When the joint forces of the Qureish and the Jews were vanquished in the Ghazwa e Ahzaab, The Prophet (s.a.) decided to take action against Bani Qaraiza who had breached their agreement with the Muslims and openly sided with the Qureish-Jewish Combine during that campaign, on the instigation of Hai ibne Akhtab. The Prophet (s.a) formed an advanced party of three Khazrajis under Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and sent them with the standard of war. Tabari writes:
“The Prophet (s.a.) gave the Standard of War to Ali ibne Abi Talib and sent him with the Advance Guard (Muqadmat al Jaish) towards Bani Qaraiza.”
Ref: Tareeq e Tabari, Vol 2, Page 245
Bani Qariza had a feeling that they might be punished for their breach of the agreement. They had locked themselves up in their fort after the armies of the infidels was decimated and thought that their fort was unconquerable. When Hazrat Ali (a.s.) reached near the fort, and planted a spear in the ground, the Jews shouted invectives against the Prophet (s.a.). When he heard this, he wanted to return and tell the Prophet (s.a.) to stop going close to the fort. He was still on the way when the Prophet (s.a.) arrived. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) requested him not to go near the fort because the Jews were using foul language. The Prophet (s.a.) said that when they see him, they would desist from using such language. On reaching near the fort, the Prophet (s.a.) reprimanded them and ordered his tent to be pitched outside the fort. The Muslims laid iege of the fort and sealed all the exit and entry points for the besieged Jews. Among the inmates of the fort was Hai ibne Akhtab who had tempted Bani Qariza tosupport the Qureish in the Battle of Ahzaab. He had promised the Bani Qariza that in the event of the defeat of the Qureish he would stay with them and share their fate.
The chief of Bani Qariza, Kaab ibne Asad saw that the iege by the Muslims was getting tougher, therefore he told his people that there is mention of the prophethood of Mohammed (s.a.) in the Divine Books, and if they agree to embrace Islam now, they could win their freedom without any problem. But their men wouldn’t agree to this suggestion. Then Kaab suggested that the next course of action open for them was to kill their women and children, go out of the fort and fight to finish. Doing this they will have no care left for their families. They wouldn’t accept even this suggestion. Then he said that it was the eve of Sabbath, the Muslims wouldn’t imagine that the Jews would attack on the sacred night. The attack, if it is excuted, will have an elementnt of surprise and the Muslims will taken on unawares. But the Jews turned down even this suggestion. They said that they can’t imagine descereting the Sabbath.
Twentyfive days passed since the fort was iegeed. They kept raining stones and arrows on the Muslims but didn’t succeed in breaking the iege. When they were fed up with the hardships of the iege, the Jews sent Nabash Ibne Qais to the Prophet (s.a.) that they were willing to lay down arms if they were pardoned and allowed to move away with their families.and their wealth. They then offered that they would abandon all their belongings and would leave only with the families. Even this was not acceptable to the
Prophet (s.a.). They were told that they must surrender unconditionally. Nabash went back and told them what transpired. They sent a message to the Prophet (s.a.) requesting him to depute Abul baba Ansari so thatthey talk to him and come to a final conclusion. The Prophet (s.a.) sent Abulbaba to them. They asked him if it would be safe for them if they made an unconditional surrender. He replied in the affirmative but pointed his hand towards the neck indicating his apprehension of what would happen to them if they surrender.
This act of Abulbaba contrary to all norms of decency and was not proper foran official emissary to do.The Quran mentions about this event thus:
“O believers!
Don’t be dishonest in the matters of Allah and the Prophet (s.a),
nor knowingly commit dishonesty with trusts.” “”
When Bani Qariza felt that unconditional surrender might spell their doom, then they said:
“We accept Saad ibne Ma-aaz as the mediator
and will abide by his decision.”
Ref: Tareeq e Tabari, Vol 2, Page 246
The Prophet (s.a.) too accepted Saad ibne Ma-aaz as the mediator.and that his decision would be binding for both the parties.
Ibne Hisham writes that when the Bani Qarita refused to surrender, Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said:
“By Allah!
I shall either get martyred,
as Hamza was martyred,
or capture the fort!”
Ref: Seeerat ibne Hisham, Vol 3, Page 251
concern: Saying this, he took Zubair ibne Awam along and advanced to attack the fort. When Bani Qariza saw him advancing to attack, they shouted with
“O Mohammed (s.a.)!
We bow our heads to the decision of the arbitrator,
Saad ibne Ma-aaz!”
Saad ibne Ma-aaz was injured in the Battle of Ahzaab and was recuperating at Madina in the tent of Rafeeda Ansaria. When he was brought in a litter, Bani Aus surrounded him and said that the Prophet (s.a.) had left the decision about the fate of Bani Qariza to him and he should give a mild judgement in their favor. Saad said that he will give a decision which is just and fair. The people understood from what Saad said that the judgement would go against Bani Qariza. His decision was that the men of Bani Qariza be executed and the women and children taken as slaves. Therefore the men were excuted and the women and children taken away as captives. Their belongings were confiscated and distributed to the troops. The Holy Quran says about this incident:
“The People of the Book who helped the infidels, were brought down from their ieg,
such fear was fixed in their hearts,
that one group was executed, the other group taken hostage
and you possessed their land, homes and materials!”
This punishment appears very severe, but if the circumstances were considered, the worst critic would accept that Bani Qariza did deserve the harsh punishment. Despite the Prophet (s.a) giving all the concessions in terms of the agreement, Bani Qariza collaborated with the enemy, the Qureish, against the interests of the Muslims. Even their chief, Kaab ibne Asad, had accepted that the Prophet (s.a.) was abiding by the agreement in word and spirit. Flouting this agreement, bani Qariza themselves were responsible for the consequences. When Bani Nazeer were exiled from Madina, the agreement with bani Qazira was revised maintaining the old mild terms even when the circumstances demanded making a more severe agreement. But they flouted the agreement by collaborating with the enemy during the battles of Ohod and Ahzaab. If they were left alive, they would be a constant danger to the people of Madina. The punishment meted out to them was not so strange for the people of the world. Traitors and collaborators are dealt with everywhere in this manner. When Hai ibne Akhtab, the main instigator of the episode who tempted Bani Qariza to collaborate with Qureish was taken for execution he told to Hazrat Ali (a.s.), “A decent person is executing another decent person!” And then he requestd Ali (a.s.) that he not be undressed after execution. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said it was not his way to render an enemy naked after killing him! In accordance with his practice, he didn’t take away the dress of Hai.
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 