THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THE PROPHETIC HIJRAH
The Ghazwah of Khaibar occurred at the onset of the year. ‘Urwah related on the authority of Marwan and Al-Miswar both of whom said, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, returned in the year of Al-Hudaibiyyah and Soorah Al-Fat‘h was revealed to him at a distance between Makkah and Madinah. He arrived in Madinah in the month of Dhul-Hijjah where he remained till he marched forth to Khaibar. He encamped at Al-Rajee’ which is a valley situated between Khaibar and Ghatafan. In order not to stir Ghatafan into reinforcing the enemies, he spent the night at the valley and invaded Khaibar the following morning.
Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy upon him, has also related from Ibn Irak who narrated from his father that Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, arrived at Madinah in the midst a contingent of his people while the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was still engaged in Khaibar. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had deputized Siba‘ Ibn ‘Urfutah Al-Ghatafani to oversee the affairs of Madinah in his absence. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated, “We got to him while he was reciting: Kaf- Ha-Ya-’Ain-Sad (Surah Maryam 19:1) in the first Rak‘ah and in the second: Woe to Al-Mutaffifeen [those who give less in measure and weight (decrease the rights of others)] (Surah Al-Mutaffifeen 83:1) Then I said to myself: ‘Woe be to such and such person who, when he has to receive by measure (from others) he demands full measure but when he has to give by measure or weight (to others), he gives less than due.’ Upon concluding the Salat, he equipped us so that we may proceed to Khaibar. We got to Khaibar after it had been conquered by the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.” Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, added, “The Prophet recommended that the Muslims let us partake in their booty.”
Al-Bukhari related that Salamah Ibn Al-Akwa‘ said, “We went out to Khaibar in the company of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. While we were proceeding at night, a man from the group said to ‘Amir, “O ‘Amir! Won’t you let us hear your poetry?” ‘Amir was a poet, so he got down and started reciting for the people poetry that kept pace with the camels’ footsteps, saying:
“O Allah! Without You we would
not have been guided on the right path
Neither would we have given in charity, nor would we have prayed.
So please forgive us, what we have committed (i.e. our defects); let all
of us be sacrificed for Your cause And send Sakinah (i.e. calmness)
upon us to make our feet firm When we meet our enemy,
and If they will call us towards an unjust thing, we will refuse.
The infidels have made a hue and cry to ask others’ help against us.”
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, asked: “Who is that (camel) driver (reciting poetry)?” The people said, “He is ‘Amir Ibn Al-Akwa‘.”
Then the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “May Allah have Mercy on him.” A man amongst the people said, “O Allah’s Prophet! Has (martyrdom) been granted to him? Would you let us enjoy his company longer.” Then we reached and besieged Khaibar till we were afflicted with severe hunger. Then Allah, the Almighty, helped the Muslims to conquer it (i.e., Khaibar). In the evening of the day of the conquest of the city, the Muslims made huge fires. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: (What are these fires? What are you cooking over the fire?) The people replied, “(For cooking) meat.” He asked: “What kind of meat?” They (i.e. people) said, “The meat of donkeys.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Throw away the meat and break the pots!” A man said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Shall we throw away the meat and wash the pots instead?” He said: “(Yes, you can do) that too.”
So when the army ranks were arranged in rows (for the clash), ‘Amir’s sword was short and he aimed at the leg of a Jew to strike it, but the sharp blade of the sword returned to him and injured his own knee, and that caused him to die. When they returned from the battle, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saw me (in a sad mood). He took my hand and said: “What is bothering you?” I replied, “Let my father and mother be sacrificed for you! The people say that the deeds of ‘Amir are lost.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Whoever says so, is mistaken, for ‘Amir has got a double reward.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, raised two fingers and added: “He (i.e. ‘Amir) was a persevering struggle in the cause of Allah and there are few ‘Arabs who achieved the like of (good deeds) ‘Amir had done.”
Al-Bukhari also related from Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, reached Khaibar at night and it was his habit that, whenever he reached the enemy at night, he would not attack them till it was morning. When it was morning, the Jews came out with their spades and baskets, and when they saw him (i.e. the Prophet), they said, “Muhammad! By Allah! Muhammad and his army!” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Khaibar is destroyed, for whenever we approach a (hostile) nation (to fight), then evil will be the morning for those who have been warned.”
Al-Bukhari also related that Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Prophet offered the Fajr Prayer near Khaibar when it was still dark and then said: “Allahu-Akbar! Khaibar is destroyed, for whenever we approach a belligerent nation to fight, then evil will be the morning for those who have been warned.” Then the inhabitants of Khaibar came out running on the roads. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had their warriors killed, their offspring and women taken as captives. Safiyyah, may Allah be pleased with her, was amongst the captives. She first fell into the lot of Dihyah Al-Kalbi, may Allah be pleased with him, but later on she was transferred to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, made her manumission as her Mahr. Abdul Azeez Ibn Suhaib said to Thabit, “O Abu Muhammad, are you the one who informed Anas what her Mahr was?” and he nodded his head in affirmation.
