax (]), the Muslims provided military protection and granted the dhimmi citizenship rights, and were allowed to continue their culture and worship, even being exempt from military conscription at that time. Female dhimmi were allowed to marry Muslim men, although male dhimmi were required to convert to Islam before they could take Muslim brides. | |||
| In March 624, Muslims led by Muhammad defeated the ]ns of the ] tribe in the ]. Muhammad had been in conflict with his own former tribe, the Banu Quraish, since he left it to found Islam. His victory allowed him to return to Medina and focus on civil governance. Muhammed and his followers consolidated their power as the ruling party in Medina. | |||
| ==Expulsion of the Banu Qaynuqa from Medina== | ==Expulsion of the Banu Qaynuqa from Medina== | ||
| In March 624, Muslims defeated the ]ns of the ] tribe in the ], and Muhammad felt himself strong enough to finally move against the Jews of Medina. As his first target, Muhammad chose ], the weakest of the Jewish tribes, who were the clients of the ], and forced them to surrender unconditionally after a short siege. Muhammad consented to the Banu Qaynuqa being expelled when ], the chief of the Khazraj, pleaded before Muhammad on their behalf. The Banu Nadir remained passive during the whole Banu Qaynuqa episode, apparently because they failed to grasp Muhammad's intentions at that time and viewed the conflict as a usual tribal struggle. <ref name="stillman13">Stillman (1979), p. 13</ref> | |||
| After a few years, a member of the ] was alleged to have murdered a Muslim woman, and was killed in retaliation by a Muslim. {{fact}} This escalated to a chain of revenge killings. Soon full scale war broke out, until ], an old Muslim ally of Qaynuqa and the chief of the ], interceded on their behalf and persuaded Mohammed to send the entire Banu Qaynuqa into exile, confiscating their land and property. {{fact}} | |||
| The Banu Nadir remained passive during the Banu Qaynuqa episode viewing the conflict as a usual tribal struggle. <ref name="stillman13">Stillman (1979), p. 13</ref> The conflict led to a ruling that such future action by any of the other parties to the ] would constitute a voiding of their benefits under the system, and subsequent punishment. | |||
| ==Assassination of Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf== | ==Assassination of Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf== | ||
| Infuriated at Muhammad's execution of a number of Meccan notables who had been captured after the ], ] wrote a poetic eulogy commemorating the slain Quraysh prisoners of war; later, he also wrote erotic poetry about Muslim women, which Muhammad and | |||
| Infuriated at Muhammad's execution of a number of Meccan notables who had been captured after the ], ] wrote a poetic eulogy commemorating the slain Quraysh prisoners of war; later, he also wrote erotic poetry about Muslim women, which Muhammad and his followers found offensive.<ref name="Ashraf">{{cite encyclopedia | author = ] | editor = P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, ], E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs | encyclopedia =] Online| title = Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf| publisher = Brill Academic Publishers | id = ISSN 1573-3912}}</ref> Because the norms of the Arab society of that period demanded retaliation for a slight to a group's honor,<ref name="stillman13"/> Muhammad called upon his followers to kill Ka'b, and Muhammad ibn Maslama offered his services, collecting four others. By pretending to have turned against Muhammad, they enticed Ka'b out of his fortress on a moonlight night,<ref name="Ashraf"/> and killed him in spite of his vigorous resistance.<ref>{{cite book| author=] | title=Al-Sira al-Nabawiyya | volume=vol. 2 | location=Cairo | year=1955 | pages=pp. 51–57}} English translation from Stillman (1979), pp. 125–126</ref> The Jews were terrified at his assassination, and as a Muslim biographer of Muhammad put it "...there was not a Jew who did not fear for his life".<ref>Ibn Hisham (1955). English translation from Stillman (1979), p. 127</ref> | |||
| ==Expulsion of the Banu Nadir from Medina== | |||
| ] | |||
