The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 3 of 4

IMAM ABO AL-FIDA' ISMA~IL IBN KATHiR 101
seated at the wall of one of their houses. They asked for a volunteer to climb
up on to the house to drop a rock down on him so that they would be rid
of him.
"'Amr b. J&ash b. Ka'b volunteered to do this and climbed up to drop the
rock as suggested. The Messenger of God (SAAS) had been accompanied by his
Companions, who included Abii Bakr, Wmar and 'Ali. He received information
from heaven about what the enemy intended, so he got up and set off back to
Medina. When his Companions tired of waiting for him, they set about looking
for hi and met a man arriving from Medina. When they asked hi about the
Prophet (SAAS), he replied, 'I saw hi
entering Medina.' The Companions of
the Messenger of God (SAAS) then went to him and told him of the treachery
Bann al-Nadir had planned against him."
Al-Wsqidi stated, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) sent forth Muhammad
b. Maslama to tell them (Banii &Nadir) to leave his territory and protection.
But the hypocrites sent messages to them giving them their support, urging
them to stay and promising them aid. This encouraged Banii al-Nadir, and
Huyayy b. Akhmb became adamant. They then sent word to the Messenger
of God (SAAS) that they would not leave and warned him against breaking
the agreements.
"It was then that the Prophet (SAAS) sent his forces out against them."
Al-Waqidi continued, "They kept them besieged for 15 days."
Ibn Ish~q stated, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) ordered that preparations
be made to go forth to war affdinst them."
Ibn Hisham stated, "He placed Ibn Umm Makmm in command of Medina;
this took place in Rabi' al-Awwal."
Ibn Ishaq went on, "He journeyed forth and besieged them for six days. It
was then that the prohibition of wine came down. The enemy set up defences in
their forts and the Messenger of God (SAAS) ordered that their date-palms be
cut down and burned. They appealed to him, saying, 'Muhammad, you used to
forbid causing destruction and criticized those who did so. Why are you cutting
down and burning our date-palms?'"
Ibn Ishaq went on, "A group of Banii 'Awf b. al-Khazraj, including 'Abd
Allah b. Ubayy, Wadi'a, Mdik, Suwayd and Dacis, bad advised Banii al-Nadir
as follows: 'If you stay fum and resist, we will not give up on you. If you
fight, we'll fight along with you, and if you are expelled, we will leave with you.'
And so Banti al-Nadir waited for their help, but they did nothing. And so God
cast fear into Banii &Nadir, and they asked the Messenger of God (SAAS) to
evacuate them and to spare their blood, allowing them to depart with whatever
of their belongings they could transport, except for their amour."
Al-CAwfi quoted Ibn CAbbzs as saying, "He gave one camel to each three
persons, along with a baggage carrier."
Al-Bayhaqi related this, quoting Yacqiib b. Muhammad, from al-Zubri, from
Ibrahim b. Ja'far b. M&mad h. Muhammad b. Maslama, from his father and his