THE STORY OF SAFIYYAH BINT HUYAYY IBN AKHTAB AN-NADARIYYAH
Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, related: Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, offered the Fajr prayer when it was still dark, then he rode and said: “Allahu Akbar! Khaibar is ruined. When we approach a nation, the most unfortunate is the morning of those who have been warned.” They (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. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, made her manumission her Mahr.
Imam Bukhari related on the authority of Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, who said, “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, came to Khaibar and when Allah, the Almighty, made him victorious and he conquered the town by breaking the enemy’s defense, the beauty of Safiyyah Bint Huyayy Ibn Akhtab, may Allah be pleased with her, was mentioned to him and her husband had been killed while she was a bride. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, selected her for himself and he set out in her company till he reached Suddas Sahba’ (a place close to Khaibar) where her menses were over and he married her. Then Hais (a kind of meal) was prepared and served on a small leather sheet (used for serving meals). Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, then said to me: “Inform those who are around you (about the wedding banquet).” So that was the marriage banquet given by Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, for (his marriage with) Safiyyah, may Allah be pleased with her. After that we proceeded to Madinah and I saw that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was covering her with a cloak while she was behind him. Then he would sit beside his camel and let Safiyyah put her feet on his knees to ride (the camel).” Imam Al-Bukhari related this exclusive Muslim.
Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, also narrated: The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, stayed for three nights between Khaibar and Al-Madinah and was married to Safiyyah, may Allah be pleased with her. I invited the Muslims to his marriage banquet and there was neither meat nor bread in that banquet but the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, ordered Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, to spread the leather mats on which dates, dried yogurt and butter were placed. The Muslims said amongst themselves, “Will she (i.e., Safiyyah) be one of the Mothers of the Believers, (i.e., one of the wives of the Prophet ) or just (a lady captive) of what his right-hand possesses?” Some of them said, “If the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, makes her observe the veil, then she will be one of the mothers of the believers (i.e. one of the Prophet’s wives), and if he does not make her observe the veil, then she will be his lady slave.” So when he departed, he made a place for her behind him (on his and made her observe the veil).” Al-Bukhari related it exclusively.
Ibn Ishaq said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, laid siege on the people of Khaibar in their two strongholds of Al-Wateeh and As-Sulalim. When they became convinced of their destruction they requested him to let them leave and spare their blood, which he granted. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had captured all their property, AshShiqq, Natat and Al-Kateebah and all their fortresses except the two strongholds. When the people of Fadak got wind that he had done so, they also sent to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, asking him to treat them in a similar manner in exchange for access to their wealth and he granted their request as well.
Muhayyisah Ibn Mas‘ood, the brother of Banu Harithah, was among those who mediated between the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and them. When the people of Khaibar had surrendered, they requested that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, let them undertake their property for a half share of the proceeds saying: “We know it better than you and we are better growers.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, accepted their proposal but stipulated that “If we wish to exile you, we reserve the right to do that.” He (the Messenger of Allah) made a similar agreement with the people of Fadak.
Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrated: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, fought against the people of Khaibar till they retreated into their fort and he captured their land, crops and palm plantation. They entered into an armistice upon the permission to cultivate the land and for them will be what can be carried on their riding animals and for the Messenger of Allah will be the rest. They were also obliged not to hide anything and if they did, then there would be neither protection nor armistice for them. This included a leather bag containing some wealth and jewelry belonging to Huyayy Ibn Akhtab which he carried along with him to Khaibar when he was dislodged from An-Nadeer.
Consequently, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to Huyayy’s uncle: “What happened to Huyayy’s leather bag which he brought with him from An-Nadeer?” He responded, “It has been depleted by expenses and wars.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, then said: “The agreement has just been concluded and the wealth is much more than that.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, handed him over to AzZubayr who meted out punishment on him. Meanwhile, Huyayy entered the ruins (of the fort). Upon receiving punishment, he confessed saying, “I had seen Huyayy going round the ruins towards this direction.” So they traced the direction and found the leather bag in the ruins.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, executed the two sons of Abil Huqaiq and one of them was the husband of Safiyyah bint Huyayy Ibn Akhtab. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, captured their women and children and divided up their wealth due to their breach of faith. He wanted to evict them from their land but they pleaded, “O Muhammad, grant us to remain on this land so that we may till it and reside on it.” Since neither the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, nor the Companions have any men living on it nor did they intend it to be desolate, they granted them Khaibar on the condition that half of all the harvest shall be for them and a little aside from that for Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,.
Abdullah Ibn Rawahah, may Allah be pleased with him, used to visit them every year to estimate their harvest and reserve half of it. They complained to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, of Abdullah’s covetousness and they sought to bribe him. He (Abdullah) said, “O enemies of Allah, you want to give me evil. By Allah, I have come to you from the most beloved of men to me while you are the most hateful to me due to a number of you from among the monkeys and swines. Nevertheless my aversion for you and my love for him will not impel me to be unjust to you.” They responded, “It is this that sustains heaven and the earth.”