Al-Bukhari related from Abu ‘Imran Al-Jawni who said: Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, looked at the people on the day of Jumu‘ah and saw a pallium (i.e. a special kind of head-covering worn by Jews in old days). and he said: “At this moment they (i.e. those people) look like the Jews of Khaibar.”
He (Al-Bukhari) also related on the authority of Sahl Ibn Sa‘d that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said on the day (of the Battle) of Khaibar: “Tomorrow I will give the flag to somebody who will be given victory (by Allah) and who loves Allah and His Messenger and is loved by Allah and His Messenger.” So, the people wondered all night as to who would receive the flag and in the morning everyone hoped that he would be that person. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, asked: “Where is ‘Ali?” He was told that ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, was suffering from eye-trouble, so he applied saliva to his eyes and supplicated to Allah, the Almighty, to cure him. He at once got cured as if he had no ailment. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, gave him the flag. ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, asked, “Should I fight them till they become like us (i.e. Muslims)?” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Go to them patiently and calmly till you enter the land. Then, invite them to Islam, and inform them what is enjoined upon them, for, by Allah, if Allah gives guidance to somebody through you, it is better for you than possessing red camels.”
Al-Bukhari related that Yazeed Ibn Abu Ubaid said, “I saw the scar from a wound on Salamah’s leg. I said to him, ‘O Abu Muslim! What is this wound?’ He said, ‘This was inflicted on me on the Day of Khaibar and the people said, ‘Salamah has been wounded.” Then I went to the Prophet and he spat his saliva on it (i.e. the wound) three times and since then I have not had any pain from it till this hour.’”
Al-Bukhari related on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said, “We witnessed (the battle of) Khaibar. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said concerning a man from those who were with him and who claimed to be a Muslim: (This (man) is from the dwellers of the Hell-Fire.) When the battle started, that fellow fought so violently and bravely that he received plenty of wounds. Some of the people were about to doubt (the Prophet’s statement), but the man, under severe pain from his wounds, put his hand into his quiver, took out some arrows with which he killed himself (i.e., committed suicide). Then some men amongst the Muslims came hurriedly and said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Allah has made your statement true, soand-so has committed suicide. The Prophet said: “O so-and-so! Get up and make an announcement that none but a believer will enter Paradise and that Allah may support the religion with an unchaste (sinful) man”.
Shadad Ibn Al-Had related that a Bedouin Arab came to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, believed and followed him. He said, “I will migrate with you.” The Prophet, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, entrusted him to some of his Companions. When it was the time of the Battle of Khaibar, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, obtained booty which he distributed among his Companions and he also reserved a portion for the Bedouin which he gave to his companions (to be taken to him). He used to tend their riding animals. When they got to him and handed over his portion, he asked, “What is this?” They responded saying: “A part apportioned to you by Allah’s Messenger.” He took it and went to the Prophet. He said, “What is this, O Muhammad?” “A part which I have apportioned to you,” the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said. The man then said, “I have not followed you because of this. Rather, I have followed you so that I may be shot an arrow (here) [for the sake of Allah] (pointing to his throat) and then I die and thereafter I am admitted to Paradise.” Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “If you are true to Allah, Allah will be true to you.”
Then he rose to fight against the enemy. He was brought to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, having been hit by an arrow on the exact spot he had indicated. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, asked: “Is he the same person?” The people responded in the affirmative. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “He was true to Allah and Allah was true to him.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, shrouded him in his Jubbah then he laid him before him and offered the funeral prayer on him. From what was gleaned from his prayer is: “O Allah, Your servant went out migrating in Your cause and he was martyred and I am a witness for him.”
Ibn Ishaq related: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, kept taking over their wealth gradually and conquering their forts one after the other. The first of their forts to fall was that of Na‘im where Mahmood Ibn Maslamah was killed. Then Al-Qamoos, the fort of Banu Abil-Huqaiq where Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, took a number of them as prisoners among whom was Safiyyah Bint Huyayy Ibn Akhtab; she was with Kinanah Ibn Ar-Rabee‘ Ibn Abil Haqaiq along with a cousin of hers. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, chose Safiyyah, may Allah be pleased with her, for himself Dihyah Ibn Khalifah, may Allah be pleased with him, had requested Safiyyah from Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Thus, when Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, chose Safiyyah for himself, he gave Dihyah, may Allah be pleased with him, her cousin instead.
The remainder of the prisoners of Khaibar was distributed among the Muslims and the people cooked the meat of donkeys and it is mentioned that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, prohibited that for them. Al-Bukhari devoted attention to this section thus, by relating a number of narrations concerning it from good and reliable chains. The prohibition of it (the meat of donkey) is the preferred opinion of the majority of the earlier and later generations of scholars. It is equally the preferred opinion of the four Imams. However, some of the early scholars held the opinion of its permissibility among whom was Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both. They gave various responses to the Ahadeeth cited on its prohibition. They said: (The donkey was prohibited because) it was a riding beast which they relied upon to carry their load. It is also said that (eating its meat was prohibited) because it eats filth (i.e., Jalalah). However, the authentic position is that it was prohibited due to its inherent nature. It is recorded in an authentic narration that a caller of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, announced: “Allah and His Messenger have prohibited for you the meat of domestic donkey and eating garlic.”
