Episode Summary
The third year of Hijra began with the Muslim community under intense scrutiny from all of Arabia following their miraculous victory at Badr. This episode explores the strategic campaigns of Najd and Buhran, the miracle of Jibril’s intervention against the would-be assassin Ghawrat ibnul Harith, and the deteriorating relationship with the Banu Qaynuqa’ tribe. The narrative culminates in a marketplace assault on a Muslim woman that triggered a siege, highlighting the internal threat posed by the 'Leader of the Hypocrites,' Abdullah bin Ubayy, and the subsequent Quranic guidance on communal alliances.
Key Highlights
- The 3rd year AH was a critical period where the Muslims transitioned from a 'fringe' group to a significant power that all of Arabia had to acknowledge.
- During the Gazwatul Najd, Jibril (as) physically intervened to save the Prophet (saw) from Ghawrat ibnul Harith, who had drawn the Prophet’s own sword against him.
- Ghawrat ibnul Harith became a powerful dawah worker for his people after witnessing the angelic protection of the Messenger.
- Banu Qaynuqa’ leaders like Shas ibnu Qays attempted to fracture the Muslim community by reigniting old tribal feuds between the Aus and Khazraj.
- A violent confrontation erupted in the marketplace after a member of Banu Qaynuqa’ sexually harassed and publicly shamed an Ansari woman.
- Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul aggressively interceded for Banu Qaynuqa’, going as far as to physically grab the Prophet’s armor during a confrontation.
- Surat al-Ma’idah (5:51-56) was revealed to clarify the nature of alliances when tribal or financial loyalties conflict with the truth.
Comprehensive Analysis
1. The Strategic Atmosphere of Year 3 AH
At the start of the 3rd year of Hijra, the Muslim community was no longer viewed as a small, “weird” minority; the victory at Badr had put all of Arabia on notice. While the community was growing, it faced constant spying and scouting from the Quraysh, Bedouins, and other tribes. To ensure the safety of Madinah, the Prophet (saw) led strategic movements like Gazwatul Najd (or Dhi Amr) and Gazwatul Buhran to deter potential attackers and secure trade routes. In these campaigns, the Prophet (saw) established a presence without engaging in physical combat, reinforcing the security of the city.
2. The Miracle of Ghawrat ibnul Harith
During the campaign of Najd, a man named Ghawrat ibnul Harith attempted to assassinate the Prophet (saw) while he was resting alone under a tree. Ghawrat drew the Prophet’s sword and mockingly asked, “Who will protect you from me today?” The Prophet (saw) calmly replied, “Allah”. At that moment, Jibril (as) descended and shoved Ghawrat in the chest, knocking him down. Stunned by this divine intervention, Ghawrat accepted Islam on the spot and returned to his tribe as a dedicated caller to the faith (dawah worker). This event was later commemorated in Surat al-Ma’idah (5:11).
3. Festering Tensions with Banu Qaynuqa’
The Prophet (saw) had originally signed a peace treaty with the three major Jewish tribes: Banu Qaynuqa’, Banu Nadir, and Banu Qurayda. However, some leaders of Banu Qaynuqa’ became paranoid and antagonistic after Badr. Shas ibnu Qays specifically tried to instigate civil war among the Ansar by reminding them of Yaum e-Buath, a tragic pre-Islamic battle. Additionally, members of the tribe began playing “financial games,” refusing to pay debts to Muslims by claiming that their conversion to Islam voided previous contracts.
4. The Marketplace Assault and Siege
The tension reached a boiling point when an Ansari woman was sexually harassed in the Banu Qaynuqa’ marketplace. A man from the tribe pinned her dress so that when she stood up, she was publicly exposed. A Muslim man intervened to defend her, resulting in a fight that left both the Jewish man and the Muslim man dead. In response to this assault and the violation of the peace treaty, the Prophet (saw) led the Sahaba to besiege the neighborhood of Banu Qaynuqa’ until they surrendered.
5. The Hypocrisy of Abdullah bin Ubayy
During the surrender, Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul (the Leader of the Hypocrites) aggressively intervened to protect Banu Qaynuqa’ due to his secret financial ties with them. He was so confrontational that he grabbed the Prophet’s armor and refused to let go until the Prophet (saw) agreed to show leniency. Contrastingly, the believer Ubadah ibnu Samit—who had similar tribal ties—absolved himself of any loyalty to the oppressors, handing all authority to Allah and His Messenger.
6. Quranic Guidance on Alliances
The incident prompted the revelation of Surat al-Ma’idah (5:51-56). These verses clarified that those who side with the enemies of the community out of fear or greed reveal a “disease in their hearts”. The Quran established that the true allies of a believer are Allah, His Messenger, and the community of believers. Ultimately, the Prophet (saw) allowed Banu Qaynuqa’ to stay but required them to surrender a large stockpile of weapons they had been stashing in secret to potentially attack the Muslims.