Episode Summary
In the 4th year of Hijra, following the tragedy of Bir Ma’oona, the Muslim community faced a major internal security threat from the Banu Nadir tribe. This episode details the tribe’s failed assassination attempt on the Prophet (saw), the subsequent 15-day siege, and the empty promises of support from the Leader of the Hypocrites. It explores the revelation of Surat Al-Hashr, the formalisation of laws regarding spoils acquired without combat (fay), and the final prohibition of alcohol. The narrative emphasizes the Prophet's (saw) commitment to treaty obligations and the divine protection granted to the Messenger.
Key Highlights
- The incident was triggered by the Prophet's request for Banu Nadir to fulfill their treaty obligation by helping pay blood money for two men mistakenly killed after the Bir Ma’oona massacre.
- Amr ibn Jahsh attempted to assassinate the Prophet (saw) by dropping a millstone from a rooftop, but Jibril (as) intervened and warned the Messenger.
- The Prophet (saw) sent Muhammad ibn Maslama to order the tribe's evacuation, but they were encouraged to resist by Abdullah ibn Ubayy, who promised 2,000 fighters that never appeared.
- To reach the tribe’s fort, the Muslims cleared a specific strategic path through a palm orchard, an act later validated by divine revelation in Surat Al-Hashr.
- The tribe surrendered after 15 days and was allowed to leave with one camel-load of personal belongings each, excluding weapons.
- The property of Banu Nadir was classified as *fay* (wealth acquired without combat), which the Prophet (saw) used to establish a welfare system for the poor and the state.
- During the siege, the final and complete prohibition of alcohol was revealed to the Muslim community.
- Leaders of Banu Qurayda, like Amar ibn Sa’d, recognized the Prophet’s (saw) truth but ultimately refused to follow him out of tribal arrogance.
Comprehensive Analysis
1. The Context of the Blood Money
In the 4th year of Hijra, the Prophet (saw) visited the neighborhood of Banu Nadir to request their financial contribution toward the blood money (diya) for two members of Banu Kilab. These men had been mistakenly killed by a traumatized survivor of the Bir Ma’oona massacre. Helping with such payments was a binding condition of the treaty established when the Prophet (saw) first arrived in Madinah.
2. The Assassination Plot and Divine Intervention
While the Prophet (saw) and key companions like Abu Bakr and Umar sat by a wall waiting for the talks to conclude, the leaders of Banu Nadir conspired to kill him. Amr ibn Jahsh volunteered to climb a rooftop and drop a large millstone on the Prophet’s head. However, Jibril (as) descended and informed the Prophet (saw) of the plot, prompting him to immediately stand up and return to Madinah without a word.
3. The Order of Evacuation and the Hypocrites
Because the tribe had violated the treaty and attempted an act of aggression, the Prophet (saw) sent Muhammad ibn Maslama—who had pre-Islamic ties to the tribe—to order their evacuation within 10 days. Although initially prepared to leave, they were emboldened by Abdullah ibn Ubayy, the Leader of the Hypocrites, who promised them 2,000 men and pledged to fight or leave Madinah alongside them. Relying on these empty promises, Banu Nadir refused to go.
4. The Siege of the Fort
The Prophet (saw) led an army to the outskirts of their neighborhood and laid siege for 15 days. The terrain was strategically difficult, as Banu Nadir were barricaded inside a massive fort protected by dense date palm orchards that broke up the Muslim ranks. To clear a path for the army and remove this vantage point, the Prophet (saw) ordered a specific area of trees to be chopped down and burned. While the hypocrites criticized this as destruction, the majority of the land was left untouched, and Allah revealed verses in Surat Al-Hashr granting permission for this necessary military measure.
5. Surrender and the Laws of Fay
Realizing that the promised help from the hypocrites was not coming, Banu Nadir surrendered. The Prophet (saw) showed leniency, allowing them to depart with as much as they could load onto one camel per person, including their furniture and even the doors of their homes, though they were prohibited from taking weapons. The majority of the tribe moved to Khayber. The wealth they left behind was classified as malul fay (spoils without combat) and was placed at the discretion of the state to support the poor, orphans, and the welfare of the city.
6. The Reaction of Banu Qurayda
Following the evacuation, a leader of the neighboring Banu Qurayda tribe, Amar ibn Sa’d, visited the abandoned town and warned his people to learn a lesson from Banu Nadir’s deception. While some Jewish scholars admitted they found the Prophet’s description in the Tawrah, the tribal leader Ka’b ibnu Asad confessed he could not accept Islam simply because his ego would not allow him to transition from a leader to a follower.
7. The Final Prohibition of Alcohol
A significant legislative milestone occurred during the siege: the final prohibition of alcohol was revealed. This was the third and ultimate stage of a gradual process used by Allah to remove the evil of intoxicants from the hearts of the community. The Sahaba immediately responded by pouring their remaining wine into the streets of Madinah, symbolizing their absolute submission.
8. The Divine Commentary: Surat Al-Hashr
The incident culminated in the revelation of Surat Al-Hashr (The Gathering). The surah deconstructs the events, highlighting how Allah cast terror into the hearts of the defiant and how the hypocrites were like Shaytan, promising support only to desert their allies in their hour of need. It concludes by calling the believers to God-consciousness (taqwah) and to focus on the greatness of the Quran, which could make a mountain crumble from fear.