| Having suffered a defeat at the hands of the Quraysh at ], Muhammad needed a victory to regain his prestige. The Banu Nadir were a suitable target; in violation of the Constitution of Medina, they did not come to Muhammad's aid during the Battle of Uhud because the battle took place on ], and they were generally satisfied at the Muslim defeat. In addition, the Banu Nadir were wealthy and occupied some of the best lands in Medina, while Muslims were in a difficult financial condition.<ref>Stillman (1979), pp. 13–14</ref> | |||
| Muhammad accused the Banu Nadir of plotting to assassinate him<ref name="stillman14">Stillman (1979), p. 14</ref> and through ], ordered them to leave Medina within ten days. The tribe at first decided to comply, but Abdullah ibn Ubayy, the chief of the Khazraj, persuaded them to resist in their fortresses, promising to send 2,000 men to their aid. ] decided to put up resistance, hoping also for help from ], despite opposition within the tribe.<ref name="BanuNadir"/> The Banu Nadir were forced to surrender after the siege had lasted for 14 days, when help from the Khazraj and Banu Qurayza failed to materialize and when Muhammad ordered the felling of their palm-trees. Under the conditions of surrender, the Nadir could only take with them what they could carry on camels with the exception of weapons. <ref name="BanuNadir"/> | |||
| The Banu Nadir left on 600 camels, parading through Medina to the music of pipes and tambourines.<ref name="stillman14"/> A Muslim historian described their impressive farewell: "Their women were decked out in litters wearing silk, brocade, velvet, and fine red and green silk. People lined up to gape at them."<ref>{{cite book | author=] | title=Kitab al-Maghazi | editor=Marsden Jones | location=London | year=1966 | pages= pp. 363–375}} English translation from Stillman (1979), p. 136</ref> Most of the Banu Nadir found refuge among the Jews of Khaybar, while others emigrated to ].<ref name="BanuNadir"/> | |||
| Muhammad divided their land between his companions who had emigrated with him from Mecca. Until then, the emigrants had to rely upon the Medinese sympathizers for financial assistance. Muhammad reserved a share of the seized land for himself, which also made him financially independent.<ref name="stillman14"/>. To prevent abuse of females and children, Muhammad married with a widow from Banu Nadir that encouraged other people to behave more humanely with them. Also in Quran (5:5), it is mentioned that Muslim men can marry with women from christians and jews, which helped in integrating these women and children in society without sacrificing their right to have their own faith. | |||
| Upon expulsion of the Banu Nadir, Muhammad said to have received a revelation of ] of the ].<ref name="BanuNadir"/> | |||
| ==Battle of Khaybar== | |||
| {{main|Battle of Khaybar}} | |||
| After their expulsion from Medina, the Banu Nadir, along with the other Jews living in Khaybar, understood that Muhammad might attack them again. Their chief ] together with his son joined the Meccans and Bedouins besieging Medina during the ]. Both of them were killed by order of Muhammad alongside the men of the Banu Qurayza.<ref>Stillman (1979), p. 17</ref> | |||
| Muhammad and his followers attacked Khaybar in May 629. Although the Jews put up fierce resistance, the lack of central command and their unpreparedness for an extended siege sealed the outcome of the battle in favor of Muslims. When all but two fortresses were captured, the Jews managed to negotiate their surrender. The terms required them to hand over one-half of the annual produce to the Muslims, while the land itself became the collective property of Muslims.<ref name="Khaybar">{{cite encyclopedia | author = Veccia Vaglieri, L. | editor = P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, ], E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs | encyclopedia =] Online| title = Khaybar | publisher = Brill Academic Publishers | id = ISSN 1573-3912}}</ref> | |||
| The agreement, however, did not cover the Banu Nadir tribe. Muslims killed all the men of Banu Nadir and divided the women among themselves.<ref name="Khaybar" /> Muhammad chose for himself ], daughter of the killed Banu Nadir chief Huyayy ibn Akhtab and widow of ], the treasurer of Banu Nadir, whom Muhammad's followers first tortured, demanding that he reveal the location of the tribe’s hidden treasures, and then killed.<ref>Ibn Hisham (1955). English translation in Stillman (1979), pp. 145–146</ref> | |||
