The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

212 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
the prayer of someone seated is only half as valuable as that of someone standing.'
At this the Muslims, despite their weakness and sickness, exerted themselves
to stand, in order to gain grace."
Section: On the establishment offriendship between the Emigrants and the Helpers
through the document he had drawn up between them. On the nature of that
brotherly relationship he made betweelz them, and on the friendly relations he
established with the Jews who were m Medina.
In the city's Jewish quarters at that time there were the Qaynuqac, Nadir and
Qurayza tribes.
According to al-Tabari they had settled in the Hijzz before the anpir, the
Helpers, in the days of Nebuchadnezar, when he had conquered Jerusalem.
When the Iram flood occurred and people had scattered in all directions, the
Aws and the Khazraj tribes had settled in Medina with the Jews. They had established
pacts of alliance with these Jews and imitated their ways because of the
virtue they saw in them that they had acquired through the prophets.
However, God had bestowed guidance and Islam upon those who had been
polytheists, while they, in their envy, pride and wrongheadedness, had failed to
follow the truth.
Imam Ahmad stated, "CAffxn related to us, quoting Hammad b. Salama and
LAvim al-Ahwal, from Anas b. Malik, as follows, 'The Messenger of God (SAAS)
established a pact between the Emigrants and the Helpers in the house of Anas
b. Mdik."'
This was also related by Imam b ad, al-Bukh~ri, Muslim and Aba DZ'ad,
through various lines of transmission from CAsim b. Sulaymxn al-Ahwal, from
Anas b. MHlik, who said, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) established a pact
between Quraysh and the Helpers in my house."
Imam Ahmad stated, "Nasr b. Bzb related to us, from Hajjzj, he being Ibn
Artat, who said, 'It was related to us by Surayj from 'Abbad, from Hajjaj, from
'Amr b. Shucayb, from his father and grandfather, to the effect that the Prophet
(SAAS) wrote up a contract between the Emigrants saying that they would
respect one another's strongholds, that they would treat with kindness those in
distress and bring peace between the Muslims."'
Abad stated, "Surayj related to us, quoting 'Abbad, from Hajjaj, from
al-Hakarn, from @sim, from Ibn 'Abbns, much the same account."
Imam Ahmad is alone in giving this.
The sahih collection of Muslim quotes Jabir as saying, "The Messenger of
God (SAAS) wrote an "aqnla', a blood-wit pact, for each sub-tribe."
Muhammad b. Ishzq mated, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) wrote a contract
between the Emigrants and the Helpers in which he expressed conciliation
towards the Jews and made a pact with them, confirming them in their religion and
their properties. He stipulated their rights and obligations as follows, 'In the
name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent, this is a document from Muhammad,
the umms (unlettered) Prophet, between the believers and Muslims of Quraysh