It is also related in Saheeh Al-Bukhari from Nafi‘ Ibn ‘Umar that on the day (of the Battle) of Khaibar, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, prohibited the meat of domestic donkey and eating garlic.
People have spoken extensively concerning the Hadith related in the Saheehain from ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, prohibited Al-Mut‘a marriage and the eating of donkey’s meat in the year of the Battle of Khaibar. This is wordings of the Saheehain as related through Malik and others from Az-Zuhri requiring the connection of the prohibition of the Mut‘a marriage to the Battle of Khaibar which is doubtful from two angles:
1. On the day of the Battle of Khaibar, there were no women with whom they could have had Mut‘a relationship since they were sufficed by captives beyond having the need for Mut‘a marriage.
2. It is recorded in Saheeh Muslim on the authority of Ar-Rabee‘ Ibn Sabrah Ibn Ma‘bad from his father that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, permitted them Mut‘a on the day of the Conquest of Makkah but he did not leave Makkah before he prohibited it again and he said: “Allah has prohibited it till the Day of Judgment.”
Based on this, it is possible that he had prohibited it then permitted it and thereafter prohibited it once again. This indicates that the abrogation (of the ruling) occurred twice which is very remote. Nevertheless, it is reported that Imam Ash-Shafi’i, may Allah have Mercy upon him, said that he does not know anything that was prohibited then permitted and thereafter, prohibited once again except Nikah Mut‘a. Nothing compelled him to say that, may Allah have mercy on him, other than his reliance on these two Hadith as indicated earlier.
As-Suhaili and others have related on the authority of some of them who claimed that it was permitted thrice and prohibited thrice. Others said: (it was prohibited) four times but this is extremely remote, and Allah knows best. They also disagreed on the first time it was prohibited. Some said, (it was) at the Battle of Khaibar. It is also said that it occurred at the time of the Umrah of redemption. Others favored the Conquest of Makkah and this is the more dominant view. Some others also argued that it occurred in Awtas which is closer to the latter opinion. It is also said that it was first prohibited in Tabook while some others argued that it was first prohibited during the Farewell Pilgrimage. This is related by Abu Dawood.
Some scholars have tried to give response to the Hadith of ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, by arguing that there occur in it advancement and deferment and what is upheld there from is what is related by Imam Ahmad, may Allah have Mercy upon him: Sufyan narrated to us on the authority of Az-Zuhri from Al-Hasan and ‘Abdullah, the two sons of Muhammad narrating from their father that ‘Ali said to Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them all: “The Messenger of Allah has prohibited (us) from Nikah Mut‘a and from the meat of domestic donkey at the time of Khaibar.” The narrator made us believe that the word Khaibar is an adverb for the prohibition of both (of them – Nikah Mut‘a and meat of domestic donkey) However, this is not so. Rather, it is an adverb for the prohibition of the meat of domestic donkey. As for the Nikah Mut‘a, no adverb was mentioned concerning it, it was only merged with it because ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, got information that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, permitted Nikah Mut‘a and the meat of domestic donkey as is well-known from him.
Thus, as Ameerul-Mu’mineen, he said to him, “You are a conceited fellow! Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has prohibited Nikah Mut‘a and the meat of domestic donkey on the day of the Battle of Khaibar and he merely added that so as to dissuade him from his belief of permissibility concerning it. It is to this account that our Shaikh, Al-Hafiz Abul-Hajjaj Al-Mizzi, may Allah cover him in His Mercy (Aameen) [leaned towards]. In Spite of this, Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, did not retract from his opinion of the permissibility of domestic donkey and Mut‘a. As for the prohibition, he interpreted it as their load-carrier (a reason which gave rise to its prohibition). As for Mut‘a, he used to permit it at the time of exigency during journeys. Thus, he understood the prohibition to be at the time of wellbeing. Some of Ibn ‘Abbas’ companions and students equally followed him on this view and this did cease to be well-known to the scholars of Al-Hijaz till the time of Ibn Juraij and thereafter. A similar view to Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, has been purportedly related from Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, may Allah have Mercy upon him, but this is inauthentic. And Allah knows best.
Ibn Ishaq related: After Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had conquered a number of their fortresses and gained large amounts of their wealth in booty, he headed for their fortresses of Al-Wateeh and As-Sulalim both of which were the last two fortresses to be conquered. He lay siege on them for ten nights. Ibn Hisham added: Their slogan on the day of Khaibar was ‘O Mansoor (the aided ones), kill, kill!’
By: Ibn Katheer
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