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

228 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
He also told of the conversion to Islam by Mukhayriq on the day of the battle
of Uhud, details of which will come later. He told his people, it being a Sabbath,
"0 Jews, you well know that Muhammad has a right to expect your help." They
replied, "But today is the Sabbath." He replied, "You shall have no Sabbath!"
He then took his weapons and went off to battle. He made a charge upon his
people who were staying behind, as follows, 'Tf I should be killed today, then my
properties are to go to Muhammad to dispose of as God shows him." He was a
very wealthy man.
"He then joined the Messenger of God (SAAS) and fought until he was killed.
God be pleased with him."
Ibn Ishaq stated, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) used to say, as I have been
told, 'Mukhayriq was the best Jew.'"
DIVISION
Ibn Ishaq then Listed the names of those hypocrites from Aws and Khazraj, who
joined the Jews antagonistic to Islam.
From Aws there were: Zuwayy b. al-Harith, Julas b. Suwayd b. d-Samit, the
Helper. It was about him that the verse was revealed, "They swear by God that
they did not speak. But they did speak words of disbelief; they apostatized after
accepting Islam" @rat al-Tamba or al-Barrt'a; IX, v.74). This was because he
said, after having withdrawn from the expedition against Tabiik, "If this man
speaks the truth, then we are worse than donkeys!"
"The son of al-Julas's wife, a man named Wmayr b. Sa'd reported this to the
Messenger of God (SAAS) but d-Julas denied it, swearing that he had never said
that. The verse was therefore revealed concerning him."
Ibn Ishnq went on, "It is claimed that he later nuly repented and that he was
known for his piety.
"Also there was his brother al-Harith h. Suwayd; it was he who killed
al-Mujadhdhar b. Dhiyzd d-Balawi and Qys b. Zayd, one of the Banii Dubay'a
at the battle of Uhud. Al-Harith had gone to war on the Muslims' side, but he
was a hypocrite and when the battle was joined he fought and killed both these
men and joined the Quraysh forces."
Ibn Hisham stated, "Al-Mujadhdhar had killed his father Suwayd b. al-Smit
in an engagement before the coming of Islam. Al-Hi%rith was taking revenge
upon hi at the battle of Uhud."
This is what Ibn Hishm said, but according to Ibn Ish~q it was Mu$dh b.
'Afra' who killed hi in a non-military engagement before the battle of Bu%th,
by shooting him with an arrow.
Ibn Hisham denied that it was al-Harith who killed Qays b. Thabit, on the
grounds that Ibn Ishaq did not include the latter among those killed at Uhud.
Ibn Is&q stated, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) had ordered Wmar b.
al-Khaycab to kill him if he could catch him. Al-Hsrith, however, sent a message