| Muslim biographers of Muhammad tell a story that a Jewess of the Banu Nadir attempted to poison Muhammad to avenge her slain relatives. She poisoned a piece of lamb that she cooked for Muhammad and his companion, putting a particularly high amount into the shoulder — Muhammad's favorite part. The attempt on Muhammad's life failed because he reportedly spit out the meat, feeling that it was poisoned, while his companion ate the meat and died. Muhammad's companions then reported that on his deathbed Muhammad said that his illness was the result of that poison.<ref>Ibn Hisham (1955). English translation in Stillman (1979), pp. 148–149</ref> | |||
| ==References== | |||
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| ==External links== | |||
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Revision as of 19:38, 17 June 2006
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The Banu Nadir (Template:Lang-ar) were one of the three main Jewish tribes living in Medina, now in Saudi Arabia, in the 7th century. Shortly after his arrival in Medina, Muhammad expelled them from Medina and divided their land among his followers, taking a share for himself. When Muhammad defeated the Jews of Khaybar, an oasis near Medina, where most members of Banu Nadir had found refuge, his followers killed all male Banu Nadir and divided their wives and property among themselves. Muhammad took a share of the spoils, and took the widow of the tribe's slain treasurer as his wife.
Background
The Banu Nadir settled outside the city of Yathrib, now Medina, because of the Roman persecutions of the Jews in Palestine. According to the Muslim historian al-Yaqubi, Banu Nadir were an Arab tribe ethnically, which had converted to Judaism and initially settled on the eponymous Mount Nadir. Academic historians, however, believe them to be an ethnically Jewish tribe connected with the Khaybar Jews. Like other Medinese Jews, the Banu Nadir bore Arabic names, but spoke a distinct dialect of Arabic. They earned their living through agriculture, money lending, and trade in weapons and jewels, maintaining commercial relations with Arab merchants of Mecca. Their fortresses were located half a day's march to the south of Medina. The Banu Nadir were clients of the local Arab tribe of Aws and supported them in their conflicts with the rival Arab tribe of Khazraj. The chiefs of Banu Nadir were Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf, a gifted poet, and Huyayy ibn Akhtab.
Arrival of Muhammad
In September 622, Muhammad arrived at Medina with a group of his followers. Among his first actions was the promulgation of a document known as the Constitution of Medina, which was supposed to regulate the matters of governance of the city, including relations between the various groups living in it. This constitution confirmed Jews as members of the city community with certain rights and responsibilities, but their status was conditional upon their not "acting wrongfully", a qualification which provided Muhammad with a convenient pretext for nullifying his obligations toward Jews at a later time.
Expulsion of the Banu Qaynuqa from Medina
In March 624, Muslims defeated the Meccans of the Quraysh tribe in the Battle of Badr, and Muhammad felt himself strong enough to finally move against the Jews of Medina. As his first target, Muhammad chose Banu Qaynuqa, the weakest of the Jewish tribes, who were the clients of the Khazraj, and forced them to surrender unconditionally after a short siege. Muhammad consented to the Banu Qaynuqa being expelled when Abdallah ibn Ubayy, the chief of the Khazraj, pleaded before Muhammad on their behalf. The Banu Nadir remained passive during the whole Banu Qaynuqa episode, apparently because they failed to grasp Muhammad's intentions at that time and viewed the conflict as a usual tribal struggle.
Assassination of Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf
Infuriated at Muhammad's execution of a number of Meccan notables who had been captured after the Battle of Badr, Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf wrote a poetic eulogy commemorating the slain Quraysh prisoners of war; later, he also wrote erotic poetry about Muslim women, which Muhammad and
- Vacca, V. "Nadir, Banu 'l". In P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs (ed.). Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link) - Stillman, Norman (1979). The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America. pp. p. 11. ISBN 082760198.
{{cite book}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - Stillman (1979), p. 13