It is said that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saw a green mark on Safiyyah’s eye and he asked: “What is this green [mark] on you, Safiyyah?” She responded, “My head was on the lap of Ibn Abi Al-Huqaiq while I was sleeping. Then I saw that the moon fell on my lap. So I informed him of my dream and he slapped me and said, “You desire the king of Yathrib.” She added, “The Messenger of Allah used to be the most hateful to me for he killed my husband and father and he never ceased to give me excuses saying, “Your father incited the Arabs against me and did such and such” until the feeling of aversion dissipated from my heart.”
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to give each of his wives every year, 80 wasqs (measure) of dates, 20 wasqs of barley. During the time of ‘Umar, they (the people of Khaibar) double-crossed the Muslims and threw Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, from a rooftop and he had his wrist dislocated. Consequently ‘Umar announced, “Whoever has a claim (share) in Khaibar should gather so that we may divide it up.” Their leader pleaded, “Do not exile us, rather, let us remain on the land as The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and Abu Bakr had done.” ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, responded: “Do you think that I have forgotten the statement of Allah’s Messenger, i.e., “what will your condition be when you are expelled and your camel will be carrying you toward AshSham day after day?” Thus, ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and divide it among those who fought in the Battle of Khaibar among the companions of Al-Hudaibiyyah.” Abu Dawood has also reported it in a summarized form.
Imam Bukhari related that Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, said, “On the day of Khaibar, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, gave two portions to the cavalry and one to the infantry.” Nafi‘, however, explained the rationale saying, “If a man had a horse, he was given three portions and if he had no horse, he was given a portion.” This version implied that all of Khaibar was divided up among the soldiers.
It is related on the authority of Ibn Shihab who said, “Information reached me that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, conquered Khaibar forcibly and left some of the people to utilize the land after the battle. Based on this, Aaz-Zuhri said: “Allah’s Messenger took Khumus (one-fith of booty) and then divided up its remainder among those who witnessed the battle.”
However, what Az-Zuhri has said is debatable for the authentic view is that all of Khaibar was not divided but half of it was divided between the victorious warriors as shall be explained shortly. Malik and others who shared his opinion have adduced this as an evidence that the Imam has a choice regarding conquered land: if he wishes, he may divide it or he may earmark it as he deems for the benefit of the Muslims. If he also wishes, he may divide a part of it and set aside the other part to cater for recurrent needs and benefits.
Abu Dawood related on the authority of Sahl Ibn Abi Hathmah who said: Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, divided Khaibar into two halves, one half for his recurrent needs and other benefits while he shared the other half among the Muslims. He divided it into eighteen portions.”
On the authority of Bushair Ibn Yasar, the freed slave of the Ansar, from some of the Companions of Allah’s Messenger: that when Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was victorious over Khaibar he divided it into thirty six portions, each portion comprising one hundred parts. One half of all the portion was for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and the Muslims while the other half was set aside for inadvertent occurrences and recurrent needs of the people.
On the authority of Mujmmi‘ Ibn Jariyah Al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, one of the reciters of the Qur’an who said, “Khaibar was divided among the companions of Al-Hudaibiyyah. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, divided it into eighteen portions and the army numbered one thousand five hundred among which were thirty cavalries. He gave the cavalries two portions and the infantry one portion.” Abu Dawood related it exclusively.
Muhammad Ibn Ishaq said: Ash-Shiqq and An-Natat were among the two portions of the Muslims. AshShiqq comprises thirteen portions while An-Natat comprises fifty portions. He divided them all into one thousand eight hundred shares and distributed them among those who witnessed Al-Hudaibiyyah and who were present at Khaibar as well as those who were absent. Meanwhile, none of those who witnessed Al-Hudaibiyyah were absent from Khaibar except Jabir Ibn Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, and he was still given his own share.
He also added: “The companions of Al-Hudaibiyyah numbered one thousand four hundred along with two hundred mounted men. Two shares were given for the horse and he gave every hundred persons a portion each of the eighteen portions. He gave additional shares of four hundred to the two hundred mounted men which was meant for their horses.” This is how Al-Baihaqi related it on the authority of Salih Ibn Kaisan, that the army numbered one thousand four hundred men along with two hundred horses.
I say: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, apportioned among them their shares and the first of the two portions, Ash-Shiqq, was with ‘Asim Ibn Adiyy.
As for those who witnessed Khaibar among the slaves and women, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, gave them a part of the booty but did not give them an allotment.
On the authority of Muhammad Ibn Zaid who said: ‘Umair, the freed slave of Abi Al-Lahm informed me saying, “I was present at Khaibar along with my masters who spoke about me to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He issued an order about me, and a sword was girded on me and I was trailing it. He was then informed that I was a slave. He, therefore, ordered that I should be given some inferior goods.”
By: Ibn Katheer
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