Invasion of Banu Nadir
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- Muslim victory
- Banu Nadir expelled, the Muslims captured their goods as war booty[1]
| Invasion of Banu Nadir | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Muhammad's campaigns | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Muslims of Medina | Banu Nadir tribe | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Muhammad Ali ibn Abi Talib Muhammad ibn Maslamah Zubayr ibn al-Awwam Umar ibn al-Khattab Saʽd ibn ʽUbadah | Huyayy ibn Akhtab | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ~800 | Unknown | ||||||
The invasion of Banu Nadir took place in May 625 CE (Rabi' al-awwal, AH) 4.[1][2] The account is related in Surah Al-Hashr (Chapter 59 - The Gathering) which describes the banishment of the Jewish tribe Banu Nadir, who were expelled from Medina when believed to be plotting to assassinate the Islamic prophet Muhammad.[3]
Reason for attack
According to The Sealed Nectar, a modern Islamic biography of Muhammad written by the Indian Muslim author Safi-ur Rahman Mubarakpuri, once Muhammad with some of his Companions set out to see the Banu Nadir tribe and seek their help in raising the blood-money he had to pay to the Banu Kilab for the two men that ‘Amr bin Omaiyah Ad-Damari had killed by mistake in the Expedition of Bir Maona. On hearing his story they said they would share in paying the blood-money and asked him and his Companions Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Ali and others to sit under a wall of their houses and wait. Mubrakpuri says that the angel Gabriel came down to reveal the plot by the Banu Nadir to assassinate Muhammad, so he, with his Companions, hurried off back to Madinah. On their way, he told his Companions of the Divine Revelation. Mubrakpuri claims that the Banu Nadir Jews held a short private meeting and they conspired to kill him.[1]
According to Norman Stillman, Muhammad found a casus belli by claiming to have received a divine revelation that the Banu Nadir were plotting to assassinate him.[4] The Encyclopaedia of Islam, states that through Muhammad ibn Maslama, Muhammad 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. Huyayy ibn Akhtab decided to put up resistance, hoping also for help from Banu Qurayza, despite opposition within the tribe.[5]
Mubrakpuri says that in this regard, the Quran says:
"If you are expelled, we (too) indeed will go out with you, and we shall never obey anyone against you, and if you are attacked (in fight), we shall indeed help you."[Quran 59:11][1]
The Banu Nadir regained their confidence and were determined to fight. Their chief Huyai bin Akhtab relied hopefully on what Abdullah ibn Ubayy said. So he sent a message to Muhammad saying: "We will not leave our houses. Do whatever you like to do."[1]